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Wen Kexing had gotten stickier over time. When he forced himself into Zhou Zishu’s bed, he almost didn’t expect to sleep any. Over time, though, he got so used to the comforting weight. The way the other breathed was easier to concentrate on than the nails and without it he couldn’t sleep. It was one of the nights he spent alone, staring into the night. Wen Kexing was doing something stupid most likely, he didn’t try to remember where he prattled on about. He had talked as he was about to leave and Zhou Zishu was desperately trying to fall asleep before midnight.
But as it got quiet in the inn, the sounds of only the person cleaning downstairs and quiet murmurs of other’s still talking in their rooms, he was staring out the window by the bed still. It was a worse ache tonight that was bone deep before the nails started. The poison left him empty and heavy in a way he can’t forget as he moves. With the cold, his joints creak and moan. It’s almost laughable as he sounds like an elderly man as he holds back sighs from having to move sore joints and breathe through wheezing lungs.
It wasn’t something he was going to wallow in though as he sits up, moving to sit on the window sill to watch the sky until morning.
He is perfectly fine being idle like this and leans against the wall, dangling his feet outside as he watches people move outside the inn walls. There’s still people running around the streets, vendors that sell into the night and other, more illicit workers walking to their customers homes outside the brothel. But one small group catches his eye that has him narrowing his eyes.
They’re small, unimportant in a group of three. But they wear a bright blue ribbon braided into their hair with a gold tassel. He had seen those tassels many times before in the Window of Heaven and sighs. He really wasn’t meant to live peacefully if ghosts from his pasts still continue to haunt him.
They were a small group of dedicated and impressive assassins. They were similar to the Scorpions but they worked in the Northwest. They tried to take over many posts that Window of Heaven had and almost succeeded.
Almost.
Zhou Zishu caught wind of it and made easy work of the small group. He remembers it because it was a fight he barely managed to win and it left him with another three scars along his body. But he still disposed of the entire troupe so why were they here.
They were named Cobra, in a very obvious piggy back off the name the Scorpions made for themselves. It made Zhou Zishu want to roll his eyes when he read it but he was more than used to the politics of his position.
They were obviously looking for something and Zhou Zishu found himself following them on the rooftops as they weaved through the slowly thinning crowds of the streets. He followed to the edge of the town and watched from the tree lines as they talked in low voices in a clearing.
He couldn’t hear what they were saying but it soon didn’t matter as a small throwing knife was sent his way that had him leaning out of the way. He looked almost bored at the action, sighing. He knew they were here for him.
“Lord Zhou, a pleasure to meet you.” One of them says. He doesn’t give an answer, stepping into the small clearing at the edge of town.
“And who might you be? Why haven’t I met such an esteemed Young Master before?”
“I know you recognize our tassel. Why else would you follow us?”
Zhou Zishu gives an amused smirk. “Is there a specific reason you’re here or are you erring out old grievances?”
That has them bristling. One of the other two takes half a step forward but is frozen by a single look by the one in front that had talked before.
“We heard there were some leadership changes and wanted to congratulate you on your retirement. But to think you’re still up and about after so long.”
“I made the retirement gifts that Window of Heaven gives you. I know how they work the best.”
The leader nods slowly. “You’ve always been cunning. Seeing what Window of Heaven has done in the last few years has been almost impressive.”
“Almost?”
“I can only give so many points. I still hate you. And I will be the one to kill you soon.”
Zhou Zishu raises an eyebrow. “Will you? I’s say I would have the honour of killing you but it’s hardly more than killing an ant under my foot.”
That has everybody moving to him. He is calm as he side steps the first sword easily, ducking past the arrow shot at his shoulder. He rolls to avoid the next swing and parries the small knife going for his side. He fights quick and nimble as he avoids and ruthless when he goes offensive.
But of course his luck is awful and the bone deep ache blooms as the nails rattle with his movements and make him stiff for a second too long. It’s a chance that has his acupuncture points sealed and he can only collapse on the ground. The ache in him is enough that he barely registers he’s face down for a moment and holds in a groan of pain as a wave sweeps over him.
There’s a gloating laugh above him and his face is lifted by the hair. He’s in a lot of pain and can’t move but that doesn’t stop him from spitting at the leader. He hits Zhou Zishu across the face.
He’s lifted like a sack of rice with his acupuncture points constantly being blocked every few moments so that there’s no way for him to leave. With his state, he can’t unblock them forcibly and they could also end up harming him later on. He can’t say that he cares too much because he just has to wait until the nails stop hurting as much then he can leave. It’s a good opportunity for him to get rid of a headache for the Window of Heaven.
