Work Text:
Luo Wenzhou muffles a few coughs into his elbow.
Tao Ran looks up. "You good?"
Luo Wenzhou shoots him a thumbs-up. The concerned look doesn't leave Tao Ran's face, and he wordlessly slides a pack of medicine onto the table.
Lang Qiao walks in and spots Luo Wenzhou popping a pill dry. "Imperial Father, how's Fei Du?"
Luo Wenzhou turns to her. "What do you mean?"
"I'm guessing he got sick first and you caught it from him," Lang Qiao says nonchalantly.
Luo Wenzhou's eyebrows raise. "How did you know that?"
"I'm a detective."
Luo Wenzhou snorts. "You-"
Lang Qiao rolls her eyes. "Because you never get sick. Now can you please go home before you spread it to the entire office?"
Luo Wenzhou challenges, "Ordering me around?"
Lang Qiao throws him a packaged mask. "You sound less bossy when your voice sounds like that."
Pulling it over his ears, Luo Wenzhou continues to work, getting worse for the wear as the hours pass. Tao Ran cringes when he breaks into another fit of barking coughs. "Maybe you should go home, we'll cover for you here."
Luo Wenzhou swallows thickly. "Fine," he gives in. "Call me if anything big happens. I'm checking things over tomorrow morning."
"The morning after," Lang Qiao pipes up.
Luo Wenzhou points at her. "You're on thin ice."
A few days earlier
Fei Du steps into the apartment, letting out several coughs with a pinched expression. Luo Wenzhou emerges from their room. "That doesn't sound good."
Fei Du sniffles. "I'm fine."
"Bet there's something going around your office," Luo Wenzhou says.
"No, there isn't," Fei Du retorts.
Luo Wenzhou narrows his eyes. "Go shower. I'll drop by the store to get some medicine."
"I'm fine," Fei Du repeats.
Luo Wenzhou grabs his keys. "Go. Shower."
Fei Du stares at the array of fruits, herbs and vitamins scattered across the table in front of him. He turns to Luo Wenzhou with an unimpressed look. "You said you were getting medicine, this is the entire store."
"Yes."
Fei Du rolls his eyes. "This is unnecessary."
Luo Wenzhou scoffs. "That's what you think, but I've had enough of your immune system. I even called Mum to ask her what I should buy."
"My immune system works like an average-," Fei Du starts to say, but he is interrupted by a sneeze that sneaks up on him expectedly.
Luo Wenzhou chuckles at the irony, pulling the tissue box over. "Then how do you explain why you catch a cold every winter? I haven't gotten sick in years!"
"Maybe you're the abnormal one," Fei Du rebuts from behind a tissue.
Luo Wenzhou gestures to the table covered in health foods. "You're eating every single thing here."
Fei Du groans and walks away to the bedroom. A few minutes later, he is graced with Luo Wenzhou's presence again, this time with a cup of herbal tea and a glass of water. "Drink this."
Fei Du sits up grumpily but obediently takes a sip. He promptly makes a disgusted face. "Why is it so bitter?"
"The more bitter it is, the better it is for you," Luo Wenzhou says.
Fei Du holds his breath and pours the drink down his throat, quickly washing the aftertaste out with water.
"Feeling stronger already?" Luo Wenzhou asks.
Fei Du glares at him from beneath his blankets.
Luo Wenzhou chuckles. "Okay, I'll stop now. Are you mad at me?"
Fei Du turns away.
"You're too cute, you know that?" Luo Wenzhou squishes Fei Du's cheek. "You're a little warm."
Fei Du swats his hand away. "Don't bother me, I'm going to sleep."
"And I'm joining you," Luo Wenzhou says, "give me a few minutes."
Fei Du grabs Luo Wenzhou's pillow and throws it at him. "Sleep on the couch."
"Ha!" Luo Wenzhou catches it with one hand. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."
Fei Du tosses and turns in bed, trying to get comfortable.
"What's wrong?" Luo Wenzhou asks.
"Nothing," Fei Du grumbles.
Luo Wenzhou opens his arms. "Come here."
