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Daylight filtered through the felt walls in threads of gold, soft and comforting like a gentle caress. The Naranbaatar’s Yurt smelled of cedar smoke and yesterday’s steeped tea, a warm, resin-sweet scent that curled gently over their furs and pelts.The faint whisper of the wind rolling across the great steppes outside was a contrast to the serenity and warmth of everything inside, here everything was still, peaceful, safe.
She stirred first, the tip of her nose brushing gently against his jaw. He was already half awake, though his eyes remained closed, listening to her soft snoring, the way her hand unconsciously slides over his broad chest. The corners of his mouth twitch upwards into an involuntary smile when his wife snorts mid snore.
‘How very lady-like’ he thinks to himself with great amusement. When they had first shared a bed, he’d been quietly surprised by the soft, unexpected noises his petite wife made in her sleep. They weren’t unpleasant, just unexpected. Now, years later, those little snores had become the rhythm of his nights, a lullaby he couldn’t imagine falling asleep without.
He draws a slow, quiet breath, letting the faint scent of her drift around him. It wasn’t perfume so much as presence, the kind of fragrance that can only be detected by years of closeness. Her scent so soft, warm and unmistakably her. It eases him, and makes their yurt feel truly like home.
When he finally opens his eyes, the first thing he sees is her beautiful hair, spilling across the pillow like a dark river. Her lips pleasantly plump, curved into a faint smile. She isn’t awake, but he smiles back appreciatively anyway. The lattice of poles above them held little bundles of sage and thyme, her doing. Their fragrance mingling with the warmth of their skin.
Chagatai pulls her closer, strong arms wrapping securely around her. His fingers lazily tracing down the dip of her waist and the gentle plush curve of her belly. He knows she’s self-conscious about her figure, but where she sees flaws, he sees the beauty of a tender, selfless, and loving woman.
There’s a radiance to her that he can’t quite put into words…
and so he doesn’t.
“Xiao Zhu zhu,” (little pig) he teases softly, the nickname spilling from his lips with a smile. His warm hand glides over her hip, rocking her gently, coaxing her awake with the secret tenderness he shows to only her when they’re alone. “Slept well?” he muses.
She frowns, that adorable little pout he loves so much, her eyes still closed. “mmrgh..” she grunts, clearly not impressed by the pet name. “That’s all I get after last night? You must be exhausted” He laughs playfully, his eyes tracing the curvature of her collarbone, and the drape of her silk dress.
His hand trails from her hip to her tummy, fingers splaying playfully “Or perhaps I didn’t do my job well enough?”
“Chagatai Naranbaatar!” she exclaims, swatting his hand away now that she’s fully awake, her face a delightful mix of flustered warmth, shy appreciation, and mock indignation. He only laughs in response, a low, teasing rumble that makes her blush even deeper.
“It’s unlike you to let me sleep in,” she teases, eyes flashing as she swats at his wandering hand again, batting it away just as it sneaks back. Her voice carries more laughter than scolding, a mock-warning to match his mischief.
“I was just giving you a chance to dream about me a little longer,” he smirks, his husky voice dripping with mock innocence as his fingers hover near her hip again.
“Besides, If I wake you too early, you’re even more dangerous. I value my life” he chuckles, sharp canines gleaming.
“You’re incorrigible,” she mutters, swatting at him again, part exasperated, part amused.
He leans in close, voice low and warm, letting his lips brush against her ear. “You have no idea how distracting it is to see you like this… I might have to stay right here all morning just to - ”
A sudden cacophony erupts outside, horses whirl and bray, hooves thundering against the ground. Shouts and shrieks slice through the chaos, cutting him off mid-thought and leaving him momentarily stunned. Before he can make sense of the ruckus, the yurt’s flap bursts open, and a frantic little red lizard scurries inside. It trips over a stray pebble, scrambles across the packed earth, and; completely out of control; cartwheels and ricochets off scattered armour and dishware. With a final, spectacular collision, it smacks the Hun leader squarely between the eyes, leaving him blinking in stunned disbelief.
“Mushu?!” Chagatai growls, caught off guard.
He only has time to peel the dragon off of his face before a chaotic whirlwind of energy hits him full force! His three kids barreled in, crashing on top of him like a human avalanche.
His flirty grin is replaced by a comical scowl as he groans.
“UNHAND ME, YOU BARBARIANS! WHY MUST YOU ACT ON YOUR FATHER’S GENETICS” Mushu yells as he tries desperately to wriggle out of the child’s grasp.
“I GOT HIM!” Tsetseg exclaims triumphantly.
“NUH-UH! YOU CHEATED! GIVE HIM BACK!” Enkha pulls at the red dragon’s tail.
“YEOUCH-! STOP THIS UNCOUTH BEHAVIOUR! MULAAN!” Mushu yells.
“I think he said to stop…” Temujin whispers, concerned.
Chagatai sighs, exasperated, ego thoroughly bruised. The moment completely ruined.
And yet… it’s exactly these chaotic, unpredictable moments that make life so priceless.
Still, he could have done without his dragon-in-law barging in on them.
Mulan laughs, kissing her husband’s nose “buried again”
Chagatai “Don’t you dare start, woman..”
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