He just hopes Wen Kexing actually stays away the entire night because he is not in the mood to have that man worrying over him when he gets back. Also the idea of being saved after he was taken grates on him and he would rather die before having to admit that happened.
He’s dumped in a chair and is chained against it with his arms over his head. His sword is taken and he’s left with the leader. He can’t even remember the name right now despite his extensive knowledge of gossip but he knows it was something common to blend in.
“I hope you know that we aren’t going to go easy on you for what you put the Cobras through, for what you did to my family.”
“I would hope not. I can’t be too comfortable.”
That makes the other smile before the chair is overturned. Zhou Zishu grunts at the impact, his mouth frowning as he tries to ignore the nails.
“Do you even remember what you did?”
“Yes I do.” Zhou Zishu stares up at them, looking bored. “I killed the entire main family and every single side branch and disciple you had. The disciples were the easiest as I just had to have people snap their necks. The main family was annoying because they were slippery. Looks like I didn’t clear everything out like I thought I did if you’re talking about your family like this.”
That makes him receive a very well aimed kick against his chest that has him tasting blood and gasping. Just a little while longer though and he’d be able to deal with this entire mess.
And it is easy to ignore as there’s only some other angry hits to his chest as they realized that was a weak spot that actually has him gasping and feeling his eyes water. He isn’t concerned as the minute they let their guard down is when he can strike. He’s used to waiting as he’s had different missions that leave him in the same position as a spy for months on end.
He knows he can survive this and is just annoyed at how sore he’ll be. Then people come back in. They’re holding something that smells sickly sweet and he eyes it. He doesn’t care what they do to him as he knew that he would die terribly one day but he knew that this probably wouldn’t work too well on him. He has built up a lot of tolerance against a lot of poisons so this wasn’t deadly, he could tell, but it was going to be painful to deal with. He was going to have a fever for at least three days before the worst of everything starts to work out of his system.
His head is forced back and they open his mouth to pour it down. It’s mixed with wine and it leaves his stomach churning. IHe starts to feel feverish and clammy almost instantly. It works through his meridians like slow molasses and leaves him weak and shaky.
He doesn’t care to answer anything they ask him about Window of Heaven and he can’t bring himself to say anything biting back. The poison is reacting with the one already in his system in a peculiar way that has him dazed. He can feel his meridians burn but they’re alight at the same time. He’s breathless with the push and pull inside him and it leaves him sweating, nauseous, and he can’t focus on anything but the bright spots in his eyes.
He has a moment to breathe momentarily as they leave him in the room. The pain from the nails isn’t incapacitating so he schools his breath, as he slowly stops shaking and focuses his eyes. It takes a moment but he can ignore the push and pull inside him.
They underestimate how well he can deal with pain and being incapacitated as they didn’t think to block his acupuncture points any longer. They left him alone a little too long and it gave him all the chance he needed.
He makes quick work of the wooden chair, sitting up in the splinters with the chains still hooked but free to let him move. The noise alerts people and there’s a small rush of people at him that he calmly dispatches. He uses the chains to aid his fight as he ruthlessly goes through the swarm of people coming for him.
There’s only five but the fighting leaves him slightly winded because of everything working against him.
It was that gripe that had him hitting a little more forcefully when somebody tried to sneak behind him. The people are all easy for him but he does still only half of his powers so he’s winded and struggling slightly. It’s not something he will stop to think about though as he pushes forward and leaves bodies in his wake.
The leader is there at the entrance he came through. He almost sighs but schools his face. He isn’t in the mood to talk much anymore so launches at the other in a calculated strike. It’s a feint that allows him to bring his elbow up so the other dodges. Zhou Zishu slashes down and catches the other’s shoulder, clipping it before he pulls away.
“I forgot how easy you can bounce back.” he says.
Zhou Zishu doesn’t say anything as he pushes himself to move faster, appearing behind the man and slitting his throat.
He watches as the man slowly dies, impassive as he watches him bleed out and spit on his shoes. He grimaces but can’t do anything now. He moves on, ignoring the body before him.
He makes another round through the entire base. He isn’t dealing with this again. There’s only three stragglers that he kills easily. Zhou Zishu is reminded how easily that he killed before and it was never for a selfish reason. This still was the same, knowing that if he was compromised, that they’d try to worm into the North again. They’d cause trouble for the Window of Heaven and in turn the king.
Zhou Zishu finds his sword and cuts the shackles off his wrists. He flexes his wrist idly as he starts walking back to the inn. It was night. He isn’t sure if it was the same or a different one. The air is crisp and makes his breathing come easier with the slight chill.
It’s easy to walk back as he focuses on putting one foot in front of the other. His stomach rolls with every pound of his head as he can feel his body temperature rising slowly. But he’s had worse so he ignores it and leaves it for later.
