A More Perfect Union

by kimboo_york

Summary:

Every Lord Guardian of Haixing of their generation must, by law and in accordance with the ancient treaty, be married to His Royal Highness the Black Cloak Envoy of Dixing. This purely ceremonial rite between the two nations has never gone awry.

Until now.

"If the Envoy fails to ever show up again, the treaty will be nullified and, who knows, a new dark age of war and mutually-assured-destruction will descend on them all because Zhao Yunlan wasn’t pretty enough or some bullshit like that. He could be the harbinger for the end of civilization and no one will ever know why.

He really hates the Black Cloaked Bastard."

Notes:

Hey ho, and on we go! This is in response to the brush_and_lantern dreamwidth comm's July theme of "Arrangements, Betrothals, Matchmakers." (https://brush-and-lantern.dreamwidth.org/3123.html) The very short first chapter was posted as a comment there and starts off this story, but the rest of the story is new material.

NOTE: In this verse, Zhao Yunlan was raised from childhood expecting to take on the role of Guardian and was (harshly) trained accordingly by his father. Their relationship here is thus even more antagonistic than in canon, and Zhao Yunlan has more of a flash temper with him accordingly. He also has a much more negative opinion about BCE but, well...you'll see. ;)

Chapter 1

The majestic and totally terrifying-in-a-sexy way Black Cloak Envoy took one look at Zhao Yunlan, frowned, turned to Zhao Xinci and said “No.” Then he walked out in a sparkling, billowing cloud of dark energy. 

Zhao Yunlan blinked. “Did he...did he...was I just dumped ?”

His father, in a very satisfying change of pace, looked as confused as Zhao Yunlan felt. Still, he shook his head. “You cannot be ‘dumped’, you are the Guardian. The treaty is very clear about this.”

He had been promised that it was a ceremonial role only. His father explained that once the very bureaucratic and not-at-all-ever-consummated wedding was complete, the Guardian was not required to do anything more as the Black Cloak Envoy’s consort than show up a couple of times a year for Dixing religious events. 

Which was fine by Zhao Yunlan, for various reasons, many of which revolved around his father (because ewwwwww ). Despite that, it was an unexpected blow to his ego to be summarily dismissed as a contender for the fair hand of the brutal, lethal, and notorious envoy of Dixing.

“He said ‘no.’” 

“He didn’t mean it,” his father replied, bouncing back with his usual brand of arrogant authority.

“He said ‘no’ and then walked out.”

“He didn’t—”

“Dad!” Zhao Yunlan threw out his arms. “The contract is right here! The brush, the ink, the me! All right here!” He waved his hands over himself. Taking a deep breath, he looked his father square in the eye. “If the Black Cloak Envoy does not want me as his consort, I can’t be the Guardian.” He held out his new and shiny badge.