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fandomweekly2022-07-15 02:47 pm
curiosity) wrote in fandomweekly2022-07-15 02:47 pm
Entry tags:
[#143] Still Stranded (MDZS)
.
Theme Prompt: #143 - Nightmare
Title: Still Stranded
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: Mature. Somewhat gory imagery, death.
Bonus: Yup.
Word Count: 1,000 words.
Summary: They were rescued three months ago but Jiang Cheng still feels stranded.
Jiang Cheng clung to Wei Wuxian’s corpse. Howling creatures crept from the treeline. He could smell fetid breath, feel it against his skin. Growls made his ears ring and the hairs stand up on the back of his neck.
Sand ground into his burned skin, shells dug divots in his knees. His brother’s blood was carried away on the tide. Scorching sun burned down, crisping the skin across his shoulders until it bled.
The ocean began boil, scalding his flesh from bone as it tried to tear Wei Wuxian's body away.
Somewhere behind them, Nie Huaisang screamed as creatures found him with broken legs. Defenseless.
Jiang Cheng was helpless.
He woke choking on a scream, tangled in the sheets so tightly, he could barely breathe. It took several minutes to free himself. His room was hot, the air so thick.
Nie Huaisang’s screams still echoed in his ears. His hands throbbed with pain from clinging to Wei Wuxian’s lifeless body.
Jiang Cheng struggled upright, leaning against the wall, then the door until he could walk without wobbling.
In the kitchen, a light over the stove lit up the time. Still early, he realized. Not even midnight.
Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang wouldn’t be back from the latest corporate party celebrating the trio’s survival. The fact that Jin Zixun had not survived went acknowledged only by a huge, gold-framed portrait surrounded by strategic lighting and huge bouquets of flowers.
Jiang Cheng had seen that display at the first party and refused to attend another. Jin Zixun hadn’t had the skills, training, or instincts to fly a Cessna; let alone a large experimental aircraft.
Huaisang’s screams echoed. Wei Wuxian’s dead weight left him numb.
They shouldn’t have been on that fucking plane. If Jiang Cheng had been told the truth about all the changes to the design, he could have been troubleshooting before the tragedy.
But Jin Corporation had needed a big, flashy moment for the investors.
Three months rescued.
They’d only been stuck on the island for two weeks.
The end had been touch-and-go. Nie Huaisang had gashed his leg open on a reef while swimming. Wei Wuxian had gotten sick eating tainted shellfish. Jiang Cheng had been horribly sunburned after he’d used his shirt to bandage Nie Huaisang’s leg. His skin was still tender.
But they’d survived just fine.
Nie Huaisang wouldn’t even have much scarring. Wei Wuxian actually checked what he shoved in his mouth -and- chewed thoroughly. He didn’t eat like a feral street urchin anymore.That was actually an improvement.
Jiang Cheng had nightmares.
“It was just a dream,” Jiang Cheng muttered, realizing he’d been staring into the fridge for awhile. “It isn’t real. Get your shit together.”
He reached into the fridge and grabbed a grape sport drink. He turned around.
The bottle fell from numb hands as he lurched backwards into the fridge, hard enough to rock it. For just a second, monsters from his nightmare stood in the entry to the kitchen, looming figures shrouded in shadow.
“Easy,” Nie Mingjue held up both hands.
“Fucking hell. Make some fucking noise,” Jiang Cheng hated that his voice wavered. He bent down to pick up his drink and stood, glaring at Nie Mingjue. “What the hell are you even doing here? Shouldn’t you be at that damn party?”
“No.” Nie Mingjue lowered his arms, regarding Jiang Cheng somberly. “Are you okay?”
Jiang Cheng became acutely aware that Nie Mingjue wore a very flattering suit that accented his body from broad shoulders to exceptional thighs. While Jiang Cheng wore boxer shorts and terror-sweat.
“Peachy!” He snapped, when it became obvious an answer was required. "What’s it matter to you, anyway?”
“You’re my friend. I’m allowed to worry. Especially after a traumatic event,” Nie Mingjue said, tone even and calm. “I haven’t seen you much, lately. So I thought I’d stop by before going home, in case you needed anything.”
