Work Text:
Bai Jiu finally closed his eyes. He was exhausted, the hours of work weighing heavily on his shoulders, knees locked in front of the wooden desk. Just one moment of rest... he thought to himself—
Screams erupted from the room next to him, followed by a small knock. He jumped, his little bell jangling against his ears as he tentatively cracked one eye open.
"He is finally awake but doesn’t want to take his medicine," Pei Si Heng stood at the door, a small bowl clutched in his hand.
Bai Jiu’s blood pressure rose at the news. The battle that had almost killed them ended weeks ago, but he hadn't stopped researching and brewing, the process leaving him half asleep at all times. Wen Xiao had tried to pry him away from his station, but she had stopped when she found him still working in his bedroom. He wouldn't stop, not until he saved him.
"I’ll see him," the boy responded, sweeping the crusted sleep from his eyes. The rough outline of his gloved hand irritated his skin, he wouldn’t dare to look at himself right now.
"I can force him to drink it," Pei Si Heng offered, watching Bai Jiu grab the bowl from his grasp, the liquid splashing lightly inside.
"Maybe next time," Bai Jiu replied absentmindedly.
Ying Lei stood before him, his torso wrapped in bandages. Though his body was gaunt, he was whole, his figure moving about the room with ease. He had been in a coma for the past two weeks, but watching him now, Bai Jiu wondered if it had all been a dream.
"Bai Jiu!" The young mountain god suddenly screamed, wrapping his arms around Bai Jiu’s small frame and lifting him off the ground, his strength still intact.
Bai Jiu’s body stiffened, the medicine he had been brewing tilting and soaking into Ying Lei’s bandages.
"Okay, okay, put me down," he said, feeling his resolve quickly disappearing. Maybe coming here was a bad idea.
"You’re alive!" Ying Lei continued, finally setting the boy back down. "And well!" He added, his gaze examining Bai Jiu from head to toe, a strange full examination. The mountain god feeling like the doctor of their group, his sharp eyes scanning Bai Jiu’s face, arms, and stopping at the gloves. Ying Lei’s expression shifted as he eyed Bai Jiu’s covered hands. Bai Jiu cleared his throat and pushed the bowl into Ying Lei’s chest.
"And you’re out of your coma," he said, tugging at his sleeve to better conceal his hand. "You should be lying down and drinking your medicine." He emphasized his words with another push of the bowl.
"Pei Si Heng already gave it to me. His tea is bitter," Ying Lei complained, making Bai Jiu sigh, tired. He acted like a child despite looking so tall and mature, the fuzz of his beard beginning to grow back. "He could’ve at least put some milk and honey in it—"
Bai Jiu, irritated, pushed him onto the bed so they were at eye level.
"It took so long to make. Please drink it," Bai Jiu’s hand shook slightly, exhaustion building up in his wrist quicker since the incident, the barrier that had burned the tips of his fingers had left some digits crippled.
Ying Lei’s protests died down as he looked up at him, realization passing through his eyes. Without a word, he took the bowl and gulped the medicine in a single swallow. Bai Jiu sighed in relief, the weight of stress finally lifting from his shoulders.
"Sorry. And thank you for the medicine," Ying Lei set the bowl aside, his hand pressing gently onto Bai Jiu’s arm. "Are you okay? Did you sleep last night, Bai Jiu?"
Bai Jiu hated how good his name sounded in Ying Lei’s voice, laced with concern, soft and warm. He blinked heavily, his eyelids begging to close just a little longer.
"Not… long," he mumbled, the words coming so slowly that he thought he had fallen asleep between them.
Without another word, Ying Lei grabbed Bai Jiu by the hips and propped him onto the bed beside him. The soft sheets and mattress welcomed him as a blanket was thrown over his small frame. He wanted to protest, at least try, but his body was already failing him, his thoughts muddled.
A soft voice reached through the fog.
"It’s time for you to rest."
