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~ ~ ~
Nie Huaisang had never been suited to his own sect. His steps were far too light for proper grounding in the Nie style, and his fingers were too slender and delicate to hold a saber the correct way to provide power in his strokes.
What he was suited for, however, was being sneaky, subterfuge. Thievery.
He crept quietly into Lan Wangji's room in the dead of night, taking great care to avoid piles of papers and precariously perched instruments that would make such a terrible racket if they were to fall over. Normally he wouldn't come bother the other boy, but Wei Wuxian had made him and Jiang Cheng a bet – that the one of them who could bring back the rarest and hardest to obtain object would have the other two as a slave for a week.
Nie Huaisang was already looking forward to making Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng fetch him ink and papers while he relaxed outside and painted landscapes.
Fortunately, Lan Wangji was sleeping soundly. Unfortunately, he was currently still wearing the item Nie Huaisang had come to steal. He crouched down next to the bed and took a moment to look at the other boy. He wouldn't call him a friend, more of an acquaintance because of their brothers' long friendship. Though from this close, he really did look handsome in the moonlight. Not that he would ever say so aloud.
And speaking of moonlight, it shone upon the boy's brow, highlighting the clouds on his forehead ribbon.
He bit his bottom lip as he lifted a hand toward Lan Wangji's temple. His fingers had almost made contact with white satin when Lan Wangji grumbled something in his sleep – he froze in place, waiting for the boy to stop before continuing on his mission. There, he felt along the ribbon to see where it was fastened, though he had to lean further over Lan Wangji in order to do so.
There was another whisper in Lan Wangji's sleep, and his breaths puffed out against Nie Huaisang's chin and neck. He tried to dismiss the shiver that ran along his spine at the sensation and focus on his task. He found the knot and slowly, carefully pulled at it until the ribbon finally loosened. Once it was completely free, Nie Huaisang gently, oh so gently lifted the ribbon up and away from Lan Wangji's forehead.
He grinned victoriously and wrapped the ribbon around his wrist so that he wouldn't lose it, then stood back up and made his way out of Lan Wangji's room as fast as he could without making any noise.
And then he was outside again.
"Yes," he whispered to himself. "I can't believe I did it. Wei-xiong is going to be so jealous."
He snuck back to his own dorm room and flopped back on his bed, feeling far too giddy to try and fall asleep. He pulled up his sleeve and tugged at the ribbon to unwrap it from his wrist.
It wouldn't budge.
It wasn't tied or knotted in anyway, but the only part of it that would lift was the very end of it. It was as if it was glued to his skin.
Oh no. This was not good at all.
He went over to the wash basin and tried using soap and water, but it had no effect. There was no glue that he could find, nothing to indicate what was making it stick to him. The only thing he could think of was the last thing he wanted it to be – some sort of talisman built into the ribbon, perhaps intended to prevent it from being stolen or to mark the thief.
Fuck.
Perhaps it was temporary. Perhaps it would rub off during the night, or perhaps the spell had a time limit. It couldn't be permanent.
Though... perhaps if he returned the ribbon, it would come loose.
He rose up to the door and was about to open it when he heard voices outside. Damn it. It was after midnight and the guards would be even more watchful, and it would be much harder to go unnoticed with no other sounds to mask his steps. He decided to wait until morning. He could wake up and the ribbon could be released, and he wouldn't have to worry about anything other than claiming his victory in the bet with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. If the ribbon remained stuck to him... well, he would deal with that situation if it came to be.
Somehow, he finally managed to fall asleep.
~ ~ ~
Nie Huaisang sat at his usual seat in Lan Qiren's classroom, absently tugging his long sleeve over his hand as he and his classmates waited for their teacher to arrive. He was late, which was very, very uncharacteristic of him, and it seemed like almost every student had a guess as to why he hadn't arrived yet.
He kept his mouth shut – he knew it likely involved Lan Wangji waking up with his ribbon missing, but he wasn't going to say anything to incriminate himself.
