Pagan/Huaisang

[crab_rangoon]

"Ah! No, no. I don't need to send the messenger. Just let me go," he tells the guards at the gates, waving them away as he walks straight through with his sword at his side, his entourage behind him. They walks in with their white robes, though Pagan is in red and black, and he breathes in the Impure Realm. He hasn't been here since the death of the Nie clan leader, but he's been aiming to check on their newest leader. It's been a dark time for them, for all of them, but he still feels more than a twinge of affection for the boy.

Well, man. He's been a man for several years now, but it doesn't seem like anything has changed.

Still, he promised he'd continue to offer support, so he walks on, ignoring the protests of the guards.

Comments

[threedontknows]

He remembers the journey being a long one on horseback. Nie Mingjue and his father used to be able to fly their sabers, but they wouldn’t dare leave Nie Huaisang behind and elected to travel the standard way with him. Without they were free to move unburdened - he remembers feeling that way even when he was still young, like a burden, but Da-ge never treated him that way.

He nods softly and finishes another bite from his plate. “I recall the food being rich in your part of the world,” he says, smiling. “Lots of fragrant spices.”

[crab_rangoon]

He laughs. "Ah! Yes, they have a curry that is so spicy, it will make you cry. And dumplings and rice and a nice wine."

Pagan lightens a bit; he always loves talking about food.

"I am having the rooms and the food prepared for you."

[threedontknows]

That sounds nice, to be indulged instead of just indulging himself. It feels wrong to be spoiled now; no one is around to do the spoiling.

He smiles, the excitement reaching his eyes, just like he’d been when they went to see the theater troupe. “I look forward to it.”

Nie Huaisang rises to his feet. “I need to change into my travel clothes. I’ll meet you by the stables.”

[crab_rangoon]

He nods and stands up himself, picking up his sword to ensure everything he has is also taken care of.

He walks to the stables and takes out his horse, a roan gelding, and pats his nose.

"Going home. You ready?"

[threedontknows]

Nie Huaisang arrives at the stables in his travel clothes, sleeve wrapped in cuffs and dark cloak over his usual cream-colored robes. He catches Pagan speaking to his horse and smiles; it’s sweet, nothing something he’d expect from the ruthless sect leader. He fetches his own horse and waits for Pagan by the doors of the fortress.

“You traveled by yourself this time.”

[crab_rangoon]

"I never travel alone," he says, glancing past the fortress walls with a smile. "We are always watched, A-Sang."

He spurs his horse forward, past the gates.

[threedontknows]

He laughs a little - how right he is though, and follows on his own horse. He’s not a strong rider but he can hold his own, and these are still the paths through Qinghe, after all. He knows them all well.

[crab_rangoon]

He flashes him a grin, telling him a story as they walk through the evening. It is a winding, exhaustive story, likely false, about himself and a certain benefactor who took a liking to him and his horse, but instead ended up as a stable boy.

[threedontknows]

Min Pagan always could tell a very good story, but Nie Huaisang’s been taught from an early age to take each story with a grain of salt. By the time the story comes to an end the path is dark, and Nie Huaisang finds them an inn that doesn’t look like they might get murdered as they sleep.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan stables the horses and passes the silver over to the innkeeper for a silent and unobtrusive stay.

"Shall we? I managed a room for us. No sense in two."

[threedontknows]

A single room again? After he’d kissed him? Nie Huaisang looks at Min Pagan a little skeptically, but he doesn’t verbally object. Why would he? He shouldn’t turn down hospitality, and it doesn’t really bother him to have to share a room.

He nods softly and follows the innkeeper up to their room. Small, but well-decorated and tidy, and Nie Huaisang slips the man a small piece of silver for his troubles.

[crab_rangoon]

The skeptical look is met with a blank one from Pagan. He doesn't say a word until they're inside. "For your safety, Xiao Nie," he explains gently. "Take the bed. I will sit here."

He settles himself in a chair by the door, his sword across his lap.

[threedontknows]

“My safety?” he asks quietly, though it isn’t an argument. He pulls off his cuffs and his cloak and outer robe, setting them aside for the night before reaching for the silver guan in his hair. “That won’t be comfortable for you. We’ll have a long way to travel tomorrow.”

