#eldritch!au

Jiang Cheng frowns at it. He’s not wearing it at the Cloud Recesses, because everyone kept staring at it, and besides. With Lan Xichen at his side he doesn’t have need for it, especially not since they are barely even leaving the Cloud Recesses lately, too busy with the preparations for the big celebration.

“Xichen,” Jiang Cheng starts, but his fingers curl obediently around Zidian when Lan Xichen closes his hand over it.

“I want you to wear it tomorrow,” Lan Xichen mumbles and Jiang Cheng’s stomach twists with nerves.

“Why?” he asks, because tomorrow of all days he thought it would be peaceful.

He doesn’t understand completely, because Lan Xichen clearly lacks the words to describe it, but tomorrow is their most sacred holiday and everyone has been preparing for it for the last week.

It’s what had Lan Xichen so busy all day, after all.

“Tomorrow is a celebration,” Jiang Cheng says, because that is what he took away from Lan Xichen’s explanation and Lan Xichen nods.

“Yes, it is,” he agrees. “And every Lan-born will be celebrating in a place you won’t be allowed to enter.”

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng slowly agrees, because he still can’t see how that would warrant wearing Zidian again.

He doubts the other disciples would attack him, while Lan Xichen is away.

“And everyone else will be busy celebrating in Caiyi Town as well,” Lan Xichen goes on, his eyes still more on Zidian than on Jiang Cheng. “They might not be privy to the real celebration, but they get the spirit.”

“And I should wear Zidian for this because–,” Jiang Cheng trails off here, hoping that Lan Xichen will fill in the gaps.

“Because it’s one of the few things that can hurt us,” Lan Xichen finally explains and Jiang Cheng’s hand tightens on instinct around Zidian.

“What?” he gets out, because Lan Xichen sure as hell never mentioned this before.

“It’s one of the old weapons. One of the very few that are still left. I don’t know if it was specifically designed to hurt us, but it can.”

“And you want me to wear this tomorrow,” Jiang Cheng slowly says, still not completely understanding what is going on.

“Yes.”

“Are you expecting trouble?” Jiang Cheng asks and he goes cold just thinking about it. 

Surely no one out there would attack the Cloud Recesses and start another war?

“I–I made a promise,” Lan Xichen whispers and Jiang Cheng frowns at him.

“So?”

“Promises are different for us. Made from one Lan to another, they cannot be broken,” Lan Xichen explains. “And I made a promise a long time ago, and now just today.”

Jiang Cheng mulls that over in his head, taking in the tension on Lan Xichen’s face, and it’s only then that he realizes something.

“You don’t like the promises you made,” Jiang Cheng tries and Lan Xichen nods.

“Not at all,” Lan Xichen tells him, “and I need you tomorrow.”

“You’ll be gone all day,” Jiang Cheng argues, because Lan Xichen had explained the timetable of the celebration in detail and Jiang Cheng can count himself lucky if Lan Xichen returns before dawn.

“I might not be,” Lan Xichen says with a wince and Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at him.

“Are you going to give me more hints than just this? Because this is really vague.”

“I’m going to–,” Lan Xichen starts but then cuts himself off with a wince.

It seems like he wasn’t lying about not being able to break a promise.

“Don’t hurt yourself,” Jiang Cheng mutters and pulls Lan Xichen closer, until he can bury his face in Jiang Cheng’s throat.

“There is this place,” Lan Xichen eventually mutters. “It’s beautiful to sit at and wait.”

“Okay,” Jiang Cheng agrees, because he understands that it’s for him to sit at and wait for whatever Lan Xichen can’t say to him. “Okay, my light. And I’ll be wearing Zidian. I’ll bring Sandu, too, just for good measure, alright?” Jiang Cheng mumbles and Lan Xichen nods.

“Please don’t think any less of me for what happens tomorrow,” Lan Xichen mumbles and Jiang Cheng tightens his arms around him.

“I could never,” he promises, because Jiang Cheng doubts there is a single thing out there in the world that would change his opinion of Lan Xichen.

“I love you,” Lan Xichen breathes out and Jiang Cheng is quick to give the sentiment back. 

“I love you, too,” he says and it’s only then that a slight ripple goes through Lan Xichen and tentacles start to appear. 

Jiang Cheng snuggles into them contentedly, but now he can tell even better that whatever is going to happen tomorrow has Lan Xichen worried and unhappy.

It’s a strange juxtaposition to the rest of the Lans, because everyone else seems to be very excited for tomorrow.

Jiang Cheng sighs and buries his face in Lan Xichen’s hair. He’ll just have to wait and see.

~*~*~

Lan Xichen is frowning, though he tries his best to hide it. Everyone around them is shuffling along in clear excitement, but Lan Xichen is almost dragging his feet.

