Thread by @zarasu333

#ZhuTian TLJ/ZZL, uncle/nephew incest, post sv canon
Don't like, don't read
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Before Su Xiyan, before the sealing, before his son, when Zhuzhi-Lang had still been his loyal general, Tianlang-Jun had looked at him and thought: oh.

Then he had taken this realization (Oh. Zhuzhi-lang is beautiful) and buried it deep down in his mind. Zzl was his nephew and Tlj had a responsibility towards him and there could be none of that.

Tlj wasn't that kind of person anyway.

Then, he met Su Xiyan and oh! This was the kind of romance he had read about in his books. A dramatic courting period, love that burned like a bright fire, great sex! It was wonderful. Right up until she betrayed him and Tlj was sealed under a mountain.

That's how life goes, sometimes. And Tlj would be the first to admit that, well, he hadn't been at his best, under the mountain. There had been depression, and tantrums and times where he had given up completely.
When he'd been more lucid, he tried to convince Zzl to leave.

But Zzl, loyal /stupid/ Zzl, didn't leave. No matter how much Tlj screamed at him and tried to cut into him with words, Zzl came back every time. Whether it was out of misplaced loyalty or pity, he didn't know.

And then Peak Lord Shen helped free him and Tlj had a son and-

And suddenly, it was over. The merging averted, true love found, and Tlj alive and without a purpose. His nephew barely surived trying to save him and had to heal for weeks and weeks after, which Tlj spent at his side, healing himself.

And then Tlj decides to do some wandering around. See the world, find peace, things you do after the story ends. He tells his nephew, his former general, that he'll go alone and Zzl should go live his own life.

Zzl gives him the most deadpan look Tlj has ever seen.

So, they're travelling together again. It's almost like old times. And Tlj had always been very careful to /not/ look at his nephew this way.

But he's tired. His mind feels like a burned out husk. There are days when he doesn't feel anything at all.

Suddenly, looking doesn't quite seem like the horrible thing it used to, anymore.

It's all very harmless. Who cares if he looks at Zzl in the light of the fire every evening till he falls asleep? Zzl sure doesn't. All he did was blink at him before tending to the fire again.

Zhuzhi-Lang notices. He always notices everything his uncle does and this is no exception.
And, the thing is, he likes it. He knows it probably means nothing, that Zzl is only projecting his own inappropriate desires.

But still, he can't help but want to encourage it.

So he starts brushing and braiding his hair in Tlj's sight. Puts more care into his appearance. Speaks more softly.

It's stupid, it's pathetic. But Tlj is looking even more now and Zzl feels, for the first time, that he might be someone worth looking at.

For his part, Tlj notices the changes in Zzl's behavior. He isn't quite sure that he's trying to do what Tlj suspects he's doing. Because why would he? Tlj is old, washed-up and depressed and he can't imagine Zzl is feeling anything for him but pity and loyalty.

But he figures: might as well try. So he offers to brush Zzl's hair for him, buys him clothes and compliments him on his looks, his loyalty, his cunning.
And, its nice. For both of them. It feels like there's honest care, appreciation and gentleness between them.

Tlj feels as if his romance with Sxy was a wild fire, a try for the kind of dramatic romance he read about in his books.
This isnt that. This is something more quiet, more familiar.

And it's healing for both of them.

For the first time in a long time, Tlj feels needed again, needed and good and attractive.

(Zzl is just having a little breakdown every evening because what the fuck is happening.)

Without even really noticing, Tlj starts treating Zzl like a wife, rather than a mix of servant and nephew. And it shows because, everywhere they go, people start treating Zzl like Tlj's wife too. (It's hard not to when he keeps buying robes and jewelry for his confused snake.)

As a consequence, Zzl starts holding his head higher, smiles and talks more.

But, of course, they aren't talking about it. They both know that there's something changing and they know the other knows but they aren't talking about it. After all, they're still uncle and nephew.

Maybe, if they dont talk about it, they can pretend it isn't real for a bit longer?

Tlj is afraid he's only doing this because of what he went through. He's always been attracted to Zzl, and has always liked him, but he's wary of rushing a romance again.

After what happened last time, he'd rather be sure.

And the thing is, Zzl knows. He knows Tlj is wary after the whole Sxy thing, so he understands. And, when his uncle is feeling reckless and tries to take their relationship further, Zzl is the sensible one who stops him.

So, Zzl isnt planning to let this thing they have go anywhere anytime soon. Because his loyalty to Tlj is the most important thing for him and he won't endanger it for anything until he's sure Tlj isn't going to regret it.

So when Tlj pins him against a tree and moves in to kiss him, its Zzl who pushes him away.

He tries to explain his reasoning, but for Tlj it feels like all his fears just became reality. Zzl doesnt really like him that way. He feels only pity for him, after all.

Maybe he's glad his uncle finally pays him the attention he deserves but he doesnt actually want this washed-up old man to kiss him.

So Tlj is very close to having a meltdown au Binghe. The air getting darker around him, his demonic attributes come out fully-

he's not listening to anything anymore. The trees just start dying around them and dark clouds appear on the sky.

So Zzl does the only thing he can think of. He clambers onto his non-responsive uncle's lap, takes his face in his hands, and kisses him.

He knows these kinds of tantrums from before. So he knows there's almost no way to bring Tlj out of his funk except surprising him so badly that he forgets why he's melting down in the first place.

So that's what he does.

Nsfw || Tlj responds very well to this.

That is, he kisses him back before pushing him down and ripping his clothes off.

The sex they have is rough and desperate, and Zzl is very glad for his own heavenly demon constitution.

They go at it all night until the sun rises again and Tlj slowly finds back to himself.

He rolls off Zzl, puts a hand over his eyes and laughs darkly, because if he doesn't laugh he'll surely cry.

"There are really no limits to your devotion," he says ruefully.

"Letting me fuck you just because I wanted to. I suppose you don't hate me for that either, do you?"

And Zzl knows this too, this self-pity Tlj has and the urge to sever all of his bonds. He's seen it enough during the long years of the sealing.

So, before Tlj can leave in a stupid bid to "save" Zzl from him, he rolls over to sit on Tlj's stomach and holds him down.

Tlj looks up from under his hand and Zzl hates how he still finds him endearing.
"Jun-shang is very stupid," he hisses.

"I really am," Tlj agrees.

And then Zzl slaps his (ridiculously muscular) chest and tells him that he was trying to take it slow, that of course he likes him back "that way" and that he just didn't want him to regret it. /Obviously./

After that, they sit beside each other for a long while.

"I'm still your uncle," Tlj says.
"Mhm," Zzl answers and blushes a little.

"Oh, whatever," Tlj says then. "I suppose that's not the weirdest thing that's happened in this family."

And, with a pout, "So I suppose you want to wait to get married?"

Zzl has had quite enough. He quickly stands up and starts to walk away. This time, Tlj follows him.

"Ah, that's alright. I guess I'll just have to court you until you agree."

Zzl walks a bit faster, but really? He doesn't mind this plan at all.

-The end🐍🔥