Work Text:
Lu Guang knew the second he woke up, that he was sick. There was that tell-tale tickle in the back of his throat accompanied by a soreness, his whole body ached and his eyelids felt so heavy. He lifted his head and dropped it back onto the pillow, huffing as a sharp pain pounded through his head. He simply laid there for a good ten minutes before he talked himself into getting up. The second he stepped off the ladder from his bunk bed, he stumbled, falling against the frame and closing his eyes as his vision swam.
“Lu Guang?” Cheng Xiaoshi’s voice came from where Lu Guang assumed the door was. “Hey, Lu Guang?”
”Hm,” Was all Lu Guang could muster.
“Oh, Guangguang, you’re looking rough,” Cheng Xiaoshi’s voice softened. Lu Guang’s eyes were still closed and he had a white-knuckled grip on the bed. He felt Cheng Xiaoshi coming closer and then his fingers were pried off it, and he was sat down gently on the bottom bunk. A cold hand brushed his sweaty hair away from his face before it laid on his forehead for a few seconds. “You’re feverish.”
”Ugh.”
”Ugh is right,” Cheng Xiaoshi chuckled. “Back to bed with you, we’ll close shop today.”
”But –” Lu Guang eyes shot open and he started to protest but fell into a coughing fit. Cheng Xiaoshi shook his head and pushed Lu Guang back down gently.
“No arguments, you stubborn man,” Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand stays there, pressed against Lu Guang’s chest. “I am going to call Ling-jie, and close up the shop. You stay right there and don’t move a centimetre.”
All Lu Guang could do was sigh and go boneless against the mattress. He watched Cheng Xiaoshi leave and turned to the side, pressing his nose against the pillow upon realising he was, in fact, in Cheng Xiaoshi’s bed. It was only a few minutes later than Cheng Xiaoshi reappeared at the door, carrying a bunch of things in his hands. He placed a bottle of water on the floor as he knelt beside the bed. He brought one of his arms under Lu Guang’s body and sat him up, handing him two pills.
“Take them, it’s medicine,” Cheng Xiaoshi urged. Lu Guang could barely muster up enough energy to put the pills in his mouth, and then Cheng Xiaoshi pressed the bottle of water to his lips, tilting it slowly so he could drink. He wiped away any droplets off Lu Guang’s lips with his thumb and capped the bottle. “A-Guang, get some sleep, alright? I’m taking the blanket away so you don’t cover yourself while you have a fever.”
”Cold.”
”I know, I know it’s cold,” Cheng Xiaoshi’s face crumpled. “But if I let you keep the blanket and you get covered up, it’ll skyrocket. I don’t want it to get that bad, okay? So just sleep, I’ll make you something to eat and you can have it when you wake up.”
”M’kay,” Lu Guang breathed, his eyelids already slipping shut. “Thank you, Xiaoshi.”
”You don’t have to thank me, xingan.” Cheng Xiaoshi whispered in response once Lu Guang had already fallen asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. He brushed his lips against Lu Guang’s hot forehead and gave him a fond smile before he stood, heading down to the kitchen to rustle up a meal for Lu Guang.
When Lu Guang woke up again, he still felt as achy as before but his eyelids didn’t feel as heavy. He fumbled for the bottle of water Cheng Xiaoshi left beside him and down about half of it, quenching his thirst and relieving his dry throat. He laid there in a state of half-asleep half-awake for a bit before the door opened slowly and Cheng Xiaoshi entered with a tray.
“You’re awake! Feel up to some food?” He brought the tray over, placing it beside Lu Guang on the bed. The white-haired man looked down to see a steaming bowl of congee with some shredded chicken on top, another bottle of water and a mug of what he assumed was lemon, honey and hot water. “Eat some, okay?”
