Title: Shared Context
Fandom: Guardian
Rating: General Audiences
Length: 666
Author notes: I loved this challenge giving me an excuse to write Shen Wei and Da Qing!
Summary: Da Qing and Shen Wei talk about the past and the future.

It's a few long hours after Da Qing's admission that he remembers his past that the situation calms down enough that they can actually go home. Shen Wei cooks dinner for Zhao Yunlan and Da Qing, and then Zhao Yunlan yawns and decides to sleep early for once. Shen Wei stays near him, the way he usually does, until he hears Da Qing say his name softly from the sofa.

He moves to sit next to him, and Da Qing immediately curls up in his lap in his human form. Shen Wei pets his hair and keeps his other arm firmly around Da Qing's shoulders. He doesn't need to ask what it's about, so he just waits.

He's missed Da Qing's full and complete trust; missed the kitten who would sit on his shoulder when he was on night guard, who'd grin at Kunlun's antics even wider than Shen Wei did.

"You didn't tell him," Da Qing says quietly.

Shen Wei's fingers inadvertently dig into Da Qing's arm too hard. Da Qing expresses his displeasure with a hiss. Shen Wei just appreciates he wasn't clawed for it—any other situation, any other conversation, he would've been.

"Do you remember it all?"

Da Qing nods.

Shen Wei sighs. "How could I have told him?" he asks. "Kunlun was…" He trails off. There are no words for what Kunlun was, what Zhao Yunlan is to him, but he knows Da Qing understands. "It has to be him. It has to be real."

"But it was! And if he doesn't know what to expect—what if something goes wrong—" Da Qing cuts himself off, worried.

"It has to be him, Da Qing. His own actions, not—not our memories replayed to the best of his ability."

It takes a moment to sink in, and then Shen Wei finds himself holding a very upset cat meowing as if in pain.

Shen Wei rubs under his chin, around his ears, then scratches gently down his back until Da Qing gradually calms down, even if he doesn't relax fully.

"But… If he'll go back in time then he—" Da Qing digs his claws into Shen Wei's thighs then, like he can make him give the answer they both want to hear. "He'll come back to us, right? Lord Envoy?"

He sounds like Dixing people did ten thousand years ago, when the Envoy's name brought with it hope and not fear.

Shen Wei wishes he could say something less disappointing than the truth. He closes his eyes briefly. He's taken his glasses off earlier; without them or his mask he feels horribly naked all of a sudden.

"I don't know," he admits.

He braces himself for Da Qing's claws again; he doesn't expect Da Qing to lean his front paws on his chest and lick at his cheek instead. His tongue is rough in this form, but Shen Wei doesn't mind. He's glad Da Qing doesn't blame him for the unsatisfactory answer. If Shen Wei could do anything to make sure Zhao Yunlan comes back, he would, but he doesn't even know when he'll leave him—leave them again.

"You know how stubborn Lao Zhao is," Da Qing says. "And he likes you more than dried fish. He will be back."

He sounds sure of himself, too; so much better at offering comfort than Shen Wei is. Shen Wei scratches at his back again in silent thanks.

"Yes," Shen Wei says. "And he wouldn't just leave his cat like that, would he?"

Da Qing nods fervently.

If they're both just lying to themselves, well. Shen Wei will take that for now. He's not strong enough to truly face the possibility that he might lose Zhao Yunlan again.

Da Qing headbutts him, and then he jumps off and runs to lie on Zhao Yunlan's chest. Shen Wei smiles and follows him. He sits at the edge of the bed. Zhao Yunlan doesn't wake, used to their presence.

Whatever else the future might bring, for now they have this.