Disapproval— A Jing and Lady Yin origin and Family reunion
Tw VERY angst heavy, directions of blood, pregnancy, and going into labor
“I cannot believe you—“
“—of all the reckless, impulsive decisions that you have made in the past, this by FAR takes the mooncake! Sneaking around with a princess?! And a celestial one at that!”
Jing winced at his father’s yelling, shuffling from where he was kneeling at the table while his father paced back and forth in rage. The fabric of his simple blue training Hanfu suddenly felt very constricting.
“Papa,” Jing murmured quietly, “papa, please-“
“And!” The older man barreled on, speaking over Jing’s protests, “I find out that you are wanting to elope with that- that judgemental spoiled princess!”
Jing immediately tried to defend himself and his choices. “She’s not spoiled or judgemental! Yin has been nothing but kind to me and the others!” His jaw trembled, fists clenching at the front fabric of his clothes. Seeing this, his father sighed softly.
“Sweet baby” The redheads voice came out soft, almost pleading. “My son, she is a celestial. They do not care for the lives of mortals. You are too young, you do not understand yet.”
Jing glared at his father, his own voice ticking up a volume. “I understand perfectly well!” Jing wilted when his father’s gaze turned hard, but he kept going. “Yin is different, Papa.” He pleaded, “she’s not like Zāng or Nèicún. I actually like her, and she likes me.”
“It’s only a fleeting thing,” Jing’s father stated sternly, “she’ll leave at the next pretty tail she sees, just like all the others. I know you think she’s different bit she isn’t. You will be marrying Zāng or Nèicún and that’s final.”
Jing closed his eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and lifted his head to meet his father’s fierce gaze. The older man’s angry eyes tried to pierce through Jing’s defenses, but the young swordsman had already made up his mind. He wouldn’t budge. Not this time.
“I don’t care if she’s a celestial. She’s given up everything to be with me, and I’m willing do the same.”
The moment the words left Jing’s mouth, the older man stood and shouted at the top of his lungs. “Leave!” He demanded, pointing at the door, “Leave this house! And only come back when you have left that wrench!”
Jing stood with all the grace of a soldier, before turning his back to his father and strides out the door. Heat pricked at his eyes, but he stubbornly held back.
That night, while staying in a small inn the young couple could barely afford, Li Jing swore to himself that he would never sit at his father’s dinner table again.
The first few years were hard. But Jing’s grandfather was more than willing to help them out while Jing got his feet under him. The young swords man worked tirelessly, day in and day out, perfecting his craft and gaining the attention of many. Soon, he married Yin in a beautiful ceremony, Jing’s grandfather officiating.
Even after the passing of his grandfather, Jing continued on strong, determined to give Yin everything they needed.
Jing sent a single letter to his parents when, a year later, Jinzha was born. He waited several weeks, and silently cried in Yins arms when they never responded. He did this again when Muzha was born, hoping and praying they’d answer. That maybe they’d finally see past Yins celestial heritage. But nothing. Jing eventually gave up on any sort of relationship with them, resigned to never see them again.
When Nezha was born, he didn’t bother to send them a letter. What was the point?
Then after some the time after he’d moved to the celestial realm, Jing realized his parents were likely dead. He was immortal now, and while he’d always known he’d outlive them, it stung to realize he’d never be able to reconcile.
Life without Yin was hard. So hard. His father’s words echoed in his head every day, along side a certain emperors. But Jing wouldn’t let it stop him.
When Jing met, fell for, and was inevitably broke up with Azure, he wondered what his parents would say then. If they would condemn Azure too, this time for being a demon.
By the time of the heavenly pillars collapse, Jing had nearly forgotten his parents. He reconciled with Nezha, reconnected with Azure, had the cubs, and is nearly ready to give birth again at 8 months pregnant. It’d been so long, that when he went to the store, the last people he’d expected to see were his parents.
Yet there they, it rather he, stood, front and center of Magapolis mega-pharmacy. The very man who’d turned his back in Jing for falling in love. The man who Jing had finally moved passed.
Li Shānyáng was a towering man, even more so than Jing himself had ever gotten. His fiery orange-red hair was as long as it used to be, even with the streaks of grey. He was older now, more stress lines, but he walked with his back strait like he always did.
He’s seen Jing too, and looked just as startled. He reached out a single hand, to calm out to him.
“Jing?” Shānyáng whispered, almost hopeful, “Jing? Is that you?
Jing stood frozen. He couldn’t make a single sound. It was as if his vocal cords turned to cement. How was this possible?
Shānyáng slowly approached, but the moment he got within range of Jing, the pregnant man stepped away almost on instinct. He frowned and stayed where he was, but he still looked at Jing with those sad, hopeful eyes.
“How.” Jing finally managed. “How are you here?”
“Well,” Murmured Shānyáng, “demons do live long lives.”
Jing’s heart nearly stopped. A wave of dizziness swept over him,
“I’m sorry,” Shānyáng said, “I always meant to tell you.”
Alive
A demon.
His father was alive and a demon. Any further words the man- demon - may have said were drowned out my the harsh beating of Jing’s heart as it all clicked. The hate for the celetials, his father’s unnatural red-orange hair. The way others seemed weary of him all Jing’s life.
Jing ran. He didn’t think, didn’t look, just ran. He could hear his father calling out behind him, desperate and pleading. But Jing used what little energy he had to just teleport back to the celestial realm. Back home.
Everyone startled when Jing burst in, and Azure jumped to his feet in alarm at Jing’s tear stained face. But before he could comfort him, ask what was wrong, Jing shoved him away and rushed to their bedroom.
There was a large commotion, and Jing’s vision started to spin. He gasped for air, clutching the dresser, before dry heaving a few times. In his panic, he could barley hear Azures voice. “Jing! What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” but Jing couldn’t respond.
A sob ripped itself from his throat, turning midway into an enraged shriek. The pregnant celestial (celestial-demon? Celestial-human-demon hybrid? What was he?) grabbed a small plant and hurled it across the room. Shouts of panic echoed in the house, and this time Azures voice rose above it.
“Jing! What has gotten into you!?”
“He lied to me!!!” Shrieked Jing, whipping his head around to face his lover. Nezha and the others crowded the doorway, out of range, as Azure was the only one brave enough to enter. The lion only looked more confused and concerned at those words, and gently reached out to the distressed preggo.
“Who lied dear?” The former-rebel murmured, trying for gentleness. Jing didn’t care, instead hurling another plant.
“My father,” Jing hissed, and he could see the other Nezha’s heads jerk up. “He’s alive! He’s alive and a fucking demon and never told me! He let me think he was dead!”
Azure was stunned, and quickly ducked out of the way of the third plant. “Dear,” he pleaded, “I don’t understand-“
“He hated her! He hated her because she was a celestial and I never even questioned it! He lied he lied he lied—!”
(Crash!)
“Jing!” Hollared Azure, who instinctively shelled the others from the flying shards. Jing let out an inhumane scream, slamming his other fist into the glass as hard as he could.
A loud pop was heard,and everything froze. Jing let out a ragged breath, and looked down at the ground. Blood and glass littered the floor, but now so did water. It took a moment to realize what happend, but as Jing came out of his rage he relized why his pants were now soaked.
Between his meltdown and the shock of going into labor, Jing collapsed. Azure barely managed to catch his mate before he hit the ground, and they made haste to rush Jing to the hospital for a labor two months early.
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