Thread by @hyacinthsuns

my kingdom for a modern au romcom-esque misunderstanding where lan xichen meets his little brother’s new friend and lxc can immediately tell that lwj has a crush—but lxc thinks wwx is just messing around with lwj’s feelings, and he decides to step in

modern university au! lwj and wwx meet attending university overseas at some vaguely new england school. first semester they're paired together as lab partners for an astronomy class, which isn't either of their major but they're filling a GED requirement

for a few weeks their interactions are basically, lwj: did you move the tape. / wwx: [rambles about everything under the sun while somehow executing the lab assignment perfectly]

anyway wwx keeps finding lwj & crashing his study sessions, and sometimes lwj will actually listen when wwx talks and sometimes he'll be like "wei ying. you're supposed to be studying." but then let wwx borrow one of his cute pens or help wwx find a specific article he needs

and maybe wwx's imagining it but sometimes lwj gets this small, soft look on his face when wwx shows up, and sometimes lwj has an extra cup of tea with him in the library (on one of the floors where food is allowed Of Course)

one evening they’re on the quad & it’s chilly & wwx puts his hoodie around lwj's shoulders. lwj gets all monosyllabic the rest of the night, so maybe wwx misread that, but they have a good vibe. they're cool. they're so cool. as in, wwx thinks lwj is the coolest person he knows.

you know how sometimes sitting in silence with someone is more fulfilling than hanging out with a whole group? that's how wwx feels with lwj. it's okay if lwj only sees him as a study partner—as long as lwj doesn't hate him, wwx will just keep chattering and bringing him boba

they’re nearing winter break. wwx is staying on campus, bc Shit Happened with his family and he doesn’t have anywhere else to go. lwj isn't flying all the way home, but his brother is coming to visit and they're going to get an airbnb in the city and sightsee together over break

when lwj finally asks wwx what his plans are, wwx stumbles a bit and is like: oh i’m just—staying here! i’ll have the campus all to myself, it’ll be fun! supposedly you can sign up for a big dinner with the university president? i have no idea why anyone would do that but. yeah

lwj is quiet for a while and wwx is like, fuck, i should've lied, even though it would've been weird to lie, but now i've made lan zhan uncomfortable and he probably has a million questions that he won't ask but will definitely think about every time he sees me now and—

and then lwj invites wwx to spend break with him and his brother.

wwx is shocked for a moment, and then he's like, oh, lan zhan, you don't have to do that, ah, you probably want family time and i don't want to intrude, you've already booked your accommodations and everything

lwj says: it's fine. we'll be sightseeing and reading at the rental house. my brother has a few friends in the city he'll see for a bit. [pause] you won't be intruding at all.

and wwx thinks lwj sounds a bit...formal? like—surely he's not *nervous* haha why would be be nervous but wwx can't pick up on anything else. and he knows lwj doesn't lie, so? this must be real?

wwx tentatively accepts. (“i can cook, if that's okay? and i'll pitch in for gas and, well, i don't think I can cover a third of an airbnb but i'll definitely pitch in something and i won’t be in your hair at all. there's a planetarium actually that i've been wanting to visit!—

—oh, i haven't said thank you yet. thank you, lan zhan, this is—really nice of you. and your—wait. lan zhan, have you asked your brother? you should ask him first! it's okay if he says no, i won't be upset, it was nice of you to ask me at all.”)

and lwj is like—it's fine. wei ying. the invitation isn't contingent on any of that. and my brother will be—pleased.

so wwx is, to put it lightly, thrilled.

wwx starts making a list of things he wants to do (by himself is fine! if lwj and his brother want to join that's totally cool but he can also keep himself busy! also what do they like to eat he'll start planning a meal or two!!)

and then lxc arrives in town, a few days before break, and comes to visit campus

he and lwj are walking on campus when wwx barrels up to lwj and starts talking (lan zhan, you have to help me, there's an article i need for my final paper but it's only available on microfiche and—

—you know those archives are my ENEMY i'll never find it before tonight and then i'll FAIL, i need your library wizardry please please please) before realizing lxc is there and going !! hi!

