CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 84: AFTERMATH

Morning sunlight slipped through the embroidered curtains. Min-jae laid flat on his stomach, face buried in a pillow, his eyes half open with exhaustion. His waist throbbed in a way he absolutely did not appreciate.

Meical sat beside him and gently rubbed circles on his lower back. He looked far too satisfied for someone who should feel guilty.

Min-jae spoke without lifting his head from the pillow. "Don’t touch me. My waist is not your personal drum. It hurts. If I die, it is your fault."

Meical tried to hide a smile. "You said you missed me."

"I didn’t say you should destroy me.." Min-jae replied sharply. "There is a difference. A very clear difference. I am going to file a complaint. Since you clearly have no shame."

Meical dipped his fingers into the warmed oil Jahan had gifted them and continued massaging. "You did not complain last night."

Min-jae lifted his head just enough to glare. "I was delirious. And you did not stop. If I said wait, you heard go ahead. If I said slow, you heard faster. If I said I need water, you pretended you did not hear anything. You wicked bastard.."

Meical chuckled softly and leaned down to kiss his shoulder. "Are you hungry? Do you want breakfast?"

"Yes. And you’re going to bring it to me," Min-jae declared. "I’m not moving an inch. My waist feels like it’s going to break."

Meical nodded obediently. "What else do you need?"

"I need my robe. I need my hair combed. I need my legs to stop shaking. And I need you to stop smiling like you won something."

"I did win something.." Meical said. "I got my spouse back."

Min-jae grabbed a pillow and hit him with it. "Shut up and go get breakfast."

Meical caught the pillow, laughing quietly. "As you command. Anything else?"

"Yes," Min-jae replied immediately. "When you come back, you’ll feed me. I am not lifting my arms today. They are out of service."

Meical tilted his head. "So you are ordering me around now?"

Min-jae slowly turned his face to look at him fully. "After what you did to me last night, I have earned the right to order you, your ancestors, and your descendants."

Meical raised both hands in surrender. "I will listen."

Min-jae exhaled and let his cheek fall back onto the pillow. "Good. At least you still have sense."

Before Meical could leave, Jahan’s voice echoed from outside the room.

"Kaizar, do you want tea? And are you alive? Should I call a healer?"

Min-jae groaned into the pillow. "Tell him to go away."

Meical walked to the door and opened it slightly. Jahan stood there with two servants holding trays of food and more oil bottles.

Jahan gave Meical a knowing smirk. "So is he coming out today?"

Meical shook his head. "He is very angry."

Jahan nodded with sympathy that was definitely fake. "Understandable. My condolences."

Min-jae shouted from the bed. "I heard that! Don’t talk like I am dead. And do not bring more oil! I am banning oil in this room!"

Meical whispered to Jahan. "He will calm down."

"Will he?" Jahan asked. "Or will you be killed before lunch?"

Meical closed the door without answering and carried the trays inside.

Min-jae pointed at the food. "Good. Put it here. And remember, you are feeding me."

Meical smiled gently and sat on the bed. "Alright. Open your mouth."

Min-jae closed his eyes. "I hate you."

Meical lifted a spoon of warm porridge. "Yes, yes, now eat."

Min-jae opened his mouth obediently. "Fine. But only because I am hungry."

After breakfast, Min-jae finally allowed Meical to lift him from the bed. His legs wobbled so badly that Meical had to wrap an arm firmly around his waist.

Min-jae rested his forehead on Meical’s shoulder. "Don’t laugh. If you laugh, I’ll bite you."

-_-

Meical swallowed a smile and guided him slowly toward the bath chamber. "I am not laughing. I am just happy to help."

Min-jae muttered something that sounded like a threat. He gripped Meical’s robe tightly and let himself be carried the final few steps. Meical lowered him gently onto the warm bath stool and began filling the tub.

The steam rose quickly and filled the room with a soft scent of jasmine. When the water was ready, Meical lifted him again and lowered him carefully into the tub.

Min-jae sank into the water with a slow exhale. "Finally. Something that does not hurt."

Meical knelt beside the tub and rolled up his sleeves. He dipped a cloth into the warm water and began washing Min-jae’s shoulders. He cleaned every part of him with quiet, focused attention.

The water rippled as he worked, and Min-jae closed his eyes again, completely relaxed.

"You know.." Min-jae said, voice low, "you are doing all of this because you caused this suffering."

