Chapter Text
Author's Note: Made some corrections here and there throughout this first chapter
Chapter One
Tong Yao swallowed hard with bitterness on her tongue and in her soul as she glanced around her parents’ apartment and fought back the sting of tears in her eyes, especially as she remembered the goddamn brutal argument that had interrupted this morning between her and her damn Captain about her taking off no matter what he goddamn said.
“ Where do you think you are going? You were not given permission to leave.” spoke Sicheng on the cold side, stopping the female in her tracks but was concerned as she had a duffel bag with stuff in and her laptop bag though only consolation was that she was not taking De Bing with her it seemed.
“And with all do respect, I have chosen to say fuck your denial of me not having a few days off and also, nice to see you are actually speaking to me for once in the past, I don’t know? 3 or so days have passed since you have even decided to acknowledge my presence.” responded Tong Yao coldly back as she turned to face him with an icy look and ignored as she was receiving shocked looks from everyone but him as he stared at her coldly. “You do not own me, Lu Si Cheng. I am needed back home for a bit and I will be going no matter what you, Rui-ge, Ming Shen, this team or that damn board of yours says. Nothing will change my mind.” she retorted as he opened his mouth.
“And if I decide that the switch between you Lu Yue will be permanent if you leave. He will be the main Mid and you the substitute?” he snapped out, shocking everyone and watched her as her eyes widened and felt regret as hurt flashed across her face at his words. He froze, however, as her eyes went dark and cold with something that hurt him…because it looked like resentment was starting to fill her eyes.
“Do it then. This is your team Captain Lu Si Cheng, you make the decisions. In fact, let me make it that much easier for you since it seems that you are petty and spiteful enough to say that. I quit, Lu Yue can have my spot permanently. After I get everything done, I have to do, back home. I will be back with Jinyang to get the rest of my stuff and De Bang.” responded Tong Yao, freezing with how dark, emotionless and icy her voice as it dripped with resentment and bitterness stunning them all including the man in front of his eyes widened and his mouth parted. Feeling her throat beginning to clog, she turned on her heel and walked away from them all as she heard her phone beep signaling that her DiDi was here. She slid into the car fast and ordered the man to drive as she ignored as her name was being shouted by more than one person and bit the inside of her cheek and continued to look forward, refusing to look back.
Inhaling deeply, she choked back a sob that threatened to come forth and blinked her tears. “Come on Yao, you can do this.” she muttered with a harsh rough tone as she shook her head and set about cleaning and packing up the place.
~
"SMACK!"
Everyone’s mouths dropped open in shock and eyes were wide as Lu Si Cheng’s head snapped to the side with a red marking forming on his cheek as Jinyang stood there in front of him with her hand still raised with a dark look flashing over her face as she had stormed up to them all after they had just arrived back to the base after winning the match with Lu Yue playing in Yao’s place for her single banned game.
“I never thought I would ever meet someone that was more of a bastard than that useless damn sunflower that broke my bei-bei’s heart!” She snapped harshly as the male fixed his eyes back at her and scowled as she stepped closer to him shrugging off her idiot’s arm and got Chessman’s face without fear as a dark icy look overtook his face. “Did you even bother to find out why she needed time off? No you did not, because you were being nothing but a prideful arrogant spiteful bastard!” she shouted finally losing her temper as tears filled her eyes with bitterness and pain for her best friend.
“Jinyang…what happened?” asked Ming with a softened tone as the female choked out a sob and he had a feeling that was the only thing saving her from a verbal thrashing from the man she had just slapped across the face. He glanced at Ai Jia as the male made a pained noise in the back of his throat.
“Yao-er’s parents…they were hit but a drunk driver as they were crossing the street…they didn’t make it. She had to go back home to handle everything. She even refused help from my wifey and…well she even sent Jian Yang running when he had gone there to try and help her.” he spoke softly, freezing everyone as even his own team looked stunned at his words.
“So, while she was dealing with that, her bastard of a Captain it even worse for her. Threatening to replace her permanently all because you were still fucking punishing her for that bullshit convention hot mess! Yes she was in the wrong for reacting as she had done, but what about you all uh? That bitch, I saw a video someone had posted, had actually put her hands on Lao Mao and no one did anything to her. My Mei-Mei has no training in how to handle such situations and instead of just fucking scolding her and getting it over with like she expected you? You dragged it and pretended she didn’t even exist or you even got up and left the room anytime she walked into the room…you in her eyes became worse than Jian Yang and then her parents were killed. But since she feels as if she is already a burden to the fucking team and because her captain decided to keep punishing her? She kept it to herself and suffered in silence! And then you had the nerve to say what you had said to her!” snarled out Jinyang with a dark and vicious tone as she glared at the man before her, not caring as he was basically resembling a damn ice cube because she could see her words were hitting him.
“He didn’t mean to.” defended Yue of his brother and glared some at the female as he could see her words were actually really hurting his brother.
