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]

“You’re not,” he says firmly, still pushing qi into his body to help with his ache and pains in body and soul. “But you will be. We’re going home - and I’m taking the men responsible for this and throwing them into the deepest dungeon the Impure Realm has.”

He stops the exchange of qi and grasps Aaron by the shoulders, looking into his beautiful eyes. “When you’re ready, they’re yours to deal with.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron takes a breath and brings Huaisang's hands to his face. "Do I look brave and fucking strong? I'm not walking out there a goddamn victim. Not again."

[threedontknows]

He smooths his thumbs over Aaron's slightly-gaunt cheeks. "You're brave and strong. You're no one's victim. You're going to take my arm and we're going to walk out of here and into our carriage, and you're going to hold your head up high."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He nods and steps back, raises his head and takes his arm, walking outside with him. He can feel the eyes of the others on him, but he doesn't flinch. He walks with him, all the way to their carriage.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang walks out proudly with his Nie Furen on his arm, looking as elegant as always in his cream robes covered in the blood of the men who would dare take what's his away from him. He butchered them with barely the flick of his finger, and his disciples lower their heads as he and Aaron walk by them and into the carriage.

The second the door swings shut and they're behind the curtains Huaisang pulls Aaron into his arms.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron leans against him, silent as he tries to think of what he wants to say. Wants to do.

He makes his decision once they're back home.

"I want them to rot in the dungeon until I look better," he says. "I want them to see me as I'm supposed to look."

[threedontknows]

He can make that happen.

Huaisang's still smaller in stature than Aaron, but he feels bigger now. More protective than ever, more full of wrath than he's felt in a very, very long time. He could keep murdering and not feel at all sated.

"That's what we'll do," he tells him firmly. Then, more gently, "can I help you sleep? It will be a long journey home."

[creeksidealtarboy]

He nods, leaning against him, eyes closed. "Yes," he mutters, not afraid of taking this out.

[threedontknows]

They'd taken his love a great distance from the Impure Realm, probably thinking they were safe. Idiots, all of them. He'd had all the great clans searching for him, Lan Xichen personally leading the charge in the south. He'd been distraught, the leader of the Lans; he had a not-so-secret fondness for Aaron and of course found the fault in himself. Huaisang didn't try to soothe his worries -- if his guilt helped find Aaron faster, then let him have his guilt.

He turns slightly and places his fingers back against Aaron's forehead, pushing more and more qi inside of him, casting a spell to let his love finally rest.

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron sleeps soundly after that, all the way back home. It's a long trip, but he hasn't slept properly in days.

By the time he wakes, he's finally rested, his eyes no longer shadowed by circles.

"Are we home?" he murmurs, pushing himself up.

[threedontknows]

Aaron will find himself tucked into their own bed when he wakes, talismans to keep bad dreams away pasted on each corner of the four-post bed. Nie Huaisang isn't far when he does, just working on a table that he's turned into a makeshift office while he waits for Aaron.

When he hears him he practically knocks over his inkwell as he jumps to his feet and runs to him. "We're home," he smiles, sitting on the bed beside him. He smooths his hand down Aaron's arm. "How are you feeling?"

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron looks over to him with a smile, leaning over to kiss him. "I'm better. I could use a bath."

[threedontknows]

He kisses him back gently, cupping his face and stroking his thumb over his jaw. "I'll heat some water for you. Do you want something to eat? I've got congee and ribs, or if you need something lighter a broth."

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Bath first," he tells him. "And then I can think about food." His stomach is full of rocks and he'd like to enjoy being clean.

[threedontknows]

He knows it was bad for Aaron. The moment he laid eyes on him on that rotted floor he just knew they’d done awful things to the man he loved.

He was going to kill them all anyway, but the look in Aaron’s eye - they deserve to face his husband’s wrath. They deserve every morbid thing Aaron’s going to do to them, and they’re going to lie in wait until he’s ready.

When the water is warmed and the oils poured, Huaisang comes to Aaron’s side and takes his hand. “Do you need help, or would you like me to leave?”

[creeksidealtarboy]

He takes his hand immediately and then stands.

"Do you - how can you stand to want to even look at me, A-Sang?" he murmurs. "I didn't fucking want any of that."

But it still happened.

[threedontknows]

He doesn’t keep the shock from his face, but he doesn’t allow it to stay very long either. Aaron needs to see how serious he is about this matter, and disbelief at the question won’t help.

He reaches for Aaron’s shoulders and holds him firmly. “You’re my family. My family. This changes nothing. In fact - those days you were missing, I nearly burned two cities to the ground just looking for you. I knew I loved you, but I couldn’t live without you.

“You are not weak, baobei.”

[creeksidealtarboy]

Aaron wants to cry at that admission, but he doesn't. The time for tears is over and this Aaron, the one left behind, is grateful. Overwhelmingly so. He pulls him into an embrace.

"Tell me about it?" he asks, slipping out of his clothes. Huaisang had managed to cure all of the bruises and welts, leaving his skin as untouched as before.

He's grateful for that.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang holds him tightly, for Aaron's benefit but also his own, and pulls back to let Aaron undress for his bath.

"About nearly burning two cities to the ground?" he asks, sitting by the wooden tub to wait for him.

[creeksidealtarboy]

He finishes undressing and steps into the clear water, sliding down into its warmth. "Mmhmm," he manages to answer before he grabs a rag to scrub himself.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang spins his fingers in the water, adding a little extra heat to Aaron’s bath. “They weren’t being cooperative,” he says simply. “Not letting me search where I choose. Some of them were even harboring members of the organization that took you, so I said they either had to give them up, or I’d burn them to the ground. Guess what they chose?”

[creeksidealtarboy]

"Did they believe the Nie clan had gone soft?" he huffs. "They are stupider than I thought."

He continues scrubbing until his skin is red and raw.

[threedontknows]

Huaisang won't touch Aaron unless explicitly asked. He just sits in support, monitoring the temperature of the water, watching Aaron for signs of discomfort or waiting for a request that he might be able to fulfil.

"They forgot that the Nie are descendent from a butcher," he nods sagely. "After the death of my brother they thought we'd lost our teeth. It's good to remind them of that every now and again."

[creeksidealtarboy]

Huaisang is exempt from Aaron's shyness, from the caution he shows to others. He hands him the rag and turns his back, wanting him to get the spots that he can't reach.

"I want to visit those places," he says after a moment. "Whatever you left of it."

[threedontknows]

He takes the rag from him, grateful for the trust, and gently helps to scrub his back. He remembers seeing scratches and bruises on him, and he's careful in those areas even though Aaron's qi had already healed him of those flesh wounds.

"I left the cultural areas intact," he tells him. Because of course he did. It would be such a shame if all the theaters and artists and fine goods shops were decimated because of some foolish politicians. "The homes of the nobles were the ones that took the brunt."