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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[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.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang, the quietly stronger of the two of them, holds Aaron up and guides him into the large, sprawling castles that make up the Impure Realm. He greets his followers quietly, asking that food be sent to his room and a bath drawn.

He brings Aaron right to his chambers.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron collapses right onto his bed, not even bothering to undress first. It seems impossible to do, considering how tired he is. The last two days have caught up to him, leaving him utterly exhausted in the aftermath.

[threedontknows]

Fortunately for Aaron, Huaisang is perfectly happy to take care of him. He lets him rest while he bathes, lighting a bit of incense and the lanterns before sitting down beside him on the bed with a bowl of dumplings in hand.

"You need to eat something. Open up."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron reluctantly sits up. "Shit, did I fall asleep?"

The last thing he remembers is being led inside the room and he doesn't know what to think about that. He hasn't been this exhausted in a long time.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang smiles gently, reaching out to brush Aaron's hair from his eyes. "I didn't let you sleep too long. Just enough to take a bath."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He blinks at him. "You don't have to take care of me," he drawls. "I can take care of myself." But he eyes that food hungrily.

[threedontknows]

"It isn't about whether you can or can't, I want to." But it isn't a question that Aaron can take care of himself. Huaisang just wants to spoil him.

He holds out the bowl and a spoon, assuming Aaron's too tired for chopsticks.