Work Text:
It’s my duty. He reminds himself while he’s sitting on the edge of the foreign bed. Wearing the traditional red attire for the occasion. Waiting for his new husband to take off the veil that doesn’t let him see anything but red. He’s scared, he’s even terrified because he knows what people expect from him. He knows his duty towards his sect—and his husband’s.
It is also the alpha’s duty. Not a marriage out of love like the Lans are used to. It might be because of the rumors about how the last Lan sect leader ended after choosing love. A duty that probably weighs more on his husband’s shoulders than his.
And even after all, he can’t really tell if he regrets it. This was his better option. After his second gender presented and his parents were visibly disappointed about him not being suitable to be the heir—even though his cultivation skills were good—, he knew what his destiny was. He’ll be marrying off to another sect, one that was on his same level. If Lan Xichen’s proposal hadn’t come he’d probably be at another sect, in another man’s bed.
As an omega—and someone who was trained to be the sect heir—he could not afford to disappoint his loved ones anymore. He doesn’t want his mother telling him that he wouldn't be able to do anything for the sect. Nor his father’s eyes when he pleaded to keep training him and they were telling him that it was wasted time. He wouldn’t be able to bear it. Yet, it’s not a situation in which he regrets the outcome. He was given the opportunity to choose and he chose this. Not that the other options were better. They weren’t, but at least they didn’t choose for him.
Deep down he believes Lan Xichen feels the same—at some point. As an alpha he had more options and more time. And he also chose this—he chose him .
When the door opened he stiffened. They’re supposed to have their first night. He’s supposed to be marked and bonded to his alpha. He doesn’t believe Lan Xichen is like the alphas of the scary stories he heard when his sister was about to present her second gender. He knows Lan Xichen to a certain extent. Lan Xichen courted him for a while and he really hoped that was the real Lan Xichen and not a facade to make him trust him. But above all that, he has known Lan Xichen since he was very young and a part of him is sure he is not an abusive person overall. Leaving out the fact that he’s al alpha.
It’s most likely that his pheromones are letting the alpha know his distress about the situation. Jiang Cheng can smell the scent of magnolias at the tip of his nose. He can’t control it—even when he’s actively trying to suppress it. It’s the only thing he can’t do. No matter how much his mother’s spiders trained him—and showed their disgust towards his scent—to not show any emotion through his pheromones. He still can’t do it. And he feels embarrassed.
He sucks a breath when his veil is being lifted, and he tensed. It takes him a few seconds to adjust his vision and stop seeing red. He sees Lan Xichen’s usual warm smile and for a moment, the rational part of himself feels dumb for feeling wary about the alpha.
“It’s alright Wanyin.” The alpha whispers too close to his face.
He believes him, because why shouldn't he? Lan Xichen’s pheromones are calming him. The flowery smell of hyacinths is filling the room. He’s crouched down a little to be at Jiang Cheng’s eye level. He’s not touching him. Lan Xichen is only keeping the veil up and looking at his eyes.
The red robes suit him. He has never seen Lan Xichen wearing any other color than white and some light shades of blue. He hadn’t had the chance to look at him properly during the wedding. The veil didn’t let him. He felt weird all the time with his wedding robes since he was not used to the color nor the fabric, but somehow, Lan Xichen seems so good that no one can believe that that’s not the way he always dresses.
Jiang Cheng waits for Lan Xichen to make the first move. Even though he can hear his heartbeats in his ears—and it’s afraid Lan Xichen might hear them too—he stays in his place. He waits, like his father told him an omega should act in front of an alpha.
“Don’t force yourself Wanyin,” Lan Xichen speaks again. “We don’t have to do anything tonight if you’re not ready.”
Jiang Cheng is not a kid. Neither is Lan Xichen. They are both aware of what the elders expect from them for that night. It’s something that has to be done and they wouldn’t be able to hide it if they don’t do it.
