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Xie Lian is roused by kisses on his neck, going around his jaw, his adams apple, tickling him. He can’t help but let out a giggle, sleepily batting at Hua Cheng’s shoulder.
“San Lang, Gege’s tired. Let me sleep.” Xie Lian mutters. He cracks an eye open and smiles, cupping Hua Cheng’s face.
“You have classes. You’d be upset if I didn’t wake you up.” Hua Cheng says, kissing Xie Lian’s palm. “I made you some porridge when you’re ready.”
“My San Lang is always so good to me.”
Hua Cheng preens, happily kissing Xie Lian. It’s a lazy and slow kiss with Hua Cheng sprawled over Xie Lian’s chest. He pulls back reluctantly, laughing at how Xie lian leans forward to chase his lips. Xie Lian pouts, sitting up.
He stares a little sleepily around, trying to figure out if he should wear the pants he had on yesterday again or not. He steals Hua Cheng’s sweater regardless, pulling the bright red hoodie on before fumbling for his brush to put his hair back up.
Hua Cheng watches him get ready, leaning against the end of the bedpost. Xie Lian comes over, wrapping his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck. Hua Cheng smiles, propping his hands on Xie Lian’s hips. He doesn’t have his eye patch on yet and both his eyes crinkle. Xie Lian can’t help but kiss the brow of Hua Cheng’s missing eye.
“You have to eat before you leave.” Hua Cheng says gently as Xie Lian sighs.
“I guess. Do you have classes today?”
“No, there’s time to work on our final projects but I already finished the portfolio.. It’s just paintings so it didn’t take me long.”
“My San Lang is so talented. Are you going to meet He Xuan like you promised?”
Hua Cheng makes a small noise, looking annoyed. “Maybe. If Shi Qingxuan is with them.”
“Do you like her?”
“She’s tolerable.”
“I thought He Xuan and her broke up?”
“They did. He Xuan finally told her about them and her brother. Told them to be upfront about it before dating her but they insisted it didn’t matter.”
Xie Lian sighs, moving away from Hua Cheng. “It’s a shame because Qingxuan was happy with them.”
Hua Cheng snorts. “Her brother deserved it. Taking He Xuan’s identity like that.”
He can’t deny that, sighing again as they move from the bed room. He Xuan had been framed for theft and felony larceon. Qingxuan’s brother, Shi Wudu, pinned it on He Xuan as a scapegoat. Qingxuan defended her brother in court as a lawyer and got him off on all charges. The police closed in on He Xuan instead afterwards. Even if their name was cleared, Shi Wudu was already acquitted and can’t be charged again.
Qingxuan called Xie Lian crying and explained everything. He wasn’t sure how to take it but comforted the other, going to her house and helping her get things to go to a hotel for the night. She didn’t want to be around He Xuan and hurt them by being upset.
The two have tried in the last few months to talk but Qingxuan feels guilty about getting her brother off on all charges. It also came to light that He Xuan was the reason Shi Wudu got seriously injured in a mugging later on. It was complicated and Xie Lian was almost given a headache just thinking about how complicated it was.
Hua Cheng didn’t seem bothered by it though. “They’ll figure it out. Shi Wudu deserved what he got for how he used He Xuan’s name. Qingxuan can get over what they did to her brother or not.”
Xie Lian thought about the situation a lot as Qingxuan had also taken to giving him updates asking for his advice if she should talk about this or that with He Xuan. She was constantly worried about overstepping boundaries and never knowing what was right or not to be angry about. It was messy and he almost wished he wasn’t involved. He never said as such aloud though as he knew that Qingxuan had nobody else to talk to this about.
He floated through the rest of the day in a tired daze. His work was a longer shift until midnight as it was a Friday and he could feel his back starting to bother him. He couldn’t wait to go home and take a bath before laying in bed. His entire being stuck of bleach and burnt food.
Xie Lian was walking home closer to one that night because he had to do so many dishes before leaving. His steps were heavy and tired. Despite that though, He knew somebody was following him. They had been a block behind him for over ten minutes already and he sighed, taking his phone out.
