Chapter Text
Wen Ning
When Ning wakes up as his alarm sounds, he quickly silences his phone and looks over at the crib across from his bed to see A-Yuan still asleep. He silently slips out of bed and into the master bathroom to get ready for the day. He usually wakes A-Yuan when he gets up to keep him on a sleep schedule, it had taken months getting A-Yuan sleep trained. It was hell for him and Xue Yang, who would beat on the walls after being woken up by A-Yuan cries. A-Yuan is almost 2yrs old now and though he sleeps better, Wen Ning still keeps him on schedule but today is the weekend. He plans to take A-Yuan to the park and to see Granny Wen, so he decided to let A-Yuan and himself rest this morning.
Wen Ning takes a shower, longer than usual, and leaves his hair to air dry. He dresses in an oversized pullover and baggy sweats and heads to the kitchen, where Xue Yang is pouring way too much sugar into his coffee. "Why not just make a frappe?", Wen Ning asked pushing Xue Yang away from the sugary concoction.
"Because this was quicker and we shouldn't waste money on that shit." Xue Yang rolls eyes as he watches Wen Ning pull ingredients from the pantry, to turn his simple coffee into a frappe.
They lived in a simple sized apartment, it wasn't the safest part of town, but it was decent enough, they'd never been robbed walking home and there hadn't been any recent break ins. They had minimal furniture, a refrigerator which came with the apartment, a small kitchen table, that fit 4 plus A-yuan eating chair. A tiny coffee table sat in the center of the living room, there was a worn-out black leather sofa pushed back to living room wall with a matching recliner next to it. The only TV in the house was vacated in front, placed on top of a 3-row bookshelf Xue Yang had made, which held A-yuan bedtime stories. And a wooden tray, also made by Xue Yang sat in the corner with A-Yuan's toys in it. Wen Ning was there first so he had the master room with his own bathroom and his room consisted of his queen-size bed, A-Yuan's crib & another toy box, but this one held stuffed animals. A mini portable dresser with A-Yuans clothes was next to the crib and a worn-out wooden dresser next to the closet held Wen Ning's under clothes and casual wear. And a small desk was in the corner and his laptop sat on top of it. The hall bathroom was Xue Yang's, and A-Qings when she stayed over. They had most of what they needed, and they were making it with the bills, so Wen Ning figured they deserved some fancy coffee.
Wen Ning pours the drink into the blender with some ice, "It's not a waste if we use it, besides, it's already bought and we both need coffee to start off the day. Which job are you headed to today?"
"Deliveries and then I'll swing by the campus to drop off some money for A-Qing to go on that stupid spring break trip with her friends."
Wen Ning gave Xue Yang a once over, he had bags under his eyes and looked thinner than usual, he been working more than usual too. Thinking back, this was the first time Wen Ning had seen him in a month. "She told you, you didn't have to."
"Look if all those other fancy prep kids get to go on a fuck ass trip for spring break, so does she. Besides if she's not on a trip she'll come here for the break, and I don't feel like entertaining her or hearing all about her stupid favorite Professors Xingchen and Lan or whatever the fuck."
Wen Ning snorts, "Sure. That's why."
"Shutup and finish my drink, "MAMA", Xue Yang opens his mouth seductively when Wen Ning points the whip cream can in his direction, as if threatening to spray him with it. Wen Ning rolls his eyes at the nickname and instead sprays the whipped cream on top of Xue Yang frappe and hands it to him. As if on cue, A-Yuan starts crying.
* * *
After getting A-Yuan changed, his teeth brushed and getting him dressed, Wen Ning makes it back into the kitchen. He sits the now happy toddler into his eating chair. Xue Yang is now done with his coffee and dressed for work. "Want some breakfast?"
"No time.", Xue Yang says as he puts his mug in the sink.
Wen Ning goes into the fridge and grabs one of the Tupperware containers, containing the meals he preps for work every week. "Well here, at least take this."
"Thanks wife, daddy will be back later!", He playful spanks Wen Ning on the butt and quickly dodges when Wen Ning swings the pot he's holding at his head. Their behavior makes A-Yuan clap and laugh. "See how mean mama is?", A-Yuan laughs at this.
