Chapter Text
The bell tinkled as the door to the small shop opened. A customer had arrived.
“Coming!” A voice called from the back of the shop.
Xie Lian set down the flowers he had been working on and wiped his hand on his apron before stepping out from his workroom and behind the counter at the front.
The man who had entered was tall and, well, handsome, effortlessly handsome. He was wearing a deep red vest over a black shirt. The sleeves of which rolled up to the elbows to reveal tattoos that xie lian was sure extended up to his shoulders. There was a leather eye patch over his right eye delicately embossed with a butterfly motif and his long hair was casually braided and thrown over one shoulder. Effortlessly handsome. That's the only way Xie Lian could describe this man. Effortlessly handsome and…a customer.
Xie Lian’s customer service smile was on his face in an instant, “How can I help today?”
“I’m looking to purchase flowers,” the man said, a smile appearing on his lips as his eyes flicked around the shop.
“Well then, you’ve come to the right place!” Xie Lian gestured around to the walls, and shelves, and floors that were littered with flowers and greenery of all kinds, “Is there a special occasion you’re shopping for?”
The man stepped forward and leaned an elbow on the counter, looking up at Xie Lian from behind thick lashes, “No occasion. I just saw the shop and had a sudden urge to purchase a bouquet.”
Xie Lian pressed his hands together, his service smile growing into a genuine grin, “No occasion bouquets are my favorite to make. It means you’re just thinking about them! Is there a flower or color your partner prefers? I have several options and I can make custom bouquets as well.”
“Red.”
The word was said almost instantly and practically cut Xie Lian off mid sentence. He glanced at the red vest and the red accessories and the red ribbon woven into the man’s braid. Red it is then.
“If it is red you’re looking for you can’t go wrong with the classic rose,” Xie Lian moved to the register and began to click buttons on the screen, “I have several sizes I can work up, what’s the budget?”
“No budget,” the man’s smile widened as Xie Lian gave him a flabbergasted expression, “You should make it how you want. I trust you.”
Xie Lian sputtered for a moment, looking at the man with wide eyes, “Are you certain? I mean, these things can get pretty pricey, especially roses outside of their season. I just want to make sure that you…actually I’ll give you a discount…you don’t mind waiting, I can have the bouquet done shortly for you.”
The man chuckled, “Money really isn’t a problem, gēgē. I think whatever you make will be perfect.”
Xie Lian stepped back into his workspace at the rear of the shop and began the bouquet. Red roses, white roses, and baby’s breath. A timeless classic and one of Xie Lian’s favorites. Well he had a lot of favorites but he did really enjoy the traditional bouquets. He tied the bundle with a red ribbon and packed it into a plastic bag with water and instructions before walking back out to the front.
The man hadn’t moved while Xie Lian was working. He was still leaning against the checkout counter, eye glued to Xie Lian’s every move. Xie Lian squirmed under the attention and turned his head.
“All finished,” he said as he handed the bouquet over to the other.
He took the flowers and Xie Lian’s brain decided to hone in on the moment that their fingers brushed.
“Thank you, gēgē.”
“O-of course,” Xie Lian shoved his hands into the pockets of his apron, “I do hope your partner enjoys them.”
The man’s eye was still locked on to Xie Lian and Xie Lian saw a softness there, “I am most certain he will.”
A small blush grew on Xie Lian’s cheeks and he quickly turned away, only hearing the tinkling of the bell as the man left his store.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
It was a slow day at the shop. Just like everyday. Xie Lian didn’t really get many customers and if it wasn’t for a particular investor his shop likely would have gone under years ago. But he doesn’t mind. Tending to the shop everyday gives him something to do. And when he does get customers, well that just makes his day even better.
So when the little bell over the door jingled while Xie Lian was in the middle of checking the water for his plants, he jumped a little, not expecting the sound.
Xie Lian composed himself quickly and turned towards the new customer with his smile.
“Welcome--Oh it’s you!”
New customer was not right. Standing in his doorway was a tall man with long, unbound hair, and wearing a plain red t-shirt that revealed that Xie Lian was correct in thinking his tattoos wound up to his shoulders. The man let the door shut behind himself as he leaned against the frame, crossing his arms over his chest.
“It is me,” He replied, the twinkle in his eye giving away that he did not feel slighted in the least.
