Thread by @dilfzhxn

I would like actual fuckboy Wwx who is a bit of a jerk, and loves the attention he gets from being popular, who is dared to ask out Ice Prince Lwj on a bet, and Wwx, confident as ever, nearly falls flat on his face when Lwj barely looks at him and tells him “no.”

And Wwx who is unused to being denied anything just redoubles his efforts and works to woo Lwj, not just to win a bet, but to prove that he is undesirable, and slowly he starts to realize that he may want Lwj a bit more than just for a bet after all.

And once he realizes that, he doesn’t stop realizing and he starts to woo Lwj for real, who slowly starts to open up, and finally, just as Lwj is about to say “yes”, right after they kiss for the first time, Lwj is told about the bet.

And all he does is look at Wwx with heartbreak in his eyes, but only for a moment, before everything shutters, everything Wwx worked so hard to see, his softness, his kindness, his light, all gone and all there’s left is ice and Wwx tries to scramble to explain—

He’s never felt so out of control or terrified in his life, but Lwj doesn’t even stay to let him explain, he just walks away, and Wwx has never been the one with the broken heart—but now he swears he can feel it shatter.

And he can’t—he can’t stand the way the best thing that has ever happened to him walk away because of his dumbass mistakes and so he chases after Lwj, halting him by the wrist; only Lwj flinches away, and Wwx feels his heart inch up his throat—Lwj hadn’t done that in awhile.

“Lan Zhan, please” he says, releasing his wrist, backing away a bit.

“You don’t get to call me that.” Lan Zhan said, quiet and devastating, “not anymore.”

“I—“ Wwx powers through the hurt, “please won’t you allow me to explain, please.”

“I don’t care for your lies, Wei Wuxian.”

“I’m not— just listen, okay? Yes, it started out as a bet, and it was stupid and I wasn’t thinking, I like proving myself and I like getting what I want and I was a jerk, but fuck, Lan Z—“ he pauses, “Lan Wangji, things changed—

—I really started to like you, the way you listened to my dumb ramblings, the way you smiled, and played the piano for me, and the way you blushed when I complimented you or gave you flowers—I just—it stopped being a bet a long time ago, I like you, SO much.” Wwx says, rushed.

Lan Zhan is silent, and Wwx holds his breath, finally, he speaks, “did you ever call off the bet, or try, when you....realized?”

Wwx is quiet, because of course he didn’t, he didn’t even think about it, too focused on wooing Lwj. “Lan Zhan, I would do anything to go back.”

Lwj looked at him, “I wouldn’t. Goodbye, Wei Wuxian.”

And he walked away, taking Wwx’s heart with him.

Of course, Wwx is left standing there, and he has no one to blame but himself, and his dumbass friends but he can’t give up, not now, he needs to make it up to Lan Zhan, and he will, he will as long as it takes. As long as it will take for Lwj to forgive him.

Of course, the first person he goes to is his shijie, Yanli will know how to fix this after all. To her he’s still xianxian, still three and good and not the asshole jock.

She’ll help him!! And of course when he goes to her, the first thing she does is hug him+

And then proceeds to scold him about it, and makes him so frog squats because shijie is actually very scary, and then kisses his forehead and tells him that he can do his best but it’s up to Lwj if he wants to forgive him, he can’t make him do so.

He shows up the next day at school with a bouquet of red roses, ready to woo Lwj back, to beg on his knees for a second chance; it isn’t until lunch though, that he sees him, beautiful as ever—but before he can even take two steps, Wen Qing and MianMian are blocking his way.

“You know,” Wen Qing starts, clearly not happy with him, “red roses are overrated, usually reserved for cheating husbands, if you want to make it up to him, do better.”

Wwx gapes, and MianMian just smirks, “our Lan Zhan deserves better than a jock like you, do better.”

Wwx supposes, he did deserve that. But that doesn’t stop him from calling Lan Zhan’s name, loud and clear across the hall.

Lan Zhan of course looks his way, sees the flowers, but instead of smiling, like he always used to, he just regards Wwx with disinterest and turns away.

