Huaisang smiled at the nudge of Mingjue's cheek. His heart did a pleasant little flip. Whenever Mingjue was around, he felt safe and loved. Even when his brother was in a bad mood. Those moods so rarely touched Huaisang, sometimes because he ignored them and sometimes because Mingjue curbed them specifically to protect Huaisang.
Gasping at the sight of the dagger, Huaisang's eyes widened. He let Mingjue tuck it against his heart, but then he immediately drew it back out, admiring the beauty of sheath and blade. "Da ge."
It was perfect for him. Subtle, easily hidden, and beautifully artful. Huaisang tucked it away again and then threw his arms around his brother, hugging tight. "I love it, da ge. Thank you. It's perfect."
There was no one he loved more, frankly, and that was why he was so determined to see Huaisang safe no matter what circumstance befell them. He knew he was running a race he would lose, but he had to try. His brother deserved that much from him.
Of course if he could forget his plans and gut the Wens, that would also be very pleasing.
But he knew, after speaking with Lan Xichen, that peace was the better road to take. It meant less lives would be lost.
The dagger's hilt was decorated with the animal that suited Huaisang best: a bird. A bright songbird could evade a bird of prey with the right planning and protection.
"I just want you safe." he admitted quietly, catching Huaisang and returning the hug, "This ascension will put you in the spotlight and I will have to guard you far more than I already do."
"I know, da ge." Huaisang was glad to be held. Mingjue's warm, solid arms kept him safe. He could feel like a child again, with nothing to worry about. Mingjue would always protect him from the world.
"I wish you could be the sect leader," he murmured, even though he knew it was wicked to wish for such things. Ungrateful, disgraceful, troublesome. He'd been wishing as much since he was a child, and they'd both been punished for him saying it. Huaisang had quickly learned not to say it aloud, not even to Mingjue. "I'd rather you stayed regent forever. You're the one who's suited to command."
Clinging a little tighter, Huaisang took a shaky breath. "Promise me that things won't have to change? You'll still guide me and protect me, and you'll always, always rule by my side?"
"The gods have ordained it to be otherwise." Mingjue wasn't going to punish Huaisang - he knew the idea of leading a sect frightened him - but he did give him a stern look, "You will adjust to the role and I will be there for you."
Whether he was suited or not was beside the point. Huaisang was the true-born son and heir and Mingjue believed there was a deep reason for that. His brother had many good qualities that could - and would - in time support him in caring for their sect and beyond.
Just like he had many good qualities that would serve him as Huaisang's right hand man and defender.
The promise that was asked of him made him frown and then chuckle.
"One day you and I will get married and have children of our own. I will always protect you, but our lives will change."
Huaisang sulked at that, lifting his head and giving his brother a pout. "No, da ge. You're not allowed to get married and leave me. I forbid it." He was aware that he was being childish, but didn't want to act mature. He had so little childhood left before he became the sect leader. Before Mingjue's prophesy came true and he married and had other responsibilities in his life more important than spoiling his little brother.
"If you have to get married, you can just marry me," Huaisang insisted, intentionally playing up the childish pouting now. He knew that there was no chance his brother would take that as a serious suggestion, even though a part of Huaisang wished that he would. He'd spent half his life wishing he'd been born as a daughter of some other sect so that then he would have had a chance to be Mingjue's wife.
Ducking his head again, he buried his face against his brother's chest, nuzzling petulantly at him.
"You forbid it?" he huffed, amused, unsure when his brother was being playful and when he was being serious. Technically Huaisang did have the power to deny him a marriage, but to what end?
The answer came soon enough and he arched a brow, his heart skipping a beat strangely in his chest. Those words had been said to him before, but it had been awhile. Mingjue sighed and wrapped Huaisang in his arms, resting his cheek against the top of his head.
"You will never lose me. It's impossible. We have been together most of our lives." he moved a hand over Huaisang's hair and down his back absently, liking the shift from silken hair to soft fabric, "We will carry on the line with our wives and our children. You will get married one day too, Huaisang."
Huaisang grumbled, petulant as a child, but the touches relaxed him and made him smile with trust and contentment. "I don't want to get married. I don't want to grow up and be a Sect Leader. Even though there will be an enormous party all focused on me. I do like that part."
Lifting his head a little, Huaisang looked thoughtful. "I really should start focusing on the banquet planning. There's only a month left and I haven't even decided on the menu or the decor!"
It was just possible that there were other important priorities to consider--the politics, the security, the dangerous tensions involving the Wen Sect--but it was far more fun to focus on the party planning.
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no subject
Gasping at the sight of the dagger, Huaisang's eyes widened. He let Mingjue tuck it against his heart, but then he immediately drew it back out, admiring the beauty of sheath and blade. "Da ge."
It was perfect for him. Subtle, easily hidden, and beautifully artful. Huaisang tucked it away again and then threw his arms around his brother, hugging tight. "I love it, da ge. Thank you. It's perfect."
no subject
Of course if he could forget his plans and gut the Wens, that would also be very pleasing.
But he knew, after speaking with Lan Xichen, that peace was the better road to take. It meant less lives would be lost.
The dagger's hilt was decorated with the animal that suited Huaisang best: a bird. A bright songbird could evade a bird of prey with the right planning and protection.
"I just want you safe." he admitted quietly, catching Huaisang and returning the hug, "This ascension will put you in the spotlight and I will have to guard you far more than I already do."
no subject
"I wish you could be the sect leader," he murmured, even though he knew it was wicked to wish for such things. Ungrateful, disgraceful, troublesome. He'd been wishing as much since he was a child, and they'd both been punished for him saying it. Huaisang had quickly learned not to say it aloud, not even to Mingjue. "I'd rather you stayed regent forever. You're the one who's suited to command."
Clinging a little tighter, Huaisang took a shaky breath. "Promise me that things won't have to change? You'll still guide me and protect me, and you'll always, always rule by my side?"
no subject
Whether he was suited or not was beside the point. Huaisang was the true-born son and heir and Mingjue believed there was a deep reason for that. His brother had many good qualities that could - and would - in time support him in caring for their sect and beyond.
Just like he had many good qualities that would serve him as Huaisang's right hand man and defender.
The promise that was asked of him made him frown and then chuckle.
"One day you and I will get married and have children of our own. I will always protect you, but our lives will change."
no subject
"If you have to get married, you can just marry me," Huaisang insisted, intentionally playing up the childish pouting now. He knew that there was no chance his brother would take that as a serious suggestion, even though a part of Huaisang wished that he would. He'd spent half his life wishing he'd been born as a daughter of some other sect so that then he would have had a chance to be Mingjue's wife.
Ducking his head again, he buried his face against his brother's chest, nuzzling petulantly at him.
no subject
The answer came soon enough and he arched a brow, his heart skipping a beat strangely in his chest. Those words had been said to him before, but it had been awhile. Mingjue sighed and wrapped Huaisang in his arms, resting his cheek against the top of his head.
"You will never lose me. It's impossible. We have been together most of our lives." he moved a hand over Huaisang's hair and down his back absently, liking the shift from silken hair to soft fabric, "We will carry on the line with our wives and our children. You will get married one day too, Huaisang."
no subject
Lifting his head a little, Huaisang looked thoughtful. "I really should start focusing on the banquet planning. There's only a month left and I haven't even decided on the menu or the decor!"
It was just possible that there were other important priorities to consider--the politics, the security, the dangerous tensions involving the Wen Sect--but it was far more fun to focus on the party planning.