#14 writes

hiiiii my piece for sigami paradox day and i wanted to stab my own heart with my idea yay. artwork has a fic to go along with it so maybe check that out for my very rusty attempt at trying to make a narrative out of this

gist of the au is basically: magical object had been found and it had the ability to grant wishes, only it twists and corrupts them when granting said wishes. this results in many while technically getting their wishes, actively go out and claim these wishes in the whatever method they want without caring for the consequences of their actions. the apocalypse was kickstarted by gremlins.

"Guang guang~ You won't help a dying man?" Cheng Xiaoshi whined from the sofa, coughing. Lu guang continued to wash the dishes, pointedly ignoring him.

"If you're so ill, then you shouldn't have left the bed."

"But it was too hot!"

"It wouldn't be so hot if you lied down and took the wet cloth I gave you," Qiao Ling scolded, wringing said cloth over the sink and bringing it back to his forehead. "There." She picked up her bag. "I'm going to get more medicine. Don't give Lu Guang anymore trouble, got it?" The door banged shut to the sound of Cheng Xiaoshi's discontent moan.

"Oi, Lu Guang. How about we play some more of that new shooter game?" He shuffled up on the sofa in his blanket cocoon.

No response. "Apparently if you get a kill-streak of eight you can unlock a new skin." Still nothing. "It looks kind of like you-"

"Cheng Xiaoshi, rest." He put the last dish on the rack, turning off the tap and wiping his hands before pouring hot tea from the kettle and bringing it over to the bothersome patient. "Drink."

"First you want me to rest now you want me to drink? Which is it?" he grumbled. Lu Guang only stared at him, mug in hand.

He shimmied over to his friend's side knocking their heads dramatically against each other. "So cruel... Maybe I caught this illness from how cold you are," he said as he snuggled him.

"This isn't funny."

"Who said I was laughing?" The end of the question was cut off by an array of sneezes.

"Cheng Xiaoshi."

"Fine, fine." He coughed again, Lu Guang drawing back slightly before handing him the mug.

As he drank, Lu Guang couldn't help but notice how flushed his face was, the blush running up to his ears. His eyes were puffy and swollen and his nose was a shade redder than yesterday. His partner sighed, bringing the mug back to his lips and he noticed how they were slightly more chapped this time. He hasn't used his new chap stick today.

It small- it was oh so small and insignificant and to the common eye the difference as practically non-existent. But for him. Not for eyes that had memorised every detail of his partner's body.

On the second day he had stopped trying to resist treatment - normal. On the third day he had spent the full day in bed. Normal. On the fourth however, he was supposed to have started moving around again. On the fifth he should have dragged Lu Guang outside to see a new movie. On the sixth he should have spilled boba over the counter as a customer walked in. On the seventh he would have bought the new shooter game, talking about the kill-streak and how the skin looked like him and-

It was almost the end of day seven, and he was still sick.

Day four he wouldn't leave his bed, day five too. Day six he fainted trying to make it down the stairs and his head began bleeding. They had to scramble for the first aid kit. Lu Guang had never made such a mess in his life.

Now here he was, their stubborn patient, pretending to be fine again. He had successfully snuck down stairs and he and Qiao Ling were too afraid to bring him back up, so they let him lounge there. But it would be night soon, and they couldn't let him stay in the cold.

He didn't wear his chap stick today, despite insisting the whole week. "Just because I'm not going outside doesn't mean I shouldn't look good."

Deterioration. He was walking slower. Thinking slower. Most of his retorts had been replaced with whines and grunts. Everyday he ditched doing a task that required a little less effort than the last. Lu Guang had no idea how he made it downstairs without help.

Tomorrow he would knock head-first into the counter. His watch ticked against his wrist.

You fool, he glared as he drank the last few sips. Why can't you see I'm doing what's best for you? He took the mug. Cheng Xiaoshi sighed, falling against his neck. Why won't you let me take care of you?

He sighed.

"If you're so tired, you should go back upstairs."

No reply.

"Cheng Xiaoshi." He shook his head with his hand, only for it to fall forward, body tilting towards he floor. He caught it against his chest.

"I'm back! He wasn't a bother, was he-?" She paused, taking in the sight. "Ah, this idiot. Falling asleep anywhere. Here, give this to him when he wakes up." She dropped he bag of medicine next to him. Despite the complaint, there was a smile on her face. She tucked the blanket back over his shoulders and kissed his forehead, leaving him in Lu Guang's care.

He snored peacefully against his shoulder, raven hair obscuring his swollen face. Shakily, Lu Guang petted his head over the expanse, fingers pulling the strands over his ear.

For what? He knew he was asleep. He knew was still sick. But for the first time in that timeline, Lu Guang didn't know what to do.

So like the coward he was, he did what he always did, and waited. Until the sky painted over in indigo and dazzled with stars. Until the moonlight clothed his partner in a silver robe, ready to take him away. Until the world scared him into putting his hand over his heart, just to make sure he was still breathing. He held him close against him, counting every beat: 496, 497, 498, 499-

The watch beeped.

Day eight.

He needed to wake him up. He needed to give him his medicine and take him upstairs. But for now...

He planted a gentle kiss against his head, taking the dried cloth off his forehead.