”Wait…” Lu Guang called as Cheng Xiaoshi got up, coughing into the crook of his elbow. “I – can you…”
”I’ll stay.” Cheng Xiaoshi nodded easily, settling down so he was sitting with his back leaned against the bed. He got this phone out to play a gacha game of some sort. Lu Guang brought the bowl closer, lifting the spoon to his mouth and swallowing the congee. It went down smoothly and filled his chest with such a lovely warmth, he nearly teared up. He continued eating in relative silence, punctuated only by the music coming from Cheng Xiaoshi’s phone accompanied by various character voice lines.
“I’m done,” Lu Guang said hoarsely, and he’d never seen Cheng Xiaoshi’s attention leave his phone that fast before. He whipped his head around with a speed so astounding, Lu Guang wondered how he didn’t get whiplash. “I feel gross.”
”Well, you’re all sweaty,” Cheng Xiaoshi hummed softly, moving the tray and handing Lu Guang just the mug. “Drink that, then I’ll wash your hair if you want. You can put on some clean clothes and sleep it off.”
Lu Guang didn’t reply, merely cradling the hot drink in his hands and shivering slightly as he rode out the fever. He couldn’t even remember the last time he was sick, couldn’t remember Cheng Xiaoshi being this doting when he was, but then again he assumed it would have been at the beginning of their friendship all those years ago. They hadn’t been close enough for him to dote. He finished off the drink while Cheng Xiaoshi rifled through their closet, taking out some of his own clothes and laying them on the desk.
“Done?” He turned, getting a nod from Lu Guang. “Alright, think you can stand?”
”I’m fine.” Lu Guang grumbled, swinging his feet out of the bed and going to stand. He instantly regretted his words when his vision swam and he stumbled. Cheng Xiaoshi darted forward, catching him with an arm around the waist just before he could smack his head into something.
”You were saying?”
”Shut up, Cheng Xiaoshi.” Lu Guang swatted at his face.
“Yes, yes, whatever you say, A-Guang.” Cheng Xiaoshi replied, amused. Lu Guang thought then that he only ever wanted to hear his name like that. No more Lu Guang, or Guangguang; if Cheng Xiaoshi only called him A-Guang for the rest of his life, he could die happy. It felt so fond, so tender, so loving… he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been called A-Guang. Cheng Xiaoshi practically dragged him to the bathroom and sat him on the toilet seat. He watched as the darker-haired man laid out a towel on the floor by their shower door, which was propped open, and lined up Lu Guang’s shampoo and conditioner. He helped Lu Guang up and had him lay down half in Cheng Xiaoshi’s lap with his head tilted into the shower.
“This feels weird.”
”It’s kind of the only solution we have so just bear with it for a little bit, alright? You’ll be back in bed all nice and clean soon.” Cheng Xiaoshi said as he brought the shower head up, running his fingers through Lu Guang’s hair as he wet it. Lu Guang must have fallen asleep at some point, lulled into it by the feeling of those talented fingers in his hair, massaging and soothing the pounding headache that seemed to have returned. The next thing he knew, he was being lifted up with a towel draped around his shoulders.
Cheng Xiaoshi carried him in his arms back to the bedroom and sat him down on the desk chair to dry his hair with a soft micro-fibre towel they had, a gift from Qiao Ling. Lu Guang’s head lolled forward as Cheng Xiaoshi rubbed at it softly, trying not to shake him too hard. He swore he felt a kiss being pressed against his hair at some point but in that state, he didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t.
“Can you get changed on your own?” Cheng Xiaoshi asked in a low voice, cupping Lu Guang’s face as he stood in front of him.
”Mhm, just… stay close.” Lu Guang hummed. Cheng Xiaoshi gave him a nod and went outside the room, keeping the door cracked open so Lu Guang could see his shadow lingering while he stripped off his sweaty clothes, and replaced them with the new ones Cheng Xiaoshi took from his own clothes. The pyjama pants were a bit long on him, and so was the shirt but they were old and soft, and they smelled like Cheng Xiaoshi. He sniffed the collar before letting it drop and laid on the bed again.
“Lu Guang?” Cheng Xiaoshi called. “Still alive in there?”
