Work Text:
The grating noise of tires.
The blearing lights and colours.
A sense of disconnect from reality.
-
Lost in his own consciousness, all he could hear were distorting sounds. People sometimes spoke to him. He could barely make out their words and couldn’t even distinguish their voices.
-
The first thing Yu Xigu noticed when his brain sparked back to life was the smell. The air was stagnant, mixed in with the smell of sterile hospital rooms. The second thing he noticed was that he could open his eyes.
So he did.
He grimaced as the light pierced his eyes, effectively blinding him for a mere moment. Once his sight adjusted, he surveyed the room. It was a blindingly white room with specks of neutral colour. There was no one else in the room other than himself. To his right was a feeding tube and a heart monitor. His eyes locked onto his own heartbeat.
It was a steady rhythm, a steady beat.
It was proof that he was alive.
The memories of what happened were still imprinted on his brain, although a bit fuzzy.
In that moment, as he laid lifelessly on the street, he met Death. It was only for a brief second but Death had looked him straight in the eyes, waiting.
Death was left disappointed, leaving without a new soul.
Yu Xigu sighed and clenched at his heart.
He was still alive. Still breathing. Still living.
He could have met his parents, joined them in the stars.
Yet he didn’t.
He was alive.
His life didn’t end.
After looking around for a bit, Yu Xigu found the call button. He pressed it and waited for a doctor or nurse to arrive. As he laid back down on the bed, he stared up at the blank ceiling.
-
During his comatose state, Yu Xigu had his leg amputated. Living without a leg would be a new challenge for him to face however he wasn’t going to give up. He wouldn’t be a burden to anyone either.
Like always, he wanted to persevere.
And he would.
Although having a prosthetic was ideal, with his current finanical situation, it wasn’t possible. Xiang Haoting had wanted to pay for it however Yu Xigu was very adamant about it. No matter how much he could negoiate, Yu Xigu wanted to pay it himself.
Depending on a wheelchair to move around was an uncomfortable experience at first. Eventually though, he got the hang of it.
His mobility was limited but at least he wasn’t dead.
-
Xiang Haoting was tired after a day of classes. Life at university was different from high school. It was difficult and without his friends, it sometimes felt like a drag.
His exhaustion wouldn’t stop him from visiting his boyfriend, though.
It was routine at this point, to visit him every day. They didn’t spend enough time together, but a couple of hours was way better than no hours at all.
The closer he got to the hospital, to his hospital room, the less he cared about his fatigue.
He greeted the nurses as normal but didn’t deter from his goal until finally, there was only a door between him and Yu Xigu. The door handle was cold under his palm. Xiang Haoting took a deep breath and then opened the door.
Yu Xigu was in his wheelchair, near the window. The sun was setting, enveloping him in a warm ethereal glow. Yet Yu Xigu’s gaze was fixed on his lap, where laid an open textbook. He was reading, understanding the different concepts inside his head.
Xiang Haoting walked up to him and pressed a chaste kiss on his forehead. Yu Xigu finally looked up at him, his eyes wide before softening. Closing the textbook and putting it aside, he reached out and cupped Xiang Haoting’s face before pulling him in a gentle kiss.
Xiang Haoting kissed back.
Being able to feel Yu Xigu’s warm lips pressed against his was the greatest pleasure he ever got to experience.
-
After 3 weeks, Yu Xigu was discharged. He could go back home.
To their home.
Fear took a hold of his heart whilst they were on the street. The cars driving by looked menacing. If just one car decided to swerve into them then…
His thoughts were disrupted by Xiang Haoting, who gently patted his head.
Yu Xigu smiled back.
Something bad could still happen, but at least he had Xiang Haoting with him.
They still had time to make each one of their days count until the end.