Chapter Text
"No please, don't do this! Please -, don't take him from me! I'll do anything! Just please don't do this!"
Lan Xichen couldn't move. He was cold and stuck, but couldn't feel anyone holding him. There was smoke, or fog, roiling all around him, so he couldn't even see who was screaming. But the voice…it sounded so familiar. Like Lan Xichen knew who they were, but he couldn't recall a face or a name. It sounded so frightened. It caused Lan Xichen to try and tug his way out of the invisible hold, to get to the voice and comfort them, as his instincts were screaming at him to do.
"I'm so sorry to the both of you. If I had a choice…"
"But you don't! Preform the spell and be done with it!"
"Xiongzhang!"
"Please stop this! I beg you!"
"Your punishment is next -. You should be worrying about yourself."
The fog churned around him faster as a flute from somewhere beyond began to play a haunting tune. The voices mixed with it; the pleading, the condensation, the blurred names, all rolled into a cacophony of words that Lan Xichen couldn't pick out. It all became a vacuum of sound and smoke. He tried tugging harder at his bonds, but they wouldn't budge. He thought he was crying. He probably was, for it seemed like the proper response to whatever was happening to him. His heart ached, broken because it knew it was being ripped away from someone.
And then that whirlpool and smoke and sound thickened. And slammed into him. Directly into his belly, into his shattered heart. It was squeezing and squeezing and Lan Xichen didn't think he could breath. He gasped for air as pain shot through him. And as it began to reach the pinnacle of agony where it felt as if it were burning his soul…
Lan Xichen woke up.
He sat up in bed, heart racing and breath heavy in his lungs. It was a recurring dream that always felt so real. It was like he could still feel the phantom restraints around his arms, keeping him in place. A shiver went up his spine, as if he was still chilled to his bones. He tried to take in long, deep lungfuls of air, to calm his rapid heartbeat.
"Babe…" A sleepy voice slurred beside him. Warm arms wrapped around his waist and a face pressed into his thigh over the blankets. "Wus wrong?"
Lan Xichen looked down at his sleepy boyfriend, and it was like he was suddenly filled with warmth. His breath came easier as he gently pet the top of Jiang Cheng's head. A smile bloomed over his face as a rumbling, contented purr drifted up to him.
"I'm sorry I woke you, sweetheart. It was just a bad dream."
"That same one you told me about while ago? I thought you said you hadn't had it in a year or so." Jiang Cheng said, yawning and popping one eye open to look up.
"Yes. Strangely enough, it stopped around the time we started being intimate with each other. Perhaps your dick isn't as magical as Wei Wuxian endorsed it as if the dream is coming back." Lan Xichen teased, needing a distraction from the lingering effects of the dream.
"That asshole doesn't know shit! My dick is amazing. I haven't heard any complaints from you, and it's only your opinion that matters. My brother wishes he could get dick as good as mine." Jiang Cheng grumped
Lan Xichen chuckled. His own cock twitched with interest, which Jiang Cheng must have felt under his arm as he perked up.
"Oh, what's this? Does my cute omega need a refresher on how good his alpha's cock is so soon?" Jiang Cheng purred, grinning as he rose up on his arms to be face to face with him.
Lan Xichen couldn't stop the answering purr if he wanted to. He took a quick glance at the clock, then leaned over to the nightstand to pull out a condom. He turned back to Jiang Cheng and smiled while quickly unwrapping it and rolling it on Jiang Cheng's rapidly swelling cock. He stroked it a few times, loving the feeling of his alpha's heavy cock in his hand, hot and already ready for him. "I have an hour before my alarm would've naturally gone off." He wound his arms around his boyfriend, tugging him closer. "I suppose a refresher course would be helpful."
Lan Xichen giggled as Jiang Cheng pushed him back down onto the mattress, squirming his way in between Lan Xichen's spread legs. They both hummed happily as their lips met, kissing languidly. Lan Xichen spread his legs wider as Jiang Cheng ran a hand down his torso, tweaking a nipple before moving on. His dick twitched and leaked, while his pussy throbbed with need. He could feel slick was already leaking out as well. His heat wasn't due for another few months, but that never seemed to matter when it came to his beloved alpha. His body knew what it wanted, and it always wanted Jiang Cheng.
