Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian never needed a manager, he needed a handler, Lan Wangji thinks, surveying the damage on stage at the end of the concert. Luoyang was the last location for the tour until a brief interlude, and on the first day, he's managed to somehow trash the stage, destroy their two main sound systems, kick a hole in a trap set and short-circuit the power in the entire stadium. Even if their next performance was three days from now at a different venue, this was too much. Considering all the damage he'd done on tour so far, he'd be surprised if there was any profit left after paying reparations.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he notes down all the charges he has to consider and suppliers he has to sort out to replace the expensive sound equipment his boss has blown in time for the next show.

He rakes in a hefty sum for what he would consider glorified babysitting, but he's seen Wei Wuxian perform and the product leaves him breathless every time. He wouldn't admit it to his boss, but maybe he's a little proud to be a part of making that happen.

If it were up to his Uncle, he'd be playing first string at the Beijing Orchestra. Somehow, out of fascination, he'd end up here instead, working for the most difficult man he'd ever met, omega or otherwise.

If someone had told him eleven years ago he'd be leading the team for China's most insane soloist he would have scoffed and walked away, especially since twelve years ago around the time of his debut, Wei Wuxian requested a guqin accompaniment and Lan Wangji had the misfortune of being the one he chose to work with. They had immediately disliked each other, and Wangji, who had been training in classical instruments since before he could talk, would never understand the way the other's mind worked. Even now, he had less than a vague idea. He didn't understand how a person so reckless and erratic could call himself an artist. A top performer for sure. A certified prima donna. But his skill on twelve different instruments was undeniable. At a live performance on a variety show, Wangji saw him play for the first time and even he had to admit (although grudgingly) that Wuxian was a skilled musician. The way he wove words into songs was lyrical artistry, and his instrumentals always seemed to convey emotional intent. As a classical music major, that was something Wangji appreciated.

Yet, for all Wei Wuxian's capriciousness, his work ethic is nothing short of insane. The omega is very specific about the image he maintains; he writes all his music himself, participates in designing costumes for his more dramatic performances and plays all of his music live. He once cancelled a MAMA performance because they asked him to perform to a track, and he wasn't having it.

No performance is the same, either. Where a tour can mean the same set over and over, with China's sweetheart it was different every night. "What's the point if I do the same thing over and over?" he'd said, to his former manager. That was before Wangji took the older man's place.

When he thinks about it, Wuxian was not easy to deal with. But he was nothing if not committed and resilient. The omega's dedication to his art was mirrored by his own dedication to making it happen.

And, he had to, because for all his fans, Wei Wuxian was a press nightmare. Just five months ago, he had punched an actor in the face at an award show.

"Why must you be so unreasonable?" Wangji demanded, barely able to contain his anger after he had to physically haul the younger back to his limousine.

"Wen Chao said something disrespectful," Wuxian said defensively, folding his arms and leaning back.

"So you punched him in the face?"

"Yes," Wuxian answers petulantly.

"At the most widely covered awards show in Asia."

"Yes," Wuxian said a little less passionately.

"Since when were you a white knight?"

"Don't criticize me for what I defend, Lan Zhan!" the omega said hotly.

"What is so important that you must defend it in front of all of Asia ?"

"None of your goddamn business."

Wangji pinched the bridge of his nose as if to delay the oncoming migraine.

"Unbelievable."

"What would you have done Lan Zhan? Stare at him blankly? Because I'm sure that would have shown him," the omega simpers. His scent is challenging, demanding a rise out of him and Wangji will not sink to his level.

"I will send you back to Yunmeng," Wangji threatened, as the omega glared.

"Fine," the omega snapped, "Please cancel the whole fucking tour because of Wen Chao's bigotry."

About a month after that, he was caught in a scandal at a restaurant. A waiter had claimed that Wuxian was making moves on him the entire time he was there. Wuxian got kicked out of the restaurant after causing a scene.

"I wasn't drunk, Lan Zhan," the omega insisted, and Wangji doesn't doubt him, knowing the omega's rigid alcohol tolerance. But that was not how the media would see it.

"He was hitting on me. Honestly, do I look like I'm choking for a knot?"

Wangji wishes he were, so he could stuff his mouth and shut him up. They bickered about things a lot, with an undercurrent of sexual tension— because Wuxian was so hot but also so troublesome.

Sure enough, in under an hour the tabloids had gone crazy and there were even pictures— pictures of Wei Wuxian laughing and the waiter's face blurred out. Lan Wangji had made it all go away, on the promise from the omega that he would behave since his tour was beginning soon. True to his word, there were no scandals, but there was no shortage of work to be done either, he thought to himself, thinking out how many wrecked compounds and damaged equipment he'd had to sign cheques for so far.

But the omega's appeal didn't end there either. For as brash and excessive as he came off, the omega had a softer side that made fans of the unwilling. According to his Grazia interview three years ago, he never asked for the lifestyle of a performer, although it was one that suited him well. It was fast-paced enough, high powered and demanding. It kept him on his toes with his performance, and challenged his ability to make music and connect. Music for him was the way he exhaled, full of feeling and all-encompassing.

It was in that same interview he had said his only goal as an omega was to stay at home with a caring mate and a small mob of children, which if you asked Lan Zhan was a stroke of genius PR on the artist's part.

He had the kind of appearance that was appealing to men and women. Tall and broad for an omega, but not enough to dispel the protective instinct of an alpha. Because of this duality, he suited the tastes of many betas as well. He preferred looks that were androgynous, unisex, and on stage, straight-up dramatic.

Mian Mian, his assistant manager, breaks his concentration from his musings, slightly flushed and out of breath.

"He's got fans backstage, again," she tells him. The beta looks ruffled, and that can only mean one thing.

"Alphas?"

"Yeah, three of them. The hormones from the backroom are making a mess of the crew."

Which meant he had to be the one to handle it, once again having to clean up after the omega's messes.

He mentally retracts the sentiment of his thoughts.

Wei Wuxian was flighty, frivolous and egocentric.

He briskly enters the backstage area. It's about 5 am and he already has a headache, one that would probably last for the rest of the day. Knowing himself and who he works for, he reasons that he most definitely will.

He would usually enter Wuxian's dressing room without announcement— the younger didn't seem to care much about modesty, staff in and out constantly. But for the sake of the others in the room— namely, fans, he knocks for their benefit, trying not to burst in when he hears the giggles inside.

"Who is it?"

"Wangji," he says tightly.

"Oh come on in, why did you knock?" He enters as Wuxian is explaining how his friend is handsome and one of the women eyes him openly and intentionally. He could tell from the scent that all were alphas, and one was wearing omega-attracting perfume.

He ignores them, eyes directed at the artist currently entertaining them.

"This is a staff-only area, Mr. Wei," he says, deadpan.

"Oof, he's angry," Wuxian jokes, and the alphas all tither out laughs. Their scents are all over. One is rife with sexual energy- she's here to get laid, the other is tired, but is happy to have Wuxian's attention and the other is uncomfortable as hell, but excitement is buzzing off her in tendrils.

He waits patiently as Wuxian tapers off into an awkward silence.

The omega sits up, "Let me introduce you, Lan Zhan." He winces at the use of his given name, but Wuxian remains oblivious. Almost as oblivious as he pretends to be while emitting pheromones that scream for attention.

"Ladies, this is my...friend, Lan Zhan. He's a beta and he's a hardass, so I think an Alpha girlfriend may help him loosen up a little. Lan Zhan, this is Bingbing, Lifei and..."

"Huamei," the woman supplies. She gives Wangji a coy smile and looks away.

"Charmed."

And not a full second later, "Ladies, I am afraid I must ask you to leave."

"Lan Zhan!" Wuxian protests, displeasure clear in his scent. Automatically, two of the females release calming pheromones to placate him.

Wangji makes no effort to acknowledge it, "I'm afraid Mr.Wei has schedules to attend to tomorrow."

He turns to the women, finally, "Please cooperate, I do not wish to cause you any discomfort."

He looks directly at the nervous alpha, Li-something, with a stern expression and it's enough that she hops up and motions to her friends, ushering them out. Their scents are varying levels of disappointment, but none as great as the uninhibited displeasure Wei Wuxian emits.

He watches rigidly as they exit, nodding to Mian Mian to guide them out. Pulling the door shut after them, he turns to face the now glowering omega.

"You know damn well I have nothing scheduled for tomorrow. Or the next three days."

Technically, he didn't. But they still had to move locations and arrange setups and rehearsals. He doesn't bother arguing it.

"You damaged two mains," he tells him.

"Okay," Wuxian replies, annoyed, "Just buy another one?" His eyes have the glazed-over look he sports after performing, one influenced by scents of alphas and omegas alike. With the pheromones of the alphas that just left, he seems groggier than usual, but his irritation keeps him sharp.

"Mhm," he responds.

"You didn't have to make them leave!"

"Please conduct your personal errands during your own time."

Wuxian gestures to the dressing room, "I'm doing nothing."

"Then do something."

The younger stands, moving toward him. "You are unbelievable, Lan Zhan!"

"The scents were affecting the crew."

"Were they affecting you? Most of the crew are betas—"

"Omegas," he corrects, "like you."

Wuxian scoffs. "So what? It's my dressing room. It's my tour."

Ah, Wei Wuxian was undeniably difficult, Wangji thinks to himself. He doesn't answer, instead surveying the mess around said dressing room.

"You know Lan Zhan," the younger male says accusingly, pointing a finger into his chest, "maybe if you could detect scents, you'd understand what it's like to cater to someone else."

He nearly scoffs in return.

"Do you smell anything other than your own pheromones, Wei Ying?"

The omega folds his arms. "What do you mean?"

"You release them without regard for who it affects."

"Why does it matter? Can my scent even affect you? Maybe if you were an alpha, Lan Zhan, you would understand." His voice is a provoking whisper, laced with a challenge that Wangji's instincts want to rise to meet.

"Betas can still detect, right? Just how much does it impact you?" the younger says, with narrowed eyes. Wuxian's scent is flooding his senses, dense and abundant, invading his brain and making his thinking slow and hazy.

"Stop," he tells him.

"Why," the younger sneers, "Does it affect you?" The challenge is palpable, both in tension and smell and Wangji has a hard time focusing on where to direct his attention.

"Stop," he says again. More hormones assault him, and he shakes his head lightly in an attempt to shake it off.

"No," the omega says bitterly.

"Stop," he snaps. The tight grasp he uses to contain his own pheromones slips, his own scent presenting to overcome the omega's display. The change makes Wuxian turn toward him sharply, expression mildly terrified but curious. There's a question on his lips, but all Wangji can hear is the blood rushing in his ears as the omega continues still.

Stepping forward, he pins the younger against the wall, one hand clutching both his wrists and the other curled around his neck, a demand for submission.