Ultimately, Lan Xichen took off the veil from the head of the omega. He sat down beside him on the bed. Jiang Cheng watched him play with the fabric of the veil with his hands. The long and slim fingers tracing messy patterns on it. The red veil only made his fingers look more elegant and pale. Jiang Cheng was a little mesmerized by it.
“If I’m being honest, I’m nervous too,” he confessed. “I’m aware this is not the ideal. That is why I don’t want you… ” He stopped for a second. “I don’t want us to pressure ourselves tonight.”
Jiang Cheng nodded. He knew this wasn’t something Lan Xichen was excited about. It made sense he wasn’t. Lans marry only because of love. He does not think Lan Xichen loves him. And that’s fine. At least so far, Lan Xichen was the best alpha he could get married off.
The only thing that keeps running in his mind is how they are going to cover the fact they didn’t have a traditional first night . Even if he’s glad to not have to do it. He’s even more afraid of the word of him not fulfilling his duties getting to his parent’s ears. He’s too scared to disappoint them.
But ultimately, he agrees. And Lan Xichen seems happy—or maybe it’s his usual smile in a different light.
They resolve to sleep in the same bed. It feels wrong when Lan Xichen apologizes about it. He shouldn’t. He is doing more than Jiang Cheng expected to receive that night. Lan Xichen gave him time. Even more than needed to prepare himself for the life that awaits him. For the life that everyone expects him to live to the end of his days. And he believes it’s more than he deserved because he had had the time since his second gender manifested.
Probably it’s the cold, the different silk in his robes, the strange bed or the man right beside him, but he can’t get himself to sleep. His heartbeat is fast and loud. He’s wary of his surroundings because he’s in a foreign place. And he can’t help it even after the alpha beside him had only shown him kindness. Perhaps it’s the guilt that prevents him from sleeping. While Lan Xichen seems to have fallen asleep long ago. His breathing sounds calm and serene, uniform in each breath. As if nothing bothers him about sharing a bed with an omega that barely knows—even after he courted him.
When the sun was rising, the omega still couldn’t sleep. He tried but with no succeed. But for what he learned, he’s exempted from the rule of waking up at 5 a.m. after the first night. He has time to at least rest on the bed before having to face his husband’s elders. It gives him the time to think about what he should say if anyone asks him anything related to this. Lying is forbidden but in this case he— they —would have to break that rule too.
He feels Lan Xichen waking up, and tries his best to pretend he’s asleep. He hears the movements of someone getting ready for a while before he finally hears the door being opened and closed. Jiang Cheng doesn’t move. He stays in his place on the bed because even if he wanted to get up, there’s nothing he could do in a room that wasn’t his. And being completely alone in a cold room made him feel the sleep hitting him as tidal waves. He only remembers being completely covered with the blanket before—finally—falling asleep.
“Wanyin.” He hears a soft voice calling for him. Trying to fade away the haziness of his dream. “We need to get ready if we don’t want to be late.”
There’s a warm hand removing the strands of hair off his face. And the strong and sweet smell of hyacinths. It’s soothing. It only makes him want to go back to sleep. He had never experienced the fragrance of hyacinths so vivid. He might be still dreaming.
“Wanyin,” the soft voice again. “I can bring you back to the Hanshi after the meeting so you can sleep a bit more. But I need you to get up now. They are waiting for us.”
He shakes his head. He can’t remember having a meeting. His father didn’t let him participate in any since it was known he was an omega. The only meetings he got to have were the ones where he had to discuss his suitors. And he didn’t even participate that much because there wasn’t that much that his mother approved.
But his mind still tries to fight against the urge to stay in the—now—warm bed. His eyelids feel heavy when he attempts to open his eyes. Although he’s more awake. He senses the other person in the room. His hand on his hair. His pheromones filled everywhere, only making him sleepier. It was really calm, the smell of hyacinths relaxed him.
He heard a chuckle when he nuzzled close to the hand. Sighing in content.
