Nearly two weeks later, Xichen finds himself sitting on the veranda in front of the Hanshi. The time since Jiang Cheng's arrival has blurred together, each day leaving him nearly exhausted and somehow more energized than before.
He is not healed, but healing. Not the man he was before, no, but as Jiang Cheng's already extended stay draws to a close, Xichen finds that he feels hopeful. There will be and have been days where he has done little more than hummed a soft response when asked a question, but the mountain before him does not seem to be unscalable.
The fact that he is getting better, how quickly he is getting better, is eating away at his own brother. Xichen can tell, but he does not let his mind drift from the man and afternoon ahead of him.
They are sharing tea today, though wine has also been brought for the Jiang Sect leader. Xichen is suspicious that their brothers are involved, but does not question how it has come within the walls of Cloud Recess. He is not Sect Leader by any means at the moment, though compared to how Jiang Cheng found him, he looks the part. He is dressed in three layers on top of his underrobes, his hair flows down his back and half is tied into a loose ponytail instead of the haphazard braid of the first night. His finery is still locked away, it feels too soon.
"I am sure Lotus Pier is happy at the news you will be returning soon. Though, I also hope your stay here has not been too disruptive and a mountain of paperwork won't be your welcome home," he says, after setting his cup of tea down on the table. What he wants to say is that he will miss the other man, whose company he has grown to greatly enjoy. That he is grateful, though he knows this has been a burden. A selfish part of him, a small voice that Xichen has been trying to silence, wants more time in his company, amongst the deep sound of Jiang Cheng's laughter and the refreshing honesty he brings to each space he enters.
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He is not healed, but healing. Not the man he was before, no, but as Jiang Cheng's already extended stay draws to a close, Xichen finds that he feels hopeful. There will be and have been days where he has done little more than hummed a soft response when asked a question, but the mountain before him does not seem to be unscalable.
The fact that he is getting better, how quickly he is getting better, is eating away at his own brother. Xichen can tell, but he does not let his mind drift from the man and afternoon ahead of him.
They are sharing tea today, though wine has also been brought for the Jiang Sect leader. Xichen is suspicious that their brothers are involved, but does not question how it has come within the walls of Cloud Recess. He is not Sect Leader by any means at the moment, though compared to how Jiang Cheng found him, he looks the part. He is dressed in three layers on top of his underrobes, his hair flows down his back and half is tied into a loose ponytail instead of the haphazard braid of the first night. His finery is still locked away, it feels too soon.
"I am sure Lotus Pier is happy at the news you will be returning soon. Though, I also hope your stay here has not been too disruptive and a mountain of paperwork won't be your welcome home," he says, after setting his cup of tea down on the table. What he wants to say is that he will miss the other man, whose company he has grown to greatly enjoy. That he is grateful, though he knows this has been a burden. A selfish part of him, a small voice that Xichen has been trying to silence, wants more time in his company, amongst the deep sound of Jiang Cheng's laughter and the refreshing honesty he brings to each space he enters.