"Mmm, yes love, please!" Lan Xichen moaned.
Jiang Cheng stroked his cock once, twice, three times before moving down between Lan Xichen's legs. Gently, he pushed two fingers into his hot hole, pumping the digits and sliding against the sensitive walls as Lan Xichen cried out.
"Oh good, you're still loose from last night." Jiang Cheng said, grinning smugly.
"Of course I am. Oh!" Lan Xichen cried again as Jiang Cheng sped up. His own grip on his boyfriend's shoulder tightened. The bite of his nails seemed to spur Jiang Cheng on as he added a third finger. His toes curled with the pleasure coursing through him, his pelvis moving in time with the fingers curling in and out of him. He loved being taken by his beloved, and normally he didn't care how it was done. Cock, fingers, mouth, toys, as long as it was his alpha doing it to him, he loved it. But right now, he really wanted that hot, hard dick inside him, rearranging his guts.
"Always so responsive." Jiang Cheng said while scissoring his fingers, causing Lan Xichen to cry out again. "I love it when you sing just for me. It's the best song you've ever sang."
With his thoughts solely on getting his boyfriend’s cock inside him, Lan Xichen gave no warning as he used his considerable strength to tumble Jiang Cheng over onto his back. With no hesitation, he climbed on top and straddled him. He felt hands on his hips, gripping him tightly.
"So this is how it's gonna be then?" Jiang Cheng asked, settling back against his pillow.
"Mmmh yes." Lan Xichen answered.
He rose up on his knees and reached behind himself, grasping his lover's cock to guide it to his throbbing pussy. Both men groaned with pleasure as Lan Xichen sank down until his ass was flush against Jiang Cheng's lap. He then took hold of Jiang Cheng's hand still wet with his slick, and moved it so it gripped his own leaking cock. He began rocking his hips, moaning with pleasure as it pushed that hard cock deep inside him.
"Is that better for you, baby?" Jiang Cheng panted.
Lan Xichen nodded and bent forward, bracing his hands on his boyfriend's scared chest. Using that leverage, he fucked himself a little harder. As he bounced on Jiang Cheng's lap, his cock was stroked just right. Fire shot through his veins. He threw his head back and moaned and whined as he felt his orgasm approach fast.
"Almost…there…" He managed to get out in between heavy breaths.
Jiang Cheng responded by planting his feet against the mattress and, using his own incredible alpha strength, pumped his cock into Lan Xichen's pussy harder. He was just there, on the precipice, but something was missing.
"A-Cheng…love…please…" Lan Xichen whined.
Thankfully, Jiang Cheng knew exactly what Lan Xichen was begging for. Ever since they met, it seemed uncanny, but Jiang Cheng just seemed to know what Lan Xichen needed or what his whines and purrs and half sentences meant. He gripped Lan Xichen's head under the long fall of his hair and pulled him down so they were flush against each other. With one hand still busy stroking Lan Xichen's cock as he kept fucking into him, he used his free hand to tilt Lan Xichen's head. Lan Xichen cried out, tightening up as Jiang Cheng latched onto to his scent gland and nibbled and sucked at it.
"Ah yes! There!" Lan Xichen practically screamed. "Yes right there. Love…A-Cheng…ah, I'm coming…"
He felt himself spill between their bellies, though his pussy still throbbed with it's own impending release. Jiang Cheng let go of his spent cock and wrapped his arm around his waist. He moaned and groaned into Lan Xichen's neck as he fucked up harder. Lan Xichen, nearly blissed out, turned his head to clamp down on Jiang Cheng's scent gland as he was bounced on his lover's cock. Overstimulation hit him, but he ignored it, moaning into Jiang Cheng's neck, encouraging him to his peak. He heard and felt Jiang Cheng rumble as his orgasm hit, the condom filling out. Lan Xichen whined at the loss of feeling his mat- lover's seed spill inside him properly. But neither were ready to even talk about any of that just yet. So he just fucked himself down harder on the softening cock, crying out in relief as he orgasmed from his pussy.
