Work Text:
It starts out as a curiousity in the little Jiang Cheng's mind. The reflection mirrored back at him draws his attention as he bows his head over his brother's shoulder. Wei Wuxian is smiling brightly. Jiang Cheng frowns.
Wei Wuxian has light in his eyes, joy and michievousness. Jiang Cheng has anger, loneliness and tiredness.
The lotus flower blooms over Wei Wuxian's reflection whereas the one approaching Jiang Cheng's remains closed. He stretches his hand towards it, hitting it away and Wei Wuxian laughs so loudly. His brother is a fool. His brother cannot see what Jiang Cheng's heart is surrounded by. His brother should not know anyway.
"Stop laughing, already!" Jiang Cheng says, his eyebrows furrowing and his fists clenching.
"What did that flower do to you?" Wei Wuxian asks, holding his stomach, almost rolling down on the wood of the Lotus Pier.
His little brother turns his gaze away and sighs. The water is still today. No boat is arriving in Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng continues to stare in front of him at the water, at the lotuses and at the boat that is not coming.
"Hey..." Wei Wuxian says, his laughter ceasing. "Are you okay?"
He sits down near his little brother and watches far away too.
"Oh! You're waiting for uncle Jiang?"
Jiang Cheng does not reply. He buries his face in his arms, hiding his tears away.
"Jiang Cheng?" Wei Wuxian asks, placing one of his little hands on his brother's shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Leave me alone!" Jiang Cheng says, his tone filled with irritation.
Wei Wuxian's eyes grow wide when the trembling in Jiang Cheng's voice reaches him. But in spite of those words, he does not leave his side.
"Do you miss uncle Jiang?"
"Just shut up!" Jiang Cheng says, his arms hiding his face even more.
Wei Wuxian smiles as his gaze turns towards the water again.
"He'll come! And when he does, he'll bring you many gifts!"
"You're an idiot." Jiang Cheng says, lifting his head for a bit, revealing his reddened eyes and cheeks.
"Hey!" Wei Wuxian punches his shoulder lightly and pouts. "I'm trying to cheer you up!"
"Don't hit me!" Jiang Cheng returns the punch.
"So you want to fight now?!" Wei Wuxian stands up, readying his fists for battle. His little brother follows suit his actions.
"You started it!"
***
Wei Wuxian stares at the still water in front of him, his shoulders drooping as his eyes search for a familiar silhouette. He can hear footsteps approaching while the water hits the wood of Lotus Pier.
"He is not coming." Jiang Cheng speaks from behind him and sighs.
"I know." Wei Wuxian says, his voice almost a whisper.
The Yiling Patriarch does not turn to face him, but instead bows his head to study his reflection. The face is not his but Mo Xuanyu's. His smile is weaker than before, more pained this time. It carries loneliness, it carries hardships, it carries the passing of time. His eyes have shifted from light to darkness across the years but right now they are veiled in nostalgia.
Jiang Cheng comes closer to his brother, bowing his head as well and watching. His frown is the same. His eyes have the remains of anger, envy, crying, battle, loneliness. But right now they are lighter and calmer.
Two bloomed lotus flowers glide over their reflections, covering their expressions.
"Are you going to hit it again?" Wei Wuxian asks, grinning at his little brother.
"Do you want me to hit you instead?" Jiang Cheng says while Zidian sparkles a bit.
Wei Wuxian laughs awkwardly.
Even though the years have often pushed them apart, life has brought them again by each other's side. Carrying more wounds, hurt feelings and misunderstandings, the brothers are now forging a path towards healing.