YiHuang monitors the human for a few hours. The equipment his brother had salvaged from the burning vehicle helps him check the vitals of the human in his care more thoroughly. 

The second prince observes that the items were primitive compared to their own, but they seem to do their job surprisingly well. For instance, he had found a medical kit with grafts for skin and serums for protection. Among others, there was a handheld X-ray machine that was unlike anything the young prince had ever seen. For it projected images outside the body in three dimensions. 

"Fascinating..." YiHuang mutters as he moves the machine over the human's body. Within seconds, his brother's words are proved right. 

"His lungs have suffered, just as brother had informed." The prince observes and times the breaths that were still shallow but not as labored as before. 
After the preliminary examination, YiHuang decides to visit the grove, for he had estimated that it would take the human at least a couple of hours to regain consciousness. 

As expected, when he returns, he finds Zhang just as he had left him. Well, not exactly as he had left him, for color had returned to the human's cheeks. The faint glow emanating from the atmosphere regulator made the stark lines of Zhang's countenance look ethereal. 'Brother was right. He looks more like a Yuanjian than a human.' 
Before YiHuang can stop himself, he reaches out and intertwines their fingers. Warmth like the tantalizing teasing winter sun washes over him in waves. He closes his eyes at the feeling of completeness that spreads through him. It starts from his now-thundering heart and floods every strand of his being. 

"Zhang..." He whispers the name he had heard himself utter hundreds of times, standing just as close as they were now, maybe even closer. "How much longer are you going to make me wait?" He asks, seating himself next to the human. 

It is at this moment that he feels one of Zhang's fingers twitch. The young prince panics. All the doubts and fears that had plagued him earlier make themselves known yet again. He lets go of the hand and steps away a second before the dark almond eyes flutter open.

Zhang takes a few ragged breaths; his hand moves to his chest and his long, delicate fingers fist in his shirt. He looks around: brows creased, pupils dilated. He spots YiHuang, whose expression mirrors that of the human. Zhang gasps. "I can't breathe!" 

In an instant, the prince is by his side. But unfamiliarity and uncertainty stop him from touching that which is right in front of him. "May I..." He mutters, hand hovering... inching closer. He expects the human to reject him. He receives a nod of approval instead, along with a desperate plea. "Help me, please."

Having received permission, YiHuang helps Zhang sit up. The latter winces even though the Yuanjian had been gentle. Then, placing his fingertips on either side of Zhang's temple, he instructs softly, "Calm down. You are safe. I will not let any harm come to you-" He catches and holds the human's panicking gaze, "Zhang. Don't try to force your breath. Your vehicle crashed into our space. Our atmosphere is slightly different from what you are used to; your lungs were affected. Luckily we were able to stabilize your condition." 

Maybe it was the shock, or maybe, it was that he had found himself in an altogether different place after waking up, but try as he may, Zhang fails to calm down despite guessing that perhaps the man in front of him was trying to do just that. Thus, even though the stranger continues to move his lips but no sound reaches Zhang's ears. 
"I can't-" He struggles to get the words out. "-breath." Something akin to shame engulfs him. For he can tell that the latter is trying to help him, it's just that he can't hear any of the words spoken by him.

'Why is he still panicking? Why is he still scared?' The prince wonders as the human's eyes well up. "Zhang, I am not going to hurt you." He enunciates each word, but it doesn't help.

Zhang closes his eyes and puts his palms over his ears. "Can't hear...I can't hear you!"

YiHuang's hands fall to his side. 'Why can't he hear?' He wonders, feeling stumped. Then it hits him that Zhang's vehicle had torn through the barrier. It must have caused an explosion loud enough to cause deafness. Thankfully, he knew that it was temporary and would only last for a few hours at worst. He squeezes the panicking man's arm, making him lookup. 'I hope you can understand sign language, Zhang.' He thinks wistfully and translates his words into sign language. "You are safe. The deafness you are experiencing will pass soon. You need to calm down. Your lungs are still recovering. Breath slowly."

Understanding crosses Zhang's features. He nods and replies, "Thank you." He smiles...perhaps embarrassed, and moves his hands instead of asking outright, "What were you trying to do when you touched my temples?"