"Wanyin," the soothing voice called him again. "Please wake up."
He blinked slowly. Still a little bit drowsy, his vision was blurry. The man in white in front of him was smiling and caressing his hair. It took him two minutes to process everything. Lan Xichen, his husband—his alpha—had been trying to wake him up for a while and he didn't respond the way he should. He should have been awake the moment Lan Xichen asked him to.
"Did you sleep well?"
Jiang Cheng got up immediately. He felt embarrassed. His parents would be—once again—disappointed if they knew. "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't wake up earlier."
Lan Xichen still had his hand in the air. "It's all right. It was your first night here after all. I'm glad you got to sleep a bit."
The omega just nodded. He didn’t know when he fell asleep, but he did rest better than he expected. He believes he slept less than five hours but he wasn't feeling that tired. At some point he's used to not sleeping much.
"I brought you something to eat before we leave to see the elders." The alpha explained. "There's also warm water for you in the bathroom. We will leave when you're ready."
Jiang Cheng nodded again and thanked him. He rushed himself to do everything from taking a quick bath to eating something. Lan Xichen didn't say anything to make him believe he was being slow, but he didn't take the risk either. The alpha was seated in front of his desk, writing letters and going through his correspondence. He seemed calm— gracefully —, with a neutral expression on his face, as nothing could disturb him. He had always thought Lan Xichen looked like a deity with the Lan's white robes.
When he announced he was ready, Lan Xichen smiled at him again. He got up from his seat and walked towards the omega.
"There is something we have to do if we don't want to get caught," he started. "To make them believe we are fulfilling our duties."
"What is it?" the omega asked, tilting his head. A part of him knew what was coming and yet, he asked, hoping for a different answer.
"We’ll have to lie," he confessed with a sour smile. Jiang Cheng knows that not lying is one of the most important rules for the Lans. And he feels guilty to be the reason why Lan Xichen has to lie. If he were ready last night they wouldn't have to lie. They would have done what they were supposed to, what he was supposed to do, what an omega should've done. He was aware of this outcome last night, but somehow, being Lan Xichen the one who proposed it first made him feel remorseful.
"I'm sorry." It was the only thing he could say.
"No, Wanyin, it's fine." Lan Xichen tried to reassure him. "It'd be half a lie since we're going to comply with what they asked us to. We are just taking more time."
Lan Xichen lifted his chin and smiled warmly at him. As saying that everything is and will be fine. And Jiang Cheng believed him like he believed him the night before.
The alpha pulled him closer and started scenting him. He tensed at first but then relaxed. The hyacinths' scent was stronger than before and he almost felt drunk. His muscles were melting and he leaned towards the embrace. It was nice, the pheromones were calm and soft. Since he became an omega the only alpha pheromones he had sensed were the ones to demonstrate dominance, to make him feel inferior. This didn't feel like any of it. On the contrary, he felt safe.
He felt a hand on his hair, but he didn't pay much attention to it. It was probably the alpha just wanting to get his scent everywhere just so nobody could question them. The rational part of the omega is surprised by how Lan Xichen knows how to mislead everyone into thinking they were now bonded. Scenting him— marking him —has the same external effect as if they had bedded together. That’s why it is such an insult to be scented by someone who is not your partner. As the perfect omega his parents expected him to be, he knew that.
When the alpha put some distance between them, Jiang Cheng knew they were done. He wished it had lasted a bit more. He could feel his hair falling over his shoulders. It wasn’t like that a few moments before. He had tied his hair when he got out of the bathroom.
“This way no one can see your neck.” Was the only explanation Lan Xichen gave him. It was also the only one he needed to understand. If someone could see his neck, they could see that there's no mark on it.
With a silent agreement they left the Hanshi.