and lwj is a little jarred just because, hey turns out having your crush run up to you in front of your big brother is a bit more uhh embarrassing than expected, especially when you have not told said brother about said crush, so lwj is just like, mm.

and lxc says hi back and is very nice, of course, but also a bit…confused. because the thing is, lwj told lxc that he invited a friend to stay with them over break. and lxc was expecting like, someone quiet? someone who was also a music major? someone less...energetic?

all lxc has heard about wwx from earlier in the year were like, very brief things about lwj's frustrating lab partner. because when wwx stopped being frustrating/annoying and started being...A Crush, lwj didn't exactly know how to talk about it

like for lwj, suddenly saying "wei ying brought me boba" seemed WAY TOO EMBARRASSING TO SHARE FOR SOME REASON. so the last thing lxc heard specifically about wwx was that he almost turned in one of their assignments late and lwj had to pull that lab report together himself

and now lxc is here watching this loud excitable boy crash into their conversation begging lwj to help him with more schoolwork? it just, doesn't compute? unless—

unless.

so they do introductions and wwx is like, it's so nice to meet you!! i'm really looking forward to break, i've got a lot of things planned, i don't know if lan zhan mentioned haha i started a spreadsheet and everything.

lxc watches lwj's ears go red, and then redder. lwj says: wei ying, i will meet you at the library in an hour if you still want help. and wwx is like, oh, you don't have to! if you're busy! and lwj says: i will.

they part. and lxc thinks he understands what's going on here. that this very loud and brash kid latched on to lwj because lwj is—not easy to manipulate, but definitely too polite to outright refuse.

that wwx thinks he can bulldoze lwj into helping him with his schoolwork, into offering a place to stay while he parties over break, and the worst part is: lwj is clearly letting it happen because he has a crush.

well. lxc is not going to spend their holiday break watching his little brother pine over someone who is just, to put it bluntly, using him.

when almost an hour is up and they're tracking back toward the library, lxc asks lwj to get him some tea from the campus starbucks, please? and when lwj goes to do that, lxc stands on the library steps and waits

wwx shows up a few minutes early (and now that they're not out in the sun, lxc can see wwx looks very tired. maybe wwx is studying as hard as everyone else? maybe he's out partying because classes are over?) and brightens when he sees lxc

lxc tells him lwj will be back in a moment. in the meanwhile, though, could they talk?

and wwx is like, of course!

and lxc is so, so polite, but he also doesn't beat around the bush. so he says: my brother has spoken to me about you. but i did not realize until today that when he said he wanted a friend to join us over break, that he was talking about you.

and wwx is like—oh…?

lxc continues: i have to admit, i was surprised at first. but i think i understand. [pause] wei ying, my brother is, as i'm sure you know, a very kind person. and very polite, too.

wwx nods.

lxc: he will remain kind and polite despite his own feelings, sometimes to a fault. sometimes at his own expense.

wwx, who doesn't like where this is going at all, nods again.

lxc: and when someone is aware of how he feels, and decides to—take advantage of that, for their own benefit. well. i think it is difficult to truly consider that person his friend. would you agree?

what lxc is saying: my brother has a crush on you and you're taking advantage of that

what wwx hears: my brother clearly only tolerates you but is too polite to tell you to fuck off

and wwx is like. i see. [pause] i—didn't realize.

lxc: mm. is that so?

wwx thinks back on every time lwj had looked uncomfortable (the hoodie), or stayed quiet while wwx talked, or—

wwx, quietly: ...oh.

wwx adjusts his backpack and is like: i think i'll—i should go, i think. um. please tell lan zhan i'll figure out the archives and also—and that i'm sorry i made him come back over here for nothing.

lxc, who is, tbh, disappointed to have been right about this, just nods

wwx leaves. and a minute later lwj shows up with three teas, and lxc knows it's for the best but also hates the way lwj's face falls a little when lxc relays wwx's message

later that night wwx messages lwj: hey, i've been thinking, and it actually makes more sense for me to stay on campus over break! i think the president's dinner would be fun after all. thank you again for the invite. hope the rest of your finals go well 😊📚

and lwj is, to put it lightly, devastated. not outwardly, but like. oof.