Lan Xichen flopped boneless on top of Jiang Cheng, both breathing heavily. He felt Jiang Cheng's soft cock pop out of him, and mourned the loss of feeling full.
"Ah, we have a half hour to spare." Jiang Cheng panted.
Lan Xichen grumbled and wiggled until he was more comfortable being stretched out on Jiang Cheng's chest. "Then we can doze for a half hour. I'm fuzzy." He really didn't want to get up anytime soon. He just wanted to bask in the afterglow and floatiness of the moment. He sighed as he felt Jiang Cheng move his long, loose braid off his neck to let him cool down.
"You're only in the recording studio today, right? Can't you take a later time slot? It's not like it doesn't belong to your uncle and have plenty of rooms to record in."
"Mmm…I should go in at my normal time."
"Baby, you've been working yourself to the bone with this new album. You need some time to rest."
Lan Xichen chuckled. "So says my workaholic boyfriend."
"Hey, Lotus Pier is a nature conserve. Nature doesn't stop. The harvest is coming up sooner than I thought. I can't help that. But once that's over then-"
"It's boxing them all up and sending the blooms out to be processed. Then you need to wait for the pods to be ready to harvest as well. I remember last year, my love. It was close to a month where you were just run ragged. You were nearly manic by the end, almost like you were in rut."
"Thank fuck mine is never around harvesting season. I think I'd just die." Jiang Cheng grumbled.
"No, you'd push through it and be absolutely unbearable. And then Wei Wuxian would come to me and beg me to lock us up in our room for a few days. I would not complain about that though, if you're wondering."
Jiang Cheng huffed a laugh but didn't say anything. Lan Xichen laid there and thought. Being honest with himself, he really did want to just have a lazy morning with his beloved. Harvest season really was coming up faster this year due to incredible weather, so he wouldn't get to see Jiang Cheng as much. While they did live together in Lan Xichen's unnecessarily large mansion (to fill with babies one day, he'd told himself when he'd bought it), most days Jiang Cheng would come home with enough energy to eat something and then crash in bed. There were some mornings that he was up even before Lan Xichen's own regular five am.
"Okay…I will go in later. I just need to text Wangji-"
"Stay there." Jiang Cheng commanded as he reached over to the nightstand.
Lan Xichen smiled and snuggled down, knowing his beloved was texting his brother for him. He did have to reluctantly move for a moment though after the text was sent so Jiang Cheng could take the condom off and give them both a rudimentary clean. But with the blanket over him and Jiang Cheng's arms around him and their combined scents filling his nose, Lan Xichen didn't want to be anywhere else. Cozy and warm while laying on top of the love of his life, he drifted back off without worrying about the dream that had woken him up.
They slept for another two hours. And much to his smug boyfriend's amusement, Lan Xichen did feel much more well rested. He even indulged himself in a longer than necessary warm shower while Jiang Cheng made them breakfast. He was still loose-limbed from their multiple rounds of love-making from last night and this morning. The minor aches were soothed away by the stream of warm water on them as Lan Xichen cleaned. But as he rubbed the soaped up cloth over his belly, he felt a small pang of something. Loss? But that couldn't be. He'd never been pregnant. He'd never even ever had a pregnancy scare!
He hadn't been a virgin by the time he'd met Jiang Cheng nearly two years ago. But he'd never spent his heats with either of his boyfriends. And it was incredibly rare for an omega to get pregnant outside of their heat. Toys and suppressants had been his aids up until he shared his first heat with Jiang Cheng. They'd been dating for a year by then and living with each other for about two months. Lan Xichen had shyly asked if his boyfriend would share this time. Jiang Cheng had been enthusiastic, but also extremely cautious. He'd only said that he wasn't ready for children, and so they'd ended up using a combination of fingers, tongue, and toys. Lan Xichen had found that he honestly hadn't minded not being knotted properly.
