. @SerenadeStrong is out to absolutely UNDO me with #chengxian feels help

JC....just tenderly yet professionally holding WWX's dick as he prepares to pierce it. which you KNOW WWX would be into (the piercing). like. SO into. but he did not count on this part being a lot too!!!!

no i'm not going to look up how dick piercings work right now during work hours but imagine the gentle cradling. the absolutely undivided attention. d;salkgh

JC didn't /think/ he had feelings for WWX besides your normal platonic devotion but now that he's obsessed with his dick he's starting to have to reevaluate that

look, at some point, as WWX's piercer (/best friend/business co-owner/foster brother/???) he's going to have to look at it again. at the PIERCING. very professionally. he both longs for & dreads this.

normally JC doesn't do piercing follow-up appointments unless the person calls in with a specific problem, but he works and also lives with WWX, he has been hearing about the healing process in detail for 8 days straight. it's basically the same thing.

JUDI GOT TO IT BEFORE I COULD. this is EXACTLY what happens. JC feels tender having WWX be so vulnerable in front of him (he's TENDERLY CRADLING his SOFT DICK how did they get here!) and also he feels angry that he is so tender https://twitter.com/JudiWench/status/1272600807909851138

idk if WWX was really angling for this to happen, he's just flirting like he flirts with everyone, and it's so SATISFYING with JC because literally the tiniest thing gets under his skin, and also that time he pierced WWX's dick? will be burned in his memory forever

so what if he wants a repeat of that time, the way JC touched him was so WARM and the way JC looked at him (and then WOULDN'T look at him) was so intense, it was just. a good time! anyone would want more.

sd;klfha i'm trying to keep this in 1 thread but it's just going to be a big branching thing, who am i to deny it. anyway check out this branch for more soft dick touching: https://twitter.com/JudiWench/status/1272605313766756352

so there JC is, with the pad of his thumb wet from the bead of moisture at the tip of WWX's dick, and WWX grinning down at him all "/Jiang CHENG/! take a boy out to dinner first!" and it was already so weird and intense and JC just can't -

he can't! he has nothing to say to that! so he goes on autopilot with a few aftercare instructions and he KNOWS he's blushing as he stands up & brushes his hands off but he just has to hold it together for 2 more minutes and then he can escape to his room

and then WWX catches his wrist and is like "jc. bro. you KNOW i'm easy, c'mon." and just reels him in and kisses him. into the kiss, he seems to be saying something like "and anyway we just had takout, you already DID get me dinner haha we're good -"

and it's just the most wwx thing ever. jc loves him? he loves him. his knees give out.

and suddenly he's sitting on the edge of their bathtub with a lap full of wwx who has his (no longer so soft) dick out and is STILL making out with him

somehow JC has his hand on WWX's dick again without any conscious direction on his part. WWX is mouthing at the skin behind his ear like he's trying to find something and he moans "yeah, yes, just like that jc" and pushes into his hold

[let's just assume wwx is at a state of healing where he can get a handjob from someone who's a little too overwhelmed to do it carefully ok]

because JC is SO overwhelmed rn. WWX is thrusting messy into his hand, smearing all over him (there's way more than a single bead of moisture now) and he found what he was looking for on JC's neck because when he sucks JC's brain whites out and he keeps moaning

the way WWX keeps making these broken sounds, the way his hips stutter every time the piercing moves - JC did that to him. he left his mark and WWX is going to be /like this/ now, because of him.

that thought makes something like lightning go through his veins, and JC can hardly get his hand into his sweats before he's coming all over himself. WWX says "oh fuck, did you just - that was so hot" and then he's coming into JC's other hand, wet and messy

after, JC bullies WWX into starting the shower for him (because BOTH his hands are covered in jizz) but then WWX insists on following him in and making out with him while he tries to wash up. JC wonders if this is just his life now?

ok to back up and zoom out a bit, I love the idea of WWX and JC co-owning a tattoo & piercing shop together bc it fits their dynamic so well? WWX can be the huge in-demand tattoo artist with 100k instagram followers and JC can feel overlooked & second best

but ACTUALLY WWX values him immensely! JC is so good at what he does and if they didn't have him taking care of 99% of all the walk-in customers who just want an impulse eyebrow piercing, where would their shop even be? where would WWX be?

