Chapter Text
Year 34 AC= Cyan and Luo is 13, Queen is 22 years old, Loli (Luo Li) is 15 years old, Wang Nuonuo is 17.
SNAP!!!!!!!!!
The performance had just ended, but instead of applause, a heavy silence filled the room. Cyan felt it press down on her chest like a storm cloud ready to burst. The children and adults sat stiff and wide-eyed, mouths parted but voiceless. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. She didn’t even need to glance at Mr. Harkin; the look on his face told her enough.
Then—warmth. A hand slipped into hers.
She startled, looking down. Luo. His fingers curled around hers with a fierce, trembling grip, as if he was holding on not just to her, but to an irreversible choice they were about to make.
“Come on,” he hissed quietly to her, his voice breaking through the silence like a match struck in the dark. His breath brushed against her cheek. “We’re leaving. Now.”
Her heart leapt into her throat. Eleven years old, and the words they had whispered to each other in the dormitory shadows—the promises, the “what ifs”—suddenly weren’t dreams anymore.
They darted down the aisle between pews, her shoes slapping against the marble. Every step felt clumsy, too loud. She couldn’t stop hearing her own heartbeat, couldn’t stop feeling his hand in hers—hot, steady, refusing to let go.
“Don’t look back,” he yelled, though his voice trembled.
But the Dean was already there, waiting. He stepped from the shadows at the Orphanage main doors, face twisted with fury. His black tendrils lashed out, slamming the gates shut with a thunderous crack.
Cyan gasped, stumbling back, but Luo shoved her behind him.
The tendrils struck. One snapped tight around his arm, another coiled across his chest, lifting him off the ground.
“Luo!” Her scream tore from her, raw and shaking.
He fought against the grip, teeth clenched, his eyes flashing toward her. “Run, Cyan. Please. If you want to live—run.”
Cyan's whole body quivered, every instinct screaming at her to obey—but her feet wouldn’t move. Fear clawed at her chest, but it wasn’t stronger than the thought crashing through her mind: He’s all I have. I’m not leaving him.
“No,” she whispered, voice trembling but firm. Her fists curled tight, nails biting her palms. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Cyan—” His voice cracked under the pressure, every word sounding like it cost him everything.
Her eyes burned, throat tight with everything she couldn’t say—that he was her only safe place, that every day in the orphanage was survivable because of him, that she’d rather die here than face tomorrow without his hand in hers.
“I said no!” she cried, voice breaking.
And then the world split open.
A deafening crash shook the church as a truck barreled into the gates from the outside, splintering the wooden doors into shards. Dust and light exploded in, scattering across the pews. For one wild heartbeat, the tendrils faltered, loosening just enough.
Cyan lunged forward without thinking, reaching for him, her whole body trembling. Her fingers grazed his wrist, desperate, clinging.
Don’t you dare let go.
The air was thick with dust and splinters. The Dean’s grip faltered even more seeing Cyan flying at him, shadows wavering. She slammed her shoulder into him, shoving Luo free. They tumbled across the floor, rolling as debris rained down around them.
Luo got on top of Cyan to protect her from the debris as Cyan closed her eyes.
“Are you okay?” Cyan gasped getting up from under Luo, scrambling to her knees. Her hands found his, trembling, refusing to let go.
Lueo’s eyes were wide, his chest heaving. For a moment he just stared at her, stunned. Then he nodded, voice breaking. “Y-Yeah… thanks to you.”
Relief crashed over her so hard her knees almost gave out. She hadn’t left him. She hadn’t failed him. The warmth of his hand grounded her, steadied her thoughts into the present.
Her chest felt like it was going to burst. She hadn’t left him behind. That was all that mattered. She kept his hand tight in hers as they ran out the doors, feet pounding the ground.
The road outside were cracked and messy clearly not maintained properly, every corner looking the same to her. Their lungs burned, but they didn’t stop running. Cyan leaned into him when her legs felt weak after 40 minuets of running and Luo tugged her forward like he always did.
“Just a little longer!” he shouted, his voice shaking but determined.
“I… I won’t let go,” Cyan said between breaths. She meant it, in more ways than one.
Finally, they ducked into a quiet side street and stopped, both of them bent over and gasping for air. Cyan slid down to sit on the ground, her legs still shaking. A laugh slipped out of her, shaky but real.
“We made it…” she said.
Without thinking, she leaned over and hugged him, quick and tight. Her face pressed against his shoulder, and she mumbled, “Thank you… for staying with me.”
