Chapter Text
It’s the gradual deafening sound of wheels screeching on the floor, muted agony and rhythm-less beeping that finally drove his skin thick patience to snap. He’s been waiting for at least two hours in the middle of the hallway with no one telling him about the fate of his ‘intern’.
It was supposed to be a harmless site visit. It was.
But a fucking rookie mistake and his own negligence had caused a 21-year-old bright eyed young man to succumb to his feet after something fell off the still under construction building. He tried. He really did. To save him.
Typical. All he can smell at that moment was blood. His dark leather shoes that he usually kept pristine looked like they had been dragged out of hell. Dirt and clotting dark red smearing them and his slacks. His blue colored peacoat was in no better shape either. He hated blood so much he felt nauseous.
Zhou Zishu, who does he thinks he’s trying to kid? Himself? Saving others? When he can’t even dig himself out of the big black hole that he’s been stuck in for years now.
‘Hey! Excuse me!’ He tried to get the attention of a delicate looking man in green scrub entering the hallway. That man was ignoring the crowded hallway as his eyes were on the charts in his hands. Obviously a doctor by the way he’s dressed.
Zhou Zishu grabbed his bony elbow even before he could stop himself. His reaction was immediate. Face all scrunched up, nostrils flaring, eyes narrowing and he’s stepping back at full force. Almost dragging Zhou Zishu towards him, but his hold on that pale arm was strong. As strong as the gnawing feeling eating inside him so the man can’t shake him off.
‘What-’ The man was beautiful. Why was that the first thing that crossed his mind? His chapped lips slightly opened, brows furrowing deep. Lashes as thick and dark as his hair in a loose bun at the top of his head. Wow he’s tall. Almost a head taller than him. Cheeks reddened with the sudden rage at being held without consent.
'I-' He could hear the click of his own throat when he tried to speak, to explain that he meant no harm.
Seconds passed by and his face went from shocked to somewhat confused to resigned and to deeply concerned. ‘What are you doing here? What's wrong? Are you okay?’ The beautiful man asked urgently. His eyes shifting from side to side as the crowd around them suddenly enclosing them. Then he noticed the man in green scrub started to fully assessing him from head to toe.
He has made a scene. He knew.
He was about to say something when his chest felt weird. Breath labored heavily and he’s sweating a bucket. His scent suppressor must have almost been burnt out by now. It has been a long day today. His dying anger and increasing anxiousness wafting in full force, agitating the entire hallway. An alpha like him, in his prime age, built as he is, would definitely made others feel intimidated if he acted in harsh ways.
‘Sorry!’ Immediately Zhou Zishu let that pale bony arm go. Both of his hands hovered at his chest level, palms facing forward, trying to look less intimidating. He really needs to know if the boy going to survive. The man’s confused expression turned back to shock.
‘Qin… I’m sor- sorry... I came here with... with Qin Jiuxiao-‘ Why is his voice wavered? The outline of the man’s face suddenly went double.
‘Fu-‘ the beautiful doctor cleared his throat. As if it wasn’t the right thing to say. ‘Right. Urm… We should sit down first. Okay?’ His voice soft, as if he’s consoling a frightened child. His palms rubbing both of his arms in calming manner. Then his nostrils flared, scenting him blatantly. ‘What happened? Oh god. You’re going into a rut now?’ He clearly heard the man in green scrub’s words but he understood nothing.
His whole body felt icy-cold all of a sudden. He’s shivering even & his jaw felt unusually tight. Head starting to pound like one of his migraine episodes. He realized that it’s the beginning of winter anyway so the chill is normal? But the hallway has been warm minutes ago.
‘I’m cold.’ His words don’t feel like they’re coming out of his own mouth. Cotton filling his mouth, drying his throat. The pit inside of his stomach twisted painfully. Did the doctor just said he’s about to go into rut?
God, no. Not now.
‘Hey, calm down for me.’ He felt strong hands grabbing his forearms. He peered at his own hands through his fogged mind. His own hands, bloodied to his wrists, were grabbing the other man’s forearms too. He blinked slowly. Head throbbing as if he’s hungover.
All he saw before everything went dark was a tiny mole on top of a delicate looking cheekbone.
Fuck.
***
A small pained gasp.
That was all it took for him to pry his eyes open. And he doesn’t like what he saw. But the copper in his tongue tasted familiar. Sweet. Thick blood trickling down a pale column of neck, pooling at the hollow in between the collarbones and seeped into the white shirt under the green scrub the other person was wearing. He felt tremors all over his body. His limbs felt weak and too strong at the same time for some reasons he can’t pinpoint. His own pungent pine tree scent mingled with something heady and sweet.
Comfort and calm.
He realized he’s in bed with someone, an omega by the scent of it. Propped up to sitting position. Soft pillows behind his back and a warm body snug in his arms. The light in the room was dimmed. But he’s still cold and the full body tremors just won’t quit. The tremors, they didn’t feel like it’s his alone.
