A soft smile forms along the elf's features as he carefully, and ever so quietly enters his husband's study, make a quick glance over to ensure that Mahiro was indeed not in here before finally wandering in. The gentlest of hums came from Xue, fingertips lightly grazing over all the little trinkets and books that filled the room, deep ocean like eyes finally falling upon the sorcerer's desk- takes this opportunity to take a seat, take in the scent for it reminded him so much of his love.
The elf wanted to surprise his lover, for it had been a week or so since they've last saw one another, Mahiro's work taking him away from the teahouse for the time being- though in this time, Xue learned a lot about what they did here, what his husband did here. Both from their boy and the ladies who tended the front end, just thinking about this cause the frost elf's heart to warm. Though even Xue didn't know when his beloved would return, so he decided to wait here, to surprise him with a few scrolls the elf brought with him, and some whiskey he had picked up from a market.
So, Xue began to wait leaning back into the chair a little as eyes caught sight of a few journals stacked off to the side, curious but chose to keep it as that knowing it was wrong to go through his husband's personal belongings. "Oh, Mahi.. I miss you dearly.."
After a few thousand years of practice and several centuries yet of having settled his practice into the tea house, it was a very rare occasion that Mahiro had to leave Kyoto to do his work. And yet, circumstances that prevented his patient from traveling had necessitated a week-long trip out of town to assure that they received the care and treatment they needed.
The sorcerer loved his work, truly - it was fulfilling, even when it was difficult, and being able to carry the dream that his master gave up to grant him this life so long ago was a blessing that he never forgot to count, but he did hate that it took away from his time with his family so often. The sting was not so bitter with BaiCheng - with the boy living and working alongside him, he always at least saw him in passing a few times in a day, and when he had things to teach the boy it was even more than that, but the stretches of days when he could not visit his husband in his home in the mountains or he was too occupied to host him at the tea house were one of the worst parts about the job now.
Yet, he was finally home. The familiar brooks beside the street the tea house was on were full of tiny fish and the summer heat brought birds and butterflies and stray cats together for a drink all along the walk home. Mahiro came in the front to check how things were going with the actual tea house part of the business before wandering further in - he sensed the familiar presence of his husband from within, which brought a smile he could not conceal to his features. He sighed happily - his boots came off at the door before he was in the familiar cool and quiet of his home in the back of the tea house, before he would enter his study where the familiar bright, crisp chill of his husband's soul piqued his senses the strongest.
Sliding open the door greeted him with just the thing, or rather the person, or rather yet - perhaps the elf he was wishing to see the most. His smile remained affixed to his lips as he approached, leaning forward over his desk and down to greet his beloved Ning Xue with a gentle kiss. "It seems the universe knew just who I wished to see when I returned home, my dear~" he hums pleasantly, reaching up to tuck a wisp of long, silky white hair behind the endearing point of his husband's ear.
