Thread by @alula_fujotings

My next V-day thread is for my sister, my twin, my love @sailordazzion! She requested some #hualian so here we go~ #TGCF

Xie Lian has periods in his long life that he simply cannot remember.

memory loss, first meetings, San Lang being San Lang

[oh yeah, and vampires!!]

It’s not for lack of trying, but sometimes the mind wilts. It might also be because he doesn’t get enough human blood to be considered a healthy vampire.

He refuses to hurt the humans in the towns he lives in though, so he sticks to animals in neighboring forested areas. He’s been on this “diet” for a long time, but not long enough in his eyes, due to his early years; he somehow can’t forget those, no matter how much he’d like to.

He’d been a part of a clan that moved through the East, going from town to town and taking blood from whomever they wanted. Even then though, Xie Lian had always made sure it was consensual, unlike some of his other coven mates.

His falling out with the coven leader, however, is what resulted in Xie Lian being an outcast in all vampire circles. He doesn’t mind though, if it means there’s one fewer centuries old vampire out there draining humans of their blood.

But back to these periods he can’t remember. When he drives into his new town (even though he doesn’t drink human blood, he still has to move to avoid suspicion since he doesn't age), something inside him screams that he’s been on this land before.

He checks the name of the town, but doesn’t recognize it. There are only 5,000 people, so it’s not like it’s a well-known place. Xie Lian chooses to ignore the feeling in favor of looking around at his new surroundings.

He slows to a crawl, moving 2 mph to take in the homely storefronts on the main street. There’s a thrift store, grocery store, liquor store, bank, and some local restaurants. It’s all very quaint and Xie Lian thinks he’s going to like it here.

/Bump!/

The car shudders and Xie Lian startles from his reverie. When he looks through the windshield, he realizes that he’s /hit/ someone, and they’re now sprawled across the hood of his car. He snaps into action.

Xie Lian opens his glove department and pulls out the first aid kit he keeps there for emergencies. With it in tow, he opens the car door and rushes to the hood of his car. He’s surprised to find that the person is already sitting up.

Their long hair whips in the wind, dark like the night sky and shiny like stars. Xie Lian gets the sense that he’s hit someone attractive, and he hopes he hasn’t disfigured them in some way, because that would be just his luck.

“Are you alright?” He asks, reaching a hesitant hand out to the stranger.

The stranger stops rubbing at their head and meets Xie Lian’s eyes. Xie Lian’s guess that the person was attractive proves true. Their skin is as pale as a vampire’s, and blemish free.

Their eyes are wide and dark, framed by long eyelashes and shapely eyebrows. Their nose is long and straight and their thin lips are quirked into a small smile.

“You were barely moving, Gege,” they reply, slowly sliding off the hood of the car. They hold out a hand with long fingers. “You can call me San Lang.”

“Well, San Lang, do you mind if I inspect you for injuries?” Xie Lian jiggles the first aid kit in his hand.

“If that would please Gege,” San Lang says, a curious smile on his face that sends a chill down Xie Lian’s spine. Something about this man is familiar… Xie Lian tries to follow the feeling but all he gets for it is the beginnings of a headache.

Xie Lian shakes his head slightly before placing the first aid kit on the hood of the car and opening it. He turns to San Lang, who’s now leaning against the hood of the car, arms crossed.

Now that Xie Lian gets a good look, the young man looks no more than nineteen. twenty at the oldest. His dark red shirt and black jeans look unruffled despite being subjected to being hit by a car. His booted feet tap intermittently as he waits for Xie Lian to do his inspection.

“My name is Xie Lian,” Xie Lian finally says, reaching for the small bottle of rubbing alcohol and a cotton pad. He pours a small amount on the pad and turns to San Lang again to find that his face is much closer than he thought. He can smell spearmint from San Lang’s breath.

“... Does Gege have band-aids?”

Xie Lian nods, concentrating on the one scratch he’s found on San Lang’s angular cheek. He dabs at the scratch, noting how San Lang doesn’t flinch or hiss at the sting.

Once finished, he grabs a band-aid and starts opening it. Both men blink at the print of girly hearts in pink and purple on the bandaid.

“Er…” Xie Lian isn’t sure what to say. It’s the last band-aid in the kit.

San Lang lets out a laugh that’s more of an exhale and Xie Lian gets a wave of spearmint to the face. It’s nice.

“I’ll take whatever Gege has,” San Lang says good naturedly. He closes his eyes and leans his face closer to Xie Lian. “Go ahead.”

Xie Lian gently places the bandage over the small scratch, taking care to not touch San Lang’s bare skin. Yet somehow, as he pulls away, satisfied with his work, San Lang moves and his fingertip touches cool and smooth skin. The sensation makes Xie Lian’s heart beat once.

He must show some sign of his discomfort, because before he knows it, San Lang is reaching out to touch him. “Gege?”

Xie Lian stumbles backward and holds his hands up. “I’m fine, San Lang!” He forces a smile. “Well, now that I’ve patched you up, I–”

“Would Gege mind giving me a ride home?” San Lang somehow looks younger in that moment and Xie Lian softens.

“You shouldn’t ask strangers for such things,” he says, closing his first aid kit. “You’re lucky I’m not a serial killer.”

“Isn’t that what a serial killer would say though, Gege?” San Lang delicately snorts and Xie Lian finds himself smiling. It’s been too long since he’s had interactions with others, and he’s forgotten how fun going back and forth with someone is.

“...” Xie Lian nods his head toward the passenger seat and San Lang flashes a wide smile.

When they’re both settled inside the car, Xie Lian starts the engine and is about to shift gears when he realizes that the first aid kit is still in his lap.

“San Lang, could you open the glove compartment please?” Xie Lian asks, hearing the sound of it clicking open almost immediately. He reaches blindly to place the first aid kit where it belongs.

Only, his aim is lower than it should be and his hand ends up in San Lang’s lap. Xie Lian drops the first aid kit as if it’s on fire and snatches his hand back. If blood actively pumped through his system then he would be flushed from forehead to neck. “...”

“Does Gege need me to put the first aid kit away so that he can drive?” San Lang gives him an out and Xie Lian gladly takes it.

“Thank you so much San Lang! What is your address?”

As San Lang puts the first aid kit away, he rattles off his address. Once the first aid kit is put away, San Lang offers to act as navigator with his GPS. Xie Lian agrees gratefully and then they’re off.

🦇END🦇