he replies: are you sure? we could drive you back for the dinner, if you want

wwx: no no it's fine! have fun sightseeing!! lmk if you want the spreadsheet for ideas or anything!

and that’s that.

the next two days pass, finals pass, and then like an hour before lwj and lxc are supposed to leave to drive into the city wwx shows up outside lwj's dorm with a box wrapped in plain silver paper.

wwx: oh good, you're still here! sorry this took longer than i thought to finish, but, um, it was already mostly done so i wanted to—it feels like everyone else here is doing presents so i thought it’d be fun? and since i won't—since—don't open it until christmas, okay?

and then wwx practically runs away.

and so. lwj and lxc drive to the airbnb. lwj is just...really quiet. checking his phone a lot, but not texting anyone. subdued in a way only lxc (and wwx) would notice, but definitely unhappy

and they don’t celebrate christmas, but there’s like a mini fake tree the airbnb owners put in the house, and under it is wwx's present, and lwj just keeps looking at that, too.

lxc is like, this is better, obviously, but also my little brother is just. sad. he's sad in a way he isn't usually and i actually don't know what to do about this.

they order takeout the night before christmas, and lxc finally brings up wei ying.

at first lwj doesn't really say much, but this is his brother, so. he ends up talking about wei ying. about how he thought wwx was annoying and confusing at first, but turns out he's—well, he's still confusing, but he's actually really brilliant and kind—

—and how wwx notices things about lwj that no one else does. how he brings—brought—lwj boba sometimes. how wwx gave him his hoodie once, when lwj was cold.

and then lwj says: but i did something wrong.

lxc: something wrong?

lwj: i—must have been too obvious. somehow. he hasn't messaged me in a week.

lxc, who is definitely starting to realize something may be very off here: and he messages you...often?

lwj nods.

lxc [knowing the answer already]: about—schoolwork?

lwj: about everything.

and then lwj is like: i apologize, i should stop—dwelling. we can still have a nice break together.

lwj goes to bed. and lxc can't sleep, turning everything over in his head.

they're both up early the next day, obviously. and there’s the one gift sitting under the little airbnb tree. wei ying's.

lwj puts it off for like an hour, tops, and then just sits down and very carefully unwraps it.

and it's this homemade—lantern-looking thing? like, the lamp part isn't homemade, but the paper/shade around it is, with little cut-out markings on it, and there's a note that says "turn off the lights!"

and when they turn off the lights and switch the lantern on, it projects constellations onto the walls and ceiling

specifically, a map of the night sky the night lwj was born (because obviously wwx weaseled lwj's birthday out of him their first week of class)

lxc stands there, with a paper-cut constellation projected on his chest, and thinks—this isn't something you make for someone you’re just stringing along. he replays his entire conversation with wwx in his head, this time from an objective pov instead of an Older Brother pov

meanwhile lwj is just—staring at the constellation lantern, looking a bit shellshocked

and lxc says: i think i made a mistake.

lwj: a mistake.

lxc explains what he thought happened. how he thought wwx was taking advantage of lwj’s feelings, how he thought wwx’s response only confirmed it. how he thinks, now, he might have been wrong.

lwj: …he knows how i feel?

lxc: i thought…i thought so. i thought we were talking about the same thing. but now i’m not sure.

lwj stares at the lantern. it’s still dark outside, and the room is still lit with evidence that wwx spent who knows how long making this present. mapping the stars on a long-ago january night. making this gift he isn’t even here to see.

lwj is torn between horror and quiet, careful hope that there's an explanation for wwx's silence. because, as he tells lxc—wei ying wouldn’t take advantage of him. of anyone. if wwx found out about lwj’s feelings and that’s why he didn’t come, well, that’s one thing, but if not—

lwj has to talk to wei ying. immediately.

so. they get in the rental car. they drive the hour back to campus. it’s barely 7am when they arrive. the security person has seen lwj before and just waves them through the lobby. the whole building is eerily quiet, even this early, because literally no one is here. except wwx.

