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The bleachers shook, feet pounding like thunder and voices calling out across the field. Not that the players could hear over the blood rushing through their ears. The ball pinged from foot to foot and back again, flying down the field. Wei Wuxian cushioned the ball against the inside of his foot, receiving the pass smoothly. Cheers increased to a roar as he cut past the defender and had a clean shot on the goal.
The satisfying smack as he hit the ball perfectly against his laces gave him a shiver of satisfaction and his eyes followed the arcing path of the ball for a moment…before a flash of white uniform cut across him. Instead of hitting the net, the ball thudded heavily against the chest of none other than the (in)famous Lan Wangji.
Wei Wuxian couldn’t keep from scowling at the perfectly impassive face of the opposing centerback as he almost casually maneuvered the ball back into play to his own midfield. Ever since Wei Wuxian had snuck in that cheeky chip past the Zephyr backline in their first match of the season and scored the winning goal, the team's captain had been hounding his every step. Where did he even come from? Wei Wuxian could have sworn he’d gotten a clean break from the backline off Jiang Cheng’s excellent cross, but that’s how it always felt. Somehow, Lan Wangji was just…there.
For the briefest of moments, those gold-flecked eyes met his and Wei Wuxian was ice cold. Then he was sprinting to rejoin the game, calling encouragement to his teammates as the Zephyr offense made a quick counter attack. It didn’t seem to help much, as not a minute later the ball struck the back of the Sharks net. The first and only goal of the game.
**************************************************
Tears stung at the edges of his eyes as Wei Wuxian stood on the line with his teammates, Jiang Cheng’s muffled sobs in front of him as they waited to shake hands with the other team. It sucked to be knocked out in the first round of playoffs, but to the Gusu Zephyrs at that? The Academy of Yunmeng was no slouch and the Sharks had put up a great fight, but it counted for nothing when you lost.
Long, slender fingers slipped into his hand and Wei Wuxian turned to look at Lan Wangji.
“Good game.”
It seemed to Wei Wuxian that the taller boy held his handshake for a moment longer than the others, but it could have just been his imagination. Jiang Fengmian ushered the team off the field, and Wei Wuxian put his arm around Jiang Cheng’s shoulders as they marched off to the locker room trying to hold their heads high.
As they entered the safety of the locker room, Jiang Cheng turned and grabbed Wei Wuxian’s collar, slamming his back against the door.
“Didn’t you want this?! Why couldn’t you just get it in the back of the net, Wei Ying?!”
Putting his hands over his brothers, Wei Wuxian forced Jiang Cheng to release him, shoving the boy off him. His own tears had left tracks on his face, but his eyes were dried with shock.
“Of course I did! I gave my everything out there, just like everyone else did!”
His purple uniform was covered in dirt and grass stains from taking on defenders on the ground and in the air, fighting for every chance at the ball. He never fought dirty, but that didn’t mean he didn’t fight rough. Jiang Cheng just stared at him, tears still coursing down his cheeks and teeth gritted in rage.
Through the haze of his own emotions, Wei Wuxian knew that Jiang Cheng wasn’t truly blaming him- just looking for someone, anyone, to really blame. But really, the Institute of Gusu was simply better today. That didn’t make the loss sting any less, especially not for the newly minted captain. The armband on Jiang Cheng’s bicep seemed to weigh him down. Eventually, he turned away to undress and prepare to head home.
Wei Wuxian peeled the sweaty jersey over his head, replacing it with a clean sweatshirt, mind occupied replaying every moment he had on the ball. He’d only gotten a handful of shots on goal, and the goalkeeper only touched it once because Lan Wangji was in front of it every other time. Usually Wei Wuxian had the footwork skills to get around defenders, but Lan Wangji never fell for his feints or tricks, never made the mistake he could usually count on happening. So Wei Wuxian had gone for the distance approach, coming in from the outside wings and getting the ball from down the line or crosses.
Even then though, Lan Wangji seemed to always outmaneuver him, whether or not the rest of the backline was there. There was no denying that the Hanguang Jun of Gusu was a brilliant player. The rest of the team was great too, but having a solid backbone of a player like Lan Wangji in the position of captain and centerback provided that touch of incredible ability.
Wei Wuxian cursed softly beneath his breath as he trotted out to the bus after his teammates, the stadium quiet now that the crowd had dispersed. The first few fat raindrops hit the windows as he took his seat for the short trip back to Yunmeng, headphones blaring to avoid the sounds of everyone else on the bus. Jiang Cheng still wouldn’t look at him; it’d be at least a week before his temper came back under control.
At least with his headphones on he wouldn’t be able to hear any of the pointed remarks his brother had a habit of making when he was angry. The window was cool beneath Wei Wuxian’s forehead, the rain distorting his reflection as he looked out at the passing background, thoughts emptying to focus only inside. His body ached; nice as the showers at the Gusu Institute were, his team had needed to rush to get back on the road. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary thank goodness- maybe a bruise on his side, from where he and Lan Wangji had crashed while going up for a header in front of the net. The tall boy's elbow had dug between his ribs, knocking him down and completing a successful clearance.
I wonder what’s in the water at Gusu anyways- they’re all like ridiculously well-mannered super mutants or something…
The whole team was stoic and serious. Until the first time he’d played against them back in his freshman year, he hadn’t thought it possible for a team to have such control over themselves. There was always at least one hothead- for example, the Sharks had Jiang Cheng- but somehow Gusu had gotten away with a group of the calmest high school boys in the world.
Well. Calm meantt most of them- but Lan Wangji was still on another level even then. The rest of them made at least a facial expression from time to time, whereas their captain made none. No smile at a goal, no grimace of pain, no glare of frustration. He was like a marble statue brought to life everywhere but his face! Next time they faced one another, Wei Wuxian promised himself he’d figure out the button he needed to press to get the prick to react.
*********************************
“What do you mean you’re leaving for the summer?” Jiang Cheng demanded, ball forgotten at his feet.