“Where’s Wei Wuxian?” Jiang Cheng thinks to ask, as he follows Lan Xichen around the Cloud Recesses. 

“Gone on a night hunt with Sizhui,” Lan Xichen explains. “It’s boring for outsiders to stay here during the celebration.”

“Wow, thanks for making me go through it then,” Jiang Cheng tries to lighten the mood, but Lan Xichen turns towards him, his expression more serious than anything Jiang Cheng has seen in a long time.

He itches to reach out and smooth the furrow between his brows, but Jiang Cheng keeps his hands to himself for now.

“I need you here, today,” Lan Xichen reiterates and Jiang Cheng nods. 

“And I’ll be here,” he promises, even though the fact that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen is making him nervous.

Lan Xichen nods and then leans in for a soft kiss. 

“This is a really beautiful place,” he mutters against Jiang Cheng’s lips, and Jiang Cheng huffs out a breath.

“Alright, you secretive monster. I’ll be waiting here for you,” he agrees and when Lan Xichen leans in for a kiss this time, it’s a lot more heated.

“No displays of affection,” a passing disciple reminds them, though there’s a smile in his voice and Jiang Cheng pulls away from Lan Xichen for a second.

Just long enough to yell “No unnecessary displays of affection,” after them before he goes back to kissing Lan Xichen.

This is very necessary in his opinion.

When they part Lan Xichen appears more relaxed than before. 

“Can I see Jingyi before you all go into hiding?” Jiang Cheng asks, and effectively ruins what he managed to achieve just now.

“No, you can’t,” Lan Xichen presses out and then steps away from Jiang Cheng.

“Please, wait here,” he begs him again, and Jiang Cheng is quick to nod.

“I will, I promise,” Jiang Cheng says, again, and Lan Xichen leaves him after a quick kiss to Zidian.

Jiang Cheng can still barely believe that Zidian should be really able to hurt them in their true form, but he has seen the glances Zidian always gets when he’s here, so maybe Lan Xichen is speaking the truth about it.

Jiang Cheng sighs, because speculating won’t bring him anywhere, and instead he sits down to wait for Lan Xichen to come back.

It really is a rather beautiful spot, Jiang Cheng has to admit that, and waiting here for his light will be no hardship at all.

It grows quiet around Jiang Cheng as the hour passes, all the disciples clearly either going to the secret place to celebrate or down to Caiyi Town to celebrate in their own way.

Jiang Cheng is just starting to wonder if he should have brought some paperwork with him, when a shadow falls on him.

When he cranes his neck, he sees that it’s Lan Xichen. 

“Xichen?” he carefully asks, because Lan Xichen isn’t meeting his eyes.

When Lan Xichen simply walks past him, Jiang Cheng scrambles up and starts to follow him.

It isn’t long before he realizes where they are going; it’s the path down to the bunnies Lan Wangji keeps, despite the fact that pets are forbidden in the Cloud Recesses.

Jiang Cheng has only been here once before to accompany Lan Jingyi on his feeding duties, but he recognizes the path anyway.

Lan Xichen hastens his steps the closer they get to the clearing, and Jiang Cheng does his best to keep up with him.

He isn’t worried per se–Lan Xichen doesn’t seem to expect any hidden attacks or anything, since he isn’t even carrying Shuoyue around–but Jiang Cheng can’t help to twist Zidian on his finger.

He stops dead in his tracks when they reach the clearing and Jiang Cheng isn’t greeted with just the bunnies like he expected, but also Lan Jingyi.

He’s in his true form, tentacles slithering about and gently patting the bunnies around him. They don’t seem to mind his form at all, but Jiang Cheng can still tell that Lan Jingyi is more than sad.

“Jingyi,” he breathes out, and then adds a “What are you doing here?” because Lan Jingyi should be with his people, celebrating this day.

His voice is enough to startle Lan Jingyi into action, and he is quick to take on his human form.

“San–Jiang Cheng,” he greets and then turns towards Lan Xichen. “Lan Xichen,” he greets him with the same shallow bow and Lan Xichen walks up to him, his tentacles coming out to move over Lan Jingyi, clearly trying to comfort him and they are being met by a few of Lan Jingyi’s own.

“What are you doing here?” Jiang Cheng demands to know again, and dread settles in his gut. 

He has a feeling he’s not going to like whatever Lan Jingyi is going to tell him.

But Lan Jingyi only stares with wide eyes at him, working his jaw, before he turns helpless eyes on Lan Xichen.

“You’re not allowed to tell an outsider,” Lan Xichen says and puts his hand on Lan Jingyi’s shoulder. “So tell me.”

Lan Jingyi blinks at him for a few moments, before he nods.

