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

[threedontknows]

He kisses him back with a soft groan, then drops his head onto his shoulder. "I know, I know. Soon. Just a few more days of this and we'll go home. At least now you'll have the healers."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron takes his hand and kisses it, then nods, returning to their meal.

He spends the rest of his time there with the healers, though he doesn't yet reveal anything about his golden core. That's a problem for later, when they're home. For now, he needs to know the basics and to work on his reading.

He's exhausted at the end of every day and sometimes stays up reading, but he manages to keep himself upright for the walk back.

And then they're home and the beauty opens up around them and he walks a little closer to Huaisang. "Didn't know I'd get so excited to be here."

[threedontknows]

Nie Huaisang brings the furs up around Aaron's shoulders. It's colder in the mountains, and he wants to flaunt Aaron a little as they pass through the last small village before the Impure Realm.

"It's home," he says. There's relief in his voice, happiness. "It's home, and it's wonderful. They're going to prepare a nice bath for us, a good meal, and then we'll dress and visit the hall of my ancestors to take our bows."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"It's home, yeah." He glances over his shoulder at the people walking along with them. "You think your ancestors would approve?"

[threedontknows]

Nie Huaisang smiles to himself. "No, I don't think they would. Which is why I want to marry you."

He slides his arm around Aaron's and holds him tightly. "Da-ge would approve, because you make me so happy."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron smiles and pulls him close. "I know," he laughs. "And his opinion is the only one that matters."

[threedontknows]

"You've learned well."

The rest of the walk goes by quickly, especially once they see the fortress walls in the distance. Huaisang takes Aaron ahead of the others, slipping through the halls as quickly as he can to get ahead of any welcoming party. They can welcome them later, he wants his bath and his dinner and then to get married.

[creeksidealtarboy]

The warm bath is a welcome reprieve and Aaron practically dives in as soon as he can. He sinks below the surface, letting it heat him entirely.

And when he surfaces again, breathing deep, he slicks his hair back from his face and searches out Huaisang. "You know what weddings are like back home?" he asks. "Bride and groom get all dressed up. They spend a fucking lot of money to stand together in front of their whole family. A priest talks about how they need to obey god or whatever. And then they kiss and sign some paperwork and they're married."

[threedontknows]

He doesn't really know what dreams are like for the people of Aaron's world. He assumes similar in nature, if only because Aaron knew what the hell he was talking about when he asked him about marriage.

"Paperwork? Like an alliance?" he asks, sitting on the other side of the tub as he combs rice water through his hair.

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Yeah. Except just between two people. Royal people don't really do that anymore."

He runs his fingers through his hair, leaning back.

[threedontknows]

"It sounds bureaucratic," he replies. "Every marriage needs that? You can't just...marry?"

[creeksidealtarboy]

"You can, but there's shit that gets in the way. Taxes and government shit, I guess. I don't know. Sometimes they don't get married but they just live together."

He's twenty years old and knows nothing about taxes.

[threedontknows]

"Sounds complicated." Unnecessarily so. Why not just marry? "Our ceremonies can be ornate as well. There's a tea ceremony, a feast...but there's no reason for any of that for the two of us. There's no one to pour tea for, and we feast practically every night together."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Yeah, it's just us," he laughs and ducks his head under the water to scrub the last of the dirt from his hair.

[threedontknows]

He waits for Aaron to resurface, reaching for his face and pressing a kiss to his wet lips. "It's just us, and it's perfect."

Huaisang pulls back with a soft stretch. "I'm going to dress. Should we marry tonight, or do you want to wait until you're less tired?

[creeksidealtarboy]

He happily returns that kiss. "Yeah. Tonight. I don't want to wait any longer. I want to sleep beside you tonight being your fucking husband."

[threedontknows]

Yes, yes that's exactly what he wants. "Then finish bathing, dress, and I'll meet you back here. I'll set out your robes."

He presses another kiss to Aaron's head and tiptoes off to the adjoining chamber, returning with red robes with gold accents for Aaron. He lays them out with a wink and heads back to his dressing chamber to change, choosing his own blood-red robes with long, bridal sleeves and a gold headpiece. He paints his face - red lips, kohl-lined eyes, and waits for Aaron.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron nods. "I'll see you later," he tells him and finishes scrubbing himself down. He dries his body and his hair, making sure that it lays just right.

He trips a bit over the robes, his fingers trembling too much to tie it properly at first. But he eventually gets it and steps out, going to find Huaisang.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang is waiting for him by the front door, red, translucent veil resting over his face. When he sees Aaron finally enter the room, all dressed in the fine robes for their wedding, his heart skips a beat. He looks perfect.

"Are you ready?" He holds out a hand to Aaron to take.

[creeksidealtarboy]

He adjusts his own robes, but he's struck silent by the sight of him in that veil, lips lined with color behind it.

"Fuck."

He takes his hand. "Yeah. I'm ready."

[threedontknows]

Oh, he looks so handsome, just like he'd always imagined his husband to be during his more indulgent daydreams.

Nie Huaisang squeezes his hand and then leads them away, slipping through the lesser-used corridors and paths of the fortress to keep nosy interlopers at bay. This isn't for them, it's for him and Aaron and no one else.

At the foot of the ancestral hall Huaisang pauses and takes in a breath. It's time for Aaron to meet the family.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron follows closely beside him, biting his tongue against any remarks. This is a happy occasion and he's roiling with nervousness, but he's strangely serene here. Now.

He notices the pause and pulls Huaisang close. "Hey," he mutters. "I love you."

[threedontknows]

Aaron loves him. He's found someone who loves him, ugly parts and all. He turns and pulls the veil back from his face, wanting to bring their foreheads together.

It's all the reassurance he needs.

Hands still entwined, he walks with Aaron into the hall that holds the family tablets, past the line of Nie ancestors to where Nie Mingjue's inky black nameplate stands. "Da-ge," he says softly, then turns to his father's tablet, then his father's first wife, then his mother's, giving each tablet a low bow. When he speaks his voice is soft, almost a little nervous. "Father. Mother. Mingjue. This is Aaron, my husband-to-be, my Nie Furen. We met...somewhere very far from here, both of us in distress and unmoored. We found stability in each other, and then love."

He inhales softly and gets down onto his knees for another low bow. "If you've ever loved your A-Sang, if you've ever accepted my unusual ways and ideas, you'll see my happiness and bless this marriage with prosperity and good-fortune."

Huaisang sits back up and gestures for Aaron to join him on his knees beside him. "We take three bows now, Aaron."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron doesn't know if he believes in all of this. He knows that he doesn't have to, but - he would do this for Huaisang. He stands beside him, nodding in turn to each, then gets on his knees beside his love. He puts his hands together and bows, low, with Huaisang. Once, twice, and a last time.

He sits up, then, raising his head and looking to him. "Your brother would be proud of you," he tells him softly. He knows it's breaking tradition, but his A-Sang deserves to hear it.

[threedontknows]

It's all breaking tradition, every moment they're together. Huaisang grasps Aaron's robe and pulls him close for a kiss.

"Thank you, baobei. Come."

He takes his hand, glancing once more towards Da-ge's tablet and then back to the door. "My Nie Furen."