He had made a very grave error. No, that was an understatement. It was worse than that. Wei Ying had thought he would do something good for his didi while his husband was off doing who knows what. Dealing with Cloud Recesses and the sects. Besides, it allowed him to spend time with his sworn brother. Except that Jiang Cheng had been sick. How did one get sick with a golden core? Did that mean that his own was messed up?
His brother's words kept playing over and over in his head. Don't get sick. By the time that he'd left Lotus Pier he'd felt the weakness set in. Had felt the way that he could barely stand straight, much less sit up straight. He'd meant to send word to Lan Zhan that he wouldn't be home. That he would be at some inn he didn't know the name of. There was just one problem with that. He'd fallen asleep on Lil' Apple.
So, when the donkey does manage, SOMEHOW, to get to Cloud Recesses with him completely out of it... (he's not sure how he hadn't fallen off the back of the donkey, but his wrists were kind of tangled in the reigns), he's unceremoniously dropped in front of the entrance way. Which gets a grunt of pain out of him because of how tangled his wrists were in the reigns.
"Damn donkey," he mutters, trying to pull himself up enough to get untangled. A part of him doesn't realize that Lil' Apple had gotten them close enough so that the jade pendant he carried with him would alert Lan Zhan of someone's entrance, not when he was focused on tiredly trying to get untangled. Actually, he was tempted to just stop fighting it. That was how weak and tired he was. Even flushed hot compared to the cooler weather.
Wait, cooler weather. And white something. Boots, maybe. Where in the world? Yeah, he's too far gone to pay much attention in the moment, his eyes closing and his body relishing in the cooler air.
There is always a part of Lan Wangji that doesn't like it when Wei Ying is away from him, no matter that his husband is a capable, competent individual and that Lan Wangji trusts him. He dislikes being apart, finds it difficult to sleep, and misses the laughter Wei Ying brings to his life.
He also knows that Wei Ying has a tendency to land in tenuous situations, often purely fortuitously. So when days go by, and all he's gotten are a few brief messages that Wei Ying is taking care of his brother, and will be home later than expected, something a little like unease settles into his stomach. He waits, a man of infinite patience, even if he keeps even closer track of the days until Wei Ying's meant to return.
The pendant alerts him to Wei Ying's entrance, and he contemplates waiting further, letting Wei Ying get inside and back to the Jingshi and settle in, but his patience has reached its limits, and he doesn't want to wait further, not when Wei Ying is within reach. So he sets aside his work for the day, and makes his way to the entrance of Cloud Recesses, moving at a pace that almost might be called a light jog. Only, it's the donkey and a crumpled, listless Wei Ying that greet him, and Lan Wangji feels his heart clench in his chest.
"Wei Ying?" He kneels next to his husband, carefully untangling his wrists from the reins, and picks him up. Lil'Apple is experienced enough, and fond of the stables, that once the reins are no longer tangled, he leaves them behind, determined to find hay and apples.
Wei Ying is burning up, he realizes, and Lan Wangji sighs, carrying him back to the Jingshi, sending off word for one of the healers to meet him at his home. While he waits, he strips off Wei Ying's boots and outer robe.
For a moment, only a moment, his brain snaps off that something or someone is touching him. That thought alone has him jerking away slightly until that voice slips past the muddled parts of his mind. He knew that voice. Knew those cool hands that were untangling his own from the reigns of the donkey. There's something that he wants to say, but the words die on his lips.
His body shivers at the change of temperature, between outside and inside the Jingshi. Or maybe it was just his body fighting whatever this was. What had even happened to Lil' Apple? His wrists, unfortunately, were probably red and raw from being tangled as well.
"Lan Zhan?" It comes out soft, almost unheard. Even as he says it he tries to sit up, tries to move, and practically fails. His body not wanting to move. Not wanting to do much of anything except to get warm again.
"I am here." Lan Zhan presses against Wei Ying's shoulder, pushing him back to the bed. "Stay. You are home."
