[ xichen's hold on jiang cheng remains firm, balancing the two of them as the other man moves and nuzzles against his neck. it's instinctual to tilt it to the side, to allow his husband this comfort.
except it isn't something that he's sought before and it would be natural to offer it to a mate. but--
oh.
but.
xichen blinks, taking in the scent and what jiang cheng has told him compared to what he's seen. disciples would clear away from such a scent if it were linked to an omega, would steer clear of their alpha as they approached. there were books about this, xichen has read them. is sure that his uncle left him for jiang cheng as well when he had realized how committed they were to a marriage between alpha and beta, books that covered what a marriage to an alpha could entail.
but nothing had happened and xichen hadn't considered the possibility at all of what a fever, such pain and this scent could mean. he tilts his head, presses a gentle kiss to the side the other man's head. ] a-Cheng. How do I smell to you? [ and then a pause, tentative, as xichen's slides a hand up and down the curve of jiang cheng's spine. ] You're scenting me.
[ It feels better to let himself shove his body into Xichen as much as possible, to sink into his body and feel completely at ease there, to allow himself the knowledge that he's finally safe.
It's not something he can put into words and it doesn't feel as though it makes sense to him, the sudden calm and comfort that washes over him, but Jiang Cheng refuses to overthink the comfort that his partner is bringing him when he has felt so on edge for such a long time.
Lifting his head, he nuzzles into Xichen a little more, letting arms wrap around his strong body and his own weight lean into him. It takes him a little while to recognise that he is being spoken to, that Xichen is even saying something, and he tilts his head up to look at him with lidded eyes and a hazy gaze, cheeks flushed and warm, his skin heated from what is thrumming through him. It feels like he is burning. ]
How do you smell? [ He huffs, shaking his head as he nuzzles into his neck more, hands gripping at his clothes. ] You smell good. You smell like home.
[ xichen hasn't seen that look before, not on his husband's face. not quite like this.
instinctively though, he knows. he knows what this means, that they need to get away from the door at least and somewhere safer. his hold on jiang cheng tightens, pulling him more firmly into his chest as if there were any closer to go. ] Have you made a nest?
[ it's difficult to still speak with jiang cheng barely giving him room to inhale, but he doesn't want to stop him. not when he's calmer, not panicked even if there's still a sense of frenzy building. ] We need to go there.
[ Jiang Cheng shakes his head, scoffing a little absently in the midst of his nuzzling and attempting to practically climb into Xichen's clothing. ]
I don't make nests.
[ Because he isn't an omega, so he has no reason to. It's better now, having Xichen this close, feeling safe and comfortable in the middle of the safety of their rooms, letting himself curl around his husband.
It feels better, he feels contained, and he hums a little softly. ]
[ 'by the heavens, if it is a nest...' xichen thinks but knows better than to voice. ] Can you show me the bed then, my heart?
[ if he glances in the direction of where the bed is positioned in the room, he can tell the bedding has been removed and it is not being used.
he does loosen his hold on jiang cheng's frame, reaches for one of his hands to interlace their fingers so they are still connected even if they must move. ]
[ He doesn't much want to let go and shuffle to their bed, but with Xichen leaning back and away Jiang Cheng can't do much more than nodding, moving back and letting himself stay connected. He tugs gently on his husband's palm and moves them back towards the bedroom space.
It's not necessarily a nest, but it's clear that it's something close to it.
Some of their robes have been wrapped up, a handful of blankets tucked around them, and Jiang Cheng motions absently as he turns his head and smiles fondly at his husband. ]
[ it takes decades of self control not to take a deep breath, to hold it for a few seconds and release it before calling that nest exactly what it is.
he takes the hand that jiang cheng used to motion toward the nest and lifts it to his own lips, smiles back because the smile on the other's lips makes something in the alpha's mild melt. ] It is very nice, a-Cheng. [ a very nice nest. he doesn't say, but there's pride in his voice over what he's been shown.
he glances at collection of robes, notices his own are amongst them though he had not planned to join his husband on this trip for some time. he wonders how long this has been brewing for jiang cheng to have brought both of their clothing along, if he'd thought about it. ] Do you want to add the robes I'm wearing to it?
