Chapter Text
Nie Mingjue had been a warrior, a cultivator, and a Sect Leader for quite a long time by now. Because of this he was very aware of his surroundings, and he had trained himself so well that he could even sense trouble in his sleep. Which is how he often caught even a conniving Omega who happened to take his chances every once in a while by sneaking into his sleeping quarters. Mingjue always noticed and disciplined the other, but that didn’t stop the little minx that normally pulled such a trick.
But it wasn’t only the problematic Omega that had snuck into his room before. There was once in a while a Nie warrior who wanted to test his metal against Mingjue, or an assassin hoping to make a monetary killing, or enemies of any kind, demons or men, thieves and murderers. After all the Unclean Realm was one of the least protected landscapes of all of the major sects, so it was the easiest to try anything on.
The Nie were respected by the major sects who knew of the Nies disinterest in power and the military exploits of Nie Mingjue himself, but outsiders were not always as agreeable. The stain of the origins of the Nie clan as butchers seemed to blood stain the hands of even the newest generation to those who thought in such ways. Perhaps it was their savage fighting style, their weapons, their military like ways, but they were more feared than loved, even though Mingjue himself was one of the fairest sect leaders there ever had been so far.
Because of all of these factors when Mingjue heard the sound of the door slowly opening he pulled his pillows under the sheet, slowly slid onto the ground and rolled under the bed to put something on the bottom half of his body. He breathed the others scent in and noting it as an Omega decided against using his weapon, slowly crawling and quietly breathing as he moved out from under the bed and cautiously made his way behind the perpetrator.
When the omega leaned down to do Baoshan Sanren knows what, Nie Mingjue found his timing and struck by launching into a chokehold at rapid speed. Now that he was closer to the Omega he could tell from the scent that it was definitively not Meng Yao, so he tightened his grip a little more instinctually before he let out his threat.
The light taps on his arms reminded him that the other couldn’t breathe, so he changed his grip to accommodate it, but was soon surprised by the bold move of the male before him that threw them both on the bed. Flabbergasted at the shamelessness of the Omega Nie Mingjue was about to go much harder core since the other had opened up the possibility when he suddenly had the Omegas face pressed against his bare chest.
The Nie’s face became redder and thunderous, about to lose it at the audacity when suddenly he felt something across the other’s forehead and realized that the other was truly having a hard time speaking, so was likely trying to identify themselves in some other way. But he couldn’t yet tell if the cloth he had on was due to blindness or what it was until it finally clicked – he had touched a forehead ribbon.
Confused and suddenly alarmed that a Lan was in his room, he immediately worried if it was just a very strange and stealthy Lan messenger. Was Xichen in danger perhaps? But before he could grill the other the face before him was finally illuminated in the candle’s light and then he really had something to be shocked about, for the intruder was none other than the recently differentiated Lan Xichen, who despite everything smiled at him as if innocent and asked for his help.
Once Nie Mingjue realized who it was and what he’d said he could barely keep up with his thoughts as the situation was not at all proper and Nie Mingjue was, needless to say, someone who upheld a very strict code of morals. Unfortunately those morals also warred with his concerns for his friend, especially since he could not recall another time when Lan Xichen asked him for anything, let alone help.
Considering recent events, his first conjecture was the usual when speaking to an Omega, so he helped the Lan to sit up and quickly asked,
“You need help? Has someone taken advantage of you? If so rest assured I will most certainly get you justice in whatever way you deem fit.” The Nie said looking for bruising on the other in the dim candle light.
Lan Xichen’s eyes became like a doe’s as he said words that were not matching the innocence of his face,
“Actually it is I who wants to take advantage of another.”
Nie Mingjue paused at that, leaning back and away from the other, before remembering that he was very much still shirtless, quickly covering his hands with his chest while he snapped at the other, now self-consciously,
“How could you say something so shameless and to me of all people? And - Get off my bed immediately and turn around until I can put a shirt on. You’re Uncle would have kittens if he knew you were saying such things while alone with an alpha in their room. What have those hormones done to you?”
Lan Xichen looked amused but complied, stealthily stealing little glances here and there for the fun and sport of it rather than the interest, while Nie Mingjue scowled at him and finished up as fast as he could. Since Mingjue was being so funny about it, Xichen decided it would be best to explain before the alpha kicked him out of the Unclean Realm for impertinence.
“As beautifully made as you are Mingjue I really do just see you as a brother. The man I’d like to take advantage of is actually Jiang Cheng, but in order to do so I’ll need your support.”
Nie Mingjue settled down slightly once he had a shirt on and heard that he wasn’t the one Lan Xichen was after. He let out a sigh of relief,
“I’m eternally grateful for that, I already have my hands full with one sworn brother after me, I really don’t need to worry about two. There really is too much incestuous implications in the rumor mill about my sect as it is.”
Lan Xichen shook his head and asked in a teasing voice,
“May I turn around now Mingjue?”
Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes, before nodding and pointing to a sit down area away from the bed,
“Yes, but we will be sitting here as is only proper now that you’ve differentiated.”
Lan Xichen found the wording funny and teased back,
“So you’re saying if I were an alpha we could have continued on your bed?”
But he didn’t want to push his luck so just after these saucy words he went to comply.
Nie Mingjue did not bother to reply to such provocation.
