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.

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[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron glances over at the light footsteps. "Hey," he says with a smile. "Oh shit, what time is it?"

[threedontknows]

He sits himself down beside him and produces a bundle of lunch - to go! "Time for you to eat something," he says, handing over some roasted meats and steamed pancakes.

[creeksidealtarboy]

He laughs.

"Oh that looks fucking great." He digs his hands into it, pulling out the pancakes.

[threedontknows]

"Of course it does, I have the best cooks." He hums a little as he indulges in an apricot, happily bobbing beside Aaron as he eats.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Did you find them or did you inherit them?" he teases, nudging him with his shoulder.

[threedontknows]

"Inherited them. Some of them are family members. Cousins. I've known them my whole life." And of course they've pampered him.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"They adore you," he tells him, leaning against his side. "You're fucking spoiled."

[threedontknows]

"I'm very spoiled. I always have been." At least he knows it. "They like you, though they think you're too thin."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Everyone is thin!" he protests, but he won't argue against more food.

"You sure they like me?"

Aaron, who has never really been liked, doesn't trust it.

[threedontknows]

Of course they like him! They've never seen their young master so happy, which they've pointed out multiple times that day.

"Yeah," he tells him, laying his head onto his shoulder. "They like you a lot."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He takes his hand after he's eaten his fill.

"I've been thinking. It's been - days now. I don't think the Barge is coming back, Huaisang. There isn't anyone else here."

[threedontknows]

“I’ve been thinking about it as well. I’m going to put notices out to the other clans and see if there’s anything amiss.”

But maybe…dare they hope?

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Would you have heard by now?" he wonders idly, standing up and holding down a hand for him.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang places his hand in his with a soft smile of thanks. It feels good to be looked after.

“Possibly, but they might assume these visitors are ghosts or yao. It also depends on how scattered everyone is.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Aren't you some badass leader?" he laughs.

[threedontknows]

He pulls his closed fan - a favorite one - from his sleeve and bops Aaron on the chest. “Of course I am! And my network of gossips is unparalleled! But I can’t account for everyone being sneaky or stupid, can I?”

[creeksidealtarboy]

He laughs, reaching out to capture that fan in his fingers. "You should. But there ain't that many sneaky people around."

[threedontknows]

Huaisang pulls the fan back with a dramatic snap, flicking it open in one smooth motion and batting his eyes. "Just you and me."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Exactly," he laughs. "So maybe - I don't know. Maybe I really ain't gonna go back."

[threedontknows]

"Maybe you won't." He slinks up to him, looking up into Aaron's face with one of the more sincere smiles he's ever given him. "You'd make a perfect Nie Fu Ren."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron pauses. "That doesn't translate for me," he laughs. "What's that mean?"

[threedontknows]

He closes the fan and tucks it underneath Aaron's chin, chasing it with a soft kiss along his jaw. "The Nie Fu Ren would be my husband. Wife, bride. If you stayed."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He pulls away. "Does it gotta be wife?" he grumbles, looking oh so petulant.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang sighs and follows him, equally as petulant. "It's just the name, the meaning of it would be spouse of a sect leader. Is that really your only reservation?

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron looks down and away for a long moment, thinking.

This is not the life he had wanted for himself, but - doesn't that make it better? Here, he's free. He can read books. Write. He can study and work and make a life for himself that he couldn't do otherwise.

And he'd have Huaisang, who he -

Fuck.

He loves him.

"Yeah," he laughs. "But it ain't gonna stop me."

And he pulls him into a deep kiss.