Chapter Text
Guanheng might puke into his pith helmet. Kun would laugh at him for that, if he were here.
Guanheng winces at that thought.
To say that things have been rocky since Kun's disappearance a month ago would be an understatement - and Guanheng is the kind of guy who's really familiar with rocks. In fact, the incident has left the archaeology world in shambles, and left Guanheng to get cancelled by every adventurer and their hiking stick. The shitshow so far looks like this: Guanheng, field expert and adventurer extraordinaire, botched their last mission and left Kun - his expedition lead, his long-time dig partner and the most beloved archaeologist the world has seen this century - alone in a cursed tomb, with a cursed artifact.
Oops.
Now, he’s being torn to shreds in every adventure-adjacent magazine, journal, newsletter and forum to grace the web. There was even an inquest about it. It wasn't even Guanheng's fault. Kun was quite literally snatched up by the hand of space-time. Honestly, how was Guanheng supposed to prevent that?
But hey, it's not as if you can expect scientists to be logical or anything.
That would be going too far.
(Okay... yeah. Guanheng's aware that when you're the dig partner of the darling of the archaeology world, you probably shouldn't abandon said darling in a cursed cave alone while you run away screaming. He dropped the ball there. He knows that. And he's gutted over what happened to Kun. He's sick to his stomach over it - his pith helmet can vouch for that. But also, in his humble archaeologist opinion, it's all just a little unfair.)
Given the inquest, Guanheng’s surprised that he's still allowed to be working. But his interim boss - one delightful Ten, linguist of their research department and esteemed member of most museums, everywhere - apparently pulled some strings. They need him out here. There’s ancient wisdom to retrieve (read: treasures to plunder) and all that.
So, here Guanheng is, only a month after sealing the fate of his old friend and dig partner, back on the field. Their ensemble of researchers have set up camp just a short drive from some temple ruins at the foot of the Taihang mountains in Henan province. No one knows if Kun is dead or alive, but the show must go on without him.
And now, Ten wants to send Guanheng back underground with an archivist. An archivist.
Just no.
It's this that is leading to Guanheng's current nausea predicament. Guanheng can't be responsible for losing another dig partner. He just can't.
Guanheng takes a few deep breaths, puts his helmet respectably back on his head, and gives Ten the firmest look he can manage. "No."
"Yes!" Ten wheedles, jumping up and down indignantly. He clearly hasn't got the hang of this whole boss thing yet. He's only Kun's stand-in, after all. (Why the department higher-ups saw fit to appoint the linguist in Kun's place, Guanheng doesn't know. He doesn't get how it all works, either.)
Ten is brilliant with deciphering ancient languages, but not so much with decision-making. But so far, everyone is going along with his whims, because he's Ten.
Guanheng shakes his head. "No. It's too risky. He's an amateur."
Ten clicks his tongue. "No, he's not! He's very good at what he does." He points at the twee little librarian-esque fellow across the campsite - Dejun.
Dejun grins, pushes his glasses up his nose and sets his crate of papers down so that he can wave.
Ten makes a little approving noise. "See. Doesn't he just ooze capability?" Guanheng opens his mouth to inform Ten that no, he does not, but Ten presses his finger against Guanheng's lips. "Anyway, it's already been decided," he says airily. "So you'll just have to make do."
Don’t get Guanheng wrong, Dejun is really fucking cute. He’s very sexy librarian in his round glasses, soft button-down and quaint little vest. Under different circumstances, Guanheng would probably make a pass at him. He’d goof off with him and try to make him laugh. But Guanheng is under pressure, here. He can’t afford to mess anything else up.
And don’t archivists belong amidst, well, archives? There’s no need for them to be out on the field.
(“That’s just his official title, Guanheng,” Kun had told him just over a month ago, the first time the department had floated the idea of bringing Dejun onto the field. “Give him a chance. He’s more capable than he looks. And he needs this.”)
Guanheng sighs at the memory of Kun's words. He supposes he can't really judge anyone's capability, now.
Ten studies Guanheng, noting the extent of his apprehensiveness, and sighs. His eyes soften a little. "Listen, there's something else I should tell you."
Guanheng gulps. That can't be good.
Ten winces. "It's nothing bad. Well, it is kinda bad, but... ugh." He stamps a frustrated foot at himself. "Kun is so much better at this. Whatever." He shakes his head and looks at Guanheng levelly. "I haven't wanted to put any extra pressure on you lately, so I haven't really filled you in on the whole situation. Basically, there's a curse we need to break. It's a really major curse. As in, much higher priority than rescuing Kun." At the look on Guanheng's face, Ten holds up a hand. "Before you start, I hate it too. But we've just got to do it. That's why Dejun's here. I know he doesn't look like much, and he has no field experience. But apparently he's some kind of curse-breaking genius."
A curse-breaking genius? Guanheng glances at Dejun, who smiles sunnily at him from across the campsite and then bangs his thermos into his teeth. Dejun grimaces exaggeratedly in pain and clamps his hand to his mouth.
Guanheng feels so reassured.
"Just give him a chance, okay? Like I'm giving you a chance," Ten says pointedly.
Guanheng inhales. He knows that underneath the frivolous attitude, Ten is as worried sick about Kun as he is. It's no secret that the two of them have history, and that in spite of it, they've managed to stay best friends for years. Kun is special to Ten, and Ten is one more person that Guanheng is trying not to let down a second time. And even though he knows that Ten would never blame him, there's still a guilty pang in his chest every time their eyes meet.
Guanheng groans. "Okay. Fine. I'll go show him the ropes. But if something goes wrong, I'm blaming you at the inquest about it."
Ten winks. "Of course, baby."
