The Stars Don't Decide Our Fate

by TheKamikazePigeon

Summary:

The Titanic was called the Ship of Dreams, and, for some, it was. The smell of fresh paint was the scent of freedom drifting through the air, wrapping itself around the passengers and tantalising them with a taste of what would be waiting in America. The sleek, iron body a bridge that would lead to better, brighter things, new days and new opportunities.

For some, it was a Ship of Nightmares. The smell of fresh paint was the scent of tombs, of locked rooms and barred windows, the smell of must and decay that circled the passengers, wrapping around them like heavy chains. The sleek, iron body a coffin that ferried people to much darker places, trapping people in a space where they couldn't move, couldn't possibly escape as they were pushed ever closer to the abyss.

For He Yu, the Titanic is a bridge. One he can use to escape his past, his family, to crawl his way into the light where it is safe and bide his time until he can swoop back into the dark for revenge.

For Xie Qingcheng, it is a coffin. One he willingly stepped into and let others close the lid on, even as walls seemed to shrink and contort, the shadows dragging their oily hands across his skin and clawing at his heart.

Notes:

Welcome to my Titanic au! This may not be a masterpiece, but I'm having fun writing this, and I feel like this fandom needs some more fluff.

Just before we start, this fic is rated M. The M stands for Manslaughter. This is a Titanic au, the ship is going down, and I feel I should remind you about that part because it is pretty dark.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 1: April 10th

The Titanic towered over the buzzing crowd, its massive, sleek, white body and huge funnels casting shadows over all who dared gaze up at it. The untarnished railings and plethora of ropes sparkled, backlit by the sun. It was an awe inspiring feat of engineering, the sight of it enough to spread excitement and joy through the crowd. Families hugged in tearful goodbyes and passengers crowded around the railings, waving joyously at the crowds below. 

 

A dark silver motor car pushed its way through the jubilant crowds, winding its way towards the pier, a dark, hulking shape that moved forward like a somber cloud of smoke. The car stopped and the driver cracked open the door, revealing a pale hand covered with a black, crochet glove. The driver took the gloved hand, and a young woman stepped delicately out of the car, dressed entirely in black. She quietly thanked the driver, offering him a smile tinged with melancholy before she gazed around at the scene before her. When her eyes locked onto the Titanic, she looked like she was about to burst into tears. 

 

The car door on the other side opened, and a similarly darkly dressed man stepped out, his bearing cold and imposing. The pair of them looked supremely out of place, a somber eyesore amongst the crowd. 

 

The man walked to the other side of the car, his cold eyes meeting tear-filled ones. They had the same peach blossom eyes, those two, yet the emotions contained within made them as separate as night and day. 

 

Xie Xue didn't say a word as Xie Qingcheng instructed the porters what to do with their luggage, still staring at the ship and holding back tears. She still didn't say anything as Xie Qingcheng led her through the crowds towards the gangway for the D deck entrance. 

 

Xie Qingcheng glanced back at his sister from time to time, a light hand on her arm making sure she stayed close so they didn't lose each other in the crowd. He was sure Xie Xue also understood the reluctant threat: Don't run off. Xie Xue's face seemed closer to crumbling with each milling group and horse-drawn cart they passed, but Xie Qingcheng didn't say anything until he heard the first sniffles from Xie Xue. 

 

"Don't make a scene," he murmured quietly, handing Xie Xue his handkerchief.

 

"Why shouldn't I?" Xie Xue sniffed bitterly, dabbing her eyes. Xie Qingcheng's heart prickled at the despondency in her tone, but this was for the best. "It's not like it will stop you from forcing me onto that awful boat."

 

"Xie Xue-" Xie Qingcheng started, but Xie Xue cut him off by blowing her nose loudly. 

 

"Don't," Xie Xue said once she was done, tears sparkling in her eyes. "You don't have to say anything. I know you don't want to get on that boat either."

 

It was true. He didn't want to leave England, didn't want to sacrifice his studies there just to help ensure the wealth of his family. Didn't want to be the one who split up his sister and her secret fiancé by forcing her back to America. Didn't want to escort himself into the arms of the daughter of some of his uncle's wealthy business partners. He didn't want to, but he had no choice. He had a responsibility to provide for his family. 

 

That responsibility didn't stop him from allowing his sister to sneak out and say farewell to her fiancé, or from letting her wear black even though it was considered an unlucky colour. He turned a blind eye to Xie Xue's moping around and stalling for time that morning, choosing to tacitly allow her lie that she was still getting ready, even as their time till boarding drew uncomfortably close and the main terminal closed, forcing them to hurry through the hectic crowds. 

 

Xie Xue could see through his act of ignorance, as she always did. Maybe that was what hurt him most about the whole situation, because Xie Qingcheng had far less qualms about sending himself into the hell his family had personally crafted than he did dragging his sister there with him. She was angry, bitter and resentful, as she had every right to be. She was being pulled away from the life she’d found for herself, all because of Xie Qingcheng. Yet, she treated her brother with nothing but the utmost understanding. She could see the guilt, see the reluctance in every action Xie Qingcheng made that pushed them closer to America. It broke his heart. His sister's pain was all his fault, and yet she didn't blame him at all. 