“I’m not allowed at the celebration,” Lan Jingyi says, and his voice sounds suspiciously choked up. “I haven’t been since I was four,” he admits. “The others, they are scared of my appearance, and it was disrupting everything. Lan Qiren made me stay away.”

“Why do you come here?” Lan Xichen asks him, clearly urging him on, while Jiang Cheng listens with mounting horror, and Lan Jingyi shrugs.

“I’m not allowed to leave the Cloud Recesses unsupervised by another Lan, so I can’t join the celebration in Caiyi Town. The Cloud Recesses are empty. At least the rabbits keep me company.”

Anger boils in Jiang Cheng’s gut at hearing his words and Zidian sparks at his finger.

“You haven’t been with your people during this time since you were four?” he presses out and Lan Jingyi nods at Lan Xichen.

“What are you doing here then?” Jiang Cheng demands to know and turns towards Lan Xichen.

Who gives the question back to Lan Jingyi.

“What am I doing here?” he asks and Lan Jingyi sighs,  so Jiang Cheng guesses this must be one of the promises made as well.

Never tell outsiders.

“You got into an argument with Lan Qiren,” Lan Jingyi starts but Lan Xichen squeezes his shoulder.

“Lying is forbidden,” he gently reminds the boy and Lan Jingyi nods.

“Fine, you got into a huge fucking fight with Lan Qiren, is that better?” Lan Jingyi asks, and despite the situation Jiang Cheng has to snort at that.

“It’s the truth,” Lan Xichen agrees, and Jiang Cheng can tell that he wants to look at him, but he keeps his eyes on Lan Jingyi.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t like that so he steps forwards and takes Lan Xichen’s hand in his, to let him know that he’s there, and isn’t judging him at all.

In fact, he is immensely proud of Lan Xichen for getting into a fight with Lan Qiren.

“And then what?” he prompts them, and Lan Jingyi nods before he starts talking at Lan Xichen again.

“So you got into this fight, demanding that I be included and Lan Qiren told you to shut up,” Lan Jingyi says and flashes Lan Xichen a smile when he makes an unhappy noise.

“He did though,” Lan Jingyi then goes on. “So you threatened to not take part in the celebration either, if I couldn’t be included. Lan Qiren couldn’t have that though, because you were the heir and now Sect Leader, so you had to be there.”

Lan Jingyi leans into Lan Xichen at that and Jiang Cheng watches fondly as Lan Xichen puts his arm around Lan Jingyi’s shoulder. 

“So you argued with him, until he would at least allow you every other hour to leave and come check on me. Even though you really shouldn’t have.”

“I really should have,” Lan Xichen immediately says, before Jiang Cheng can utter the same, and Lan Jingyi shakes his head.

“You were punished for it,” he mutters and now Lan Xichen finally meets Jiang Cheng’s eyes.

“I was. And I would do it again, but I’m hoping that maybe I don’t have to,” he tells him and Jiang Cheng frowns.

“What do you want me to do?” he asks, but he’s smoothing his thumb over Zidian.

“I want you to tell Lan Qiren what you really think. I can’t.”

Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at Lan Xichen at that.

“He made you promise to never argue with him again?” Jiang Cheng asks, and the amount of outrage he feels has no bounds.

“Yes,” Lan Xichen agrees and pulls Lan Jingyi closer. “But you can, and I want you to.”

Jiang Cheng thinks about that for a while before he haltingly nods.

“I can do that–I am itching to do that–but if I do, I will not allow you to stay here,” Jiang Cheng says, looking more at Lan Jingyi than at Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen all but moved into Lotus Pier already before his secret came out, and now his willingness to leave his Sect makes more sense. But Lan Jingyi might not be so willing to leave everything he knows behind.

“I–I would be staying with you, right?” Lan Jingyi asks as if Jiang Cheng would just drop him on the streets afterwards. 

As if Lan Xichen would ever allow anything else than Lan Jingyi staying with them.

“Of course.”

“And Sizhui can come visit me?” Lan Jingyi wants to know next and flushes slightly.

“Of course he can,” Jiang Cheng agrees, before he sighs. “He can even bring that menace of a father around if he wants to,” Jiang Cheng says, and he would actually like that.

Wei Wuxian coming back to Lotus Pier every now and then.

“And my brother?”

“Can come too, if he knows to behave himself,” Jiang Cheng mutters under his breath but Lan Xichen smiles at him, before he tugs him into a kiss.

“Bah,” Lan Jingyi mumbles and Jiang Cheng pokes him into the head. 

“I’ll remind you of that when I catch you snogging with your boyfriend,” he lightly tells him but then he grows serious again.

“So, I’m guessing you’re not allowed to bring me to your secret place,” Jiang Cheng says to Lan Xichen who shrugs.