Early summer sun was beating down on them, the gentle lap of waves in the distance making the background music of Lotus Pier. The river city wasn’t particularly large, but it sure was a beautiful place to grow up. Wei Wuxians’ hair still gleamed with water droplets from his dip in the river, wet footsteps leading from the family’s private pier to where he stood on the deck that marked the beginning of the landscaped backyard.
Wei Wuxian tamped down on his own excitement and tried to look more apologetic. “I’ve been invited to a club tryout- nothing amazing, and there’s no guarantee I’ll make the team. More likely I’ll go for the tryout week and be back before you’ve missed me!” He pasted on his usual charming smile, hoping Jiang Cheng wouldn’t think to ask more questions.
The YDSCC, Youth Development Soccer Cultivation Conference, was an exclusive summer program- the teams were made up of invited players from all over the region, the best there was. There was a week of tryouts where they whittled out two thirds of the invitees, and the remainder were placed on teams to compete and hone their skills. College, semi-pro, and professional scouts were a frequent presence there- and despite what he was telling his brother, Wei Wuxian had high hopes for actually getting on one of those teams.
He was so lucky Jiang Yanli, beloved sister that she was, had thought to bring the invitation letter directly to him in private.
“You need to tell A-Cheng,” she had said after handing him the letter, a soft smile on her face. “He’ll be happy for you- regardless of if he gets an invite or not.”
Standing before his brother now, Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure he agreed with her sentiments. After the season had ended with such heavy disappointment, Jiang Cheng eventually got himself back to a state of equilibrium and threw the whole team into rigorous training sessions- and planned a summer program he expected the whole team to participate in. And the face he was making at this moment was not giving Wei Wuxian positive vibes about the whole deal.
After a sharpened silence and incredulous brow raising, Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and started shuffling the ball between his feet. “I guess it’s fine. No slacking off though! I expect you to be back in top shape after you wash out of tryouts.” A few of his bangs had come out of his bun, shielding his eyes from Wei Wuxian.
Despite hoping for a more enthusiastic consent, Wei Wuxian just sighed in relief and gave his brother a smirk, before diving to try and take the ball from him. The two jostled back and forth, ball firmly in one or the other's possession for only a few seconds before changing hands (or rather, feet) again. It wasn’t the refined play of two high level high school players, but the rough and tumble joy of play between siblings- the most natural thing in the world.
The sun was setting by the time Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng decided to head inside, arms wrapped around each other, dirt and grass in their hair and on their clothes, and massive smiles on their faces. They were back on the same page again, and Wei Wuxian felt a great swell of affection for his sibling. His smile only cowed in the face of Madam Yu- Jiang Fengmian’s wife.
Wei Wuxian did not complain about his lot in life. He was happy and profoundly lucky. Sure, his parents had died when he was but a babe; and sure, he had spent a terrible first few years of life in and out of horrid foster homes. But Jiang Fenmian had adopted him into his family, and they’d all melded well over the years- thicker than blood was their bond. To all except for Madam Yu.
She gave the boys a look as they entered the sliding doors, tracking dirt onto the tile. Her look to Jiang Cheng was severe, but absolutely withering when she turned to Wei Wuxian.
“Dragging him through the mud again, are you? And bringing it into my house too. Will you never learn respect?” Her voice was pure ice, prickling over his skin as he pulled his arm off of Jiang Cheng, head bowed in contrition.
“No, Madam Yu. We were only playing-”
“I did not ask for excuses!” She sharply retorted, turning back to Jiang Cheng. “Go upstairs and get ready for bed. Take those cleats off here- no need to track filth any further than the entryway.”
Jiang Cheng eyed his mother and then Wei Wuxian warily; he looked as if he was about to say something, before bending to take off his shoes with an apologetic look to his brother.
After Jiang Cheng had trudged up the steps, Madam Yu turned back to Wei Wuxian, lip curled in distaste. “I don’t know why you insist on defacing our hospitality with your actions, but do not drag my son down with you.”
Wei Wuxian flinched a little as she brought her hand up, expecting a slap across his cheek. But she stood straighter, the ghost of a cruel smile on her face. “Clean this up,” she said curtly, turning away from him in a clear dismissal.
It didn’t matter what he did; according to Madam Yu, he would never be anything more than a burden on the home and a disgrace to the Jiang family legacy. It was only Jiang Fengmians good manners and open heart that led to Wei Wuxian being here in the first place. No matter the strong bonds he’d formed with her two children, whom she doted upon and expected great things from, Madam Yu had never and would never care about Wei Wuxian in any sort of positive way.
After twenty minutes of cleaning, Wei Wuxian finally made his way up the steps for a quick shower to head to bed himself. His sister hadn’t said it, but he knew not to mention the nature of his leaving for the summer to Madam Yu. When she found out that her son had not also been invited, she would insist that he refuse to go, step aside unless Jiang Cheng had the equal opportunity. It was like that in everything- he could never outshine her son or make him feel less than- and Wei Wuxian generally was just fine with that. He wanted nothing more than to give his brother the best and knew that Jiang Cheng was a great player in and of himself, no matter what.
But this was…different. Over the last year, his school had started shifting the students' focus for life beyond childhood. Nearly eighteen, he was only just beginning to see possibilities beyond life at home with the Jiangs. Jiang Fengmian had subtly offered him a position under him as part of the coaching staff at the high school, but only after college. And Madam Yu actually didn’t seem to care what he did after he graduated, so long as he was out of her hair.
So what did that really mean for him? It meant he could do whatever he wanted; and that meant pursuing his one joy in life- soccer! He wanted to be like the national team players he admired, or the Premier League superstars, the La Liga masters! He wasn’t as foolish as some of his teammates, who had grand dreams of becoming the best in the world. No, he wanted to make a job doing what he loved and being able to see the world. Professional players got to travel and live all over the world- being adored and providing inspiration to other kids like himself was a perk.
And the YDSCC was the best opportunity to begin that journey in earnest. Of course he would have been just as happy if Jiang Cheng had gotten an invitation, if not even more overjoyed. But he would not let go of the opportunity just because Jiang Cheng did not also receive the same chance.
