okay Okay first Whumptober ficlet prompt fill for @foxofninetales ! Yes technically it's thirteen minutes past midnight but uhhhhh I haven't gone to sleep yet so it's still the third and this is definitely, totally on time. Apologies though that this is...not actually very whump-y, oops >.<
Cross-posted on ao3, read here.
3.
“Who did this to you?” He keeps his voice even. Low. A hint of concern, but not frantic. And firm, so it’s clear he expects an answer.
Liu Sang shifts from foot to foot, his eyes flitting anywhere but Erbai’s face. There’s a deep bruise dripping down his cheekbone, and Erbai’s watched after his nephew long enough to know what it looks like when someone’s in pain and trying to hide it. “Just a disagreement with a team member on my last job. There’s no need to worry, Wu Er-ye, it won’t impact my performance on this job.”
It is very tempting to sigh, and a testament to his self-control that he does not. “Your last job was with Zhu Ling, correct?” Erbai says instead.
“Yes,” Liu Sang replies, blinking like he’s surprised. He shouldn’t be. Erbai is thorough, even with people he’s hired before.
He hums and makes a note of it. “I assume this team member was let go, then.”
There it is again, that awkward shifting. “Um. Well. No. He’s...Zhu-laoban’s right-hand man. But it’s fine. I was compensated for the trouble.”
“A right-hand man who cannot control his temper is no better than an untrained dog,” he says, catching Erjing’s eye from where he’s sitting, in the other corner of his office. His own right-hand smiles, a soft and lazily confident little thing. It takes a small effort for Erbai to recenter his attention to Liu Sang. “Get checked out by one of our doctors before we set out. If you’re not clear, we’ll push the expedition back.”
“What?” Liu Sang blurts out. “I- sorry, I just mean, you don’t need to postpone anything for me, sir.”
Erbai can’t help but sigh a little bit, this time, and sets aside the papers in front of him. “Liu Sang. The maps you provided us with in that northern tomb were far more accurate than any technology I’ve invested in.” He stares at the young man, but that look of confusion doesn’t change. “If you need time, you can have it.”
“Oh. I- thank you, Wu Er-ye,” Liu Sang says slowly, like he’s still processing.
Erbai takes pity on him by putting an end to the conversation with a nod of dismissal. Always in tune with him, Erjing stands and opens the door, holding it until Liu Sang bows his head and leaves. Once he’s gone, Erjing lets the door close and turns back with a laugh.
“Always the kids, isn’t it.”
“Yes,” Erbai says, shaking his head. “Always.”
