grow as we go

the finals thing

(prequel to “sun sun days”)

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Jiang Cheng is tired. It is a weekend. He woke up early in the morning after only 2 hours of sleep, got to work, and now it’s nighttime and he’s still going. His final project is not even close to done. Maybe the codes and programming parts are almost there, but he still has to write documentation for the whole thing after that. He is running on coffee and energy drinks.

He’ll eat dinner eventually, he thinks. When Wei Ying gets home. With dinner. Earlier, Jiang Cheng had told his brother that he’s too busy to cook, and so Wei Ying said he’ll buy him some takeout on his way home from his part-time job. So now Jiang Cheng just waits.

Yes, Wei Ying has time for a part-time job. Because Wei Ying is already finished with his finals thing. Because he’s insane.

Jiang Cheng is very much not insane. So here he is. Struggling.

Man, he’s hungry. He bites on his cereal bar that he’s been picking up now and again for the past hour, when he remembers that he has it. It keeps him going, but he’d really like some dinner soon.

Five minutes ago, he got a text from Nie Huaisang asking him how he’s holding up, with lots of puppy-eyes, fire, and heart emojis.

He is worried, probably, because Jiang Cheng’s last message in the group chat was a long rant about deadlines, jerk professors, college, stupid classmates, documentation standards, how convenience store food sucks, bubble tea, anime season release schedules, how he can’t find the fruit-and-nut cereal bars anywhere and had to settle for the peanut butter ones, and a random piece of trivia about cats.

All of that in a single message in response to Nie Huaisang sharing a cute picture of Nie Mingjue’s new pet kitten.

Yeah, maybe Nie Huaisang is right to worry and send him all those emojis. That did kinda sound like a mental breakdown.

Maybe it was.

Jiang Cheng hasn’t seen him in a week, maybe more. Understandable. Nie Huaisang has his own finals thing. Jiang Cheng does kinda feel guilty that he hasn’t asked him about it, though he’s positive that his best friend must be having a better time than Jiang Cheng is, right now. Nie Huaisang would surely be whining in the group chat more if he isn’t.

Dammit. Now he misses Nie Huaisang. If he were here, he’d probably sit with Jiang Cheng and poke at him while he’s working and try to get him to take a break. Maybe even a nap. Jiang Cheng probably will take a nap, specially if Nie Huaisang were to join him, all warm and snuggly, making Jiang Cheng once again think about how maybe he should finally tell his best friend that he wants to kiss him.

Shit. Now he wants to kiss Nie Huaisang. Granted, that’s a thought he’s been having on and off for a while, but now he’s distracted by it, of all the things to be distracted by. Fantastic. He needs his brain to code.

Now he remembers that Wei Ying has started annoying him about it too, these past few months, after the many times he walked in on them… cuddling. Jiang Cheng just scowled everytime, and pointed out that his brother cuddles Nie Huaisang too, sometimes, and Wei Ying laughed at his face and said, “Sure, but I don’t play with his hair while I watch him sleep.”

And. Okay, he got Jiang Cheng there.

”Just ask him out already.” Wei Ying told him the other day, for once not teasing. “He probably likes you back, why else is he always here in our terrible apartment? It’s A-Sang. We don’t have good air conditioning. The only reason he’s willingly staying over is out of sheer love for you, I bet.”

His brother is right. The apartment is terrible. And they should get the AC fixed.

Also, that Jiang Cheng should just get his shit together and ask Nie Huaisang out.

Maybe he will.

After this finals thing. Fuck this finals thing, seriously. But he needs it to graduate, so. He’s stuck. With the finals thing.

Yeah, he can do this. Finish the thing. Then tell Nie Huaisang he likes him.

Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath. He got distracted there, but he needs to focus up now. Anyway, he’d already sent a message back to Nie Huaisang saying that he’s fine and he’ll come hang out once he’s done with this project. He meant that. He will hang out with someone after this. If only for his sanity.

Slowly but steadily, he gets back on task, gains momentum, and finally finds his focus again. He finds himself quietly, nicely productive for another hour, just on his laptop typing, methodically taking down and going through written notes, when he hears the apartment door open and close.

Ah. Must be Wei Ying. Finally.

“You’re late.” he calls out to his brother, without really looking up from his laptop because he is making good progress.

There’s no reply, but he does hear the familiar sound of bags on the counter.

“Hey, y’know, that thing we were talking about the other day?” Jiang Cheng continues, as he leans back on his chair and stretches his arms. “You win. I’ll go and ask A-Sang out. Not right now, but. I guess after I’m done with this? If I ever get done with this-”

“Oh? Why not right now?” asks the voice that is very much not Wei Ying.

Jiang Cheng almost falls over his chair when he whirls around to see Nie Huaisang standing by his bedroom doorway.

