[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

[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.

[acrookedpath]

His chewing slows. By the time he swallows, he's begun to mirror Lan Zhan's frown.

"Lan Zhan?"

[lightamidchaos]

“Is something wrong with the chili oil?”

[acrookedpath]

"Oh! No, not at all."

A sheepish grin.

"I, ah -- only assumed there would be more kissing later. I am happy to scorch my mouth as much as I please, but do not want to scorch yours as well."

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji stares at him.



"Rest assured," he says, finally, his voice huskier than before, "there will be more kissing. Every day."

A beat of silence. His gaze is intent, now, lingering on Wei Ying's lips.

"Also rest assured that what you eat will not stop me from kissing you. Make your food how you like it, Wei Ying. And I will thoroughly enjoy kissing you, all the same."

[acrookedpath]

He finds his mouth curling into an amused smile at Lan Zhan's sudden focus.

Lightly: "I am glad. And I am sure we can find ways to soothe the pain if it becomes too much."

[lightamidchaos]

“It will not be.”

He picks up the bottle of chili oil and sets it in front of Wei Ying, very deliberately.

[acrookedpath]

The smile brightens to a full grin. "If you insist," he teases.

As if it would ever take much insisting to make Wei Wuxian add more spice to his food!

With no more hesitation -- and abandoning the spoon altogether -- he opens the chili oil and dumps most of it into his congee.

[lightamidchaos]

“Mn.”

Satisfied, he returns to his own breakfast.

[acrookedpath]

Within two bites, he can recognize that if he had tried to keep eating his congee (largely) plain, he would have caved within days and dumped five pots of chili oil on it. It tastes so much better now!

Perhaps you should simply ask Lan Zhan next time instead of assuming, murmurs a wryly amused voice in the back corner of his mind.

The meal fades into a comfortable, companionable quiet. Wei Wuxian tries to eat slower, as if he could stretch the deadline of Lan Zhan's departure a little longer.

[lightamidchaos]

He finishes his food and pours another cup of tea for each of them, idly considering the day ahead.

(Silence during meals. He does not think to break it, at least not without reason.)

Camellia oil. Incense, for the burner he brought up the other night. A better stock of tea. He sorts through the list of things, considering what else to add to it.

[acrookedpath]

All he can think to say are things Lan Zhan already knows.

I will miss you.

I wish you didn't have to go.

I love you.

It is as if the last day erased all of the three days preceding. If he wants to do something besides pace the floor waiting for Lan Zhan to return, perhaps he ought to re-read his notes and organize them a little better. Or he could give up and abandon thinking altogether for the day: go for a swim, visit the archery range he thought he spotted some weeks ago.

"It has been some time since we explored the forest," he says. "We do not have to hunt, but if you'd like to walk there tonight...?"

[lightamidchaos]

"I would like that. Very much."

He sets his tea aside and leans forward, reaching over the table to take Wei Ying's hand.

"I will come back as soon as I can. Not before yǒu hour, but not long after xū hour at latest--"

[acrookedpath]

Setting down his own cup, he covers their joined hands, quirks another small smile.

"I will look for you then," he says. "And Lan Zhan, if there is ever a time where you are trapped away from here again, where you cannot reach me -- I will find a way to reach you."

[lightamidchaos]

He does not try to convince Wei Ying otherwise. Not only would it do no good, he knows, but he will not dismiss his care, his concern, like that.

"I know," he says, very softly. "All I will ask is that you be careful, should it ever come to that."

He will just have to see to it that it never does.

[acrookedpath]

"I will." He squeezes their clasped hands. "I promise. I doubt I can cross back into our world without becoming a ghost, but our friends can. And Ingress has a skill for Opening -- she could find a path to you."

[lightamidchaos]

All color drains from his face, and Lan Wangji's grip tightens abruptly on his hand.

"Wei Ying. No."

[acrookedpath]

"We would be careful," he insists. "Lan Zhan -- "

He uncovers their hands, reaching to cup Lan Zhan's cheek. He cannot comprehend the sudden flash of fear on the other man's face.

"Only if you cannot find a way back. Only then."

[lightamidchaos]

"You cannot risk it," he insists. "Wei Ying, you must not try to cross. Not you."

His throat is dry with fear.

"Please."

[acrookedpath]

He pulls in a swift breath, comprehension dawning.

But he does not hesitate: "I won't." He runs his thumb along the arc of Lan Zhan's cheekbone, eyes locked on his. "I will send Harrow, or Ingress, or Tom-gongzi. I will not go myself. I swear to you, Lan Zhan. I will be safe."

[lightamidchaos]

He closes his eyes, then nods.

"Thank you," he whispers.

He swallows once, hard, and looks at Wei Ying.

"And I know you - I know you would dare, that you are brave enough, and brilliant, but -- if you became a ghost, if somehow then you could not -- "

A single, ragged breath.

"I cannot lose you. Not again."

[acrookedpath]

"I know," he whispers. "I know. And you will not."

Heedless of the dishes between them, he leans across the table to kiss Lan Zhan.

"I will be here."

[lightamidchaos]

He returns the kiss, and forces himself to relax his desperate grip on Wei Ying's hand.

"And I will come back to you. I will be careful, too. I promise you that."

[acrookedpath]

"So we are in agreement." He presses another kiss to Lan Zhan's forehead, just above the ribbon, and settles back. "Neither of us will do anything foolish. We will hold each other to it, and enjoy many meals together in a strange inn at the end of the world."