**************************************************
The day had finally arrived; it had been a long two weeks since he first received the invitation, and Wei Wuxian now stood in his room with two fully packed bags and his lucky ball bouncing casually on his foot. Jiang Cheng was leaning against his bedroom door frame, a tiny smile curving his lips.
“You look ridiculous, Wei Ying,” he muttered, flicking Wei Wuxian’s worn down ball cap. There was no malice in the words, and his hand was gentle as it patted Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. “You’re going to be awesome.”
Wei Wuxian gave his brother a grin, wrapping his arms around the young man's middle and lifting him with a delighted chuckle. Jiang Cheng’s arms wrapped around his shoulders, his own laughter joining in. There was no more need for words. Jiang Cheng struggled with his own issues sometimes, but he always came around in the end. And now, he was in full support of his brother.
“C’mon, I’ll go with you to the train station,” Jiang Cheng said as Wei Wuxian finally set him down, grabbing one of his brother's bags off the bed.
A small knock sounded on the doorframe, and they turned to see Jiang Yanli standing in the doorway with a smile and a packed lunch in hand. “I’m coming too, A-Xian. Mother’s out for the day- we should be all clear,” she finished with a conspiratorial wink.
The three siblings headed towards the station arm-in-arm, laughing and chatting in that light way that only came from long held companionship. Yanli generally let the two brothers speak, but she spoke with animation about her upcoming recital. It was near the end of the summer, after the camp should be over and Wei Wuxian was looking forward to it.
Jiang Yanli’s passion was dancing; she’d learned a number of styles, but preferred ballet above most. She performed regularly with a troupe in Lotus Pier during the summer, before going back to her college campus in Lanling the rest of the year, where she was studying dance and music. Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng had tried to visit their sister during the school year, but she was more than a little private about her studies and personal life.
Wei Wuxian often wondered if there was something she wasn’t telling them, but his shije had always been a private person. He just hoped that she knew she could talk to them if she ever needed to.
The casual chatter filled their trip, Jiang Cheng talking animatedly about his program, Wei Wuxian teasing him for taking summer too seriously, and Yanli encouraging them both the whole way. It was with a cheerful heart that Wei Wuxian hugged his siblings and boarded the train to take off for the Conference.
*****************************************************************
“What do you mean you won’t let me in? I was INVITED!” Wei Wuxian complained at the front of the gated complex, the gate guard shaking his head with an annoyed sigh.
“Look kid, I’d love to let you in. I believe you- but the Chairman was very specific about bringing your invite with you to the gate to get in. I can’t let you in without it- period.” The guard turned away, heading back into his little gatehouse and ignoring Wei Wuxian’s raised middle finger at his back.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Wei Wuxian muttered under his breath, running frustrated hands through his hair and pulling on his ponytail. He’d gotten to the gate, perhaps a little later than the requested arrival time of six-thirty, but confident nonetheless that he had everything he needed. Until he reached into his pocket and found it empty. He’d dumped out all of his luggage, nearly stripped out of his clothes, searching for his invite letter, with no luck.
He swore he must have packed it, and was absolutely positive it was in his pocket when he left home, but that didn’t make it suddenly appear. Of course he’d be invited the year the conference was being held in Gusu, home of the most ridiculous rule-following saps in history, and he was locked out of the state-of-the-art sports complex.
Picking up his bags, he considered his options- find somewhere to stay the night, with no money, and hope someone came out of the complex the next day to verify his story; go home on the train and try to explain how spectacularly he’d failed without ever trying out; or wait for nightfall, and sneak over the fence. Obviously, there was only one of those that was viable; turning back to the road, Wei Wuxian headed for a nearby park to wait for the sun to set.
************************************************************
Moonlight peaked through passing clouds as Wei Wuxian made his way to the wooded side of the fenceline, out of sight of the gatehouse. It was a metal fence with sharp points on top, but some careful maneuvering should get him over. He chucked his bags over the fence, which landed with a soft thump on the manicured lawn of the property. Taking a few steps back, he ran at the fence and vaulted over the top, landing with a thud on the ground on the other side.
Rolling with a groan up onto his hands and knees, he opened his eyes to a pair of bare feet and a ball standing in front of him. His eyes trailed up a long pair of muscular legs in black shorts, a broad torso covered in a white tank top, and the impassive face of Lan Wangji looking down at him.
It took Wei Wuxian a moment to snap his dropped jaw shut and give the taller boy a roguish wink, moving to stand and brush himself off. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re here,” he said cheerily, picking up his bags. Lan Wangji hadn’t moved, only watched as Wei Wuxian gathered his things. “Was the bonding exercise fun without me?”
“You shouldn’t be here.” The tall boy spoke with a quiet authority, deep and smooth- Wei Wuxian realized he’d never heard Lan Wangji speak before, and thus it took him a second to process what was said.
“What do you mean? I was invited too, y’know. Though I lost my letter somewhere on the train I think.” He smiled at the boy, who continued to look at him with an increasingly deep furrow in his brow.
“I know you were invited. You didn’t check in through the proper means; by default, your invitation is revoked.” Lan Wangji’s voice was even, matter-of-fact in this declaration.
Wei Wuxian stared at him for a moment, before bursting into laughter. An obnoxious belly laugh that doubled him over for a minute, oblivious to the hard setting line of Lan Wangji’s lips and the barest pink tinge at the tips of his ears.
He stood back up, still chuckling and sighing deeply. “You’re actually really funny, Gusu Jade King. That deadpan delivery is impressive.”
There was a long pause with no response.
“You can’t be serious,” Wei Wuxian sighed, rocking on his heels. “They can’t be that strict- it’s not my fault the invitation vanished from my pocket.”
Lan Wangji’s eyes only narrowed; it was pretty obvious he did see the missing invitation as entirely Wei Wuxian’s fault. Twirling a finger in his hair, Wei Wuxian looked up at the sky for inspiration. There was always a way out, a loophole, something to get him exactly where he wanted to be. He dropped his eyes back down to the ball at Lan Wangi’s feet, a slow smile creeping across his features.
“I have the perfect solution for this,” he said, grinning and kicking off his own shoes and socks until they were both standing barefoot in the grass. “Let’s play a friendly game of keepaway. You win- I’ll hop back over that fence and go back home. If I win, you vouch for my invitation and I join the tryouts.”
