Chapter Text
Wei Ying doesn’t know Lan Zhan.
Well, that’s not true. They’re acquainted. If Lan Zhan wasn’t so closed and cold, Wei Ying might even say they were friends. Friendly, at the very least.
It would make sense. They went to college together. They work together. They eat lunch together, sitting at the same table, with Wei Ying complaining about how much work they do and Lan Zhan quietly listening and sometimes nodding. Wei Ying has even, occasionally, invited him for a coffee after work, which Lan Zhan accepted about half the time.
They should, by all means, be friends. Some people in Wei Ying’s life think they’re close, and sometimes he even feels inclined to agree.
But he doesn’t know Lan Zhan. They met almost 8 years ago, and he still hasn’t been to his new apartment even once. He knows how Lan Zhan likes his tea, but he doesn’t know what kind of tv show he watches. He knows Lan Zhan’s favorite color is blue, and that he enjoys reading at night, but he doesn’t know what kind of memes he laughs at.
You know. The important stuff.
He’s aware that he’s the only person who Lan Zhan kinda talks to in their office, but that’s because he’s a really quiet person. Wei Ying is the only one who was shameless enough to keep pestering him.
The reason for his insistence wasn't noble, at first. Lan Zhan was hot, and Wei Ying was going through a "crush hard on every hot person you see" phase. Lan Zhan looked just ethereal and unreachable enough to be a challenge.
But the challenge ended up being one he couldn't beat. Lan Zhan kept glaring at his every attempt at flirting, and sometimes would even walk away while Wei Ying was still in the middle of a sentence.
He only really opened up after their first duo presentation together, which had taken a month to prepare. That was when they found out they were both the smartest students in their major, and from then on, pairing up for every single project was a given.
Wei Ying still thinks about the exact moment when he made an observation on the article they were reading, and Lan Zhan turned to him with something akin to awe in his eyes. It was at that time, precisely, that he got Lan Zhan’s respect.
So yeah, they're not… Strangers. But Wei Ying can’t really say he knows him.
The only thing he knows for a fact, the thing that eats at him every day and makes his heart sink, is that they would never be compatible in a relationship. Even though Lan Zhan is gay. Even though Lan Zhan is also into BDSM.
Because Lan Zhan is a Dom. And so is Wei Ying.
-
He found out about it completely by accident.
Four years ago, in their last year of Law School, Wei Ying had gotten really drunk at a party. Back then, he used to have a huge crush on him, so he found himself knocking on his door and drunkenly asking him to teach him about classical music. It was the only music Lan Zhan seemed to listen to, and Wei Ying was a desperate fool in love who wanted nothing more than to simply press his head on Lan Zhan’s chest and just listen to him humming.
Lan Zhan was home, because of course he was, where would he even go? His only friend was the pretty girl he called MianMian, but she was always too busy studying.
So Wei Ying had promptly thrown himself on Lan Zhan’s arms, the bottle of Emperor’s Smile empty in his hand, and demanded that Lan Zhan sing him a song.
Lan Zhan didn’t. He told Wei Ying he had to go to his own room and rest. But Wei Ying didn’t want to rest. He wanted to hear Lan Zhan’s voice. So he lowered his head and turned, leaning into his body, ready to put his ear against Lan Zhan’s chest, just to hear his chest vibrations.
Which was when his center of gravity shifted, and his head started spinning, and Wei Ying emptied the contents of his stomach right onto Lan Zhan’s very soft - and very cute - bunny pajamas.
Lan Zhan was understandably furious. He helped Wei Ying get cleaned up and sat him on the sofa, before going to the bathroom to take a shower. Wei Ying had taken the opportunity to go lie down on his bed.
He wasn’t looking for anything! He really just wanted to lie down on soft sheets, and everything Lan Zhan owned looked so comfortable.
He wasn’t expecting Lan Zhan’s laptop to be on his bed, open on a kinky website. He wasn’t expecting the topic of said website to be BDSM. He wasn’t expecting to see a picture of a man completely tied up in complicated knots, gagged, and wearing clamps on his very red and swollen nipples.
Wei Ying went back to sleep on the couch, breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth, fighting a raging boner that didn’t really go away until the next day, after he got home and jerked off to the thought of Lan Zhan wearing exactly that.
It was only after getting his blood flowing through his entire body again that he was able to think.
Lan Zhan was looking at a site about rope bondage. How to tie the knots, what kind of rope to use, what to do after. Which meant he was probably meaning to do it to someone, someday.
Of course, Wei Ying thought to himself. It’s always the quiet ones, isn’t it?
It made sense, he supposed. Lan Zhan was kind of mean and tough, in a sexy, I’m-better-than-you way. And the only guy in college who managed to sleep with him - a freshman called Mo Xuanyu who was the opposite of Wei Ying’s type - spread a rumor that he asked Lan Zhan to be rough, and he went above and beyond expectations.
Fine, Wei Ying thought, with his foolish, lovesick heart. If this was what Lan Zhan was into, he wouldn’t mind giving it a try.
-
It didn’t go well.
To his credit, he did consider just asking Lan Zhan to introduce the lifestyle to him. Maybe, if he was sexy enough and nonchalant enough, he could get Lan Zhan to have sex with him while still not knowing about his crush.
But that idea was quickly shoved aside when he remembered he had no experience in the matter. And what if Lan Zhan thought he was too inexperienced? What if Wei Ying did something wrong?
Worse, what if he found out he didn’t like it while in the middle of doing it?
He could never deal with the humiliation.
So Wei Ying did his research, he went to clubs, and he tried. And sure, it felt nice. But he didn’t get the appeal of it. He kept trying to imagine Lan Zhan in the place of the person he was currently with - Lan Zhan with a flogger in his hand, Lan Zhan pushing him to his knees - but it never worked.
His mind kept going back to that first image, and try as he might, it just did not go away. Lan Zhan, wearing a pretty gag in his mouth, the saliva dripping down his chin. Lan Zhan writhing under his touch every time Wei Ying pulled on his nipple clamps. Lan Zhan begging on his knees.
The realization that he was a Dom was equal parts exhilarating and devastating. On one hand, he suddenly found himself enjoying bdsm a thousand times more. On the other hand...
It meant that he and Lan Zhan would never get to be together. It meant that they would always have to remain friends, unless they both agreed to some kind of switching, or to a poly relationship where they’d have to seek the dynamics they wanted somewhere else.
And if Lan Zhan was anything like him, that just simply would not do. He could never force Lan Zhan into something that wasn't satisfactory for him.
-
It’s 9:30 in the morning when Wei Ying strides his way into the office, startling the people who are all quietly doing their jobs. He’s not the type to be late for his work anymore, but he had a really rough Sunday night.
He didn’t think about Lan Zhan in a romantic way anymore. He was over him. He was. But sometimes, when he felt lonely, he caught himself thinking about him.
After finding out they wouldn’t be compatible, Wei Ying did his best to crush his feelings down. It was hard once he found out they’d be working in the same place, but he eventually got used to that, too. Talking to Lan Zhan was still one of his favorite things to do. They could stay… Friendly. Colleagues. Whatever they were.
But last night was rough. He doesn’t know what caused it. Maybe it was the aesthetic picture Lan Zhan posted on his instagram of himself reading, cozy pants, bunny socks and everything. Maybe it was the fact that after that, Wei Ying started thinking about the only selfie they had together, stored away somewhere in his computer.
They’d taken that selfie on the last day of college. Wei Ying remembers it clearly: he had to ask everyone for a selfie so it wouldn’t look suspicious when he got to Lan Zhan with the same request. In the end, it was the only one he kept. He was smiling with his diploma in hands, his arm over Lan Zhan’s unimpressed shoulders as if the act of touching him didn’t bring butterflies to Wei Ying’s stomach.
But that was years ago.
He’s over Lan Zhan now, really. It’s just hard sometimes.
Wei Ying sits comfortably on his chair and starts his computer. Lan Zhan glances in his direction, but doesn’t actually meet his eyes. It’s fine. He will, when he’s ready. Wei Ying doesn’t really mind anymore.
He rests his head on his hand and sighs a little too loudly. Lan Zhan looks at him again, briefly. When their gazes meet, he nods, silently acknowledging Wei Ying’s presence, which must mean he’s in a good mood.
Wei Ying opens his brightest smile. Lan Zhan blinks once, then looks away fast.
He looks pretty this morning , Wei Ying absolutely does not think. Lan Zhan is wearing his usual clothes, a button-up white shirt and dark navy dress pants. Today, he has a light blue scarf too, elegantly draped over his neck, and tiny black circular earrings on his ears. Wei Ying wonders how much effort he puts into his appearance before leaving his house. Probably none. He probably just wakes up and looks like a god visiting the mortal realm, like he always does.
Lan Zhan’s boss, Nie Mingjue, comes out of his office, startling him back into reality. They have different bosses directly above them, since they’re in different departments, but a lot of their work ends up overlapping.
“Lan Zhan,” the man says.
Lan Zhan turns his chair to look at him, the usual bored expression on his face.
They have a quiet conversation Wei Ying couldn’t be more uninterested in. Lan Zhan had something big to take care of, as always. He did it perfectly, as always. Wei Ying tries not to feel too proud on his behalf. He has no right to. They’re barely even friends. Still, he did a good job, so Wei Ying can’t help but feel a little bit happy for him.
It isn’t until the word promotion gets tossed around in a hushed tone that he starts to pay attention.
It becomes clear, however, that Nie Mingjue is talking about himself. Huh. Wei Ying didn’t know the position above him was open.
He gives up all pretense of not paying attention and sets his own work aside for the moment, turning his eyes in their direction.
“... and it was you who handled that, too,” Mingjue says.
Lan Zhan’s throat bobs up and down.
