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Xichen was well aware that his brother and his brother’s boyfriend were loitering outside his bedroom door, contemplating asking him something.
He knew this because they were whisper-arguing rather loudly and not doing a good job of making sure he didn’t hear.
“ Lan Zhan, are you sure about this?”
“Yes, we can trust Xiong-Zhang.”
Now that piqued Xichen’s interest. He felt a swell of pride knowing that whatever Wangji was going through, he trusted his big brother enough to go to him for help.
“Are you two going to come in or not?” Xichen called, finally getting sick of the pair dithering outside his door.
He heard a brief whisper-shout of “oh crap, he heard us” from Wei Wuxian.
The door finally creaked open. Wangji stepped in first with Wei Wuxian following close behind, he was holding Wangji’s hand with a white-knuckle grip.
“Good evening boys, what can I help you with?” He asked kindly, sensing the sheer amount of nerves the two teenagers were carrying. He supposed he could take a short break from studying to help out two kids in need.
“Um, well.” Wangji and Wuxian seemed unsure of what to do with themselves, just standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.
“Please, take a seat.”
Wangji and Wei Wuxian sat down on his bed as Xichen repositioned his office chair so he was facing them instead of his desk.
“Xiong-Zhang…”
“Wangji,” Xichen prompted, smiling. What could they possibly have to ask him that could cause this much anxiety.
“Wei Ying and I were wondering if you could drive us to the store to pick up some things please.”
Xichen’s brow crinkled in confusion. Really, that was what his little brother was so scared to ask him? The way that Wei Wuxian was now chewing on the thumbnail on his free hand told him there was more to this story than they were letting on.
“Is that what you were arguing outside my door about asking me? Only, you seem quite anxious to be only asking for a lift. What is it that you so desperately need to buy at this hour?”
It wasn’t that late. But it was a kind of random time for a store run. It was getting dark out, meaning the boys probably didn’t want to walk there. Also, their uncle was away on a business trip at the moment and Wangji did not have his own car, so of course, the task of driving them would fall to Xichen.
Wangji and Wei Wuxian exchanged a long glance. Wangji’s expression was something between asking for permission to reveal something and urging Wei Wuxian to speak for himself.
Wei Wuxian let out a sigh and started picking at his sleeve, not meeting Xichen’s eyes.
“I need a pregnancy test,” he finally mumbled shyly, Xichen only just caught his words. “We think I might be pregnant, so we need to go buy a test. We’re asking you today so that I can take it before your uncle gets home.”
Xichen blinked. He looked back and forth between Wangji and Wuxian. Right. He hadn’t been expecting that.
“Ah, I see.”
Xichen took a few moments to collect his thoughts. His eyes kept flickering back to the sight of the two teenagers sat in front of him. Wangji had placed his other hand on top of Wei Wuxian’s and was caressing him reassuringly.
He supposed this shouldn’t come as much of a shock. He knew that his little brother was an alpha with an omega boyfriend. Wangji and Wei Wuxian had been in a relationship for over a year now and were still extremely smitten with each other (which he loved to tease Wangji about). Xichen wasn’t oblivious or stupid, he knew that they were likely in an intimate relationship, as much as it pained him to think about his baby brother in that kind of situation. All-in-all, it wasn’t uncommon for something like this to have happened; even sensible people like Wangji had accidents sometimes.
“Thank you for trusting me, first of all, and secondly, what makes you think that you’re pregnant? If you don’t mind me asking.” Might as well put all that studying to good use , Xichen thought to himself.
“My heat’s late; I should be in pre-heat by now but there’s no sign of it coming.”
“You’ve had none of your usual pre-heat symptoms?”
“None, meaning it’s either super late or I’m pregnant-- and it’s never late, I’m super regular. Sorry, you probably don’t need so much information.”
“Wuxian, I’m a med student, I can handle TMI.”
“Yeah but surely it’s weird when your brother’s involved,” Wuxian muttered.
He wasn’t wrong exactly, it was a little awkward to hear that his younger brother might have gotten someone pregnant. But still, they needed his help right now, not his judgement.
“I’m willing to bear that burden in order to help you.”
“You’ll drive us?”
“Of course I will, go get your shoes on, let’s go see if my didi knocked you up,” he teased.
He heard Wei Wuxian giggle as Wangji quickly ushered him out of the room in embarrassment.
