Zhang Qiling
The tales that Pangzi told him were so many it took a long time for him to explain in detail and by the end of it, Zhang Qiling was feeling his head ache not only by the knowledge of having Wu Xie so close to either death or to mortal danger while on tombs or even from the outside with the ones who had taken interest in him, like Cox Hendry and his associates.
Yes, Wu Xie had indeed been kidnapped before, but it wasn't only that, he had willingly jumped into the ocean to try find him in the Parcel Islands, jumped into a ghost ship before they reached said islands to save the now deceased Ning, was used as a human shield by the same woman inside the tomb, monsters of all kinds, poisonous insects, snakes of all sizes, faced a few candle dragons in the bronze tree, jumped into a river whirlpool to save an unconscious Pangzi in Tamutuo, the Snake Mother of Tamutuo and so on and on, in order to keep one of them safe at a time.
That, of course make him love the man even more, but also worries him, because Wu Xie was too caring and anything could put him in deadly danger, since he was concerned with everyone's life, not only of his own, which make him so reckless, even when he try to deny it, probably to make Qiling less concerned. However, of all the times Wu Xie had been in danger, there had been a particular one in which Pangzi had said he had kind of snapped and it was when Wu Xie had been infected with a type of fungus that had grown on his belly that make had him very sick.
Wu Xie had mention the incident before, telling him it have been then that their relationship had changed from a friendship to romantic one and now, Pangzi had confirm it, but he had no idea that it had been such a serious close call and he had been cursed with not even remember it, when it had changed everything for both of them... how could Wu Xie swallow that hard pill, he had no idea, but it must had been devastating when he find out all his memories were gone.
"I will check on Wu Xie..." Xiaoge said as he stood.
"Yeah, do that... and... well... make sure he is not angry with me... I will make something to eat, his favorite at that... go pacify him for me..." Pangzi said and Xiaoge headed toward the tent they shared.
Wu Xie was laying over the sleeping bag, not bothering to cover himself, only taking off his boots before giving in to rest. He looked a little pale, so Xiaoge bend down to take the discarded cover and wrap Wu Xie with it. That close to the lake it was colder than in other parts of the mountain and the air was stronger there too, so he needed to make sure that Wu Xie was keep warm. He was careful not to disturb Wu Xie's rest, but as he gently cover him, Wu Xie groaned softly in protest.
"Xiaoge... don't cover me..." Wu Xie whined and Xiaoge lower the cover a bit into the middle of his chest as per Wu Xie's request.
"It's windy..." Xiaoge told Wu Xie, as a reason for his action.
"Not really..."
"Are you mad with me?"
"No."
"Are you feeling hot?"
"Yeah, a bit... will you rest with me now?" Wu Xie asked as he turned to look at Qiling.
"Want company?"
"Yes... but I may be a little sweaty..." Wu Xie warned him and Xiaoge frowned with a hint of concern, because the day was not hot enough for Wu Xie to sweat. It wasn't a very hot day at all and with the fresh breeze coming from the lake, it was actually quite cold.
"Wu Xie?" Xiaoge whisper as he gently touched his lovers forehead, to find it a bit warm... wait... was Wu Xie having the first signs of a fever?
"Why are you frowning like that?" Wu Xie asked as he looked at him.
"You have a fever..." Qiling answer and Wu Xie touched his face for confirmation.
"It's not that hot." Wu Xie dismissed.
"It's a slight fever still..."
"It's fine, nothing to worry..."
"I do worry... wait here, I will come back in a minute."
"Wait Xiaoge, don't tell Pangzi. He will pester me to no end for been a weakling."
"I will bring cold water from the lake... and you are not a weakling..." Qiling said as he slightly kissed Wu Xie's hair.
"Really... I'm fine..."
"No, you are sick." Xiaoge said and then he rushed out of their tent to look for something to bring back water from the lake.
"What? Do you want to make some tea?" Pangzi asked as he looked at Xiaoge take water from the lake.
"Do you have pain killers?" Qiling asked and Pangzi smirked.
"Did all of Tianzhen's past reckless actions give you a headache? Well it's not so surprising... it was quite a lot to take. He is not mad with me, right?"
"No... I just need some painkillers." Qiling insisted and Pangzi let go of his cooking to get Xiaoge what he wanted and then went back to his job. Qiling thank him and enter his tent to find Wu Xie laying on his back, looking peacefully in sleep, but as soon as he approached, Wu Xie open his eyes and sighed when seen him with a bottle of pain killers that also reduced fevers and the small basing filled with the lake water.
"Xiaoge..." Wu Xie sulked.
"I was told you were very sick in Tamutuo... I will not take chances..." Qiling said softly, settling down the basin and looking on his backpack for a bottle of water.
"Damn Pangzi and his big mouth..." Wu Xie whined.
"He cares."
"He likes to tease me..." Wu Xie cutely pouted.