The omega's eyes widen, awestruck. "You are an Alpha."

He growls, chest heaving from effort. Wuxian's scent doesn't dissipate but instead begins to change to something else, something frightening.

With his hands around the omega's throat, the sharp defensive tension drops to the lick of a low burn in his stomach. Where his finger is pressed to Wuxian's scent gland all he can detect is the encompassing scent of arousal, already inciting a reaction out of him.

His brows furrow at the sudden change, but the omega is extending the side of his neck so that it's visible to the Alpha looking down at him, clearly a display of compliance. Wangji's alpha instinct begs him to bite, claim, press seething marks into the pale skin until it bleeds with his scent.

He's dipping down to do just that, catching himself at the last moment. Wuxian has his eyes cast low, looking on with resigned interest but leaning into the Alpha. He's afraid his hormones have affected him, but he's also aroused, feeding off the energy the omega fuels.

"Tell me to stop," he says, as Wuxian studies his eyes, pupils dilated but expression holding a suspicious clarity.

"Don't."

The younger whispers it against his lips, a final glance before he tilts up, and their lips meet. The touch has fire zipping through him, body tingling with contained energy surging to the surface and crashing around them. Wuxian's scent feels like it takes on a form of its own, with the intensity and rage it thrums with.

They break apart, Wuxian moaning raggedly and panting into his ear. "Lan Zhan," he says, desperate, and he follows the omega's lead, leaning back into him and kissing him filthily, the younger's hands still pinned above him.

The hand on the omega's neck slips down, tracing the muscles on his chest and stomach through his open shirt.

"Touch me, please," Wuxian asks, and he wants to refuse. He makes the mistake of looking into the younger's eyes and feels compelled to obey his every command. Pressing his nose under his jaw, he breathes in the heady smell, hands roaming to palm at the other's length.

The younger shudders from the touch, hips canting slightly to seek friction.

"Ah— Lan Zhan!"

Hearing his name fall from those sinful lips in a wanton moan gets his blood boiling.

"Please— please Lan Zhan..."

"Wei Ying," he breathes back, reverently. How many times has he watched the omega in his grasp flirt so shamelessly? He hesitates to make another sound lest it breaks the spell. On the other hand, Wei Ying spouts his name like a litany, trembling against him and writhing into his touch as much as he can.

He lets go of his arms to unfasten the other's pants. He pops open the button, sliding the zipper down and slipping his hand inside. He comes into contact with heated flesh, growling when he thinks of bare skin under the thin fabric.

The younger uses his now free arms to rid himself of the pants altogether, and all Wangji can do is stare as he does. His throat works with effort, body frozen with the last tendrils of control.

The younger throws his arms around his shoulders, pulling him close.

"No please, Don't stop," he begs, but it's less of a whine and more of a command. He's tilting his head back, pulling Wangji by his shirt collar into his lips, moaning as he squeezes his biceps imploringly. The omega guides his hand back to his groin, rutting against his palm and panting Wangji's name wetly onto his lips.

He kisses him back forcefully, hand hiking one of Wuxian's legs up to hook around his waist. He leans his weight into him, pinning him against the wall, and running his hot palm on the cool flesh of the omega's ass, surprised to find that the other is already dripping wet when moisture coats his hands. The omega's hands cup his cheeks on either side so that he can't turn away from the bruising kisses.

He traces his index finger around the rim and slips one finger inside him, Wuxian already rocking back onto him.

"More."

He relents, slipping in another finger, then another at the younger's insistence. He makes a sound deep in his throat, a thrill he's never heard from him before and he preens when he realises Wei Wuxian is purring. For him.

"How did I not know? How do you hide your scent, Lan Zhan?"

"Self-control."

The omega chuckles, "The control you're displaying right now, with your hand in my ass?"

"Dirty," he tsks, twisting his fingers and making Wei Ying gasp, the omega's fingers digging half-moons into his shoulders.

"Yeah but why," the omega insists gasping brokenly as Wangji tugs him and fucks his fingers into him simultaneously.

"Too much," he mumbles, licking under Wuxian's jaw, "You couldn't handle it."

"Oh yeah? Try me," the younger smirks. Wangji hums against his neck, letting his pheromones slip back out. He relishes in the bliss that overcomes the omega, eyes unfocused and body shuddering against him.

Wuxian tries mouthing words, but he's too overcome with the sensations to speak, only managing to vocalise ragged breaths and moans.

"Told you," the alpha chides, lightly biting Wuxian's neck.

He continues his ministrations, rubbing the walls inside the omega until he's shaking and spilling against Wangji's dress shirt and pants, head thrown back with his neck exposed and Wangji wants.

"Lan Zhan," he manages tiredly, dropping his leg and pulling the older flush against him, "Kiss me."

He does.

After, he sends the omega back to the hotel with a staff member, left to finish arrangements at the concert hall. The staff work quickly and quietly, energy levels diminished from working since the night before. He does what he can to make sure things go smoothly, the arrangements for the next concert date in three days and the movement of all their props have been scheduled appropriately.

Thanking everyone for their work, they finally head back to the hotel for some well-deserved rest at about 8 am. Wei Wuxian calls him around lunch to complain that there is ranch dressing on his salad and that he should fix it. Tiredly, he complies. He did sign up for this job after all. He just didn't expect the omega to be that cavalier about what happened that morning. But, he reasons, nothing about Wei Wuxian was what one would refer to as 'typical' or 'normal'. He was just...Wei Ying. So with a sigh, he calls the hotel to complain on his boss' behalf about the wrong salad dressing, then falling back to sleep immediately afterwards.

Chapter Text

Wangji is in the process of waking Wuxian for his next schedule. The omega is spread out on his hotel bed in nothing but a t-shirt, pillows scattered and blanket somehow on the floor. He doesn't know why he expects the younger to at least be in underwear; he isn't usually. Only a t-shirt hangs down just past the important bits, brushing against his thighs. It's obscene, but at least he doesn't do it on site, so Wangji counts it as a win.

"Wey Ying," he says, avoiding the view of the omega's bare backside as he shakes him by the shoulder, "It's time to wake up."

The omega groans loudly and rolls over, trying to shake him off. When he persists, Wuxian cracks an eye open to whine at him.

"Why?" he says tiredly, sniffling into the pillow he's curled around.

"Your Grazia interview begins soon. You must get ready."

"I hate interviews," the younger intones.

"I know," Wangji murmurs. Wei Wuxian always seemed to end up throwing temper tantrums at interviews, especially if he deemed the questions stupid or invasive. Wangji had taken to supervising after one particular incident, when Wuxian had kicked over some lights at Vogue and stormed off.

Grumpily, the younger sits up with effort, yawning into his elbow. Lan Wangji watches in amusement as the other man struggles to alertness, hair stuck up in every direction. It is cute, especially considering the imposing rocker persona he had on stage. If his fans could see this, they'd be more enamoured than they already are. Discomfort tickles his spine at the thought of anyone else seeing this, of waking Wuxian up in the morning, seeing him in his constant indecent state of dress, to enter his personal suite and have access to this aspect of his life.

Wangji doesn't realise he's growled until Wuxian is blinking at him curiously, head tilted as he asks, "Lan Zhan?" His eyes wander over the omega's frame, taking in the way the t-shirt brushes his pale thighs from the way he's slouched, but still not hiding anything.

"Get dressed," he says instead of explaining, picking up the blanket to throw at the half naked omega. Wuxian yelps and then grumbles something he doesn't hear, but he does this often enough that he can guess what is said.

"If you return to sleep, I will drag you from the bed by your ankles," he replies, as a text from the interviewer comes in. The artist huffs his exasperation, but there are sounds of movement, so Wangji leaves him to it.

He knocks on the door to let Wuxian know he's entering, though he knows it simply doesn't matter if he just walks in.

"The interviewer said it's up to you to decide the location."

Wei Wuxian sighs while struggling to pull a brush through his hair, "Where is best? The lobby is just downstairs but I don't really want them at the concert location either."

The omega's preference of keeping things under wraps goes unspoken, since Wangji knows how much he values his privacy. He pockets his phone, moving the take the hairbrush from him. The omega slouches forward and hums as Wangji works to detangle the messy long hair.

"I would prefer it if you destroyed something in your own dressing room than at the hotel."

Wuxian snorts a laugh. "Yeah, I suppose it's better to be on site so I can supervise everything, too."

"Do not over do it," Wangji says, "or I will be out of a job." He finishes the tangles and runs the brush root to tip, sweeping the other's hair over his shoulder, so he can do whatever insane style concept he feels for today.

"As if," the omega says quietly, fingers brushing Wangji's own as he takes the brush from him. The omega turns slightly on the bed to meet his eyes, "I can't do anything without you, Lan Zhan."

The sudden sincerity shocks him silent, not that he could speak at the small smile the omega beams at him. His scent bleeds with gratitude, edging with something almost flowery.

"Thank you," Wei Wuxian offers, as Wangji's heart stutters back.

"Mn. I'll call for the car."

Seora, Wuxian's makeup artist, is already on site to brush his lashes darker, to accentuate the roundness of his cheeks and the pink of his lips. Even offstage Wei Wuxian is stunning, but when the makeup is soft and he looks more delicate than he does on stage, Wangji always does a double-take. Wuxian's performance screams power, drama and intensity. It's the press of his lips and the flutter of lashes that strikes Wangji every time, that someone so imposing on stage can also somehow be so demure when he wants to be. He stops his looking and dials his phone, instructing the interviewer to meet a staff member at the entrance of the concert location.

When he turns back to his employer the omega is being scolded by Mian Mian, who is chiding him playfully about the one time he made an interviewer cry.

"You already have a reputation," the beta says, tucking the clipboard under her arm.

"It's not my fault they act that way. There should be a limit, these interviews border on harassment!"

"Behave," Wangji tells him, fully aware of the fallout from Wei Wuxian's temperaments. The younger turns to him with a pout.

"Lan Zhan, I'm not that bad, right?"

"You are unbearable."

"Come on Lan Zhan, you've been working for me for nearly eleven years, now!"

"Unbearable," he repeats, and Mian Mian snickers into her hand.

"You guys are terrible," the omega accuses. Mian Mian meets Wangji's eyes with poorly concealed disbelief. The omega folds his arms.

"Mian Mian is picking on me, Lan Zhan!"

"Mn."

"You too? Ugh, I hate this, I want to go to the beach!"

He's tuned out of the conversation, but still responds, "Shortest flight is 3 hours," with half a mind. Wuxian always wants to go to the beach. It's a habit by now to check for flights from performance locations.

The omega brightens, sitting up in his chair, "When can we go?"

Mian Mian interjects, "Wait, you want to go swimming while you're on tour? What about your voice?"

"Nothing will be wrong with my voice, I have the best voice in China," Wuxian grins.

