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Xie Lian sighed as he left the heavenly realm, thoroughly exhausted.
It had been a long day in the heavenly court and all Xie Lian just wanted to do was collapse into his beloved’s arms back at paradise manor, but when he entered their shared chambers the sight he was met with melted his heart. There was his husband, sprawled out across their bed, mouth slightly open in his sleep. He took off his shoes at the edge of the bed before crawling up next to San Lang, who started stirring from his slumber.
“Gege?” He mumbled as he rolled over to face Xie Lian. His hair was stuck to his lips from some stray drool, eye still fluttered shut.
Xie Lian couldn't help but smile, trying to suppress a small chuckle at the sight of his husband in such disarray, “it's me San Lang.”
All he got as a response was something mumbled as Hua Cheng started to fall back into slumber. “San Lang. C’mon at least move under the covers first.” Xie Lian emphasised his words by crawling up to the pillows and pulling back the covers.
Hua Cheng slowly opened his eye to stare at his gege who was sitting patiently with his arms wide and inviting. He sighed fondly at the beautiful sight he was privileged enough to see. Xie Lian was clearly tired, if the lines under his eyes were any indicator, yet he still was looking after his San Lang. Dianxia was so amazing.
Seeing the familiar gaze in his husband's eye, the one that only he earned, like he had gone and hung the very stars in the sky, he sighed and leaned forward grabbing Hua Cheng’s hand. Almost as if in a trance, San Lang allowed Xie Lian to pull him forward until their chests were flush and Xie Lian could rest his chin atop his head.
“What will I do with you San Lang?” His breath fanned out across his scalp and as his fingers joined it and started combing through his hair, Hua Cheng sighed once more in contentment, snuggling closer to his Xie Lian. His Dianxia.
He let his eyes comb over his lover's body, red robe still dawned from the day. “What could have San Lang so tired that he hasn't even shed his outer robes?” Xie Lian questioned as he gently removed his husbands earrings and placed them on the side table. At this he received an annoyed groan that rumbled through them both.
“Qi Rong tried to start something in the city, he destroyed a couple of blocks,” Hua Cheng sounded very unimpressed. “I swear, sometimes it's like watching over a toddler throwing a tantrum.” This at least earned a snort from under him and Hua Cheng’s mouth curled into a smile despite his annoyance, “fucker didn't even stick around long enough to have a real fight.”
When it came to the affairs of the ghost city Xie Lian had learned it was just easier to listen to his husband's troubles and support him than try to fully understand what drives ghosts to do what they do. He shook his head which really was more like he was nuzzling the top of San Lang's head. “I was left cleaning up after the asshole. What about Xie Lian? What happened?”
From his place against his chest Hua Cheng lifted his gaze to stare at his gege. The sight alone made Xie Lian inhale heavily through his nose and his hands stilled momentarily in their mannerisms. It took him a moment to remember how to breathe and properly process what his husband had asked him.
Blinking, his hands continued in their mission to eliminate any knots hiding in San Lang's raven locks once he began speaking. “Well… it was supposed to be a normal meeting but…” Xie Lian’s eyebrows pinched slightly and he smiled awkwardly at the memory. “One thing lead to another and Mu Qing and Feng Xien started bickering over who should be sent to handle a wrath that has been stirring up trouble along their borders… and well.. let's just say that the meeting got a little derailed when fists started flying between the two…”
Xie Lian sighed out in exasperation, “I swear, they need to talk things out and get together already. I don't know how much more of their married couple banter I can take.”
Suddenly Hua Cheng started shaking and it took Xie Lian far too long to realise he was laughing into his chest. His smile was wide when their gaze met again and Xie Lian swore he would do anything to see his lover like this more often.
“Poor Dianxia, sounds like he had to babysit as well today,” there was a lit to San Lang’s words as he spoke, “what shall us kings do?”
“Well,” Xie Lian began, “this ‘king’, as you say, intends on forgetting the rest of the world for now and falling asleep against his lovely husband.”
“Hmm,” San Lang closed his eye and smiled, humming, “gege has so many good ideas.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. But does gege know what this San Lang thinks?” He got a noise of affirmation and leaned up to close the difference between their heights like this. “I think this king is going to kiss his Dianxia.”
Xie Lian didn't have to be told twice and kissed Hua Cheng, gradually shifting and getting comfortable for sleep between breaks for air. Xie Lian huffed out a contented breath now resting his head against San Lang’s strong, protective chest.
“Goodnight, San Lang.”
“Goodnight, gege.”