farsickness | They were all that mattered.

Who: Song Zichen + Xue Yang, + Xiao Xingchen & + Open
When: Throughout February.
What: Horseback riding, bonding, doing various tasks around town.
Where: Gazin
Warning(s): Possible sexiness for the first prompt. Will update with anything else that needs to be added.

[Xue Yang]

"A-Yang, will you come with me?" Zichen is at the foot of the stairs, a cloak draped over his arm, "I think...it might be easier...if I had company?"

He likes the mare his husband chose for him - she is beautiful and sweet - but he still feels a wave of anxiety each time he climbs onto the saddle. Xue Yang, oddly and completely unexpectedly, has become a comfort for him. When his anxiety level is high, he reaches for him, remembering to breathe once they have spoken or touched.

Funny, touch used to frighten him. Now he seeks it openly. But not from just anyone.

"Please?"

[Xiao Xingchen]

Zichen gathers his courage and seeks out Xingchen, his soulmate, his better half. One of them, actually. They are overdue for some time together. Once he finds the other man, he approaches him gently.

"Xingchen..." he says the name with such warmth and love, "Will you take a walk with me? I promise I will keep us warm."

Since his fear of touch no longer stands in his way, he slips an arm around the other man, wanting him close. This feels like a dream. Maybe it is one.

[Open]

No matter where he goes, Zichen cuts a striking figure. From his black robes and ornately braided hair to the sword he carries on his back, he stands out to say the least. But he will be seen doing rather domestic tasks, helping where there is a need around Gazin. He doesn't say much, however his hands and his expressions are gentle and he always bows low when meeting someone new.

"Ah, what are you doing here?"

He is currently seeing to a pet cat that has gotten loose. A fussy meow answers his question and Zichen smiles, reaching under a very cold - and frozen! - bush to retrieve the poor feline. Then he tucks her into his robes and is rewarded with a happy purr.

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"As do I." he answers softly - and he accepts that shamelessness. Welcomes it, even! His A-Yang is cute when he is misbehaving and Zichen doesn't have any trouble telling him when he is going too far.

He hears the sigh and he is glad to see the tavern coming into view. When his husband makes little sounds like that, he wants to hold him and touch him.

"Almost? You have so much faith in us."

The mare is easy to maneuver into the waiting stable near said tavern. He slips off of the saddle and reaches up to help Xue Yang, not wanting him to put too much force on his leg.

Ooooooh! Xue Yang feels his heart leap at that answer and grins, nipping at his husband's jaw again before licking to sooth the fondly abused skin. They both know he'd stop the second Zichen gave the signal he was going too far.

"I have complete faith in you," he answers firmly, utterly serious. "We have been through too much, I know where I belong. I have a home, and that home is with my Daozhangs."

Xue Yang could huff at the constant care and consideration Zichen shows in making sure he doesn't strain his leg too much, but it makes him feel warm and loved instead. And he loves his husband's hands on him. So playfully, purposely, falls into them, knowing Zichen's sweet mare will only playfully huff at his antics.

He will wear any mark left behind with pride! Zichen has never sought to hide their relationship. To do so would be strange to him. Love should be celebrated and shared, shouldn't it?

But, of course, he isn't about to strip down in public! He is confident Xue Yang won't ask that of him.

"Yes." he answers just as firmly, "The home all three of us share isn't complete without you. Just as you and I were not complete without Xingchen. It needs to be the three of us."

Zichen doesn't even blink at the antics. He simply catches his husband and hugs him close, finally giving into a warm kiss or two. The mare nudges them with her nose playfully. She's hungry!

Just as Xue Yang wears any mark his Zichen gives him that can easily be displayed, without shame and with quite a bit of pride. And daring any who see those marks to tell him to cover them up! Somehow they never take those stares up.

No. His A-Lan's gorgeous body is for his eyes only. If Xingchen could still see, he'd be allowed the beautiful sight too. But no one else.