“I’m not,” he predictably says. “But I can’t stop you from following me. Jingyi is forbidden from following me back, but if he follows you–,” Lan Xichen trails off and Jiang Cheng growls under his breath.

“No wonder you always weigh your words so much,” he mutters and then clenches his hand with Zidian on it.

“Fine. Let’s go. I have a few choice words to give the old man.”

Lan Xichen smiles at him, but Lan Jingyi seems reluctant all of a sudden.

“You don’t have to do that, though,” Lan Jingyi mumbles and wrings his hands in front of his chest. “I don’t want you to fight with Lan Qiren. I don’t want Lan Xichen to get punished again.”

“Oh, let the old man try to punish him,” Jiang Cheng bites out, Zidian sparking. 

He will not allow anyone to hurt Lan Xichen.

“Jingyi, do you want to leave or are you content with how it is?” Lan Xichen asks him then and Lan Jingyi lowers his gaze.

“I am not content,” Lan Jingyi admits and it hurts Jiang Cheng how small his voice suddenly is. “I want to leave, with you.”

“Then that’s decided,” Jiang Cheng says and motions for Lan Xichen to start walking back to wherever he came from.

Lan Xichen does, firmly keeping his gaze away from Jiang Cheng and Lan Jingyi, so he doesn’t have to notice that they are following him, and Jiang Cheng keeps a steadying hand on Lan Jingyi’s back.

“It will be okay, Jingyi,” he quietly tells him and Lan Jingyi nods. 

“If I can stay with you two, then I know it will,” he gives back, just as quietly and Jiang Cheng briefly pulls him into a side-hug, before he concentrates on Lan Xichen and their way again.

Jiang Cheng has expected guards to hinder their entrance, but there is no one waiting for them. They just step through a narrow path onto a clearing and suddenly there are black forms everywhere.

They stay blessedly unnoticed for a moment, so Jiang Cheng lets his eyes roam over the clearing.

It’s actually easy to distinguish between the forms, and he makes out Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren without any problems.

Lan Jingyi is hiding half behind Jiang Cheng, while Lan Xichen stays close to them.

It doesn’t take long for them to be noticed.

A ripple goes through the clearing and an outraged shriek starts low before it turns to almost deafening volume, but Jiang Cheng only grits his teeth against that and squares his shoulders.

Lan Wangji slithers over to them, taking his human form before he shoots his brother a questioning look, but he takes a stand at Lan Xichen’s side.

Jiang Cheng guesses he gets points for that.

Lan Qiren is the next to change back.

“What is the meaning of this?” he demands to know and a tentacle carefully wraps around Jiang Cheng’s hand.

Lan Xichen might not be allowed to argue with Lan Qiren anymore, but Jiang Cheng is under no such restrictions.

And Lan Xichen’s feelings come across quite clear through his tentacle.

“I’m paraphrasing here, but Xichen wants you to know that he’s really fucking fed up with your shit,” Jiang Cheng tells Lan Qiren, and he has to bite back the smile that threatens to come out when Lan Xichen’s amusement comes through.

“You!” Lan Qiren gets out, and he turns a very unbecoming shade of red.

Jiang Cheng is greatly enjoying that.

When Lan Qiren takes a step towards them, his eyes fixed on Lan Jingyi all of a sudden, Jiang Cheng flicks Zidian out. 

It comes to life instantly, filling the clearing with its purple light and the crackling of electricity and Lan Qiren’s steps falter.

“Don’t even think about it,” Jiang Cheng hisses and Lan Qiren turns his eyes towards him.

“He has no business being here. He knows he isn’t allowed to come here.”

“You mean, he isn’t welcome here. Here, amongst his family and blood relatives,” Jiang Cheng bites out and Zidian dances in his hand, fuelled by his anger.

“He’s barely even–,” someone else shouts over from a safe distance, and Zidian lashes out into the direction the voice came from.

Jiang Cheng makes sure to not actually hit anyone, but his stance is more than clear.

“Jingyi is a Lan, just like everyone else here,” Jiang Cheng says, but Lan Qiren shakes his head.

“He doesn’t look like it.”

“And that is hardly his fault, and yet you are punishing him for it.”

“He’s–,” Lan Qiren starts, clearly intent to argue, but Jiang Cheng has had enough.

“Shut up, old man,” he says and underlines his words with a flick of Zidian. “You lord yourself over everyone else, with your righteousness and acceptance, make people feel lesser for not following rules and the ‘good’ path, and yet you treat your own people like shit.”

A ripple goes through the other forms in the clearing, but Jiang Cheng hardly pays them any mind, encouraged by Lan Xichen’s tentacle still wrapped around his wrist, now joined by one of Lan Jingyi’s one, and even Lan Wangji is reaching out for him in that manner.

Jiang Cheng supposes he will allow it for the moment.

