Work Text:
“Darling, please. I promise you a hot bath will help,” Ningguang offers but you shake your head underneath the covers.
“I don’t want to move,” you manage to croak out. Heat sears through your body and your head rings. There’s no way you can force your body to do any sort of activity but your lover keeps insisting.
“You’re sure? I prepared a bubble bath though.” Your ears perk up when you hear 'bubble bath'. You haven't had one in a long time which makes it all the more tempting.
Pretending to half-heartedly give in, you mumble, “Oh alright. Seeing as you went through all the effort.” Ningguang breathes out a laugh and you beam slightly. She supports you out of bed and asks if you want to be carried. The idea makes you burn up and you deny her outstreched arms.
That would be way too humiliating! you think to yourself as you follow behind her.
When you’re inside the bathroom, your eyes light up as you spot the bathtub filled to the brim with bubbles. Unfortunately, the sudden adrenaline must’ve been too excessive as your brain feels like it’ll hammer through your skull. You clutch your head in pain but before you can fall to your knees, Ningguang catches you. The scene makes you forget your ails and you giggle.
“Are we in a romcom right now?” you say with a weak grin and she returns the favour.
“Maybe this is the friends to lovers arc where you spend a week being sick and make me do everything for you,” she adds to your banter.
“And when I’m in better health, I’ll continue with the whole ‘sick’ act to spend more time with you because I secretly like you.” Your eyes scrunch up with adoration and you tap her nose in an endearing manner.
“And then I end up falling for you.” Ningguang raises her eyebrows in amusement and lifts her fingers to caress your ears. Her touch brings you back to the reality of the situation and you stumble out of her arms.
“The bubble bath might be going cold!” you remember. As you’re fiddling with the buttons on your pajama shirt, working from top to bottom, Ningguang kneels and helps to do the ones from the bottom to the top until you both meet in the middle. She smiles up at you and you swear it felt like you were a little kid again.
She would make a great mum. The thought exits your mind as quickly as it had entered. You can’t go thinking about having children in this moment! Behind you, the businesswoman briefly looks away while you strip yourself of your other garments. She only resumes her gaze when you’re submerged into the water and covered in bubbles.
You bring your legs up to your chest and wrap your arms around them, leaning back against the bathtub and embracing the warmth of the water. Your head still buzzes but it’s tolerable.
As you close your eyes you hear Ningguang ask if you’d like some more painkillers but you decline.
“Would you like me to wash your hair?” You can sense the readiness in her voice and it’s clear she wants to do something to be of use so you accept her offer. She reaches for the bottle of shampoo, running it through your hair enough times to work it into a lather. Gently, she massages your scalp and you feel like you’ve ascended to the heavens. The pads of her fingers feel pleasant against your skin and you lean into her touch.
You’re in such a state of bliss that you could sleep in the bathtub! It feels nice, having a loved one give you so much attention, ensuring you’re loved in return.
And your walls come crashing down when Ningguang cups water from the bath and runs it down your shoulders to erase the soap suds all so she could plant small kisses on your back. You shiver slightly.
“My darling, why are you crying?” Ningguang worries. “Do you want me to stop? Or do you need some medicine?”
You shake your head vehemently.
“I love you so much.” This catches Ningguang off-guard but she quickly regains her composure to reply with an: “I love you too, my dear.”
You watch as the corners of her lips upturn and her eyes curve into the shape of crescent moons.
“I really do love you.” You hear a chuckle.
“And I love you more.”