"No," Mian Mian says, hand on her hip and glaring at Wangji.

Wuxian stomps his feet petulantly, "Mian Mian! The one time Lan Zhan allows me to have fun you won't?"

Wangji looks up from his phone, distracted. "I wasn't," he clarifies.

Wuxian whines, resuming his stomping and pouting.

"Do not act like a child, Wei Ying. You are almost thirty."

"Almost thirty?" the omega squawks, as if the thought appalled him. "I'm 27! Stop projecting, Lan Zhan."

Mian Mian cackles.

The alpha just looks up and takes a deep breath, "Grazia is here, I will go meet them."

The interviewer is a short alpha woman. She introduces herself as Ms. Li. Her status should have been Wangji's first indicator that the interview would probably not go as smooth as he would have liked.

They're seated in the backstage area of the stadium, and the scent she emits causes a wide berth between them and the rest of the workers. Wei Wuxian shifts uncomfortably as she settles and greets them. The cameraman is a beta who seems to be afraid of her, and he only nods to them before setting up the camera.

Originally, Mian Mian was going to sit in on the interview. Wangji had to deal with a guitarist who was threatening to leave— again. But from the way Mian Mian pinches his sleeve, her eyes unable to leave the way the interviewer pins Wei Wuxian with her gaze, Wangji hesitates. He turns to look at the omega, who is sitting neatly, but he's avoiding eye contact.

"You should stay," Mian Mian whispers to him. He doesn't need to be prompted, seating himself beside his assistant out of view of the camera, not close to Wei Wuxian but close enough that he could observe.

As soon as camera gives the go-ahead, the interviewer is smiling into the screen, holding the lavalier.

"Today Grazia is pleased to announce we have finally scored an interview with the evasive top rock star, Wei Wuxian. Claps all round!" She cheers.

Wuxian smiles prettily and dutifully dips his head at the camera.

"Let's get right into it, shall we?" she suggests and Wuxian says, "Of course."

"According to our intel, you last album tour Back From Yiling made close the $3 million dollars in international figures. Are you expecting the same reception for this album?"

"That's a good question. Back From Yiling was and emotionally heavy album, the kind I think most of the audiences of the rock genre appreciate. I would say the tone for this album is a little less heavy, but way more energetic. So far, the reception has been great, but I have very loyal fans, so I can't say if it's because of the album itself or because of their support. I hope that The Patriarch can do as well, even better, than Back From Yiling did. I will always hope for its success, because it means my fans are happy with my music."

"And we at Grazia wish you all the best for the rest of your tour! How do you think this album is different than the last?"

"Well, Back from Yiling dealt with a lot of negative emotions, but it was mostly introspective and exploration. The Patriarch is a little less so, more about anger, revenge, and love turning sour. It feels like a natural follow up to Yiling, in that it follows the path of the same feelings, but turning it outward rather than in," Wuxian pauses to laugh, "There's a lot more screaming, as well."

Ms. Li leans forward, "Does it reflect on you, personally?"

Wuxian's smile does not falter, "As an artist I do draw from my own experience to create something others can relate to. Not everything is my own, but I feel creatives definitely feel things a lot more intensely than others. I want that when people listen to me they not only hear a song, but feel an experience. I want to tell a story that touches people, I want to give them something they can relate to."

"As a personal fan, I must say I enjoyed your last album a lot. I'm looking forward to when you drop the studio album for this tour."

"Thank you so much! It was a risky decision to do things in such an order, but I don't like doing things in a typical fashion. If my fans come to my concert and leave with something completely unexpected, I would be glad. If you don't mind me asking, what was your favourite song off my last album?"

"Oh, it was definitely Brother! The song was so emotionally raw and spoke of such sacrifice, it really moved me."

"Wow, thank you. I'm so glad."

"At your Forbes interview a few years ago you said your process of writing a song comes to you as naturally as breathing, is that still the same or has it changed?"

"Oh it hasn't changed at all. One minute I'm doing something mundane, the next I'm mapping chords. After a few other accompaniments, the lyrics just fall into place. Then it's just refined. I don't know how I do it sometimes. It's like I black out when it hits me, then I come back to make something better of it."

"Do you usually start schedules this early while on tour?"

"Well, I sleep in when I can, but there is always so much to be done that my sleep gets disturbed no matter what."

"Oh, we apologise for cut into your precious sleeping time."

"Don't worry, I've made an exception for you," Wuxian laughs.

Ms. Li smiles back, "You're often seen wearing black offstage, is it your favourite colour?"

"No it's not. I only wear black because it looks good on me. My favourite colour is actually gold."

"Wow, we wouldn't have guessed!"

"Yeah, my stage outfit for Dead or Alive was a gold inspired look."

Lan Zhan remembers the song, he had helped Wuxian compose it.

"Was that the outfit that became the spaceman meme on SNS?"

"That's the one."

The female alpha indicates for him to pause before resuming the questions. Wangji presumes it is so that they can add the image in while editing.

"There is a strong androgynous influence in your style and performances, how do you think that has affected you as a style icon and a man?"

"Honestly, I don't think of it in a political way. Everything I do is because my art demands it. I work with my designer to make outfits that match the music and performance. As for being a man and dressing androgynously, clothes are gender-neutral, what does it matter if I wear a dress? It's just another form of self-expression."

"Most parents would say you're a bad influence on children, what do you think of that?"

"I hope that I am not misunderstood. I have many young fans and I know there are often reports that circulate around the media. Despite that, I hope I encourage others to be themselves since my music is the way I express myself— a reprieve for me."

"You were recently spotted shopping with an unknown female beta," the alpha waggles her eyebrows, "are you currently dating? Should your fans know that Wei Wuxian is off the market?"

The omega laughs, "Actually, that woman is a part of my management team, and she's sitting right over there." He motions and the camera pans over, Mian Mian giving a small nod. "That's Mian Mian, and I can't remember where or when exactly that was, but we often spend a lot of time together, especially on tour."

"It seemed very much like a date-like situation in the tabloids."

"We are good friends," the omega deflects smoothly. Ms. Li doesn't miss a beat.

"And how often do you date?

"I'm less focused on dating and more focused on my fans," Wuxian smiles, making a finger heart and winking at the camera.

"But surely someone such as yourself has a world of options?"

Wuxian laughs, and to Wangji, it sounds strained. "I'm glad you think that, thank you for the compliment."

"Do you?" the interviewer insists.

"Do I what?"

"Have a lot of options," her eyes are trained on him, unwavering, and Wangji notices the omega's knuckles have gone white from clenching his fists.

"I suppose, because of my career," he smiles, hiding the tightness of his jaw. The alpha hums at his answer.

"What is your favourite love-scent, and who was it from?"

Wei Wuxian's expression is openly lost, and he shakes his head slightly. The alpha grins at how he falters, and the omega's scent rises in frustration.

"Next question please," Mian Mian speaks up, and the interviewer shoots her a sideways glance.

Rude, Wangji thinks.

"What kind of partner are you?"

"I don't have much relationship experience, but my intention will be to be a good omega and a supportive partner."

"And what do you expect from a partner?"

"Someone who understands my commitment to music. Also, someone who can navigate the challenges that working in such and industry presents."

"Do you think they will have a hard time accepting you because of your public image?"

"It's not impossible. Entertainers and idols have lives beyond their work, after all. My music is important to me, of course, but family is the most important."

"Then, what are your thoughts on settling down? Do you plan on retiring when you have a family?"

"Well, I don't even have time for a relationship now, so I guess I'll know when the opportunity comes."

"And when do you think that will be?"

"I really can't say."

"You look kind of pale. Is it possible.....are you expecting? Dating isn't necessary for something like that." The alpha radiates enthusiasm.

Wuxian winces, "Um...no."

"Was that hesitation?"

"I've already answered the question," Wuxian bites out. There's an awkward dip in the interview that no one fills. The omega is staring straight at the alpha at this point.

"Well, you are almost thirty and unmated. Most omegas don't wait that long. Are you planning on getting pregnant soon?"

"Is Grazia a gossip magazine?" he snarls, leaning forward, and the unholy burn of anger is in Wangji's nostrils, suddenly.

Wangji is already on his feet, stepping in the camera's line of sight.

"I'm afraid I will have to ask you to leave," he begins.

"But the interview isn't finished yet," the alpha says sweetly, her pheromones radiating a challenge.

"I am sorry to hear that. I will be sure to inform your superior of the situation," Wangji returns politely.

Wuxian's scent turns distressed quickly, and Mian Mian is beside him in a flash, looking nervous herself but tugging the omega up and to the dressing room.

"I don't think you understand, Mr. Lan. Grazia has been negotiating for this interview for quite a while." The smile doesn't leave her face as her hormones push, trying to overpower him. The beta behind the camera looks nervous at the strong scent.

Lan Wangji loves it when this happens - when others underestimate him because they think he is a beta. He's already tall and broad, been told he has sharp and intimidating features— a bitch face, according to Wuxian.

When Wangji first started as an assistant to Wuxian's prior manager, he was fresh out of college and still naive. Originally, he'd thought entering the music industry was a mistake, especially working for Wei Wuxian, who was demanding. Initially, he messed up many things because of how passive he was, how quiet. He realised that people used anything they could to get ahead— money, secondary gender, status, skill. He'd needed to know how to be smart and how to get things done. So he'd learned to use his sparse words like knives and use his stoic face to his advantage.

He gradually got better at saying the right thing at the right time and succeeded Wuxian's own manager because of his ability to listen and meet the artist's expectations. Never mind being young, Wangji was good at his job. He was someone Wuxian depended on. That came with a certain vigilance for the younger, and he hated the way some Alphas thought they could intimidate others in order to have their way.

When all the skills he'd learned failed to work, Wangji had his status to fall back on. But his scent— there is a reason he conceals it. It's strong.

When he lets the suppression on his scent drop, it's already filling the wide space. The beta actually whines when he smells it, nearly cowering, and the woman's jaw drops.

"Yes, and according to negotiations, there are a few conditions that have been forgone that were specifically requested," he explains calmly, as his scent easily overpowers hers and she blinks rapidly. No alpha staff members had been one of those conditions, he thinks bitterly, remembering how Wei Ying's fist was clenched the entire time.

"This has already gone further than I would usually allow. Please tell the editor I will be in contact."

"Contact?" the alpha says, as though she can't grasp the concept.

"Yes, compensation for breaching the terms which were agreed upon. Also for the emotional distress caused by the breach to my employer." She gapes, and even the cameraman looks stunned.

"Please gather your things, I will not ask again." He doesn't have to, as the cameraman is already dismounting. The interviewer mutters to herself but helps him, indignation present in her scent.

He waits patiently until they are done, escorting them out the building way past the necessary courtesy in order to inform security to not let them back in under any circumstance.