Wwx goes back to the drawing board, he enlists the help is nhs and his brother AND even Jin Zixuan 🤢 because even tho he was the dumb one to accept the bet, they offered it in the first place, and they come up with A PLAN:

“How to woo Lan Zhan for real and make him fall irrevocably in love with the dumbass that is Wei Ying”

1. Apologize to him, Wwx will get ok his KNEES (for other reasons than a blowjob SIGH) *cue JC smacking Wwx on the head*

2. Find out his favourite flower? Give him bunnies?

3. Write him a song, or a letter, anything that makes him trust Wwx again.

4. Propose marriage? Suggest a punishment?? (Wwx personally likes that one)

“Or,” Zixuan says, for the once a voice of reason, (wtf), “maybe start by trying to be his friend first, for real this time”

Wwx has to agree, that might be the best idea, he will never tell the peacock that, in case he gets any ideas, but yes—being friends with Lan Zhan, starting from the beginning, sounds pretty ok. he just...misses Lan Zhan, a lot, more than he ever thought he could.

It’s weird, missing someone you barely had, in all his 20 years, he’s only really missed his parents like this—a fleeting memory of laughter and happiness, and then Lwj; so very sweet and good under that icy beauty; he thinks of the way he made Lwj smile for the first time+

The way it looked like the sunrise, and how much Wwx wanted to taste it, he thinks of the Lwj and his expensive silks, his pretty long hair, always done up in a pretty braid, he thinks of the way his nose scrunched up when he didn’t like something+

the way he was always pushing up his glasses, and somehow, made it look elegant; he thinks of his long, graceful fingers as they played the piano, the way his ears blushed with Wwx would compliment him and call him, “sweetheart”, one too many times.

He thinks of the way his hands felt on his waist as he held onto Wwx on his motorcycle and the way his eyes lit up when he was happy, then—then he thinks of the way Lan Zhan’s lips felt under his, for that brief second in time, how the universe melted away+

and his chest felt like it was caving in, how he wanted to kiss Lan Zhan forever, because it was all heat, slickness and open want. Then the way Lan Zhan had looked so incandescent after, gorgeous and wild, and god Wwx was so enraptured. And he wants that again.

“Don’t think of it as being a means to an end though,” Nhs speaks up, and he’s smirking, like he knows exactly what Wwx is thinking, “this bet was stupid, of all of us, Da-ge already reamed me out. So like, don’t expect anything...”

Wwx feels his breath catch.

“I wouldn’t, I don’t, I just—“ Wwx pauses, “I like Lan Zhan, SO much it’s insane, but I also just like, existing near him? He just?? Ugh he makes me feel all these crazy things and I’ve never felt this soft; feelings are stupid, I wish I was a stone like JC” Wwx moans.

That earns him another slap, “he’s being serious you dumbfuck”

“I know! So am I” Wwx exclaims, “we were stupid, for being the top of my classes I didn’t think, and I want Lan Zhan, in anyway I can—“ he sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face, “I didn’t think of the consequences”

“You mean, you didn’t think you’d like him this much...” Zuxian says, the infuriating asshole, right again, “but you did, even though you thought you were just playing the game—“

“I—yeah, kind of,” Wwx replies, a bit suspicious, cuz Zixuan was never this wise before...

he sounded like shijie, ugh he didn’t have time to think about the implications of that, not now anyways.

“I‘ve always admired him, he’s my only equal in terms of class, plus he’s hot then you gave me the bet and I was a bit of a jerk, I thought he wouldn’t be able to resist”

“But he did and that fired me up and I was determined to make him fall for me, but it was me who did instead, and like I didn’t expect to fall for someone like him, and I def didn’t think nhs here would get scolded for our Stupidity OKAY?” he wants to bang his head against a wall

Nhs sighs loud and dramatic, “I should’ve known, we grew up together kind of, he was always intimidating but because da-ge and Xichen-ge we’re you know... 👀, we spent a lot of time—anyways Lan Zhan has always had to work hard to find friends, he’s just—quiet, yes he can be+

a bit cold but under it all, he’s—“

“Good.” Wwx finishes, because yes, Lan Zhan was, he was the best person Wwx had ever met.

“Yeah, exactly, and yes he has friends, clearly,” he aims a look at Wwx, “but he grew up super alone, anyways it’s not my story to tell.” Nhs says.

