Chapter Text
Jiang Cheng paces the Nie’s living room. His hand goes to the pocket of his suit jacket, checking to be sure the small box inside hasn’t disappeared.
“He won’t keep you waiting, Jiang Cheng,” Mingjue says mildly. He lounges easily in the large armchair, keeping an eye on the video game he’s playing.
“I know.”
“So why are you wearing a hole in the carpet?”
“I’m not-- I’m fine, it’s fine.”
Mingjue tosses the controller aside and plants himself in Jiang Cheng’s path. “Kiddo.”
Jiang Cheng looks at him, dread making knots in his stomach. Mingjue rests his hands on Jiang Cheng’s shoulders. “What’s on your mind?”
Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath. “That I’m not good enough for Huaisang and my suit is ugly and tonight will be a disaster and I’m not ready for this sort of thing and Huaisang will hate me for not being ready,” he says in a rush.
One of Mingjue’s massive hands slides around and gently squeezes the back of Jiang Cheng’s neck. “Take another breath.” He breathes with Jiang Cheng. “One more.” They breathe. “Do you trust me, Jiang Cheng? Trust me to tell you the truth?”
Jiang Cheng nods.
“You are good, and you are enough. For yourself and for my precious baby brother.”
“But--”
“You said you trusted me to tell you the truth,” Mingjue cuts in.
“I...yeah, okay. I do.”
“You know how protective I am of my family. Do you honestly believe that I would let anyone who means to harm my brother anywhere near him?”
“But what if I do it on accident?”
Mingjue shrugs. “Accidents happen. You’ll make amends. What happens when Huaisang accidentally hurts your feelings?”
“I forgive him.”
“And he does the same for you.” Mingjue releases Jiang Cheng’s shoulders and steps back. He takes a long look at Jiang Cheng’s suit. It’s deep plum-colored silk, cut close to his lithe swimmer’s frame, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The slate-gray shirt sets off his eyes in a pleasing way, or so he thought when he picked it out. His mother approved of the simple, tasteful styling, and while she was much freer with her affections these days, she was still measured in her compliments. When she gave them, they meant something.
“Huaisang will know better than me, of course, about fashion, but I think you look good. Classy, but still you.”
“It’s not too plain?”
“Listen, I know Huaisang wants to surprise you with his own outfit, but let’s just say, you’ll complement each other. You always do. Now, your plans for tonight. Dinner at Yanli’s cafe. You know she’s not going to let anything ruin that, right? And Zixuan? He wants to make sure Xuanyu’s night is magical. So there will be no disaster at dinner.”
“But what about the dance? What if I, I don’t know, you know…?” He had gotten so much better with words, naming his fears, but sometimes, he still choked on them.
“I can’t say that I have a lot of experience with proms and dances,” Mingjue admits, “but unless you’ve got a telekinetic teen in your class, and I’m sure Xichen would have mentioned that at some point, I think you’ll be fine. Since those assholes have been expelled, I can’t even imagine anyone spiking the punch, and you know Old Man Lan’s gonna guard that thing with his life anyway.”
“What if I embarrass Huaisang?”
“How?” Mingjue sits on the sofa and beckons for Jiang Cheng to do the same. “That kid is totally shameless.”
Jiang Cheng grins. “Yeah, a little bit.”
Mingjue leans back comfortably against the cushions. “So that last bit. About not being ready.”
Jiang Cheng’s cheeks flame scarlet, and he bites his tongue before he says anything more embarrassing.
“Jiang Cheng. Look at me.” Mingjue is gentle and calm. “I know you both know all the facts. Wen Qing is thorough--”
“And terrifying!” Jiang Cheng yelps.
“And terrifying,” Mingjue agrees with a laugh. “But look. I’m not going to tell you what to do, just what I told Huaisang. I trust you to be smart and safe. I trust you to know your boundaries. Huaisang will respect whatever you set, and I expect you to do the same for him.”
“Of course! Of course I will! I would never --”
“I know, I know,” Mingjue interrupts. “But do you trust Huaisang to give you the same considerations? Do you trust that he respects you?”
Jiang Cheng looks down at his hands. “Yes,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Jiang Cheng, do you trust him?” Mingjue sits up. “Honestly. Do you trust him?”