There was the barest roll of the eyes, and Wei Wuxian smirked. “C’mon, I’ve been itching to take you on again anyway.” Lan Wangji gave the barest nod of assent before Wei Wuxian dove in close, eyes locked inches from the other boys as he scooped the ball from the ground, skittering backwards with practiced ease.
Lan Wangji’s eyes had widened fractionally in those seconds, but he was within steps of the ball again before Wei Wuxian had made much distance. Wei Wuxian adjusted and turned his back to his opponent, staying on his toes and holding the ball as far as he could without losing control. He could feel the broad chest of Lan Wangji against his back, pushing to control his movement and get around to the ball.
Wei Wuxian was forced to bring the ball closer to himself, since Lan Wangji’s longer legs could reach around him if he wasn’t careful. As it was, his hamstrings were flush against Lan Wangji’s quads and he found it very difficult to make any space between them. Thinking quickly, Wei Wuxian tilted hard forward for two quick steps before turning back, rolling the ball with the outside of his foot and flicking it between Lan Wangji’s legs.
Wei Wuxian’s strengths lied with his footwork and speed; Lan Wangji wasn’t slow by any means, but the move allowed Wei Wuxian to create the space he needed to be facing Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji’s patience regularly paid off in games, but in a one-on-one keepaway game, it would do him little good to not attack; Wei Wuxian was relying on this. He stayed on his toes, shuffling the ball between his feet and sidestepping around Lan Wangji’s dives, the tall boy driving forward to get a touch on the ball in an attempt to take it out of Wei Wuxian’s possession.
Despite that this style was very much to the holding player's advantage, Wei Wuxian found it difficult to keep up his dodges. Lan Wangji was persistent and had endurance for days; he wasn’t wearing out the way other opponents did in the face of Wei Wuxian’s dribbling. And playing backwards started to cramp up on Wei Wuxian’s legs.
Damn him! Wei Wuxian had to turn his back again and couldn’t create the space in time to prevent Lan Wangji closing in. His chest hit Wei Wuxian’s back hard enough to knock breath out, but he somehow managed to maintain some control of the ball. Lan Wangji’s breath was heavy in his ears, the presence of the imposing centerback absolutely shutting down his ability to move.
A few moments of struggling and one long leg managed to poke around Wei Wuxian and kick the ball loose. Lan Wangji was around him in a full tilt sprint at the ball before Wei Wuxian could start his sprint. Wei Wuxian booked it after him, a wide grin breaking across his face.
Playing against Lan Wangji was frustrating but also fun . It was the kind of challenge Wei Wuxian enjoyed and didn’t get to experience very often. He was closing the distance just as Lan Wangji was getting the ball under control, when a bright light shone in his face.
Blinded, he stumbled forward and tackled full tilt into Lan Wangji as he was turning to face his oncoming opponent. They hit the ground hard, the woosh of air exiting Lan Wangji’s lungs as Wei Wuxian landed firmly on his chest.
“Hey, what are you kids doing?! You’re not supposed to be on the grounds at night!” shouted the gate guard, whose flashlight shone on them in the darkness. Wei Wuxian sat up slowly, shaking his head and blinking hard. It took him a second to realize he was straddling Lan Wangji. Golden eyes were wide and glaring up at him, teeth gritted, and ears tinged a dark red.
Wei Wuxian felt some warmth come into his cheeks, probably from the exertion of the last several minutes. As the guard approached them, he gave Lan Wangji a cheeky smirk. “I think I won.”
“Get. Off. Now.”
When Wei Wuxian didn’t immediately move, Lan Wangji grabbed his wrists and pushed him off. He stood up quickly, facing the guard with a still simmering expression on his face as Wei Wuxian brushed himself off, laughing.
*************************************************************
The next day, Wei Wuxian was up early to run suicide sprints as punishment for his improper check in. He stretched, considering the last few hours. After catching them out on the grounds, the guard had escorted them into the complex and handed them off to one of the player managers. Another young man was with them; Wei Wuxian had thought he looked an awful lot like Lan Wangji, but with a more expressive face and lithe build.
The manager had listened to his explanation, about losing the invitation and being let in late by Lan Wangji. At first, Wei Wuxian thought that the other boy would protest and tell the manager the truth- that he’d snuck into the complex. When asked about it though, the other boy's response was a nod and “Mn.”
Luckily, they were willing to accept Wei Wuxian’s unconventional check in. Unluckily, he’d been interrupting Lan Wangji during a late night training session (also unsanctioned, he was surprised to learn) and thus they were both set for punishment the following day before regular tryout events.
Stretching his calves, he looked up and waved at the approaching Lan Wangji. The boy stopped a few yards away, moving into his own stretch routine without responding to Wei Wuxian’s greeting. Wei Wuxian moved closer, plopping down a few feet away.
“It’s a rather harsh punishment, don’t you think? Especially since we have to train with everyone else later.”
Lan Wangji continued to ignore him. A slight pout started to form on Wei Wuxians face, and his next words came out a little more like a whine than he intended. “After all that last night, you can’t just ignore me! We’re practically besties now,” he complained, scooting like an undignified cat to be closer to Lan Wangji. He thought he heard a growl coming from the other boy, but couldn’t be sure.
Wei Wuxian pursed his lips a little, thinking. “If you’re mad for having to do sprints with me, we can tell them the truth. I don’t think they’d kick me out now that I’m fully registered and all.” He tried to keep it conversational, but he absolutely meant it. “Though you were also breaking the rules…but I’d be willing to overlook it, y’know. Cause we’re friends and all,” he coaxed, trying to get Lan Wangji to look at him.
Without saying a word, Lan Wangji stood and started a light jog around the field to warm up. “Hey! Wait up!” Wei Wuxian jumped up and jogged along, trying to catch up without going into a sprint.
Nearby, leaning against a goalpost on the next field, eyes watched the pair curiously. Lan Xichen had a small smile on his face and waited for them to finish warming up before heading over to direct the sprints. This summer would be interesting indeed.