Lan Xichen kept their hands intertwined all the way to the room where the meeting was to be held. He also was the one doing all the talk during the meeting. Jiang Cheng just looked at the floor. The elders seemed pleased. They didn’t suspect a thing. And even if he was glad to not be caught. It didn’t feel right. It was as if he didn't deserve all the warm smiles and compliments he was receiving as now being part of them. He couldn’t do the only thing everyone was waiting for him and yet, everyone treated him with such kindness . He felt sick. Undeserving of this warmth he's not used to.
The talk lasted only for less than an hour. Lan Xichen said their goodbyes and everyone else let them go. They said some things about him having to rest after last night. And it implied what they were expecting to hear soon enough. An heir. It wasn’t a surprise. He was well aware of what his duty was. They didn’t even seem rude when they said it, on the contrary, it was nicer than the one time his mother told him about it. His mother said it as if it was hard work to get done. The Lan elders said it as something they were excited to hear about, almost happy . Not that the Lans express so much emotion, but he could feel it. And yet, his heart sank hard down to his stomach.
Back to the Hanshi, Lan Xichen told him he could get back to sleep. He was still covered in the alpha’s pheromones. Even if his heart felt heavy and his stomach was churning—he was familiar with this feeling, it’d be impossible for him to sleep again—he did. The smell of hyacinths acted as if it was lulling him. He fell asleep hearing the sound of the ink being dragged over the paper. And he didn’t know if it was his imagination but before he lost to his tiredness completely he could hear a soft hum, almost like a lullaby.
It wasn’t like the next following weeks—and months—were different, Lan Xichen still treated him with respect and kindness. He didn’t push him to do anything and somehow it felt worse. Does that mean he now has to make the first move? Not that he’s ready, not yet, but thinking about it makes him feel embarrassed. Or is it Lan Xichen not wanting to do anything? That seemed like the most logical answer. After all, Lan Xichen, the alpha, was the one with the final word in their marriage.
But as the time passed they fell into a routine. Lan Xichen would always wake up earlier than the omega. The first days were because Jiang Cheng was still adjusting and he was having some troubles sleeping at night, but later it was just because 5am was way too early for him. And Lan Xichen simply let him sleep in. He’d wake up only an hour later, sometimes less and get ready to eat breakfast with the alpha. The most stuff Jiang Cheng could do was clean and take the dishes back to the kitchen. Lan Xichen didn’t even ask him to do that. He hadn’t asked him to do anything at all. For Jiang Cheng, being all day in the Hanshi, not doing anything at all, besides from making him feel useless, he felt bored. Before leaving Lotus Pier he was always doing something towards improving his cultivation skills and helping around with anything he could, trying to make his parents happy—excluding the last couple of months when the only thing he did was to learn how to be the best spouse and omega.
He'd watch Lan Xichen do sect leader work—answer correspondence, train disciples and go to meetings—while he stayed there. In the Hanshi. Most of the time Lan Xichen would eat his meals with Jiang Cheng. Just making eachother company. Sometimes doing some banal talking, sometimes in complete silence as the rules say so.
All of it—somehow—doesn’t feel right but he can’t change it because he doesn’t know how—nor if he should. The only example of marriage he has is his parents and the one thing he knows for sure is that he doesn’t want to end up like them. Following them it’s not a suitable choice. He doesn’t want that for Lan Xichen either. Another thing is the fact that Lan Xichen seems comfortable with how they are, and Jiang Cheng can’t say he’s surprised, afterall, why would the alpha force them to be a real marriage if it doesn’t come from love?
A part of him keeps telling him that he should be serving his alpha. That’s why he feels so uneasy. Lan Xichen has never asked him for anything and that is the complete opposite of what his mother told him it would be to be married. When he does a little chore like taking the dishes of their meal to the kitchen he gets gratitude from the alpha. Nobody told him it’d be like that. From his mother—and sometimes his father—to the spiders they always would make it clear that he’s just an omega and everything he did, does and will do, it would always be taken for granted. He had—and still has—a hard time adjusting to Lan Xichen not being just as they told him he would be.
