Work Text:
There always been some absence to Xie Bi'an that seemed to disappear as the winter went on. Now he stayed sewing over one of the many robes he had taken to patch the tear Wujiu had gotten on it during his time working the current day.
"Bi'an."
Silence.
"Bi'an?"
A flutter of eyes turned, pure violet radiant ones followed until they met with the darker hued ones. "Yes, my beloved one?"
"Your hands are red. Are you stabbing yourself too much?"
A quiet sigh left the white as snow male before a closer look at his hands proved his point. "What did you...?" Xie Bi'an looked up at him immediately before exchanging a pleasing smile. "I'm fine, don't worry. I just found some rather cold water source on my way to obtain water for us and I just so happen to forget." To say the least, Fan Wujiu had believed no word that left his mouth, yet had decided to not share a word as he sat down next to him as their current meal cooked. Curled dark hair tangled with the straight snow hair as the quiet moment was shared between the two. The slightly growing hair of the other tickled the usually sick male. A quiet giggle escaped him, a small kiss made it to Wujiu's crown before skilled hands set out to finish the patchwork. After it was done, Wujiu spared no time to make Bi'an laid down as the two began to savor each other's lips before the threatening tears escaped Bi'an.
Wujiu kissed the tears away before kissing his hands. 'They're so cold. Such as the rest of him. Yet no fever...'
Wujiu made sure to have him rest whenever he was around, only allowing him to do as minimal as he could before the patient man would blow up about how he could do it. A stubborn yet patient man as a lover...
"Wujiu...."
"Don't. I don't regret coming with you, monkey." Bi'an's teary eyes shifted before a laugh escaped him. It was always at times like this where Bi'an truly seemed happier.
"Thank you, my love. For everything."
It never sat well when Bi'an cried, there was always pain involved. The lack of care hurt his body and now all the attempts fell into a body that refused it from the lack of care.
Bi'an changed their position, often he did it when Wujiu would start to think so far behind them. A pout dangled. A hand came up before pulling the hairpiece that secured his hair as a clouded mountain draped Bi'an's shoulders until some of it landed on Wujiu's body.
"You're beautiful."
"WUJIU!" A scream reached his ears as he woke up from his dozed state until he noticed the danger he was in. With lungs filled with smoke, he wrestled the fire until he had made it out of the small home Wujiu and Bi'an worked so hard to obtain. From the looks of it, Bi'an had head out to sell early in the morning as Wujiu rested, kind villagers, kept Bi'an from charging in for him as the fire was put out as fast as possible. Wujiu coughed as Bi'an caught up with him.
Wujiu looked at him before Bi'an hugged him tightly.
"How could they..." The others spoke between themselves.
"Are you two okay?" Bi'an turned to bow deeply at the elders. Wujiu still felt rather woozy as he held into Bi'an. "Come you two silly young ones, stay with me for some time."
Bi'an brushed Wujiu's hair gently as the household granny warmed up some tea for them. The pale man stayed quiet as time went on. The clear unpleasant feeling covered the air.
"I know you lied, Bi'an." Wujiu's voice was low. "You lied about your hands, some people came and did that didn't they?"
"Why must you- Because if I wasn't home instead of you! You would be gone!" Wujiu turned as Bi'an crawled backward, away from the approaching Wujiu who grabbed his shoulders. "Bi'an." Wujiu's dark eyes stared at Bi'an's slightly shaken ones. "What if...I lost you...?"
"Wujiu....?"
"They could've killed you with that fire."
"Does it matter now...? You were hurt."
"It matters to me!"
"Now, now you two." The granny set down the teapot before serving the two a serving of the tea. "It's time to appreciate the fact you two are safe."
Bi'an held the cup as he took a gentle sip. Yet the coughing began. Wujiu turned to him worried before he moved to his side, the coughing continued. "Oh dear.... did you inhaled some of that smoke?"
Bi'an had decided to settle for now as he carried back some small basket full of vegetables to cook for breakfast. From far, the smoke didn't alarm him so much, thinking of Wujiu probably cooking some fish for breakfast until he approached close. There was no sign of their bonfire being used and the smoke that went into the sky was darker than it should have been. Neighbors saw him past as all kind faces fell at the sight. Bi'an dropped everything he had been carrying back as he ran to their home. "Wujiu?!" His voice called out. Some neighbors approached the house before one managed to pull Bi'an back as he coughed from the inhaled fire. "Let me go! Wujiu! Wujiu!"
The coughing only seemed to get worse as Wujiu helped him outside before he fell to his knees, coughing loudly. Wujiu didn't miss the staining of red on Bi'an's zhiduo. Wujiu moved his hands to Bi'an's forehead before his eyes widened. Bi'an forehead burned as his body felt colder than usual. Wujiu covered Bi'an in his beizi. "Bi'an..."
Bi'an's forehead met the cooling yet damp cloth as Wujiu held his hand. Tears streamed down Wujiu's cheeks as the albino had yet to wake up. Wujiu's eyes looked at him. the way the angelic lashes rested as they vanished into his pale skin. Wujiu leaned closer before kissing Bi'an's nose. Slight stirring alarmed Wujiu until he noticed the fluttering of his eyes. The usually vibrant purple Irises now clouded yet they didn't fail to notice him. A weak smile made it to his face before a hand moved to his face. Wujiu let him touch his face. He placed his hand over, hoping to warm the hand. "The heat you radiant... is so nice."
"Bi'an you're not off the hook you know that right?"
"I know…"
"You worry too much. I told you it'll get you sick."
"How long have I been like this?"
"Less than a week…"
"And I woke up earlier…." Bi'an looked at the ceiling it seemed as he was happier of the answers. Wujiu moved, covering Bi'an more. "Don't fall asleep. I'm getting the local doctor."
"Okay...Hurry up…"
Wujiu looked at him one last time before he bolted out of the room and into the town. The old lady had stayed to watch over Bi'an.
The doctor followed after Wujiu before the checkup began.
The lady of the house had left to visit family for the winter leaving both Wujiu and Bi'an with the care of the house. Bi'an had taken the role of resting as much as possible while Wujiu made sure they had enough wood and food for the winter. Wujiu stared at Bi'an. The clear sweat ran down his temple as Wujiu placed the wet rag over his forehead again. The soothing of the temperature seemed to calm him.
"You….please get better."
"Thank you…"
He moved toward the kitchen to prepare Bi'an's medicine until he noticed the lack of a part of it. He checked on Bi'an quickly before he left the house to get more from the doctor. Waiting anxiously as the doctor prepared it. A scream was heard outside as Wujiu and the doctor headed out. The house wasn't too far to notice.
Wujiu's heart fell. His feet began to carry him. The clear winter freezing his limbs as it could never undo the harm. Bi'an's face felt grotesque. The killer still present as he looked back at Wujiu. Wujiu's tears never stopped. The other folks charged in to comprehend the culprit as Wujiu continued to stare at Bi'an. His eyes were wide open and the clear sign of his struggle didn't went unnoticed. The snow hair now stained red just as the rest of him. It had been clear that the scream had been him from the moment he was pierced. Wujiu fell to his knees as the ladies, the ones who were close to Bi'an, approached him. They wrapped their arms around Wujiu in hopes to console him. As neither could utter a word.
Wujiu had lost everything. The spring that Bi'an was looking forward to had refused to come while the winter attacked him and succumbed him into a victim.
Wujiu's cries prolonged the winter night crying out for Bi'an despite knowing he wouldn't reply.