[ The fact of the matter is that it cannot be a nest because Jiang Cheng isn't an omega, doesn't go into those sorts of moods where nests and curling up is a necessity. He was never raised to know how to build one, so he simply accepts the fact that it simply cannot be such a thing and it's just a warm, comfortable bed instead.
At least Xichen is happy, which is a relief after how much pain and discomfort he had been in for the last few hours. Drawing his husband close, Jiang Cheng leans up to steal another kiss, their noses brushing for a moment before he huffs a little noise and shakes his head. ]
If you want.
[ Which means absolutely yes, especially with the way that his fingers begin to sink under his husband's robes, as if prepared to strip him layer by layer. ]
[ it is very much like jiang cheng, to deny himself something and turn it into something xichen wishes. it would be something xichen blamed on omega natured but that is simply his husband's nature, when it comes to his own wants and needs.
he lets out a soft sigh, but presses his lips to the corner of the other's mouth and along his jaw. he takes the opportunity to nip at his ear, then right below it as he brushes his nose against his neck and inhales a smell that has always felt like home and all he's wanted.
it's stronger now, settles over him and makes him lightheaded. nearly enough that he forgets what he'd asked and why jiang cheng's answer worried him. it's jiang cheng's hands that remind him. ] I would like that. [ he says, not realizing that his voice is a bit slurred from pheromones he's inhaled.
he lifts his hands from jiang cheng's hips to help him peel off the layers, half expecting them to be batted away. ] I would also like to join you in -- in the bed.
[ It's impossible not to lean into all the kisses, to press himself up and into Xichen and lean into his embrace. Everything inside of him is demanding that he wrap himself around his husband and not let go - a familiar feeling, but more intense than usual.
Shifting he takes the outermost layer of Xichen's robes and turns to the bed, beginning to tuck it all into the spots it best fits. It takes him a moment to be happy about it, to get it just right so that it looks as good as he can make it, and only then does he turn back to Xichen.
His expression remains heated, and there's a new intensity to him as he crawls back over to his husband. ]
[ while jiang cheng is dealing with the outer layer, xichen strips himself of the others until he's left in just the pants that make up his inner most layer.
he sets the pile right inside the nestbed, in case his husband wants to add that to the pile.
but at the invitation he crosses the threshold, joins jiang cheng amongst bedding, robes, and whatever else he's squirrel away. he reaches for him, drawing him to his chest again before burying his nose in his husband's neck. it starts as kisses to his skin, then he's leaving a love bite behind. ] You smell, you taste so good.
[ Jiang Cheng does seem to reach out and fiddle with the new layers for a moment, but it seems the attention from his husband is far more distracting and he turns to Xichen almost without pause, shifting to move closer and lift his head to offer a small smile.
He's happier now, safe and contained in their bed, surrounded by the way his husband smells and the contentment that comes hand in hand with it. Lifting himself up a little, he wraps his body around the other man and finally relaxes, closing his eyes and offering a small smile. ]
You smell good as well. [ And there's no hesitation as he presses up to try and get more. ] I missed you.
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except it isn't something that he's sought before and it would be natural to offer it to a mate. but--
oh.
but.
xichen blinks, taking in the scent and what jiang cheng has told him compared to what he's seen. disciples would clear away from such a scent if it were linked to an omega, would steer clear of their alpha as they approached. there were books about this, xichen has read them. is sure that his uncle left him for jiang cheng as well when he had realized how committed they were to a marriage between alpha and beta, books that covered what a marriage to an alpha could entail.
but nothing had happened and xichen hadn't considered the possibility at all of what a fever, such pain and this scent could mean. he tilts his head, presses a gentle kiss to the side the other man's head. ] a-Cheng. How do I smell to you? [ and then a pause, tentative, as xichen's slides a hand up and down the curve of jiang cheng's spine. ] You're scenting me.
no subject
It's not something he can put into words and it doesn't feel as though it makes sense to him, the sudden calm and comfort that washes over him, but Jiang Cheng refuses to overthink the comfort that his partner is bringing him when he has felt so on edge for such a long time.
