[fic] Meet Me In Tianjin
//Pairing//: Lay x Luhan
//Prompt//: Here
//Rating//: PG
//Summary//: Yixing goes to visit Luhan in Tianjin on a whim and a very tight schedule, only to get much more than he bargained for.
//Word Count//: 1,546
//Author's Note//: Thanks to Nat for beta-ing.
Yixing wakes up with a lump in his throat the day Luhan leaves for filming in Beijing. The guys all take turns hugging their bandmate goodbye before they head off to the airport, and Yixing dutifully waits his turn, pulling the older boy into an embrace when their glances cross. Yixing hugs Luhan once, and in a moment of frailty, doesn’t let go until his best friend gently removes his arms from around his waist.
“Don’t worry man, we’ll be in the same country in a couple of days.” Luhan is optimistic as always, his voice reasonably upbeat, which Yixing knows is his tactic to hide the slight trepidation of not doing well on his first solo filming assignment. “You can call me all day then.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll talk your ear off after talking for hours in front of a live studio audience.” Luhan just laughs, and gives him an affectionate pat on the shoulder before picking up his travel bag. “See you in a couple of weeks, Xing. I’ll miss you.” Yixing just chuckles quietly and pulls away from the hug rather reluctantly, sticking his hands deep in his pockets after in an attempt to appear less affected about Luhan’s temporary departure than he actually is.
In actual fact, he knows that it is to stop himself from holding them out again for one last hug.
***
The idea of getting from Beijing to Tianjin is the proverbial seed that plants itself into the fertile soil of Yixing’s mind en route to Beijing for that MC-ing gig of his. He stops writing sheet music for the bud of a song that he has been nurturing for the past week, filing the loose-leaf papers away carefully before turning to his manager (who is dozing in the passenger seat beside him).
“How do I get from Beijing to Tianjin?”
***
The answer, as Yixing soon finds out, is by overland train, and after filming wraps, he asks the driver to send him to the Beijing South Railway Station, heart set on making the last train for the night, if the train schedules he brings up on the internet are to be trusted. The driver, as all good drivers do, doesn’t ask why, but not many fans follow Yixing around in China (his Xingmis are perennially well-behaved), and the change in route is taken in stride.
Getting to Beijing South Railway Station is a real bitch, even at past ten at night. Yixing’s heart begins to get faster with each second that ticks past, his gaze flitting from the car clock to his own watch to his phone, checking and cross-checking the time, just to make sure.
“Thank you! Have a good night!” When the driver pulls up to the station drop-off point, Yixing, in his eagerness, doesn’t wait for the car to come to a complete stop before alighting, shutting the door before making a run for the ticket booth.
***
The platform for the K101 11.20pm train to Tianjin is drafty and reasonably deserted, even for the early days of summer, and Yixing ends up sitting on a railing, texting Luhan as his fingers tremble with anticipation.
Meet me in Tianjin.
It sounds quite romantic, he thinks, but then his bubble bursts quickly when Luhan responds, five minutes before the train pulls into Tianjin Station.
I /am/ in Tianjin, you fool.
Yixing doesn’t have time to type a response, when his phone buzzes thanks to a second message from Luhan.
Are you coming to visit me?
Luhan’s spidey senses have always been quite strong (except, when they aren’t), and Yixing can’t help but smile when the other boy guesses right on the first try.
I’m at the station.
The response he gets is exactly what he expected.
I’ll come get you.
***
Luhan pulls him into an embrace when he steps into the car, and not long after, they find themselves sitting opposite each other in a small café, Luhan looking slightly shifty and unwilling to head back to his hotel. They both skirt around the subject of why for about ten minutes (long after the coffee is gone), and finally Luhan just sighs and shakes his head.
“These people follow me around all the time. I mean, it’s becoming stupid.” He pauses, and Yixing notices that Luhan has consciously chosen a seat with his back facing the café entrance. “I’m glad the ones who were on set today gave up and went home when filming dragged on behind schedule a bit.”
For all his 24 years, Luhan looks small, and a little lost and helpless as he speaks, which makes Yixing feel lost and helpless too. He wants to reach out and take the other boy’s hands in his in a show of solidarity, but his fingers barely stretch out fully before he pulls back without going further.
“You came in on the last train, right?” Luhan asks, when Yixing doesn’t reply. “How are you intending to get back?” Yixing looks up, slightly startled in the realization that he has gotten lost in his own thoughts again, and Luhan, despite the precariousness of his present situation, is more concerned for Yixing instead.
“O-oh, I… uh.” Yixing hadn’t thought about that, and he shrugs, because the next train is at 7am the following day, and in all honesty, Yixing has never really been on point with scheduling, anyway. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to answer because Luhan figures it out for him. “I’ll get the driver to send you back once we’re done.” It is Luhan who reaches over to take his hand, squeezing it tight as he curls his fingers over Yixing’s, his smile brightening his expression, and Yixing has to check himself as his heart involuntarily skips a beat.
