Work Text:
"Jiujiu! You will join the team too?!" Jin Ling's excited voice melted Jiang Cheng's heart like fire to chocolate, but he couldn’t demonstrate his increasing happiness caused by listening to his cheerful nephew, not in front of Wei Wuxian.
No, because he was in this situation right now due to Wei Wuxian. Fucking bet be damned.
Jiang Cheng's plan never was to join Jin Ling's team. He loved him, but he was an adult... and dressing up as the characters of a smartphone game wasn't exactly what an adult would do.
It was all Wei Wuxian's fault.
"Maybe, Jin Ling, maybe. Didn't A-Jie choose the purple one already? The team only can have one per color as far as I know" Jiang Cheng was sure that after those words, he would listen to something like "Jiujiuuuu! Don't be like that!” In this way, with a few minutes of deliberation and patience, he would get the fuck out of the trouble his brother got him into.
Well, Jiang Cheng learned that sometimes life is a bitch.
"No, Jiujiu! Mom chose the pink one, purple is free. Uncle Wei promised to convince you to join us, so we kept the color"
At his side, Wei Wuxian began to laugh like a madman.
Jiang Cheng covered the cellphone’s microphone with his hand, before directing the most murderous look in his repertoire at the idiotic human being he shared a couch with.
"You had planned everything from the very start, didn't you? You're a...!"
"ChengCheng, Jin Ling is still on the line, he's waiting and he can hear you say a bad word. We don't want that, do we?" His brother's smile reminded him of the Cheshire cat.
Keeping with the analogy, if his brother was a laughing cat, he turned out to be Alice. The only rational person in a world of irrational and childish adults.
His blue eyes launched imaginary flashes of lightning that sought to pulverize the stupid he had as his older brother, before returning to the phone.
"Jin Ling, I will join the crew only if you want me to. I won't force you to keep a color because of your uncle Wei's idio… ideas, if you want to give it to someone else”
"Don't be a cowardly chicken or I'll cook you for the broth, Shimei!"
Jiang Cheng was sure that Wei Wuxian's cries resounded not only in his ears or in his living room, but also in his sister's house.
At this rate, Jin Ling would be without Uncle Wei (insert squeaky voice) after this call.
"Who told you I don't want to? Of course I want to, Jiujiu! Do we have a deal then? Say yes" The voice now sounded a little sad and Jiang Cheng couldn't keep up his strong-walled facade any longer. As he cursed Wei Wuxian in four different languages inside his head, he let out a breath of air and answered his nephew.
"Deal, I'll stop by the store tomorrow to buy some fabric. Shall I make your costume too?"
Jiang Cheng slapped himself mentally for not anticipating this turn of events.
Honestly, it was very obvious that THIS could happen.
The day after the call, while they were driving to the shopping area, his boyfriend asked if he knew that his nephew wanted to personify the game of the dead people inside the ship (insert gullible, but fucking sexy voice) for Halloween.
Jiang Cheng had no difficulty lying if it would save his face from humiliation, as long as the person he was lying to didn’t have a charming smile, beautiful brown eyes, silky straight hair in a low ponytail, jade skin, height of about 6 feet, and precious feelings. Exactly, Jiang Cheng simply couldn’t lie to Lan Xichen.
So he told him that he knew about Jin Ling's plans and also that he would participate in those.
Xichen said, to Jiang Cheng's surprise:
"I'll be part of the crew too, A-Cheng. I'm so glad you decided to join us. It will be like a couple-costume! We should wear the same hat"
For all the Yu, Jiang, and Lan ancestors together!
He swore he would kill Wei Wuxian with a carrot for bringing his boyfriend into this mess.
"Just because Jin Ling wanted to and I lost a bet with my stupid brother. You don't have to join the circus, A-Huan."
"But I want to be with you, A-Cheng, don't you want us to share a costume? It would be our first time" Jiang Cheng could almost see the dog ears sadly falling on both sides of Lan Xichen's face.
"It's a costume shared by you, me, my sister, the juniors, and six assholes". Jiang Cheng said, almost counting on his fingers. Maybe in that way his partner would understand that dressing in those costumes wasn’t a romantic plan at all. Rather, it would be chaotic, even more so if any random idiot, named Wei Wuxian or Nie Huaisang, came up with the idea of an impostor.
