A/N finishing my last diploma today!! so excited to be free hehe
The low clamour of voices woke him once again and Jiang Zhilan quickly sat up; or, as best as he could with an aching body. With his heart beating almost too slowly in his chest, Jiang Zhilan clutched that piece of broken wood in his hand and crept towards the back of the covered carriage. Between the tightly covered planks, he couldn't see anything, only the faint glow of firelight reflected in his eyes through a crack.
The vague conversation died out, replaced by a frantic set of footsteps, beating like the drum beats of a ritual to the gods. They flowed through his chest, and Jiang Zhilan had the illusion that his whole body was rattling along.
With a rough sound, the back of the carriage was torn open. Jiang Zhilan shot to his feet, his gaze like a fierce ghost and the wood in his hands swinging down in a powerful motion. However, the motion that stole all his strength was stopped by a single, warm hand, their grip wrapping almost devotedly around his injured wrist in a soft kiss. Jiang Zhilan's bloodshot gaze crashed into a pair of haggard phoenix eyes. His breath stagnated, the wood piece dropping from his lax grip.
His head spun as he dropped bonelessly. Those hands caught him, pulling him into a warm embrace, his face pushed into a soft layer of cloth. He felt a single, trembling touch on his forehead, delicate as a butterfly's wings. Jiang Zhilan made a choked sound, his fingers grasping almost desperately at the fabric.
Liu Qingyuan kissed his hair, gaze feverish. "You're okay." His own voice held an undercurrent of anxiety and unsteadiness. "Jiang Zhilan, I'm here." The king could hear his own heartbeat pounding madly in his ears, almost drowning out the words. He felt faint but still, he clung to him. "Zhilan, Zhilan, I came too late. I'm sorry."
In the next second, he felt a warmth drop onto his shoulders, Liu Qingyuan's coat; his feet lifted away from the ground, nestling into a strong embrace. Carrying him horizontally, Liu Qingyuan strode quickly away from the broken-down carriage, entering the largest tent in the camp. He placed Jiang Zhilan carefully on the bed, brushing away his hair from his face as he crouched down at his feet. A thumb rubbed under his eye, sweeping away the tears and dirt mixed onto his skin. Jiang Zhilan felt him trembling, controlling his strength even when all he wanted to do was crush the king in his hold.
"Tell me, where does it hurt?" Liu Qingyuan's voice was steady and calm, but the grip on his arm betrayed his emotions. It was as if he dared to let go even a little, the king would vanish from his sight. Six months had been too long to bear, feeling too much like six years.
Jiang Zhilan stared at that face, those sword eyebrows and phoenix eyes. The steady dependence and stoic expression that slowly morphed into anxiety at his silence. Tears welled up again. "...it hurts," he croaked, voice rough, the tears falling from his eyes, "Qingyuan it hurts so much."
Liu Qingyuan's hands shook as he hurriedly wiped those tears. "I'm here. He gathered him into his arms as the soft sobs leaked unbidden from his throat. "I'm sorry," Liu Qingyuan closed his exhausted eyes, lips pursed. If I was earlier, you wouldn't have suffered this grievance.
"...water." Jiang Zhilan licked his lips, feeling dizzy from dehydration. Liu Qingyuan reached for the teapot, only to feel the water had gone cold. He anxiously stood up.
"I-...I'll be back. Don't-" Don't leave.
"It's fine." Jiang Zhilan reached for the pot, his thirst almost driving him crazy. Liu Qingyuan clenched his fist, silently warring between the desire to comply and to protect his body; warm water was better for him. He still helped him lift a cup to his lips. It was only after Jiang Zhilan had downed three cups that he'd finally put it down. He leaned bonelessly against Liu Qingyuan, hearing the clink of the jade cup and a gentle touch on his wrist. Deep anger rose in Liu Qingyuan's gaze as he lowered his head to kiss those wounds. Jiang Zhilan mumbled softly, "I'm still dirty."
"I don't mind." He pulled him closer, kissing each of his bloodstained fingers. The taste of copper on his lips stabbed straight to his heart, a pain welling up from the depths of his soul. In Liu Qingyuan's embrace, Jiang Zhilan opened his eyes slightly, watching his motions. He wanted to pull his hand away but he held still, knowing that he was just worried.
"It doesn't hurt that much." It was true; he'd gotten used to feeling like a carriage ran him over.
"Stop lying," Liu Qingyuan closed his eyes as if it physically pained him. "I'll help you wash up."
"You...," Jiang Zhilan paused, then smiled slightly. "It's nothing."
The hot water was like a blessing, soothing the aches in his muscles and the soreness in his joints. Of course, his healing was accelerated by the phoenix mark, otherwise he'd probably be bedridden for another week. Jiang Zhilan closed his eyes, breathing in the steam and feeling like he was ascending on the spot. The wound on his body itched and stung and he dipped his hands in the water despite Liu Qingyuan's protests.
A hand brushed away the wet hair from his back, a soft washcloth wiping the back of his neck. It paused. At the soft touch on his back, Jiang Zhilan opened his eyes, staring into the water in front of him. He let Liu Qingyuan touch, feeling the phoenix tattoo tingle in response. He laid his head on his knees, sighing softly. "How is it," his voice was low amidst the gentle sounds of water. "Does it look good?"
