[ It helps that Wei Wuxian rather die than be in Jiang Cheng's position as Sect Leader. He much rather be the trophy husband, the one who swans in and out and lazes on the lake and flits about like a stray cat. That's his place in all this.
Still, Jiang Cheng swats away his hand and Wei Wuxian lets his wrist drop, but he doesn't step away. Just leans against the desk and gives Jiang Cheng a scrutinizing stare. No, this is a mystery now and he needs to figure it out. ]
I know what I'm smelling, it smells like an omega in heat.
[ Granted, he doesn't have much experience with that kind of thing — he's never bedded an omega in heat before, but he's passed whorehouses where the stink was too strong to ignore. Wen Qing was an omega as well, though he never touched her despite what everyone else gossiped about. ]
Jiang Cheng, are you — [ Hm. He doesn't know if he should ask this but... ] Are you wet?
[ Not as far as he is aware, anyway, especially since omegas have never been treated any differently in Yunmeng Jiang. Other places might put pressure on them, or treat them as worse than prostitutes, but there was a level of safety and a promise of legislation in the Jiang Sect, and he saw no reason to change that. His mother and father had been tolerant to other designations in ways they had never been to themselves or others, and it's a tolerance he will happily shoulder for the future of his people.
Leaning back, he glares, gritting his teeth a little, cheeks flaring. ]
I can't be getting wet, because I am not an omega! Go and throw yourself in the lake, sort your nose out!
[ But Wei Wuxian's closeness is inspiring a flood of warmth and need inside of him, his breathing coming a little harder before he deliberately turns back to his letters, turning one over to read the back and focus on whatever begging request is coming from outside his lands. ]
[ Of course, Jiang Cheng is no help in trying to figure out what is going on with, well, Jiang Cheng. The guy lives in denial forever, won't ever give an inch so Wei Wuxian can't take that mile. But he still can't help but shake the feeling something is definitely, irrevocably wrong with Jiang Cheng. Something that he's going to have to fix himself.
It's not a shameful thing to be an omega, they were never told such growing up. But sometimes Wei Wuxian can't help but think that Jiang Cheng would've been better off being an omega or an alpha rather than the sad middle state of a beta. Betas are supposed to be grounding figures, a balance between the three designations, and there are more of them than alphas or omegas. They're good all around. But with someone as competitive and full of bluster as Jiang Cheng, being on either end of the scale rather than squarely in the middle would've been better for him.
Which makes right now rather ironic. He's sure something has changed here, his nose wouldn't lie to him, but he doesn't know how to get Jiang Cheng to confess to anything, to acknowledge anything. The idea of him changing designations... it's not unheard of but it would be rather miraculous. Could he have truly become an omega now?
Is it Wei Wuxian's fault?
So, he decides to do this: let out some of his mating pheromones, the ones that he keeps locked under tight and that you're only supposed to use with your mate. They're basically nothing for a beta other than, maybe, a tickle to the nose. But can be quite mollifying for an omega, almost like a drug. It's a drastic action but he needs to know, how is Jiang Cheng going to react? ]
He doesn't want to admit to being changed, to being influenced, to feeling as if he is somehow lesser or worse or not enough. As a beta, that is how he knows his father saw him - he was not strong and capable of leading alone as an alpha was, and not useful for marriage and breeding like an omega right. He was stuck in the middle unable to lean in either direction, unable to be good enough for either side of it.
Grabbing the letter, he turns his head, ready to shout and snap, when something invades his senses and overwhelms him, makes him stop and go as still as a statue, feeling something unful inside of him, like the opening of a book or the flash of embers on a fire.
Wei Wuxian's scent shifts, and the flush of it has him shivering, his eyes closing briefly as he tilts his head, as he chases the sensation of it. He barely realises what he's doing, leaning closer, his head tilting just a little bit before he licks his lips and forces himself not to whine, to demand more of it, to be touched by someone who he should be sending away. ]
[ Jiang Cheng reacts like an omega and that confirms Wei Wuxian's suspicions. He's changed. He doesn't know how he's changed but he has and so Wei Wuxian is here to take care of him. This is his husband and so, he is very much the person who should care for him when he's in this state, when he's wrecked by his new designation and trying so hard to ignore it. Wei Wuxian breathes out steadily and crouches down, lowering himself to no longer stand over Jiang Cheng.