Wwx feels his heart ache, he feels terrible, astoundingly so, he hates that many people can’t see HOW beautiful, how GOOD, how lovely Lan Zhan was, so what if he was quiet, so what if he was different. Wwx knew he wasn’t much better than all the others, but he will be.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” nhs says, but then smirks, just the tiniest bit, “ok maybe a little...but—“

“YOU!!” Wwx squawks indignantly, “are just as much as fault asshole!!”

“Maybe,” nhs sniffs delicately, “but I wasn’t the one to actually take the bet.”

“I mean...” Jc says, “nhs is right about that, you’re the arrogant jackass that couldn’t back down from a challenge”

“Oh you!!” Wwx growls, “you are so disrespectful didi!!! I am wounded, absolutely HURT, and for that I’m gonna beat your flat ASS, come here— he reaches out—

slapping at Nhs and Jc at the same time, and suddenly they’re all tussling and it’s a slap fight of the ages, and yet still, underneath it all, beyond his focus on beating the shit out of his brother and friend, Wwx resolves to do better, to make it up to his Lan Zhan.

*cue Jin Zixuan rolling his eyes, but also pulling out his phone to film the three idiots bruising each other*

That afternoon. After class, and well, figuring out the plan, Wwx goes back to the florists, but this time he ignores the roses, and instead for some reasons finds himself getting peonies instead—he adds a few hyacinths to bouquet too; for an added blessing of forgiveness.

And he’s off the the Lan’s house—or rather, mansion, Wwx briefly wonders if he himself has some type of death wish; he probably does, but he’s always been good at being reckless so he can’t really stop now; he’s no coward after all.

He goes up to ring the doorbell, palms sweaty, heart in his throat, he knows for some reason, these next few moments in time are perhaps going to be some of his most important, he doesn’t know why, but he thinks maybe this is gonna change his life; or...he’s just being dramatic

The door swings open, and he sends a silent prayer in thank you to the heavens that it’s Lan Zhan’s brother who answers and not his Uncle. He does his best bow anyways.

“Um, helllo! I’m here to uh—“ he flounders, and gestures to the flowers, “—these are for Lan Zhan.”

Lan Xichen raises an elegant eyebrow, “hyacinths, a flower for forgiveness.”

“Um, yes, yeah—“ Wwx, he rubs the back of his neck nervously, and can feel himself blushing.

Lan Xichen hums, “and the peonies?”

“I just thought they were pretty—“ like Lan Zhan, he doesn’t say.

Lxc nods, and gives him a once-over,as if evaluating him, and says, “you may come in”

A gust of breath blows out of Wwx, and he enters, nerves alight. He really doesn’t want to fuck this up.

Lxc leads him through the house and to the sitting area and gestures for him to sit down. He doesn’t go get Lan Zhan.

“You are here for A-Zhan, but why should I allow you to see him?”

Ah, so he’s about to get interrogated, well Wwx can’t say he’s not good at this at least, he’s done some questionable shit after all—

“I’m here to make it up to Lan Zhan, after well—everything.” He says.

Lxc hums quietly, “you were cruel.” he says, as if stating a casual fact.

Wwx bows his head in shame, “I was.”

“And you expect flowers to make up for it?” Lxc asks. He sounds genuine, but Wwx knows he isn’t, he’s just diplomatic, but Wwx knows how protective he is of Lan Zhan. Even if he’s polite about it.

“NO!” Wwx exclaims, “no—I just, I thought it was a good place to start? I know he likes flowers, but I want to apologize properly, I’m determined to make it up to him, I’ll beg on my knees if I have to”

Lxc looks satisfied at his answer, and Wwx feels like he just won a point—

his heart starts to lift—then;

“I don’t trust you Wei Wuxian.”

Oh.

“But—“

Oh?

“I love my brother, and I liked how happy he seemed when he talked about you—“

Wwx chokes, he feels his heart flip flop in his chest, “he TALKED ABOUT ME?”

Wwx tries not to let it show, how giddy he is that Lan Zhan talked about him; that he was important enough—he tries not to grin and let it show how warm that makes him on the inside.

