Chapter Text
The Annual Jin Charity Cup is a great way to promote oneself in the sporting world. They host a range of events covering mountain biking, decathlons and of course, MMA. Wei Wuxian has worked hard to prove himself as one of the best players with a signature knock-out Demon Leg Kick and a perky personality that greatly contrasts with his ferocious demeanour in the ring, which has earned him a large fan base. In addition to this, Wei Wuxian is well-known as a philanthropist to help orphans off the streets and even sponsored many himself due to a lived experience before he was taken in by the Jiang family. Jiang Feimen saw his natural agile ability and adopted Wei Wuxian, training him alongside his own son, Jiang Cheng, in the hopes of crafting a future champion. Old Man Jiang got his wish when Wei Wuxian went through a period of winning match after match. Jiang Cheng eventually took over as his coach, and their sister, Jiang Yanli, is his manager.
“I don’t know much about this, but I know fighting someone in a different weight class is dangerous, right?” Jiang Yanli scans through the program during lunch after Wei Wuxian did his morning workout. She always finds time to cook her famous ribs and lotus root soup to replenish him before the intense training starts. “A-Xian, are you sure this is safe?” She shoots a look at Jiang Cheng for support.
The other brother finishes his bite of ribs before adding, “Technically yes, but if the classes are close, it’s not that bad.” He slurps his soup as he leans over to see the tablet. “Who is he fighting?”
“Lan Wangji.”
At that, both males freeze as they make eye contact.
“Do you know him?”
Know him? Who in the MMA world doesn’t know him?
His ancestor was a Kung Fu master back in the day, before establishing the prestigious Gusu Lan Academy that trains champions. Anyone who is anyone has been through there – even Wei Wuxian! Granted, he took the summer course and barely made it through each class without having something thrown at him by Lan Qiren (Wei Wuxian chooses to believe that it helped build his agility). The family still teaches, with Lan Xichen as the head, teaching the students younger than 16 and Lan Qiren specifically training potential future prodigies. While there, Wei Wuxian did briefly train alongside Lan Wangji, but the frequent blows to the head meant his memory was poor. Although he does recall the other being very tall, aloof and handsome. Not much about his ability, though. They did spar once or twice, but that was it.
Due to their background, Wei Wuxian is often pitted against Lan Wangji in conversations about the best MMA player around. The only thing that keeps them apart is their different weight categories. Lan Wangji is taller and bulkier in the welterweight category, and Wei Wuxian is lither in the lightweight category.
“I guess the time has really come…” Jiang Cheng chuckles to himself as he imagines the headlines about the fight of the century between the two best MMA fighters. “I hope you’re ready for it.”
Fighting in the ring is a piece of cake – Wei Wuxian belongs there like a fish to water. He is in his element as he strategically scans his opponent and exploits their weak points before KOing them and taking the title.
What he wasn’t ready for was the pre-fight interview, where it all went wrong.
Trash-talking each other during the press conference is a tradition in any competitive sport; a form of psychological warfare to hype your opponent and show them that you mean business. Wei Wuxian has mastered the art of rage-bating like it’s his side job, and Lan Wangji is notoriously known to be a silent adversary who barely utters one line and lets the other person do the talking.
But not with Wei Wuxian.
“This is finally the chance to prove that brains really win over brawn.” Wei Wuxian flashes his most charming smile as the cameras flash. “What’s the point of having all the arm muscle when you can’t use it, right?” Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli are standing behind him as support, and he definitely needs it when Lan Wangji (surprisingly) replies.
“These arms will be the thing that I use when I hold you down and fuck you in the ass.”
The cameras suddenly stop flashing as everyone wonders if they heard the right thing – did he really just say that?!
Wei Wuxian sneaks a glance up at Jiang Cheng, who looks equally confused and shakes his head for him to speak again.
“Urm… what an interesting way to get into your opponent’s head!” Wei Wuxian laughs awkwardly as he tries to dispel the tension in the room. “But trust, that won’t work on me!” His eyes scan the side for the host, his childhood best friend and celebrity, Nie Huaisang, but he is nowhere to be seen. If this is a prank set up by him, it’s not funny!
“That is why I will take Wei Ying out on a date at the fanciest restaurant, have some drinks and dessert, before I take you back to the hotel and –”
Don’t say it. Don’t say it. Don’t say it!
“Fuck you in the ass.”
The cameras stopped flashing again as everyone processed that they had heard the right thing the first time. Lan Wangji, a man of few words and a reputation as pure as jade but fortified like iron in the ring, actually swore in front of others and expressed his lustful desires for another player. Wei Wuxian tries to peek at the Lan coach, but the podium is in the way – why are they allowing this to happen?