“I had help from our team,” he says.
“And when the client wouldn’t give us the information, you convinced her.”
“Yes,” Lan Zhan wrinkles his nose a little. Cute. “But I couldn’t possibly have done it without-”
“Lan Zhan. Accept the compliment,” Mingjue cuts him, his voice going slightly more authoritative. Lan Zhan clenches his jaw. “It was good work. You deserve recognition.”
Wei Ying thinks it’s his imagination, but he swears he can see Lan Zhan’s ears blushing.
“Thank you,” he says.
“You’re welcome. What about the contracts for tomorrow?”
Lan Zhan points at his computer. “I already emailed them to you.”
Mingjue opens a big smile.
“Ah, great job,” he says, and something in Lan Zhan's face changes, just slightly. “You did good.”
Lan Zhan goes completely still.
It only lasts a second. Not even that. Before the silence can stretch, he’s already nodding again, and Mingjue is going back into his office.
But Wei Ying notices.
He notices as Lan Zhan turns his chair again, takes in a shaky breath, and raises his eyes back to his computer. He watches as Lan Zhan feels him staring, and tries avoiding his eyes. He sees the dusty rose shade on the tips of Lan Zhan’s ears, definitely there.
And he wonders.
-
He thinks about it the entire day.
There are many possible explanations for Lan Zhan blushing at being told he did a good job. He could just be embarrassed from being told that in front of everyone - not that there were that many people in the office. He could just really like getting praise from his boss - who wouldn’t?
He could also… have a crush on Nie Mingjue.
Wei Ying shakes his head, immediately discarding the thought. On the single occasion Lan Zhan lost a bet to him, Wei Ying had asked him what his type was, and from what he remembered, it definitely wasn’t bearded guys who looked like they could hold him up with one hand.
No. Lan Zhan liked lean guys with toned muscles. Guys with pretty faces, shaven and sharp-edged. Shorter than him, definitely. He remembers it perfectly, because the answer was seared into his brain. It was the first and last time they ever talked about men, and Wei Ying hadn’t been able to forget it for at least two months after.
So it can’t be that. It has to be the praise thing. Something in Wei Ying’s guts tells him he’s seen that look before, many, many times, but he doesn't dare let his mind go there.
For the entire day, and long after he gets home and gets ready for bed, he can’t shake the image of Lan Zhan’s blushing ears away from his mind. Wei Ying used to be the one who did that to him. Not anyone else.
He tries remembering the last time Lan Zhan blushed at something he said. Nothing. He has the shocking realization that he can’t even remember the last time he paid Lan Zhan a compliment. He’d been guarding himself so much after he found out about their differences that even his attitude towards Lan Zhan had changed.
But that won’t do. Because Lan Zhan is so, so good. He deserves praise. And even though it’s selfish and irresponsible, Wei Ying wants to be the one giving it to him.
And if he has another idea, sparking in the back of his mind, about why exactly Lan Zhan might enjoy being praised at all, well, that’s his own business.
-
Wei Ying sees the perfect opportunity to put his new praise-Lan-Zhan-until-he-blushes-and-see-where-it-gets-him plan to work the next week.
Lan Zhan comes to the office late, their shifts nearly over, basically just to punch out. He had something to do on the field today, and by the heavy energy he carries with himself once he enters the office, it didn't go as well as it should have.
No one notices it, of course. To everyone else, Lan Zhan just looks like his normal, composed self.
Wei Ying waits until their shifts are nearly done and goes to the coffee shop downstairs to get Lan Zhan's favorite tea and a cup of coffee for himself. He isn't confident that if he asks Lan Zhan to go there with him he will say yes, so he saves him the trouble of having to deny it by doing it anyway. He found out a long time ago that that’s the best way to get to Lan Zhan.
When he comes back, some people are already gathering their things to leave. Not Lan Zhan, though. He always stays at least a little bit after hours.
"Here," Wei Ying hands the cup over to him, sitting on the edge of his desk.
Lan Zhan looks up at him. From up close, he seems even more stressed, his eyes a little dark around the edges, a small pinch between his eyebrows.
"It's tea," he says, when Lan Zhan doesn’t move. "You look like you need it."
Lan Zhan looks down at the cup. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to. It's your favorite," Wei Ying says, even though he doesn't actually know if it is. But it's the one Lan Zhan always seems to get on his hardest days. "Hibiscus with honey."
Lan Zhan's eyes widen a little, before he schools his expression back to neutral. Still, he remains frozen in place.
Wei Ying takes one of Lan Zhan's hands and firmly sets the cup on it.
"Drink," he says, letting just a tad of authority slip into his voice.
Lan Zhan twists his lips at him, but takes a small sip.
Suddenly, it's like Wei Ying is watching all of Lan Zhan’s nerves unfolding in front of him. When he takes another, bigger gulp, his eyes flutter closed and his shoulders fall subtly, seeming to relax.
Wei Ying smiles. That was fast. Lan Zhan must be more stressed than he thought.
"Good," he says, his voice honey-sweet.
Lan Zhan's eyes snap open and lock on him.
Interesting.
"A little more.”
"Wei Yi-"
"Just a little, Lan Zhan,” he says, firmly. “You'll feel better. Drink."
Lan Zhan swallows, then brings the cup to his lips again. He stares at Wei Ying as he does it, a look slightly defiant, and drinks.
"So good," Wei Ying says again, just to test him. “There you go.”
Lan Zhan inhales a quiet breath, then lowers his eyes.
Well.
Gently, Wei Ying takes the cup from his hand and sets it on the table. "How do you feel?"
Lan Zhan clears his throat before answering.
"The same," he says, but his entire expression looks softer. Wei Ying's heart feels warm just looking at it.
"I thought you never lied,” he says.
“I’m a lawyer.”
Wei Ying lets out a laugh, startling the few people who still linger in the room.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, you’re funny,” he says. It’s true. Lan Zhan has a sort of dry humor, little phrases here and there, that just take the breath out of Wei Ying’s lungs. No one would ever guess just by looking at him.
“Mn,” Lan Zhan stares at him. “Thank you. For the tea.”
“You’re welcome,” Wei Ying says.
And that’s it. His opportunity. He takes a shuddering breath, unable to believe his own forwardness, and leans into Lan Zhan’s space just a tiny bit further.
“Whenever you’re stressed, just come to me, okay?” he says, voice a little bit lower, meant for Lan Zhan’s ears alone. “I’ll help you relax.”
Lan Zhan lips fall open. His ears are blushing again now, a cute pink tint to his pale skin. Wei Ying tries not to imagine that pink shade spreading to other places.
“With tea, I mean,” he says, then draws back with a smile. “See you tomorrow.”
Lan Zhan’s glare turns to needles on his skin. He doesn’t answer. Wei Ying doesn’t stay to see if he will.
He has a lot to think about.
-
Usually, Wei Ying doesn’t like to assume things about people.
He’s been through a lot to know that things aren’t always as they seem. He’s seen a lot of big, burly and mean-looking people who loved subbing, and he knows a lot of leaner and delicate Doms. Even the way the person acts in real life isn’t really a good indicator of what they’ll like in bed.
So could he, possibly, maybe, have been wrong about Lan Zhan this entire time?
Maybe he’s wrong about everything. Maybe Lan Zhan doesn’t even like bdsm and that website was a one time thing. Maybe he just likes bondage. Maybe he tried it a few times, and it wasn’t for him.
But Wei Ying could swear he saw something in his eyes, when he gave him the tea. When he told him he was good. When he ordered him to drink.
He tries shaking the thought from his head. He can’t fall into that trap again, of liking Lan Zhan and caring about him more than he should. He tells himself he won’t tease him anymore. Although it was fun remembering what they were like in their old days, he can’t let his heart too open.
It works.
But when Mingjue gets a promotion, and Lan Zhan gets promoted too, to take his place, Wei Ying can’t keep himself from trying to get closer again.
Because Lan Zhan is suddenly too busy to even have lunch with him, and he doesn’t sit in plain sight anymore. He gets there earlier than everyone else and leaves after they’re all gone, and his shoulders have been looking more and more sunken with each passing day.
And Wei Ying can’t have that. He wants to help.
-
“Are you okay?”
Lan Zhan looks up at him from the desk in his new office. His usually braided hair is loose today, falling on his shoulder in perfect waves. Wei Ying leans on the door and tilts his head, waiting for an answer.
“Mn.”
“Doesn’t look like it,” he says.
Lan Zhan glares at him, but Wei Ying is too used to that death stare, and it doesn’t stop him. He walks inside the office and turns the chair in front of Lan Zhan’s desk around, sitting with his legs open.
“Everyone already went home, like, two hours ago,” he says. “Why are you still here?”
“You are also here.”
“That’s not fair, I rarely ever stay after hours,” he pouts. Lan Zhan glances at it with disapproval. “Ay, don’t turn this around, Lan Zhan. You’ve been staying in the office until god knows when every night. You look like you haven’t eaten a good meal in days. New workload kicking your ass?”
Lan Zhan sighs - which he never does, so he really must be tired - and lets his shoulders fall slightly.
“I’m still settling into the new position,” he says.
“Don’t overexert yourself,” Wei Ying slides his chair closer. He wishes there was no desk between them. It’s probably better that there is. “I’ll tell you what. It’s Friday. I’ll treat you to dinner.”
“Wei Ying…”
“You’re not allowed to say no,” Wei Ying gives him his best smile and gets up from the chair, gesturing at him to follow. “Come on. You haven’t even celebrated your promotion yet.”
As soon as Wei Ying says it, he realizes he doesn’t actually know if that’s true. As far as he can tell, he might’ve celebrated with his family, his friends, or even… A boyfriend.
“I have to stay here. But… We could,” Lan Zhan clears his throat. “Celebrate. Another day.”