he'd just be drawing art that no one looks at, he wouldn't have this shop and this long list of bookings and this whole structure to do the things he loves in. JC's practical skills & good business sense are what made that possible.

so this is what JC is bringing to this dick piercing and handjobs and naked showering place. he wants WWX to stand by his side forever but WWX is the best & the brightest & who is JC to demand that from him? and now that they've...done stuff. does it change anything?

he feels like maybe this SHOULD give him a right to demand more - what? commitment or support or he doesn't even know. but he also feels gross at the thought, like he'd be using this fun one-off they had and twisting it.

maybe in this universe they already had a (smaller) falling out and they patched it up but he knows it's foolish to expect WWX to keep his promises bc he's just not built that way. better not to ask for promises to begin with! safe that way!

is he angry at wwx for being this way? yes! does he know, intellectually, that it's not fair to expect him to change? also yes! so is JC also angry with himself for being angry w/WWX? SO MUCH. it's allllll bottled up in there.

so they keep messing around while JC has all this simmering under the surface. first WWX is like "oh there was some discomfort, you should ~check the ~piercing" but after a few times he abandons the ruse and just starts hitting on JC when he's horny

and does JC know it's a bad idea? yeah! he lets him anyway! the problem is that WWX is /hot/ and he takes charge but also acts like he loves it when JC blusters and pushes him around and he's really good with his mouth and they just. work so WELL together.

and ohhhhhh JC wishes he could have this. for forever, not just until WWX gets bored & moves on. so there he is, pining for his business partner/roommate/brother/best friend while also regularly sleeping with them. it figures that his life would end up like this.

this is the kind of uneven balance they've struck when: enter one Lan Wangji

THINGS ARE GOING TO A THREEWAY PLACE FROM HERE ON OUT if you want a nice pure chengxian offramp just imagine they celebrate the opening of a new/bigger store a few years later with champagne & wwx proposes in front of all their friends, happily ever after~!!

anyhow so this incredibly hot guy shows up one day in the shop for a tattoo consult.

JC is in the front covering for Mo Xuanyu, their college student receptionist, while he's on lunch, so he's the one who greets the guy when he walks in. he will freely admit: this is a very beautiful man

so it doesn't make sense that when WWX walks out to collect him for their appointment & does this whole eyes widen > gulp > subtle onceover thing, JC should be jealous. he shouldn't! he did the same thing! bc the guy is god-tier beautiful!

the whole time they're back in WWX's work room, JC is lightly simmering with jealousy. he's had a few tattoos done by WWX, he knows that WWX will be bent over his big sketchbook, leaning in close to this Lan Wangji guy, asking him what he thinks of this or that concept

he knows that if they really get going on a good concept WWX will be asking LWJ all kinds of personal questions & excitedly sketching out variations & fuck, probably having him take his shirt off so he can sketch a rough draft on his skin & take pictures for reference

JC had been so uncomfortable when WWX did that with him - he didn't realize the design process would be so PERSONAL or involve so much LOOKING.

but afterwards he had gone back to those memories again & again - the pinpoint focus, the light no-nonsense touches, the way wwx posed JC and took pictures like he was art. JC had known WWX's *work* was art but he didn't know that having it on him would be. like THAT.

"how did it go?" JC asks when LWJ leaves. WWX slumps down in the waiting room chair & throws his arms over his face & says "I think he hates me, Jiang Cheng! that was the most awkward, stilted consult E V E R he can't possibly be coming back."

"oh, that's....too bad......." JC says, privately thanking all that is holy that they can put this weird afternoon behind them.

WWX looks over at him with red eyes. fuck, is he. crying?? "I think he was my soulmate, JC," he says.

whatever happened in that room, JC knows the most important thing: he is going to fight this Lan Wangji guy the next time he sees him. if WWX mopes about this for more than 36 hours he might actively hunt him down and fight him.

over the next 36 hours, WWX doesn't exactly MOPE but he does seem a little more wistful than usual and JC catches him sighing once or twice. then at hour 37 he tattoos a guy with "the HUGEST butt - the most unbelievable ass - there were muscles on his muscles -"

(it's nie mingjue) and gets so worked up about it that he has to call JC /from his workroom/ downstairs while he cleans up and beg JC to congratulate him for how professional he was and also listen to all the horny thoughts he suppressed, and that night they bang about it

after that, things seem to go back to normal and JC relaxes like 0.2 mm which is close to the maximum amount he ever relaxes.