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Sweat poured down Wei Wuxian’s face as he sprinted down the field, bending to touch the endline before pivoting and taking off all over again. He was still pushing near the front of the pack, but beginning to flag as they entered their fifth round of sprints. On the other end of the line, he could see Lan Wangji still setting the pace, barely slowing at all, with his brother right on his heels.
Lan Xichen was sporting one of the captains' bands- it was his last summer being able to participate before being too old. Having a year of collegiate level play under his belt certainly showed- he was stronger and faster than most of the other guys at the conference, and could outplay most of them too. But it was his genial, diplomatic attitude that made him a personable captain. And his willingness to lead by example.
Wei Wuxian could tell he was a few strides behind the brothers, but it only drove him to push harder. When the coach blew the final whistle announcing the completion of the conditioning session, he almost fell over on the sideline because he was panting for breath so hard.
A friendly pat on his shoulder and a proffered water bottle got him to stand back up, squirting the water into his mouth and splashing some on his face.
“You nearly had him. Guy’s like a cyborg- I don’t know how you keep up!” The slender boy who had brought him the water talked conspiratorially, setting a bottle carrier down in reach of the other players. Nie Huisang was the assistant and younger brother to the resident talent scout, Nie Mingjue. The brawny man managed to look intimidating in a three-piece suit, while his brother hovered airily among the players.
“Having guys like him around to push are important- give us all motivation to go harder,” Wei Wuxian said diplomatically, eyeing the Lan brothers as they leaned together in discussion a few yards away. “But…it’s no fun if I can’t get under his skin.” He flashed Nie Huisang a watch-this smile, and jogged over to the two boys.
Lan Wangji’s back was to him, but Lan Xichen saw him approaching, giving his usual friendly smile as Wei Wuxian threw an arm around Lan Wangji’s shoulders. “Good session, yeah? Wangji, you’re hardly sweating!”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji responded, noncommittally. He gave Wei Wuxian a shove with his side, but couldn’t shake the other boy.
“Yes, everyone really put in their all,” Lan Xichen chuckled, one brow cocked at the pair. “You give us too much credit though, Wei Wuxian. You were right alongside us the whole way.”
“He certainly smells like it,” Lan Wangji grumbled, still trying to shake Wei Wuxians arm from around his shoulders while keeping his hands as far from the black clad boy as possible. There was a sneaking prick of pink at the tops of his ears- a sign Wei Wuxian was beginning to recognize as him getting annoyed.
He laughed, relenting and releasing Lan Wangji with a slap on his back. “You shouldn’t say stuff like that, I might have to leave my socks in your bunk again!” The prank he’d played last week on the stoic boy hadn’t gone over well- Wei Wuxian’s side still twinged a little from where Lan Wangji’s elbow had dug in, extra hard, at practice the day after. As the pink crept further down the boys ears, Wei Wuxian decided to lay off a little. No sense in running him off.
Lan Wangji had generally kept his distance from Wei Wuxian the first couple weeks of camp after that punishing first drill they did together. He evaded him during drills, at the water station, in the locker rooms- it took nearly the whole first month for Wei Wuxian to find his bunk! For such a tall guy, Lan Wangji was certainly sneaky.
Initial try-outs had gone off without a hitch, Wei Wuxian easily coming in near the top of the group and being allowed to stay on for the remainder of the training camp. Of the hundred or so players who’d come to the conference, thirty-five remained, divided into teams of seven. The coaches had seen fit to put Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji in the same group, and so Wei Wuxian was slowly making progress on Lan Wangji’s standoffish nature.
A whistle sounded, pulling the trio out of their conversation and urging them to join the other players as they jogged to meet the coaches. The primary supervisor was a short, stocky man; he waited for everyone to gather around before addressing the group.
“We have a special guest for you today. The conference director, Lan Qiren, is here to see your progress,” he explained, gesturing into the stands behind him where a reedy older gentleman sat, surrounded by various people with clipboards in hand. Wei Wuxian thought he looked like he was looking over and past them rather than at the players. He gave a sideways look to Lan Wangji, who didn’t seem phased at the man's presence.
“To give you all the best opportunity to show your skills, we’ll run some small side games. Ten minute halves, two minute halftime, winner stays on the pitch. Teams One and Two will lead us off. Do your best; the team with the longest overall time gets to sleep in and skip conditioning in the morning,” he finished with a rare smile. “Warm up, and let’s get started!”
Wei Wuxian nearly jumped for joy at the opportunity to skip out on a conditioning session; the two hour time slots were brutal, especially at six in the morning. He turned to Lan Wangji as the group dispersed to join their teams. “We have to win! You have no idea how much I need to sleep in.”
“Or you could just sleep at night, instead of staying up causing trouble,” Lan Wangji grumbled, joining the rest of their team in a circle. As Team Three, they’d take on whoever won in the first game, which started as they stretched together. Wen Zhuliu, a quiet but capable player, was their team captain and goalkeeper. Wei Wuxian hadn’t recognized him- he didn’t play for any schools in his district, and he could never seem to get the guy to open up about himself. He spoke when he needed to, and was always heard because of it- he was actually an excellent communicator from the box.
The group stretched largely in silence, eyes on the first game to see who would win. Lan Xichen was leading Team One to what looked to be a hard fought victory, up two goals in the first half. The positive about short, small sided games was you could go hard for the full time, making for a fast-paced game. In a competition like this though, being able to balance that with staying on for game after game would prove to be the true challenge as new opponents with fresh legs came to take you on.
At the end of the first game, Team One came away the victors with a score of four to one. Wei Wuxian had been impressed by the way Lan Xichen had guided his team from the midfield, distributing the ball at key moments that led to goals. After giving Team One a five minute recovery period, the coaches called Team Three to the pitch.
Wei Wuxian’s stomach fluttered, pregame jitters ratcheting to an all time high as he took his position at the center of his team. They’d discussed positions as a group; three in the back, with Lan Wangji in the middle of the back line, and two in the front to serve as strikers. Wei Wuxian had volunteered to play a solo center midfielder, a position he enjoyed a lot, but didn’t get to play on his high school team.
