in the show, the main duo kind of acts a bit childish in my opinion, the characters are characterized more dramatically for effect but I want to showcase how the story would pan out if they were a bit more mature and characterized less dramatically! basically, how I wish the show had been, soo fanfiction hahaha! enjoy!
Han Shang Yan wasn't sure how to act, he often struggled with making these decisions.
His team had just lost, and of course, he understood that losing was a part of CTF but he still couldn't help his disappointment and frustration. How could they have lost? They had worked so hard only to be defeated. Didn't the kids understand that CFT wasn't a reliable career if they couldn't win?
All these thoughts were just about suffocating Gun, he wasn't sure what to do or how to act at all. Yelling, and screaming, and blaming would all be done but before that, he needed to get better control of himself, so he didn't overstep any boundaries he wasn't supposed to overstep.
With that in mind, he separated from the K and K group, trying to find some calmness in the mad land that was his life.
He was going to walk aimlessly to his car but then he saw it.
A small internet Cafe.
It reminded him of his youth, the days he had spent in places like these practicing CTF, learning and growing his skills. These kids didn't know how good they had it, learning in a professional manner and still failing. With that thought, we walked in. He wasn't sure what he would exactly do there, but it was better then walking around the streets on a cold night.
"Welcome!"
Gun went into autopilot and got himself situated, he did, however, notice that it was a young girl working the register, which wasn't really safe in his opinion. One look around and anyone could come to that conclusion and from the look, she seemed young too, guess everyone had to do something for money. All the thoughts of the girl was however lost soon as he focused on his computer and ignored the world around him.
Some would call it unhealthy that his hobbies and life were entirely consumed by CTF, and that he relaxed with what was causing him stress but they didn't understand the passion he felt for it. He had dedicated his life to this and he didn't intend on changing that any time soon.
Just as he was about to win however, a voiced shocked him back to reality.
"Excuse me?"
He had been fully in autopilot mode, sure that no one would talk to him here so when a voiced called him it took him a second to actually comprehend the situation.
It was the girl from earlier, she stood slightly taller than him, even as he was sitting and she was looking at him with her big eyes.
"Yes?"
"Urm.. well, are you-..." Gun finally fully rebooted, nodded for her to continue, he wasn't sure what he was expecting, so looked at her expectedly, fully taking in he'd appearance for the first time. She was wearing all pink and had big cat ear headphones around her neck. Her look made him want to laugh, to his own surprise, it was just the oddness of their appearance. They were both in the complete opposite of the spectrum.
"I mean, Would you like some coffee?"
Guns confusion had clearly shown, as the little girl fumbled on, continuing "it's ah, its complementary"
"Oh," some coffee sounded pretty good actually, considering he would have to drive back and it was late, not to mention the travel fatigue.
"Yes"
"So, you want some?" Didn't the little girl just ask him that?
"Yes"
"Okay, how do you like your coffee?"
"Half and half... can you make it sweet?"
"Ummhmm!" The girl smiled brightly before moving on and Gun went back to zoning out.
So he wasn't prepared for what happened next.
About 10 minutes later, the girl came back with a cup, full Cafe style, and with foam art on top. It was much better treatment than he expected from a place like this but it did make him a bit happier than he was before however before he could say anything a voice cut off his thoughts.
"What are you doing? Why did you bring your coffee out?" A guy who seemed to be the same age as the girl asked a look of pure confusion on his face.
"Nothing, don't worry, go" the girl spoke fast, and it seemed that had achieved her final form as her skin was also pink now.
She hastily explained that she was giving me the complimentary coffee, which seemed to confuse the boy more but regardless he left. Leaving the girl looking like he was from a cartoon show, and Gun couldn't help but ask "so, the coffee isn't complementary?"
He had honestly asked from a, 'oh, do I need to pay perspective' but it turned out very differently as the girl somehow managed to get pinker and answered "no.. it's just, you looked like you were having a really bad day, so I wanted to treat you to a coffee" Gun was honestly shocked, he didn't experience these small sweet kindnesses much because he was the one who needed to take care of everyone and everything on a daily basis so it strangely touched him.
"And, you are very good looking"
Now Gun was conflicted, was she trying to flirt with him or was she genuinely being nice? He decided that regardless, it was a kind gesture so he allowed himself to give her a small smile.