Luo didn’t move at first, but then he wrapped his arms around her too. He didn’t answer, just held her there until she finally pulled back. The silence between them was awkward but it was also calming for Cyan.
Then her stomach growled loud enough to make her freeze. Her face turned red, and she avoided his eyes.
“You… hungry?” he asked, a little smile tugging at his mouth.
She nodded. “A little.”
They sat there for a moment, still holding on to each other’s hands, catching their breath. For the first time that night, it felt like maybe everything was going to be okay.
Cyan blinked up as Luo offered his hand. For a second she just stared, chest tight—not with fear this time, but with that odd relief that always hit her when he was the one reaching for her. She slipped her hand into his, letting him pull her to her feet.
“We can go get something to eat,” he said, grinning like this was just another late-night adventure.
Her eyes dropped to the coins he dangled. “You… took those from the Dean?” she whispered, disbelief mixing with a little laugh.
Luo shrugged, a mischievous spark in his eyes. “Figured we might need them.”
Cyan shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips. “You’re crazy.” The words came out soft, but under them was a thrill—dangerous, daring, and for once, theirs.
“Crazy, maybe,” Luo said. “But at least we won’t starve.”
They walked side by side down the quiet streets, the coins clinking faintly in his pocket. The city lights stretched shadows across cracked sidewalks. Cyan’s thoughts ran faster than her feet: freedom, uncertainty, the sharp ache of hunger… and the strange comfort of not facing it alone.
“So… what do we do now?” she asked, her voice low but steady.
“I don’t know,” Luo admitted, eyes fixed ahead. “We’ll need money first.”
“Do we… ask someone for work?” she pressed, chewing her lip.
“Too risky,” he said quickly. “We’re too young. No one’s going to trust us… not yet. We’ll have to be smart. Start small.”
Cyan nodded, her hand brushing against his. She didn’t pull away. Despite everything—the running, the danger, the endless unknown—the light touch made her chest loosen. They weren’t just escaping anymore. They were walking forward, side by side, they weren’t allowed to do this at the orphanage as the Dean said it would make her unlucky like Luo.
After a pause, she gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Okay… we’ll figure it out. Together.”
The word hung between them, heavier than she expected. Hope flickered to life in her chest.
Luo’s mouth curved into a small, tired smile. He squeezed back. “Together,” he echoed.
Cyan’s mind sparked with sudden energy, cutting through her exhaustion. “Hey, Luo,” she said quickly, turning toward him, her voice eager now. “What if… we do street performances?”
Luo blinked down at her. “Street performances?”
“Yes!” Cyan said quickly, almost tripping over her words. “You play guitar, I can sing… maybe people will give us coins. We could actually make money!”
For the first time all night, Luo’s tired expression broke into a real grin. “That’s… actually a great idea. We can try tomorrow morning, if we find a good spot.”
Her chest filled with warmth that pushed back the cold in her bones. “Really? You think it’ll work?”
“I do,” he said, shifting the guitar strap on his shoulder. “If anyone gives us trouble, we’ll just move on. But people like music. Let’s try.”
Hand in hand, they walked through the quiet streets, and Cyan’s exhaustion melted into anticipation. The city no longer felt as huge and empty. It felt like a place where maybe—just maybe—they could belong and have a future in.
Not long after, they spotted a small food cart glowing under a weak lantern. The smell of grilled meat drifted through the air, making Cyan’s stomach growl loudly. She blushed, embarrassed.
“Um… two burgers and a bottle of water, please,” she said, trying to sound confident but feeling a little shy.
“That’ll be twenty,” the vendor said, holding out his hand.
Luo quickly counted the coins and handed them over. Cyan’s eyes lit up when she got her burger, steam curling up to brush against her face. She hugged it slightly to her chest before taking a careful bite, the warmth and smell hitting her all at once.
The first taste made her eyes widen, and a genuine smile spread across her face—soft, unforced, the kind that only comes when something feels just right. Luo caught it and couldn’t help but grin back at her. Seeing her like this, happy and relaxed, made all the fear and running of the night feel worth it.
He bit into his own burger, chewing slowly, savoring the simple pleasure of having food in his hands and Cyan beside him. Every now and then, he’d glance at her, and she would meet his eyes, smile again, and take another bite. That little exchange—just a look, a shared grin—made them feel like they weren’t alone in the world anymore.
When they finished, Luo checked their remaining coins. “Uh… looks like that’s it. Just fifteen left,” he said, his voice slightly worried.
Cyan looked down at the coins, then tucked them carefully into her pocket. “It’s fine,” she said softly, giving him another small, genuine smile. “At least we ate. That’s… something.”
