Work Text:
Lan Wangji checked his mask one last time before stepping inside the café.
The warm air hits him as soon as he opens the door, the noises spilling into the winter streets outside.
Still, the bells chimed, and no one glanced his way. He breathes out an imaginary sigh of relief.
Not so soon, his brain unhelpfully reminds.
The café is warm, with soft yellow lights hung up in the corners and glass walls letting in the natural daylight. It has a semi-circular sitting area, with space in the middle leading from the front door to the counter. The space is crowded. After all, this establishment is located at the corner of the shopping complex. That much is understandable.
The menu, when he looked at it, was done in beautiful calligraphy with chalk.
He didn't expect them to have the order he always had in the café near his apartment. But he wished they had something similar.
He always preferred his usual café over any other shop. Another plus point was the help that came from the staff when people recognized him accidentally.
But today, this will have to do. His work had taken him to this faraway town of Yiling, and he was desperate to escape and carve out a small chunk of time for himself.
To his surprise, he saw some very unorthodox options up there.
But it had been a draining day, and Lan Wangji didn't want to put up with a drink he didn't somehow like.
Lan Wangji mentally marked a simple order for himself and shuffled into the queue.
The barista was polite when it was his turn. He took his order and sounded a little apologetic, as if he could read his little discomfort for noises. The concern surprised him, but it also warmed his insides.
When he stepped aside after giving his order, he came up with another issue.
An important one.
One he should've accounted for before.
There was hardly any space left to sit.
His eyes roamed the large and crowded shop from one corner to another. Every unoccupied seat from the first glance had a bag or two already placed on them.
Mindful people who must be ordering now.
He spent one whole minute looking around, already contemplating if he should've asked them to make his order to go. At least then he could've searched for some park or public area nearby.
A server cleared his throat beside him and pointed him to a vacant seat. He muttered his thanks when he saw where the server was pointing at.
It wasn't vacant per se. But a man was sitting alone on a table made for two individuals.
Now, he just had to ask.
Yes, ask.
When he moved towards the table, he noticed that the man was working on his laptop, which had initially been hidden from view.
The stranger wore his hair up in a ponytail, tied with a red ribbon which trailed down his shoulders.
That was all Lan Wangji could see as he approached from behind.
Then he noticed that the man was also wearing earphones.
This was going to be awkward.
"Is this seat available?" he didn't expect to get an answer.
A moment later he tapped two fingers on the table surface and pointed at the chair when the man looked at his hand.
He didn't get an answer. The stranger glanced up instead and blinked.
He stiffened unconsciously.
The stare was gone as soon as it came, and an affirmative reply made its way to him.
The man once again focused on his laptop, his hands typing away at an impressive rate while he listened to whatever he was listening to.
Lan Wangji moved to the vacant seat.
He didn't have his usual notepad or books he carried when he waited for his orders.
Today it was just him, his brain, the handsome stranger and a loud crowd.
Not a good combination for relaxing if you ask him.
He looked at his hands on the table with nothing better to do on his mind.
People considered it rude if someone stared for too long at a person, worse if it were a stranger.
Hell, Lan Wangji himself didn't like to be stared at.
"Look at it Nie-Xiong!" the loud voice startled him. He looked up at the stranger, who was grinning.
Any inner monologue about that smile was interrupted by the arrival of his order.
"You still need to send me the material though," the other man continued, "and please don't forget the sources."
Oh, so he was on a call.
The other man stretched his hands above his head, blinking sleep out of his eyes.
Lan Wangji stiffened his own yawn when the other man yawned.
He had read somewhere about the urge to yawn when the person they are looking at does it.
Was the stranger trying to check who was staring? No, he very much looked like he could use a good sleep. Or rest his eyes.
Lan Wangji focused on his tea.
The same lady who had given him his order approached their table again.
Lan Wangji was confused until he saw her wordlessly slide a vegetable wrap on the table, just beside the stranger's laptop. The stranger, still rubbing his one eye with the heel of his hand, took a moment to notice her presence.
But when he did, his eyes widened and his face settled into a pout.
Dangerous.
"Popo I am not a child," he whined.
"Yes, you are, Wuxian."
"I am not…You let me take advantage of your hospitality too much."
Lan Wangji hid his amused reaction at the tone. The gleaming eyes of the old lady told him how bad a job he did at it.
"And you've done enough." She said as she looked back at the stranger- Wuxian.
"I didn't…" he trailed off sheepishly and half-sleepily, muffling another yawn in his sleeves.
Yes, sleeves. The man was wearing an over-sized red hoodie. His hands were fully engulfed inside it.
The old lady raised an eyebrow. She looked like she was used to having her way in ensuring this particular youth ate timely.
Lan Wangji was enjoying his break very much.
"But popo-" the pout returned in full force.
"I'm going to call fourth uncle if you don't finish it."
"At least he will get me some of his wine," Wuxian grumbled under his breath.
But it seemed as if the old lady heard him, while another server laughed a table away.
"It's not served in the morning, and certainly not here." The other server, a man in his mid-fifties, maybe, said.
"Sad" Wuxian replied.
There was a genuine fallen expression there.
The teasing smile of the old lady indicated otherwise. Maybe Lan Wangji was the soft-hearted fool here.
They seemed to bicker back and forth, talking like they knew each other as well as family.
It made him feel happy, making him miss his own family's atmosphere. A part of him felt like an intruder here.
"And who is this gentleman with you today?"
Lan Wangji's eyes snapped up.
Wuxian finally met his eyes.
They seemed to widen as if taking him fully for the first time now.
A part of Lan Wangji's brain helpfully supplied that he wasn't wearing his mask.
Horror spread inside his chest.
"Huh? - No. No, he isn't with me…." Wuxian trailed off.
Lan Wangji didn't pay him any attention. He ducked his face, thankful for his long hair, which was only half up today.
The old lady left after a while, patting Wuxian on the back and making him promise to finish his wrap.
Lan Wangji didn't dare look up. He tried finishing his snacks quickly.
"Hi. I'm uh- I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable right now. I'm Wei Wuxian- uh I don't want to sound creepy- I'm really sorry-"
"It's okay, I'm Lan Zhan."
"Oh"
Is his cover blown up?
He did use his given name with an intention for it not to.
"Oh okay. Lan Zhan! You can call me Wei Ying then?" The other man squeaked?
Wei Ying sounded unsure but Lan Wangji still replied with a Mn.
Maybe it's still not.
When he looks up after composing himself, he is rewarded with a brilliant smile. The silver eyes gleam happily, as if Lan Wangji isn't just a stranger at a cafe but a long time friend.
He doesn't think he would mind this man's friendship- anyship-
Get a hold of yourself!
But he thinks it's true.
He wouldn't.
Minutes turn to hours and the café turns into a park.
His good feeling about getting to know the stranger doesn't change.
His manager, miraculously, gives him the rest of the day off once he gathers enough courage to ask for it.
Between the date-not-date, while sightseeing the town, he realizes the stranger-not-so-stranger-now doesn't mind getting to know him either.