"A-Cheng, there are many possibilities!" Okay, his manly boyfriend was pouting "We can get away from the others at any time and go somewhere by ourselves with our matching costumes. A restaurant, a club, a park... our room”
Jiang Cheng didn't understand why his boyfriend was thrilled because of thinking about taking him off a suit so similar to... a sleeping bag, while he was dressed up with another sleeping bag.
He decided to change the subject. Each person had their own kinks and apparently, Xichen liked to have sex with sleeping bags close. Jiang Cheng made a mental note about camping with his boyfriend the next month.
"If you're going to join this madness, tell me what color you chose. I'll make Jin Ling's costume, my sister's and mine, one more is no problem"
They got out of the car once they parked.
"I thought we were coming here to get fabric for your business suits, A-Cheng" That tone, was Lan Huan teasing him?
"Stop mocking and move your ass, Xichen, we came for that as well"
Thus, on October 31, Jiang Cheng found himself in front of his sister's house in a purple costume that covered him from head to toe. Xichen was standing next to him in a similar white costume, holding his hand because "A-Cheng, no one can recognize us like this, please, please".
Both had a matching hat shaped like a fried egg.
His nephew opened the door for them.
"Jiujiu, Lan leader!" The boy was wearing a yellow suit with a cherry hat, adorable.
Since the only body part that could be seen in those costumes was the face, Jiang Cheng could observe his little nephew smiling at him as bright as a star in the sky.
"This part of my life… this little part is called happiness". Jiang Cheng thought, speaking up without realizing it, in a whisper.
Lan Xichen was touched, so he laughed a little and interlocked their fingers.
A soft blush started to creep in Jiang Cheng’s cheeks.
"What did you say, Jiujiu? I couldn't hear you"
Jiang Cheng came out of his bubble, embarrassed by his behavior as a pampering uncle and a maiden in love.
"Jin Ling, where are the others? he asked, frowning, but not moving his hand from his partner's.
"You’re the first ones here, mom is cooking” The boy and the two adults entered the house.
While Jiang Cheng was helping his sister to cook dinner and bake cake for his idiot brother, Lan Xichen was drawing with Jin Ling and his new friend, Jingyi.
The doorbell rang. The peacock arrived.
The doorbell rang. Exodia, the madman with the fans, and the microbe arrived.
The bell rang. The embodiment of disaster on earth, the human ice-statue, and their adorable son arrived.
While Wei Wuxian was mocking the peacock because he was wearing the brown costume, someone else rang the bell.
"You look like a big shit, peacock!"
"I don't have to put up with this in my own house! Get out!" Jin Zixuan was hysterical because he also thought he looked bad with that costume, but his son had preferred Guangyao to wear the orange one, so that was all he had left.
Jiang Cheng went to open the door; they were Mo Xianyu and the Wen brothers. The ghost general, as Jin Ling called him, and the doctor who, let's admit it, was his only female friend. Neither of them was in disguise, to the shame of the man dressed in the purple sleeping bag.
"Good night, young Jiang" The gentle voice belonged to Wen Ning.
"Did you come for his birthday?" He didn't even say hello.
"Obviously. Have you been smoking again, Jiang Wanyin?" Wen Qing didn't either, and from the look on her face, Jiang Cheng knew that she was holding back so as not to scold him for his habits or laugh at how ridiculous he looked.
"no?” He said that with less confidence than he wanted to. The woman raised an eyebrow. Oh no, oh no, he didn't want a scolding at his sister's house.
"Dr. Wen, young Wen Ning, I hope you had no trouble getting here"
Lan Huan was his guardian angel, Jiang Cheng was sure of that.
"Are you in the crew-game as well, Lan Xichen? You two, please try not to let anyone get hurt. I do not wish to see A-Yuan in the hospital" The woman entered with her brother-in-law's half-brother behind her. The shy Wen Ning stopped at the door for a moment to tell them, observing the floor and waving his fingers, that they looked very cute in that matching costume.
Jiang Cheng could feel his face warming up. It was red because of shame for sure.
"Thank you very much, young Wen Ning" On the contrary, Xichen's smile grew bigger by the comment.
After celebrating Wei Wuxian's birthday and everyone ate cake, the crew of Among Us took to the streets.
"Are you ready?!" Shouted Wei Wuxian.
"Aye-Aye Captain!" The juniors and his sister responded.
"NO! I don't understand!" Huaisang cut into.
Jiang Cheng swallowed his laughter when he perceived that his life was in danger. Exodia was stabbing him with his eyes inside the dark green suit.
