Work Text:
“I am fine, Zhao Yunlan. Do not worry.”
Zhao Yunlan took in a deep breath and resisted the urge to scream. “You just got stabbed, Shen Wei. You’re not fine—not even close to fine.”
“It is only a scratch.” The way Shen Wei swayed slightly in Zhao Yunlan’s grasp belied his words. Zhao Yunlan swallowed hard at the sight of the blood coating Shen Wei’s garters. He ignored the painful implication that Shen Wei—gorgeous, whip-smart Professor Shen who sometimes looked at Zhao Yunlan with a dangerous glint in his eyes—was, for some reason, used to getting hurt.
“We need to get you to the hospital.”
Shen Wei coughed, a fleck of blood beading on the side of his lips, and Zhao Yunlan’s heart thundered heavily in his chest. He was dimly aware that his hands were shaking as he held on to Shen Wei.
“There’s no need.”
“Well, unless you have the power to heal yourself—” Zhao Yunlan blew out a breath. “If this is about what I saw just now, you don’t have to worry. I’ve suspected for a while now that you are from Dixing. And I won’t—” He broke off, biting down hard on his lip. “I promise I won’t turn you over to the Envoy.”
Shen Wei’s eyes widened behind his glasses. Zhao Yunlan ached at the surprise on his face.
“Zhao Yunlan, I—” There was a storm of emotions in Shen Wei’s gaze that Zhao Yunlan didn’t understand. “Thank you.” Zhao Yunlan tightened his grip on Shen Wei when the man sighed, and coughed again.
“I did not want you to find out like this,” Shen Wei said quietly.
There was a flash. Zhao Yunlan’s world turned upside down when he saw Shen Wei gripping a very familiar weapon—the Envoy’s guan-dao.
Zhao Yunlan carefully wiped the dried blood from Shen Wei’s wound—or from where his wound used to be, a voice in Zhao Yunlan’s head reminded him—and tried his best to keep his hands steady. Shen Wei’s breathing was slow and calm, a far cry from the pained, quick gasps that he had been letting out earlier, half-curled up on himself on Zhao Yunlan’s couch as he slowly healed himself, and Zhao Yunlan was grateful for that.
He was also grateful for something to focus on, because he wasn’t sure what he would say to Shen Wei if he had a moment to begin to process the revelation that Shen Wei and Hei Pao Shi were one and the same.
“I’m sorry,” Shen Wei said, breaking the silence. Despite the confusion and hurt simmering under his skin, Zhao Yunlan could not help reacting to the raw emotion in Shen Wei’s voice. He looked up to meet Shen Wei’s eyes, dark with worry and something else Zhao Yunlan could not name, and huffed out a half-laugh.
“Somehow, I’m not surprised it took a stab wound for you to tell me the truth.” Zhao Yunlan had always sensed there was something more to Shen Wei, and that Shen Wei worked very hard to hide it.
“I did not want to put you in danger,” Shen Wei said in a quiet voice, and Zhao Yunlan knew he was telling the truth.
He had so many more questions, but maybe this was enough for now. It was enough that Shen Wei was being honest, that he was safe and unhurt. Gathering his courage, Zhao Yunlan took Shen Wei’s hand in his.
“Does this mean I get to tease you at work too, Hei Lao Ge?”
Shen Wei’s answering laugh took his breath away.