Her smile lit up her face, warm and honest, and for a moment, Luo forgot the fear, the danger, even the night outside. Seeing her like this—happy, safe, smiling—was all he needed.
They walked again until they reached the main plaza. The fountain shimmered faintly under the moonlight, and Cyan sank onto the stone edge with a sigh.
“Yeah… it’s nice here,” she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “But… what do we do until morning?”
Luo sat beside her, the seriousness back in his eyes. “You should sleep. I’ll take my first watch.”
Cyan hesitated, looking at him, then slowly leaned over and rested her head in his lap. His warmth chased away the night air’s chill.
“Are you sure this is okay?” she mumbled, half-embarrassed, half-relieved.
“Yeah,” he said quietly, resting one hand against the stone to steady himself. “Just rest. I’ve got you.”
Her chest loosened at the words. For the first time since leaving the orphanage, she let her eyes close. Her breathing evened out, and with the faint sound of the fountain and Luo’s steady presence, sleep finally came
Luo sat stiffly, eyes scanning the quiet plaza. Every so often he shifted, making sure the sweatshirt he’d swiped from the orphanage stayed snug around her shoulders.
Then— clink.
A soft metallic sound echoed across the stone. Luo’s head snapped toward it. A coin rolled to a stop by his shoe.
He jerked his gaze upward. A slim man with black hair was walking away, his steps calm, almost lazy. Just before the man disappeared into the shadows, he lifted a hand in a casual wave.
Luo frowned, heart thudding.
And then—faintly—he caught it. A voice, low but clear enough to hear:
“Can’t wait for their performance tomorrow.”
Luo froze, his breath catching. He looked down at Cyan, still curled against him, asleep and completely unaware. Then back toward the alley where the man had gone.
A chill crawled up his spine. He didn’t know that man. He shouldn’t know about them.
Luo picked up the coin, rolling it between his fingers before slipping it into his pocket. His jaw tightened.
Luo stayed sitting on the edge of the plaza, legs stretched out on the cold stone. Cyan lay in his lap, her head tucked under the sweatshirt.She looked small and peaceful, breathing slow and even, completely unaware of the danger that had stalked them just hours before.
He watched her for a long moment, a small, almost shy smile tugging at his lips. The sweatshirt hung loosely over her shoulders, but she seemed warm and safe, and that was enough.
Gently, Luo reached down and patted her hair, careful not to wake her. Cyan let out a soft, contented hum and shifted slightly, a tiny smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
Luo’s chest lightened, the tension from the night easing a little.
Cyan’s shoulders twitching under the sweatshirt, her brows pinched tight. A faint whimper slipped from her lips, and her small frame trembled against him. She was dreaming—no, trapped in a nightmare.
His heart clenched. He hated seeing her like this, even in sleep, fighting battles she didn’t deserve to face. For a moment he froze, not sure what to do, but instinct pushed him forward.
Slowly, carefully, Luo shifted. He leaned down, wrapping his arms around her and lowering his chest against her back. His warmth pressed steady against her, a shield between her and the cold night.
“Shh… it’s okay,” he whispered softly, his breath brushing her hair.
At first she still trembled, caught in whatever shadows haunted her mind. But as his heartbeat settled into a steady rhythm against her, the shivering began to fade. Her breathing evened out, slow and soft, and her clenched fists finally loosened.
Luo held her there, close, not moving. The plaza was silent except for the fountain’s steady trickle and the faint sound of her breaths against him.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured, so low only the night could hear it. “I’ve got you.”
The girl who never let go of his hand, who had whispered dreams into the dark corners of their dormitory, was safe here with him.
His chest tightened with a quiet resolve. Whatever it took—no matter how dangerous the world became—he would make sure Cyan’s dreams didn’t die in the shadows of the orphanage. If she wanted freedom, he would fight for it. If she wanted to sing beneath city lights, he’d carry his guitar until his fingers bled. If she stumbled, he’d be there to catch her.
I’ll help you succeed, Cyan, he thought fiercely, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. No matter what it costs me. That’s my promise.
Her breathing was steady now, her lips parted in quiet sleep. She shifted just enough to nuzzle into his lap, her face tucked against him as if she belonged nowhere else.
The plaza was quiet, the fountain’s murmur lulling him in time with her heartbeat. His eyelids grew heavy, the long night finally weighing him down. Still, his hand rested lightly on her shoulder, a silent vow never to let go.
And as the first pale light of dawn brushed the edges of the sky, Luo drifted into sleep with Cyan safe in his lap, the two of them holding on to each other against the world.