Work Text:
Shen Qingqiu was sick of his body's weak disposition. A cold virus had been circulating around his disciples, yet he had somehow managed to catch it too! How embarrassing for someone of his cultivating calibre. His nose is stuffy and his throat complains every time he swallows. Letting out a dramatic groan, he puts on a mask, which looks nothing like a modern surgical mask and more like a beautified veil. A knock on his door draws him out of his self-pity.
"I heard you were unwell," Liu Qingge's voice comes from the other side of the door.
Shen Qingqiu mentally rolls his eyes, trust Mu Qingfang not to keep a secret for him. He clears his throat and straightens his back. "Come in," he calls, mentally cringing when his voice comes out rougher than he had intended. The door opens and Liu Qingge enters, only to stop short in his steps, eyes growing wider.
Shen Qingqiu gives him a quizzical look. "Is something wrong?"
Liu Qingge swallows. "You're wearing a..."
Shen Qingqiu leans back self-consciously. "Is it that ugly?"
"No!" The word rushes out of Liu Qingge. "But why?"
Shen Qingqiu fiddles with the strap behind his ears. "I thought it would be better if I didn't spread my illness to others," he explains.
"But it's just me here," Liu Qingge points out. "You don't have to."
And show off his chapped red nose? No thanks, Shen Qingqiu thinks. He has his cold, aloof peak lord beauty standards to maintain! "I wouldn't want you to catch this," he says.
"I wouldn't catch it. My cultivation level is high," Liu Qingge says matter-of-factly.
Shen Qingqiu sighs quietly. Curse his body! Curse the system!
"I didn't mean that your cultivation level was low," Liu Qingge quickly adds, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know that-"
Shen Qingqiu waves him off. "I was thinking nothing of that sort." He clears his throat with difficulty again. "What brings Liu-Shidi over today?"
"I just wanted to check on you," Liu Qingge replies.
Shen Qingqiu blanches slightly at the earnesty in his Shidi's expression, and only returns a polite smile. "It's only been a few days since our regular cleansing of Without a Cure. This Shixiong appreciates your concern, but this is a mere cold that will pass in a few days."
"Ah," Liu Qingge nods slowly with undetectable resignation. "Then I'll take my leave. Don't overwork yourself."
Shen Qingqiu gives an acknowledging hum, scratching the tip of his nose through his veil. When the door closes, he sags in relief. Ever since his health took a turn for the worse, all the peak lords have became so overbearing, especially the Bai Zhan peak lord. While it warms Shen Qingqiu to know that there are people who care about him, he is used to living alone, and it unnerves him to be around such persistent people. His Liu-Shidi is strangely patient with him, and Shen Qingqiu doesn't quite know what to do with it all.
-
A full body shiver runs through Shen Qingqiu. He's trying to enjoy the night sky, full of stars unaffected by city pollution, but the breeze rudely finds it way to his sensitive skin. He crosses his arms in front of him tighter. Liu Qingge doesn't miss the action. "Are you cold?" he asks.
Shen Qingqiu shakes his head. "I'm fine."
"Take my coat." Liu Qingge starts to efficiently peel off his outer robe.
Shen Qingqiu nearly chokes. "Liu-Shidi, that's really not necessary." He prays he doesn't look embarrassed.
Liu Qingge immediately stops. "Or we can go back," he suggests.
Shen Qingqiu sniffles, and regrets it when the cold bites at his nose. "Let's enjoy the view for a little while more," he says. "Put your clothes back on, Shidi."
Liu Qingge obeys, not meeting his eyes. "It's better to keep warm, you've just recovered not long ago."
Shen Qingqiu gives him a small smile. "Liu-Shidid need not be so worried, I am fully recovered." This time he isn't lying, he really did not have a cold anymore. He has always been more susceptible to the cold, it seemed to like to settle in his bones. "Winter is approaching, that is all."
Liu Qingge notes that the end of autumn is nowhere near. He still wears his summer clothing with no problem. Glancing at his Shixiong's thick, multiple-layered robes, an uncomfortable feeling rises in him. "I can regulate your body temperature for you," he offers.
Shen Qingqiu's eyes widen. After a moment, he presents his bare wrist to him. "If Liu-Shidi does not mind."
Placing two fingers gently on his Shixiong's pale wrist, Liu Qingge starts to send a stream of warm qi. He watches as the muscles in Shen Qingqiu's neck relax and he stops shivering. "You should start wearing your winter robes."
Shen Qingqiu hums absentmindedly, gaze still fixated on the stars. "I'll have a disciple take them out."
