prompts / continuations.

[fennu]

Comments

[fennu]

[ Watching Xichen fall apart like this is incredible, and Jiang Cheng can’t do much more than stare at him, drinking it in, relishing it. He looks beautiful at all times, of course, but all the more beautiful for his pleasure. He certainly can’t deny that he wants to see it again, to see if he can draw more of that want and pleasure out of him again.

He is messy, a little dirty, but he doesn’t know if he cares right now. Instead, he shifts a little, turning to look at his lover. He isn’t sure, for a moment, if he’s really welcome into his arms again, but he wiggles a little to get out of his clothes and moves closer, leaning down to kiss Xichen softly.

He can’t resist it. Not for even a second. Slowly, he sees if he can tuck himself into Xichen’s side. ]

[lanclan]

[ How very appropriate, he thinks as they kiss, that they are doing this in the broad light of day and not under cover of dark. No stolen glances, not inferences of intent, it's all so straight-forward and affectionate that he revels in wrapping his arms around Jiang Cheng when he sinks at his side. It's not even noon.

Kicking off his trousers and using them to swipe away the worst of the mess is less dignified, but then he can tug the bedsheet over them and snuggle down.

He can't stop smiling, nestling into Jiang Cheng's hair. ]

This is very ilicit.

[ Terrible of them, really. Oh no. ]

[fennu]

I am sure there is a rule against it.

[ There is enough of them that they must’ve broken at least half a dozen, if not more, but he feels vaguely shameless about it. He’s proud of being able to draw Xichen out of his shell, to be able to be the one to put those expressions on his face. He is the one that was able to reach out and touch him and bring him pleasure.

It is one of the most embarrassing things he has ever done, terribly illicit - he doesn’t know if he’s feeling an odd sense of confusion inside of himself, licking his lips. Even if this is the one time the two of them do this… He can accept that. This will be something he can keep in his memories forever.

He is happy. ]

I find I don’t care.

[lanclan]

Mm, I feel the same.

[ Playing with Jiang Cheng's hair, he smooths his other hand up and down his back to stave off the morning chill under the blankets. ]

Allow me to humbly beg that you stay at least a week. [ His smile quirks and he slides his hand down to rest on the curve of a backside. ] The lessons will be long.

[fennu]

I’ve seen evidence enough of that.

[ A crude joke from Jiang Cheng? It can happen. He shifts to lean into all the idle touches, glad for the promise of more time. It makes him feel bold enough to lean up to take a kiss, softer and slower than before, brushing their mouths together.

A week is some time, but no one would begrudge him time learning from the famed Zewu-jun. It can be arranged, surely. Easily done. He nods. ]

A week, then. But you are responsible for either hiding my time or dissuading my brother from disturbing us.

[lanclan]

[ Corruption is spreading quickly, apparently.

The kiss has him melting against the pillows, idly tracing arabesques all over Jiang Cheng's naked back and hips. ]

Nothing will dissuade him from seeing you, like a fox scenting an egg he will come for you.

[ You're doomed, babe. ]

The nights, however, may be ours.

[fennu]

[ A week of a-Huan’s attention on him in the nights, stealing more of his virtue before he must return to Yunmeng and his duties. He doesn’t think it’s unfair to find a certain glee in the notion, thrilled at being wanted.

Still, he nods his head. ]

I can manage him enough during the days. I’m here for study, after all, not as a family visit. He will have to understand all my hours are not his to take.

[ His eyes are glued to Xichen’s face, to his reactions. ]

Many of those hours have been previously claimed by my a-Huan.

[lanclan]

[ My a-Huan. He smiles widely, playing with a forelock that frames Jiang Cheng's face. ]

If I were cruel I would dare you to phrase it like that in front of him. [ Xichen taps him on the nose. ] But I won't.

[fennu]

There are some things he doesn’t need to know.

[ He tilts his head gently, leaning into the touch, expression warm. He’s so happy that his mind could develop into a storm, wondering when this will all go wrong. ]

Those words are only for your ears.

