Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Better The Devil You Know Part 2

About a month after they adopted A-Yuan, it is five o'clock in the evening, and suddenly, there's a purple crackling sound. Lan Zhan immediately stands up and puts himself in between whatever is coming for them and Wei Ying. He can't help it, it's a natural instinct and no matter how much Wei Ying tells him it is unnecessary because Wei Ying can flatten a city, no sweat, the impulse to protect his family is a real one.

There is a rip in the air, and another demon steps out of the crack, which promptly seals itself, and this new grape-coloured person glares menacingly at Wei Ying. He's dressed in purple, all different shades of it, and Lan Zhan thinks there is such a thing as 'too much' because this demon's skin is also purple but weirdly smooth. (Lan Zhan much prefers Wei Ying's black and red combo, and don't get him started on the horns...).

In his hand, the demon wears a ring that transforms into a whip, rather like a light sabre but much more flexible.

However, Lan Zhan should be forgiven for being distracted because Wei Ying's arms have just circled his waist, and his warm lips have planted a lovely, endearing kiss on the back of his neck.

"Lan Zhan, Zhan Zhan, thank you. I love it when you want to protect me," Wei Ying's hot breath gives him a shiver. "But I guess it's time you met my brother." Wei Ying smiles with all of his teeth and subtly pushes himself in front of Lan Zhan. In a louder voice, he says, "Jiang Cheng! Long time no see?"

"You fucking bastard! Do you-"

"Language! There is a child present." Somehow, Lan Zhan manages to make his voice full of authority and commanding.

"A-Die, what does fucking bastard mean?" A-Yuan comes to stand between his parents and takes their hands, one on each side.

Wei Ying laughs awkwardly and glares at Jiang Cheng. "Yeah, Jiang Cheng. What does fucking bastard mean?"

Jiang Cheng looks at the family in front of him. When he'd torn through the Veil looking for his brother, this is the last thing he expected to find. Three pairs of judgemental eyes narrowing with hostility.

"Do you actually want me to tell him-" he starts.

"NO!" Both his stupid brother and the human standing next to him shout.

Wei Ying glances down at his son, and then catches Lan Zhan's eyes. In his head, Wei Ying begins talking to him.

"Lan Zhan, maybe this is better if I deal with Jiang Cheng without A-Yuan present? He can be a bit...too much?"

"Do you promise to come back?" Lan Zhan's genuine worry makes Wei Ying melt, and he would have kissed him silly right then and there, but as his boyfriend already said, there's a child present. And an irate, uncontrollable brother, too.

"Of course. I'm yours and you're mine. And we both belong to A-Yuan and he's ours. What if I take him into the next room? Just so we can talk privately?"

"Great idea."

"I love you."

"I love you, Wei Ying. Be careful."

"Always, Sweetheart."

"Can You Stop That?" Jiang Cheng says, glaring at them and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Let's talk in the next room, okay?" Wei Ying says, grabbing his brother and teleporting into the office room.

Lan Zhan takes A-Yuan back to the sofa where they were reading together as part of A-Yuan's homework.

But then, there's a series of extremely loud thuds and bangs coming through the wall, and Lan Zhan is torn between going to save Wei Ying and protecting A-Yuan, who jolts every time the walls shake from impact. Lan Zhan reaches around the side and finds the noise cancelling headphones which are promptly put on A-Yuan's head. Lan Zhan selects some soothing music that will save his ears from listening to the racket the brothers are making in the next room. It's probably a private conversation, but they're so loud that Lan Zhan thinks the whole building, all twenty floors of it, can hear whatever they're saying quite easily. At this rate, they'll be lucky if they don't get a visit from the super complaining about noise violations and antisocial behaviour.