Wei Ying thinks about it for a while, stepping closer to his side, and then shakes his head. Lan Zhan is an overachiever. He’s probably doing next week’s work, and everything he needs to have ready by Monday is already done.
“I don’t think so. But if you can’t leave...” he grabs his phone from his pocket. “I could order. Vegetarian, non-spicy, right?”
Lan Zhan looks up at him. Wei Ying levels his gaze, thinking that if Lan Zhan denies it again, pushing it would be too much.
He doesn’t. He just nods, eyes looking a little less cold than usual.
“Great,” Wei Ying’s smile wrinkles the skin around his eyes. “I’ll get us something.”
He stands behind Lan Zhan and leans his weight on the wall, pressing a finger to the digital reader on his phone.
Nothing happens.
“Fuck, my phone is dead. You have delivery apps, right?” he reaches for Lan Zhan’s phone over the desk.
“Mn,” he says, already distracted again by something on his computer screen.
Wei Ying types a few letters into the phone and is surprised when the screen unlocks.
“Ha! I can’t believe your password is still Bichen,” he laughs, remembering the days they would work on projects together and use Lan Zhan’s phone, since he was the only one with data. “Lan Zhan, you haven’t chang-”
Wei Ying freezes. And stares.
Right next to the food and banking apps, he sees a logo to an app he knows too well. It’s used by people with specific kinks, and people who are into BDSM. He knows it, because he has the same exact app on his own phone.
Fuck.
A hand comes in his direction, but years of having an annoying brother have given Wei Ying incredibly quick reflexes. He extends his arm to the side, taking the phone out of Lan Zhan’s reach.
“Wei Ying,” he gets up and goes for his phone again.
Wei Ying easily ducks out of his grasp.
“Lan Zhan… What’s the problem?” he teases, keeping a calm exterior.
Inside, he feels like he’s about to burst.
Lan Zhan tries to grab his arms, but Wei Ying is sneaky. He slips out of Lan Zhan’s way, turning their bodies around so that Lan Zhan is the one near the wall, and he has more room to escape.
Smiling, he puts the phone in his back pocket.
Lan Zhan narrows his eyes at him. He doesn’t seem… angry. He just seems nervous. There’s a pretty color on his cheeks, and Wei Ying kinda wants to see it spreading all over his face.
“Lan Zhannn, is there something secret in here that I can’t see?” he says, faking a pout. “I thought you trusted-”
Lan Zhan suddenly tries reaching around him, but he’s ready for that. Before his hands can get to the phone, Wei Ying grabs both of his wrists in an iron grip and holds them still.
He’s strong, but Wei Ying is faster. He crosses Lan Zhan’s arms in front of his body and presses him against the wall, keeping him there.
“You’re…” Wei Ying tries to say, but nothing else comes out.
Lan Zhan stares, his body completely still, and Wei Ying swears he can feel his breath on his cheek. He’s so, so close. They haven’t been this close in…
Wei Ying swallows down the thought. Lan Zhan’s body is warm, too warm, between him and the wall. If he leans over, he can press himself against him. If he leans over...
He can’t let himself go there.
Lan Zhan moves a little under him, and Wei Ying tightens his grips instinctively. When he realizes what he’s doing, he relaxes it again, not realizing how useless it is. Lan Zhan is stronger than him. If he wants to break himself free, he will.
Lan Zhan doesn’t move. It doesn’t even look like he’s breathing.
Slowly, he softens under Wei Ying’s hands, the tension in his muscles easing a little.
“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying says, just because he can. Just to see the change in Lan Zhan’s face when he hears his name. “Breathe.”
Lan Zhan breathes. Almost as if he hadn’t realized he was keeping the air in. Almost as if he wants-
Wei Ying leans a little bit closer, letting their thighs brush together.
Lan Zhan lets him.
Lan Zhan lets him.
With a sharp intake of breath, Wei Ying lets go of him and takes a step back.
Years of forbidding himself from thinking about Lan Zhan like that have not prepared him for this. He blinks, and Lan Zhan blinks back, suspended in the moment.
“I…” he starts, but his voice barely comes out. His head is doing a full turn, trying to rearrange everything he thought he knew about the man in front of him. “You’re… I’m.”
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says, bringing his arms down slowly. He was holding them up. In the position Wei Ying put them. Compliant.
Obedient.
Wei Ying feels his heart racing inside his chest. The tips of Lan Zhan’s ears are so red. So pretty. He wants to bite them.
He wants to tell Lan Zhan to kneel.
He needs to go.
“Raincheck,” he says, trying to hide the way his voice shakes. Lan Zhan would kneel for him. Wei Ying knows it in his guts, with a certainty that almost takes his breath away. “I just remembered I have to be… at Huaisang’s.”
“Alright,” Lan Zhan says. He looks taken aback. Wei Ying should… he should do something about it. Relieve the tension.
He picks Lan Zhan’s phone from his pocket and hands it to him.
“Here,” he says. “Unscathed.”
Lan Zhan picks up the phone. Their eyes meet again, just for a second, before he looks away.
“I didn’t see anything,” he says, which makes it sound like he definitely saw something. Which he did. Fuck. “I’m gonna… go,” he waits for Lan Zhan to meet his eyes. “Goodnight?”
“Goodnight, Wei Ying.”
He should stay. He should… do something. Can he do something?
No, the voice inside him says, the one he’s been cultivating for years. Walk away.
That’s right. Wei Ying is not allowed to like Lan Zhan. He’s not allowed to fall for him. He’s not allowed to kiss him.
Even if… Even if things might have changed. What he’s doing right now… It goes against his own rules. If he doesn’t take care of himself, he’s gonna end up in the same hole he was a few years back.
With one last nod to the confused man in front of him, Wei Ying leaves.
-
He takes the entire weekend to freak out about it.
He keeps thinking about Lan Zhan’s face. His body responding to him so well. His eyes reacting to the voice he used.
There are constant fantasies in his head, things he tried to drown out many years ago. Lan Zhan, tied to the bed, shaking with the force of his third orgasm. Wei Ying’s cock on his pretty lips, forcing its way inside. His golden eyes full of tears, asking for more, for mercy, and Wei Ying giving him everything he wants.
He gets hard at random moments of the day, just thinking about it. He hasn’t masturbated this much since he was a teenager.
It feels dirty, thinking about Lan Zhan this way. He spent so long trying not to. But once he starts, he finds out he can’t stop, and even thinking about what his voice sounds like during pleasure gets him there.
The realization comes to him, obvious, and so abruptly he almost laughs.
What if he could?
Lan Zhan was into it. Wei Ying is too used to this not to recognize when people respond to him. And Lan Zhan had been anything but reluctant, at that point. Wei Ying made sure to leave space for him to move, to get out, and he didn’t.
This means something.
He goes to work on Monday with a bright smile on his face. Maybe he can have this, in some kind of way. Maybe, even if it isn’t romantic, he can give Lan Zhan something he needs. He can take care of him.
-
He does it without realizing, at first.
It starts with rewarding. Wei Ying leaves tea on Lan Zhan’s desk with a note that says “You worked hard! :)” when he realizes he had another hard day. He doesn’t even have to ask him to know; Lan Zhan’s body language seems so clear to him. He wonders how no one else notices.
The hard days come more and more often, now that Lan Zhan has more responsibility. Wei Ying has to get creative with his treats. But that’s not a problem for him. He starts leaving him butter cookies, and dried apple chips, all with cute and affirmative notes on them. In the evenings, he gets him tea, and tries to be as sneaky about it as possible.
When Lan Zhan manages to close a deal with a big company for them, Wei Ying recognizes it’s time for the special gift he’d been thinking about.
He brings him a piece of chocolate cake, which he’s seen Lan Zhan indulging in exactly three times: two on his birthday, and one on their graduation day. He thinks this is just as important of an occasion.
He sets the cake on Lan Zhan’s desk, along with a bunny-shaped post it note that says “Amazing work. You’re the best.” . The color of the note is light blue. Wei Ying smiles to himself and thinks he is very clever to have incorporated so many things Lan Zhan likes.
It isn’t until Lan Zhan comes back to work from his meeting that he sees the gift on his desk. Wei Ying watches attentively as he picks the chocolate cake up with care and stares at it for an entirety of two minutes.
After a while, he strides up to Wei Ying’s table and places the cake on it, careful not to get it on any of the legal documents.
“This has to stop,” he says.
The bunny note is nowhere to be seen.
Wei Ying smiles up at him.
“How did you know it was me?”
“Who else would it be?” Lan Zhan asks.
“You have many admirers, you know. It could’ve been anyone in the office.”
Lan Zhan shakes his head, like he’s speaking absurdities. “It’s your handwriting.”
“You know my handwriting?”
“Wei Ying,” he scolds. “Stop giving me… Whatever these are supposed to be.”
“Treats?”
“Wei Ying.”
Wei Ying looks around. Luckily, their floor is nearly empty, since it’s lunch time. The only reason he stayed, really, was because he knew Lan Zhan was coming back, and he wanted to see his reaction.
There’s only the two of them, and one other person quietly working, focused on their own computer.
Wei Ying leans over his desk.
“Why should I stop?” he asks. “You deserved them.”
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan stares at him intently. “You shouldn’t spend money on me.”
Wei Ying blinks.
Oh. Is that what this is?
“Lan Zhan…”
“You should save. For yourself.”
Wei Ying takes a deep breath. He remembers it too well, being in college and having little to no money to eat, because Madam Yu was already paying for his education, and refused to pay for anything else. He remembers how Lan Zhan would always pop up in the places he was, conveniently saying he bought too much food. He even remembers telling him about his home situation, once, when he came to Lan Zhan’s dorm room after drinking too much.
