7 Dates

Date 3

With a free weekend they could share with each other after such a long week of exhausting work, their plans were simple. A lunch date, maybe stopping at a cafe or just wherever they felt like going as a spur of the moment.

It sounded great.

So of course, of course, as soon as they were getting ready for their much needed time together, the weather decided to strongly disagree with their intentions, sky dark with heavy clouds, rain even heavier, faint thunders heard in the distance, all within the span of mere minutes. And it didn't look like it intended to stop any time soon, either.

And Lan Xichen just let out yet another long, distressed sigh as he pretty much glued his face to the window, nearly pulling his hair in his exasperation.

"You realize that glaring at the rain is not going to make it go away, right?"

Xichen low-key groaned. Jiang Cheng just tossed aside the definitely too casual for a date shirt that he had picked and nearly put on, already getting himself comfortable again in one of his old hoodies, much welcome with the unexpected cold.

"I knoooow... but still- we were going to finally go on a date! I just- uuuugh-"

When the window was starting to feel too cold for his own liking, Xichen decided to flop on the couch instead, face buried into the soft, squishy belly of a penguin plush, letting it muffle is groans. Again. Just for a change of pace.

It was first time for Jiang Cheng to see the always neat and clean Lan Xichen to behave in this way and he definitely didn't think that the older male is quite cute.

"You keep moving from the couch to the window and back again- maybe we need to find you something better to do now."

That was just a bit of an understatement when Lan Xichen was busying himself either looking for cracks in their ceiling or trying to find new ways to curse- politely svold the weather and the general existence of rain.

"Alright, alright- so what do you suggest now?"

And Jiang Cheng just grinned at him, already headed for the kitchen. Rain or not, they still needed some lunch. He wouldn't be letting Xichen get away with ice cream and frozen waffles again. How much better it might've been compared to his last frozen premade cookie dough experiment was debatable.

"You'll see. Just get me the plates and stuff, I'll handle the food now."

After a moment, Lan Xichen just shrugged from his spot on the couch. Not like there was much to think of in terms of plans anymore by now, might as well at least get things going at home. And as much as he dreaded it, this might have to be the opportunity to get to doing a bit deeper cleaning than usual.

Maybe the day turned out worse than he imagined.

Lan Xichen finally pushed himself up and out of the couch, dragging his feet to the kitchen and idly looking around to start pulling out plates and utensils. And then he peeked at what Jiang Cheng was already stirring and frying on the pan- and blinked at the sight of the meat, right next to a piece of perfectly breaded and seasoned fish.

"What are you making?"

Well, what does it look like?"

"Well, I see meat and fish."

And Jiang Cheng just smiled and nodded.

"You'll see- just leave the plates here, alright? I'll take care of it." And he ended it with a peck to his not really boyfriend's cheek. It was his subtle way of saying that Xichen was being pretty much forced to sit down and let him do everything.

Not like Lan Xichen would be against letting him handle the food.

... Even when he was getting more and more curious the better the smell got.

"No peeking now! You already did your part, now just wait-"

There went his intentions. Lan Xichen just flopped right back on his penguin in defeat.

"Is it going to take too long...?"

"Almost done, I think! Just give me a moment."

And finally, when it felt like many more hours had passed and Lan Xichen was most definitely about to starve although he wouldn't say that, tormented by the rain still mocking him as it hit the window and the great scent coming from the kitchen that he wasn't allowed to dig into just yet... finally, Jiang Cheng stepped closer, two plates in hand.

"Sorry for the wait, here it is."

There were two plates gently laid on the coffee table, and when Xichen dared to look up, he saw a burger in each, surrounded by fries in their plates, one with a steaming, golden fried cut of breaded fish inside, the other with a hamburger just as perfectly cooked. And right as he was sitting up, A-Cheng had brought some soda he took from the fridge, alongside a smaller plate for sauces.

"I know, I know- it's not the fancy dish you were going to treat me for lunch today, especially from all those nice food places you were looking at, but... maybe this makes up for it?"

He sounded... a bit skeptical, admittedly. Sheepishly chuckling as he looked away, a hand going through his untamed hair.

Of course he didn't think it would've been on par with anything they could be doing by now, had it not been for the rain still going strong outside. It wasn't like he was wrong, exactly- Lan Xichen was sort of expecting to take a look at something a bit fancier this one time, sure, maybe even something he didn't get to eat all that often, but...

He just grabbed Jiang cheng's sleeve, pulling him down and closer to kiss him on his temple, a smile against them. He would love to do it on the lips but he doesn't want to make Jiang Cheng feel uncomfortable since their relationship is not official yet.

"You idiot... this is perfect."

The fish he liked so much over most meats didn't go unnoticed, neither did the fries on his plate being mostly golden-brown, the ones he always claimed were the best out of every drive thru he ordered from.

Jiang Cheng cared, so much more than many other people, so much more than he ever admits. It was all Lan Xichen needed. He's efforts are not going in vain.

And speaking of- Jiang Cheng was watching him now, eyes wide and just a bit taken aback.

"Wait- really?"

Lan Xichen just sighed, just a bit too exasperated.

"Of course! All those places were overpriced, anyways." Not exactly a lie, despite his eagerness to have a proper date... but it didn't really matter. "Besides, you cooked it. That's all I need."

That was enough to bring the smile back on Jiang Cheng's face, turning from awkward to brighter than the hidden sun as fast as he had gotten started in his newfound secret mission to make Lan Xichen smile back.

"Well then- oh, just let me go get a blanket, alright? You can start picking the movie! I'll be right back-" Lan Xichen run off to the bedroom.

"Just hurry up before the food gets cold!"

And they were quickly settled on the couch, plate in hand as the movie started, Jiang Cheng already digging into the fries, Xichen as comfortable as he could be against his side, the rain outside quickly forgotten, nothing more than mere background noise.

When he looked back at his A-Cheng, Jiang Cheng's smile was so much warmer than before. The sun couldn't compare, never could.

In hindsight, a date at home would have always been the best idea. He suddenly wants the time to stop right there. He doesn't want this moment to go away.