Lan Xichen flashed them a smile before the whistle, and kicked off the game. Wei Wuxian followed the high pressing forwards, trying to trap the ball before it could pass between the other team. As small as the field was, there were no stagnant sections of pitch. Every player was moving, adjusting to open themselves up or draw attention off their teammates.
Wei Wuxian angled himself between Lan Xichen and his backline, aiming to interrupt the passing lane. He didn’t linger close to the other player, just hovered between and shifted as Lan Xichen tried to move and open himself up.
His team was able to take the ball, but was forced to pass it back towards him. Wei Wuxian ran forward to meet the pass, Lan Xichen tight at his side. The player had come up tight to him, trying to jostle the ball away. Wei Wuxian pivoted hard and kept Lan Xichen behind him, rotating until he faced his own backline. Lan Wangji was free, having moved himself away from their opponents.
Wei Wuxian passed it to him and turned around, moving around Lan Xichen to open himself up for a return. The two of them pinged this way for a few seconds, until in front of the opposing team's goal. A defender and the goalie stood between Wei Wuxian and the goal. As his eyes scanned for a way around them, they fell on Lan Wangji. He stood nearly a head taller than the other defender, and seemed to nod slightly.
Without any further thought, Wei Wuxian dipped his toe beneath the ball and launched it up, chipping it over the heads of the opposing team. The defender on Lan Wangji jumped up to meet the ball in the air, but Lan Wangji was already there, having read Wei Wuxian’s intent before the ball was even up. He angled his body and slammed the ball with his head, forcing it down and into the net for the first goal of the game.
Wei Wuxian’s face split into a broad grin, and he thumped Lan Wangji on the back as he jogged back to starting position. “Nice job, Wangji! Let’s keep it up,” he called, getting the barest upturn of lips as the stoic boy passed.
Lan Xichen was grinning, despite the goal being scored against his team. “Now we’re having fun! Let’s get it back, boys!” he called to his teammates, getting a rousing assent as the line-ups straightened out. Wei Wuxian frowned a little; part of scoring fast was hoping to break your opponents spirit, make it harder for them to make a comeback. He should have probably expected that Lan Xichen, sunny brightside guy that he was, wouldn’t be phased. Especially with the historically dangerous lead of only one goal.
The remainder of the half was largely a gridlock. Lan Xichen led his team in a hard press attack, but mostly played keepaway in Wei Wuxian’s half after getting the ball. They were trying to pull the defense out of formation, but between the tight field and the stranglehold of control on defense between Wen Zhuliu and Lan Wangji, there were no openings to exploit.
As the final minute ticked down, one of the defenders grew tired of waiting for the other team to make a mistake, and took the chance on the dive. Unfortunately, it was the wrong choice. The opposition cut behind him, passing around him and to Lan Xichen, who had placed himself in the open space. Lan Wangji was right behind him, but he just passed back to the person who passed it to him, and they hit it once into the side netting.
Wei Wuxian smirked through the light annoyance. He didn’t blame the defender for trying to force the mistake, but he admired the patience and skill with which Lan Xichen had held them down all half. And managed to tie it up in the end! It was impressive. He jogged beside Lan Wangji as they gathered with their team for the two minute half time, enjoying a much needed water break.
“Your brother is too smart for us,” he quipped, handing Lan Wangji a bottle as they got to the sideline.
The taller boy nodded, taking a long drink. “Mn. I’ve missed playing with him,” Lan Wangji muttered softly, low enough that Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure he was supposed to hear it.
Regardless, he patted Lan Wangji’s shoulder sympathetically, though the boy gave no further response. Wen Zhuliu gathered the team together, and spoke up. “I think our best chance is to keep a hard pushing offensive. It’s clear that they’re better at slowing the game up and keeping the ball in control. We have to take that time from them.” He directed a stern gaze to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. “Whatever magic you two pulled to get that first goal, we need it again. Lan Wangji, I want you to hover higher in the middle, and you two to cut closer in. Be around for Wei Wuxian to bounce between.”
As they were called back to the field, Wei Wuxian nudged Lan Wangji’s side playfully. “Keep up with me, ok King?” Lan Wangji rolled his eyes, taking up position before the whistle sounded. Their team started with the ball this time, so the forwards immediately passed it back to Wei Wuxian, who dribbled forward in an all-out attack. He dodged around the two opposing forwards, and looked for the pass as Lan Xichen closed in on him.
One of the forwards angled himself appropriately, receiving the ball from Wei Wuxian easily. Lan Wangji came forward as well, hovering a little ways off of Wei Wuxian’s right side. They pushed together, maintaining a triangle with whoever had the ball to ensure they always had them as options. It paid off; their team’s quick passes kept Lan Xichen and his team on the chase.
Lan Wangji had the ball and was high pressing, pushing Wei Wuxian and the forwards up with him. The three of them rotated between each other, making dummy runs to try and pull defenders out of place, open space, and get in a good spot to score. Lan Wangji had little trouble keeping the ball to himself, even with Lan Xichen bearing down on his back to try and take it away.
Finally, Wei Wuxian shook off his defender and called aloud, “Here!” The ball was at his feet in a moment, and Wei Wuxian spun backwards, rolling the ball beneath his cleats and facing the goal. He got a solid hit from his laces, the upper left hand corner of the net shaking with the impact.
Keeping that energy for the remainder of the match was difficult, but the final whistle called an end with their team winning three to one, one of the forwards having snuck in a goal near the end. Wei Wuxian was smiling, but the cheer would only last a few minutes before the next match started.
“We can do this,” he called to Lan Wangji as the whistle called the start of the next match. The boy nodded, eyes connected and understanding shared. A deep breath, and they kicked off.
******************************************************
“Oof!” Wei Wuxian hit the ground hard, ball clutched against his midsection as Lan Wangji’s shot slammed into him. His ass hurt from flopping backwards on the ground, and he got up gingerly. “Wangji, what the heck! I said give me your best shot, not shoot me with a missile,” he complained half-heartedly, smiling a little.
