Chapter 6: Lost Hope
The next morning Guan Ping strolled back to his room, ignoring Xiahou Dun's orders. He entered his room making his bed and brushing his hair.
Could it be possible to move on like it never happened?
He hid the bag of food under his bed and opened his door to leave. As he came out another cadet two rooms down stared at him. The brown-haired man smiled a friendly sweet smile, but his eyes looked as though he wasn't expecting him. Guan Ping locked the door quickly, not returning the smile and walked on avoiding lingering in the quiet hall.
Guan Ping sighed a sigh of relief when he joined the demonstration shortly after, no sign of either Yu Jin or Xiahou Dun, Lu Bu alone led the morning practice. As he explained the training exercise Guan Ping's gaze was captured by the brown-haired man from earlier. It's not like he was following him, but he was there again, he seemed kind and harmless anyway.
Guan Ping noticed Fa Zheng who'd been glaring at him since they got there almost like he wanted him to notice him back. Guan Ping peered back at him and Zheng cocked a brow as though he was communicating something but then quickly faced forward before Guan Ping could catch what he was trying to say.
Lu Bu stared in confusion and marched over to Guan Ping grabbing his head from above, Guan Ping felt his giant ungentle hand almost break off his neck as he swivelled his head to face him. "AM I STANDING OVER THERE?!" Lu Bu's roaring voice sent chills down Guan Ping's spine. Guan Ping's brows furrowed as his eyes looked at the fingers dug between his hair and threatening to pull out his skull.
"No sir!" He responded, his lips forming a straight line as he stared at the large man fearfully.
"Do I bore you maggot?!" Lu Bu hissed, throwing Guan Ping's head back and causing him to stumble back.
Guan Ping crawled back up, feeling as though his brain experienced an earthquake.
Lu Bu paced on addressing the crowd. "If I bore you, I can change pace and make this really exciting for you vermin" Lu Bu spat looking at the recruits menacingly and a smug smile appearing on his face. "Get into pairs" Lu Bu commanded and before he could instruct further Fa Zheng was already standing over Guan Ping.
"Where've you been?" Fa Zheng gave him a suspicious glance.
"The first exercise today is hand to hand combat, you will fight your partner of choice, the weaklings out of you will have no dinner tonight" Lu Bu pressed his hands on his hips. "You may begin" He smiles.
Guan Ping didn't answer the question, and Fa Zheng kicked him in the shin.
"Are you okay?" Fa Zheng furrowed his brows.
"No! you just kicked me" Guan Ping scowled holding his hands in front of him to anticipate the next hit, but Fa Zheng was quick and gave the first punch towards his abdomen to get him to leave a clearing to his face. He landed his fist to his cheek bone instantly and Guan Ping clenched his jaw.
"Well are you going to just stand there?" Fa Zheng smirked, and Guan Ping hesitated to hit him.
"I thought we were friends" Guan Ping muttered, and Fa Zheng reached to punch him again, but Guan Ping caught his hand and pulled him forward missing him.
"Says who?" Fa Zheng smirked again. "I've not eaten a good meal since I got here, I don't know about you, but I'd appreciate having a dinner, even if it's cold and shitty" Fa Zheng confessed.
Guan Ping spaced out.
Was I selfish? Everyone here hadn't eaten, they've all worked their hardest here and have gotten nothing in return. I couldn't have lasted like they would had I not eaten, I wouldn't have known the food was there, why was this about you all of a sudden, why am I thinking about you?
Could it be? Xiahou Dun, he made sure to show me where they keep the food, but he insists on me to leave, it makes no sense.
Guan Ping received a boot to his face knocking him to the floor, the sky shook for a moment, and he saw flickering of black, but he sat back up. That blow was hard enough to get people staring but Guan Ping blinked and forced himself up, but as soon as he was on his feet Fa Zheng kicked him to the chest again sending him landing on his butt again.
Guan Ping swallowed and stood back up, how much longer did they have to do this. Lu Bu seemed entertained as he watched from the front of the camp, a smile on his face at the displays of power.
"You're just gonna waste time till this is over? Is that it? Like a pathetic coward" Fa Zheng spat attempting to provoke him.
"I don't have to prove myself to you" Guan Ping frowned as he looked around the camp.
What was the point? I didn't join the army to fight my people.
Fa Zheng kicked him to the head again, causing him to fall back and lose balance. He climbed on top of him and repeatedly punched him in the face, whilst Guan Ping tried to shield himself with his hands.
"You think you're better than everyone here? Is that it?!" Fa Zheng growled losing his temper, he continued to punch as Guan Ping's blood nose splattered blood. Guan Ping shoved him off aggressively, and tried to get back up, Fa Zheng frowned and then scowled, his eyes widening when he saw Commander Yu Jin standing there observing them. Fa Zheng approached Guan Ping from behind grabbing him by the neck and taking him in a choke hold in front of Yu Jin. It took Guan Ping a moment to notice him there like a provoked bull.
"Get off" Guan Ping requested, and Fa Zheng tightened his arm around him making the air in his lungs leave slowly.
"Sorry friend, not a chance" Fa Zheng whispered, and Guan Ping gripped his wrist squeezing it tremendously Fa Zheng felt his fingers like they were crushing his bones, and then placed his other hand under his arm and flung him forward and over his head. Fa Zheng exhaled as he looked at Guan Ping upside down. Guan Ping coughed clenching his own throat and attempted to walk away again.
