Work Text:
“There’s only one free room?”
Xie Lian’s voice was incredulous. The innkeeper smiled apologetically.
“Please forgive this humble servant, Dianxia. If I had known such an esteemed guest would be coming today, I would have cleared out the inn,” she said, lowering herself into a half-bow.
The prince waved off her gesture. His voice returned to something more casual, betraying the way his surprise was so swiftly overcome by his excitement. “Alright, it’s alright. I was just surprised. Could you show us the room, please?”
“Of course, right this way, please,” she replied, moving out from behind the desk to show the way to the three travelers.
Mu Qing rolled his eyes and Feng Xin elbowed his ribs sharply, his eyes warning the other not to complain.
Thankfully, he got the hint and stopped with a final glare at Feng Xin and they trailed after Xie Lian.
As soon as they reached the top of the rickety wooden stairs and the innkeeper opened the door for the group, she darted off again.
“What was that abo-”
“ There’s only two beds? ”
Xie Lian’s shocked yelp cut Mu Qing off and Feng Xin hurriedly entered the room.
There were, indeed, only two fairly small beds within the room they were in. Mu Qing filed in behind Feng Xin, his silence full of horror.
The three of them had planned to take a small trip away for once, away from the watchful eyes of Xie Lian’s teachers and family. It was so rare to obtain a chance like this, both Mu Qing and Feng Xin having been called aside separately to be drilled over and over on what to do in case of an emergency, and Xie Lian had been thrilled. His two companions didn’t seem to care either which way, but Xie Lian had counted down the days until their departure, eyes shining with excitement.
The extreme rarity of such trips meant that none of the trio had experience with planning. They’d asked around for directions to a nearby inn as the sun dipped its sleepy head below the horizon, deciding that they would do some better planning the next morning.
Of course, this meant Xie Lian wasn’t prepared for what an occupied inn might mean. He looked thoroughly agitated, looking around the room helplessly. Feng Xin felt a bit bad, watching the way he sank into despair. After all, when would he ever get the chance to leave again? It was more than likely that his parents would insist upon him avoiding such trips in the future.
Which was why he stepped in quickly, offering a solution. “It’s alright, Dianxia. Qing-er and I can share a bed.”
Mu Qing rounded on him with a gaze that felt like a physical burn, but Xie Lian’s face lit up as he spun around. “Really? You don’t mind?”
“Of course not. We want you to have fun, and we don’t mind,” Feng Xin said warmly, discreetly stomping on Mu Qing’s foot when he saw him start to argue.
Xie Lian beamed. It felt like the sun had come back up. “Well, if you’re really sure…”
“We’re sure!” Feng Xin insisted. “You can go take a bath if you want, Dianxia. Qing-er and I can settle in.”
The prince took his things and disappeared into the small bathroom in their room. The moment the door clicked closed, Mu Qing rounded on Feng Xin.
“What the fuck?”
“Language,” Feng Xin said. He wasn’t sure what else to say.
“What the fuck, Feng Xin? Are we really going to share a bed? Dianxia was about to suggest we head back or find another place to stay. Why didn’t you let him?”
Feng Xin sighed slowly. “I’m sorry. Really, I am. But did you see his face? He doesn’t get to do these kinds of things often. We should humor him, at least for a little while.”
Mu Qing didn’t argue, but the anger in his face was still clear. “Fine. But I swear to the gods above, if you even so much as brush a leg against me, I will end you. ”
“Whatever you say.”
“Oh, and take a bath. I’m not letting you stink right next to me.”
↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷ ˊ-
“Good night!” Xie Lian chirped. He blew out the candle that lit up their room in the inn, plunging them into darkness.
Awkwardly, Feng Xin did his best to press as far away from Mu Qing as possible.
“Move over. I can barely lie down,” Mu Qing hissed.
“I can’t move over! If I move anymore, I’m going to fall!”
“Then fall!”
“A-Xin? Qing-er? Are you two okay?”
Their arguing ceased immediately. “Yes, Dianxia,” Feng Xin called.
They held their breath until they heard Xie Lian grow quiet once again.
“Look,” Feng Xin whispered finally, “if we both want to fit, we’ll… we’re going to have to cuddle.”
Dead silence.
“Mu Qing…?”
“I hate you,” was the response he heard, before he was yanked closer.
Feng Xin stifled his yelp, allowing Mu Qing to drag him over. He found himself facing Mu Qing’s cascade of unbound black hair, his body inches away from his own. There still wasn’t enough space.
“... I’m sorry. May I…?”
“Shut up and just do it,” Mu Qing snapped. Was it Feng Xin’s imagination, or were the tips of his ears red?
Gingerly, he wrapped his arms around Mu Qing’s middle and pulled himself closer until their bodies were hovering barely a hair away from one another. He tried not to breathe in too deeply, holding his body perfectly still.
“Must you lay there like a statue? It’s like cuddling with a fucking rock,” Mu Qing informed him cruelly.
“You’re the one who threatened to off me if I touched you.”
“Well, it’s a bit too late for that, don’t you think?” Mu Qing asked sarcastically.
Before Feng Xin could think of something to say, Mu Qing was moving backwards, his head leaning into the curve of Feng Xin’s neck. His hands moved to clasp over Feng Xin’s own, and he pulled him closer.
Mu Qing was shockingly warm and his hair smelled entirely too good for Feng Xin’s sanity to remain intact. He screwed his eyes shut, trying not to think of the way their bodies fit together perfectly, like two pieces of the universe’s evil idea of a puzzle, or that Mu Qing had relaxed almost entirely, his presence softening in a way Feng Xin had never witnessed, or that their breathing was syncing up unconsciously. Mentally, he counted to ten, then back down. Then up again, just for good measure.
“Feng Xin,” Mu Qing whispered, and his voice wasn’t as sharp as it was before.
“Hmm?” he hummed, eyes opening despite the fact that no one could see him, and Mu Qing sighed.
“I don’t… I don’t really hate you. You know that, right?”
“Oh,” Feng Xin said, then tried to fish around for a response before Mu Qing changed his attitude. “Yeah. I know.”
“Okay. Well… okay.” Mu Qing went silent.
Feng Xin didn’t have anything else to say either, so he closed his eyes.
Silently, he prayed that they wouldn’t find a better room the next night, and as many nights as they could manage.