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Jiang Cheng is so concentrated on his phone that he doesn’t hear Wei Wuxian running up to him and he pays dearly for it when Wei Wuxian slams into his back, making Jiang Cheng drop his phone.
“Wei Wuxian!” he yells out, even as he elbows him to retrieve his device.
A quick inspection reveals that there’s a new crack in the protection glass and Jiang Cheng sighs. This is why he doesn’t buy a new one until the old one is completely shattered. With Wei Wuxian he would go broke before the end of the month.
“Haha, upps,” Wei Wuxian laughs out as if it’s the funniest thing in the world that Jiang Cheng’s back is aching with pain now and his phone is more broken than before.
Jiang Cheng spots the exact moment Wei Wuxian moves to punch his shoulder and neatly side-steps the action, even though it makes Wei Wuxian pout.
“Aww, come on, Chengcheng, no need to frown like that, nothing happened, right?”
“You hurt me,” Jiang Cheng gives back, even though it’s useless. They had this conversation often enough for him to know that Wei Wuxian is not even truly listening to anything he’s saying at the moment.
“Yeah, sure, whatever you say,” Wei Wuxian mumbles, already distracted by something else when Jiang Yanli steps into the room.
“Oh, A-Cheng, why are you frowning like that again?” she immediately asks and Jiang Cheng briefly lifts his phone.
“Wei Wuxian made me drop it again, now there are more cracks than before,” he tells her, though he just knows what’s going to happen.
And just like he expected she reaches out for him to pat him on the hand.
“Don’t be like that, it’s not that bad anyway, right? It was cracked before, wasn’t it?” she asks and Jiang Cheng bites his tongue.
Arguing with his sister never gets them anywhere even though he would love to tell her that all the cracks in his phone are due to Wei Wuxian.
He only ever drops it because of Wei Wuxian’s roughness but Jiang Cheng can do nothing but sigh. His sister is not going to listen to him when it comes to anything that even vaguely sounds like a complaint about Wei Wuxian and he doesn’t actually want her to pet him again.
It always feels so condescending when she does it.
“Whatever,” he mumbles and pockets his phone, and just in time too because Wei Wuxian slings his arm around his shoulder, hanging his entire weight off Jiang Cheng’s side who can barely keep them standing.
He doesn’t mention that something in his spine just audibly popped from that because it’s not as if anyone would care at all.
Instead, he pushes Wei Wuxian off of him and then takes a big step to the side. It’s the last time that evening he lets any of his siblings touch him.
~*~*~
The first time Nie Mingjue reaches out for Jiang Cheng in public, Jiang Cheng flinches away. He doesn’t even think about it, it’s just habit at this point but he does notice the confused frown on Nie Mingjue’s face.
Jiang Cheng tries to soften his action by immediately reaching out for Nie Mingjue’s hand in turn and it seems as if Nie Mingjue is appeased when he threads their fingers together.
The second time it happens catches even Jiang Cheng off guard, because Nie Mingjue comes up behind him and puts a hand to his shoulder. It’s just a light touch, nothing at all like Wei Wuxian’s, but Jiang Cheng’s body reacts before his mind can catch up and he moves away from Nie Mingjue.
“Wanyin?” Nie Mingjue asks, concern clear in his voice and Jiang Cheng winces before he gives Nie Mingjue a strained smile.
“I hurt my shoulder during training yesterday, sorry,” he lies and immediately feels bad about it. This is not something he should lie to his boyfriend about but he doesn’t even know where to begin explaining what’s going on.
“is it serious?” Nie Mingjue very predictably asks, clearly concerned about Jiang Cheng and that only makes him feel worse.
“No, just a little strain. It will be better tomorrow, I’m sure about it.”
“If you say so,” Nie Mingjue gives back, clearly not completely convinced but he doesn’t try to reach out for Jiang Cheng again either.
It’s what Jiang Cheng wanted, but somehow it makes him feel worse.
The third time is when Nie Mingjue finally seems to catch on that something else is going on here. They have a dinner date and when Jiang Cheng arrives at the restaurant Nie Mingjue leans in to kiss him.
Jiang Cheng is acting on instinct again, and his hand is in Nie Mingjue’s face, pushing him away before he can think better of it.
And now Nie Mingjue doesn’t just look worried and confused, he also seems hurt and that is something Jiang Cheng can’t actually stand.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers which clearly adds to Nie Mingjue’s concern.