Jiang Cheng truly believed that all the alphas that won’t get the chance to marry because of love were like his father. And he was prepared for it. He was prepared to give his very best to make his marriage work even if he doesn’t get to be loved. He wants the people that he loves to be proud of it, his alpha to be proud to have him as his omega . But he’s lost on how to go forward from where he is. But he never imagined Lan Xichen treating him this well.
There were three specific moments when Jiang Cheng felt they were truly married. The first one had taken place after he mentioned that it had been a while since he was allowed to train. Everyone told him it wasn’t because he was an omega, but more because he was going to marry soon and he shouldn’t have any injury nor scar. Lan Xichen had seemed upset for a moment after he heard it, but instantly his usual smile was there again. He asked the omega if he would like to train with him the next day. Jiang Cheng had truly believed he was just offering because he felt pity for him, since everyone knows an omega can’t be that great at cultivation—they shouldn’t, it wasn’t their place. But it was a huge surprise when the next day Lan Xichen reminded him early about their training. And Jiang Cheng was shocked and also very happy that Lan Xichen is not the type of man that makes empty promises.
It was nothing out of the ordinary in that training. He got a sword borrowed from the alpha and they trained in the garden that’s behind the Hanshi. Lan Xichen taught him the principles of the Lan sword style and he did the same with the Jiang one. It was the first time in months after living in Cloud Recesses that he felt exhausted. The familiar weight of the sword in his hands along with the sound of the metal clashing it made him nostalgic about the times when he believed he’d be the heir.
That day he got complimented by his skills. Lans do not lie so he felt extremely shy about the sect leader praising him like that. He felt really happy and before he could ask for another time to train together, Lan Xichen already told him they would do it again next week. The alpha had kept his word and every week they trained together, in the garden behind the Hanshi.
The second was the night where not even the three extra blankets protected him from the cold. It was already winter in Gusu, when they got married it was still spring. He was shivering and gritting his teeth. Lan Xichen must have woken up because of it. He offered to fetch more blankets but Jiang Cheng didn’t want to bother anyone anymore. It was enough with the sad smiles everytime someone asked him for good news and he had to deny it. He was already taking a lot from them and it was a miracle that his parents hadn’t sent him any letter asking for it yet. He wanted to be less of a burden if he could. He would get used to the cold winters, he has to.
He heard a muffled “ then excuse me ” after he declined the offer—again—to get more blankets before feeling a familiar embrace accompanied with the fragrance of the hyacinths. Jiang Cheng felt his face growing hot trying to get away with no success. A part of him was screaming that he should not accept this if he wanted things to go as well as they had gone this far. His vision could only register the white robes the alpha wore to sleep. But it was warm. He tried to fight it for some minutes but he ended up letting himself be embraced by Lan Xichen’s strong arms. At least it wasn’t cold anymore. He could sort out everything the next day. For that night he’d just only worry about not freezing to death.
“I hope this is enough,” Lan Xichen said. “Please try to sleep Wanyin. I will bring you warmer robes tomorrow.” Jiang Cheng then fell asleep after that, knowing his heart was beating fast and loud and probably Lan Xichen was aware of that.
Lan Xichen had, in fact, got him warmer robes the next day.
The third was after they finished a particular rough day of training together. Since they started, Lan Xichen had shown him that the first time he wasn't using all his potential. Because the more they trained together the more the alpha demanded him to accomplish. And Jiang Cheng wasn’t complaining about it. He was happy. Lan Xichen wasn’t scared or disgusted with the thought of Jiang Cheng not being fragile as an omega should be. He was even encouraging Jiang Cheng to grow stronger.
After a bath and putting on his night robes he was trying to brush his hair with no success. He was tired and he couldn't get through the knots on his hair. Lan Xichen saw it and once again offered himself to help. Jiang Cheng couldn't even say no before that alpha had already grabbed the brush off his hand and started combing the black strings of hair. He was being careful trying not to pull the hair too hard in order to not hurt the omega.