Liu Qingge looks at his fingers. This is his first time touching Shen Qingqiu outside of their monthly meridian-cleansings. He swallows. "Do you enjoy the view that much?" he asks.
Shen Qingqiu nods. "A view like this should be appreciated, you never know when it could disappear."
Liu Qingge stares at the awe in his Shixiong's eyes, at how he appreciates the night sky like it's his first time seeing it. "Why would it disappear?"
Shen Qingqiu inhales slightly at his slip-up. "Just a figure of speech."
Liu Qingge nods in understanding. He peers at the sky again. "It doesn't seem that special to me," he remarks.
Shen Qingqiu smirks in amusement. "That's because you lack practice. Liu-Shidi should join me more often for sight-seeing when he has the time."
Liu Qingge's eyes widen slightly. Perhaps if it wasn't so dark, the redness on his ears could also be seen. "It... would be good to learn something new."
Shen Qingqiu holds in a laugh. The invite had slipped out of him without much thinking, but he doesn't regret it. He finds his Shidi slightly awkward but cute in his own way. And perhaps spending more time with him isn't the worse idea, he might even be looking forward to it.
-
Shen Qingqiu knows another flare-up is approaching the moment he throws up his breakfast, the sound loud and embarrassing in his ears. Then he rinses out his mouth and straightens his hairpiece like it isn't a big deal, because it truly isn't. At his stage of cultivation, he could practice inedia with ease. He's also very much used to it from his previous life. When one of his disciples enter with lunch, the smell of food nearly makes him gag again. His appetite is non-existent, but his face remains a stoic shield. He raises a hand gracefully to decline the food, and his disciple backs away quickly.
Mu Qingfang visits his peak not long after. "I heard that you skipped breakfast."
Shen Qingqiu breaks into a frown. "Mu-Shidi, have you planted a spy within my disciples?"
"I have my ways," Mu Qingfang answers. "Have you thrown up?"
Shen Qingqiu forgets to cover up his surprised look. "How did you know?"
"You're exceedingly pale and unsteady," Mu Qingfang points out. "I'll have medicine sent over later, but it's still better to eat something."
"I really can not stomach anything now," Shen Qingqiu protests.
Mu Qingfang presses his lips together. "Something light."
Shen Qingqiu sighs, realizing there's no point arguing with the healer. "I'll trouble Mu-Shidi then."
"It's no trouble," Mu Qingfang assures him.
Turns out it really was no trouble for the Qian Cao peak lord at all, because he has Liu Qingge send the food and medicine over. Shen Qingqiu could have rolled his eyes out of his head. He can't believe he has to get nagged by two people today. The revered God of War entering his room with a dainty basket of fruits was truly a sight to behold.
Shen Qingqiu motions to an empty table. "Just leave it there." Then he picks up his brush again and returns to his work.
Liu Qingge does as instructed. "Won't you eat now?" he asks.
"Later," Shen Qingqiu says, writing without stop. His stomach feels more settled now, but he doesn't want to risk disturbing its peace.
Liu Qingge frowns. "You should at least take the medicine now. You don't look good."
Shen Qingqiu's head snaps up. "I don't look good?"
"I meant," Liu Qingge pauses, "you look ill."
"Fine," Shen Qingqiu grumbles. There goes his image as a beautiful, reserved peak lord! He holds his breath and downs the bitter medicine with disgust, then quickly washes the aftertaste out with water.
Liu Qingge's brows draw together tighter. "Does it taste that bad?"
"I've gotten used to it," Shen Qingqiu answers.
Liu Qingge feels his heart drop. "Would candy help?" he asks. "I'll head to town and buy some. What type do you like?"
"Really?" Shen Qingqiu's voice takes on a surprised lilt. "Liu-Shidi isn't busy?"
Liu Qingge shakes his head. "Not busy at all."
Shen Qingqiu chuckles lightly. "I'm sure your disciples would disagree." He thinks for a moment. "Any type will do, Liu-Shidi can pick for me." When Liu Qingge comes back with candies of every flavour under the sun, he thinks of what an honour it is to see such a look of unadulterated satisfaction on Shen Qingqiu's cold cut features, and the things he would do just to see it once more.
-
Shen Qingqiu wakes up that morning and just knows that it's going to be a painkiller type of day. The ache has settled deep into his bones and his energy is close to non-existent. Sometimes he misses how easy it used to be to acquire painkillers. He always carried a pack around with him and when he downed several dry nobody batted an eye. Nowadays, he has to trouble his Mu-Shidi for anything medicine-related, who doesn't let him go easily without a sea of questions of why he requires painkillers in the first place.