He rushes to the dressing room, where Mian Mian is speaking to Wuxian in hushed tones. He looks normal, but his scent is haywire, switching from anger to disbelief to inadequacy back to anger.

Wangji nods when Mian Mian looks up and she gives the omega a reassuring pat on the hand before getting up, trusting him to handle the artist.

He sits next to him on the couch and the omega exhales, tucking his legs under himself and burrowing into Wangji's side.

"I don't want them to post that," he mumbles.

"They will not," Wangji reassures him, having already emailed the magazine on the walk back.

"Thank you," the omega tells him, for the second time that day. Wei Wuxian tugs on the hem of his shirt, a nervous habit. In these moments he seems small, more fragile than the sharp lines of the cut-out mould he plays into for the public. The younger swallows, leaning heavily into him as his throat works.

"Wei Ying," he says quietly, "You do not have to worry. There is time to do everything you wish to do in your lifetime."

"I'm not worried about time," the omega says, sniffling quietly. Wangji sighs and wraps an arm around him, allowing the younger to lean on him. By the omega's scent he can tell that Wuxian is not lying, but what the omega doesn't say is that he worries about not being good enough. 

Wuxian calms down enough to yell at someone for handling a flute wrong, and a sigh of relief is breathed by the whole company that things are back to normal.

There are other more important things, as far as he is concerned.

The third guitarist position is cursed— or so is the rumour with the crew they tour with— and honestly, they're not wrong. Wei Wuxian writes all of his sets and expects them to be played perfectly. There are hardly any musicians that are both good enough and willing to sacrifice their artistic integrity in order to do it.

Which is precisely why when Mian Mian reports that their current third guitarist, their fourth since touring began, is once again being problematic about the set, Wangji spins to his employer with the best current solution.

Wangji has yet to deal with the guitarist because other man keeps avoiding him when he sees him approach. It's been getting ridiculous, but so far he has only been shooting complaints at Mian Mian, because he does not dare complain to Wangji himself.

And if he is afraid of Wangji, he has to be terrified of Wuxian, for where Wangji is cold and clinical, the omega is fire and brimstone. He proposes that the omega deals with him nicely so that things go smoothly.

"When you say talk, you really mean convince him, don't you?" Wuxian asks him carefully. Wangji nods. Wuxian is not above using his hormone influence to get his way. Wangji knows this well. Still, Wuxian narrows his eyes, "Who is the guitarist?"

"Lee Shin."

The omega groans, "Ugh, let him leave."

"You specified three guitarists for your Falling Rain arrangement."

"I can handle it." Wuxian waves him off. When Wangji doesn't respond he turns to him, "What?"

"Don't overwork yourself."

Wuxian rolls his eyes, "I think I can do something as simple as play the guitar and sing at the same time."

On wire suspension? Doubtful.

Lan Zhan glances at his phone, "I will get a substitute in time for your next show."

The artist glances him up and down with a tired look.

"Fine, " Wuxian says, flipping his long hair. He goes up to the guitarist, immediately all charm and pheromones, and Lee Shin is all compliance and smiles in return.

He stalks back to Wangji, smug. "I can't believe you use my status to get your way on my own shows."

"You let me," he says simply. He indicates with his hand the direction of the stage manager— that Wuxian has to confirm his setlist with before staging.

He's just entered backstage to finalize security when the omega stops him with the sliest expression he's ever seen from the younger.

"Yo, Lan Zhan," Wuxian says, head peeking from the dressing room, "Gimme that dick."

He blinks at him in exasperation.

"What, it's not like we haven't done something like this before," he says with a pout. "Besides, I'm bored and things are mostly done. You're gonna agonize about the lighting for fifty minutes even though it's perfect." Only because Wuxian also does.

The omega doesn't mention the interview, but Wangji can tell he's still upset, sharpness clinging to Wuxian's usually light, pleasant scent. The younger takes his hand and pulls him into the room, shutting and locking the door behind him. With a sweet smile, his pheromones envelop Wangji with increasing arousal. He bites his lip and flutters his eyelashes in a way he must know is irresistible, be it to man, woman, alpha, beta or omega. Yes, Wei Wuxian must know that no one could resist him.

"Lan Zhan," he purrs, tugging the subject by the hand and hoisting himself upon the dressing table. He cradles both sides of Wangji's face as he pulls him in for a searing kiss and Wangji can't help but moan into it, tongue licking in to taste the sweetness of the omega.

"Lan Zhan," he repeats, tone mischievous as he pulls back to loosen the other's hair tie. He throws it carelessly to the ground, hands gliding over his stomach and chest before they start unbuttoning his shirt.

"Wei Ying," he growls, in warning, and he can see the other's pupils dilate.

"We have time," Wuxian says, obviously mistaking his concerns for something along the lines of the approaching concert. Lan Wangji is not worried about that. He's worried that he's not going to be able to control his urge to knot Wei Wuxian so hard he limps for the rest of his tour dates.

His shirt is pulled off roughly as Wuxian makes quick work of his belt and pants, boxers pushed down hastily to fist him. The younger wails at the size, fingers curious as they grasp the hot, hard shaft.

"Lan Zhan," he breathes, while tugging at the other's erection, "I can't believe all these secrets you're keeping from me. First about your status and now about your cock? Imagine that I would have never known it was this big—"

Wangji shuts him up by pulling him back in for a messy kiss, bodies pressing together. Wuxian hooks his legs around his waist to press him closer still. The hand around his member is stroking lazily, and he pulls back to rid Wuxian of his shirt and his skinny jeans.

"Ridiculous," he mumbles to himself, when he has to practically peel the pants off him.

"They make my ass look great, though," Wuxian says as he tosses them away angrily.

"Mn," he mumbles, loosening the other's obsidian, waist-length hair, "It always does."

Wuxian purrs at the compliment, reaching between them both to grasp their shafts together. The friction makes the omega throw his head back at the same time Wangji groans, and the scent that Wuxian emits makes him hunger. He wishes he could just sink his teeth into him, into this sinful, bratty omega and mark him up so much that even in his revealing stage outfits others would know to stay away. The thought has him growling, licking up the pale neck and kissing where he wishes he could use teeth.

Wei Wuxian lets out a whine and Wangji feels the slick that has begun to leak out of him. He gathers it on his hand and takes over, skillfully coating both of their members and picking up the pace. With his now free hands, Wuxian pulls him by the shoulders to kiss him again, breath hot and gasping into his mouth.

"Oh my God, Lan Zhan. Knot me, knot me!" he begs, bucking into his hands recklessly. Everything about Wei Wuxian was irresistible. He couldn't say no. Letting go, he turns the younger man around to face the mirror, lining himself up with the leaking entrance and sliding in with one fluid motion.

Wei Wuxian goes absolutely insane, hips moving frantically as he tries to fuck himself on his cock, sobs and pleas tumbling from his lips incoherently.

He bottoms out, Wuxian begging him to move, anything before he picks up the pace, thrusting shallowly into him. He could feel the slick sliding down his length, and the feeling makes him shudder in arousal.

"So wet," he murmurs, to himself.

"Wet for you," the other affirms, grinding his hips back onto him. Looking up, he sees the reflection of Wangji pumping inside him and moans long and low. It's a delicious sound. "Faster, please," he begs, watching as the pace picks up and Wangji is pounding into him, each thrust making him jolt with pleasure.

Grinning, he catches Wangji's eyes in the mirror, leans forward, and licks the reflection obscenely. He gives it a kiss. The image is too much. Wuxian licking himself? His knot begins to inflate at the sight, but he wants to prolong this as much as possible.

"No," he growls yanking him back by his hair. There's drool running down one corner of his mouth and if he wasn't already fucking into the younger, that sight alone would have driven him to it.

"It's only a mirror, Lan Zhan," he says cheekily, shuddering as Wangji's cock hits him at the perfect angle. Pulling his hair harder, Wangji pistons into him, skin slapping obscenely as he watches his cock disappear in and out of Wuxian's tight, hot body.

"God, Lan Zhan I'm—" he breaks off into a high pitched whine and Wangji ploughs into him, hands holding the younger's hips still as he snaps his own. Wuxian comes violently, body shuddering with the force of his orgasm, semen splashing onto the mirror and all over his stomach. He gasps as he grinds back into the alpha, walls clamping down on him so tight that soon Wangji is spilling his own release into him.

He pants silently, watching as Wuxian's reflection does the same. The omega smirks at him, "You're surprisingly good at this, Lan Zhan."

It breaks the haze he's under, heart racing in his throat.

"Mhm," he says, by way of acknowledgement, as he slips his softening cock out of the omega. He helps him down from his awkward position on the dressing table, finding a towel for him to sit on and resting him carefully on the chair. He hands him a bottle of water and another towel and cleans himself up before he retrieves his clothes.

As he dresses, he watches as Wuxian observes him with contemplative eyes.

"Should I retrieve your clothes?"

Wuxian takes a sip of his water and shakes his head. "Costume has to come in anyway."

After some deliberation, Wangji hands him a robe.

"Thanks," Wei Wuxian says softly, slipping it on.

"Would you be alright performing tonight?"

Wuxian beams at that, "Of course Lan Zhan! I am a professional, after all."

Does being a professional mean grinding on your bass guitarist like your life depended on it? He holds his tongue and nods instead, "I will come to check on you before staging."

And he's leaving, mind clearing from the pervasive drug that is Wei Wuxian.

Wangji happens to be in earshot later when Wuxian talks to his makeup artist while getting ready for the concert.

"Seora, you're married, right?"

The stylist nods as she teases his hair, using a ridiculous amount of hairspray.

"What's the matter, little omega, thinking about marriage again?"

The artist's eyes flit around, checking for people in the background, "No- well, yes? Kind of."

The MUA chuckles at him and nods for him to continue.

"Ah...how does a love scent smell? The interviewer asked me about it and I...."

"Didn't have an answer?" the woman supplies, quirking a brow.

The omega looks sheepish as he bites his lip and nods.

"I know you don't date, but have you ever had a crush?"

The omega hesitates, gaze drifting off.

The older woman tuts. "Well, the gist of it is that every love scent is different."

That catches Wuxian's attention. "As in, everyone's scent is different? Like your identity-scent?"

"Not exactly," Seora continues, "It's different for everyone for sure, but it also depends on your mate, in what you are willing to give them."

"What does that mean?" he asks, sounding frustrated.

"For me, my husband smells like the day I met him. It was in Japan in the spring, so it's filled with sakura and melting ice. For my husband, I smell like the apple pies I used to bring him at work before I confessed. It's like that- each person will smell something different depending on who their mate is. If I were to fall in love with someone else, my love-scent for them would not be the same, just as their scent for me."

"Oh." Then, "does everyone have them?"

