Requested by Crying Ink. Sorry, you requested this like six months ago, but i never got around to it. Who knows maybe you won't even read it but oh well XD.
I'm sorry it's so short.
Ling paced back and forth on the wooden floor boards. Beside him, Lan Fan lay breathing heavily tucked under the covers of the bed. Face flushed and forehead crinkled in concentration, it was quite obvious that the servant of the prince had a fever, or something of the sort. Sweat dotted her face and neck. Sicknesses like these come and go, but Ling couldn't stop worrying.
Here this girl was... saving his ass regularly because he was too stupid to save himself, now sick in bed, and he couldn't do a single thing about it. How was he supposed to be emperor if he couldn't even take care of this one sick girl? Ling's mind calmed down for a minute at the thought. Yeah... Lan Fan was just a girl. Despite her seriousness and all her dedication, she was just a young girl, only in her mid teens, just 15 years old. He was interrupted from the storm of his thoughts when Lan Fan began coughing hoarsely. Rushing to her side, Ling put a hand on her back to help her sit up and brought a cup of water to her lips. Sputtering, she managed to get some of it down, but Ling smiled slightly as he wiped the rest off her chin. He laid her burning hot body back down, adjusting the blankets around her whist smoothing her damp hair back from her face. He couldn't help but curse himself for not knowing much about first aid. As a son of the emperor, the thought had never occurred to him that he might need to learn it, but here this situation was, slapping him in the face for his own unpreparedness.
"I apologize, Young Lord," Lan Fan whispered with a cracking voice, "I'm such a burden,"
Ling shook his head, his bangs falling in front of his eyes, "Nonsense." He replied, "I'm indebted to you. You save my life regularly. The least I can do is take care of you when you're sick,"
Laughing slightly, Lan Fan shook her head, "It is not proper for a future king to be taking care of his servants,"
Ling scowled before retorting, "Well, you're much more than a servant to me, Lan Fan,"
Lan Fan coughed in surprise,staring up at him wildly, like he had lost his mind. In her perspective, it seemed like he had.
"You aren't sick too, are you Young Lord? It's not right for you to say something like that!" she choked out before coughing again. Her labored breaths worsened as she wheezed. Ling chose not to reply and fidgeted with her blankets once more. He guessed that it was not proper for an emperor to care for his servants, but then again, how could he not!? They were the people that had always helped him with whatever he wished. It didn't make any sense for him not to care for them at all. Especially Lan Fan and her now dead grandfather, Fu. Constantly defending him and making sure that he made it safely across the desert and into Amestris, they hadn't once even thought about themselves. All they wanted was to help him find the philosopher's stone and become emperor. Old Fu had paid the price, as he was now dead, and it was Ling's fault. The way they were raised... to be fighters, made Ling wonder if Lan Fan ever thought like a normal person. If she ever thought about herself. Because she was his personal bodyguard, he was her main priority, but Ling's mind drifted. What if they both had the same social status? If Ling wasn't royalty, what would they're relationship be? Once more jolting him out of his thoughts, Lan Fan tugged on his sleeve.
"Young Lord? Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.
"Yes, Lan Fan, I'm fine." he sighed, thinking about how her expression was kind of cute. She was so silly... Lan Fan had a fever and still, all she was thinking about was him.
"Young Lord, I know it might be unsafe to leave us unprotected... but is it alright if I sleep?" she asked timidly. Smiling fondly down at her Ling chuckled to himself.
"Yes. It's fine. Don't worry. I can take care of the both of us," he reassured her.
"Okay..." She replied, albeit reluctant, but Lan Fan found her body shutting down into an uneasy rest.
Ling stared at her sleeping features, noticing how so much of her tenseness faded when she wasn't on high-alert, searching for enemies. Leaning over her, he pressed his lips against her forehead in a light kiss. Yes... he would protect the both of them.
Eeeee. I just had to add a forehead kiss, sue me
