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One
It’s half past eight on a Friday when his brother finally decides to traipse through the door. They were supposed to meet at 5pm and Jiang Cheng had mentally amended the time to 7pm.
“Hi bastard,” Jiang Cheng calls, not looking up from the coffee table book on ancient sword play. Good taste must be Lan Wangjis. “You're an hour late and I’m hungry enough to eat your legs”
A throat clears, “...”
Jiang Cheng looks up, “You're not Wei Wuxian. ” He says,
“No,” the man smiles,“ Lan Xichen, Lan Wangjis brother.”
I know who you are, I had a wet dream featuring your hands when I was eighteen. Recently I can’t stop thinking about how you and Nie Mingjue looked in those suits during the last business party and it's haunting me. How do you even make white look that good. Asshole.
“I know.” Fuck that sounded rude. “I mean I know Lan Wangji he’s dating Wei Wuxian,” He fucking chokes on his words. . “-that is . . . my brother.” Jiang Cheng places his book shield down.
The man stares.
“Jesus - sorry, ” He pauses, breathes, your just so beautiful stop looking at me I can’t speak. “I’m Jiang Cheng,” he offers and I want to die . Lord please let this couch swallow me whole but not before I slaughter my sibling.
“It’s nice to-”
“Do you know when Wei Wuxian will be back.” Fuck. “Sorry,” Nails dig into his skin, stop apologizing and get it under control.
The door opens with a loud rattle, heavy steps sounding even on the carpet and Nie Mingjue strolls through the living room scowling, “Lan Huan,” he thunders.
"Here," the man affirms.
Nie Mingjue storms over dropping his briefcase to grab Xichens arm.
Far from afraid the older Lan turns tilting his head “Mingjue,”
Is he going to choke him?
Is Jiang Cheng about to witness a murder?
“Kiss,” the muscled man demands face clearing like clouds making way for the sun.
Lan Xichens earlier smiles have nothing on this one, it's small but powerful enough to light up an entire room.
They kiss its soft quick and sweet. Affection casual and freely given.
“Why is he here?” If he stares any harder Jiang Cheng will catch on fire,
In the face of danger he only has one response and that’s to get mouthy, “Why are any of us here?”
Mingjue chuckles, “Considering it’s our house where else would we be?”
“I'm gonna kill my brother,” Jiang Cheng announces through grinning teeth.
Mingjue turns intrigued, “Oh?”
“He told me to meet him and Lan Wangji at this address.”
“Ah,” Xichen muses, “He must have mixed up the mailboxes.”
As if on cue the phone in his pocket hums with a new text message.
“Wei Wuxian,” He growls as if the devil himself can hear his threats.
“Dinner,” Lan Xichen announces interrupting any future assassination plots. He claps his hands together, “It’s late I’m hungry and poor Jiang Cheng is as well, Mingjue?”
“..poor?!?” He sputters.
“I could eat,” the other man agrees grinning. “Let's go out.”
Jiang Cheng is not proud of the sound he makes, “No,” He shakes his head, “thank you, but no.”
“Are you saying no because you should or because you want to?” Direct to a fault Mingjue pins him with his gaze.
And really what is he supposed to say to that? “Fuck it fine, dinner then.”
Two
He’s sitting on the goddamn couch again in Lan Xichens and Nie Mingjues house. Waiting for one of said men to come the fuck home because Wei Wuxian needs something or other. (He stopped listening half way through the call and told him to text.)
Nie Mingjue enters the room. There's no other word for it the man doesn’t do subtle. Honestly, it’s refreshing. “The clothes in the washer are dry.”
“I changed the laundry over.” Jiang Cheng admits, “Fuck that was probably weird.”
Nie Mingjue shrugs, “Fuck if I know.” The man sets a plate of food down, “Take my thank you and shut up.”
Nie Mingjues thank you is mouthwatering sandwiches and chips.
Jiang Cheng shuts up.
For five minutes-because Nie Mingjue turns on the most god awful soap opera and he will not stand for this shit.
They spend the next hour companionably arguing over which channel to watch. Because Jiang Cheng has opinions and there's such a thing as taste. Nie Mingjue must have it he’s dating Lan Xichen but apparently that doesn’t apply to TV.
Hours later he blinks himself awake to the soft murmur of voices. Muzzily Jiang Chengs twists towards the source of warmth to find himself staring up at Nie Mingjues face.
“Fuck,” He groans trying to swipe the sleep from his eyes.
“Not on the coach please,” Xichen says he would recognize that sweet tone anywhere.
“It’s a bitch to clean,” Nie Mingjue agrees.