There's a hint of worry that he lets seep into his tone, hoping it will encourage Wei Wuxian to actually stay in bed. According to the last letter, Wei Wuxian shouldn't have been home yet, so that means it had been his very stubborn donkey who led them here, which means that Wei Wuxian is quite sick, and likely has been for a little while.
After he pushes Wei Wuxian back to the bed, he picks up a damp cloth, folding it and placing it over his forehead. "There will be a healer soon."
Home. How did he get home? That shouldn't of been possible. There had been intentions of staying at an inn, something that would've kept him from the other that much more. It would've been needed. The rest in between travels. So, how had he even gotten back? All he remembers is leaving... and Lil' Apple.
Wait, if he was home, then where was the donkey? Someone should be checking on... Except that he was being pushed back onto the bed and there was worry in Lan Zhan's voice. Why was there worry in the other's voice? What had happened and to who?
There's a bit of a shiver at the feel of the damp cloth and a barely grumbled," For who?" Then as an after thought," No needles." For whoever the healers were for.
"For you, Wei Ying." His voice is fond, vaguely amused, with an undercurrent of worry beneath that, but that's often the case for how he sounds with Wei Ying, especially after a long trip. "Needles might be necessary. We will see what the healers say."
He brushes hair away from Wei Ying's face, moving the cloth and leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. Lan Zhan hasn't had a cold or gotten a fever since he was a child, but he's dealt with children experiencing them, so he has some idea of what to do. The healers provide what they can, otherwise.
"Can you drink some water, Wei Ying?" he asks, shifting so he can slide an arm beneath Wei Ying's shoulders, reaching for a cup with his free hand.
For him? He didn't need a healer. What good would that do him? Though, tired eyes look towards his husband and he tries to wrap his mind around those words. Needles might be necessary. Why would they be necessary? He's pretty sure they weren't needed for him to function.
"Mn." Despite feeling cold, and overheated, he smiles a little at the kiss to his forehead. With the lack of Golden Core, he was probably burning up pretty bad. How long had he been out there? "How long?" Or, wait... no. Since the letter. Something.
Water. Actually, water sounded good. It was a good thing that his husband had that Lan strength because he felt heavy and boneless at the same time. He lets himself be maneuvered even if he didn't want to sit up and sips at the water. That was nice. Felt good down his throat too.
"You're gonna get sick."
Wait, no. Had Lan Zhan ever gotten sick? He didn't think so, but he's not thinking rationally right now.
"I will not get sick," he reassures his husband, knowing very well that even if he did get sick, his golden core would burn through it fairly quickly, leave him under the weather for only a short time. Nothing like what might happen with Wei Ying.
Letting him sip the water, slowly, Lan Zhan cradles his husband in his arms, frowning as he looks back to the door, wondering just how long it was going to take those healers.
"From your last letter, just a few days. Little Apple was determined." Little Apple knows where he's fed and the treats and spoiling that await him in Cloud Recesses; Lan Zhan will never say anything to the juniors who continue to spoil the donkey for that reason alone.
Finally, he hears the shuffling of feet that announces the healers, and a moment later, a quietly spoken introduction. He admits the healer, sliding his arm out from under Wei Ying so he can move away from the bed while the healer looks him over.
If he was thinking clearly then he'd know that. Lan Zhan had his golden core. The very thing that helped a cultivator get better. He, himself, didn't have his. His resided in his brother's chest. Which makes him wonder what had happened, but he's too out of it to think much on that.
"So, my Apple is fine then... Good," he murmurs patting his husband's chest. "That's good." A few days. Three days then. Or a little less. He was not going to try and calculate that.
He groans at the feel of the healers checking him over. He'd fight it, he wants to, but he also doesn't have the drive to really fight it either. Though, that's not to say he doesn't go to move and not wince. He'd forgotten how raw his wrists were from the reigns on Apple.
"Your Lil' Apple is fine," he reassures Wei Ying, then steps back, trusting the healer to actually do their job, although he hovers nearby, waiting for instruction.
"A bad fever," the healer says, "but his lungs are clear." Then it's a list of instructions, how to brew teas and what salve to put on his wrists, how to get him cool, what else to do, signs to look for in case he got worse.