Lifting his head, he nuzzles into Xichen a little more, letting arms wrap around his strong body and his own weight lean into him. It takes him a little while to recognise that he is being spoken to, that Xichen is even saying something, and he tilts his head up to look at him with lidded eyes and a hazy gaze, cheeks flushed and warm, his skin heated from what is thrumming through him. It feels like he is burning. ]
How do you smell? [ He huffs, shaking his head as he nuzzles into his neck more, hands gripping at his clothes. ] You smell good. You smell like home.
no subject
instinctively though, he knows. he knows what this means, that they need to get away from the door at least and somewhere safer. his hold on jiang cheng tightens, pulling him more firmly into his chest as if there were any closer to go. ] Have you made a nest?
[ it's difficult to still speak with jiang cheng barely giving him room to inhale, but he doesn't want to stop him. not when he's calmer, not panicked even if there's still a sense of frenzy building. ] We need to go there.
I think-- I know what this is.
no subject
I don't make nests.
[ Because he isn't an omega, so he has no reason to. It's better now, having Xichen this close, feeling safe and comfortable in the middle of the safety of their rooms, letting himself curl around his husband.
It feels better, he feels contained, and he hums a little softly. ]
I made our bed.
no subject
[ if he glances in the direction of where the bed is positioned in the room, he can tell the bedding has been removed and it is not being used.
he does loosen his hold on jiang cheng's frame, reaches for one of his hands to interlace their fingers so they are still connected even if they must move. ]
no subject
It's not necessarily a nest, but it's clear that it's something close to it.
Some of their robes have been wrapped up, a handful of blankets tucked around them, and Jiang Cheng motions absently as he turns his head and smiles fondly at his husband. ]
See?
no subject
he takes the hand that jiang cheng used to motion toward the nest and lifts it to his own lips, smiles back because the smile on the other's lips makes something in the alpha's mild melt. ] It is very nice, a-Cheng. [ a very nice nest. he doesn't say, but there's pride in his voice over what he's been shown.
he glances at collection of robes, notices his own are amongst them though he had not planned to join his husband on this trip for some time. he wonders how long this has been brewing for jiang cheng to have brought both of their clothing along, if he'd thought about it. ] Do you want to add the robes I'm wearing to it?
no subject
At least Xichen is happy, which is a relief after how much pain and discomfort he had been in for the last few hours. Drawing his husband close, Jiang Cheng leans up to steal another kiss, their noses brushing for a moment before he huffs a little noise and shakes his head. ]
If you want.
[ Which means absolutely yes, especially with the way that his fingers begin to sink under his husband's robes, as if prepared to strip him layer by layer. ]
no subject
he lets out a soft sigh, but presses his lips to the corner of the other's mouth and along his jaw. he takes the opportunity to nip at his ear, then right below it as he brushes his nose against his neck and inhales a smell that has always felt like home and all he's wanted.
it's stronger now, settles over him and makes him lightheaded. nearly enough that he forgets what he'd asked and why jiang cheng's answer worried him. it's jiang cheng's hands that remind him. ] I would like that. [ he says, not realizing that his voice is a bit slurred from pheromones he's inhaled.
he lifts his hands from jiang cheng's hips to help him peel off the layers, half expecting them to be batted away. ] I would also like to join you in -- in the bed.
no subject
Shifting he takes the outermost layer of Xichen's robes and turns to the bed, beginning to tuck it all into the spots it best fits. It takes him a moment to be happy about it, to get it just right so that it looks as good as he can make it, and only then does he turn back to Xichen.
His expression remains heated, and there's a new intensity to him as he crawls back over to his husband. ]
You can. Please.
no subject
he sets the pile right inside the
nestbed, in case his husband wants to add that to the pile.but at the invitation he crosses the threshold, joins jiang cheng amongst bedding, robes, and whatever else he's squirrel away. he reaches for him, drawing him to his chest again before burying his nose in his husband's neck. it starts as kisses to his skin, then he's leaving a love bite behind. ] You smell, you taste so good.
no subject
He's happier now, safe and contained in their bed, surrounded by the way his husband smells and the contentment that comes hand in hand with it. Lifting himself up a little, he wraps his body around the other man and finally relaxes, closing his eyes and offering a small smile. ]
You smell good as well. [ And there's no hesitation as he presses up to try and get more. ] I missed you.