Yes,” Lxc, says patiently, “I was surprised at first, when he started bringing home flowers, but you made him smile, and I like it when A-Zhan smiles, he’s been through a lot, and he can be quiet, and aloof. He’s always been like that, too focused on his studies, on trying—

—achieve perfection. He was a serious child, and he still is. But he has a god heart, and I won’t allow it to be taken advantage of. So tell me, are you serious about this?”

“Yes!!” Wwx almost leaps out of his chair, “serious as a heart attack, cross my heart hope to die!!!”

Lxc nods once more, seemingly satisfied with Wwx’s answer, “I am doing this, because I like to see him smile,” he stands up, “I will go ask him if he wants to see you.”

Wwx feels himself start to grin, relief sweeps over him in a wave.

“But,” Lxc says, as he turns to leave the room, “if you mess this up again, even once,” he smiles, “I assure you, Wen Qing and Luo Qingyang will be the least of your worries.”

Wwx’s eyes widen and he tries not to swallow so audibly, he never realized how scary Lxc could be.

With that he leaves the room, and Wwx is left to his lone self; he tries not to fidget, but he’s never been a calm person, he’s anxious, excited, full of this weird yearning; he just—he just wants to see Lan Zhan again. And he wants to go back to the way things were. He just...

+misses him. He misses Lan Zhan and it sucks, he hates feelings, and the eternal state of melancholic desire that renders the body so fragile it feels as though a gentle ocean breeze could blow it sideways; great, now Wwx is thinking like a Victorian man—he blames the Lans—

He perks up when he hears footsteps coming back towards him and he quickly straightens up, fixing his messy ponytail, adjusting his clothes, blowing bangs out of his face and puts on his best smile making sure he’s ready to face Lan Zhan and fix things up.

—Only to be met with one Lan brother and definitely not the one he was looking for—his heart drops like a stone into stomach, and horrifyingly, he feels his eyes prickle—Wwx knows Lxc can see how his face falls and the way his shoulders slump in barely disguised disappointment+

He tries to play it off and smile, but the way Lxc looks at him sympathetically, he doesn’t think he succeeds.

He tries not to crush the flowers in hands as hurt crawled up his throat and he hates that he understands that he didn’t deserve anything less than this.

Wwx thinks he was probably expecting too much when he actually thought that maybe Lan Zhan would come gliding back into his arms and forgive him so easily—it was foolish to think he would get to have Lan Zhan back, or that he deserved to have him back at all.

He gets up, ready to leave, and maybe down a few bottles of wine and determinedly not cry about it when Lxc speaks again, “I’m sorry A-Zhan doesn’t want to come talk, but I have a feeling, he’s still like those flowers, especially since you got them for him.”

“Oh, uh yeah, sure—“ Wwx hands them over, it’s not like he had any use for them anyways, then he turns to leave.

“Master Wei,” Lxc says, softer this time, “I know A-Zhan teaches a piano class tomorrow, after his lectures, and his favourite flowers are gentians.”

Wwx’s heart lifts a bit, is Lxc doing what he thinks—he turns around briefly, right before he steps out the door, and he sees Lxc smiling, only slightly, and it feels oddly, like an olive branch.

Anyways imma update tomorrow, you’re in for a ride ;)

Wwx wakes up the next morning—but whatever, full of determination, well, he didn’t sleep much anyways but he was ready, he could feel it in his bones.

He bounced out of bed, took a a quick shower before pillaging his closet, he had to look his best for Lan Zhan after all.

Wwx threw on his best leather jacket, a nice red shirt, he knows that’s his best colour after all, and even throws on his lucky jeans (*wink wink*) and just for the sheer sexiness of it, he does his best eyeliner, smooths a bit of gloss on his lips, puts on a pretty choker.

He gives himself a once over in his mirror, and winks at his own reflection, he feels sexy, and he hopes Lan Zhan will think he is too. Then he’s racing out of his room and down the stairs, ready to conquer the world (and Lan Zhan, if he’s down...)

Only the sound of his shidi stops him, “Wei Wuxian you really plan on winning Lwj back while wearing slippers?”

Wwx whirls around to face Jc, and utters an eloquent, “Huh?”

Jc gestures at his feet and Lo behold, he was about to leave the house with his slippers.

“yOu KNOW WHAT A-CHENG??”

“Yes?” Jc says, too smug for his own good.

