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Wei Wuxian lay on the couch, cold and bereft. The plush cushions felt like concrete slabs beneath him, hard and unforgiving.
There was no warmth, no softness, no respite to be had in this cruel, cruel world.
"I have been abandoned," he announced pitifully to the room at large, cutting through the light chatter surrounding him.
Wen Qing sighed.
"Lan Wangji went to help carry drinks," she replied, unimpressed. "He'll be back in less than five minutes."
"Abandoned!" Wei Wuxian repeated, insistent. "By my own best friend!"
"Oh, is that what he is?" Jiang Cheng muttered, just loud enough for his voice to carry. Wei Wuxian chose not to acknowledge his adoptive brother's words, instead rolling onto his back and staring dramatically at the ridiculous, gaudy golden ceiling of Jin Zixuan's home theater.
What kind of college student had a home theater with a gold ceiling?! Stupid rich peacock. Stupid rich family.
But Yanli-jie loved him, had agreed to marry the asshole despite how he'd acted around her when they were younger, and Jin Zixuan had offered to host the weekly movie night at his place.
Still, it didn't mean Wei Wuxian had to like him, even if he had agreed to try tolerating him for Yanli-jie's sake.
It didn't change the fact that it was freezing in here either, now that Wei Wuxian had lost his human heated cushion for the sake of fetching drinks from Jin Zixuan's stupidly fancy kitchen.
"Seriously, is the peacock too cheap to pay for heating?" he whined. "I'm cold."
"It doesn't feel that c-cold to me?" Wen Ning offered tentatively, looking around at the others to see if he'd somehow missed something.
The room was, in fact, perfectly comfortable; the penthouse's insulation was first-class and Jin Zixuan's deep pockets meant he never had to worry about the energy costs of adjusting the thermostat. He could freeze in summer or boil in winter if he wanted. As such, the temperature was always ideal indoors, no matter the weather outside.
"Maybe Wei-xiong just needs to put on a sweater?" Nie Huaisang said as if thinking out loud.
Wei Wuxian disagreed. Putting on another layer wouldn't change the fact that Lan Zhan was not here to be lounged upon and might actually make him warm enough that he had no excuse to cuddle up to the other boy.
It wouldn't stop him, but the chances of Lan Zhan allowing him to do it might drop, or worse. Wei Wuxian did not want to test it.
"Of fucking course he does," Jiang Cheng muttered, rolling his eyes.
"I left my hoodies at home," Wei Wuxian said, which in his opinion was a perfectly normal thing for anyone to do in late autumn when the temperature outside was dropping and the first frosts had already laid claim to the dying grass.
"Naturally," Wen Qing said, deadpan. She glanced to the other end of couch and said, without a hint of surprise. "Oh look, Lan Wangji left his sweater behind."
Wei Wuxian practically sprang up from his melancholy sprawl and saw immediately that Wen Qing was correct. A soft blue sweater was draped neatly over the back of the couch, the light color a stark contrast to the dark upholstery.
Lan Zhan's sweater was the next best thing to the man himself. Without hesitation, Wei Wuxian seized it and happily pulled it on, trying not to be too obvious about inhaling lungfuls of the sandalwood scent that clung to the fibers.
"And there he goes again," Jiang Cheng said, gesturing and smacking his own thigh in exasperation. "Every damn time! How are you not embarrassed?!"
Perhaps he had been less subtle in sniffing Lan Zhan's sweater than he'd thought. In his defense, Lan Zhan always smelled amazing and Wei Wuxian wasn't sure if it was his soap, laundry detergent, cologne, or just something in general about Lan Zhan that meant the man was never anything less than perfect.
And seeing as he'd been caught, there was nothing for it but to brazen it out.
"You're just jealous," Wei Wuxian replied cheerfully, making a show of snuggling into the slightly oversized sweater with a smug grin. "After all, you don't have a best friend to cuddle with, steal clothes from, cook you amazing meals, live with-"
"I don't want one," Jiang Cheng snapped back, looking at Wei Wuxian like he'd grown a second head.
"That... doesn't really sound like a 'best friend'?" Wen Ning said hesitantly, glancing towards Nie Huaisang as if looking for confirmation. Wei Wuxian waved off his concerns.
"Best-est best friend stuff, then," he said, not willing to give up the point.
He knew perfectly well what it looked like to other people when he draped himself all over Lan Zhan, wore the other man's sweaters, and ate his handmade lunches. He knew what the stares and whispers that followed them meant when he took Lan Zhan's hand or loudly said 'I'll see you at home' when Lan Zhan came to see him at work.
