[pfsb] sword forms by the lake

[lightamidchaos]

It is late afternoon by the time he makes his way outside.

Lan Wangji is well aware that Wei Ying would probably very much prefer him to be resting again at present, and in truth he likely should be, especially given what had just come to pass in the library not long before.

But. But. It has been three days, and he needs to know how much strength he can regain, how quickly, before he returns to Cold Pond Cave and faces his brother, tomorrow.

(He is fairly certain Shufu did not intend the injuries to be quite as severe this time, either. Fairly certain.)

Bichen flashes into his hand, gleaming along the blade with a faint, icy blue-white shine. Lan Wangji draws a deep breath, and begins to move through each of the Lan sword forms in a slow motion routine, his concentration absolute.

Comments

[lightamidchaos]

"No," he says. "I do not need it. I am not in pain."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian glances over his shoulder, all set to shoot Lan Zhan a skeptical look -- but to his surprise (and not-insubstantial relief), Lan Zhan does not carry the same avoidant posture as before, when he insisted he was fine even while half collapsed over a table.

"All right," he says again, more cheerfully. "Then -- "

He scoots around to Lan Zhan's back and uncaps the ointment, dabbing it onto the lacerations.

[lightamidchaos]

He stays still and patient throughout as Wei Ying applies the ointment, while quiet wonder blossoms in his heart once more.

Only once Wei Ying finishes, once he hears the quiet click of the cap snapping back into place, does he turn to him and put both arms around his waist, burying his face in Wei Ying's shoulder.

[acrookedpath]

The embrace squeezes a startled laugh out of Wei Wuxian, even as his arms go around Lan Zhan without thought to draw him closer.

"Lan Zhan, what is it?" he asks.

[lightamidchaos]

He shakes his head, saying nothing, and just holds on.

[acrookedpath]

A tiny spark of worry ignites under his breastbone. With care, he smooths a hand down Lan Zhan's back; touches his lips to his hair, breathing in the scent of him.

"I am here," he whispers. "It's all right."

[lightamidchaos]

He nods, this time.

"Yes."

[acrookedpath]

He holds Lan Zhan a moment longer, continuing to run his palm over his back in slow, careful strokes. Already, he has begun to learn the map of his scars, fingertips meeting each ridge and valley without surprise. He will not grow used to it; he cannot. But he can accept that they are and shall remain a part of Lan Zhan.

Eventually, he coaxes Lan Zhan's head from his shoulder so he can draw him into a kiss, small ans sweet.

[lightamidchaos]

He kisses him back, then smiles up at him, slight but clear.

"Thank you."

[acrookedpath]

No louder: "You're welcome."

He draws the pad of his thumb over Lan Zhan's cheek as he returns the smile. Unable to resist, he pecks him on the lips one more time before he lets go.

The hairpiece will turn up somewhere. Hopefully under their robes, and not under the bedclothes, lurking in wait to jab one of them in the backside if they lay down on the wrong spot. But first --

(He wishes he did not have to do this. It is no easier than the first time, when they separated so Lan Zhan could go to the library.)

Wei Wuxian picks at the intricate knot holding Lan Zhan's ribbon in place. As if cradling a strand of spun glass, he unwinds the pale silk from his wrist, lets it pool into his palm. He looks up at Lan Zhan with a crooked smile.

"Hold still," he whispers, and reaches up to tie the ribbon around his forehead.

[lightamidchaos]

He remains perfectly still as Wei Ying reties his ribbon, and knows that everything he feels is clear in his eyes as he watches the other man.

"Even when you are not wearing it, you hold my heart."

[acrookedpath]

Oh, no, not again!

"Lan Zhan," and that's all Wei Wuxian gets out before he thuds his head onto Lan Zhan's shoulder, laughing, already blushing so ferociously that Lan Zhan can likely feel it on his bare skin.

[lightamidchaos]

He hums a pleased sound and runs his hand up and down Wei Ying's back.

[acrookedpath]

Muffled, "At least wait until we have the tea so I can warm it properly, zhiji."

