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Hua Cheng’s birthday was coming up once more and Xie Lian needed something better than the disaster that had happened the year He had briefly debated attempting to make another longevity locket but had quickly dismissed that idea, not wanting a repeat of last years issues.
What did you get for the man who had everything and seemed to care so little for supposed treasures? He hadn’t gone around asking again this year, not wanting this to be a probelm every year. Anything he could get for Hua Cheng seemed silly at this point as he didn’t care too much about material objects. Making something for him was out of the question.
Xie Lian very briefly considered checking the stall in ghost city that seemed to sell scraps of clothes that were supposed to be enticing but quickly shooed that idea away. It did, at the very least, give him an idea to pursue. If making something was out of the question and buying something also seemed ridiculous, maybe actions were the way to go.
His idea quickly came together. He spent a couple days before gathering things, setting them up, and making sure everything would be ready.
Finally, the night before his birthday, everything was ready and the two fell asleep curled up in each others arms.
Xie Lian woke to soft kisses pressed all over his face and a cool body pressed against him. He hummed happily and opened his eyes. “Happy Birthday, San Lang,” he whispered.
Hua Cheng nuzzled further into Xie Lian’s hand. Xie Lian moved his hand up and started gently scratching Hua Cheng’s scalp. Hua Cheng melted against Xie Lian, a pleased sigh leaving him. He wriggled closer to Xie Lian, worming his way under his arms and pushed his face into Xie Lian’s neck and took a deep breath.
“Mm.” Hua Cheng’s eyes closed once more, his breathing slowing down til it was barely there. Xie Lian felt a tick of pride and deep affection rise in his chest at how comfortable and safe Hua Cheng felt in his arms, fully relaxed and defenses down. He was torn, eager to show Hua Cheng the surprise he had for him and wanting to stay and relax here. He settled down against the pillows once more, his hand stroked slowly up and down Hua Cheng’s back.
A bit later, Xie Lian gently brushed a kiss against the top of Hua Cheng’s head. He gently shook his shoulder. The ghost king responded by simply snuggling closer to Xie Lian, seemingly trying to burrow under Xie Lian’s skin and stay there. Xie Lian laughed softly. “San Lang,” he whispered, trying to sit up a little.
Hua Cheng whined and pulled Xie Lian down once more.“Gege tries to wake this poor believer from such a lovely dream, and move him from his arms.” The words were muffled against Xie Lian’s skin. "
“Perhaps this one just wanted to give his beloved a kiss,” Xie Lian said. “Ah, perhaps not, if dreams are better go back to sleep.” Those words got a reaction out of his husband. Hua Cheng lifted his head up and leaned towards Xie Lian for a kiss. He turned his head and pushed Hua Cheng’s face away. “No, no, my beloved has said dreams are better, sleep once more.”
“Gege,” Hua Cheng pouted, resting his head on Xie Lian’s chest, his eye big and full of sadness. Xie Lian giggled at the sight. “My beloved teases me so ruthlessly!” Hua Cheng dropped his head back onto Xie Lian’s chest who was full on laughing now.
He pulled Hua Cheng closer and turned the two of them so Hua Cheng lay beneath him. He pressed a kiss to Hua Cheng’s neck, up his cheek, the corner of his mouth before barely pulling back so their lips brushed as he spoke. “Perhaps this one can make it up to you?” Hua Cheng cupped the back of his head and pulled him into a kiss. It was a slow press of their lips moving against each other, Hua Cheng nipped the bottom of his Xie Lian’s lip and pressed inside. Xie Lian moaned quietly as the kiss deepened.
The kisses stayed slow and lazy, as they rested against each other. Eventually, Xie Lian pulled back and rested his hands against Hua Cheng’s chest. Hua Cheng’s eye was dark and glittering. His hands slipped down Xie Lian’s waist and gripped his hips. Xie Lian moved back further, knowing that if they went any further, he would get too distracted and he would entirely forget about his surprise for Hua Cheng.
“I have something I want to show you,” Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng ran his eye up and down Xie Lian’s body, his hands tightened on Xie Lian’s hips. “Gege can show me whatever he wants.”
Xie Lian flushed and gently smacked his hands away. “San Lang,” he admonished.
In an instant, Hua Cheng’s face turned innocent, his eye big and wide, “I was just agreeing with my god.”
Xie Lian rolled his eyes and shoved him away. “Get dressed.”
Hua Cheng laughed as he dipped in and pressed a quick kiss to Xie Lian’s lips, “anything for my beloved.”
After the two were dressed, they made their way to Mount Taicang. Xie Lian ducked inside and grabbed the things he’d set up the night before and quickly covered them so Hua Cheng wouldn’t see anything too early.
