Work Text:
Xie Lian was still quite proud of himself for winning a bet against Hua Cheng, especially as he sat next to the man himself as he worked grumpily on his handwriting. Xie Lian was dutifully working through his stack of prayers, relaxed in the quiet of rustling papers and the swish of brush on paper. Today had been a rather lazy day, neither of them deciding to leave, both relaxed in loose robes as they worked on their respective duties. The air was crisp and clear, the temperature comfortable, the light filtered in gently, dancing around the hall. The atmosphere was nice – one might even call it domestic – Xie Lian smiled to himself.
Xie Lian realized he had been staring at the same prayer for a while, even the sound of the brush had stopped. He glanced over at Hua Cheng, but was startled to see him glaring down at the characters. Xie Lian leaned over slightly to look at his work to see what could have caused such a reaction, but Hua Cheng brushed the papers off the desk, the sound of fluttering papers filled the room.
“San Lang- why?” Xie Lian stuttered as Hua Cheng stood abruptly, moving like he was about to leave. “San Lang, there is no need to get frustrated! Like you said, it takes lots of practice, do not give up now. You just need to focus and work through it.” Xie Lian watched Hua Cheng’s back as he quickly turned back around to face Xie Lian, who smiled at him, only to be met with a blank expression. Xie Lian blinked. Hua Cheng approached Xie Lian, the table Xie Lian was working at standing in between them. He sat down abruptly.
“I have been working through it, gege, I am simply done. Why should I keep working while you sit there smiling about some prayer?”
Xie Lian was a bit taken aback. “You should keep working because you are not done with the set yet. I can do whatever I want because I have finished my work, and if that means smiling at my thoughts then so be it!” Xie Lian fell into the role of teacher easily, his voice holding a thick air of authority. He was willing to play along with San Lang’s temper tantrum as long as it bought him the time he needed to figure out what had upset the Ghost King in the first place. Did Hua Cheng misinterpret him smiling about being close with San Lang as if there was something special about the prayer? Was Hua Cheng jealous?? Xie Lian had to hold his face steady as the realization dawned on him. Now it was time to play. “San Lang, I simply cannot allow you to leave with your work only half finished like this.” His voice was low and full of critique.
“Oh, and what will you possibly do to me, dianxia?” Hua Cheng’s voice was laced with sour mocking. It might have upset Xie Lian if he hadn’t already figured San Lang out, but now it just made him want to laugh.
“I will have to punish you.” The words echoed through the room; the shock evident on Hua Cheng’s face. Xie Lian had threatened him with punishment before, but never for something this small. Xie Lian could see the gears turning behind San Lang’s eyes as he processed the words. Xie Lian had tried to make the words sound as flirty as he could while still maintaining his air of authority and seriousness. Hua Cheng seemed to finally catch this.
“Try your best, dianxia.” A look of smug victory settled on his beautiful features as he sat back, resting his weight on his arms.
Xie Lian simply nodded grimly, Hua Cheng’s smirk wavering slightly as Xie Lian stood up and walked around the desk to stand looming over Hua Cheng’s seated frame. In that moment, Xie Lian swooped in, scooped up Hua Cheng and threw him over his shoulder as if he was nothing more than a sack of potatoes. Hua Cheng let out an indignant bark, and resisted, but all was futile with Xie Lian’s strong arms strapping him in place. Xie Lian marched them into the bedroom before throwing Hua Cheng onto the bed with Ruoye shooting out to tie his arms to the bedframe
“Gege! This certainly is forward of you!” Hua Cheng gasps out as air returns to his lungs. Instead of acknowledging him, Xie Lian simply stalked out of the room. “Gege!”
Xie Lian grabbed one of the heavy wooden tables and marched it back into their room, all of Hua Cheng’s papers tucked neatly under his arm with an ink well and brush. He set everything up near the foot of the bed, where he was sure Hua Cheng would be able to see him from where he lay. Before he sat down, Xie Lian moved to one of the windows to move the curtains so light fell on where he had set the table. Once everything was to his liking, Xie Lian sat back down, woefully aware of the eye glued to his every move.
“What is the meaning of this, gege?” Hua Cheng’s voice was rough, as it was dragged out of him.