It felt intimate, even with Jiang Cheng being ready to fall asleep at any minute he still had the strength to feel shy. Lan Xichen was humming and with a smile on his face. The last time someone had made that to him was his sister the night before he got married, and even before that it was when he was still a child. He made a braid with the omega's hair when he finished and told him to go to sleep first. Jiang Cheng had just obliged, feeling too numb to properly process everything that happened.
And it surprised him to say that that time wasn't the last one.
He knows those three incidents could be—and mostly are—only Lan Xichen showing the infinite kindness he had shown him since the beginning. He’s aware Lan Xichen married him out of duty and nothing else. He had thought he did the same but now his heart feels uneasy everytime they train together or when the alpha offers himself to brush the omega’s hair after a long and tiring day. Jiang Cheng can’t help it. He’s ashamed of getting his hopes high just because Lan Xichen is a good person.
He tried to distance himself for his own good. After he started to be accountable about his feelings towards the alpha. Inside of him he knew from the beginning why he chose Lan Xichen. How he was so happy about the older one choosing him too. Still to this day even when he's still nervous being the alpha’s life-time partner. But having the notion of it it's not the same as accepting it. It was a hard pill to swallow, as the bitterest medicine he had ever had. It took him time and now he's doing the best he can to not make a mistake.
He saw how loving someone who clearly would never reciprocate those feelings could do to a person. His mother was the closest example he has. He's determined to not make himself live that kind of life—he also can't do that to the alpha. Lan Xichen won't love him because how could he? So it's best for him to get over his feelings since they'd be together for the rest of their lives.
At first he started to decline the training with the alpha. Making excuses every time and even spending more time with the elders—who only talked about the heir and how Jiang Cheng should see the healer. Lan Xichen seemed disappointed or maybe it was only his imagination.
It was the same the last time Lan Xichen offered himself to comb the omega’s hair after a conference meeting. It was the first time with Jiang Cheng as Lan furen and it was also the first time in almost a year that he saw his parents and siblings. All the events drained him mentally and physically. He knew Lan Xichen intentions were good—as always—but he still declined. And it took him a lot of extra time to get his hair ready before going to bed with how tired he was. The alpha just stared at him from across the room, looking almost sad.
Jiang Cheng kept his distance that way. It was like nothing changed but still as everything changed. They slept on the same bed but Jiang Cheng stayed at the edge of it. They kept eating most of their meals together—if Lan Xichen didn't have any sect leader matter to attend to. And they were cordial to each other as always.
The omega thought it was fine. His feelings weren't changing but at least he believes they're not getting any bigger. He's fine with it, he knows there's a lot of things he should do from now on but he's trying to get his head straight. And he's close to achieving it. It never crossed his mind if his husband was upset by the change. He couldn't see it possible since he was still acting like a good omega should act.
It was one evening when the alpha asked him if he wanted to train together since they haven't done it in a while and Jiang Cheng politely declined the invitation—once again.
"Wanyin, did I do something to upset you?" the alpha asked, looking straight at the wooden floor of the Hanshi. "Tell me so I can fix it."
Jiang Cheng frowned. Lan Xichen was nothing but the most kind person he had ever met. What does he mean by upsetting him?
"I don’t understand. You haven't done anything."
"Then why…" he paused. "Why do you keep pushing me away? I thought we were…"
The omega could sense the distress coming from the alpha’s pheromones. He wonders if that's what Lan Xichen smelled after they married. It makes him feel anxious and uneasy. He can't help but to close their distance and hold the older one's hand. It hurt him to see the other one that way and not knowing what was happening nor how to help him.
"Am I truly not to your liking, Wanyin?" He spit it out.
Lan Xichen held the omega’s hand tightly waiting for an answer. Not daring to look at his eyes. Jiang Cheng was still trying to understand what the alpha meant by that. He couldn't really grasp any thought of it.