He doesn’t realize it but there’s somebody in front of him and they have a hand on his shoulder. He shrugs it off, trying to jerk back and leave but he stumbles slightly.
“Where were you?” Wen Kexing asks desperately. He reaches out again and this time Zhou Zishu barely reacts, his eyes dazed and fever hazy.
“Nowhere important.” Zhou Zishu responds. He puts his head in a hand, trying to steady himself desperately as everything spins.
A second hand joins him on his forehead and there’s a recoil from it at the temperature of it. “Why are you burning up? What happened ?”
“Had to deal with something. Good night.”
Wen Kexing takes both of his elbows, supporting him as he shakily tries to walk again. He would never admit it but seeing Wen Kexing has him weak, knowing he’ll be safe if he lets his guard down. It makes it hard to keep walking on his own and soon he can only stumble forward painstakingly.
“It’s okay, I’ll be a good wife and take care of you.” Wen Kexing says. It’s strained but no less determined as he picks up the other. He walks along, talking to the other softly as they make their way through the inn.
“Just need to sleep. Don’t try to do any marital duties.”
“I would never take advantage of you like that, who do you take me for? They don’t call me Philanthropist Wen because I chase skirts.”
“Yet you still chase after mine after I treat you so terribly.”
There’s a soft laugh before he’s laid on the bed. His inner robes stick to him but he can barely care right now as he tries to not throw up at the movement he had to go through.
Wen Kexing clicks his tongue against his teeth as he pushes Zhou Zishu’s hair back, taking his hair piece out and gently prodding through Zhou Zishu’s meridians with his other hand. It’s soothing and Zhou Ziahu can feel himself drifting from the qi going through him.
He blinks awake when the other moves and takes his boots off. He watches through lidded eyes Wen Kexing draws close and gently lifts his torso up, leaning Zhou Zishu against himself so he can take his outer robes off.
“I would give you a bath but I fear Husband Zhou might be mad if I try. I’ll get some tea and cool water for you.”
He barely even registers it as he weakly grabs Wen Kexing’s robes. “Don’t leave too long.”
Wen Kexing smiles warmly, gently kissing the top of his head. It’s a rare moment between the two where they’re gently together and sit silently without any sharp words or harsh moves. It’s what lets Zhou Zishu drift again and he doesn’t stir as he’s lowered down with Wen Kexing’s outer robe over him instead of the blankets.
Wen Kexing is diligent at having a worker bring what he needs, asking for a bath to be brought in a few hours. The worker also goes and gets specific medicine that he pays for happily despite the night starting to turn late.
He sits at Zhou Zishu’s side with the basin and swipes the sweat away from the matted and damp hairline. Zhou Zishu;s eyebrows are scrunched and his breaths are just wheezes. The stoicism the other usually has crumbling as he sleeps fitfully. Wen Kexing takes the other’s wrist and pushes a thin stream of qi into the other’s meridians, not enough to hurt but enough to relax him. It does something to help the scrunch in his brow but his sleep is still rocky.
And, like clockwork, Zhou Zishu isn’t asleep very long. The nails start their tune and he gives a pained, cut off whine before he realizes it as he jerks awake. He grasps the sheets under him as he feels himself become clammier, his knuckles white from their grip. The next few nights were going to be hell until his system was cleared, sadly.
“A-Xu, drink this.” Wen Kexing says from somewhere beside him.
He lets himself be moved, a cup with warm tea poured into his mouth. This was a comforting motion this time as he grips the arm that rests around his waist and leans against the chest behind him with all his weight.
“You’re so forward when you’re like this, it almost makes me want to keep you this way.” Wen Kexing says with a laugh.
“Like you could.” Zhou Zishu answers weakly.
A hand cards through his loose hair, untangling it gently with his fingers. Zhou Zishu focuses on it as he waits for the pain to calm down slightly. It’s a nice distraction as Wen Kexing will use blunt nails and scratch gently along his scalp that soothes his pounding head. He is delirious in a way he hasn’t been in a long time as his breath rattles out of him in pained gasps, the hand holding the arm around him with a grip tight enough to break the bone. It takes longer to be able to slowly clamp down on the pain, numbing it’s peak until the next night and the moon is almost gone from the sky when he is able to look.
He’s dazed and cold from drying sweat. Wen Kexing is still there, sitting behind him though. He’s a soft line behind him that is something he can stay on as the hands move from his hair to running down his chest in a calming, circular motion over his heart.
“Hands above the belt, Philanthropist Wen.” Zhou Zishu says weakly when the fingers start to become daring and dip farther.