"I'll have the kitchens send congee for your husband, Hanguang-jun," the healer says, as she packs her bag. "If he gets worse, let us know."
That would involve needles, Lan Zhan knew, and something Wei Ying didn't want. He could use that as leverage, if necessary, to keep Wei Ying in bed.
Last thing that he needed was for Lil' Apple to be hurt or anything like that. Had his donkey even ate anything getting him home? Drank anything? Taken care of... well, itself. Silly donkey. They could've waited. He's glad they didn't, but they could've.
"... Worse? Why would I get worse?" It's muttered even as he pushes himself up a bit, but the motion alone has the room spinning and he lays back down. No spinning rooms. Not tonight. Not for him.
The concern over the donkey amuses Lan Zhan, although he knows where it's coming from.
He listens to the healers, gently pushing Wei Ying back to bed, and doesn't see the healer and her assistant out; no one seems to expect that. He sends a brief message to his uncle and Sizhui to inform them he will be absent from his duties for a while until Wei Ying was healthy enough that he wouldn't need constant tending. Correspondence he could still handle, although any meetings would be delayed.
That done, he settles on the bed next to Wei Ying, brushing his hair back from his face. "Wei Ying."
There's a bit of a pout when he's pushed back onto the bed. He'd of gotten there on his own, after a time. He barely even hears what the healers are telling his husband. There was just way too much information to take in. Normally, that wasn't a problem. Right now? It was a big problem.
Those grey eyes look up towards golden and he gives a soft smile, even if he felt like crap. "Lan Zhan." Then, as an afterthought," I didn't mean to get sick on you."
"I know you did not, Wei Ying." He smoothes his hair back, leaning forward to his forehead. Lan Zhan isn't too worried about catching sick himself— his golden core will burn through anything quickly if he does catch a cold.
"Rest, Wei Ying. You need it. And next time, when you are sick, inform me so I do not have to rely on your donkey to get you home." He knows why Wei Ying wouldn't tell him, and why he'd intended to be gone longer; Wei Ying hates to worry him. But this still worries him.
It was one of the reasons that he'd intended to stay gone longer. That way he could get better before he came home. Only, it hadn't worked out that way. He'd just ended up getting sick anyway.
"How does that happen, Lan Zhan? I'm pretty sure that means I'm broken."
He's pretty sure that he's not making any lick of sense to his husband, but at the moment... he didn't care. Jiang Cheng should've never been able to get sick. Not like that, anyway. Though, grey eyes look into golden at that question.
"Wei Ying." He straightens up, a concerned look on his face, and replaces his hand with a cool cloth, tucking him a little tighter into the blankets. "You are not broken. Wei Ying is perfect as he is."
The healer had said she would send someone with congee, which will take a little longer, so he doesn't get up yet, but Lan Zhan does reach for the cup of tea the healer brewed for him, shifting so he can slide an arm under Wei Ying, helping him sit up a little.
"There will be food soon. For now, this will help." He brings the cup to his mouth, slowly tipping so Wei Ying can drink a little.
"Then why did he get sick? He shouldn't of gotten sick."
Or, at the very least, he shouldn't of gotten sick that badly. It shouldn't of taken that long for his golden core to heal him. So, why had it? That had to mean that he, himself, was broken. Not perfect like his husband seemed to think.
There's a groan at the sitting up, but he leans into Lan Zhan and drinks a little of the tea.
"I am unsure how he came down ill, but it is no matter." Lan Zhan hums quietly, helping Wei Ying sit up and drink, making sure he stays stable and doesn't spill it all over. "Wei Ying is still perfect."
Once the tea is mostly gone, he sets the cup down by the bed, and rather than moving away from Wei Ying, pulls him in a little closer, pressing his lips to the top of his head. "You should sleep, Wei Ying. I will be here."
"Lan Zhan is blind. This one is not perfect," he mutters, leaning against his husband as he drinks the tea. He can't drink all of it. Not because he doesn't want to, but because he really wasn't feeling that good. He really hated this feeling. It shouldn't of happened.
