Work Text:
“Aww, look at you! Aren’t you the cutest thing ever?” Xie Lian let out a soft, excited coo, gushing as he ran his fingers gently through those fluffy hair. A bright smile tugged on the corners of the crown prince’s lips when the bundle of warmth in his arms responded with a small whimper. “Yes, yes, of course you are!”
“Gege…” Hua Cheng whined, feeling helpless over the situation and how out of place he was.
His husband’s eyes are literally sparkling with such excitement and joy, a surprisingly unfamiliar sight even for Hua Cheng who thought he knew everything about him.
“C’mon, San Lang. How can you disagree?” Xie Lian turned towards him and frowned a little in disapproval.
“Don’t you already have me, gege?” Hua Cheng said through a pout, looking so dejected that the crown prince swore he could almost see non-existent puppy ears drooping.
Xie Lian chuckled fondly before fixing his gaze on the puppy again, “But look at this poor thing. It doesn’t seem to have a home it can return to. Can’t we take it in?”
Hua Cheng did not answer back. Because the very second Xie Lian looked away, he was engaged in a staring contest with this grimy mutt they had come across on the way back home, who also somehow ended up in his Highness’ arms until now.
Covered in mud all over, it looked so, so tiny and pitiful; clearly famished and scared
The thought of something like that being in contact with his god ticked Hua Cheng off. “It’s too filthy to be near Your Highness—”
“You know, San Lang,” There was a pause after Xie Lian cut him off, the tone of his voice dropping an octave all of a sudden.
Hua Cheng instantly picked up on that familiar change of tone and perked up.
“I’ve always wanted a pet, especially a puppy, ever since I was a child. But I was never allowed one no matter how much I asked for it…since I’m the crown prince and had more important matters to set my attention on.”
With his shoulders slumped all the way down, his head hanging low and a small, sad smile on his face, Xie Lian looked heartbroken. “I understand though…I really do. I should be content with what I already have, right? I can’t possibly have every wish of mine fulfilled. That’d be too selfish. Guess we’ll just have to…let this little one go.”
“Gege…I didn’t mean— I was just—” Hua Cheng panicked, paling a shade lighter than he already was as the barely visible colours were completely drained from his face.
This wasn’t the first time his husband pulled this trick on him, but it still rendered Hua Cheng at a loss for words.
He wasn’t stupid or dense, of course, but seeing even the slightest hint of sadness on his beloved was simply unacceptable to him. However, it still didn’t sit well with him so he put up his last, weak protest. “But still, a stray puppy is just…”
“San Laaaang.” Xie Lian dragged out his husband’s name and pulled his best attempt at this newly learned technique – the puppy eyes. “Please?”
The ghost king let out a long, long sigh. “That’s so unfair, gege. You know I can never refuse a request from you. Not when you’re asking like that.”
“It’s a yes, then?” A smile blossomed across Xie Lian’s face, asking even though both of them knew the answer already.
The ghost king nodded, albeit very, very begrudgingly.
The stray puppy – which Xie Lian decided to name as Xiao Hei – wasn’t faring too well. Even after being bathed, treated and fed personally by the crown prince, it still appeared lethargic and listless as it lied in a makeshift bed filled with soft hay.
Most likely consumed by hunger as well as the lack of proper rest and care, Xiao Hei could never swallow more than a few bites out of all the different types of food Xie Lian had offered and patiently feed it with.
It was worrying, so Xie Lian made it his top priority to check on Xiao Hei every waking hour, making sure there would be fresh food ready for whenever it felt like eating or tend to any needs it has.
On the other hand, Hua Cheng didn’t think it was going to be this bad at first.
Sure, he knew he wouldn’t have His Highness all to himself anymore – which by the way, felt like the end of the world to him – but he didn’t expect Xiao Hei to have Xie Lian’s undivided attention, the one thing that belonged only to him before it came along.
He was being replaced. By a weak, filthy-looking mutt, no less.
Although there wasn’t much Hua Cheng could do about that.
Because as Xie Lian busied himself with asking his friends and other heavenly official colleagues on any basic knowledge on caring for a puppy, rushing in and out of the shrine gathering needed ingredients, sticking by Xiao Hei’s side without leaving for any longer than he needed to – Hua Cheng could only watch silently from the side.
“Ah, it’s alright, San Lang. I was the one who wanted to keep Xiao Hei, so I can’t possibly trouble you to look after it too. I can manage on my own, don’t worry! You can tend to your own matters, no need to watch over both of us.” Xie Lian had told him earlier on with a reassuring smile.
And that was how Hua Cheng, the terrifying supreme ghost king feared by all three realms, the great ruler of the ghost city, only husband to the strongest martial god to ever exist – ended up looking like an abandoned, kicked puppy sadly wagging his imaginary tail at the corner of Puqi shrine all by himself.
Despite how shocking it may sound, Hua Cheng did try his best to put up with it.
He tried really, really, really hard not to take it to heart because how could a puppy compare to him in terms of importance to His Highness?