Wwx deflates, “you may be correct about me wearing slippers but I think,” he gestures at himself, “the rest of me could win him back anyways.”

Jc snorts, “Mhmm, yeah, sure.”

“I’ll have you KNOW sweet didi, Lan Zhan was a BIG fan of my shamelessness.”

Wwx thinks he probably wasn’t but his brother doesn’t need to know that.

“Anyways,” he leans in and gives Jc a big smacking kiss on the forehead, ignoring Jc’s yell, “I’m off.” And he’s out the door.

His day goes by both excruciatingly slow and terrifyingly fast; he spends his whole say totally not mooning over Lan Zhan and watching him from afar;

Something weird inside him aches and he nearly jumps out of skin during his lectures, too jittery to pay attention;

Irritated at himself because he used to use that energy to annoy his brother and his friend, and then later on Lan Zhan; who became his focal point, his favourite person to bother; Lan Zhan—who was so mean and hot at first, who steadily melted under Wwx’s clumsy hands--

It's a wonder Wwx didn't realize earlier on, how into it he was, how into Lan Zhan he really was--him a his serious face and pretty frowns and the way he sometimes smiled at Wwx--ugh Wwx likes him SO much, SO, SO much, it's kind of making him crazy...and super mushy apparently+

but he can't find himself to mind, even when Nhs and Jc tease him as he rushes out of class, and hops on his bike to buy Lan Zhan his gentians, he doesn't think he will ever mind when it comes to Lan Zhan--

Regardless, he finds himself staring down an immense array of gentians; he doesn't know why but somehow, picking the blue ones, is one of the easiest decisions he's ever made (and if he buys a single red rose too; well Wwx has always thought red and blue looked good together)

he finally finds himself in front of the building where Lan Zhan teaches, trying to act casual, trying to act like his heart isn't trying to beat its way out of his chest only to be struck dumb;

There is a big window into the class that Lan Zhan is teaching and Wwx feels himself melt as he watches Lan Zhan; his sweet beautiful Lan Zhan sit beside a small boy at the piano, who could be no older than 4 years old and guide him step by step through what must some song--

Wwx's heart stutters in his chest, he thinks it must be A CRIME to be this adorable, he watches as Lwj smiles a small and sweet at the boy and how the boy beams back--it should be weird, Wwx thinks, to have baby fever right? For someone who isn't even talking to you--

but HOLY FUCK, Wwx might be a little bit, irresponsibly in love, because what the fuck, Lan Zhan with kids?? Lan! Zhan! With! Kids! He can't stop staring, it's SO Cute.

Maybe he should just chuck all ideas about apologizing and instead get down on one knee and propose instead...

He's so lost in his thoughts, mostly featuring Lan Zhan with kids, that he actually startles when he hears his name being called.

Wwx shakes himself, ridding himself of his foolish fantasies, only to find the man who starred in them himself, standing right in front of him.

"Wei Wuxian." Lan Zhan says, he doesn't look particularly pleased. In fact he looks mad as hell; and really, if there were any inappropriate times to find someone hot, this was it, but Wwx is a mess anyways so....

"Oh, uh Hi Lan Z--I mean Lan Wangji!! Hi!"

Wwx mentally kicks himself, he was supposed to be smooth, he was supposed to charm Lan Zhan and present his speech and flowers with a flourish, but Lan Zhan caught him off guard, and he always seems to do.

"Hi um listen--" he begins,

"--What are doing here?" Lan Zhan asks.

"Aiya Lan Zhan!! Interrupting me! Isn't that against the rules?" Wwx teases, trying to break the tension.

Lan Zhan looks like he's about to roll his eyes, but is much too dignified to do so, but still, looks rightly unamused, "I was serious when I said I didn't want to see you."

Wwx sighs, "I know, but um, your brother told me you'd be here and um--" he scratches his nose shyly, "I heard your favourite flowers were gentians. So um--" he thrusts the flowers at Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan takes them, "They are," he says quietly, then, "thank you."

Wwx bites his lip, trying not to smile, but inwardly cheering that Lan Zhan took his flowers and hasn't murdered him yet. Then,

"but why are you here?" Lan Zhan asks, "is this another game?"

"No! no, it's--" Wwx pauses, "I know you have no reason to trust me, I've done some questionable things..."

