I wrote something

[maggie33]

undeadrobins is hosting a kissathon. And she left a prompt “'yay we're not dead' kisses” for Chu Shuzhi/Guo Changcheng. I got inspired and yesterday I wrote 1000 words of post-canon fix-it with kissing. I will post it on AO3 later, after finding a title and asking my beta-reader for SPAG clean-up. But for now here it is.


Everything happens so fast. They come back to Haixing through a portal, with heavy hearts, Lin Jing bending under the weight of Chief Zhao’s body. He puts Chief Zhao gently on the ground. And they all just stand there, faces wet with tears, nobody saying a word. It could have lasted a minute, it could have lasted ten or twenty, Changcheng isn’t really sure. And then the portal opens again and two people stumble out of it.

One of them is Professor Shen, who looks as if he can barely stand. His face is pale and there is blood on his lips. And beside him... Changcheng gasps in shock, because it’s Ye Zun, there is no mistaking these silver hair and white clothes. Chu Shuzhi and Zhu Hong instantly go into their fighting stances. Ling Jing’s eyes are wide with fear, but he moves closer to cover Chief Zhao’s body with his. Da Qing hisses.

“You!” He spits out.

Ye Zun looks at him, gaze unfocused. But before anyone can do anything more Ye Zun’s eyes close and he drops heavily to the ground. He would have hit it pretty hard if Professor Shen wouldn’t manage to catch him at the last moment. He lowers Ye Zun to the ground and looks at them, uncertainty and anxiousness on his face.

Before anyone can ask any questions there is a groan heard from the direction of Chief Zhao’s body. Changcheng thinks it’s Lin Jing for a second, but then the weak voice says “Shen Wei.” Changcheng’s heart squeezes with hopeful joy, despite his mind trying to deny what he hears.

Professor Shen’s whole face changes, eyes suddenly alight with desperate hope. He leaves Ye Zun on the ground and drops to his knees by Chief Zhao. He touches Chief Zhao’s face with a shaking hand.

“Zhao Yunlan,” he says softly.

Chief Zhao’s eyes open slowly and a weak smile blooms across his face.

“Hey,” he says. “It’s you.”

“It’s me,” Professor Shen says, his voice as shaky as his hand that can’t stop touching Chief Zhao’s face.

Chief Zhao looks around and Changcheng can clearly see relief on his face when he sees all of them standing here with tears still in their eyes, but starting to smile again.

“What a bunch of... crybabies,” he says with some difficulty.

It only makes everyone smile harder. Lin Jing lets out a big sigh and rubs at his eyes with one hand.

“We’re alive,” he says with wonder in his voice. “We’re all alive.”

He grabs Da Qing and Zhu Hong and pulls them both in a tight hug. Zhu Hong lets herself be pulled into Lin Jing’s embrace without any protest. She smiles and presses her cheek against his shoulder, rubbing Lin Jing’s back in a comforting gesture. Da Qing splutters at first, but then he quiets down and just clings to Lin Jing, throwing happy looks over his arm at Chief Zhao and Professor Shen, who are staring at each other as if nothing else beside them exists in the whole world.

We’re alive, Changcheng thinks and he still can’t quite believe it. When he looks at Chu Shuzhi he finds himself swallowed by the gaze so intense and so full of feelings that it makes his heart pound with anticipation and joy. They’re alive and Changcheng doesn’t want to wait another second to do what he wanted to do for some time now. He stands on his tiptoes and presses a kiss to Chu Shuzhi’s lips.

And it’s nice, but it’s just not enough. So he throws his arms around Chu Shuzhi’s neck and presses closer, and kisses harder. With his body so close he feels Chu Shuzhi’s body stiffened momentarily, but then Chu Shuzhi’s arms tighten around him and he is pulled even closer. Their kiss deepens. Chu Shuzhi’s lips part his, hot and demanding, and Changcheng might have even moaned a little. Because this is everything he dreamed about. But it’s so much better than any dream. Chu Shuzhi’s right hand is in his hair, holding his head gently, but firmly, his left hand gripping Changcheng’s waist. Changcheng could stay like this forever, in Chu Shuzhi’s arms, kissing and being kissed. Loving and being loved in return.

Forever lasts until someone coughs loudly and meaningfully.

“I get it, we’re alive, yay. Feelings are spilling out,” Lin Jing says. “But do you have to do it right here?”

Da Qing snickers. Chu Shuzhi stills for a moment, and Changcheng can’t stop himself from blushing. He somehow managed to forget that there were other people around. He starts to move away, but Chu Shuzhi yanks him back into his arms and kisses him one more time, deeply and intensely, until warm pleasure spreads through Changcheng’s body.

“Aww, I think it’s sweet,” Zhu Hong says. “Such a tough guy like Lao Chu finally surrendering to passion and love.”

Her words are mocking, but her smile is sincere and her eyes are kind. Lin Jing starts to protest that there is nothing sweet about it. And Changcheng listens to their so wonderfully familiar bickering with a big smile on his face.

A few minutes later Chief Zhao tries to stand and they all rush to his side, bickering instantly forgotten. Professor Shen reluctantly lets go of Chief Zhao’s hand and lets Lin Jing and Da Qing to support him. He goes to Ye Zun still lying unconscious on the ground and tries to pick him up. Changcheng sees Professor Shen’s arms shaking with effort and he takes a step to help him. But Chu Shuzhi stops him.

“I’ll help,” Chu Shuzhi says and Professor Shen nods with gratitude in his eyes.

Changcheng looks at them all, his friends, his family, with his heart full to the brim with happiness. And he feels at piece, despite everything they went through and despite the unknown future awaiting them here. And despite Ye Zun, even though right now he doesn’t look threatening at all. Ye Zun’s presence is the biggest mystery, but all the whys and hows and what nows can wait for a while. Because they are here together, they are alive and in that moment it’s all that matters.