UNTIL. one day LWJ's name shows up in the appointment book again. JC immediately asks WWX about it bc if he's going to fight him he needs time to prep

"oh, he picked a design & booked a session. he followed the rules on our website to the LETTER, did you know anyone read those?"

JC did not, and he does not care. "I thought he hated you?"

WWX does an elaborate shrug. "eehhh maybe? but he'll pay for a tattoo & that's what counts, right?"

JC makes his >:( face that everyone he knows has informed him is ultra scary. "why would someone do that."

WWX is like "i don't KNOW" and then they just stare @ each other

when LWJ's appointment rolls around, JC makes sure his own schedule is clear so he can lurk in the front of the shop. LWJ shows up early & sits in the waiting area with his back very straight. usually people look at the art or the jewelry case or chat with MXY, but not this guy.

and like - JC can see how WWX would be taken with this guy, because he's just drop-dead gorgeous and he looks like he could take you apart. JC can't take anyone apart, he knows this now.

he also looks like he hates everyone & everything, & JC bristles.

if WWX is going to be hung up on this guy - and that seems inevitable - LWJ could at least have the decency to like WWX back. JC isn't going to lose WWX to some stuck-up dude who doesn't even know how good he has it.

so JC hip-checks MXY out from behind the desk & tells him to check the autoclave or whatever, and personally calls LWJ up to "go over some house policies" "before his appointment" JC proceeds to give him a shovel talk via their safety & inclusion policies

usually the artist would do this themselves at the beginning of the appointment, but JC has to make SURE LWJ isn't going to be a dick. there's nothing he can do to keep WWX for falling for him but intimidation, he can do.

LWJ takes the extremely threatening rendition of the safety policy in stride, assures JC he will not do any harassment & will speak up if he himself feels unsafe (JC bristles more, as IF) and after he signs & pays his deposit, JC has no choice but to let him back into WWX's room

the session seems to last forever. JC is pretty sure he does work during this time but if you asked him what he did, he could not tell you. finally, LWJ leaves, looking just as stuck-up as before. JC lets himself into WWX's room & leans back against the door, arms crossed.

"Well??" he asks, and WWX offers a few versions of his standard breezy 'jc don't be so uptiiiight' before he breaks down & answers the question.

"I really like him," he moans, slumping over his table dramatically. "why does he have to have no emotions?? it's terrible"

"he doesn't deserve you," JC says instantly. he doesn't add "and I do" because as much as he wishes that were true, he's always known this extra layer between them won't last. if he's lucky, WWX will find someone he REALLY wants to bone, and they'll go back to how they were

"aw, JC, you're so sweet," WWX says. "such a good bro." he pats JC's cheek. when had he gotten into cheek-patting range? now he's leaning against JC against the door. "I don't think anything will happen, but it's fun to think about..." WWX says, tone dirty

"what is?" JC says, cursing his poor brain-to-mouth filter.

"if you think he's hot now, you should see him with his shirt off." WWX slots a thigh between JC's legs. "his ARMS, they're illegal. I bet he could pick me up & just toss me around"

so that's how they end up talking about WWX's new customer (and how he could just flip WWX over and fuck him, hold him up & fuck him, push his head down & fuck his mouth -) while WWX grinds against JC's hardon & mouths at his jaw

aw beans i fuck't up the thread. this was supposed to come next: https://twitter.com/bitterchord_/status/1274022557340119044

there's usually a "no come in the work rooms" rule, but JC is too riled up to care and WWX seems to be pretty fucking worked up, too. WWX comes just from grinding on JC's thigh, and then he gets his hand in JC's pants & jerks him off fast while still spouting horny nonsense

that's not the only time it happens. it happens after the next session with LWJ too (they make it to the couch upstairs this time, at least) and again when JC finds out they've been texting. "What about?" JC asks, perplexed, and WWX shows him a picture of a bunny.

