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Hua Cheng really did enjoy going to sleep with his husband. Both of them could go much longer than mortals without sleep, but even gods and ghosts benefited from a good rest and there were few feelings as wonderful as waking to his god curled up with him, soundly asleep.
Of the two of them, Xie Lian tended to fall asleep first and also sleep in later.
Which left Hua Cheng, recovering insomniac and chronic early riser, with a great familiarity for his husband’s sleeping habits.
Enough familiarity, in fact, to make something of a game of it.
He’d been the one to spoon Xie Lian the night before, which wasn’t rare necessarily, but neither was it the most common position they fell asleep in.
Usually Xie Lian liked to face him. Liked to fall asleep whispering to each other until they nodded off. Sometimes fingers intertwined or foreheads pressed together. Sometimes even exchanging sleepy kisses until they got slower and slower and one of them fell into dreamland, the other never far behind. Then, inevitably, Xie Lian would pull him closer sometime through the night like a beloved doll and Hua Cheng would wake up with his face pressed to Xie Lian’s chest. The safest place in the world.
Sometimes Xie Lian would fall asleep sprawled on top of him as if he was trying to be Hua Cheng’s blanket. Hua Cheng always slept best those nights.
And he adored the nights Xie Lian spooned him. The feel of his chin tucked over his head and those strong arms around him, holding him close and grounded.
But yesterday Hua Cheng had been the one to pull his husband close and tuck him under his chin. Which made it very easy for him to play out his favourite part of early mornings.
Carefully he unwrapped his arms from around Xie Lian and tried to scoot back—
Almost instantly Xie Lian rolled over to nuzzle into his chest.
And Hua Cheng’s heart swelled with fondness for the instincts of his sleeping husband. He really loved him so much.
He also had morning chores he’d been planning to do and a great enjoyment for teasing his sleeping husband so he scooted back again.
Xie Lian’s nose scrunched in his sleep, as if very confused about something. Arm stretched out, he patted the bed searching for Hua Cheng, hand managing to brush against his arm.
Finding his target, Xie Lian gripped tight and curled around it, Hua Cheng’s arm now given up to be cuddled by the most handsome shrimp in the world.
“Gege I need that,” he whispered, though he made no move to pull it back.
As always, Xie Lian clearly recognised his voice. As always, Hua Cheng felt his chest bursting with more love than any one person could contain as Xie Lian’s expression turned into a sleepy smile.
“Is gege dreaming of me now?” He teased softly.
Xie Lian nuzzled his face against the arm he held hostage, letting out a soft objection when it tried to pull away from him.
“Gege always calls this one clingy but the truth comes out when you’re sleeping, hm?”
Xie Lian frowned, smacking his lips as Hua Cheng managed to wiggle away.
Oh that could only mean one thing.
“Ruoye,” Xie Lian mumbled.
And though Xie Lian was clearly still asleep, Ruoye understood and obeyed, wrapping around Hua Cheng and dragging him into Xie Lian’s arms.
“One of those mornings then,” Hua Cheng smiled, giving Ruoye a pat.
Content to have his husband back, Xie Lian buried his face against the top of Hua Cheng’s head.
He supposed he wouldn’t be doing any chores this morning then. Oh well. He couldn’t really find it in him to mind when it meant more time in his god’s arms. More time pressed so close that he could feel his own ashes pressed against his cheek. Xie Lian kept him close in a number of ways and all of them left Hua Chen’s giddy.
It would probably take an hour or two for Xie Lian to wake. Hua Cheng could’ve gotten Ruoye to back down if he really wanted, but frankly he thought it was endearing that Xie Lian lost all restraint and became so pushy about cuddling when he was asleep. Besides, Ruoye’s hold wasn’t tight, more of a reassuring hug wrapping him and Xie Lian together.
So Hua Cheng let himself settle in to listen to Xie Lian’s heartbeat and his even breaths. His slight snore. All the little reminders that he was alive. All the little reminders of how peaceful he was.
According to Xie Lian, he’d once struggled with insomnia too, but long since learned to just fall asleep on command. Even then though, any hint of danger had him waking up.
But no matter how much Hua Cheng squirmed or whispered, Xie Lian remained sleeping soundly. Because he was safe. His god knew he was safe with him and that made Hua Cheng honored beyond compare.
So he stayed still, only occasionally whispering out his adoration to feel the way Xie Lian relaxed at his voice. He knew Xie Lian didn’t usually remember his dreams, so they weren’t sure if his voice really affected them, but it definitely affected Xie Lian.
How could it be that his god and savior was so soothed by his voice? So hungry for his presence? It made Hua Cheng fall even deeper in love and he told Xie Lian so.
This was not a unique morning. Though Hua Cheng did manage to slip out of bed many days, there were plenty of others where he was tempted back into Xie Lian’s arms by an especially convincing cuddle or a particularly cute disgruntled noise or even, like today, Ruoye’s intervention.
But the fact that he’d been in this position a hundred times before and probably would be a million more did not make it any less special. It did not change the way Hua Cheng burned with love for his god and it did not change how endlessly lucky he felt to have this.
When Xie Lian finally woke up, it always took him a moment to take in his surroundings. Hua Cheng smiled as he felt his husband start to stir.
Just a bit longer and he’d realize—
“Ah, San Lang, I’m sorry, you really should just wake me when I do that! Ruoye, back.”
Ruoye’s hold slipped away as it tucked itself back into Xie Lian’s sleeve.
“Gege seemed very distressed by the idea of his San Lang leaving bed, I couldn’t just abandon him,” Hua Cheng teased, stealing a kiss.
“San Lang,” he said it as if to scold, but pulled Hua Cheng closer all the same.
“Good morning, gege,” he found himself dropping back into a whisper, eyes closed as he simply basked in their nearness.
“Good morning, San Lang.” And there was so much love in that voice. An incomprehensible amount really.
Some days Hua Cheng was sure this must be some elaborate dream. But even at his most creative he could never have imagined the slight shift of the blankets as Xie Lian stretched. Never could have imagined the way his god kissed him on the cheek and apologized for setting back his morning (as if cuddling with his husband instead had been a terrible hardship). Never could have imagined the warmth of Xie Lian’s hand in his as they wandered to the kitchen to reheat yesterday’s dinner, still in just their inner robes.
No, this had to be real, because even at his most shameless, Hua Cheng never could have predicted this could be his life.
But it was. And he would never stop being grateful for that.