Thread by @_mari_moonmoon

#chengxian a/b/o dynamics, canon divergence, mentioned wangxian (it's one-sided)

"You said you would take the disciples with you" WWX angrily says as he enters in the infirmary.

There's blood on JC clothes, some scratched on his face, and he wants to step closer.

"Leave."

JC words don't surprise WWX. They've been here before.

"a-cheng, you know I won't go. Not until the healer comes and tells me the extent of your wounds."

The other mouth twists in discontentment, but WWX ignores him, sitting by his side.

There's a pungent smell of persimmon in the air. Contary to other times, it smells sickly sweet, almost rotten.

It taste of disappointment, of anger.

"Were you able to defeat it?"WWX asks, right hand trying to smooth JC hair.

But the man moves away.

"you look rough, a-cheng. You should have taken some of the disciples. I thought that's what we had agreed on."

"Oh, shut up." JC's voice is harsh. "we didn't agreed on anything," and WWX recoils at the words.

"Why are you being so mean?"

"isn't that what I'm known for? The Jiang sect leader, the alpha that smells sweet, the leader that needs help during nighthunts. From his omega head-disciple, no less."

His words sting. WWX is used to others questioning his nature, but not JC.

He is different. He used to be.

"Since when do I care about others' opinions? If that was the case, shouldn't I have a litter of pups and stay at home calmly waiting for my mate?"

He tries to control his voice and his temper. Since he started practicing demonic cultivation he knows that control is essential.

"Can you not see my question for what it is? Worry. I was, and am, worried about you, a-cheng. All the reports indicated that yao was powerful - of course, I don't want you galivating all alone against it."

But his words don't have the expected effect.

Instead of understanding, there is only hollow laughter filling the room.

"You must be joking, Wuxian. Worry, you were worried about me? Do I look that pitiful to you? 'Oh no, Wuxian, is not here, what do I do now?'"

WWX doesn't understand what's happening. It's not the first time that JC is unreasonable, but he never treated him like this.

"And they don't even know about the core," JC continues. "Imagine if they knew you're coreless and so powerful, whereas I stole your core and remain we-"

"You didn't steal anything," WWX tries to not scream as he grabs JC's head. "I gave it to you. It was a gift," his voice breaks.

"Because I was weak before, and I remain weak," JC tries to step back, but WWX doesn't let him. There's a rage inside of him that fuels his strength.

"You're not weak, a-cheng. I don't understand this nonsense. What's going on?" WWX pleads.

JC stills. Hands shaking, he grips WWX's forearms:

"Don't you think this, us, is a mistake?"

And WWX, familiar with being coreless, wonders if he can survive without a heart too?

Poll time!
Do we want

"What are you trying to say, Jiang Cheng?"

But he doesn't reply right away.

"You can't such a thing and then remain silent. What are you saying? Don't you think we should be together anymore?" WWX insists.

JC raises his head, eyes drowning in unshed tears, and replies:

"How could I allow such a thing? You deserve better, a-xian. Someone that can protect you,"

"I don't need pro-"

"That can give you comfort, luxury,"

"I have all that I want."

"Someone who's not jealous of you."

WWX steps back as if burned as JC keeps battling against the tears.

"You deserve someone that looks at you and sees all your victories without the bitter taste of envy.

I love you, a-xian, I do. But I can't go on anymore."

"Why now, Jiang Cheng?" WWX's voice feels like ice. "Why this change of heart so suddenly?"

"My heart didn't change, I'm just revealing t-"

The room is filled with cursed energy, WWX's temper getting out of control.

"Don't. Do you think I'm so naive I'll believe that?"

"Do you truly believe that after all these years together, I wouldn't notice if every time you looked at me there was envy in your eyes? That I think so lowly of myself that I would stay?
No. Because that's not the truth. So tell me, Jiang Cheng, before I lose it - what changed?"

"There's a letter -"

// am I stopping on a cliffhanger? Yes 🤭🤭 but I'm giving you a very important decision, meows

The one to blame is

Don't worry, this will have a happy ending :)
Also, if you want to tell me what you're thinking right now, I would like it lots

ao3 link :): archiveofourown.org/works/43118856