***
“Do you think we’ll ever find our feet again?” Yixing asks, rather abruptly, on the way back to the car after they get kicked out of the café when the owner wants to close up. He can tell that it blindsides Luhan, from the way his eyes shine in the dim light of a nearby streetlamp. Luhan doesn’t say anything, but Yixing knows he is well aware of what he is referring to.
It is a while before Luhan responds, his voice sounding small and unsure as he kicks at a stone that has fallen by the path. “I don’t know.”
He expects Luhan’s answer, and Yixing doesn’t have anything good to say to that - not when his own mind is whizzing with a thousand burning what-ifs and could-have-beens that may never come true.
“I guess I just hoped our path would have been easier.” Yixing’s response just elicits a quiet chuckle from Luhan as he shakes his head.
“You know even without all of this, it wouldn’t have been easy.”
They end up buying ice creams from a convenience store and sit in the car to enjoy the air-conditioning while the driver goes out to the road shoulder to have a smoke. “So why did you come over? It’s damn late.” Luhan’s voice is husky from being awake for the past goodness knows how many hours, but his tone remains light, right before he winces and cups his own cheek, mumbling “brainfreeze”.
Yixing looks up with ice cream on his lips, his mind grinding to a halt, because why did he come over? He has always known the answer -because me without you doesn’t feel right, because I miss you, because- He doesn’t allow himself to continue that thought, because to do so would be to dip his toes into something that he isn’t quite prepared to acknowledge.
“I … just felt like - I missed you.” That part, at least, he has come to terms with.
Luhan just chuckles, and nudges him gently. “You just felt like you missed me? I must be really missable, huh?” He then slings his arm around Yixing’s shoulders and draws him close for a warm hug. Yixing melts into the hug, giving in as he nods in acknowledgment.
“You are.”
When he looks up, Luhan is looking back at him with what can only be affection in his eyes. There is something there that wasn’t there before, and Yixing feels his pulse quicken when he realizes how close they are. He feels Luhan’s warm breath against his cheek, and it would be so easy to bridge the distance between them and just know-
It would be too rash, too hasty, too imprecise. Not at a time like this.
So he doesn’t. Instead, Yixing holds his arms out to embrace the other boy and hold him close, reaching out for that last hug as his heart aches.
***
Yixing dozes off on the way back to Beijing, but Luhan doesn't have the heart to wake him. It is two hours each way, and Luhan will have to buy the driver a really good breakfast the next morning, but he doesn’t mind so much - not when he gets to have Yixing’s head lying on his shoulder, his breathing even as he looks nothing short of serene. “Thanks for coming to see me.” He whispers that as he rests his chin against the crown of Yixing’s head, before his eyes eventually close, head resting against the other boy’s as he, finally, gets some much-needed rest.
//Prompt//: Here
//Rating//: PG
//Summary//: Yixing goes to visit Luhan in Tianjin on a whim and a very tight schedule, only to get much more than he bargained for.
//Word Count//: 1,546
//Author's Note//: Thanks to Nat for beta-ing.
Yixing wakes up with a lump in his throat the day Luhan leaves for filming in Beijing. The guys all take turns hugging their bandmate goodbye before they head off to the airport, and Yixing dutifully waits his turn, pulling the older boy into an embrace when their glances cross. Yixing hugs Luhan once, and in a moment of frailty, doesn’t let go until his best friend gently removes his arms from around his waist.
“Don’t worry man, we’ll be in the same country in a couple of days.” Luhan is optimistic as always, his voice reasonably upbeat, which Yixing knows is his tactic to hide the slight trepidation of not doing well on his first solo filming assignment. “You can call me all day then.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll talk your ear off after talking for hours in front of a live studio audience.” Luhan just laughs, and gives him an affectionate pat on the shoulder before picking up his travel bag. “See you in a couple of weeks, Xing. I’ll miss you.” Yixing just chuckles quietly and pulls away from the hug rather reluctantly, sticking his hands deep in his pockets after in an attempt to appear less affected about Luhan’s temporary departure than he actually is.
In actual fact, he knows that it is to stop himself from holding them out again for one last hug.
***
The idea of getting from Beijing to Tianjin is the proverbial seed that plants itself into the fertile soil of Yixing’s mind en route to Beijing for that MC-ing gig of his. He stops writing sheet music for the bud of a song that he has been nurturing for the past week, filing the loose-leaf papers away carefully before turning to his manager (who is dozing in the passenger seat beside him).
“How do I get from Beijing to Tianjin?”
***
The answer, as Yixing soon finds out, is by overland train, and after filming wraps, he asks the driver to send him to the Beijing South Railway Station, heart set on making the last train for the night, if the train schedules he brings up on the internet are to be trusted. The driver, as all good drivers do, doesn’t ask why, but not many fans follow Yixing around in China (his Xingmis are perennially well-behaved), and the change in route is taken in stride.
Getting to Beijing South Railway Station is a real bitch, even at past ten at night. Yixing’s heart begins to get faster with each second that ticks past, his gaze flitting from the car clock to his own watch to his phone, checking and cross-checking the time, just to make sure.
“Thank you! Have a good night!” When the driver pulls up to the station drop-off point, Yixing, in his eagerness, doesn’t wait for the car to come to a complete stop before alighting, shutting the door before making a run for the ticket booth.