 

The pair of them reached the gangway, and Xie Qingcheng paused, convincing himself it was to allow Xie Xue to take a breath before she finally abandoned the life she'd carved out for herself. Xie Xue dabbed her eyes for the final time and shoved the handkerchief into her dress. She gave her brother a watery smile before she stepped onto the gangway. 

 

"Let's go."

 

~~~

 

He Yu softly stroked the worn edges of the cards in his hand, their grime sticking to his fingers. He never would have touched playing cards in this state months ago, still tried not to shudder with revulsion whenever he did. No amount of preparation, research and desperation could force him to fully embrace the role of a lower-class plebeian. But He Yu's eyes were caught on the centre of the pub's dirty table, his mind too occupied to be repulsed by the grimy cards and filthy crowds. A stack of coins, bills, and jewelry, enough to get He Yu a mildly decent train ticket to his next destination, hidden under one sheet of paper that could change everything. 

 

One third-class ticket for the RMS Titanic. 

 

Across the table, He Yu's opponents were beginning to sweat. They'd been bleeding money for hours, unable to make a cent off He Yu, and now they were getting desperate. They were the perfect opponents in He Yu's eyes, too prideful to back down and too poor to willingly relinquish their hard-earned money. He Yu could bleed them down, watching, fascinated, as the bills rose in value until there was suddenly all kinds of jewelry and coveted items being placed in the pot. And then, as soon as the next item placed as a bet got obscure or decreased in value, He Yu would know it was time to rake in his earnings and run before things got ugly. He'd learnt that one the hard way. But He Yu hadn't ever anticipated that this poker game would end up with bets this obscure.

 

The crowds held their breath as He Yu reached out to take his final card, slipping it slowly into his hand with casual confidence. Years of making backroom deals on behalf of his parents and trying to make it as best he could in the cutthroat world of the rich and high class had tempered He Yu's acting. His eyes betrayed nothing as he gazed apathetically at his hand. 

 

Somewhere in the background, a ship's whistle blew. His three opponents all stared at each other with varying levels of distrust.

 

"Moment of truth," He Yu murmured, drawing the attention of his opponents and offering them a wicked smile. "Somebody's life is about to change." 

 

And it won't be any of yours.

 

He Yu wouldn't have deserved to get as far as he had on the run from his family without knowing how to cheat at poker. 

 

The air was tense as the first of his three opponents slowly laid his cards down. The second quickly followed suit, and everyone craned their necks to catch a glimpse of both awful hands. He Yu pretended to study them with interest. The final man wasn't quite so ready to reveal his hand, staring at He Yu, gaze intense as he slowly flipped over his hand. Two pair. He Yu grinned, satisfied, and the man glared back at him. 

 

"Sorry, boys." He Yu spread his cards elegantly across the table. "Full house."

 

The room erupted into noise, full of cheers and aggravated insults from the poker players. The third poker player made a grab for He Yu's collar, but he He Yu ducked out of the way, scraping up the money with practiced efficiency, gripping the ticket in hand, shoving his way towards the exit before things could get even more violent. 

 

The crowd, celebrating He Yu's win, blocked the path He Yu cut through them to force the third player back, unwilling to watch the celebration dissolve into violence. He Yu couldn't resist yelling over his shoulder, "Thanks for the ticket!" 

 

The man who'd bet the ticket was all but pulling his hair out, practically howling as he tried to force his way towards He Yu. He didn't make it far before another player decked him right across the jaw. He Yu laughed, giddy with excitement. This was it. A golden opportunity, thrown right into his lap, to escape his family's clutches once and for all. No matter how many eyes they had following He Yu, no matter how many contacts they had to cover the cities beyond their grasp, their reach could never extend all the way to America. It changed He Yu's timeline, sure. It would be far more difficult to repay his parents for their years of neglect, years of forcing him into the spotlight of their less reputable businesses just to use him as a shield. But He Yu could trade revenge to ensure his safety, at least momentarily. And once he was free, finally free, he'd make the necessary preparations needed to rain fire down on his family. 

 

"Eh, that ticket ain't much use," the pub keeper called with a shrug. He Yu's head, filled with the giddiness of freedom and vengeance, whipped around to glare at him.

 

"What do you mean?" He snapped in a voice far too cold and demanding for someone of his age. 

 

The pub keeper raised his eyebrows. "The Titanic goes to America, sure. In five minutes."

 

Five minutes.  

 

"Shit," He Yu cursed. Five minutes was barely enough time, but He Yu refused to lose an opportunity like this. He would make it.

 

He shouldered his way out the door, the guffaws of the pub keeper close behind. 

 

"I'm sure they'll be pleased to wait for you!"

 

~~~

 

He Yu tugged his cap low and shoved his way through the crowd, running desperately towards the pier, dodging luggage and milling groups of people. The expanse of the Titanic burst into life before him when he finally broke free of the crowd, but he didn't have time to admire or feel awe at its monstrous size. He rushed down the pier towards the gangway at E deck, arriving just in time to see an officer detach the ramp at the top.

 

"Wait!" He Yu yelled, waving his ticket. "I'm a passenger!"

