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In an instant, they both fell into each other's arms. Xie Lian had no words to express, he could only sob while hugging hua Cheng tightly; he wasn't the only one– Hua Cheng himself held Xie Lian with a deathly grip, his eye tearing up, the lights from the lanterns illuminating the complexions of the couple together at last. Hua Cheng chuckled out a painful sound. It sounded as if someone took a sword and slashed him, and yet he still smiled and laughed. Hua Cheng's voice sounded right besides Xie Lian’s ear. His voice sounded, breathy and tired, “I missed you too, Dianxia.” Xie Lian couldn’t help but chuckle too. “Whether I had to wait one day or 800 years, I believed you.” He took in a deep breath and continued, “I believed you would come back. I believed you then, and I will always believe you.” Hua Cheng brushed his hand over Xie Lians hair and held him to place a soft kiss on his head. Xie Lian couldn’t help but look up at his San Lang and smile gently, tears still flowing from his eyes uncontrollably. Hua Cheng used both of his hands to wipe away the tears on Xie Lian’s soft, red cheeks. Xie Lian brought his hands to cup and support his lover gently, brushing away his hair, along with his tears. They both stood there, staring and smiling at each other, basking in each others presence. The god couldn't help but pull his ghost down towards him, standing on his toes to give him a deep, meaningful kiss. Hua Cheng accepted him fully– one hand at Xie Lian’s waist and the other placed gently near his ear. Xie Lian parted the kiss and touched their foreheads together. “You’re finally back,” he breathed. “En.” Hua Cheng nodded lightly.
The ox, his patience coming to an end, made a fuss. Hua Cheng let out a low chuckle while Xie Lian sighed. “Let me help, gege.” Xie Lian smiled and moved to hold Hua Cheng's hand. Both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian put the ox away and unloaded the scraps Xie Lian collected. Xie Lian then led Hua Cheng inside– Hua Cheng insisted on carrying the bag of scraps and Xie Lian couldn’t convince him otherwise.
When they stepped inside, what awaited was a small cushioned chair with a table and lamp beside it. On the table were multiple books and some calligraphy. Not far from it was a small dining table and two cushions. If one were to walk into the opening of the wall nearby, they would find a kitchen with few utensils and some saved vegetables and fruits. There were two rooms in the back, one had a medium sized mattress on the ground and the other had a small bathing chamber. The house was old but went through repairs while Hua Cheng was away. With the warmth and love it illuminated, it was clear that Xie Lian did his all to make it a home; and it was--with Hua Cheng home, he could finally say that this house was a true 'home'.
Hua Cheng took notice of the two cushions placed at the little table. He couldn’t help but let out a soft smile. Xie Lian coughed lightly. It had been awhile since he has seen Hua Cheng and even show him his work, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. He told Hua Cheng that he could place the scrap bag wherever and that he would be back in a second. Xie Lian exited quickly and came back quickly. When he entered the room again he held a plate of what looked to be burnt meatballs on top of green noodles and utensils.
“San Lang must be hungry from the journey. I only have what was left over from what I made last night, I apologize.” Hua Cheng smiled, “There’s no need to apologize. Whatever you make is bound to be delicious.” He then took the plate and utensils from Xie Lian and sat down at the table. Xie Lian sat across from him and fumbled with his hands.
Hua Cheng took a couple bites with no change in facial expression– he didn't show any hint of disgust at all. He smiled at Xie Lian, “Could this one offer some feedback to Dianxia?" Xie Lian nodded, "En, of course." "Next time, just cook it on a lower temperature and add a little less salt. It’ll be even better by then.” Xie Lian thought about it for a moment and thanked Hua Cheng, “I’ll take note of that. Thank you San Lang.”
Hua Cheng easily took notice of Xie Lian’s moving fingers. “Gege, why are you sitting so far from me? Come, will you not sit beside me?” Hua Cheng scooted over some to make some room for Xie Lian. Xie Lian could tell Hua Cheng was just teasing him, but he still obliged and moved over closer to him. Hua Cheng took the initiative to hold Xie Lian by his waist with one hand and pull him in closer. Xie Lian couldn’t help but blush, his heartbeat and mind racing. He had so many questions to ask, so many things to say, but he couldn’t find the words for either. He didn’t feel like the time was right. He still couldn’t help but ask, “...Where did you go, San Lang?” He was very hesitant in asking and his voice even cracked a little.
Hua Cheng couldn't hide his surprise by the sudden question, a little star struck, but not for long as he soon fixed his face back to his calm, composed, and coquettish look. “I was resting…regaining myself.” Xie Lian expected this answer. He looked down at his hands in his lap. “Did it…hurt?” He knew it was a dumb question. Of course it hurt, he died again. Because of you! The third time... The third time...He thought to himself. He looked up quickly and hurried in, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that, you don’t need to answer.”
