He jerks his head up as if the knock were a clap of thunder. His stomach twists and heaves; he slams a hand over his mouth to muffle the cry the nearly claws up from his throat.

No, no, no, he thinks blindly.

Breathe, Wen Qing answers in his mind.

He breathes. "I'm fine," he croaks around his fingers, voice shaking so badly that he knows it would not fool anyone -- least of all his dearest friend. "Go back to sleep, Lan Zhan."