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Xie Lian wakes up to someone petting his hair in gentle slow strokes, a soothing scent right beside him, and an overwhelming feeling of safety.
Blearily, he blinks his eyes a few times before his gaze lands on the familiar figure sitting next to him.
“Good morning, love”, says a low voice brimming with affection, and Xie Lian’s heart skips a beat as Hua Cheng smiles down at him.
“Is it morning…?”
“No, it’s afternoon. Gege took a good nap.” Hua Cheng brushes a strand of Xie Lian’s hair off his face and tucks it behind his ear. Xie Lian leans into the tender, calming touch, taking a deep breath of Hua Cheng’s scent.
Seeing his beloved so hungry for affection, Hua Cheng chuckles fondly and spreads his arms, offering a hug. Without a moment of hesitation, Xie Lian pushes himself into a half-sitting position and curls up in Hua Cheng’s arms.
“This feels a bit silly”, Xie Lian says with a small, slightly embarrassed laugh. “I’ve been doing nothing but taking naps and lazing around for almost two days now…”
“That’s perfectly normal.” Hua Cheng nuzzles his hair and holds him a bit tighter. “You’re going into heat soon. Plenty of omegas are low on energy during these times.”
“Mm…” Xie Lian hums in agreement, letting himself be calmed and comforted by his alpha’s scent. He knows Hua Cheng is right; it’s a normal, healthy reaction for an omega to feel lethargic and overly tired before their heat, and the fact that it’s going to be his first heat since he and Hua Cheng became a mated pair, it’s to be expected that he would be more affected.
However, despite his prior knowledge and experience of mating cycles, it has surprised Xie Lian a bit to find out just how much more intense his pre-heat days have become now that he is mated to an alpha. His fatigue, aches, and nesting urges have been nothing like those he experienced before — back then, the symptoms were slightly more than an inconvenience, but now they have had him nearly bedridden for several days!
“Don’t worry, beloved”, Hua Cheng murmurs, as if guessing Xie Lian’s concerns. “Gege has nothing to be embarrassed about. You’ve worked so hard all your life, it’s about time you have a good reason to rest properly. And your San Lang will always be here to take care of you.”
Hearing his alpha’s caring words, Xie Lian is overwhelmed with love so intense and deep that it hurts him almost physically. He buries his face into Hua Cheng’s chest, clinging onto him and finding immediate comfort in his warm presence.
“Is gege okay?” Hua Cheng kisses him while holding him tight. He changes the position of his hands so that he can rub his wrist against Xie Lian’s arm, gently scenting him. “I made your favourite food. It’s in the kitchen, if you’re hungry.”
“Thank you, San Lang”, Xie Lian says. “But I’m okay. I just want to be close to you for a while…”
Hua Cheng lets out another low, fond laugh. “Cuddles it is, then.”
Xie Lian closes his eyes and lets his thoughts drift off into a state of sleepiness as he breathes in his mate’s scent again. Although he feels thoroughly worn out, even the fatigue turns into a wonderful feeling of deep relaxation whenever Hua Cheng is holding him.
He has truly never felt anything like this before meeting Hua Cheng.
“San Lang…” A small sigh escapes Xie Lian’s lips; Hua Cheng seems to sense his delicate mood and holds him tighter. Tiny, soft kisses are pressed on Xie Lian’s face, making him smile.
“I love you, gege. My beautiful omega.”
Xie Lian curls up in Hua Cheng’s arms more snugly. “I’m sorry for keeping you here”, he says. “Your gege has gotten a bit selfish, it seems…”
“Ssh.” Hua Cheng gives him another soft kiss, this time on the lips. “Please don’t worry about it, gege. I want nothing more than to hear each and every selfish wish gege might come up with, so that I can fulfil them to my best ability.”
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The following day, Xie Lian gets to enjoy more of Hua Cheng’s protective, loving snuggles — to an extent he feels almost guilty about. However, despite being self-conscious about his clinginess, Xie Lian does feel a twinge of unease when Hua Cheng gets an unexpected call from work and tells him he will have to leave for a short while.
“I’ll be back right away”, Hua Cheng murmurs, embracing Xie Lian and scenting him all over. “I’ll clean up whatever mess my subordinates have caused and rush back to you.”