 

The officer paused, staring down at him suspiciously as He Yu panted for breath. "Have you been through the inspection queue?"

 

"Of course," He Yu lied. 

 

The officer was still frowning, but he called out for someone to help him reattach the gangway anyway and let He Yu aboard. The officer snatched the ticket from He Yu's hands and didn't find a problem with it, so He Yu moved to step past him, but the officer held out an arm to block his way. 

 

He Yu's relief at being allowed aboard faded to trepidation under the officer's piercing gaze. 

 

"Could you please remove your cap?" The officer demanded. 

 

He Yu's insides froze, but he forcibly plastered a smile on his face and reached a hand up to his cap. "May I ask why?"

 

The officer huffed. "We're supposed to be on the lookout for the runaway son of some rich family. I'm required to check everyone before they board."

 

He Yu forced a laugh, knuckles turning white where he gripped the brim of his cap. "I hardly imagine someone like that would buy a third-class ticket for the Titanic."

 

"Neither do I, but rules are rules." The officer rolled his eyes and pulled out a hand-coloured photograph. "Now, cap off please."

 

There wasn't anything He Yu could do. He didn't have anything of high enough value for bribery, and it was too suspicious to back out now. Going for the knife in his boot to try threatening him was too conspicuous, not to mention the very motion of reaching down would tip the officer off. He Yu missed the revolver he used to keep in his jacket's inner pockets, back when he still got to wear nice, tailored suits. That thing was perfect for this kind of close-up threatening. 

 

"Cap off," the officer repeated. He was getting impatient. All He Yu could do was hope his disguise held up.

 

"Of course," he said through gritted teeth, tugging off his cap to reveal bright, blond hair, coloured with stolen experimental dye his family's pharmaceutical company had been working on. The cut was short and choppy, just ragged enough to show that it had been done by untrained hands. The skin that was previously hidden under the shadow of the cap was stained with grime and sweat. He Yu held his breath as the officer held up the photograph and compared him to the pale-faced boy with smooth, unblemished skin and dark, slicked back hair, but the officer didn't look much further than He Yu's hair colour before waving him aboard. Relief settled like a warm, tangible lump in He Yu's chest as he stepped into the white corridor, triumphant smile on his face. In seven days, he'd finally be free. For good.

Chapter 2: April 10th

Notes:

I didn't put this in the tags because it really only applies to this chapter and it's pretty vague, but this chapter contains mentions of suicide. Consider yourself warned.

Stars were scattered across the inky sky like diamonds, more bright and shining than He Yu had ever managed to see on all those long nights he'd spent trying to stare through the smog. The concept of stars used to amuse him, the way great poets and artists alike praised them as being vast and welcoming, a symbol of freedom that towered above. He Yu had used to sit outside on his balcony, staring up into a clouded sky and regarding it with wry, self-deprecating humour. The cosmic metaphor wasn't lost on him. Yet, he found that now, as he stared up at those elusive pinpricks of light he’d spent so long trying to find, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He’d never truly realised the vastness of the stars before, consuming the entire sky as they did. That vastness made everything look small and insignificant in comparison, and He Yu refused to be insignificant. All his pain, his motivations and emotions were a fire whose brightness was far beyond that of the feeble stars' pale light. These feelings meant something, more than a bunch of rocks floating through the cosmos ever would. What right did the stars have to influence his feelings and decide his worth? 

 

The sound of rushing footsteps, heeled shoes clacking hard against the wooden desk, roused He Yu from his thoughts. He lazily pushed himself up from the bench he'd been lying on just in time to catch a glimpse of a woman's face as she ran past. Tears fell from gorgeous, peach blossom eyes, more stunning than any other He Yu had seen, carving wet tracks down blotchy cheeks. Those red-rimmed yet still dazzling eyes looked right past He Yu as she ran, her dress and hair in disarray. She didn't notice He Yu, lying on the benches near the back of the boat in the dark. 

 

The woman ran across the stern deck, stumbling in her heeled shoes. Seemingly in a fit of pique, she paused to take off her shoes and toss them angrily across the deck. 

 

He Yu watched the woman, entranced. Her dress was of upper class fashion, covered in decorative beading and patterning, clearly something fit for only the wealthiest of the first class passengers. And yet, the way she held herself, tossing her shoes like they meant nothing and not caring if anyone saw her in such a state, was completely at odds with her appearance. She looked like a woman with no way out, ready to throw it all away for a moment of peace. He Yu knew that type well. After all, wasn't he similar? A man who threw everything away to escape from the bindings that both at once tied him down and placed him on a pedestal where the whole world could marvel at him. He could have told the woman there were far better ways to run away than to throw herself off a moving ship, but she seemed to have made up her mind. He Yu wouldn't interfere. 

 

Except... the woman didn't try to toss herself overboard. She simply collapsed against the railing, alternating between sobbing into her arms and raising her head to gaze out across the ocean, staring out into the dark with longing written all over her face. Strange. He Yu stayed still for a moment, watching this woman from the shadows. He told himself it wasn't his problem, that whatever this woman did or didn't do was none of his concern. And it wasn’t, it truly wasn’t. But… she'd defied He Yu's expectations. He’d been so sure he’d found a kindred soul, even just in passing, and he thought he knew the path she’d chosen. But she hadn’t jumped, and now He Yu was curious. 