The doors burst open and Lan Qiren strode inside, looking angrier than Nie Huaisang could ever remember seeing him. Every student quieted and watched him walk inside, and at his back were Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji – the latter of which looked furious despite his cold face, and who notably was missing something on his forehead.
For once Lan Wangji looked like just another normal student, no higher and mightier than the rest of them. Despite his anger, it softened him. Nie Huaisang liked it.
Lan Qiren banged his hand on the desk at the front of the class and half the disciples jumped.
"Last night," he began, his eyes moving from one student to another, "someone committed a theft that is near unforgivable, though I suspect they may not understand just what they have done. This person snuck into the private rooms of a Lan disciple and took the emblem of their station, that which we consider most precious and sacred to us." And then Lan Qiren settled his eyes on Wei Wuxian. "And we expect it to be returned immediately."
Wei Wuxian's eyes open wide as his hands lifted defensively. "I swear it wasn't me, Lan Laoshi!"
Lan Qiren's eyes narrowed disbelievingly, but he returned to staring down the rest of the room. "We have our wards up and none can leave Cloud Recesses until we take them down. We will allow the culprit an opportunity to do the right thing and return the ribbon by the end of the day – if it is not returned, we will then begin searching every room in the sect until we find it."
There was a light cough and Lan Xichen stepped forward. "There is a slim possibility that the thief may find they cannot return the ribbon, that it has fastened itself to them and will not come away. If this is the case-"
"Which I doubt it will be," Lan Qiren huffed.
"-then we ask the thief to come to one of us in private. This is a very intimate matter to the Lan that is not known to other sects."
The students began whispering to each other again. Nie Huaisang could feel his face heating up and pulled out his fan to wave over his chest as he often did in class.
"YOU," Lan Wangji growled, staring right at Nie Huaisang... and down to the hand that was holding his fan. The hand with the sleeve that was now dipping down, revealing some of the ribbon wrapped around his wrist. Before he could even think of a response, Lan Wangji stomped over and grabbed his wrist, lifting it up to better show off the ribbon.
"I-I-I-I-I-"
"Way to go, Nie-xiong!" Wei Wuxian crowed and nearly lifted out of his seat if not for Jiang Cheng pulling him back down.
Lan Wangji didn't let go of his wrist, instead using his grip to pull him up from his seat and out of the classroom. He was dragged across the sect grounds and brought right into Lan Qiren's office, and Lan Wangji only released him to indicate where he should kneel.
"I didn't mean anything by it," he whispered. "I was going to give it back. I'm sorry."
"Mn." Lan Wangji was no longer even looking at him, instead keeping his eyes on the wall behind Lan Qiren's desk.
Nie Huaisang's chin dropped to his chest, and he squirmed in place as he waited for whatever punishment was to come.
There were more footsteps before the door banged shut. Lan Qiren went to sit behind his desk and stared down at Nie Huaisang. Lan Xichen was less aggressive – he came over to crouch next to Nie Huaisang and held out a hand.
"May I see your wrist?"
Nie Huaisang nodded and allowed Lan Xichen to look his wrist over. He received a small smile before Lan Xichen patted the ribbon, then rose up to stand by his uncle.
"I'm sorry," Nie Huaisang said before they could begin – punishments were often less painful if he owned up to his part from the very beginning, at least if there was no way to hide what he'd done. "It was just supposed to be a little joke. I didn't mean anything by it, and I was going to give it back."
"You," Lan Qiren began, "have been nothing but trouble from the very beginning of this year's session. You were trouble enough last year, but with Wei-gongzi, you have become completely unmanageable. And unlike Wei-gongzi, you have neither the cultivation nor the scholarly attitude that could make up for it."
Nie Huaisang drooped even further. It wasn't bad enough that he was in trouble, he had to be reminded of his shortcomings as well.