“Maybe you just need to learn by example.” Xie Lian heard a disgruntled sound from the bed, but chose to ignore it. “You sit and watch me anyways; this is barely a punishment for you.” Xie Lian couldn’t hold the snicker out of his voice as he slowly began pulling his outer robe off.
“Gege. What are you doing?”
“San Lang. I am in my own temple, am I not allowed to be comfortable?” Xie Lian left the fact that it was the temple Hua Cheng had built just for him unsaid. At Hua Cheng’s silence Xie Lian continued pulling off his clothes until he sat there with only a small cloth covering his lap.
“Gege, you.” Hua Cheng started but was silenced as Ruoye slapped over his mouth.
“Remember, San Lang, this is still punishment.” Hua Cheng’s eye was alit with flames as Xie Lian spoke in his direction without fully addressing him. Xie Lian lit a lamp next to him, basking in the gentle warmth it cast onto his bare skin. Of course, this was more than simply about warmth, with the window open, and the light on him, Xie Lian was sure anyone who walked outside and happened to glance inside would see Xie Lian sitting there in all his glory. Naturally he was hoping this didn’t happen, praying profusely in fact that no one walked by to see him, but he wanted the effect. Xie Lian knew from the angle of the bed that Hua Cheng could see the window was open and pointed at Xie Lian but he couldn’t see what was outside of the window. He had no idea if someone could be or was looking at Xie Lian at all. And seeing how jealous he got over Xie Lian daydreaming about Hua Cheng, he knew even the possibility of someone seeing Xie Lian must be eating San Lang alive.
He kept his face neutral as the angry muffled words grew in volume from the bed. He contented himself to look over Hua Cheng’s practice papers and noting areas that still needed work.
“Gege!” Hua Cheng’s voice cut through his head. Hua Cheng had entered his personal communication array. Xie Lian continued pointedly ignoring him, or as he liked to think of it, focusing on his work. “Gege, you know I will personally eviscerate anyone who lays eyes on you through that window.” Xie Lian had to use all his self-control to not let a shudder run down his back at Hua Cheng’s dark words. He continued writing as if he wasn’t hearing anything at all.
Seeing Xie Lian completely unfazed, Hua Cheng renewed his attempts to wiggle out of Ruoye. Worried it would be ripped again, Xie Lian glared at Hua Cheng, “Don’t,” he chastised. Hua Cheng froze, holding eye contact with Xie Lian for as long as he could before Xie Lian returned his attention to the papers in front of him. Once he had gone over all of Hua Cheng’s work, Xie Lian set out to create new sheets for Hua Cheng to trace and copy.
Hua Cheng had been quiet for a while. In between papers, Xie Lian glanced up to see the curtains had been closed once more. His gaze whipped to Hua Cheng who remained in his spot on the bed, arms still bound. He looked at peace, maybe even a little smug. Xie Lian frowned at him. Breaking posture, Xie Lian leaned back on his hands, a very Hua Cheng pose, before he pulled over a canteen and drank heavily from it. With his head tilted back, he showed off his white neck, free from the dark, imposing cursed shackle. When he was done drinking, he breathed heavily, making sure the light cast stark shadows along the hills and valleys of his body. He let a single bit of water slip from his lips and run down to his chin, dripping along his chest before he wiped it off, smearing the water along his skin. He lazily glanced over to Hua Cheng through his lashes. He smirked as he saw the other’s chest rising and falling heavily, his arms tugging on the fabric tensely. After winking at Hua Cheng, Xie Lian turned back to his table to continue working.
By now he couldn’t focus on creating sketches for Hua Cheng to follow. Instead, he acted like he was focused, but would let a hand scratch an “itch” on his chest, or shift positions slightly so the cloth on his lap would sag. Growing tired with the game, Xie Lian let out one final hum-turned-moan as Hua Cheng’s voice ripped through his head once more.
“Gege, this is enough.”
“Do you think you have learned what it means to be work through distractions?” Xie Lian spoke as if it was his own choice, and not spurned on by Hua Cheng’s voice in his head. He got up and approached the bed, the cloth falling behind him. Hua Cheng’s eye burned over him, a moan caught in his throat. Xie Lian sat on the edge of the bed, before stroking Ruoye so that it fell away from Hua Cheng’s mouth. “Hmm?”