“No, he meant them because he wanted to put her in place for defying him. New flash Captain Chessman, my bestie is not like the rest of your team. You can not use the tactics you would to put them in their place nor like you would someone else. My best friend will not take it lying down and will completely utterly write you out of her life and break off contact if you push her too far! Just look at Jian Yang? She did it to him because he pushed her too far.” spoke Jinyang icily as she glared at the younger Lu before focusing her eyes once more on the man and felt herself soften some at the devastating agonizing pain in his eyes. “Look, I know you care for my bestie, so against my instincts, I am asking you to please help her. I am afraid she is going to spiral so far down into a deep black hole that she will never resurface ever again.” she begged with a pained tone as he glanced to the ground before looking back at her with a steel look of determination.
“Where is she?” demanded Sicheng with a cold tone as the woman stared at him hard before she nodded her head and held out her phone, sending him the address. Moving and not caring, he stormed past them all and headed for his car…he had a goddamn wayward Mid to fucking track down to not only apologize to for being as Jinyang called him, a complete bastard to but also to help her, whether she wanted his help or not.
~
“I swear to all that is holy and damned! If that is you Jian Yang once more, I am going to literally kick your ass!” snapped out Yao as she stomped towards the apartment door with a furious look on her face as the pest had been bothering her none fucking stop it seems. Growling with trying to not cry, she yanked open the door and was ready to unleash a tongue lashing from hell but choked it back and her eyes widened in shock, “Cheng-ge.” she choked out as her wide eyes met the troubled and dark with pain filling them, whiskey amber brown colored eyes of the man that was her Captain.
Sicheng stared at the female and felt as if he was being stabbed in the heart as he noticed her pale tired look, dark bags underneath her eyes with her eyes being bloodshot. Swallowing past the lump that was forming in his throat he moved, not giving a damn and stepped forward wrapping his arms around the female and buried his face into her hair. He held her tight as she tried to push him away weakly and closed his eyes in pain as he could feel her trembling.
“I’m sorry! So fucking sorry, Yao. I’m here and I am not going anywhere.” he spoke in a soft pained tone trying to not cry as a small choked pained sob slipped past her lips as he could feel her tears soaking his shirt from where she had buried face. Feeling determined, he did not hesitate as he moved, picking her up in his arms while moving further into the apartment and kicked the door shut while making sure the handle was locked before he moved to sit on the couch while settling the now sobbing female into his lap. He moved her around to a more comfortable position before wrapping his arms once more tightly around her as she was gripping him back just as tight and sobbed into his shoulder. He continued to hold her even as she slowly stopped sobbing and seemed to be content with staying in her position on his lap which pleased and relieved him, because it showed that she was still comfortable with him…that she still trusted him even after he had been a bastard. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to say what I had said to you or lash out that way. I want you to know that. Furthermore, I will never replace you nor allow anyone else to do as such, you are stuck as my mid no matter what anyone says.” he spoke in a soft pained tone to the female as she flinched some before gripping him harder and shifted her head so her face as sideways on his shoulder.
“I know…I…I could have handled it better as well. But I…I just got overwhelmed with everything that happened and it hurt…it hurt really badly to be treated that way. To tell the truth your actions hurt worse than your words because I could see you regretted them the minute you had said them but I was too hurt by you ignoring me worse than what that stupid Sunflower had done when he ghosted me…and then on top of everything with my parents being killed? I couldn’t handle it anymore and needed an escape. I didn’t mean my words nor with lashing out at you either…I don’t want to quit the team.” spoke Yao with a choked tone of grief and pain as a few more tears slipped from her eyes and downward her cheeks as she stared at a wall as she held the man tighter as he flinched.
“Good because I wouldn’t let you and not to mention the others would go on strike.” muttered Sicheng as he shifted his arm as he raised a hand cupping her cheek, he moved some so he could look into her eyes and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, wiping away some of her tears. “If it helps at all? The others have been giving me complete hell for the last two days that you have been gone. Yue has been an even more pain in the ass than usual. Fatty has been giving me these pouty accusing looks while muttering about missing his partner in crime when it comes to food. Lao Mao has been looking at me as if I have personally offended him. Lao K…let’s just say that man took petty to a whole new level, I can’t prove it but he left the lid somewhat off of my fish tank and your furry beast took his own vengeance…though I am glad he chose the one that I think was about to die in the first place.” he shared with a wiry chuckle as she gasped and looked alarmed which relieved him some it brought some color back to her cheeks.