He called Hua Cheng. He was asleep but answered on the third ring, answering tiredly, “Gege?”
“Hi, San Lang. I’m sorry.” Xie Lian says quietly. He holds the phone close to his mouth so he doesn’t have to talk any louder than he needs to. “Can you come meet me? I think I’m being followed.”
There’s hurried rustling on the line as Hua Cheng moves. “Of course. Where are you?”
“I’m in front of that new shop that opened downtown, the one you wanted to take me to this weekend.”
“I’ll be there in a minute. Don’t move until I’m there.”
Xie Lian fumbles with his phone. He acts like he’s checking things but really, he’s peeking through his hair as he watches. The person closes in more and more and seems like they’re about to bypass him entirely before they stop. They’re a few steps away from Xie Lian and look up, smiling.
“Jun Wu,” Xie Lian breathes. He’s alert, rigid as he retreats a step. “What are you-”
“Xie Lian, it’s been too long.” He says happily. He steps forward, like he wants to touch Xie Lian.
“Why are you here. You aren’t allowed near me.”
Jun Wu sighs, stepping to him too fast to react, cupping his face. Xie Lian feels his eyes prick in fear and anger and he pushes on Jun Wu’s chest. His hands are caught easily and traps them between Jun Wu’s own hands.
“Xie Lian, you forget how good you were with me. I made you the best you ever were.”
“I was an awful person and suffered the consequences of such. I was never anything short of that with you.”
He’s cold as he talks. Jun Wu’s face contorts angrily for a moment before he controls it and smiles again. There’s a sharp sting as he slaps Xie Lian.
“You’re such an insolent child sometimes.”
Jun Wu holds him closer, stroking his head. Xie Lian feels himself shutting down, shaking as tears fall. He can’t do this he doesn’t want this. But he can’t fight against Jun Wu because he’s also so scared about what will happen if he does and he knows it would be useless.
There’s an angry noise behind them before Xie Lian is wrenched out of Jun Wu’s arms. Hua Cheng looks thunderous when he sees Xie Lian in tears and shaking.
“Get the fuck away from him.”
“Him?” Jun Wu asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, him. Do you want to keep your arms or should I take them off since you’re so willing to touch things you shouldn’t so freely.”
“Hm, you have quite a feisty friend, Xie Lian.”
“He’s my boyfriend.” Xie Lian says hoarsely.
Jun Wu clicks his tongue in annoyance. “You said long ago you would never date anybody else.”
“People change.” Hua Cheng says harshly. He puts a jacket around Xie Lian’s shoulders, steering him around and away.
“Remember to call me, Xie Lian. I would love to accept you back.”
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng don’t turn around and they walk the rest of the way in silence. It’s only broken by Xie Lian’s shaky, scared breaths as he tries to control his crying. The tears are constant and burn and he’s so tired.
“Do you want to take a shower before you go to bed?” Hua Cheng asks gently as he helps Xie Lian inside their apartment.
“I don’t-I don’t want to be alone.” Xie Lian says, clutching Hua Cheng’s arm desperately.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Xie Lian does. But he can’t. There’s nothing for him to say as his throat closes. All he can do is shake his head. Hua Cheng isn’t angry though, just nods.
“If you want to later, I’m here to listen. Let’s get a bath ready. I’ll wash your hair if you’d like.”
He nods, being led into the bathroom. He sits numbly as Hua Cheng lifts him onto the counter, clutching Hua Cheng’s jacket around him like a lifeline.
They’re quiet as Xie Lian bathes. It helps relax him more than he expected and he almost falls asleep leaning against the side of the tub. Hua Cheng is laughing as he shakes him awake, helping him out and into one of his sweaters and pyjamas. It’s something that grounds him and when they leave, he feels ready to talk.
“That was Jun Wu,” Xie Lian says quietly.
Hua Cheng pauses as he’s making tea for them. Looking over his shoulder, he furrows his brows. “The one Qingxuan has mentioned before?”
“Probably. She doesn’t talk about him around me because he...hurt me.” Xie Lian cups the right side of his face where he was hit earlier. It’s tender and red still and Hua Cheng waits for him to continue.