"The three of us together make perfection," he murmurs. The fact he has them both...? And this place, Gazin to grow and not have the pre-existing stigma? They can heal. Finally.

Xue Yang laughs at his husband's ready acceptance, and snuggles into warm arms and happily kisses back. The pointed nudging has him grin, breath a bit face from rising passions, but he pulls away - reluctantly - and moves to where he spies food and water for visiting horses. "I'll get her set for food and water if you get her saddle and give her a quick brush down?"

He has a feeling they'll be here for a while~

He feels the same way about Xue Yang's body. Jealousy is something he tries to avoid - it does no good for anyone - but the idea of others (besides Xingchen) seeing his handsome husband is enough to anger him. Marriages are sacred, after all, and he won't allow anyone to intrude.

"We belong together." he believes that down to his soul now. No wonder they had kept crossing paths with Xue Yang! How silly of them to take any other road but this one.

The snuggling makes his smile grow and he too is breathless when they part. The sight of his sweet mare giving them such a pointed look earns a laugh and he lets go of Xue Yang after kissing his temple.

"Poor lady." he murmurs affectionately, nodding at Xue Yang's guidance, "She will be comfortable soon."

Zichen removes the saddle and tack. Then he grabs a brush and works on her coat, brushing out any wet spots in particular. The stable is warm, so they should dry fast.

Sacred, yes. Their vows are promises he's taken into his heart, especially as they'd taken Xingchen into account, in case that sweet man wished to join them.

"We do. And now we are and I will not let go." No more testing. No more doubts. Xue Yang knows his place and loves it with every fiber of his being. No more escapes. When he's scared, now he runs to his A-Lan, rather than finding a dark corner to hide in. When he's upset, he finds one of his Daozhangs and focuses on their breathing, generally leaning against them to ground him.

"We all will be soon~"

He grins at that laugh and gets to work in scooping out some oats with bits of carrot mixed in as a treat for being so sweet, and checks the temperature of the water before fully opening the lid for her to drink from at her leisure.

"I'd prefer if you didn't. I would be..." he trails off and tries to pinpoint the right word for how empty and lonely he would feel, "Lost." he concludes, running his fingers through Xue Yang's hair before they move to care for his mare.

Xue Yang has become part of him. He could live without an arm or a leg, but not without his heart or soul. That's why he is so protective of his A-Yang. Not just for the other man's sake, but also for his own.

"I'll warm you up." Zichen rumbles, obviously looking forward to that task. He runs the brush over his mare's full coat - legs included - before draping her in a warm blanket. Then he strokes over her ears while she enjoys the treats Xue Yang has brought her.

He leans into those hands with a happy sigh, eyes half closing before he blinks them back open to look lovingly into his husband's eyes. "You will never be lost. Never." He knows he'd be just as lost if he lost Zichen or Xingchen. Truly lost them.

He growls at that rumbled promise, eyes sparkling eagerly. "Good. I've gotten a little cold~" Not entirely a lie, it's really cold outside! But he'd not felt it because he'd been snuggled up to his husband's warm back under their thick cloaks.

Once they're satisfied the mare is settled in for a while, he grabs one of his husband's hands to tug him into the tavern.

He feels safe at that promise - like something vital inside of him is protected from all harm. Instead of trying to find the words for how he feels, his gratitude and his trust, Zichen kisses Xue Yang again, eyes closing blissfully.

"It won't last." he gasps upon parting, gladly taking hold of the hand that reaches for him. He only has eyes for his husband now that the mare is happily munching.

The tavern does have rooms as it doubles as an inn. They could rent one for a few hours.

Because he is. Xue Yang flushes happily at the answer, immediately pressing into the kiss to show his joy. His heart starts to pound, hearing that gasp, and he laughs giddily as he leads his husband inside with a rather wild grin as they pay for a room for a few hours.

"It's true, you know just how to warm me up," he chirps once the door closes behind them, hiding them from potential observers.

They were all that mattered.

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