“And it’s not just Jingyi you treat like this,” Jiang Cheng goes on. “You force people to make promises to not argue with you and you enforce your rules with punishment so severe it leaves people bedridden,” Jiang Cheng says, because he still remembers the day Lan Xichen told him about Lan Wangji’s punishment and how it was designed to stay.

“And yet you cower like bumbling fools when you’re faced with one of the old weapons,” Jiang Cheng tells him and Zidian flicks out again, just barely not grazing Lan Qiren, who takes a wary step back.

“But you can’t force a promise on me and I would like to see you try to punish me,” Jiang Cheng continues, voice dangerously low now, and Lan Qiren swallows.

“What do you want?”

“I want you to be a decent human and other being,” Jiang Cheng presses out. “But since it’s unlikely that I will get that, I want you to back off. Xichen and Jingyi will come with me, and you will let them, because otherwise I’m going to make you regret it. They clearly don’t have a place here, and since you don’t know how to appreciate either of them, I will take them off your hands.”

“You can’t do that,” Lan Qiren bellows out, but Jiang Cheng only levels him with a look.

“I can, if they want to,” he says and then bumps his shoulder with Lan Xichen’s. “If you tell him, it’s not arguing,” he quietly says to him, and Lan Xichen manages a small smile, even though Jiang Cheng can tell that his heart is breaking.

“I am leaving, uncle. I do not want to stay here, where people of our own family are treated like they are lesser, just because they happen to be different. Or because they are of a different opinion than yours,” Lan Xichen determinedly says and Jiang Cheng squeezes his tentacle in encouragement.

Jiang Cheng can tell that Lan Jingyi doesn’t want to say anything to Lan Qiren, so he doesn’t make him, but he puts his arm around Lan Jingyi and pulls him close.

Zidian is still out and sparking, but Lan Jingyi doesn’t even flinch at that, and Jiang Cheng is making his claim on the boy more than clear with this.

Lan Jingyi has nothing to fear from him. The same can’t be said for the others, though, and he underlines that with another twist of Zidian, which dances in his hand.

Everyone takes a worried step back.

“Sect business will be concluded through proxies,” Jiang Cheng says. “I do not want to have to speak to you again for the foreseeable future.”

Lan Qiren gives a terse nod at that, and Jiang Cheng flashes him a sharp smile.

“Good.”

And with that he turns around and starts to walk away, dragging Lan Jingyi along with him, Lan Xichen just a step behind him.

“Wangji,” Lan Qiren carefully starts when it’s apparent that Lan Wangji will walk with them, and he stops in his tracks.

“I am not leaving,” Lan Wangji says, “but I will see my family off.”

It clearly stuns Lan Qiren into silence, and Jiang Cheng can feel how much that means to Lan Xichen, so Jiang Cheng doesn’t say anything to this.

They walk down the same path that they came up on, and Jiang Cheng can feel how Lan Jingyi is shaking.

“Hey, you okay, kid?” Jiang Cheng asks him, and effectively has everyone’s attention, but Lan Jingyi only nods.

“Holy shit, I can’t believe you did that,” he mutters and his voice is also shaking the faintest bit.

“I told you I would.”

“I know, but you actually did it. I have never seen him that terrified.”

Lan Qiren hadn’t looked terrified enough for Jiang Cheng’s taste, but he doesn’t say that.

“I love you,” Lan Xichen mumbles on his other side and Jiang Cheng knows that, can feel it through the tentacle that is still wrapped tightly around his hand and he squeezes it again.

“I love you, too,” Jiang Cheng mutters back and then comes to a stop before he turns towards Lan Jingyi.

“Go get the things you want to take with you out of your room,” he instructs him, and Jiang Cheng is completely unprepared for the way Lan Jingyi throws himself into Jiang Cheng’s arms.

“Thank you,” he breathes out and Jiang Cheng pats his head.

“No need to thank me,” he gently tells him and then shoos him off, turning to Lan Xichen afterwards.

“We’ll need to get our things as well.”

“I know,” Lan Xichen says but instead of getting to that, he turns towards his brother.

“Wangji, I hope you forgive me for leaving,” he says and Jiang Cheng sends a warning glare at Lan Wangji.

“There is nothing to forgive,” Lan Wangji tells him, and actually cracks a smile at Lan Xichen. “You did the right thing.”

Lan Xichen seems relieved at that, and Lan Wangji turns towards Jiang Cheng, his gaze now notably colder.

“Do not let harm come to them,” he says, voice as hard as steel and Jiang Cheng bristles at that.

“As if I would ever allow anything to happen to them,” he gives back, but really, they have come a long way from Lan Wangji’s clear distrust of Jiang Cheng.

“I’ll come visit soon,” Lan Wangji replies to that and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.

