Title: The Best Medicine in the World
Fandom: The Lost Tomb
Rating: Teen
Length: 1550
Summary: Xiaoge inhales some substance that causes him physical pain--unless he's touched. Hugs ensue.


“I am going to murder Hei Yanjing,” Wu Xie gritted out through clenched teeth.

“And I’m going to help you, but let’s focus on Xiaoge first.”

Pangzi was right, of course, but it was easier to focus on anger than the absolutely overwhelming worry about Xiaoge blossoming under Wu Xie’s skin.

Xiaoge, who’d been one hundred percent completely fine just moments ago, and then got his hands on the tomb figurine Hei Yanjing had dropped off earlier asking them with help in identifying it before departing almost immediately. He’d found a hidden button easily, pressed it, and got a face full of some powder—and he was now curled in on himself on the ground, shivering in obvious pain. He was biting on his lower lip, hard, as if to muffle any sounds that could escape him.

Wu Xie’s hand hovered over him. He wanted to touch, but didn’t want to make it worse.

“Xiaoge?” he asked. “Are you with us?”

Xiaoge made a movement that could’ve been a nod.

“Do you know what’s wrong?”

No answer to that, because things could never be easy. Xiaoge’s eyes were screwed shut, his face pale. It must’ve been a toxin of some kind, but just how much danger was he in?

Pangzi touched Xiaoge’s forehead to check his temperature—and moments after his hand connected with Xiaoge’s skin, Xiaoge’s whole body relaxed at once.

“Doesn’t seem to have fever,” Pangzi said. “Wait, are you getting better? Was it just really fast acting?” He took his hand away.

Xiaoge hissed, tensing up again, his face twisted in pain.

“Xiaoge?” Wu Xie asked. “What is it?”

He gave in to his urge to touch, putting his hand on Xiaoge’s arm and squeezing in comfort. Xiaoge’s breath grew less laboured almost immediately.

Huh.

“Is it touch?” Wu Xie asked. “It helps?”

“What kind of a bullshit curse is that?” Pangzi grumbled. “Just touch, or—should I leave the two of you alone—”

“Damn, Pangzi, he calmed down when you touched him, it’s obviously just touch.” Wu Xie looked at Xiaoge. “Isn't it?”

He stroked his other hand down Xiaoge’s cheek as Xiaoge caught his breath. Wu Xie knew how weird a sensation it was to have your pain disappear all at once, how relief mixed with disorientation, and he waited patiently.

“Touch,” Xiaoge said at last.

Wu Xie nodded. That was good. Touch was easy. “Have you encountered something like this before?”

Xiaoge shook his head.

“Do you think it’ll wear off with time?”

A nod.

“Okay,” Wu Xie said. “Come on, let’s get you up and somewhere more comfortable.”

He wrapped his arm around Xiaoge’s waist and helped him stand up. On his other side, Pangzi took Xiaoge’s hand. Good.

“Sofa or bed?” Pangzi asked.

“No TV,” Xiaoge interjected, which answered the question.

He seemed all right as they walked. His steps were steady, he held his own weight, didn’t lean on Wu Xie at all. Wu Xie didn’t let it fool him: the image of Xiaoge’s face screwed in pain was burned behind his eyelids.

They walked to Wu Xie and Xiaoge’s bedroom. Pangzi let go long enough to push the blankets aside, and Wu Xie helped Xiaoge lay down, never breaking the contact between them. Pangzi got in as well and the two of them wrapped themselves around Xiaoge, the two of them forming a perfect snuggly octopus.

“Are you okay like this?” Wu Xie asked worriedly, carding his fingers through Xiaoge’s hair. He knew Xiaoge loved it when he played with his hair.

“Good,” Xiaoge said.

“Will you know when the powder stops working?” Pangzi asked. “You know I’m always happy to hold you, but I don’t like the idea of letting you go just to check.”

Xiaoge shrugged.

Wu Xie frowned at him. “Xiaoge, he’s right. I swear I’m gonna hold on to you for a week if you can’t assure me you won’t hurt if I let go.” He absolutely wasn't exaggerating.

Even in the middle of this situation, it was somehow reassuring that Xiaoge didn’t seem surprised at the declaration. That after all those years, he knew down to his very bones that Wu Xie and Pangzi would always take care of him—the same way he would do everything for them. And the fact that Xiaoge knew as much made Wu Xie trust that if he said that he’d be okay, he meant it.

And if he still didn’t know later on . . . They’d cross that bridge when they came to it.

