Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! I know I have 2 multi chaptered stories going on, but... this is just a two shot. I promise! Enjoy :)

Inspiration: This story was inspired by Chapter 4 of Nillegible's fabulous If you only knew then (the things I only know now). Because Jin ZiXuan needs friends and WangXian always happens whether anyone plans for it or not.

Summary: A fun filled afternoon turns into something more meaningful thanks to some grilled trout, a thunderstorm and a cave.

Setting: Spoilers for the early episodes of The Untamed drama series, set just before the Biling Lake adventure.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: The Untamed series is based on the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation novel which belongs to Mo Xiang Tong Xiu.

- Story Start -

As soon as ZeWun Jun announced that Teacher Lan would be away for a few days, and lectures put on hold until his return, Jiang Cheng felt Wei WuXian's eyes boring into the back of his skull. Sure enough, he glanced over his shoulder to see his brother's eyes already gleaming with unholy mischief.

Of course if they didn't go overboard and, more importantly, didn't get caught, going along with Wei WuXian's ideas usually meant good fun.

'If' being the keyword, of course.

- o -

Some six hours later...

It was indeed a fun filled afternoon considering they were in the most rule-bound sect in the Cultivation World.

After lunch, the two of them and Nie HuaiSang snuck off to explore the restricted areas of Cloud Recesses. They couldn't find much in the way of fun so off they went to the stream that wound its way through the Back Mountains. The next few hours were spent teaching Nie HuaiSang how to catch fish (success rate - zero) and catching some themselves (success rate - excellent).

There was no point in catching fish if they didn't grill and eat them so they decided to have an outdoor dinner instead. After all, the three of them had grown up on a meat friendly diet. After two weeks of bland, vegetarian meals with tofu and the occasional egg for protein, they were pining for something more substantial to sink their teeth into. Even white meat was better than nothing.

The wind had picked up in the last hour or so, making them shiver in their wet robes until they more or less dried off. As Nie HuaiSang searched the surrounding area for wood to build a fire, Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian made short work of cleaning and gutting nine good sized trout. Both of them had caught and eaten more than their share of catfish growing up at Lotus Pier.

It didn't take long to get a cheerful fire going. The fish were seasoned with a sprinkling of of Wei WuXian's favourite spice mix, skewered on sharp sticks and arranged around the blaze. In less than half an hour, they were tucking into sweet, flaky white meat that only freshly caught fish could boast of.

"Thank goodness Wei-xiong and Jiang-xiong are such expert fishermen!" Nie HuaiSang struck a dramatic, hand to forehead pose. "I would have withered away with another meat-free meal."

Wei WuXian grinned at him and nudged Jiang Cheng in the ribs.

"The star studded sky above us, a crackling fire before us, and meat to fill our bellies!" He gave an exaggerated sigh before starting on his second fish. "What could possibly be better?"

Jiang Cheng should have smacked him with his fish right there and then to shut him up. He should have known that something would happen. Something always happened whenever Wei WuXian opened his mouth to brag. But he didn't, and the wind soon carried off the tantalising aroma of grilled fish to two other persons wandering around the Back Mountains.

Lan WangJi who was patrolling the area since he hadn't seen the two male Jiang disciples all afternoon, and Jin ZiXuan who wanted to escape his nosy but well meaning entourage for a while.

Both of them sniffed the air, saw the flickering light in the distance and headed that way; one to catch the perpetrators and the other out of sheer curiosity. They came upon the campsite at the exact same moment, but from opposite directions. The three poachers were caught red handed, each munching on a plump, grilled trout.

A guiltier scene couldn't have been orchestrated if they had tried.

Nie HuaiSang who was facing Lan WangJi, promptly squeaked in fright and tumbled over backwards, his fish landing on the front of his robes.

Wei WuXian who was facing Jin ZiXuan, jumped up and sputtered in shock.

Jiang Cheng who was sitting between them turned from one newcomer to the other. Slowly, he lowered the fish in his hand. He wanted to swallow what was in his mouth, but his heart had jumped up to his throat and was lodged there, beating with dread.

As a heavy silence fell, Wei WuXian's gaze followed Nie HuaiSang's terror filled one and a smile replaced his initial shock. Jiang Cheng would have rolled his eyes hard if he wasn't occupied with trying to get his heart to return to its rightful place in his chest so that he could send the fish down after it and into his stomach.

