Wei Wuxian felt like crying. A waiter came by to clean up the broken wine glass, reassuring Wei Wuxian that it “happened all the time.” He gave the waiter his credit card, lamenting on what an awkward ride home this was going to be.
At that time, Lan Wangji was stumbling back to the table, breathing hard and listing heavily to one side. Wei Wuxian swallowed down his anxiety.
“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, once the waiter comes back we can go home, and…”
Lan Wangji looked absolutely miserable when he interrupted. “I’m so sorry Wei Ying, I know you’ve been planning this for weeks, and I really appreciate it. But I’m pretty sure my appendix is trying to kill me, and if it’s alright I’d be ecstatic if you could drive me to the hospital.”
Wei Wuxian’s world stopped spinning, all of the rich colors of the restaurant turning to shades of gray. Lan Zhan wasn’t trying to duck out of saying yes to marrying him, he had fucking appendicitis!
Wei Wuxian stood up hastily, almost knocking over the waiter who had come back to return his card. He quickly grabbed his card and rushed to Lan Wangji’s side. He was pale and sweaty, his hair matted to his forehead. Wei Wuxian reached out to brush Lan Wangji’s bangs back, feeling the fever radiating off of him. Lan Wangji sighed and leaned into the touch. How on earth had Wei Wuxian not put two and two together?
“Oh my god, Lan Zhan, I’m so sorry. Should I call an ambulance?” Wei Wuxian asked, speech spilling from his lips in an incoherent mess. He dug his phone out of his pocket, and Lan Wangji put a hand on his.
“Nah, I’ve been dealing with this all day, a couple more minutes won’t kill me.” A pause, and then, “Hopefully.”
Wei Wuxian ushered Lan Wangji out of the restaurant, using his body to keep his partner upright. When they got into the car Lan Wangji leaned heavily against the passenger side window, clutching tightly to his stomach with one hand. Wei Wuxian held onto Lan Wangji’s other hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Just keep breathing, okay? We’ll be at the hospital in a few minutes.” Lan Wangji nodded and squeezed his eyes shut tight.
The ride to the hospital was thankfully a very short one. Wei Wuxian got out of the car and helped Lan Wangji into the emergency room, where the staff quickly sprang into action, whisking him away into the back. Wei Wuxian made to follow, but was stopped by one of the nurses.
“Are you family?”
“I’m his partner,” he said tersely, trying to move around the nurse to get back to Lan Zhan. She blocked his path again.
“I’m sorry, but if you’re not immediate family, I can’t let you go back. Are you married?”
Wei Wuxian slowly shook his head, once again marveling at the cruel irony of the situation. She nodded in sympathy as she slowly shut the doors in Wei Wuxian’s face.
He sat in the waiting room for hours, first calling Xichen and Jiang Cheng to alert them to the situation, and then filling out mountains of hospital paperwork for Wei Wuxian. At some point a nurse came by to let Wei Wuxian know that Lan Wangji was going into surgery, and that it would likely take just an hour or so. Wei Wuxian paced the waiting room, unable to keep his mind from spiraling.
And at this time, nobody is here to comfort him. Somehow everyone managed to went out of the town. Although Lan Xichen was about to immediately fly here with Jiang Cheng after knowing his brother's condition. But Wei Wuxian stopped him telling that it's not that serious. Lan Xichen probably still waiting by the phone waiting for his brother's news.
Finally, around one o’clock in the morning, a doctor came by to tell Wei Wuxian that Lan Wangji had done well in surgery, and that he would make a full recovery. He gave Wei Wuxian paperwork detailing how long he would need to stay, under what circumstances he could be discharged, and how long his full recovery process would take. Wei Wuxian nodded his thanks. The doctor looked thoughtful for a moment.
“I know you’re not technically Mr. Lan’s family, but I can see you are so worried about him ,also you are his partner, so I’m going to make an exception and let you come back. It will take a little while for the anesthesia to wear off, but you’re welcome to come sit with him while you wait.”
Wei Wuxian anxiously followed the doctor to the recovery room. It was dark inside, dimly lit from a set of lights above the bed. And there was Lan Wangji, looking absolutely pallid and exhausted against the stiff hospital pillows. He was covered with just one thin blanket, and he seemed to be shivering slightly. Typical.
Is there any way I could get another blanket or two for him? He looks cold” Wei Ying asked. The doctor nodded, and a few minutes later a nurse brought back a couple of blankets. Wei Wuxian gently tucked both blankets tightly around his partner and sat on the edge of the bed. He took one of Lan Wangji’s hands in his, and squeezed tightly.
As he waited for Lan Wangji to wake up, Wei Wuxian twisted the ring in his pocket around in his free hand, feeling the scratches and imperfections against his skin. He made a decision that night. He would not stop trying to propose to Lan Wangji. He would figure out something, some way to adequately impart on Lan Wangji how much he wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. How much he wanted to wake up by his side every morning. How much he wanted to fall asleep in his arms every night.
He had just nodded off when he felt his hand being squeezed. He startled himself awake and looked down at Lan Wangji, looking tired but free of pain. He smiled.
“Hey, there you are,” he said gently. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” Lan Zhan replied, sounding leagues better than before. He eyed a plastic cup of water on the side table hungrily. Wei Wuxian laughed as he helped Lan Wangji drink.
They sat in silence for a moment as Lan Wangji had his fill of water. Then Wei Wuxian couldn’t stop himself when he asked,
“Why didn’t you say something sooner? I could have taken you to the hospital this afternoon. Or even this morning.”
Lan Wangji looked a little guilty as he replied, “you were so excited about taking me out for my birthday, I didn’t want to ruin that. Which, I mean I ruined it anyway, didn’t I?” he asked . “I’m sorry about that.” Wei Wuxian shook his head.
“That’s really sweet, but your health is way more important! I have no idea how you even got through at work.”
Lan Wangji picked at a stray thread on the blanket as he replied, “yeah, I didn’t actually did any work. I spent all morning throwing up at office . ”
Din pinched the bridge of his nose. “Lan Zhan…”
“I know, I should have said something, it was stupid. But hey! At least we’ll get this lovely hospital cup to remember the occasion by,” he said as he flourished the cup in Wei Wuxian’s direction like a game show host. Wei Wuxian laughed.
“At least there's that. You are becoming more and more cheesy ” He took the cup from Lan Zhan and set it on the side table, and then embraced his boyfriend tightly. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Lan Wangji nuzzled into Wei Wuxian’s embrace, returning the affection.
“Me too,” he said. And then “happy birthday to you Lan Zhan.”
STAI LEGGENDO
Memories
FanfictionIt's been a long time since Lan Zhan having a strange dream where a man in black and red robes dies in front of his eyes. Because of some unknown reasons he feels sharp pain in his heart . He really wants to know that person. Why is he kept getting...