“Shit- What the fuck?! What’re you doing here?”

Nie Huaisang blinks at him, a small grin tugging at his lips. “I brought you dinner?” he says, lifting a big takeout bag on his hand.

Jiang Cheng stares at the bag, and then at Nie Huaisang.

Oh, no. Nie Huaisang looks very cute. It’s those new glasses, Jiang Cheng thinks. They’re round and they make his eyes look big and shiny. He is wearing Jiang Cheng’s hoodie. The one with the Dragon Ball Z print on it. Why is he wearing Jiang Cheng’s hoodie? When did he even- Why are his shorts so tiny? It’s probably cold out, and he gets chilly easy, he’s gonna get sick- No, wait-

“W-Where’s Wei Ying?” he remembers to ask.

“At work.” Nie Huaisang answers. “He said the guy for the next shift called in sick and he has to cover for ‘em, so he’s got a few more hours left. He asked me if I can bring you dinner and check if you’re still breathing. And you are! So that’s good.”

He smiles, bright and cheerful. Jiang Cheng doesn’t know if it’s the hunger or if he really is glowing.

“I-… Okay.” Jiang Cheng looks away, and finally goes back to sitting on his chair properly instead of clinging to it like a madman. “Thanks… I guess.”

And of course, instead of being a nice person, Nie Huaisang leans casually against the doorframe, and decidedly doesn’t give Jiang Cheng his dinner. His dinner that he can smell now, and it smells really good-

“So what’s this I heard about asking me out?” Nie Huaisang asks, like he’s just asking for the Wi-Fi password.

Jiang Cheng turns back to his laptop. “Uh. When did I say that? I said, um-… I said hang out. I said I’ll hang out with you, after I finish my finals thing. Like I already texted-”

A sigh. “A-Cheng, why do you even try… You are a very bad liar…” Nie Huaisang says, sounding very very sad for him.

Jiang Cheng huffs. “What- I’m not-”

Now Jiang Cheng curses the fact that his chair has wheels, because Nie Huaisang then proceeds to grab it by the armrest and turn it around so Jiang Cheng is facing him again.

“Okay.” Nie Huaisang says, leaning down to look at him properly and frowning at what he sees. “You look terrible. That won’t do.” He declares, before assessing the mess in Jiang Cheng’s desk. He takes the mugs of coffee, the cans of energy drinks, the empty cup of instant ramen from lunch and the half-eaten cereal bar. “I am taking all of these. No more of these.”

Then he walks out the room with his arms full, still not giving Jiang Cheng his dinner. So Jiang Cheng stands up and follows him, watching helplessly as Nie Huaisang sets the mugs on the sink and disposes the trash. Before he could say anything, Nie Huaisang turns to him and grabs his arm and then drags him towards the couch.

“Sit.” Nie Huaisang says.

“What-” he resists, but then Nie Huaisang tugs at his arm and pouts – so he rolls his eyes. “Fine.”

Jiang Cheng sits down on the couch, and then his brain short circuits when Nie Huaisang sits down on him, straddling his lap, hands firm on his shoulders.

“Uh- What are you-”

Nie Huaisang just looks at him like this is a very normal thing to do. It is very not. Jiang doesn’t know where to put his hands, for one. Luckily, Nie Huaisang notices the pathetic hovering right away and takes Jiang Cheng’s hands in his own instead.

“A-Cheng,” he starts, looking straight at Jiang Cheng. He doesn’t sound angry, or upset – if anything, his voice is gentle, curious. “What are you waiting for?”

Jiang Cheng looks down, at their joint hands. “What… are we talking about…?”

“Why do you need to finish your finals thingy before asking me out?” Nie Huaisang asks.

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng lets out a breath, and then shrugs. “I… wasn’t really- It just- I dunno, I thought, it’d be a good thing to do if I survive.”

That prompts a surprised laugh out of Nie Huaisang, and he peers at Jiang Cheng’s face, smile soft. “It’s that horrible, really?” Then he lets go of one of Jiang Cheng’s hands so he can stroke Jiang Cheng’s hair instead, tucking strands behind his ear. “Are you okay?”

Jiang Cheng takes a second to ponder that question. After that second, he gives in to temptation and leans forward to rest his head on Nie Huaisang’s shoulder.

“Yeah.” he says, voice muffled against his hoodie that Nie Huaisang had stolen from him somehow. “I’m just tired. And hungry. But I’m doing it. It’s just… lots of work. I’ll get it done. Soon. Then I can graduate. And also maybe kiss you. If you want.”

“Hm. Okay.” Nie Huaisang stays still and steady against Jiang Cheng’s weight, and continues to stroke his hair.

Jiang Cheng just sighs as he wraps his arms around Nie Huaisang’s waist, pulling him closer. He just hugs him, because he’s soft and warm, and he smells like berries.