That, or Wu Xie really was going to murder Hei Yanjing.

“Hey, should we brainstorm what we’ll do to Hei Xiazi?” Pangzi asked, proving once again he could read Wu Xie’s mind at times.

“Send him a non-spicy hotpot,” Wu Xie suggested.

Pangzi gasped. “Tianzhen, are you trying to give me nightmares?!”

“What series is he into right now?” Wu Xie continued. “I’ll google the ending and tell him.”

“Perfect,” Pangzi said. “How about—”

“It’s not his fault,” Xiaoge said, because he was entirely too kind a person.

He was right—Hei Yanjing would never hurt any of them on purpose, and would’ve warned them if he’d had the slightest inclination the figurine was dangerous, and was definitely going to feel bad once they told him—but that didn’t mean Wu Xie wasn’t annoyed at him.

"Pretty sure you wouldn't be feeling so forgiving if Tianzhen were hit instead," Pangzi said.

Xiaoge gave him a glare that would make lesser men shiver. Pangzi, though, knew Xiaoge entirely too well.

"Please, Xiaoge, try that on someone who doesn't know you're a soft kitten." He patted Xiaoge's head.

Any response Xiaoge might've had to that was ruined by the way he leant into the touch. Wu Xie grinned wildly.

"He's right, you know. You're definitely a cuddly kitten. Think how huffy you get when you wake up first and no one's awake to hug you good morning." Or kiss him, but Wu Xie decided to be generous and spare Pangzi's ears today.

They loved physical affection, all three of them—even if Xiaoge had been heartbreakingly shocked at the concept of touch that didn’t come with violence, years ago, he was well and truly used to it by now. But the situation right now was far from normal: Wu Xie couldn’t forget that the reason he was clinging so closely to Xiaoge right now wasn’t that he enjoyed it—though he did—but because without their touch, Xiaoge would be in pain.

Xiaoge turned his glare at Wu Xie for a few moments, but then he just closed his eyes. He always could’ve fallen asleep anywhere, at any time.

“Nap time for an older citizen?” Pangzi asked, laying his head on Xiaoge’s shoulder.

“You’d know better than me,” Xiaoge answered, making Pangzi sputter.

Wu Xie ignored their teasing, put his head down on Xiaoge’s chest, and closed his eyes too. His own sleep didn’t usually come as easily as Xiaoge’s, but if Xiaoge preferred to sleep through the effects of the powder, Wu Xie wasn’t going to protest. He’d probably stay awake, but that was good; he could make sure no one rolled away from Xiaoge this way . . .

He didn’t even notice when he fell asleep.

***

When he woke up, it was dark already.

“Xiaoge? You okay?” he muttered sleepily before realising that Xiaoge wasn’t there, and then he sat up in sudden fear. He was alone in bed.

“Xiaoge?” he called, getting up and all but running to the living room.

“Here!” Pangzi called from the kitchen.

Wu Xie went there and froze in the doorway. Xiaoge was eating a bowl of noodles. Pangzi was at the other side of the room, heating up something else.

“It’s over now?” Wu Xie asked in a shaking voice.

Xiaoge nodded.

“Yes, and he was hungry. We didn’t want to wake you.”

Wu Xie looked at Xiaoge. “Did you know it was over?” Or did you just check to see if moving away from us would cause you debilitating pain?

Xiaoge continued to eat his noodles without looking at Wu Xie, which was answer enough. Wu Xie sighed.

“Xiaoge . . .”

“I told him off already,” Pangzi said. “Promised I’d subject him to non-spicy hotpot if he pulled something like that again.”

“I’m fine,” Xiaoge said, sulking over his bowl.

“And I’m extremely glad! But not the point.” Wu Xie went over to hug him just for the sake of it, now that he could.

The point was to make Xiaoge stop taking risks with his own health—or at least talk to them. Make sure he was taking the best decision possible..

“No more touching that figurine,” Wu Xie said after a moment. “I’ll clean it up. With protective gear.”

“Nuh-uh,” Pangzi said. “I will. We all know how talented you are at activating curses, Tianzhen.”

“It’s done,” Xiaoge said, and they both turned to look at him.

“Xiaoge!” they said as one, but Xiaoge just shrugged.

Wu Xie sighed. Xiaoge was fine, which meant Wu Xie was so relieved that he wasn’t able to stay cross for long, even if that came from a place of worry. Xiaoge was recovered, so everything was going to be all right.

New ground rule, though: no more tomb artefacts at home. They deserved one place where they didn’t have to worry about their safety.