“I am so sorry,” Xie Lian hurried to explain himself, “I didn’t expect you to come back. Most people don’t come back.”
The man’s brows wrinkled into a frown and his lips fell, “Then most people are wrong.”
Xie Lian’s smile faltered but he let out a small chuckle regardless, “Since you’re here. How did your partner like the roses?”
The man pushed himself away from the doorframe and closed the gap between them in quick strides, “He adored them. You really know your craft. So, I’ve come for another bouquet. Something different this time, something you’ve always wanted to put together but haven’t been able to.”
Xie Lian found himself looking up at the man, nearly drowning in the low tones of his voice. Was that cologne? He was certain he could smell cologne. It smelled so good. His cheeks heated up and he had to quickly glance away to compose himself. His eyes fell on a bunch of dwarf sunflowers.
“Your partner likes red, yes?” Xie Lian asked as he stepped around the man towards the sunflowers, “I know it’s not conventional but a good pairing is sunflowers and roses. They compliment each other, not to mention the flower language behind the two.”
The other man didn’t move from his spot but had turned his body to follow Xie Lian’s movements through the shop, “You know flower language as well?”
“It is something I studied many years ago,” Xie Lian replied, “Red roses, everyone knows, are for love but many don’t know dwarf sunflowers speak of adoration. It’s a very romantic bouquet when you combine the two, not to mention the beauty of the two colors next to each other.”
Xie Lian turned back around to face the man holding a sunflower in one hand and a red rose in the other. He held the two flowers close to each other, as if to make his point.
“Mmm, I do like that,” the man nodded. He reached out to grab the rose out of Xie Lian’s hand, paused for a moment in thought and then tucked the flower behind Xie Lian’s ear.
A burst of air came from Xie Lian’s nose as he tried to hide his laugh.
He removed the rose and then turned to place the two flowers onto the counter top, “Well if you like it then I will make it for you. I don’t have any other orders right now so I should have it done quickly and of course, you’ll get a discount for being a repeat customer.”
Xie Lian threw a smile over his shoulder, catching a matching grin on the man’s face.
“I will take whatever gēgē makes for me,” the man replied, “But I still have that request.”
Xie Lian tilted his head in confusion, “Request? I thought the bouquet…”
The man shook his head, “I asked you to make one you’ve never been able to make before. It seems that you have done this one.”
“Ah, you would be right. I have made this bouquet before…”
“So?” The man still stood in the middle of the shop, a thumb hooked into his pants pocket as he looked Xie Lian up and down, “What have you not made before?”
Xie Lian took a moment to look around the small shop. Every flower, stem, greenery, and plant that was lining the place had been used for one thing or another. There was only one flower that he had never been able to admire to its fullest or use in his craft, due to circumstances. He looked back to the other and took a breath.
“There is one. A flower from my youth that I have never been able to find again,” Xie Lian spoke softly, “It’s a flower from my hometown. I never fully appreciated it when I was there and now…well it doesn’t matter. It is long gone and the flower with it.”
Xie Lian shook his head and waved his hand, pulling himself out of his thoughts before speaking again, “Allow me to think on your request? There are a lot of bouquets that I have made. It'll be hard to think of one that I have not done before.”
The man just nodded, his face unreadable like stone or perhaps marble would be a more fitting descriptor. The man stood for a beat and then strode over to the counter, grabbed a pen and piece of scrap paper, before jotting something down. Xie Lian had to stop himself from rolling his eyes, when he saw how awful the handwriting was. How was he supposed to understand anything this man was writing?
The paper was slipped into Xie Lian’s palm as the man spoke once more, “You can call me San Lang. That’s my number, call me anytime. I’ll always be available for you, gēgē”
Xie Lian tucked the paper into his apron pocket and nodded, “Right, of course, I’ll make sure to fulfill your order as soon as possible. Shall I get started on the sunflowers in the meantime?”
Quick steps brought him to the back of his shop with the flowers he needed in hand. Xie Lian took a deep breath. He glanced over his shoulder and then quickly looked back when he made eye contact with the ma--San Lang. His gaze never left Xie Lian, just like last time. Xie Lian knew he should feel awkward or intimidated by that gaze but something about it made him more confident. Like, just knowing San Lang was there watching him made him puff up a little. He allowed himself a small smile at the thought before he went to work on the bouquet he had suggested.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
San Lang became a part of his daily routine after that. Xie Lian could practically expect the man to walk through his door at the same time every day like clockwork. Sometimes he came with a specific request, others he let Xie Lian have full creativity over the bouquet. And Xie Lian started to learn more about the other and vice versa.