He didn’t remember his bed being this tight. He tried to turn onto his stomach, only to fall against something heavy. Something warm. Something rising and falling. Strange. He moved again, just as he felt pressure around him, pinning him against the moving hill. Through the constraint, Bai Jiu opened his eyes. Night had fallen. Small candles illuminated the chamber. He didn’t recognize it at first, and fear spiked through him. Had he been kidnapped? But as his eyes adjusted to the light, he began to make out a shape, so close, the bridge of a nose, soft blond hair, long lashes.
Ying Lei.
He tried to move, but something prevented him from doing so. He began to squirm, only to realize, the young mountain god’s arm was wrapped around him, pressing them together.
"…stop moving…" Ying Lei’s voice made Bai Jiu freeze. He turned his head just in time to see the mountain god’s eye half-open, a soft smile creeping onto his lips.
Everything rushed back. The coma. The medicine bowl. Ying Lei laying him down. Bai Jiu flushed at the memories.
"I’m on your bandages," he whispered, as if afraid to wake the already awake mountain god.
"Doesn’t hurt," Ying Lei murmured, amusement in his voice. He shifted his arm slightly, squeezing Bai Jiu just a bit, as if proving something. "You did a great job. I can’t feel a thing."
Bai Jiu nodded, still looking at the bandages. Maybe he should check. Ying Lei’s hand stopped him before he could reach out.
"I’m fine. Stop worrying about me," the young mountain god said.
"I’m the doctor here—" Bai Jiu began to protest.
"Bai Jiu, stop. Please," Ying Lei’s voice softened. "You’re going to work yourself to death if you continue."
"I will… if it means saving you."
The words slipped out so easily that Bai Jiu feared he had lost control of himself.
"Bai Jiu I should be the one worrying. Not you."
"You weren’t there," Bai Jiu murmured. "You were gone. Only your body remained. Grand Demon couldn’t feel your inner core at all, it was horrifying. I thought I’d never see you walking or even talking again…"
He trailed off, the memories rushing back, tears welling up in his eyes.
"But I’m here now," Ying Lei whispered, his hand tracing slow circles over Bai Jiu’s gloved palm. "I can’t rewrite the past. I wish you never saw me like that. I wish you were never in Li Lun’s control. I wish you could’ve lived your life like a normal teenager, with your mother. But what I can do is make sure you take care of yourself. Make sure that I take care of you."
"But if you die again—" Bai Jiu’s voice broke, tears slipping down his cheeks.
"You forget I’m a demon," Ying Lei swiped away a tear. "But I promise you, Bai Jiu. I, Mountain God Ying Lei, swear upon my clan that as long as you draw breath, I won’t leave your side. Death will never be the end of me. I will protect you, take care of you, cook for you. Bai Jiu, I’ll always find my way back to you."
Bai Jiu’s breath hitched. The weight of those words heavy on his heart.
"Ying Lei…" he whispered.
"You just have to say yes."
Bai Jiu swallowed thickly. "Yes. I accept."
"Then I’m yours, Bai Jiu."
Ying Lei’s lips pressed softly against his, and Bai Jiu let out a breath. He had never kissed someone like this before, but it felt right, Bai Jiu hesitated for only a moment before he slowly let his tongue slip out. He had heard that was how you were supposed to kiss.
A chuckle rumbled against his lips.
Heat flared up inside the boy, shame igniting in his chest. He began to pull away, mortified, but Ying Lei’s voice stopped him.
"Let’s. Not. Rush." Each word was punctuated with a kiss. Bai Jiu felt lips press softly against his forehead, trailing down his jaw, then his neck; gentle, lingering touches. He let it happen, let himself melt into it, his heart racing in his chest. A warm hand threaded through his hair. Bai Jiu exhaled slowly, pressing his forehead against Ying Lei’s chest.
"We... have time now," the boy murmured, still flustered.
Ying Lei nodded quietly. His fingers combed through Bai Jiu’s dark strands with a soothing rhythm, as if grounding him, as if reminding him, that he was here. That he was alive.
Bai Jiu closed his eyes, the weight of exhaustion catching up again to him.
Ying Lei didn’t care about his scars. He didn’t care about his age, his burdens, his past.
He had promised himself to him.
And Bai Jiu finally allowed himself to believe it.