By then, he already had an internship, and things were going better. He had even toned down on the drinking, which was starting to become a problem.
But for at least two entire semesters, he relied almost completely on his siblings - and Lan Zhan - for food.
“Lan Zhan, we get paid well here,” he says, softening his voice. “You know that. Your last paycheck was the same as mine.”
Lan Zhan curls his hands into fists, and then slowly uncurls them. “Still. You should buy things for yourself. Things you want.”
“I want to give you things.”
“I have-”
“Lan Zhannnn,” Wei Ying complains, getting up from his chair to level their gazes. “The money is mine. And today, you did something great. Can’t I congratulate you?”
“It wasn’t just today.”
“Besides…” he continues, ignoring what Lan Zhan said and handing him the cake again. “This is from Yanli’s bakery. You want me to tell my sister you didn’t want to eat her cake?”
At that, Lan Zhan pauses. Wei Ying puts on a big smile, already knowing he won.
He takes the cake slowly, like he thinks Wei Ying is gonna snatch it away at the last moment.
“I suppose, if it’s Yanli’s cake, I can accept it. But no more… gifts.”
“I can’t promise that.” Wei Ying says. “Ay, Lan Zhan. There’s no harm in what I’m doing. I just think you deserve to be spoiled, sometimes.”
“... Spoiled,” Lan Zhan echoes.
“It’s just, you’re already taking care of so many things,” Wei Ying steps a little closer. Lan Zhan’s eyes are laser-focused on him. “Someone should take care of you.”
“And that’s you,” Lan Zhan says.
Wei Ying shrugs. “Why not?”
“Wei Ying…” There’s something different in Lan Zhan's eyes. Something hesitant. “What do you mean?”
Baited.
Wei Ying grins at him. This isn’t the time or place to talk about such things, but… He thinks Lan Zhan gets it now. If he doesn’t understand it fully, he’s at least halfway to getting there.
“I mean exactly what I said,” he leans a little in Lan Zhan’s direction, mindful of the other person in the room, and whispers. “Now why don’t you be a good boy, and accept the cake?”
Lan Zhan inhales. His lips part slightly for a second, before he controls his expression again.
“Ridiculous,” he says, but his voice has dropped several tones.
Wei Ying can’t help but chuckle a little. He is so onto Lan Zhan now.
“Right. Ridiculous… Well, I’m gonna go to lunch in a few minutes. Wanna join?”
Lan Zhan only blinks at him.
This is good. This is normal. They’ve had lunch together many, many times, although not as much lately. Lan Zhan’s hectic schedule means he eats at weird hours. Wei Ying isn’t ashamed to admit that he misses it.
“I already ate,” Lan Zhan says at last.
Wei Ying was expecting that answer. Still, he pouts a little, and the way Lan Zhan’s eyes dip to his lips is probably his imagination - has to be his imagination - except…
... It isn’t.
Well, fuck. Fuck. This really is going to happen, isn’t it?
“Okay. Enjoy your cake,” he says, trying not to sound as giddy as he feels. “I hope you kept the note safe.”
With that, he turns and leaves, leaving a bewildered Lan Zhan behind, like he is very much used to doing. It’s not anything new.
And neither is the hammering of his heart, beating in twice the speed of his steps, whenever he talks to him.
Wei Ying really thought he had his crush on Lan Zhan under control.
As it turns out, he might have only been fooling himself.
-
The company party is an excuse for employees to get shit-faced at the company’s expense, masquerading as a high profile biannual event.
Wei Ying loves it.
It’s not just the open bar, mind you. It’s the pleasure of seeing your coworkers all drunk and acting like they don't even work together. Their company deals with very stressful clients sometimes, and if these events to blow-off steam never happened, Wei Ying thinks he would’ve exploded by now.
It’s an unspoken rule that every employee has to show up, but they’re not required to stay. Lan Zhan is the kind of guy who gets there early, speaks to all the important people that need to see him there, and leaves. Wei Ying is the kind of guy who stays until the sun goes up.
As he walks inside the club, loud music in his ears and flashing lights in his eyes, Wei Ying can feel his body vibrating with excitement. This time, the party is taking place in an expensive place, the kind you have to be on a list to get into.
He goes straight to the tables reserved by his company. He likes to arrive late, when everyone will already be a bit tipsy, which means that most times, by the time he gets there, Lan Zhan is just getting ready to leave. He has a theory - well, more like a hope - that Lan Zhan waits for him to get there before going home, just to greet him. Wei Ying never had the courage to ask about it, though. Maybe today he will.
He can’t wait to see what Lan Zhan is wearing. With an amazing body and an eye for fashion, he always looks great even during work days. Back in college, he used to experiment a lot more, trying everything once. These company parties were the only time Lan Zhan ever allowed himself to go a little outside the box anymore. As lawyers, they had a very strict dress code to follow.
But here, the rules were different.
Wei Ying feels a shiver going through his body in anticipation.
As soon as he finds the people from his department, he’s sucked into a sea of greetings and whoops. Silently, Wei Ying is glad he’s not such a lightweight. Seeing his coworkers getting drunk has definitely made him more mindful of drinking with the people he’s supposed to impress.
So they offer him drinks, but he denies it. Maybe, if he’s still alone at the end of the day, he’ll get something for himself.
He really doesn’t think he will be, though.
Wei Ying scans the tables for a pair of golden eyes, wondering if Lan Zhan has already left, but it’s hard to see anything in the dark.
“Well, if it isn’t the man who took my place! You’re late!” Mingjue’s thunderous voice manages to pierce through the loud music. “We thought you were sick! Why you looking so fancy for?”
“I apologize,” the voice Wei Ying has been waiting to hear says. "There was traffic."
He lifts his eyes, and there he is. Looking like a god in his dark blouse tucked into skinny black pants, Lan Zhan is the most beautiful man in this club tonight. Or ever.
Wei Ying wants to eat him alive.
He thinks, if he plays his cards right, he might get to. But not today. Today is for testing the grounds.
As if he can feel Wei Ying staring, Lan Zhan’s eyes glaze over the tables and fall right on him. They make one second of searing, devastating eye contact, before someone calls Lan Zhan’s name again and he looks away.
Wei Ying doesn't.
For what feels like hours, Lan Zhan is the only thing he can look at. He tries paying attention to the conversation around him, but his eyes keep being dragged back.
Lan Zhan’s hair is tied in a low ponytail today, Wei Ying notices. Easy to untie. Easy to pull.
He expects Lan Zhan to stay for 15 minutes, maybe half an hour, and then go. His plan is to intercept him on his way out and then make very dirty propositions until one of them sticks.
But Lan Zhan stays. He barely makes conversation, sipping on his… is that lemonade? Wei Ying can't tell. Maybe he'll find out on Lan Zhan's tongue.
Calm down, he tells himself when a guy from HR tugs on his arm and says he's been calling his name for ages. He decides, for the good of his future work relationships, to give him a minute of his attention.
The guy talks and talks. Wei Ying kind of listens, but his mind is somewhere else entirely.
When he finally manages to turn back, Lan Zhan is getting up from his seat and walking away.
"But I don't think they have dental there," the guy tells him.
“That sucks,” Wei Ying says, then gets up to follow Lan Zhan. He can blame his rudeness on being drunk later, even though he didn’t drink a single sip. They won’t remember it, anyway.
Lan Zhan moves through the crowd with what seems like practiced ease. Wei Ying struggles with the sea of dancing bodies, following him from afar. A few heads turn in Lan Zhan’s way - Wei Ying wasn’t exaggerating when he said he was the most beautiful person here - but his intimidating vibes keep other people from approaching.
He enters a bathroom door. It doesn’t seem to be the main club bathroom, the one Wei Ying saw most people going into, but a side one with way less traffic.
Okay. Okay, maybe that was a coincidence. Lan Zhan definitely isn’t getting into a secluded room just because he knows Wei Ying is coming in after him, right?
Wei Ying stops at the door, takes a few conscious breaths, and goes in.
The bathroom is fancy, with dim yellow lights and long connected sinks that don’t look practical, but look pretty. Lan Zhan stands with his back to him, quietly washing his hands. When Wei Ying enters, they look at each other through the mirror reflection.
“Wei Ying.”
“Hey,” he says, trying to sound more confident than he actually feels. “You were late today.”
Lan Zhan nods. His expression is careful, neutral. For a moment, Wei Ying doesn’t know what to say. Now that he’s seeing Lan Zhan up close, it’s like all the courage is leaving his body.
The shirt Lan Zhan is wearing is dark blue, and slightly sheer. Wei Ying doesn’t know anything about fabric, but it looks soft and smooth, like Lan Zhan’s skin. It flows around him when he moves, making it look like he just climbed out of a period drama, the long puffy sleeves covering his hands.
And... the pants. Wei Ying swallows audibly. He’s never seen Lan Zhan in pants this tight before. They look like leather, maybe vinyl. As he wipes his hand with a paper towel, Wei Ying gets a full view of his ass, round and muscular. His throat goes dry.
“You’re never late,” he says, shaking off the uncertainty.
He can do this. It’s Lan Zhan. If he doesn’t try now, he’ll regret it for the rest of his life.
He walks slowly to Lan Zhan’s side. Wei Ying can see, through the mirror, that his own face is flushing badly.
Fuck. Was he always this obvious?
“There was traffic,” Lan Zhan repeats. Of course, he doesn’t know Wei Ying was listening the first time.
“Hmm,” he leans his back on the sink, sitting a little. “Are you leaving?”
“Mn.”
“So soon?”
Lan Zhan turns to face him. “I don’t like these kinds of gatherings.”
“I know. But still, you got all dressed up,” Wei Ying says, unable to help his eyes from dipping down for a brief second. The shirt really is sheer, but he can't see much in the low lights. “What’s the use of looking so beautiful if other people aren’t gonna see it?”
