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He felt free. After so many years of living within the stifling confines of his family’s expectations of him, Lan Xichen had finally taken a permanent step away from their outdated and restraining ideals.
Well, he supposed the first step was when he decided to date his current boyfriend. When he initially informed his family of his current love life status, they were hardly supportive. Not only had Lan Xichen officially come out to his family that day, but his choice of spouse was by no means what his elders deemed worthy.
Jiang Cheng wasn’t exactly up to their standards. First of all, he was male. Secondly, he was a tattoo artist who owned his own parlour downtown. With the strict Lan family idea of tattoos being taboo, it was no surprise that they did not approve of Lan Xichen’s choice of boyfriend. Like a lot of old Eastern families, the Lan family thought tattoos were the marks of sinners. The demons who worked under the triads; bad people who did bad deeds. Of course, this is not the case in the modern day, but try explaining that to the old Lan elders! And that was ignoring Jiang Cheng’s rather volatile character - Lan Xichen may adore his boyfriend’s fiery personality, but his elders certainly did not.
Today, for their one year anniversary, Lan Xichen finally gave into his boyfriend’s suggestion to get inked. Naturally, Lan Xichen always thought Jiang Cheng’s pieces were works of art, but he never had the courage to get tattooed himself. Unlike his heavily inked partner. It was a show of devotion - his love - for Jiang Cheng, and, naturally, also a show of defiance towards his family’s scepticism of tattoos.
That morning, Lan Xichen visited his boyfriend’s parlour, with the resolute decision to get his first piece of ink done — he had decided upon getting a cluster of gentians on his chest. A memoir to his mother and her favourite flowers, the design was simple — a handful of flowers, twisting around one another with their leaves framing each bright blue bloom. It wasn’t anything too outrageous, and its placement would be somewhere easily hidden when he needed to be professional.
Jiang Cheng’s hands were gentle as they worked. With Lan Xichen laid back on the bench, watching as his partner’s brow was scrunched in concentration, working to make this the best piece he’d ever done. The result was beautiful. The brightness of each flower blooming above Lan Xichen’s heart, and the delicate detailing Jiang Cheng had miraculously managed on each leaf was breathtaking.
Lan Xichen felt his heart swell with adoration when he looked into the mirror. Seeing the masterpiece now decorating his chest, alongside the small, almost shy, smile teasing at Jiang Cheng’s lips as he asked him if it was alright… Well, his answer was less in words and more in actions as he had turned to pull the other into a crushing kiss in gratitude.
Now, Lan Xichen had left his boyfriend to continue his work with other patrons, as he headed to meet with his brother. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he continued to grin like a madman in love whilst walking to the other’s apartment. He was lost in his thoughts, thinking about his new work of art, as well as the dinner reservation he had with his boyfriend to celebrate their anniversary. Of course, that had to wait until after the other was done with work, but Lan Xichen didn’t mind.
Arriving at Lan Wangji’s apartment at precisely the time they had specified - punctuality was drilled into him from a young age - Lan Xichen let himself inside with the spare key he had been given and toed off his shoes at the entranceway before shutting the door behind him.
“Wangji? It’s me,” he called out habitually, smiling widely when his brother popped his head out of the kitchen doorway to greet him.
“Brother,” said Lan Wangji with a nod. He had two freshly brewed cups of tea in hand as he turned to lead the way into the living room.
The two brother’s sat themselves down in their usual spots, with Lan Wangji settled on the sofa, and Lan Xichen seated on an armchair across from him. There was a coffee table between the two, where the tea was set down beside a plate of snacks. Aside from that, the younger Lan’s apartment was rather minimalistic and bare of characteristic decor. The room housed everything he required, and nothing more. The walls and furniture were various shades of white, grey, and blue, giving Lan Wangji’s apartment a rather clinical feel - not that that bothered either of them. The Lan brother’s had been raised within a minimalistic environment, with their uncle teaching them from a young age to only keep what was required.
“How have you been, Wangji?” Lan Xichen asked, starting the conversation with a casual question of his well-being. He was always worrying over his dear little brother, as any big brother would. He constantly fussed over the other, making sure that there was nothing troubling his rather… unique brother.
“Wangji has been good,” replied the other as he cradled a cup of tea in his hands. “How is brother?”
