#[The Princess of the Ashen Volcano - Princess Iron Fan]

[funnel-webbed-au]

Wood smoke and Ashes

Riley's Notes: Kinda long one. Here's something from early in arc two that explains largely why Iron Fan and DBK don't show up much, in this AU. Based a bit loosely off of my own interactions with my mother, but let me tell you, she was already making plans with what she'd do with my room before I'd even moved out yet. It felt like I never existed.

Red Son opened the door of his workshop with a quick entry of a passcode to the keypad near the door. A chill ran down his spine at the prospect of the conversation that he was about to start, but it needed to be said. He had to tell them, this had to be discussed. There was no getting out of it if he wanted a better life for himself.

He had to leave.

The fire Demon came into the living room with his nails tightly digging into his upper arms. Any tighter and onlookers would have said he was going to draw blood.

It was a terrifying thought, the idea of having to leave this fortress behind, but it was one he knew would give him more freedom than his lawlessness and his power ever would. Sure, he could do whatever he wanted in the city without consequences because he was such a powerful fire Demon, but when he was in his own home, it was like he didn't matter.

He hissed, wiping a tear from his eyes as he remembered a day he might wind up bringing up in the conversation he was about to start. This wasn't going to be easy, he knew that better than anyone else.

How did you leave someone you love behind?

“Mother…? Father…?” His voice cracked with the unease that had sunk its icy claws into his heart. He was usually so bright and filled with fiery passion, but now, in the presence of his parents, it was thoroughly stifled.

How the Hell did you tell your own family you wanted to leave, after everything they'd been through? The idea of broaching the topic twisted Hai'Er's stomach into horrible, painful knots that he'd almost forgotten. He had almost missed this pain. Perhaps this was what it meant to feel alive.

Princess Iron Fan turned to her son, raising an eyebrow though her expression didn't change from a deadpan otherwise. The entire sequence opened up a bottomless void in the fire Demon's gut.

He hated it.

“I, er… there is something we need to discuss. It is… of utmost importance and I dread broaching it now, in such an informal environment…” Those words brought Iron Fan to her feet, and she approached Red Son with an intimidating, almost towering presence that instilled fear into the one of her children who'd stayed with her, her favorite child…

Hai'Er flinched, unable to hide the chill that went down his spine from her cold gaze, filled with more frost and more unfeeling nothingness than that of the Lady Bone Demon… or so the redhead might say.

“Red Son, my dear, you know you can talk to us about whatever you need to. This is our home, although it doubled as a wartime fortress.” Iron Fan glanced at her husband, who had turned to watch the scene from his seat. He was still distracted by Chang'E's cooking show, however.

It was then that Red Son snapped. Boiling emotions tipping over, the heat of his workshop, and of the core of the volcano, erupting from within him.

“No, I can't talk to you, and no, this isn't our home. It's your home.” The fire Demon stepped back after saying those words, sweat rolling down his cheeks. The fear that set in afterwards couldn't be overstated, but despite it, Iron Fan didn't raise her voice.

“Why do you say that?” She tilted her head as she spoke those words, and it wasn't long before the Demon Bull King loomed at her side, expression serious. He didn't even need to prompt Red Son before the words came gushing out.

“This- this isn't my home. It doesn't… it doesn't feel like home.” He took a few moments to gather himself, steeling his nerves. Yes, right, he was the current wielder of the True Samadhi Fire, he didn't have anything to fear from them.

”You weren't there when I broke my arm in a training accident. I had to find ways to express myself without the use of my dominant arm for months. Sleeping wasn't easy, either, since I'm most inclined to sleep curled up on my right side, but I didn't expect you to be aware of that.“ His harsh tone drew a growl from his father, but he didn't stop. ”You two are always busy planning to take over the city, planning to take what was once rightfully ours. I'm not so sure if that city is ours to take anymore…”

He stopped, swallowing the vitriol that had threatened to overcome him… and for once, he made a choice. One he hadn't made in his own home for a long time.

The fire Demon allowed his expression to fall, showing the centuries of hurt he'd endured in the past. The instability, the lack of support, it was all hitting him harder now more than ever.

”…I can't stay here. This isn't a slight against you, but I can't stay here. You're not there when I need you, and I hate to say it, but the damn noodle boy and his friends always are. Someone he knows, if not him, will ask the unpleasant questions you two just… don't.“ He swallowed, then raised his expression to face his parents.

The Demon Bull King had turned his head away, no longer able to keep looking at his son. He knew he'd failed him, but he didn't know how severely until now. It was a mighty blow against his ego, one he might not recover from easily.

“I understand, son. If we can't give you what you need, I'll help you move out. Don't be afraid to use some of the yuan we've gained over the years to find yourself somewhere stable.”

Red Son smiled weakly, and for once, couldn't help the way his heart swelled, feeling warm and full for the first time in a long time. He wiped the tears from his eyes, nodding gently as he approached his mother.

Iron Fan moved almost too fast for comfort, wrapping her son up in her arms. The day had finally come, eh? She wasn't surprised, but it still hurt. She ran her fingers through her son's hair, appreciating the silky texture that was only there when Red Son took care of it.

“…I'm sorry, dear. This is… all of our faults, isn't it?” Although Iron Fan's voice cracked, her expression was reserved, restrained. She didn't want anyone to see her cry just yet.

“…I think so. Yours for not being there, mine for not communicating. Time will tell if this is… salvageable. If it's any consolation, I have hope that it is.” He smiled weakly as he clung to his mother. DBK picked them both up, holding them close to himself. He was going to miss his son deeply, but maybe it was better this way.

Sometimes, hope was all you had.