"Huaisang, we'll go get candy for the kids, but there will be two impostors! We don't want anyone to die, so if one of them takes your hat, you are OUT and have to come back to this house and stay inside until the impostors are discovered or all the crew comes back. It also applies to our children" His brother was talking at the speed of light, he was so excited in his black suit and using the hat similar to a red toilet plunger.
"Why two impostors? That's savage!" Questioned the younger Nie.
"Why add impostors? Hell, can't we go trick-or-treating like normal people?" bellowed Jiang Cheng.
He perceived a threat to his life again, this time from the look of Lan Wangji. However, as long as he wore that dark blue suit, which contrasted terribly with the red toilet plunger, Jiang Cheng couldn’t take him seriously.
"Don't be boring, shimei, we already made the draw for this round!" Wei Wuxian concluded as he hugged him by the shoulders. The murderous look increased and everyone seemed to notice, except his stupid brother and his naive boyfriend.
"Is no one else going to complain?!" Jiang shouted. Nie Mingjue looked at his younger brother, Jin Zixuan at his wife, Jin Guangyao stopped talking to Lan Xichen and looked at his nephew.
Oh, shit. Jin Ling seemed excited about the idea proposed by the fool of Wei Wuxian.
"Whatever"
So, they went through two rounds. In the first one, Jiang Cheng had to go home with Xichen without knocking on more than three doors because Jin Guangyao and Nie Minjue deceived them. They were discovered by Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji when only 3 of the crew were left on the streets.
"A-Huan, it's just a game, they won't fool you like that again"
"But I've already been fooled and you and little Jingyi paid the consequences, A-Cheng!" A huge pout was present on the beautiful face of his boyfriend.
Xichen was still sad because his best friends betrayed him. He was tricked because they told him that a house five blocks away gave out a lot of candy, so the Lan man led his two companions at that moment, Jiang Cheng and Jingyi, to that place, only to be ambushed by the impostors on the way.
He was very hurt by their betrayal.
Also, even if Jiang Cheng wanted to tell him that Guangyao regretted it, he knew his ex and knew that he did not. He was sure that his only regret was not winning.
Competitive microbe.
In the second round, Jingyi didn't leave Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng’s side, so Jin Ling got a little bit angry, left his parents behind, and went after his Jiujiu.
In this way, while collecting sweets, the adults learned that Jingyi was an orphan. Moreover, he liked chicken wings and animals, he argued a lot with “young mistress!", and his dream was to be a doctor. Perhaps that's why he felt an affinity for Xichen, since he was a surgeon before taking over his father's hospital.
An hour later they were called on their cellphones to return to their sister's house. Lan Wangji surrendered to Wei Wuxian at the beginning of the round and Jin Zixuan was discovered by his half-brother.
"There are two impostors for something! Why do you give yourself up, Lan Wangji?! You're the worst impostor in all history!" Jin Zixuan shouted. The only one he had ambushed was Nie Huaisang, and that ate away at his pride.
"Shut up, you peacock! You are the worst impostor on earth, don't you dare defame my Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian replied.
"Hmm, he only eliminated one crewman." Lan Wangji supported him.
The worst? Huaisang was tired of walking, so he allowed the other one to take his hat off.
The third round was much rougher for Jiang Cheng, emotionally speaking.
Once the new draw was made with papers in a bag, Jingyi did not leave his side again, as did Jin Ling. His sister and brother-in-law also joined the group, so the 4 adults and the 2 children were together until Jiang Cheng saw something he didn't like at all. Right after, he ran fucking quickly into the alley on that street.
A couple of humans with no brains, and no souls, were harassing a black stray cat.
They were hitting the ground with sticks, closer and closer to the little animal, which was very scared by the way it was shaking against the wall and was trying to get smaller.
"What do you think you are doing?!" Jiang Cheng shouted, but his usual intimidating presence was overshadowed by the purple suit, so the two subjects exploded in laughter.
"Mind your business, freak! I’m going to break you!"
Lan Xichen arrived at the scene and stood next to his boyfriend.
"I want to see you try, asshole"
The two guys came running with their sticks in hand and everything happened very fast. Xichen was an expert in martial arts and Jiang Cheng worked for several years as a bodyguard, so they both knocked out those nasty people before the children got loose from Jin Zixuan or Jiang Yanli called the police.
"Are you all right, Jiujiu, Lan leader?" His nephew shouted from the street.