“You have your own tattoo practice?” Xie Lian’s eyes widened and he bit down on the muffin in his hand.
The two were leaning on opposite sides of the counter enjoying the pastries and coffee that San Lang had brought with him that day.
“It’s actually just down the street from here, if gēgē ever wants to come visit, “San Lang eyed him over the lip of his cup.
Xie Lian swallowed and waved his hands, “I’m afraid I could never get a tattoo myself but yours are lovely. I noticed them the first time you walked in here. Did you do them all?”
San Lang laughed and it was a beautiful, melodious sound. The few times Xie Lian had gotten to hear it the laughter had instantly brought joy to his own face.
“I said you could visit, there’s no obligation to get a tattoo,” San Lang set his cup down and continued, “Most of them I’ve done myself. My husband wanted to try his hand at it once a while back. He did this one.”
San Lang pushed up his left sleeve and pointed out a small dot that continued into an unsteady short line.
“Oh,” Xie Lian looked at the poorly done tattoo and then suddenly found the wall very interesting, “Well I’m sure he was just nervous and didn’t mean to do that.”
“Haha, yes but it is my favorite one,” San Lang let his sleeve drop and Xie Lian caught sight of another tattoo lower on the inside of his left arm.
“What about this one?” He pointed to the collection of indecipherable squiggles that went from wrist to elbow.
“That was the first one I ever gave myself,” San Lang replied, “It is my husband’s name.”
Xie Lian squinted and tilted his head, he could just make out characters. What they said or if they were a name, he wasn’t sure. It seemed San Lang always had terrible handwriting, “Your husband must be very lucky.”
“Why do you say that?”
Xie Lian looked back up at San Lang. The other had a quirk to his brow and his head tilted in question but the corner of his lip twitched as if it desperately wanted to form a smirk.
“Well you buy him flowers every day for starters. Most people hardly buy their partners flowers once a year and usually that’s out of obligation.”
San Lang took a moment, sipping his coffee and setting it down before locking his eye to the other, “I am certainly not most people.” There was a moment and that smirk did in fact appear on San Lang’s lips, “and I would argue I’m the lucky one to be married to my husband. Doing this for him is the very least that I can do.”
San Lang’s eye bored into Xie Lian. It was heavy. the sheer amount of emotion in that gaze causing a flush to rush through his body, “I see. Perhaps I can meet him one day and get his opinion on the matter.”
“I can arrange that,” San Lang hummed and turned his eye back to the pastries in front of them, “Is gēgē going to eat that tart?”
Xie Lian’s brain took a moment to catch up to San Lang’s question. He also looked down at the tart sitting between them, the delicate fruit on top shimmering with a sweet glaze, “Only if San Lang isn’t going to.”
At that, San Lang pushed the tart closer to Xie Lian with a finger, “Gēgē can have it. It is one of your favorites after all.”
Xie Lian picked up the tart and placed it off to the side of the counter for later, “So what kind of bouquet will it be today?”
“Roses.”
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
Xie Lian decided to close the shop that day. He had made sure to inform San Lang earlier in the morning so the other would not be disappointed when he stopped by. He had also sent along his apologies to San Lang’s husband for the fact he would not receive flowers that day.
But it was a bright spring day, the air was crisp with just the slight chill of winter still hanging in the air, the flowers around his house had started to peak out and the sun was shining brightly. He felt like taking the day off. Perhaps he would wander to the park, have a picnic lunch or maybe just walk the streets and window shop.
The small amount of cash he had jangled in the pocket of his pants as he stepped out onto the street and took a deep breath of the fresh air. He had long since learned to appreciate peaceful days like these when they were given to him. He started his walk and his feet wandered towards the street his shop was on out of habit.
Xie Lian took a moment to look at his store front from across the street. It looked a little sad and lonely with the lights off and the closed sign in the door, his heart gripped in his chest at the sight. What if something happened while he was away? Someone could break in. A fire could start. The roof could collapse. He had experienced all of that before and this shop was special. It had been a gift.
