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Jiang Cheng was late. He was running so damn late, he’d surely miss his bus. Still, he refused to admit defeat. Huffing in annoyance, he shoved book after book into his backpack and hurriedly shut his locker door.
“A-CHENG!” Wei Ying exclaimed from across the hall.
Jiang Cheng turned around and watched as Wei Ying ran towards him waving excitedly with one hand while dragging Nie Huaisang behind him with the other.
“Guys, I’m gonna miss my bus” Jiang Cheng groaned definitely not having time for his best friend’s shenanigans.
“Can’t you just text me?”
“Let’s go watch the boy’s basketball practice!” Wei Ying exclaims and next to him Huaisang rolls his eyes snatching his wrist free from Wei Ying’s grasp.
“I hate it when you blatantly ignore what I’ve said” Jiang Cheng sighs, “A-Ying, I really can’t…I’ve got finals to study for, and I—“
“Jiang Cheng” Wei Ying huffs pouting, “you’re a straight A student, you will be fine! You can spare an hour! I’ll give you a ride home!”
“But—“
“Lan Zhan will be there” Huaisang voices, innocently batting his eyes at Jiang Cheng.
“Okayyy…I fail to see how that’s any of my business” Jiang Cheng says going for nonchalance, but the blush rising to his cheeks gives him away.
“Oh, he’s blushing!” Wei Ying teases tickling Jiang Cheng’s stomach. Huaisang coos and Jiang Cheng sighs.
“You know what, it’s a nice day, I can walk home”, he begins to walk away from the giggling buffoons but is pulled back by a hand on his wrist.
“Come on a-cheng, don’t be like that! Look, jiejie said she was worried you were studying too hard. And she’s right! I haven’t seen you properly in weeks!”
“You have to take a break sometime” Huaisang adds.
“Yes! So come along with us to watch the cute hot seniors and your crush play basketball” Wei Ying winks.
“I don’t even like basketball” Jiang Cheng groans as he’s hauled across the hall by his friends.
“But you like cute boys” Huaisang counters. Jiang Cheng can’t say that he doesn’t.
“And Lan Zhan” Wei Ying laughs.
“I will not and I repeat, will not hesitate in hurting you both” Jiang Cheng warns.
—
Completely unaware of the team’s sudden teasing remarks towards Lan Zhan, Jiang Cheng, Wei Ying and Huaisang make their way up the bleachers in search of the perfect spot with the best view.
“Hey didi, check it out, your boyfriend’s here” Lan Xichen whoops.
“Ah yes, it’s the little angry grape boy!” Nie Mingjue bellows.
“Can we not do this right now? And would you stop being so loud?” Lan Zhan grits slapping his brother’s shoulder.
“Alright, alright. We’re just teasing you A-Zhan” Xichen laughs ruffling Lan Zhan’s hair.
“Can we get on with practice?” he sighs schooling his face into a neutral expression.
“He’s right, come on, everyone let’s play some ball!!” Xichen shouted.
—
“Thought you said this was a practice game” Jiang Cheng snorts. Everyone’s being so intense, despite his lack of knowledge of the sport, Jiang Cheng knows competitiveness.
“Maybe Lan Zhan’s trying to show off for you”
“Wei Ying I swear I will kick you down these bleachers so fast” Jiang Cheng sighs forever done with Wei Ying’s unnecessary comments.
“Oh shit!” someone from the team exclaims, and Jiang Cheng looks up at the same time as someone else yells “WATCH OUT”
Without a warning, a basketball smacks him right in the face, pain blossoming from the tip of his nose and spreading across his entire face. He tumbles backwards with the force of the hit and slips between the cool metal surface of the bleachers.
“OH MY GOD!”
“HOLY SHIT!”
“IS HE OKAY?”
Jiang Cheng registers several voices worrying for his well being all at once, yet all he can do is stare up blankly at the gymnasium ceiling. ‘I just got smacked in the face with a basketball in front of my crush’, Jiang Cheng thinks.
“Fuck, oh god. Jiang Cheng” Lan Zhan says and wait a minute, Lan Zhan?! “Jiang Cheng, I am so, so sorry!” he apologizes profusely leaning over to where Jiang Cheng has fallen. He manages to fit himself in between the tight spot, and carefully helps Jiang Cheng up.
“Fuck” Jiang Cheng groans taking Lan Zhan’s outstretched hand.
“Are you alright?” Wei Ying asks from beside Lan Zhan who is now cradling the back of Jiang Cheng’s head with one hand while the other is still in Jiang Cheng’s grasp.
“No I’m not alright, you asshole! I just basically made out with a freaking pile of leather!” Jiang Cheng wails through blurry vision. He tries to stand but falters right into Lan Zhan’s waiting arms.
“Perhaps I should take you to the infirmary?” Lan Zhan asks.
“Yes, Lan Zhan, please make sure a-cheng gets checked out!” Wei Ying says hurriedly. Lan Zhan nods and helps a stubborn Jiang Cheng down the bleachers and across the halls down to the front office where the infirmary is.
“How’s your face?” Lan Zhan asks quietly keeping a hovering distance between them just in case but wanting to give him space.
“Ever been hit in the face with a basketball?” Jiang Cheng asks with an eyeroll, and winces. A throbbing headache has now formed at the crown of his head and he really needs to lie down.
“Mn”
“Doesn’t feel great, does it” Jiang Cheng huffs.
Lan Zhan agrees. It doesn’t. Thankfully, they reach the nurse’s office in record time.
“Oh wow, why is your face so red!” she exclaims.
“I hit him in the face with a basketball” Lan Zhan winces rubbing the back of his neck.
“Oh my, let me get you some ice and aspirin for that” the nurse says before disappearing really quick leaving them in awkward silence.
“I am really sorry” Lan Zhan apologizes for what feels like the millionth time.
“Seriously, it’s fine. Shit happens” Jiang Cheng says with a shrug.
“I—“ Lan Zhan frowns, “would you—could I make it up to you? Somehow?”
“By kissing it better?” Jiang Cheng blurts out jokingly. Inwardly he screams and face palms. Why would he say that?
“I was thinking like taking you out for ice cream or coffee—but sure”
“Huh?”
“I can kiss it better” Lan Zhan smirks.
“I was—joke, it was a joke” Jiang Cheng tries to scurry away when Lan Zhan inches forward.
“Sure. But I’m flirting with you, so—can I kiss it better?” Lan Zhan asks.
Dumbfounded, Jiang Cheng doesn’t know what to say so he nods. Lan Zhan kisses the tip of his nose and huffs a laugh when Jiang Cheng scrunches his face.
“Where does it hurt?”
“Everywhere, to be honest” Lan Zhan quirks a brow at him and Jiang Cheng realizes what he said.
“MY FACE! LIKE MY FACE EVERYWHERE! NOT LIKE—“
Lan Zhan stops his flailing by pressing a soft chaste kiss to his lips. He pulls away and smiles, catching Jiang Cheng’s pinky in his hand. The nurse comes back with an ice pack, a small cup of water and some aspirin and hands them to Jiang Cheng. He takes all the items gratefully, quickly inhaling the aspirin in hopes if calming down his headache.
“Who is taking you home?” the nurse asks.
“I—"
“I am” Lan Zhan offers easily.
“Ok, he doesn’t seem to be concussed“ the nurse explains as she checks up Jiang Cheng. “Just make sure he doesn’t fall asleep this next hour, get him something light to eat”
Without another word, Lan Zhan takes Jiang Cheng’s hand and takes him home making sure to take his time kissing Jiang Cheng better.