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For once Lan Xichen isn’t flying to Lotus Pier because someone asked for his help, but simply because he wants to.
He hasn’t been in a while, and if he’s being honest, he misses Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling.
Plus, he wants to see if Jiang Cheng honoured his promise and looked for help.
The last time Lan Xichen was in Lotus Pier, Jiang Cheng had agreed to let at least two people help with Jin Ling and Sect matters, and Lan Xichen wants to check the progress of that.
Lan Xichen hadn’t been able to stay for more than two days after Jiang Cheng made that promise, and so he hadn’t been able to help Jiang Cheng with making a decision or offering his advice.
He trusted Jiang Cheng to find reliable people though, and now he just wants to see Jiang Cheng again.
When Lan Xichen touches down, Jiang Cheng is already waiting for him.
Lan Xichen smiles at him, but it’s threatening to slide right off his face when he gets a good look at Jiang Cheng.
He still looks like shit, maybe even worse so than the last time Lan Xichen saw him, and immediately dread settles in Lan Xichen’s gut.
“Where’s Jin Ling?” he asks, because Jiang Cheng’s arms are suspiciously empty and if something happened to Jin Ling Lan Xichen isn’t sure he could survive that.
He is aware that he is way too attached to both of them already.
“With Jiang Mingli,” Jiang Cheng immediately reassures him and Lan Xichen briefly closes his eyes with relief before he smiles at Jiang Cheng, this time for real.
“So you managed to find someone you trust,” he teasingly says and allows Jiang Cheng to lead him further into Lotus Pier.
“I did,” Jiang Cheng gives back with a small huff. “I can’t bear to part with Jin Ling for longer than a few hours a day, but I get some work done. And I have help with that now as well,” Jiang Cheng says before Lan Xichen can ask about that.
“I did promise you, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did,” Lan Xichen nods and then his eyes fall on Jiang Mingli, who is playing with Jin Ling a little further down the docs.
Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng come to a stop to watch them for a few moments and Lan Xichen can’t help his little chuckle when Jin Ling squeals in delight at the grass butterfly Jiang Mingli moves over his head.
“He’s good with him,” Lan Xichen remarks and he sees Jiang Cheng nod from the corner of his eyes.
“He is,” he agrees. “I had him work my paperwork with me before, but it turns out Jiang Mingli is really not good at that,” Jiang Cheng tells him. “So I had him stay with Jin Ling while I looked for someone for that, and it turns out Jin Ling adores him.”
“That’s great,” Lan Xichen says and it’s then that Jin Ling spots his uncle at the pier.
He’s not quite old enough to walk over by himself, but he’s a very fast crawler and soon enough he pulls himself up on Jiang Cheng’s robes.
“What are you doing, you little monster?” Jiang Cheng asks as he lifts Jin Ling up and briefly tosses him in the air.
Lan Xichen itches to reach out and tuck Jin Ling securely against his chest--surely this can’t be safe with all the water around--but then Jiang Cheng already has him safely in his arms again.
And Jin Ling is laughing like only a toddler can, loud and exuberantly.
Jiang Cheng smiles at Jin Ling, who babbles excitedly at him and Lan Xichen’s heart beats very fast when he sees that expression.
“Sect Leader Jiang, Sect Leader Lan,” Jiang Mingli interrupts his thoughts and Lan Xichen is thankful for it.
“Jiang Mingli,” Lan Xichen greets him warmly. “I see your Sect Leader accepted some help,” Lan Xichen says teasingly with a side-glance at Jiang Cheng who rolls his eyes at him.
“He did, Zewu-Jun, and I think we have you to thank for that,” Jiang Mingli gives back and bows deeply again.
“No need,” Lan Xichen is quick to say, as he reaches out to bring him up from his bow. “I’m just glad my advice stuck.”
Jiang Mingli is clearly trying not to laugh when Jiang Cheng let’s out an annoyed huff but before he can say anything, Jin Ling reaches out for Lan Xichen.
“Oh,” Lan Xichen says as he reflexively reaches for him, and Jiang Cheng hands him over more than willingly.
Jin Ling is making a sound and it takes Lan Xichen a few moments to understand what he’s hearing.
“Is he humming?” he asks Jiang Cheng who has the audacity to laugh at him.
“Yes,” he gives back.
“Young Master Jin has taken to try and sing at Sect Leader Jiang,” Jiang Mingli helpfully chimes in and Lan Xichen looks down at the still humming boy.
“I see,” he thoughtfully says. “So your uncle is the one with the beautiful voice and I’m the one who accompanies him, huh?” he asks the toddler and lightly tickles his tummy.
Lan Xichen has his hands full with keeping the squirming toddler safe in his grasp, but it doesn’t escape his notice that Jiang Cheng blushes slightly.
“If you have the time, Zewu-Jun, there was a meal prepared for you and Sect Leader Jiang,” Jiang Mingli interjects and Lan Xichen almost startles at his voice.
“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng says and plucks Jin Ling right out of Lan Xichen’s hands to pass him over to Jiang Mingli again. “If you could take care of him for a little while longer,” he goes on and Jiang Mingli smiles at him.
“Of course I can,” he easily gives back, and moves back to where he was playing with Jin Ling before.
Lan Xichen watches in awe as Jiang Cheng simply turns around and leaves Jin Ling behind, clearly secure in the knowledge that he is well taken care of.
“I’m glad you decided to trust someone with him,” Lan Xichen can’t help but to say and Jiang Cheng eyes him.
“It’s not like I had much choice, did I?” he asks, but his voice isn’t biting, and Lan Xichen takes it for the light teasing it is.