“That’s good to hear. I’ve been wonderful - it’s our anniversary today and I’m looking forward to taking A-Cheng out for dinner tonight,” said Lan Xichen with a blinding smile before taking his own cup and sipping at its contents. If he saw Lan Wangji’s eyes flicker down to glance at the bandage that peeked over the top of his shirt collar, he said nothing.
Lan Wangji gave a small nod of acknowledgement as his brother grinned at him - the other’s pure delight and happiness was almost infectious! However, that was not quite enough to distract the younger of the two from asking about the suspicious piece of gauze that was partially visible under Lan Xichen’s collar.
“Congratulations, Brother,” Lan Wangji said before pausing momentarily. “Is brother hurt?”
For a brief second, Lan Xichen didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t hurt, per se, but on the other hand, he kind of was - consensually. An awkward tilt of his smile betrayed him to his brother who raised an eyebrow in his direction before Lan Xichen sighed and shook his head.
“I’m not hurt, Wangji. There’s no need to worry. I, uh, may have let A-Cheng tattoo me,” said the elder of the two, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. He could tell by the sudden narrowing of Lan Wangji’s gaze that his brother did not approve. In fact, he knew full well that his brother did not approve of Jiang Cheng on the whole. Lan Wangji was the epitome of those treasured traditional Lan family values, and his petty disliking for Jiang Cheng did not escape Lan Xichen.
“Brother-” Lan Wangji started, halting his words when Lan Xichen raised a hand to silence him.
“I know what you are going to say, Wangji. You do not need to tell me. I know you don’t like A-Cheng, and you two always seem to butt heads, but this was my decision to make - and no, he did not force or coerce me into it,” said Lan Xichen with a shake of his head. He could read his brother’s thoughts almost as naturally as his own within his mind. He knew Lan Wangji did not like the idea of him getting a tattoo done - or the man whose work it was.
He watched as a small frown etched itself on Lan Wangji’s face. “But Brother… Why? ”
Lan Xichen gave a small smile. It was almost apologetic, but no. He was not sorry that he made this decision. He had been contemplating it for a long time now, and finally having done it, he felt a strange sense of achievement.
“Because I wanted it, Wangji,” he admitted softly. “I wanted A-Cheng’s artwork on me, and I wanted to have something permanent to show just how much I care for him. I know you two might never get along as well as I’d like, but please. Please, Wangji, do not blame him for this decision of mine. Besides, I think you might like it. Perhaps not as a tattoo, but think of it as a work of art instead.”
As he finished speaking, Lan Xichen put down his half-drunk tea and carefully took off his shirt. The temporary bandage had been on for long enough now that he could take it off without worrying about the fresh wounds weeping, so he tucked his fingers under the edge of the gauze and carefully peeled it back, revealing the new tattoo as it was removed.
Lan Xichen sat upright in his chair, proudly showing off the new art that decorated his chest. He watched with a smile as his younger brother’s eyes widened momentarily before returning to his usual stoic expression.
“Brother…” muttered Lan Wangji, as he briefly glanced up at his brother’s face and subconsciously sat closer in his seat. “These… Mother…”
Lan Xichen smiled wider. “Yes, Wangji. This is what I wanted A-Cheng to tattoo onto me. Mother’s favourite flowers,” he said, speaking softly with words that echoed his fondness for both his partner and his late mother. If there was one thing that Lan Xichen was certain of, it was that his brother loved and missed their mother just as much as he did.
There was a short pause of silence as Lan Wangji’s eyes carefully examined Lan Xichen’s chest before the younger finally sat back in his seat with a faint sigh of resignation. Lan Xichen smiled fondly at his brother, knowing that the other accepted this decision of his. Perhaps he didn’t like Jiang Cheng - but he didn’t have to. As long as Lan Wangji accepted him as Lan Xichen’s choice of partner, the latter was content.
“Uncle will be angry,” said Lan Wangji, finally, causing Lan Xichen to chuckle and shrug as he continued to put his shirt back on.
“Well, he will just have to get over it,” laughed the elder brother. “I’m glad you like it, Wangji. Thank you. It means a lot, really.”
The small smile the two brothers shared in that moment was warmer than even the cosiest of hearths.