[lanclan]

I shan't embarrass you.

[ He has no wish to make a scene, similarly to how his brother conducts himself in a relationship. The Lan men are more than capable of being subtle, they invented the notion. ]

[fennu]

I know that. I don’t think you’d be able to if you tried.

[ If anyone is going to be embarrassing it is going to be Wei Wuxian. ]

I trust you.

[lanclan]

[ Patting the curve of Jiang Cheng's ass with an absent, light palm is really the best way to start the day. Xichen is addicted to the warmth of his skin and the curve and shallows of that body, nestling in. ]

I could be a deviant, unworthy of such trust.

[ Even as he plants kisses in Jiang Cheng's hair. ]

[fennu]

What do you mean could be, huh? Look where your hand is.

[ Not that he’s unhappy about it, given the way he hasn’t shoved it away or moved away himself. Instead, he turns into the kisses, eyes closing softly. ]

[lanclan]

[ Those kisses are disturbed by the laugh that bubbles up into soft hair, charmed and happy. He hasn't felt so light in weeks, if not months, but Jiang Cheng has a way of making Xichen want to be as carefree as a cloud. ]

It's not wrong to reach for beauty.

[ Or squeeze it, oops. ]

[fennu]

I’m sure there’s some kind of rule about it.

[ Huffing a laugh, he shifts, leaning into the touch with a pleased little hum, nuzzling into him and tilting for another kiss. ]

I can’t scold you for it.

[lanclan]

In my own house? Definitely not.

[ He would let Jiang Cheng rant at him anywhere, really. Tangled under the sheets, he rolls on top of his bedmate to get a better view after indulging more kisses, brushing Wanyin's stray hair back. ]

Have you truly never experienced any of this with someone else?

[fennu]

[ Lifting his head up, he gazes at Xichen. He’s so handsome, and Jiang Cheng isn’t sure of what it means between them. He cannot hope for more than this, and he accepts whatever he can get. ]

No? I was too busy during the war and since then I have been rebuilding Lotus Pier. I anticipated eventually just needing a wife, not… I didn’t think about it.

[lanclan]

Never with ... other men, though?

[ A wife is one thing. There are other bonds and he wonders why Jiang Cheng has been all alone. ]

[fennu]

No.

[ It’s a difficult thing to talk about, to confess, but - ]

I do not trust lightly, a-Huan.

[lanclan]

I should have been more like you.

[ He wanted to trust and believe in the good of everyone, even if it was chipped or imperfect. The sad cant of his smile admits his foolishness, now forever part of him for past errors in judgement. ]

[fennu]

I don’t think that’s true.

[ He shakes his head absently, shifting a little closer. His expression is… set. ]

Your trust is a wonderful gift. You cannot be blamed for it being misused.

[lanclan]

I can a little, at least.

[ He takes most of the responsibility, even if he knows A-Yao was expertly manipulating him. It still felt real at the time.

He turns his thoughts to back to Jiang Cheng, gathering him in close for a cuddle. If Xichen wraps his arms around him, no one can spoil the moment (that's what he tells himself). ]

You're very cute, a-Cheng. I like that you speak your mind and how you can't hide so much as a blush from me.

[fennu]

[ He can let the matter drop for now - he’s not going to push it if Xichen doesn’t want to discuss it, and it’ll spoil the quiet intimacy they’ve made together. It feels as though if he steps out of the room it’ll be gone forever. ]

That’s the kind of thing that caused problems before.

[ People didn’t often like his brash temper and his sharpness, so it’s a little nice to be wanted for it. ]

It’s new to me. This.

[lanclan]

Please, always speak your mind to me, even if you think I won't like it. I would prefer to know if something upsets or troubles you.

[ Promised with soft kisses that trail down Jiang Cheng's neck, seeing if he's still sensitive. ]

[fennu]

[ Oh, he is, skin prickling as he huffs a little noise, flushed. He turns to look at Xichen fondly. ]

That is an easy promise to make. I’ve never been good at holding my tongue.