Note:
Inspiration for the chapter's title:
~
the 8th of February, 2026
- Ha! – Estella huffed, not too happy that her boss just left, no discussion, and the matter of the dry cleaner's - not settled at all!
Somehow, she was too sure that this here, whatever it was, was going to be over in a day or two, and then life was going to return back to normal, and her boss was going to need his suits again!!!
- Fuck! – Lan Wangji scoffed, not too happy that he had to rush after his brother, which meant that he had to remove his lover from his lap.
- Hugh! – Wei Wuxian hiccupped, suddenly finding himself abandoned, and yes, he wasn't too happy about it either.
- Hmmmmm. – Brent only stroked the surface of the warm, black leather, thoughtful and wondering what his next instructions might be. He was actually anxious for his boss's phone to ring, so that he, too, could have news.
And Lan Xichen just walked out of the kitchen, slowly undoing the buttons of his shirt, and fully intending to go upstairs and take a shower.
His heart felt empty of all blood, and his head was empty of all and any thoughts. This now was an empty time, void of meaning, a time of awaiting. He had set the chess board right, and now White had to move first.
Of course, he would only play with Black.
- Stop!
Lan Xichen ignored the call; he wasn't hurrying up, but still he had managed to climb half of the stairs already.
- Wait, god damn you! - Lan Wangji hissed, catching up with him, taking two stairs at a time.
The taller man froze. Those words hit worse than a baseball to the head.
He turned slightly, and faced his Di, and, panting, Lan Zhan now noticed that his broad chest was fully visible, exposed and naked, as his shirt was fully unbuttoned by now. He shook his head, and totally forbid himself to blush at the sight. He had seen his brother naked many times before! He had to forget that last night had ever happened – he had to move on!
- Di.
Lan Xichen's voice was soft and quiet, but it somehow echoed inside his head, metallic and cutting, and the blonde shuddered. He had thought that his anger was going to help him with this, he was counting on it. But he was yet again finding out that his brother's hug, his brother's smile were as disarming as a full anesthetic once you were lying on the operating table.
- God has already damned me, Di. Do you want to join him?
Lan Wangji got pale; the blow had been returned, too successfully. Despite everything, and in spite of everyone – he loved A-Huan. He loved him more than he could afford to, and today this realization was flashing before his very eyes, more clear than daylight.
He stared up, at the dark, glimmering eyes, so that he wouldn't be staring at his Ge's vulnerable chest, his pure skin, which was only at an arm's length, and within his reach, if he ever wanted to touch. Something deep inside, something deeply innate, was whispering to his brain, assuring him that Lan Huan would never push his hand away.
