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Korn knows something’s up the second he steps off the bus to find Safe of all the people waiting for him, trying and ultimately failing to look calm and casual. In fact, he’s nearly vibrating where he stands and his bottom lip is bitten raw. “What’s up with you? Korn asks, “And where’s Pat?”
“Hey Korn,” Safe replies, pointedly ignoring his questions, “How was the trip? Your parents doing good?”
“They’re fine,” Korn says shortly, “Now what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong!” Safe exclaims, a tad too forced, “Why would you think that? Everything’s fine! We’re all good!” His tone gets more uncertain as he speaks and Korn narrows his eyes, “Sure, that’s why you look like you’re a breath away from freaking out,”
“Of course not,” Safe sniffs, “Look we’ll drop your bags off at your apartment and grab a bite to eat if you want, Chang and Louis said they’ll meet us soon. It could be a hangout, we haven’t seen you in a while,” Korn studies him, the request is normal and it is true that he hasn’t seen them in a while. “Sure.” Korn says, finally relaxing. “I’ll drop my bags off in my dorm and change into something more comfortable. I still haven’t seen Wai though, he’s at his dorm, I think; I’ll meet him and then join you, so—”
“NO!”
Korn stares, wide-eyed at Safe who just looks even more panicked now as he attempts to cover up his shout, “I mean we haven’t seen you in so long—”
“You mean a week?” Korn points out.
“-We should go right now to another place –”
“Hm,” Korn says, frowning, turning his back on Safe,he makes his way to where Wai’s building is, thankful that his boyfriend chose such an easy location to live in. “You’re hiding something from me.” He yells over his shoulder, and he hears Safe splutter. So there is something they don’t want him to see. He ends up in front of Wai’s building in record time only to find Pran there. He startles, “Oh, hello,”
“Hey Korn!” Pran says with forced cheer, “What do you say we grab something to eat and catch up, as friends?”
“As opposed to boyfriends?” Korn asks before shaking his head, “Safe already tried this song and dance with me, so give up. Whatever is it, I’m sure it can’t be that bad,”
He pushes his way past Pran but unfortunately the lift doors do not close before it gives the other man the opportunity to slip inside as well and possibly delay Korn from seeing his boyfriend again. At this point, Korn’s pretty sure they were here under Wai’s order. But for what? Wai didn’t do surprises past the occasional breakfast of pancakes with chocolate spread and flowers even though Korn could never keep them alive for more than three days. He’s still thinking about the possibilities when the lift doors open but before he can step out Pran steps in front of him with his hands raised, “Just don’t overreact, okay? We have it under control.”
“I don’t overreact, I’m the picture of calmness,” Korn scoffs as he reaches Wai’s dorm door, Pran shakes his head . Using the key Wai had handed to him three months ago, he lets himself into the dorm, startling at the sight in front of him. Wai’s wrapped up in layers of blankets on the couch, his face flushed red. His hair is a mess and he’s making these pained sighs that immediately stop the second he sees Korn. Next to him, Ink’s sitting in a chair, pressing a damp cloth to his forehead.
“I told you to keep him away,” Wai whines, at the same time Korn howls, “ My boyfriend is dying?! ”
“Oh yeah,” Pran mutters behind him, “Definitely the picture of calm. You’re totally not overreacting at all,”
Korn ignores him and stalks over to the sofa , falling to his knees and pressing his hands against Wai’s cheeks. His skin is burning to the touch. “You’re burning up,” he declares, “You look miserable. Wai fuck— you can’t keep this a secret. What should I get you? Hospital, we need to get you to the hospital. Was it something you ate? Maybe—”
“Stop,” Wai whines, “I don’t need an army of doctors for a stupid fever that will be gone in a day, ”
“A few hours,” Ink says , resigned, “That’s all they needed to delay you for and his fever would’ve broken,” Korn ignores her, his gaze roaming over the rest of his boyfriend. His hair is messier than usual and his eyes look far bigger than they actually are. The feverish sweat doesn’t seem to be as bad as he thought it was, but Korn thumbs over Wai’s cheek with a worried frown. What if he doesn’t get better, what if it gets worse?Like the last time when they thought it was a normal cold but it had ended up being pneumonia and—
“Breathe,baby.” Wai says calmly, his hand reaching up to cover Korn’s, and Korn startles out of his thoughts, taking a deep breath. “Can you guys give Korn and me a moment?” Wai asks, and Korn is distantly aware of Pran and Ink filing out, still grumbling.
“I’m not good at this.” Korn mutters once they've have left, finally letting his hands drop to Wai’s waist. Wai laughs and struggles into an upright position.
“Yeah, no shit.” He grins. “I think you forget that I’ve bounced back from every illness I’ve ever had.”
“That doesn’t make you immune to getting hurt.” Korn argues stubbornly. Wai shakes his head, another snicker escaping him, and tugs at Korn’s shoulders. “C’mere.” He murmurs, something softer in his voice, and Korn goes willingly, rising up and letting Wai rearrange them until Wai is sitting in between Korn’s legs, Korn’s back against the sofa arm. They’re pressed close together, and it soothes something in Korn to have Wai sitting in front of him, solid, warm and real. His hands come to rest on Korn’s shoulders and he shifts forward until he’s basically straddling Korn.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks, his voice low and worried. “I can bring you extra food , or take you to someone if you’re not feeling well—”
“ Korn, ” Wai says. “I’ve stopped sweating a lot and my head is clearing up. People get sick, I’ll be fine ,”
“Alright.” Korn exhales slowly, nodding, and Wai beams at him. Fuck, Korn’s soft for that smile, “I might— I mean, I know that maybe I can come on a little too strongly about this.” His boyfriend snorts at that.
“A little.” Wai snickers. “The first time I got sick you were about ready to go out with a bunch of protestors to track down the poor food stall that I ate from. Protestors. For a food stall .”
“I stand by it.” Korn says proudly, ignoring Wai’s laughter.
“I expect nothing less.” Wai shakes his head, fond. He presses a slow, gentle kiss to Korn’s forehead. Warmth trickled down from the point Wai kissed him and it leeches away some of the tension in Korn’s shoulders, and he feels it begin to be replaced with the peace that being around Wai always brings. “You’re a little neurotic about my health. It’s cute, in an “Oh my god my boyfriend is a complete idiot” kind of way.
“I’m not.” Korn grumbles. “I’m being cautious.”
“Sure baby.” Wai placates. “ Sure .”