Work Text:
The night at Gucheng County was not much different from Wanshan County, the air humid even as the temperature dropped, yet the cold air somehow bit and buried itself in your bones even during what was supposed to be summer. Perhaps it was simply the weather that day, or due to their proximity to the graveyard, but Bai Yutang wished he had worn something with more layers.
The three of them huddled around the campfire he had built, quietly discussing the empty grave they had just dug. This wasn’t the first time they’ve had to stay outdoors under the moon and the dirt beneath them, fire crackling softly between them, nor would it be the last time, yet Bai Yutang still could feel the dirt sticking uncomfortably to his skin and clothes from all that digging. Ah…he could really do with a nice, warm bath right about now.
“I wonder if the officials at Gucheng County are loyal to the Prince of Xiangyang,” said Zhan Zhao with no small amount of concern. “If we rush to the yamen and ask for an order to interrogate Zhao Zhengde…that might not be wise.”
At his words, Bai Yutang’s mind whirred before a brilliant plan suddenly popped into his mind, and he felt his lips quirk up.
“Forget it,” he said, nodding to them both with a smile, adding sticks into the fire to let it burn longer. “Let’s get some rest for now.”
The two of them shared a questioning look at his sudden cheer but didn’t press him, simply watching as he stood up, dusting off his hands.
“I’ll get some more firewood for the night,” he told them. “You two get yourselves comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
“Alright.”
When he came back, they were huddled close near a tree trunk big enough to fit two people or more talking in hushed tones, their swords propped up beside them. At the sound of leaves crunching beneath his footsteps, Zhan Zhao immediately stopped talking and turned to him while Linglong simply blinked at him with a small smile, no doubt having heard him coming some time ago yet didn’t bother to tell Zhan Zhao. His lips twitched—that meant whatever they were talking about probably had something to do with the cat.
“I was just telling Zhan-dage that he should use the blanket I packed just for him, but he kept refusing,” said Linglong conversationally, her voice perfectly innocuous. “What do we do with him, Bai-dage?”
Bai Yutang clicked his tongue. “Silly cat, do you want to get more sick and make us both worry for you even more?”
“I really mean it,” Zhan Zhao replied gently. “That’s not necessary–”
“Here, give me the blanket, Huo Xiaomei.”
Linglong passed him what he thought was the thin blanket that they usually brought with them, something that could easily fit inside their horses’ saddlebag without adding too much weight—perfect for traveling. Yet this one seemed to be of a higher quality than what he was used to, the fabric less coarse and nicer to the touch.
His heart warmed. Leave it to Huo Xiaomei to take care of the little things.
He turned to Zhan Zhao. “If you won’t use it yourself, what if we all did? Would you still refuse us then?”
“I–”
“Exactly. Scoot over, I need some space to lean back too.”
Without ceremony, he planted himself right beside Zhan Zhao, effectively caging the man between him and Linglong. Zhan Zhao looked like he was about to protest when he simply threw the other end of the blanket over to her, ignoring the betrayed look Zhan Zhao was giving him.
Linglong tucked the blanket securely around herself as he did the same, and they shared an amused look at the utter look of defeat on Zhan Zhao’s face as he lay there stuck behind a thin sheet of cloth and two warm bodies, the man finally giving up and simply slumping in place, his head shaking weakly in the face of their brazenness. Yet the way he couldn’t stop his lips from curling up betrayed the fondness he no doubt felt.
“There, now we’re all safe and warm,” Bai Yutang leaned back against the tree, letting out a satisfied sigh at a job well done. “And Zhan-daren won’t accidentally freeze to death because of his stubbornness. Right, Huo Xiaomei?”
“Mm. That’s right.”
Zhan Zhao said nothing, letting the helpless smile in his face do all the talking as the fire continued to burn across them, the crickets' calls filling the comfortable silence as they all let sleep slowly claim them.
Bai Yutang would have to carefully detangle himself long before the sun started to rise, his plan of abducting Zhao Zhengde requiring both time and the cover of darkness, but for now, he let his eyes close to the sound of his friends’ breathing slowly evening out, their warmth under the blanket cocooning him in an embrace he had not experienced in a long, long time.
That night, he dreamed of a hazy figure in blue helping him practice his calligraphy, holding him close.