The med bay was way too bright. Mu Chen was sitting on the edge of this tiny bed while a nurse checked out his shoulder. It was just a dull ache from hitting the wall, nothing major, but apparently, everyone needs a once-over after a gate run.
Over in the corner, Zhou Xiao was having a whole debate with a medic about a small cut on his hand. Lin Lan was by the door, already tapping away at her tablet, getting the first report done. Ye Fan? He wasn't anywhere in sight. Mu Chen noticed that right away.
The scanner made a beep. "Just bruising," the nurse said. "No break." Mu Chen nodded, "Okay." She grabbed a cold pack and slapped it onto his shoulder. He didn't even flinch.
But honestly, that cold pack was nothing compared to the lingering heat around his waist where Ye Fan had grabbed him. *That* was the real issue, not the bruise. The memory.
"You can head out in ten minutes," the nurse told him. Mu Chen gave a small nod. Then, the door opened. Ye Fan walked in. He didn't come straight to Mu Chen, though. He just stood by the entrance, scanning the room first – Zhou Xiao, Lin Lan, the nurse, the exits. Then his eyes landed on Mu Chen.
Mu Chen felt it immediately. Not because it was harsh, but because it just... stayed there. The nurse followed Ye Fan's gaze and suddenly got super efficient, stepping back. "You're good to go." Mu Chen almost smirked at how quickly people learned to give Ye Fan his space.
The nurse moved off, and Ye Fan walked across the room. He stopped by the bed, looking at the cold patch on Mu Chen's shoulder. "Does it hurt?"
"A little," Mu Chen replied softly. Ye Fan's jaw tightened. "It's not bad," Mu Chen added quickly. Ye Fan looked at him. "You hit that wall hard." Mu Chen almost said, *You noticed.* He didn't. Of course, Ye Fan noticed.
Lin Lan glanced up from her tablet, saw them, and just as smoothly turned her body to block the hallway's view. Stealthy cover. Mu Chen caught that, too.
Ye Fan lowered his voice. "If I hadn't caught you—" "You did," Mu Chen said. The words came out softer than he intended. Ye Fan froze. Mu Chen looked down at his hands for a beat, then back up. "I'm fine."
Ye Fan's expression didn't exactly soften, but something shifted. Less anger, more... strain. He lifted a hand, hesitated for just a second, then lightly touched two fingers right under the edge of the cold patch on Mu Chen's shoulder. A feather-light touch. Testing. Careful. Mu Chen's breath hitched. Not from pain.
Ye Fan's eyes immediately sharpened. "Did that hurt?" Mu Chen shook his head once. "No." Ye Fan didn't move his hand right away. The med bay lights were all stark and clinical, but the moment between them felt anything but.
Then, from across the room, Zhou Xiao piped up, way too loud. "Are you two done with the most intense bruise check in history? Can I leave yet?" Mu Chen immediately looked away. Ye Fan pulled his hand back. Lin Lan didn't even look up. "You can leave when you stop talking." Zhou Xiao muttered something under his breath.
Ye Fan straightened up and took a step back, just enough to put some proper distance between them. His voice went back to that flatter tone. "Report to the unit floor after you're cleared." Mu Chen nodded. "Yes, Major."
But as Ye Fan turned to leave, his fingers brushed lightly against Mu Chen's wrist. Too quick to be on purpose. Too exact to be an accident. Then he was gone. Mu Chen sat there under the med bay light, the cold patch on his shoulder, his pulse just a little too fast.
After a moment, Lin Lan looked up at him. "Better?" she asked. Mu Chen knew she wasn't just asking about the bruise. He answered carefully. "Yes." Lin Lan studied him for a second, then nodded and went back to her tablet.
Across the room, Zhou Xiao caught Mu Chen's eye, looking like he had about a million questions but knew better than to ask. Mu Chen looked away. The med bay light stayed cold. The patch stayed cold. But his skin still felt warm where Ye Fan had touched him.