Illusion - SCI Mystery 谜案集 Fanfiction

Chapter 1

"Zhan Yao..."

Bai Yutong spoke softly, with a hint of pain in his tone that most people around him probably wouldn't have noticed. To them, he would most likely seem indifferent. But actually his expression wasn't fierce and frightening like before anymore. Instead he just looked really tired, as if not having slept for weeks. Which was actually the case. How could he possibly sleep peacefully when Zhan Yao was locked up in here?

Zhan Yao turned around and looked at him. But he did not speak. Well, of course he didn't. Even if he did, no sound would be heard because of that voice-muting collar.

Silence took over the small space as they looked into each others' eyes.

It was Bai Yutong who finally broke that silence.

"How are you?"

He alway asked this at the start of their one-sided conversations when he came to visit Zhan Yao, which happened a lot. Actually, he would come over everytime he had free time.

Zhan Yao just looked at him and he didn't even need to talk for Bai Yutong to understand him. For them, there has never been a need for many words as they understood each other wordlessly.

Zhan Yao's gaze shortly flickered to the dark circles beneath Bai Yutong's eyes and then stared at him blamingly. Bai Yutong sighed.

"I asked how you are doing. You look thinner than last time. Are you even eating properly? You should take better care of yourself, you know that you get sick easily!"

The ever so capable teamleader of the S.C.I. Hongkong Police Department was throwing a tantrum like a little child.

Unimaginable for others, especially in front of someone they considered one of the worst criminals of their time. But he wasn't for Bai Yutong. Even though he didn't know the details, he knew Zhan Yao was not a criminal. He would never be able to harm others yet alone kill. At most he would be able to starve himself to death because he forgot to eat again.

Zhan Yao just rolled his eyes, an obvious sign that he didn't care about this issue even half as much as the man opposite of him, which lead to further irritate said man.

Bai Yutong was about to add something to his speech but was interrupted as Zhan Yao took a small step towards him and looked at him intently. He wasn't going to drop the issue of the dark circles and tiredness which clouded Bai Yutong's handsome face.

They were both stubborn men who cared more about the other than they did for themselves. This trait was actually kind of cute but at the same time a little annoying to watch for the people around them.

Since neither of the both wanted to give in, they just continued to stare at each other in resolute silence.

Surprisingly, it was Bai Yutong who gave in first, which was just another prove for his tiredness that made Zhan Yao worry even more.

"Please just take care of yourself, will you? I worry for you."

Bai Yutong sounded defeated which immediately made Zhan Yao feel guilty.

If possible, he had never wanted to be the cause of Yutong's pain. He wanted to protect him, which is what lead to the situation they are in and based on Bai Yutong's expressions he knew that he was responsible of it. After all, he was Hongkong's best policeman and an excellent pilot - there was not much that could escape his eyes.

Zhan Yao was uncertain. Had his descision been right? No, it was too late to worry about that now. He was thinking of how to console, distract him when all of the sudden Bai Yutong stood really close to him. A quiet gasp left his lips as he looked at the slightly taller man in surprise. Their eyes met.

In addition to his handsome face, Bai Yutong has always had very beautiful, deep eyes which always held a strong unwavering determination. Zhan Yao loved these eyes, well, not that he would ever admit that just to boost that narcissist's already enormous ego.

But now these very same eyes were almost unrecognizible.

Accusingly, they bore right into Zhan Yao's eyes - no, his soul, his whole being. His gaze held pain, guilt and anger. As well as something Zhan Yao had never seen in those eyes before: fear.

His heart clenched painfully as he realized that he was the cause of it and he immediately dropped his gaze as he stumbled backwards.

But Bai Yutog grabbed him by his arm to prevent him from distancing himself any further. Instead he only pulled him closer. Harshly so. A way he never treated Zhan Yao before.

"Why did you do it?"

They both knew Yutong wasn't asking for the reason Zhan Yao committed those crimes for.

His voice was flat and silent, demanding. But Zhan Yao could notice how he tried to surpress his anger and prevent himself from screaming at him, crying for answers that he wouldn't give him. That he couldn't give him.

He noticed Bai Yutong's body turning rigid against his own as he tried to struggle out of his grip, avoiding eye-contact - avoiding any kind of contact all together.

Bai Yutong had tried any kind of way, any kind of strategy to get Zhan Yao to finally tell him he didn't do any of the crimes they indicted him for. But the other would always either ignore him or his eyes turned cold, his gaze mocking. As if he found it funny Yutong still believed he was innocent.

He couldn't fool him, though. Bai Yutong was certain Zhan Yao was innocent. Even more certain than the fact that the earth was round and turning around the sun.

As Zhan Yao still struggled, Bai Yutong's patience finally snapped.

Roughly, he pushed him on the small bed, making him hit his head on the hard matress. If not for the collar, a pained groan would have escaped his mouth.

Still not completely realizing what has happened, Zhan Yao laid still until confusion set in and he tried to rise. But this time, Bai Yutong was not having it. He hovered above him and stared down at his former partner with an empty expression. As if he was till considering what to do with the man beneath him.

Zhan Yao started to panic. He never saw Yutong this mad before.

Of course there had been their occassional cat and mouse bickering but it was always mostly on a playful level - never like this.

In his confused and panicked state, Zhan Yao even temporarily forgot that no sound would be heard even if he talked as he tried to soothe Yutong's anger.

Unfortunately, this only added to Bai Yutong's anger.