Work Text:
It has been two years since the fall of the heavenly capital.
Before this had been the fall of many kingdoms.
And before all of them had been the fall of Xianle.
Of course, Xianle was not the first kingdom to fall in history, but it was the one that had marked these two particular men’s history the most.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng were laying down during a warm summer afternoon on Mount Taican. The grass tickled the few places where it met their skin, but they barely gave it any mind.
Eight hundred years ago, Hua Cheng had defied death for his god, yet he had never dared to hope that it would all lead to this.
Xie Lian’s chest rose and fell with his calm breathing, the beating of his heart a sound that soothed Hua Cheng’s soul.
Every moment near his god made him feel tethered to reality, it calmed his restless mind and made him forget the years of suffering. Each touch of skin, each smile, each glance a blessing that made his heart sing in a joy that could not be more pure.
Hua Cheng had walked eight hundred years towards home.
“What is my dear San Lang thinking about?” Hua Cheng’s musing was gently cut by the kind voice of his husband.
The ghost smiled and raised his head to bestow a kiss upon the other man’s chin, which earned him a giggle and a squeeze of the shoulders.
“How content I finally am, now that I am with you.” Hua Cheng answered truthfully. Xie Lian smiled, kissing his forehead gently.
“Me too, my dear.” He whispered into his dark hair.
Hua Cheng shuffled forward so they could kiss properly. Kissing Xie Lian was like an addiction, one that could only bring goodness instead of sorrow. One that healed wounds and seemed to warm his perpetually cold skin, making imaginary blood circulate through his body to make his heart beat and cheeks heat.
Xie Lian smiled in the kiss, Hua Cheng deepened it.
Xie Lian chuckled, Hua Cheng gently bit his lower lip.
As Xie Lian laughed out loud, he flipped them over, “San Lang!” He exclaimed reprimandally with no actual bite to his words.
Hua Cheng, now on his back, could only grin and circle his arms around the other’s waist.
“Gege!” He exclaimed back.
Xie Lian kissed him quickly before pointing a finger to the ghost’s chest, “Crimson Rain Sought Flower.”
Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow, “Your Royal Highness, the crowned prince of Xianle.”
“Hua Cheng.”
“Xie Lian.”
“The scourge of Heaven.”
“Flower Crowned Martial God.”
“Hua Chengzhu.”
Hua Cheng thought for a second, then grinned, “cousin crown prince!”
The reaction was immediate; “San Lang! How dare you bring him into this!” Xie Lian gasped, catching Hua Cheng’s cheek and squishing them together.
Hua Cheng could only snicker and, once again, flipped them over to pepper kisses along Xie Lian’s cheeks.
“I’m not gonna play with you anymore if you’re gonna be like this.” Xie Lian pouted, but did not move away from the kisses, instead crossing his arms behind Hua Cheng’s neck.
“Apologies, Your royal Highness, this servant shall make it up to you.” He answered as he bit Xie Lian’s earlobe.
“Mhm, you shall.”
—
Later that day, both were back to their earlier position with much less clothing in the way. The soft sheets of their bed had been ruffled and pulled hastily over their body, they had not bothered to clean up the mess right away.
Laying in silence once again, Hua Cheng caressed his husband’s sides, enjoying the subtle shiver it elicited from the invisible hairs that covered the surface. Xie Lian was humming a tune and absentmindedly ran his finger through Hua Cheng’s hair, untangling the few knots that had appeared during their activities.
Then, a whisper so small Hua Cheng could’ve missed it if not for the complete silence of the room.
“Hong Hong-er.”
Hua Cheng could swear his heart had just kickstarted, pumping blood he did not possess.
“Gege.” He whined, hiding his grin in Xie Lian’s chest.
“Mh? Does Hong-er like being called by his baby name?” Xie Lian said innocently, but Hua Cheng could feel the tremors of held-in laughter. He merely whined and tried to bury his head further onto his husband’s chest.
“Xiao Hong-er, don’t hide your beautiful face from me.” The god tutted, bringing Hua Cheng’s face up to bestow it a kiss on the nose.
“I promise I won’t call you that in front of anyone else, San Lang.” He whispered as he brushed his lips against the ghost’s, “It’s a name only us two will know, okay?” Xie Lian continued, their eyes meeting.
In both their iris, sparkles of amusement shone.
“En, ours only.” Hua Cheng barely had the time to breathe back before his lips were shut up by another pair.
Hua Cheng had walked eight hundred years towards home.
But Hong-er had been the one waiting for the arrival.