"No."
"But we always cuddle," Luo Wenzhou says.
"Not today."
"Why?" Luo Wenzhou asks. "Because you're sick?"
Fei Du looks at him silently.
"But I want my cuddles," Luo Wenzhou says.
"You'll get sick," Fei Du says.
Luo Wenzhou shrugs. "I don't care."
Fei Du just continues looking at him.
Luo Wenzhou sighs, and pulls Fei Du into his embrace. "Come."
Fei Du decides not to push him away. "You'll regret it."
"No I won't."
So Fei Du snuggles closer and hides his face in the crook of Luo Wenzhou's neck.
Luo Wenzhou gives a small chuckle and runs his fingers through Fei Du's hair gently. "Do you feel very bad?"
Fei Du shakes his head.
"Then what's wrong?" Luo Wenzhou asks again.
Fei Du's eyes fall shut, and his hold tightens. "I'm just... not used to it, other people taking care of me when I'm sick."
Luo Wenzhou feels his heart break. "You'll slowly get used to it."
"I know," Fei Du mumbles against his skin.
Luo Wenzhou's hand pauses. "Is this okay?"
Fei Du hums. "It's nice." He falls asleep to comforting, rhythmic caresses.
The next morning, Luo Wenzhou brews another bitter herbal concoction again and watches Fei Du drink every last drop. "Should I take the day off?"
Fei Du shakes his head. "I'll be fine."
Luo Wenzhou points at him. "Rest at home, don't go out, call me if anything happens."
"Yes officer," Fei Du drawls.
The side of Luo Wenzhou's lips twitch up in amusement. "Call me and I'll come home immediately."
Fei Du nods his head over and over again, starting to shoo him out the door.
"I left the tea on the table, drink it-"
The door closes shut on Luo Wenzhou.
When Luo Wenzhou feels the beginnings of a tickle in his throat two days later, he knew it was inevitable.
Fei Du wraps his arms around Luo Wenzhou's waist under their blanket. "I'm sorry I got you sick."
Luo Wenzhou waves him off. Then he pulls away to direct a sneeze away from the bed. The sight makes Fei Du laugh slightly.
Luo Wenzhou glares at him. "Is this funny to you?"
"A little." Fei Du smirks. "Where's that tea you made me drink a few days ago?"
Luo Wenzhou groans loudly.
"My husband who is rarely sick is actually sick," Fei Du laments, "how could I not be worried?"
"Shut up," Luo Wenzhou teases, "you just want your revenge."
Fei Du responds a tiny smile. "Call it compensation for bringing something home from the office."
"Ha! I knew it!" Luo Wenzhou exclaims before coughing again. When Fei Du leans in for a kiss, he backs away. "Don't."
Fei Du pouts. "Why not?"
"You're still recovering," Luo Wenzhou says gruffly.
"It's not like I can catch it again," Fei Du points out.
"Still no," Luo Wenzhou insists. "Do you know how to make the tea?"
"Oh," Fei Du says deadpan, "you actually want to drink it."
"We're both drinking it," Luo Wenzhou emphasises.
"Now why am I included?" Fei Du protests. "I'm basically cured."
"Don't care," Luo Wenzhou says, "you're still drinking it."
"So bossy," Fei Du complains. Then he snakes one hand up Luo Wenzhou's shirt. "But how do you feel?"
Luo Wenzhou lifts an eyebrow. "Where are you touching? I'm fine, this is nothing, I'm a healthy person."
Fei Du pokes his abs. "I was going to feel bad for getting you sick."
Luo Wenzhou immediately frowns. "Don't. It's no big deal."
Fei Du looks away.
Luo Wenzhou grabs Fei Du's face and forcefully turns it towards him. "I'm serious, don't think about it."
Fei Du stares at him. "Kiss."
Luo Wenzhou sighs and pecks him on the lips. "Happy now?"
Fei Du smiles, his cheeks squishing against Luo Wenzhou's palms. "One more."
"Greedy little..." Luo Wenzhou trails off. He plants another quick kiss on his lips. Fei Du wins this time.