[crab_rangoon]

He nods his answer but doesn't say anything else for a moment. "Don't you worry about this old man," he tells Huaisang with a smile in his voice. "I have slept in far worse positions."

[threedontknows]

"That's not a compelling argument," he replies, laughing just a little. "There's room, Gan-ge. I don't mind. I'm a quiet sleeper."

He can stop himself from sprawling if he concentrates.

"And if you're worried about safety, why not set up a protective array?"

[crab_rangoon]

"Some things are better done the old fashioned way. Rely too much on your cultivation and your magic, and you can be easily manipulated. I have seen many things in my life, young one, including the reversal of talismans and arrays, but never have I seen a man survive my blade in his belly."

He laughs, leaning back.

"I would not make you uncomfortable, A-Sang. Sleep."

[threedontknows]

He fully believes that about Min Pagan. There's a reason he got along well with the Nie - his father, his brother. The lived and died by the sword, never mind the cultivation world.

Nie Huaisang shakes his head fondly and lays himself down on one side of the bed, his back to Pagan. He trusts him, there'd be no reason otherwise to keep watch over the course of the night. He doesn't like that he'll sleep upright and in a chair, but maybe he'll change his mind later on. He'll leave a little room in case that does happen.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan is more aware of the undue hardships that the unexpected kiss caused them earlier, so he does not take him up on that offer. Instead, he stays in the chair, sleeping off and on, and when the morning light comes, he stands and pokes the younger man with the end of his sword's sheath.

"Up, up, little one," he grins.

[threedontknows]

Despite his misgivings about Min Pagan sleeping in a chair and not in the big bed with him, he sleeps soundly, without any memorable dreams. It's always better for his mind to be away from the demonic energy of his poor brother, even if he feels guiltier and guiltier with every step away from the Impure Realm.

He grunts quietly when he's woken and rises with a stretch. "Dawn already?" he mutters, hiding a yawn behind his hand as he starts to dress again. "Do we have time to stop and eat?"

[crab_rangoon]

"We can eat along the way, my little spoiled prince," he teases gently. "Come along. We have a long ride ahead of us and only time to lose."

Despite his own fitful and non-existent sleep, he is chipper and quite full of cheer.

[threedontknows]

Little prince, little one, A-Sang - he can see what Min Pagan is doing, whether he realizes it or not. But he doesn't mind playing a role; he shakes his head and drags his feet with a whine, complaining quietly until they reach their horses.

It's dumplings for their morning meal, and he's far happier once he has something in his belly.

[crab_rangoon]

He sees it. He's trying to let the Nie leader wear the mask that he feels more comfortable in, and he doesn't want to dissuade him from it. It's worked for him, and it works for Pagan to be the opposite.

When they're at their horses, he pulls himself up, glancing over at him to make sure that he's ready. "I do think it's your turn for a story this time."

[threedontknows]

Fortunately for the Min Sect Leader, Nie Huaisang is in a good position for sharing a story. He doesn't tell one of his own, but one about an old friend and infamous member of the cultivation world, Wei Wuxian. He doesn't like to talk about the Yiling Patriarch all that much - he's still a wicked figure, too taboo to discuss even years after his death - but that isn't how Nie Huaisang knew him at all. He tells a story about when he and Wei Wuxian were young and with the Lan during the lectures, and all the various shenanigans he and the late Grand Master of Demonic Cultivation shared together.

[crab_rangoon]

Pagan lives on the word of taboo and he laughs and laughs at the stories of their antics. Of course that would be Huaisang's experiences. It makes perfect sense! The stories last long enough to get them to their first rest and Pagan, holding his side from laughter, hops off the horse to lead it to the gently flowing stream.

"And where do you keep your pornography now, ah? What crevice is it hidden in?"

[threedontknows]

He follows Pagan’s lead, slipping off his horse and bringing it to the water for a rest. “Oh, I keep it out in the open now! No reason to try to hide my exhaustive collection of spring books.”

He grins a little and reaches for his pouch to take out some fried pancakes for the two of them to eat by the stream. He always travels prepared.