Work Text:
As Jiang Cheng sat back on his modest wooden chair, placed at the center of the highest part of the hall, all against his will, he tried to find a position that wouldn’t hurt his skin so much to the point it would be unbearable to keep a friendly face - though the best he has been able to do was to keep a straight face at every single person who looked at his direction. He accepted the cup of water from one of his clan servants and thanked the man for both the beverage and the small pile of paper he offered him.
The situation had been going on like that for so long that no one found it weird anymore. Jiang Cheng had never been much of a father figure to the clan as his progenitor used to be. Sure, Jiang Cheng always treated everyone right and had not even once mistreated a single soul amongst his people, and he always protected them in all kind of situations, but no one dared to even think he was being rude for not smiling back at them - not even at the kids - after not only his parents were killed, but his own sister was assassinated by the hands of that horrendous man who once was given the chance of a better life, was freely given what to eat and what to drink by both the hands of Jiang Cheng’s parents and sister - Yiling Laozu.
Jiang Cheng knew exactly what was in people’s minds and he knew he was at fault in that. He knew he should have known better; he should have trusted his brother ever since the beginning… No, that was not enough, because now he knew that deep inside he always trusted Wei Wuxian.
His mistake was always being a hothead. He was so afraid of the unknown, so mad at the idea of Wei Wuxian being gone to the Cloud Recesses, so jealous of having to share the older one’s attention, so terrified at the mere thought of having to actually pick a side at that meaningless fight for what’s right and wrong…
As he flicked through the small-sized map and a few letters sent by the other clan leaders, a small, bare envelope caught his attention. There was no identification nor stamp on either side of the grimy dirty paper of the poorly hand folded envelope. He unenthusiastically opened it; his eyes widening at the sight of that handwriting.
“It’ll be lovely to see you again.”
He took a look around and nothing. There was not a single person watching him at the moment; it would not make any sense for it to be a bad joke. It could not be a joke; he was the only one capable of remembering that handwriting as he knew there was no one other than him who had ever paid any attention to that.
The time seemed to pass slowly after deciding to open that one envelope - which was the only one the leader of the Jiang clan actually touched and gave his attention to at all. He had, indeed, thought about opening the other letters sent to him, but his mind couldn’t stop spinning around those words written in that yellowish paper.
As soon as the event ended, Jiang Cheng rushed his way back to his room. He wasn’t worried about what anyone would think of him being in such a hurry, but in the end people were already used to it - even though they were always concerned about it - as there was not a single time since the Battle of the Nightless City that Jiang Cheng was seen smiling, not rushing his way back to his room, or actually enjoying the good times they all had together as a clan.
Besides official and public matters of the Jiang sect, no one ever saw Jiang Cheng - since he had moved out to a small, simple house excluded from the main area of the Lotus Pier. He was the only one aware of his reasons; he couldn’t take walking those paths not only he, but also his A-Jie had walked. Following the invisible, but always so vivid footsteps of Wei Wuxian would never help him heal. It didn’t matter if it had been thirteen years so far, especially now that he knew his shixiong was back to life.
The fact that no one had actually encountered Wei Wuxian was alleviating, otherwise he wasn’t sure what could happen to him. But he had promised himself he wouldn’t let Jin Ling or anyone else find him first, because they’d keep him captivated and severely punish him for all his controversial, oh-so-bad actions. And Lan Wangji sure would rush his way to Wei Wuxian, but he’d never allow that; he wouldn’t let that man ruin his life once again.
It was no surprise, tho, when he found nothing but himself alone in his room. If he was at his normal temper he’d go directly to bed, no bath needed so soon, and just pray to fall asleep before his thoughts tormented him. But there was this rush inside of him, this eagerness to find out if he… No, not him. There was this eagerness to find out if his heart was right.
So for the first time in years he went right in for a bath as soon as he came back to his house after a day of work - but, as always, he was cautious with his wounded back, caused by him lashing his own back as a way of punishing himself for all the bad he’s done. Then he grabbed some clean, purplish blue robes and decided to wander around Yunmeng.
The night was falling. The streets weren’t exactly empty, but the few people who were still around did notice him there. He did notice the gossip - after all, how could they not? It had been thirteen years since the last time they saw him wandering around so freely like that. He didn’t like all the talking, especially the whispered ones, but at this exact moment he chose not to properly react to them.
He didn’t know where his feet were taking him, but he went anyway.
About half-an-hour later he found himself in a garden. There was a lake and some flowers. He allowed himself to stand there, peacefully watching the calm, translucent water ornamented with some leaves and petals, enjoying the calm cold breeze touching his face.
He couldn’t remember when was the last time he took some time for himself. And he also couldn’t remember when was the last time he felt those weird things in his stomach - it was like something was dancing there.
He felt a chill down his spine.
There was a smell in the air, like perfume, but naturally caused. Natural and soft.
It smelled like home. But it wasn’t the smell of the lotus flowers.
— Ah, there you are. - he heard the voice whispering way too close to him.
His body freezed. He noticed only at this moment that he hadn’t brought Sandu with him, because he tried grabbing it only so he could hold something and let his anxiety go unnoticed.
— Where else would I be? - he asked, successfully not stuttering any word.
As the answer for that didn’t come immediately, he decided to turn his body around just so he could look at the other person’s face. And there he was.
He was standing there. Smiling at him. The silver light of the moon illuminating his skin, allowing his eyes to glow majestically.
— Wei Wuxian… - Jiang Cheng’s voice failed his will to sound over him. He couldn’t do more than whisper the older man’s name, even though he wanted and had planned to say so many things at this time.
And there they were, thirteen years later.
His heart was thumping. He could hear each heavy beat almost so loud he swore he’d go deaf. But Wei Wuxian approached him and he couldn’t hear a thing besides the wind when his warm hand carefully cupped Jiang Cheng’s face.
Next thing he felt was their breaths mixing together.
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes only a split of second before feeling Wei Wuxian’s lips tenderly bushing on his.