[ Jin Ling looks like a mess when he goes back into the house, his eyes red and raw, his face similar. He doesn't call out for his uncle - doesn't want to see anyone else - just pads through the place trying to find him and stifling sobs at the same time.
When he finally opens Jiang Cheng's bedroom door, the sobs he's been holding break, and he rushes across the room to throw his arms around his uncle and weep into his chest. ]
[ These are the times Jiang Cheng thinks to himself that his nephew truly takes after him. He's lost count of the number of times he's found his nephew in tears, but then he's also sure Yanli felt much the same about her little brothers crying into her arms long after they were both grown.
With Yanli on his mind, and this being his sister's child, he sighs out his breath and tries to do what she would do, folding the boy carefully into his arms to hold close. ]
What's happened now, A-Ling? Who does jiujiu need to teach a lesson for you?
[ ...these are not the words Yanli would use, but Jiang Cheng speaks them gently nonetheless, stroking the boy's back, smoothing a hand over his hair. ]
[ It's such a painfully familiar question - his jiujiu reaching back through time and space to touch his younger self - that it makes Jin Ling cry all the harder. ]
No one, [ He sobbed, finally able to get words out through the grating edges of his throat. ] No one did anything, they--
[ Jiang Cheng tenses in fractions, anxiety gripping him by the throat. His grip on Jin Ling tightens as well, clutching his nephew that much closer as he forces out the question that must be asked. ]
[ This is not what Jiang Cheng was expecting. Of all the things he imagined, prepared for, went over in his own mind for how to handle, this— This was nowhere on the list. The floor drops out from under them, all sound, all air, all light going out. Jiang Cheng stares fixed into space, goes rigid, fingers now digging into Jin Ling with near bruising force. ]
No.
[ It's barely a whisper, just a tight exhale of breath forming a single word. Jiang Cheng tries to speak again and his voice cracks, the standstill in his mind giving way to a thousand thoughts at once.
She won't answer his texts anymore.
When he needs her help, she won't be there. Like his parents, like Wei Wuxian—
He didn't get to thank her. He didn't repay any of the things she'd done.
[ The grip turns painful and the moonlacing that had been the sole sliver of comfort between them faltered, struttering like a gutted flame, before continuing on despite the pain.
He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know if there was anything to say. He buries his face deeper against Jiang Cheng’s chest as if trying to make it impossible for him to breathe as he sobs. ]
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consignation) wrote2019-12-14 12:01 pm
action
When he finally opens Jiang Cheng's bedroom door, the sobs he's been holding break, and he rushes across the room to throw his arms around his uncle and weep into his chest. ]
no subject
With Yanli on his mind, and this being his sister's child, he sighs out his breath and tries to do what she would do, folding the boy carefully into his arms to hold close. ]
What's happened now, A-Ling? Who does jiujiu need to teach a lesson for you?
[ ...these are not the words Yanli would use, but Jiang Cheng speaks them gently nonetheless, stroking the boy's back, smoothing a hand over his hair. ]
no subject
No one, [ He sobbed, finally able to get words out through the grating edges of his throat. ] No one did anything, they--
They disappeared -- They're gone--
no subject
...who? Who's—
no subject
From-- from the other world -- the other Jiujiu and- and mom--
no subject
No.
[ It's barely a whisper, just a tight exhale of breath forming a single word. Jiang Cheng tries to speak again and his voice cracks, the standstill in his mind giving way to a thousand thoughts at once.
She won't answer his texts anymore.
When he needs her help, she won't be there. Like his parents, like Wei Wuxian—
He didn't get to thank her. He didn't repay any of the things she'd done.
Again.
It was all gone.
Again. ]
No—
no subject
He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know if there was anything to say. He buries his face deeper against Jiang Cheng’s chest as if trying to make it impossible for him to breathe as he sobs. ]