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“It’s just for one night”, Wei Wuxian’s voice sounded lowly, more likely a whimper or a growl - Jiang Cheng didn’t remember exactly which applied the best for the first time that he heard those words from the other boy’s lips.
They had a habit. Whenever they had a free night they could spend together without a single person around them, they’d circumambulate the Lotus Pier. There was no special reason other than to walk side by side and stare at the stars.
In one particular night the sky was clean, painted in a very dark and yet clear purplish blue tone. Some stars were hanging here and there, not too much to be considered fancy or whatever word Wei Wuxian would use to describe how he’d felt watching all those shining little dots of distant gas explosions.
Jiang Cheng would be lying if he said he could remember the first time their fingers brushed against each other’s during one of those walks. He’d never know if he had caused that or if it was his brother’s fault; nor if it was an actual accident. All he knew was that it had happened once more.
And it happened again.
And again.
And again.
Until he himself angrily grabbed the older boy's hand, claiming the black clothed one to be too much trouble to walk so close to. Wei Wuxian thought Jiang Cheng was mad at him for ending up bumping on him so many times, especially for all the times their hands would end up touching, but to his surprise his hand hadn’t met the cold breeze again: Jiang Cheng didn’t let go of his hand.
The night after that, once again in one of those walks in the Lotus Pier, Wei Wuxian dared to allow himself to purposefully touch the side of Jian Cheng’s hand. It was a slight touch, just his pinky softly sliding on the back of the other boy’s hand for one or two seconds. Jiang Cheng, once more, didn’t pull his hand away. And to his surprise once again, Jiang Cheng loosened the position of his own fingers, letting his own pinky brush softly on Wei Wuxian’s.
There was no one there to watch them.
There was no reason for him to hold back on what he had been intending to do for so long.
So he slowly, with stuttering movements, slided his whole hand above Jiang Cheng’s, covering the boy’s skin with his own. All Jiang Cheng did was twist his hand a little so their palms could meet and then they’d be able to slowly intertwine their fingers.
And it happened again.
And again.
And again.
One night, though, Jiang Cheng didn’t seem interested in being in Wei Wuxian’s company. Not that that had stopped him from chasing his brother - of course it’d take him way more than just Jiang Cheng not meeting him at the garden.
So Wei Wuxian waited until he was sure everyone else was fast asleep and knocked on Jiang Cheng’s door. Of course he’d be in his room. And of course he would still be awake.
— Ah, there you are. - the younger one said with a grin, pointing his index finger at the purple clothed boy.
— Of course I’m here. Where else would I be after a whole week out working for the Nie sect? - Jiang Cheng answered as lowly as he could, not failing in making it noticeable how mad he was.
He had slight dark circles under his eyes; his hair was messy for he was laying down minutes ago, in an attempt to sleep peacefully for (at least) that one night.
— Come on, let’s take a walk!
Jiang Cheng shushed him. He couldn’t be any more unsatisfied by the enthusiastic, loud invitation. Not that he didn’t want to; he was just too tired to do anything.
— First, be quiet. Everyone else is sleeping right now. - he called out; and Wei Wuxian noodled slowly, smiling naughtily at him. Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. — Besides, you better go back to your room. I know you won’t want to walk all by yourself, and I’m tired. - he saw Wei Wuxian opening his lips, obviously ready to argue. — I’m really tired. All energy left in me is only enough for me to carry my body back to bed.
— Fine. Then I’m staying.
— Staying where?
— In your room, of course.
— What for? - Jiang Cheng asked in complete confusion. — Wei Wuxian, I’ve literally just told you I need to sleep.
— Yes. And I’m telling you I’m staying. I’m sleeping in your bed tonight, then we both get to stay together and get a well deserved night of rest.
— Are you crazy? - Jiang Cheng did his best to not speak loudly at Wei Wuxian. — What if someone finds out? What if my mother finds out? - his eyes widened at the mere idea of having to confront his own mother after someone found them sharing a bed.
— They won’t know. We always outsmart them.
Jiang Cheng tried, but, of course, he didn’t win this argument with Wei Wuxian.
When he noticed what was actually happening, the doors of his room were already locked; he was laying on his side to be able to look at that brat on his bed; and Wei Wuxian was furtively placing his hand over he younger boy’s hip - not forgetting to cover both of them with the thin blanket before that.
— This is a mistake. - Jiang Cheng cried, allowing himself to show the fear that was consuming him.
— It’s just for one night. - Wei Wuxian muttered to him, softly running his fingers against the silk fabric of Jiang Cheng’s sleeping robe in a successful attempt to caress his waist.
— Wei Wuxian, I…
Wei Wuxian waited for Jiang Cheng to finish his sentence, but it never happened. He didn’t know it, but the light of the moon was illuminating his skin, accentuating his beauty in a way Jiang Cheng would never find words to explain it properly.
Because it wasn’t simply the look of that silver light caressing Wei Wuxian’s skin. It was also way more than how the lightning made his eyes sparkle.
Jiang Cheng felt something. It was intense; something he wanted to be able to vocalize, to explain, to describe. He couldn’t even comprehend it properly himself.
In his completely innocent actions, unaware of why the boy in front of him went speechless all of a sudden, Wei Wuxian smiled at him. He found it curious, to say the least. It was funny somehow.
As if Jiang Cheng hadn’t had enough of that boy so far… Ah, he was mesmerized!
Jiang Cheng got close. Too close, before Wei Wuxian even had the time to process the words he was going to use to ask Jiang Cheng what on Earth was going on. Their lips brushed; touched completely.
Jiang Cheng ran his hand to Wei Wuxian’s nape, rushing his fingers through his dark long hair, pulling him closer while Wei Wuxian allowed himself to hold Jiang Cheng's body firmly.
It was a kiss. A goodnight kiss which both of them waited way too long to happen.
And it happened again.
And again.
And again.