[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]

"It has stranger things."

There is a softness in his expression as he looks at Wei Ying, and patient resignation in his glance.

"But no. I was in the library before."

[acrookedpath]

"Mm."

Apparently, thanks to Lan Zhan, he has begun to appreciate the value of using a single syllable to convey a whole range of emotions. (In this case: skepticism, amusement, and a deep, loving fondness.)

Wei Wuxian pecks him on the lips without hesitation once he's close enough. "Did you find anything interesting?"

[lightamidchaos]

He keeps Bichen to the side so there is no chance of accidentally injuring Wei Ying and places his other hand on Wei Ying's hip, then leans in for another kiss.

"Mn. A few things. I will make copies of them, if I am allowed."

[acrookedpath]

"I think as long as you do not submerge them in salt water, you should be fine," he says, wry but still smiling.

(He's been a little afraid to go back to the library since he sheepishly asked Madam Bar to return the water-stained scroll from Harrow's consecration ritual. Someday he will face down the Librarian again, but... not yet.)

He combs his fingers through Lan Zhan's hair, settling them on the back of his neck.

[lightamidchaos]

"Ah."

He shivers, very slightly, and moves closer.

"If it would help - I could give you a copy of something from our library. You could offer that as replacement and apology."

[acrookedpath]

The portion of his mind making a pleased note at Lan Zhan's response to the touch collides, rather abruptly, with the rest of what Lan Zhan says. His eyebrows fly up his forehead.

"I hope that won't be necessary," he says with a small laugh. "I cannot imagine that would go unnoticed, Lan Zhan. No, I will make whatever apologies and payment the Librarian wishes."

[lightamidchaos]

"I can make a copy of it myself, if needed," he insists. "You will tell me, if it will help."

He shifts his grasp on Bichen slightly, as he assesses his spiritual energy reserves, then reluctantly lets go of Wei Ying's hip in order to sheathe the sword manually rather than vanish it.

[acrookedpath]

"Yes. I will tell you," he reassures him, and punctuates it with another brief kiss.

When he notices what Lan Zhan is trying to do, he steps back enough to give him the space for it -- even as his gaze sharpens slightly, assessing. If he has enough spiritual energy to command Bichen through his sword forms, but none left over to vanish the blade, then his reserves remain far too low. Wei Wuxian sighs inwardly.

Stubborn Lan Zhan, he thinks, but even that is tinged with fondness.

"How do you feel?"

[lightamidchaos]

"I am all right."

He holds Bichen sheathed at his side and meets Wei Ying's eyes, his own expression bland, now.

[acrookedpath]

He eyes him a moment longer, eyebrows still raised in a clear lying is forbidden, Lan Zhan.

But he lets it go with a small sigh, forms another smile, and says, "Well, then if you are done, let's go inside and you can tell me more about what you found in the library."

[lightamidchaos]

"I am all right," he says again, more gently. "And I will be better still, in time."

He moves to Wei Ying's side, clearly intending to walk beside him rather than to lead the way.

[acrookedpath]

"I know."

As they walk back to the inn, he shifts the wine bottle to his other hand so he can link his fingers with Lan Zhan's.

"If there were a way you could be better now, for the sake of my heart -- " He chuckles, ruefully. "But you have always been more patient than I have."

[lightamidchaos]

He raises their linked hands and kisses Wei Ying's fingers.

"I will endeavor to heal as swiftly as I can. I promise."

[acrookedpath]

A small flush of heat spreads through him.

"Good," he says. And then, lightly: "So you will not object if I feed you another meal once we're inside?"

[lightamidchaos]

"As long as it is not too large a meal."

He sounds a little wry, but accepting enough.

[acrookedpath]

Did... did Wei Wuxian actually win this battle? Incredible.

"It won't be," he assures him. "More rice and broth, and a little tofu, I think. We will add in vegetables tomorrow morning."

He elbows open the door to the inn.

"And you have enough medicine now to take back with you to Cold Pond Cave."

[lightamidchaos]

He glances sideways at Wei Ying, at that, but forbears to argue that point.

Medicine can be easily hidden, after all.

"Tea would be welcome," he observes.

[acrookedpath]

"Tea! Yes! Not too strong, still -- "

He whistles to get the attention of the nearest waitrat, letting go of Lan Zhan's hand long enough to crouch down and relay their order. "If you could bring it upstairs to our room, please? I would be very thankful."

The rat squeaks assent and dashes away.

With a grin, Wei Wuxian takes Lan Zhan's hand again and draws him to the stairs.

[lightamidchaos]

He allows himself to be drawn after in his wake, remembering other times when Wei Ying has pulled him along through markets and toward one destination or another.

When they reach the room, however, all such thoughts are lost as he stares at the door.

His name is on it, now, in addition to Wei Ying's.

[acrookedpath]

He had wondered how Lan Zhan might react to the sight. It... seems like he doesn't mind? He thinks?

"I thought..." His smile softens; despite himself, a clutch of nerves tightens in his gut. "If we -- if this. Is it all right?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Yes," he assures him, for all that he is barely able to speak at first.

"More than all right."

He would never have asked; never have presumed.

[acrookedpath]

Just like that, the nerves unwind into a bright flowering of elation.

"Good," he whispers before he leans in to kiss him.

[lightamidchaos]

He puts both arms around Wei Ying and steps close as he returns the kiss, pulling the other man against him.

The movement shifts them close enough to the door that the locking talisman releases, allowing it to unlatch and open.

Good.

Lan Wangji takes advantage of that to pull Wei Ying the rest of the way into the room, and kisses him again.

[acrookedpath]

Maybe he should put Lan Zhan's name on more things in their room? (Their room, he thinks dizzily.) If this is the reaction it gets, he will paint the characters of his name on every object, every surface. He will give Lan Zhan every chance to know: this is yours. And this.

And me.

The door shuts behind them. Wei Wuxian backs against it, letting Lan Zhan push him there without breaking the kiss.

[lightamidchaos]

He is the one to end the kiss, just for an instant. He bends to the side to set Bichen on the floor, leaning it against the bookshelf, and then returns his full, focused attention to Wei Ying.

He presses him against the door, using the weight of his body to hold him there, and kisses him again, and again, and again.

"Wei Ying."

Low and rough, nearly a growl, as he puts his hands first on Wei Ying's shoulders, then runs them along his arms, to his wrists, where his grip tightens.

"My Wei Ying."