The sun was just starting to set, the hot late July air keeping them sweaty even as the sun faded. Lan Wangji had the barest look of amusement on his face as Wei Wuxian dusted himself off.
“You brag too much, Wei Wuxian. Missile was the best way to go,” he said pragmatically, receiving the ball Wei Wuxian threw at him with practiced ease. They’d been casually practicing shots for the last couple of hours, taking turns being keeper. Apart from their voices and the smack of the ball, the fields were silent- everyone else was done for the day.
Wei Wuxian planted himself on the goal line again, stretching his arms. “Alright, last shot before we switch- then I get to shoot missiles at you,” he called, bending his knees in a prepared stance. After doing this for the last few weeks, he was actually starting to get comfortable.
After winning the tournament two weeks ago, Wei Wuxian found himself still waking up too early, despite not needing to be at conditioning. He’d grabbed a ball and headed out to the field to kick it around when he found Lan Wangji, doing the same thing. When the other boy didn’t immediately run away, Wei Wuxian suggested they practice together. Ever since, they came out alone every other day to squeeze in a little extra practice. They couldn’t keep doing mornings, so it became an evening ritual after dinner.
As Lan Wangji bounced the ball on top of his feet, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but grin. He wasn’t sure if the stubborn boy would admit it, but he was pretty sure they were friends now. The stupid grin was wiped off his face as Lan Wangji bounced the ball high and then nailed it in a perfect volley, hitting the upper right corner before Wei Wuxian could jump to meet it.
Wei Wuxian laughed, picking up the ball and jogging up to the penalty spot to take Lan Wangji’s place. “Okay, okay. You’re good, I know,” he chuckled, fist bumping the other boy as he traded places. “Be ready for me, ok?”
Lan Wangji turned and nodded, getting into position. Apart from his obvious skills, there was one other downside to practicing with Lan Wangji so much- he was becoming immune to Wei Wuxian’s teasing. But Wei Wuxian was persistent- time to test his newest idea.
As he lined up for the shot, he called over to Lan Wangji. “You’d be hotter if you smiled more, you know.” Before Lan Wangji responded, Wei Wuxian took his shot- the ball was tipped off course by Lan Wangji’s fingertips. He glared at Wei Wuxian before grabbing the ball from where it rolled behind the net.
Wei Wuxian smirked a little; Lan Wangji had been slightly delayed in reacting to the shot. Looks like he was on the right track. After getting the ball again, he juggled it casually between his feet, looking thoughtful. “Also talking more- you have a nice voice.” Another shot, another barely saved goal.
Lan Wangji’s ears were pink as he chucked the ball, hard, back in Wei Wuxian’s direction. Twirling the back of his ponytail between his fingers, Wei Wuxian chuckled. “Maybe a pair of ass-hugging jeans…” The ball sailed into the back of the net, Lan Wangji standing in the middle of the goal line, fists clenched.
Wei Wuxian laughed, “You don’t take compliments well, Lan Wangji! Here I am, giving you advice for getting girls, and you’re angry at me!” The tall boy had his back to him, rolling the ball out with his foot and kicking it back to Wei Wuxian.
“I’m done for the night,” Lan Wangji growled through clenched teeth, rolling his shoulders and turning to exit the field. Wei Wuxian, shocked for a moment, scooped the ball up under his arm and ran to catch up with the stomping giant.
“Hey, hey! I had two more shots!”
“You weren’t taking it seriously.”
“You can’t always be serious, Wangji!”
“You can’t always be silly, Wuxian!”
Their voices were raised, Lan Wangji still angry and Wei Wuxian confused and a little hurt. Wei Wuxian moved in front of the other boy and blocked him from passing, dropping the ball to put two hands on Lan Wangji’s shoulders.
“I can be serious about practice while still having fun,” Wei Wuxian griped, standing his ground. “That’s a harsh judgment, to say I’m nothing but a silly nobody.”
Lan Wangji peeled Wei Wuxian’s hands off his shoulders, gripping them tightly. “You..!” He threw Wei Wuxian’s hands away, but stopped stomping forward.
“That’s what friends do! They’re frustrating,” Wei Wuxian said, taking a deep breath and smiling a little. “I’m fine with being done for the day,” he said slowly, picking the ball back up. He didn’t think he’d gone that far, pushing Lan Wangji. Shifting out of the way, he walked beside Lan Wangji, who to his credit, did not attempt to continue stomping away.
They walked in silence back to the complex, shadows stretching as the final rays of sunlight vanished. As they got close to the door, Wei Wuxian bumped his side against Lan Wangji’s, a friendly acknowledgement he’d started doing a little after they’d begun these solo practices. The other boy paused, but leaned slightly against him before opening the door.
“Don’t forget to put the ball away,” Lan Wangji said impassively, back to his usual self. He walked away towards the bunks, not giving a backwards glance. Wei Wuxian smiled. Yeah, we’re friends.
**************************************************************
The meeting room was crowded with the whole camp packed around the table, pencils and paper spread within easy reach. The supervisor smiled, standing at the front of the room, a whiteboard behind him. “Well boys, we’ve come to our final week of camp. As you are all well aware, we have a scout showcase game on Thursday, so that you have an opportunity to display everything you’ve learned over this summer.”
He turned and gestured to the white board, where two lists of names under the headings ‘Team A’ and ‘Team B’ were listed. “For the remainder of this week, you’ll practice under coaches Song Lan,” here he gestured to A, “and Xiao Xingchen,” gesturing to B. “This morning, we’d like to revisit your goals from the beginning of camp, and see how they’ve evolved. We’d like you to take some time and write your overall goal for your soccer career going forward. You don’t have to share it with your teammates, or hand it in to us. This is just for you.”
Wei Wuxian sat beside Lan Wangji on the far side of the table, and gave the boy a quizzical look. “What goal? I didn’t write any goal,” he whispered, picking up a pencil and paper.
“It was our first bonding exercise,” Lan Wangji replied without looking up. “You weren’t here.” He’d also grabbed a fresh piece of paper and pencil, though didn’t immediately begin to write anything down.