"As long as they can love, they will have it. And it's always different from your emotion scents, which pretty much smell the same for everyone."

Wuxian's chest rises and drops like he suddenly started running, "Even betas?"

"Everyone," Seora reassures.

"So if there is nothing there....?" The smell of agitation suddenly spikes.

The older omega pauses to glance at the younger, frown clear on her face.

"Can others smell your love scent?" he urges.

"No, only the one who holds your affections," the omega answers in concern.

The omega drops back heavily into his chair, breath shuddering as he exhales. The smell tapers off into something brooding, a smell that Wuxian had when he was often working on a song or deep in thought.

"What did the interviewer even ask you?

"A lot of things I didn't want to answer. She asked me what was my favourite love-scent. And I've...never had one."

Seora watches the omega with interest. "I heard Wangji had to kick her out."

"Yeah," the omega breathes, pensive, "he did."

Chapter Text

"What," he says, when he sees Wei Wuxian saunter up to him and Mian Mian, "is that?"

Mian Mian playfully smacks him with a clipboard.

"Stop it Wangji, it suits him. You look nice, Wuxian."

"Thank you," Wuxian says, with a curtsy, "it's my opening outfit for tonight."

If Lan Wangji was a monk, he'd be coughing up blood from qi deviation. He was only a man. And he had the most tempting omega flouncing around in stockings.

His blood is boiling and he can't take his eyes off him, alpha instincts intent ripping into the delicious omega in front of him. He couldn't help that his eyes trailed over Wuxian's exposed shoulder, where the oversized sweater hung, barely reaching his upper thighs. The stockings cut off mid-thigh, leaving a strip of milky skin that Wangji's jaw was just aching to bite. To top it off, the omega was in heeled boots, which was high enough that Wuxian was slightly taller than him.

"No," he finds himself saying.

"What do you mean no, Lan Zhan?" the younger says, crossing his arms. Mian Mian, too, raises an eyebrow at him.

"It's..." he trails off, trying to find a word to describe his exact problem with the get-up.

"Ridiculous?" Wuxian prompts, mockingly. He nods his affirmation. The omega scoffs and the sweater rides up, revealing the edge of some very short shorts. Wangji has to physically turn away, spinning around and checking his phone as an excuse.

"Did you finalize your setlist?" he asks the artist, still unable to let his eyes wander in his direction.

"Nope, but I'll go do it now!" the omega perks up, disappearing from the corner of his eyes and hopefully in the direction of the stage manager. He lets out a breath he didn't realise he had been holding and pockets his phone. When he looks up, Mian Mian is looking at him, eyes serious but lips twitching.

It makes him feel nervous. "What?" he asks her, tugging the sleeve of his shirt.

"Nothing," she says, eyes still on him and gaze unwavering.

"Then, I will go check on Wuxian," he says, smoothing the front of his shirt.

"Oh?" she says, not sounding surprised at all.

"Yes, the...set list," he clears his throat, "Please let me know when the replacement guitarist is on site."

Mian Mian doesn't look away, making an affirmative sound.

"Okay. I will...go," he offers, feeling itchy under her eyes.

"You do that," she says.

Feeling uncomfortable, he heads upstairs to meet the stage manager, feeling his assistant's eyes follow him until he is out of sight.

Wuxian has already confirmed his performances, and when Wangji peeks the setlist, he realises why Wuxian hurried to get it done. He snaps a picture and messages the omega.

"What is this?"

"I'm covering Rap God as part of my set :)"

"Do not cover Rap God as part of your set."

"The crowd will love it LZ, trust me, I know my audience."

The Alpha sighs as he feels his blood pressure rise.

"Don't like that outfit," he tells Wuxian, slipping into his dressing room after confirming set up was going fluidly and ordering food for the entire staff.

The omega doesn't stir from in front of the mirror where he's smudging eyeliner on his lash line. He meets his eyes through the reflection, expressionless.

"Whatever your concerns, Lan Zhan, please take them up with costuming."

"Mhm," he says, moving closer to him, eyes glued to the bare skin above the fishnet stockings. It looks pale contrasted against the rich tone of black Wuxian is wearing, and when he's behind him the omega glances up, darkened lashes mesmerising.

He looks up, finding the younger's eyes still trained on him, watching patiently while Wangji's hands reach up to palm his backside. Boldly, he slips his right hand under that ridiculous sweater, cupping the younger's ass and scoffing when he finds it bare.

"What's the matter, Lan Zhan," the omega says, eyebrow cocked as he watches him from the mirror, "Don't you like your present?"

He hums his appreciation, grabbing the soft muscle and kneading into it. He feels a sense of satisfaction when he hears the omega's breath hitch.

"Don't you dare go on stage like this," he growls, and the omega bites his lip, lashes fluttering.

"How could I, Lan Zhan? Can you imagine, if all of my fans saw me like—" he gasps when the alpha grabs him harshly, " like this?"

Wangji growls, the sound ripping from his chest at the thought of anyone witnessing the sight of his omega like this, scantily dressed and pinned under them.

Wickedly, he delivers a sharp slap to the Omega's ass. Wuxian yelps, "Lan Zhan, that hurt!"

"Good," Wangji breathes, shuffling closer to rut his swelling erection against the younger's cleft, "Maybe then, you will behave."

"What do you mean?" Wuxian asks, worrying his bottom lip, "I'm on my best behaviour."

The smirk the omega gives him as he arches back into him, allowing him better access has him humming in agreement.

"If you mean to behave well, do not wear this— thing on stage."

"From your reaction, I thought you liked it, Lan Zhan," the younger teases. Wangji slides his hands to the younger's hips, gripping them tightly as he grinds against him. He neglects to answer in favour of hearing the smalls gasps and moans the omega is making, drowning out all his logical thought and ability.

"I think I get it, Lan Zhan," the omega thrills, "It's not the outfit you hate. You just want me naked, don't you?" Wuxian moves to pull the sweater off himself.

"No," Wangji says, turning him around and stopping his hands. I want to fuck you "...Like this." He can't say the words out loud, but he searches the younger's eyes, pinched in confusion. He can't help it, he dips down to those deep pink bitten lips for a taste of the sweetness he can't seem to get enough of, Wuxian enthusiastically opening his mouth to allow their tongues to tangle. The younger pants against his mouth as they kiss until they are breathless. Wuxian shakes off the hand he has wrapped around the younger's wrist to thread their fingers together.

The omega pulls back, just shy of his lips. "Then what do you want?" he breathes, looking from Wangji's lips to meet his eyes. The omega's pupils are blown with lust, and he smells the permeating smell of arousal, paired with the soft floral and woodsy spice he has come to associate with him.

He presses a soft peck to the moist lips, "Want you...can I...?" The omega's scent turns pleased, aroma washing over Wangji with an approval he never knew he wanted, now desperate to satisfy Wuxian's every whim.

"Of course," the omega purrs, and Wangji spares no time, hoisting him up by those delicious thighs and depositing him on the sofa. The sweater rides up, exposing the omega, member on full display. His breath catches at the sight of the omega laid out, skin flushed and eyes tracing his body as he waits for Wangji to ruin him. Shamelessly, Wuxian holds his gaze as he spreads his legs wider, revealing the glistening little hole Wangji wants nothing more than to sink himself into. Impatiently, the omega props himself up on his elbow, other hand reaching behind him to enter himself, moans spilling as he works his fingers in and out. He watches the alpha with a heavy-lidded gaze.

"What are you— ah— waiting for? Ah! Lan Zhan, please" The omega is shaking, displaying himself for Wangji, and he wants to watch, to let his eyes drink in the sight of the omega, desperate and shaking until he is filled and overflowing. His cock disagrees, twitching in his slacks and demanding to be sheathed in the beautiful omega under him who begging to have him, scent enticing and seductive.

"Lan Zhan!" the omega whines, irritation flaring in his scent as he tries to press onto his fingers. The scent dips, and Wuxian's fingers exit with a slick sound. Throwing his head back and exposing his neck he pants, "Lan Zhan, Alpha ," and Wangji is unable to watch without participating any longer. Hurriedly, he unzips his pants and shimmies it down just enough to let his member free, shaft already hard and hot, curving to his stomach. He's crawling over the desperate omega, ready to give him what he wants when the younger grabs his face, forcing his mouth open and sliding his two slick-covered fingers in for him to taste. Wangji sucks, omega as delicious as he smells, heady and overwhelming. Wangji takes his cock in his hand, rubbing it against Wuxian's entrance as the omega sobs. Slowly, torturously, he slides in, Wuxian already crying out his name before he is even fully seated inside him.

"Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan," he breathes, arms wrapped around his neck to press his body against him as if afraid he would break away. As if he would, enraptured by the younger man, willing to give in. He begins to pump in and out of him, hand sneaking under the sweater to pinch at the omega's nipple. The younger groans, clenching tightly around him, and Wangji does it again, again and again until the younger is panting raggedly. He presses kisses to the Alpha's throat, teeth scraping lightly at the thin skin and Wangji presses his nose to the omega's scent gland.

Neglecting the nipple, he runs his hand along a stocking-clad leg, squeezing at the supple flesh and stretching the elastic band to snap against the younger's thigh. It only makes Wuxian moan out a broken, "Lan Zhan," as the Alpha pounds into him, intent on fucking into him until all the omega can do is grip his shoulders and sob lasciviously.

The omega clenches around him tightly, and Wangji comes suddenly, orgasm hitting him with such a ferocity he bites the younger's shoulder mindlessly to hide his moan. Wuxian cries out when he feels the warm come spilling into him, and Wangji grabs his member to bring him to completion, the omega thrashing under him as he comes. He drops heavily onto the sofa afterwards, panting for breath as he cards his fingers through Wangji's hair.

Wangji kisses him thoroughly a final time, slipping out of the younger to clean himself up and fetch Wuxian a towel. The younger takes it, not yet getting up as he watches Wangji straighten out his tousled appearance. He moves to clean the younger and the omega just shakes his head, eyes flickering tiredly.

"Can you get me some tea?" he asks, sweetly. Wangji nods, leaving to fetch it. The younger always asks for it, but he never drinks it. Wangji doesn't know why he sometimes bothers. Still, it's a direct request, and he places it quietly in the dressing room before Mian Mian texts him in caps with 'EMERGENCY.'

A staff member points him to Mian Mian on stage, looking like she about to collapse but also like she has eaten something nasty.

He only looks to her before she gestures to someone, the replacement guitarist, he figures, as the boy is fiddling around with the guitar and plucking some strings.

"What?" he asks her, and she just closes her eyes and shakes her head hand reaching up to massage her temples. He turns to the new beta and introduces himself, thanking him for coming.

"You were recommended by Yu Meishang, right? Let's see what you've got."

"Yeah, I've played for birthday parties and stuff, a couple of backyard gigs."