There’s a chuckle and a kiss is placed on his temple. “Just making sure you’re conscious.”
Zhou Zishu grumbles under his breath and it makes Wen Kexing laugh more.
It’s another quiet moment until Wen Kexing moves, Zhou Zishu gives a put upon sigh as he’s moved too and shuffled around until he’s on his back in the bed again.
“I’ll call for some bath water for you, A-Xu.” he says, brushing his hair away again.
Zhou Zishu nods, closing his eyes and curling on his side. He pulls the robe over him tighter and is barely able to react when Wen Kexing comes back and tries to rouse him. He thinks he might have lifted himself into a sitting position but he isn’t sure. Wen Kexing is patient though and helps him behind the privacy screen and guides him to sit on a stool beside the wooden tub filled with hot water.
It’s no secret that he has the seven nails in his chest but he feels annoyed at the way he has to be babied, not wanting to let Wen Kexing help take off his clothes. He waits, stubbornly refusing help, until Wen Kexing is back around the other side of the privacy screen before he starts to take his sleeping robe and pants off.
The bath is nice, if not a little long as he has trouble staying coherent long enough to try to wash. But he manages it and even lifts himself out of the tub and into another pair of inner robes. Wen Kexing is there immediately to help him back to the bed. There’s a bowl of congee on the table beside the bed and more tea and whatever Wen Kexing has been giving him. It must be some kind of antidote or tonic to help his symptoms.
“Don’t need help.” Zhou Zishu says tiredly.
“Sure, old man. Make sure you stay awake long enough to eat or else I might have to feed you with my mouth.”
“Like I want that anywhere near my mouth.”
“I think you;d be quite surprised what I can do with my mouth, Husband Zhou.”
“Stop being disgusting so early in the morning.”
“But you’re so flustered when I’m like this, I can’t help myself. A-Xu is so cute!”
Zhou Zishu glares halfheartedly as he’s laid down on the bed again. The sheets were changed while he was in the bed and he can’t help but sink into it a little bit. There’s a soft sigh above him as Wen Kexing sits down again.
“Who knew that you’d be so docile when you were sick. I’ll have to go without sleep the next few days to make sure you don’t die!”
“I’ll die if you keep touching me.”
“If you’ll die regardless I might as well have fun with it!” Wen Kexing gives a wink, smiling happily as he leans down into Zhou Zishu’s space.
“Do what you want. I’m going to sleep again.”
“A-Xu! You have to take your medicine and eat! Don’t make me spoon feed you like I said I would.”
Zhou Zishu rolls his eyes, sitting up and holding his hand out for the bowl. Wen Kexing gives him the congee that he sips, eating in small mouthfuls to not upset his precariously sated nausea. The tea is bitter than before and he wrinkles his nose, wishing he could at least mix it with wine that was sweet if it was going to be so awful of a tonic mix.
Wen Kexing is deceptively quiet as he eats, watching him finish and making sure the dishes are by the door. He takes his outer robes off, taking his hair town, and running water along his eyes to take the makeup around his eyes away. Zhou Zishu watches from where he’s curled on the bed, feeling his chest become lighter. The push and pull in him is still there but this is a different warmth that has him smiling gently, watching the beautiful man in his room become a domestic form of beautiful.
“Make some room for your wife, A-Xu.” he says, coming back over to the bed. Zhou Zishu slides back, his back hitting the wall to give adequate space. The bed isn’t big so it’s cramped.
Wen Kexing certainly doesn’t mind though as he pulls Zhou Zishu to his chest, running a hand down his back. It makes Zhou Zishu stiffen for longer than others would but gradually he loosens his body. He pushes his face into Wen Kexing’s neck, throwing a leg over the other’s hip as he relaxes. It’s something they’re both used to and feels natural at this point but Wen Kexing still has a giddy, ridiculous smile everytime Zhou Zishu is so vocally comfortable with him.
“A-Xu, you should be more careful.” Wen Kexing says into the lull between them.
“I promise you that I am not in trouble on purpose.” Zhou Zishu says, his voice thick in his half asleep daze.
“Of course not! But I would like to come back to my wonderful soulmate whole not feverish and in pain! Who knows when I might keel over from the shock of it! I have to kill whoever hurt you so of course, you should be more careful. I’m a good man, you know.”
Zhou Zishu gives a huff but doesn’t say anymore. He lets himself doze as a hand rubs along his spine, rubbing and putting slight pressure between the knobs of his spine. It has him sighing and pliant in little time.
He feels another kiss placed on the crown of his head and he gives a kiss to the collarbone underneath him. The poisoning wasn’t the worst if he was able to get this kind of treatment from a beauty like Wen Kexing.