So why, if they'd taken all precautions, should Lan Xichen be feeling a sudden sense of loss? Like something was missing? He certainly was not ready for a baby just yet. He knew he wanted them, and wanted them with Jiang Cheng…but not yet. They hadn't even talked about becoming mates! And oh! Did Lan Xichen want that so badly! More than children. More than finishing his newest album! He knew Jiang Cheng was the one. His first thought when he was introduced to Jiang Cheng had been 'I'm going to marry him!' Lan Xichen loved fast, but even that was too fast! But looking into Jiang Cheng's eyes that night, talking to him, smelling him…he knew. Without a doubt in his heart, he knew he'd chosen Jiang Cheng. And somehow, he felt that Jiang Cheng had had the same reaction that night. Out of the corner of his eye, he'd catch the alpha looking at him like Lan Xichen had hung the moon. Jiang Cheng had tried to play it cool, but Lan Xichen could tell he had been hanging off every word he'd said. Jiang Cheng couldn't control the scent of happy alpha he'd given off.
Lan Xichen sighed and wrung out the clothe before hanging it up to dry. He wanted to talk to Jiang Cheng about becoming mates. He wanted to propose to his beloved, or be proposed to. But his boyfriend got a little squirrely anytime mating was brought up around them. So he figured Jiang Cheng just wasn't ready yet. And if Jiang Cheng wasn't ready, then they weren't ready. Lan Xichen was not willing to push his beloved on that matter…yet. He was exceptionally happy where they were for the moment. So he would wait a few more years, then revisit the topic.
He dried himself off and put on his underwear and his slacks, then made his way down to the kitchen. Jiang Cheng was hovering over the stove, a spatula in hand. Lan Xichen sidled up to him and wrapped his arms around his boyfriends waist. He heard and felt the happy rumble Jiang Cheng let out as he flipped something in one of the pans in front of him. Lan Xichen looked over his shoulder and purred happily as he saw the home version of his favorite street food.
"Jianbing! My love spoils me." Lan Xichen said as Jiang Cheng began folding the savory crepes. He moved away to pull down plates for the finished ones.
"You deserve to be spoiled." Jiang Cheng said with only a small hint of a blush on his cheeks. Lan Xichen's purr got louder. It made him so happy that Jiang Cheng had gotten comfortable giving compliments. Early in their relationship, he'd only managed to mumble them and blush profusely. Now, they flowed so easily out of him.
"So do you, sweetheart." Lan Xichen said.
"Of course I do. I'm fucking amazing." Jiang Cheng said. He turned the burners off and took his plate of pancakes to the table. Lan Xichen put his down before going to pour them both a glass of juice.
"So modest too." Lan Xichen quipped, sitting down.
Jiang Cheng snorted, but stayed silent as they both dug into their food. Lan Xichen had been raised to not speak during meals, and while sometimes he himself broke that rule, Jiang Cheng tried to honor that tradition for him. Though that tradition couldn't stop the happy little noises he made every so often. Jiang Cheng's cooking was always delicious. It had to be, as he was taught by his older sister, who had grown up to be a Michelin star chef with her own restaurant. Jiang Yanli was one of a handful of top rated alpha chefs in the world, as professional cooking tended to be dominated by omegas and betas. But it was she that owned the business and ran the kitchen like a well oiled machine, while her omega husband handled the finances, front of the house, and social media aspects.
They finished breakfast in happy silence and then cleaned up. While Lan Xichen did have people to clean the house for him, he and Jiang Cheng liked to at least do the dishes together. It was just another small way for them to connect and spend more time with each other, especially during busy seasons. Then Lan Xichen let Jiang Cheng pick out a shirt for him. He was a capable adult that could very well dress himself. He was not an omega that let their alpha control every aspect of their existence. But he liked it when his boyfriend occasionally picked out something for him to wear, like Jiang Cheng was still with him when they were separated.
At the door they kissed goodbye for longer than necessary, but Lan Xichen knew it was going to be a long day for his beloved. He would probably end up ordering food for delivery as his own attempts at cooking were atrocious at best (a fact that Jiang Yanli took as her personal life's mission to rectify), and Jiang Cheng would be too exhausted to cook for them. He rarely got to indulge his boyfriend with food like Jiang Cheng did for him, and while he was sad Jiang Cheng would be extremely tired, he was glad for the chance to spoil him in some way. He scrolled through the delivery app, trying to decide which place while his driver took him to his uncle's studio. By the time he'd arrived, Lan Xichen hadn't decided where to order from. But that was a problem for future Lan Xichen. Present Lan Xichen had an album to make with his brother's help.