“Just gonna break in and stare while I slept? That’s not creepy at all,” Jiang Cheng retorted, putting his drink on the counter and walking past Nie Mingjue, out of the kitchen.
“I have Huaisang’s key. He and Wei Wuxian weren’t ready to leave the party.”
“Whatever. I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry.”
The words were sincere; Jiang Cheng stopped in his tracks and turned around. Nie Mingjue stood there, just watching him.
“Sorry I came back?” Jiang Cheng sneered. “Sorry I wasn’t the one who got cut or poisoned? Or crushed into paste.”
“How can you even say that?”
Jiang Cheng paused in his tirade. He’d lashed out to hurt, yes. But he’d expected Nie Mingjue to yell back. To stomp out and slam the door and say to hell with him!
Instead, Nie Mingjue sounded like he was in real pain.
Jiang Cheng met Nie Mingjue’s eyes and saw tears. He felt like he’d been hit with lightning. Nie Mingjue let the tears fall, making no attempt to hide them.
“I was terrified! Afraid I’d never get a chance to confess to you. For fourteen days I thought I’d lost my heart.”
Jiang Cheng couldn’t comprehend Nie Mingjue’s words. Something broke inside him.
“All anyone has said since the rescue is that I’m a jerk for being angry over what happened,” Jiang Cheng was crying too. “This shouldn’t have happened! I didn’t even know the true flight specs! I thought it was a maintenance check, not a zero test run with untried components! They could have died! And it would be my fault because I didn’t know!”
He sank to the floor, right there in the hallway, sobbing with his head in his hands.
Nie Mingjue was on his knees, hugging Jiang Cheng tight. “Not your fault! Jin Zixun’s, maybe. Mine? Definitely. Absolutely Jin Guangshan’s! Never yours, my heart. I’m so sorry.”
“Every time I close my eyes, it’s there,” Jiang Cheng whispered. “No one wants to listen. I’m so tired.”
“I’ll listen. Every word. I swear.”
Jiang Cheng believed Nie Mingjue; let himself feel safe.
He began talking.
Theme Prompt: #143 - Nightmare
Title: Still Stranded
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: Mature. Somewhat gory imagery, death.
Bonus: Yup.
Word Count: 1,000 words.
Summary: They were rescued three months ago but Jiang Cheng still feels stranded.
Jiang Cheng clung to Wei Wuxian’s corpse. Howling creatures crept from the treeline. He could smell fetid breath, feel it against his skin. Growls made his ears ring and the hairs stand up on the back of his neck.
Sand ground into his burned skin, shells dug divots in his knees. His brother’s blood was carried away on the tide. Scorching sun burned down, crisping the skin across his shoulders until it bled.
The ocean began boil, scalding his flesh from bone as it tried to tear Wei Wuxian's body away.
Somewhere behind them, Nie Huaisang screamed as creatures found him with broken legs. Defenseless.
Jiang Cheng was helpless.
He woke choking on a scream, tangled in the sheets so tightly, he could barely breathe. It took several minutes to free himself. His room was hot, the air so thick.
Nie Huaisang’s screams still echoed in his ears. His hands throbbed with pain from clinging to Wei Wuxian’s lifeless body.
Jiang Cheng struggled upright, leaning against the wall, then the door until he could walk without wobbling.
In the kitchen, a light over the stove lit up the time. Still early, he realized. Not even midnight.
Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang wouldn’t be back from the latest corporate party celebrating the trio’s survival. The fact that Jin Zixun had not survived went acknowledged only by a huge, gold-framed portrait surrounded by strategic lighting and huge bouquets of flowers.
Jiang Cheng had seen that display at the first party and refused to attend another. Jin Zixun hadn’t had the skills, training, or instincts to fly a Cessna; let alone a large experimental aircraft.
Huaisang’s screams echoed. Wei Wuxian’s dead weight left him numb.
They shouldn’t have been on that fucking plane. If Jiang Cheng had been told the truth about all the changes to the design, he could have been troubleshooting before the tragedy.
But Jin Corporation had needed a big, flashy moment for the investors.
