Thread by @Foxypepsi1

🧵Thread fic
⚔️ #hualian strip-sparring
#XieLianWeek2022 Day 3: Martial God

//

"Let’s go again."

"It's already the third round, gege is being insatiable," Hua Cheng says, but he readily accepts whatever Xie Lian wishes to do to him. "Or is it that you can't get enough?"

It's not Xie Lian who answers his teasing, but a metallic 'clang'.

Sparks fly when blade meets blade, reflecting in his dark eyes, half-lidded with concentration and something that always lurks inside him when facing Hua Cheng.

Hua Cheng strides forward with his scimitar—it's different from Eming, who tends to get either overly excited or balky with Xie Lian around, thus, it gets
banned from the armory whenever the pair indulge themselves in sparring.

It's for the better, given how often these sessions result in a different kind.

Xie Lian blushes at the memories, but jinks his way out of Hua Cheng’s upcoming blade then draws his sword again.

Hua Cheng looks at him, raising a shapely eyebrow as he casually tosses his saber into the air, catching the hilt after a few idle spins.

Xie Lian doesn't let himself be swooned by his nonchalant grace, their weapons collide, withdraw, then clash repeatedly.

With his red robes discarded, Hua Cheng only wears a sleeveless white tunic and Xie Lian has to admit how the enticing dance of the wild strokes of his own name, carved into that firm forearm drives him astray.

Hua Cheng whips around, his black mane framing his handsome face—

—it complements the easy smirk he offers before moving with impeccable speed.

The sight of his husband leaves Xie Lian befuddled. It's a momentary thing, but enough for Hua Cheng to approach him.

He aims for his sword-holding arm but before he could grab after his wrist, Xie Lian lets the grip of the sword slide out of his fingers, refusing to let it fall into the opponent's hands.

The ruse might have got Hua Cheng's fancy because—

—because Xie Lian feels the phantom touch of a featherlight kiss on his forehead, but he has no mind to dwell on it—he uses his feet to bounce the sword back into his hands, turning it to Hua Cheng.

The point of Xie Lian's long sword touches the collar of Hua Cheng’s shirt.

"Another hit." Xie Lian states, his lips curling into a smile. "Take it off."

"Yes, Your Highness." Hua Cheng begins to undress, revealing exceedingly beautiful, firm muscles. The sight makes Xie Lian’s mouth dry. Or water. Xie Lian isn't aware of which happens before the other.

He only knows the odds are not in his favor—they've never been since he agreed to this game: exchanging hits for pieces of clothing.

He immediately finds himself distracted by the droplets of sweat glistening on the snow-white expanse of Hua Cheng’s skin.

Xie Lian clears his throat, clears his head.

"Pay attention to your stance, San Lang, it betrayed your intent before."

"My intent?" Hua Cheng quirks his brows, fingers leisurely stroking the cross-guards on his saber. "What would that be?"

"Play innocent, I see." Xie Lian says, amused. "Relying on ploys is not always the best strategy. I've already seen through you."

"But gege, I wouldn't dare lie to you. It's a long-held wish of mine to catch you off-guard." Hua Cheng's voice drops low, before striking again.

You're the only one who has the skills or looks to do so, Xie Lian muses because it's true:

he would never let himself be pushed back (not in a real fight anyway), being too agile and practiced to allow himself these kinds of distractions.

Something's amiss, why isn't he acting? Xie Lian thinks.

With a blink above his shoulder, he registers the stunned look on Hua Cheng's face, how he watches with parted lips as Xie Lian’s hair uncoils and sticks to his already damped, naked torso.

Xie Lian turns to him, but being familiar with Hua Cheng’s tactics, he doesn't lower his guard just yet.

"Does the ribbon count?"

“Why?" Hua Cheng's single eye twinkles. "Did I land a hit?"

"You… Just now…" But Xie Lian trails off.

"What did I do to gege?"

"Don't talk." Xie Lian reprimands, ears flaring up. "Just come at me, San Lang. You promised you won't hold back."

/⚔️ END of sneak peek for now!

A full NSFW fic with more hualian (doing martial arts amd gettimg hot and bothered) is coming to AO3 around Xie Lian’s birthday.

If that's your thing, make sure to stick around! 💗

See my other entries for Xie Lian’s Week 2022 here:

https://twitter.com/Foxypepsi1/status/1546035163154550785?t=xgOxT8ezA9w5Qn9dnmKF3w&s=19

It's and* and getting* I just really lile the letter "m" it seems, okay?