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Jiang Cheng comes down into the kitchen only to find Nie Mingjue staring longingly at the coffee machine.
“Huaisang is home, I take it?” Jiang Cheng asks, as he pours himself a cup, Nie Mingjue’s longing eyes on him the entire time.
“Yes,” Nie Mingjue sighs out. “Good morning to you.”
“Good morning yourself,” Jiang Cheng gives back with a small smile. “Though it doesn’t seem quite so good for you.”
“Shut up,” Nie Mingjue grumbles and then nervously taps his finger on the table.
“You know, you could just leave the sugar out. A cup of coffee is actually quite healthy for a person, I would help you to sell it like that to Huaisang.”
“But without sugar–” Nie Mingjue trails off. “It’s so bitter.”
“And you’re such a baby,” Jiang Cheng immediately shoots back and gets another cup out before he pours Nie Mingjue a cup.
He leaves some space to add a splash of milk to it and then sprinkles a little bit of sugar in it as well, just enough that Nie Mingjue can see it. Jiang Cheng then gives it a good stir and puts the cup down in front of Nie Mingjue.
“Try it,” he encourages him when Nie Mingjue stares distrustfully at it and with one last deep sigh Nie Mingjue takes a sip.
Just from his face Jiang Cheng can tell that he doesn’t exactly love it, but he’s clearly not as disgusted as he thought he would be.
“It’s not–horrible,” Nie Mingjue admits and takes another sip, clearly ready for that good caffeine to hit him.
“It’ll grow on you,” Jiang Cheng promises him and takes another sip from his own black coffee. “Trust me.”
“Huaisang will still kill me for it,” Nie Mingjue grumbles and as if he was summoned they hear Nie Huaisang descend down the stairs.
Nie Mingjue instinctively curls his hand around the cup as if he wants to protect it.
“Da-ge,” Nie Huaisang immediately says as he steps into the kitchen, his eyes zeroing in on the cup without fail. “What is that?”
He has one eyebrow raised, clearly damn well knowing what Nie Mingjue has in his cup.
“It’s coffee,” Jiang Cheng says, sitting down next to Nie Mingjue.
“And why does he have that?” Nie Huaisang asks, his voice now that pleasant tone he always gets before he verbally eviscerates someone.
“Because I gave it to him, Huaisang, and before you start, there’s a dash of milk in it and barely any sugar to make a difference.”
“It’s still not good for him, you know that!” Nie Huaisang reaches for the cup as if he wants to take it away from Nie Mingjue but Jiang Cheng intercepts his hand.
“Stop it,” he says, but he makes a conscious effort to sound gentle.
They all know Nie Huaisang is worried out of his mind after Nie Mingjue collapsed on them but it has to end somewhere.
“One cup of coffee can be healthy. There’s basically no sugar in it. We will monitor his blood pressure and if it spikes after this we can still talk about it, but for the love of the gods, let him have this.”
Nie Huaisang works his jaw, clearly not at all happy with this but then Nie Mingjue turns big, pleading eyes on him and Jiang Cheng watches as Nie Huaisang crumbles like a wet paper bag.
It’s good to know that the puppy eyes run in the family and that Nie Huaisang is not immune to them.
“Didi, please. I promise, one cup per day, and without sugar. I will keep extra track of my blood pressure and we can ask the doctor about it the next time I have a check-up, alright? Just, please. One cup.”
“One,” Nie Huaisang finally bites out and sharply turns away from them. “I’m just–”
“Worried,” Jiang Cheng finishes for him when Nie Huaisang’s voice breaks. “We know that. And we all are, okay? It’s not as if Mingjue is deliberately riding his health into the ground, he has been good recently. Less stress, healthier food and he’s even taking his meds. And I’m here to keep an eye on things even when you are out and I promise you, he keeps to his dietary recommendations. I haven’t caught him with his hand down a bag of chips yet, and you know I would hear it. So give him a break for this one thing.”
Nie Mingjue shoots him a grateful look even as Nie Huaisang still seemingly struggles to get himself back under control.
The last few weeks have been rough on the brothers and Jiang Cheng has to admit that he didn’t come out unaffected either, and moving in with Nie Huaisang and Nie Mingjue just to keep a closer look on Nie Mingjue has been the least of it.
He still sometimes dreams about Nie Mingjue lying unconscious on the kitchen floor.
“Fine,” Nie Huaisang finally agrees and no one mentions his red rimmed eyes when he turns back around to him. “Without sugar.”
“Deal,” Nie Mingjue says and immediately takes another sip.
“And if I catch him cheating your head will roll as well,” Nie Huaisang then says to Jiang Cheng who nods.