 

It was none of his business, but there would be no consequences for his curiosity. He Yu had nothing to lose. So, he pushed himself off the bench and walked with soft steps up to the woman.

 

"Excuse me, miss," He Yu said when the woman still didn't look up from her sobbing. She turned, her gorgeous eyes meeting He Yu's, but she didn't quite seem to see him. Her eyes still seemed glazed over in melancholy.

 

"Oh, my apologies," she said hurriedly and a little sadly, straightening up and smoothing down her dress, readjusting a sleeve that had slipped down one shoulder. "I know I shouldn't really be out here. I'll... I'll leave."

 

She hurriedly stepped past him, heading in the direction of her discarded shoes, but He Yu called, "Wait!"

 

The woman turned back to him, her eyes a little wide with surprise, actually seeing him this time. He Yu offered her his most charming smile, the one he used on the more hostile of his parents business partner because of its disarming qualities. "You don't have to go, miss. No one will stop you from being out here. I simply came over to ask what it is that you left in England that you miss so much." 

 

The woman gave a small gasp, shock and curiosity dancing a duet across her face. "How... How did you know?"

 

"It wasn't too difficult to guess, miss," He Yu said with a shrug. "You barely stop staring back in the direction of England long enough to dry your eyes."

 

The woman sniffed a laugh. "How very observant of you."

 

He Yu softened his smile, another tactic he'd often employed. "So, will you keep me in suspense? Or will you come back and tell me what it is that's got you in such a state?"

 

The woman didn't move to claim her spot back at the railing, but neither did she turn to leave. "I have to warn you, I do have a tendency to ramble."

 

"That's perfect. You've sparked my curiosity, and now I'd love to hear your story."

 

So, the woman—Xie Xue, as she soon told He Yu. He Yu offered a fake name in return—came to stand next to He Yu at the railing again, leaving an appropriate gap between them, and told He Yu her story. 

 

Xie Xue didn't lie. She did love to ramble. She told He Yu all about the life she'd left behind in England, from her favourite flower bush in the gardens to her secret, working class fiancé she hadn't told her family about. 

 

"He's just lovely," Xie Xue said. "So considerate and charming. Oh, you should have seen how he proposed!"

 

She went off on a tangent about how he organized a beautiful picnic beneath the white jasmine tree where they always met on the day that would mark the third year they'd spent together, and how he had proposed with this gorgeous silver and sapphire engagement ring that had belonged to his late grandmother. He Yu handed her his handkerchief when she started to sob again, deciding he wouldn't ask for it back after she blew her nose into it. 

 

"I never told my brother about Wei Dongheng until we were told we were to return to America, although I'm quite sure he figured it out beforehand. He didn't seem shocked at all when I told him, and he had always been somewhat judgemental towards Wei Dongheng."

 

"Your brother sounds very supportive of you," He Yu noted. The Xie siblings’ relationship intrigued He Yu. Were familial ties really all that were needed to bind two people so closely together? "Why didn't you tell him sooner?"

 

Xie Xue frowned, winding the soiled handkerchief around her fingers. Disgusting. "Supportive... isn't quite the right word. Protective, maybe. He's always been in charge of handling our family affairs, making sure we're keeping up appearances and all that. He treats me well, but he always does what will be best for our family. Such as how he's studying medicine because our uncle decided it was what would be best for the family's image." She pulled a face. "Or his engagement."

 

"He's engaged?" He Yu found his curiosity piqued by this figure in Xie Xue's life once again. This was the first He Yu had heard of any engagement, and though Xie Xue had spoken about her brother throughout her stories of England, her retellings had led He Yu to the conclusion that he was very... stand-offish. She'd described him as hard-working, always focused on his studies and achieving great things. He disliked the social events the upper class would always host, would prefer to keep to himself and not socialise with anyone he deemed unnecessary to talk to. Xie Xue's stories had never mentioned him socialising with a woman other than herself. How could someone this aloof be engaged?

 

"It was at our uncle's behest," Xie Xue said, scowling. "Some daughter of a close business partner of our family's. Ge and I had meet her a few years ago, and she'd seemed enamored with him since she first laid eyes on him. Ge hadn't even glanced twice at her at the time. But as soon as the letter arrived, decrying that the two of them were to be wed, he'd already penned a letter of agreement back by the end of the day." Xie Xue's eyes filled with tears again, and she sniffed then back angrily. "He's always doing what's best for the family, but I'm his family too, you know. And I thought he cared more about me than our uncle’s side of the family, but the very next day he was instructing the servants to pack up our things, no matter how much I begged him not to make us go back." Xie Xue rubbed at her eyes again. 

 

"Do you resent him for it?" He Yu asked softly. He Yu would have. Xie Xue shook her head, denying it vehemently.

 

"Of course not. He's my brother, and I know he doesn't want to go back any more than I do. I can't blame him for it. But it still disappoints me to see him always giving everything up like this."

 

How... intriguing.

