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[bringingdowndisaster]

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[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan nods in understanding. He definitely doesn't blame her for pretending to be blind. He understands that living on the streets had meant she had to use any trick at her disposal to survive.

While A-Qing acquires the ingredients, Song Lan brews tea for all four of them. It feels good to do something, to distract himself from all the complicated feelings running through him.

Xue Yang glances up at Xingchen's face and presses his lips tenderly to his jaw. What a good way to wake up. He really would like to spend the rest of the day like this, just being held by his Daozhang, but he knows he can't. "Good morning," he murmurs instead.

[gentledawn]

A-Qing is pleased by his immediate understanding. She likes the Daozhangs! They don't jump to conclusions or treat her like a pest. Though she is beginning to question Daozhang Xingchen. Why does he bother with that criminal?

She lays a hand on Zichen's arm - very briefly - letting him know she is on his side.

Xingchen smiles at the sweetness and brushes his lips against Xue Yang's forehead.

"Breakfast will be ready soon. We should get ready." he slowly sits up and rests a hand on Xue Yang's leg, giving him a rush of healing energy to start the day.

a-qing is the biggest songxiao shipper lmao

[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan does appreciate the support! A-Qing is a very sweet girl. All the same, he does understand Xingchen's reasoning too. You can't help who you love, and as much as he hates to admit it - Xue Yang isn't pure evil. There are clearly good sides to him, or Xingchen wouldn't have fallen for him.

The kiss gets a sweet, pleased little sound in response. "Mm..." He sighs and reluctantly sits up, smiling at the burst of healing. It's not like he really needs it, but he won't protest if Xingchen wants to fuss. He straightens out his hair a little, but doesn't bother even putting it up in the simple bun he'd kept it in.

her daddies!

[gentledawn]

She just wants a family! A-Qing is too frightened of Xue Yang to see his good sides, though even she will admit that he isn't awful when he's in a good mood. And he seemed to be in a good mood a lot when Xiao Xingchen was alive the first time.

She sets the table and peeks out of a window, hoping nothing scary is wandering around out there.

Xingchen swings his legs off of the bed and stands, remembering, suddenly, a task he used to like.

"Do you want me to brush your hair?"

xue yang: am i a joke to you

[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan would never blame her for that! And he will make sure that both Xingchen and A-Qing are safe. Once everything is done, Song Lan brings it to the table.

Xue Yang had stopped wearing his hair ornaments and more elaborate hair styles since Xiao Xingchen's death. It hadn't been important. He does brighten considerably when Xingchen asks that though. "Yes," he says and happily seats himself comfortably on the bed.

a-qing: ...yup.

[gentledawn]

A-Qing feels awful about what happened to Zichen. She hadn't meant to lead him to his doom. She had really wanted him to find Xiao Xingchen first.

Xingchen hears the happiness and smiles. He seeks out the brush and he even finds Xue Yang's hair ornaments.

Covered in dust. He blows the dust off of them and walks back to Xue Yang. Then, sitting behind him, he patiently brushes through his hair and styles it how Xue Yang used to like it.

"Why did you stop wearing them?"

xy: :| well tough shit i am gonna marry xxc

[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan only blames himself and Xue Yang for how things had turned out. He should have talked to Xingchen first, but he had seen the affection between him and Xue Yang and it had just... it had enraged him. He'd been convinced then that Xue Yang had been tricking Xingchen about everything. And Xue Yang hadn't exactly made him think differently. It had all been a disaster.

Xue Yang shrugs a little. "I couldn't be bothered. It just... it wasn't important."

a-qing: why do you wanna marry him? >8(

[gentledawn]

A-Qing just remembers being horrified and helpless. She had tried to approach Zichen after that, to bring him food and water, but she couldn't risk being seen by Xue Yang. Now it feels weird to be out in the open.

"I don't think we should stay here."

Xingchen frowns at the answer and tries to read between the lines.

"You were always so handsome with your hair back. I remember this little leaf." he smiles softly, "You chose it yourself."

xy: um because i love him???

[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan glances at A-Qing hearing that before slowly nodding. He isn't sure whether Xingchen and Xue Yang will agree though. This place is full of bad memories, so maybe it'll be possible to convince them. Or at least convince Xingchen. He's sure that Xue Yang will go wherever Xingchen goes.

"Yeah..." He sighs softly and leans back into Xingchen. He's suddenly glad that Xingchen can't see how skinny and hollowed out he's become. He'd definitely not only neglected his hair... "I'll wear it again for you, Daozhang."

a-qing: >.> will you hurt him?

[gentledawn]

"Don't worry. I'll protect you, Daozhang." A-Qing reassures him, smiling as she sits at the table. She sips on the tea to wake herself, swinging her legs.

He may not be able to see the effects - not anymore - but he can feel them. Slipping his arms around Xue Yang, he notices that he is embracing bones more than anything else.

"Will you come eat for me?" he whispers into his lover's ear after he has seen to his hair.

xy: no :|

[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan smiles at that and nods again, gently stroking over A-Qing's hair. He seats himself at the table and takes a sip from his cup, trying not to think about what could be taking Xue Yang and Xingchen so long.

The whisper sends a shiver down Xue Yang's spine. He turns his head and kisses Xingchen. "Yes," he murmurs against his lips. "I'll do anything for you."

a-qing: he's a good person.

