You fill my lungs and take away the air [Global Examination]

Chapter 17: Your heart unveiling

Wen Yuan stared down at 154, blinking, before he muttered stupidly, "Huh?"

Him? Wen Yuan?

His heart skipped a beat, but Wen Yuan didn't dare get his hopes up.

From a purely analytical standpoint, Wen Yuan didn't have a lot going for him besides his cooking and his outgoing personality...

But 154? He was smart, skilled, knowledgeable, absolutely fucking adorable... he was totally out of his league.

There was no way it could be him that 154 liked... his Hanahaki and the blood loss must be getting to 154's head.

"We can talk more about this when you feel better." Wen Yuan held 154 gently, his weak, labored breaths tickling his nape ever so gently, before delicately running his hands through 154's soft hair, "You get some rest first."

154 shook his head vehemently, letting out a weak cough, as he wearily looked up at Wen Yuan.

"There's... something I have to... do first."

Wen Yuan just looked at 154 helplessly, his brow slightly furrowed, "Like...?"

154 didn't answer, merely looked down at the floor, as if he were thinking deeply, trying to formulating a response, before he closed his eyes, "Can you... hold me up?"

Wen Yuan made a small noise of confusion, but still did as he was asked. 154 shifted in his grasp so that he was sitting in a more upright manner, and Wen Yuan propped himself against the wall, an arm supporting 154's back, letting his partner rest against himself.

"Is this... alright?"

154 nodded quietly, resting against Wen Yuan's side, before closing his eyes, and bringing his hand up.

"I promise... I'll explain everything later..."

154 murmured softly, and there was a certain weakness and uncertainty in his voice that Wen Yuan had never heard before, and he couldn't stop the cold tingle that ran down his spine as 154 brought his arm up, pressing his hand to his chest.

At this proximity, he could feel the pounding of 154's heart, each tired, painful shudder that ran through his body as he breathed...

And his hand disappeared, directly into his chest.

...

What?

Wen Yuan's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and he just stared at 154, completely flabbergasted.

Did he see that correctly?

Wen Yuan blinked.

154's hand was still plunged, no, phasing through his chest?

How in the absolute fuck...

There were so many questions flowing through Wen Yuan's mind, and if this were any other situation, he would already be running his mouth and asking all sorts of stupid questions... but he stayed quiet, did his best to remain as still as possible, so as to not disturb 154.

He did say that he'd explain later... didn't he?

154 was someone that Wen Yuan trusted with his entire being... and no matter 154's eccentricities and oddities, he was still 154, wasn't he? Even if what he was doing right now was... uh... certainly not normal...

Wen Yuan continued staring, watching with morbid fascination as bloodstained flowers erupted from 154's chest along with his hand, stalks dripping with crimson, petals catching on 154's shirt, on his fingertips.