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It had been a long day. The whole world didn’t stop just because it was Crimson Rain Sought Flower’s day of birth. Or maybe it was for exactly that reason that things were even more chaotic than usual. It wasn’t that anything bad necessarily was happening. It was simply that he was in high demand. All he wanted to do was stay with Xie Lian for the day, but ghost city was packed with creatures that wished to pay him a visit and offer him gifts. As much as he did want to stay with his beloved Dianxia, he couldn’t just ignore his people, either. Besides, he knew Xie Lian did have things he had to be doing as well.
In the end, Hua Cheng had spent the day sitting in his throne at the gambler’s den, watching people lose, listening to them argue and attempt to gamble even more to get back what they lost, and having ghost after ghost appear just beyond the curtain to present him with gifts. Yin Yu was kind enough to take each and every gift away for him. While Hua Cheng didn’t reject any of the gifts that were brought to him, he didn’t react to any of them, either. Most of it was something he already had, or had no interest in. Occasionally there was something particularly odd and unique. He couldn’t deny that it was nice to have those things at least available him should there somehow come a time when he truly needed it. A lot of the gifts he received were edible. Or, as close as it could come to food, at least. Hua Cheng had no intention to touch any of that.
By the end of the day, he’d spent most of it sitting in that throne and occasionally dealing with rowdy casino goers, but other than that, it had been quiet. Too quiet. He was going crazy listening to the same thing over and over again. Hua Cheng already knew full well that he was great. He didn’t need worthless ghosts telling him. He didn’t need the pathetic gifts that they were showering him with. He didn’t need or want any of these things. The only thing he wanted for his birthday was some time with his dear Dianxia, and that was the one thing he’d been kept away from. And so, he eventually got bored and announced he was leaving. Yin Yu could deal with the rest. Any commotion would likely die down once he was gone anyway. It was getting late and he just wanted to go home. Of all the days, he was allowed to be selfish now, surely.
When he did finally get back to the palace, it was quiet. Even more quiet than usual. He supposed that meant that Xie Lian hadn’t gotten back from his own duties. A shame. He’d have to settle in for the evening and wait. It would be nice to spoil him when he got home. What better gift could he possibly ask for? So, Hua Cheng changed into more comfortable robes, and he waited. He waited and waited, and somewhere along the way, he dozed. He dreamed of his beloved being there, of being allowed to pamper him and show him how important he really was. He dreamed of Xie Lian’s arms wrapping around him from behind, being held close as warm breath tickled his ear. It felt so real. So real as those welcoming hands brushed along his chest and pressed him back against a warm, welcoming body.
“San Lang, wake up,” That beautiful voice finally broke through, stirring him from his light sleep.
Oh, it was real. At least, some of it was. Xie Lian’s strong chest was at his back, hands brushing along his chest. He felt so safe right there in his beloved’s arms. Hua Cheng leaned back, letting all his weight melt into Xie Lian and humming happily when Xie Lian held him so effortlessly, “Gege?”
“I’m sorry to wake you,” Xie Lian brushed a kiss to Hua Cheng’s shoulder, “I didn’t want to miss your birthday.”
“Mn you can always wake me,” Hua Cheng assured. His hands brushed along Xie Lian’s arms, head leaning back against his shoulder to look up at him, “Seeing you is the best gift of all.”
Xie Lian chuckled, “Don’t be silly. You really think I didn’t get you anything?”
“You didn’t need to,” Hua Cheng let his hands trail down to Xie Lian’s and let their fingers thread together, “This is more than enough.”
While this wasn’t exactly how he had pictured the evening going, it was a selfish desire that was always in the back of his mind; to simply be held in Xie Lian’s arms. There was a comfort in simply being with him. They didn’t need to talk. To simply share space with Xie Lian was more than enough. To be in his arms was even better. Xie Lian smiled fondly at him, that sweet smile that Hua Cheng knew he didn’t deserve. How could someone so beautiful spare such a gorgeous smile just for him? He wasn’t worthy.
Xie Lian didn’t pull away. He simply held a small box in front of Hua Cheng, “Happy Birthday, San Lang.”
Hua Cheng sat up in Xie Lian’s lap, looking down at the box. It didn’t seem like anything special, just a simple cardboard box. It wasn’t very tall, and had a simple bow sitting at the center. It wasn’t extravagant, and it didn’t need to be. Just like Xie Lian. Hua Cheng smiled as he carefully untied the ribbon and lifted the lid. If he had need for breath, it would’ve caught. Settled neatly in the box was a small wooden comb. There were intricate butterflies carved into the handle and painted silver.