He lifts his head, squares his shoulders, grins as bright as the sunlight upon their bed. "Right. Your hairpiece," he says. He swipes a finger against a lock of Lan Zhan's hair to tuck it behind his ear; trails the same fingertip across his forehead ribbon as his grin softens. "It cannot have gone far."

And indeed it hasn't: when he swings himself partway out of bed to rummage through their discarded clothes, he yelps as he closes his hand around a pointy piece of metal buried in Lan Zhan's inner robes. Wei Wuxian shakes the hairpiece free and returns to Lan Zhan's back to begin sweeping his hair in place.

"I am not as good at this as my own hair," he admits as he tries to remember the intricate twists and turns Lan Zhan employs to secure his hair. "But I will do my best."

[lightamidchaos]

"You will become more familiar with it in time."

He sounds unconcerned, the reason for which becomes immediately apparent as he adds,

"Anything you do will be perfect, because it will be how you have made me look."

[acrookedpath]

"You," he accuses, fractionally more high-pitched, "are doing this on purpose now."

He kisses the back of Lan Zhan's neck.

"But yes. I will have many days of our future to practice. Months. Years." His fingers deftly guide one section of his hair in place, then another. "Soon I will be able to do it in my sleep. You will wake at mao hour and I will be dreaming next to you, fiddling with your hair."

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn."

To him, it sounds exactly as it should be.

[acrookedpath]

"You sound pleased now." Wei Wuxian gathers the last piece of hair and twists it up with the others. "Wait until I have a strange dream and you wake up with as many braids as a Nie disciple."

There! He thinks that's the right of it. He tucks the hairpiece in place and secures it with its pin.

[lightamidchaos]

He turns, and reaches up to cup his hand behind Wei Ying's neck, drawing him down for another kiss.

"If Wei Ying braids my hair, then I will wear braids," he says. "But for now, I will fetch tea, and breakfast."

He gets up and collects his robes and trousers from where they lie fallen, shaking them out and starting to dress.

[acrookedpath]

What a disappointment to have to dress again! Wei Wuxian pretends to pout as Lan Zhan steps into his trousers. Ah, well. It is a view he will see again soon enough.

(The knowledge that it is a view he can see at all -- and will continue to see, as long as he wishes -- fizzes joyfully through his blood.)

"Do not be long," he chirps as he reclines on the bed, tucking his hands behind his head.

[lightamidchaos]

He can feel his blood heat at the sight of Wei Ying stretched out like that, and shakes his head at him.

"Shameless."

The single word is unimaginably fond.

"But I will not take long."

He leans down for a quick farewell kiss, then heads downstairs to retrieve tea and breakfast, as promised.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian beams smugly as Lan Zhan exits. When the door shuts, he lets out a long, pleased sigh and closes his eyes, taking a moment to bask in the sunlight.

...He probably ought to see his way toward putting on trousers as well. And his inner robes, at least.

Eventually.

This still doesn't feel wholly real. Not in a bad way; in the way of a pleasant dream, buoying him out of the darkness of too many nightmares. Part of him hears forever and wonders how long that can truly last, when he knows it is only a matter of time before the nightmares return.

But he will enjoy the reprieve. If it does not last forever -- at least he can hope it lasts for a good long while.

By the time Lan Zhan returns, Wei Wuxian is tying his inner robes in place, shaking his loose hair free of the collar.

[lightamidchaos]

He smiles a little at the sight, then carries the tray to the low table. By now, it is a familiar routine for him to set out breakfast for them both.

Today it is a small plate of the fruit that Wei Ying had liked so much before, along with congee and steamed buns, as well as the ever-present chili oil.

He arranges their places, then pours tea, first for Wei Ying, then for himself.

[acrookedpath]

"Thank you," he says, and kisses Lan Zhan on the cheek before he settles back onto his cushion.

Interestingly, he does not stir quite as much chili oil into his congee as he has in the past. In fact, it is downright bland compared to how he usually eats it: three or four spoonfuls, not even a quarter of the jar. In between sips of tea, he decimates one of the steamed buns and makes off with a good chunk of the fruit.

[lightamidchaos]

When he looks up, he will find that Lan Wangji is frowning at Wei Ying’s bowl in concern.

The concern is still in his glance when he looks up at Wei Ying.