And once Ruoye is stitched back together, good as new, it can keep MQ bound securely but gently enough not to aggravate his healing burns

XL is sooo happy once MQ recovers enough to mend Ruoye, which he does, partly because his hands itch to Do Something and partly because XL smiles so vibrantly every time Ruoye gives any sign of life

YEAHY EAH YAH YEAH he has had ENOUGH of losing his favorite people. Never again!

HC isn't thrilled that there are other gods in his house but he doesn't have the time or will to complain bc the instant he reincorporates, he's getting thrown over gege's shoulder and chained to his own bed

Oughhgy it's never happened before... He's completely taken off guard... I bet he didn't know he could make so many of these adorable noises either! Fafa might be the lab rat but he sure is learning a lot!

MQ would heal faster in Heaven, but Heaven is still in an awful state, and XL has no interest in helping them rebuild. He's sick of that place. But Paradise Manor is freshly rebuilt and surely San Lang won't mind if Xie Lian makes himself at home. It was built for him after all

FX really doesn't need to be chained up at all. He's not thrilled about this whole situation, but he's not willing to leave either XL or MQ behind. But he gets chained up anyway bc it makes XL happy. He's also helpful in holding MQ in place so he doesn't aggravate his burns anymore

Don't apologize for feeding us so well!! Hua Cheng being so obedient while Xie Lian ties his hands and then suffering through the consequences all night... Hgrgsgj Imagine watching this fuckin leviathan with sharp teeth and venomous spines squirm and whimper as he helplessly fucks himself

MQ can't be safely chained up because of his burns, but because of his burns he doesn't really need to be. He can't go anywhere very quickly. It's very easy for XL to pick him up, put him back in bed, and scold him for getting up when he should be resting.

The final battle goes a little bit differently. Some things are the same: FXMQ are badly wounded, and HC disperses. This XL decides to be a bit more proactive in making sure that neither of those things can happen ever again.

Every Piece Matters by Plini

HC would atticwife himself if XL told him to but instead he ragdolls so he can enjoy every second of gege carrying him off and chaining him up in his own manor. And of course he helps keep the other two in line 🥰

Not that MQ would accept it easily. He worked hard to become his own master and he's prouder and pricklier than ever. But he also hasn't been hugged in 800 years. I think a good cuddle and an "I really missed you 🥺" would instill in MQ a willingness to tolerate a shocking amount of nonsense

I actually think MQ would Stockholm Syndrome faster than FX. This is surprising to me bc I firmly believe FX has spent 800 years wishing he was still XL's dog, but that's just the thing. FX has such an idealized vision of their past and the prince he used to know. He wouldn't accept this easily

:3