He shook his head and turned to continue his walk, it was just one day. He will be back to attend to his flowers tomorrow. His luck nowadays is much much better than when he was young. The shop would not be going anywhere, of this he could be certain. If this was before, well, Xie Lian chuckled to himself, that shop would have been burnt or broken long before he had had the chance to get attached to it. Things were different now, have been different, for a while. Peaceful, like this spring day.
Xie Lian soon found himself sitting at a small table outside his favorite cafe. He sipped his tea and watched a young mother sooth her child across the way. A little ways down, his gaze was drawn to an elderly man purchasing some fruit from a shop. Simple life tasks. He smiled into his cup. A car drove by and he lost his view of the people he had been watching.
“Gēgē?”
Xie Lian’s head whipped up at the voice. Standing in front of his table was a tall man, hair pulled back in a crooked ponytail, eyepatch over his right eye, and a dark tank top that showed off the rest of those tattoos.
“San Lang?” Xie Lian gestured to the chair across from him, “Join me?”
San Lang took the seat, swiftly, “What are you doing out here, gēgē?”
“It was such a nice day,” Xie Lian sipped his coffee and turned back to look across the way where a couple were leaning on each other as they waited at the bus stop, “I thought it would be a waste to stay inside and I enjoy people watching from time to time. What about yourself? Don’t you have the shop at this time?” He turned his head to look at the other.
“Running an errand,” San Lang replied, “I was actually on my way back to the parlor when I saw you.”
“Oh! Don’t let me keep you if you have a client to get to,” Xie Lian’s eyes widened and he half stood from his chair when San Lang laughed and shook his head.
“No need. I like spending time with gēgē after all,” San Lang replied.
“Ah…well….,” Xie Lian looked away, maybe he shouldn’t have worn a sweater today, it was starting to warm up, “What kind of errand were you running?”
“Mmm,” and once again Xie Lian could feel that eye upon him, “I was making a deal with someone.”
“I hope it went well,” Xie Lian brought his tea to his lips only to find it was already empty.
“I believe it did. As long as they hold up their end, I’ll hold up mine,” San Lang leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
Xie Lian laughed and turned to him, “That sounds like a back alley deal. Should you be telling me about this?”
“Oh? Does gēgē think I work with the dark side of society?” San Lang raised a brow.
Hands came up and waved in front of Xie Lian as he shook his head and denied, “No, no, I would think no such thing. San Lang is too kind for that.”
San Lang snorted a laugh, “Good, because if I was , I may have had to silence you for knowing too much.”
The smile he threw at Xie Lian was playful and Xie Lian felt himself relax.
“Why don’t you come by the parlor, gēgē? I don’t think you’ve seen the place yet,” San Lang continued, changing the topic.
“I would like that,” Xie Lian began gathering up the trash from his table, placing any recyclables in a small woven bag he was carrying. At San Lang’s quizzical look he explained, “I can reuse the paper cup for a project I’m working on, plus they are very nice for growing seedlings. Scraps and trash can be very useful.”
“Very eco friendly,” San Lang nodded and gestured down the sidewalk when Xie Lian closed his bag and stood.
“I suppose,” Xie Lian fell into place at San Lang’s side as the two started walking, “Though, I have been collecting scraps well before that term was even coined.”
There was a laugh and Xie Lian couldn’t help the smile he gave to the man next to him.
“Perhaps, gēgē, they should call you a god of scrap collecting,” There was that glint of mischief in San Lang’s eye once again.
“Mmm,” Xie Lian tapped his chin as if in thought, “I believe some have called me that before.”
Another laugh and this time Xie Lian joined in too.
Soon Xie Lian was being guided through a glass door into a darkly lit tattoo parlor. A dark red sign on the wall declared the place as “Crimson Rain Tattoos”. Xie Lian looked around curiously. Plush leather couches were arranged neatly near the dark tinted windows, in front of them was a long counter separating the waiting area from the work area. The walls were adorned in red and black drapery. Silver butterfly details wound their way across the ceiling, glowing in the low light. Behind the counter, the shop seemed to be separated into smaller rooms. Presumably for different workstations but at the moment there was no one else around.
An upbeat song filtered through the space towards where they stood at the front. Xie Lian tilted his head towards it. The song sounded familiar.
“Is that Queen playing?” he asked and received a confirmation.
“My husband recently discovered them,” San Lang replied, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked further into the shop, “So, I’ve been playing their albums.”