“I don’t actually want him to die either, you know,” he still feels the need to say and immediately feels bad for it when Nie Huaisang flinches.
“No one is dying,” Nie Mingjue chimes in, pulling Nie Huaisang over to him so he can hug him. “I promise, I’ve been good and I will continue to be good, alright? I’m doing everything the doctor said. I haven’t even checked my work mail yet because it’s still too early and I’m not yet at work. It’s going to be fine.”
Jiang Cheng bites his tongue at that because they don’t actually know that. The doctors are still unsure what exactly caused Nie Mingjue to collapse though the prevailing theory is stress. Coupled with all the small, normally inconsequential health problems they discovered it simply led to a collapse. Nie Mingjue has endured every test and check-up known to man and Wen Qing had not been nice about those, but still, there was no definite answer.
On the one hand Jiang Cheng is glad for the fact that Nie Mingjue is not terminally ill, but of course the worry persists. It’s not as if they have a solution for the situation right now, either.
“You better not be lying,” Nie Huaisang sniffles out but he lightly slaps Nie Mingjue’s shoulder and so they all know it’s alright.
Jiang Cheng hides his satisfied smile behind his own cup of coffee.
~*~*~
When Jiang Cheng enters Nie Huaisang’s hospital room, he finds Nie Mingjue slumped over at his bedside, fast asleep himself.
Jiang Cheng heaves out a deep sigh, even as the worry falls off him. He’s no longer used to coming home only to find the house empty and dark and it had left him reeling a bit.
Jiang Cheng has always been working from home–which is the main reason he moved in with the Nies, to keep an eye on things when Nie Huaisang has to go out–but after Nie Mingjue collapsed he started to work from home more as well, mostly to not be available all the time and so that he wouldn’t be alone for too long.
So finding the house empty has become something of a rare occasion and without Nie Mingjue telling him where he is, Jiang Cheng might have panicked for a moment.
But only for a moment before common sense kicked back in.
“Mingjue,” Jiang Cheng gently calls out, careful not to wake Nie Huaisang even as he shakes Nie Mingjue awake. “Come on, this can’t be good for your back.”
“Leave me alone,” Nie Mingjue grumbles out, clearly still more asleep than awake and Jiang Cheng refuses to find it endearing how he blinks up at him.
“Nope can’t do,” Jiang Cheng cheerfully says, still mindful of his own volume. “I’m guessing you didn’t eat yet and Huaisang is going to have your head should he find out. So, I brought this.” Jiang Cheng lifts the take-out containers and can’t help but to laugh when Nie Mingjue’s stomach grumbles audibly enough for Jiang Cheng to hear.
“I knew it,” he smugly says and nudges Nie Mingjue until he moves away from the bed.
Jiang Cheng doesn’t miss the worried, lingering look he gives Nie Huaisang but Jiang Cheng doesn’t comment on it.
It has only been two days since the attack and even though Wen Qing had assured them that there is no mortal danger for Nie Huaisang–not anymore–Nie Mingjue is clearly still worried out of his mind.
Understandably so, seeing as they didn’t yet get the person who hurt Nie Huaisang but Nie Mingjue is neglecting his own health and Jiang Cheng has to draw the line somewhere.
Nie Mingjue not sleeping properly can be overlooked, at least as long as he eats.
And Jiang Cheng is going to make sure that he does.
“Here,” Jiang Cheng spreads out the containers, opening all of them after handing Nie Mingjue his chopsticks. “Dig in.”
“I’m not–”
“Do not even finish that sentence,” Jiang Cheng says with a scathing glare and it seems that Nie Mingjue understands just how serious he is about this, because he falls silent and instead takes a morsel out of one of the containers.
If he’s going to peck at his food like a bird it will be a long day, Jiang Cheng thinks but he doesn’t say anything, simply too relieved that Nie Mingjue is eating something at all.
“Did the police contact you?” Jiang Cheng asks between bites but Nie Mingjue shakes his head.
“Not yet. I mean, they will, right? They know where to find us, after all.”
“And they definitely will. I know you haven’t noticed yet but this is making waves. Not only has a public figure been hurt but it also seems as if this is an entire series of hate crimes that the police hasn’t been able to solve yet.”
“More like they didn’t think it important enough to solve yet,” Nie Mingjue grumbles though now he looks even more dejected. “So he was attacked for what? Being openly gay?”
“That’s the prevailing theory,” Jiang Cheng says and he hates the crestfallen look that settles on Nie Mingjue’s face.
“It should have been me then,” he mutters, putting his chopsticks down. “Why couldn’t they attack me instead?”
“Mingjue, you’re not that easy of a target. Everyone knows you work out like crazy, do you really think anyone wants to risk attacking you and then getting their asses kicked? These people are probably not that stupid.”
