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It was a delightfully lazy afternoon. Sunlight streamed through windows and warmed up the air with its beautiful rays. In a lavish bed, the nearly bare body of a halovian man dozes in and out of sleep. His bluish-silver hair is in slight disarray, a fact that his partner will be gentle about when mentioning. As he is laying on his stomach, hugging a plush pillow beneath his chest, his golden halo hovers above him.
In the open and warm room, in the dark-wood bed and cream coloured sheets, the halovian lazes peacefully. The soft fabric of the blanket drapes over his waist, leaving his bare torso exposed. His partner admires the lean build, the soft and pale skin, every small line that creates the image of his darling. It was as if his body was made of moonlight, elegant and ethereal.
Jing Yuan steps closer to the bed, adorned in a loose robe of soft silks. In his hands he holds a tray of tea - something rich for himself, and something sweet for Sunday. There is a small platter of food placed next to the cups, a light meal for the two of them to share.
“My darling?” Jing Yuan’s voice is gentle and warm as he sits on the bedside, placing the tray down on the bedside table.
Sunday lifts his head from the pillows, blinking away the sleepiness in his golden eyes as he looks over his shoulder. He smiles softly when he sees the tray and smells the tea.
“Lunch already?” He asks, lifting one of his hands to rub carefully at one of his eyes. Three moves of his palm. Then, after sitting up properly, he rubs his other eye with his other hand just as carefully. Three more moves of his palm.
“I made you some tea. You should drink it rather quickly, or else the puffergoat milk will not taste as nice.” Jing Yuan reaches out a hand to gently move a lock of stray hair out of Sunday’s eyes, smiling softly. He knew Sunday would enjoy the tea, as he was rather fond of the sweet puffergoat milk that was found amongst the Xianzhou ships. He always made sure he had plenty whenever Sunday was coming to visit.
Days like this were perfect. He had his darling, and he had free time. What could be better than a chance to rejuvenate his soul and ease his heart, as well as be with his angel?
He would savour today, as this was the last day they had before Sunday needed to return to the Astral Express. The Express came and went, and Jing Yuan always welcomed it with open arms, as it held the shadow of an old friend, and his new beloved.
Jing Yuan remembers how utterly infatuated he had become when Dan Heng had brought Sunday along with him on a visit. The halovian had not left Penacony often, and per Trailblazing tradition, Dan Heng thought he could offer a gentle introduction into the vast worlds outside of the Planet of Festivities. To be a Trailblazer, one must be comfortable with leaving the nest, walking a never ending path, and exploring into the unknown.
An angel
, Jing Yuan had thought to himself,
that man is an angel
.
Now, after so much time had passed, the Luofu was no longer new and unknown to Sunday. He was familiar with the streets and starskiff channels, familiar with the food (especially the desserts), and familiar with the General.
Only, in these sheets, he isn’t the General at all. No, instead, he is just Jing Yuan. A sweet and thoughtful lover who would do anything in his power to make Sunday smile.
They make small talk and drink their tea, enjoying the late lunch as they lean against one another. Sunday rests his head on Jing Yuan’s shoulder, and Jing Yuan rests his cheek in Sunday's soft hair.
It was moments like this, moments of absolute nothing, that made Jing Yuan the happiest. He loved everything about every moment with Sunday, but the downtime had his heart feeling so full it may burst, threatening to fill the room with an endless ocean of affection.
Once the teacups run dry and the food is half-eaten, Jing Yuan presses his face into Sunday’s hair, taking in a deep breath of his scent - something subtle and smooth. That, and the familiar dustiness that one may associate with birds. With his arm around Sunday’s shoulder, his hand rubbing up and down the other man's arm gently, he simply takes a moment to hold him close and just…
be
.
After a few moments of silence, Jing Yuan breaks it with a soft reality.
“I’m going to miss you, my darling.” Just the thought of being without his angel for any amount of time made a loneliness settle into his stomach, a pit that he thought would disappear but only seemed to grow as he got older. He had foolishly believed that Sunday would fill that void. Instead, he had to learn how to handle goodbyes and imagine a body next to his own when laying in bed at night.
At that admission, Sunday stills his eating, carefully putting his plate away as he shifts, climbing his way onto Jing Yuan’s lap. He presses his face against Jing Yuan’s neck as he leans into him, debating in his mind if he should speak on the matter.
He can’t leave his love in silence.
“I’ll miss you, too.” He whispers quietly, pressing a lingering kiss under Jing Yuan’s jaw. That kiss lands over a light bite mark that had been left the night before, a night that had been the very reason they woke up late and decided to laze the day away.
“But I’ll be back soon.”
“And how soon is that, my darling?”
“I…” His little wings twitch as he stops himself from speaking. His gut reaction was to promise Jing Yuan that he would be back
very
soon. And maybe to Jing Yuan, it wouldn’t actually be long at all.
But Jing Yuan was a sentimental man with a kind heart and a penchant for nostalgia. He would miss Sunday even if it were for only a few days.
“I wouldn't know.” Sunday says quietly, his voice a regretful murmur.
Jing Yuan’s strong arms encircle Sunday, holding him firmly to his chest. His hand rubs up and down Sunday’s back, his fingertips finding the dip of his spine, exploring it slowly and carefully. His hands are warm, a fact that Sunday adored.
Jing Yuan whispers, “We shouldn’t worry about our goodbyes now. We can handle that tomorrow. For now, however…”
He lowers his head down far enough to press his lips right under Sunday’s ear. He smiles against the skin as the wing behind it flicks slightly, and the other man's breath hitches in his throat.
“For now, let me enjoy your presence, my darling.”
“Anything for you. Anything at all.”
In an evening of slow kisses and sweet words, they can almost forget about the goodbye that will be arriving the next dawn. In an evening full of affection, they can almost forget about departure.
But reality makes itself known rather loudly when the sun rises on the next day. These kisses are final - at least for the time being. Golden eyes shed star-filled tears amongst whispered words of “I love you” and “be safe”.
Two suns wave goodbye, drifting apart as the orbit of life drags them in different directions. The brilliant nebula that had been their reunion fades away, each shimmering light shrinking into nothing. And yet, there is peace in the knowledge that these suns will collide again, running into each other's arms, desperate to re-create that beautiful cloud of colour and the warmth that comes with it.
There is peace in knowing that, as far away as these suns may get, that the light will shine on. Jing Yuan can look into the sky at night, choose the brightest light, and wish Sunday a good night's sleep.
Hope charges forward like a comet, bright and fast as it rockets through space. This comet will come and go, accompanied by the squealing of metal scraping against train tracks and the rumble of a steaming engine. This comet will always come home.