***
The platform for the K101 11.20pm train to Tianjin is drafty and reasonably deserted, even for the early days of summer, and Yixing ends up sitting on a railing, texting Luhan as his fingers tremble with anticipation.
Meet me in Tianjin.
It sounds quite romantic, he thinks, but then his bubble bursts quickly when Luhan responds, five minutes before the train pulls into Tianjin Station.
I /am/ in Tianjin, you fool.
Yixing doesn’t have time to type a response, when his phone buzzes thanks to a second message from Luhan.
Are you coming to visit me?
Luhan’s spidey senses have always been quite strong (except, when they aren’t), and Yixing can’t help but smile when the other boy guesses right on the first try.
I’m at the station.
The response he gets is exactly what he expected.
I’ll come get you.
***
Luhan pulls him into an embrace when he steps into the car, and not long after, they find themselves sitting opposite each other in a small café, Luhan looking slightly shifty and unwilling to head back to his hotel. They both skirt around the subject of why for about ten minutes (long after the coffee is gone), and finally Luhan just sighs and shakes his head.
“These people follow me around all the time. I mean, it’s becoming stupid.” He pauses, and Yixing notices that Luhan has consciously chosen a seat with his back facing the café entrance. “I’m glad the ones who were on set today gave up and went home when filming dragged on behind schedule a bit.”
For all his 24 years, Luhan looks small, and a little lost and helpless as he speaks, which makes Yixing feel lost and helpless too. He wants to reach out and take the other boy’s hands in his in a show of solidarity, but his fingers barely stretch out fully before he pulls back without going further.
“You came in on the last train, right?” Luhan asks, when Yixing doesn’t reply. “How are you intending to get back?” Yixing looks up, slightly startled in the realization that he has gotten lost in his own thoughts again, and Luhan, despite the precariousness of his present situation, is more concerned for Yixing instead.
“O-oh, I… uh.” Yixing hadn’t thought about that, and he shrugs, because the next train is at 7am the following day, and in all honesty, Yixing has never really been on point with scheduling, anyway. Thankfully, he doesn’t have to answer because Luhan figures it out for him. “I’ll get the driver to send you back once we’re done.” It is Luhan who reaches over to take his hand, squeezing it tight as he curls his fingers over Yixing’s, his smile brightening his expression, and Yixing has to check himself as his heart involuntarily skips a beat.
***
“Do you think we’ll ever find our feet again?” Yixing asks, rather abruptly, on the way back to the car after they get kicked out of the café when the owner wants to close up. He can tell that it blindsides Luhan, from the way his eyes shine in the dim light of a nearby streetlamp. Luhan doesn’t say anything, but Yixing knows he is well aware of what he is referring to.
It is a while before Luhan responds, his voice sounding small and unsure as he kicks at a stone that has fallen by the path. “I don’t know.”
He expects Luhan’s answer, and Yixing doesn’t have anything good to say to that - not when his own mind is whizzing with a thousand burning what-ifs and could-have-beens that may never come true.
“I guess I just hoped our path would have been easier.” Yixing’s response just elicits a quiet chuckle from Luhan as he shakes his head.
“You know even without all of this, it wouldn’t have been easy.”
They end up buying ice creams from a convenience store and sit in the car to enjoy the air-conditioning while the driver goes out to the road shoulder to have a smoke. “So why did you come over? It’s damn late.” Luhan’s voice is husky from being awake for the past goodness knows how many hours, but his tone remains light, right before he winces and cups his own cheek, mumbling “brainfreeze”.
Yixing looks up with ice cream on his lips, his mind grinding to a halt, because why did he come over? He has always known the answer -because me without you doesn’t feel right, because I miss you, because- He doesn’t allow himself to continue that thought, because to do so would be to dip his toes into something that he isn’t quite prepared to acknowledge.
“I … just felt like - I missed you.” That part, at least, he has come to terms with.
Luhan just chuckles, and nudges him gently. “You just felt like you missed me? I must be really missable, huh?” He then slings his arm around Yixing’s shoulders and draws him close for a warm hug. Yixing melts into the hug, giving in as he nods in acknowledgment.
“You are.”
When he looks up, Luhan is looking back at him with what can only be affection in his eyes. There is something there that wasn’t there before, and Yixing feels his pulse quicken when he realizes how close they are. He feels Luhan’s warm breath against his cheek, and it would be so easy to bridge the distance between them and just know-
It would be too rash, too hasty, too imprecise. Not at a time like this.
So he doesn’t. Instead, Yixing holds his arms out to embrace the other boy and hold him close, reaching out for that last hug as his heart aches.
***
Yixing dozes off on the way back to Beijing, but Luhan doesn't have the heart to wake him. It is two hours each way, and Luhan will have to buy the driver a really good breakfast the next morning, but he doesn’t mind so much - not when he gets to have Yixing’s head lying on his shoulder, his breathing even as he looks nothing short of serene. “Thanks for coming to see me.” He whispers that as he rests his chin against the crown of Yixing’s head, before his eyes eventually close, head resting against the other boy’s as he, finally, gets some much-needed rest.