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The night was peaceful, the quiet moon high in the star-filled sky, and the bedroom secure, just dark enough for slumber.
Hua Cheng lay upon the bed on his side, gazing upon Xie Lian, deep in dreams. Peaceful dreams, he was sure, or at least one formed from more recent memories; it was what he deserved.
Hua Cheng reached out his hand and stroked Xie Lian's hair, tucking it behind his ear, gently, carefully, so as to not wake him. He knew what he had to do to keep his love safe and sound. This was the least he could do, after all the years, when he learned the hard way how to survive.
Xie Lian survived long enough to know of pain and hardship, as did Hua Cheng. Now they could rest easy, their hands entwined. Hua Cheng rested his hand on top of Xie Lian's, and he soon felt his love hold his hand close. Such warmth, so loving and tender, he couldn't help but smile.
Xie Lian smiled back, his eyes still closed, and Hua Cheng held back a chuckle. It was tempting to wake his love out of an apparently-sound sleep to give him a kiss, or something more. Hua Cheng closed his eyes, his hand threaded with Xie Lian's.
They could live now, and with that, there would be no shortage of nights.