[Closed] Second Chances

[suprememperor]

⌛ Who: Xie Lian and Jun Wu
⌛ What: Xie Lian finds Jun Wu
⌛ When: Today
⌛ Where: Tokyo
⌛ Warnings: Injuries, talk of injuries, spoilers for latter half of the novels.

At first, he thought it must be some sort of punishment for all his transgressions. Finally. Because of course he would never be allowed peace in the end. But then Jun Wu realized that this wasn't at all the same thing.

He permitted the touch of irreverent fingers on his holy personage after hearing their explanation not because it was necessary but because he was busy thinking. Was this actually...?

Still, Jun Wu really could only abide so much and left without the full measure of their care. He had much to sort out for himself. For the first time in a long time, the way ahead wasn't clear to him. The rock solid foundation of his hatred, bitterness, contempt, and despair had been shaken. A light pierced the darkness and he thought perhaps he might become something new once again.

But then he saw him.

Xian Le.

Jun Wu froze for a moment, but then he noticed the bandages at the other man's throat and remembered the myriad things just foisted upon him. A small smile lifted his lips, there and gone.

It did not take much to assume the form of his injured self once more. Xian Le hadn't yet seen him and he wouldn't for another moment. Jun Wu staggered and leaned against a wall. He closed his eyes.

Yes, this place really was actually his second chance.

Comments

[suprememperor]

Jun Wu allowed his erstwhile protégé to handle him, feeling a complex mix of emotions at those hands on his person. There was, of course, always the underlying hope, pride and longing laced with an element of bitterness from his own trials that could never be erased. However, now Jun Wu also thought he felt something like admiration, maybe even love, or as close as he could get to it with the way he was now.

Very dangerous, his former Guoshi would have said. Very dangerous indeed.

He was so happy.

Jun Wu covered his wet cough with a fist and attempted to hide the redness of his palm from Xian Le. Of course, he would fail at this.

"Nevermind that. It's not important right now. What's important is you're safe."

Let Xian Le stew on it for a while. He was a very intelligent man and would come to the appropriate conclusion soon enough and if not, well, Jun Wu would help him.

[cultivatingdisaster]

The blood on the Emperor's hand didn't escape his notice at all, no. It just heightened Xie Lian's worry all the more. Coupled with the words...

All he could imagine was that, before arriving, something terrible had happened. A battle that even Jun Wu had been forced to descend for. A battle of such epic proportions that he had been brutally injured.

Perhaps... a new Ghost King? Had they been too late in arriving to Mount Tonglu to stop it from happening?

There were so many questions and Xie Lian wanted to ask more, but with Jun Wu's words he understood that there would be no answers forthcoming just yet. All he could do was nod his acceptance and begin walking.

"I am safe." He agreed quietly. "I have something that can heal you." Xie Lian had been saving it for a special occasion. The next time he really hurt himself. But this seemed a very good excuse to break out that particular potion.

[suprememperor]

Xian Le had always been too open, at least to Jun Wu. It was only natural though since Jun Wu had worked hard to build this very trust between them. He placed his unsullied hand over Xian Le's and half-whispered the words brushing against his atrophied heart, "no need, but perhaps a place to...rest?"

He really was touched by the gesture.

But he couldn't have Xian Le wasting such a precious thing on him when he himself would need it sometime later... And again, after it had been exhausted, to whom would Xian Le turn?

Jun Wu's lips curled into a small smile that he didn't bother to hide. His eyes were gentle and warm despite the obvious pain pinching at the corners.