Thread by @Foxypepsi1

🧵 Thread fic
#XieLianWeek2022
🌄 Day 4 Prompt: Lost years

Xie Lian’s wandering years + happy #hualian 800 years later

//

Loneliness was something Xie Lian was used to—and at the same time, he wasn't.

At least in the beginning some heavenly officials were watching him basking, their eager, hidden eyes on him burning his skin.

He never thought he'd miss those curious gazes, but as loneliness laced his thoughts more frequently, he started to crave the slightest of interactions.

However, as the shackles sealed his luck away, his misfortune slowly started to affect the humans who showed him a sliver of kindness.

Staying at barns or such things for one night would have been enough, but more often than not, these places collapsed caught on fire, or got run over.

Xie Lian couldn't deal with the aftermath most of the time. So he packed and left, isolating himself -for other's sake.

Same logic, during his wandering, companionship was out of the question—not counting his own jinx demon of course that eventually left him, having starved for half a year because of the lack of joy he would consume.

Animals—not the venomous, biting, blood-sucking kind—were slightly better. The wetness of their nose and the softness of their fur reminded Xie Lian of human touch.

Sometimes he could stay a bit longer with some people, having meals in tea shops, being collected as a soldier, being followed by stray animals and kids, giving them the little rations he earned by taking up odd jobs.

He knew he made mistakes aplenty, their numbers like the infinite stars, each one holding memories of failure.

The solitude that guided him up the mountains and through the sand, his trail washed away by the rain.

It reminded him of descension, drought, and disease.

He remembered swirling grey clouds, a curse and a sacrifice he would never allow himself to forget.
He saw it in the red and white flowers he passed by.

He got reminded whenever blades collided on the battlefields—a glint of a black sword, royal blood spilled.

800 years lost. Lost years - Meant to be forgotten.

But he never did.

However, over time they just slowly trained them to take new forms: the quiet of dawn, the sun-painted silver lining, the smile of children, the sound of rain, or a delicious steamed bun he had yesterday.

-800 years later-

"Saaan Laangh" Xie Lian said, sleepiness made the words drag.

"Sleep a bit more. The heavenly trash should just wait for us." Hua Cheng's voice sounded next to his ears, while his fingers gently ran through his hair.

"Us?" Xie Lian asked, hiding in the crook of Hua Cheng’s neck.

"If gege doesn't mind."

"Mn. I don't mind." Xie Lian murmured, already drifting back to sleep.

He smiled softly at how whenever they went, the other always wanted to tag along.
But that's what newlyweds do, right?

800 years ago, he ventured forth aimlessly until his strength carried him. A long, lonely walk.

Now, he has a place to stay, a place to call home.

And now he has Hua Cheng to share everything with, be it the sunrise, the flowers along the way, the odd-shaped rocks on the ground, or a simple, delicious steamed bun they had yesterday.

/ END 🌄 - Late entry, but here we are.

Other days are here too:

https://twitter.com/Foxypepsi1/status/1546207924292403200?t=V-PeY2VSqbtQsDAA9CCh2Q&s=19