"We are fine, young Jin Ling, please wait for us over there!" Xichen answered as he watched with love and absolute devotion to how his boyfriend tried to get close to the cat, and the said cat scratched him.
"I'm not going to hurt you, silly cat" The Jiang muttered.
"We can take it home if you want, A-Cheng" Lan Xichen said without getting closer because the animal might become more frightened.
"I don't think Zidian will be good with him, but she got used to Liebling, so she'll be able to behave with this one as well”
After several minutes, scratches, and bites, the cat fell asleep in Jiang Cheng's arms and they came out of the alley.
"Mr. Jiang, is the kitten hurt?" Jingyi asked.
"Fortunately, no" Replied Jiang Cheng and stopped observing the cat for a moment to look the child in the eye, and he noticed a small big detail...
The little Jingyi didn’t wear his antenna hat.
Jiang Cheng saw his boyfriend, who was petrified next to him and no longer had the fried egg on his head either.
Something... someone jumped out and hung on Jiang's neck.
"Run, A-Cheng"
Jiang Cheng started running to prevent the presence hanging on his back from taking off his fried egg hat, but he could not believe it, this could not be true.
"Jin Ling, don't you dare!"
His nephew had betrayed him.
And he could not use his hands to defend himself because he was carrying the sleeping cat.
The little yellow person put his knees on his shoulders and one hand near his eyes to prevent him from seeing. Jiang Cheng had to stop, but he began to jump.
"Jiujiu, make this easier and stay still!"
"Don't talk to me, you impostor-nephew!"
A meow sounded and Jiang stopped immediately. The cat almost woke up.
Jiang Cheng felt his fried egg being stripped from him.
Jin Ling jumped from his head to the ground with the agility of a ninja, with a victorious smile. His hat and three more in his childish hand.
The other adults and Jingyi arrived at the scene of the crime. Jiang Cheng was not moving. Lan Xichen went to comfort him while Jingyi tried to pet the cat, Jiang Yanli congratulated his son and Jin Zixuan couldn’t stop laughing.
"Jiujiu?" asked the crewman in yellow.
"Am I so disposable to you, A-Ling?” Even though he was in Xichen's arms, Jiang Cheng was still in a state of shock. He leaned more on the body behind him and allowed its heat to warm him because he really needed it.
His beloved nephew, the light of his eyes, star of his nights, betrayed him!
"You are incredibly important for me, Jiujiu, it’s nothing personal"
"A-Cheng, it's a game. There's no need to get so sad" Yanli advised him and Jiang Cheng noticed that she still had her hat on the head.
So Jin Ling spared her mother's life, but not her uncle's. Ouch. However, why hadn't his sister yet reported A-Ling? mother's love?
"You still have your hat, A-Jie"
"A-Cheng, you're pouting. About that..."
Jiang Cheng was absolutely sure that he was NOT pouting. Lan Huan pressed him harder against his body, feeling that he wouldn’t like the next words.
"A-Jie, it doesn't matter if he's your son, you have to denounce him and report our dead bodies!"
"A-Cheng, I am the other impostor" Yanli smiled at him as if she were saying nothing wrong and Jiang Cheng's world was shattered.
Ah, now he understood how A-Huan felt in the first round.
While the two impostors were still free on the streets, they returned to the house. Jin Zixuan still couldn't get over the show that Jiang Cheng put on with Jin Ling in the middle of the avenue, so he was still laughing. Lan Huan carried Jingyi on his shoulders while holding his boyfriend by the waist, who carried the cat.
Within her mocking laughter, Zixuan couldn’t help but think that those four looked like a family.
Bonus
The impostors won the third round and Wei Wuxian arrived home in shock as well, his sister was the one who took the hat off from him and his partner.
Jiang Cheng was pleased with how things turned out, after all, it was Wei Wuxian's fault that they were playing that stupid game and that A-Jie and his nephew became impostors.
After two more rounds, Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng returned to their apartment. Before leaving, the Lan man promised Jingyi that he could go visit them and the cat whenever he wanted, something Jiang Cheng supported since he saw that the boy seemed so happy with the little animal.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Jiang, Mr. Lan! See you soon, Sandu!"
Yup, the boy chose the cat’s name.
Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen fell asleep as soon as they put their heads on the pillow, totally exhausted by the children's and their new pet’s energy. However, they both knew that when they picked up Zidian and Liebling from Qiren's house, the war would break out in their apartment.
Unconsciously, they both looked for each other's warmth and hugged tightly while dreaming.