Anyone could have a pet, several even, but you can only have one husband. They got married so long ago and Xie Lian chose him. Hua Cheng was special, the most special one of all, an existence that was irreplaceable so there was nothing to worry about.
Gege still cared, adored and loved him. For sure.
“I’m so sorry, San Lang! But Xiao Hei…it still needs a lot of my attention…” Xie Lian mumbled, feeling apologetic after having forgotten part of their daily routine – if you could even call that one – of brushing each other’s hair at the end of the day before cuddling to sleep.
Xie Lian had never once forgotten, partially also due to the fact that they were usually inseparable and did everything together, so how could either of them ever?
But now, he was still sitting by Xiao Hei’s makeshift bed, showing no signs of getting into bed with Hua Cheng.
“It’s alright, gege.” Hua Cheng said through a forced smile, “This San Lang understands, and he…can wait.”
He had waited 800 years after all. Waiting a few more for this puppy to eventually cease to exist isn’t so hard. Right?
However, even knowing that didn’t stop Hua Cheng from sulking the entire night after tucking himself into bed.
When the stray puppy recovered from its state of weakness a few days later, Hua Cheng thought things will finally get better. Gone were the torturous nights of sleeping by himself, the instances where he had to muster up a smile despite getting neglected and the constant feeling of loss from the a void within him.
But oh no, how wrong he was.
Now that Xiao Hei was at its best health, brimming with so much energy every single day, Xie Lian instead happily poured all his time and attention into playing and cuddling with it.
Cuddling.
That damned mutt was on top of His Highness, dirty paws touching him everywhere and licking his beautiful face excitedly like a beast.
Oh for fuck’s sake – that was supposed to be his place.
But His Highness looked happy.
The sight of Xie Lian being filled with so much joy, genuinely laughing till his cheeks were flushed pink, turning excitedly towards him to share something new he found out about Xiao Hei – all of these made Hua Cheng’s unbeating, cold heart soften and swell with warmth.
Sigh, how could he deny or deprive his beloved of that?
And so, Hua Cheng could only swallow all his whines as he continue watching them with eyes burning with envy.
Some more agonizing days later – which felt more like centuries if you asked Hua Cheng – a villager showed up in front of Puqi shrine, requesting help in looking for a lost puppy that fit the description of Xiao Hei.
It didn’t take long for the pieces to fall into their place as Xie Lian realized the puppy he took in, had an owner after all.
Turned out the villager had lost sight of his puppy while working in the fields one day and couldn’t find it anywhere no matter how hard he searched. He grew more worried and anxious with time, ultimately had no choice but to seek help from Xie Lian.
After apologizing for having taken the puppy without permission as well as informing the owner how he had looked after it, Xie Lian was left with no choice but to let Xiao Hei return to its owner.
“Daozhang, thank you for taking care of my Hei Zai.” He bowed deeply and thanked him repeatedly, “You’re always welcomed to visit him anytime!”
“Ah, no need to mention it. I’ll surely visit when I can then.” Xie Lian bid Xiao Hei a reluctant goodbye, waving back a little longer even after they were already out of sight.
A sigh escaped Xie Lian’s lips. Although Xiao Hei was under his care for only a little over a week, it still felt rather empty to part with it now. Farewells had never been pleasant especially after one had gotten attached.
Before he could continue dwelling in his sense of loss though, Xie Lian felt something warm and fluffy – which reminded him of Xiao Hei – nuzzling against him. The crown prince glanced over only to find his husband resting his head on top of his shoulder with a small pout hanging on his lips.
“Woof.” Hua Cheng ‘barked’.
Xie Lian laughed, feeling cheered up by his husband’s gesture already, “I apologize for having neglected you the past week, San Lang. You must have felt quite lonely.”
Hua Cheng nodded, not even hiding his willful childness after being deprived of his beloved for a week. “This San Lang was indeed sooooo very lonely after being replaced by a stray puppy. I was miserable without you, gege.”
“Now, now, don’t say that. My husband can never, ever be replaced by anyone. You know that.” Xie Lian reached out to pat the top of his head before leaning in for a quick peck on his cheek. “Besides, part of the reason why I wanted to take Xiao Hei in was because it reminded me a lot of San Lang.”
“Oh? How so?” Hua Cheng closed his eye, melting under his husband’s warm, gentle touches that he had missed dearly.
“Hmm, it’s a secret.” Xie Lian pulled back his hand and smiled playfully.
“Gege…” Hua Cheng whined over the loss of the touches before leaving a trail of soft, ticklish kisses all over Xie Lian’s neck in return. “How could you keep secrets from me!”
Xie Lian let out a series of giggles and after having calmed down from that, he said, “Well, you’re both really adorable.”
“But am I not more adorable than that mutt?” Hua Cheng looked up at him with his puppy eye, which resembled what Xie Lian showed when he asked to take in Xiao Hei. Well, it was a technique he learned from his own husband after all. And it worked just as well in melting his heart each time too.
Xie Lian pinched his nose lightly before going in for a kiss on his lips.
“Yes, yes. San Lang is the cutest in the world. The loveliest, sweetest and most precious of all!”