Jiang Cheng couldn’t understand. What was Lan Xichen talking about? His mind was a mess and he tried so hard to make sense of the words the alpha just said. He likes Lan Xichen in every possible meaning to exist. All the time he believed it made it obvious that’s why he started to distance himself. The least he wanted was making the alpha—his husband —uncomfortable with his own feelings. But it turned out that it made it look as if he disliked him, which was more than far from what he feels. And it’s an issue if he wants this marriage to stay the same because it’s the best outcome he— they —can have.
His waist is being held by the older’s stronger hands now. The air feels tense and Jiang Cheng knows he has to answer, the anxious pheromones that don't belong to him remain filling in the room. The hyacinth scent is tingling in his nose. It’s sour and strong. Jiang Cheng is starting to feel upset too.
“I don’t dislike you, Xichen.” He finally answers. Trying to break the mid-embrace. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like it.”
It’s not the answer Lan Xichen wanted. He felt it with the pheromones being more thick in the air. He wonders what would have been a better response. One to cheer Lan Xichen up. All in all, he wishes to make his alpha happy.
“I must have been mistaken then.” The older one says it with a sad smile. “I apologize.”
“Xichen?” The omega asked after the stronger arms let him go. "I do like you." He added desperately.
Lan Xichen had a smile on his face—as usual—, but it didn't look the same. Lan Xichen’s pheromones always smelled sweet, like early spring—strong and joyfully—when he smiled. This time was different. It smelled like late autumn, nostalgic. Almost sad.
"Xichen?" He repeated. He was releasing pheromones, worried. His inner omega who had grown attached to Lan Xichen’s alpha was in distress. It hurt him to see him in that state. It wasn't what he was used to.
"I mustn't rush you," the older one explained. "It was the first thing I promised to myself and yet I keep forgetting it. Forgive me, Wanyin."
Jiang Cheng tilted his head. A very deep down part of him began to catch—or so he thought—what Lan Xichen wanted to say. It somehow scared him, because if he was wrong he would be more embarrassed than ever. He kept quiet. Wanted to be sure about what Lan Xichen meant.
“I just need to know,” he said, hands still on the other’s waist. “Do I really have a chance? If not, I will give up and we can be as friends as we were since the beginning.”
It felt like cold water running down his spine. Colder than the first time he paid the cold spring a visit.
When he married Lan Xichen he was certain that it was the best outcome he’d have as an omega. He had a lot of suitors wanting to marry him—his sect—and he knew it. Lan Xichen sending a proposal was unexpected and his salvation. He had met the older one when they were younger. When he accompanied his father to sect conferences. Lan Xichen was kind and friendly with him every time. He always asked how his training was going and congratulated him when Jiang Cheng’d told him he improved on something. Lan Xichen felt genuine, always. At first—when Lan Xichen second gender hadn’t manifested yet—Jiang Cheng believed that their friendship was based on them being heirs of their sects and they were expected to be alphas. Because they knew how the other felt; their fears and pressures and the weight on their shoulders to not make any mistake. Then Lan Xichen presented as an alpha and Jiang Cheng could only look upon him—as how he should act and what he was to become. He admired the older one. He was wise and kind and sincere.
Now he can finally admit that the first thought he had when he turned out to be an omega was that—knowing that he was meant to marry and be a good omega—he wished to marry Lan Xichen. Not because he truly wanted to marry but because aside from his family the Lan Sect Leader was the closest he had to trust someone. Because he knew him. Better than any other option he had.
He probably had liked Lan Xichen since the beginning but it was never an important thought in his mind. And even when it became important he preferred to ignore it to keep the peace that his marriage had. And it ended with completely ignoring any sign Lan Xichen could have given him in the past months. Because he didn’t want to get his hopes high for nothing.
Lan Xichen was still waiting for a response when Jiang Cheng kissed him. It was a peck on the lips, soft and quick. Almost like the feel of a petal falling down.