"Mm." A soft kiss landed between his shoulder blades, causing a shiver to go straight to his head. "Beautiful." Liu Qingyuan moved to the side of the tub, tracing a new, shallow scar that spanned over the king's shoulder. Although the mark had accelerated the healing and lessened the scarring, Liu Qingyuan could tell from the width and size of the faint mark that it had been quite severe. "But...how did you get injured so badly?"
Jiang Zhilan huffed a soft laugh, grabbing Liu Qingyuan's wandering hand and kissing his fingers. But his eyes lowered slightly as sadness flooded over his gaze. "It's a war isn't it? The soldiers fight and get injured. The civilians live in fear and poverty. The land lies in ruins, holding the scars of battle just as easily as bodies do." Jiang Zhilan lowered his hand, looking up directly into Liu Qingyuan's gaze. "Earlier, you knew I was coming."
Liu Qingyuan froze, his heart skipping a beat. In the half-lit room, the dark smudges under his eyes and his sunken cheeks made him look almost terrifying. But Jiang Zhilan gazed at him steadily.
How was he supposed to explain that feeling? When he'd heard that Jiang Zhilan's unit had been ambushed, that many of the deceased were so badly mutilated they couldn't even be recognized, a tidal wave of fear had engulfed him, burrowing into his gut in a heavy weight. He felt as if his world were splintering apart. But he was too far West and he'd only reunited with his men at their secret base camp. In those six months, he didn't know how many times he'd wished to see his king, to talk to him, to feel that living warmth beneath his fingers. He wanted him so badly, to grab him and never let go. A burning hum ignited on the left side of his chest and Liu Qingyuan closed his eyes, pressing down the words that wanted to spill from his mouth. The only indication of his discomfort was the muscles in his neck pulling taut. In the low light, Jiang Zhilan never noticed.
"Yes, I knew you were coming. My men intercepted the carriage on the way to Gongzhuan's capital. My master...I heard he killed the late king and has taken over the palace."
"You...have you gone to see him?" Liu Qingyuan lowered his eyes.
"I...have." He lightly touched the left side of his chest, feeling that strange feather mark pulse in response. Unlike before, the mark was now stark against his wheat coloured skin, dark and ugly like a burn. Originally, the poison that should have been slowly broken down by his weaker blessing was now reversed and trapped in his body. He had become...another weapon against Jiang Zhilan.
"Are you injured?" Jiang Zhilan anxiously reached out, wetting Liu Qingyuan's face with water. His brow furrowed, finally noticing just how much more hollow he looked. "You've lost weight. You-" Liu Qingyuan dropped his head to kiss his palm, hiding the flash that shot across his gaze.
"I'm fine." He'd gotten used to the constant ache; the weariness. However, every day, he could feel his meridians slowly eroding. The pain sometimes made him delirious.
"Look at you," Jiang Zhilan's thumb rubbed under his eye. "Your dark circles are so dark, you look like a ghost!" A smile flickered over his face. Liu Qingyuan let him tease, hiding his expression behind lowered lashes. He reached out, caressing his wet hair.
"I'll go get your robes before you catch a cold."
"Mm. Once you come back, you should go lay down. I can finish up by myself."
"Your majesty, you've been here only two hours. You're already ordering me around?" He teased.
"Ai. If I want to tease, who can stop me? Hmph!"
"Indeed." His lips curved. Jiang Zhilan's breath caught in his chest, throat bobbing. Thankfully his skin had turned rosy from the heat of the water, otherwise his blush would be too obvious. His smile...was really too stunning.
Once Liu Qingyuan was gone, Jiang Zhilan sighed, sinking down into the bath until his breath blew bubbles on the surface of the water. He closed his eyes, chest feeling lighter than ever. These few days of peace...he'd let himself indulge in them.
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In the dark of the night, four pitiful guards huddled around a small campfire. Various injuries covered them, muffled groans of pain and low curses sounding too loud in the dead silent night. The young guard covered the left side of his face, eyes terrified and watery. Dried blood stuck to his hair and skin, painting a gory picture in the firelight. Beside him, his older companion was cursing up a storm, foul words spilling from his mouth like background noise. Unable to take it any longer, one of the guards stood up, leaving to go to the bathroom. The young guard didn't even notice as a second companion left to check up on the first guard; he'd been gone too long.
After a while, the second guard still hadn't come back. His companion's cursing startled him out of his reverie and the young guard glanced at his fierce face before shrinking down in his seat, quivering like a rabbit. An ominous sense of dread filled his chest, making it hard to breathe. His two companions, they should have been back. What was holding them up? He couldn't be bothered to think too hard, pain and terror clouding his thoughts.
"That fucking slut. That pretty boy of a king thinks he can rule a country? Look at what he's done to Gongzhuan. If I see him again I'll urk-!" His voice was cut off, his body pulled into the shadows beyond the fire's ring of light. The young guard shot to his feet, his single good eye rolling in its socket as he frantically searched the darkness. His breath came in pants, teeth chattering from the force of his terror.
"Fuck! Let go of Laozi-!" A scream cut his words, quickly ending in a gurgle. The young guard shivered, the smell of blood filling the air. He heard the shuffle of dry leaves, saw the shift of a shadow. His legs softened, sending him falling on his ass into the ground. Behind him the heat of the fire was almost oppressive.
Just on the edge of his sight, the young guard saw the figure of a man stop, motionless. The firelight reflected in that pair of glittering snake's eyes, the ends curling up to form a beautiful phoenix shape. Before he could distinguish any facial features, the shadow turned and disappeared into the darkness.