"He sends me bunny pictures any time I ask," WWX says, with a lovesick sigh. JC starts counting down the days until WWX moves out to live with this guy, who, despite all of WWX's insistence, CLEARLY does not hate him.

Until then, though, he's happy to pull WWX down on top of him, to make out all messy and half-clothed and get his hands on WWX's dick and mess with the piercing until he's hard and whimpering. he loves WWX and WWX loves some game-playing douchebag, but for now he still has this.

LWJ's tattoo must be huge, and he must be loaded, because he comes back every [idk tattoo-doing interval] like clockwork. JC has tried to stay ignorant of any details of LWJ's design because he knows he would just torture himself with any particulars he learns.

but it's unavoidable that LWJ keeps coming back. on his 3rd or 4th visit, he knocks politely on the open doorway of JC's work room on his way out and comes in when JC says "what do you want??!" JC is not quite sure how it happens, but he....asks JC out for coffee?

there's no choice, obviously JC has to go on this date & see what this guy's deal is. he debates telling WWX about it, but WWX would probably crash the date due to his thirst, and JC doesn't need to get in the middle of that. (any more than he already is >__>)

they meet at a simple but expensive cafe downtown. JC is fully on the defensive from the moment he gets on the train downtown. this guy is already toying with WWX's heart, if he thinks he can CHEAT on him with his OWN BOYFRIEND- or business partner or whatever -

it's a perfectly normal coffee date, right down to the part where JC can't relax or stop analyzing the other person's every motion and utterance. thankfully, once they both sit down, LWJ gets right to it. "I would like to seek your permission to court Wei Wuxian," he says.

"what," JC says, then, "MY permission?" LWJ nods. "You are close to him." JC scowls. "but why do you need PERMISSION? WWX can do what he wants." he doesn't want to be the one to forbid them to date, bc then WWX would be sad, but he also....doesn't want them to date.

LWJ is silent for a long time, composing his words or thinking up ways to torture JC or who knows. "Perhaps 'permission' is not the right word," he says in the end. "I do not know where WWX's interests lie; he is hard to read. You know him well. Perhaps you could help."

this - this is just beyond the pale. HELP? this OTHER DUDE? date his brother???? no. but also, WWX likes him so much. JC is torn and angry about being put in this position. "why should you get to date him?" he asks. maybe LJW is a serial killer. that would be convenient.

LWJ says some extremely mushy stuff that makes JC's insides churn to hear it. apparently they've been TALKING during the sessions and they have shared interests and LWJ has a boner (not his own words) for WWX's ETHICS. it's all terrible and also perfect for WWX, tragically.

"so what's the problem? why do you need help, it sounds like you two get along great," JC says.

LWJ looks poetically into the distance. "As much as I admire him, I fail to understand him."

JC has no idea what he's supposed to make of that. he waits.

LWJ gazes distantly some more. Finally, he says, "I fear he does not see our relationship in the same light that I do, and I know how to express myself more clearly than I already have."
JC puzzles that out. "are you asking...if he's into men?"

LWJ makes a very severe expression without moving any part of his face. "Perhaps I was wrong to ask you."

"Yeah, maybe," JC says, but the thing is - he DOES know WWX. he was wrong (which he hates & immediately ignores) but LWJ would be really good for him.

And also, the thing about seeing their relationship in a completely different light than WWX does and not knowing how to bridge the gap......hits a little close to home. JC resolutely ignores that too.

"FINE," he grits out. "I'll help. but if you EVER hurt him - "

"I never will," LWJ says, with this kind of terrifyingly hot intensity, and that seals the deal.

"fINE," JC says. "Fine. What do you want to know."

it turns out that there's nothing specific LWJ wants to know at this meeting, right now. he'd been planning ahead, reaching out to JC only open a line of communication in case of future crises.

JC considers telling him that WWX is already in love with him, but decides against it

it's not his secret to tell, for one thing. and for another, fic LWJ can't figure it out on his own, he doesn't DESERVE to know. so JC leaves the coffee date with LWJ's number in his phone and a new secret under his skin.

he doesn't use it right away, which lulls JC into a false sense of security. soon, though, he gets a screenshot of a text conversation between WWX and LWJ with an acronym highlighted. "What does it mean?" LWJ asks. this is not the kind of help JC had been expecting to provide.

