Summary: Quanzi is given another chance and he hopes this one will stay
Rating: M (for now, but this chapter is T at best)
Genre: Post Movie Events, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Strangers to Lovers, Original Male Character (from some DY movie you pick)
Words: 715
A/N: Black Snow Fix-it fic. I’ll try to keep this updated if ppl like it
-
AO3
or
Quanzi wonders if this is how unhappy endings go. Alone, life draining from him, Quanzi almost finds it peaceful laying on the hard stone ground. It’s as if he’s being lulled to sleep and he sighs when a hand forcefully shakes his shoulder. Using what energy he has left, he can see a face wrought with concern, their mouth moving in words he can’t make out. When arms wrap around him, Quanzi smiles with closing eyes, grateful to have one companion in his last minutes.
~
When Quanzi wakes, it’s bright, almost too much so, and he takes a minute to really open his eyes. He stares up at flourescent lights, a beeping near him and he tilts his head to see a young man sleeping next to the bed. If it could even be called that. The man is twisted in the chair so his head is resting on the back, but his limbs are dangling in uncomfortable ways.
Quanzi breathes out through his nose in exasperation and this seems to be enough to wake up the man. After a few harsh blinks and a sharp inhale, the man sits up before giving Quanzi a bright smile.
“You’re awake,” first comes out of his mouth and he scoots closer to the bed. “How are you feeling?”
Quanzi stares at him, unsure of a response and turns his gaze back to the ceiling. “Where?” Quanzi’s voice is hoarse and he hates the sound of it.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he can see the man’s eyebrows scrunch up.
“You’re in a hospital. You were bleeding to death.”
“Shame,” Quanzi whispers. Shame that the job wasn’t finished. That he has to start all over again.
The man says nothing, but Quanzi can tell enough from his expression. He knows he shouldn’t be so disheartened, he’s been given a second chance after all. The problem is, he’s never had chances to start with.
“The doctors say you’ll be here for a few days,” the man begins, soft, almost hesitant. “Is there anyone you want to know about your being here?”
Quanzi shakes his head, knowing he’d only get maybe one word of sympathy before being chastised as usual. His thoughts become dark again and Quanzi tries to distract himself, if only for the man’s sake.
“What’s your name?” Quanzi asks, his stomach turning just a little. He’s never been upfront or even cared to know another’s business and he blames it on the medicine.
“Oh, um, it’s Shiang. I teach English over at the school.”
Quanzi’s face shifts a little at this and he looks over Shiang. Despite the tension in the room, Shiang looks unbothered, or at the very least, more concerned about Quanzi himself than anything. Quanzi can feel the heat rise to his cheeks and he clears his throat, not used to being anyone’s focus.
“Quanzi,” he offers.
Shiang’s face brightens just a little and he nods as he thinks over the name. “Quanzi. Thank you.”
The smile is pleasant, but Quanzi looks away, not wanting to have another reminder of something he can’t have. The tension in the room becomes thick and Quanzi can hear the shuffle of Shiang trying to say something more.
“Anyways,” Shiang straightens up. “I’m sure the nurses will want to know you’re awake so I’ll go grab them.”
Before Quanzi can even protest, Shiang is out of the room, leaving Quanzi to listen to the beeps of the machine next to him. It doesn’t take long for Shiang to return with an entourage of medical workers and they immediately pester Quanzi with questions of how he feels, what else he needs.
He can’t be left alone soon enough and when it’s finally him and Shiang again, Quanzi relaxes just a little.
“You just going to watch me sleep all day?” Quanzi bites out, feeling exhaustion creep up on him again.
“No,” Shiang grins, unfazed by Quanzi’s harshness. “But I’ll come visit you. Make sure you’re healing up okay.”
The doctors can take care of that but Quanzi holds his tongue, hoping now just to get some rest. “If you must,” he mumbles out.
Barely catching Shiang’s laugh, Quanzi attempts to give one of his own, but his mind is already settling into numbness until he passes out.