‘Are you still cold?’ A quiet deep voice, with a fond lilt to it, too near & far at the same time. Hot humid breath sweeping near his left temple. Small kisses were placed there too. He can’t help but shudders. There were arms engulfing him in warmth. Or trying to warm him. He can’t get enough of it as his teeth still chatters with the cold. Bone deep chill that he can’t escape.
With much effort he tried to remove his arms that encircle that person’s waist & lift his heavy right hand to touch the other person’s neck. He hates blood. The fair skin marred with something as vile as that red thing. He saw an IV was connected to his right hand. It’s uncomfortable. He saw no hint of red on his own skin like before.
‘Let it be. I’m fine’ That soothing voice lulling him into false promises. Thrumming through his core and somehow manage to make him feel a bit warmer. Felt a pair of hands rubbing circles over his shoulder blades. He tried to bring his focus back to that white column of a neck. To look for the bite wound. He made that. He caused that. Inevitably he groaned in frustration.
Typical Zhou Zishu. There’s no peace wherever he goes.
A small chuckle shook the both of them. ‘I’m really fine. Do you know where you are right now?’ That voice asked. He shook his head as he inhaled a deep breath. The familiar scent of this whole place, of the man holding him, of their mingled scents, made him realized that he did know where he is. He knew the man holding him like the back of his hand. How could he forget? So he nods his head.
‘A-xu, use your words, please?’ Warm palms moved to cup his jaws, tilting his head. He’s face to face with that beautiful man from the hallway now.
‘Lao-wen-‘ His voice cracked out of disused. The back of his neck felt hot, his nose stung and his eyes searing. Everything is coming back to him now.
His parents died in a car accident leaving him as a lone survivor at age 7.
His cousin Jin killed himself at their grandad’s house after his engagement was broken by Jing Beiyuan.
His adopted parent, Qin Huaizhang, died of cancer before he graduated from university, leaving him with little Jiuxiao alone.
And Jiuxiao. He failed at protecting Jiuxiao.
All gone.
‘Lao-wen.’ He gasped for air. ‘Everybody is gone.’ Hot tears pouring out before he could stop himself. Everybody is gone.
‘A-xu, I am here.’
‘Lao-wen.’ and he crumbles into that warm embrace again. Clinging real hard because he needed to feel safe again. Wet face tucked at the crook of that warm neck. He can almost hear the beat of the other man’s heart from the proximity. How he wished that this man could swallow him whole and stop the pain he’s feeling at the moment. Now he’s wetting that green scrub with another thing that he hates the most. Tears. His own tears.
‘Shh… A-xu I am here.’ The arms around his shoulders unyielding, almost like a vice, grounding him.
Wen Kexing, that’s his name, he remembers, rocked them into small lulls. Like a small pendulum, swinging left and right. The sound of machines beeping alternately with his own sobs.
‘Do you feel pain anywhere?’ His rocking doesn’t stop.
‘You should’ve called me. Or the ambulance. Why did you drive here on your own? I’ve told you many times do not go to your freaking sites alone. You never listen to me, huh?’ His tone was half patronizing and half concerned. After a quiet beat though, he sighed in defeat. Maybe realizing that Zhou Zishu won’t be responding any sooner.
‘I swear to god I’m gonna kill that old toad for making you go to work this soon!’ Chides Wen Kexing. Zhou Zishu really couldn’t respond to any of his questions. He felt raw all over his body but what’s killing him right now is the gnawing agony inside him that just won’t subsides.
‘Jiuxiao.’ He breathes out that name like it’s sacred.
It was. It is.
And at the mention of that name Wen Kexing took a deep breath. As if he’s about to tell him some bad news. ‘No. Don’t say it, Lao-wen!’ New hot tears clouding his eyes. Diluting the red at the nape of Wen Kexing. He tried to rub the blood off with his sleeve. The lack of his sleeve startled him.
‘Where’s my clothes?’ He sniffled. Only realizing that he’s wearing a hospital’s gown. No wonder he’s freezing. He heard Wen Kexing’s deep laughter. Small, yet it dislodges something heavy behind his breast-bone. Long fingers wiping away his tears and snot. His eyes and smile were one fond harmony.
‘A-xu, you're in an accident today. Hit something when you fall, I guess. So we had to change your clothes. They’re wet & dirty anyway.’ Wen Kexing’s deft fingers sliding up the back of his neck into the bristle of his short hair and he felt sharp pain then.
‘Ow!’ He removed his head from Wen Kexing’s comforting palms and looked at the man still connected to his hip with an offended pout. Teary eyes be damned. Under the dimmed light, he could see the dark circles forming under the beautiful man's big eyes. They didn't make him any less beautiful. His messy bun even messier now and still, he's the most beautiful person Zhou Zishu has ever laid his eyes on.