There's a soft hum out of him," Lan Zhan..." He's not entirely sure what he'd meant to say, but he presses as close as he can to the other man and that warmth.
"He is," Lan Zhan says, setting the cup aside when he can no longer drink, frowning slightly over how much of the tea is left. At least he drank some of it, and it's a little liquid in him.
He curls his arms around Wei Ying, pulling him close, although he reaches for the blankets to tuck a little better around him. "You should sleep now, Wei Ying. I will be here."
He could sit there and argue with his husband that he wasn't perfect, but he doubted that it would go far. On top of that? He really didn't want to get into an argument that Lan Zhan would win. His husband would definitely win that one.
There's a soft hum out of Wei Ying even as he presses closer, not that he can get any closer, but he nods letting his eyes close as he soaks up the warmth of his husband and those blankets," Okay. Don't go anywhere, Lan Zhan. Need you right here."
"As long as you need me, I will be here." He frowns slightly, pushing back some of Wei Ying's hair, pressing his wrist to his forehead. While Wei Ying does feel cooler, it's still a concern of his — he doesn't want Wei Ying to overheat and he wants to monitor the state of his fever.
He hums their song softly, running a hand up and down Wei Ying's back, over the blankets.
Wei Ying might feel cool to Lan Zhan, but to the sleeping demonic cultivator? The whole room, including himself, is hot and cold at the same time. It was why he'd tried to get as close to his husband as possible. So, when he does wake up again it's about an hour or two later, almost three.
It's to feeling overly hot and he's not sure what else, but he does everything he can to try and untangle himself from the blankets, probably even Lan Zhan's hold.
It's nearly two hours later, and Lan Zhan had been considering sliding out of bed to let his husband rest more when Wei Ying stirs. He lets Wei Ying pull away, gently pulling the blankets away as Wei Ying fights to untangle himself.
"Wei Ying?" he asks, reaching out to feel his husband's head. "How do you feel?"
Wei Ying is not in the mood to fight with anything, much less blankets. Except that those blankets are suddenly gone and there's suddenly a hand near his forehead. A hand that he nearly knocks the hell away from himself, until he realizes who it is. His mind really needed to stop that.
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His brother's words kept playing over and over in his head. Don't get sick. By the time that he'd left Lotus Pier he'd felt the weakness set in. Had felt the way that he could barely stand straight, much less sit up straight. He'd meant to send word to Lan Zhan that he wouldn't be home. That he would be at some inn he didn't know the name of. There was just one problem with that. He'd fallen asleep on Lil' Apple.
So, when the donkey does manage, SOMEHOW, to get to Cloud Recesses with him completely out of it... (he's not sure how he hadn't fallen off the back of the donkey, but his wrists were kind of tangled in the reigns), he's unceremoniously dropped in front of the entrance way. Which gets a grunt of pain out of him because of how tangled his wrists were in the reigns.
"Damn donkey," he mutters, trying to pull himself up enough to get untangled. A part of him doesn't realize that Lil' Apple had gotten them close enough so that the jade pendant he carried with him would alert Lan Zhan of someone's entrance, not when he was focused on tiredly trying to get untangled. Actually, he was tempted to just stop fighting it. That was how weak and tired he was. Even flushed hot compared to the cooler weather.
Wait, cooler weather. And white something. Boots, maybe. Where in the world? Yeah, he's too far gone to pay much attention in the moment, his eyes closing and his body relishing in the cooler air.
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He also knows that Wei Ying has a tendency to land in tenuous situations, often purely fortuitously. So when days go by, and all he's gotten are a few brief messages that Wei Ying is taking care of his brother, and will be home later than expected, something a little like unease settles into his stomach. He waits, a man of infinite patience, even if he keeps even closer track of the days until Wei Ying's meant to return.
The pendant alerts him to Wei Ying's entrance, and he contemplates waiting further, letting Wei Ying get inside and back to the Jingshi and settle in, but his patience has reached its limits, and he doesn't want to wait further, not when Wei Ying is within reach. So he sets aside his work for the day, and makes his way to the entrance of Cloud Recesses, moving at a pace that almost might be called a light jog. Only, it's the donkey and a crumpled, listless Wei Ying that greet him, and Lan Wangji feels his heart clench in his chest.