Hua Cheng ran his fingers delicately over the teeth of the comb, voice going soft when he finally spoke, “It’s beautiful, gege.”
“We got married in such a rush,” Xie Lian’s arms tightened around Hua Cheng’s waist in a hug, “We missed some of the traditions.”
“We aren’t the most traditional of couples, gege.” Hua Cheng chuckled.
“Mn,” Xie Lian agreed. Hua Cheng felt his chin rest against his shoulder, “And it’s not exactly how the tradition goes, but I’ve been wanting to comb your hair again… if you’d let me.”
Hua Cheng felt a little overwhelmed. To be given such a beautiful gift that held so much meaning was one thing. For Xie Lian to be requesting to pamper him in such an intimate way was another. Of course, he’d done it before, but this felt far more meaningful. The comb was simple yet elegant, a gift that was so completely Xie Lian it made perfect sense. He was sure Xie Lian made it himself. That was how it was for all the gifts he gave. The very thought that he would’ve taken the time to carve each tooth of the comb, to create each delicate butterfly… Hua Cheng truly didn’t know what he’d done to deserve such kindness.
Carefully, he took the comb from the box and let his thumb trail along the butterflies, feeling out the engraving. How many combs had he made before this one? Knowing Xie Lian, only the most perfect one would do. Hua Cheng hoped he hadn’t worked too hard, “To have you comb my hair is the greatest honour. But, only on one condition.”
“It’s your birthday,” Xie Lian chuckled, “Name your price. It’s yours.”
“I’d like to comb your hair, too,” Hua Cheng replied simply.
“Oh,” Xie Lian nuzzled into Hua Cheng’s neck in that way that told him he was trying to hide a blush, “If that’s what you want. But, it’s not necessary.”
“It would make me very happy,” Hua Cheng admitted.
When Xie Lian took the comb from him, Hua Cheng felt an unexpected anticipation bubble inside of him. While they had done this before, it wasn’t something they’d ever been able to take the time to savour and enjoy. This was new. Before the comb even touched his hair, Xie Lian was carding his fingers through it instead, carefully separating his hair into sections and laying some over his shoulder. Hua Cheng sat up straighter to give Xie Lian more room to work.
“Your hair is always so soft,” Xie Lian seemed to be thinking out loud more than anything else, but Hua Cheng preened at the compliment.
The entire reason he went to any of the trouble he did to look good was for Xie Lian. Anything he noticed and complimented was worth it. Because, Xie Lian deserved the very best. And while Hua Cheng knew he could never be truly worthy of Xie Lian, he would do everything in his power to come a little bit closer to the perfection he deserved.
The moment he felt the comb slide through his hair for the first time, Hua Cheng felt like he was floating. Such a strange feeling. It wasn’t as though the comb was enchanted in any way. It was simply the fact that Xie Lian was doing this to him. For him. Like he was Xie Lian’s pretty doll to be cared for so sweetly. Xie Lian had clearly rounded the ends of the teeth. When he felt them brush against his scalp, there was no pain, only a pleasant sensation he almost longed to keep feeling. The silence of the room was drowned out by Xie Lian humming gently behind him. Hua Cheng didn’t recognise the song, but it didn’t matter. He’d never forget it. There had been so much pain throughout their long lives, there was something overwhelming about Xie Lian being so tender with him. Hua Cheng knew that if he wasn’t careful, he’d find himself craving this more often.
“Am I being too rough?” Xie Lian asked after a few more strokes through his hair.
Hua Cheng chuckled, “You have a gentle touch. You spoil me.”
He felt a kiss to the back of his head, “You are the most precious thing to me.”
Hua Cheng opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. How could they? How could he say anything in response to something so sweet, something no one had ever said about him before? He looked down at his hands as he wrung his fingers together nervously. There was no one in all the realms who made him as flustered as Xie Lian. Did he know what he was saying? Did he know how it made his whole body feel warm? A comfortable quiet fell between them as Xie Lian started combing through the hair he’d pulled over Hua Cheng’s shoulder. He took his time, making sure that not a strand was missed. With every minute that passed, Hua Cheng felt himself drifting into some other part of his mind, floating happily in thoughts of his beloved and how giving he was. His eyes had fallen closed, a satisfied smile melting onto his lips as thoughts of Dianxia filled his mind. His gorgeous eyes, his kind heart, the soft sounds he made when he was deep in sleep, the adorable face he made when he was concentrating.