Hua Cheng had a soft and somewhat hurt look on his face, but then he smiled, “It didn’t hurt, because dying for you is my greatest honor…I knew we would meet again.” Xie Lian could’ve sworn he felt burning in his eyes and a rock in his throat develop as soon as those words hit his ears– the grip his hands had on his lap tightened and shook.Xie Lian stared Hua Cheng dead in the eyes, “Live for me, please. Don't- don't leave again. Let me protect you, save you, die for you.” Xie Lian saw the hurt in his lovers eyes, "You know what? Scratch that! Just- let's both protect each other. Let's live for each other. We can just be."
Hua Cheng took a sharp deep breath, even though he didn’t need to breathe. His eyebrows that were already somewhat furrowed furrowed more, deeper, hurt shining in his eye. Hua Cheng stared back into those glassy eyes, his chuckled softly, cupping Dianxias cheek, “...I would like that, Dianxia.” Hua Cheng tightly embraced Xie Lian, both grasped each other tightly, refusing to let go for even a moment. Both of them had tears forming again already.
With a shaky breath, Xie Lian said, “I finally know what you mean.” His head rested in between Hua Cheng's neck.
“About what?”
“'To watch with your own eyes your beloved be trampled and ridiculed, yet be unable to do anything.'”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you, all of those years ago.” Xie Lian chuckled, “...Last year” He took a deep breath, “I’m sorry.”
Hua Cheng pulled away from the embrace and stared at Xie Lian once again, his eye glowing from the lights peeping through the window. “But you did save me. All those years ago– the boy falling during the ShangYuan Festival, the boy in the military, and the man before you now. In my eyes, you save me everyday.” Xie Lian held the hand on his cheek and shook his head, smiling with tears building in his eyes.
“You saved me too, you know." Xie Lian brushed aside Hua Chengs' hair, staring at him dead in the eye, "You were the hope I needed. The star working to be the sun.” Xie Lian looked at the ghosts eye that seemed to shine so brightly now, his eyebrows raised and his lips pursed, he even trembled a bit. Xie Lian embraced him tightly around his head, as to protect him from all the misfortunes that have come upon them-- upon him.
Xie Lian hugged him tightly. “It’s ok,” he whispered. Hua Cheng then let his tears fall, letting out a miserable sound coming from his throat while wrapping himself around Xie Lian tightly, his head wedged in Xie Lian’s chest.
“It’s ok,” Xie Lian repeated while petting Hua Cheng’s hair, tears falling from him too.
Once they calmed enough and their tears had slowed, Xie Lian pulled back just a bit and cupped Hua Cheng’s face. Hua Cheng’s eye was a red underneath from crying, along with his lips– tear streaks were still placed along his cheek and jaw. Xie Lian wiped them away and kissed Hua Cheng’s nose, forehead, and both cheeks before embracing his lips softly, gently.
Xie Lian slipped a finger under the strap of Hua Chengs eye patch. He felt him physically flinch. Xie Lian rested his forehead on Hua Chengs, "Can I?" Hua Cheng was slow to answer but in the end, he nodded his head very slowly, almost reluctantly. He didn't know if he wanted to watch the god take off his eye patch or watch the ground in case his reaction wasn't good. He thought Xie Lian would react with dismay, sadness, or even disgust. He was shocked to see Xie Lian smile at his eye; the eye he gouged out when he was younger; the eye he despised.
"It's beautiful" He placed a light kiss on the closed eyelid and without leaning away he whispered, "You're beautiful."
Hua Cheng couldn't stop the tears from coming out his other eye again. "Oh, my poor boy." The two shifted towards laying on the floor, Hua Cheng on Xie Lians chest as he wept while Xie Lian stroked his hair and comforted him, placing small kisses on his head. Xie Lian even shed a few tears. Not for himself, but for the boy who suffered for so many years, who suffered so many hardships; the boy who had to overcome those, alone.
Hua Cheng moved his head and captured Xie Lians soft, red lips. Xie Lian rapped his hands around his neck, indulging in his desires.
Through the night the two held one close and never parted, almost as if they were afraid to part again. But before they got to far, one thing had to come first...
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“Gege… as much as I would like to continue… What about your cultivation?”
Xie Lian blushed at what Hua Cheng implied. He cleared his throat.
“I can always change my cultivation method… I also have you…”
Hua Cheng smirked but stopped himself again, “Are you sure?”
Xie Lian stared at him straight in his eye, “Yes.”
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In the morning Xie Lian awoke to laying on Hua Cheng’s chest without his or Hua Cheng’s robes on and Hua Cheng’s arm wrapped around his waist. His face immediately flushed by remembering what happened last night. He also smiled gently.
He moved Hua Cheng’s hair out of his face and kissed his forehead, then looked at his right eye, and kissed that too.
Hua Cheng smiled, moving his other hand to Xie Lian’s face and kissing him kindly.
Xie Lian was at first a bit surprised, his eyes wide, but then he smiled into the kiss and kissed him back, his hand on Hua Cheng’s face.
“Good morning gege.”
“Good morning San Lang.”