A wide grin broke out on Xie Lian’s face and he hurried to follow San Lang towards the back, “I see.”
San Lang led them to the furthest room. He held open the curtain and let Xie Lian step in first. It was a larger room, probably the largest one there. There was space for what looked like a very comfortable chair, along with the necessary furniture for tattooing, a counter and cabinets for supplies, and a display case. Xie Lian, of course, wandered over to the display case first.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Xie Lian spoke as he peaked in through the glass doors to see what was hidden inside, “There’s a delay on my rose delivery this week and my personal garden has not bloomed yet. I’m afraid your husband will have to get another flower this week. You can give him my apologies.”
“That won’t be necessary,” San Lang waved him off and leaned against the wall, “Any bouquet gēgē makes will be perfect.”
The display case held a variety of items ranging in age but the ones that caught Xie Lian’s eye were a pair of dice, a calligraphy set, and a small stone statue of a god holding a flower and a sword. His heart squeezed in his chest.
“Are you certain? I don’t want your partner to be upset,” Xie Lian turned away from the display case after looking his fill.
“Gēgē, would I lie to you?” San Lang cocked a brow.
“I’d like to think you wouldn’t,” Xie Lian turned his attention to the wall of sketches San Lang was leaning against, “But then again, we’ve only known each other for a few months.”
The grin Xie Lian sent to San Lang hooked into a playful smirk with his last words. San Lang’s face flashed in confusion for the briefest of moments before smoothing into the handsome, relaxed and warm expression he had been wearing.
“That we have,” was his reply but Xie Lian had already turned back to the pictures in front of him.
The art ranged in style. Some were more modern aged pop art tattoos with lots of color, some were more subdued and “traditional” in style. Other’s still seemed even older, pasted to the wall gingerly on paper that was yellowing and torn. These sketches were done with ink and brush and spoke of a lifetime spent practicing the craft. More than half the pieces featured a butterfly of some kind and some more recent ones, pinned on top of others, had a variety of roses woven into the designs. Every one of them was done with loving care and, with a quick glance, Xie Lian spotted a fair few of the sketches on San Lang’s own body.
“These are all your doing?” Xie Lian asked the obvious question, gesturing to the wall.
San Lang nodded and moved to stand beside Xie Lian. So close, they were so close that Xie Lian was certain San Lang could feel his body heat and there was that cologne again. He looked up at the taller man but made no move to step away. Did San Lang even know how close they were standing in his workspace? Did he care? There was no one else here after all.
“You are very skilled,” Xie Lian continued speaking, watching San Lang’s expression soften as he looked down at him.
“I have had the best muse to assist me,” San Lang’s smile was small but the eye that met Xie Lian’s held a fire in it that Xie Lian thought he would not mind being burned by.
“Your partner?” Xie Lian turned back to the sketches on the wall before a blush could flare on his cheeks. That was the last thing he needed right now.
There was a noise of affirmation from beside him, “Yes, I have worshiped him for many years. Sculpting and drawing him got me through some of the worst years of my life.”
“I fear you may embarrass him by speaking like that to a stranger,” Xie Lian laughed.
“He should be used to it by now after how long we have been married.”
“Perhaps one never gets used to being loved so thoroughly and perhaps that is a good thing.”
A ringing noise like a doorbell went off somewhere in the parlor, interrupting their conversation. San Lang looked towards the curtain, his brows furrowing into a frown, before stepping out to check the front door. Curious, Xie Lian followed after him and back to the counter where a man brightly dressed in blues and greens had entered like a gust of wind.
“Li Xuan?” San Lang called out, “I didn’t know you had a client today.”
The man named Li Xuan patted down his long jacket, rearranged the bags on his arms and ran a hand through his hair before looking over at the other two standing there.
“Oh hey!” Li Xuan’s smile was easy and familiar, “No, I don’t. I just wanted to drop off some decorations for my station. Looks like you got a client, though. I won’t get in your way.”
Xie Lian looked to San Lang and San Lang caught his gaze before giving the barest of nods.
“This is Xie Lian,” San Lang began the introductions, “I’ve told you about him. Gēgē, this is Li Xuan, he's my newest hire.”
Xie Lian stepped forward, hand outstretched, and Li Xuan grasped it in both of his, “Nice to meet you.”
