XiCheng: The Last Lotus [AU- OMEGAVERSE]

59

Damn him and his foolish love.

Jiang Wanyin scowls. "He called me a replacement," he whispers, voice slow and seething. "Tell him to take that back."

"My heart-"

"No," Jiang Wanyin cuts him off. "I'm sick of you calling me those lovey nicknames and acting like we're long-lost lovers or something! I barely fucking know you! You just threw yourself into my life and told me we were soulmates! And then you bring me to fucking Cloud Recesses, where I know absolutely no one, and all of a sudden-surprise! Congratu-fucking-lations- I have a son! Not one, but two! Two little brats that I don't remember ever coming out of my body. And now one of them is blaming me for taking their father away? Lan Xichen, we're practically strangers! How can I take you away when we don't even know each other? It's ridiculous! It's so fucking stupid I can't even begin to fathom how-" Jiang Wanyin pauses, gasping for air. He gulps in breaths, hysteria bleeding into his voice. "How fucking stupid you have to be to even think that! You said this kid was my son? Well fuck! I don't remember him at all. How the hell am I supposed to act like his mother when I barely know this kid?"

"This is so fucking stupid," Jiang Cheng exclaims, doubling over and wheezing for breath. "This whole fucking thing. Cloud Recesses, Gusu, Jiang Cheng, you-all of it's so dumb! Just leave me the fuck alone, won't you? I'm not your Jiang Cheng and I won't ever be your Jiang Cheng. He's dead, ok? Let me live goddammit!"

He's suffocating. He can't breathe.

It hurts-

It hurts.

There's a pounding on his temple; his eyes are wide, and he's breathless and gasping for air.

There's a man in front of him with tears clinging to his lashes, who makes Jiang Wanyin want to scream and cry. There's someone's husband, who looks like the world has just collapsed on its head-and all Jiang Cheng wants to do is hug him.

My heart-

The man whispers. And there's a raspy note to his voice that makes it clear he's moments away from sobbing his pretty little face and bright blue fucking eyes out.

My heart-

Jiang Wanyin hears, mocking him.

There's a man in his dreams every night who dons robes of blue and white. He looks like freshly fallen snow, draped across a tall mountaintop. Regal, pristine, perfect. He looks every bit the number one bachelor of his generation that he is.

Jiang Wanyin thinks he knows this man. He swears that they've met before. Somewhere, somehow, sometime. He knows what being loved by this man feels like; has been the recipient of so many warm hugs and gentle kisses. He knows that the man's lips taste like spring water and pine; has traced every scar and line of the man's body.

He knows the man's name too.

Lan Xichen.

He knows Lan Xichen loves him.

Jiang Wanyin thinks he loves Lan Xichen too. Revels in the familiarity and thrill of it all. Kind face, soulful eyes; tender smile and burning passion. Lan Xichen holds Jiang Wanyin like he's something precious. Like he's something beautiful and fragile. He holds Wanyin like he painted the stars across the milky way. He loves him like a moth to a flame; fucks him with the gentlest caress.

Jiang Wanyin loves him. Loves Lan Xichen.

Who is Lan Xichen?

Lan Xichen is blue skies and white clouds. Lan Xichen is 3000 rules engraved on a stone tablet. Lan Xichen is safety and comfort; familiarity and routine. Lan Xichen is Jiang Cheng's alpha, lover, father of his children.