Jiang Cheng’s words of course do nothing to improve Nie Mingjue’s mood and so he leans over the table.
“Listen, the police is calling in reinforcements, I think they are making this their top priority now. They will find whoever did this to Huaisang and by the time he wakes up we’ll be able to tell him that he doesn’t have to worry about this anymore.”
“Good luck with that,” Nie Huaisang rasps from the bed and Jiang Cheng’s and Nie Mingjue’s heads fly around.
“Didi,” Nie Mingjue breathes out and he moves so fast that it seems as if he teleported to Nie Huaisang’s side. “You’re awake.”
Jiang Cheng doesn’t need to see his face to know that he’s crying and he decides to hang back for now to give the brothers at least the illusion of privacy.
“How are you feeling?” Nie Mingjue wants to know.
“Ouch,” is Nie Huaisang’s only reply and Jiang Cheng snorts at that, making Nie Huaisang look over at him before his eyes narrow when he sees the containers in front of Jiang Cheng.
“That better be healthy,” Nie Huaisang mutters, making Nie Mingjue laugh wetly.
“Didi, really, now is not the time for that.”
“It’s always time for your health,” Nie Huaisang shoots back even as he lets out a pained groan when he tries to push himself up. “Help me, will you,” he then asks Nie Mingjue who carefully manoeuvres him into a sitting position.
“It’s not as healthy as it could be,” Jiang Cheng admits when Nie Huaisang then expectantly stares at him. “But at least it’s something he’s eating. Huaisang, honestly, you know I have an eye on things, a little trust wouldn’t hurt you,” Jiang Cheng sighs out as he makes his way over to the other side of the bed. “We were worried out of our minds,” he tells him, reaching for his hand and simply holding on, much like Nie Mingjue is doing on the other side.
“I’m fine now,” Nie Huaisang mumbles, even as his eyes fall shut with exhaustion.
He’s clearly not fine at all, but Jiang Cheng is not going to comment on it for now. It’s to be expected that Nie Huaisang isn’t yet doing good, but at least he’s no longer in danger of dying and Jiang Cheng supposes they have to be grateful for the small things.
He just really wishes the brother’s could get a break one of these days.
“No, you’re not,” Nie Mingjue chokes out, careful not to squeeze Nie Huaisang’s hand too much as the tears drop down his face and Jiang Cheng goes over to him, if only so that he can be a steadying and reassuring presence at Nie Mingjue’s side.
“But you will be,” Jiang Cheng says, because they have to believe that and Nie Huaisang snorts a little bit at that.
“’course I will be,” he slurs out, sluggishly blinking at them. “But your health.”
“Is well taken care of, trust me,” Jiang Cheng chimes in before Nie Mingjue can say anything. “And to prove it, too, I have some Huaisang-approved snacks right here,” Jiang Cheng says and reaches for the one bag still hidden away.
They found out early on that Nie Mingjue doesn’t particularly care for these snacks but the temptation to reach for something only to snack mindlessly on it is too strong to stop him. It’s a win-win situation, really, even if Nie Mingjue doesn’t see it like that.
“Good.” Nie Huaisang nods, clearly satisfied despite his exhaustion.
Jiang Cheng waited for just that moment.
“And there are enough for you, too,” he then tells him with a huge, winning smile. It makes Nie Mingjue snort and Nie Huaisang stare at him in a panic.
“I think I’d like to see the doctor now,” he whispers out and Jiang Cheng nods.
“Sure thing. These won’t go bad any time soon,” he promises and when Nie Huaisang groans in despair Nie Mingjue laughs.
It’s the first time Jiang Cheng heard him laugh since the attack and he’s going to treasure this moment for a very long time.
~*~*~
“Uuhh, you made my favourite!” Nie Huaisang yells out as he steps into the kitchen, the smell alone clearly already cluing him in on what’s going to be for dinner today.
“We have to celebrate your clean bill of health, right?” Nie Mingjue asks from the stove and Jiang Cheng sighs.
He understands that Nie Mingjue wants to do something nice for Nie Huaisang, wants to celebrate the fact that the attack left no lingering damage, but he disapproves of the methods.
“You’re the best brother ever,” Nie Huaisang sighs out as he slumps at the table and Jiang Cheng bonks him on the head.
“This doesn’t mean you get to slack off, though. Up, help me set the table.”
“Ugh, you’re such a nagging housewife,” Nie Huaisang grumbles though he does get up and does what Jiang Cheng told him to do.
Jiang Cheng’s eyes briefly dart over to Nie Mingjue but he still has his back to them and so it’s hard for Jiang Cheng to tell what his face looks like.
