[Redemption, Be Ending] Emotionally detached, insecure man vs. possessive, intensely devoted man
A note about the intense possessiveness ⚠️ A note about unhealthy psychological entanglement ⚠️
A short story. I just wanted to write something angsty.
Maybe it's a bit of a road story? Xu An has the ability to see the future, though that might not be very important.
[Both characters have rather... unhealthy minds? Xu An especially is a huge fan of men... I want to capture the feeling of two boys from the margins helping each other heal their wounds.]
Tang Huai returned to his old home, hoping to find the time capsule he'd buried as a child. But as he dug, he saw a boy about his age nearby, digging a hole and putting a goldfish inside.
Curious, Tang Huai couldn't help asking him.
"What are you doing?"
"Burying my time."
After Tang Huai finished dealing with things and turned back, he saw Xu An standing motionless before him.
He'd only just come to his senses and was about to speak when the other man put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him with a complicated expression.
Just as Tang Huai was about to say something, the other man lowered his head and muttered to himself. As he spoke, he slowly leaned closer. "This... isn't right, Tang Huai... You clearly said you have nothing now. So why, why are you chatting so intimately with someone else? Why...?"
"Wait, Xu An? What are you talking about...?"
Tang Huai was stunned by what was happening and instinctively took a step back, wanting to explain, but the other man never gave him the chance.
The next moment, he was seized by the collar and yanked down. Meeting those eyes concealing so much emotion, he finally came back to himself.
"Tang Huai, don't leave. You're not allowed to leave. Didn't you promise to become my goldfish...?"
Raindrops beat against Tang Huai's face as he frantically wiped them away. Suddenly, he realized his nose was stinging.
Had he been crying this whole time...?
He covered his face and gave a self-mocking laugh.
Ah, right. Why did he still have any foolish hopes left? He should have rotted in the soil long ago...
Rotted alone...
Then, as if in answer, the raindrops above his head suddenly stopped. A warm hand gently rested on his head.
The other man's voice was as calm as ever, with a hint of barely contained anger, but this time Tang Huai could hear something complicated in it. "You still have me."
Theme: None
