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“Stay and die with me,” Jin Guangyao begs, desperate for one last chance to tarnish himself in Lan Xichen’s eyes. He’s selfish, he’s twisted, he's not worth another glance or a single tear, and he has to die that way.
Lan Xichen stares at him with an unreadable expression, like he can’t decide whether he should be horrified or relieved. He moves his mouth soundlessly, but forgoes answering.
That’s fine.
Blood drips from the blade between them, counting down the final moments of his life and their time together, and Jin Guangyao watches Lan Xichen’s frustrations melt away into resignation. He breathes out deeply and his arm drops, but—
Lan Xichen doesn’t push him away.
He’s supposed to. He’s should want nothing more than to get as far away from his as possible, but instead he just looks lost and exhausted, as though the weight of all these revelations is too much to bear. Jin Guangyao presses his bloodstained hand to Lan Xichen’s chest, savoring the last lingering touch between them, and pushes with all his strength.
But—
The strength of a man on death’s door can’t compare to Lan Xichen’s, despite his panicked attempts. Lan Xichen wraps an arm around his waist like a steel bar forged in desperation, clinging to Jin Guangyao with bloodshot sorrow in his eyes.
“Er-ge,” he tries, because he has to reason with him. Lan Xichen cannot die here; he has to live on and carry only disappointment for Jin Guangyao in his heart, free of grief for the man who betrayed friendship and selfless trust. He’s supposed to struggle and pull back. He’s better than this. He’s always been a better person than Jin Guangyao.
He’s not supposed to stay.
Lan Xichen’s eyes widen in horror before he can say anything else and Shuoyue jostles between them, ripping the gash through him wider until the pain threatens to overwhelm any other thoughts.
Pain can’t control him; he's experienced worse already and he has to get away, before—
An impossibly strong hand grabs him by the neck and yanks him into the air and Jin Guangyao fears he’s too late.
“A-Yao!” Lan Xichen exclaims, still holding onto him despite the chaos. He should be quiet and let go, before he draws attention to himself. Nie Mingjue wants HIS head, not Lan Xichen’s, but anger has replaced every part of him, leaving nothing to stop him from hurting everyone else around them.
Lan Xichen is familiar, just enough to attract attention, and Nie Mingjue’s other hand encircles his throat.
“Er-ge—” Jin Guangyao pleads - with Nie Mingjue? With fate? He’s not sure anymore - as he dangles in the air helplessly. He never wanted it to end like this. Everything is out of his control and Lan Xichen wasn’t supposed to get hurt; it’s all spun out of his grasp.
Distantly, Jin Guangyao hears Lan Wangji yelling for his brother, but he doubts anyone could move quickly enough to save them.
“Fuck you!” he gasps out, and Nie Mingjue’s attention snaps back to him. “Fuck you, Nie Mingjue! If you want me so badly, leave Er-ge out of this! Do you really think I’m scared of you?”
Stiff fingers tighten around his neck in anger, the killing intent in the air heavy enough to choke on, and Jin Guangyao feels the last of his hope slip away when an abnormally clear and brutal crack fills his ears. He can only cough up blood in his final seconds, knowing that everything he ever tried to do ended in failure, and despite all his attempts, Lan Xichen died because of him.
Jin Guangyao’s world fades to black with a crack.