Mahua Xie's hand shook as he took Fengkuang Liuxue's palm in his. They were together now, but it had taken thousands of lives, many litres of blood and a sea of tears to bring around this reality.
But he didn't regret any of it.
After all, he was just a man, a man who would gladly paint his hand's red with blood, let his sword be a paintbrush, his swings and slashes brushstrokes and the battlefield his canvas.
If that gets him to the truth of everything.
If that makes him stronger to protect his lover, then so be it.
He didn't care about others, they could be pierced with spears, slashed with swords, cry out in agony as their organs spill, they could burn in the fires of the battle, the clutches of beasts that would eat them from hair to bones.
All that mattered was Fengkuang Liuxue's warm hand in his, the gentle pulse beating with life.
He was so happy he could stay like this forever. "Hug me." He said, earning himself and amused chuckle from his lover. He knew that Mahua Xie liked how taller and broader Fengkuang Liuxue was, since it meant he would be held and cuddled, which he never experienced.
Fengkuang Liuxue put the strand of hair that was falling onto Mahua Xie's face behind his ear before he wrapped his strong arms around him. "Of course, Qīn'ài de." My love...He called him with such tender love and affection.
He really couldn't be happier, everything was worth it.
The endless bloodshed to find out the truth and be the strongest was worth it.
In Fengkuang Liuxue's arm's he felt safe and warm, knowing that his life from now on will entail more of these precious moments. Fengkuang Liuxue touched the back of his head and let his hand's run through Mahua Xie's hair as he started singing a melody to relax his tense body.
His lover was singing a melody which a victorious army would often have musicians play, it was called "Victory March" and played using the bianzhong, a set of bronze bells, along with other instruments like stone chimes, drums, and wind instruments.
Fengkuang Liuxue's deep and soothing voice sang through melody of the Victory March, telling Mahua Xie that there won't be any battles anymore. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
Mahua Xie felt the warmth from his lover's chest and listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat, it was steady and strong, not faint, not like his heart would stop beating any second if Mahua Xie takes his eyes off of him.
With that he let his body melt into Fengkuang Liuxue's embrace, letting the music of his voice fill his soul.
Mahua Xie closed his eyes, feeling the gentle warmth of his lover's breath brush against his forehead, his senses were filled with his scent, Iris, blended with the smell of freshly raining and rosemary. A smell that he had buried into his senses, feeling pure comfort by the smell alone.
The realm of sleep was waiting for him to finally let himself go to exhaustion and rest in the arms of his lover without any worries, which he complied and did as his body told him to.
The singing never stopped.