"I didn't order you to stop" Yu Jin glared intensely, and Guan Ping swallowed, noticing the attention from all the cadets were on them now, they'd all stopped to rest but Yu Jin was not going to let it him go that easy.
Guan Ping turned to Fa Zheng who was already up and ready to fight again. Fa Zheng punched him to the face again and Guan Ping licked his lip tasting blood. His eyes darted between Yu Jin and Fa Zheng who was desperately trying to end things so he could get his rest. Guan Ping realised then that it was him who was drawing this out, Fa Zheng was exhausted and barely maintaining an upright position from hunger.
Oh my god, I am so selfish, how could I prolong this for him, you you get happy watching us suffer, you want him to hit me because you think I'm weak, but just in spite of you, I'm sorry Fa Zheng.
Guan Ping punched Fa Zheng back 3 times harder, making him see stars in daylight. Fa Zheng barely got the chance to recover before he kicked him to the head bringing him to the floor, Fa Zheng rolls out of the way when he tries to stomp him in the face, and then he cradles him, but Fa Zheng flips him so that he is on top, taking Guan Ping by the collar and slamming him back to the ground against the rocky surface, and then he slaps him and Guan Ping squints in confusion.
"Who taught you how to fight" Guan Ping remarked back handing him to the nose and causing his nose to pour a waterfall of blood, Fa Zheng spat the blood to one side and moved to strangle Guan Ping who just moved his hands to poke them in to his eyes, Fa Zheng took it at first but then released his neck to protect his eye. Guan Ping thrusted his hip upwards and flung Fa Zheng to the side again reversing their positions. Guan Ping then got up placing his knee onto Fa Zheng's neck completely paralysing anything he could pull next to fight back.
Does it make you happy now? Do you get high on seeing him suffer? Or were you hoping it was me who was under his leg now. No mercy, right?
Fa Zheng kept slapping Guan Ping's leg pleading for him to get off, and Guan Ping similarly pleaded Yu Jin would call it off and tell them to stop. The moments in between felt longer than they should, a minute had never been longer as Guan Ping swallowed, watching Fa Zheng gasp for air under him, his face was red and his veins pulsating.
"That's enough" Yu Jin finally declared, and Guan Ping got off quickly moving Fa Zheng to a better position to open his airways. Yu Jin quickly walked away, whilst Guan Ping worriedly squeezed Fa Zheng's hand as he coughed for air and breathed heavily.
"I'm sorry" Guan Ping whispered a frown on his face,
"Get away from him" Lu Lingqi growled and Gan Ning quickly pushed him out of the way attending to Fa Zheng.
"I'm fine" Fa Zheng said through struggled breaths. He held Guan Ping's hand back assuring him they were okay.
"Took you long enough" Fa Zheng said hoarsely. "Learn to play ball kid" He noted using Guan Ping's shoulder to push himself onto his feet.
Guan Ping blinked a few times.
You were following orders all along… I should have been more attentive. That was you going easy on me.
"Fa Zheng!" Guan Ping called out. "Hey, you can have my dinner" Guan Ping spoke softly, and Fa Zheng smirked cocking a brow.
"God you're stupid but hey its fine, I'm not going to say no" Fa Zheng chuckled and Gan Ning frowned.
"I mean it would be nice if anyone shared with me" He pouted, alluding that Lu Lingqi had beat him in the hand to hand combat training.
Later that evening Fa Zheng chewed the bread he'd almost gotten a broken nose over, he noticed Guan Ping appear distracted whilst the rest chatted away near them.
"Hey" Fa Zheng called out to get his attention. "I feel bad, do you want some?" Fa Zheng pushed the plate towards Guan Ping.
"No" Guan Ping shook his head pushing the plate back, and rested his chin on his hand continuing to stare into space.
Fa Zheng pressed his lower lip forward and continued to eat studying Guan Ping closely. Then the latter finally turned to him.
"Can I talk to you?" Guan Ping requested and Fa Zheng's chewing became slower.
"Sure…" He said slowly appearing wary having noticed Guan Ping's weird behaviour all day.
After concluding their meal, they all dispersed to go off to their rooms whilst Fa Zheng followed Guan Ping to his.
"Hey, I'm sorry too" Fa Zheng confessed before going in to Guan Ping's room. Guan Ping forced a smile and watched that they weren't being followed before entering after him.
Guan Ping sat down on the floor and Fa Zheng raised his brows on the strange choice when the comfy bed was available but didn't question and did the same.
"Can I trust you?" Guan Ping frowned making a sad expression and Fa Zheng's lips parted not sure if he was ready for what he was going to share.
"I knew something was going on" Fa Zheng smirked but Guan Ping rolled his eyes and leaned under the bed taking out his bag of food and placing it in Fa Zheng's hands.
"Is this old piece of cloth why you've been acting weird all day?" Fa Zheng asks disappointed.
"No dumbass, eat first, it's a lot to take in" Guan Ping narrowed his eyes and frowned at how unserious Fa Zheng was but then he smiled lightly, it made him likeable and comforting to be around.
It might be too soon for me to say this, but Fa Zheng was hope if it were a person.
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~Flowergirly