Guanheng turns away, fully aware that he's just been Ten-grade persuaded. Ten makes it an art, really. Yangyang, the resident documentary filmmaker, is already prancing up into Ten's face with a camera. Yangyang is ostensibly filming a project about their research, but at this point Guanheng's certain that he's mostly just here to thirst after Ten. Seriously, the guy needs to get up. He's crushing hard. Ten doesn't mind it at all, though. He loves talking linguistics to the camera, sharing his passion and being the star. Ten laughs at Yangyang and pretends to push the camera away, before launching into a spiel about some glyph engravings.
Ugh. Maybe Guanheng should have just followed Sicheng into marine biology. The guy is probably living it up in his human-to-dolphin communication research program right at this minute.
Guanheng shoves his hands in his pockets and heads across camp to greet Dejun, who is just finishing up his gear induction with Renjun, the field technologist. They're already chatting away like old friends. Heck, they probably are old friends. Renjun seems to know everyone, despite not seeming to go out much.
Guangheng's walk of reluctance is interrupted by the vibration of his phone in his pocket. He pulls it out to see an ominous text - the kind of text that's getting a little too familiar lately, despite Guanheng blocking all the numbers.
unknown: unknown: get my mans back or perish
guanheng: you didn't have to type out 'unknown', i know this is you chenle
unknown: p e r i s h
Ah, yes. Zhong Chenle. Kun’s fiancé, ethical hacker (loose on the ethical part), and apparent multimillionaire. Kun didn’t even tell Guanheng he was marrying rich. Seriously, why continue the treasure-hunting gig if you’re marrying rich?
(Guanheng knows the answer to that question. It’s for the love of it. It’s for the thrill.)
Guanheng's phone has been intermittently buzzing with threats from Chenle since it happened. They range from silly and harmless ('I'll dribble you like a basketball') to genuinely unsettling ('I'll crisp you and eat your face'). Guanheng is feeling reproachful and morose today, so he messages Chenle back.
guanheng: i'm trying
unknown: .
unknown: to get him back or to perish?
guanheng: a little bit of both
unknown: ...
unknown: you okay man?
guanheng: idk really
unknown: oh. ok
unknown: if you wanna talk to someone, you know who's a good listener? KUN is ok so get him back buddy, i know you can do it ok there you go champ. p.s. i can hack into brains!! so!! go get him. iyghbwcbf
Guanheng goes cross-eyed trying to read the foreboding, vaguely supportive(?) text for a moment before putting his phone away. He can't decipher this hacker language anymore. It's exhausting. He slouches the rest of the way to the tech bay set-up, where Dejun is looking entirely too chipper, and Renjun, entirely too knowing.
"Chenle is threatening to hack into my brain again," Guanheng announces by way of a greeting.
Renjun sighs sympathetically. "I'll have a word with him."
Ah. So Renjun is on a having-a-word basis with Kun's rich hacker fiancé. Seriously, how did Guanheng not know about this guy? He would have taken more care not to abandon Kun in a cave if he'd known.
Dejun stands up at Guanheng's arrival and brushes off his vest. He smooths down his fluffy hair and adjusts his shirt collar. It's cute. Guanheng supposes he shouldn't be so judgemental. Everyone gets their start somewhere. It's not Dejun's fault that it just happens to be terrible timing.
Guanheng is just warming up to the idea of accepting Dejun when Dejun opens his pretty movie-star lips and says, "That was sad when your friend got killed by that giant hand! I totally defended you on the internet, though. You're not a Hand Coward to me."
?
Oh! Okay. Guanheng hates him.
Renjun not-so-subtly clears his throat and gives Dejun a stern look. A look that says, we've talked about this. Dejun pays it no mind.
Guanheng smiles back and says icily, "Hand Coward? I actually hadn't heard that one, so thanks."
Dejun looks only slightly sheepish. "It's a tacky insult from people who weren't there," he says breezily. "Don't let it get to you." He bounces on his toes. "So, does that mean Kun's really dead? I only met him a few times, but he seemed lovely. It's a shame for such a nice person to die in such an awful way."
Guanheng purses his lips. "No, he's not dead."
Dejun tilts his head like a puzzled dog. "Really? But he's been without food and water for a month now -"
"Kun is resourceful."
"But -"
"Dejun!" Renjun exclaims scoldingly. Bless his heart. "It's a sensitive subject for Guanheng."
Dejun stops, having the decency to look regretful and demure for a moment. Only a moment, though. The moment passes, and he launches right back into treading all over Guanheng's heart and dignity. "Sorry, don't mind me! It's the talk of the town back in the archives, though. They all told me not to come here! Can you believe that? They said I'd get snatched up by some freaky statue, too. But I paid them no mind. I'm independent like that - oh."
Dejun trips mid-ramble and startles the heck out of Guanheng, who lunges forward and catches him. Denjun places his hands on Guanheng's arms - which are still holding his own - and smiles up at Guanheng gratefully, looking as pure and innocent as he first appeared to be for just one moment. His delicate hands tighten just a fraction.
Guanheng's face goes hot.
Dejun stands back up properly, pushes his glasses up his nose, and continues. "I don't think I'd ever abandon someone in a cursed cave, though? Like, that's just not me. No judgement to people who do, though. More power to them! Let the fleers flee, I say..."
Ah. Right on cue, there's the hatred again.
The cute librarian get-up is all part of the deception, Guanheng decides. In reality, Dejun is a menace. He's a menace to society, and Guanheng is going to have his work cut out for him if he wants to keep them both from certain doom.
-
Somewhere not that far from them (and yet by human travel, aeons away), Kun dreams of flying.