He reaches out, sets a hand on his thigh and squeezes lightly as he looks up at his brother and watches him carefully. ]
Hey. I know you don't want to admit it but something's different.
[ A pause and he considers how to say it before just coming out with it. ]
I think you might be in heat, Jiang Cheng.
[ He rubs over his thigh then soothingly, up and down just to calm him down. He doesn't send out more mating pheromones but he does try to calm him regardless. ]
[ Jiang Cheng does what he can to slap his brother away, filled with a burn of frustration and rage that pulses through him as familiarly as it has ever been. He doesn't feel as if he has changed, but he can't deny that it's harder to move away from his brother turned husband than it has been in the past, and his frustration makes his cheeks feel all the hotter.
Has it always been this warm in his office?
Baring his teeth, he hisses for a moment before he makes to stand up, trying not to dwell on the fact that his legs are noticeably wobbly as he gets to his feet, breathing out a little harsher. ]
Omegas go into heat, and I am not an omega. Stop -
[ He's slapped away, easy as can be, and he doesn't fight it. But he does continue to look up at Jiang Cheng in concern. And when the other man stands, Wei Wuxian returns to his feet as well, holding out his hands carefully when it seems like Jiang Cheng is wobbling, wanting to keep him steady just in case. But he doesn't tip over and that's a relief.
Still, he turns to Wei Wuxian, a growl in his throat and fangs bared and Wei Wuxian doesn't know how he's going to get Jiang Cheng to let him take care of him without forcing it. Shit. ]
I'm not doing anything with my scent.
[ Not on purpose, at least. His eyebrows furrow and he reaches out, curling his hand around Jiang Cheng's wrist and rubbing his thumb over the pulse point. ]
Even if you're not going into heat — [ Which, he doubts, but whatever. ] — you're still ill. Let me take care of you, alright? Let's go back to your room and get you in bed.
[ If they can start with that, maybe Wei Wuxian can build up to taking care of Jiang Cheng the way he should as his alpha. ]
[ Even if he is feeling hot and flush, his stomach in knots, even if he feels shaky and a little faint, he'd never admit it. He has too much sect work to do, letters to reply to, reports to check, disciples to train and ensure they're being given everything they deserve as a member of Yunmeng Jiang, and the idea of abandoning that... It doesn't sit well with him at all.
Even if he feels flushed and hot all over, even if there's a strange curl of something like delight at Wei Wuxian's closeness, even as he licks his lips and breathes out, wanting more and more of his cooling, easing touch.
Leaning back, he glances up at his husband with flushed cheeks and a pout on his face. ]
[ Wei Wuxian can't keep the frown from his face when it's clear that Jiang Cheng is going to continue to deny him. But he does have a feeling the other man can't resist him in another way, physically. He wonders if he can use that to his advantage. So, he steps a little closer, lets his natural scent envelop Jiang Cheng from their closeness and lifts his other hand to curl against his cheek, running his thumb over the skin. ]
The sect won't fall apart without you for one day. Just tell the servants you're ill and people will perform their duties and keep things going until you're better.
[ And because he thinks he knows what Jiang Cheng is thinking, he adds — ]
You're not abandoning anyone. You're letting them know you trust them enough to take care of yourself too. Please, Jiang Cheng?
[ It's the touch to his face that seems to be his undoing, and Jiang Cheng can't swallow back the soft little noise he makes at a thumb being brushed over his cheek, or the closeness of his brother turned husband. He wants to keep fighting, wants to keep forcing himself to push through this and keep his wits and his strength about him, but it's hard.
Whatever Wei Wuxian is doing, it is working, and that's more irritating than he can put into words.