“San Lang?” He was pulled from his daze by the sound of Xie Lian’s gentle voice, “You okay?”
“Mm I’ve never been better,” Hua Cheng assured. He reached up and felt his hair, finding that Xie Lian had tied it in a loose braid, “Thank you, gege.”
“You’re welcome, husband,” Xie Lian took his hand and pressed a kiss against his knuckles.
It still sent a thrill through Hua Cheng every time he heard Xie Lian call him that, knowing that after so many centuries, not only was he able to be with his beloved Dianxia, but that they belonged together. He turned in Xie Lian’s lap and grinned, “Can I do yours now?”
The blush he received was adorable and completely worth it, but Xie Lian did place the comb into his hand, “You get whatever you want on your birthday.”
Hua Cheng looked down at the comb in his hand and trailed his fingers over it, “You did a wonderful job making this.”
Xie Lian’s eyebrow rose, “Why are you so sure I made it?”
“Because you make all your gifts and I treasure every single one.”
Xie Lian was quick to turn away, his fingers digging into his robes at his knees, “I-I’m glad you like it.”
It was utterly adorable when Xie Lian got flustered, but Hua Cheng meant what he said. He loved every gift he received from Xie Lian, but it was more than simply that it came from the one person who mattered in all the realms. It was that Xie Lian always took the time to create something, that he worked hard to make something that he deemed good enough to be given, and it was always something far more beautiful than Hua Cheng had any right to own. Even the belt that he had seemed so embarrassed by was one of Hua Cheng’s most cherished possessions.
Reaching out, Hua Cheng carefully swept Xie Lian’s hair back, admiring the length. Xie Lian had the most gorgeous hair. It was a pretty shade that complimented his eyes. It was both long and silky to the touch. As Hua Cheng’s fingers carefully moved through it, he knew that Xie Lian didn’t really need his hair to be combed. It was completely tangle free, but the very act was important to Hua Cheng. He wanted Xie Lian to know he was cared for, that he could rely on Hua Cheng for even these simple little tasks. Mostly, he just wanted to be close.
Hua Cheng carefully ran the comb through Xie Lian’s hair and smiled fondly when he heard a content sigh leave the man in front of him, “You have beautiful hair.”
“San Lang…” It was that warning tone that told him to stop. Not because he was saying anything wrong, but because Xie Lian was going to combust on the spot from the praise.
Hua Cheng grinned and continued to gently comb his hair, “Come on, I wasn’t even telling you how gorgeous you are.”
Xie Lian’s hands quickly covered his face even though Hua Cheng had no way to see him from that angle, “Don’t be silly.”
“You know I’m a lot of things, but never silly,” Hua Cheng chuckled.
It didn’t take much time to comb Xie Lian’s hair. It might’ve been long, but it was well cared for. There weren’t many knots and if there were any, they untangled easily. There were so many things he wanted to do to Xie Lian’s hair. He could braid it, could tie it up in a long, elegant tail. He could make a braid crown and leave the rest long and flowing. The problem was that he didn’t have anything to decorate his hair with. Hua Cheng wanted flowers. He wanted to put flowers all through Xie Lian’s hair and make him feel as beautiful as he knew him to be. He frowned as he looked at Xie Lian’s hair. He was stunning. Right now, there was nothing he could do to make Xie Lian look more gorgeous than he already was.
Hua Cheng smirked when he heard Xie Lian yawn, “Did you have a long day?”
“Mn don’t worry. We can head to bed when you’re done,” Xie Lian assured.
“How about we head to bed now?” Hua Cheng pulled Xie Lian’s hair over his shoulder and pressed a delicate kiss against his neck.
The reaction was instant. Xie Lian leaned back into his arms and let out a happy sigh, “You're already done?”
“No,” Hua Cheng admitted and kissed his neck once more, “But, I don’t have the things I’d want to properly take care of your hair. Maybe we can do this again.”
“Oh okay,” Xie Lian turned in his arms and let his arms drape over Hua Cheng’s shoulders, “Bed time, then?”
Hua Cheng smiled fondly. To have his beloved so close continued to be a blessing he was sure he didn’t deserve. He let a hand trail along Xie Lian’s back, holding him close, “The perfect ending to my day.”
Xie Lian leaned closer and it was so easy for Hua Cheng to let himself melt into that sweet kiss. It only lasted for a moment, a delicate and wonderful feeling that he’d never get enough of. He rested their heads together and a gentle hand caressed Hua Cheng’s cheek, “Happy Birthday, San Lang.”