Jiang Cheng nodded after that. That was his answer. Lan Xichen didn’t really need a chance, he never did because Jiang Cheng was already giving it all in them . The alpha— his alpha— was smiling warmly at him like he was used to. Lan Xichen not only seemed happy but his pheromones were telling him that too. It was like spring again filling the Hanshi. He could lightly sense his pheromones too, getting intertwined with the alpha’s. He felt at home, peaceful and happy.
Lan Xichen kissed him again afterwards. And then again and again and again. Each time was more intense than the last one. Making the scent of their pheromones combined stronger, filling the room. Jiang Cheng was starting to feel lightheaded with the soft kisses when Lan Xichen stopped and rested his chin on the younger’s head. Throughout that time, Lan Xichen’s hands never left Jiang Cheng’s waist.
“Wanyin,” he whispered. “I still mean to not rush you.”
Jiang Cheng shook his head. “You are not.” He confessed because he also didn’t want to stop.
And they didn’t.
As always, Lan Xichen was kind. They got to the bed and undressed between gentle kisses—gentle didn’t make them less intense. Jiang Cheng was inexperienced and he was shy about it. He felt coy when the kisses went down and the—somehow—familiar hands started going through his body. Pointy fangs were playing with the skin of his neck, too close of his mating gland making him shiver. But he couldn’t lie, it didn’t feel wrong. Because it was Lan Xichen who was doing it.
The omega started to get lost on what he was feeling. For how inexperienced he was, it seemed as if the alpha knew exactly what to do. Jiang Cheng just trusted him in everything. As his heart was beating faster, his breathing became more irregular every second and his neck was marked with hickeys.
He faintly heard the alpha saying how much he liked his pheromones as they were at that moment. Free and sweet it was what he had said. Lan Xichen compared them with the scent of a magnolia blooming in full spring—the same season in which he associated the alpha’s pheromones. Jiang Cheng could have never known that was his scent since he was taught to keep them under control. Even when it was one of the things he couldn't do without failing he did his best to hide his scent. It was possible to feel them but not to smell them and for him it was a win at the very least. Hearing Lan Xichen, his husband, his alpha saying that about them, made him inexplicably proud.
Lan Xichen took his time even if the omega felt that everything was going too fast. The alpha was slow, enjoying the smell of magnolias in the air, wondering how Jiang Cheng would smell after the mark. Hoping that a hint of his own pheromones would linger on the younger one’s body for the rest of their life. Being truly honest, he had desired too many nights to embrace his omega like this. Seeing how much he trusted him and let him take charge of everything made him proudly possessive about the whole situation. And at that point he couldn’t even imagine having married someone else. To share this moment and the rest of his life with someone who isn’t Jiang Wanyin would never feel right, even in an imaginary situation.
The sight of Jiang Cheng unraveling by his hands, his mouth. Panting and moaning. Asking for more with his beautiful pleading eyes almost made Lan Xichen lose his mind. It was more of what he could ask for. Satisfying his mate, his omega, was the most important thing to him and seeing him achieve it was something he believed he would never get enough of.
The mark was supposed to be painful to some extent. But for him it wasn’t. He felt pure bliss. While Lan Xichen held him tight and whispered to his ear promises he knew the alpha would fulfill. His body was kissed and cherished whilst the bond was made. He felt safe and loved and the only thing he could wish for at that moment was that Lan Xichen was feeling the same.
And when the sun came up announcing a new day, they didn’t have to lie to the rest of the world anymore. Jiang Cheng was marked. The questions about an heir would still be uncomfortable but not for the same reasons as before. Even when they had been married for almost a year it was the first time they felt they belonged to the other. It was also the first time—of more to come—that Lan Xichen didn’t get up at the usual hour. He stayed in bed with his omega sharing that moment that only belonged to them. And even if it started as duty. It was one they were happy to have fulfilled.