Illusion - SCI Mystery 谜案集 Fanfiction

Chapter 23

For the next hour, the two brothers were alone in the room with Zhan Yao and soon, it was not Bai Yutong watching over Zhan Yao sleeping anymore, but Bai Jintang who watched over both of them. A fond and rare smile was spread across his face as he watched the two sleep soundly.

Soon, the whole worried SCI team had gathered - even Bao Sir came. Zhan Yao woke up to a worried and chaotic bunch of people who squeezed themselves in the room all at once. The room was not small, however, that many people were still a little difficult to fit in comfortably.

A nurse - confused and a little annoyed by the noise they all made - tried to enter the room and was shocked. She practically fumed with anger and kicked all of them out, telling them the patient had to rest. No one expected that delicate young woman to be able to tame that wild bunch but somehow, she had a menacing aura when she was getting angry at them all so they complied.

After the sulking lot got dragged out of the hospital room - promising Zhan Yao to come again the next day - and Bai Yutong apologised to the now not as angry nurse, the room got strangely quiet.

It felt strange. The silence got more awkward the longer it lasted. Despite the ruckus they made, Zhan Yao had actually been grateful for his colleagues and friends' visit. Not only for their concern but also because he didn't have to face Bai Yutong alone just yet. But with them gone, there was no way to avoid the situation anymore.

Zhan Yao looked at Bai Yutong who was now leaning on a wall a bit further away from the bed he was sitting on. He studied him more closely. Now that he didn't get fussed over by the others anymore and his drowsiness slowly subsided, he noticed something strange about Yutong. He looked tired. Not like he hadn't seen him tired before, but never to this extend.

His beautiful light brown hair was unkempt and reminded more of the dirty fell of a rat despite the usual puppy fur. His mesmerizing chocolate brown eyes - Zhan Yao always cursed himself for drowning in - were clouded by exhaustion which maked them look dull. His clothes weren't any better. They were dirty, tattered and worn untidyly. All in all, Bai Yutong looked completely messed up. His usual radiance and grace was not just lacking but seemed to be missing all together.

He just leaned against the wall and stared into space.

It took Bai Yutong at least another ten minutes until he finally looked at Zhan Yao who considered him with a worried and nervous look. He didn't know Bai Yutong like this.

"You're back."

He said hoarsely - as if he just noticed.

Zhan Yao - who was surprised to hear his voice after the long silence - looked at him startledly and nodded weakly.

"Thanks to you."

He finally said and looked him deep in the eyes.

Bai Yutong didn't react in any way. He just looked back at him expressionlessly.

After a while, he finally peeled himself off the wall and approached the bed. Zhan Yao watched his every movement.

When Bai Yutong reached the bed, he sat down and Zhan Yao trembled slightly at the proximity.

He expected him to say something, maybe yell at him or grab him and scream at him or something. But Bai Yutong just layed down next to him with his back facing Zhan Yao.

Zhan Yao was about to speak up himself. He didn't know exactly what he wanted to say but he didn't like to remain in this silence any longer. But - as if he knew he was going to speak up - Bai Yutong cut him off before he could even say his hirst syllable.

"I'm tired."

Zhan Yao blinked confusedly, then gently placed a hand on Yutong's tense shoulder.

"Yutong."

He breathed softly.

But Bai Yutong remained stubborn.

Zhan Yao tried again.

"I-"

Bai Yutong finally turned around and faced Zhan Yao. He looked him in the eyes intently and spoke.

"I just don't want to talk right now. Not about that at least. And since I know we won't make it far before reaching that topic anyways if we try to talk about something else normally, let's just not talk at all, alright? We're both tired and need to rest. The last thing we need right now is to fight each other."

He sighed defeatedly and added.

"Let's just stay like that for now. We can still fight as much as we want later."

A small attempt to smile crossed Bai Yutong's face and he opened his arms slightly for a hug.

Zhan Yao didn't even hesitate for a second and snuggled into his embrace. Both of them relished in the feeling of finally being close to each other again and holding each other in their arms.

Soon enough, Zhan Yao's face was nuzzled in the crook of Bai Yutong's neck and he sighed at the other man's warmth and his nice scent.

"I missed you so much."

Zhan Yao choked out after some time. Bai Yutong nearly didn't understand him and it took him a moment to truly comprehend what Zhan Yao said just then. He felt something wet against his neck and hugged Zhan Yao even tighter who had started trembling a little. His hands grabbed onto Yutong's shirt desperately.

"I missed you too, Yao. So much."

He whispered and drew small patterns on Zhan Yao's back soothingly.

"I was scared."

Zhan Yao finally confessed after another long silence. His tone sounded frustrated - almost angry with himself.

Bai Yutong nearly felt his heart break at his cat's words. But at the same time, he felt a sense of pride in Zhan Yao - who usually kept his feelings to himself - admitting to his fear in front of him. But that feeling was alomst immediately overshadowed by another feeling. Guilt.

His grip around him tightened. Zhan Yao only got in this whole mess because of him. Even though he was the one who wanted him to be safe no matter what.

"It's alright, cat. It's over now. You were very brave, I'm proud of you."

He assured Zhan Yao with a trembling voice, barely holding back the tears himself. He drew him just a little more closely and placed a light kiss on the crown of Zhan Yao's head and then buried his nose in his soft hair, mumbling comforting words.

When the nurse entered the room in the evening to tell Bai Yutong that visiting hours were over, she found both of the men sleeping soundly in each other's arms. She had overheard a little of the situation concerning the two of them. Things like that spread like a wildfire among the nurses - especially when it concerned two handsome men like they were. So she just decided to let them sleep. It wouldn't hurt to let the policeman stay for the night. And if someone had something against it anyway, she would just argue that the patient needed protection. No one would dare to go against that.

So she just gently shut the door with a loving smile. These two were really cute together.