Just... Lan Zhan didn't. At least, he certainly never acted like he noticed and Wei Wuxian hoped it stayed that way. As long as Lan Zhan didn't notice, he'd let Wei Wuxian keep clinging to him, would let him take his hand and steal his clothes.
As long as Lan Zhan didn't object, Wei Wuxian could keep living this domestic fantasy like the pining idiot he was.
It was fine, really. Wei Wuxian was happy just having Lan Zhan this close. He wasn't about to risk what he had to try and push their relationship in a direction Lan Zhan wasn't comfortable with.
"Best-est boyfriend stuff more like," Jiang Cheng muttered, a touch scornful. Wei Wuxian glared at him.
"It's not like that, Lan Zhan's not interested," he said. He couldn't quite bring himself to deny his own interest; if nothing else, Nie Huaisang would see right through him and might actually call him on it, which would just be embarrassing.
"Did he ever actually say that?" Wen Qing asked. Wei Wuxian waved a dismissive hand.
"He didn't have to, it's obvious enough," he said. Lan Zhan hadn't been known as the 'Ice Prince' when they were teenagers for nothing, after all. Wei Wuxian had seen quite a few girls try to ask Lan Zhan out, only to be decisively and coolly rejected. Quite a few boys had tried too, with equally disheartening results.
Wei Wuxian had never been arrogant enough to try his luck. After all, if Lan Zhan was interested in dating at all, surely one of his many admirers would have caught his eye by now. "Lan Zhan just doesn't date."
"You don't either," Wen Ning pointed out, clearly trying to be helpful. Wei Wuxian winced.
"That's different," he said. He might be a pining idiot, but he wasn't saving himself for something that was never going to happen. He'd been asked out! Plenty of times! By some very attractive people! He was good-looking and charming, of course he'd been asked out!
Just... not by anyone he liked half as much as he liked Lan Zhan. If given a choice between going to a fancy restaurant with a pretty face or staying at home, curled up next to Lan Zhan while a dumb movie played on the TV, he would always, always pick the latter, no contest.
It just seemed like a pointless waste of time to try dating when he knew his heart was spoken for. Call him a romantic, but he'd always wanted his first kiss to mean something, not just be a box he had to check off his list of experiences.
"We're just saying," Wen Qing said. "Lan Wangji doesn't date. Neither do you. Maybe it's for the same reason."
Wei Wuxian groaned and ran a hand over his face. He loved his friends, he really did, but the stupid, hopeful part of his heart really didn't need the encouragement to do something reckless.
"So, you think Lan Zhan doesn't date because he only wants me?" he asked, hoping they all realized how ridiculous it sounded. "He wants to take me out to dinner, sweep me off my feet and kiss me senseless?"
Jiang Cheng gagged and Wen Qing shot him a quelling glare. Wen Ning looked up, mouth opening to speak, but Nie Huaisang cut him off.
"Are you saying you don't want that?" he asked innocently. Wei Wuxian snorted a laugh.
"You know I do, I'd marry Lan Zhan tomorrow and give him a dozen kids if-"
A sudden clattering broke his train of thought, like a dozen ceramic cups crashing against each other as someone lost control of a tray.
Wei Wuxian froze, his blood turning to ice, his mouth still open around the words that had died in his throat. He didn't dare turn around to see the open doorway.
"We're back," Jiang Yanli said unnecessarily, coming around the couch to set a plate of snacks on the low table. Jin Zixuan was right behind her, carrying two more plates full of food and a stack of napkins.
Jin Zixuan shot Wei Wuxian an awkward glance, then looked past him towards where the third member of the little snack-gathering expedition still stood.
Wei Wuxian was not brave enough to look back and instead shot a betrayed look towards Nie Huaisang and Wen Ning, both of whom would've had a clear view of the doorway and the approaching party and had decidedly not said anything to stop him from running his mouth. Wen Ning winced apologetically while Nie Huaisang just blinked innocently at him.
"Welcome back," Wen Qing said, unconcerned. "Lan Wangji, do you need help with the drinks?"
Any sliver of hope that Wei Wuxian had held that Lan Zhan hadn't overheard withered and died.
"Mn."
Then there were slow, measured steps. Wei Wuxian would recognize that steady gait anywhere, could pick it out of a lineup of thousands he was so attuned to everything Lan Zhan did.
The footsteps seemed to echo in the room, reverberating like the beat of a heart as Wei Wuxian tried to calm down.
This didn't have to change anything, right? He could laugh it off, play it up like a joke, and Lan Zhan would forgive him and forget it and things could just be as they had been, right?
Wei Wuxian swallowed around nothing.
Right?
Then Lan Zhan came around the couch and Wei Wuxian was out of time to freak out.
"Hey, Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian said, giving his most winning smile to hide the way his heart was pounding. "Thanks for getting the drinks!"