 

He Yu was about to probe further, wishing to understand their sibling connection further, but the sharp clack of shoes against the deck interrupted him. 

 

"Xie Xue!" The newcomer called, his voice stern, and He Yu whipped his head around to stare at the stranger storming towards them. 

 

He wore a crisp tuxedo, tailored to his tall frame. He'd forgone the top hat that typically matched this type of wealthy formalwear in favour of simple, slicked back hair, but the wind whistling across the ships deck had blown a few stands loose and they fluttered in front of his eyes. Peach blossom eyes, just like Xie Xue's. But where Xie Xue's were full of warmth and emotion, adding an air of graceful joy to her expressions, this man somehow managed to make them look cold. Clinical. When his gaze locked on He Yu, they cut into him like scalpels, full of sharp, indifferent light. 

 

"Ge!" Xie Xue immediately straightened from her slouch against the railing at her brother's call, seeming shocked to see him there. 

 

Xie Qingcheng stormed over to them. "Xie Xue, you can't run off like that. And what are you doing hanging over the back of the ship? That's dangerous, get away from there."

 

"Sorry," Xie Xue said, her voice low, avoiding her brother’s gaze as she stepped away from the railing, "I didn't mean to worry you."

 

Xie Qingcheng only looked more irritated the closer she came. "You're a mess, Xie Xue," he scolded, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over her shoulders. "You can't be seen wandering around the ship like this, it is extremly improper. Where are your shoes?"

 

Xie Xue mumbled some more apologises before she rushed off to collect her shoes from the other end of the deck. He Yu watched her go, curious at the sudden change in her energy, but he didn’t have time to ponder it before Xie Qingcheng turned his piercing gaze on He Yu.

 

"And you," Xie Qingcheng said coldly, pulling He Yu’s gaze back to him. "Who are you, and why are you standing out here with my sister?"

 

He Yu raised an eyebrow at him, discarding his previous thoughts in favour of studying Xie Qingcheng. It wasn't the vision he'd expected. Someone closed off and cold, yes, but this imperiousness... Somehow, this man was far more overbearing than Xie Xue had made him sound. She clearly looked up to him a great deal to ignore such major flaws in his personality. 

 

"Edward Dawson," He Yu lied easily, offering Xie Qingcheng a forced smile. "You must be Xie Qingcheng, her brother. It's a pleasure to meet you."

 

Xie Qingcheng's nose wrinkled in displeasure, disdain on his face as he sneered at He Yu. He Yu gritted his teeth behind his smile. He was well accustomed to the looks he received from the upper class in his current state, looks that screamed, ill-washed ruffian. I wouldn't even dirty the sole of my shoe kicking you away. He Yu longed to silence them all, prove his true place, but most were truthfully no more irritating than mosquito bites. But something about the way this man looked at him irked He Yu more than others. Perhaps it was the way he seemed to be using those cold eyes of his to gaze into He Yu's soul and judge him there as well as on his appearance. It was like the pressure of that gaze got lost on its way to He Yu's heart and pressed down on a nerve. 

 

Xie Qingcheng ignored the cordial attitude He Yu offered, instead demanding, "Why were you out here with my sister?"

 

"I was just keeping her company." He Yu shrugged, feeling the uncomfortable weight of Xie Qingcheng's judgement irritating him, like an itch in his heart. It annoyed him, made him feel the need to force it back on Xie Qingcheng to soothe the feeling. He let a drip of malice trickle into his tone. "She's quite upset by the whole situation you've forced her into, you know. She ran out onto the deck, crying her eyes out. I thought I should check on her."

 

Something flashed in Xie Qingcheng's eyes. Concern for his sister, maybe? Guilt? But whatever it was was hidden behind a snidely raised eyebrow moments later.

 

"You thought you'd keep the company of an unmarried young woman alone?" Xie Qingcheng asked, disdainful insinuation laced through his tone.

 

"Whatever are you implying?" He Yu replied slyly, tilting his head as he gazed innocently back at Xie Qingcheng. "I was simply trying to be a good person. When I first saw her running past, I thought she was going to toss herself overboard. She certainly looked depressed enough to do it."

 

Xie Qingcheng scowled. "You-"

 

"Ge!" Xie Xue ran back over, a fragile smile on her face, shattering the tension of their standoff. "I've got my shoes." 

 

"Good." Xie Qingcheng turned his gaze away from He Yu without a second thought, like he meant nothing. It made He Yu's brows tug into a frown. "We're leaving now."

 

"Oh," Xie Xue said, frowning. "Do we have to? I would like to keep talking with Edward."

 

"Not tonight. It's late, and you're too much of a mess. It's inappropriate."

 

Xie Xue looked down, sighing wearily as she tugged Xie Qingcheng's jacket tighter around her shoulders. 

 

Xie Qingcheng wouldn't budge. He Yu had heard enough from Xie Xue to know it was pointless to start an argument about it if he wanted to both irritate Xie Qingcheng and give Xie Xue what she wanted. But perhaps there was another way that would still achieve his needs and get under Xie Qingcheng's skin.

 

"It's okay," He Yu interrupted softly, ignoring the glare Xie Qingcheng sent him even as it sent a jolt of satisfaction through him. "You should listen to your brother, you’re really not dressed for the cold weather out here. You can come talk to me again tomorrow, if you’d like."

