I Will Never Leave You, Didi

Protective

Wei Wuxian wanted to have a look at the shops of Huqiu District, a town very well known for its large number of stores which sell a variety of ingredients and cloth found only there. A few new outlets have recently opened and apparently their goods were to die for and not to mention cheap!

But according to his older brother shopping alone is no fun so he decided to pester Jiang Cheng until the latter finally agreed to accompany him.

So here they were, two hours later, strolling through the gigantic market of Huqiu.

They were talking about how Sect Leader Yao had tried to convince Sect Leader Zheng-the Zheng Sect have been getting more popular as well as richer now that Zheng Qing took over- to form an alliance with the Yao Sect only to fail epically much to the pleasure of the Jiang and Lan brothers.

They were having a very good time until they entered a tea shop, inside there were several disciples from various sects . Wei Wuxian had gone to the front to pay for the items while the younger lingered near the entrance, at first he ignored them but their whispering were getting louder and louder.

"Do you think Sect Leader Jiang has anger issues? He's always yelling even at his own husband and brother!"

"I know right, I don't get why Zewu-Jun even puts up with him. If it were up to me I would have left him a long time ago."

"Everytime he comes to lanling, he scowls at everyone and speaks rudely too! Which is so unbecoming of a Sect Leader...I don't get why Sect Leader Jin looks up to him."

No, Jiang Cheng was not surprised. He had heard these kind of things about him countless times before. About how bad of an uncle he was, how he was not worthy of Lan Xichen, how grateful he should be that his brother was even trying to make amends-

"Why do his disciples even obey him? Do you think he whips them if they don't?"

-But that didn't stop his heart from dropping and Zidian from crackling, clearly reacting to his distress. He wanted to get away from there, to confront the disciples, to punish them for disrespecting him. He wanted to do something, anything. But his feet stayed rooted to the spot, refusing to move, a small part of him believed those hurtful words, believed that he deserved to hear them again and again. That he deserved the pain he was feeling.

"How many people do you think he killed just because they resembled the Yiling Patriarch?"

He was about to storm out when he saw a flash of black and red approach him. Wei Wuxian. When did he come back? Did he hear anything? What would he do if he heard them? Would he agree with them?
His thoughts were overlapping each other, dizzying him.

"Are you alright? Why are you crying? What happened?" Strong hands enveloped his wrists, finally snapping him out of his thoughts, only to drown in them again. When did he start crying? Just how pathetic has he become? Crying over the words of teens.

"A'Cheng!"
He looked up. Wei Wuxian was looking at him, searching his eyes frantically.
"Why are you crying? What happened? Did someone hurt you? Who hurt you?"

"No one hurt me stupid. I'm fine, let's go." He was about to drag both of them outside when the disciples started talking again.

"Why did Zewu-Jun marry him in the first place? Was it to form an alliance or did he pity Sect Leader Jiang for being blacklisted by matchmakers?"

"Probably both. There's no way Sect Leader Lan loves him. Hanguang-Jun, his own brother in law despises him."

"Who can even love someone like him?"

The hand holding his wrist tightened almost painfully but it could not compare to what he was feeling inside. Those were his most painful insecurities which he hid in the deepest part of his mind. He constantly tried to ignore them but always failed to overcome them.

The Sect leader was almost afraid to turn around, to see his brother's reaction when the hand suddenly left his wrist.

Wei Wuxian was marching towards the teenagers, black tendrils swaying around him and chenqing in hand. He looked livid.

Jiang Cheng quickly tried to stop the other but the latter was too fast.

"Who are you to say such things about my little brother? How dare you even think about him this way?"  This was the first time Jiang Cheng heard his brother sound this furious. Those mere words were enough to sooth the ache in his chest. His lips quirked up in a genuine smile.

He grabbed the older's hand stopping him from hurting them physically and damage private property.

Speaking of the entourage, the disciples looked frightened out of their wits. It was probably the first time they saw the Yiling Patriarch this way. The latter's eyes were no longer grey but blood red, several pitch black tendrils were swaying around his form. His aura was as petrifying as the creatures found in the burial mounds. He looked ready to commit homicide.

The other customers were looking at them while whispering among each other but made no attempt to interfere. The owner himself did not dare approach them.

"Stop!," Jiang Cheng tried to make the other look at him but to no avail.

Just as Wei Ying was about to advance even closer to the group, Jiang Wanyin yanked him backwards. The former finally turned towards him. His eyes immediately softened as they gazed into the shorter's. It should be terrifying, having red eyes looking directly at him this intensly but all Jiang cheng felt was love, both his and his brother's.

"Stop it, they are not worth it." He said as softly as he could while smiling reassuringly. "I don't care about their opinions. There's no need to get this angry."

"But-

"Come on, let's not waste anymore time on unruly kids and go find the shops you were so eager to find."

Wei Wuxian turned back towards the others and mouthed something. From where Jiang Cheng was standing he could not see what but judging from the ashen faces of the disciples, it was not anything kind.

When they were finally out of the shop Wei Wuxian hugged Jiang Cheng tightly, who to the former's pleasure, reciprocated the gesture. "Don't believe their words, I love you, Xichen-ge loves you, you know he would never marry someone out of pity...even Lan Zhan cares about you, we all love you and we will never leave you."

"I love you too," he replied as he tried his hardest to keep his tears at bay and hugged his brother even tighter. Hearing that , Wei Ying's face immediately broke into a huge pleased grin.

"Promise me you'll tell me if anything like this happen again."

"Why? So you can torture them?," he asked teasingly. Wei Ying didn't say anything but his smile was enough. Yes. Yes he would torture anyone who ever dared make his brother cry again.

"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine." And for the first time in years he meant those words. Maybe, just maybe with the help of his family he will be able to overcome whatever fears he had.

Thank you for reading! I would love to receive constructive criticism and your opinions on my work:)

I hope you enjoyed this,

Stay safe!