Nope no not going to think about the way the existence of not on the couch implies there had been an on the coach or could be one. Not thinking about it three two one go.
“Right,” He pushed himself up proud of how steady his voice came out, “I should get back to the house and eat.”
Nie Mingjues chest shifted beneath his hand when he spoke, “Dont worry about it.”
Danger will Robinson Danger.
Jiang Cheng’s hand jerks back.
“What he means is we already took the liberty of ordering in.”
“I couldn't trouble you-”
“No trouble.” Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes, “You're saving me from eating so many pot stickers I get sick.”
Solemnly Lan Xichen grasped his hand “A fate worse than death.”
“Okay,” He swallowed sitting back down, “Since Nie Mingjues life is on the line.”
God he’s an idiot.
Three
He rings the doorbell again before he can second guess himself further. It's not super late but by Lan standards maybe it is? There's a light on in the house though so he settles in to wait despite the cold. Jiang Cheng really shouldn’t have bothered. Accept he’s always hated owing people.
The door swings open.
His mind blanks.
Comes online then shuts down again.
No Lan Xichen is still standing there, yes he is only wearing a black silk robe.
“Babe who is it?”
Lan Xichen looks over his shoulder exposing a row of dark marks, “It’s Jiang Cheng.”
He clenches the cake box like a lifeline.
“Oh my favorite." Xichen that motherfucker purrs eyes dark. He isn't looking at the cake. The silk of his robe slides dangerous on his skin with every motion, "This will go great with dinner!"
“Yeah,” Jiang Cheng swallows feeling faint.
“Have you eaten Dinner?” Mingjue asks sliding a hand around Lan Xichens waist.
“No, I was busy with work. I wanted to get to the dessert place before it closed.” He brandishes the box again all but shoving it in Lan Xichens hands.
“...You should join us”
“What?” He musters, jerking his eyes off of Minjues bare shoulder and the dip of his sleep pants.
“Dinner,” Xichen says again with a patient smile.
“I don’t know, I have paperwork.”
“It can wait, food is important, you look ready to pass out.“
Fuck can he tell?
“Come in,” Xichen invites swinging the door open, seemingly unbothered to be standing there in only a robe, the last piece of Jiang Cheng's sanity in his hands.
It’s his smile, the secret soft one, that weakens Jiang Cheng's resolve.
His feet carry him forward close enough for Mingjue to sling an arm over his shoulder, his warmth chasing off the night chill.
Four
“Thank god Lan Xichen intervened,” Jiang Cheng muttered to Nie Mingjue, balancing the phone as he stood in the store aisle. Glaring he stared down the various different wines available.
“They would've gotten there eventually,” The Lan demurred.
“Nah, Wei Wuxian is oblivious as hell even about his own feelings and Wangji’s. He may be a little fucker but we love him. Not that I’m not glad that they finally sealed the deal-but god is he obnoxious about it.”
“Jealous?”
“No,” Jiang Cheng swallows considering, “I mean not about Wangji. I just wish...nah it’s stupid.”
He tries to silence his thoughts focusing on the rows of wine and the threads of Xichens and Mingjues voices.
“Feeling isn’t stupid,” Lan Xichen corrects, “It’s difficult.”
At that he laughs, feeling small, "Sometimes I just want someone to love me like that.”
“God,” Mingjue mutters form somewhere in the background “It’s hereditary.”
“Anyway,” He continued snagging a bottle before the feelings could swallow him, “I got the wine, they were out of that one kind of desert but I grabbed something else that should pair well.” He rambled as if he knew what the fuck paired and wasnt about to spend thirty minutes furiously googling.
“Thank you ...Wanyin. I’ll see you soon for dinner.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”
“I hope you have the alcohol.”
Xichen tuts, "Mingjue means to say thank you and drive safe.”
There was a huff across the line, “Yeah watch the road, there's precious cargo.”
Sputtering Jiang Cheng scowls at the phone, “I heard you, asshole,” He barked. Covering the receiver he lowered his voice cowed by an older womens glare. “I’m hanging up… take care and goodbye.”
Five
Jiang Cheng can't tell the difference between the screaming in his chest and the noise from the house.
“Fuck you too,” He slams the car door closed and yells over the roar of the engine. It’s not as if Wei Wuxian can hear him. Satisfied but still aching he backs out the driveway intent on getting far enough away he can forget his parents latest fight.
The bar isn’t an option, a public loss of control would be unacceptable and he’s not his brother. So he keeps his foot on the gas and hands tight on the wheel.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Pulling up to Lan Xichens and Nie Mingjues shared residence.
The door swings open before he can knock again.
“We have a doorbell.”