Mustering as much energy as he can, he pushes himself out of bed. He had a full day of classes ahead of him, but he was already starting to feel tired. He wishes he had coffee or an energy drink to get him through the day. He even has to attend a peak lord meeting today. It was honestly asking too much of him. He arrives early to the meeting, the walk taking longer than usual. He hadn't even bothered risking a flight.
Liu Qingge arrives next and spots him trying to catch his breath in his seat. "Why are you sweating so much?"
Shen Qingqiu quickly swipes a robed arm across his forehead. "It's hot today."
"It isn't," Liu Qingge rebuts, rushing towards him. "Do you have a fever?" He reaches towards his Shixiong's forehead.
Shen Qingqiu swats his hand away. "No, I do not have a fever."
Liu Qingge frowns. "Let's skip the meeting. I'll explain to Zhangmen-Shixiong later."
Shen Qingqiu contemplates lying to him, he really does. But he's weak and not immune to his Shidi staring at him with so much worry. He caves. He doesn't even want to spend his limited energy on lying anymore. "Okay."
Liu Qingge offers his hand and Shen Qingqiu takes it, hoisting himself up to stand with great energy. He leans heavily against Liu Qingge, who doesn't show any hint of finding him heavy. Liu Qingge draws out his sword and they both get on it without argument. Shen Qingqiu snakes his hands around Liu Qingge's waist, and he doesn't even have to energy to feel embarrassed about it because he just wants to get home in the quickest way possible. He leans his chin on his Shidi's shoulder and closes his eyes, feeling a headache start to build. Liu Qingge stares dead straight ahead and wills the heat in his cheeks to dissipate.
When they reach Qing Jing peak, Shen Qingqiu flops onto his bed the second he enters his room, pulls his shoes and headpiece off unceremoniously and tosses them to the ground. Liu Qingge hurriedly picks up after him. "Tell me how I can help," he says, voiced tinged with anxiety.
"Just let me be," Shen Qingqiu says, voice muffled by his pillow.
Liu Qingge doesn't move from his spot. "You don't want me to stay?" he asks.
Shen Qingqiu hesitates for a second, then shakes his head silently.
Liu Qingge's gaze drops. "I'll come back later, okay?"
Shen Qingqiu makes an indiscernible sound. The door shuts and he briefly wonders if he should call him back. He ends up having to sit up because lying on his front is making it hard to breathe, and the action takes so much out of him that he nearly regrets asking Liu Qingge to leave. Nearly.
Shen Qingqiu's temperature rises that night, because it always gets worse before it gets better. He spends hours tossing and turning in bed, sweat dripping and feeling far too cold. His dreams are hot and vivid, filled with images of having his limbs torn off, and he keeps making these pathetic whimpering noises that make Liu Qingge feel like his heart's been stabbed.
Mu Qingfang had ordered him to stablise Shen Qingqiu's meridians to prevent a deviation, so Liu Qingge sits by his bed and puts his all into delivering a stream of comforting qi through his body. When Shen Qingqiu shoots up in bed screaming his lungs out, Liu Qingge decides that he would never like to hear his Shixiong make that guttural of a sound ever again. When Shen Qingqiu buries his face in his hands, chest heaving with every breath, Liu Qingge bravely moves closer and offers himself as a comfort. He isn't sure how much time has passed, but slowly his Shixiong comes back to himself.
"I've kept you awake again, Liu-Shidi," Shen Qingqiu whispers hoarsely. He coughs a few times, throat raw from overuse.
"I don't mind," Liu Qingge says softly. He pours a cup of water and helps Shen Qingqiu hold it to his mouth to take a few sips.
Shen Qingqiu chuckles tiredly. "You don't mind a lot of things."
Liu Qingge hesitates. "Not if it's about you," he says slowly.
Shen Qingqiu turns to him with his dark, heavy eye bags. "Does Liu-Shidi really mean it?"
Watching Liu Qingge stiffly nod his head, Shen Qingqiu can't help breaking into a tiny smile. "In that case, I shall bother Liu-Shidi again in the future."
Liu Qingge's gaze flickers away in embarrassment. "Not a bother."
Shen Qingqiu feels his heart lighten. Since when was his Shidi such a sweet talker? It almost had him convinced that he really wasn't a burden. Although he rationally knows that Liu Qingge is not the type of person to tell a white lie, to believe it wholeheartedly himself was another mental hurdle, and perhaps one that he would like to cross. He's almost curious as to what would happen if he were to grow close to someone. Maybe one day the discomfort would leave and he might find himself actually enjoying it. Who knows?