"Wei Ying?" He kneels next to his husband, carefully untangling his wrists from the reins, and picks him up. Lil'Apple is experienced enough, and fond of the stables, that once the reins are no longer tangled, he leaves them behind, determined to find hay and apples.
Wei Ying is burning up, he realizes, and Lan Wangji sighs, carrying him back to the Jingshi, sending off word for one of the healers to meet him at his home. While he waits, he strips off Wei Ying's boots and outer robe.
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His body shivers at the change of temperature, between outside and inside the Jingshi. Or maybe it was just his body fighting whatever this was. What had even happened to Lil' Apple? His wrists, unfortunately, were probably red and raw from being tangled as well.
"Lan Zhan?" It comes out soft, almost unheard. Even as he says it he tries to sit up, tries to move, and practically fails. His body not wanting to move. Not wanting to do much of anything except to get warm again.
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There's a hint of worry that he lets seep into his tone, hoping it will encourage Wei Wuxian to actually stay in bed. According to the last letter, Wei Wuxian shouldn't have been home yet, so that means it had been his very stubborn donkey who led them here, which means that Wei Wuxian is quite sick, and likely has been for a little while.
After he pushes Wei Wuxian back to the bed, he picks up a damp cloth, folding it and placing it over his forehead. "There will be a healer soon."
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Wait, if he was home, then where was the donkey? Someone should be checking on... Except that he was being pushed back onto the bed and there was worry in Lan Zhan's voice. Why was there worry in the other's voice? What had happened and to who?
There's a bit of a shiver at the feel of the damp cloth and a barely grumbled," For who?" Then as an after thought," No needles." For whoever the healers were for.
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He brushes hair away from Wei Ying's face, moving the cloth and leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. Lan Zhan hasn't had a cold or gotten a fever since he was a child, but he's dealt with children experiencing them, so he has some idea of what to do. The healers provide what they can, otherwise.
"Can you drink some water, Wei Ying?" he asks, shifting so he can slide an arm beneath Wei Ying's shoulders, reaching for a cup with his free hand.
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"Mn." Despite feeling cold, and overheated, he smiles a little at the kiss to his forehead. With the lack of Golden Core, he was probably burning up pretty bad. How long had he been out there? "How long?" Or, wait... no. Since the letter. Something.
Water. Actually, water sounded good. It was a good thing that his husband had that Lan strength because he felt heavy and boneless at the same time. He lets himself be maneuvered even if he didn't want to sit up and sips at the water. That was nice. Felt good down his throat too.
"You're gonna get sick."
Wait, no. Had Lan Zhan ever gotten sick? He didn't think so, but he's not thinking rationally right now.
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Letting him sip the water, slowly, Lan Zhan cradles his husband in his arms, frowning as he looks back to the door, wondering just how long it was going to take those healers.
"From your last letter, just a few days. Little Apple was determined." Little Apple knows where he's fed and the treats and spoiling that await him in Cloud Recesses; Lan Zhan will never say anything to the juniors who continue to spoil the donkey for that reason alone.
Finally, he hears the shuffling of feet that announces the healers, and a moment later, a quietly spoken introduction. He admits the healer, sliding his arm out from under Wei Ying so he can move away from the bed while the healer looks him over.
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"So, my Apple is fine then... Good," he murmurs patting his husband's chest. "That's good." A few days. Three days then. Or a little less. He was not going to try and calculate that.
He groans at the feel of the healers checking him over. He'd fight it, he wants to, but he also doesn't have the drive to really fight it either. Though, that's not to say he doesn't go to move and not wince. He'd forgotten how raw his wrists were from the reigns on Apple.
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"A bad fever," the healer says, "but his lungs are clear." Then it's a list of instructions, how to brew teas and what salve to put on his wrists, how to get him cool, what else to do, signs to look for in case he got worse.