"Quit it! You know I'm trying to get him to stop calling me that." When Ning pouts, it's not that he hates it. He actually finds it endearing but as a trans man he doesn't what others to get the idea he's a woman. Can men be a mama too? Besides he doesn’t want A-Yuan to start calling Xue Yang dad either, what if he gets in a relationship, it'll be hard to explain. Who is he kidding? Who would ever want him? He's gay so he can't be with a woman but he doesn't have a penis so gay men don't want him either plus he has a kid. And after he pays bills, he has little to no money. He can barely carry on a public conversation without stuttering... No one wants someone like him.
"Hey! You know I'm kidding."
Wen Ning snaps out of his head and sees Xue Yang at the door putting on his shoes, with a look of remorse on his face. Wen Ning smiles, hoping it meets his eyes, "It's fine and have a good day at work and tell A-Qing hey for me and A-Yuan." Xue Yang nods and is out the door in a flash.
* * *
At the park Wen Ning slowly sits down on the other end of a seesaw, careful not to raise A-Yuan too much, the slight lift off the ground makes the kid erupt in laughter. After a few rounds of the seesaw, he puts A-Yuan on the swing, giving him little pushes. He easily ignores the adoring looks he gets from the moms in the park, aside from the fact he's gay, they're clearly only looking because A-Yuan is adorable, not actually him. He keeps having to re-tie his hair because A-Yuan loves to pull it, another habit he's trying to break.
Since they'd had a light breakfast, fruit and oatmeal. He finds a quiet spot and opens his backpack, setting out a little picnic blanket. Placing Gerber puffs with apple sauce and a sippy cup for A-Yuan on the blanket. A-Yuan ate some of it most of it was just smeared across his face. Wen Ning couldn't help but smile as he ate his own apple sauce and recorded some videos for A-Qing.
The walk to granny's house from the park isn't bad but he still had to carry A-Yuan most of the way. He sighs, toddlers... The house is right outside the city, in the country with a little farm in the back yard. Granny Wen is happy to see them and steals A-Yuan the second they get into the house. "Look who's here", Granny announces as they make their way into the small house. His great uncle and his other uncle, who had always been sickly (even more than Wen Ning had been himself), come inside from the back door, clearly haven been working in the farm and garden. And his great aunt sat on the sofa knitting. It was so nostalgic being here, Wen Ning only left because he and his jie decided that they their granny had taken care of them, they could take care A-Yuan. Their family made ends meat by selling their harvest to the local markets but taking care of baby would've required more. Which is why he and Wen Qing moved, it was 3 less mouths to feed and it had been convenient for jie, since it was closer to the college she attended at the time. They both were working and, planned to take turns with A-Yuan, Wen Ning was even considering become a nurse. He didn't think he was smart enough to be a doctor like his jie but, he loved the medical field and helping others. Though once his jiejie got her scholarship he decided not to and he was glad he'd never told her his plan or else she had never gone to chase hers in fear of hindering him. Beside his jie was guaranteed to become a doctor, while Wen Ning could barely talk correctly and a simple cold could lay him out, he just didn't have what it took. Simple.
Granny made Wonton soup and dumplings for dinner, which was delicious, so he packed some for Xue Yang. His uncles made jokes and played with A-Yuan and his aunt combed his hair back into 2 french braids that would last 2-3 days if he didn't wash it and prevent A-Yuan from pulling it.
* * *
Xue Yang
After work, which consisted of delivering orders all across the city on his stupid scooter that keep breaking down he finally had enough money plus what he'd saved, for A-Qing to go with her friend for spring break.