If he acted normal, maybe Lan Zhan would act normal. Everything would be fine, it would be just like it never happened.
Lan Zhan set the tray of cups down on the table with easy grace and then turned to face Wei Wuxian, who swallowed around nothing again and then flashed another brilliant smile, wide enough to make his cheeks hurt.
"Everything looks delicious," he said, still staring up at Lan Zhan and grasping for something, anything to say. "Jiejie really outdid herself, these snacks look amazing, thank you for going and getting-"
"Wei Ying."
Wei Wuxian's mouth snapped shut with an audible click.
He couldn't read Lan Zhan's expression at all. Those beautiful golden eyes raked slowly over him and Wei Wuxian was at once abruptly aware that he'd stolen Lan Zhan's sweater. He felt his face heat and his chest constrict, wondering if Lan Zhan would object now that he knew Wei Wuxian's feelings for him weren't exactly platonic.
"I was cold?" he offered lamely, though he didn't have much hope of Lan Zhan believing him when even Jiang Cheng had seen right through that excuse.
"Mn," Lan Zhan replied neutrally. Then, nonsensically. "Monday."
Wei Wuxian was so confused he forgot to be nervous.
"Today's Friday?" he said. Lan Zhan nodded, unconcerned.
"The Civil Affairs Bureau is closed for the weekend," he said calmly. "We will have to wait."
"Wait for-" Wei Wuxian started to ask, but then his own words came back to him and his mouth dropped open in shock.
Lan Zhan had walked in on him telling their friends that he'd happily marry Lan Zhan tomorrow if he asked.
Apparently, Lan Zhan's only objection to this plan was the operating hours of the government office responsible for issuing marriage licenses.
"Wh-Lan Zhan!"
Wei Wuxian was about to combust. He wondered if he'd somehow hit his head and this was simply a fever dream of some sort, a hallucination, something. There was absolutely no way Lan Zhan had just basically agreed to marry him. It had to be a joke or a prank.
Except... Lan Zhan didn't prank people. And his jokes weren't like this.
"People usually date first, don't they?" Wei Wuxian asked weakly, still reeling and not entirely sure how to deal with everything he ever wanted offering itself to him on a silver platter.
Lan Zhan actually seemed to consider that for a moment.
"What more would we need to do?" he asked. Wei Wuxian was about to reply when he stopped abruptly, realization washing over him.
He and Lan Zhan already lived together. They made shared grocery lists, went out shopping together, tried new restaurants together. They'd gone to museums and theme parks and carnivals and street fairs together. Wei Wuxian stole Lan Zhan's clothes and Lan Zhan cooked him dinner. They'd spent so many nights cuddled up on their couch, watching stupid movies and ridiculous TV shows.
Really, there was only one thing missing.
"Kissing," Wei Wuxian said decisively. He looked up at Lan Zhan, eyes resting briefly on the other man's lips before jerking up to meet that molten gold gaze. His heart skipped several beats at the heat he saw there and he licked his lips unconsciously. Lan Zhan's gaze dropped immediately to his mouth and stayed there, unashamed. "You haven't kissed me once yet, er-gege."
There was quite a lot else they hadn't done along those same lines (yet), but Wei Wuxian didn't have a face thick enough to say them out loud, and really kissing was the first thing to do, wasn't it?
He'd expected Lan Zhan to say something back or make some kind of heated promise about kissing in the very near future.
He had not expected Lan Zhan to immediately seize the implied permission with both hands, so when Lan Zhan bent down, Wei Wuxian's sharp, surprised inhale broke against his lips and then-
Then Lan Zhan's mouth was on his.
His lips were soft, hot, fierce, pushing Wei Wuxian back into the plush couch by sheer force. Wei Wuxian didn't care, melting into the kiss with a moan, opening his mouth to the insistent press of Lan Zhan's tongue and letting it sweep inside-
"Gross. How are they worse now?!"
Jiang Cheng's outraged shout brought them both back to reality like a bucket of ice water. Lan Zhan pulled back abruptly, lips slick and eyes slightly widened, the tips of his ears bright pink.
Wei Wuxian knew he wasn't much better off, his breathing hard and his face hot enough to fry an egg.
"A-Cheng," Jiang Yanli scolded gently, eyes politely averted from where Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan had been making a spectacle of themselves.
"You can't tell me I'm wrong."
"I think it's s-sweet," Wen Ning said, though he too had his eyes averted. "Congratulations."
"We're just glad you finally stopped dancing around each other," Wen Qing added, sounding less exasperated than Wei Wuxian would've expected, so he supposed they really did have her approval.
Then Wen Qing turned to Jin Zixuan, one eyebrow raised pointedly.