Ever since Wei WuXian laid eyes on the Second Jade of Lan, it was love at first sight even though he continued to deny it. Jiang Cheng had to admit that Lan WangJi presented a stunning figure right this instant, with the moonlight glinting off his silver hairpiece and making his white robes glow, turning him into a rather ethereal figure.

Too bad the simmering anger on his perfect face quite ruined the image. The moon then hid behind a cloud, as if unwilling to illuminate such a scowl.

"Oh, it's you, Lan Zhan! Come and join us!" Wei WuXian was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet with that large, silly grin on his face. He gestured in front of him as if presenting a table groaning with platters of exquisitely prepared food, instead of a crackling fire on the ground, ringed with skewered trout... the evidence of a clandestine afternoon which probably broke about a thousand rules.

Pressing his lips together, Jiang Cheng stood up and took the opportunity to sneak a glance at Nie HuaiSang. He was still lying on the ground, braced on his elbows and looking like his soul would depart his body at any second. He didn't even notice that his half eaten fish was resting on his chest.

Definitely no help to be found there either.

Following Wei WuXian's lead (because he didn't know what else to do and he absolutely refused to apologise or grovel in front of the Peacock), Jiang Cheng turned to Lan WangJi and grinned (or grimaced) at him in belated welcome.

"Uh... join us, Second Young Master Lan," he muttered and jerked his head to Jin ZiXuan who had so far stayed silent. Probably never seen fish served on sticks before. "You too, Young Master Jin."

"Oi, Jiang Cheng! Who said you could invite-" Wei WuXian began in indignation.

"I see at least half a dozen rules broken here." Lan WangJi finally broke his frigid silence, his voice just as icy. "You three will extinguish this fire and follow me back at once to await punishment."

"But Lan Zhan, I just invited you to join us! There's more than enough fish to go around. Look, I'll even let the Peacock have one. The smallest one."

Jiang Chen ground his teeth together. Wei WuXian sounded more upset that his invitation was turned down than the prospect of being beaten. Again.

"Who are you calling a peacock?" Jin ZiXuan demanded, finally opening his mouth. "You can keep your burnt fish! Such a barbaric way of cooking!"

His stomach chose that moment to emit a loud growl and he snapped his mouth shut, looking mortified.

"Hungry, aren't we?" Wei WuXian smirked.

"You three will put out that fire and follow me back at once. Young Master Jin as well. Now." Lan WangJi's voice hadn't increased in volume but had dropped in temperature.

To Jiang Cheng's exasperation, Wei WuXian only pouted in response. He had just taken a step closer to elbow him in the ribs when a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, lighting up everything in stark black and white. Startled, they all jumped except for Nie HuaiSang who squeaked and curled into a foetal position, squishing the fish still lying on his chest.

A rumble of thunder followed, lasting all of six seconds. Jiang Cheng counted.

"Whoa, a thunderstorm?" Wei WuXian wondered aloud.

And then it started raining.

Big raindrops fell from the sky like soft bullets that burst and splashed upon contact.

Fat raindrops that soaked into hair, clothes and ground.

Wet raindrops that made the fire hiss and sputter.

The rain grew heavier as if someone was dumping bucketfuls of cold water on them. In seconds, the fire went out, their hair was plastered to their heads and their clothes were drenched.

Jin ZiXuan lost the vermilion mark on his forehead when he ran a hand down his face, but didn't notice.

"There's a cave back that way," he said, speaking above the drumming of the rain as he pointed to where he had come from.

"I know where that is." Lan WangJi brushed past them and headed in that direction. "Follow me."

Jin ZiXuan immediately swung into step beside him as if unwilling to give up the lead position. The other three exchanged glances through the sheets of rain coming down, Nie HuaiSang having uncurled himself.

As usual, Wei WuXian was the first to spring into action.

"Lan Zhan, wait for us!" He snatched up three of the remaining trout and grabbed hold of Nie HuaiSang's arm. Jiang Cheng grabbed the last two fish and Nie HuaiSang's other arm. Together they hauled him upright, the fish that was stuck to his front dropping onto the ground with a 'plop'.

Then they were running after the other two who had already vanished from sight.

"Lan Zhan, wait for me! Don't leave me all alone here!"

"You're not alone so shut up!" Jiang Cheng barked at him.

"Don't run so fast, I'm going to fall," Nie HuaiSang complained, being pulled along by the other two. "Da-ge is going to kill me when he finds out about this!"

So much for a fun filled afternoon, Jiang Cheng fumed to himself. They had been caught after all.

- Chapter End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it :)