"Good afternoon, Wangji!" Lan Xichen said as he entered the room set aside for them. "Thank you for accommodating me. I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience?"
"Good afternoon, xiongzhang. It was not." Lan Wangji said as he plucked at the strings of his guqin. "Wei Ying will meet me for dinner later."
"I see." Lan Xichen couldn't keep the strain out of his voice. For as grateful as he was that Wei Wuxian had introduced him to Jiang Cheng, he still wasn't a huge fan of the other man. He tolerated him for both his beloved’s and brother's sake.
Lan Wangji looked at him. Lan Xichen sighed, knowing what that look was saying.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying, Wangji. I really am. But I still cannot forgive him for disappearing for three years with no word!"
It was quiet for a few moments as Lan Xichen unpacked his xiao. He knew his brother, not one to waste words, was trying to figure out what he wanted to say. This was an argument they'd had before, and both men disliked repeating themselves. Lan Xichen hated fighting his brother about this, but he just couldn't understand why his beloved little brother took the eccentric omega back.
"He said why." Lan Wangji said.
"All he left was a note that said 'I need to leave, I'll be back.' No apologies, no time line. Not even to your face! Just a note! One day he's just gone and left my brother devastated! How am I supposed to forgive that?"
"You misunderstand. Wei Ying told me why he left. I understand why, and I'm okay with it."
Lan Xichen blinked in surprise, his mouth slightly agape. That was new information.
"Wait, he told you?"
"Mn." Lan Wangji affirmed. "But it's not my story to tell."
Lan Xichen sat heavily in his chair opposite from his brother. He knew what that meant; only Wei Wuxian himself would say why he'd left in such a way and had stayed gone for so long with no communication during that time. And Lan Xichen was not worthy of that explanation. Lan Xichen took a deep breath and buried his displeasure down.
"Alright, didi. As long as you're happy and safe, that's all I care about."
"I am. Shall we begin now?"
Lan Xichen nodded and began to warm up. As he went through the scales, he thought about the situation. He was not entitled to know the 'how could he' and 'why did he'. But he couldn't stop himself from being curious. He was only human after all. He would respect his little brother's choices, though. But as much as he trusted in Lan Wangji, he was also just a tiny bit hurt. They rarely kept secrets from each other. And this was a pretty big thing in between them. It made him sad, too, that this was driving a bit of a wedge between them. Ever since their parents died when they were children, Lan Xichen had felt it was his duty as the elder to look after his brother. Their uncle did the best he could to raise them and loved them very much. But for an omega, he wasn't a very nurturing man. So it fell onto Lan Xichen to provide that. And when he presented as an omega himself, the drive to care and love came even more naturally.
Reminiscing about his nurturing nature made him think of earlier in the shower, of babies and the sense of loss. That in turn made him think of his hard-working alpha, and a pang of neediness hit him. He inhaled deeply, getting a whiff of Jiang Cheng's scent off the shirt his boyfriend had picked out for him.
"Could we work on "Where Winds Meet", please?" Lan Xichen asked. He really wanted to just curl up in his beloved’s arms. But practicing his love song for Jiang Cheng would have to suffice until later.
Lan Wangji nodded and placed his hands on the strings, waiting for his cue. Lan Xichen took a breath, put his beloved xiao to his lips, and sank into the music.
"So," Lan Xichen said, hours later when they were ready to call it a day. "How is Wei Wuxian doing?" It wasn't much, but it could hopefully begin to bridge the gap between them.
"Wei Ying is fine. He's obsessed with that singer that looks like him." Lan Wangji replied, his voice just a tad tense.
Lan Xichen giggled. "And you're jealous of that, I see." Lan Wangji just huffed as he put his guqin in it's carrying case. "Perhaps I should have my manager contact Mo Xuanyu's manager? He has a very lovely voice. I think it could pair well with a song or two of mine. A collaboration with a singer would be nice."
His brother looked torn between being exasperated over the situation and wanting to spoil his omega.
