[49.] The night is falling to pieces.

                                    

                                          



Wei Wuxian was gaping, speechless. 
The strict Zewu-Jun was calling his brother pet names, holding him tenderly and caressing his hair. It seemed like he was dreaming.
- I feel very sick, Huan... Everything hurts...  uh...  No, before you ask, it's not  because of last night... Last night wasn't so bad... -  he smiled faintly and took his husband's face in his palms.  –   It wasn't bad at all, my love.   –   he murmured, blushing.
- You... You two... But... How...  -  Wei Ying was stuttering, still unable to believe his eyes.
- Get out of here, idiot...  Didn't you hear me before?!  -  Jiang Wanyin grumbled, but had no energy to be angry or to yell; he just clung to his lover's body  –  Lan Huan's strong arms were holding him, supporting him in bed, and he was grateful.
- Master Wei, perhaps you could go join my brother for dinner. I think I will stay, for now. I am not too hungry anyway.  –  Zewu-Jun was smiling politely, but his eyes were on his husband at all times.
- Liar.  -  Jiang Cheng murmured, caressing his cheek.  –   Go and have some food, my dearest... I will be fine... I just need to rest a little... Just a little... -  he relaxed in his arms and leaned his head against his chest.
- Hmm, I see my brother is in good hands... Uh, Zewu-Jun... I am going to leave you now.  –  Wei Wuxian bowed and grinned, leaving them in a hurry.

***

Lan Xichen could not go for dinner at all, as his husband was sick all night. Jiang Cheng was throwing up terribly, unable to keep down neither water, nor tea, nor medicine. His body was shaking uncontrollably as the fever made his teeth clatter in his head, and Zewu-Jun was watching, helpless, how his skin grew paler and paler, and his lips turned blue.
- I'm so cold... Huan... I'm so so cold... Please, hold me, my love...  -   he was muttering weakly.
- Oh Gods, Wanyin...  -   Lan Xichen was crying, not letting go of him, lying next to him under multiple blankets and sweating profusely.
Until morning, Jiang Cheng's lips were chafed and bleeding, all bitten and dry, and his eyes were rolling back in his head, and Lan Xichen could swear that he looked thinner now, even after just one night. His hands and feet were cold, and no matter how hard he was trying  –  he could not get him warm. 
At one point early the next morning Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji dared finally come to the Hánshì ,  and both were scared to see how bad things were.
- Bring him to the fire, Zewu-Jun.  –  Wei Wuxian mumbled.  –  I have never seen him in such a bad shape...  -   he looked up at him, worried.  –   What has happened? How did he get to be so ill? He is not just indisposed  –   his body is breaking down.
- I don't know...  -  Zewu-Jun moved all the blankets in front of the fire-place now, holding Sandu Shengshou very tight to his body, sobbing pitifully.  –   We haven't done anything out of the ordinary, or straining... On the contrary, he has been resting a lot lately...
He shook his head desperately, thinking back, searching through the last few weeks for the reason for all this. The only thing that they were doing was...
- Oh, Gods!  –   he exclaimed, biting his lips.
- What is it?  –  Lan Wangji frowned. He hated seeing his brother in such a state.