“I do,” Jiang Cheng replies with conviction.
“Good. Then whatever else happens tonight, just let yourself have fun, okay? Kiddo, this is prom, not forever. Hell, Xichen broke my nose at our prom, and it was still damn fun.”
“He did what?” Jiang Cheng yelps.
Mingjue rubs the bridge of his nose. “Yup. He got a little carried away with his hand gestures when ‘YMCA’ came on.” He laughs. “You should get the DJ to play it tonight, and then go tell him Mingjue sends his regards.”
“Oh shit, I’m absolutely going to do that!” Jiang Cheng cackles, imagining the look of consternation as Xichen strives to keep his serene, professional expression. He startles as his phone buzzes in his pocket and then has to laugh when he reads the message Huaisang has sent. “Huaisang wants to know if you’re done threatening me so he can come down.”
“I never threaten!” Mingjue bellows. “I’m a goddamned delight, and you know it!”
Huaisang’s joyous laughter filters down to them, and Jiang Cheng is suddenly nervous again, but this time, he’s holding himself back because he knows how much Huaisang likes to make an entrance.
And make an entrance he does.
He chose a traditionally-cut black suit and vest, but gold embroidery covers his shoulders and wrists like armor, vines and flowers spreading out along his arms. Gold buttons shine against the suit and crisp white shirt. His shoulder-length hair hangs loose but for a single braid gathering the hair away from the left side of his face. He breaks his stride when he notices Jiang Cheng staring, open-mouthed, as shyness overtakes him.
“What do you think?” he asks.
Jiang Cheng tries to find words suitable enough for the breathless beauty he sees, but in the end, he can only say, “Wow.”
Huaisang grins at him. “Wow? That’s it?”
Jiang Cheng nods.
“I’ll take it.”
Jiang Cheng fumbles for the box in his pocket. “I didn’t get you a corsage or anything,” he says. “Xuanyu helped me, though.” He opens the box to reveal an antique brooch, a pair of clasping enamel hands with green and purple rhinestones at the wrists. He holds it out to Huaisang. “There’s a detachable comb. Xuanyu said you wouldn’t want to pin this to your suit and ruin the fabric, but I thought maybe you’d want to wear it in your hair?”
“A-Cheng! It’s gorgeous!” He lifts the brooch from its box. “Um, would you mind if da-ge pinned this in my hair tonight? He’s a lot better with my hair than you are.”
“Not at all,” Jiang Cheng says, relieved. He almost doesn’t want to touch Huaisang for fear of damaging him somehow. He hands the pin and comb to Mingjue, and if Mingjue looks a little misty-eyed, well, Jiang Cheng can’t judge.
Mingjue tucks the pin into the braid, and it sparkles against Huaisang’s jet-black hair. Mingjue kisses his baby brother on the forehead before giving him a nudge toward Jiang Cheng. “Give him his flower while I get my camera. I’m going to take approximately ten thousand pictures, so be ready.”
Huiasang had brought a small box with him, and he hands it shyly to Jiang Cheng. “I didn’t want to ruin your suit, either, so I got you this.” Inside is a bracelet made with lavender jade beads, with a silver lotus charm in the center. “It doesn’t really match your suit, but --”
“I don’t care!” Jiang Cheng thrusts out his hand. “Put it on! I love it!”
Huaisang breaks into a grin as he slides the bracelet over Jiang Cheng’s hand. The beads have a pleasing weight to them, comfortable but also undeniably present, a perfect physical reminder of the love with which Jiang Cheng is surrounded.
Jiang Cheng tosses a quick look over his shoulder before leaning in to claim a kiss from Huaisang. He’s about to go in for a second when Mingjue returns.
“Save it for the dance,” he groans. “Then you’re Xichen’s problem.”
True to his word, Mingjue takes at least ten thousand pictures, but all Jiang Cheng can see is the way Huaisang smiles at him. When they are finally given permission to leave and meet up with their friends at Yanli’s cafe, Jiang Cheng’s heart is so full that there’s no room left for doubt.
He’s still a little afraid -- of the future, of the enormity of his feelings, of messing up the best thing he has in his life, but Huaisang holds his hand, and Huaisang smiles, and Jiang Cheng’s worries fade away.