"You have nothing to worry about, didi. Even I can see how much Wei Wuxian loves you. I don't think he would ever cheat on you."
"There was never any doubt." Lan Wangji said, looking offended.
Lan Xichen put up his hands in a placating manner. "You're right. I'm sorry, that was out of line. I meant no offense." His brother only huffed in response. Lan Xichen felt bad. That wasn't the direction he'd wanted to take the conversation in.
"So," Lan Xichen said, attempting to break the sudden tension. Lan Wangji snapped the carrying case closed and sat down. "Have you thought about mating then?"
"Mn." Lan Wangji blushed. Lan Xichen shouldn't have been surprised, knowing how much his brother loved the omega. "We've already talked about mating and marriage, actually."
"I see. Maybe I should arrange a meeting between Mo Xuanyu and Wei Wuxian as an engagement present then?"
Lan Xichen could only laugh at the withering stare Lan Wangji gave him.
"What about xiongzhang?" Lan Wangji asked.
"Ah, I've brought it up a few times with A-Cheng, but he seems jumpy around the subject. I don't want to scare him off though."
"But you want to." Lan Wangji accurately guessed.
"Yes, I do." Lan Xichen admitted, looking down at his hands as he twisted them anxiously. " I want to wear his mark. I know he's the one for me."
"How?" While his brother was not one to waste words, this question was a little odd. Lan Xichen couldn't recall why, but his little brother and his lover didn't get along all that great at the best of times. He couldn't remember them ever fighting in front of him, and neither would tell him why there was such animosity between two of his most beloved people. So the question threw Lan Xichen a little off, as he never thought Lan Wangji would be interested.
"I…well….I can't really explain it. It's just this intense feeling that I have, like I'm finally complete when I'm with him. It's like, my life before I met A-Cheng and my life after are two completely different lifetimes. It doesn't make sense, but, I feel like something in me was just waiting for him." Lan Xichen put his hands over his belly as that same sensation of loss from earlier came over him again. Lan Wangji's eyes followed the movement and lost focus for a moment. Lan Xichen noticed him doing that more recently, and wondered where his little brother's mind wandered to when that happened.
"But anyway," Lan Xichen continued, waving his hands dismissively, hoping to pull his brother's attention back to the present. "I can't bear the thought of loosing him, so I won't pressure him. When he's ready, we'll discuss our future together. For now, I am content with what we have." Lan Wangji only sighed and gave Lan Xichen a look. "I know you want me to be happy, didi. Just the same as I want you to be happy. And I am. Extremely happy in fact. Please do not worry about that? It'll happen when it happens, and not a moment sooner. I will not jeopardize this. I don't think I could live with myself if I pushed A-Cheng too fast and end up driving him away."
But before his brother could say anything in response, Lan Wangji's phone lit up and buzzed with a barrage of texts. While a few in their friend group texted in multiple rapid short texts, only one person could pull that certain smile from his brother. Lan Xichen grabbed a cleaning cloth and rod and began to wipe down the inside of his xiao.
"Go on and go see Wei Wuxian. I'll close up the room after I'm done."
"Thank you, xiongzhang."
Lan Xichen nodded as Lan Wangji slung the shoulder strap of his carrying case on and headed out the door. Now alone in silence, Lan Xichen could think without any disturbances. Usually his mind would wander with thoughts of his beloved, but as of late there was something else on his mind.
Earlier when Lan Wangji's focus had momentarily been lost, that wasn't the first time. Though he couldn't remember him doing it when they were younger, as his little brother was a perfectionist as a child and teen. It wasn't until Wei Wuxian tumbled into Lan Wangji's life that he started changing in subtle ways. He became less rigid in some aspects, and started seeing the world less in black and whites and more in shades of grey. His brother was finally living.
And then Wei Wuxian disappeared. For three years. To say that Lan Wangji was sad was a gross understatement. He was inconsolable at best and catatonic at worst. Both himself and their uncle had been beside themselves with worry. There had been no amount of cooing or chirping or nesting that Lan Xichen had done that could pull his little brother out from wherever his mind had retreated to.
