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“Xichen, Xichen!” Mingjue cursed under his breath, scurrying out from under the awning to chase under his husband. His nice suit was getting wet from the rain, and he had wanted to look his best today, damnit! But Xichen had run out, into traffic and had taken their dog with him.
Cerberus was having the time of his life in the rain, all three heads snapping at the raindrops as Xichen carried him towards the park.
“C’mon!” Xichen called. “The flowers will be blooming!”
“The flowers bloom after the rain not during!” Mingjue muttered, ducking his head against the rainstorm. He caught up Xichen’s hand, just in time to stop him from setting Cerberus on the ground. The mortals might not think two grown men running around the rain was odd, but they would certainly notice a three headed dog.
A jewel popped up behind Xichen’s heel, and Mingjue bent to grab it, sighing heavily. His husband tended to attract strange objects from the earth. A ruby the size of his fist was really the least of it. He shuddered when he remembered the full-grown skeleton that had clawed its way out of the earth the last time, officially strengthening his resolve to never take Xichen to a cemetery.
“You know I’m technically the one who’s supposed to love spring,” Mingjue said, smiling when Xichen twirled beneath an elm tree, Cerberus clutched in his arms. More jewels popped up under his feet, but he danced nimbly away. Mingjue picked those up, stuffing them into his pocket. The last thing he wanted was for some poor unsuspecting mortal to touch his husband’s cursed jewels and die a horrifying death. Xichen was already busy enough. He did not need more souls under his jurisdiction.
Mingjue waved a hand, and flowers bloomed between the elm tree’s roots. He laughed when Xichen bent to pick them with a delighted smile, tucking a soft pink daisy behind Mingjue’s ear. He pecked Mingjue’s cheek and whirled around, Cerberus barking in tandem to his footsteps.
“Dance with me,” he urged, tipping his face up to the sky. And how could Mingjue resist, when his beloved held out his hand, his smile beckoning him.
“This reminds me of the first time we met,” Mingjue commented, chuckling when he took Xichen’s hand. He spun, his hair swirling out around him. It had been a gloomy, rainy day too. The flowers had been sad and droopy, the ground turned to mush under Wangji’s rain. He had been pining away after a particular fleet footed god.
Mingjue had merely been minding his own business, trying to keep all the flowers from actively withering away when a crack appeared in the earth and Lan Xichen popped his head out. Huaisang had thrown an absolute fit when he could not find his Da ge anywhere.
To this day, he maintained that Mingjue had been kidnapped by the god of the underworld. Xichen liked to joke that he had been drawn out by Mingjue’s presence, his magic seeping deep deep beneath the earth into his underground palace.
Thankfully, he did not live there anymore. Mingjue disliked the dampness of the underworld, and Xichen was more than willing to do anything to keep his husband happy. He did not even have to coerce Mingjue into eating the pomegranate.
“I wish I could grow flowers,” Xichen pouted when he had finally shaken off his frenzy. Both their suits had been thoroughly drenched by the spring rain, and it was late by the time they had returned to their cozy apartment. Cerberus proceeded to shake the water from his coat all over their rug before dashing off in search of a nice warm spot to fall asleep in.
Mingjue had changed out of his suit, and was pottering around the balcony, carefully tending to his night blooming plants. He raised his head when he heard Xichen’s comment, pulling his fingers away from the delicate petals of his lady of the night. Xichen lounged on the sofa, dressed only in a large pink sweater that Mingjue had been positive was lost. The sleeves were too long for Xichen’s arms, giving him adorable sweater paws.
He crossed the threshold back into the house, chuckling when Xichen tipped his head up at him for a kiss.
“Why’d you wanna grow flowers?” he asked, sinking down into the cushions next to Xichen. Xichen shuffled until he could lay his head on Mingjue’s shoulder, toying with the daisy that he had stuck in his hair.
“Because you like flowers,” he answered. “All I do is bring up cursed jewels that you won’t let me sell so I can buy you nice things.”
“They are cursed,” Mingjue said, shooting his husband a reproachful look. “And we like having mortals alive.”
Xichen pouted even more, which only made Mingjue’s heart bloom with warmth.
“I could teach you,” he offered, kissing his husband’s lips.
“I kill them all, Mingjue. Don’t you remember the poor succulent?”
Oh, Mingjue remembered alright. His heart still ached for the poor thing that had died under Xichen’s overly diligent care. And for every flower that Xichen had inadvertently murdered with his black thumbs. He gathered up Xichen’s hands, kissing the tips of his fingers until Xichen was blushing and squirming.
“You haven’t killed me yet, have you?” he teased.
Xichen’s eyes flashed, and he was upon Mingjue in an instant, pushing him back until his back collided with the couch cushions. Mingjue laughed at the dark look in Xichen’s eyes, threading his fingers into his hair.
“My flower,” Xichen purred, nuzzling into the crook of Mingjue’s neck. “I think it’s best if you are the only flower I water.”