Nameless

Chapter 15 Home

Author notes: English is not my first language, so please forgive my mistakes and awkward writing. This is NOT for profit. I don't own them. AU (as in Alternate Universe) and maybe OOC (as in Out of Character). Characters belong to their rightful owners.

Author notes 2: Thanks to @SunnyAlSorna and @JJSin2020 for editing this. All remaining errors are totally mine. Thanks for your votes and comments, they really motivate me to keep writing.

Author Notes 3: The song is Home by Depeche Mode.

Chapter 15. Home

Zhan looked at the stranger and felt uneasy. Sure, that man was absolutely gorgeous, but he had a coldness that radiated from beneath. Zhan found him as beautiful as a painting or a sculpture. Lifeless, was the word that came to his mind.

"I'm sorry," Zhan tried again to apologize. The stranger looked at him unwaveringly, unnerving him.

"No need. No harm done," a deep voice replied. It seemed that man was trying to look through his inner thoughts.

"I really need to watch where I'm going," Zhan muttered. He felt the need to run away from that man. A crazy thought assaulted him. What if the man tried to touch him? He knew he wasn't being rational, but what he was feeling was like a primal fear.

"You seem to be in a hurry," the stranger stated, still entirely focused on him, making Zhan uncomfortable.

"Well, kind of..." Zhan grabbed the nape of his neck with one hand, embarrassed and nervous.

"Where are you going?" the stranger asked, looking curious and interested, searching in Zhan's eyes for an answer.

"I'm going to see my..." Zhan paused. He knew Bo and him were currently nothing but friends, and yet, he felt much more than that for Bo. "...friend," he finished.

"She seems to be important to you," the stranger insisted inquisitively.

"He is," Zhan corrected, he was pensive. Yi Bo was very important to him. He had never felt so close to another human being, not the way he was to Bo. A cold glint appeared in the stranger's eyes. He tried to change the subject.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sam," he extended his hand towards Zhan.

Zhan looked at his face, and then at his hand. He shook his hand without much enthusiasm, the hairs in his nape raising.

"Xiao Zhan, nice meeting you," was all he said. "I really need to get going. A pleasure," he stated while he started walking. He knew he was being rude, but he didn't care.

The stranger stood in the middle of the sidewalk for a while, looking at Zhan's back disappear among the pedestrians crowding the street. Then, he retook his path and went away.

Zhan was mildly disturbed by that encounter. There was something about that guy that felt threatening. He was sure he had never met him before. Well at least during the timespan he had memories of.

He quickened his step and reached Bo's home. As soon as he crossed the doorway, he looked at Yi Bo, who was standing there. He was expected. Bo had been waiting for him anxiously. Somehow, when Bo saw Zhan and verified he was well, he deflated. Part of it from relief, part from losing his confidence.

"Are you okay?" Yi Bo asked Zhan, rushing towards him down the hall.

"Yeah, "Zhan answered sheepishly. "I really don't know what happened, but I finally could sleep."

"Doesn't matter," Yi Bo interjected impatiently. "As long as you're okay, nothing else is important," Bo continued vehemently. Surrendering to his impulse, Bo hugged Zhan fiercely. He rested his head in the crook of Zhan's neck, inhaling his scent.