"Why Lan Wangji? I never understood that. You've been throwing yourself at his feet for years and I just don't see the appeal."
While he never would be a calm person Jiang Cheng had relaxed a bit over the last few years - at least enough to actually interact with Wei Wuxian without flouncing off in a huff after they had exchanged two words or less. Alcohol helped with making their interactions a little bit more tolerable and as of this moment more than enough of it had been consumed to smooth out almost all of his usual edges.
"Hey!" Wei Wuxian protested. "We fought each other to a standstill the first time we met and the second time I fainted at Lan Zhan's feet from exhaustion. I did never, ever, throw myself at him! You were there, you should know it!"
Dangerous territory but chances were that Jiang Cheng was drunk enough to let it slide.
He was.
"You were so overcome at seeing him again that you fainted," came the only faintly affronted comment.
That... hadn't been quite it but Wei Wuxian's brain was alcohol-soaked enough to not offer a fitting rebuttal so he stayed silent and took another drink instead.
"I still don't know what you see in him." This time it was a whine and Jiang Cheng was truly worse than a dog with a bone and that was a thought that made Wei Wuxian grimace with distaste. "You can count the words he speaks in one week on one hand!"
"Maybe Wei Ying enjoys the silence after spending so many years in your company beforehand," Lan Zhan offered unexpectedly. Unexpected, because he hadn't been there only a heartbeat ago. "I know that I would, in his place." Just the tiniest of pauses, and Wei Wuxian knew he would love whatever came next. "I dislike useless chatter, not talking itself."
Jiang Cheng descended into incoherent sputtering about the dichotomy of putting 'Wei Wuxian' and 'useless chatter' on opposite spectrums of well, anything, and Wei Wuxian almost fell over from laughing.
"Lan Zhan!" Oh, how much he loved it when his husband let his humorous side out to play while in company. It always was a special delight to see other people's brains crash when their rigid mental picture clashed with the true Lan Zhan.
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said and held out a hand to help him up. "I think it's time for you and your brother to retire."
Oh, another unsubtle dig to put him first. Lan Zhan really liked going against all of his fancy rules today. But then, interacting with Jiang Cheng tended to bring out his bratty side - which was one of the reasons he always dragged his husband with him when meeting up with his no longer quite so estranged brother.
It was a credit to how much Lan Zhan had mellowed to refer to Jiang Cheng as his brother without hesitation and Wei Wuxian appreciated it more than he could ever say that two of the most important people of his life didn't try to kill each other with looks on sight anymore.
The petty squabbling he could live it. It was damn funny, after all, and he took all the amusement he could get. Just like he took all the chances he could get of reconnecting the shattered pieces of his first life.
Wei Wuxian grinned and let himself be pulled up. Lan Zhan smiled back, in that restrained, special way he had.
"I can't believe it. The guy has another expression apart from 'neutral yet permanently pissed off'. Must be true love after all."
Or maybe Lan Zhan's smile wasn't as subtle as it used to be, when even Jiang Cheng, totally drunk, could see it.
"I have," Lan Zhan confirmed dryly. "When the occasion warrants it. And it is."
Okay, this was too much. Lan Zhan was basically swearing undying devotion to him right in front of Jiang Cheng - Wei Wuxian suddenly kind of regretted having all that wine. He wanted his memory of this moment to be crystal clear for all eternity.
"Lan Zhan!" he cried in delight. "You're shameless tonight! I like it! Do it again!"
"Childish," Lan Zhan muttered, but his hold on Wei Wuxian was as steady as ever, and his eyes held all the softness his voice didn't quite convey.
"Disgusting," Jiang Cheng muttered but there was barely any heat in the words. "You two are worse than those immortal lovers of Siji Manor from the legends." He waved Wei Wuxian's - rather unsteady - offer of a helping hand away and somehow managed to get himself up. "I don't want to see it anymore." He waved again - an ungainly, uncoordinated gesture that could have meant everything and nothing. "Go and be disgustingly in love where I can't see you."
Wei Wuxian wasn't too far gone to not notice the faint trace of longing in his brother's voice and eyes.
"Don't worry," he said, waving around himself and almost hitting Lan Zhan. Thankfully, his hand was caught in a strong grip before it could do any damage. "Eventually, even you will find that one special person who can tolerate you. There must be someone out there…"
"Far, far away," Lan Zhan muttered and Wei Wuxian choked on his next breath and lost whatever was left of his train of thought.
"Get lost!" Jiang Cheng shouted. "And also fuck you but not anywhere near where I can hear you!"
Lan Zhan dragged him away before Wei Wuxian could find and offer a fitting rebuttal for this mortal insult.
Tomorrow, he promised himself. Tomorrow I will…
The thought was gone before it was finished and he was half-asleep, with his head on Lan Zhan's shoulder, before they'd even reached their guest rooms.