That alarms him, and he casts a look back to Mian Mian before turning around to witness the most discordant arrangement of notes he has ever heard as the man messes around on the guitar.

"So...when are you going to play?" Wangji asks him, direct.

The beta blinks back, "I just did?"

There's a moment of pin-drop silence as they stare at each other before Wangji remembers himself.

"I'm sorry, but you don't seem to be what we are looking for. I'll have someone escort you to the gate," he turns to motion to a member of the security team.

"But...isn't the concert tonight?" the young beta asks, looking disappointed, like he could even dream to stand on a stage with the powerhouse that is Wei Wuxian.

"That's alright," Wangji supplies smoothly, "Thank you for your time."

He shakes his hand again and Mian Mian gives him a wave as they watch him exit, the female beta with a very thin smile plastered on her face.

"So, what are we going to do now?"

"Other than blacklist Yu Meishang and everyone he recommends in the future?"

Mian Mian tuts before replying, "About tonight? Ask Wuxian to replace Falling Rain with another set? It doesn't need to be as complex of a performance either."

"That won't be necessary," he tells her calmly, and he detects a whiff of doubt off her.

"Why?" she asks.

"I will sub for the third guitarist."

The beta nearly drops her clipboard, "You?!"

"I am also a musician," he explains, if not a little bruised by her reaction. She must not know, since she only began working with them about four years ago, way past the time when he was a musician for the omega.

"I- wow, are you sure? Can you do it the way Wuxian wants?"

He gestures to where the beta was last seen, "I am much better than that."

Mian Mian snorts, "That's not saying much at all, Wangji."

"I know what Wei Ying requires, I can do it. The alternative is that Wei Ying himself takes third guitar."

"On wire suspension the entire time? How?"

"Exactly," he replies. The beta scans him and sighing, she acquiesces.

"Fine, but only because I know you know what you're doing. You're very certain that Wuxian gets what he wants."

He nods, wondering if she knew how much of the omega's songs listed him with composing credits. He decides it is fine, until they can properly find a replacement.

Seora finds him backstage and asks him to come to the dressing room. He thought she had a complaint of some sort, but she's pushing him into her chair, tying his hair back and rubbing something on his face.

He opens his mouth to ask what she's doing, but before the words can come out she's already shushing him.

"Don't move, keep your face still," she says, massaging his cheeks, a little unnecessarily, he thinks before she turns to add other products.

"Mian Mian told me you'd be on stage tonight, and Tsubame has already gotten your outfit. I've been wanting to do you hair and makeup for a long time, Wangji."

"Why," he manages, and Seora smiles gleefully.

"Your skin is so great! Pale, but smooth and pretty. And your eyes! They're so light they look golden! Now don't move, I don't want to poke you."

She leans forward with an eyeliner pencil, and he tries his best to hold still and not squirm from her scolding. Makeup takes too long, he notes mentally, trying not to squint as Seora works, content to just hold still until the older woman is finished so he won't be chastised.

Tsubame comes in, observing them silently.

"I brought the outfit," she tells the makeup artist. Wangji's eyes are closed but he feels the excitement radiating off them both.

The costume designer moves closer, breathing a "Good work, Seora."

The omega chuckles and moves aside so that Wangji can finally flutter his now heavy eyes open.

"Put this on," Tsubame demands. He takes the clothing sack and heads behind a curtain, clumsily trying to navigate his long limbs in the small space.

He nearly trips as he tries to put on the pants, foot going nearly entirely through a hole in it.

"These pants are ripped," he tells them.

"Put it on," he receives in firm response.

"Where did you even get these in time?" he says, a little petulant that he is being made to wear something like this. The fabric is tight and near suffocating. When he makes it to the shirt, he holds it up to see that the sleeves have been cut off.

"These we some items I got for Wuxian for the tour, but they were incorrectly sized. The companies let me keep it for the inconvenience. And I have them in storage, just in case."

"In case..." he breathes, finally emerging. Tsubame covers her mouth with one hand, and Seora looks like she is about to cry.

"I do not see why this is necessary," he tells them, pulling uncomfortably at the way the shirt clung tightly to his chest.

"Were you going on stage in your dress shirt and slacks?"

"I—"

"Don't think so," the omega winks.

"Besides," Tsubame says, "Wuxian would not have let you, for a set like Falling Rain ."

"Yes," Seora adds seriously, nodding along, "Wuxian would definitely prefer this."

He dusts lightly at his shoulders where the frayed threads tickle his arms. He nods to the two women, swaying when the silver chains on the skinny jeans swing with his movements. The pants have narrow rips from thigh to shin, so much that it had no point in wearing anything that ripped. Chains and patches were scattered across it in a way that he assumed was stylish, from the look on Tsubame's face.

"I've got to do his hair," Seora says, with passion.

"I'll go get the boots," Tsubame nods, exiting the room hastily.

"Boots...?" he echos, hardly ready for any of this.

"Sit!" Seora barks, guiding him back to the chair.

He finally has the chance to take a look at himself, eyes smudged dark like Wei Ying often wears but angled sharply, making the lines of his face look rugged and strong. The light of his eyes seem to shine through it, a look he must admit is impressive on him, if not a little intimidating in appearance. At least the outfit was black and unbranded, unlike many of Wuxian's graphic tees.

Seora seems to notice him looking, "What do you think?"

"It is unnecessary."

"Wei Ying will like it," she says, confidently.

When he heads out backstage, Mian Mian looks at him like she's seen a ghost.

"Put the volume on 7," he tells Haifeng, the beta at the soundboard, and the man blinks at him for a long time before asking, "Who are you?"

"That's Wangji," Mian Mian snorts, failing to hide her giggles.

"You look like a vampire," the beta says, before adjusting the sound.

"I must play for a set. Tsubame and Seora..."

"Say no more," Mian Mian says, "I know exactly what you mean."

"Weren't you the one to tell them?"

Mian Mian looks at him for a long time, "I told them you were performing, not to put you in skinny jeans and guyliner"

"Guyliner..." Haifeng repeats, like he can't quite believe it.

"In any case," he says loudly, over the sound of their snickering, "Qingyang, please oversee what I cannot during the Falling Rain set. I will resume after it is done. The wires are clear?"

"Yes, the speakers that were blocking were moved. Wuxian wasn't happy on the placement," she motions stage left, "But it was either that or he ran straight into it for Killer ."

"Good."

Usually, he would accompany Wuxian before his stage entrance, but for today's performance, he was coming in on wire suspension. He had at least three sets that took place in the air today, and Wangji was very meticulous of the stunt work in case of any interferences.

He watches as the musicians play aimlessly to hype the crowd before the rock star's entrance.

With every guitar riff, people are screaming and scents are going wild, and Wangji feels the little flutter in his stomach he does before every concert. Not from nerves, but excitement. A feeling of accomplishment.

There's a light on the board that means Wuxian has turned his mic on and in a dramatic whisper, but loud enough, he goes, "Are you ready?"

The resounding screams are enough, the intro piece plays with heavy percussions, and Wuxian is descending the stage in those stockings— Wangji can't help the sharp breath he takes— cheers and noise thrumming loudly as the singer waves his hands upwards.

The crowd gets louder as the omega finally settles on stage, unclasping his own harnesses and marching stage front.

"Are you excited?" he screams, as fans try to touch him. He leans down touch some hands, laughing into the mic.

"I can't wait for you guys to see the show tonight Luoyang!" the artist says, getting up and walking to centre stage.

He makes the crowd count him and the band down to begin the first set, vocals powerful even as the omega jumps around the stage.

It's a short interlude, the stage dark as Wuxian is hurriedly changing into the outfit for Falling Rain and workers clipping him back into the harness.

He seems to be looking around as a junior staff hands him water, and Seora is brushing back his bangs and adding red eyeshadow and glitter around his eyes.

Somewhere in the hustle, the stage manager pushes Wangji into the chaos, and he finds his instrument and quickly pulls the guitar strap over his head. He had already tuned the guitar earlier, so he just stretches his fingers to warm them up.

For this arrangement, Wuxian would begin singing in the air while the instruments gradually joined in. First, the strings, violins and cello, then two guitars. Wangji will only begin playing at the chorus, when the percussion enters after all the other instruments. The song was a haunting melody, the track that Wuxian has only recorded acoustically because he still wasn't satisfied with the arrangements he had tried so far.

He watches as the omega is hoisted into the air, behind where the fans could see. The crowd had dulled down quite a bit, without their ringleader to rile them up. Falling Rain didn't call for much crowd interaction as the earlier sets. This was the part of the night when the energy levels dropped, and Wuxian put emphasis on more emotional performances in this slot. He would do two to three more emotional songs before picking the pace up to end the concert. This was funly referred to as the drop time by the crew.

So when Wuxian descends on stage, lights surrounding him and the low timbre of his voice reverberating across the stadium, Wangji gets to witness the crowds reaction of awe for the man. He sees lighters in the air, cellphones as well, swaying in the crowd in time to the younger's vocals. One by one, the instruments joined the sound of the omega, blending into perfect harmony.

When the percussions begin, Wuxian flies across the stage, reaching his hand out like he could feel raindrops. Wangji takes his cue and begins playing, plucking the strings in quick succession according to the sheet music he'd memorised.

The omega flips midair at the end of the chorus, on stage until the hook and outro. He sinks to his knees, singing and sounding almost in pain, according to the song's lyrics.

Wangji can't help but looking up at the omega, even while playing. He's so filled with life and vigour. On stage, he is a whole other person. The omega is clawing at his chest, rolling on the floor. It would be funny if not for the lyrics he was singing.

Slowly, dramatically, he rises as the riff plays, walking backwards with his arms open wide and his eyes closed. He nearly walks into where Wangji is standing, but stops right before he would reach the musicians.

This close, Wangji can smell him, aroma buzzed with energy and tinted with pain. The omega truly feels his music. When he raises his head to look he catches his smell— his own — coming off the omega, and it distracts him enough that he misplays a few notes.

Wuxian turns around, making it look purposeful but his eyes are narrowed in annoyance when he and Wangji lock eyes. He doesn't expect for the omega's eyes to go wide immediately, and Wangji gives him a once over before looking back to the fingerboard, where he should be concentrating on playing properly.

At the bridge, Wuxian is hoisted back into the air, lights glowing softly on him as the music tapers off. Only the piano and violins play, and as the song comes to a close the lights die out and only the haunting sounds of the violins are left. When it is silent and dark, the crowd erupts in screams and cheers, and everyone on stage is hustling to prepare for the next song.

He exits stage right with the guitar— it is not needed for the rest of the performances. Suddenly, he's being pulled back when an arm wrapped around his bicep.

"Lan Zhan," Wuxian says quietly with shining eyes, "You didn't play it right."

