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For years to come [Lin Chen/Mei Changsu]
Title: For years to come
Fandom: Nirvana in Fire
Characters/Pairing: Lin Chen/Mei Changsu
Rating: 0+
Length: 1.6k
Summary: Lin Chen is, perhaps, a maker of miracles. Now, after years of work, Mei Changsu has both the time to enjoy what lies ahead - and the strength to do so. Fortunately for him, he's in good company.
Other: Canon-divergent "MCS lives" happy ending AU. Written for shadowlancer_95 for Nirvana in Fire Exchange. :D [Ao3 version]
For years to come
"You will still feel weak for a while," Lin Chen said, with words that were firm and crisp, in the manner he used for speaking when there were serious matters at hand. "But the effects of this treatment will be successful - provided you do everything I say for the next week."
Mei Changsu slowly blinked his eyes open. "I see." To him, his voice sounded like little more than a sigh. But clearly, even if it was weak, Lin Chen heard it, as he was at his side a second later, dark eyes scrutinizing him.
"Yes." There was a long pause. "Of course, we both know how good you are at heeding my warnings and taking my advice." His cool hands found Mei Changsu's wrist, fingertips sliding to his pulse.
Both the gesture and the sarcasm were so routine that Mei Changsu felt no need to protest. The effect of the medicine that Lin Chen had given him, too, had something to do with it.
He tried to recall every detail that Lin Chen had told him about what he had done to him.
He could not.
What mattered, he supposed, was that Lin Chen had discovered a method to prolong his life - not only for a few months or years, but longer, toward something approaching normal expectations. He trusted his judgment.
"Rest," Lin Chen said quietly. "That's the one thing you need now, Changsu. And if you listen to me, you might just get through this."
Lin Chen's fingertips were soft against his cheek. The touch was fleeting and light.
"We will see," Mei Changsu said softly. His throat felt chalky and rough. He closed his eyes to the sensation of gentle hands touching his head.
Jingyan was secure in his seat. He'd seen to it that nothing could shake him now. There was nothing left to tend to.
He would let Lin Chen win this one.
There were rumours of problems with Da Yu. Aggression along the border. Perhaps, certain voice whispered in private, even plans for invasion.
But these rumours were merely that: wagging tongues. They proved to be nothing.
Nobody knew of the message dispatched in secret to the ruler of that place.
Influence was valuable. So, too, was knowing the right thing to say - and having the energy to say it.
Those words were written with a hand far steadier than it had been in months.
Both his recovery and this delicate matter kept Mei Changsu in Da Liang far longer than anticipated.
Once again, Mei Changsu thought about asking Lin Chen about how he had come across the cure to extend his life. Once again, he decided to let the subject be. There was, he decided, no point in dwelling on it. The important thing was what Lin Chen had managed to do, finally, after so many years.
His breath came more easily these days, but Mei Changsu found that the cold still bothered him. So, he gave no word of complaint as Fei Liu draped a cloak over his shoulders and neatly handed him a warming pot, before lightly stepping away to give space for Lin Chen, who came to sit with him.
"Have you given any more thought to our little travel itinerary?"
"You have planned out everything so thoroughly that I couldn't add a thing to it even if I wanted to."
"Ah?" A raised eyebrow. "Nothing to add at all?"
"I'm leaving myself in your hands. You're more than capable, after all."
Lin Chen nodded. "Of course I am," he said in his usual way, not a shred of modesty about him.
Mei Changsu offered his hand.
After a moment, Lin Chen took it.
Lin Chen didn't say "I'm looking forward to this journey with you." He didn't have to. The expression on his face, satisfied with everything, said enough.
It was not like the way it used to be, the checking of the pulse, the physician's care.
Their fingers linked together, and stayed that way.
In the nights leading up to their excursion, Mei Changsu wrote to Jingyan.
He poured out everything he had wanted to say, everything he had hoped and wished for. His dreams of what the future would hold for him. Everything.,
Memories of the last time they had spoken in private surfaced. He had been explaining that it was not possible for them to be close after Jingyan's ascent to the throne. Those words had been more painful than any others he could speak, but truthful nonetheless.