Xie Lian takes a deep breath, as though to fill his lungs with so much of his alpha’s comforting scent that it will linger around him until Hua Cheng comes back. “Don’t worry, San Lang. I’ll be okay”, he says, giving a small smile. “I’ll probably just fall asleep again and nap until you’re here to wake me up.”
Despite Xie Lian’s reassuring words, Hua Cheng doesn’t look entirely convinced. “If something happens, call me immediately”, he says. “Promise me, gege. Nothing is as important as your wellbeing.”
Xie Lian gives him a kiss that he hopes is sufficiently soothing. “I promise”, he says. “Don’t worry about me, San Lang.”
Hua Cheng answers his kiss tenderly before nuzzling the scent glands on his neck. “Stay here and rest. I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
Very soon after Hua Cheng has left, it becomes clear to Xie Lian that convincing himself not to worry is not even nearly as easy a task as convincing his alpha.
A strange kind of anxiety — bordering on physical pain in his chest — overtakes him as he curls up in his nest, perfectly safe and warm, but so alone. He’s acutely aware that Hua Cheng is not present at their home, and no matter how much Xie Lian loves being in his cosy nest, all his heightened omega instincts keep reminding him about how the most important thing is missing.
It does make Xie Lian ashamed, to realise how much he’s letting such a thing affect him. After his long years spent in the solitude of being unmated and isolated, he is far from used to being this dependent on someone — and so incredibly pampered.
San Lang really has spoiled me rotten, Xie Lian thinks as he busies himself with wrapping several blankets around himself. He curls up on the mattress and wraps his arms around a fox plushie that has Hua Cheng’s scent all over it, burying his face in the soft fur and finding some comfort in that pale imitation of his alpha's strong scent.
After what feels like several hours, Xie Lian hears someone opening the door, and his heart makes an excited, restless leap.
“Gege?” A familiar voice calls out to him from the house’s front door — oh, what a beloved voice, so important, immediately soothing Xie Lian’s nerves with just that one word —
“San Lang”, Xie Lian breathes as Hua Cheng hurries to the small room dedicated for Xie Lian’s nesting. “Welcome home…”
“Sorry that I took a while”, Hua Cheng says, immediately lying down beside Xie Lian and pulling him into his arms. “The trash that call themselves my subordinates had messed something up and I needed to sort things out. It’s all right now, though, so no need to worry.” He nuzzles the side of Xie Lian’s head. “I’m not going anywhere anymore.”
Good, Xie Lian thinks, genuinely relieved. His body aches for the closeness of his alpha, and he tries to snuggle impossibly closer as he draws deep breaths of Hua Cheng’s comforting, familiar scent.
His demeanour doesn’t go unnoticed by Hua Cheng’s sharp eye. “Gege”, Hua Cheng says, loving and calm, “are you all right? You seem upset. I’m so sorry I had to leave you.”
“I’m okay”, Xie Lian is quick to assure, even as he clings onto Hua Cheng as if trying to instinctively keep him from leaving. “I’m all right, nothing bad happened.”
Hua Cheng sighs and kisses Xie Lian’s forehead, smoothing his long hair. “Gege”, he says, “your scent has ‘distress’ written all over it.”
Xie Lian hides his face in Hua Cheng’s embrace; he can’t exactly deny it. And yours has ‘safety’, he thinks, hesitating to say it aloud.
“I just really don’t want to trouble San Lang…”
“Gege.” Hua Cheng’s voice is low and solemn. “Please, don’t say that. How could you ever trouble me?” He strokes Xie Lian’s head, threading his fingers through the long locks of hair. “Gege is not the only one suffering every time we have to be apart during a time like this. It’s awful for me, too. My alpha instincts are constantly yelling at me to get back to you and take care of you, to ensure your safety and wellbeing.”
Xie Lian draws a soft breath. Just listening to Hua Cheng’s voice affects him intensely — the restless worry is melting into a secure contentment, and the dull ache in his limbs and body fades away as Hua Cheng keeps speaking in soft, soothing tones.
“Please don’t hold back, beloved. From now on, let me know of all your needs and wants”, Hua Cheng murmurs into Xie Lian’s hair, gently rubbing his shoulder. “I want nothing more than to take care of you. I cherish you more than the entire universe, and being by your side is my utmost joy.”
Finally reassured, Xie Lian nods with a small smile. Relief floods his mind, and his body relaxes, releasing a tension he didn’t realise was there. “I promise”, he says. “I’ll tell San Lang whenever I need something.”
