Title: learning to lead
Fandom: Guardian
Rating: G-rated
Length: 313 words
Notes: Pre-canon Zhao Yunlan & Chu Shuzhi. Thanks to trobadora for read-through. ♥ No warnings.
Tags: Bigotry, Weather, Managing staff (badly)
Summary: He’s still wary of the Dixingren in his team, but the SID is facing criminals with superpowers, and he has to fight fire with fire. Not much use if his flamethrower is just a zippo, though.



“We’ve lost her.” It’s blazing hot, so Zhao Yunlan steps into the shadow of a building to scan the area.

The Dixingren they’re pursuing has vanished. Almost worse, Chu Shuzhi is a dozen steps behind and visibly winded.

When he catches up, Zhao Yunlan says, shortly, “You’d better shape up. You’re assigned as a field agent, not a paper pusher.”

He’s still wary of the Dixingren in his team, but the SID is facing criminals with superpowers, and he has to fight fire with fire. Not much use if his flamethrower is just a zippo, though.

Chu Shuzhi nods, jaw clenched, face flushed. He’s barely said ten words since he arrived last week. Now, grudgingly, “I need water.”

Zhao Yunlan blinks, reassesses. The man’s draped in black, standing in direct sunlight. He must be baking. “You’re not used to the heat?”

A pause, then, “Not like this.”

Zhao Yunlan swallows a sigh. He didn’t expect to have to give remedial weather safety training. Stepping forward, he grabs Chu Shuzhi’s arm and yanks him into the relative cool. “For starters, find a shadow.”

Chu Shuzhi pulls free but doesn’t move away. Teeth still gritted, swaying. He’s in a bad way.

Zhao Yunlan looks around, not for their fleeing Dixingren this time. “There’s a water fountain on the corner.”

Chu Shuzhi follows his gaze, then stalks over and stares down at the fountain. Zhao Yunlan is about to go show him how it works—does Dixing not have public amenities?—but Chu Shuzhi figures it out, drinks and drinks, and then dashes water all over his face and neck, soaking his unseasonal scarf.

Zhao Yunlan leans back against the wall. Okay, Chu Shuzhi will know to stay hydrated next time. But what else doesn’t he know? Zhao Yunlan sighs, long-sufferingly, then remembers—he’s management now.

He can assign Zhu Hong the task of finding out.