"Ask him yourself," he says, and LWJ sends back "Thank you," as if that had been helpful at all. JC wonders if this LWJ has any friends at all, that he doesn't have anyone better to send screenshots from his crush to.

This goes on for a while, between LWJ's next tattoo session and the next one he has scheduled. Mostly the questions are minor and mostly JC refuses to answer or defers the question to WWX. LWJ keeps messaging anyway, which makes JC feel some kind of way.

The one exception is one week before LWJ's next appointment, when he texts JC, "is it inappropriate to invite WWX to lunch?"
JC scowls at his phone and sends "seeing each other outside the shop isn't against the policy. this isn't a doctor's office"

LWJ sends a veritable wall of text: "It may be an ethical violation even if it is not a policy violation. I want to respect WWX's boundaries. He has two more sessions left, excluding touchups. I don't want to make him uncomfortable."

of course he doesn't

"That didn't stop you from asking me out," JC replies.

"That was different," LWJ says.

JC just sends 3 dots, which he knows pisses LWJ off.

"My intentions to you are not the same."

This sends a curl of something sour through JC's gut, which -

- what the heck. He doesn't want LWJ's obsessive attention on himself, does he? it's GOOD that LWJ considers them differently.

"do what you want, WWX will be fine," he sends, and aggressively quits the messaging app and locks his phone

it's true, in a way - WWX is already far enough gone on LWJ that a lunch date won't make much difference, and if LWJ knew half the things WWX had told JC about him, *he'd* probably be the one who was uncomfortable during the last sessions.

LWJ must take that as the out from the moral dilemma he was looking for, because the next thing JC knows he's listening to WWX alternately gush and worry over his upcoming date with LWJ.

which is in 4 days. JC does not know how this became his life.

"do you think it's a DATE date?" WWX asks over breakfast. JC has his mouth full, and WWX answers his own question before JC can say anything. "No, probably not. He doesn't seem like the dating type. What if he's aromantic, JC? then I wouldn't even have a CHANCE"

JC stares at him. "Not like I have much of one now, but it's the principle of the thing, you know? Oh no, what if he wants to break up with me as his tattoo artist and this is his way of letting me down gently."

JC just stares more. only 3 more days of this. he can survive.

[for the date itself, just imagine wwx & lwj's yiling date except no a-yuan ()(they can get a-yuan a while later in this au), they have lunch and make hearteyes at each other & wwx still somehow comes away thinking of lwj as his platonic soulmate]

if JC thought he just had to wait until they had their date for some relief, he was SORELY mistaken. after their date is far, far worse. WWX is like, glowing. he recaps every moment of their extremely banal lunch. he floats from room to room. he smiles at his phone.

there is one moment in particular, when LWJ had admonished WWX for speaking with his mouth full, that WWX lovingly recounts late one night as the video game save screen loops in the background. "do you think he likes to dom?" WWX asks. "I think he'd be so good at it"

he has his amorous eyes on, the ones that mean he's thinking lecherous thoughts and is a second or two from taking them out on JC. JC rolls his eyes and pushes WWX back into his seat. for once, the math of getting what he wants from WWX at the expense of being a substitute >

> for someone else doesn't work out.

WWX pouts. "jiang chennnnng," he whines. "do you think he's ever tried domming someone before? he's so uptight, idk if -"

"you should ask him that," JC says, sounding like an echo of himself.

WWX gasps theatrically. "so BOLD, i SHOULD. can you imagine his FACE??"

the problem is, JC can imagine his face. it would be pretty good. he rolls his eyes again. "go text your boyfriend and leave me alone."

this time, when WWX throws himself at JC he's too fast to push away

he hugs JC tight around the waist, his body stretched halfway across the couch, his face buried grossly near JC's armpit. "I don't hAVE a boyfriend," he moans into JC's armpit. "I only have you, JC! Are you mad? Are you ~jealous~~???"

