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Lan Wangji wouldn’t necessarily say he and Nie Huaisang are friends. More accurately, they are two younger brothers whose older brothers just so happened to be the best of friends. As such, they were often paired together on inter-sect trips. Really, they are more familiar acquaintances rather than friends. Lan Wangji knows what Nie Huaisang’s favorite foods are and his preferences in jewelry makers. Likewise, Nie Huaisang is privy to Lan Wangji’s favorite authors and (after one unfortunate pubescent incident) his preferences in men. They have secrets between each other and can calmly spend time together. But Lan Wangji has never exchanged letters with Nie Huaisang nor sought out his company. So, they are not friends.
This is all to say that Lan Wangji, nearing seventeen years old, finds himself debating if he’s familiar enough with Nie Huaisang to tell him to shut up and accept that Jiang Wanyin has a crush on him.
As it currently stands, he’s in the middle of the forest on Phoenix Mountain and he has made the unfortunate discovery of Nie Huaisang crying on the forest floor. To make matters worse, he’s been spotted, and he’s too familiar with Nie Huaisang to be able to politely leave. So now he’s sitting next to his childhood friend (more accurately ‘person he has been affiliated with since childhood’) and listening to Nie Huaisang expound upon all of Jiang Wanyin’s good qualities.
In truth, Lan Wangji thinks that all of Jiang Wanyin’s bad qualities outscore whatever good he has. Case in point: he has not confessed to Nie Huaisang.
“Do you know what he said to me when we finally had some time alone?” Nie Huaisang says. Lan Wangji already knows the answer, his acquaintance has repeated it twice by now. But he stays quiet so Nie Huaisang can continue with, “‘You look pretty!’ Nobody says I’m pretty except the girls when they’re being mean! And da-ge, but he’s usually angry at me, though I think he means it as a compliment? But, you know what? I am pretty! I am incredibly pretty! I can give any maiden a run for her money! So, what do you think he meant by that, Hanguang-jun? Was he being nice? He ran off right after, so I can’t ask him!”
Currently, Lan Wangji is wondering if he can convince Nie Huaisang to return to the base of the mountain so they can play weiqi. That usually shuts him up.
“Hanguang-jun! I asked you a question!”
He concludes that it is unlikely he can convince Nie Huaisang to leave this spot any time soon, so Lan Wangji replies, “He was complimenting you.”
“Eh? No way, no way.” Nie Huaisang shifts so that he is sitting with his legs stretched out. “Why would Jiang-xiong dare to compliment me?”
It bothers Lan Wangji that his acquaintance would ask such a thing. He knows of Nie Huaisang’s low aptitude for cultivation, but he has never seen that as something to be ashamed of. And Jiang Wanyin would be an irredeemable fool if he didn’t agree. Besides his penchant for complaining, Lan Wangji cannot think of anything Nie Huaisang should think of himself as lesser for.
“Why wouldn’t he compliment you?” Lan Wangji asks in turn.
“Oh, must I say it aloud, Hanguang-jun?” Nie Huaisang sighs. He worries at his bottom lip until eventually mumbling, “I’m useless. I only live such a good life due to status.”
“No you are not,” Lan Wangji retorts, somewhat louder than he intended.
Nie Huaisang’s eyes go large. “Not what…?”
“Useless.” Lan Wangji stands up and begins to brush his robes off of forest foliage. “Nie-er-gongzi is very capable.”
Nie Huaisang hurries to stand next to him. “I’m afraid I don’t understand—”
“I can never win against you in weiqi. You are very smart.”
Nie Huaisang grins, impish. “And…?”
Lan Wangji does not roll his eyes, but he comes very close to it. “Jiang-gongzi has reason to compliment you. Do not doubt yourself.”
He begins to walk away, but Nie Huaisang does not let him go very easily. In fact, he latches a surprisingly strong grip to Lan Wangji’s arm and walks with him. “I didn’t know Lan-xiong could be so kind. I have learned something new today.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji would free himself but, well, this is nice. Usually only Xichen would dare to hold his arm like this. The new experience is welcome.
Still, though, it seems that Nie Huaisang is not without worry yet. Some minutes into their walk, his friend speaks up again. “Lan-xiong, between us cutsleeves, how do you know you’ve fallen for man? I’ve read so many romance novels, yet… I’m certain it’s different for us.”
A red ribbon, a bright smile, an over-delighted laugh—they flash into his mind alongside a tightness in his chest, a sinking denial and knowledge that something he wants is disappearing by the day. He swallows it all down and adjusts his grip on his sword. “I do not know.”
“Lying is forbidden for the Lans.”
“I am not lying.”
Nie Huaisang stops. Lan Wangji stops with him. Eyes bore into the side of his head, but he stares resolutely ahead. The forest is beautiful in fall.
“Oh, Lan-xiong, I—”
“Watch out!”
With the shout, a spirit crashes through the woods, followed by a talisman-carrying arrow. Lan Wangji steps aside, pulling Nie Huaisang towards and down with him. The arrow passes through the spirit, the talisman catching on the its form. The talisman burns while the spirit releases its death wail. In seconds, the spirit is no more while the Jiang contingent (minus Wei Wuxian and a few disciples) appear before them.
“Are you hurt?” Jiang Wanyin asks. Lan Wangji knows he is not asking him.
“We’re fine!” Nie Huaisang answers. He stands up, taking Lan Wangji with him. “Your call was well-timed, Jiang-xiong!”
Jiang Wanyin gives Nie Huaisang a careful once-over. You would have to be a fool—or Nie Huaisang—to not notice the way relief pulls his shoulders down and how infatuation catches his breath. Lan Wangji will admit—Nie Huaisang is an exemplary pick for a cultivation partner. Jiang Wanyin should count himself lucky.
In truth, Lan Wangji knows intimately the many reasons why Jiang Wanyin has not made his affections known. They are all heirs. They know beyond any doubt what is expected of them, of the families they are expected to carry on. There is also the rarity of their sexuality. One’s orientation is not so easily discovered. He and Nie Huaisang only know each other’s due to that unfortunate pubescent incident. And Nie Huaisang is not a cutsleeve, not fully, not truly—he has the luxury of an eye for women. It occurs to the Lan Wangji that perhaps this is only a problem for himself and Jiang Wanyin, then—the knowledge that rationally they are not the first choice, if they are a choice at all.
Still, though. There is a red ribbon, a bright smile, an over-delighted laugh that sticks in every fiber of his being. He cannot stand to know there is at least one tragedy he can help avoid.
He puts a hand on Nie Huaisang’s back and pushes him towards Jiang Wanyin. “Nie-er-gongzi lost his contingent. It would be best if you remained with him for the rest of the night hunt.” Without waiting for a response, Lan Wangji turns and walks away.
From behind, he hears his friend call out to thank him. It’s nice, knowing he may have been able to help.