Three months rescued.
They’d only been stuck on the island for two weeks.
The end had been touch-and-go. Nie Huaisang had gashed his leg open on a reef while swimming. Wei Wuxian had gotten sick eating tainted shellfish. Jiang Cheng had been horribly sunburned after he’d used his shirt to bandage Nie Huaisang’s leg. His skin was still tender.
But they’d survived just fine.
Nie Huaisang wouldn’t even have much scarring. Wei Wuxian actually checked what he shoved in his mouth -and- chewed thoroughly. He didn’t eat like a feral street urchin anymore.That was actually an improvement.
Jiang Cheng had nightmares.
“It was just a dream,” Jiang Cheng muttered, realizing he’d been staring into the fridge for awhile. “It isn’t real. Get your shit together.”
He reached into the fridge and grabbed a grape sport drink. He turned around.
The bottle fell from numb hands as he lurched backwards into the fridge, hard enough to rock it. For just a second, monsters from his nightmare stood in the entry to the kitchen, looming figures shrouded in shadow.
“Easy,” Nie Mingjue held up both hands.
“Fucking hell. Make some fucking noise,” Jiang Cheng hated that his voice wavered. He bent down to pick up his drink and stood, glaring at Nie Mingjue. “What the hell are you even doing here? Shouldn’t you be at that damn party?”
“No.” Nie Mingjue lowered his arms, regarding Jiang Cheng somberly. “Are you okay?”
Jiang Cheng became acutely aware that Nie Mingjue wore a very flattering suit that accented his body from broad shoulders to exceptional thighs. While Jiang Cheng wore boxer shorts and terror-sweat.
“Peachy!” He snapped, when it became obvious an answer was required. "What’s it matter to you, anyway?”
“You’re my friend. I’m allowed to worry. Especially after a traumatic event,” Nie Mingjue said, tone even and calm. “I haven’t seen you much, lately. So I thought I’d stop by before going home, in case you needed anything.”
“Just gonna break in and stare while I slept? That’s not creepy at all,” Jiang Cheng retorted, putting his drink on the counter and walking past Nie Mingjue, out of the kitchen.
“I have Huaisang’s key. He and Wei Wuxian weren’t ready to leave the party.”
“Whatever. I’m fine.”
“I’m sorry.”
The words were sincere; Jiang Cheng stopped in his tracks and turned around. Nie Mingjue stood there, just watching him.
“Sorry I came back?” Jiang Cheng sneered. “Sorry I wasn’t the one who got cut or poisoned? Or crushed into paste.”
“How can you even say that?”
Jiang Cheng paused in his tirade. He’d lashed out to hurt, yes. But he’d expected Nie Mingjue to yell back. To stomp out and slam the door and say to hell with him!
Instead, Nie Mingjue sounded like he was in real pain.
Jiang Cheng met Nie Mingjue’s eyes and saw tears. He felt like he’d been hit with lightning. Nie Mingjue let the tears fall, making no attempt to hide them.
“I was terrified! Afraid I’d never get a chance to confess to you. For fourteen days I thought I’d lost my heart.”
Jiang Cheng couldn’t comprehend Nie Mingjue’s words. Something broke inside him.
“All anyone has said since the rescue is that I’m a jerk for being angry over what happened,” Jiang Cheng was crying too. “This shouldn’t have happened! I didn’t even know the true flight specs! I thought it was a maintenance check, not a zero test run with untried components! They could have died! And it would be my fault because I didn’t know!”
He sank to the floor, right there in the hallway, sobbing with his head in his hands.
Nie Mingjue was on his knees, hugging Jiang Cheng tight. “Not your fault! Jin Zixun’s, maybe. Mine? Definitely. Absolutely Jin Guangshan’s! Never yours, my heart. I’m so sorry.”
“Every time I close my eyes, it’s there,” Jiang Cheng whispered. “No one wants to listen. I’m so tired.”
“I’ll listen. Every word. I swear.”
Jiang Cheng believed Nie Mingjue; let himself feel safe.
He began talking.
no subject
Not surprising he has nightmares.
no subject
no subject
no subject