Spiritual Weapon: Loss

[zdenka]

Title: Loss
Author: Zdenka
Word Count/Drabble Type: 200/double drabble
Character(s)/Ship(s): Nie Huaisang & Baxia
Rating/Warnings: T - Grief/mourning, blood, aftermath of canonical character death
Summary: Nie Huaisang is not the only one that mourns his brother.
Author's Notes: Set in novelverse, meaning Nie Mingjue died in the Unclean Realm and his body (and Baxia) didn't disappear after his qi deviation.
on AO3

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“Second Young Master.”

The voice is familiar, but Nie Huaisang doesn’t respond. His finger traces meaningless patterns in the blood staining the stone. He thinks some of it is his.

“Sect Leader—”

He flinches and draws his shoulders in. That title is da-ge’s, only and always.

“Please, young master! We need your help.” He is surprised enough to look up. The Nie disciple continues apologetically, “You’re the only one who can touch Baxia.”

Oh. Baxia lies where it fell, when his brother’s grip slackened. The blade is splashed with blood.

Huaisang stands shakily. He limps over to the saber and hesitates. Baxia has never harmed him—until today. But if da-ge is dead, he thinks recklessly, what does it matter? He grips the hilt.

Baxia knows him at once, comes to him like a dog looking hopefully for its master. He can feel her fierce anger, her brutal strength, the hollow emptiness where her purpose has been torn away.

It’s almost like touching a friend. But Baxia will have to lie in the tomb with his brother, under cold stone. He cleans the blade carefully and sheathes it. Da-ge would want him to take good care of Baxia, until then.

Comments

[elwendell]

I love the description of Baxia when he touches her. And, poor lad, he so does not want to be a leader.

[zdenka]

Thank you! No, he really doesn't.

[ranalore]

Oh, ouch. Poor Huaisang. His brother really was all he had. And poor Baxia. It's hard to be a blade in MDZS-verse.

[zdenka]

Thank you! Yeah, I'm sad for both brothers, and for Baxia. And Baxia had it even worse in Untamed-verse, being used to cut off its own master's head. No wonder it became a resentful spirit!

[hhimring]

"like a dog looking hopefully for its master"--that has so much emotional impact.

It seems a pity these two bereaved ones can't stay together, somehow, even though Baxia is so dangerous...

[zdenka]

Thank you! Yeah, I'm sure it costs Huaisang a pang to give up Baxia, when it's associated so strongly with his brother. I guess in novelverse Baxia gets its own burial in a saber tomb and maybe even remains undisturbed when Jin Guangyao steals Nie Mingjue's body--I can't remember it being mentioned either way. I could imagine Huaisang going to visit Baxia's tomb as well as his brother's.

[elizacake]

Baxia has never harmed him—until today. But if da-ge is dead, he thinks recklessly, what does it matter?

*Winces* Poor Huaisang. I think this coloured so much of his future decision making. "I don't know," being a translation of "What does it matter."

[zdenka]

Thank you! Yes, I can see that. His brother really was the most important person to Huaisang.

[aroberuka]

Oh, this one hurts, especially "He thinks some of [the blood] is his." / "Baxia has never harmed him—until today." Nie Mingjue regaining enough awareness to recognize his brother, but not before he's hurt him is such a gut punch in that scene, and that is so much for Huaisang to deal with on top of the grief ;__;

[zdenka]

Thank you! Yeah, that bit in canon gets me too. :( So much about their relationship is tragedy, and poor Huaisang just wanted to play with birds and pretty fans.