Oh. Right. Wei Wuxian chuckled, recalling the memory now with some fondness. He chewed habitually on the pencil eraser, thinking. He wasn’t sure entirely that his goal between then and now would be all that different. After a few minutes, he scribbled quickly on his page, and looked over at Lan Wangji. The boy had yet to write anything.
“I have my goal, Lan Wangji! Want to share?”
Lan Wangji looked up at him, an eyebrow raised. Wei Wuxian took that as all the encouragement he needed, and laid the paper flat so the other boy could see. In his characteristic chicken scratch, Wei Wuxian had written
My goal is to travel the world with no regrets, to make a difference on and off the pitch.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure if it was because his handwriting was so bad, but Lan Wangji stared at the words for a long time, brow furrowed. He was about to ask what was wrong with it, when Lan Wangji asked quietly, “But…what does that have to do with soccer?”
Wei Wuxian laughed, loud enough to call attention from some of his teammates and earn a throat clearing from one of the staff. He brought himself back under control, still giggling quietly. “What do you mean? It has everything to do with it.”
Lan Wangji still looked confused, looking down at the paper as if he could stare at it hard enough and make it make sense. Elbowing him in the ribs gently, Wei Wuxian commented lightly, “Did you say something about improving your technical skills? I bet you did.” A low grunt was all the response he got, but he was confident his guess wasn’t far off. “You really are too serious, Wangji. Soccer is bigger than a game, y’know.”
With a quiet huff, Lan Wangji pushed the paper back to Wei Wuxian, and focused on his own. Wei Wuxian shrugged, folding the paper and putting it into his jacket pocket. He eyed the white board, seeking out his own name. He found both himself and Lan Wangji on A team.
“Look, Lan Wangji! We get to keep playing together.” Hunched over his paper, Lan Wangji gave a noncommittal grunt. Wei Wuxian tried to get a peek at it, but long arms blocked any view he might have gotten. Sitting back comfortably, Wei Wuxian rocked in his chair. A thought was forming in his mind.
“I like playing with you, Lan Wangji. Let’s make a promise- if we both get scouted to the same school on Thursday, we’ll go together.”
After a long pause, Lan Wangji sat up and looked at him. The slight change in the setting of his brow and lips gave Wei Wuxian the idea that he was incredulous of the idea.
“It’s not a bad idea. We’ve been training together, we play well together. We could make a really great team,” Wei Wuxian rambled, ticking off reasons on his fingers. “Even go pro together one day! Wouldn’t that be amazing?”
Lan Wangji was sitting unnervingly still. Smile coming down a little, Wei Wuxian tapped his fingers together. “You don’t have to decide now. Just think about it, and tell me on Friday, before we leave. We won’t even know if we both got offers from the same schools until then anyways.”
After another pause, Lan Wangji slowly nodded. “I’ll think about it.” Before Wei Wuxian could say anymore, the teams were being ushered out to begin practice for the day, Lan Wangji joining the flow of players out of the room. Wei Wuxian scrambled to follow, chattering casually as they made their way outside.
**********************************************************************
Bag packed and swung over his shoulder, Wei Wuxian smiled and shook hands with the coaches. He waved at Nie Huisang, having made sure to get the other boy's number so they could keep in touch when school started again. “See you around!” he called, exiting the building to the front lawn where other players lingered and talked, preparing to go back home.
Lan Wangji stood with his brother, leaning against the gatehouse and talking quietly. Wei Wuxian jogged up to join them, grinning. “I almost thought you left without saying goodbye!”
Lan Xichen laughed as his brother grimaced. “I’m still thinking about it,” Lan Wangji said, though there was a slight smile on his face. He gave his brother a little nod, and Lan Xichen gave Wei Wuxian a hearty clap on the back. “It was a pleasure to meet you. I look forward to playing again sometime,” Lan Xichen smiled, giving a wave to them both as he walked to speak with Lan Qiren, who was there to pick them up.
“What offers did you get?” Lan Wangji asked, his own hand carrying a few envelopes. Yesterday they had played in the showcase game, both of them starters on team A who played through the whole game. With a few goals and assists under their belts, they’d both put on a strong showing.
Pulling them out of his back pocket, Wei Wuxian waved three letters towards Lan Wangji. “Does this mean you’re agreeing to the pact?” he asked, smirking. The other boy shook his head slightly, trading letters with Wei Wuxian.
“We don’t know if we’ve been invited to the same schools yet,” he said, matter-of-fact. Taking Lan Wangji’s letters, Wei Wuxian nodded and looked at the envelopes. On the face of each was written the name of a university offering a scholarship for Lan Wangji to play.
His heart sank a little when the first two had schools he hadn’t received offers from, but he grinned at the last one. “We both got offers from Qing He University,” he said triumphantly, moving to hand the letters back.
Lan Wangji nodded, having seen the same. “Hmm…it’s not where my brother goes,” the tall boy said slowly, eyes downturned. Wei Wuxian’s smile faltered. Of course Lan Wangji would want to go to school with his brother. He was fairly confident one of the letters he’d seen was for the Lan Xichen’s school.
“Oh, right…well, I understand if you want to go there instead,” Wei Wuxian started, kicking the ground with the tip of his shoe. “But we can always-”
“I didn’t say I wanted to do that,” Lan Wangji interrupted, his eyes on Wei Wuxian, a slightly searching quality to the look that was new. “Though I want to make another deal.”
Wei Wuxian raised his eyebrows, fiddling with the letters in his hands to hide his excitement. “Okay, and what deal would that be?” Please don’t be something like not partying…
“We also join the same pro team- after.” The words rushed out of Lan Wangji’s lips, as if he had to force himself to get them out as quickly as possible. “For at least one season,” he added, the tips of his ears slightly pink.
Wei Wuxian’s grin returned in full force, bouncing on his heels. “You’ve got a deal.” He held out a hand, shaking Lan Wangji’s firmly in his grasp. “This doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you this season,” he laughed, turning to exit through the gates.
He got a nod and slight smile in return. “I know.”
Wei Wuxian waved, turning away to head for the train station. He’d gotten more out of this camp than he’d bargained for- a real plan for his future after high school. And a real friend to go with him.