[When Ling woke up that morning, he laid in bed for awhile, at first staring at the ceiling before draping his arm over his eyes, blocking out the sunlight peeking through the window.
He had another life in his mind now. With a guy that he realized he only barely knew now. He had that same drive and determination to help his people. Something that would apparently never change for him. It was strange to think, that even in another life, he couldn't escape his destiny. That drive. The sacrifice of living his life for his people and not for himself.
Yet, now it felt empty. It was a life without those that mattered most to him. Without his clan... without his grandfather, his mother, or Fu and Ran Fan.
Ran Fan.
He could remember it so clearly now. That kiss. That simple, playful kiss. It had meant so little to him at the time. Just a game. Something he might try and pull with any pretty girl that caught his eye. But it wasn't simple now. This was the girl he grew up with. The girl who had dedicated her life to see his destiny fulfilled. The girl who cut off her own arm and lost her grandfather in seeing her duty done. The girl, Ling realized, that he cared for more than he knew he was supposed to.
He wished he could take it back. Or maybe... maybe redo it. As the real Ling. So he would know what it was actually like, instead of just a shallow impression from another life.
But that wasn't his destiny. So resolved, he rose to a new day, as Ling Yao the future Emperor of Xing. When he didn't spot her in the house, he headed to the kitchen instead, finding an empty counter to sit on, and wearing that fake facade of a smile that he always used as a mask.
Just like the one Ran Fan was wearing. How could he insist she remove hers when he never removed his?]
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He had another life in his mind now. With a guy that he realized he only barely knew now. He had that same drive and determination to help his people. Something that would apparently never change for him. It was strange to think, that even in another life, he couldn't escape his destiny. That drive. The sacrifice of living his life for his people and not for himself.
Yet, now it felt empty. It was a life without those that mattered most to him. Without his clan... without his grandfather, his mother, or Fu and Ran Fan.
Ran Fan.
He could remember it so clearly now. That kiss. That simple, playful kiss. It had meant so little to him at the time. Just a game. Something he might try and pull with any pretty girl that caught his eye. But it wasn't simple now. This was the girl he grew up with. The girl who had dedicated her life to see his destiny fulfilled. The girl who cut off her own arm and lost her grandfather in seeing her duty done. The girl, Ling realized, that he cared for more than he knew he was supposed to.
He wished he could take it back. Or maybe... maybe redo it. As the real Ling. So he would know what it was actually like, instead of just a shallow impression from another life.
But that wasn't his destiny. So resolved, he rose to a new day, as Ling Yao the future Emperor of Xing. When he didn't spot her in the house, he headed to the kitchen instead, finding an empty counter to sit on, and wearing that fake facade of a smile that he always used as a mask.
Just like the one Ran Fan was wearing. How could he insist she remove hers when he never removed his?]
Breakfast smells good. I can't wait.
[Business as usual.]