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Xie Lian tossed back another mouthful of wine and held up the small empty cup with a sloppy smile. Hua Cheng couldn’t help but smile back and he reached out to take the cup from his husband to add it to the neat stack they had built in the middle of the table. Xie Lian happily passed it over with a giggle.
“Another one, Gege.” Hua Cheng hummed, sipping his own wine. Xie Lian arms jerked up as if he didn’t know whether to slam the table or clap his hands.
“Yes, let's have another one!” Xie Lian declared, finally deciding to simply throw his hands in the air instead. Hua Cheng snorted and bowed his head.
“I was just making an observation, not a suggestion, Gege.” Hua Cheng breathed, trying not to laugh as he looked up to admire his red-faced partner.
“Ah, well, I’m making a suggestion.” Xie Lian said, fumbling for the wine that Hua Cheng had to pull away from him. Xie Lian slightly deflated over being cut off but his smile remained firm as he turned his attention to Hua Cheng. “This is exciting! We should, um, we should, uh…” His voice trailed off and his smile grew wider.
“Hmm, what are you trying to say?” Hua Cheng said, resting his chin on his hand. Xie Lian leaned in, his lips moving but nothing came out. Hua Cheng laughed and leaned in to meet him. “Yes?”
“Fuck.” Xie Lian suddenly said. Hua Cheng sputtered and jerked back. This time it was Xie Lian’s turn to laugh, and laugh he did. He clapped his hands and cackled at Hua Cheng’s shocked expression.
“Your Highness! What has gotten into you?” He stammered through a stunned smile.
“Hopefully you!” Xie Lian said and then immediately gasped as if those words came from Hua Cheng himself. “Oh my, San Lang! San Lang! Did you just–!” His voice trailed off into hiccuping giggles. Hua Cheng had to cover his face with his arm to hide his disbelief. An inebriated Xie Lian was a bold Xie Lian.
The sound of shuffling made Hua Cheng lower his arm to peek. Xie Lian was on his hands and knees and quickly shuffling around the table. Hua Cheng immediately moved to meet him halfway and gather him up in his arms. Their red robes melded together the moment they met and they held each other as if either of them could disappear in a blink of an eye. They were silent for a moment before Xie Lian spoke again.
“I think I had too much to drink.” He whispered. Hua Cheng gently nuzzled him.
“Perhaps one too many.”
“Perhaps.” Xie Lian said, and Hua Cheng could feel him smile against his chest. “There’s just so many new things to do and I’m so excited.” Hua Cheng could practically feel his heart begin to beat again. After 800 years, he never thought he’d feel alive again but as he held his new husband in his arms, he too was excited.
“I can’t wait to start everyday with you.” Hua Cheng whispered. Xie Lian’s head snapped up and Hua Cheng looked down, slightly startled.
“San Lang.” Xie Lian squeaked. His bottom lip trembled and he began to gently rock against him. Hua Cheng’s vision started to blur and he quickly blinked his own tears back. “I’m sorry, the alcohol, it’s making me a tad emotional.” Xie Lian’s voice was wet and he curled tightly in Hua Cheng’s lap, gripping his robes.
“The wine’s gotten to me as well, Gege.” Hua Cheng said, his voice as equally thick. Xie Lian let out a shaky laugh and raised his hands to wipe the tears streaming down Hua Cheng’s face.
“You barely drank, San Lang.”
“Oh, then I must be drunk on something else.” Hua Cheng said, lowering his head to rest his cheek on top of Xie Lian’s head. Xie Lian began to giggle again and bounce up and down in his lap. Hua Cheng couldn’t help but laugh as well but he soon noticed that Xie Lian’s bouncing was turning into a different type of movement.
“Come on, San Lang.” Xie Lian said, grinding and pulling Hua Cheng’s shoulders lower.
“Gege…you are something else this evening!”
“San Lang! Quick, before I start crying again!” Hua Cheng gently kissed Xie Lian’s wet cheeks and pulled him back into a hug to calm him down.
“When you’re not drunk, Gege. We’ll have more fun for our first time then.”
“It’s our wedding night. Don’t we have to do this tonight?”
“We can take our time. Our wedding night lasts as long as we want it to be.” The moment Hua Cheng said those words, they both froze. They leaned back and looked at each other as if they realized this fact for the first time.
“I’m so excited! Oh, San Lang, I’m so excited!” Xie Lian was bouncing up and down again, but, this time, it was out of pure delight. Hua Cheng rocked Xie Lian back and forth in his own delight.
“So what should we do?” Hua Cheng asked, now overcome with Xie Lian’s infectious excitement.
“I don’t know. We have forever!”
“Okay, maybe…we could sit for a moment?” Hua Cheng said. Xie Lian eagerly nodded.
“Yes, let’s.”
They sat and held each other for the rest of the night.