“I have heard so much about you! Well as much as I can in the two days I’ve been here,” Li Xuan’s smile seemed impossibly wider as he shook Xie Lian’s hand, “We should get coffee sometime. You could bring Hua Cheng and I can bri--”
A throat cleared behind Xie Lian cutting off Li Xuan’s words but Xie Lian only found himself nodding in response.
“I think I’d like that,” he said and Li Xuan finally released his hand.
“Well I won’t keep you,” Li Xuan readjusted himself once more, “I’ll just be in my room. You won’t even notice I’m here.”
And with that he blew off behind the counter disappearing with a flutter behind a curtain.
Xie Lian watched him go before bringing himself back to San Lang, “Was that?”
“I believe it is. I was going to tell you when I confirmed,” San Lang answered the unfinished question.
“It has been so long…”
“Gēgē will have to take him out to coffee it seems.”
“I guess I should start saving my spare change.”
Their eyes met and they both gave a laugh at that. Xie Lian shook out his head and let his smile rest. That was a meeting he had not expected today but it was a pleasant one. Memories of an old friend suddenly flooded his mind. A laugh on the breeze, a righteous sandstorm, a warmth at his side. After all these years, he had finally returned.
“Did you have other plans for the day?” San Lang’s smooth voice brought Xie Lian back to the present.
He blinked, having not realized he had been staring at the curtain Li Xuan disappeared behind, and let the question catch up to him, “I did not have any plans today. Might wander a bit and do some scrap collecting.”
“Then I will join you,” San Lang stepped towards the door, holding it open for the other.
“I’d like that, thank you,” Xie Lian replied.
They stepped out into the crisp spring air once more. It was a good day to have closed up shop.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
A few days had gone by. The bell over the door jingled and every time, Xie Lian perked up to see if San Lang had come to visit. And every time he was left disappointed. A few days had gone by. He hadn’t seen his friend in a few days. The last they spoke was a quick hello the day after Xie Lian had visited the parlor. There had been nothing since then.
The bell over the door jingled as Xie Lian signed the package release for his shipment of roses that had been delayed. He sighed as he placed the boxes in the back room and looked them over for quality. San Lang had said it was fine if there were no roses but maybe he hadn’t come by because he was waiting for the shipment after all.
Xie Lian glanced over at his phone. There was a new message from Li Xuan chatting about an upcoming market he wanted to visit but nothing from San Lang. Xie Lian bit his lip and grabbed his phone, unlocking it and pulling up San Lang’s contact info. Maybe he should just call? No, no, what if San Lang wanted his privacy. He did say something about a meeting before. Maybe he was just with a client. It was none of Xie Lian’s business after all. San Lang was just a customer. Customers come and go.
He set his phone back on the table and started to pick through the roses. Maybe he should make a bouquet just in case.
The bell over the door jingled and Xie Lian did not stand up from his packages.
“Just a moment,” He called out into the shop.
Xie Lian finished a cursory look over the roses, determined that they were not worse for wear, and then headed back to the front of the shop.
He looked down and wiped his hands on his apron as he spoke, “Welcome in, how can I help you?”
“Gēgē.”
Xie Lian’s head shot up so fast he nearly made himself dizzy. Standing in the doorway, lit by the light streaming in from the windows, was a tall, effortlessly handsome man. He had long hair partially braided on one side and an eye patch over his eye. He was wearing a red crop top over a black shirt and purposefully ripped jeans. The skin of his arms hinted at tattoos that travelled upwards and his smile seemed to light up a fire within Xie Lian’s heart. Effortlessly handsome. He had always thought so. It was truly unfair.
“San Lang,” the name came out with a breath. Xie Lian shook his head and calmed himself, “San Lang.” He said again this time more steady.
“Gēgē,” San Lang’s eyes twinkled with mirth as he watched Xie Lian compose himself.
“Where have you been?” Xie Lian screwed up his face, stepped out from behind the counter and poked a finger at the other’s chest.
San Lang had the right mind to at least look ashamed. He glanced away from Xie Lian and his smile faded, “Is gēgē upset with me? I am sorry there was something important I had to do.”
“I’m not upset,” Xie Lian moved to cup San Lang’s face, hesitated, and then dropped his hand to his side, “I was just worried. You’re usually here everyday. I am just wondering if your partner is upset. He hasn’t gotten his daily bouquets in a while.”