‘Oh stop, you big baby! That is nothing!’ Wen Kexing scolded him one second only to steal a kiss in the next second. It was a small peck right on top of his pout. But he felt it over his whole being. ‘You bit me 'til I bleed! Remember?’ Wen Kexing’s eyes glittered with mirth. His lips twisting at the edge with playful tilt, but the furrow between his brows can’t hide his worries.
‘Twice.’ Zhou Zishu heard himself saying. Voice too quiet to be a whisper, too loud to just be in his head. But the other man obviously could hear him still, gifting him a fond smile that made his heart pounds faster.
With wavering hand, he traced the left side of Wen Kexing’s neck, where his mating scar looked stark white at the base of his nape over his bonding gland. Then proceed to trace over his clavicles toward the right side where the new wound was no longer seeping blood. He replaced his fingers with his lips. Sending quivers down Wen Kexing’s lean body. They’re still in each other’s embrace, so he felt it too, to his core.
‘I’m sorry I kept hurting you.’ Is what he wanted to say but his tongue felt numb. He might cry again if he says something right now. So he resorts to nursing his throbbing head by inhaling Wen Kexing’s calming scent.
‘Lao-wen, how long have you been here?’ He just realized Wen Kexing was actually hugging him while sitting at the edge of the bed when his own back started to protest in discomfort. How inconsiderate of him. With all of his little might he had left, he pushed himself off the bed to move aside, giving space for the other person & pulled Wen Kexing to climb the bed.
‘You were going into stressed rut so I can’t be in here with you until the suppressant takes effect or else, you’re gonna trigger my heat too. We don’t want that to happen.’
Happily, Wen Kexing snuggled close. Limbs automatically wounding over Zhou Zishu’s body like he’s already done this a million times before and placed his head at the crook of his neck with a sigh. Zhou Zishu pulled the thick blue blanket covering his lower body to cover them both and laid back. The bed was a tight fit for the both of them but there is nowhere in the world right now he’d rather be.
‘I couldn’t wait though. I’m worried sick I thought I’m going into heat anyway because of the stress so I send everybody away after an hour.’ The suppressant usually took a couple hours or more to react. He knew this for a fact because he had one when he’s got his first rut at 15.
‘I could’ve hurt you both’ His eyes started stinging again. His emotions are all over the place right now. Hormones going haywire because of the rut and panic attack. He palmed the slight hard bump on Wen Kexing’s belly under his shirt, feeling the smooth tight skin there and started rubbing small circles with his thumb when Wen Kexing’s breathing hitched for a bit.
‘A-xu, you’re okay.’ Wen Kexing lifted his head, eyes wet too. Stating his words with full conviction & pecked him at the corner of his lips. ‘Your head is fine. Just small external wounds. Nothing serious.’ Again, Wen Kexing’s lips tilted at the corner and he placed a little kiss at the tip of his nose & his jaw. Deep down he knew what Wen Kexing was trying to do. ‘You’re going to be okay.’ His lips moving to his left eyelid, and then the right one. Making him close his eyes for much longer.
‘Close your eyes, A-xu. This will all go away in the morning.’ Wen Kexing placed one palm over his eyes. He knew the monsters Zhou Zishu usually met in his nightmares. He’s fending them off with his palm. Zhou Zishu always sleeps better in Wen Kexing’s arms. They both have their own monsters to fight together.
‘Lao-wen…’ he whispered. Tears gathering again at the corner of his eyes. He can feel it welling up.
‘Yes, A-xu?’
‘Don’t leave me?’ his voice now barely a whisper, begging.
Wen Kexing’s hold around him simply tightened. He snuggled closer, chasing more warmth, heavily wrapped on his left side, anchoring him. The familiar smell of his hair, lulling him towards slumber.
‘A-xu.’ After a while, when he was about to drift away, when he thought Wen Kexing had fallen asleep, his name was called again like a little secret.
‘Hmm?’ He’s tired to his bone. He felt Wen Kexing’s lips over his own mark and he prays to whatever gods out there listening, to for once be kind to him.
‘A-xu!’ Wen Kexing’s quiet whisper like a thunder in his ears.
‘Lao-wen?’
‘I’m never leaving your cute ass, A-xu!’ he felt Wen Kexing patting his hip to make a point.
He let out a startled laugh. Only Wen Kexing would say that.
‘As long as your affection for me is as mine for you, I will not let it be in vain, A-xu!’ the fierceness in Wen Kexing’s voice soothed his battered soul.
Zhou Zishu can’t help but to groan & starts giggling like a gremlin. Not Wen Kexing, citing quotes from his favorite romance novel. God, he loves this man so much it hurts!
‘Hey, don’t laugh! I am serious. You’re stuck with us forever.’ There're hints of suppressed laughter and giddiness in Wen Kexing’s voice when his hand joining Zhou Zishu’s on top of his rounding womb.
‘Thank you.’ I love you.
***
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