Lan Zhan gives him a look. “It’s not for people,” he says. “And someone saw it. You’re seeing it.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing it for a bit longer, though,” he says, before he can stop himself. Lan Zhan’s eyes seem to pierce through his soul. “You look good today.”
A pause. “Thank you.”
“You look good every day, really,” Wei Ying says. Oh no. He’s about to lose track of his own mouth. “It’s just, today especially, you’re- I mean, you look very…”
There’s a look in Lan Zhan’s eyes, a little expectant, that aims to drive Wei Ying out of his mind. He feels warm, even with the ac blasting in the room, and by the way Lan Zhan’s ears flush, he might be feeling the same way.
“Very?” Lan Zhan asks, quietly urging him on.
Wei Ying’s eyes snap back to him. It’s one thing to know that Lan Zhan likes being praised. It’s another thing, entirely, to have him directly ask for it.
But he can’t make it too easy.
“Very… Bare,” he smiles, slipping easily into his teasing mode. “I think something’s missing. Have you thought about some jewelry?” Wei Ying takes a step towards him. “Maybe bigger earrings?”
Lan Zhan’s jaw goes tight again. Frustrated. Good. If they’re gonna do this, he needs to know from the beginning that praise isn’t easy to get.
“Don’t look at me like that! Not an earring, then. How about a necklace?” Wei Ying taps his finger on his nose, drifting closer to him. “Maybe… a collar?”
Lan Zhan slaps a hand on his chest, stopping him from approaching.
“Wei Ying,” his voice is low. “Are you making fun of me?”
“I never joke about collarin-”
Lan Zhan curls his fist on the fabric of his shirt, and Wei Ying takes a second to look at him. Really look.
He’s not… mildly annoyed, like he usually seems when Wei Ying teases him. There’s something different in his eyes. Something on the edge of vulnerable.
“Lan Zhan?”
“Why are you doing this?” he asks. “You’ve been… Acting like…”
“Like what?” Wei Ying asks.
“Like a Dom.”
Something clicks inside Wei Ying’s head. The embarrassment Lan Zhan felt when he saw his reaction at being called good. The way Wei Ying fled the scene after seeing Lan Zhan’s phone. Everything he said after, calling him a good boy and teasing him.
“Lan Zhan,” he says, taking Lan Zhan’s hand into his own and carefully removing it from his shirt. “I am a Dom.”
Lan Zhan narrows his eyes at him. “You're not.”
“I really, really am. You think I’ve been making fun of you?” Wei Ying asks, all the pieces falling into place. “I’ve been flirting with you all this time and you didn’t think I was serious?”
“Flirting,” Lan Zhan echoes.
“I’ve been trying to tell you…” he turns Lan Zhan’s hand up and brushes their fingers together. “Show you… that I’m up for whatever you want from me for months. You really couldn’t tell?”
Lan Zhan looks down at their intertwined hands, and doesn’t move to take them away from Wei Ying’s grasp.
“Lan Zhan...” he starts, not knowing quite how to ask this without revealing too much of his feelings. “Have I been wrong? Is this not something you want?”
Lan Zhan stays silent for a long time, eyes slightly wide. Wei Ying takes another step towards him, getting their bodies as close as he can without touching.
“You want… me,” Lan Zhan whispers in a quiet breath, still staring at their hands.
Wei Ying smiles. If he doesn’t want to look at him in the face, then…
He brings Lan Zhan’s hand up to his mouth, letting his lips brush against it.
“Is that so hard to believe?” he kisses the top of Lan Zhan’s fingers. Lan Zhan watches, completely still, as he presses a playful bite on his skin. “Doesn’t everyone want you?”
“Wei Ying,” he says, almost as if to himself. “Wants me.”
Wei Ying tugs on his arm, turning him towards the mirror again, and Lan Zhan goes easily.
“I want to give you everything you need,” he says. Lan Zhan’s breathing hitches in his throat.
Wei Ying circles behind him and moves his hands slowly up Lan Zhan’s arms, brushing the tips of his fingers against the soft fabric of his shirt.
“Can I?” he asks, letting his breath hit the back of Lan Zhan’s neck. “Will you let me?”
“Wei Ying.”
Their eyes meet through the mirror reflection again. Lan Zhan’s stare feels like fire on his skin, open, and… Expectant.
“Do you mean it?” he asks. His voice is low, but in a completely different way.
“Yes.”
“Then yes,” Lan Zhan whispers.
Wei Ying’s smile turns predatory.
“Good,” he says, and watches as Lan Zhan unfolds, just a little. He’ll be hard to get through, but Wei Ying will enjoy getting him there. “Lan Zhan… I’m so happy you chose me.”
Lan Zhan tries turning in his direction, but Wei Ying holds his shoulders steady, pressing his body against Lan Zhan’s back.
“I can’t believe you thought I was joking…”
“You weren’t exactly clear.”
Wei Ying presses a soft kiss right on the curve of his shoulder. The shirt looks light enough that the warmth of his lips would pass through the fabric. He makes his way up, slowly, stopping right before he hits skin.
“You got so angry when I mentioned a collar,” he whispers right into Lan Zhan’s ears. “Does that mean you wouldn’t want one?”
Lan Zhan’s throat bobs up and down. Wei Ying smiles to himself.
“I think you'd like it, Lan Zhan. Wearing a pretty collar right here,” he raises a hand to touch the side of Lan Zhan’s neck, very lightly, and looks at his reflection again. “Maybe a light blue one.”
The hairs on Lan Zhan's neck rise as Wei Ying scrapes his nails there, and still, his face betrays almost nothing.
God, Wei Ying can’t wait to break him.
“That’s your favorite color, isn’t it?” he asks.
Lan Zhan stays quiet, staring through the mirror. Wei Ying pinches the tender skin of his neck, and he twitches a little.
“Isn’t it?” he repeats, still smiling.
“Yes,” Lan Zhan mutters. From this close, Wei Ying can see how he blushes on the shells of his ears, too, and not just the tips. Another tiny reaction to his words. Every single one feels like a victory.
“I pinched you... and you answered. Does that mean you liked it?”
Lan Zhan doesn’t say anything.
“Or maybe you answered… because you didn’t like it?” he asks. “Did I hurt you?”
Lan Zhan’s eyes go dark.
“Not even close,” he says.
“Really?” Wei Ying smiles. “You could handle more?”
Lan Zhan glares at him like he’s been offended.
“Certain-”
Wei Ying grabs the ends of Lan Zhan’s ponytail and pulls, yanking his head back. Lan Zhan lets out an almost inaudible gasp, hands curling by his sides.
“Look at how pretty your neck is,” Wei Ying says, leaning his face on his shoulder. “I’m gonna ask again. Wouldn’t a collar look really nice here?”
“Wei Ying.”
“You don’t think so?”
He tugs on Lan Zhan’s hair a little more.
“Yes,” Lan Zhan says, eyes fluttering closed, head still pulled back.
Wei Ying breathes in deep, resisting the urge to fall into him.
Fuck. Fuck. He needs to calm down. He’s going too fast. Lan Zhan is too hot and Wei Ying is going too fast.
By the time Lan Zhan opens his eyes again, he has already put himself back together.
Wei Ying presses his nose on Lan Zhan’s neck and kisses him, inhaling his scent. He always smells good, but feeling it from so close twists the desire inside him, sending chills down his spine.
“Have you ever done this before?” he asks, and Lan Zhan shivers under his touch.
“Yes.”
“And did you like it?” Wei Ying says, kissing up towards his ear.
“Yes,” Lan Zhan says, a little less certain. “But-”
He stops. Wei Ying’s eyes meet his reflection.
“But?”
“It was…” he hesitates. “Insufficient.”
“Insufficient how?”
When he doesn’t answer, Wei Ying bites down without mercy, teeth dragging on the curve of his neck.
A soft, almost-sound comes out of Lan Zhan’s throat. Wei Ying has to close his eyes again to keep control.
“Answer me,” he continues, after gathering himself. “Insufficient how?”
“I never felt… in the moment,” Lan Zhan says. “I needed more.”
“More what? Pain? Stimulation?” he asks. “... Pleasure?”
Lan Zhan nods. All of it, then. It's not exactly a specific answer, but it's enough for now.
“I can definitely give you what you need, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying kisses the sensitive skin right under his jaw.
Lan Zhan closes his eyes and tilts his head a little to the side, baring his neck for Wei Ying's lips. Wei Ying dutifully kisses it, trying not to freak out about the fact that Lan Zhan just offered his neck to him.
“And also-” Lan Zhan grabs the edge of the sink, squeezing it hard. “I wanted… to lose-” he stops.
Wei Ying turns him around until they’re face to face and traps him against the sink.
His heart skips about four beats in his chest. Lan Zhan looks so inviting, with the red flush spreading to his cheeks. Wei Ying desperately wants to be allowed to have him. Desperately wants to be someone Lan Zhan trusts.
“You wanted to lose control?” he asks, raising a hand to touch his jaw.
Lan Zhan nods again. His gaze is steady. Sure. Heat pools in the depths of Wei Ying’s stomach, and he knows he’ll be lost to it, if he doesn’t focus.
He brushes his thumb on Lan Zhan’s lower lip, just to feel how soft it is. Lan Zhan drops his jaw and sticks his tongue out to lick it.
Naturally. Immediately.
Wei Ying doesn’t even have a chance.
He leans in blindly and kisses him with everything he has. Lan Zhan reacts instantly, pulling him by the waist, fingers digging into his skin. Wei Ying presses him against the sink, curling their tongues together, messy, and like everything he has always dreamed of.
