Huaisang finds himself a little overwhelmed. He watches Xichen intently and every word moves him, the feeling of the headband on his skin, the other touching it... He could choose not to let him closer to continue to keep himself at arm's distance away from real vulnerability.
He leans in and presses his lips to the other's, pressing closer to him again.
"I love you," he whispers against his lips and it feels like it's not enough to just say that but other words are failing him.
His eyes slide shut when Huaisang leans in to kiss him - he hadn't realized how much something in him settled when the other was near, until he presses closer once again.
Until Huaisang says that he loves him.
A shudder rushes through him as though the words themselves are washing over him, and he winds his free arm around the other's waist to hold him close.
"I have no expectations," he says. "You do not have to give me a response tonight. This is not - there are no conditions. If you decide this is not what you want, I will still be here."
He will understand, if this is too much, too sudden. It is - not a component he expected, when he came here to try to make sure Huaisang was not alone, but he can not bring himself to regret that it happened, even if the other decides it isn't what he wants long term.
Huaisang kind of thought he was always going to be alone even after he finished his revenge. He's sure there are plenty who think he's no better than Jin Guangyao in some ways. Maybe they're right, but now he can focus more on being a Sect Leader, that's enough, right? He'd been telling himself it was enough for so long.
He wanted to share himself with someone... with Xichen. And for the first time in years, he didn't feel lonely.
"I want this," Huaisang says and leans to kiss him again, his hand burying once more in his hair to hold him close.
"Then you have it," he says before he kisses him back, like it's that easy. Like years of living in the shadows, learning everyone better than they knew themselves and letting the world think him incompetent, weighed down by grief and fueled by anger and betrayal - as though all of that will disappear simply because Xichen is promising to be by his side as he should have always been, as though it is something that can be let go of simply because they share a bed.
He knows better. He knows because years of manipulation, of everything he thought he was collapsing under him, his entire being cracked and fractured when he came to understand that the foundation he had built it on - that he is a good man, that he can trust without hesitation - was fundamentally incorrect, none of that disappears simply because Huaisang loves him, and has agreed to let him be there for him.
But it is better. Patches on his cracks, a balm to scars on his heart, it is better, with Huaisang here. He feels hope.
"Whatever the future holds, however we are supposed to move forward now, we will do it together."
He smiles at him, soft and fond, for just a moment before it turns playful. He reaches up to pull Huaisang's hand from his hair, instead pressing the other's wrists together. There's a slight raise of an eyebrow as he drapes the other end of the ribbon loosely over the one it isn't wrapped around.
It wouldn't disappear but he wouldn't be alone as he had been either with Xichen by his side. It would be different. He hadn't had anyone to lean on before, no one that saw through everything and now Xichen knew the truth and he didn't turn away from him. He is grateful to have him with him now.
"Together," Huaisang agrees and he smiles, believing in that fully and he is glad that he won't have to face the future alone. His eyes flicker down to his hands when the other pulls the second one down, the ribbon being draped over it and his heart beats a little faster.
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He leans in and presses his lips to the other's, pressing closer to him again.
"I love you," he whispers against his lips and it feels like it's not enough to just say that but other words are failing him.
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Until Huaisang says that he loves him.
A shudder rushes through him as though the words themselves are washing over him, and he winds his free arm around the other's waist to hold him close.
"I have no expectations," he says. "You do not have to give me a response tonight. This is not - there are no conditions. If you decide this is not what you want, I will still be here."
He will understand, if this is too much, too sudden. It is - not a component he expected, when he came here to try to make sure Huaisang was not alone, but he can not bring himself to regret that it happened, even if the other decides it isn't what he wants long term.
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He wanted to share himself with someone... with Xichen. And for the first time in years, he didn't feel lonely.
"I want this," Huaisang says and leans to kiss him again, his hand burying once more in his hair to hold him close.
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He knows better. He knows because years of manipulation, of everything he thought he was collapsing under him, his entire being cracked and fractured when he came to understand that the foundation he had built it on - that he is a good man, that he can trust without hesitation - was fundamentally incorrect, none of that disappears simply because Huaisang loves him, and has agreed to let him be there for him.
But it is better. Patches on his cracks, a balm to scars on his heart, it is better, with Huaisang here. He feels hope.
"Whatever the future holds, however we are supposed to move forward now, we will do it together."
He smiles at him, soft and fond, for just a moment before it turns playful. He reaches up to pull Huaisang's hand from his hair, instead pressing the other's wrists together. There's a slight raise of an eyebrow as he drapes the other end of the ribbon loosely over the one it isn't wrapped around.
"Let me?"
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"Together," Huaisang agrees and he smiles, believing in that fully and he is glad that he won't have to face the future alone. His eyes flicker down to his hands when the other pulls the second one down, the ribbon being draped over it and his heart beats a little faster.
"Yes," he murmurs.