Actually Mingjue had been pretty shocked himself when he’d found out that Lan Xichen wasn’t an Alpha or a Beta. He’d fought for his sworn brother but he’d left afterwards to process things and so that no one got the wrong idea about their friendship. Meanwhile here Lan Xichen was sneaking into his room at night like there was nothing different.
Having had some time to think and discuss the subject with Meng Yao he had come to terms with the situation, but he was still uncomfortable being alone with Lan Xichen for the time being. It was like he had to figure the other out in a whole new light. But interestingly enough, when he actually thought about it more rationally he’d always been protective over Lan Xichen, so perhaps there had been signs before that he’d missed? Of the three sworn brother’s Nie Mingjue was the most conservative and traditional, so it was hard not to see the other without viewing him as almost a new being entirely.
But truthfully, when he really thought about it, Lan Xichen wasn’t really the one who’d changed. Instead it was Nie Mingjue’s opinion and view that had changed. Feeling guilty about acting like such a confused idiot, Mingjue decided to pursue the matter at hand. After all Xichen was very forgiving and magnanimous about many things, and Mingjue knew most of his bottom lines.
“Jiang Cheng you say,” Nie Mingjue questioned aloud recalling his battle partner of the other day, “he wasn’t a bad fighter and it was good that he stood up for you, but what makes him different from any other Lan Xichen suitor hopeful?”
Feeling quite in his element Lan Xichen leaned forward and began to brag about the other with a big smile, suddenly gushing,
“More like what doesn’t make him different?! Mingjue, Jiang Cheng has so much going for him. He’s attractive, forward thinking, sensitive, and so innocent and cute you could not even imagine! He’s so perfect that even Uncle approves of him! Although Wangji seems to be on the fence, but he’s a lot more pro my move now that his own interest is in the equation. Oh and Wanyin is not after me for what I can do for him and his descendants. Actually he’s not after me at all!”
Nie Mingjue blinked, trying to make sense of the passionate words and realized that Lan Xichen felt very strongly on the subject matter, but there was clearly a problem,
“He’s not after you? Lan Huan I really can’t help you if you’re asking me to help you seduce another alpha. For one I don’t have those kind of skills and for another I’m not close enough to him to set up any casual interactions for you. If you want seduction plans you picked the wrong sworn brother’s room to sneak into.”
Lan Xichen shook his head,
“I did not come here for seduction advice from you or Meng Yao, although I do need help from both of you, and your brother if I can have it. It turns out that a bunch of the main sects suddenly decided they wanted Jiang Cheng to marry into their families, but I want to marry him and I’m sure I went the farthest with him.”
“… the farthest?” Mingjue said faintly, before suddenly standing up, “I’ll kill the bastard.”
Lan Xichen reached over and pushed the other male back down to his sitting position across the desk and shook his head,
“No you won’t, it was I who took advantage of him.”
“…you… took advantage of an Alpha… and you seriously believe that?” Nie Mingjue questioned, not believing it of the somewhat angelic Lan, then again he had made some daring moves within the last half hour so it wasn’t impossible.
Lan Xichen nodded,
“Yes, and I can prove that to you when he’s here. He’s as innocent as the Lotus that bears his family crest.”
“Well I know nothing of the innocence of Lotuses, but I highly doubt there is much innocence in your alpha.” Mingjue said with a snort.
“If I prove as much would you promise to pick me as his suitor then?”
“Lan Huan I will not be promising anything except that if he is truly the right choice of the options for you and vice versa than naturally I will, but since this task is brought to me in faith and confidence I won’t be swayed by friendship or kinship. I’m not happy that this mess is about to drop in my lap of all places, but I will do my duty honestly. I will help you in that I won’t count this stunt against you, even though you are clearly trying to sway a judge, because I recognize that you’ve just recently presented and you feel very strongly on this matter.”
Lan Xichen sighed and put his head back laying with his eyes toward the ceiling with a sigh,
“Damn your honor Nie Mingjue, I was really hoping to be selfish just this once.” The Lan said for the first time not smiling.
Mingjue felt a little badly, but he was still firm in his beliefs, so he said,
“If you two are truly fated than it will happen either way, with or without me, but my best qualities are loyalty and justice, if I lose one of those than who even am I?”
Lan Xichen smiled at that and sat back up again to look the other in the eyes,
“That’s true, but I’m not giving up. I’ll prove to you just how suited we are to each other so that you’ll have to pick me.”
Nie Mingjue ruffled the Lan’s hair a bit playfully, beginning to feel a little more like himself around the other Lan, albeit even more protective, before something occurred to him and his face paled,
“Oh Lan Qiren I’m in trouble, I touched your forehead ribbon. Forget Jiang Cheng I may have to marry you for honor’s sake.”
“Don’t order red yet Mingjue, technically it was your chest that touched it, not your hands, and anyway spouses aren’t the only people who can touch forehead ribbons without problem. Family can too. So no worries Nie Mingjue Aren’t we brother’s after all?” The Lan said with a smile so infectious that Nie Mingjue’s own mouth could not help but raise on one side as he nodded his agreement, and it was only partially from the relief that came from not being forced to marry someone that he considered to be his brother.
Finally the wall that had been built of Lan Xichen’s differentiation as an Omega came crumbling down for the time being, and the two talked and laughed as they had before, relieved to be seen for themselves instead of their orientations.