Xue Yang had dropped out of high school and started working as soon as he was old enough. He'd been in and out of foster homes since he was seven, when the top sponsor of the orphanage he was in at the time, ran him over for trying to run away. The man turned out to be businessman who was running for governor, Chang Cian. Of course, the news covered it up and to prevent the press who frequently visited from seeing Xue Yang he was tossed out and given to a foster home. Then another. Then another. At the last one he'd meet A-Qing, she was 9 and he was 14, their foster parents were drunks, but they at least left them alone. He'd had other foster siblings before, but he'd always been the youngest. Now he was the eldest and A-Qing strangely looked up to him, and she even aspired to go to college, all shit Xue Yang never thought about. So, when Xue Yang turned 16, he dropped out and started working to save up for her to go to college. He never had anyone to look up too and he didn't want to ruin it for A-Qing, since she looked up to him. Plus he figured, this could be his one good deed in life, since he planned to one day murder Chang Cian. Maybe this would cancel it out, maybe he’d be spared from hell. Once he'd turned 18 he was no longer a minor so he had to pay their foster parents for room and board, then he was 22, A-Qing was 17 and had graduated high school, he sent her to college.
He’d done a lot of odd and not always legal jobs for work but he'd promised A-Qing once she graduated highschool, he'd stop. His sort of friend/ex-boss (who gave him most of his odd jobs), had told him about a highschool classmate he had who was looking for a roommate and he lucked out with Wen Ning. Wen Ning was only a year older than him and clean, and he was gay too so he wouldn't have to kill him for ever making A-Qing uncomfortable when she came over. Only downside was the crying but after a while even that wasn't too bothersome.
Once he pulled up outside the A-Qing dorms, he called her to come down, she pretended to gripe but he could tell by her voice the little snot was happy to see him. She came down in a sweatshirt, shorts, and sandals. She appeared to have on makeup, and her hair was curled. He wasn't used to her showing her legs, wearing makeup or combing her hair. "Ewwwwww," Xue Yang gagged as he grabbed her and ruffled her hair.
"Hey!", A-Qing stomped on his foot, which made him push her way. "Do you know how long this shit took me?!", she whines, attempting to fix her hair to no avail.
"Nope and I don't care you little shit, here." He tosses the prepaid card he loaded the money onto to her and leans on his delivery scooter. "450 bucks, have fun on your stupid trip and spend every dime. Wen Ning and A-Yuan said hi by the way."
"What?", she stares at the card in disbelief. "You just paid this month's portion of my tuition and your bills at the apartment. What did you do? You promised no more illegal stuff-"
"Shutup, it's legal. Just take it."
"The only way you could've legally made this with your shitty jobs and paid your bills is if you worked every day for a month with no sleep-", she pauses and gave him the once over to which earned her a show of his middle finger. "Aww you asshole of a so-called brother, thank you." She hugs him and when he lightly pushes her off. He sees her eyes have glossed over. "Thank you."
"Yeah, yeah. Now get to bed and have fun this week. And... good job on your grades and shit."
She smirked, it was almost a parody of his, "Have you been looking at my grades again?"
He shrugs, "Just making sure I get my money's worth." She rolls her eyes, and he starts his scooter up, shooing her away. He doesn't drive off until she disappears into the building.
He contemplates stopping at the bar, but he has no more money, and he needs to save the gas in this scooter. He hadn't been to the bars or clubs all month to save money for A-Qing's dumb trip, so he hadn't gotten fucked in over a month. He typically got off in bathrooms or the cars of his conquest; he didn't bring people back to his apartment for the sake of his roommate's baby and he didn't like idea of being able to be traced. His roommate was fuckable but most nights he needed to the bottom, he needed to be owned. Though Wen Ning could strap one. But his roommate/friend, well he guesses they're friends, screamed bottom as well. Wen Ning has soft, pale skin and full thighs, slight hips and the roundest bottom. And Wen Ning was a cutie patootie. Xue Yang liked buff men, sometimes lanky men, rough and handsome men, even pretty men but no cuties. Also, he never had a friend before with the exception of Meng Yao, but their relationship was built on business. Whatever this was with Wen Ning was built like more of a want, he guessed. Though Meng Yao led them to each other, they never discussed him. So, he guessed he was Wen Ning only other friend too, and fucking the shit of the sweet, shy man would've ruined that. It’d be awkward seeing him everyday afterwards and he couldn’t afford to move. He just isn't the relationship, monogamist type.