“I think we should get take-out today,” he decides and doesn’t actually give Jiang Cheng the chance to answer before he steps into the restaurant.
Jiang Cheng knows that a serious talk is waiting for him at home and he can’t even blame Nie Mingjue for this. He has to admit that his behaviour is strange and it’s not fair to not explain anything to Nie Mingjue.
It’s just—Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know where to start with explaining any of this because he never had to try for an outsider so to speak. And the few times he did try with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli they told him not to be such a baby and called him too sensitive and Jiang Cheng doesn’t actually want to hear the same thing from Nie Mingjue.
But it’s not as if he has a choice anymore, and if he’s being honest then Nie Mingjue deserves that he at least tries.
They don’t really talk on the way back and Jiang Cheng has no hope that they are going to eat while the food is actually still hot. They’ll have to reheat it later.
“What is going on?” Nie Mingjue asks without preamble when the door is finally closed behind them and Jiang Cheng immediately steps close and hugs him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers and feels more than he hears how Nie Mingjue lets out a huge sigh before he oh so carefully rests his hand on Jiang Cheng’s back.
And that—this forced carefulness from Nie Mingjue—is not something Jiang Cheng ever wanted.
“Don’t be sorry.” Nie Mingjue drops a quick kiss to Jiang Cheng’s head. “Just explain what’s going on.”
Jiang Cheng worries his lower lip, not actually sure how he is supposed to go about this an it seems as if he’s taking too long for Nie Mingjue’s liking because he moves his hand up and down his back before he speaks again.
“This seems to be okay. Is t only certain touches?” he asks, clearly intent on figuring out what’s happening and Jiang Cheng presses even closer, almost trying to hide completely in Nie Mingjue’s embrace.
“I will need some words here, Wanyin,” Nie Mingjue states when Jiang Cheng yet again fails to answer and he sounds hurt in a way Jiang Cheng never wanted, so he forces himself to talk.
Even though he still doesn’t know what he wants to say, how he should explain this.
“This is okay,” he agrees and squeezes Nie Mingjue.
“Then what? Do you need to be in charge of the way we touch?” Nie Mingjue wants to know and Jiang Cheng’s heart aches at that.
He knows how touchy Nie Mingjue is, he sees it regularly with Nie Huaisang and to even think that he would have to hold back with Jiang Cheng would surely be hard on him and go against his very nature. And it’s not actually what Jiang Cheng wants at all. It’s just—
“Usually it hurts,” Jiang Cheng mumbles, his face still mostly pressed to Nie Mingjue’s shoulder but he must have heard him because Nie Mingjue freezes.
“I hurt you?” he asks, the shock so very audible in his voice and Jiang Cheng is quick to shake his head.
He doesn’t want to make Nie Mingjue worried even more.
“No, it’s—gods, why is this so goddamn hard,” Jiang Cheng groans out, finally letting go of Nie Mingjue so he can pace around the room better.
“For the longest time it’s only been my siblings and me,” he eventually says, and going by the frown on Nie Mingjue’s face it’s only confusing Nie Mingjue further. “There weren’t actually that many people who touched me because it was just my siblings and me. You know my parents, and until Huaisang, I didn’t really have friends,” Jiang Cheng admits, even though Nie Mingjue very well knows that.
“I don’t see the relation,” Nie Mingjue says, and he’s so careful to not make it a rebuke that Jiang Cheng just has to smile at him.
“Wei Wuxian is very—excited,” Jiang Cheng settles on. “Always. 24/7.” At that Nie Mingjue snorts, because they all know that. “And—he’s not very careful. Not with me.” Jiang Cheng rubs his shoulder where Wei Wuxian had punched him just yesterday; he had hit the bone awkwardly and the bruise was already a deep purple.
Jiang Cheng hadn’t even bothered to complain because there was no use to that.
“He tackles me, he punches me, he yells into my ear,” Jiang Cheng tells Nie Mingjue, who finally seems to understand. “And it just—it made me wary when people reach out for me.”
“And your sister?” Nie Mingjue asks and Jiang Cheng snorts bitterly.
“The only time she ever touches me is to pat my head or my hand while telling me to not be so sensitive and that A-Xian didn’t mean it. It’s—not something that’s very pleasant, either.”