“You’re lucky you’ll be welcome,” he mutters and Lan Wangji stares for a moment longer at him, before he nods and turns back to his brother.

“I wish you nothing but happiness,” Lan Wangji says and actually tugs Lan Xichen into an embrace.

Lan Xichen seems as shocked as Jiang Cheng is, because it takes him a second to sling his arms around his brother.

“You, too, Wangji. You have to come visit soon.”

“I will,” Lan Wangji promises as he breaks the hug and walks away without another word.

“Are you okay?” Jiang Cheng carefully asks Lan Xichen, who keeps staring after his brother.

“Are you mad at me?” Lan Xichen wants to know out of the blue and Jiang Cheng frowns at him.

“Why would I be mad at you?”

“Disappointed then?” Lan Xichen asks next and Jiang Cheng remembers how Lan Xichen had voiced his hope that Jiang Cheng won’t think differently of him last night.

“I am neither of those things,” Jiang Cheng says and steps up to Lan Xichen to hug him as well. “I told you I could never be, and I am not. You did what you could under the circumstances, and the moment you saw a way out, you took it. I am proud of you,” Jiang Cheng reassures him and Lan Xichen finally lets out the tension he was still holding in and almost collapses against Jiang Cheng.

“You don’t even know what you mean to me,” Lan Xichen whispers and Jiang Cheng smiles into his hair.

“I do,” he gives back. “I feel it every time you touch me in your other form,” Jiang Cheng tells him and then gently pushes Lan Xichen away.

“We have to get our things now, my light,” he softly says as he cups Lan Xichen’s cheek in his hand. “Jingyi will be wondering where we are.”

“Alright,” Lan Xichen agrees and threads their fingers together to tug Jiang Cheng along.

Jiang Cheng knows there will be some repercussions from this–how could there not be, he’s essentially stealing another Sect Leader away–but when he sees Lan Xichen’s soft and relieved smile and remembers the way Lan Jingyi had thanked him, he couldn’t care less about that.

He protected his loved ones, and that is all that matters.

“Careful,” Jiang Cheng rushes out and pushes himself up from the ground to slam his hand into Lan Xichen’s chest, pushing him out of the way of the descending sword.

He saved Lan Xichen, like he calculated. He did not calculate that the sword will bite into his own arm.

Jiang Cheng clenches his teeth so he doesn’t scream, but the pain in his arm is almost worse than the one in his stomach.

Lan Xichen stares at him with big, wide eyes, before everything seems to suddenly slow down. And then Lan Xichen explodes.

Jiang Cheng has never seen him change his form this quickly, this explosively, but in one moment Lan Xichen is still staring at him, and in the next there is a writhing, furious black in the clearing. Eyes appear all over Lan Xichen, so many more than Jiang Cheng is used to, and the sound that fills the air is pure and unadulterated rage.

Jiang Cheng was under the assumption that Lan Xichen, while not having a completely fixed form, has a fixed mass, but clearly he was wrong with that. Lan Xichen grows bigger and bigger, right in front of Jiang Cheng’s eyes, and it doesn’t seem to stop.

Jiang Cheng can hear the men scream in terror, can see more than one drop his sword and run away in fear, but none of them make it far.

Lan Xichen reaches out with his tentacles, crushes them with barely any effort at all, like it seems, and some he just slams into the ground, only to leave a barely recognizable mess behind. And all the while the sound gets louder and louder, making many of the men bend over in pain, hands clutched to their heads before at least two drop dead simply from the enraged shout Lan Xichen lets out.

It’s not much of a fair fight at all.

Jiang Cheng has barely pushed himself into a sitting position, arm cradled close to his stomach to at least slow the blood flow on both wounds, when the fight is already over and the last man dead.

Still, Lan Xichen continues to writhe in the clearing, tentacles lashing out at random, and Jiang Cheng is sure that more than one tree is taking some serious damage during this.

“Xichen,” he calls out, but he can barely hear his own voice over the continuous wrathful scream.

He tries to reach out for Lan Xichen, but he’s too far out of reach, even though Jiang Cheng is somewhat protectively surrounded on all sides, and Jiang Cheng very much does not feel like getting up, even though his core works furiously on keeping the wounds shut so he doesn’t die of blood loss.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian suddenly calls out right next to him and Jiang Cheng sighs when he sees Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji at his side. He didn’t even notice them arriving.

“Get him to calm down, would you!” Jiang Cheng snaps at Lan Wangji, hoping Lan Wangji can hear him over the noise, who levels him with a look but Jiang Cheng is beyond caring and just points an accusing finger at Lan Xichen. “He’s going to destroy this clearing!”

Lan Wangji leaves them after one last warning look at Jiang Cheng and going by the pressure change, Lan Wangji changed forms as well.