 

Xie Xue smiled at him, oblivious to her brother's displeasure. "That would be lovely, Edward. I'll see you tomorrow, then." 

 

Xie Xue said her farewells to He Yu before Xie Qingcheng ushered her away. He Yu leaned back against the railing, letting a satisfied smile bloom across his face as the pair of them left. Xie Xue was sweet, and she was the first upper class person to treat him like a human being in a long time. She had a personality full of emotion and such interesting stories to tell that He Yu couldn't help but be charmed by her. Her brother, on the other hand... He Yu's smile flickered at that thought. 

 

Halfway across the deck, Xie Qingcheng half-turned his head back to fix He Yu with a final piercing glare. He Yu hurriedly fixed his grin and tilted his head arrogantly in return.

 

Xie Qingcheng was irritating. He Yu knew this. In the short span of minutes they’d known each other, he’d already managed to churn He Yu's feelings with his attitude and personality, bringing annoyance and dislike to the surface. And yet…

 

He Yu felt that he would enjoy seeing both of them again.

Notes:

He Yu's brilliant, foolproof plan to seduce the man of his dreams:
Step one: Imply his sister wanted to jump off the boat due to his actions.
He'll... He'll learn. Eventually.

Next week's update will be a little late beacuse I'll be out of wifi range for a few days, but it'll be back to normal after that.

Drop some kudos and comments if you feel like it, I'd love to hear what you think.

Chapter 3: April 11th

Xie Qingcheng tugged the brush through Xie Xue's hair, frowning as he tried to work out the tangles the wind had whipped into it last night. He was never very good at being gentle when it came to brushing hair, no matter how he tried, but today there was a dash of irritation laced into his strokes, adding to their fierceness. Each catch of the brush felt like a reminder, a remnant of a cold smile, of a snide tone, of a gaze as sturdy and steady as flint. The memory of Edward, with his unflinching and controlled demeanor, resurfacing in his mind with each abrupt stop.

 

Was it stress that had expedited Xie Qingcheng's dislike of Edward? Perhaps. Yesterday had been awful for both him and Xie Xue, and between the forced socialisation and his concern for Xie Xue's wellbeing, he'd already been in a terrible mood by the time Xie Xue had run off during dinner. Finding her with Edward... He could admit he hadn't handled the situation with the poise that was expected of him, letting his distrust and irritation take over. With the aid of hindsight, perhaps he could admit that Edward's snide comments toward him weren't... entirely invalid, even if his insinuations had been a step too far. It still did nothing to dispel the residual dislike Xie Qingcheng’s meeting with Edward had caused, nor that vague sense of unease Edward had sparked. He’d spoken such harsh words and hideous insinuations, all said with a dull gaze that made the hairs on the back of Xie Qingcheng's neck rise. Was it naivety that gave those eyes their flat stare as Edward fearlessly spun his web of hurtful words, or knowledge? Had those eyes seen too little to know fear, or too much? 

 

The thoughts that had been nagging in the back of Xie Qingcheng’s mind started whispering louder once they were given room to grow, each catch of the brush seeming to offer them the feelings they needed to become stronger until, suddenly, there were no more knots, and Xie Qingcheng brutally crushed those thoughts of Edward as the brush traveled through an inky wave of hair unimpeded. Regardless of Edward's mildly disturbing fearlessness, he truly hadn't done anything to warrant sush distrust yet. Xie Xue had told him everything that had happened with Edward last night, and regardless of his personal feelings, it seemed to be that Edward had simply been trying to comfort a woman in distress, just as he’d claimed. And, what did it matter besides?  Xie Qingcheng was unlikely to interact with him much during the rest of their stay on the Titanic, much less after they made it to New York. It wasn’t worth wasting his time thinking about it.

 

Thoughts of Edward cast from his mind, Xie Qingcheng separated the hair into sections, just as his mother had taught him back when he was little, when she was still around to teach. Twist, curl, pull, methodical work, dragging each stand into place. Xie Qingcheng let it occupy his mind as he worked, pushing the hair comb into Xie Xue's hair to hold it in place once he was finished. It wasn't good as Xie Xue's old maid used to do it, looser and less tidy, but it would do. It would have to. 

 

"We should invite Edward to dinner with us."

 

Xie Qingcheng glanced up at Xie Xue's sudden words, meeting her gaze in the vanity mirror. Her eyes were wide, imploring. Edward's willingness to listen had stuck with her, even Xie Qingcheng could tell, and Xie Xue was always one to repay kindness. She'd smiled her first genuine smile since they'd boarded the boat while talking to Edward, something even Xie Qingcheng hadn't been able to draw out of her. Xie Qingcheng wouldn't have been entirely opposed to Xie Xue's idea, had there not been more at stake to consider.

 

Xie Qingcheng set down the brush and turned away to pluck his suit jacket off the back of a nearby chair, unable to meet Xie Xue's expressive gaze. "It would not reflect well on us to be seen associating with the lower class."

 

He could feel Xie Xue frowning at him and heard the scrape of her chair as she stood to follow after him. "I don't recall you ever caring about that to this extent before."