they go up to the third floor, and lxc thinks about how lwj knows the way to wwx's dorm without a second thought. lxc thinks, again, that he should have waited. he shouldn't have assumed the worst of wwx, simply because other, different people had not been kind in the past.

lwj reaches wwx's door and knocks and waits.

and waits.

and knocks again.

and the door opens to a very confused, very tired, very pajama-clad wwx, who stares at lwj for a solid ten seconds before saying, cautiously: lan zhan? what are you—did you forget something here?

and lwj is like: yes. you.

wwx: i. what? [he notices lxc behind lwj, blinks hard again] lan zhan, i'm really confused.

lwj: my brother told me about your conversation at the library. i’m—i think there has been a misunderstanding.

wwx winces, then tries to cover it.

wwx: ah, no, it’s—it’s fine! all cleared up now. i understand, i promise.

lwj: wei ying. why did you choose to stay here for break?

wwx: i thought— i didn’t want to impose.

lwj, quietly: you thought what?

wwx: that...you were only being polite. which, that’s not a bad thing, i know you’re always polite! i know, lan zhan, and it was so nice of you, but i. i’m sorry, i shouldn’t have taken advantage of it.

lwj thinks about wwx’s sightseeing spreadsheet, how it was color-coded, how wwx had a little grocery list going in one corner. lwj thinks about the look on wwx’s face when lwj invited him, and how he never saw the look on wwx’s face when he wrote that he’d changed his mind.

he thinks about wwx’s tiny room and the empty building and how the dining hall only serves cereal and boxed pastries over holidays until dinner. he thinks about how wwx has been alone here for a week. hasn’t even complained to lwj about it, hasn’t said anything at all, because—

wwx is still going: i can be a lot sometimes, and i know that, and—

lwj: wei ying.

wwx: and i can give you space, i swear i can, i'll—i still have one of your pens, i’ll give it back—and we don't have classes together next semester so you won't have to—

lwj: wei ying. please.

and lxc is watching with a horrible stomach-drop feeling because. this kid is literally apologizing to lwj for having the audacity to want to spend time with him. to be his friend. to have *borrowed a pen.*

here's this kid who doesn’t seem to care that lwj isn't an effortlessly sociable person. here's this kid who clearly *does* care about lwj to the point of making a homemade star lantern about it.

here's this kid who lxc told was taking advantage of his brother's politeness.

and meanwhile, lwj is processing the fact that wwx has been here for a week, alone, thinking lwj has been simply tolerating him all semester, and it's not lwj's *fault* but also if lwj had been a bit clearer with his brother, or with wei ying, maybe none of this would've happened

so lwj says: wei ying. i want you to spend break with me. with us. i wanted it when i asked, and i still do. and if you truly meant it when you said you'd prefer to stay on campus, then we will leave right now. but if not, then—come back with us. please.

wwx just stares at him.

lwj waits. and wwx says: are you sure? are you really sure? and he glances down the hall to lxc

lwj: i am.

lxc: i am as well. wei ying, i apologize for what i said at the library.

wwx: oh, no, it's fine, it's not—it’s really fine.

lxc: i was wrong. about you, and about many other things. i would be truly happy for you to spend the rest of break with us.

wwx swallows, and turns back at lwj. they look at each other for a long moment, and then lwj nods once.

and wwx smiles. it's like the star lantern flicking on, flooding the whole hallway with light.

wwx: okay, i—i can pack, i actually, i was mostly packed last week and didn't actually unpack, so give me five minutes!

lxc says: take all the time you need.

and lxc goes back down to the lobby to wait, and to give his brother and wwx some time to talk, just the two of them

anyway: wwx goes back with them and gets to do some of the things on his spreadsheet, and lwj is happier than lxc has seen him in a really, really long time.

and one night while lxc is out, wwx and lwj make out in the airbnb with the star lantern on.

(and by the end of the trip lxc is like, i don’t know what happened with wei ying’s family but i am his family now)

and that's a wrap!!! thank you everyone for reading!!

also if anyone was wondering what my fic outlines tend to look like, this thread is a good idea. they’re just full-on messes with nary a capital letter to be seen