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fandomweekly2022-12-27 08:24 am
curiosity) wrote in fandomweekly2022-12-27 08:24 am
Entry tags:
[#042] Winter's Gift (MDZS)
.
Theme Prompt: #042 - Winter Nights
Title: Winter's Gift
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: Gen | Fluff! | Random modern AU.
Bonus: Nope.
Word Count: 811
Summary: Jiang Cheng is finally alone. Or is he?
Wind shook the house, sounding like dozens of angry souls howling down the chimney and pelting the windows with ice. Jiang Cheng added another log to the fire and checked that all the blankets he’d taped over the windows were still secure. The faucet drip-drip-dripped in the kitchen and bathroom, off sync with each other. Still, that noise was somehow comforting compared to the lashing wind and driving snow. He returned to the couch in front of the fireplace, picking up the cocoa he’d set aside before stoking the fire.
He wrapped back up in his fleece blanket and snuggled into the couch, drawing his feet up and under the blanket as well. Holiday music played on his laptop. It was old-timey American Christmas music and not the usual stuff his mom had always played around the lunar new year but he was in America. And it was vaguely comforting in a way.
The colored lights that the owner of his rental had put up around the fireplace and mantle were comforting, too. Cheerful and festive. They were old as well, not LED, so they gave off a little heat as well. Pink, red, orange, green, and blue. He wasn’t sure what about that combination said “Christmas” but he wasn't going to knock it. They outlined the fireplace with precision and coiled across the mantle in an arty jumble that he’d used to hold up postcards from home and Christmas cards from well-meaning coworkers.
He had to admit, the tiny rental was cosy. Even if chilly air was creeping in through some crack he couldn’t find, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as what he’d seen on the news. For one, he still had power and water. For two, he’d winterized the small cottage according to directions left by the owner.
Outside faucets were covered, cabinet doors under sinks were open, inside faucets were dripped. His windows had bubble wrap under the blinds. Both blinds and curtains were drawn and for added measure, he’d secured blankets over all of that for all the windows - there were only four - in the entire place. He’d rolled up towels and put them up against the bottom of the front and back doors like he’d seen on the news. He’d also brought in all the firewood before the storm hit.
Besides all that, he’d had the sense to stock up on supplies and was perfectly capable of cooking his own meals. Even if he was a little lonely, he was perfectly prepared to weather this storm. It was even a little of a relief, to have the perfect excuse to stay put and not go anywhere.
There was no way to fly home. There was no way to even get to the airport to try flying home. There was no way for any of his family to try and come surprise him with a visit. He could relax.
Which was why the knocking at his door startled him so badly. He rushed over, to peer out through the window, but it was impossible to see with all the swirling snow. The knocking came again. Jiang Cheng opened the door.
A hulking figure fell into his arms, blown forward by a sudden, fierce gust of wind and snow. Jiang Cheng move the man aside and checked to make sure it was just the one person. Already he was frozen through.
He shut the door, using the towel that had been blocking the draft at the bottom of it to wipe up the snow before putting it back. Only then did he turn to his unexpected guest.
To find Nie Mingjue unwrapping layer after layer, spilling more snow onto the floor.
“How?” Jiang Cheng quickly began helping the other man remove the sodden, frozen cloth.
He tugged Nie Mingjue into the living room, once the man was down to his underwear, sitting him down on the couch in front of the fire and wrapping him in a quilt. Snow crusted Nie Mingjue’s mustache and eyebrows, making him look like a winter spirit. His teeth chattered so much he couldn’t even grin.
Jiang Cheng leapt into action, preparing warm soup and cocoa, throwing all of the wet layers into the washing machine, and finding more blankets. He brought everything to the living room, setting up a tray for the food, putting fleece-lined slippers on Nie Mingjue’s socked feet, and scolding him the whole time.
Nie Mingjue, for his part, gratefully drank down every drop of soup and cocoa. His teeth stopped chattering as he thawed out.
Jiang Cheng brought hot tea and warm pie, still scolding the whole time. Nie Mingjue’s smile stopped him cold. He stood there, stunned by Nie Mingjue’s dimples.