 

"We're traveling on the Titanic for six more days yet," Xie Qingcheng said with cool finality as he slipped his jacket on. "In an environment this small, rumours and gossip will spread fast, and we cannot afford offer ourselves up as a topic of conversation. We will not willing associate with a boy from steerage."

 

"If you're so worried about how it will look, why don't we lie?" Xie Xue suggested, determined as she followed Xie Qingcheng who began to walk towards the door. "If we make up a story, say he performed some heroic deed for us, it shouldn't cause us any problems, right?"

 

"Xie Xue-" Xie Qingcheng started, preparing to scold her for her careless planning and lack of foresight, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop just inches from the door.

 

"Please, Ge?" Xie Xue pleaded. Xie Qingcheng looked back at her for the first time since she'd started this conversation. "Edward was kind to me. He's the first person who has truly listened to me since we left England, and I simply want to repay that kindness. Is that too much to ask?"

 

Xie Qingcheng was going to say no. He wanted to say no. But met Xie Xue’s intense, determined gaze, and found he couldn’t voice the word.

 

Xie Xue had been miserable since she boarded the ship, no matter how she’d tried to hide it from Xie Qingcheng, no matter how much she tried to appear as though she’d let go and moved on. He could see it in the slumped set of her shoulders, her downcast eyes, the way her every movement was filled with slow melancholy. Meeting Edward hadn’t fixed that. She was still full of sadness, her movements lethargic, speaking less and quietly. But it had lessened. She was more willing to talk, share what was on her mind, hold her head high and offer real, genuine smiles again. She was willing to start letting other emotions back in, and it was all because of Edward.

 

That realisation gave Xie Qingcheng pause, a moment to reconsider. Could he really bring himself to compromise his sister's happiness again after only the slightest fragments of it had been restored? Would he really deny Xie Xue this one request?

 

Xie Xue cared about Edward. It was clear in her words, her actions, the determined set of her shoulders and the defiant grit of her jaw. She wouldn’t willingly give up on this idea of her’s, no matter how dangerous it could be for them, and Xie Qingcheng found he couldn’t bring himself to force her to let go. Her happiness was too often influenced by the feelings of others, regardless of whether she knew them well or not. That caring nature of Xie Xue’s was one of her best qualities, but also the most troublesome. Separating her from Edward would only crush what she'd picked back up of her fragile heart.

 

Xie Qingcheng felt his eye twitch as realised he’d already made his decision. He sighed irritably, unimpressed at his conclusion, but still found himself saying, "Fine. We'll invite him to dinner. Just this once."