"I would throw you out of here and have you sent back to Qinghe before the end of the day," Lan Qiren continued, "if not for two things. Firstly, Chifeng-zun is highly respected and close to our family, and we would not send you away without notifying him first and giving him the opportunity to retrieve you."
"No!" he cried and looked up in panic. "Please, don't tell Da-ge!"
"Secondly," Lan Qiren said as if Nie Huaisang hadn't spoken. "The fact that the ribbon remains attached to you... complicates matters." And then his eyes lifted from Nie Huaisang to Lan Wangji. "Explain, Wangji."
There was no response from Lan Wangji who hadn't moved from his place at Nie Huaisang's shoulder.
"Didi," Lan Xichen took a step towards his brother, his tone sounding almost playful, teasing. "I believe there is something you might wish to tell us."
Lan Wangji grunted.
Lan Qiren sighed. "There's no use hiding it, Wangji. The evidence is right before us on Nie-er-gongzi's wrist."
Nie Huaisang looked up at Lan Wangji for the first time since kneeling by the desk. The other boy's face was flushed bright red, from the tip of his nose to the shell of his ear. He had no idea what was going on, but he already felt sorry for Lan Wangji, and a part of him wanted Lan Qiren and Lan Xichen to stop for his sake.
When Lan Wangji remained silent, Lan Xichen sighed and looked down to Nie Huaisang with a friendly smile. "I know over the years, Da-ge and I have tried to encourage a friendship between the two of you. I was under the impression that we had not succeeded, but... perhaps the two of you have grown closer?"
He shrugged. "Not that I know of. On previous visits, even last year, I spent a lot of time alone reading or painting in the library or the field outside, and sometimes Lan Wangji would share the space with me either reading or practising music. But this year..." Well, Lan Wangji had grown even more strict, and spent more time chastising Wei Wuxian than doing anything else. Of course he had also been spending more time with his new friends and less time in more quiet areas.
Lan Xichen nodded as if Nie Huaisang had said something enlightening. "Wangji, you need to say something, otherwise I will need to explain to Nie-er-gongzi why your ribbon remains wrapped around his wrist."
Lan Wangji closed his eyes, but he nodded. His lips parted and his fingers grasped the hilt of his sword in a tight grip. "I... do not share space easily. Most people are noise-some. When you are away from others, you are not."
Was that it? Nie Huaisang's brow furrowed.
"And... Nie-er-gongzi is... not unpleasant." That was the closest to a compliment Lan Wangji had ever given Nie Huaisang.
"In other words," Lan Xichen challenged, "you like him." Lan Wangji nodded. "In more ways than one."
Lan Wangji's head dropped, though his eyes had yet to open. "He has a calming presence," he replied. "He... has a sense of self, and despite being surrounded by cultivators, takes pride in other skills and achievements."
Had Nie Huaisang ever heard Lan Wangji speak so much in one day? And about him?
"What else?" Lan Xichen encouraged softly.
"And he is handsome," Lan Wangji whispered.
Nie Huaisang was absolutely stunned. Lan Wangji, one of the Twin Jades and a cultivator that boys and girls alike lusted after, thought that he was handsome?! Had Lan Wangji hit his head on a night hunt, or did he just need glasses?
"Go speak to him," Lan Xichen told his brother as he placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. And then he retreated to Lan Qiren's side.
Lan Wangji turned and stepped over to Nie Huaisang, then dropped down to his knees. He held a hand out palm-up, and without thinking, Nie Huaisang placed his hand in the other boy's. The fingers wrapped gently around his wrist, prompting a small shiver.
"Our ribbons are attuned to us," Lan Wangji explained, his voice just louder than a whisper. "If we... have affection for someone, they are known to be drawn towards that person."
Lan Wangji wouldn't look at him, which was thankful because Nie Huaisang could feel his own face flushing so hot he feared he would self-combust. "I... didn't think you liked me very much, to be honest. It's not that you were rude, but you were always so distant. Though you've always been the one person never to pressure me to practice my saber."