He smells so much like Wangji that it makes something inside him ache, but he breathes in deeply because it is a pleasing scent.

"I apologise."

"I liked the chord you used," the omega hums, "would you play it again for me tomorrow?"

Wangji nods, although he doesn't remember them correctly. He's as distracted by Wuxian now as he was then. The omega trails his fingers along his arm as he lets go.

"You look good," the omega's eyes also trail down him, while he is biting his lip. Wangji inhales deeply again, wanting more.

"Tsubame put me in extra clothes," he replies, licking his lips at their sudden dryness. He belatedly realises his chest is rising and falling rapidly, as he is trying to breathe in as much as Wuxian at he can at this proximity.

"You should wear my clothes more often," the omega says cheekily.

Costuming then swarms him, Tsubame herself snapping, "Change," and dragging the omega away.

Wangji is left staring, clutching the fretboard of a Jackson before the pace offstage sets him back to his proper mind. He heads to hand off the instrument to a prop manager and heads back to the dressing room to quickly change his clothes. With not enough time, he leaves the hair and makeup, returning upstairs to oversee the rest of the concert.

The show ends, residual cheers and noise after not one but two encores. The aftermath is usually a race to the finish, but they have the leisure of an extra day to remove their equipment since the venue was free the day after. The crew only has to move everything to the provided storage on-site and will return during the day tomorrow to finish loading and transportation to the next concert location. This time there is a five-day recess, a much-needed break for the entire staff.

"Lan Zhan," Wuxian says, making a beeline for the Alpha as soon as he heads off stage.

Mian Mian is already nodding to him before he can excuse himself, as he stumbles to keeps pace with the hurried omega. Wuxian is dragging him back to the dressing room, yanking him in and locking the door. He turns on the Alpha with fire in his eyes, not leaving his face as he speaks.

"Would you help me out of this costume? It's very heavy."

Wangji nods and moves closer to him, brushing his hair back from his eyes as he tries to remove the headpiece pinned securely in place.

"No alphas backstage today?" he asks, wryly.

"Only one," the omega winks, gazed locked on Wangji as he tries to remove the pins quickly. The omega steps closer, into his personal space and his skin is so close, the Wuxian's sweat smells like Wangji.

The omega reaches for his hand after he finally manages to shake the headpiece loose. Bringing Wangji's fingers to his lips, the omega takes his time to kiss each finger softly, and the Alpha swallows heavily. The omega laces their hands together, pressing forward to kiss his lips, soft and sweet until the omega leans in, free hand caressing him through his clothes and coaxing him to an erection. Kisses turn hungry until the omega is panting against his mouth, quietly imploring him, please.

He can't find furniture in time, lost in the blending of their scents and sinking with the omega to the floor. He runs his fingers through Wuxian's hair, pulling lightly on the long strands. The omega doesn't pull away from his lips, kissing him greedily and not letting more than a centimetre of space between them.

The costume he's in is one of his more elaborate outfits and Lan Zhan is aggrieved that he can't rip the thing right off him. Messily pulling it off, he doesn't even feel the need to completely undress, hasty to shuck his clothes only just out of the way to release his solid length. Wuxian is panting underneath him, mindlessly rutting in attempt to find some friction.

His voice is gravelly after spending the night performing, so Wangji shushes the cries of his name, kissing the other's bobbing adam's apple and pressing kisses all over his throat.

He reaches down to press fingers into him, something flat and hard blocking the path. He draws back to see the base of a pink plug, nestled snugly inside of Wuxian as the omega whines.

"Wei Ying," he breathes, the memory of their combined smells on stage hitting him suddenly. A small sniff confirms that the omega still smells of him, their scents twined together. It's so overwhelming he feels himself harden and his mouth water.

He realises the younger is looking up at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence.

"The whole concert?" he finally asks.

The omega hums, lacing his arms around the Alpha's waist.

"Wanted you in me, to smell like you," he licks along Wangji's collar bone as the older is frozen by the thought of Wuxian wanting to smell like him.

The omega tries to pull him closer, moaning, "Want you in me, now ."

He bites down at the juncture of his neck, wildly lost in the smell of their mingled scents. Wuxian lets out a hoarse scream, hands gripping at his shoulders and pulling him closer.

His eyes carry the usual look of scent influence after a concert, but if the omega wants to smell like him— Wangji will oblige. He ensures that Wei Ying will smell him, and only him as he enters the omega, the younger already spreading his legs to allow him better access. He shivers against him, lacking the energy to moan and whine noisily like he usually does.

Wuxian noses along his scent gland, eyes unfocused but pupils blown wide. The omega lies boneless, holding the alpha close as he fucks into him, gasping in pleasure at every thrust.

He calls out his name until Wangji is pushed over the edge, spilling in the omega while the younger sucks a dark mark into the skin of his neck. Still seated inside him, he makes quick work jerking him to an orgasm, wincing as the omega clamps down on him while riding through it.

He looks down at the debauched sight, Wei Wuxian covered in his own release panting, eyes half-closed in exhaustion and lips wet and red. He feels his dick twitch and the omega peeks up at him curiously, brow quirked mischievously as if to say really, Lan Zhan? . He huffs out a little laugh, the omega's eyes going round as they watch him. He leans forward, pressing soft kisses to the younger's lips and chin before gently pulling out of him.

Careful not to make a mess, he retrieves the plug, slipping it back into him with lazy tongue kisses.

"Keep it," he says, rising and straightening himself out. He has to be with the crew to make sure the equipment is packed properly in storage.

He gets up, feeling a sense of deja vu as he goes through the motions of making himself presentable. He offers his hand to Wei Wuxian, to help him up from where he lies very sensually among the mess of his stage outfits.

The omega pays him no mind, his hands touching his neck carefully, searching.

"You didn't mark me?" the omega asks in surprise.

Wangji shakes his head, "Do not be worried." The younger stills at his reply, clearly anxious. He kneels to him to quickly dispel his concerns.

"Wei Ying, I would never," he explains. He wishes he could but their relationship was not romantic and marking someone as a mate was a serious lifelong decision. He would not lose control of himself and hurt someone he cared about, especially when Wuxian trusted him as much as he did, to allow them to even be intimate.

After helping the omega up and insisting he put on some clothes when he refuses his help, he heads to the backstage area, where some of the crew are giving him looks of surprise.

He wants to ask, but there is work to be done, and very soon his attention is elsewhere and he's directing someone to take the artist back to the hotel so that he could rest.

Chapter Text

He gets back to the hotel at 4 am, two hours after the concert ended. He's finally making his way to his room, tiredly massaging his temples with one hand and unbuttoning his shirt with the other when his phone pings.

He lets out a tired sigh. The tone is designated to Wuxian and he hopes, at least, that there is no trouble. Honestly, the artist should be asleep by now, but he could never keep up with Wuxian's idiosyncrasies.

Lan Zhan, the message reads, come to my room.

Rubbing tiredly at his eyes, he takes a deep breath and leaves his room, not before casting a longing glance at the comfortable bed.

If he thought that Wei Wuxian looking fucked-out after the concert was hot, he wasn't prepared for the sight that greets him when he enters the artist's suite.

The omega was dressed, as always, with only a T-shirt.

He was leaning his upper body on the counter, texting, ass on display. There's come leaking out of it, come that he knows is his own from that evening. He watches as it lewdly trails tracks down his thighs. Wangji ignores the vibration of the phone in his pocket, approaching the younger quietly from behind. He presses the pad of his fingers under the liquid, swiping upwards. The younger startles and lets out a shallow gasp.

"You're here?"

"Mhm." He focuses on wiping the cum on the edge of the younger's T-shirt, but Wangji can't seem to look away from his creamy thighs, covered with his release.

He parts Wuxian's supple cheeks and watches as more of the semen leak out, and Wuxian tries to wriggle away.

"That's embarrassing, Lan Zhan."

He ignores the younger's protests, leaning down to taste himself on the omega's puffy hole.

"Wh—" Wuxian jerks back onto his face, hands scrabbling against the counter for stability. His phone clatters to the floor, but neither of them pays it any mind.

"Lan Zhan," he breathes, shuddering.

Wangji replies by licking inside him, the younger letting out a pitched scream. He pauses, pulling his head back.

"Okay?" he asks.

"Oh, yeah," Wuxian says, breathlessly. He smells conflicted, but he's definitely enjoying it so Wangji continues, dipping his head down to continue. The blended tastes of him and Wuxian fills his mouth as Wuxian begins to leak into him. The omega is the most decadent meal he's ever had, and he's a man starving.

"Lan Zhan," the omega says, teasing lilt to his breathy voice, "How do I taste?"

The growl is ripping out of his throat before he can think. He rises from his knees and picks Wei Wuxian up, kicking in the bedroom door and throwing him on the bed. The younger yelps as he falls, splayed out on the mattress. Wangji clambers over him, hungry, spreading Wuxian's legs to bite the inside of his thighs.

It's not as fast and desperate as earlier, so he takes his time sucking tiny marks into the younger's skin, holding his hips steady. Ignoring the protests, he flips the younger over, holding his hips high with an arm wrapped securely around each thigh as he continues to tongue his entrance, the omega whining and struggling against him.

"Lan Zhan," the younger moans, and it goes straight to his dick. He didn't think he could get hard after the long night he's had, but he can't help himself with the sensuous omega under him.

He pulls back, arranging the startled man so that his back is not on the bed. Wangji takes the omega's cock in his mouth, working his tongue slowly over the shaft, curling it to tease around him.

"Oh my god," the younger gasps quietly, and it's more pleasing than the loud sultry moans— that he can render Wei Ying speechless. The omega pants, thighs twitching against where Wangji's hands have them spread.

He can get lost there, between the sound of the younger's pleasure and being the one giving it to him, to be the one that Wuxian wants. It's an intoxicating thing. Something nags at the back of his brain, something important that feels like it's being drowned out.

He halts his actions with a frown, and the omega blinks back at him in surprise. He takes a quick sniff and remembers, feeling foolish for being so careless.

Sitting up, he meets the omega's eyes.

"Wei Ying? You are hesitant," he tells him, it's apparent in the younger's scent. "I will not mark you," he confirms, hoping to assuage the omega's worries, "If you do not want to continue, I will stop."

The omega's eyes widen, an expression tethering on many things but ultimately undecided.

"We don't have to stop! I want to, Lan Zhan." The omega looks up at him with fluttering lashes, biting his lips. His scent is vulnerable, and Wangji aches.

"Are you sure?"

Up until now, all he had done was take. He berates himself. As an alpha in this situation, he should know better than to simply assert himself with others. He had never even stopped to ask what Wei Ying wanted, if  Wei Ying wanted. He is a fool.

"Lan Zhan, " Wei Ying says, leaning up to press their mouths together, chaste but firm, "I want you."