 

~~~

 

Sunlight sparkled off the smooth expanse of ocean with not a cloud in sight to block its blinding path. He Yu squinted at it from where he sat on one of the benches on B deck, flicking through a sketchbook he'd won a few days ago in a poker game. Objectively, it was a lovely day, with warm sun and a cool breeze. Even if the light glinting off the ocean seemed determined to burn his eyes, it was still far better than being stuck below deck with the hideous crowds and vibrating machinery. It was like being crammed into a noisy, humid, body-filled prison cell down there, full of screaming children and aggressively social adults, complete with the buzz and shaking caused by the ships engines to seal the miserable deal of it all. He found himself cursing his entire situation yet again, envious of the luxuries afforded to the first class, the luxuries he should have rightly received. Even though his lower class aesthetic was necessary to fly under the radar of his awful family, He Yu didn't have to like it. At least the deck was less claustrophobic. Far quieter, too. He Yu planned on spending as much time as possible out here. 

 

The sketchbook in his hands was interesting. He Yu hadn't had a chance to do more than flip though it once or twice, too busy trying to cheat and steal enough money to get his next train ticket. The artist was talented, and He Yu could appreciate the way that people and landscapes were captured so effortlessly, so it wasn't an awful way to spend his time. Plus, it gave him an excuse to ignore the other third class passengers milling about. No need to fake smiles or polite conversation with people who weren't worth his time. 

 

As He Yu flipped the pages, absentmindedly remarking on the artist's apparent skill, he found his mind wandering back to the pair of siblings he'd met last night, running over their interactions again. The pair of them had been stuck in his mind all morning, intriguing him in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. Xie Xue had been nice, so easily willing to share her story and treat He Yu like a real person, worthy of her time and attention. He Yu wasn't used to that, and he found he wanted more of her attention and carefree affection. He wondered if she would make good on her word to talk to him again, or if her brother would even let her. 

 

Xie Qingcheng... 

 

He Yu's nose wrinkled as the memory of Xie Xue's cold and aloof brother crept back into his mind. Inextricably tied to Xie Xue as he was, the thought of Xie Qingcheng still kept crossing He Yu's mind far more often than he would have liked. What right did he have, with all of his disdainful looks and that piercing gaze that felt like it was a burning needle wedged into his heart, to taint the kind memory of Xie Xue? Why did the memory of his judgement make the insides of his ribcage itch? He Yu didn't like it. He didn't like him. 

 

But then, there were those moments when He Yu managed to gain something of an upper hand, claw his way to equal footing with his words and actions to push Xie Qingcheng down, make him scowl in irritation and rid those peach blossom eyes of their cold judgement. Inflict the same indescribable feeling Xie Qingcheng gave He Yu back on him and put him in his place. Those moments were satisfying, euphoric even. He Yu craved the thought of seeing him again as much as he loathed the idea of being subject to Xie Qingcheng's disdain. 

 

Suddenly, the buzz of conversation on deck lulled, everyone halting their movements at the sound of footsteps approaching. The abrupt change in mood drew He Yu out of his thoughts and he glanced up, the corner of his mouth quirking upward into smirk at what he saw. Speak of the devil. 

 

Xie Xue was striding towards him with a smile as bright as the sun that glinted off the ocean, Xie Qingcheng trailing behind her like an irritated shadow, dark and prickly in all the ways Xie Xue was bright. 

 

"Edward!" Xie Xue called, giggling as He Yu stood to bow politely in greeting, tucking the sketchbook under one arm. Xie Xue smiled as she bowed back, and He Yu spared a glance at Xie Qingcheng who looked back at him apathetically, not a hint of emotion behind his steely, impassionate stare. That made He Yu want to frown, and his irritation only increased when Xie Qingcheng refused to greet him, still staring through He Yu like he wasn't worth his time. That itchy feeling behind his ribcage resurfaced again. 

 

Xie Xue didn't notice her brother's rudeness, too busy inviting He Yu to take a turn about the decks with them. Soon, He Yu was wandering the first class deck beside Xie Xue, Xie Qingcheng walking a step behind them like an indiscreet chaperone. The thought made He Yu snicker.

 

"So," Xie Xue began, ignoring the strange looks they were receiving from the other first class passengers walking about, "my brother and I were wondering if you would like to join us for dinner tonight?"

 

"Really?" He Yu questioned, honestly quite shocked. "Whatever for?"

 

Xie Xue smiled at his shocked expression. "You were so kind to me yesterday, coming over to talk with me and listening to my rambling. We simply wanted to thank you for your kindness."

 

He Yu glanced back at Xie Qingcheng, noting his clenched jaw that spoke of irritation at being included in what could only be Xie Xue's plan, but he wasn't refuting her. Had he truly agreed to this idea, with its lack of social etiquette and impropriety? How wonderful. He Yu received the opportunity to both spend more time with Xie Xue and work on drawing more delightful irritation out of Xie Qingcheng.

 

He Yu turned back to Xie Xue with a radiant smile, offering a polite shrug. "It was nothing, really."

 

Xie Xue returned his smile with a radiant one of her own, its warmth reaching all the way to her eyes. He Yu wondered if Xie Qingcheng's eyes could ever look like that. With the layer of frost that blanketed them constantly, he thought not. "Perhaps not to you," Xie Xue said kindly, "but for me, it meant a lot."

 

He Yu adopted something of a bashful expression as he said, "In that case, I would be honoured to accept your dinner invite."

 

From the corner of his eye, He Yu watched for Xie Qingcheng's reaction, but he didn't get anything more than aloofness. He Yu frowned in disappointment. He wanted something, even if it wasn’t the same raw emotion he’d managed to draw out of Xie Qingcheng last night. A simple glare, a frown, something to tell He Yu he’d at least managed to dent the shell Xie Qingcheng was keeping his emotions behind. Blankness wouldn’t do. Not at all. He Yu could still feel the judgement in Xie Qingcheng's gaze from last night, piercing into his soul and calling him nothing. He was going to pay him back for it, for the way it made him feel. He'd never been able to rest until he'd pushed people back into their places for whatever pain or inconvenience they'd caused him, never stopping until he was crowned the victor through whatever means necessary. He Yu would never settle for anything less. He always got what he wanted. Always. He'd just have to put in a little more effort to break Xie Qingcheng open and cut him down.

 

"We'll need a cover story for you, of course," Xie Xue said, pulling He Yu out of his thoughts of Xie Qingcheng, lowering her voice so the people around them couldn't hear, "to uphold the proper etiquette."

 

"Of course," He Yu agreed, shaking off the remnants of his vengeful mood. There the Xie Qingcheng in his thoughts went again, interrupting his time with Xie Xue. Had he even spared a moment to appreciate Xie Xue's company yet and not focus on her brother? Curse Xie Qingcheng for constantly ruining good things.

 

"You don't worry about that, though," Xie Xue continued, grinning as she whispered conspiratorially. "Ge and I already came up with some ideas this morning."

 

He Yu smiled at her. "Then, by all means, tell me more.”

Notes:

I would like the thank The Book of Good Manners for teaching me far too much about Edwardian etiquette :)

Drop some kudos and comments if you feel like it, I'd love to hear what you think.

Notes:

I feel I should mention that the character of Xie Qingcheng's uncle is entirely made up. I've only read the first four books and don't remember any mention of an uncle, although his Fandom wiki page does mention an unnamed uncle, but this is a made up character who is there for plot reasons.

Drop some kudos and comments if you feel like it, I'd love to hear what you think.

I'm going to try for weekly updates, but it depends on how fast I can write and how hectic my life gets.

And yes, I do feel smart for posting this on the 10th of April.