Work Text:
The studio was dark at this hour, all the lights off and only a faint glow coming from the backroom. Qiao Ling opened the door as quietly as she could, thanking the gods it was unlocked, and made her way through the entrance. Cringing slightly at the sound of their customer announcement, she waited for a moment for any sign of life from the boys. None came, assuring her she hadn't disturbed them in whatever they were up to as she ventured further into the studio.
Normally, she would never show up here this late, but she'd left her keys somewhere around here and she really did need them to get home. Shuffling around the room quietly, she began looking around for the abandoned bundle, without much luck. Figuring, with a sigh, that they must be in the backroom, Qiao Ling moved towards the door.
The closer she got, the clearer she heard a quiet voice inside.
She didn't really know what came over her; first stealthing around the place looking for her keys like it was something she wasn't meant to be doing, and now sneaking into the backroom even though the boys were clearly in there?
Any normal day she'd come barging into the studio announcing her presence, no matter if she disturbed them or not. Maybe it was because this time, she was certain they were working? Maybe it was her curiosity getting the best of her, the hope of catching a glimpse of their mysterious work?
She opened the door, quietly, so quietly it was almost unnoticeable. The voice didn't waver, aussuring her she hadn't been noticed.
(She made a mental note to give them a lecture about locking their doors and break-in safety in the morning.)
Qiao Ling peeked her head inside, expecting both the boys sitting over a table of materials, talking in quiet tones about information she would never understand the origin of.
Instead, she was surprised at the sight of Lu Guang, on his own, lying on the couch with a spaced out look in his eyes, murmuring to himself. Hand still on the door handle, worry started to set into Qiao Ling's features. Why was he all alone here, tired eyes, talking to himself in the dark of the room?
Confusion overtook her worry as words started to reach her ears beyond the mumbling from before.
"Now just go upstairs, second room to the right. Yes, that one. Go in, close the door, but do it carefully so it doesn't creak. Now just put everything in the box on the desk."
What the hell was he talking about? And who was he talking to? Qiao Ling began scanning the scene for Lu Guangs phone, spotting it all the way across the room, plugged in and lying- right next to her keys. Checking that off the mental list, she turned her eyes back to her friend on the couch, who was still mysteriously whispering to himself, like one half of a conversation that she wouldn't begin to understand even if it was whole.
Silence fell over the room for a short while. Qiao Ling kept her eyes on Lu Guang, spaced out staring at the sky. It was a full moon, the only source of light in the otherwise dark studio. When she looked closer, she could've almost sworn Lu Guang's eyes looked different from usually. Before she could think further about it, Lu Guang spoke up again.
"Alright, you're all done now, good job. Get on the bed and then just come back here.
.. I know. You did great. Come back now."
Questions piled up in Qiao Ling's head, almost tempting her to open the door completely and step into the room, when suddenly, out of nowhere, Cheng Xiaoshi appeared. Her breath caught in her lungs.
Not coming in from the door she was stood in, or even hopping through a window, no, just- manifesting from thin air? Maybe Qiao Ling was finally going insane. Or maybe, she thought, looking at Lu Guang's outstretched arms, this whole thing was far bigger than she could've imagined.
"Welcome home," Lu Guang said, arms stretching out towards the new arrival. Cheng Xiaoshi sighed, cracking his neck before taking the first step towards the couch.
"That was a tough one," he said before dropping his full weight on Lu Guang, who was still stretched out over the full length of the couch. With a quiet huff of agreement, Lu Guang began curling his body around Cheng Xiaoshi's, arms around his waist and neck, legs entangled, chin tucked on top of his head.
Qiao Ling stared, frozen in shock at her friends' sudden show of affection. Watching Cheng Xiaoshi press himself closer to Lu Guang, she suddenly felt like she was intruding into something private, something not meant for her eyes.
"It's okay, you're home now," Lu Guang whispered, relaxing against his partner and closing his eyes. Cheng Xiaoshi gave a quiet hum in response before they both seemed to pass out from exhaustion.
Qiao Ling stayed where she stood for a few minutes, making sure they were sound asleep before finally stepping into the room. Tip-toeing to the couch, she grabbed the blanket at the foot of it, unfolding it and draping it over her entangled friends. They gave no reaction, fast asleep, and she let out a sigh at the sight of them.
Qiao Ling had always known they were special together. From the moment Lu Guang had stumbled into their lives like a blessing, the two of them had become inseperable. They knew each other like the back of their hand, willing to give up everything for the other. Even their constant bickering carried a sense of harmony, like a dance she couldn't look away from.
Qiao Ling never hesitated to say they were made for each other, in whichever way they wanted to take it. She always saw past their facades, saw the longing in both their eyes; the only part they failed to see about each other.
Or so she thought, until now. Maybe, she thought with a smile, finally grabbing her keys, they were smarter than she gave them credit for.
Closing the door behind her, she made sure to actually lock the front door (unlike someone) and slowly made her way home.
Below the break-in lecture, she added the point of Cheng Xiaoshi's sudden appearance with a question mark to her mental list, locking that part away to be dealt with in the morning. Finally collapsing into her bed at home, assured her friends were safe and secure in each other's arms, Qiao Ling drifted off to sleep.