-----
Xichen waited in the car whilst the boys went into the store. He noticed the protective hand Wangji kept on the small of his boyfriend’s back as they went to purchase the scandalous item. He had to admit, it was quite endearing getting to witness his little brother lean into his protective alpha instincts. He had no doubt that Wangji would make a wonderful mate someday (probably for Wei Wuxian, let's be realistic).
When they returned, Wangji was carrying a shopping bag and Wei Wuxian had his hood up and his bangs pulled forward, obscuring his features.
“Is the disguise really necessary, Wuxian?” he asked jokingly.
“I’m not taking any chances, Madam Yu’s got friends all over this city and they love to gossip.”
“Does the fact that you were with me not give away who you are?” asked Wangji.
“Maybe they’ll think you’re cheating on me with some random, faceless omega,” Wei Wuxian teased with a mock gasp.
In response, Wangji simply took Wei Wuxian’s hand in his and very seriously replied “never.”
Wei Wuxian immediately curled in on himself, as he always seemed to whenever Wangji said anything particularly loving to him.
Lan Xichen simply shook his head fondly, put the car into reverse and took them home.
-----
Whilst Wei Wuxian was in the bathroom, presumably peeing on the sticks, Xichen used the time to needle his brother for information.
“Wangji.”
“Xiong-Zhang."
“What will you do if it’s positive?”
“I will support Wei Ying in whatever course of action he chooses.”
“And if he chooses to keep the baby?”
“Then I will take responsibility.”
Xichen wrapped his arm around Wangji and ruffled his hair affectionately. He was not at all surprised by Wangji’s answer.
“Ah Wangji, always a perfect gentleman.”
Wangji blushed.
“I only try to do what’s right.”
“You really love him don’t you?”
Wangji nodded.
“Thank you for trusting me with this, Wangji.”
“I knew you would help.”
“I will continue to, regardless of the outcome.”
The brothers’ quiet moment was broken by the sound of Wei Ying’s footsteps careering down the hall from the bathroom.
“I’m not pregnant, Lan Zhan!” he all but yells from the other side of the house.
Wei Ying was panting by the time he got back to the living room. Wangji was up and at his boyfriend’s side immediately, gently taking the tests in his hands to see for himself.
“They’re all negative; I’m not pregnant! False alarm, I guess.” He leaned into Wangji’s side and pressed his face into his shoulder as he attempted to get his breath back. “God, this has been a stressful evening for nothing then.”
Wangji wrapped an arm around his boyfriend to steady him.
“Mn, this was quite anti-climactic, still probably for the best though.”
“Oh yeah totally, I am a mess of a human right now, totally not child safe.”
“Wei Ying is not a mess.”
“You’re just saying that because you love me.”
“Both can be true.”
Xichen sighed. His brother sure had it bad.
“I would congratulate you in some way, but I’m not sure what the appropriate word would be to say to someone getting a negative result.”
“Thanks for all your help, Xichen-ge! I guess you’re not gonna be an uncle any time soon.”
“I’m sure you and my didi will give me the opportunity eventually,” Xichen smirked, reveling in the fluster of the two teenagers. “Maybe try and finish school first though boys, I’m not desperate for a repeat of this evening any time soon.”
Wei Wuxian buried his face in his hands and whined. Wangji rubbed his boyfriend’s shoulders comfortingly but looked just as embarrassed.
“You’re never gonna let us live this down are you?”
“Wuxian, I have such little blackmail material against my brother, I have to grab every bit I can get.”
“Eh, don’t tease Lan Zhan too hard though, we’re equally to blame.”
“Okay, but as his older brother and as a future doctor, I do have to request that you two make sure to take precautions to avoid future scares.
They both blushed red again.
“Agh, we’ll be safe, we promise,” Wei Wuxian whined.
“Didi?” Xichen looked at Wangji expectantly.
“We will be responsible, Xiong-Zhang.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Xichen took this as his cue to give the pair some time alone and headed back to his studies.
“Ah, now if only I could do something about the noise whenever Wangji’s boyfriend stays over,” he thought out loud, just loud enough that the couple in question could hear him.
He heard Wangji take a sharp breath whilst Wei Wuxian muttered: “he’s onto us, Lan Zhan!”
Ah being an older brother is such fun .