“Hey, you know you can kiss me without a diploma, right?” Nie Huaisang asks, teasing.

Jiang Cheng groans. “Your brother would disagree. Probably won’t allow anyone to date you unless they can provide for you until retirement or some shit.”

“Yeah, okay, don’t bring him into this. You know he’s ridiculous.” Nie Huaisang laughs, and nudges Jiang Cheng slightly so he’ll lift his head and look back at him. “So you like me?”

“I guess.” Jiang Cheng says. “I’ll like you more if you finally let me eat. Wait- So you do like me back? Seriously?”

“Uh, why do you think I’m on your lap?”

He thinks about it for a second, then says, “Intimidation tactic?”

“You’re being really dumb. I don’t know how you can do your code thingies while you’re being this dumb… but I forgive you because I just saw what you’ve been eating and drinking all day.” Nie Huaisang says, voice filled with concern as his hands cup Jiang Cheng’s cheeks. “Please go back to being smart. You’re really hot when you’re smart.”

Jiang Cheng scoffs. “Ew.”

Nie Huaisang pouts, offended. “Don’t ‘ew’ me, I’m flirting with you! I thought you liked me!”

Damn, Jiang Cheng really needs to eat. “Oh. Yeah, I guess I should be happy about that. I’m gonna have to do like, a reassessment of our whole friend thing.”

Nie Huaisang’s expression softens at that, and he smiles a small, light smile. “Hey, you’re still my best friend.”

“Sure.”

“I also really want to kiss you.”

“Yeah, exactly. Like that. I-”

Any remaining thought in Jiang Cheng’s brain goes and poofs out of existence when Nie Huaisang wraps his arms around his neck and kisses him on the lips.

Well, one thought remains, and that thought is the one that tells him that he should return the kiss, so he does. He closes his eyes and presses closer. When Nie Huaisang draws away for breath, Jiang Cheng pulls him back and steals another kiss, making him laugh, and they kiss again.

There is no tension in these kisses, no heavy charge, no surprise intensity. They’re just… sweet, and relaxed, and maybe a little sleepy, from Jiang Cheng’s side. Like they’ve always done this, like it’s just what happens when they’re together like this.

Jiang Cheng should’ve done this sooner.

Finally, Nie Huaisang stops one of his kisses with a finger to his lips, smiling. “Are you done re-assessing yet?”

Jiang Cheng snorts, but he offers Nie Huaisang an easy shrug. “I guess so, yeah. You didn’t give me much of a choice there, didn’t you?”

“Nope. Not when you’re being dumb and crashing out.” Nie Huaisang laughs. He pokes Jiang Cheng’s nose before getting off his lap and pulling at his hands. “Okay, let’s get some actual food in you so you can go back to being hot and smart, yeah?”

He is beaming as he drags Jiang Cheng towards the kitchen, where Jiang Cheng can once again smell the delicious takeout.

“Do you want me to stay over? I have my stuff with me, I can work on my own final project here. I can also make you take breaks so you don’t, like, die. Or go crazy. We can’t have that.”

Nie Huaisang rambles on, as he sits Jiang Cheng down on the dining table and rifles through the takeout bag-

“Do you wanna make out? We should make out, we’ve been like so wholesome this entire time- Oh, also I’m playing that game you made me play and I’m stuck and I need you to get me un-stuck-”

Jiang Cheng just nods, and nods… and nods. “Okay. Yes to all of those. Food first.”

“Right! Fair. Food first!”

Jiang Cheng finally eats dinner, and Nie Huaisang finishes his half-eaten peanut butter cereal bar because he actually likes peanut butter. He tells Jiang Cheng they can look for fruit-and-nut ones together tomorrow. Jiang Cheng feels alive again by the time Nie Huaisang is forbidding him from any more coffee or energy drink for the night.

That’s fair too, Jiang Cheng thinks. Any more of those things and he might die. And he can’t die yet. He has to finish his finals thing, and make out with Nie Huaisang. Not necessarily in that order, but hey, things to look forward to.

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When Jiang Cheng goes to bed at 3 AM, Nie Huaisang is already there, asleep. It is not a big bed, so they’d have to sleep practically on top of each other. Jiang Cheng is not complaining.

“Mm… Are you done?” Nie Huaisang asks, barely awake, somehow still smelling like berries even though he is now wearing that Totoro onesie that Jiang Cheng hasn’t taken out from his closet after he wore it as his costume last Halloween.

Jiang Cheng just holds him close and nods. “Yeah, mostly. Gonna finish for real tomorrow.”

“Good job. Proud of you.” Nie Huaisang mumbles, and then falls back asleep.

Jiang Cheng sighs, drops a kiss to his new boyfriend’s forehead, and closes his eyes to finally sleep.

Yeah. He should’ve done this sooner.

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fin.