It’s dizzying, the burning lust inside his veins. Lan Zhan runs his hands up his back, slightly lifting his shirt, and Wei Ying feels like he could kiss him for hours. He can feel Lan Zhan’s cock, already half hard from just this, and it almost makes him go crazy. He wants to grind against it, to touch it, to sit Lan Zhan on the sink and suck him until he can’t think of anything else.
Reluctantly, he pulls back.
“Lan Zhan,” he says, voice getting rougher again. Lan Zhan looks at him with fire in his gaze. His wet, spit-ridden lips look too enticing not to dive in. Wei Ying presses another quick bite on them, just enough to sting. “Get in the stall.”
Lan Zhan doesn’t blink, and doesn’ hesitate. He walks backwards into the stall, his hands still on Wei Ying’s waist, bringing him in together. When they get inside, he locks the door.
Before he can lift his eyes, Wei Ying grabs him by the jaw and shoves him into the wall.
Lan Zhan lets out a soft, very low gasp. Wei Ying drinks it in like he’s parched.
“You want me to be your Dom, Lan Zhan?” he asks, voice low in Lan Zhan’s ear.
Lan Zhan’s hands curl the fabric of his shirt. “Yes.”
“You have to show me how much you want it.”
Lan Zhan tries pulling him closer, but Wei Ying uses his free hand to tug his fingers away.
“Not like that, gorgeous,” he says. “I'm not gonna do anything to you right now.”
Lan Zhan frowns, a tiny disappointed line between his eyebrows. Cute.
Wei Ying digs his fingers into his cheeks and forces him to raise his head. Lan Zhan lets his body fall back on the wall.
“Just in case, tell me what your safeword is.”
Wei Ying can't do anything too kinky to Lan Zhan today, not until they’ve talked about it, but… That doesn't mean he can't give him something. A taste. A bit of tension relief, teasing what’s to come. For Lan Zhan and for himself. He’ll go insane if he doesn’t.
And by the eager look on Lan Zhan’s face, he needs it just as much.
“Freeze,” Lan Zhan answers, jaw barely moving against Wei Ying’s hand.
“Freeze," Wei Ying repeats. It's a good word. Easy to remember. "Can I trust that you’ll be good and use it?”
Lan Zhan nods, the hunger almost palpable in his eyes.
Wei Ying tightens his grip.
“Words, Lan Zhan.”
“Yes," Lan Zhan huffs. “I will use it.”
“Good,” Wei Ying turns Lan Zhan’s head to the side, exposing his neck again. “Unbutton your shirt.”
Lan Zhan glances at the hastily locked door, and then back at him. He doesn’t seem to be hesitating, but Wei Ying checks in anyway.
“You told me your safeword,” he says. "No harm if you say it. We could go somewhere else."
But Lan Zhan simply glares at him, clinging harder onto his waist.
“Here,” he says, and Wei Ying feels his knees wobbling.
“Then, Lan Zhan,” he lowers his voice, speaking right on Lan Zhan’s ear. “Stop wasting my time, and unbutton your shirt.”
And then, Wei Ying draws back completely.
Lan Zhan wrinkles his nose, displeased at their distance, but doesn't say anything.
Slowly, he starts moving. He raises his hands and starts unbuttoning his shirt, carefully working his way down. His fingers are slender, pretty, and Wei Ying doesn’t know whether to focus on them, or on Lan Zhan’s challenging gaze.
When the shirt falls open, he finds he can focus on neither.
Lan Zhan is wearing a long, silver body chain that falls from his shoulders almost all the way down to his hips. The strings drape around his slim waist and chest, shaping it perfectly, highlighting the curve of his abs and his pretty, hard nipples.
Wei Ying’s mind short-circuits.
“So,” he swallows, crossing his arms to keep himself from jumping on the heavenly sight in front of him. “You are wearing jewelry.”
“Mn,” Lan Zhan says, a hum low and raspy, a little bit smug. Wei Ying is never gonna hear it the same way.
He tugs the shirt off his shoulders, letting it hang open around him, secured only by the sleeves on his forearms. Wei Ying takes in the sight of his body, so beautiful and well sculpted, paired with the gorgeous jewelry, and wonders if he’ll really be able to hold himself back.
“Does it feel cold? The metal,” Wei Ying whispers.
Lan Zhan looks up at him. “Not anymore.”
“Hmm,” he tilts his head. “But I think it does, Lan Zhan…” he says. “Look at how hard your nipples are.”
Lan Zhan looks down, his ears getting that cute red flush again.
“Touch yourself,” Wei Ying demands.
Lan Zhan glances at him, then brings a hand to his pants.
“Not there,” Wei Ying smiles. “Do you think it’s that easy? Touch yourself how you think I would touch you, Lan Zhan. I wanna see if you get it right.”
Lan Zhan waits for their gazes to meet, and tentatively begins to run a hand down his torso.
He starts easy, sliding his fingers on his lower belly, letting his nails drag along his skin. Wei Ying watches as it goes a little red there, how easy it is to leave marks on him. He will have to be careful when he does it, in the future. Not do anything where it's too visible.
The place where he bit Lan Zhan's neck is already purpling a bit - clear evidence of what he’s been up to. Wei Ying smiles to himself. He's perfect. Perfect, perfect.
Lan Zhan's hands go up, running along the strings of his body chain. He slides them underneath the metal, digging a little bit into his muscles. He looks at Wei Ying, challenging, as his fingers brush just around his nipple, and then go up to scratch at his neck.
He’s teasing.
Wei Ying barely holds back a smirk. It’s what he would do, but not exactly like this. He wants to tell Lan Zhan to scratch harder, to really dig his nails into his pretty pale skin, but he won’t for now. He’s enjoying letting Lan Zhan lead this. There’ll be time to order him around later.
Lan Zhan dips his thumb into his lips, maintaining eye contact as he licks around it.
Fuck, he’s good at this.
Wei Ying feels himself swaying forward, his cock fully hard inside his pants, but catches himself right before his body touches Lan Zhan’s.
“Don’t stop,” he says.
Lan Zhan brings his wet thumb down, but before getting to his nipple, he looks at Wei Ying.
It makes something burst inside him, turning his vision foggy. Is Lan Zhan asking for permission?
Swallowing, Wei Ying nods. "Go ahead."
Lan Zhan circles his finger around the bud, almost lazily, watching as it gets harder. He rubs it weakly, scratching a nail over the light brown flesh, and closes his eyes.
"Look at me," Wei Ying orders.
Lan Zhan does.
He flicks the tip of his finger against his nipple again, then soothes it gently. It’s a small movement, just a little bit of a tease, but Wei Ying can already see how the red on Lan Zhan’s ears is spreading down to his neck.
Interesting.
"Are you sensitive there?" he asks.
Lan Zhan doesn't answer right away. Almost as if he doesn't wanna say it. As if he thinks Wei Ying is gonna use the information against him.
He's right.
“You are, aren’t you?” Wei Ying says. “I bet that already felt really good, huh?”
Lan Zhan hums deep in his chest, then moves his hand down, tracing a line down to his navel. Wei Ying raises an eyebrow.
“Lan Zhan… You’re misbehaving already,” he clicks his tongue. “I didn’t say you could stop.”
Lan Zhan lifts his eyes at him. “Aren’t you... gonna touch me?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Wei Ying,” he says, like the answer is obvious.
Wei Ying takes a deep breath. There's no way, if Lan Zhan asks for it, that he'll be able to keep himself from touching him. Not if he asks him with that face. Not if he says please.
“How can I touch you, if you don’t do what I say?” he says instead.
Lan Zhan tightens his jaw, and slowly brings his fingers back up.
He does it again. The light nail-scratching, the gentle flicking. Wei Ying can see it affects him, even if it is just with a little amount of stimulation, but “little stimulation” isn’t why he’s here.
“Lan Zhan… Is that how you think I would touch you?” he tilts his head at him. “Do it harder.”
Lan Zhan bites his lip, then pinches his nipples between his fingers. It drags a tiny gasp out of him, and he presses his mouth shut to keep it in.
“That’s it, show me how good you are,” Wei Ying leans closer to him, letting their thighs brush together.
Lan Zhan brings his hips forward, chasing friction on his thighs, but Wei Ying grabs his waist and shoves him back against the wall.
“If you let me have you, I won’t be this gentle,” he whispers. Lan Zhan focuses on his lips as he talks, eyes filled with hunger. “Show me you can handle it.”
Lan Zhan squeezes them until they’re puffy and dark, tugging them down, then releasing sharply. His lips fall open as he rakes his nails on them, teasing and twirling them between his fingers. The skin around his nipples starts to get swollen, and Wei Ying almost leans down, wanting to soothe the sting with his tongue.
“Give them a twist for me,” he says almost in a daze, feeling his entire body get warm.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan’s voice sounds a little bit more whiny now, and it burns a hot satisfaction in Wei Ying’s gut.
Hesitantly, Lan Zhan does as he’s told.
Wei Ying has to remind himself to breathe. Is Lan Zhan really this sensitive? He’s barely doing anything, and it’s already a struggle. Wei Ying feels like he stumbled on a gold mine.
It’s not enough.
In one quick movement, he grabs Lan Zhan’s hands and pulls on them, forcing his nipples to stretch beyond what he’s been doing to himself.
“Ah-” Lan Zhan’s eyes snap open, falling directly on him.
Wei Ying changes the angle of their hands, applying more pressure, and Lan Zhan’s response is immediate.
“Wei Ying,” he calls. His voice already sounds less challenging. “It hurts.”
Wei Ying shoves his thigh between Lan Zhan’s legs, and he lets out a quiet gasp, immediately trying to rut against him.
“If it hurts, let go,” Wei Ying says. Lan Zhan doesn’t move.
He lets out a low laugh.
