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 follows behind, still holding the wine in one hand. He drinks it as they cross into the guest quarters, and he sets it on a table.

"Guess we don't have an early wake up?"

[threedontknows]

Huaisang shakes his head. “Hell no, this isn’t Cloud Recesses,” he laughs, because it’s a very funny joke to anyone who isn’t Aaron.

He steps into the threshold, but not beyond it. “Sleep as long as you’d like. The servants will deliver breakfast in the morning. When you feel like having company, ask them to send you to me.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"I remember how to find you," he says with a laugh, waving him off. He stares at the room a moment, just taking it in.

[threedontknows]

He leaves him with a somewhat cheeky, though still sincerely-meant bow, fan fluttering as he casually strolls through the corridors of the Impure Realm.

It feel less oppressive today.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron finds himself tossing and turning in the middle of the night.It was easy to fall asleep, but near impossible to stay that way. He eventually gives up and heads out of the guest rooms, making his way to Huaisang's quarters.

His mind is spinning a thousand different directions, but he knows what will settle him. Support. Grounding. Something familiar. Someone familiar.

[threedontknows]

The Impure Realm is vast, though thankfully there are still people milling about at all hours of the day, even in the middle of the night. They're around to guide Aaron if he needs it, though for the most part they leave him be to wander. The Nie family quarters are fairly distinct from the rest of the castle, after all. Far more ornate, far more lived-in.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron is good with directions and charming to anyone he meets. The place is quiet and he uses that time to actually explore a bit. Until he finds himself at Huaisang's rooms and lets himself in silently.

[threedontknows]

Surprising perhaps no one, Huaisang’s bedroom is as well-decorated as the rest of his family’s chambers. He’s fast asleep when Aaron creeps in, curled up on his side and with his hair down for the night, wearing a fairly lovely and delicate-looking robe.

No jewelry though, no ornate hair accessories, not even a braid. Just simple, and quiet, as he sometimes likes to exist.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron paused, not really sure what his plan is now that he's here. But he looks serene. He looks safe.

So he pads into the room and quietly places a hand on his shoulder, not wanting to startle him.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang isn’t a frightened sleeper; he knows whoever’s made their way into his room is there for a reason. He wakes with a soft, drowsy smile to see Aaron, then wordlessly grabs onto his sleep to pull him into the bed.

[creeksidealtarboy]

It's exactly what he wanted. He turns on his side, wrapping an arm around him.

It's safe, he tells himself. Nothing here will hurt him as long as he's here.

He repeats that to himself as he finally falls into a deep sleep.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang doesn’t practice having boundaries, not in his own bed. He turns and drapes himself over Aaron, very quickly falling back asleep with a soft snore.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron sleeps sounder than he has in ages thanks to their new little arrangement. He threads fingers through Huaisang's hair and sleeps, right through until morning.

[threedontknows]

When morning does come Huaisang can be found laying just right on top of Aaron, happily sprawled and staying right there, even when the servants set breakfast onto the table in the next room.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron opens his eyes, spotting breakfast, then takes on the herculean task of trying to dislodge himself from Huaisang.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang is absolutely not going to make it easy on him. He feels his pillow shift below him and clings tighter, refusing to let his heating pad go.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"How are you so heavy?" he mutters with a laugh. "Breakfast is here and you're the one who was bitching at me about eating."

[threedontknows]

"Mmnnrrrrgh," replies Huaisang, holding on tighter. "Too early."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron sighs. "Get the fuck off me, man," he laughs. "I'll pull your hair."

[threedontknows]

“Careful,” Hauisang purrs. “I might like it.”

But he does let him up, sprawling out on the bed with a leisurely stretch.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron shoves him off and slides to the edge of the bed so he can inspect what came for breakfast.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang props himself up to watch Aaron, his robe slipping off his shoulder. "See anything good?"

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron glances back and tries not to stare. "Yeah," he mutters, then clears his throat and picks at some of the fruit.

[threedontknows]

"Mn, a quince. My favorite."

He smiles softly and finally pulls himself up, wanting to inspect the good-smelling food on the table for himself.

[creeksidealtarboy]

He holds it up.

"This thing? That's what it's called? Huh."