Lu Shen woke up lying on a bed. A cold, dim light against a hospital ceiling and an IV attached to his arm. He turned and saw Zeyang in the bed beside him.
He sat up, then pushed aside the blankets covering him and got up.
The world swayed and his vision blurred. He waited until he was steadier, took the IV stand and moved closer to Zeyang. His face was peaceful in sleep. He brushed against him to feel his warmth and his heart calmed.
He took a chair and moved it closer, hung his IV bag next to the detective's and sat down, clasping his hand in his own.
---
When Zeyang regained consciousness, he saw that he was in a hospital room and felt his hand held in a warm, firm grip. He lowered his gaze and saw Lu Shen sitting on a chair, his face resting on his arm, asleep.
His eyes widened: the wizard, who usually radiated a strong and vibrant energy, was barely emitting a faint, unsteady glimmer. He had consumed all his magic and almost all his vital energy.
It was practically a miracle that he was still alive.
With a dull ache in his chest, he gently brushed a lock of hair away from his eye, but it opened and looked at him.
Lu Shen straightened up. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"I'm fine… and you?" he replied with a lump in his throat.
The wizard smiled. "Fine." After a moment of silence he continued. "I'm sorry. For not understanding what they intended to do. For not imagining they wanted you for the final sacrifice… for arriving late…"
Zeyang leaned forward and placed a hand over his mouth to silence him.
Then he bent toward him. Without taking his eyes off him, he brought his face close to his and kissed him.
He closed his eyes, savoring the softness of those lips and their response. His heart beat faster when they parted slightly and he slowly licked them, then returned to moving them gently.
When he pulled away, his breath was short and a sweet smile rested on his lips.
"None of what happened is your fault. The fact that I'm here alive and that the city is free, on the other hand, is thanks to you."
He looked at him. Lu Shen's cheeks had turned pink and he was even more beautiful.
Someone knocked at the door. The wizard stiffened, turning toward it.
Lombardi entered. "I'm glad to see you're awake," he said, approaching. "You scared us to death."
He took a chair and sat near them.
"Wizard, what you did is priceless. Know that you can always count on me and my team. Personally, I'm also grateful to you for saving Zeyang." Then he fixed his gaze on his seeker. "I don't want to see your face at the office for quite a while."
Zeyang laughed. "Don't you think you're overreacting, chief?"
He remained impassive. "Not at all."
The detective sighed. "Mistreated for doing my duty!"
Lombardi raised an eyebrow.
"I have no intention of going back so soon," Zeyang replied, casting a glance at Lu Shen's back. "Tell me instead how it went after… we left."
"We managed to stop the wizards, but they were taken into custody by the army and now it's all in their hands."
"The army?" the wizard asked.
"Yes." The werewolf fixed his piercing eyes on him. "Your father is here. When I arrived he was speaking to the journalists, praising your heroic act."
Zeyang saw Lu Shen's shoulders stiffen.
"There was no heroic act," the wizard said in a hard voice.
"I believe you know the general better than I do," Lombardi said more softly. "I'll go," he added, standing up. "Take care of yourselves."
Zeyang had no time to speak, because the door opened again without any warning, and General Lu stepped a few paces into the room.
Lu Shen stood up and positioned himself in front of Zeyang.
"Congratulations, son," the general began. "You have made the army proud."
Lu Shen clenched his fists. "I am no longer part of the army."
"A soldier remains one even when he leaves the battalion."
"What do you want?"
"I came to see how you are," he replied as if it were obvious.
Zeyang saw Lu Shen's knuckles turn white and his arms tremble. He sat up, supporting himself on his uninjured arm. "It was kind of you," he said.
The general seemed to notice his presence only at that moment.
"Detective. I am glad to see that you are both well."
"Thank you. I hope you will excuse us now, but we are both still very weak and need to rest."
"Of course," he replied with a polite smile. Then, after a glance at his son, he left.
Zeyang took Lu Shen's hand and made him sit on the bed. "He's a huge asshole."
The wizard's shoulders shook with laughter and he turned toward him. "You have no idea."
"If one day you want to, you'll tell me."
Lu Shen's eyes looked at him seriously and he smiled at him, then pulled him close, making him lie in the hollow of his shoulder. "Rest now. I need you to shine again."