He didn't have shit to offer anybody but A-Qing. And once A-Qing was settled he planned to orchestrate his plane to rid the world of his now Governor Cain. So, he'd be in prison for the rest of his life anyway, there was no need to be tied to anybody. Some days he told himself his plan was stupid, and he'd be throwing his life away but nights like this, when a chill was in the air and a nonstop throbbing pain in his hand, he didn't care how dumb it was.
* * *
Wen Ning
The bus dropped him off a block from their apartment and once he made it into their build he checked their mailbox. With a few a pieces of a mail, a package for Xue Yang and a sleeping A-Yuan in his arms, he made it upstairs to their apartment. He sat the mail down on the kitchen counter, took off his backpack, and went to his room. It was almost past A-Yuan's bedtime, so he bathed the toddler rather quickly and put him to bed. He took a quick shower himself and threw on his favorite T-shirt; Wei Ying had given it to him one day after class.
Wen Ying had been started practicing his archery, behind the school by this cute little pond he liked sit at. Wei Ying would had caught him there once and would occasionally show up to help him. This day in particular he invited Lan Wangji to come along with him. So Wei Ying showed up and as always slide his arms around Wen Ning's waist and the other held his arm. Wei Ying had started giving him instructions on his form when Wen Ning heard a deep "Hmm" in agreeance. Startled Wen Ning jumped out of Wei Yings arm and fell into the pond. Wei Ying, as shameless as always, took off his shirt and gave it to him. Embarrassed, he grabbed the shirt, and ran, yelling a quick "thank you." He really thought he had a chance. As if anyone in their right mind would pass up the gorgeous Lan Wangji, "Twin Jade" and future Co-CEO to Cloud Recesses Resort and hotels for him. Lan Wangji's shoes costed more than Wen Ning could fathom. The Lan had a real dick unlike Wen Nings plastic one, that he’d never used, and apparently a big one according to Su She. Su She was almost obsessed with the 2nd Lan and in an attempt to win favor, eagerly brought Lan Wangji a water and towel after gym class and ended up walking in on the handsome man butt ass naked. Wen Ning knew he didn't stand a chance against Lan Wangji. The man had money, intelligence, was quiet and had a big dick! HA! A real life Ken doll.
Wen Ning shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts, he was over it. He only kept the shirt because it would be a shame to throw it away. Right? He opened his backpack once he made it back into kitchen and took out the extra plate he'd brought from granny's house for Xue Yang. He began going through the mail; bills, bills, and oh?... a fancy envelope embossed with the JIN seal. Jin was one the top companies in the country, they hand their brand version of almost everything, computers, phones lines and a hotel too. He opened the envelope and read,
“You are cordially invited to an evening of elegance and celebration of the marriage between Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli.
Location: Ball room of the Jin Embassy
Date: Sunday
Ceremony: 4:30-6:00pm
Reception: 7:00-10:00pm"
Sunday? That's tomorrow. Wen Ning typically didn't check the mail till the weekend because they didn't receive anything but bills, which most of them they could assess on their phones. He can't go, all of his classmates will there but it's been 5 years, it would be good to see them but... They all have careers now, are in relationships, they went to college. And who would watch A-Yuan, Sunday is the day granny and the uncles go to the markets to sell their produce. Showing up alone and with a baby... some of classmates were privy to his transition, atleast he guessed they'd noticed. What would they think? Seeing him now, would they think he'd gotten pregnant? So what if he had? His breast never did grow out to be more than anything but an A-cup, so he was basically flat chested & the testosterone he took made his voice more manly but he still had no facial hair but he grew muscle, and though his hair was long he felt he looked manly enough. He wasn't handsome as Lan Wangji or sexy like Wei Ying but girls and gay guys had asked him out before, not a lot but it still counted for something.
Just then Xue Yang walked in, looking even more tired but Sunday was the one day they both agreed to take off for rest, so he'd get some sleep tonight. Xue Yang walked in and went straight for the tupperwear container without even asking if it was for him and started to eat it, not bothering to heat it up either. When Ning looked at his roommate, now unlike him, his roommate was sexy like Wei Ying. Xue Yang had full pouty lips, full eyebrows with a natural arch, slim face and a nice smile thanks to his sharp canines. Xue Yang wasn't tall like Lan Wangji but he was average height and had thick, long hair, even longer than Wen Nings.