Sinking into the other man, the heat flushing through his body and making his head feel tangled and confused, all he can do is nod. It's impossible to resist the urge to rest now, especially when it feels like such a sweet relief to close his eyes. ]
[ There is a potent relief in Wei Wuxian as Jiang Cheng finally agrees with him to relax, to let go, to let Wei Wuxian take care of him. He's going to envelop his brother completely in his arms then, a hand against the back of his head to press Jiang Cheng's head to his shoulder so he can hold him tight. Then he turns his head, nuzzling his face into Jiang Cheng's hair and nosing lightly at his temple. He presses a kiss there, impulsively, and sighs quietly as he inhales Jiang Cheng's scent. ]
Good. C'mon, let's go to your room and get you in your nest. You need rest.
[ And more, Wei Wuxian thinks, but he doesn't quite know how to broach that subject with Jiang Cheng just yet. Step by step, he thinks. Just get him to his bedroom first and then figure it out from there. Once they're there, maybe... maybe it'll be easier to cross that last line between them, right? ]
Want me to carry you?
[ Half-teasing, half-sincere. He'd absolutely carry him to his nest if he wanted, keep him tight and secure in his arms as he does so. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Still, Jiang Cheng swats away his hand and Wei Wuxian lets his wrist drop, but he doesn't step away. Just leans against the desk and gives Jiang Cheng a scrutinizing stare. No, this is a mystery now and he needs to figure it out. ]
I know what I'm smelling, it smells like an omega in heat.
[ Granted, he doesn't have much experience with that kind of thing — he's never bedded an omega in heat before, but he's passed whorehouses where the stink was too strong to ignore. Wen Qing was an omega as well, though he never touched her despite what everyone else gossiped about. ]
Jiang Cheng, are you — [ Hm. He doesn't know if he should ask this but... ] Are you wet?
no subject
[ Not as far as he is aware, anyway, especially since omegas have never been treated any differently in Yunmeng Jiang. Other places might put pressure on them, or treat them as worse than prostitutes, but there was a level of safety and a promise of legislation in the Jiang Sect, and he saw no reason to change that. His mother and father had been tolerant to other designations in ways they had never been to themselves or others, and it's a tolerance he will happily shoulder for the future of his people.
Leaning back, he glares, gritting his teeth a little, cheeks flaring. ]
I can't be getting wet, because I am not an omega! Go and throw yourself in the lake, sort your nose out!
[ But Wei Wuxian's closeness is inspiring a flood of warmth and need inside of him, his breathing coming a little harder before he deliberately turns back to his letters, turning one over to read the back and focus on whatever begging request is coming from outside his lands. ]
no subject
It's not a shameful thing to be an omega, they were never told such growing up. But sometimes Wei Wuxian can't help but think that Jiang Cheng would've been better off being an omega or an alpha rather than the sad middle state of a beta. Betas are supposed to be grounding figures, a balance between the three designations, and there are more of them than alphas or omegas. They're good all around. But with someone as competitive and full of bluster as Jiang Cheng, being on either end of the scale rather than squarely in the middle would've been better for him.
Which makes right now rather ironic. He's sure something has changed here, his nose wouldn't lie to him, but he doesn't know how to get Jiang Cheng to confess to anything, to acknowledge anything. The idea of him changing designations... it's not unheard of but it would be rather miraculous. Could he have truly become an omega now?
Is it Wei Wuxian's fault?
So, he decides to do this: let out some of his mating pheromones, the ones that he keeps locked under tight and that you're only supposed to use with your mate. They're basically nothing for a beta other than, maybe, a tickle to the nose. But can be quite mollifying for an omega, almost like a drug. It's a drastic action but he needs to know, how is Jiang Cheng going to react? ]
Jiang Cheng.
[ He waits, he observes. ]
no subject
He doesn't want to admit to being changed, to being influenced, to feeling as if he is somehow lesser or worse or not enough. As a beta, that is how he knows his father saw him - he was not strong and capable of leading alone as an alpha was, and not useful for marriage and breeding like an omega right. He was stuck in the middle unable to lean in either direction, unable to be good enough for either side of it.