Xie Lian grinned and grabbed Hua Cheng’s hand. He bounced on the balls of his feet, his excitment starting to bleed through. He led Hua Cheng around the back of the temple and into the woods. Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow as they moved further and further away.
“I found this place when I was waiting for you,” Xie Lian explained. “I wanted to show it to you but I wanted the perfect occasion.” He glanced over, a smile on his lips. “Celebrating you seemed appopriate.”
Hua Cheng’s face softened at Xie Lian’s words. He brought their hands up and pressed a kiss to the back of Xie Lian’s. “I’m honored to see what this is.”
Xie Lian smiled and turned back towards the trail. It was slightly overgrown, not as bad as it had been the day before, Xie Lian having managed to pull some weeds off.
Soon, the two rounded a corner and ended at their destination. A bend in the mountains was nestled a spring. Trees surrounded the water, the sunlight shining through in dappled rays. Lanterns Xie Lian had brought up the day before hung from low branches. Above them in the mountains, water sprayed against the rock face, forming a rainbow in the sunlight.
Xie Lian set the basket down and turned back towards Hua Cheng. He grinned as they made eye contact and pulled his outer robes off, continuing to undress til he was left in just his pants. He held his hand out, Hua Cheng quickly stripped to his pants and followed Xie Lian into the pool. On the edge was a natural lip, a perfect place to sit and enjoy the water. It was perfect this time of year, cool against the warm sun that made it’s way through the tree leaves.
“It’s beautiful, Gege,” Hua Cheng said. He stepped moved closer and wrapped his arms around Xie Lian. He rested his head on his shoulder as they relaxed in the water. The two rested in each others arms, wrapped around each other as they spent the day in peace, away from the rest of the world and any responsibilities the two might have to face tomorrow.
After a few hours of enjoying the springs, Hua Cheng glanced back to the edge of the pool. ”What’s in the basket?”
“Hmm?” Xie Lian followed his glance and nearly leapt out of Hua Cheng’s arms. “Oh! I’d entirely forgotten.” He stood and reached to the edge and pulled the basket closer. Hua Cheng’s hands ran distractingly up and down his thighs as he threw the blanket off and made to start pulling the food out. At the sight of it, his head sank and he sighed. His rotten luck had struck once more, and once more had messed up Hua Cheng’s birthday. “Well. I wanted to surprise you,” Xie Lian said. He sighed and stepped to the side so Hua Cheng could see what had happened.
It became very clear that the temple had a leak in the roof. A leak that had been directly above the basket. The food had melted and mixed together into a rather sad, rather disgusting looking mess. Xie Lian buried his face in his hands. All he wanted was to be able to do something for Hua Cheng for his birthday and make him feel special but so far both times it had been ruined. Xie Lian supposed the only good thing about this time was that he wasn’t in pain every time he thought of Hua Cheng.
“San Lang, I’m so sorry,” Xie Lian said. He was still turned away from him. He felt cool hands on his arms, tugging gently. Xie Lian moved with them and soon was wrapped in the comforting embrace of his husband.
“Gege, there’s nothing to be sorry for,” Hua Cheng assured. “You are always enough. Spending the day with you, being around you, being married to you is more than I ever thought I would get.”
Xie Lian sighed and rested his head against Hua Cheng’s chest. “San Lang deserves so much. I just wanted to do something special for you today.” He sighed and looked up. “I love you so and you’ve done so much for me and you make me feel so loved and safe every single day and you’ve given me so much. I just wanted to be able to show you a fraction of the love you show me every day.”
Hua Cheng’s eye had grown suspiciously damp through Xie Lian’s speech. He cupped Xie Lian’s hands in his and pulled him closer. “Gege, loving you, being loved by you, is the best thing in my life. The knowledge that you feel safe with me, that you feel loved by me everyday? And that you have gone out of you way to set this up for me? To show me you love me?” Hua Cheng sighed. “That is the best thing I could ever ask for.”
Xie Lian felt tears slip down his face at Hua Cheng’s words. He pulled him close and pressed their lips together. “I love you so much,” he whispered against his lips.
“I love you, too.”
The two rested back against the edge of the pool, curled around one another once more. Xie Lian relaxed against Hua Cheng’s chest, idly tracing nonsense patterns into Hua Cheng’s hand as the two traded stories of past days, different foods they’d tried, trading kisses and whispers of how much love they each had for the other.
As the sun went down behind the mountains, Xie Lian turned. The light was golden blues and pinks and oranges against Hua Cheng. “Happy Birthday, San Lang.” Hua Cheng smiled and pressed a kiss to Xie Lian’s temple.