The smile was back as San Lang huffed out a laugh. His eyes met Xie Lian’s again and that handsome, effortlessly handsome, face tilted to the side.
“I suppose he might be. I will have to ask him when I get home tonight,” the corner of San Lang’s lip twitched into a smirk and his finger tapped at his chin in thought.
That’s when Xie Lian realized, one of San Lang’s arms had been behind his back the entire time. Was he hiding something? Xie Lian stretched himself up and bent over to try and peek around the other. San Lang, unfortunately, noticed his movements and twisted away from his prying eyes. He was hiding something.
“San Lang?” It was Xie Lian’s turn to smile. He stepped to the side to try and look again only to cause San Lang to turn around, swapping their original positions, “San Lang what are you hiding from me?”
“Why would you think I was hiding something, gēgē?
“Well you have your hand behind your back,” Xie Lian crossed his arms, “Secondly, you’re acting suspicious. What do you have?”
“It’s a surprise,” San Lang’s eye flicked upwards and then down again before settling on Xie Lian once more, “Do you recall some months ago I asked you for a bouquet you have never made before?”
There was a pause as Xie Lian thought back to the conversation and nodded.
“You told me that you were unable to make the bouquet because you could not find the flowers you needed,” San Lang continued.
“Ah yes!” Xie Lian threw a finger in the air, “I told you about the flowers of my homeland. I haven’t seen one in many years…San Lang?”
San Lang shifted against the counter and brought his hand out from behind his back. He held out a small pot, in the pot was a pale pink flower with many petals standing tall and proud. The scent hit Xie Lian at once and he found himself leaning in to take another whiff. Rolling memories of his past flooded his mind. The garden at the palace in bloom, his mother’s hair adorned with flowers, petals raining down on the streets during a festival, a statue of a god with a flower in one hand and a sword in the other in a little run down shack.
Xie Lian staggered and San Lang’s arm was there to catch him. He grabbed a hold of the other tightly to keep himself on his feet and looked up into San Lang’s face.
“H-how?” His voice shook and came out as barely a whisper.
“I contacted a collector online, a woman who was fascinated with ancient seeds. Somehow, she had gotten her hands on the seeds for this flower and got it to bloom. I managed to convince her to part with a couple of the seeds in her collection and one of her flowers,” San Lang kept his eye locked onto Xie Lian as he spoke, “That’s where I’ve been, gēgē. I flew out a few days ago to meet her. I just got back and came straight here.”
He placed the pot on the counter and pulled Xie Lian back up straight before wrapping an arm around his waist, holding Xie Lian to his side. Xie Lian stared, dumbfounded, at the little pale pink flower on his shop counter. It was too much. A pressure was building in his chest. It was warm and sharp, bubbly and heavy. He took a deep breath and blinked.
“San Lang…”
“Gēgē.”
Xie Lian turned in San Lang’s grip and wrapped his arms around his neck. He lifted himself up onto his toes and pressed his lips against the other’s. They kissed for a moment, two moments, or three before parting again.
“Thank you,” Xie Lian whispered against San Lang’s lips before dropping back down onto his heels.
San Lang’s grin was back and wider than before, “You broke our game.”
Xie Lian blinked again before understanding dawned on him. His eyes went wide and then he shoved his face into his husband’s chest as his body rocked with laughter.
“What choice did I have when you surprise me like this?” The words where mumbled against cloth and Xie Lian could feel San Lang’s chest rise and fall as his laughter joined in.
“Well did you like my surprise?”
“I love it,” Xie Lian finally pulled himself away from his husband, San Lang keeping an arm locked around Xie Lian’s waist, and turned back to stare at the flower from his memories, “You said there were seeds too?”
“Mhmm,” San Lang nodded and Xie Lian leaned back against him, “I told her my husband was also a collector. She’d love to speak to you. Said she can give you pointers on how to grow them.”
“Can we put them in our garden? Next to the roses?”
“I can think of no better place for them, gēgē.”
“They are going to make such a stunning bouquet some day.”
San Lang made a noise of affirmation and his eye gleamed as he soaked in the pure joy radiating off his husband. Xie Lian bloomed like the flower before them as he gently stroked one of the petals. Times like these, San Lang could feel the beat of a heart in his chest, pounding hard against his ribs, swollen with love.