It takes another moment before he can. “He...assaulted me when I was vulnerable. It was after my parents had died and before I became homeless. I lived with him so I wouldn’t and he took advantage of me. I got out by becoming homeless.”
Ruoye whines. He had waited patiently until Xie Lian was out of the bath before pressing against Xie Lian’s knee, resting his head against it. He licked Xie Lian’s arm where it came to rest by Ruoye’s head. He laughs, closing his eyes.
“I don’t like to think about what he did to me. I don’t remember much of what happened but it doesn’t matter. Qingxuan witnessed him hurt me because she helped me by letting me stay with her until Jun Wu was calmed down.”
“Why didn’t you stay with her?”
“Her brother doesn’t like me. I think he blames me for making her realize she was a trans woman.”
“Jun Wu knew you before you transitioned?”
“Yes. He was a family friend I had met a long time ago. He…” Xie Lian chokes up. “He was the only one there for me for a year. I thought I loved him.”
Hua Cheng kneels beside him, taking his hand. “You don’t have to tell me.”
“I-I know. I want to tell you though. It’s been so long since I even thought about it.”
Hua Cheng reaches up and pushes a stray piece of hair behind Xie Lian’s ear. “Don’t push yourself for my sake. Tell me at your own pace.”
Xie Lian nods. “I just...Qingxuan managed to get a restraining order put in place and I moved here. He lives three hours away or should have. I didn’t tell anybody where I was going but I ended up homeless for a year or two. It was for the best.”
“Do you want to go to bed?”
Xie Lian wipes at his eyes. He isn’t sure when he started crying again but it’s constant and heavy. “Yes, I need...I just need to go to bed I think. Ruoye, medication.”
Ruoye streaks off, happily taking the small bag from the bathroom and returning, wagging his tail. He drops it in Hua Cheng’s hands before going back to leaning against Xie Lian. He puts his front paws on the chair and licks at Xie Lian’s face which makes him laugh, burying his face into his fur on his neck.
Hua Cheng hands him the assortment of medication he takes before bed and he swallows it at once with the tea made earlier. Hua Cheng stands, handing the case back to Ruoye who trouts to put it back where it belongs.
He helps Xie Lian stand up and Xie Lian leans heavily on Hua Cheng as they walk to the bedroom. He’s exhausted and everything weighs too heavily on him. He’s glad he doesn’t have classes tomorrow. Hua Cheng happily lets him hang off him.
“Do you need anything else?” Hua Cheng asks, about to put E’Ming with Xie Lian.
“I need a kiss.”
It makes Hua Cheng laugh as he walks over. E’Ming jumps out of his arms and curls up beside Xie Lian and Ruoye makes himself comfortable beside his legs. Hua Cheng slips into bed beside Xie Lian on the other side, cupping his face and kissing his cheeks, his nose, his eyes, under his jaw. Xie Lian laughs, bright and happy.
“You’re silly,” He can’t help but say, burying his hands into Hua Cheng’s hair.
“The silliest,” Hua Cheng agrees solemnly. “But only for my gege.”
They kiss gently, Hua Cheng still giving soft ones everywhere he can reach on Xie Lian’s face. It distracts him and makes him laugh. Hua Cheng is gentle as he holds Xie Lian and he can’t help but melt into the other’s arms.
“Thank you,” Xie Lian whispers.
“What for?”
“Listening. Taking care of me.”
“I’d take care of you forever, if you’d let me.”
Xie Lian smiles, cupping Hua Cheng’s face. “I feel the same.”
Hua Cheng smiles, pulling Xie Lian closer. He wiggles around to get comfortable before feeling his body starting to get heavy. His medication is starting to kick in but he doesn’t want to sleep until he says one final thing.
“San Lang?”
“Hm?”
“Love you. I’m glad you helped me with my final project.”
There’s a laugh above his head from where he’s buried into Hua Cheng’s chest. “I more or less did it for you.”
“Yeah, got a great grade on it. Sleepy now.”
There’s a kiss to his temple. “Go to sleep. I love you, too.”