"Thank you, for the coffee"
"No problem, why were you upset?" She asked, then seemed to change her mind and continued "i- mean, you don't have to share with me of course! I'm just a stranger, but... if you want to share..." She let her sentence hang, and Gun wasn't sure how to deal with this situation even more.
He had honestly expected to zone out and do all the things everyone tells him not to do, blow some stream off but here was this girl, giving him a completely different outlet but his private nature didn't let him accept it.
"It's just my work, I didn't do how I expected to do in a competition of sorts" he explained, keeping it vague but still sharing.
"I see... I know the feeling," then she explained how she participated in competitions and then claimed that Gun will do great next time.
"Aren't you a high schooler?"
"No... I'm a college graduate"
"Oh" Gun was honestly shocked to find that, she looked very young.
"Sorry, I thought you were younger..."
"Its Okay!"
"I'm Han Shang Yan"
"Tong Nian"
She just talked for a bit and he couldn't help but continue the conversation. Talking about his issues felt good, and she was very good at cheering people on. She left him alone after that but her cheery personality and bubbliness weirdly made Gun feel less frustrated.
_____________
Tong Nian didn't want to bother him, it was clear from the way he was responding that he wasn't interested in talking, but she just got so curious, and it definitely didn't help that he was so good looking.
She wasn't sure what to do with herself, she wanted to possibly ask for his WeChat but how could she? It also didn't help that he was so much older, was he married?
Tong Nian had noticed that he was 27 years old according to his ID, it certainly wasn't impossible.
Stupid she thought, before focusing herself to move on. If she dwelled on the thoughts, especially the one where she told him that he was good looking she might actually go insane. Besides, she shouldn't have a crush, especially on a stranger, she wasn't 16 anymore.
She could technically leave now, her cousin was back and her assistance wasn't required, but she wanted to stick around...
Maybe she would get another opportunity to talk to him, and what if it turned out that he wasn't... no, she wouldn't think about it, not until she knew more about him at least.
However, luckily for Tong Nian, the opportunity did present itself.
He left his ID!
Reminding herself that she shouldn't be excited about someone leaving their ID, Tong Nian follow the grumpy man out.
When she finally got his attention, she motioned to her hands and said "your ID"
"Oh, thank you," he said, reaching out and grabbing it from her.
"No problem," How to continue the conversation? Think Tong Nian! Think!
"I hope you're feeling better"
"I am, ...you're coffee helped."
"I'm glad it did! I hope it tasted okay... wait, I forgot to ask if the sugar was okay since- ...my cousin came" How could she have forgotten? Probably because of her little, semi weird definitely not crush.
"It's okay, the coffee was really good" this made her heart beat a little faster.
Definitely not a crush.
"I'm glad, I'm interested in coffee and coffee art soo..."
"I see, have a good night"
"Wait!" Shit. Might as well ask since she stopped him.
"I can add you on WeChat?"
He took his phone out and opened his scanner.
"Is it for promotions? It won't send too many messages right?"
Tong Nian wanted to hide, he didn't even consider that she was asking for his WeChat for herself? Maybe he found the ideas ridiculous...
At a moment of weakness, she wanted to say yes, then run away and hide but she decided against that.
"No, just for myself. You liked the coffee right, maybe I make you more sometimes?"
"Oh, yea I'd like that. Or I can repay you for the coffee"
_____________
"Oh, yea I'd like that. Or I can repay you for the coffee" Gun wasn't sure why he agreed, maybe it was because she was just being so nice to him when he needed someone to calm him down.
She had been very kind to him and even given up her time to talk to him, it would just be the right thing to do to repay her.
She would see that he and his life was a mess sooner or later, but for now, he liked how easy going she was, it was very different from his usual interactions with girls which usually consist of fans which makes it more awkward then anything.
"Great!" She said, smiling very brightly making her look even younger.
"I'll text you then?"
Gun just nodded before remembering that he would be out of the country. Right.
"Um, actually, I have more completions coming up, so I might not be in the country, but text me and I'll see"
"Oh, okay! What kind of compensations are they?"
"Do you know what CTF is?"
"It's an E-sport, I manage an e-sport group"
"Oh, I promise to not bother you then"
Gun nodded, satisfied.
"Bye," she said, waving? She was waving.
A small smile tugged on Gun's mouth as he walked to his car. It turned out to be a weirdly good night for how it had started.