“Gege, you forget. There is something I will always be able to give my undivided attention to, with pin-point accuracy.” Hua Cheng’s voice was thick, his posture predatory even with his arms tied. His eye was alight and wild. Goosebumps raised along Xie Lian’s skin.
“Oh. And what might that be, San Lang?” Xie Lian’s voice did not betray his growing excitement. Hua Cheng leaned up to look him over once more.
“You. Always you.” He leaned back against the bed, but Xie Lian followed, leaning in close, holding himself a breath away from Hua Cheng’s face.
“Prove it.”
Hua Cheng surged up, catching Xie Lian’s lips in a fierce kiss. Xie Lian melted instantly, allowing him to be pulled into the rhythm Hua Cheng set for them; his hands busying themselves with removing the clothes remaining between them.
When there was no median, Xie Lian moved to straddle Hua Cheng, dragging his burning hands along the cold skin. He broke the kiss to move to the underside of Hua Cheng’s jaw. The man underneath him gasped.
“Gege. Gege is in charge, but let me make a request?” His voice was deep and raspy, the breath blowing along Xie Lian’s ear.
Xie Lian hummed, “Go ahead.” He bit down on Hua Cheng’s shoulder.
“Untie me for just a – ah ah – just for a second and then you can retie me, just differently.” Hua Cheng exclaimed under Xie Lian’s scathing glare. “Let me prove to you.”
“You said ‘pin-point accuracy’,”
“I did. Just not like this. I don’t even need my hands, just a bit more movement.” Xie Lian squinted at him before moving off San Lang and taking Ruoye into his hands. Hua Cheng rubbed his wrists before turning so his back was facing Xie Lian and presented his wrists together behind his back. Xie Lian watched as the muscled bunched and moved along his back as he did so. Xie Lian scooted in close, kissing the center of Hua Cheng’s back before resting his chin on his shoulder before tying his wrists together, much gentler this time.
Now that Ruoye was secure once more, Xie Lian backed up to give Hua Cheng space to turn around. In the meantime, Xie Lian moved to the open space on the bed, lounging back loosely. Hua Cheng raked his eye along the length of Xie Lian’s naked body, humming his approval as Xie Lian moved to loosely wrap his legs around Hua Cheng’s waist.
“Someone is eager.” Hua Cheng mused before leaning in to nip at Xie Lian’s chest.
“Someone made big promises. Who knew you got so jealous, San Lang?” Xie Lian received a harsh bite for that one.
“Mine.” Hua Cheng whispered before kissing Xie Lian again. Wrapping his arms around Hua Cheng’s neck, Xie Lian hummed his agreement. Suddenly, Hua Cheng moaned deeply into Xie Lian’s mouth before quickly breaking away to kiss along the column of Xie Lian’s neck. The skin where the cursed shackle had been was extremely sensitive, even the lightest of kisses sent hot fire to the rest of his body. Xie Lian moaned, with each rise of his chest, he bumped into Hua Cheng’s. The battle of fire and ice shooting electricity through Xie Lian’s entire being.
Xie Lian’s hands slipped into Hua Cheng’ hair as he moved down Xie Lian’s body to latch onto one of his nipples. Xie Lian arched his back, pushing his head deep into the pillow as his breath was ripped from his lungs.
By now his body was flashing hot and cold, too overwhelmed by the pleasure as Hua Cheng continued his slow, methodological decent of Xie Lian’s body until he had all of Xie Lian sucked deep into his throat and Xie Lian was left moaning wantonly; his feet slamming down into the bed. With a wet pop, Hua Cheng removed himself from Xie Lian, allowing the god a moment to catch his breath under the waves of stimulation. Xie Lian was barely able to crack an eye open, but was made breathless once again by the view above him.
Hua Cheng straddled Xie Lian’s hips, his cock enflamed and engorged. His back was arched, muscles taut with his chest puffed out, heaving breaths in and out. His head was turned away from Xie Lian with his hair falling like a dark curtain obscuring the rest of his face. Suddenly, Xie Lian felt a hand grip his shaft, he was stroked a few times, a warm liquid spread around him before being held firm while Hua Cheng wiggled above him. “San.” Xie Lian was cut off by the head of his cock being pressed against Hua Cheng’s entrance. “San Lang!” Xie Lian yelled right as Hua Cheng sat down. Moans tore through the both of them, Xie Lian’s eyes were squeezed shut as stars danced across his vision. His hips jumped but stilled when he heard the “Ah-“ that was ripped from Hua Cheng.