There’s a second, much more soothing noise filling the clearing and even Jiang Cheng can tell that it has a calming quality to it.

“Let’s get this looked at,” Wei Wuxian cheerfully says, and while Jiang Cheng is beyond glad that he can hear something else than Lan Xichen’s scream, he leans away from Wei Wuxian.

“Thanks, but I’ll wait for the healers in the Cloud Recesses,” Jiang Cheng tells him, completely immune by now to the pout Wei Wuxian sends him.

“You could die by then!” Wei Wuxian calls out, and Lan Xichen immediately grows agitated again, even going so far as to push Wei Wuxian away from Jiang Cheng as if he needed protecting from his own brother.

“Xichen,” Jiang Cheng tries again, now that Lan Xichen is a lot closer, and when he’s cradled close by one of the many tentacles, Jiang Cheng puts a soothing hand on him.

Lan Wangji appears next to Wei Wuxian again, in his human form and his hand on the hilt of Bichen, levelling Jiang Cheng with a look that can cut through ice.

“What?” Jiang Cheng snaps out, beyond tired that they really have to do this here, now, while he’s bleeding out and in pain.

“Do not touch him,” Lan Wangji threatens him and Jiang Cheng slides his hand possessively over Lan Xichen’s tentacle.

“Or what?” he demands to know, because he doubts Lan Xichen would even let Lan Wangji get close to him right now.

“Do not hurt him,” Lan Wangji changes tactics, and Jiang Cheng sighs.

Lan Xichen told him that Lan Wangji is apparently convinced that one day Jiang Cheng will kill them all for daring to be different, and while this is a conversation he is dying to have with Lan Wangji, he really cannot be bothered right now.

“Why don’t you just fuck off,” Jiang Cheng snaps at Lan Wangji, prompting Lan Xichen to push his own brother further away from Jiang Cheng.

And while Jiang Cheng is greatly enjoying that, he knows Lan Xichen will feel bad about that once he has a clear head again.

“Xichen,” Jiang Cheng tries again, and while this time at least his voice can be heard, Lan Xichen isn’t reacting to him at all.

“A-Huan,” he tries again, and that finally gets Lan Xichen to still.

He shrinks down to the size Jiang Cheng is used to and almost half of the eyes disappear as Lan Xichen wraps himself around Jiang Cheng, continuing to protect him from a danger that is no longer there.

“You’ve been a very good, protective monster, but now I need you to change back,” Jiang Cheng lowly tells him as he pets the tentacle around his middle, but Lan Xichen lets out a high whine that tells Jiang Cheng exactly what Lan Xichen thinks about leaving him defenceless.

“There’s nothing here that’s a danger to me, not anymore, you made sure of that,” Jiang Cheng says, and he blinks in surprise when Lan Xichen flinches.

“What?” Jiang Cheng mutters and he instinctively curls his good arm around Lan Xichen’s tentacle when he tries to retract it.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he demands to know, but Lan Xichen only lets out the same sound again, so Jiang Cheng slaps him lightly.

“Change back and use your words,” he says with a stern glare, and he is entirely unimpressed when Lan Xichen doesn’t react to that at all.

Before Jiang Cheng can explode, he takes a deep breath, aggravating his stomach wound in the process again, and while it hurts like a bitch he’s rewarded when Lan Xichen comes closer to him again.

“A-Huan, I need you to change back to fly me to the Cloud Recesses. I need medical attention and I cannot fly my own sword,” Jiang Cheng tries, keeping his voice soothing and even and he knows he has won when a shudder goes through Lan Xichen’s form.

He still fights the change for a while longer, but in the end, Jiang Cheng is held close by a very human Lan Xichen.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters, and Jiang Cheng frowns up at him.

“For what?” he demands to know and Lan Xichen doesn’t meet his eyes.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t like it.

“That you had to see that. That I lost control like this. I don’t—” Lan Xichen trails off and Jiang Cheng blinks in surprise at him.

“You think I’m afraid of you?” he incredulously asks, because he can damn well fill in the blanks, and Lan Xichen’s eyes snap to his.

It’s all the answer he needs.

“You think I wouldn’t lose my entire shit if you were hurt?” Jiang Cheng presses out. “Just because you turn into a bigger and badder version of yourself doesn’t mean I wouldn’t act in the same way, just on a smaller scale.”

“I killed them all,” Lan Xichen mutters and Jiang Cheng looks around the clearing.

They are all very much dead, yes.

“And good riddance,” Jiang Cheng harshly gives back and then raises his good arm to cradle Lan Xichen’s cheek in his hand. “I am not afraid of you and I am not judging you. Now, please, can you get me to a healer, I do feel a bit faint,” Jiang Cheng says and suddenly Lan Xichen becomes animated again.