"But also cares..." Xiaoge said as he give Wu Xie the pills and bottle of water to drink with them and help him sit so he could take them more comfortably.
"You are siding with him now?" Wu Xie sulked.
"No, but he is making your favorite. Hotpot." Xiaoge told him and Wu Xie swallow his pills.
"He knows he owes me." Wu Xie said and Xiaoge help Wu Xie lay down again.
"Rest... I will watch over you..." Qiling whisper and despite Wu Xie's protest, he cover him up to his shoulders, then use a small towel on the cold water of the lake and placed over his forehead.
"Mnm... you are spoiling me?"
"I'm taking care of you..."
"Isn't that the same?"
"Get some sleep. I will wake you up, when there is something to eat." Xiaoge said and Wu Xie yawned a bit.
"I am a bit tired..."
"Sleep."
"Will you stay with me?"
"Yes."
"Don't go to the lake again."
"I will not. Rest." Qiling said and a few minutes later, Wu Xie relaxed under his sleep and he watch him for a few minutes before he wet the now dry towel again. When Pangzi came in to tell them about the hotpot been ready, he hush him, so he will not wake up Wu Xie.
"He is sick?" Pangzi asked in a low tone.
"Had a fever, but is not too high yet." Qiling answer.
"Maybe he is going to catch a cold. You two dived in the lake too early in the morning and Tianzhen is not in such good shape, he is too lazy to exercise. Damn... if he truly catch a cold, then my trip back to the town with Yun Cai is as good as gone. Wu Xie should go instead and have a few days of rest out of this cold windy weather." Pangzi said and Xiaoge had to agree with him, even if Wu Xie were to protest.
"I will bring you the hotpot, so you can feed it to him... all the veggies will make him good."
"He doesn't need to be feed." Qiling said as Wu Xie was not that sick or weak to go to the extreme.
"Ah Xiaoge you are as innocent as Wu Xie... let me give you and advice about relationships and how to make them last a lifetime. You need to take the chances when you got them and don't let them waste, because once they are gone, they will not go back no matter how much you wish for it."
"Tianzhen sure has his cute side, as I know you are aware of it, but it not a kind of side you see very often. So you should maximize it to the fullest at any giving opportunity. I'm sure that Tianzhen may protest of you feeding him the soup at first, but you are his weakness after all. I bet he will blush like hell and be cute while you enjoy the nice view. Don't you want to see him all melted? Remember my words Xiaoge when you are face to face with him... you may even enjoy it more than you can handle it." Pangzi teased and went out of the tent, to fill one bowl of hotpot for Tianzhen and another for Xiaoge.
At the end, Qiling wake up Wu Xie when everything was served, who sneezed a few times, shivering a bit with his fever a bit higher and just because Wu Xie looked paler and weaker, he offer to feed him, it was not because of Pangzi advise at all and although Wu Xie did refuse it when he suggested it with an intense blush, Qiling's gaze had been firm enough for Wu Xie to accept the offered help despite it make his body hotter instead of cooler.
Indeed, seen a flustered Wu Xie was a welcoming plus and he was left with the desire to kiss him senseless when he obviously couldn't take the advantage. So, perhaps, teasing Wu Xie when he was the cutest was really more than he can handle when he could only watch and not touch, nor enjoy of the fruit of his hard work to make him so adorable.
After that, he told himself to take Pangzi advice more seriously, because he obviously knew of what he was talking about, most likely from the experience he lacked in so many aspects of a romantic relationship. Maybe letter, he can have more advice from him, seen that he didn't even need to voice the question, as Pangzi was starting to understand his silence as much as Wu Xie at that point.
Later, as Wu Xie slept, Qiling walked around the nearby woods in search for medicinal herbs that could help fight a cold, finding some not too far from their camp and making Wu Xie an herbal remedy to help him get better sooner. He had in mind a terrifying image of Wu Xie getting too sick, almost paper white and in deep pain, from Pangzi's memories of Tamutuo, so he was taking this sickness with all the seriousness it required, even if it was a simple flu.
Thus as the day turned into night, Xiaoge took care of Wu Xie at all times, giving him the pills on time and the remedy he make to give the medicines a stronger effect, then wetting the towel when it dry up under Wu Xie's fever and keeping him cool through the night, until his fever subsided enough for him to have a few hours of rest before morning came.
AN: Ah, cute sick Wu Xie and his lovely nurse. Just a bit more Pingxie before disaster and next there may be a Heihua chapter if you guys don't mind. I think they need a little more exposure than just a flash pass. I hope you like a sick Wu Xie reason to go back to the town, instead of running around with Xiao Hua in Changcha. He will not be sick enough to make Xiaoge go back with him, but Xiaoge will be concern enough to send him back to a warmer place in town to recover. They will be in contact by phone, until of course, both Xiaoge and Pangzi disappear. Thanks for reading and take care until next time.