"Some?" Lan Zhan echoes.

Wwx rolls his eyes, "ok a lot, but I would--," he stutters unsure, "can we talk, please, I just want to explain myself and if you don't like--

what you hear, you can walk away, and I will stop chasing you, I promise, I just--" Wwx pauses, "I just would like you to at least listen. Please, Lan Lan Zhan. Just give me this?"

Lwj looks at him silently for a long time, face blank and Wwx holds his breath caught between hope and terror. Finally, Lwj takes a deep breath and nods, “ok, I will listen.”

Wwx feels the breath in his chest rattle as he exhales with relief, and he smiles, “thank you.”

When they settle somewhere quiet, Lwj gives him an expectant look and Wwx sighs, right down to business he guesses.

He takes a deep breath himself, “ok, it’s a long story but, I guess here goes nothing...” he looks at Lwj and finds him staring back, “right okay..”

“You’re right, it all started as a bet,” Wwx begins, “I’m notorious at not being able to back down from a challenge and well, you were the perfect one. I’ve always admired you—did you know that Lan Zhan?” He laughs, embarrassed. “I’ve had my eyes on you since high school—“

“I know that probably sounds creepy but-okay, you were always my match, top of the class, cold, analytical, rivalling my grades even when you didn’t even know I existed, and you were in the BAND?? Fuck that was so cute, I was the popular kid—“

This time Lwj does roll his eyes.

Wwx crosses his arms defensively and pouts, “it WAS true okay!!!!? I wasn’t voted prom king for nothing!!!”

Lwj scoffs in response and yes maybe they’re going a little off topic, but then Lwj’s lips tick up minutely and well, Wwx feels like he might be doing something right—

“Anyways, high school me, had a big crush on you, I’m embarrassing I know, but then university happened and I was so excited that we ended up at the same one; but then I got swept away with the excitement;” Wwx shrugged, “the parties, the friends, the attention.”

“Flash forward, I will admit, I am horrible when it comes to decision making, I can never back down from a challenge, I like to prove myself, I like to win, I play games, I take risks, and I don’t think twice and so when I was presented with this bet, with wooing you—“

“—out of all people. Who was I to say no, you Lan Zhan, were after all, a challenge I’ve always wanted to solve, and uh—“ Wwx is more than a bit embarrassed about this part, “I really like to prove nhs and my brother wrong; it’s a disease, I lose all my brain cells around them.”

“And then, god Lan Zhan, when I took that stupid bet and the way you said no to me, when I asked you out??” Wwx groans, “You were so MEAN and hot and— wow.”

Lwj coughs lightly and bows his head, “I’m sorry that I was mean to you.”

“No, no!! Lan Zhan you’re not getting it!!”

“You were mean and hot, and I was so into it, like so so into it, and—“ he flushes, “I decided then and there that I needed you to say yes. And then next thing I knew, I was putting my all into trying to impress you, to get you to say yes to me.”

“So—“ Lwj says, his eyebrows furrowed, “you wanted to win because I said no?”

“Aiyahh!!” Wwx slapped a frustrated palm over his face, “I’m really not explaining this properly. I did everything because I wanted you to like me. I wanted to be close to you. And so the bet—“

“—it kind of slipped my mind, I was so focused on you, and the way you started to warm up to me, the way you started to show me this unrelenting kindness and I should’ve been better, I should’ve called off the bet. And told you, and just, I didn’t even think, and I should’ve—“

Wwx looks at Lwj, and when he speaks again, it’s just quieter, “I wish I did things differently, but I didn’t, and I am so, so sorry, and I know you don’t trust me, and I would like to make it up you, even just as friends, and I mean I know you already have great friends—“

“Mianmian and Wen Qing have proven to be quiet terrifying, I seriously thought when I tried to approach you, that they would cut my dick off...”

Lwj smiles lightly at that, and Wwx pretends like his whole chest isn’t caving in, “they are my best friends.”

And he doesn’t deny that they would in fact cut Wwx’s dick off—well ok then. He’ll store that thought for another day.

“Yes, well you have good taste in friends so please let me be one? I promise I’ll be good, I’ll make it up to you, I’m sorry shit got fucked up, but please.”