“You don’t want to let go, do you?”
“Wei Ying-”
“Does it really hurt, Lan Zhan?” he says, letting his cock brush on Lan Zhan’s crotch. “Because I think you like it.”
Lan Zhan groans, grinding his hips on him weakly. He’s rock hard under his tight pants, stretching the fabric. Wei Ying can’t wait to see all of him. Lan Zhan is so pretty everywhere. If his cock is pretty too, he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to handle it.
Calm down, he tells himself.
“Pants off,” he says, unable to help the movement of his own hips. His plan was to stand back and just watch, but this is Lan Zhan, and he feels weak. “Let me see you.”
Lan Zhan is much faster to comply, this time. He undoes his pants fast, lowering them down to his thighs.
His underwear is... bright red. Wei Ying is so shocked that for a second he almost doesn’t notice the dark stain where his cock has been leaking on the fabric.
Red underwear. Lan Zhan never wears red.
Before he can think more about that, Lan Zhan drags the underwear down too, exposing his cock.
His… huge, gorgeous, dripping cock. Wei Ying’s mouth waters.
“Fuck, Lan Zhan…” he whispers, letting his forehead fall on Lan Zhan’s shoulder. Lan Zhan brings his hands up to Wei Ying’s hips, tugging him closer.
“Wei Ying,” he leans down to kiss his neck.
Feeling Lan Zhan’s lips on him does something to his heart. Wei Ying lets his body weight fall against him, squeezing him on the wall. Lan Zhan nibbles on his ear, warm and not at all gentle.
He smells like sandalwood and sweat. He smells like something Wei Ying wants to keep.
Focus, he thinks, but Lan Zhan is sucking the soft skin on his neck, right over his pulse, and Wei Ying feels like he’s going to sink into him at any moment.
He takes a deep, shuddering breath, and draws back.
When he meets Lan Zhan’s eyes again, he’s ready.
“You have such a pretty cock it took my breath away, Lan Zhan,” he says. Lan Zhan blushes impossibly further, averting his eyes. “Why don’t you show me how you like it?”
Lan Zhan tilts his chin in, seeking his lips for a kiss.
“Not yet,” Wei Ying denies him, setting a hand on the wall on each side of his head. Lan Zhan huffs and tugs down on his arm, trying to pull it in his direction. “You have to deserve it.”
“Wei Ying,” he calls, but Wei Ying stays firm. He loves when Lan Zhan says his name, but he needs to ask exactly for what he wants.
“I’m waiting.”
Lan Zhan whines a little, the first full sound out of his throat the entire night, and starts stroking his cock, slowly dragging his hand up and down. Wei Ying has a hard time keeping himself from diving down and taking it all into his mouth.
He twists his hands on the way up, finger rubbing the sensitive place under the head. A drop of precome starts sliding down his length, glistening and looking so, so delicious.
“Ah, you must taste so good, Lan Zhan...” he says, fingers curling into fists on the wall behind Lan Zhan’s head. He notices he’s grinding against Lan Zhan’s thigh, and forces himself to stop.
Lan Zhan groans, moving his body against him in the same rhythm, trying to chase him back.
Wei Ying should make him stop. He should. He’s never let anyone get away with this much before, and Lan Zhan has him wrapped around his finger. Wei Ying feels like he isn’t in control at all. He wants to do anything Lan Zhan asks.
“Ah, ah-” Lan Zhan lets out a low moan, fingers squeezing on his length, his strokes becoming faster. His cock leaks on his hand, all red around the tip, and he keeps his eyes set on Wei Ying’s face.
He’s gorgeous. So fucking hot. Wei Ying can’t pretend he’s calm anymore.
He leans in closer, pressing his body flush on Lan Zhan’s chest, letting the pleasure take the best of him. Their lips nearly touch, but still, when Lan Zhan tries to kiss him, Wei Ying doesn’t let him. Not yet.
“You’re beautiful like this,” Wei Ying whispers on his mouth. Lan Zhan’s pleading gaze almost renders him speechless. “Look at how much you’re leaking, I wanna taste you so bad…”
Lan Zhan hooks his free fingers on the hem of Wei Ying’s pants. “Wei Ying,” he breathes, warm and sweet, like lemonade. “I want to touch you.”
Wei Ying inhales, trying to clear his brain, cloudy with desire. He feels like he’s hanging by a thread. It feels like a single touch from Lan Zhan’s hand could make him come.
“Are you asking, Lan Zhan?” he smiles. His fingers itch with the need to grab him, to squeeze, to hold. But he wants to wait until Lan Zhan asks for that, too. “Because I didn’t hear you say please.”
“Please,” Lan Zhan lets go of his cock to grab at his shirt, trying in vain to pull him closer than he already is. “Please, Wei Ying, can I touch you?”
“Fuck,” Wei Ying says, unable to hold back any further. “Yeah, you can touch me. I wanna feel-”
Lan Zhan nearly rips his pants apart trying to get them open, freeing Wei Ying’s cock into the cold air. He watches as Lan Zhan looks down and instinctively licks his lips, hungry eyes making Wei Ying blush.
“You can touch me,” he repeats. “But don’t stop touching yourself.”
Without hesitation, Lan Zhan angles his hips forward and grabs both of their cocks in one hand. Wei Ying bites back a moan, but Lan Zhan’s hot fingers are almost like a shock to his sensitive skin, and he can’t.
Lan Zhan eyes glint with interest at the sound, but he’s too far gone in his own building pleasure. He drops his head forward, resting it on Wei Ying’s shoulder, and starts to stroke them harder, rubbing their cocks together.
“Wei Ying, ah,” he bites Wei Ying’s neck. His hand gets wet with both of their precome, making the slide easier, hotter, noisier. “I-I want-”
“Don’t come yet,” Wei Ying licks the tip of his ear. “I wanna have you just like this, moaning and almost-”
Lan Zhan kisses him, hot and desperate. His hand tightens around their cocks, squeezing the tip as he strokes faster, and his teeth buries into Wei Ying’s lips, almost hard enough to draw blood.
Wei Ying grabs him by the hair and pulls his head back up, fast.
Lan Zhan lets out a cry, eyes falling closed.
“I’m sorry,” he says, before Wei Ying can even say anything. “Wei Ying, I’m sorry.”
“You forgot something, didn’t you?” Wei Ying asks, pulling his hair even more. Lan Zhan winces from the pain.
“Please,” he opens his eyes to ask, flushed face and supplicating gaze. “Wei Ying. Touch me, kiss me, anything, please, pl-”
The door to the bathroom opens, and Lan Zhan’s body goes completely still.
There are a few laughs outside, signaling more than one person. They chat excitedly with each other as they make their way through the room.
Wei Ying keeps his hold on Lan Zhan’s hair as he turns slightly to the side, trying to focus.
He can make out three of them, none of them familiar. None of them seem suspicious of them. Actually, they all sound very, very drunk.
Wei Ying turns back to Lan Zhan and smiles. Without making a sound, he mouths, “Keep going.”
Lan Zhan’s eyes go wide. He glances to the door, and then back at Wei Ying, the hesitation clear on his face.
Wei Ying frowns at him. “Freeze?” he asks.
Lan Zhan follows the movement of his lips, and manages to look offended again.
Fuck, he’s perfect. Wei Ying is sure Lan Zhan was made specifically to drive him crazy.
He gives another hard tug on Lan Zhan’s hair, just to watch his reaction. A sound escapes his throat, low and whiny, and the voices outside the stall go quiet.
“Keep going,” Wei Ying repeats when Lan Zhan’s eyes fall back on him, still not making a sound.
Lan Zhan starts moving his hand again, and Wei Ying has to close his eyes. He can feel his orgasm building up on him, but Lan Zhan is going too slow now, probably trying to hold out his own.
Wei Ying lets go of his hair and gently pries Lan Zhan’s hand away from his cock, replacing it with his own. There’s another tiny sound when his fingers curl around them, and Lan Zhan leans his head on his shoulder again.
He strokes them fast, watching as Lan Zhan’s breath gets heavier and heavier, his hands clenching and unclenching on Wei Ying’s shirt.
“Ah, ah, ah,” his moans are quiet, small huffs on his neck, but Wei Ying can hear the tiny chuckles outside the door.
He doesn’t care. The only thing he cares about is Lan Zhan, trembling under him, his cock hot and throbbing on his hand.
Wei Ying licks the tip of his ear and strokes them harder, drawing out a proper moan from Lan Zhan’s lips.
“They can hear you, gorgeous,” he says, as low as he can.
Lan Zhan hugs him by the waist and moves his hips against him, thrusting into his hand.
“Why don’t you go ahead and moan louder, if you want them to hear?” he whispers. Lan Zhan whimpers a little, too loud to be mistaken for anything other than the sound of pleasure it is. “Why don’t you moan my name, hm? And then they’ll know how much you wanna be mine?”
“Wei Ying,” he whispers. It’s not loud, even in the quiet room, so Wei Ying thinks even the people outside can’t quite make out his words. “I’m gonna- Can I-”
“Can I what, baby?” he asks. Lan Zhan is so very shy with his words. Wei Ying will have to teach him how to be dirtier. How to beg properly.
“Please,” Lan Zhan’s voice gets a little louder, a little more desperate, like he can’t hold himself back. “Can I- Can I come-”
“Come on my hand, Lan Zhan,” he says in Lan Zhan’s ear, letting his breath fall on him and raise chills on his neck. He strokes them together as fast as he can, not caring about the wet, obscene sounds that spread around the bathroom. “Moan my name, and show them who you belong to.”
“Ah, ah- Wei-” he bites down on Wei Ying’s neck. With one last thrust of his hips, Lan Zhan shakes apart, come spilling on Wei Ying’s hand in spurts.
