illicitly | Open RP Post

Huaisang sits down beside him, ignoring Lan Wangji's repeated insistences that they not touch. He puts his arms comfortingly around the other teen, resting his head against Jiang Cheng's. His fear cuts into him, it makes his heart ache in ways he didn't know it could. He can't see his own brother being particularly pleased if news of this got out. But Jiang Cheng's family is different. His parents are different. While he's confident that neither Wei Wuxian or his sister would mind, just from what he's heard about her.

"No matter what happens, you're not alone in this, A-Cheng. I'll do everything I can to support you through this."

Huaisang cups Jiang Cheng's face in his hands, turning it so he's facing him. He leans in a kisses him gently, lingering in the moment to steady him and give him something to focus on.

"If we contact your sister first.... Maybe she can help if it comes to that."

He kisses him back, something desperate in the way he holds onto Huaisang, his fingers gripping the other teenager's robes as he tries to steady his breathing after the kiss.

Tries to act normal.

And fails miserably. "...A-jie might. I mean, if we can get word to her before they have a chance to contact Die, or A-niang." Please not his mother. She's the one he's most afraid of finding out. He already knows he's a disappointment to his father.

It's... different. Huaisang doesn't usually feel this way about other people. He's quick to take whatever route is easiest or more covenient for him. It's not like him to put himself on the line like this or sincerely go out of his way on behalf of someone else.

It's just not like him to care.

He just gives himself up to that desperate embrace, holding Jiang Cheng close and giving him more kisses to calm him down. It'll be okay somehow. It just has to be. They'll make it okay, one way or another.

"We'll write your sister a letter and send it to her first thing in the morning. If we're quick enough, we might be able to beat them to it if they say anything at all. Or we could use teleportation talisman to get it to her tonight. You're a better cultivator than me. Can you use talismans like that, A-Cheng?"

"I can try." He should be able to do it. Even if it just's for a letter. For some way to make this not turn into the disaster that keeps playing through his mind.

But even if it is, he's not going to walk away from it. He's just...He'll have to find a way to make it through without sacrificing everything he wants.

Or the boy holding him right now. Because he wants Huaisang in a way he's never wanted anything else before.

"See? We're figuring something out. We're going to get through this."

What had started out as an impulsive kiss between friends has become something so much more so quickly. But isn't that how if often is with people their age? They act without thinking and it sets off a chain reaction they could never anticipate. But Huaisang knows that even if they get beaten by the Lan elders as punishment, he isn't going to regret any of this.

He's not ready to put a name to the feeling that's making his heart beat so rapidly in his chest but he knows it's there to stay.

"I... I really care about you, A-Cheng. I'm going to be there for you," he murmurs. "We'll try the talisman later. For now, though..."

His eyes slide reluctantly toward the door.

"Should we go after him or wait until someone arrives here? I'll be with you either way."

"If they have to come get us, it'll be worse." But he can't stop himself from seeking another kiss before he finally moves to his feet, fingers curling around Huaisang's, squeezing them gently.

"...When we're done, i'll come check on you." Because of the two of them, he's probably the one more likely to be able to move first.

After returning the kiss, Huaisang stands as well, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself. He doesn't like discomfort, much less pain, so he's really not looking forward to this. But Jiang Cheng's right. It'll probably be worse for them if they try to avoid what's about to happen. At least, it's a little easier to face the music together than alone.

He gives Jiang Cheng's hand one final squeeze before letting go and stepping outside the room, waiting over the other teen to join him. They'll have to be careful not to antagonize anyone any further from this point on ro have any hope of getting through this experience with minimal harm.

He at least doesn't deliberarely touch Huaisang once they leave the room, heading for the discipline area, while staying close enough that there might be accidental brushes of their hands as they walk.

Even those accidental brushes are oddly reassuring. When they reach the discipline area, Huaisang doesn't say anything, he simply bows his head in a rather convincing display of shame and humility that sure as hell hadn't been anywhere close to being present in the bedroom.

Huaisang bows in contrition to the elders and simply waits for judgment.

Lan Wangji's gaze falls on them instantly, looking to their hands before anything else. His face has been schooled back into his normally-stern expression. Lan Qiren has a sour look on his face and turns between the pair and Lan Wangji before speaking.

"As you said, they came. Wangji, what is this about?"

"Improper conduct," he replies without missing a beat. His expression betrays nothing more or less.

It doesn't seem to be the answer Lan Qiren wants, his brow furrowing, and he turns back to Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng. "You two! Explain what this is about!"

"It's as Lan-xiong said. Improper conduct," Huaisang says evenly. "Unbecoming of a guest disciple of the Gusu Lan Sect."

He glances toward Jiang Cheng and Lan Wangji in turn.

Given the sheer amount of sect rules and the varied antics they'd gotten into when Wei Wuxian had attended with them, that could be any number of things. The less they speak about specifics, the more they can obfuscate the matter and reduce the risk of Jiang Cheng's family learning about anything.