Grabbing the letter, he turns his head, ready to shout and snap, when something invades his senses and overwhelms him, makes him stop and go as still as a statue, feeling something unful inside of him, like the opening of a book or the flash of embers on a fire.
Wei Wuxian's scent shifts, and the flush of it has him shivering, his eyes closing briefly as he tilts his head, as he chases the sensation of it. He barely realises what he's doing, leaning closer, his head tilting just a little bit before he licks his lips and forces himself not to whine, to demand more of it, to be touched by someone who he should be sending away. ]
no subject
He reaches out, sets a hand on his thigh and squeezes lightly as he looks up at his brother and watches him carefully. ]
Hey. I know you don't want to admit it but something's different.
[ A pause and he considers how to say it before just coming out with it. ]
I think you might be in heat, Jiang Cheng.
[ He rubs over his thigh then soothingly, up and down just to calm him down. He doesn't send out more mating pheromones but he does try to calm him regardless. ]
no subject
[ Jiang Cheng does what he can to slap his brother away, filled with a burn of frustration and rage that pulses through him as familiarly as it has ever been. He doesn't feel as if he has changed, but he can't deny that it's harder to move away from his brother turned husband than it has been in the past, and his frustration makes his cheeks feel all the hotter.
Has it always been this warm in his office?
Baring his teeth, he hisses for a moment before he makes to stand up, trying not to dwell on the fact that his legs are noticeably wobbly as he gets to his feet, breathing out a little harsher. ]
Omegas go into heat, and I am not an omega. Stop -
[ Growling, he turns back to Wei Wuxian. ]
- stop doing that with your scent!
no subject
Still, he turns to Wei Wuxian, a growl in his throat and fangs bared and Wei Wuxian doesn't know how he's going to get Jiang Cheng to let him take care of him without forcing it. Shit. ]
I'm not doing anything with my scent.
[ Not on purpose, at least. His eyebrows furrow and he reaches out, curling his hand around Jiang Cheng's wrist and rubbing his thumb over the pulse point. ]
Even if you're not going into heat — [ Which, he doubts, but whatever. ] — you're still ill. Let me take care of you, alright? Let's go back to your room and get you in bed.
[ If they can start with that, maybe Wei Wuxian can build up to taking care of Jiang Cheng the way he should as his alpha. ]
no subject
[ Even if he is feeling hot and flush, his stomach in knots, even if he feels shaky and a little faint, he'd never admit it. He has too much sect work to do, letters to reply to, reports to check, disciples to train and ensure they're being given everything they deserve as a member of Yunmeng Jiang, and the idea of abandoning that... It doesn't sit well with him at all.
Even if he feels flushed and hot all over, even if there's a strange curl of something like delight at Wei Wuxian's closeness, even as he licks his lips and breathes out, wanting more and more of his cooling, easing touch.
Leaning back, he glances up at his husband with flushed cheeks and a pout on his face. ]
I have things to do. I cannot simply rest.
no subject
The sect won't fall apart without you for one day. Just tell the servants you're ill and people will perform their duties and keep things going until you're better.
[ And because he thinks he knows what Jiang Cheng is thinking, he adds — ]
You're not abandoning anyone. You're letting them know you trust them enough to take care of yourself too. Please, Jiang Cheng?
no subject
Whatever Wei Wuxian is doing, it is working, and that's more irritating than he can put into words.
Sinking into the other man, the heat flushing through his body and making his head feel tangled and confused, all he can do is nod. It's impossible to resist the urge to rest now, especially when it feels like such a sweet relief to close his eyes. ]
Fine. Just for a few hours.
no subject
Good. C'mon, let's go to your room and get you in your nest. You need rest.
[ And more, Wei Wuxian thinks, but he doesn't quite know how to broach that subject with Jiang Cheng just yet. Step by step, he thinks. Just get him to his bedroom first and then figure it out from there. Once they're there, maybe... maybe it'll be easier to cross that last line between them, right? ]
Want me to carry you?
[ Half-teasing, half-sincere. He'd absolutely carry him to his nest if he wanted, keep him tight and secure in his arms as he does so. ]