“So it’s not because of me,” Nie Mingjue breathes out and immediately Jiang Cheng walks over to him to take his hand.
He never meant to make Nie Mingjue worry like that.
“Of course it’s not because of you, my soul. I love you. It’s just—I had years to learn these behaviours. I might need a bit of time to unlearn them, too.”
“You should have said,” Nie Mingjue says but he softens his words with a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s knuckles.
“I didn’t know how. I didn’t even know now. It’s a wonder you even understand me at all.”
“Your phone is cracked because of him, right?” Nie Mingjue asks, clearly mulling things over in his mind and Jiang Cheng nods. “And the bruise on your shoulder?”
“Like I said, he’s very excitable.”
“No wonder you would flinch away,” Nie Mingjue mutters. “I know this is not going to help much for now, but I’m not him. I’m not going to do that to you. When I reach out for you it’s just because I want to touch you, or kiss you.”
“I know,” Jiang Cheng sighs and burrows into Nie Mingjue’s arms again. “I just might need time to unlearn all of that with you.”
“But you’re not against that? I mean it would be a bit of PDA, though not quite as sickening as Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are.”
“I wouldn’t mind at all,” Jiang Cheng admits.
He never really thought about it before, but the thought that Nie Mingjue might kiss him where everyone can see only makes Jiang Cheng happy.
“Slowly then, okay?” Nie Mingjue asks and Jiang Cheng nods.
If they go slow, he’s sure he can get used to Nie Mingjue touching him.
~*~*~
Nie Mingjue doesn’t only go slow, he also wordlessly asks for permission every time before he moves in to touch or kiss Jiang Cheng.
It’s usually just with a look or sometimes he will move, only to stop for a brief moment for Jiang Cheng to get his instincts under control but then he lavishes Jiang Cheng with kisses everywhere. It seems as if no place is safe, because Nie Mingjue drops kisses on his hands, his arms, his shoulders and all over Jiang Cheng’s head and face.
Jiang Cheng is flourishing under Nie Mingjue’s attention and he has to admit that it is incredibly nice.
“My heart,” Nie Mingjue says and just as Jiang Cheng is about to answer, Nie Mingjue has already stolen a kiss.
“My soul,” Jiang Cheng half-heartedly complaints because he was mid-conversation with Wei Wuxian, but Nie Mingjue is completely unrepentant and simply leans in to kiss Jiang Cheng again.
“That’s so gross,” Wei Wuxian whispers before he speaks up at a louder volume. “Hey, how come he can touch you whenever and I don’t? You always shove me off.”
“Maybe because you’re being too rough and hurting me,” Jiang Cheng says with a roll of his eyes, knowing damn well that his words will fall on deaf ears.
“Aw, Chengcheng,” Wei Wuxian whines out, moving forward as if to hang off Jiang Cheng again, and just as Jiang Cheng is about to take a step back, Nie Mingjue’s arm moves between them.
“I don’t think so,” Nie Mingjue says, firmly keeping Wei Wuxian out of reach of Jiang Cheng. “He just said you’re being too rough. Maybe listen for once in a while and don’t act like a spoiled, ignorant child.”
“Hey,” Wei Wuxian exclaims, turning betrayed eyes on Jiang Cheng, clearly waiting for him to tell Nie Mingjue that it is okay.
But if he thinks Jiang Cheng will do that, then he’s very wrong.
“Thank you,” he says to Nie Mingjue and takes the opportunity to lean up to kiss Nie Mingjue.
They are both breathing a bit faster when they part, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t feel too bad about it. Nie Mingjue protecting him from Wei Wuxian is incredibly hot after all.
“Ew,” Wei Wuxian complaints and turns away, clearly more grossed out than hurt and Jiang Cheng moves so he can hug Nie Mingjue from the side.
“Seriously, thank you,” he whispers and squeezes his middle.
“You should have said something sooner, I could have protected you even before,” Nie Mingjue mutters, making Jiang Cheng laugh.
“But you can protect me now. And I get all the kisses, right?” Jiang Cheng cheekily asks and blinks up at Nie Mingjue who immediately leans down to drop a kiss on the tip of Jiang Cheng’s nose.
“All of them,” he promises and Jiang Cheng knows that he will keep his promise.
Which is just as well, because Jiang Cheng can never get too many kisses from him.