The smile nudges something primitive in the prince's heart. He feels his cheeks flush. He doesn't want to answer, afraid that the latter might think less of him, yet to not answer would make him look suspicious. Thus, reluctantly he conveys, "It's a technique we use to send calming images to, " he hesitates for a moment before adding, "others."

Zhang misses the hesitation and thankfully accepts the answer at face value. "Thank you." He smiles again. It's different than the one that came before. This one is open and grateful.
The simple gestures land the young Yuanjian in a dilemma of a different kind. He wants to reach for the human-like he had done when the latter was unconscious and slot their lips together. Of course, he refrains from doing so. After all, this kind of behavior was looked down upon by almost all races he had read about. It didn't help that they were technically strangers, and he had not earned those privileges yet. 

'Get a grip, YiHuang!' The prince reprimands himself before signaling, "Are you hungry?"

Zhang blinks. The hand over his chest moves lower. 'How did he know!? Did it grumble!? Damn it! How long will this deafness last?' He glances at YiHuang and nods. 

Having something to do was the best way to get his mind off other things. YiHuang is grateful for it. He immediately turns away and returns with the fruits he had collected previously. He sets it on a single plate that he had found in the salvaged items found by YiYang. 

Busying himself, doing his best to keep his body and mind occupied, the prince misses the fascination with which Zhang observes him. He misses the pink tint coloring the human's ears. 

Zhang's eyes land on the plate. The astronaut is reminded that he knew nothing about how he had ended up in a place that looked like the caves he had seen only in his history books. He loses his appetite all of a sudden. He glances at the Yuanjian, who is looking at him expectantly. 

Zhang did not know much about the situation he had found himself in, but he was sure of one thing: the one serving him at the moment meant him no harm. On the contrary, he had looked genuinely worried when Zhang had panicked and relieved when he had calmed down. 

"Is something wrong? Are you still having trouble breathing?" YiHuang gestures when Zhang keeps staring and when he doesn't get a reply, the Yuanjian places his fingers on Zhang's temples. But before he can start projecting calming images, Zhang puts his hands over his. It's the prince's turn to gasp. His eyes widen, and he steps away.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." Zhang mutters. He cocks his head slightly. "Pardon my misconduct. It won't happen again." The human elaborates.

"I was just startled. You can touch me..." YiHuang gestures, and only after he has acted it out does he realize what he had said. His eyes lock with Zhang's. He shakes his head, hoping to teleport out of the awkward situation he had created. He is still contemplating ways to escape when he hears a chuckle. 
It's Zhang. 

'He is shy. So cute!' The human observes. "Can you tell me what happened? How did I get here?" He demands if only to put the shy man out of his misery.

YiHuang's heart slows down, settling into its normal rhythm. "You have been unconscious for hours. You need to eat first. I promise to tell you everything soon." The prince gestures. 

Zhang nods. He scans the odd-looking items on the plate before glancing at YiHuang again.

"My apologies." YiHuang shakes his head and launches into explaining in brief about what each fruit was and subsequently its closest Earth counterpart. The fruits he had chosen were hybrids that grew on land before the 'toxic era'; he hoped that Zhang's body will be able to break it down without problems. The second prince, after all, was one of the most knowledgeable Yuanjians when it came to all matters 'human'; it was a different matter that seeing Zhang in peril earlier had caused his mind to stop thinking logically.

Once again, Zhang doesn't suspect the man in front of him. He eats the fruits and drinks the water the man holds out to him. He feels like he has known him for years. It was weird, to say the least, for, by now, the astronaut could tell that the man in front of him was most definitely a Sky dweller.

Zhang recalls the conversation he had had with another Sky dweller recently. 'YiYang told me that his kind hated humans, and yet, this Sky dweller is caring for me like I am someone...precious.' Zhang's throat feels dry. He gulps. 'Who are you? Why are you being so nice to me?' 

Zhang looks up and finds the prince's eyes on him. As the two gazes meet, the human's heart skips a beat.

{Author's Note:- Word count: 1693

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