"I know.." Meical replied. "And I will continue until every part of you stops hurting."

Min-jae cracked one eye open. "Even my lips?"

Meical glanced at his mouth. The lower lip was slightly swollen. He brushed his thumb along it softly. "Especially your lips."

-_-

Min-jae reddened and sank lower into the water. "Do not say it like that."

Meical laughed and continued washing him.

When Min-jae was clean and relaxed, Meical helped him sit up and wrapped him in a thick towel. He dried him slowly, careful not to rush, then carried him back to the bed.

The balm lay ready on the bedside table. Jahan must have sent it earlier.

Min-jae eyed it suspiciously. "That better not be something that burns."

"It is mild, I’m sure.." Meical assured him. "It will soothe everything."

He dipped his fingers into the balm and began applying it to Min-jae’s shoulders. Min-jae flinched at first, but the balm’s coolness soon eased the tightness in his muscles.

Meical moved lower, massaging the tense muscles along his back.

Min-jae let out a sigh he tried to pretend was irritation. "You have strong hands. It is unfair.."

Meical leaned closer. "Should I stop?"

"No.." Min-jae answered immediately. "Keep going."

Meical continued down to his waist. He massaged gently, using steady pressure until Min-jae’s muscles loosened. Min-jae’s breath shook once, and Meical slowed down even more, careful and gentle.

When Meical finished with his back and waist, he moved up again and paused at Min-jae’s face. He touched his lips lightly with the balm on his fingertips.

Min-jae blinked. "This is so embarrassing."

"You are so beautiful.." Meical said calmly. "Even when bruised."

Min-jae covered his face with both hands. "Stop talking, I don’t like being bruised.."

Meical took his wrists and pulled his hands down. "I like taking care of you."

"I can see that.." Min-jae said softly. "You’re overly devoted."

Meical looked at him for a moment. "Devoted is the right word."

Min-jae stared back, suddenly unable to hold the gaze. He glanced away. "Finish applying the balm. And then bring my robe. I’m going to sleep."

Meical kissed the top of his head and reached for the robe. "As you wish."

Meical finally eased down beside him, the mattress dipping under his weight. Min-jae immediately scooted half a palm-span away, wincing as his waist pulled.

"Don’t.." he muttered, face half-buried in the pillow. "No touching. None."

Meical hummed, completely unbothered, and closed the distance anyway. "But I’m not touching you.." he said, even as he let his arm drape loosely across the gap. "I’m just... existing near you."

Min-jae shot him a glare over his shoulder.

His hair was a mess, his lips still slightly swollen from being kissed senseless, and the faintest pink lingered on the back of his neck. "Your existence is too close."

"You didn’t say that last night."

Min-jae kicked at him. Or tried to, it turned into more of a weak tap. "That was before you decided to.." His ears burned. "..go for extra rounds like a deranged beast."

Meical’s grin was slow and so smug Min-jae wanted to bite him. "I recall someone saying ’don’t stop.’ Several times."

"SHUT. UP."

Meical shifted closer until their shoulders brushed. Min-jae hissed and shuffled forward again.

"No contact!" he snapped.

"But you’re cold.." Meical said. He reached anyway, fingertips brushing Min-jae’s wrist. "Come here."

Min-jae smacked his hand away, glaring like a wet cat. "If you touch me one more time..."

Meical gently hooked an arm beneath him and pulled him back until their bodies lined up, spooning him from behind.

"..I’ll... Meical!!"

Min-jae wriggled uselessly, too sore to put up any real fight. Meical only tightened his hold, chin settling comfortably atop Min-jae’s shoulder.

"Stop moving.." Meical murmured. "You’ll hurt yourself more."

"I’m already hurting!"

"Which is why I’m holding you. I’m supporting your waist, see?" His palm slid down to cradle Min-jae’s hip carefully. "Perfect angle. No strain."

Min-jae went rigid. "Let go."

"No."

"I hate you."

"You loved me last night."

Min-jae made a sound halfway between a groan and a strangled whine, burying his burning face back in the pillow. Meical kissed the crown of his head, utterly shameless.

Despite himself, Min-jae’s shoulders relaxed the tiniest bit.

"...Fine.." he muttered. "But don’t move."

Meical smiled against his hair. "I won’t. I’ll just hold you."

"And no funny business."

"I wouldn’t dare."

Min-jae elbowed him weakly. Meical caught his arm and laced their fingers together.