19 Days - One Shots

A Close Call

One Day

"No! I don't wanna!" Jian Yi pouted from the backseat, yet again attempting to take off his seat belt.

Brother Qiu turned around and glared, his index finger getting dangerously close to Jian Yi's face. "If you take off that seat belt one more time, I'll throw you off the next bridge we come across. Stop fussing and do as you're told, brat."

Jian Yi huffed and folded his arms, glaring at Brother Qiu. He Cheng chuckled from the drivers seat. "He's just a child, you don't need to be so harsh."

Brother Qiu felt a headache coming on and rubbed his forehead as he turned to check on Jian Yi. "Kind words aren't exactly in my vocabulary. Just put me on a different mission - I'm not a babysitter."

"I was speaking to-" He Cheng cleared his throat and glanced at Jian Yi in the rear view mirror. "the boss the other day about this whole situation. He was talking about giving you a raise."

With that, Brother Qiu's eyebrow twitched up in interest. Still annoyed, he decided to grumble about nothing in particular as they made their way up to the He estate. Jian Yi remained quiet and maintained his pout for the rest of the journey. Just before they reached the estate, he decided to lean forward.

"I'm hungry. Can we eat before training?"

Brother Qiu turned to look at him. "No. Since eating is your motivation, you can eat after you've ran 5 laps."

Suddenly, the car window smashed with a shower of glass and He Cheng was sprayed with blood. He looked and found a shocked Brother Qiu holding the side of his neck, blood dripping between his fingers. For half a second he stared at the sight before him but then his instincts kicked in. He reached behind him and grabbed Jian Yi, pushing him down to the floor. He did the same with Brother Qiu, but putting his head in his lap, and gunned the car faster down the road.

By this time, bullets were spraying the car at an unprecedented speed. When He Cheng reached the estate, he burst through the gates and up the driveway. He passed men with guns who were running towards the exit, having heard the commotion from down the street. He opened his car door and called to one of the passing men.

"Take Jian Yi inside now! And find a medic!"

Now turning his full attention to Brother Qiu, he inspected the situation. Brother Qiu still had his hand clamped down on his neck, the blood flowing out of his fingers had slowed considerably. His face was tight with strain and pain, his eyes closed and his jaw clenched. He Cheng reached forward into the glove box and manically shoved a gun and paperwork out of the way to see what he could use to stop the bleeding.

"Stay with me, Qiu."

Finding nothing useful, he turned to the car door pocket. Nothing still, he used the only thing he could think of. He took off his jacket and moved Brother Qiu's hand, placing the jacket against the wound. Checking it out within the split second he had, he could see no would, just lots of blood.

"Don't you dare die on me, Qiu!"

He Cheng's heart rate was increasing rapidly.  He glanced up at the last few men that was running past the car to help but he saw no medic running his way. Anger swelled inside He Cheng at his helplessness. He decided to do the only thing he could think of. He opened his car door and grabbed Brother Qiu's hand.

"Qiu, you need to hold the jacket to the wound. Don't let go."

He Cheng got out the car and gently dragged Brother Qiu with him, picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder. He was shaky due to his adrenaline and Brother Qiu wasn't exactly a feather to carry but He Cheng managed to carry him into the house, the entire time he was shouting for a doctor. When he reached the living room and he could no longer carry Brother Qiu, he placed him on the sofa and knelt beside him.

A man ran over with a basic first aid kit and removed the jacket and began working on Brother Qiu's neck. He Cheng glanced over Brother Qiu and found he looked even more paler than usual. He gripped the white haired man's hand and held it tight. Brother Qiu squeezed back ever so slightly, calming He Cheng's racing heart.

He Cheng leaned forward slightly. "When you're better, not only are you having that raise, but you can have vacation time too." Brother Qiu gave a weak smile and that's when He Cheng knew he was going to be just fine.

The first aider looked at He Cheng. "Someone with young Master Yi called an ambulance when they came through here. The bullet barely missed his carotid artery and it's just a flesh wound. He'll be fine. Just keep pressure on the wound until the ambulance arrives."

Relief washed through He Cheng and he sat on the floor, never once letting go of Brother Qiu's hand. The man moved away once he was finished putting a large bandage on Brother Qiu's neck and left the pair alone. He Cheng sat on the sofa next to the other and he placed his hand against his neck in order to try and help the bleeding. In a moment of silence, they let the reality of the situation settle in.

Brother Qiu coughed as he tried to speak, his voice was wispy and dry. "When I go on vacation, wanna come too? Fuck these kids."

He Cheng raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "Sure, but get better first." As the paramedics rushed through towards Brother Qiu, the pair looked at each other.

"It's a deal."

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This is for Ninawiechens I hope you enjoy!