"The movie?" she asked.
Jin Zixuan looked torn between agreeing with Jiang Cheng, begging them to stop being inappropriate on his very expensive sofa, and terrified of Jiang Yanli's wrath if he did either of the first two options. The resulting expression was somewhat pinched and displeased, like a wealthy businessman who had just been served hot dog food at an important dinner gala with people he couldn't afford to offend.
"The movi- ah," he said, suddenly remembering that he was the host and also the only one who knew his way around his overly complicated surround sound system. "Yes, right, let me just-"
Without finishing his sentence, he left the room quickly, studiously not looking at the couch. As the sound of his footsteps faded, an awkward silence filled the room instead.
Wei Wuxian stole a glance over at Lan Zhan, who was still watching him, waiting.
Friday night movies had been a tradition he'd shared with Jiang Cheng and Yanli-jie since they were all small. They'd added people over the years, mostly friends as close as family, but the three of them had always watched together. Wei Wuxian had never missed one, not even during finals week or when he'd had tight deadlines for projects.
He supposed there was a first time for everything.
"Actually... Lan Zhan and I are going to go," he said, getting up from the couch and immediately grabbing his best friend's wrist to tug him towards the door. "Lots to do, only got two days to plan a wedding, you understand-"
"What, you're not actually getting married?! You're not even dating yet!" Jiang Cheng said, torn between shock and outrage.
"A-Xian, you're sure that's not a little fast?" Yanli-jie added, a slight crease to her brow. Wei Wuxian opened his mouth, realized he didn't know how to answer that, and looked at Lan Zhan.
Lan Zhan was watching him with a soft gaze, steadfast and sure.
"The Bureau opens at 9am," he said simply, no hesitation. Wei Wuxian smiled at him and dropped his wrist in favor of taking his hand instead, Lan Zhan shifting his grip to link their fingers together.
Then Wei Wuxian turned back to their friends with a bright grin, the same expression that had heralded as many shenanigans as it had moments of pure brilliance and frequently, brilliant shenanigans.
Wei Wuxian had a feeling this would be the latter.
"We're sure," he said, squeezing Lan Zhan's hand and feeling the other man squeeze back. "Besides, Lan Zhan said it already, didn't he? We've practically been dating for years!"
"Be that as it may..." Jiang Yanli said, still looking a little worried at the sudden dizzying switch from 'pining best friends' to 'engaged'.
"That doesn't count," Jiang Cheng said, waving a hand dismissively. Wei Wuxian glanced towards the others.
"It... might be a bit fast?" Wen Ning said uncertainly, glancing at his older sister. Wen Qing shook her head, refusing to comment, and Nie Huaisang made a considering noise.
"Isn't it romantic, though?" Nie Huaisang asked. "Like something out of a costume drama, the sudden reveal of long-held feelings resulting in a quick marriage-"
Jiang Cheng gagged audibly and Wei Wuxian sighed, shaking his head even as an idea sparked.
"You don't understand, we have to get married as soon as possible," he said, putting as much solemnity into his voice and expression as he could. "You see-"
He ran his other hand down his flat stomach, fighting to keep a straight face.
"- I might already be carrying Lan Zhan's baby and if it starts to show before the wedding, my honor is forfeit."
There was a beat of silence and Lan Zhan's grip tightened reflexively on his hand.
Then several people spoke at once.
"You don't even have the parts for that!" Jiang Cheng said, reeling back with a disgruntled expression.
"Be serious," Wen Qing said.
"A-Xian, please," Jiang Yanli said.
"Wasn't that your f-first kiss?" Wen Ning asked, pointing to the couch with a confused expression.
Wei Wuxian laughed out loud, unable to hold it back anymore.
"Ok, so maybe I spoke a little too soon, but the point is we really are sure," Wei Wuxian said. He squeezed Lan Zhan's hand. While the others mulled his words over, Lan Zhan nodded a definitive goodbye.
"Excuse us," he said and now it was his turn to gently steer Wei Wuxian towards the door. Wei Wuxian smiled mischievously and curled closer, lowering his voice coyly.
"Perhaps I didn't speak that soon. You want to see if you can actually put a baby in me before the wedding, Lan Zhan?" he asked, watching with delight as Lan Zhan's ears turned red.
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan replied, strangled. Wei Wuxian laughed, excited and nervous with anticipation of what would happen when they finally got home.
They definitely had things to talk about, plans to make, their lives together to discuss... more kissing to do. More than kissing to do. It was a very long to-do list and Wei Wuxian couldn't wait to get started on it.
As for what order they'd do everything in... he didn't mind one way or another really, he was confident they'd get through it all in due time.
END