Jingyan had embraced him. He could still feel those strong arms around him, and wondered if he was to Jingyan as frail as he had felt at that time.
It had been brief, but heartfelt, and they parted at the edge of weeping.
Mei Changsu wrote down everything that he was feeling.
Then he burnt the letter.
As the coals in the brazier devoured the paper, he composed another letter. Far shorter than the other one, it began:
Jingyan, I wish you every success.
It then explained the course of the trip he was taking, the grand journey Lin Chen had planned for him. It explained that he was well, that his recovery was proceeding as anticipated, that he would have enough strength for this.
He did not need to explain the depths of his fondness. Because Jingyan was so painfully aware of Mei Changsu's previous life as Lin Shu, he knew quite a bit of it already. To put fingers in that wound would only aggravate it. But to reassure Jingyan of Mei Changsu's comfort, to ease his worries about his happiness and companionship and safety - that, he could do.
The lights in the gorge were dazzling.
They had been on the road for weeks, taking their time with the journey. Now that they knew it would not be a final passage, that it would not be a trip that would end in his body failing, Mei Changsu found himself agreeing with Lin Chen's assessment: there was no need to rush anything. They could take as long as they liked.
And so, he took in the lights sparkling in the gorge, tiny pinpricks glowing in the dark. Lin Chen had said, "We will be sure to see them." He had been confident about it when planning this utterly mad adventure, and of course, he had been right.
Later, in the glow of lamps, Mei Changsu wrote to Jingyan.
"You are still sending him letters," Lin Chen observed.
"I am," Mei Changsu admitted.
"Did you not say that there were challenges that came with this-?"
"Yes," Mei Changsu said. "Even without knowing, his position would have made things difficult. And confessing my identity to him did complicate things."
"Oh, did it? I never would have guessed." Sarcasm laced Lin Chen's tone.
Mei Changsu put his brush down. It was obvious that Lin Chen was not going to let the matter be. "It's complicated for him, because he is aware that I am Lin Shu, but cannot allow anyone to know this who does not already know about it. And he cannot be too close to Mei Changsu either, because it would not be to his advantage to have such a strategist in his court."
"And...?" Lin Chen raised a finger. "There is more. What else?"
It was clear that Lin Chen would not let it be. For a moment, Mei Changsu considered this, wondering how to phrase things for him.
With his hands in his sleeves, Lin Chen waited, one eyebrow arched, giving him no opportunity to get out of it.
"It complicated matters for me," Mei Changsu said eventually. "I have spent so long living as Mei Changsu, and yet, perhaps I could be Lin Shu. How am I to think of myself?"
Quiet for a while, Lin Chen considered this. "Well," he said finally, as he rose to take a place closer to Mei Changsu. "Thanks to me, you have plenty of time to find out the answer to that. Don't you?"
Well. It was true enough, wasn't it? And faced with that truth, Mei Changsu let out a huff of a laugh. "I do," he said, offering Lin Chen his hand. "And I'm glad for it."
"Of course I am. And of course you are," Lin Chen replied, taking Mei Changsu's hand and pressing it between his own, his elegant fingers warm and comfortable against Mei Changsu's skin. "But I will still call you Changsu in the meantime."
"Of course." He brushed his thumb over Lin Chen's knuckles, considering this. It was reasonable, and even if it wasn't, it was the sort of thing that Lin Chen would insist on having his way with. However - "And what if I decide to be Lin Shu?"
Lin Chen's eyebrows lifted. Perhaps he hadn't thought it a real possibility. But he rallied himself, and recovered. "Then I will have to get to know Lin Shu," he said simply.
"I think you would like him," Mei Changsu said.
A deep intake of breath, and a slow nod. "We will see," Lin Chen said. Then he squeezed Mei Changsu's hand, as if there was nothing more to say about it. "Enough of this fussing over details! For now, you're Mei Changsu. And so, Changsu, let me tell you about my plans for tomorrow. I've had it all figured out."
As the night sank deeper into its warm, comfortable darkness, Lin Chen told him of the adventures he had planned for them the next day, and the next, and the one after that.
And Mei Changsu listened, knowing that he would have the strength to not only endure it, but enjoy it - the next day, and everything that would come after it, for years to come.
