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“You know that Jiang Wanyin doesn’t have a mark right?” One of his unfamiliar disciple’s voices asked.
“Since Lanling Jin's celebration last year courtesy of Wei Wuxian.” Wen Chao snickered, “Doubt that loser will ever get one.”
“No, he does. I’ve seen it.” Another voice that Lan Wangji thought he did recognize but couldn’t place. He was quite sure that it was another one of Wen Chao’s lackeys. Lan Wangji froze from where he was trying to put on his robes from stepping out of the pool he’d been relaxing in. He hadn't expected to hear gossip about Jiang Cheng, of all people. Most only had good things to say about him.
“What? Where? When?” The unfamiliar disciple demanded to know.
“He’s lying!” Wen Chao huffed.
“The hell I am. I mean…I saw a mark on his thigh -”
“You mean his tattoo? He’d gotten it two years ago during the conference in Lotus Pier.” Wen Chao sounded exasperated. “It’s of his mother’s spiritual weapon wrapped around his thigh. You can see the head of the snake resting on his lower rib when wears archery robes.”
“Oh.” The unfamiliar disciple sounded disappointed and Lan Wangji couldn’t be more pleased. That meant that the man hadn’t been doing what he thought he had been. Which was watching Jiang Cheng bathe. It’d be the only time that one would see the soulmate mark unless they were being intimate with him. Which he had the pleasure of being the only that was. Jiang Cheng had promised him and unlike Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng kept his word.
There was some sloshing of water and Lan Wangji refocused on getting dressed. Unlike the Wen heathens that were gossiping he had somewhere to be. He just hoped that Jiang Cheng hadn’t minded the wait. He had to wait for some of shidi’s to complete their tasks. He quietly made his way from the pool towards his jingshi. Yes he could have bathed there but he wanted Jiang Cheng to have a place that was quiet when he returned from his conversation with Wei Wuxian about what happened in the study hall.
He can’t just do whatever he damn well pleases. I need to get it through his skull that his actions affect everyone . Jiang Cheng had vented before stomping off to chide his future shixiong.
To his surprise the only light coming from his residence was the lantern by the door letting Lan Wangji know that Jiang Cheng was inside. He slipped inside, toeing out of his boots prior to continuing into his home. The curtains that divided his private sleeping area fluttered, signaling the window was still open. There was also soft snoring. Lan Wangji smiled as he approached the bed.
Jiang Cheng was curled up on his side in the middle of the bed. His long raven hair splayed out. Instead of being fully dressed, he donned only his inner robe and trousers. Lan Wangji looked over to find the younger boy’s outer robe and sash neatly on the rack near the bed. So his boyfriend had planned on staying the night. Which meant that Wei Wuxian had pissed him off.
“Wanyin.” Lan Wangji whispered, smiling fondly as Jiang Cheng responded by tilting his head towards his voice. He wasn’t awake but the instinct to react to him was there. Lan Wangji allowed himself the pleasure of sitting on the bed to allow him to reach out to gently brush the silky strand of hair from Jiang Cheng’s face to behind his ear. Jiang Cheng was stunning and when he was sleeping he was the ethereal he’d heard them whisper about himself.
If only they knew about his own mark on his collar bone. The vibrant soul mark was hard to hide with low collar robes. Which is why he’d taken to high collar ones. The layers of white kept his mark greedily to himself unless he was communally bathing.
The touch though had Jiang Cheng stirring. “Hey.’ Jiang Cheng sleepily slurred. “You took a while. Everything okay, Lan Zhan?”
“Yes.” Lan Wangji said after a few moments. He loved hearing his name from Jiang Cheng. When his boyfriend rolled onto his back, smiling at him while waiting for an answer prompted him to continue. “I got held up because I was listening to some foolish whispers.”
“Oh? What about?” Jiang Cheng asked though Lan Wangji was sure Jiang Cheng thought it was going to be about the spectacle that Wei Wuxian had caused. Well..it sort of was… just wasn’t the more recent one.
“Your mark. Well your lack of one…” Lan Wangji stopped speaking for a moment to just take in Jiang Cheng snort in amusement as he turned more into Lan Wangji. “...is of great discussion amongst the ones who’ve not found their soulmate.”
“Ah, I see. My lack of one.” Jiang Cheng smirked as they both knew where his soul mark was. “Love those rumors.”
“A good one till we can talk to Shifu and Sect Leader Jiang.” Lan Wangji replied, leaning down to press a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s forehead. The rumor would be good for them until they finish their studies then they would talk to their family’s. Neither wanted someone to blame their studies or try to get their marks removed because they are too young.
“Agreed.” Jiang Cheng wrapped an arm around Lan Wangji to pull the older boy down onto the bed. He rolled them to where Lan Wangji was on his back and Jiang Cheng shamelessly used him as a pillow. Unable to resist, he slipped his hand beneath the gauzy sleeping robe to trace his mark on the older boy’s collar bone. Jiang Cheng shivered, feeling the warmth of their bond.
They needed time and both were willing to wait despite the rumors and what may come from Jiang Cheng’s parents.