Chapter Text
It must have been late at night when Jiang Cheng must have fallen asleep since a long string of nightmares haunted his dreams. He twisted and turned, breathing deeply as his dreams just darkened. He gasped after a few moments and unleashed Zidian out. His eyes glanced around the room quickly and his eyes darkened as he saw Arakaz sitting across from him.
“You,” He hissed in a low tone.
“So. Did you not have sweet dreams?” Arakaz asked with a smirk. Jiang Cheng lashed Zidian out and it just hit the wall behind him.
“I will destroy you when I can.” Jiang Cheng promised with darkened eyes glaring at him.
Arakaz laughed with amusement in his eyes and he smirked as leaned back. “You can try but you will fail. I will continue to cause you pain and suffering until your end.”
Jiang Cheng glared darkly but just stopped...he was tired. He realized that this creature was powerful. His presence can bring out dark parts of his memory and emotions. He swallowed and clenched his fists trying to find a way to just make it stop.
“Ah. You figured out one of my greatest tricks.” He laughed again seeing his face. “Pulling out painful memories, reminding you of all your pains, and pushing against the emotions you attempt to keep in check.”
“JUST SHUT UP!” He screamed at him.
“Why do you not like me pointing out these parts of you? Are you ashamed of the man you are? Pained that your brother abandoned you or maybe your sister died because of your brother? Yet, it may be that the only time you got true love from your parents was at the end of their lives?” He asked.
“JUST SHUT UP!?” He screamed and ran at him. Yet, he just ended up hitting the wall, striking it hard. He let out a gasp of pain holding his hand. The laughter made it worse and he just moved his hands to cover his ears.
“Just stop…” He said.
“Why should I?” Arakaz asked with amusement. “I am not wrong.
“Who did I wrong to the point of this?!” He hissed with a deadly glare.
“You do not even remember. Interesting.” Arakaz said with amusement and then laughed. “Well, I suppose it is a challenge for you to remember. Considering you have crossed a number of people with how your heart and temperament are.”
Jiang Cheng glared at him with just anger and hate in his eyes. He turned his head and glared at the floor focusing all his rage and hate there. He had to just ignore it, just ignore him. He’ll figure out a way to destroy this creature.
“Well I hit a nerve.” He commented as he looked down at him. He stood up and walked forward until he stood in front of Jiang Cheng. He stood there in thought looking down at the man who was trying to breathe calmly.
“I was asked to make sure you suffer. Yet, I am surprised this was set on you since...well after all you were suffering even before I came to you. So much pain and betrayal. So much resentment from your past...I wonder if you are killed if you will become something dangerous.” He then continued. “With you, I most likely have to stay in your head and replay all that has happened to you again and again. Reliving it at everything single moment.”
“I. Will. Destroy. You.” Jiang Cheng muttered glaring up at him.
“Is this so? I highly doubt you can...there were only a small handful of those who found ways to win in my game. You are not them. These people had suffered like you...some worse...some not as harsh. Yet, they proved me wrong when I thought that like every other human I have tortured they will be the same. They were not however, they continued to live even though I threw everything I had at them. One of them even felt pity for me…” He stopped as he started to laugh at the memory. He soon stopped and just smiled.
“Yes. You are nothing like the rare few who survived me...I highly doubt you have the courage to take me on.” Arakaz finished.
Jiang Cheng clenched his fists but a knock at the door broke into his rage. He looked to the door seeing Wei Wuxian step into the room. “Jiang Cheng?”
“What?” He asked darkly as Arakaz did vanish.
“I have some alcohol if you want and I thought to check on you.” Wei Wuxian told him while he stepped into the room placing the bottle down before him.
“What do you think?!” Jiang Cheng snapped.
“I think you look tired,” He replied and at this Jiang Cheng sighed just taking a drink from the bottle. Wei Wuxian sat down across from him as Jiang Cheng put the bottle down.
“I am tired…” Jiang Cheng replied, leaning back.
“Do you want to go to sleep then?” He asked.
“No.” Jiang Cheng said as he looked at the bottle as he laid his head on his arms.
“Okay. I am going to go and let you-” Wei Wuxian said but he was soon cut off by Jiang Cheng sat up quickly. The sect leader grabbed Wei Wuxian’s arm and said, “-No! I mean...stay.”
“Alright.” Wei Wuxian said as he slowly sat back down. He pushed the bottle closer to him and sat back. Jiang Cheng took another drink.
“You can figure out a way...to kill this thing? Can you?” Jiang Cheng asked him after a few moments of silence.
“We will figure out something.” He told him.
“How can you sound so confidently,” Jiang Cheng asked him
“Well, we did figure out a lot and handled a lot of things in the past. So we can figure out this, this is just another thing for us to get past.” He told him.
“You really are just a...you know what. Never mind.” Jiang Cheng sighed.
“What? I am not wrong.” He replied in self-defense.
“You are impossible.” Jiang Cheng replied, rolling his eyes.
“I am not being impossible. I am being me,” He stated simply with a small nod. Jiang Cheng groaned and he put his head in his hand. He just shook his head as he sat back, Wei Wuxian just laughed and gave him a grin.
“You haven’t changed,” Jiang Cheng said into his cup while taking a drink.
“I have changed a bit, I don’t cause as much trouble as I used to,” Wei Wuxian said as Jiang Cheng looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Okay...maybe I still can cause some trouble but not as much.” Wei Wuxian admitted with a sigh. Silence filled the room and Jiang Cheng scanned to be sure the creature was not there. Wei Wuxian, seeing the rare fear in his eyes, he moved over to him and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“You will be fine...Jiang Cheng.” Wei Wuxian said to him softly.
“I am fine,” Jiang Cheng said firmly, pulling his shoulder away. Wei Wuxian looked at him with a small smile as he nodded.
“Of course.” Wei Wuxian said. “And don’t worry...I will not leave you.”
“How can you say that?! You left me before?!” Jiang Cheng snapped at him.
Wei Wuxian was silent for a long moment before he reached out and took his hand. “Since...before I was selfish...and I see that you need me. Even if you may not say it.”
Jiang Cheng looked at him and reached out, slapping him before he fell into Wei Wuxian’s arms. Jiang Cheng was clutching his brother tightly as he held back tears.
“I am here Jiang Cheng...I am here.” Wei Wuxian said to him hold him.