Chapter Text
Xie Lian let out an exasperated groan. He was lost-- again!
The crown prince of the flower kingdom of Xianle hadn't meant to. He had even been warned not to wander past the boundaries set by the elders, lest he might be drawn into the fae wilds just outside the kingdom. Yet, the moment that Xie Lian was being chased by potential consorts that his father had arranged for him to meet this evening, he looked for any excuse to bolt.
Coincidentally, something glittery and shiny flitted into view. His curiosity had gotten the better of him, and Xie Lian followed it, paying no mind to the protective circle.
Sauntering over to a mossy boulder, Xie Lian sat down and buried his face in his hands. White robes billowed to the ground, and the intricate hairpin fastened to his high ponytail clinked with every movement. Xie Lian could practically hear the scolding already, telling him how stupid he was to go against the direct instructions of the elders. Mu Qing's disdainful sniff and Feng Xin's dirty mouth-- both of his friends would be throwing every reason as to why he should've just stayed in the palace rather than gone out.
Xie Lian sighed. These were reasons he had heard ten thousand times before, and none that he ever took seriously anymore. This was for good reason-- nothing this dire had ever happened!
Snap. Crack.
Lifting his head and whipping it around, Xie Lian scanned the area for the sound. His heart pounded in his chest, nearly making him want to hiccup from the force beneath his ribcage. "Hello?" He called quietly.
Suddenly, there was a flapping of wings behind him. Xie Lian stood up faster than lightning, whipping around to face whoever-- or whatever-- approached. He was ready to attack, or even negotiate to get out of the situation he had landed himself in. Then, as the figure was illuminated by the low light of the blooming moon lilies in the clearing, the prince gasped.
He was tall and quite imposing, especially with a glinting, silver scimitar attached to his hip. With a bewitchingly handsome complexion and dark, slender brows, his skin was practically glowing under the low light. Dressed all in red with large, black and silver wings-- he was quite the sight to behold.
The prince stumbled backward from the force of the air pushed by those wings. Before Xie Lian could hit the ground, his hand was grasped quite gently to help him keep his balance. Those fingers that grasped his own were longer and... fuzzier?
He glanced back at that beautiful face, which was much closer now. Xie Lian noticed that this individual had one very pretty eye, large and dark. Angled streaks of red cinnabar lined around those thick lashes-- the prince could get lost in every little detail about this face.
Xie Lian realized he was staring and felt his cheeks prickle with heat. He averted his gaze and righted himself with the help of the man in front of him. "Thank you..." Xie Lian managed.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" The man asked.
Xie Lian looked back at him. "You... You know who I am?" He whispered. If anyone in the fae wilds knew his identity, this was bad. Very, very bad.
"Certainly, Your Highness. But this one has no ill will towards you. I promise." He said, tilting his head and smiling. "No harm will come to you here."
The more the prince looked, the more he realized that the man (creature?) before him was a moth fae of some kind. However, Xie Lian had to admit that he had never seen one as beautiful and handsome as this before. In fact, he couldn't recall having seen one in person at all.
"... Mm. Thank you." Xie Lian said. "Sorry, this is embarrassing. It seems that I got myself lost in trying to get rid of my pursuers."
That handsome face darkened. "Your pursuers? Is someone chasing His Highness?" He asked.
"Oh-! Well- Not anymore, most of my kind are terrified to come in here. I came in here accidentally." Xie Lian explained. "Well... Not entirely, actually. Oh, I don't know."
Because his heart was refusing to slow anytime soon, his words were getting caught in his throat. Come to think of it, why was he telling this fae anything about him? Wasn't that dangerous? What was wrong with him?!
Despite these anxious thoughts, the prince continued to explain. "My father had some potential consorts arranged for me to meet this evening. I had been avoiding them expertly up until the last second, and then... they found me." Xie Lian said, chuckling. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask your name-- Wait, never mind, that was rude of me."
The prince felt struck dumb. Had he hit his head somewhere?
A deep, rumbling chuckle brought Xie Lian out of his head, and his ears burned. The fae grinned in amusement, and the corners of his dark eye crinkled. "You're overthinking, Your Highness. Don't be scared. I won't hurt you." He said. "This one is called Hua Cheng, but since I feel like we might be friends already, His Highness may call me San Lang."
"Oh..." Xie Lian murmured. "Then... I'm sorry, San Lang. I can't think of something for you to call me."
Hua Cheng chuckled. "It's alright, Your Highness. This one can come up with something, if you like." He said, that midnight eye glinting playfully.
That handsome mirth was contagious. Xie Lian smiled. "Alright. What would San Lang like to call This Highness?"
A pause of silence. They stared at each other, and Xie Lian felt his face get hot again.
"How about... Gege?" Hua Cheng suggested.
Xie Lian's brows raised in surprise, and then he laughed, his mouth upturned and his eyes crinkling nearly closed. "Sorry- Yes! That's fine. But, San Lang, how are you so sure that This Highness is older than you? Aren't you a fae, unrestricted by such silly ideas as age?"
"Oh, this one is very sure. Gege doesn't need to worry." Hua Cheng said, chuckling. "And you'll find that I'm very different from the other things in these woods."
Xie Lian shook his head. "Well, San Lang. Is there a way out of the fae wilds? Or shall I stay with you forever?" He teased.
Hua Cheng grinned. The fae pulled the prince closer, and only then did Xie Lian realize that he hadn't let go of Hua Cheng's hand. His heart pounded in his ears as he was drawn closer, now only about half an arm's-length away from Hua Cheng.
"... San Lang?" Xie Lian muttered.
"Does gege truly wish to leave so soon? I thought he was trying to escape some rather pesky individuals." Hua Cheng mused. "This one would be more than happy to listen to whatever His Highness would like to talk about to pass the time, or show him anything he desires. Otherwise, we can leave whenever he likes. How's that?"
Xie Lian chewed on this for a moment. If this was a deal, wasn't he walking straight into a trap? However, there was no sign of malice in those eyes, and the only thing settling in Xie Lian's stomach seemed to be a strange warmth.
After thinking, the prince nodded. "Alright, San Lang. That sounds lovely." He said, smiling.
The fae beamed.