And then Wei Wuxian had stumbled back into their lives three years later, acting like no time had passed at all for any of them. He'd looked shocked, actually, standing on their doorstep when Lan Xichen had hissed out how long it had been. Like the other omega had no idea three years had gone by. But despite Lan Xichen's hackles being raised and emitting all kinds of pissed off omega scents, Lan Wangji must have smelled Wei Wuxian. Because before Lan Xichen could really have the crash out against Wei Wuxian that he felt he deserved for the years of watching his baby brother wilt away, Lan Wangji came crashing down the stairs. He knew there was no stopping them at the first whispered "Wei Ying" and the omegas brilliant smile and answering "Lan Zhan." His and Lan Qiren’s opinions would not matter.
Ever since, they'd been near inseparable. But that's when Lan Xichen noticed his brother zoning out at odd times. And when he really thought about it, both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng did it as well. It was unpredictable when it happened, and it seemed to occur more frequently when he and Jiang Cheng were just starting to get to know each other. Lan Xichen just thought it was a really cute quirk. He still thought it was cute, but also curious. With Jiang Cheng, it seemed to happen more often when they were just relaxing with each other. Lan Xichen would look at his boyfriend and he would be completely zoned out. Not that Lan Xichen could really say anything against that, as he sometimes zoned out as well. Sometimes one just needed a small mental break.
Speaking of small mental breaks, by now Lan Xichen had cleaned his flute and straightened up the room enough. His uncle had people to clean the building, but he still didn't like to leave the space is such a disarray when they were done. Not that he and his brother ever made a huge mess. They were brought up to be cleanly people, a fact that Lan Qiren despised in Wei Wuxian's lackadaisical nature to Wangji's home. The mess really was only in Wei Wuxian's work room, and supposedly their bedroom (Lan Xichen dared not to step into his brother's room after Wei Wuxian returned, as it was now an omega’s territory and it wouldn't be proper for him to enter without permission. Which he had never gotten), but the common areas were immaculate by Lan family standard. Lan Xichen supposed his uncle was just vexed on principle alone.
A half hour after his brother left, Lan Xichen finally exited his uncles studio. A white sedan with tinted windows pulled up in front of him and the driver jumped out of the car.
"Good evening, Mr. Lan!" Marco, Lan Xichen's personal chauffer, greeted him in English as the freckled alpha took the flute case and opened the back door.
"Good evening, Marco. Thank you." Lan Xichen said, switching easily to English as well. It was one of the things he liked about the alpha, on top of being an exceptional employee. The man was just generally sweet, and jumped at the chance to only speak in English with Lan Xichen so Lan Xichen could keep up the practice. He liked being fluent in the languages of the countries he most frequented and did business with. It helped with his tours and meeting fans as well.
"Mr. Lan isn't joining us?" Marco asked as he got back into the driver's seat.
"No. My brother left earlier. Thank you, though."
"No worries! Anywhere we need to stop before home?"
"Ah yes. I would like to pick up some dinner for Wanyin. I haven't been able to decide though. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Absolutely! I brought Mr. Jiang home earlier, and I heard him mumble something about wanting lamian. My mate found a really good place that offers a nice variety. Something spicy for him, and something milder for you will be on the menu."
"That sounds wonderful. If we could stop there on the way then, that would be perfect." Lan Xichen smiled and settled back into his seat as Marco pulled out onto the road that led away from his uncles somewhat hidden studio and towards the main street.
"So," Lan Xichen said conversationally. "How is your mate?"
"Oh, he's doing just fine! We were just talking about trying for a baby, actually." Marco chirped happily.
"That's wonderful! I'm so happy for you both! When is his next heat? That way we can arrange for another driver while you're busy."
"Ah, well, you see, Jean doesn't have heats anymore. I would be the one carrying." Marco seemed hesitant, and Lan Xichen could understand why. It wasn't often that alpha's, especially male alpha's, where the ones to become pregnant. There was a stigma against it, as it wasn't seen as "traditional."
"That's amazing, Marco." Lan Xichen, smiling at his driver in the review mirror. Marco's shoulders sagged with relief. "Wanyin's sister is an alpha, and she too birthed their baby. There was a lot of backlash over their choice at the beginning. But their families have since come around in the last few years."
