Recovering

chapter 2

Fu Hong Xue woke up as the sound of crackling fire and the smell of delicious food hit his senses. He sat up and opened his eyes. He saw a plate full of food on the small table on the ground. He looked next to him and saw Bo Li crouched on the cushions by the table, looking at him with a contented smile on his face.

Bo Li met Fu Hong Xue's eyes. He coughed a bit awkwardly and proceeded to offer him some food. "Eat. I have ordered double portions for you. With your health back and winter coming soon, you will need as much food as you can get". He was mild and gentle in his tone. Fu Hong Xue almost sensed he was a bit too polite, perhaps because he felt guilty from his previous behavior.

Bo Li sighed. "Come on, I haven't poisoned the food. You should know by now. I'll eat with you". With that he sat down next to the table. Fu Hong Xue joined him and instantly he started eating like a starved lion. Bo Li felt a chuckle escape his throat. He kept staring at Fu Hong Xue eating with appetite. Eventually FU Hong Xue stopped eating and slowly turned his eyes on him. "Why are you looking at me?".

"Heh... I just like your face" Bo Li said without breaking eye contact, smiling even more widely at the surprise on Fu Hong Xue's face. He was taken aback by the blunt honesty and the very words spoken. " Also, it makes me content to see you regain your appetite. You know, I made great efforts to nurse you back to health, my people also made sure to obey my orders and prepare the best medicine and food for you. So it pleases me to know it worked".

Fu Hong Xue felt unable to say anything. He was afraid if he opened his mouth a weird cry would come out of it.

"Thank you" he eventually managed to say. It was the very first time he had expressed gratitude.

Bo Li rejoiced. "No need to thank me" he whole heartedly said. "I wanted to do it and I did it. This right here is my reward". He left Fu Hong Xue finish his meal, as he got up and started pacing up and down the tent. He approached the exit opened it a bit and peeked out. He took a deep breath and eventually said: "Ah, it's such a beautiful night. The sky is clear and starry. Come see" he invited Xiao Xue.

Fu Hong Xue willingly joined him. He felt the fresh night air on his face. The cold breeze made his eyes burn but he welcomed it as a pleasant annoyance. He turned and looked at Bo Li. His face was so beautiful under the starlight. Although it was rough, his eyes were kind and had an almost childlike curiosity about them. Fu Hong Xue felt a wave of admiration and affection take over him suddenly. This man, a general, having so much responsibility, having seen war and loved ones die, he still managed to keep loyal, generous and caring. It was a rare example in Fu Hong Xue's life.

He realized he was probably staring for too long because BoLi turned and told him: "Now... you are the one looking at me..". Although slightly embarrassed, Xiao Xue didn't shy away. Bo Li's heart started beating fast and he thought it would jump out of his body. Fu Hong Xue's face was so pale, so thin, he was afraid the cold air would break it. Almost as if in a dream he lifted his hands and brought them up on Xiao Xue's cheekbones caressing them. Fu Hong Xue fixed his eyes on Bo Li's round, red lips. They mesmerised him. Before he knew what he was doing, he found himself all over Bo Li, kissing and touching wherever he could find. Bo Li was momentarily fazed but soon caught up on the action.

He put his hands around Fu Hong Xue's neck, and moved them down to the opening of his robes. He pushed them away and they slipped down the shoulders, revealing a creamy torso. Bo Li broke the embrace to admire the sight before him. He placed both hands on Fu Hong Xue's chest, no pretense of rubbing ointment this time, he simply felt him all the way down to the belly button, tracing the abs one by one. Slowly, he brough the robes even lower and opned them up so all of Fu Hong Xue's torso was naked.

Fu Hong Xue's stomach was moving fast as his breathing. He stood still, almost frozen. Bo Li quickly looked up to see if he was uncomfortable. Instead, he met Xiao Xue's pleading eyes. He looked a bit worried. "You look perfect" he proclaimed.