"I'll have the kitchens send congee for your husband, Hanguang-jun," the healer says, as she packs her bag. "If he gets worse, let us know."
That would involve needles, Lan Zhan knew, and something Wei Ying didn't want. He could use that as leverage, if necessary, to keep Wei Ying in bed.
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Last thing that he needed was for Lil' Apple to be hurt or anything like that. Had his donkey even ate anything getting him home? Drank anything? Taken care of... well, itself. Silly donkey. They could've waited. He's glad they didn't, but they could've.
"... Worse? Why would I get worse?" It's muttered even as he pushes himself up a bit, but the motion alone has the room spinning and he lays back down. No spinning rooms. Not tonight. Not for him.
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He listens to the healers, gently pushing Wei Ying back to bed, and doesn't see the healer and her assistant out; no one seems to expect that. He sends a brief message to his uncle and Sizhui to inform them he will be absent from his duties for a while until Wei Ying was healthy enough that he wouldn't need constant tending. Correspondence he could still handle, although any meetings would be delayed.
That done, he settles on the bed next to Wei Ying, brushing his hair back from his face. "Wei Ying."
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There's a bit of a pout when he's pushed back onto the bed. He'd of gotten there on his own, after a time. He barely even hears what the healers are telling his husband. There was just way too much information to take in. Normally, that wasn't a problem. Right now? It was a big problem.
Those grey eyes look up towards golden and he gives a soft smile, even if he felt like crap. "Lan Zhan." Then, as an afterthought," I didn't mean to get sick on you."
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"Rest, Wei Ying. You need it. And next time, when you are sick, inform me so I do not have to rely on your donkey to get you home." He knows why Wei Ying wouldn't tell him, and why he'd intended to be gone longer; Wei Ying hates to worry him. But this still worries him.
"Can you eat?"
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It was one of the reasons that he'd intended to stay gone longer. That way he could get better before he came home. Only, it hadn't worked out that way. He'd just ended up getting sick anyway.
"How does that happen, Lan Zhan? I'm pretty sure that means I'm broken."
He's pretty sure that he's not making any lick of sense to his husband, but at the moment... he didn't care. Jiang Cheng should've never been able to get sick. Not like that, anyway. Though, grey eyes look into golden at that question.
"Don't know. Haven't tried."
When had he eaten last?
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The healer had said she would send someone with congee, which will take a little longer, so he doesn't get up yet, but Lan Zhan does reach for the cup of tea the healer brewed for him, shifting so he can slide an arm under Wei Ying, helping him sit up a little.
"There will be food soon. For now, this will help." He brings the cup to his mouth, slowly tipping so Wei Ying can drink a little.
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Or, at the very least, he shouldn't of gotten sick that badly. It shouldn't of taken that long for his golden core to heal him. So, why had it? That had to mean that he, himself, was broken. Not perfect like his husband seemed to think.
There's a groan at the sitting up, but he leans into Lan Zhan and drinks a little of the tea.
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Once the tea is mostly gone, he sets the cup down by the bed, and rather than moving away from Wei Ying, pulls him in a little closer, pressing his lips to the top of his head. "You should sleep, Wei Ying. I will be here."
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There's a soft hum out of him," Lan Zhan..." He's not entirely sure what he'd meant to say, but he presses as close as he can to the other man and that warmth.
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He curls his arms around Wei Ying, pulling him close, although he reaches for the blankets to tuck a little better around him. "You should sleep now, Wei Ying. I will be here."
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There's a soft hum out of Wei Ying even as he presses closer, not that he can get any closer, but he nods letting his eyes close as he soaks up the warmth of his husband and those blankets," Okay. Don't go anywhere, Lan Zhan. Need you right here."
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He hums their song softly, running a hand up and down Wei Ying's back, over the blankets.
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It's to feeling overly hot and he's not sure what else, but he does everything he can to try and untangle himself from the blankets, probably even Lan Zhan's hold.
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"Wei Ying?" he asks, reaching out to feel his husband's head. "How do you feel?"
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"Hot. Cold. Overheated."
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