“Get ready,” Nie Mingjue warns them and it spurs Nie Huaisang on to set the table extra fast.
Jiang Cheng watches him in amusement before he sits himself down.
Not a moment too soon, either, because then Nie Mingjue is there with the stew and Nie Huaisang seems ready to vibrate out of his skin with anticipation.
“Fuck, yes,” he whispers as the smell of the dish hits him and Jiang Cheng would love to join in on that because he too would sell his siblings for this stew but he knows that it costs Nie Mingjue.
And he thinks maybe it’s time Nie Huaisang figures it out as well, if only so that he stops nagging at Nie Mingjue when he barely finishes his bowl.
Jiang Cheng waits until Nie Mingjue has ladled food into all of their bowls before he holds his hands out for Nie Mingjue’s bowl.
“Give it here,” he says and even though Nie Mingjue frowns at him, he dutifully hands it over.
Jiang Cheng is aware that both Nie brothers are watching him with hawk eyes, but he’s not deterred. He puts Nie Mingjue’s bowl down right next to his own and then he starts to fish out as many of the mushrooms as he can.
It’s kind of a futile thing to do, seeing how this is a mushroom stew, but Jiang Cheng is determined to get at least three-fourths of them, if only so that Nie Mingjue can eat this a little bit easier.
“What are you doing?” Nie Huaisang suspiciously asks and Jiang Cheng barely spares him a glance.
Nie Mingjue is suspiciously quiet at his side.
“I’m picking out the mushrooms,” he states the obvious and Nie Huaisang scoffs at that.
“But those are the best part of the stew! Why are you robbing da-ge of that?”
“Huaisang, I love you, but please be a little less self-centred for just a minute,” he sighs out, careful to keep his voice gentle. “Mingjue hates mushrooms.”
“What? That’s not true!”
“Mingjue?” Jiang Cheng asks, because he knows that Nie Huaisang has to hear it from Nie Mingjue directly.
“It’s just—” Nie Mingjue starts and Jiang Cheng levels him with a look.
“Just tell the truth,” he encourages him, and Nie Mingjue slumps over.
“Fine, I fucking hate mushrooms.”
“But, but, you love this dish,” Nie Huaisang says, already trailing off at the end, clearly realizing that he might be wrong here.
“No, you do. And I know you do, so I make it for you. It’s just—I really do hate mushrooms. I can’t stand the texture of them.”
“And it’s not helping that you keep yelling at him to eat more of this when he only picks at it,” Jiang Cheng chimes in, handing Nie Mingjue his hopefully mostly mushroom free bowl back. “There you go. Should be easier now.”
Nie Mingjue doesn’t take the bowl and instead looks from it to Jiang Cheng and back.
“What are you doing?” he then asks and Jiang Cheng thinks that should be obvious but he humours Nie Mingjue anyway.
“I’m making sure you can eat some of this,” he tells him but Nie Mingjue shakes his head.
“No, I mean—in general. With this, the moving in part and the coffee and back in the hospital—why do you always take note of these things? Why do you always take care of me?”
Jiang Cheng suppresses a snort but he also figures that this is his chance. He’s overly aware of Nie Huaisang’s bright eyes on them but Jiang Cheng soldiers on.
“But you do the same, do you not?” Jiang Cheng asks, thinking back to the last time he was so engrossed in his work that he forgot to eat for almost the entire day, only to find a bowl with snacks right next to him, clearly prepared by Nie Mingjue. And that had only been one instance.
“Yeah, but I do those because I’m in love with you!” Nie Mingjue almost yells out before his eyes go big and Jiang Cheng nudges the bowl closer to him.
“Well, would you please take a fucking hint then,” he gives back, expectantly looking at Nie Mingjue.
Nie Huaisang snorts at the other end of the table.
“You—what?”
“Da-ge, please,” Nie Huaisang says with despair and Jiang Cheng tries his best to hide his smile. “You’re not that dense.”
“You’re in love with me, too?” Nie Mingjue breathes out, clutching the bowl close to his chest as if it’s the most precious thing he has ever laid his hands upon.
“Duh,” Jiang Cheng deadpans and then softens it with a smile. “Of course I am.”
“Oh,” Nie Mingjue whispers and then abandons the bowl to reach for Jiang Cheng’s hand.
“There we go,” Nie Huaisang says, completely self-satisfied as if he was the driving force behind this and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes at him even as he intertwines his fingers with Nie Mingjue’s.
“Eat, my soul,” he simply says and he does notice the faint blush on Nie Mingjue’s face before he digs into his food, but Jiang Cheng is not going to mention it.
They will have time to talk about this later—without Nie Huaisang watching their every move—but for now Jiang Cheng is more than happy to simply watch Nie Mingjue eat.