Guardian: Returns

14

The day was gloomy and dark. Luo Fei was following raindrops sliding down the windowpane with a bored gaze. He blinked lazily and looked back at the teacher, then at the board. He didn't want to be at school. Not on this day. The other students were irritating him. "What a bunch of idiots," he thought, then lowered his head. He felt the urge to scratch his healing arms and he grabbed the edge of the desk. 

Luo knew that Jiang Feng was watching him closely after he had barely said hello earlier. The kid wore a worried expression but patiently waited through the long minutes of each break for Luo to make the first move, giving him space he so much needed. And seeing how Luo Fei was treating everyone around, he even tried to minimise the number of people who wanted something from his friend. Luo saw all those efforts, and for some reason, it only made him angrier. He didn't need a nanny.

When Xu Zhihao approached them, Feng straightened up and was about to say something when a strong hand pushed him away.

"Stop," Luo shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I, um. I thought that you wanted to be left alone." Jiang Feng admitted, fixing his glasses nervously.

"I do. And that involves you too. So bugger off."

"Oh. I'm sorry." Feng lowered his head. "I didn't..."

"Shit," Luo suddenly stormed out of the classroom. He knew that later he would have a lot to apologise for, but the boy was feeling awful, and all he wanted was for the day to end. He ended up going to his secret smoking place and lighting a cigarette with shaking hands. Somehow, this year it was much worse. Was it because of the recent events? Or perhaps because, for the first time, there was someone at school who cared and worried about him. Luo wasn't used to sharing his troubles, always carrying them alone, not trusting anyone with what was going on inside his head. He was a pro at goofing around, playing a cheerful and confident kid, and that was how he was perceived. And only Jiang Feng, somehow attuned to Luo's mood, got around his defences, and immediately knew something was wrong. And Luo treated him like...

"Shit!" he repeated, tossing the half-finished cigarette to the grass and stomping on it angrily. He sat on the ground and hid his face in his hands. He wanted Jiang Feng with him.

Xin Bai saw his brother sitting alone on a bench and reading the history textbook. He frowned.

"Where's Luo?"

"He wanted to be alone." Feng smiled sadly at Xin Bai. "I think something happened, but he isn't ready to tell me yet."

"Oh?" Xin Bai raised his eyebrows. Luo wanting solitude was something new. A rare opportunity to finally be with his brother alone during school hours. "Ge, let's eat lunch together!" The silver-haired kid sat next to his twin and took out his lunchbox.

"You go ahead and eat. I'm not hungry, didi," Feng smiled and returned to his book, yet his eyes weren't moving.

"If you're so worried, why don't you go and check on that idiot."

"But he said... Didi, you shouldn't call him that."

Xin Bai took a deep breath. His brother was way too innocent.

"I said, go!" the kid moved his fingers, manipulating the dark energy inside his palm. He nudged Feng with his power. Not forcing, but rather prompting him to act. Jiang Feng blinked sluggishly and stood up, the book he was holding falling to the ground, completely forgotten.

"Luo Fei... Find..." he mumbled before leaving. Jiang Xin Bai followed him with a worried gaze. He hated using his powers on his brother, hated the fact that Feng wasn't somehow immune to them because he, of all people, should be.