Fandom: Nirvana in Fire
Characters/Pairing: Lin Chen/Mei Changsu
Rating: 0+
Length: 1.6k
Summary: Lin Chen is, perhaps, a maker of miracles. Now, after years of work, Mei Changsu has both the time to enjoy what lies ahead - and the strength to do so. Fortunately for him, he's in good company.
Other: Canon-divergent "MCS lives" happy ending AU. Written for shadowlancer_95 for Nirvana in Fire Exchange. :D [Ao3 version]
For years to come
"You will still feel weak for a while," Lin Chen said, with words that were firm and crisp, in the manner he used for speaking when there were serious matters at hand. "But the effects of this treatment will be successful - provided you do everything I say for the next week."
Mei Changsu slowly blinked his eyes open. "I see." To him, his voice sounded like little more than a sigh. But clearly, even if it was weak, Lin Chen heard it, as he was at his side a second later, dark eyes scrutinizing him.
"Yes." There was a long pause. "Of course, we both know how good you are at heeding my warnings and taking my advice." His cool hands found Mei Changsu's wrist, fingertips sliding to his pulse.
Both the gesture and the sarcasm were so routine that Mei Changsu felt no need to protest. The effect of the medicine that Lin Chen had given him, too, had something to do with it.
He tried to recall every detail that Lin Chen had told him about what he had done to him.
He could not.
What mattered, he supposed, was that Lin Chen had discovered a method to prolong his life - not only for a few months or years, but longer, toward something approaching normal expectations. He trusted his judgment.
"Rest," Lin Chen said quietly. "That's the one thing you need now, Changsu. And if you listen to me, you might just get through this."
Lin Chen's fingertips were soft against his cheek. The touch was fleeting and light.
"We will see," Mei Changsu said softly. His throat felt chalky and rough. He closed his eyes to the sensation of gentle hands touching his head.
Jingyan was secure in his seat. He'd seen to it that nothing could shake him now. There was nothing left to tend to.
He would let Lin Chen win this one.
There were rumours of problems with Da Yu. Aggression along the border. Perhaps, certain voice whispered in private, even plans for invasion.
But these rumours were merely that: wagging tongues. They proved to be nothing.
Nobody knew of the message dispatched in secret to the ruler of that place.
Influence was valuable. So, too, was knowing the right thing to say - and having the energy to say it.
Those words were written with a hand far steadier than it had been in months.
Both his recovery and this delicate matter kept Mei Changsu in Da Liang far longer than anticipated.
Once again, Mei Changsu thought about asking Lin Chen about how he had come across the cure to extend his life. Once again, he decided to let the subject be. There was, he decided, no point in dwelling on it. The important thing was what Lin Chen had managed to do, finally, after so many years.
His breath came more easily these days, but Mei Changsu found that the cold still bothered him. So, he gave no word of complaint as Fei Liu draped a cloak over his shoulders and neatly handed him a warming pot, before lightly stepping away to give space for Lin Chen, who came to sit with him.
"Have you given any more thought to our little travel itinerary?"
"You have planned out everything so thoroughly that I couldn't add a thing to it even if I wanted to."
"Ah?" A raised eyebrow. "Nothing to add at all?"
"I'm leaving myself in your hands. You're more than capable, after all."
Lin Chen nodded. "Of course I am," he said in his usual way, not a shred of modesty about him.
Mei Changsu offered his hand.
After a moment, Lin Chen took it.
Lin Chen didn't say "I'm looking forward to this journey with you." He didn't have to. The expression on his face, satisfied with everything, said enough.
It was not like the way it used to be, the checking of the pulse, the physician's care.
Their fingers linked together, and stayed that way.
In the nights leading up to their excursion, Mei Changsu wrote to Jingyan.
He poured out everything he had wanted to say, everything he had hoped and wished for. His dreams of what the future would hold for him. Everything.,
Memories of the last time they had spoken in private surfaced. He had been explaining that it was not possible for them to be close after Jingyan's ascent to the throne. Those words had been more painful than any others he could speak, but truthful nonetheless.