“I’m done.” Lu Guang grumbled in reply, sitting down on the bottom bunk, suddenly short of breath. Cheng Xiaoshi came in and his face instantly softened when his eyes landed on Lu Guang.
“Tired?” Cheng Xiaoshi knelt on the ground between Lu Guang’s legs, placing a hand on each of his knees. “Sleeping it off is the best medicine.”
“I’m sick of feeling tired.” Lu Guang’s lips downturned into an honest-to-god pout, and Cheng Xiaoshi stifled the urge to awe at him aloud.
“Aiya, come on, Guangguang… the quicker you rest up, the quicker you’ll get better.” He booped Lu Guang’s nose before rising to his feet and urging Lu Guang to lay down. He sat on the edge of the bed while the white-haired man curled up on his side, legs pulled up and into himself.
“It’s still cold.”
“Fever’s still going,” Cheng Xiaoshi clicked his tongue as he pressed his hand against Lu Guang’s forehead. “You’ll have to bear with it for a bit, I’ll cover you when it breaks.”
“Just… you’re warm,” Lu Guang murmured, reaching out to grab onto the hem of Cheng Xiaoshi’s shirt and tug lightly. “Stay.”
“A-Guang…” Cheng Xiaoshi said softly, his face melting. He moved up so he was leaning against the headboard and let Lu Guang tuck himself close, slinging an arm around Cheng Xiaoshi’s middle and resting his forehead against his hip. “I’ll always stay.”
They didn’t speak of it when Lu Guang got better. Well, it was more so that Lu Guang never brought it up and so Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t either. He wondered if it was because he was embarrassed to be seen in such a vulnerable position.
And then, Cheng Xiaoshi got sick.
Maybe Lu Guang passed his sickness onto him, maybe it was the changing of the seasons, he wasn’t sure of it. All he knew was that he was sick and miserable. Cheng Xiaoshi forced himself out of bed despite how terrible he felt and got dressed in something that wasn’t his pyjamas. Somehow, he made it down into the shop without falling over and slumped over the counter by the door.
“Cheng Xiaoshi.” Lu Guang called, and the aforementioned man lifted his head, squinting at Lu Guang’s figure.
“Hm?”
“You’re sick.” Lu Guang deadpanned.
“Nothing serious.” Cheng Xiaoshi waved him off.
“You’re burning hot,” Lu Guang clicked his tongue as he pressed his hand to Cheng Xiaoshi’s forehead. “You should be resting.”
“Lu Guang, I’m fine,” Cheng Xiaoshi batted his hand away. “We have work, it’ll pass.”
“We don’t have work.” Lu Guang marched up to the front door and flipped the open sign so it said closed.
“Lu Guang!” Cheng Xiaoshi stood, stumbling a little and bracing himself against the counter. He coughed into the crook of his arm and blinked away the blurriness in the corners of his vision.
“Cheng Xiaoshi –” Lu Guang took an aborted step forward, stretching his hand out to try and catch Cheng Xiaoshi before he fell. He wrapped one cold hand around Cheng Xiaoshi’s warm arm, leaning the man against him.
“Cold.” Cheng Xiaoshi hummed, resting his forehead against Lu Guang’s collarbone, bent at an awkward angle.
“You need to lie down,” Lu Guang muttered, moving his hand to wrap his arm around Cheng Xiaoshi’s waist firmly. “Come on.”
Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t protest as Lu Guang half dragged him upstairs and deposited him in his bunk. He flopped back, closing his eyes as soon as his head landed on the pillow and simply laid there. Lu Guang stood still for a moment, watching minute shivers wrack the dark-haired man’s body and the way his chest shuddered as he breathed roughly, then he snapped back to attention.
“Stay,” He ordered, hesitating for a second before he turned to find the medication Cheng Xiaoshi had given him not that long ago. He felt so frazzled and out of his element, he barely managed to remember to bring a cup of water with him. Lu Guang knelt beside the bed and nudged Cheng Xiaoshi’s arm. “Medicine, Cheng Xiaoshi.”
