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Hua Cheng blinks awake, squinting at the sunlight streaming in from the window.
The room is calm and quiet. Xie Lian is asleep in his bed, his breath steady and reassuring, his scent sweet and peaceful. It’s only a little past dawn.
Hua Cheng rises, dresses, and kneels beside his prince’s bed to wait.
“G’morning, San Lang-gege,” Xie Lian says sleepily after a little while.
“Good morning, Dianxia,” Hua Cheng returns, smiling.
Xie Lian yawns and stretches, his scent broadcasting “happy, unbothered child”. “Come cuddle with me,” he demands.
Hua Cheng knows better than to resist, at this point. Xie Lian always gets what he wants. “Move over,” he says, and climbs in.
Xie Lian nuzzles into his chest and goes limp.
He’s so small. Hua Cheng always feels like he’s about to crush him. But Xie Lian is sturdier than he looks.
“Go back to sleep, San Lang-gege,” Xie Lian mumbles, muffled by Hua Cheng’s robes. “We can tell the servants to leave us alone.”
“You don’t want breakfast?” Hua Cheng asks, smiling fondly at the rumpled boy in his arms. “I’ll give you my steamed buns.”
“Hmm,” Xie Lian says. “Okay, but you have to bring it to me.”
“You’ll have to let go,” Hua Cheng warns him.
Xie Lian wraps all four limbs around him and squeezes.
A knock sounds at the door. “Breakfast,” a voice calls.
Hua Cheng sits up, gently disentangling Xie Lian from himself. “I’ll be right back,” he says.
Soon, they’re kneeling together at the table in the room. Xie Lian eats all the steamed buns they’ve been given, as he always does, and leaves the fruit for Hua Cheng.
The rest of the morning and the beginning of the afternoon go as they always do. Hua Cheng dresses Xie Lian, and then he stands at the door as various tutors come and go.
Hua Cheng watches his charge focus on the papers in front of him, keeps his ears and nose open for danger or even a hint of distress in Xie Lian’s scent, and lets his mind wander.
He’s grateful for the privilege of protecting his prince. He certainly fought hard enough to be allowed this position, though the deciding factor was how quickly and easily Xie Lian took a liking to him. He hadn’t expected that.
He just wishes he could do more. He’s heard whispers from the other servants about negotiations of arranged marriages, these past few weeks - different options, of course, depending on how Xie Lian presents.
He only has his saber. He can’t cut through the expectations Xie Lian will have to face.
Still, his prince is stubborn and strong. If he puts his foot down, Hua Cheng is sure no one, not even the king and queen, will be able to stand against him.
And if he asks, Hua Cheng will burn down the whole palace.
For now, though, Xie Lian is still a child. Hua Cheng takes a deep breath, soothing himself with Xie Lian’s floral scent, laced through with the sweetness of someone too young to be an omega or an alpha or a beta. They should have a few more years before he presents.
Hua Cheng will make sure those are the best years Xie Lian has ever had.
“San Lang-gege!” Xie Lian says, finally, running up to him. His scent spikes with excitement. “I’m all done. Come push me on the swing!”
“Of course, Dianxia,” Hua Cheng says, a smile breaking out onto his face, and allows Xie Lian to lead him into the sunlight.
He pushes a laughing Xie Lian on his favorite swing until Xie Lian suddenly gets bored, then kneels with him in a field of flowers and strings blossoms together into a crown.
“You can be a king,” Xie Lian says seriously, holding up a clumsily-made circlet with a few squashed stems. Hua Cheng bows his head, and Xie Lian settles his masterpiece into place. “All of your subjects love you! They want you to be happy, so they cook you weird food sometimes. And you live in a very pretty palace with lots of cool swords.”
“And you,” Hua Cheng says, placing the crown he’s made on Xie Lian’s head, “are the prince of a beautiful kingdom, adored by everyone. Is that cheating?”
Xie Lian laughs. “I’ll allow it,” he says magnanimously. “It’s too warm. Come with me.”
He leads Hua Cheng to the shade of a tree, then pushes him to sit against the trunk. Hua Cheng obediently lets himself be manipulated.
“I’m going to take a nap,” Xie Lian announces, climbing into Hua Cheng’s lap. “You’re the best pillow ever.”
“I’m honored,” Hua Cheng says, smiling, and carefully unpins Xie Lian’s hairpiece. “There, that should be more comfortable.”
“You smell safe,” Xie Lian mumbles, snuggling into the crook of Hua Cheng’s arm.
Hua Cheng feels as if he’s been shot through the heart. Is it possible to die of love? “I’m glad,” he manages faintly, and pulls Xie Lian closer.
Slowly, Xie Lian drifts into sleep, his scent sweetening. Hua Cheng watches him, and holds him, and pushes comfort into his own scent.
“Anything that you need or want,” he whispers, “I will find a way to give to you.”
Xie Lian smiles in his sleep, turning toward Hua Cheng. I have everything I need, his scent says. I’m safe, and I’m happy, and I trust you.