"gross," JC says. he wriggles in WWX's grip enough to move his face somewhere more normal but not enough to dislodge him. "why are you like this"

WWX looks up at him with a face. "promise me you'll always be my brother, JC? even if i have a boyfriend? it's not the SAME. "

JC rolls his eyes. "of course we'll always be brothers."

"no, but like." WWX concentrates. "nothing needs to change, right? promise me?"

anger flares in JC's chest. HE'S not the one who needs to be making promises! "you-" he says, trying to push WWX off. WWX just clings harder.

"I'M not going anywhere," JC protests, scowling. it feels like he's said too much. he KNOWS how WWX is, he knows it's useless to try to change him, or to get his expectations up. but if WWX thinks *JC* needs to promise to stick around, JC can't just let that stand.

Something shifts in WWX's expression, going from his teasing default to something more sincere. it eases the tension in JC's chest. he wishes he knew how to get WWX to be like this on demand - if he could just take things SERIOUSLY, they might not always talk past each other.

"I'm not going anywhere either," WWX says quietly. JC presses his mouth into a flat line. "really! even if things work out with LWJ - even if I get TEN boyfriends, I could never get another jiang cheng. I'm not going to replace you."

JC just :||||s more. he's heard this before.

he very carefully doesn't listen to the part of himself insisting he's never heard it like THIS before - he hasn't heard it since they started fooling around - that maybe this time WWX means it.

"You're still going to date LWJ, though," he says.

"Well, yeah, if he'll LET me," WWX says, dancing back toward his normal self-deprecating lightness. JC frowns at him, and for once it makes WWX drop back into sincerity. "I know you don't trust me, and I don't blame you, but -

- I WON'T go anywhere. I'll just keep not going anywhere until you see."

"Hmmph," JC says. His chest and throat feel weak, like even the slightest touch could cave them in. He peels WWX off him and stands up. "I'm going to bed," he announces.

"Ok," WWX says, quietly.

the thing is, JC /wants/ to trust WWX. he wants to take him at his word. He wants to ask WWX to kiss him for /him/ just for once, and know that he means it. but he's smarter than that, and knows how to protect himself, now.

his eyes are definitely not wet as he falls into sleep

in the morning, JC takes his time before leaving his room. he's worried that WWX will treat him like he's fragile, or try to bring up last night's conversation again, and he just....doesn't have the bandwidth to deal with that right now.

it seems like when WWX said "nothing has to change" he really meant NOTHING, though, because he's his same old self, right down to sighing when he gets a text notification and everything (LWJ has his own text ringtone, it's nauseating)

JC has a full day at the shop, so he doesn't have to stick around & watch for too long. he lets himself get absorbed in his work, and doesn't think about whether WWX thinks the physical stuff is really part of their relationship or just a nice bonus, or

whether WWX would think twice about running off with LWJ if he knew how LWJ felt, or whether he would miss JC at all if he did.

which, even though he's nOT THINKING ABOUT IT, leaves him in a pretty rotten mood, so he goes to his [martial art of your choice] studio &

works out there until it's late and his head is empty. When he gets home, the apartment is dark, WWX already safely asleep or out with friends.

irrationally, JC wishes that he'd had LWJ's foresight and roped someone in as a sounding board for anything & everything WWX.

he hadn't, though, and now there's too much to explain. and besides, he doesn't even know if WWX minds people knowing that he and JC are...involved. they're not *technically* brothers, but their whole friend group treats them like they are. usually JC loves that.

it simmers under his skin for a few days until he can't keep it in anymore, and then it bursts out of him with a, "Does Lan Wangji know we hook up?"

(he can't bring himself to use the past tense. even if they HAVEN'T in a while, it's still something they COULD do. maybe WWX will ask for another dick piercing and JC will get to give a few low-stress handjob about it)

WWX rubs his nose. "I don't....think so? It hasn't really come up."

"Do you think that maybe it should?" JC is going to get a headache.

"I'd tell him if he asked, you're not a dirty secret or anything." WWX gets a glint in his eye. "Unless you want to be...?"

