XiCheng: The Last Lotus [AU- OMEGAVERSE]

25

"I... what?!"

"A-Cheng? Did I do something wrong?" Jiang Fengmian asked, tilting his head in bewilderment. "Why would you think I hated you?"

Jiang Cheng shot him a disbelieving look. "Why do you think?!"

"I don't-" Jiang Fengmian frowned. "Does this have anything to do with A-Xian?"

"What the fuck do you think?"

Jiang Fengmian gave a weary sigh, rubbing a tired hand over his face. "I don't hate you... I just don't like the way your mother treats A-Xian. He's my nephew. Of course, I want her to accept him."

Jiang Cheng's eyes bulged, a murderous rage clouding his violet eyes. "Accept him?!" He echoed- incredulously. "You want mother to accept him?!" He asked again- saying it like it was the most ridiculous thing in the world.

Jiang Fengmian frowned. Was it really so absurd?

"Is that really so much to ask?"

Jiang Cheng's face darkened, his cheeks coloring a furious shade of red. "Y-You," he spluttered, his face twisting with cold fury as he glared at Jiang Fengmian icily. "You have the nerve to talk about my mother?!"

"A-Cheng, I-"

"HER SECT WAS JUST BURNED DOWN, AND HER HUSBAND NEARLY DIED! OF COURSE, SHE'S GOING TO BE EMOTIONAL! OF COURSE, SHE'S GOING TO BLAME SOMEONE! SHE'S FUCKING BLEEDING OUT- FOR GOD'S SAKE! WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? YOU THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE PERFECTLY FINE? YOU THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO PRETEND NOTHING EVER HAPPENED?!" Jiang Cheng screamed, his face red with indignation. Outrage blazed in those vivid eyes, and a vicious ferocity tore to the surface. "MOTHER IS NOT LIKE YOU! SHE'S NOT A FUCKING COWARD!"

Jiang Fengmian recoiled, his face crumpling from the poison that flew from his son's lips.

Coward.

What an ugly word that was.

Coward...

Yes. Yes, he was.

Jiang Fengmian was a coward. He was a scared, frightened fool of a man. He didn't want to face his reality- didn't want to acknowledge the fact that Lotus Pier was now in shambles. He didn't want to believe that the Wen's had won- that his beloved home had been burnt to ashes. He didn't want to accept that Yunmeng Jiang was now on the run- their supplies low as they made a mad dash towards safety.

He didn't want to confess his own cowardice, his own stupidity, and ignorance.

Jiang Fengmian sucked in a sharp breath. "A-Cheng, I-"

But Jiang Cheng wasn't done yet.

"WHAT DID YOU THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN? YOU KNOW SHE'S HUMAN, RIGHT?! SO ALL THE GOSSIP THAT'S FLOATING AROUND YUNMENG?! WELL, THEY AFFECT HER TOO! WITH THE WAY YOU TREAT WEI WUXIAN, EVERYONE THINKS HE'S YOUR BASTARD! THEY SAY THAT HE'S YOUR SECRET LOVE CHILD WITH CANGSE SANREN! AND WITH THE WAY YOU ACT EVERY TIME YOU SEE HIM? YOU DO NOTHING BUT FUEL THE RUMORS! IS IT THAT HARD TO NOT ACT LIKE A PRICK ALL THE TIME? IS IT THAT HARD TO NOT FUCKING HURT MY MOTHER?! IS IT THAT HARD FOR YOU TO LOVE ME?" Jiang Cheng screamed, his voice cracking, as the pain bled through his voice.

"A-Cheng..."

"DON'T YOU A-CHENG ME! YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO CALL ME THAT! CALLING ME A-CHENG WOULD IMPLY THAT WE'RE CLOSE- WOULD IMPLY THAT YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT ME IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. YOU DON'T! YOU FUCKING HATE ME. SO STOP ACTING LIKE WE'RE SUDDENLY FAMILY! YOU NEVER ACTED LIKE MY FATHER SO DON'T FUCKING START NOW!" Jiang Cheng heaved, panting as he glared at Jiang Fengmian.