“I couldn’t let you celebrate the season alone, Wanyin,” Nie Mingjue said, his face open and earnest. “I love you.”
Theme Prompt: #042 - Winter Nights
Title: Winter's Gift
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: Gen | Fluff! | Random modern AU.
Bonus: Nope.
Word Count: 811
Summary: Jiang Cheng is finally alone. Or is he?
Wind shook the house, sounding like dozens of angry souls howling down the chimney and pelting the windows with ice. Jiang Cheng added another log to the fire and checked that all the blankets he’d taped over the windows were still secure. The faucet drip-drip-dripped in the kitchen and bathroom, off sync with each other. Still, that noise was somehow comforting compared to the lashing wind and driving snow. He returned to the couch in front of the fireplace, picking up the cocoa he’d set aside before stoking the fire.
He wrapped back up in his fleece blanket and snuggled into the couch, drawing his feet up and under the blanket as well. Holiday music played on his laptop. It was old-timey American Christmas music and not the usual stuff his mom had always played around the lunar new year but he was in America. And it was vaguely comforting in a way.
The colored lights that the owner of his rental had put up around the fireplace and mantle were comforting, too. Cheerful and festive. They were old as well, not LED, so they gave off a little heat as well. Pink, red, orange, green, and blue. He wasn’t sure what about that combination said “Christmas” but he wasn't going to knock it. They outlined the fireplace with precision and coiled across the mantle in an arty jumble that he’d used to hold up postcards from home and Christmas cards from well-meaning coworkers.
He had to admit, the tiny rental was cosy. Even if chilly air was creeping in through some crack he couldn’t find, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as what he’d seen on the news. For one, he still had power and water. For two, he’d winterized the small cottage according to directions left by the owner.
Outside faucets were covered, cabinet doors under sinks were open, inside faucets were dripped. His windows had bubble wrap under the blinds. Both blinds and curtains were drawn and for added measure, he’d secured blankets over all of that for all the windows - there were only four - in the entire place. He’d rolled up towels and put them up against the bottom of the front and back doors like he’d seen on the news. He’d also brought in all the firewood before the storm hit.
Besides all that, he’d had the sense to stock up on supplies and was perfectly capable of cooking his own meals. Even if he was a little lonely, he was perfectly prepared to weather this storm. It was even a little of a relief, to have the perfect excuse to stay put and not go anywhere.
There was no way to fly home. There was no way to even get to the airport to try flying home. There was no way for any of his family to try and come surprise him with a visit. He could relax.
Which was why the knocking at his door startled him so badly. He rushed over, to peer out through the window, but it was impossible to see with all the swirling snow. The knocking came again. Jiang Cheng opened the door.
A hulking figure fell into his arms, blown forward by a sudden, fierce gust of wind and snow. Jiang Cheng move the man aside and checked to make sure it was just the one person. Already he was frozen through.
He shut the door, using the towel that had been blocking the draft at the bottom of it to wipe up the snow before putting it back. Only then did he turn to his unexpected guest.
To find Nie Mingjue unwrapping layer after layer, spilling more snow onto the floor.
“How?” Jiang Cheng quickly began helping the other man remove the sodden, frozen cloth.
He tugged Nie Mingjue into the living room, once the man was down to his underwear, sitting him down on the couch in front of the fire and wrapping him in a quilt. Snow crusted Nie Mingjue’s mustache and eyebrows, making him look like a winter spirit. His teeth chattered so much he couldn’t even grin.
Jiang Cheng leapt into action, preparing warm soup and cocoa, throwing all of the wet layers into the washing machine, and finding more blankets. He brought everything to the living room, setting up a tray for the food, putting fleece-lined slippers on Nie Mingjue’s socked feet, and scolding him the whole time.
Nie Mingjue, for his part, gratefully drank down every drop of soup and cocoa. His teeth stopped chattering as he thawed out.
Jiang Cheng brought hot tea and warm pie, still scolding the whole time. Nie Mingjue’s smile stopped him cold. He stood there, stunned by Nie Mingjue’s dimples.
“I couldn’t let you celebrate the season alone, Wanyin,” Nie Mingjue said, his face open and earnest. “I love you.”