Wei Ying strokes him through it, feeling Lan Zhan’s cock twitching on his hand, barely even acknowledging the sound of the door opening again as the people inside leave.
He kisses Lan Zhan’s cheek, his neck, his jaw, holding up his weight when Lan Zhan’s knees go weak.
Lan Zhan comes back down from the edge, kissing over where he bit, sliding his tongue on Wei Ying’s neck. Slowly, almost lazily, Wei Ying keeps sliding his hands up and down their cocks, squeezing at the head. Lan Zhan’s come spreads all over their lengths, slipping in between his fingers.
“Wei Ying...” Lan Zhan says with a pliant, high-pitched voice Wei Ying desperately wants to hear again. His body can’t stop shuddering.
“Shh,” Wei Ying says. He’s almost there, so close, and the drag of Lan Zhan’s still-hard cock on his feels too good to give up on.
He squeezes their bodies together and slowly moves his hand up and down, even as Lan Zhan’s body spasms with the aftershocks.
Still, he asks, “Should I stop?”
Lan Zhan shivers a little, and then shakes his head.
“I want you to come,” he says, then puts his hand on top of Wei Ying’s. “Can I?”
Wei Ying lets Lan Zhan wrap his hands around the both of them again. He throws his body back on the wall, bringing Lan Zhan with him, and curls his arms around his waist to support his weight.
Lan Zhan’s strokes are shallow, uneven, as he fights the pain of overstimulation. He twists his wrists a little, knowing it will feel good for Wei Ying, and whimpering with in what is half pain and half pleasure.
"Yeah," Wei Ying says, breahtless into Lan Zhan's cheek. "Keep going, don't- ah-"
His orgasm hits him in slow waves, and he dives into Lan Zhan’s lips to get the sweet taste of his tongue, moaning as quietly as he can.
Lan Zhan kisses him like he’s been waiting for it for days, and it does something to Wei Ying’s heart, then, to feel so wanted he could almost drown in it. He spills over their hands, over his own shirt, but Lan Zhan’s tongue on his is too good, too distracting, and he can’t find it in himself to care.
For what feels like forever, they stand there, collapsed into each other, dirty and breathing heavily. Wei Ying slides his hands up and down Lan Zhan’s back, kissing his neck gently, waiting for him to catch his breath.
“Lan Zhan,” he says. Lan Zhan hums, nuzzling on his neck. It somehow feels almost as good as watching him come. “Let’s go. I’m gonna take you home.”
“Mn,” he says, and doesn’t move.
“Hey. Are you okay?”
“Sleepy,” Lan Zhan mutters. Wei Ying almost laughs. Right. It’s way, way past Lan Zhan’s bed time.
“I know. Did you drive here?”
“Mn.”
Wei Ying lifts his chin to meet his eyes. “I’m gonna drive you back. But you have to stand up.”
Lan Zhan straightens his body, still wobbly. Wei Ying can’t help but giggle a little, and Lan Zhan answers by giving him a soft smile in return.
Wei Ying gathers a bunch of paper towels and cleans them up as best as he can. There’s no way he’s gonna get them completely clean without a shower, and his shirt now has a permanent stain, but he still tries.
He pulls Lan Zhan’s pants up, and then Lan Zhan insists on pulling his, so he lets him. His fingers are slightly shaky, but he manages to close Wei Ying’s zipper without fail, and then press a shy kiss on Wei Ying’s cheek.
“Let’s get you home, okay?” he says. Lan Zhan nods slowly.
Wei Ying cups his jaw with one hand and gives him a full, proper kiss on the lips.
It’s still a little unbelievable that he gets to.
-
The car ride home isn’t as awkward as Wei Ying anticipated.
It couldn’t have been. Lan Zhan sleeps through most of it.
It’s a little adorable, really. He barely even gets to tell Wei Ying his address before his head falls back on the seat and his eyes close. At first, Wei Ying thinks he’s only resting, but a few snaps in his direction tell him that Lan Zhan is, in fact, sound asleep.
It’s no wonder, though. It’s almost one in the morning, and definitely too late for him.
Wei Ying takes him up to his apartment and lets Lan Zhan lean on his shoulder for support when he takes off his shoes. He expects Lan Zhan to turn around, thank him, and dismiss him politely, but that’s not what he does at all.
“Would you like some coffee? Or tea?” Lan Zhan asks, seeming a little more awake after his nap.
“Tea is fine. It’s a little late for coffee.”
Lan Zhan nods, and Wei Ying follows him to the kitchen. His apartment is incredibly well decorated, and way too clean to look lived on. Wei Ying wonders if he cleans it himself or if he hires someone.
“Sugar?” Lan Zhan asks, turning back to him. His shirt is buttoned up wrong, something so out of place for him that Wei Ying can’t help but stare.
Lan Zhan notices it at the same time he does, and blushes a little.
“A lot of sugar,” Wei Ying says, forcing his gaze up. “Please.”
They sit on the stools by the kitchen counter, slowly sipping on the tea. Lan Zhan’s eyes blink slowly, taking longer and longer to open, but he puts up a brave fight to stay awake.
“About today-” Lan Zhan starts.
“We should talk-” Wei Ying says at the same time.
He laughs, and Lan Zhan nods for him to continue.
“Well,” Wei Ying says. “That was really fun.”
“It was.”
“How are you feeling?” Wei Ying tilts his head. “Can I do anything to-”
“I feel good,” Lan Zhan says. “Just tired.”
Wei Ying hums, tapping his fingers on the tea cup.
“Lan Zhan…” he clears his throat. “I know today we were… having fun, and it wasn’t anything extreme, especially because we didn’t stop to talk about it…”
“I wouldn’t have wanted to stop,” Lan Zhan says, staring at his own cup. Wei Ying’s breath hitches in his throat.
“I… Yeah. Me neither, definitely. I mean, from the moment we kissed, I-” he stops abruptly. Lan Zhan turns to look at him. “Anyway, that's... not usually how I would do things.”
“I know,” Lan Zhan says, even though he doesn’t, not really. He has no idea how close Wei Ying was to spilling out his feelings, how much of his heart he almost let out.
“So, if you want…” he starts, willing his nervousness away. “I could come over tomorrow. We can talk about what happened. What… could happen.”
Lan Zhan sways a little in his direction, and Wei Ying puts a hand on his back to steady him. God, he must be so sleepy. Wei Ying is keeping him up too late.
“We could talk now,” Lan Zhan says stubbornly, closing his eyes and leaning into his touch.
“No way,” Wei Ying laughs. “You’re too sleepy to be coherent. I’m going home, and we’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”
Lan Zhan shakes his head. “Here.”
“Here what?”
“Sleep here.”
Wei Ying almost chokes on his own saliva.
“I… How could- I can’t possibly… Do you mean in the same-”
“I have a guest bedroom,” Lan Zhan says.
Oh.
“Oh. S-still,” he stutters. “I’m sure you don’t like random people in your apartment.”
“Not random,” Lan Zhan frowns at him. Wei Ying wants to reach over and smooth the line on his forehead. “Wei Ying, you are-”
He stops, then sets his gaze down on his tea.
“Close friends are always welcome to stay,” Lan Zhan says, at last.
Wei Ying tries not to let his jaw drop.
What?
“Close friends?”
“Mn.”
Wei Ying points at himself. “Me?”
Lan Zhan looks at him, his face completely blank. “Are we… something else?”
“No! I mean, yes, of course, we’re friends, super close friends. Besties. How could we not be, after all these years together, breathing down each other’s backs?”
Lan Zhan nods, but somehow, he doesn't look satisfied.
Wei Ying blinks, and the expression is gone. Perhaps it was his imagination.
"I am going to bed, then," Lan Zhan gets up, then extends his arm at him. "Shirt."
"What?"
"Your shirt. So I can wash it."
Wei Ying looks down at himself. There are dirty white stains on the cloth, and it's probably ruined already. He feels heat creeping up his face remembering just how it got there.
"Maybe I should throw it away," he says.
Lan Zhan shakes his head. "It's not ruined."
His hand is still out, waiting for Wei Ying to comply. Does he... want him to take it off, right here, without any other shirt to offer him in return?
Slowly, Wei Ying starts undoing the buttons. If this is how Lan Zhan wants to do things, fine. Wei Ying works out. He's proud of his body, even though he's leaner and not as built as Lan Zhan is. Not even nearly as beautiful.
Still, when he lets the shirt fall off his shoulders, Lan Zhan's gaze does a very clear - and very slow - sweep of his figure.
Wei Ying smirks, even if on the inside, he's screaming. Lan Zhan has seen and touched his cock, but that was in the heat of the moment, and this is somehow more embarrassing.
Lan Zhan keeps his eyes on his torso even as Wei Ying hands him the shirt, not even attempting to hide his interest.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk today?" he asks.
Wei Ying gets chills all over his body, and laughs to cover it up.
"That would be a very tempting offer if you hadn't just drooled on the whole ride here," he teases. Lan Zhan finally raises his eyes to glare at him. "Plus, I kinda need sleep, too. I wanna be alert for you. Okay?"
Lan Zhan twists his lips, clearly displeased. "Fine."
"Can I... borrow a shirt?"
Lan Zhan walks with him in the direction of the guest bedroom, assuming his polite host persona again.
Once Wei Ying is comfortably settled, he goes back to his own room, only slightly hesitating before uttering a shy, "Goodnight."
Wei Ying waits until he hears the click of Lan Zhan's door to finally take a full breath. It feels like his first full breath the entire night.
With his heart racing too much to get a single blink of sleep, he lets his body fall on the bed, and spends almost the entire night replaying everything that happened in his mind.
So much for being over Lan Zhan.
Wei Ying sighs and rubs his hands on his face.
He's fucked.