“You’re right,” Lwj cuts his eyes down to the flowers, his elegant fingers playing with the petals, “I do not trust you.”

Wwx’s breath hitches in his throat, he supposes he deserves that, and he tries not to feel unreasonably sad. “Oh I see,” he replies.

“No,” Lwj says, more resolutely, “I don’t think you do. I do not trust you, but I would like to.”

“Oh—oh,” Wwx feels something like hope rise in his chest, holy fuck, holy fucking shit, “does that mean...?”

Lwj bites his lip, as if contemplating, and Wwx hate this, he really does, he’s never been one to wait, but for Lwj, he will.

“Yes, let’s be friends.”

Wwx feels a laugh bubble up inside him, a well of relief fills his whole body, from head to toe—

He thinks this is what happiness feels like, before he has felt like Atlas, holding the weight of the world on his shoulders and now, NOW it’s all done and he laughs, “oh my GOD, you Lans and your pauses and measured speaking!!! I was so scared.”

“We like to be dramatic.” Lwj deadpans.

Wwx positively cackles, “There you are!!” He says fondly, “Lan Zhan, I missed you, I’m sorry I was such an asshole. You’re too kind to me.”

“It is alright,” Lwj says demurely, then he smirks, ever so slightly, “sometimes you fuckboys can’t help it.”

Wwx GAPES, “LAN ZHAN!!! Did you just say fuck!? Wait did you just call me a fuckboy? OH MY god you’re so mean, I’m offended! How could you Lan Zhan???”

He pretends to swoon, only to pause, “wait uh, I can still call you Lan Zhan right? Is that allowed?”

Lwj huffs gently, “yes, Wei Ying you may.”

Wwx grins, “this humble servant thanks you; even though you called me a fuckboy,” he fake sniffled, “I’ll try to be less shameless.”

“No need Wei Ying, I like your shamelessness.”

Wwx nearly you chokes on his tongue, “oh no, you’re the real menace here aren’t you. I don’t stand a chance!!”

“You are correct. I am quite menacing” Lwj agrees.

Wwx scoffs, “perhaps as menacing as a cute baby rabbit!!!!”

Lwj quirks an inquisitive eyebrow at him and Wwx just smirks back, ‘your move’ he says silently.

Lwj tilts his head in acknowledgement, “well then Wei Ying...since you’re so good, care to make a bet?”

Wwx’s mouth drops open, “LAN ZHAN!! YOU!!”

“Me?”

Wwx laughs, “we’re gonna be best friends.”

Ok that’s enough for now, i’ll update later xx

From that moment on they were stuck at the hip, or rather Wwx was stuck to Lwj’s hip and Lwj let him—it was as if something cracked open inside Wwx, he knows Lwj doesn’t really truly trust him yet, but still he treats Wwx with an unguarded and endless kindness.

It’s almost a flip on how Wwx used to treat Lwj; of course, he still brings Lwj flowers, (sometimes he steals them from gardens but that’s a well guarded secret) but Lwj; he makes sure Wwx stays fed, he gives him different teas every morning—

He makes sure Wwx is fed, he carries extra pens, listens to Wwx’s endless rambles, challenges him, argues with him, and thanks Wwx for the flowers with this unwavering gratitude like they’re the best gift he’s ever been given—and sometimes when he thinks Wwx isn’t looking—

he lets this small smile brighten up his handsome features, a little clumsy, a little unpracticed, but still the most beautiful thing Wwx have ever seen—like the sunrise glancing of the first snow. And fuck, when Wwx grabs his hand, or leans into him, he LETS him—

—precious Lan Zhan who he knows doesn’t like touch, who flinched away from him, who is so gentle yet so proud and strong, lets him. And it feels like a gift.

(But perhaps his most favourite part is that Wwx gave Lan Zhan his red scrunchie ONCE and now he keeps it around his wrist, “just in case, Wei Ying needs it,” he says, like it’s the most causal thing in the world, and it alive through Wwx like nothing else)

So yes, they’re best friends and Lwj is good, the best, and fuck, /fuck/, Wwx likes him so much, SO fucking much, it’s making him insane.

He literally can’t think around him. He wants him so bad it hurts, and he doesn’t know what to do, he doesn’t know how to act.