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A soft cough resounded through the room, startling a certain Lan Xichen who was just finishing up in the wash area. With one final glance in the mirror, he quickly adjusted his head ribbon before he returned to his husband's side.
Another cough. This time Lan Xichen couldn't help frowning in concern. "Are you sure you want me to go, love? I just don't want to leave you here all by yourself."
Jin Guangyao gave a slight nod. "I'm sure. I want you to have fun, not be cooped up in here with me."
The Jin sect leader coughed again, turning his head to the side and into his shoulder. He didn't want to risk coughing on Xichen and getting him sick.
His loving husband, --ever so devoted-- gently rubbed at his back. Anything to ease the irritation that phlegmy cough caused to his chest.
"A-Yao, I'm not going to leave you. Not like this," Xichen insisted as he shook his head.
"It's nothing serious, A-Huan. I'll be fine. Just go for a little bit."
Lan Xichen would not budge, stubbornly staying at his husband's side. In fact, he dared scoot closer.
Jin Guangyao looked appalled as his beloved drew nearer still. He tried to back away, but his achy body refused to cooperate. "A-Huan, don't," he weakly protested.
Lan Xichen paid no heed, however. Instead, he placed his focus on summoning his healing powers. Bringing up a hand, he allowed the healing blue light to flow out of him and toward A-Yao's chest. While he couldn't necessarily heal a common cold, he could help alleviate some of the discomfort A-Yao felt.
"It will pass over the next few days, love. Don't waste your energy," Jin Guangyao entreated, doe-like eyes pleading as they gazed upon Xichen.
"It's nothing, love," Xichen replied with a shake of his head. "Anything to help you feel even the slightest bit better."
The words brought a smile to A-Yao's face. An infectious little smile that prompted Xichen to return the gesture.
"Thank you," Jin Guangyao uttered softly.
"You have nothing to thank me for." With that said, Xichen leaned in and pressed his lips to A-Yao's forehead.
"Love, stop getting so close," the bed-ridden man implored, a worried expression replacing his soft smile from moments before. "You're going to get yourself sick."
As Xichen pulled back, he got up from the bed and gently stroked his husband's head. "I won't, I promise," he assured, small smile playing at his lips again. "I'll be back with some tea for you, alright?"
Rather than protest, Jin Guangyao nodded in compliance and soon watched as his darling husband departed the room. He closed his eyes a moment as he remained in his propped up position against the pillows. After some time, he heard the door open back up. Eyes opened in turn to see that Xichen had returned, tray in hand.
On the tray was a clay teapot with a pair of matching cups and two small bowls of congee with spoons at the side. Xichen set the tray down on his nightstand before he got back into bed. Picking the tray back up, he placed it on his lap and began pouring A-Yao a freshly-brewed cup of tea. "Would you like a bit of congee first?" He asked, thinking it best to let the tea cool for a moment.
A-Yao nodded in response. "Sure."
Right as he was reaching for one of the spoons, Xichen beat him to it, scooping up a decent amount of congee before he brought it to A-Yao's lips. "Blow on it first, alright?"
The Jin sect leader pointedly looked at his husband. "I'm not a child, you know."
"I know darling, I know," Xichen replied with another soft smile. "I just like tending to you. Especially when you're sick."
The little frown on his face soon turned upside down. There was no way Jin Guangyao could stay upset at his husband, not when he said and did such sweet things for him. He would indulge his darling Zewu-jun. It was only fair after all the attention the man had doted on him thus far. Blowing gently on the spoonful of porridge, A-Yao then opened his mouth to be fed.
It soon turned into a process: Xichen scooping up another bit of congee. A-Yao blowing on it before being fed. Repeat.
It was something the Jin sect leader could easily get accustomed to, being fed his meals by his beloved A-Huan.
After a few more bites, he opted on having some tea instead. Like with the rice porridge, he blew on the steaming liquid so it wouldn't burn his tongue. Placing the rim of the cup to his lips, he proceeded to take a small, careful sip. The warmth of it running down his throat was incredibly soothing, inciting him to drink some more. He eventually emptied the cup of its contents before setting it back down on the tray.
Gazing over at his sweet and attentive A-Huan, he smiled and said, "Thank you, my love. It was all wonderful."
Xichen happily returned the gesture. "It was my pleasure, A-Yao. Anything for my dearly beloved husband."
Jin Guangyao's smile grew all the larger at the flattering words, dimples making themselves present. "I should be saying that about you. You're the one who's spoiling me rotten."
"As you so rightfully deserve," Lan Xichen added playfully. Unable to hold himself back, he leaned in to press a kiss to that fair, blushing, dimpled little cheek.
"A-Huan," A-Yao whined, though the blush on his face reddened all the more. It seemed to symbolize the young man's true sentiments toward the kiss. Deep down, he quite enjoyed being spoiled with stolen little smooches too.
Xichen chuckled as he pulled away. "Very well, love. I'll stop. Would you like some more congee or tea?"
A-Yao shook his head. "I'm fine for now."
"Wonderful. Then that means I can give you your present now."
"Present?" Jin Guangyao quirked an inquisitive brow, watching his husband set the tray down on the nightstand again. He soon watched as Xichen got up from the bed and made his way to their armoire. Once there, he rummaged through a drawer until he retrieved what he was searching for.
As his husband turned around, the curious A-Yao took notice of the object in his hands. It was a beautiful, wooden box. As Xichen drew closer, A-Yao could better distinguish the complex lines of the box's ornate design. Engraved swirly lines curved and morphed into shapes of peonies and crescent moons. "It's beautiful," he breathed, glancing up from the box to his beloved husband.
"And it's yours. Why don't you go ahead and open it?" Xichen encouraged, eager to see his little love's reaction to the gift.
Taking the box from Xichen, A-Yao carefully slid off the top. His eyes widened at seeing the contents within. "Mooncakes!" He exclaimed, a little too excited.
A-Yao's exuberance was certainly contagious, putting a wide smile on Xichen's face. It was a joy to see his darling husband's spirits brighten up, in spite of how sick he felt. And while they couldn't go into the city for the festivities, they could at least enjoy a small piece of it here at Jinlin Tai, in the comfort of their own bedroom.
"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, my love," Xichen proclaimed, wrapping an arm around A-Yao's shoulders as he placed another kiss on his head.
"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you too, my A-Huan," A-Yao echoed right back. By that point he'd already broken off a piece of mooncake to give to his beloved husband. As he brought it upward, Xichen met him part of the way and graciously ate the pastry bit that his darling A-Yao had decided to feed him with such love and care.