XiCheng: The Last Lotus [AU- OMEGAVERSE]

37

He really hated it when his mother was right.

In hindsight, Jiang Cheng should've known not to trust his mother.

He should've known not to bow his head, folding himself to someone else's beck and call.

He should've known to protest vehemently- screaming and clawing for his god-given right.

He should've fucking known better. 

But then again. If he had known better- then he wouldn't be stuck in a room, bored out of his mind- now right?

In the nine months that had passed since the announcement of his pregnancy- Jiang Cheng had nearly doubled in size.

He was as round as a balloon, his feet swollen and bigger than pig trots. His stomach had expanded- trying to accommodate the life that bloomed inside. His hands were like sausages- giant and clumsy.

He looked like a house- his robes loose-fitting and hanging off his body.

Jiang Cheng groaned, lounging back and slinging an arm over his face.

In the months following his pregnancy- he had become ill-mannered, rude, and oftentimes finicky and difficult to deal with.

He was hormonal too- his emotions running all over the place.

It was only thanks to Lan Xichen's foot rubs- that he had managed to stay sane. With the nimble fingers kneading into the aching arches of his joints- Jiang Cheng could temporarily forget the constant pain of his back- the lasting soreness from his heavy front. He could forget the persistent inch on his leg- could will himself not to bend down and blindly reach for it.

But now- now with Xichen gone, the stiffness would return to him- bringing with it a wave of barely muffled curses.

It was honestly exhausting- the way his body changed so drastically in the short span of nine months.

And at first, Jiang Cheng had thought he would be happy with this new development- would feel nothing but sheer joy and bliss as he gazed down at the precious lump in his stomach. 

And indeed- he was happy. 

He just wasn't that happy. 

Jiang Cheng scowled, glaring down at the foot-shaped bulge in his stomach.

Fucking hell. Sometimes he really fucking wished he still had his husband here.

Of course, Jiang Cheng understood the importance of this war. He understood that as the current sect leader of the Gusu Lan Sect- Lan Xichen couldn't stay. He knew that Xichen accompanying him throughout most of the pregnancy- had already been going above and beyond what was expected.

Of course, he knew that.

But that didn't mean he couldn't still complain.

That didn't mean he couldn't complain about the frequent kicks and hard drives to his stomach- almost like his stupid pup was trying to punch their way out into the world. That didn't mean he couldn't scowl at the unnatural bumps on his front- the way a human-sized fist would litter his sides with angry red lines- letting it crisscross in an array of stretched marks. That didn't mean he couldn't glare at his swollen ankles and puffy fingers- glowering at the bloated mess. That didn't mean he couldn't pout and huff- shooting a terrifying look at Huaisang every time the little fucker tried to distract him from the very important fact that well- Jiang Cheng was ready to pop any minute now, and his alpha still wasn't here.

It didn't matter that Lan Xichen was fighting for their pup's future- risking his life for the betterment of others. It didn't matter that he was a capable cultivator- the Lan's no doubt making sure he wouldn't get hurt. It didn't matter he had Han-Guang Jun and Lan Qiren with him- the two well versed with the sword. It didn't matter that he was Zewu fucking Jun- the most powerful alpha of his generation.