"Do you have a suit?", Wen Ning asks.
Xue Yang smirks, as he makes his way to the livingroom. "Of course, I wear it at my 10 figure job with my Rolex and Gucci shoes.", his roommate retorts sarcastically as he flops down on the floor in front of the coffee table and turns on the tv. "But gosh, I just remembered it's at the dry cleaners, have the maid fetch it for me will you?" Wen Ning sighs and shakes his head, while roommates laughs in his face. Wen Ning tosses the envelope on the coffee table and sits on the couch. "The fuck is this?.. Oh shit, you want to go?" Xue Yang asks with a mouth full of food, not taking his eyes off the invitation.
"I do b-b-but only if y-you go with me."
Xue Yang sighs, "Well… there will be free expensive food, sure."
"Really yang yang?" Wen Ning squeals excitedly, smiling from ear to ear.
"Call me that again and you'll go by yourself." Wen Ning nods but continues to smile. "But I don't have a tux, and I doubt you do either."
"We could rent or buy one?"
"Ha! And be homeless and starving by next week. Besides I don't wear tuxedos, that's for stuck up, tight asses.", Xue proclaims with a mouth of food.
"Well, I have some slacks and I’m sure I can find some dress shirts at the thrift store. I got a little saved up, so all you have to do is just find some pants." Wen Ning suggests to which Xue Yang nods. "With no rips, or holes", he continues and Xue Yang grimaces and pretends to choke himself. "Or offensive designs.", he finishes.
"Hey! You just described everything I own and LIKE!", Xue Yang exclaims as he makes his way to kitchen and tosses the container in the sink.
"I'm serious these are my friends o-or...they kind of u-used to be. So, you have to be on your best behavior."
"Fine. But I'm doing this under protest. What's the plan?", Xue smirks as he sits on the couch next to Wen Ning.
"Well... there's not really a plan, I just d-don't want to go alone with A-Yuan. They m-might ask and t-think things and I don't know..."
"So am I a buffer or your baby's daddy?", Xue Yang playfully grabs Wen Nings leg, which earns him a light kick in the side.
"I just would appreciate your presence; you'll scare away the worst of them but also keep me grounded and out of my head.", Wen Ning confessed, sexiness aside, Xue Yang didn't look like type to take shit from people. And at times, when he made certain faces, his roommate felt dangerous. Wen Ning had never saw him hurt anyone, but he had a feeling the man had done a lot of things Wen Ning was had never saw.
Xue Yang smirked, in the way that only he could and got up from the couch, "I got you Mama."
Wen Ning rolled his eyes, which earned him an air kiss from his roommate who making his way into the hall bathroom. He took that as his cue to head to bed, so he cut off the tv and made his way to his room.
As he laid in bed, he couldn't get over the fact he'd be seeing Wei Ying again. His first love, his wet dream, the only person aside from his jie and Xue Yang he had openly admitting being trans to. He was sure other students had thoughts, but Wei Ying was the only one he confirmed anything too. Lan Wangji had kind of been his second and last love, he didn't know if he wanted to be the man or be Wei Ying to experience what it was like to have the perfect man. He doesn't even understand why getting so worked up about the idea of seeing them, he hadn't heard from either of them in 5 years. He and his jie occasionally talk to Wei Yings brother Jiang Cheng, since the man and his jie are kind of dating. Although she doesn't want to get serious until after her residency, so the man has a long time to wait but his jie is worth it. He occasionally texts Meng Yao but they hadn't talked since he told him to recommend Xue Yang as a roommate. He was honestly surprised to receive the invite, but it was problem more his Jie since she was taking dating the other brother of the bride. He hoped they wouldn't be upset about his arrival. He yawned as sleep finally came to claim him, enough thinking about this, he needed his sleep anyway if he was going to do this tomorrow.