Jiang Cheng hesitates over the entrance
Nie Mingjue frowns, “Why are you standing there when you have a key?”
He swallows back tears, throat tight.
Mingjue frowns, "Let's get you inside," His voice is hard his hands are light and carful.
He walks inside. . .
“Mingjue is it Wanyin?”
"Who else?" Despite the firm words a soft blanket is being wrapped across his shoulders and a firm hand guides him towards the couch. Jiang Cheng is tired. . .Too Tired to make more than a lazy effort at batting Nie Mingjue away. .
Lan Xichen is perched on part of the couch, fuzzy socks reading glasses and all. .
“Here,” Mingjue grunts, lifting him and unceremoniously depositing Jiang Cheng in a yelping sprawl on the couch. “I brought you something.”
Lan Xichen hums, “What did I do to deserve this?”
“I’m a fucking gift,” he counters in between protests.
Xichen regards him with a playful twist of his lips, “It's not my birthday.”
Jiang Cheng buries his face between the cushion and the man's thigh. He can’t look at them right now. He knows his face is burning with thoughts he forces himself to stifle. . .
Hands fall to his hair and sweep down his back in a comforting stroke. .
Unable to resist he leans in with a groan.
There's some shuffling sounds and the coach sinks under Nie Mingjues weight, hands broad where Lan Xichen are long, fingers scratching along his back.
“What happened?”
"You're right," he laughs fingers taunt in Xichens grip. His head hurts and his eyes burn unable to lift from their joined hands. "I'm jealous, selfish and rude.”
"Oh, Wanyin I wanted for you to reflect on your feelings, not let them tear you apart," Xichen said then " Oh! " Again. "Sweetheart you’re crying" an elegant hand returned again to swipe at the wetness on his face.
Sweetheart. He feels. Oh god does he feel. Jiang Cheng could drown.
“I can't take the pressure of being someone's entire world. . .” He warns.
“Good thing there are two of us.” Mingjue utters, “No one is asking you to be, that's not love, that’s not healthy,” The man promises, sure and steady beside him. Jiang Cheng lets himself lean back into that broad chest.
“I know, at least I know that now after my last. . “
Shaking, his hands are shaking. Xichen takes them in his own with a comforting squeeze. Why is he still talking? His mind twisted his own thoughts in two dredging up every awful word and moment harsh as a discipline whip. How can he stop?
Calloused hands slip from his own wiping tears from his cheek to his jaw. He tilts his head, feeling the arch of Nie Mignjues throat.
Jiang Cheng can't help chasing that touch till their eyes meet.
"Fuck," He breathes not daring look away."I just want to be the best part of someone's day. . Everytime I open my mouth I hear my mother or hesitate like my father. . I’m scared . .terrified of being just like them. . .I can’t even keep it together for one family dinner. Now, my brother’s planning to be halfway around the world again, and it's easier to argue then talk.”
“That idiot knows you love him,” Mingjue sighs, firm hands stroking down Jiang Cheng's arms wrapping easiler around his chest steady and anchoring.
“It’s not enough.” I’m not enough.
“Dear god somone needs to fuck the the insecurity out of you. . .”
He swallows weakly,“Why you offering?
“Sure, Xichen can help. .”
“Mingjue! He’s trying to talk to us that's what a relationship means”
“What? It made him laugh, he knows I’m taking him seriously. ”
“Great.” He affirms knowing Mingjue can feel the smile against his skin, “Some other time though I’m exhausted.. .”
“Rain check,” Xichen agree’s.
“Dinner?” “ Jiang Cheng allows himself to hope.
“Dinner.” Xichen confirms arms bracketing him in closer if that's possible.
“Stay, Wanyin,” Mingjue asks, “Just stay.”
One
“Xichen, it's an emergency, ” Wei Wuxian hollers stumbling into the house at ass o’clock in the morning “Oh my god-Jiang Cheng? What are you doing here?”
“You really need to start locking the door,” He told a sheepish Xichens batting his hands away from around his hips.
“He lives here,” Mingjue roared from down the hall, “Unlike some people.”
“I do?” He adjusted the sheet around his body, well it's not like he’d ever left.
“Yes” Lan Xichen smiled, it was the eye crinclinking kind.
Wei Wuxian blinked and balked. “Wait a second, why is my brother wearing nothing?”
“Why are you in our house?”
Wei Wuxian opened his gremlin mouth, “Wait if your here and Nie Mingjue is here and Xichen is here then..”
“Never mind,” Jiang Cheng shook his head, Xichen’s hand sliding into his and he stood ignoring Wei Yings sputters to head towards the bedroom, “I’d like to fuck my boyfriends in peace.”