“Not really, no,” he instead gives back and allows Jiang Cheng to lead him to their usual pier.
Except this time, they don’t settle down right in front of Jiang Cheng’s private rooms, but move to the pavilion at the very end of it, where a meal has been prepared for them.
“Jiang Mingli is taking care of Jin Ling for a few hours a day, and I also have someone for most of the paperwork. An assistant, if you will,” Jiang Cheng explains as they sit down and Lan Xichen can’t help but to frown at that.
“If you excuse my bluntness, why do you still look like you are not sleeping then?” he carefully asks and Jiang Cheng smiles faintly at him, clearly not taking offence at the question.
“That’s because I’m not,” he confesses and then, for the first time since Lan Xichen arrived, he lowers his eyes and avoids Lan Xichen’s gaze. “I can’t sleep. I don’t know if everything is finally catching up to me now that I get a few hours a day to myself, but I—,” he hesitates briefly before he visibly shakes himself. “I have nightmares. Or I simply lay in my bed, unable to sleep,” Jiang Cheng says with a little shake of his head.
“Did you try—,” Lan Xichen starts, but Jiang Cheng’s bitter chuckle cuts him off.
“I tried everything, short of someone knocking me out,” he gives back and Lan Xichen bites his tongue at that.
He doubts that unconsciousness and sleep provide the same kind of rest.
“I am sorry to hear that,” Lan Xichen carefully says and then falls silent.
He wants to offer to sing for Jiang Cheng, wants to offer him again to play some of the more calming songs he knows, but Lan Xichen is unsure where they stand and if offering would upset Jiang Cheng again.
Lan Xichen still vividly remembers his suspicions from the first time Lan Xichen offered this.
“Actually,” Jiang Cheng says and startles Lan Xichen out of his thoughts, “I was wondering if you’d play for me, too?”
Jiang Cheng isn’t meeting Lan Xichen’s eyes, but Lan Xichen gives him a reassuring smile nonetheless.
“Of course I would. You only ever have to ask,” he gently tells him and then hesitates. “Do you want a lullaby, or one of the other songs?” Lan Xichen then brings himself to ask and Jiang Cheng scrubs a hand over his face.
“I’m not sure I’m comfortable with letting you use spiritual energy on me yet,” Jiang Cheng admits and he seems honestly sorry about it, too.
“And I already told you, that’s not necessary. The songs are calming in nature, spiritual energy or not. If you would like to try it I’m more than willing,” Lan Xichen says and Jiang Cheng heaves out a sigh.
“Please,” he eventually whispers. “I’m just so tired.”
“Okay,” Lan Xichen says and summons Liebing, as he scoots around so that he can sit with his legs stretched out in front of him.
When he’s situated he expectantly looks up at Jiang Cheng who has his mouth open as if he wants to protest.
“How many drooled on robes would that make then?” Jiang Cheng drily asks, even as he sits down and lowers his head towards Lan Xichen’s thigh.
“I am not counting,” Lan Xichen promises him and briefly puts his hand on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder before he starts to play Rest.
It’s normally used to calm resentful energy, but even without added spiritual energy it’s good to calm restless minds, Lan Xichen has found.
Lan Xichen plays through the song twice, before he lowers his flute.
Jiang Cheng hasn’t moved in a while and he has gone heavy against Lan Xichen’s leg, but he’s not sure if Jiang Cheng has fallen asleep yet.
Lan Xichen still doesn’t dare to speak directly to Jiang Cheng, so instead he lightly rests his hand on his shoulder.
Jiang Cheng is motionless for long enough that Lan Xichen starts to believe he drifted off, when he suddenly moves.
Jiang Cheng reaches up with his hand and Lan Xichen is convinced he’s is going to push his hand off. So he’s thoroughly startled when Jiang Cheng threads their fingers together instead and pulls his hand down towards his chest.
“Xichen, what are we doing? What is this?” Jiang Cheng asks, his voice barely above a whisper, and he keeps his eyes closed, but Lan Xichen can see the tension in his face.
“I’m not sure,” Lan Xichen honestly replies, his voice just as soft. “But I don’t want it to stop,” he goes on, and it must have been the right thing to say, because Jiang Cheng let’s out a long breath before he brings up his other hand as well so that he can properly cradle Lan Xichen’s against his chest.
“Okay,” Jiang Cheng breathes out. “Play it again?” he then asks and Lan Xichen can’t help the chuckle that escapes him.
“I would need both hands for that,” he softly reminds Jiang Cheng who makes an unhappy noise at the back of his throat. “How about I sing something for you instead?” Lan Xichen asks and it takes Jiang Cheng a while to answer.
“Fine,” he eventually allows and Lan Xichen can’t help but to smile softly down at Jiang Cheng.
He can’t even find it in him to mind when he realizes that Jiang Cheng is peeking up at him.
Instead of saying anything to that Lan Xichen squeezes Jiang Cheng’s hand once and then he starts to sing. For once, it’s not a lullaby, but a song about home and the safety that provides and he hopes Jiang Cheng can find some safety here.
At least enough to fall asleep.
When the song is done, Lan Xichen shifts to humming, so he doesn’t startle Jiang Cheng with an abrupt silence and he carefully looks down at him.
Jiang Cheng’s face is completely relaxed and Lan Xichen is sure that he is deeply asleep by now.
Lan Xichen isn’t sure what he’s supposed to do with all these feelings that threaten to swallow him whole, with this warm glow in his chest, caused by the implicit trust Jiang Cheng is showing him right now, but he vows to never betray it.
It is already too precious to Lan Xichen after all.