It sends a sharp feeling through him, to hear the omega say the words he's always wanted to hear but not with the meaning he wants. This is a casual arrangement.

It is him who hesitates this time, trying to compartmentalise his own feelings as he touches the man he's always wanted to touch like this, whose attention on him feels like a dream.

Maybe it's because he is tired, but he can't find it in him to hold back when the omega softly calls, "Lan Zhan?"

Wei Wuxian reaches up to tenderly touch his face, and his throat feels full with a truth he can not seem to swallow down. It stays stuck there when the younger pulls him back down to kiss his lips, to delicately touch his cheek and run his hands through his hair. Wei Ying looks beautiful even with his hair tied haphazardly and tired circles around his eyes. The dazzling smile he gives him melts away everything, his apprehension, his worries, his will power.

"Wei Ying," he says, searching the other's eyes for any sign of discomfort. The omega only smiles softly at him, wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him into slow, passionate kisses.

His gut clenches. If he can get rid of the voice at the back of his head, he can pretend Wei Ying is his. The younger breaks away from the kiss to press butterfly kisses all over his face. His hands wander but they don't feel too insistent, seeming content just to touch.

"It's okay, Lan Zhan," he soothes, "I want you."

Wangji captures the other's lips in a kiss quickly, buzzing loud in his veins. He doesn't want to change his mind, but if he looks into Wei Ying's eyes longer he might not be able to fight the guilt eating away at him. He's taking advantage of the situation and he knows it. Be quiet, he tells himself, hoping to rid himself of his thoughts. Focus on Wei Ying .

He moves his mouth to the omega's neck, pressing small kisses to it. He can still feel the fleeting touches, light and steady. One of Wei Ying's hands reach up to run through his hair, and he hums his approval.

Gradually, his kisses turn into nibbling, and at the juncture of the omega's neck, he jerks forward.

Wei Ying groans and pulls their hips together. When the younger seems to realise he is aroused, he looks up, scent teasing.

"Lan Zhan," the younger says, eyes sparkling, "You've got incredible stamina."

He huffs out an incredulous laugh. "How can you say such things, Wei Ying?"

The younger replies by rolling their hips together once more. "We already do it, Lan Zhan. How is it different to say it?"

He fights the urge to hide his face.

"Oh my god...Lan Zhan, are you blushing?"

He does hide it this time, burying his face in the other's neck. Wei Ying's laugh is an incomparable sound. Loud and clear but melodious and contagious. Wangji could listen to it all the time without becoming surfeited.

It's a charm unique to the omega himself. He was much to handle at times, but never too much. At least, not for Wangji. He could never get enough, he likes to take care of Wei Ying and because Wei Ying wants him he obliges. Shut up he growls to himself. But the omega is laughing under him and tilting his hips up. The sound chases his thoughts away.

"You can, if you want to," the omega says quietly, brushing through his hair. His smell is only sweet with amusement, arousal faint but anticipatory.

"Only if you want to."

The smile he receives momentarily blinds him, "Of course I do, Lan Zhan."

His touches are gentle as he guides himself inside, lips never leaving the omega's neck and his mouth aches, aches to bite down and claim him.

Wei Ying's pants softly, whimpers at the pace. It's music. Wangji relishes in the sounds, the low moans and the grip of nails against his back that makes him increase the pace.

Wei Ying gets louder, inevitably, snapping to meet his thrusts, breathing sounding closer to sobs.

"God, Lan Zhan..." he moans, thighs shaking, "Knot me. Please."

The request has him lifting himself up, adjusting the angle so he can hit Wei Ying's prostate every time he slams into him. The omega writhes, hands clutching the pillows desperately as his hips chase the feeling, like he doesn't want Wangji to leave.

"Knot me," he repeats, "God, knot me." Wei Ying tries to keep his eyes open, but he can't help but close them when he moans. His lower half is off the bed, legs wrapped around the alpha while Wangji holds him up.

He watches as the omega screams his name, his own breath stuttering at the sight. He tries to pull away.

The omega's eyes snap open, eyes scanning his face. He can feel the base of his length swelling. The omega's eyes widen slightly as he too feels it. Wangji tries to warn him before it's too late. He tries to push him off again, and the omega growls.

"Wei Ying," he panics, " My knot-"

"Knot me, dammit," the omega growls again, his thighs clenching around Wangji like steel. Despite himself, the demanding omega is too sexy, growl deep and commanding.

Involuntarily, he feels himself begin to swell, the omega purring pleased as he rocks himself up onto his rapidly filling cock.

"Fuck, Lan Zhan. You're so good. You're so, so good." The omega cries out, rolling his hips and throwing his head back as his body shudders from being filled. When he can no longer move from the weight inside him, he whines. Wangji tries to adjust the angle, wrapping his arms around him as he lowers their bodies to the bed, trying to arrange them in a resting position. He doesn't know how long it will last, but he wants the younger to be comfortable. Wuxian lets out a hiss when Wangji unwraps his legs and settles next to him.

"Sorry," he says automatically. Wuxian wrinkles his nose but only opens his arms for a hug. He takes the hint. The omega's eyes are already slipping closed from exhaustion. He must have been awake for about 20 hours now. Wangji is glad to let him sleep. He's tired himself, he realises.

Wuxian sluggishly throws one leg over him as Wangji settles comfortably in the omega's arms. The younger noses at his face lightly, sniffing and scenting him while he does. He places light kisses in between them, eyelashes fluttering against his skin. Wangji's head is nestled in the crook of the omega's neck, cheek vibrating with each of Wuxian's purrs. He wraps his arms around his waist and kisses him chastely, locked together in the afterglow of a knot. The younger smells of fields and Lan Wangji, and he hums his contentment as his eyes fall shut.

Wangji has never really knotted anyone before, so he's alarmed by the amount of bodily fluids he wakes up in when he rolls and feels something wet. It startles him out of his sleep, and he rustles Wuxian enough that the omega blinks awake.

"Lan Zhan?" he asks, voice a croak before the look of discomfort crosses his face. He looks down and seems to slowly realise the situation, rising up on his arms to look at the bed.

"Oh my god," the omega says, "It's in my hair."

Wangji watches as he tries to sit up, wincing in pain when he can't.

"Wei Ying?" he says, eyeing him in concern. The omega lets out a breathy laugh, "I'm okay Lan Zhan, I just...this knotting business is no joke."

"Can you walk?" he asks. The omega's knitted eyebrows are answer enough.

"Can you move?"

Wuxian nods.

"Not much, but—" he tries to sit up again, falling back to the bed with an "-oof." Wangji is over him in an instant.

"Did I—"

"Hush," Wuxian says, waving him off, "I'm okay."

"Where does it hurt?"

"It doesn't."

"Wei Ying!"

Wuxian winces again, but this time from the edge in his voice. Weakly, he motions to his lower half, from underneath his waist.

Nervously, Wangji brushes his fingertips against his lower back, prodding experimentally. When the omega flinches away, he hurries to pull back. He cups the omega's cheek, thumb brushing against the high rise of his cheekbone. He searches the younger's eyes, apology ready to fall from his lips.

"Don't," the omega tells him sternly, "I'll be okay."

Carefully, he kisses the corner of his mouth, pecking kisses on the sides of his face. He hopes it can convey how sorry he really is for hurting him.

"It's okay, Lan Zhan." Wuxian says, hand coming up to cover his gently. His expression shifts to something teasing, "Besides, I was begging for it, wasn't I?"

He huffs and rolls his eyes and the omega's brazenness, and Wuxian lets out a genuine laugh.

He gets up to call the hotel, asking that they only bring the sheets to the door. Very carefully, he helps the younger out of bed and to the bathroom, holding him to his side to support as much weight as he can. When the omega whines and his legs give out, he stoops to hook an arm under his knees and lifts the omega to carry him in his arms. The omega says nothing, but his scent is impressed and he begins purring.

"Lan Zhan, I think you rearranged my insides," he teases.

"I've heard that that is a good thing," he quips, but he lets the omega lean on him as he sets him down in the shower.

He ties the omega's hair partially so it doesn't get wet. He turns on the shower and instructs him not to move as he washes them both from head to toe, careful to be very gentle as he washes the omega's body. Wuxian winces anyway, unable to bend in any direction. He can only hold himself stiff. Wangji allows him to lean against his chest. The omega does it gratefully, hands grasping his sides when the pain is too much. Wangji even washes the stickiness from the ends of his hair, wrapping him in a fluffy towel and resting him on the counter as he blow-dries the wet tresses.

It takes longer than it should because Wuxian keeps observing him, not speaking but occasionally pulling him for kisses that are sweet and warm.

Wangji doesn't need to ask where anything is. Wuxian's clothes are outside in the suite's living room in the suitcases he brought, right next to all his instruments that are unpacked and arranged in place of the hotel's furniture, which are pushed back to the wall. He can't help but chuckle at the omega's priorities.

He finds the clothes easily since he packed them himself; sweatpants for him and a very baggy t-shirt for Wuxian. He returns to the room, towels him off and dresses him, wrapping him snugly in a clean blanket as he strips and remakes the bed. The omega watches him as he hums quietly.

He carefully picks up the bundle on the floor that is Wei Wuxian, only the top of his head peeking out from how tenderly he is wrapped. He deposits him on the clean bed, picking up the scattered bedding and placing them outside for housekeeping.

When he returns the omega's breathing is shallow, eyelids fluttering as he struggles to remain awake. His arms reach for him, and he offers his hand so that the omega can pull him to the bed.

"Stay?" the younger says sleepily, looking small and soft under the blankets. Wangji doesn't have the heart to deny him, not when he wiggles closer to the Alpha, nosing against his collar bone. He pulls the blanket over himself and gingerly drapes his arm over Wuxian. All he does is smile, trying to pull him closer. He takes the hint and shifts until there is no space between them, and he can feel the rise and fall of the younger's breathing.

"Warm," the omega mumbles, finally succumbing to sleep. Wangji feels at home surrounded by the sweet smell of Wuxian's happiness, his chest aching faintly as his eyes fall shut.

When Wangji wakes up close to noon, he remembers he has to finalise transport arrangements for the next location. He's about a half hour to the venue, meaning he will arrive fifteen minutes after the scheduled time, but he can text Mian Mian to cover for him until he arrives. He hurries out of the bed, quickly pulling on last night's clothes and heading to his own room to shower and change. He allows himself to let the hot water cascade on his back longer than necessary, since his muscles ache from yesterday and earlier that morning.

When he finally does pick up his phone, its still open on Wei Wuxian's messages. The omega must have been texting him after Wangji had just headed to his room from the first text.

LZ

come to my room

want to listen to some new songs?

we can maybe watch a movie

if you're hungry we can pick up breakfast?

or if you're you tired.....

what do you have planned for today, anyway?