JC rolls his eyes. "Knock it off"

So now there's the possibility LWJ will hear that WWX has been cheating on him with his brother this whole time and break up with him. which would break WWX's heart, so he can't hope for it. he DOESN'T.

it would be lying to himself to say that things would be simpler if it was just JC and WWX. Things between them are never simple. Still, though -

"What if I told him?" best to rip that scab off now, if it's going to happen.

WWX shrugs. "if you want?"

JC's headache is throbbing in his temples. "You really don't care how he finds out?"

WWX tilts his head. "We've been on one date! I'm not, like, confessing the existence of a mistress to my husband of 20 years. If anything, HE'S the mistress"

It appears to be dawning on WWX for the first time. JC watches him warily to see....how MUCH it dawns on him. it's never a given. Sure enough, he shrugs after a moment and says, "But you've known about LWJ as long as I have, haha, he's not a secret."

JC rolls his eyes and goes into the kitchen to make some noodles. it would be a lot more convenient for his life in general if he DIDN'T love WWX, but: his life. it would figure that he does.

it turns out JC doesn't know how to compose a "just so you know, i've been hooking up with your crush since before you showed up and also most people consider the two of us brothers" text, so he just hangs onto WWX's permission to share. saves it for a rainy day.

so things muddle along like this for a while, UNTIL, shortly after LWJ's last tattoo appointment, WWX leaves for a month-long guest artist spot in [distant city of your choice]. he usually does a few of these throughout the year, and they're super popular

JC sometimes gets another artist to guest in their shop while WWX is away, but mostly it's a good excuse to keep shorter hours and catch up on the business side of things, with fewer clients coming in and out.

JC isn't expecting to hear from LWJ at all while WWX is away - he's basically stopped asking JC to decode his text lingo, and the last thing he'd sent had been asking whether WWX would appreciate if he brought him tea when he came in for the session

("iced espresso," JC had texted, because WWX lives on caffeine and would appreciate that much more, and then he'd wondered whether *he* should ever bring WWX a drink at work. they don't really have a commute so it would be silly, but - WWX would probably like it)

anyway, the point is, when JC gets a text from LWJ only a couple days after WWX leaves, he's surprised.

it takes LWJ a while to talk around to the point, which is unusual for him, but after some prodding it comes out that he wants to get his nipples pierced.

as a surprise for WWX. and he wants JC to tell him if WWX would be into that. and if he is, he wants JC to do the piercing.

JC has to sit down and just stare out the window for a full 5 minutes.

he takes the questions out of order, bc LWJ has gotten way ahead of himself. "Are you even at a looking at each others nipples stage in you relationship?" he texts first. last he heard, LWJ was still trying to woo WWX and WWX still had no idea that was happening.

"No," LWJ answers. "But I hope one day we will be, and this is the perfect opportunity to get the work done by someone I trust and not ruin the surprise."

"what" JC texts, but LWJ refuses to clarify that part. JC rereads "someone I trust" but it stays stubbornly on the screen.

he'll just ignore it, then. "WWX would love that," he texts, grudgingly. there have been SEVERAL conversations revolving around the question of whether LWJ has any secret piercings. he'd already told WWX this was his first tattoo, which WWX is OBNOXIOUS about.

the tattoo is on his upper arm and apparently he always keeps a singlet on while WWX is working on him, so he's theoretically got a lot of territory to hide secret piercings in. not that JC has spent any time thinking about it.

on to the next point, though: "what makes you think I would keep your secret?" JC asks

"Please?" LWJ texts, followed by "If it is inconvenient, I will not ask you to keep it from WWX. I understand you talk a lot."

JC scowls at his phone very deeply.

He thinks about how annoying it would be to keep a secret from LWJ - to be *trusted* by him, apparently.

He thinks about how delighted WWX would be to strip off his shirt, one day in the distant future when they get around to making out, and find decorated nipples there

Fuck, JC is already thinking about what jewelry would look best on LWJ. if he needed any suggestions. he's thinking about the way WWX's eyes would light up and how he'd touch him. this is going way too far.

"he probably won't ask, anyway," JC says, which is as close to a promise as he's going to get.

LWJ apparently has no trouble decoding this. "Thank you," he sends.