Cheng Xiaoshi groaned, cracking open one eye with downturned lips. He pushed himself up on one elbow, popped the pills in his mouth and downed the entire glass of water before flopping back onto the bed and curling up with his back to Lu Guang. The white-haired man sighed silently, standing.
“Sleep, Xiaoshi.”
Lu Guang went back downstairs, pulling up a congee recipe on his phone and following all the directions to a T. It wasn’t until a few hours later that he moved it from the pot into a bowl for Cheng Xiaoshi and carried it upstairs on a tray with some more medication.
What he didn’t expect to find was Cheng Xiaoshi’s face screwed up in pain, tears running down his cheeks and his eyes squeezed shut. Even in sleep, he was suffering. Lu Guang was quick to put the tray down on the desk and sit beside Cheng Xiaoshi on the bed, gently shaking him.
“Cheng Xiaoshi, Cheng Xiaoshi! It’s just a dream!” He raised his voice when his attempts to rouse Cheng Xiaoshi did not succeed. When Cheng Xiaoshi finally woke up, he didn’t do so gasping and heaving for breath like it was so often portrayed in fictional media. No, he awoke with wide, frightened eyes, pressing shaky hands to his face.
Lu Guang drew his hands away when he saw how much pressure Cheng Xiaoshi was applying and wiped the glimmering tracks on his face away with his own fingers. He brushed Cheng Xiaoshi’s floppy mess of hair away from his forehead and let his hand linger, greedily.
“Just a dream.” He murmured quietly.
“A dream.” Cheng Xiaoshi repeated, voice hoarse.
“I made congee,” Lu Guang rose and brought the tray over, passing the bowl to his partner friend best friend. Cheng Xiaoshi took one bite and the tears instantly trickled down his face once more, much to Lu Guang’s surprise. “What’s wrong? Did I make it wrong?”
“Tastes like Mama’s,” He choked out. “She made congee for me whenever I got sick. I haven’t had it in years.”
“Qiao Ling-jie’s family never made any?” Lu Guang asked, sitting down once more at the edge of the bed.
“Not really, no,” Cheng Xiaoshi sniffled, roughly wiping his own tears away as he continued eating. “Would she be mad I’m eating someone else’s congee?”
“I think she would just be happy you’re eating something nutritious when you’re sick.” Lu Guang shook his head.
“I don’t think she cares,” Cheng Xiaoshi looked down at the food, bottom lip quivering. “She wouldn’t have left me if she cared.”
“Cheng Xiaoshi…”
“Was it me, Lu Guang? Was I not enough for her after Baba left? I –” He inhaled sharply. “Why did she leave?”
Lu Guang took the bowl from Cheng Xiaoshi’s hands and then enveloped him in a tight hug, one arm tightly around his middle and the other cupping the back of his head, long fingers entangled in his dark locks.
“It wasn’t you. You’re enough,” Lu Guang said firmly, with conviction. “I… cannot pretend to know the inner workings of your mother’s mind, but I don’t think it’s an easy decision to leave a child behind. It doesn’t excuse the fact that she and your father did that to you but all I can say is that it wasn’t because of you.”
“Lu Guang –” Cheng Xiaoshi croaked, clutching the back of his shirt tightly and nosing at the crook of his neck. Lu Guang pretended he didn’t feel the wet droplets landing on his skin. “I miss them so much, I wish they didn’t leave, I wish –”
“I know, I know,” Lu Guang soothed, carding his fingers through Cheng Xiaoshi’s hair. “I’m here, A-Shi, I’m here.”
Lu Guang held him through the aftermath of his fever-induced nightmares and vulnerabilities, wishing he could take away all the pain Cheng Xiaoshi felt, wishing he could turn back time and demand his parents explain how they could possibly leave such a sweet boy behind and ruin him for life. No matter, he would never leave Cheng Xiaoshi, he would stay by his side for the rest of his life, and even beyond.