Work Text:
When Jiang Cheng wakes up it is still dark outside. He turns on his back, runs his hand over the empty spot next to him on the bed and sighs. So it is time.
He does not open his eyes, only buries his face in the pillow and tries not to let out a whine. From above he hears a soft chuckle and has to hide a smile on the pillow.
He is supposed to be mad, not feeling so - soft.
“I must go.” Wangji whispers, leaning closer to press a kiss on his temple.
“I know.” Jiang Cheng retorts. They have been doing this for the past two years. Lan Wangji visits for a day or two, then goes back to Cloud Recesses to his duties as Chief Cultivator and stays gone for two weeks each time.
In the meantime, he writes many letters (and Jiang Cheng treasures each and every one of them), long letters, talking about his days in detail, about Lan Sizhui and his undying love for his son, and how much he misses Jiang Cheng.
Those are Jiang Cheng’s favorite parts.
He never thought Lan Wangji could be - romantic, but he found out soon enough that he is. And he makes sure to let Jiang Cheng know.
He writes about the moments they spent together, his memories and describes in full detail how he felt during those times. Pages and pages of Lan Wangji praising Jiang Cheng, talking about his bravery, his sweetness and his “loving eyes”. And sometimes, about his hands. Lan Wangji is obsessed with them, for some reason that Jiang Cheng will never know, but the other man has never written a letter where he did not talk about Jiang Cheng’s hands.
“I miss your hands touching me.” He wrote once. “Your long fingers, calloused from the hard work. They feel amazing, Wanyin. Touching me, pulling my hair. Wanyin, how unfair that you get to touch yourself every day, but I have to wait so long? I miss you, Wanyin, I want to touch you. I want to be touched by you. I want you, Wanyin.”
It never fails to make Jiang Cheng blush, his hands aching to reach out for someone that is not there.
It is embarrassing and adorable, so unbecoming of a Lan that sometimes Jiang Cheng does not believe it is really Wangji writing him.
“I will miss you.” Wangji whispers again, hands slipping under the cover to touch Jiang Cheng’s naked back, fingers running down his spine, teasing.
“Stop.” Jiang Cheng warns. “Or I will not let you leave.”
Wangji huffs out another laugh. “Perhaps I do not want to leave.”
Jiang Cheng’s immediate answer is, “then don’t”, half joking, half expecting Wangji to press another kiss on his temple and repeat that he has to leave. But what happens next finally makes him open his eyes.
As soon as the words are out of his mouth, he feels the bed move under the weight of another body lying down, and then two arms circling his waist. “What.” Jiang Cheng turns around, confused, as Wangji kisses his shoulder. “Wangji -”
“Do you want me to stay?” He asks.
Jiang Cheng frowns. It is a stupid question with an obvious answer. “Of course I do.”
“Then I will stay.”
“But you are - Chief Cultivator, you -” Jiang Cheng babbles, confusedly. This arrangement has been working for them, maybe not how he wanted, but it is what they can have. If the choice is letting Lan Wangji leave for a few days or not having him at all, then he will always choose the first option.
Because at this point, Jiang Cheng knows Lan Wangji will always come back.
“Formalities.” It is Lan Wangji’s answer. “All shall be solved with a letter.” He tightens his hold on Jiang Cheng’s waist, presses light kisses on his shoulder.
“You do not have to do it.” Jiang Cheng answers, almost desperately. He does not want Lan Wangji to make sacrifices for their relationship. “Not for me.”
“Of course it is for you.” Lan Wangji frowns. “I love you, Wanyin. I do not want to spend a day apart from you. Not if I do not have to.”
Jiang Cheng swallows, his entire body going numb, too many things running through his mind.
It is a happiness he’s never felt before, mixed with fear and expectation and love. He always feels too much when he is with Lan Wangji, the happiness always present as well as the fear.
Jiang Cheng has learned from his experience with Jin Ling, that fear will always be a constant in his life. It does not mean he will always be scared, though, that is just what happens when you love someone so much.
He finally gazes up and finds Lan Wangji already looking at him. His face does not convey any emotion, but his eyes, his eyes are always talking.
“Then you should stay.” Jiang Cheng manages to say, aided by the sheer love he can see in the other man’s eyes. A mirror of his own. “Forever?” He lets out a breath he did not know he was holding when Lan Wangji nods, smiling. “I love you too, Wangji.”
Lan Wangji kisses his lips softly, keeps holding him as he closes his eyes again and lets himself fall asleep, fully aware that when he wakes up, Lan Wangji will still be there.