"Come by this afternoon, I don't have any bookings." best to get it over with before JC has second thoughts

"Thank you," LWJ says again, and JC rolls his eyes. trust WWX to fall for a person who could be annoying just by being POLITE.

when LWJ gets to the shop, JC talks him through the procedure and the aftercare. "any second thoughts?"

"None," LWJ says

JC narrows his eyes. "You looked this up and already knew everything I just told you, didn't you"

LWJ nods.

"I still have to tell you anyway," JC says, defensive.

"I am aware," LWJ says.

JC tries to put himself in a professional headspace. as much as he wants to snap back -

sniping with the clients while they're at his mercy is a line he would hate to cross. he takes a deep breath. "take off your shirt, then. you can put it over there."

LWJ takes off his shirt and drapes in carefully over the chair. WWX was not kidding, this man is BUILT.

JC is a PROFESSIONAL though. he's seen muscular men before. he's handled intimate parts of their bodies while they laughed or cried or swore. it doesn't make any difference that this particular man is one WWX is obsessed with, and JC is going to touch him before WWX ever does -

none of that is important. nor is it important how JC knows at least 4 specific fantasies WWX has had about this specific chest. WWX is going to love these piercings so much if he ever gets to see them, fuck.

JC sneaks a look at the tattoo, while he has the chance. it's subtle and very, very intricate - tiny winding lines that swoop and flow together like music. JC catches a glimpse of a mountain, a cloud - the whole thing is dense and full of motifs, but he can't stare.

LWJ is quiet and calm while JC marks the piercing locations and gets him ready. JC remembers thinking he had no emotions when he met them, but that's not quite right - he obviously has emotions, but chooses not to show them. normal people probably aren't worthy.

the first piercing goes quickly. LWJ breathes as directed, and though his breath shudders a little bit while JC's affixing the jewelry, he doesn't complain.

the second piercing poses more of a challenge. LWJ already has small nipples, appearing almost TOO delicate on his

broad, muscled chest. now, in response to the pain or simply the shock, the unpierced nipple has.....retreated. JC doesn't think he could get a needle through it right now if he tried.

usually he would just go digging with the clamp until he got a good grip on it, but.

this is *Lan Wangji.* to touch him so...purposefully, so MUCH feels. like he'd be stepping out of his lane, maybe? because WWX has dibs.

JC is hanging onto his professional detachment by a much thinner string than he realized.

"Could you, uh. Whatever you normally do to make your nipples erect? This one is hard to reach."

LWJ cranes his head and sees the shy nipple. "Ah," he says. "Of course, my apologies." His hand comes up and two fingers rub around his areola, denting the meat of his pec, before

going right over his nipple a few times, peaking it up.

JC has made a grave miscalculation. This is SO much worse than going at him with the tongs.

"I can work with that, you can stop now," JC says, to forestall LWJ doing anything even harder to watch with his elegant fingers

LWJ gives a tiny nod and drops his hand. JC adjusts the clamp around the nipple, carefully paying attention to lining up the marks just right and absolutely NOTHING ELSE, and runs the needle through it.

"ah," LWJ says, tightly.

the sound goes right through JC's core. he thinks he'll remember it for the rest of his life.

LWJ breathes deeply through JC putting the second barbell in and the ensuing cleanup. He must meditate, JC thinks angrily. Those are the deep breaths of a practiced deep breather.

Too late, JC hears himself on autopilot telling LWJ if he wants to change the jewelry, to come back in 3 weeks so JC can check the healing and do it right. that - he hadn't meant to say that. it probably wouldn't even have occurred to LWJ to change the jewelry.

"I will," LWJ says. He takes the sheet with the aftercare instructions and folds it neatly. His eyes meet JC's and it's probably all in JC's head how hot and intense that gaze is. In 3 weeks, WWX will still be away. fuck, LWJ definitely is going to come back now.

[you can tell i actually looked up nipple piercings lsjds;lakh. the top of the thread is like "and then he pierced his dick!" and this is like "at step 3a of the piercing, thing x happened to JC's feelings" hahahaha]

I meant this as a tiny aside, soon to be forgotten, but it seems like twitter decided this should break the thread so here's the continuation!! https://twitter.com/bitterchord_/status/1275929720161517581?s=20