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nie huaisang stumbled down the hallway as fast as he could. his brother had told him to be at the entrance to greet their guests a while ago, but he'd gotten distracted by a pretty green-feathered bird along the way. deciding he was in for it anyways, huaisang flung himself dramatically around the corner, already opening his mouth to whine his apologies, when he stumbled to a stop.
oh, wow. he'd overheard the maids gossiping about the beauty of the lan sect, but woah.
a boy, probably not much older than huaisang's brother, smiled at him from where he stood behind a tall, looming man. a tall, looming man who was glaring at huaisang!
he hurried over to his brother, clutching at his leg as he hid from the glaring man. huaisang's father, who had been greeting their guests before huaisang's arrival, sighed.
"huaisang. greet our guests."
not wanting to irritate his father further, huaisang peeked out from behind nie mingjue's leg. the boy from before smiled at him again, more a crinkle of his eyes than movement of his lips. he was pretty.
"...hello."
"hello what, huaisang?" his father's stern voice demanded.
mingjue put a hand on his head, which, along with the pretty boys smile, gave huaisang the confidence to step out beside his brother and say, "hello, master lan. i'm huaisang."
the glaring man's face softened, just a bit. "greetings, second young master nie. lan zhan, greet sect leader nie and his sons," master lan commanded.
huaisang was confused for a second, before a little boy--hey, he looked huaisang's age! maybe he'd want to be friends?--stepped out from behind the pretty, smiling boy's legs.
this new boy bowed perfectly, in just the way huaisang had forgotten to, and said, "greetings, sect leader nie, young master nie, second young master. i am lan zhan."
oh, he was so cute! a little shy, but huaisang didn't mind, as long as lan zhan would be his friend. maybe he could even help him not be so shy; he'd done so for cousin ying!
while thinking about how to befriend this newcomer, he'd missed what the adults were saying. when he finally started paying attention again, huaisang's father was gone, probably with master lan, and mingjue was talking to their guests.
rudely, because he wasn't considered too old for it to be rude yet, huaisang interrupted his brother. "what's your name?"
both their guests blinked at him in surprise, and lan zhan gave him a little glare from where he clutched his brother's robes.
"huaisang--!" mingjue started, probably to tell something about behaving himself, but lan zhan's brother held up a hand to stop him.
"don't worry about it, mingjue-ge. hello huaisang, my name is lan huan. it's very nice to meet you." he smiled at huaisang again, and huaisang looked away shyly.
"hello, huan-ge." and because wanted to be friends with lan zhan but wasn't sure how to make that happen, said, "you're very pretty, huan-ge, so you're my brother now!"
lan zhan glared at him angrily, and huaisang glared at him right back. "hey! he's my brother!"
lan huan laughed and placed a hand on lan zhan's head. "i'll always be your brother, lan zhan. don't worry. but…" lan huan glanced at mingjue over their little brothers' heads, who ignored them in favour of more glaring.
mingjue met his eye and grinned. he leaned down, interrupting huaisang's glaring contest with lan zhan--which was a relief; huaisang was losing--to look both of them in the eye.
"if huaisang says lan huan is his brother now, but lan zhan doesn't want to give him up, i guess you'll just have to fight for him!"
huaisang side-eyed lan zhan, taking him in. he nodded and turned to mingjue. "i can take him mingjue-ge. and then we'll have another brother."
mingjue grinned as lan zhan's glare narrowed even more. "i bet you can. now, go! take lan zhan to the garden by your rooms and you can have your battle there."
huaisang nodded again, and turned to lan zhan. "do you accept my challenge?"
lan zhan nodded, glare still fixed right on huaisang's face. "i will win."
"hm. we'll see." and huaisang turned to lead lan zhan to where they would fight, walking as tall as he could without going onto his tippy-toes. lan huan was too pretty to not be huaisang's brother. he'd definitely win.