"I'm glad they got to choose. We don't have that option though. Jean can't get pregnant. He…" Lan Xichen watched as Marco's hands tightened on the wheel. "His heats were always so terrible. And the doctors we saw when we lived in America always gave him such a hard time about putting him on birth control. Their magic solution was to tell him to just get pregnant. That having a baby would straighten out his hormones. Except, it didn't."
"Marco…"
"He nearly died! He did end up getting pregnant one time. We lost the baby, and I nearly lost my mate, all because some stupid doctors just saw him as a baby maker!"
Instinctively, Lan Xichen released a calming scent. Marco visibly relaxed, shaking himself out of his rage.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Lan. I didn't mean to get so heated. I just…"
"I get it, Marco. It's an incredibly frightening thing. To almost lose your mate. To lose your…" Lan Xichen drifted off. He put a hand over his stomach as that feeling of loss came over him again. But he couldn't lose himself to that again. Not around other people. "Anyway, I understand. You have my support, Marco. Whatever you need, please let me know."
"Thank you, Mr. Lan. I appreciate that."
The conversation turned light after that with Marco inquiring if he'd read any of the latest best sellers, or watched any movies. They chatted jovially as they pulled up to the noodle shop. Lan Xichen got out and ordered after perusing the menu. Spicy Dan Dan noodles for his beloved, and a vegetable zhájiàngmiàn for himself. Not too long after, Marco pulled them into Lan Xichen's secluded mansion, and after getting a promise to ask for help extracted from the driver, Lan Xichen entered his home.
Replacing his shoes with his house slippers and sliding them onto the rack next to Jiang Cheng's boots, he made his way into the house proper.
"A-Cheng, sweetheart? I have dinner."
The call resulted in nothing but a half grunt from the living room. Lan Xichen turned that way, spotting his boyfriend sprawled on their oversized couch, asleep. His heart clenched, seeing his beloved already this exhausted when the lotus season hadn't even really started yet. He put the good-smelling bag on the coffee table and gently lowered himself to sit on the edge of the couch next to Jiang Cheng.
"Sweetheart, wake up for me. It's time for dinner." Lan Xichen said softly. He reached over and lightly caressed Jiang Cheng's face, his thumb brushing back and forth over the apple of his cheek. He smiled as Jiang Cheng's eyes fluttered open. "Hey there, love. Food is-oh!"
Lan Xichen squeaked as Jiang Cheng reached up, lightening quick to grab at Lan Xichen and drag him down to lay on the couch. Muscled arms wrapped around his waist, holding him in place against his boyfriend's chest. Lan Xichen chuckled and squirmed to get comfortable. 'A little snuggle couldn't hurt.'
"M'glad you're here." Jiang Cheng slurred sleepily into Lan Xichen's hair. Lan Xichen's heart flipped happily. "I'm glad I'm alive…get to be with you again…missed you so much…"
'He must still be half asleep and dreaming.' Lan Xichen thought.
"I'm glad we're here together too, my love. I missed you today while I was in the studio. But we have food that'll get cold, and I'm guessing you skipped lunch."
The arms around him tightened as Jiang Cheng mumbled more coherently. "I ate. Wei Wuxian bullied me into eating. Said I would lose all my stored energy and disappear if I didn't upkeep my body."
"That's a little dramatic, though he is partially right. You need to feed your body to keep your energy and be healthy. Now come, love." Lan Xichen lightly tapped on Jiang Cheng's back. "It's time to eat. You can go back to sleep after you eat the adequate amount of spice level food I brought you.
Jiang Cheng snorted at the dig at the abominable amount of chili oil Wei Wuxian dumped into his food.
"I'll agree on one condition." Jiang Cheng said, clinging to Lan Xichen harder so he couldn't squirm away.
"And what, pray tell, might this condition be?"
Jiang Cheng cracked one eye open and smirked down at him. "That you're dessert."
"Jiang Wanyin! Bribing me with sex so you do one of the most basic human functions?"
"That's not a no I'm hearing…"
"And if you do not get up this instant and eat your food, that answer will change!"
"Okay okay! Let me up then, and let's eat. I'm starving."