Aaron/Huaisang

[creeksidealtarboy]

It's nightfall by the time Aaron finally sees this "Impure Realm" that they took him to. He's hungry. He's filthy. He's thirsty. And there's nothing around him that's familiar. He has cigarettes in the pocket of his jeans and nothing else of his own. No note. No information.

Only the vaguely unsettling feeling that he's been deposited somewhere...wrong.

These people look like Huaisang. The robes, the way they move...it's familiar enough that, before they could unsheath their swords, he's throwing his hands out, asking for Nie Huaisang to their complete bafflement. But they loaded him up and took him. Goddamn.

Hopefully they sent someone ahead.

Comments

[creeksidealtarboy]

"When you make everyone pay attention with just your presence."

He hangs on him a moment, then pulls away.

[threedontknows]

He sighs quietly as Aaron pulls away. Later, later he’s going to absolutely ravish this man.

He buys them both some candied Hawthorne and guides him to sit at an outdoor table.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron follows him, settling on the bench to people watch.

"This is - really fucking nice."

[threedontknows]

He reaches under the table to take Aaron‘s free hand, smiling back at him in a way that could only be described as ‘smitten’.

“I’ve always loved wandering Qinghe, but it’s far better with good company.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

He has never, never had anyone look at him like that before. He shies away a bit, looking at a nearby couple.

"Yeah, it ain't a bad town. You bring all your - your whatever here?"

[threedontknows]

His whatever? Huaisang laughs softly, turning his head away to finished off the last of his candy.

“I don’t bring anyone anywhere. Sect leaders don’t do that sort of thing casually.” Aside from the brothels he’d visit or the ladies of the comfort house, he’d been very much alone.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Before you was a leader. When you were - " He stops himself from saying 'my age.'"Just free to do whatever you wanted."

[threedontknows]

“My friends,” he says quietly. “I’d come here with my friends.”

He doesn’t really have those anymore.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Yeah? What happened to them?"

He squeezes his hand.

[threedontknows]

It isn’t often that Huaisang allows himself to be honest about certain things, but this is Aaron. Aaron gets to know and experience things other people would never.

“I killed one, isolated the other, and forced two more to investigate my brother’s murder. My other friend — sect leader Jiang…well, he’s been through so much that he barely has any time for things like friends. Allies, maybe.

“We grew up. All of us.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

He had mentioned once that he was alone. That he was going through this by himself.

And Aaron sees it now.

He nods. "All the sacrifices that we gotta make. It ain't fair."

[threedontknows]

“I wouldn’t change anything about what I did,” he adds quietly. “I’d do it all over again if I was given the choice. But it did make things lonely.”

He looks back at him. “Wasn’t it the same for you?”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Didn't have your life. I had Linda and Alex for a while, but - Linda fucking betrayed me and Alex bolted after I killed the Bishop."

He lets go of his hand.

"Didn't have many friends. The Bishop didn't like it."

[threedontknows]

Huaisang inclines his head softly, exchanging the wooden stick for the candied hawthorn for his fan. He idly waves it, looking off towards the Qinghe town center where the lanterns and kites were being hung.

“I was born into wealth and privilege. I had everything I could have ever wanted. I realize how different our lives were, the way you had to struggle to survive and scrimp for every good thing that came your way. I’m not trying to be flippant, or to rub your nose in it.”

It just is what it is — two very, very different worlds.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Nah, I know," he says softly. "It ain't anything bad. Just different. I had friends in Kentucky. Before I ran away. We was always getting in trouble. Getting drunk, letting the cows out, spray painting the barns."

He laughs. "Ain't all terrible. Got me out of the house when dad was drunk."

[threedontknows]

He tries to smile through the more unfortunate aspects of Aaron's childhood. His own father never drank to access, but his temper was as bad as his da-ge's in the end. Mingjue always tried to spare Huaisang from their father's wrath --

He shakes his head and waves his fan a little more. "My friends and I were terrible. We studied at a sect that was notorious for its strict rules. No running allowed, no eating to excess, no loud laughter, no gossip, no drinking, and a strict curfew. So of course we broke every rule."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He laughs out loud as he imagines those antics. "Shit, that sounds like trouble. I think I would have done the same damn thing."

[threedontknows]

"You might still get the chance. The cultivation conference is at Gusu next week. If the Admiral takes his sweet time, we'll have to go."

He's Chief Cultivator, he has to make an appearance.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"We? What the fuck would I even do there?"

But of course he will go. He kind of hopes the Admiral leaves them a while longer.

[threedontknows]

“Help me make fun of all the tight-ass Lans, of course.”

Duh. He needs someone to commiserate with!

[creeksidealtarboy]

He laughs. "Yeah, I think I can do that."

He loves being a little bitch.

[threedontknows]

So does Huaisang, but it’s always more fun with company.

“Are you ready to head back? If we start now we’ll be there before dusk.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Yeah. Let's go back."

He's eager to be back somewhere that feels more permanent.

[threedontknows]

Nie Huaisang slips his fan into his sleeve and reaches for Aaron’s hand, pressing a kiss to his fingers with a kind smile. He nods and leads the way, starting the half a day’s walk back to the Impure Realm.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron is quieter this second time, tired and a little thoughtful.

When they arrive, he's practically leaning against him. This is the most walking he's done in a long time.