"I... I'm here to accept whatever punishment is necessary."

The sooner this goes away, the better for everyone involved, especially Jiang Cheng.

"I am as well." He manages finally, every ounce of control he has directed at not looking at Huaisang, because if he does, he might say something they'll both regret later.

And right now, he just needs this over.

Lan Qiren glares at both of them, beard twitching, before turning back to Lan Wangji. "Wangji, explain!"

"Improper conduct," he repeats, "worthy of punishment. They admitted."

As if he can't quite believe his ears Lan Qiren stares for another few seconds, expression only darkening. Finally realizing he's not going to get the answer he wants, he turns back to the two. "Fine! If you all insist, you two will be punished for unspecified improper conduct. Come here! Wangji, you are dismissed!"

Lan Wangji gives a proper bow of respect, and without so much as glancing towards Jiang Cheng or Nie Huaisang again, turns to leave.

After it's over, he's the one who all but carries Huaisang back to whichever of their rooms is closer, guiding him to the bed to let him settle before he sinks to the floor, leaning against the bed.

But he doesn't speak, not yet.

Oh, Huaisang hurts all over. He's going to be feeling this beating for several days, at least. But it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. So long as they take care not to antagonize Lan Wangji too much they should be fine, he thinks.

Jiang Cheng should be fine.

A slight, pained smile curves his lips as he reaches over to weakly rest his hand on top of Jiang Cheng's head.

"It'll be all right now, I think," he says softly, closing his eyes as he gently strokes the other teen's hair. "Old Man Lan doesn't know anything and if Lan-xiong was going to tell him anything, he would've done so then. But it'd be best if we didn't push him too much, at least for a while."

Neither one of them are Wei Wuxian and Huaisang doubts anyone else could get away with it the way he had.

"...Maybe." But alright or not, he's not moving from this spot, his head on his arms on the bed, eyes closed as he tries not to move too much.

"I'll go back to my room in the morning if I can move..."

"If you think you can get up here, I'll make room for you. As long as we're clothed, it should be fine."

After that beating, Huaisang's too sore to do anything but cuddle very carefully. He's more worried about how much pain Jiang Cheng will be in when he wakes up if he tries to sleep in that position. Weakly, he runs his fingers through the other teen's hair.

The idea of trying to move again is honestly the last thing he wants to do, but he does get himself onto the bed, settling on his stomach because it's the least painful part of his body right now.

"...Chances of either of us being able to move tomorrow?"

"Pretty slim," he murmurs with a sigh.

Okay, even carefully cuddling might be a bit too difficult right now but Huaisang does manage to reach over to curl his fingers around Jiang Cheng's at least. His body hurts all over but he's willing to bear it. Now that getting physical isn't an option at the moment, he's focusing more on his feelings, how fiercely his heart is beating from just being in close proximity to his friend now.

But is this still only a friendship after all they've experienced since that first kiss outside? It's not, is it? Things have changed between them after all of that and honestly, even now, this... whatever it is makes him feel happy and content in a way that's different from how he's felt when spending time with Wei Wuxian in the past. It feels deeper somehow, more intense.

But maybe he doesn't need to understand everything between them right now. They still have time to figure all of this out, right? Lessons here don't end for several more months, at least.

"I'll ask Xichen-ge tomorrow if we can use the cold spring. It'll be uncomfortable but it should help us recover faster."

"He might have to carry us there if it's as bad as it is now." His fingers do tighten around Huaisang's though, eyes still closed as he does his best not to move.

It's not his first time being beaten but this time it was worse. The guilt didn't help, even if he knew they hadn't really done anything wrong. Gusu standards were different from the other sects and it wasn't like he'd actually planned this.

"Maybe it won't hurt as much after we sleep."

He looks over at Jiang Cheng, eyes softening as he sighs.

"I don't regret it, though. It was worth it."

Jiang Cheng is worth it.

The words are enough to have him shifting closer, even if it hurts, at least attempting to get close enough to brush a kiss to Huaisang's lips before he winces, his grip tightening on the other teenager's hand.

Because that's not..something he honestly expected to hear, not with what happened.

"..Yeah, it was."

That makes two of them who are surprised, then. He half-expected Jiang Cheng to want to back out and he wouldn't have blamed with him with a mother like Madam Yu. The ever so brief contact of lips and the tightened grip on his hand reassure him, however. Though if Jiang Cheng had wanted to just forget about it, he would've agreed, even he would've been sad about it.

Maybe Huaisang's more of a romantic than he'd ever thought he was because all he can think now is how much closer he feels to Jiang Cheng now, after sharing this experience together. It's nice, really nice. The physical pain, not so much, but the rest of it.

"I'm glad you think so, too, A-Cheng," is all he says though, feeling a warmth inside he can't name. His eyes drift closed.

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