[I Doubt This Will Be Done By Nie Huaisang's Birthday, But We'll See.]

[I doubt this will be done by Nie Huaisang's birthday, but we'll see.]

Jiang Cheng looked different.

Not drastically so, of course, but to the eyes of someone who has spent an inordinate amount of time cataloguing his features, the way he moved, every minute detail about him, the differences were undeniable.

To someone like Nie Huaisang.

He had always been tall and handsome and well-built, of course. Nie Huaisang hadn't been able to look away, from the moment Jiang Cheng and his shixiong had arrived at the Cloud Recesses all those years ago. (Had it really been five years? It seemed like it was just yesterday. It seemed like several lifetimes.) Nie Huaisang's eyes were always drawn to him, drinking in everything about him, committing it to memory so he could recreate it with his brush by candlelight. He had filled so much paper with Jiang Cheng's likeness, really it was a wonder that Jiang Cheng never found them in his room. That would have been so embarrassing, and difficult to explain away.

The point was, at fifteen, Jiang Cheng had already been the most beautiful boy Nie Huaisang had ever seen. But now… he was taller for one. They both were, but comparatively the height difference was greater than it had been five years ago. His chest was broader, tapering down to a waist just as narrow as it had been. He had already been strong and sleekly muscled, Nie Huaisang had seen that plenty of times, when they had snuck to the creek and Jiang Cheng had swam in only his trousers. (Nie Huaisang hadn't known how to swim, he never ventured far into the water. Jiang Cheng swam like he'd been born in the water.) Jiang Cheng had filled out since then, the flowing silk of his sleeves could not hide the bulge of his biceps, and the collars of his robe strained to cross over his pectorals.

And his face. Five years, grief and war had melted away what baby fat had still been there at fifteen. His cheekbones were now exquisitely defined, his jawline so sharp that Nie Huaisang wondered if it could possibly cut his skin if he ran his fingers on it.

He had learned to school his expressions better, befitting the leader of a major clan.(It didn't matter that Yunmeng Jiang had been decimated, that its ranks were full of rogues or new recruits younger even than their leader, Jiang Cheng stood proud and commanding and if not everyone agreed that it was still one of the great clans, Nie Huaisang was certain that they would before long). But his eyes. No matter how impassive and dignified his expression, Jiang Cheng's eyes were full of storms, emotion shone in them like the crackle of electricity at his fingers.

Those eyes widened now, as he saw Nie Huaisang coming towards him. They softened, like clouds clearing after a storm, and those lips that Nie Huaisang had drawn so many times, had dreamed of so many nights, those lips quirked up into a smile. For him.

Without saying anything, and before Nie Huaisang could react, Jiang Cheng strode across the distance between them and enveloped him in a fierce hug, strong arms tight around him.

He really was substantially taller than Nie Huaisang than before. It was a little bit like being hugged by dage. Well, not really. Dage's hugs didn't set his heart racing like this, after all.

Nie Huaisang let Jiang Cheng pull him up on tiptoes while Jiang Cheng hunched protectively around him, bowing his head so his lips were by Nie Huaisang's ear.

"It's so good to see you," his voice was a raspy whisper. It made Nie Huaisang's hands clutch tightly at his robes.

How long had it been since they'd last seen each other? Nie Huaisang couldn't recall. Months. Not quite a year. Too long.

Jiang Cheng finally released him, setting him back on his heels and stepped back, looking a little sheepish at his display.

Nie Huaisang hastily straightened his robes before clasping his hands together in a bow. "Jiang-zongzhu."

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes at him. "Don't do that, Huaisang, there's no need."

He ducked his head to hide his smile. He would have pulled out his fan, snapped it open to hide behind, but something in Jiang Cheng's intense gaze stopped him.

"Jiang-xiong," he amended.

"Better," Jiang Cheng scoffed, lips quirking into a smile. He held out his arm and Nie Huaisang slipped his hand through. It felt comforting and familiar to walk arm in arm with Jiang Cheng like this, in this place.

"I only heard that you arrived a little while ago," Nie Huaisang said. "I'm glad I caught you before you left."

"I'm staying the night," Jiang Cheng said. "Besides, I wouldn't have left without seeing you."