Jingyan had embraced him. He could still feel those strong arms around him, and wondered if he was to Jingyan as frail as he had felt at that time.
It had been brief, but heartfelt, and they parted at the edge of weeping.
Mei Changsu wrote down everything that he was feeling.
Then he burnt the letter.
As the coals in the brazier devoured the paper, he composed another letter. Far shorter than the other one, it began:
Jingyan, I wish you every success.
It then explained the course of the trip he was taking, the grand journey Lin Chen had planned for him. It explained that he was well, that his recovery was proceeding as anticipated, that he would have enough strength for this.
He did not need to explain the depths of his fondness. Because Jingyan was so painfully aware of Mei Changsu's previous life as Lin Shu, he knew quite a bit of it already. To put fingers in that wound would only aggravate it. But to reassure Jingyan of Mei Changsu's comfort, to ease his worries about his happiness and companionship and safety - that, he could do.
The lights in the gorge were dazzling.
They had been on the road for weeks, taking their time with the journey. Now that they knew it would not be a final passage, that it would not be a trip that would end in his body failing, Mei Changsu found himself agreeing with Lin Chen's assessment: there was no need to rush anything. They could take as long as they liked.
And so, he took in the lights sparkling in the gorge, tiny pinpricks glowing in the dark. Lin Chen had said, "We will be sure to see them." He had been confident about it when planning this utterly mad adventure, and of course, he had been right.
Later, in the glow of lamps, Mei Changsu wrote to Jingyan.
"You are still sending him letters," Lin Chen observed.
"I am," Mei Changsu admitted.
"Did you not say that there were challenges that came with this-?"
"Yes," Mei Changsu said. "Even without knowing, his position would have made things difficult. And confessing my identity to him did complicate things."
"Oh, did it? I never would have guessed." Sarcasm laced Lin Chen's tone.
Mei Changsu put his brush down. It was obvious that Lin Chen was not going to let the matter be. "It's complicated for him, because he is aware that I am Lin Shu, but cannot allow anyone to know this who does not already know about it. And he cannot be too close to Mei Changsu either, because it would not be to his advantage to have such a strategist in his court."
"And...?" Lin Chen raised a finger. "There is more. What else?"
It was clear that Lin Chen would not let it be. For a moment, Mei Changsu considered this, wondering how to phrase things for him.
With his hands in his sleeves, Lin Chen waited, one eyebrow arched, giving him no opportunity to get out of it.
"It complicated matters for me," Mei Changsu said eventually. "I have spent so long living as Mei Changsu, and yet, perhaps I could be Lin Shu. How am I to think of myself?"
Quiet for a while, Lin Chen considered this. "Well," he said finally, as he rose to take a place closer to Mei Changsu. "Thanks to me, you have plenty of time to find out the answer to that. Don't you?"
Well. It was true enough, wasn't it? And faced with that truth, Mei Changsu let out a huff of a laugh. "I do," he said, offering Lin Chen his hand. "And I'm glad for it."
"Of course I am. And of course you are," Lin Chen replied, taking Mei Changsu's hand and pressing it between his own, his elegant fingers warm and comfortable against Mei Changsu's skin. "But I will still call you Changsu in the meantime."
"Of course." He brushed his thumb over Lin Chen's knuckles, considering this. It was reasonable, and even if it wasn't, it was the sort of thing that Lin Chen would insist on having his way with. However - "And what if I decide to be Lin Shu?"
Lin Chen's eyebrows lifted. Perhaps he hadn't thought it a real possibility. But he rallied himself, and recovered. "Then I will have to get to know Lin Shu," he said simply.
"I think you would like him," Mei Changsu said.
A deep intake of breath, and a slow nod. "We will see," Lin Chen said. Then he squeezed Mei Changsu's hand, as if there was nothing more to say about it. "Enough of this fussing over details! For now, you're Mei Changsu. And so, Changsu, let me tell you about my plans for tomorrow. I've had it all figured out."
As the night sank deeper into its warm, comfortable darkness, Lin Chen told him of the adventures he had planned for them the next day, and the next, and the one after that.
And Mei Changsu listened, knowing that he would have the strength to not only endure it, but enjoy it - the next day, and everything that would come after it, for years to come.