“Of course, my heart,” he says as he carefully picks Jiang Cheng up from the ground, cradling him close to his chest as he steps onto Shuoyue.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are still watching them, Jiang Cheng can tell, but he barely spares them a glance. He cannot tear his eyes off Lan Xichen.

There’s not a hair out of place, no blood marring his features, even though the clearing looks like a giant decided to dig it over. Jiang Cheng knows, rationally, that he should be afraid of Lan Xichen and what he is, what he can do, but even now, he cannot bring himself to do that.

Lan Xichen did this to protect him and Jiang Cheng cannot find it in him to mind that.

“Wake me when we’re there, okay?” Jiang Cheng mutters as he rests his head on Lan Xichen’s shoulders.

His golden core kept him together until now, but Jiang Cheng can feel it being drained, knows that the pain and the blood loss will finally get to him, and he’d rather be not awake for that.

“No no no, my love, you have to stay awake,” Lan Xichen whispers, pressing kisses to his forehead. “No sleeping until we reach the Cloud Recesses.”

“Tired now.”

“You can sleep later, I promise, but right now you have to stay awake,” Lan Xichen says, and it’s the pure panic in his voice that forces Jiang Cheng to open his eyes again.

“You’re a menace,” Jiang Cheng complains and while Lan Xichen still seems strained and worried, he smiles down at him.

“Tell me all about it,” Lan Xichen cajoles and Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at him.

He knows exactly what Lan Xichen is doing.

“You’re rude for not letting me sleep, and stupid for thinking I would be afraid of you, and idiotic for thinking I don’t love you more than my life, and also rude,” Jiang Cheng says, though he’s aware he’s babbling more than forming actual sentences.

“For not letting you sleep, noted,” Lan Xichen gives back with a chuckle and then they are already descending.

“Time to sleep then,” Jiang Cheng mutters and snuggles closer to Lan Xichen.

This time, the darkness claims him.

~*~*~

When Jiang Cheng wakes up, he’s in the hanshi, Lan Xichen hovering at his side and generally looking like he didn’t sleep at all in the last however many days it has been.

“You’re an idiot,” Jiang Cheng says with a groan and Lan Xichen nods.

“And rude, I remember,” he immediately says and Jiang Cheng smiles.

“Good,” he gives back and then holds his hand out for Lan Xichen to take. “I’m okay.”

“I was scared,” Lan Xichen lowly says as he presses a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s palm.

“I could tell,” Jiang Cheng says with a nod and cups Lan Xichen’s face when he seems worried by that. “And I don’t mind,” Jiang Cheng says, again if memory serves him right.

He tries to push himself up, but pain laces sharp and bright through him and he falls back onto the bed with a hiss.

Lan Xichen shoots up from his stool and Jiang Cheng can tell that his control seems to still hang on a very thin thread, because there are definitely tentacles coming out of his back.

“I’m okay,” Jiang Cheng says again, because he’s not dead, and really, that’s all that matters.

“You might have not been,” Lan Xichen gives back, and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes at him.

If they dealt in might have’s and could have’s they would both lose their sanity.

“But I am, and thanks to you,” Jiang Cheng tells him, his voice leaving no room for argument. “What’s the damage?”

“Stab wound in the stomach, deep cut on your arm. You’ll heal up just fine, I’ve been told, as long as you keep to your rest,” Lan Xichen informs him and Jiang Cheng smiles at him.

“I very much feel like standing up. Maybe I need someone to make sure I stay in bed,” he teasingly says and he really hates the surprised look on Lan Xichen’s face.

They had already been past this uncertainty on Lan Xichen’s part, and Jiang Cheng will not allow it to come back.

“And by someone I mean you, and preferably not in your human form,” he clearly states and Lan Xichen ducks his head.

“Are you sure?” he asks and Jiang Cheng sighs.

“Are you going to deny the patient the one thing that will make sure he heals up just fine?”

“The one thing?” Lan Xichen asks, confusion clear on his face and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes.

“My boyfriend and his many many very good at hugging tentacles,” he gives back and Lan Xichen huffs out a laugh.

“You’re shameless,” Lan Xichen whispers, but he’s getting up and Jiang Cheng knows he has won.

“Shamelessly in love maybe,” he says with a shrug, because what does he care about anything else but Lan Xichen by his side.

“I love you, too,” Lan Xichen says and catches his lips in a soft, slow kiss, before he slides under the covers with Jiang Cheng.

He doesn’t change, not completely, but there are a few tentacles coming out to wrap around Jiang Cheng, causing him to go boneless against Lan Xichen’s chest.

“This is the best,” Jiang Cheng mutters as his eyes already drift shut.

He has a lot of sleeping to do, and with Lan Xichen wrapped securely and warmly around him, it’s easy to get started on that right away.