"Nie Huaisang is quiet and perceptive, more intelligent than he shows, and never pushes me to be more social than I am. I did not mind spending time with you as a child. And now that I am older, I have long considered you attractive."
As the words were spoken, the ribbon loosened from around Nie Huaisang's wrist and began unwrapping itself. Lan Wangji took it back once it could be removed, and lifted his hands to fasten it around his forehead, where it belonged.
"Thank you," Nie Huaisang offered – then on a whim, he leaned forward and pecked a small kiss on Lan Wangji's cheek. The surprise on the other boy's face was more than worth it.
"Ahem."
Nie Huaisang had all but forgotten there were others in the room. He took his hands back and lowered his head again, knowing he now had to face whatever punishment Lan Qiren had in store for him. He could sense Lan Wangji standing back up, and a soft hand brushed his shoulder before the other boy moved away.
"Tampering with a Lan's ribbon is normally an offence that would earn one grave consequences," Lan Qiren stated. "But with the extenuating circumstances... We will have to notify Nie-zongzhu that there was an incident, but it will not require his intervention. You may remain in Cloud Recesses for the duration of this year's session."
He hated that his brother would be notified, but his shoulders still relaxed in relief.
"As for your punishment," Lan Qiren lifted a hand to stroke the beard on his chin, "for the next month, you will spend an hour every day assisting Lan Wangji with various duties around Cloud Recesses. I will allow him to manage your punishment in full." He paused, his eyes resting on his nephew before he sighed. "And should Wangji's ribbon appear on your wrist again, it will be considered an open announcement of betrothal, rather a gesture of romantic intent."
Thus far it was all good news... wait a moment, betrothal?!
"Classes have been cancelled for the day," Lan Qiren concluded, "but you are not to laze the day away. I expect you to remain at Wangji's side and assist him with work, or participate in working on your cultivation or your studies."
"Yes, Lan Laoshi," he muttered, then lifted his arms to perform a proper formal bow.
Moments later, he found himself standing outside of Lan Qiren's building side-by-side with Lan Wangji. He glanced aside to the other boy, who seemed to still have a hard time meeting his gaze. He flipped out his fan and playfully waved it over his chest.
"So... you think me handsome, do you?"
Lan Wangji's lips tightened. "We will go to the library, and-"
Nie Huaisang stopped him with a hand on his arm. "I'm pleased," he continued. "That someone as esteemed and dignified as our own Lan Wangji would have such a high opinion of me."
And then he stood on the tips of his toes and leaned up to place another kiss on Lan Wangji's face, but instead of his cheek, he aimed for the corner of his lips.
"The feeling is quite mutual," he admitted, then smiled warmly.
Lan Wangji's lips curved in the closest to a smile Nie Huaisang had ever seen upon them. It was magical and special in its rarity, and his stomach warmed and flipped at the sight.
They spent the rest of the day together in the library, sometimes working together, sometimes painting and playing the guqin at each others' side in an easy silence.
~ ~ ~
The next day, Nie Huaisang dragged Lan Wangji to Wei Wuxian's dorm room and proclaimed himself the winner of the bet.
For the next two weeks, Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng were his slaves, and he happily offered their assistance to Lan Wangji for the duration.
A month later, Lan Qiren nearly had a qi deviation when he corrected a series of tests to find that Nie Huaisang had not just passed, but marked in the top third of the class. He might have suspected foul play had Lan Wangji not assured him that there was no cheating, only the occasional study session.
At the end of the summer, Lan Wangji packed up a qiankun pouch and left with Nie Huaisang, intending to spend some time for a visit to the Unclean Realm. As they walked out of Cloud Recesses hand-in-hand, every Lan noticed that Lan Wangji's ribbon was missing from his forehead – and instead was wrapped again around Nie Huaisang's wrist.
The End