[gentledawn]

A-Qing knows all about grumpy morning Xue Yang. She does pity Daozhang Xingchen a little. Beaming up at Zichen, she enjoys the quiet and the tea.

Xingchen shudders and presses into the kiss, gently cupping one of Xue Yang's cheeks.

"Live." he encourages and stands up, holding out his hands to help Xue Yang do the same, "That's what I want."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Being kissed like that awakens his desires for Xingchen again, and he suddenly desperately wishes that A-Qing and Song Lan weren't in the next room... He can't resist giving Xingchen's bottom lip and light nibble before they part.

Xue Yang takes Xingchen's hands and gets to his feet, holding onto him as they make their way to the kitchen.

[gentledawn]

Later, he promises himself and Xue Yang both. Later. He will find a way for them to slip away and ease the ache of longing ever present between them.

Until then, they eat. He guides them to the table and smiles at Zichen, sensing where his soulmate is immediately.

"It smells good. Thank you, Zichen. Thank you, A-Qing."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Song Lan feels a wave of relief go through him when Xingchen and Xue Yang finally arrive. He notices that Xue Yang has his hair done in his old fashion. So that's what had taken them so long...

He smiles at Xingchen at least, even if the man can't see it.

Xue Yang just feels awkward as he sits at the table, as far from A-Qing and Song Lan as he can. "Yeah, thanks," he murmurs without looking at them. Instead he just starts to slowly drink his tea.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen sits down beside Xue Yang to keep him calm. He picks up a cup of tea and inhales the rich scent, humming. It feels good to drink tea again. The flavor and the heat are comforting to his throat. He has quite a nasty scar under his bandages.

"Please, everyone, eat." he encourages. A-Qing digs in - she always has a healthy appetite. She is growing!

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang doesn't have much of an appetite, but he eats enough to hopefully please Xingchen. He doesn't want to worry him.

Song Lan makes do with tea. He doesn't need to eat so there's no point in wasting food that would be better served by filling the bellies of Xingchen and A-Qing. He's the first to get up and start clearing the table when everyone is finished eating.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen listens intently to Xue Yang eating and nods, happy with the amount. He eats as much as he can too - more to set a good example than out of hunger. His body just...isn't accustomed to these small tasks anymore.

"Let me help, Zichen." he gets up and gathers what he can, bringing it to the wash basin. Then he touches Zichen's hand, speaking to him mentally:

"My throat hurts. Would you mind examining my...neck...for me?"

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang is glad to see Xingchen eating. He knows it'll probably be a while before he starts to feel hunger normally again, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't eat. His body needs the energy.

Song Lan fills the basin with water and looks up when Xingchen touches his hand. He frowns a little. Of course. We can do so once we're done here. He doesn't want A-Qing to have to see as he's sure that the scar must be pretty gruesome.

[gentledawn]

He knows he needs to push forward even if he feels like resting. That's the only way his body will strengthen and remember how he used to be.

The pain concerns him, however. Enough so that he decides to go to Zichen. Xue Yang will only worry himself to death - and he isn't far from dying as it is - and A-Qing is much too young to see...what she has seen. He doesn't want to add to her pain.

Besides Zichen might have some ideas about the scarring.

"Thank you."

Xingchen helps clean the dishes and set them back where they are meant to be. Then he smiles and says:

"I will bring in some water so if anyone wants to bathe, they can. Zichen, will you help me?"

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang can't help but to cast anxious glances at Xingchen and Song Lan. They're just washing dishes together, but he still can't help the jealousy just seeing them together. Can't help feeling insecure even though he's the one who is with Xingchen.

He doesn't want to be controlling though, so he doesn't say anything. Maybe a bath could be nice...

So as to not let Xue Yang know that they have an alternate way of communicating (oh yes he can feel his gaze on them), Song Lan takes Xingchen's hand and writes the character for "yes" into his palm with his finger.

[gentledawn]

Xingchen can feel the tension and the anxiety. He will show Xue Yang he has nothing to worry about soon, but... This must come first.

The answer on the palm of his hand earns a smile and he leads the way to the well, breathing out a sigh that wheezes slightly. Then, he unties the bandage around his neck, revealing the gash, the scar, he had caused with Shuanghua.

"How is it?"

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang squirms anxiously on his chair, but manages to not follow the two of them. He steals a glance at A-Qing instead, but he soon looks away. He has no idea how to even begin talking to her.

Song Lan follows out to the well and watches carefully as Xingchen undoes the bandage around his throat. He eyebrows furrow and he shudders a little at the sight of the nasty scar. He remembers all too well how Xingchen had taken Shuanghua to his own throat and sliced it open. It's not a pleasant memory.

It looks healed to me. Perhaps not as healed as it should be by now... Your body might not have caught up entirely.

[gentledawn]

A-Qing is a bit more brazen, narrowing her eyes at him.

"What are you up to anyway? You know they won't let you do what you did before, right?"

Xingchen visibly relaxes at the news he is...healing. Albeit slowly. He rests a hand gently on Zichen's chest, his legs feeling shaky with relief.

"Zichen... My Zichen..."

[bringingdowndisaster]

Xue Yang glares back at A-Qing. "Are you an idiot as well as a liar?" he snaps, "You think I would've spent all that time trying to bring him back if I wanted to do the same shit all over again?"

Seeing Xingchen like this, Song Lan can't help wrapping his arms around him and pulling him into a warm embrace. He strokes a gentle hand over Xingchen's hair. My Xingchen...