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]

It takes Aaron a little longer than ten minutes to finish and pack up, then he walks outside and blinks to see that it's already growing dark.

[threedontknows]

Fortunately Huaisang can keep himself busy, talking to the healers at the pavilion about Aaron's first day and his potential - limitless, is what he's gathered - and sitting in the gardens to reminisce about his youth in Cloud Recesses. When Aaron finally comes out from the pavilion he greets him with another large smile.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron gives him another bow, this one far more cheeky.

"Are you ready to walk back?" he snickers.

[threedontknows]

He laughs softly and nods, holding his hand out to Aaron for him to take. "Our dinner will be cold. Good thing most of tastes the same cold as it does hot."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Oh, you can't simply order it to be warmer?" he laughs, still living on a bit of the high that he got from everything he learned.

And as they walk, he talks Huaisang's ear off about it, going over it all, how much he's going to be studying while they travel.

[threedontknows]

"You're an asshole," he says, happily using one of Aaron's phrases against him. He quiets down shortly after so he can listen to Aaron ramble on and on, heart swelling as he listens to his clever love talk about a subject he adores.

"Don't stop talking," he smiles as they step inside their rooms. "I'll heat up dinner, I still want to hear everything."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron is happy to explain everything he's learned and how it relates to what he knew already. But when dinner is warmed, he catches his breath.

"What did you do all day?"

[threedontknows]

He loves listening to Aaron talk, and sits with his cup of wine in hand and a goofy, love-stricken expression on his face as he sits across from him. He's so distracted that it takes him a couple beats to realize that he'd been asked a question, and he sits up with a little laugh.

"I was in the library all day." Huaisang sets down his cup and holds out his hand for him to take.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"You were?" Aaron asks, brow furrowing. "I thought you'd find that boring. What were you looking for?"

He takes his hand.

[threedontknows]

"A few things."

Instead of just holding his hand he links their fingers, pressing palm against palm. He pushes a little qi into him, a little yin, and waits for the wave of qi to push back.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron looks to their hands, suddenly aware of something that's happening. He feels something against his palm and, indeed, pushes back against him.

"What the fuck," he mutters.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang slowly breaks out into wide, brilliant smile. "I thought so," he murmurs, soaking in Aaron's qi and spinning it about his core over and over until he's able to send it back into him stronger. "You've got a golden core."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He pulls his hand back and stares at his palm. "How is that possible?"

[threedontknows]

He withdraws his hand and reaches for his cup again. “It isn’t something I’d ever heard of happening, so that’s why I was in the library. I scoured, and there’s an old tale of a cultivator revitalizing her ill lover with enough qi to form a core. It must have been based in some kind of truth.”

Hence Aaron!

“I’ve been sharing qi with you, and it must have taken hold in you.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron places a hand on his chest. "I - have a golden core? Shit. What does that even mean?"

[threedontknows]

"It means you're a cultivator!"

Huaisang downs his cup and exhales softly as he sets it down.

"You can harness the spiritual energy around you. I can't say how big or strong the core is, but you can do magic"

[creeksidealtarboy]

It has been a very long day. His head's been filled with all new medicines and theories and now - this.

He stares at Huaisang. "That's - a lot to take in."

[threedontknows]

"I know." He nods sympathetically. "I know, baobei. It's going to be an adjustment."

He pauses, expression suddenly turning a little sad.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that it was possible, else I wouldn't have done it."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He frowns. "No, no, I ain't upset by it. Just gotta get used to it," he says, reaching out and taking his hand. "Don't be guilty for it."

[threedontknows]

"I didn't mean to change you, I just want you to know that." He picks up his hand and brings it to his lips. "You're perfect the way you are. I know it's a big change though, and I'm here to help you through it."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He pulls his hand away and leans forward to kiss him firmly. "Shut up. I'm gonna focus on medicine for a while, though." He puts a hand on his cheek instead.

[threedontknows]

He can definitely shut up if that means more kisses from Aaron. "But now you can learn how to practice healing as a cultivator too."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He huffs out a laugh. "Yeah. I guess so."

It's a lot, but he's getting used to the idea now. "Will it - go away?"

[threedontknows]

"No," he says, "no, now that you've gone one it won't go away. It'll be a part of you forever."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Then I guess I gotta learn how to use it." He pulls him into a kiss. "You're a fucking miracle, you know that?"