At the sound, Xie Lian ripped his eyes open. Hua Cheng was looking down at him now, a soft smile even though he looked entirely fucked out. Xie Lian guessed he probably looked the same. Hua Cheng rocked his hips and Xie Lian’s eyebrows pulled together as he groaned.
“Gege.” Hua Cheng breathed as he rose up to sit down more forcefully.
“Ah – San Lang, don’t – don’t push yourself too hard.” Xie Lian said even as his hands were moving to hold onto Hua Cheng’s waist.
“Don’t worry about me, gege, you just hang on for the ride.” Xie Lian wanted to laugh at the joke, but all that came out was another haunted moan. Xie Lian tried desperately to keep his eyes open, creating tunnel vision of just Hua Cheng. The man had always been beautiful but this was too much. His hair framed his face perfectly creating a dark halo around him as he bounced on Xie Lian, the room filled with wet sounds and their labored breathing. Xie Lian held on, his grip digging into the plush skin on Hua Cheng’s hips.
With one deep push, Hua Cheng fell forward, his weight resting heavily on Xei Lian. The angle of his movements completely changed, sending new waves of pleasure spiking through Xie Lian as Hua Cheng’s hair and breath tickled the heated skin of his chest.
Only with his breathing slightly restricted by Hua Cheng did he realized he had been babbling, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. As if through someone else’s ears, Xie Lian heard himself singing Hua Cheng’s praises, his moans and breath broken only by words of his devotion to the Ghost King. In the brief moments of clarity could Xie Lian hear Hua Cheng’s responses. Soft hymns and psalms, odes to Xie Lian passed like breath from his lungs.
Xie Lian felt like he was ascending once again, his vision flashing white, and all at once it was too much. The tension in his stomach snapping loose like an arrow, he found himself twitching beneath Hua Cheng, the moan nearly ripping his whole body in half. He felt Hua Cheng shift positions above him before dropping down on him with renewed fervor. Xie Lian sobbed at the over-stimulation, but it only took a few times before Hua Cheng was moaning in his ear and spilling over Xie Lian’s chest.
Hua Cheng collapsed fully onto Xie Lian, laying on him like a boneless sack. Xie Lian’s brain and body were buzzing. They lay there, chests heaving until Hua Cheng rolled off Xie Lian to snuggle up against his chest.
“Sang Lang… You,” Xie Lian wrapped his arm around Hua Cheng, feeling slowly creeping back into his limbs, pushing out the numbness.
“This is gege’s fault. Take responsibility.” Hua Cheng muttered as he pushed his face further against Xie Lian’s chest. Xie Lian heard the door to the room click closed, revealing the meaning of Hua Cheng’s words.
“Anything for you.” Xie Lian spoke as he reached around Hua Cheng, coaxing Ruoye off him. Xie Lian pulled Hua Cheng’s hands forward, kissing each of his palms in turn. He slowly sat them up before pulling Hua Cheng into his arms and walked them to the tub of hot water that had been brought into the room. His legs twitched and shook, but Xie Lian kept them upright. Xie Lian placed Hua Cheng into the water as gently as he could before slipping in behind him. The heat of the water mixed with the remaining fog in his mind, and Xie Lian melted instantly, Hua Cheng followed his lead. Once Xie Lian regained his ability to think, he gently grasped one of Hua Cheng’s arms and began massaging it, trying to loosen the muscles that had been held stiff in one place for so long. Hua Cheng hummed his appreciation, leaning further into Xie Lian’s chest.
“That… Was something new.” Xie Lian spoke softly.
“I wanted gege to smile the way he smiled at the prayer paper.” Hua Cheng’s reply was so soft, Xie Lian wasn’t sure he heard it at first.
“Does San Lang know why I was smiling?” When Hua Cheng’s arms were relaxed, Xie Lian moved his hands into Hua Cheng’s hair, massaging his scalp.
“Some useless scrap was…”
“I was thinking about San Lang and how happy I was to be here with you today.” Hua Cheng snapped his mouth shut. “San Lang gets worked up so easily.” Xie Lian laughed.
“Gege.” Hua Cheng whined.
“Always you.” Xie Lian said softly, kissing San Lang’s cheek.