“I’ll buy you another fish.” rushed out Yao but stopped from speaking as the man covered her mouth with his thumb and shook his head with a soft look and swallowed hard as he moved, pushing her head to rest back down on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it, Shorty. Like I said, De Bing ate the one that was going to die anyway it looked like. Hell, even Ming’s training sessions have been more like a walk through hell and Rui-ge has been practically stalking me, trying to dock my paycheck to hell and back for every little infraction he can think of. Because at the end of the day, Shorty? You have become a very important part of us, Yao. With you? We have all become even closer and more like a family. Hell, I think besides Lao K, you have officially become Lao Mao’s best friend for sticking up for him at the anime convention. Furthermore, I am not ashamed to admit…that you have even made me a better Captain to our team than I ever was in the past.” he finished speaking in a soft tone as he held her closer to himself. He frowned though as she shivered, causing him to move looking around and was relieved as he saw a throw blanket on the back of the couch. Releasing her briefly, he grabbed the blanket and covered her up with it before folding her back into his arms once more.
“I don’t plan to go anywhere. I care about you all as well. You and the others, especially you, have actually made me open up once more and see that not all E-sport players are assholes like a certain pest. Speaking of pests, if he shows up once more, please deal with it. I do not have the emotional capacity right now in dealing with him.” murmured Yao tiredly as exhaustion was finally taking hold of her as she nuzzled the man’s shoulder because for the first time in nearly a week? She felt nothing but safe and protected being wrapped in her Captain’s arms and held. She felt like finally that maybe everything was going to be okay in the end especially as long as she had him.
“With pleasure.” promised Sicheng softly and completely softened on the girl on his lap as he watched as she fell asleep. His eyes softened on her as he could sense it did not take long at all for the girl to slip into a deep sleep which made him relieved as he noted the dark circles underneath her eyes, which showed she had not been sleeping well. Though, he was thanking whatever gods were out there that despite what had happened between them both, that she felt safe still around him, to fall asleep this deeply, that she still knew that no matter what? Knew for a fact that he would watch over her, keep her safe and take care of her.
~
Whiskey amber eyes snapped open and frowned briefly in confusion before the fog of sleep disappeared from his mind as he registered what had woken him up. It was the sound of a whimper that had his attention as it was the sound that had awakened him in the first place. Darting his eyes down to the woman currently using his chest as a pillow as he saw they had both moved, he guessed in their sleep to where they were laying on the couch with the throw blanket over them both. Hearing the female’s distressed whimper once more, he tightened his arms around her before leaning down and kissing the top of her head as he moved a hand to run his fingers through her hair to sooth her.
“Shh, I got you, Shorty.” he murmured softly and reassuringly to the female, showing her that in her sleep, that she was not alone and was relieved as she settled back down which caused him to sigh softly with relief as she untensed and relaxed once more against him. Hearing his phone vibrated, he shifted gently so as to not disturb her or awaken her, he opened his message and winced briefly at the brightness before he dimmed it and rolled his eyes at the messages
ZGDX_Pang: I made sure all of Missy’s favorite snacks and such have been stocked.
ZGDX_K: Her bathroom products have been restocked along with some really good stress relief face masks and bath salts as well.
ZGDX_Mao: I have ordered some brand meditation music and guided meditations as well for centering oneself and helping with anxiety and such!
ZGDX_Ming: Brand new training schedule has been created with more breaks and such. Rui-ge and I have both informed the board what has happened…and well Madam Wang has proven even though her first meeting with our girl was not ideal? That she does have a heart and promised to actually fire CEO Bao if he opened his mouth one more time about replacing our girl. You will be proud of Lu Yue though, he utterly refused to take our girl’s spot and informed the board of that as well with a glare that was worthy of you.
ZGDX_Rui: Reassure our pretty girl that De Bang has been brushed and taken care of! And that her pay has actually been returned to her plus your mother is wanting her to sign a contract to be Ming’s prodigy when it comes to being a strategist as well for the team with higher pay. She has been given a pay raise as well. Any work she does with Ming in helping out to prepare for matches? Will count as performance hours as well.
ZGDX_Yue: The Salt Maiden is still Kyoto Overlord, I have been keeping her ranking up. Plus Ge, you really might want to make sure that you make up with our Salt Maiden and bring her home with you, when you come back because I overheard even Lao Mao muttering on feeding the rest of your fish to her furry blender of death, if you dare to show back up at the base without the Salt Maiden!
ZGDX_Chessman: Pain in the asses, the lot of you. But good work everyone, we should be back in a few days and yes, our girl has already informed me that she does not plan to go anywhere and will be staying with us…keep that furry beast away from the rest of my children, I let it go this past time because the one he ate was going to die…I will kick asses if anymore are eaten by him and I will dock someone’s pay.
Sighing at the brats with a brief fond look on his face. Sicheng put his phone back down and closed his eyes and brought her closer to himself as he buried his face into her hair. “You really do have us all wrapped around your finger, especially me.” he whispered softly against her hair as he settled back down to try to return to sleep. He knew she would be okay…but it was going to take a hell of a long time considering no one just go over losing someone they loved especially their fucking parents. He knew his girl loved her parents more than anything in this world and knew all they (he) could do is be there for her no matter what.