Hua Cheng smiles, his dark eye squinting with joy. “That’s good”, he says. “Whatever gege needs, I will do my best to provide.”
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The fourth day into Xie Lian’s pre-heat brings another unpleasant symptom to trouble him — he gets chills that not even the warm temperature of his nest can fend off.
Of course, he is not completely unfamiliar with this kind of trouble arising before his heat; after all, many many years have passed since he presented. Naturally, his physical reactions are much more intense now that he is mated with Hua Cheng, but still… Xie Lian vividly remembers shuddering in his shabby apartments or wherever he could find shelter, suffering a few days of loneliness and misery until his pre-heat and heat passed.
But now, even though Xie Lian’s symptoms are worse, they are immeasurably easier to handle.
Now, he is surrounded in luxury kind of which he never even dared to dream of. His nest is cosy and comfortable, filled with the warmest blankets, softest pillows, and even a few plushies to help him feel at home… although nothing can bring Xie Lian as much comfort as being close to his alpha.
Always eager to protect his mate, Hua Cheng does everything he can to help Xie Lian with his worsening physical symptoms. He gives him endless cuddles, warming up his chilly body and easing his aches and loneliness just by being beside him. His presence has an obvious effect on Xie Lian’s emotional and physical state — his soothing scent and his potent alpha pheromones bring out an instant feeling of calm and safety every time he curls up with Xie Lian to hold him close.
“San Lang…” Xie Lian sighs as he settles into a relaxed position in Hua Cheng’s arms. “I’m so glad to have you. I didn’t know that even feeling tired and chilly could be this wonderful…” He gives a small laugh.
“And I’m so glad to hear that my gege is comfortable.” Hua Cheng nuzzles the scent gland on his neck and presses a soft kiss on the sensitive skin. “Is there anything you need?”
Xie Lian shakes his head. “Just stay with me”, he says softly. “I feel so safe with San Lang… I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this safe anywhere before. It’s nice.”
The nest falls silent, and when Xie Lian raises his face to look at Hua Cheng, he is met with a touched look.
“I’m more than happy and honoured to hear that”, Hua Cheng whispers. “Gege makes me feel wonderful, too.”
Later in the evening, Hua Cheng goes to the kitchen to cook some late snacks while Xie Lian slumbers lightly, hovering at the edge of sleep and wakefulness. As the familiar footsteps approach the nest, he’s instantly alert again, the twinge of restlessness turning into relief as he sees Hua Cheng sitting down on the edge of the thick mattress.
“I’m back, gege”, Hua Cheng says, his eye twinkling with affection. “Here, come eat with me. I made some youtiao and gege’s favourite tea.”
Snuggled under a fluffy blanket, they enjoy their evening snack. Hua Cheng pays more attention to Xie Lian than the food; as he takes a piece of youtiao and playfully feeds it to his beloved, Xie Lian blushes happily and accepts the treat.
“If you want anything else, let me know, love”, Hua Cheng murmurs, gently wiping a crumb from Xie Lian’s lips. “You must store up energy… for your heat.”
Xie Lian instinctively presses himself closer to Hua Cheng. “San Lang’s cooking is wonderful, it’ll give me all the energy I’d ever need”, he says, nuzzling Hua Cheng’s shoulder.
“That’s good.” Hua Cheng smiles with a hint of mischief. He holds Xie Lian tighter and leans in to teasingly nibble at his ear while his hand slides down Xie Lian’s side, stopping to rest on Xie Lian’s hip. “I can’t wait to help gege through his heat, as well… it shouldn’t be many days more, now?”
Xie Lian’s face goes pink with a blush, but at the same time, he can feel a small, pleasant jolt of arousal in the deep pit of his stomach. He must admit — for the first time ever, he is excitedly looking forward to his heat as well.
But today is still a little too early for that. Despite feeling tempted by the endless pleasure that is awaiting the pair of lovers when the time comes, for now Xie Lian only wants to rest for a while more in the loving, protective embrace of his alpha.
As his scent melts into a calm mixture of contentment and sleepiness, Xie Lian curls up in his blankets and closes his eyes, Hua Cheng’s closeness and scent instantly lulling him into a gentle slumber.
Xie Lian may have gone through several years of pain and loneliness, but as he allows himself to relax in Hua Cheng’s arms — in this beautiful, warm nest his alpha has helped him build, in their very own home — he genuinely feels like every year of misery has been worth it.