“Y-you know, it’s very er, unbecoming of you to use my name like that.” What else was he supposed to say? Wei Wuxian can feel sweat beading at his hairline as his eyes dart to find someone to stop this, but there is none.
“We are closer than you think. Our souls have been searching for this moment to meet and let me fuck you raw in the ass.”
At this point, Wei Wuxian couldn’t keep it in and leaned over to Jiang Cheng, “What the fuck, man?!”
Jiang Cheng hisses back, equally confused, “The fuck do I know? Since when did he talk this much?”
“Oh, that’s the part you fixate on?”
Regardless of their bickering, Lan Wangji continues with an indifferent face and even tone of voice as if he’s not promising the most obscene, yet romantic future to his opponent.
“In the ring, I will hold Wei Ying down where our eyes will meet, and you will realise that our love is real.” He pauses to take a sip of water, and Wei Wuxian can already guess what comes next. “Then, he will turn over and let me fuck him in the ass.”
Having had enough, Wei Wuxian stands and makes a scene as Jiang Cheng and the other staff try to hold him back.
“Cut the crap! Your bullshit won’t work with me!” He screams to the other side of the podium. Shockingly again, Lan Wangji also rises and meets him square in the face. A part of Wie Wuxian fears that Lan Wangji would try to kiss him, but surely not? This position would be to his advantage since Wei Wuxian is the one who is being held back. “What the hell are you playing at?!”
Despite the noise around them as Wei Wuxian screams and hollers, everything goes silent as Lan Wangji replies.
“I promise Wei Ying that we will have many children, and live a long, happy life until the end of time.”
That’s not so bad –
“With me fucking you in the ass every day.”
“Motherfuc –”
*
Many things can be said about the fight, but no one can dare say that it wasn’t entertaining. Despite the first round ending in a tie, Wei Wuxian still felt like he was on the losing side for some reason.
He knew that the cards were against him with Lan Wangji being bigger and having more power, so he channelled that rage from the trash talk into a fierce determination to win. However, he didn’t expect to be pinned so many times.
Wei Wuxian would kick, but Lan Wangji would literally sweep him off his feet and flop him onto the floor. Things escalated when the man literally got on top of him, between the spread legs and held his arms above his head – while this is typical in MMA, but something about the knowledge of what Lan Wangji wants to do to him made Wei Wuxian weary. It completely threw him off his game, and his constant avoidance of being pinned meant he wasn’t strategising fast enough and nearly got KO-ed!
During these moments, their eyes locked multiple times, and Wei Wuxian felt something uneasy stirring in the pit of his stomach. Does Lan Wangji really love him as he claims? What a way to get into someone’s head…
During the mid-fight break, Jiang Yanli literally had to drag her brother into the green room or else a real fight would have broken out. She made sure to calm both siblings and made them promise not to retaliate in any way, shape or form.
“But Shijie, he humiliated me!” Wei Wuxian’s voice cracks as he points to the TV with the highlights of the fight. “Look – that’s the eyes of a depraved man right there!” He pauses where Lan Wangji had him pinned to the metal of the cage. If you squint hard, you might understand Wei Wuxian’s point, but in truth, no one can really tell what Lan Wangji is thinking most of the time. His face barely moves when fighting; the most expression is when he grits his teeth to overpower the opponent or a gasp when he takes one to the head.
“Yeah!” At least Jiang Cheng backs him up. “Does he think he can do whatever he wants just because he’s from a prestigious family?”
Jiang Yanli sighs as she tries not to roll her eyes, “It’s not about that. You two trash-talk all the time!”
“But I don’t say that I’d want to fuck his ass!” Wei Wuxian points to his brother. “I’d rather eat a dick!”
Jiang Cheng almost gags, “And I’d rather cut off mine!”
Both males shiver at the idea. At least there is something worse than getting fucked in the ass by Lan Wangji.
Putting on her sternest face, Jiang Yanli reiterates, “Do – not – seek – revenge!”, with each pause a flick to the forehead between the pair.
“Ow! Shijie, you said that kills brain cells!”
“If he loses anymore, he’ll die from stupidity!” Jiang Cheng hisses as he gets an extra one for bullying his brother.
Turning to Wei Wuxian, who is still busy studying every micro expression of Lan Wangji on the screen, Jiang Yanli puts on her firmest voice, “A-Xian, just focus on the fight – remember why you’re doing it.”
Initially, he was fighting for a charity that helps homeless children off the streets, but now he’s fighting for his reputation! How will the fans react if he loses to his long-time casual rival, Lan Wangji? Wei Wuxian’s face may be thick, but not enough to survive such embarrassment!