[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]

"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."

[acrookedpath]

Oh. With his whole weight against him, Lan Zhan can feel every rapid breath Wei Wuxian takes, chest pressing up to his. He looks dazed, awestruck by his good fortune, cheeks heated bright; he gasps as Lan Zhan closes his fingers around his wrists.

"Yours," he manages. "Lan Zhan." He tries to kiss him, but finds he's started to laugh, softly. "Let me -- put down the wine first."

Only Lan Zhan could make him forget he's holding a wine bottle.

[lightamidchaos]

He glances down, spots the wine bottle in Wei Ying's hand, and acts. One moment Wei Ying has it in his fingers, and the next, Lan Wangji has taken it, set it haphazardly on the nearby bookshelf, and pinned him to the door once more, hands back around his wrists.

"Mine," he confirms, looking at the disheveled beauty of the man before him. Slowly, deliberately, Lan Wangji leans in to kiss him again.

[acrookedpath]

Oh, good. Lan Zhan is so good at solving problems like this. Wei Wuxian didn't even have to do anything at all.

His fingers curl on air as Lan Zhan kisses him, seeking contact, but they cannot close on anything. It's all right. Lan Zhan is giving him all the contact he should desire, anyway; he does not need to grab for him shamelessly.

Still, as he returns the kiss, he can feel himself growing more desperate, delving deeper, trying to press even closer --

A tiny, skittering, scratching noise sounds from the other side of the door.

Then a cheerful squeak.

Wei Wuxian stops mid-kiss, eyes opening, and drops back into sudden laughter as he tips his forehead against Lan Zhan's. "Damn it," he whispers.

[lightamidchaos]

He draws a deep breath, which shudders, as he forces himself to relax his hold on Wei Ying, then steps to the side so that Wei Ying can open the door.

If he braces his arm against the wall and leans his forehead against it, what of it?

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian fills his lungs in kind, shoving a few loose strands of hair behind his ears that were knocked free in their passion. He opens the door and crouches down to relieve the rat of its burden. "Thank you," he says with a polite smile, inclining his head in an abbreviated bow.

He rises back to his feet and slides the door shut with one elbow, already turning back to Lan Zhan with a grin -- which fades when he takes in the sight of him leaning against the wall, already exhausted and spent.

"Lan Zhan." Gentler. "Come eat?"

[lightamidchaos]

He takes another careful breath, then turns away from the wall and moves to join him.

Together, they set out the items from the tray. Once that is done, Lan Wangji reaches for the tea, clearly intending to pour for them both.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian huffs out a small breath, but allows Lan Zhan to pour the tea. At least Lan Zhan is eating; he will take what victories he may.

He retrieved the wine bottle to add to the table while they were arranging the food. It sits untouched for now as he lifts his teacup, nodding thanks to Lan Zhan before he drinks.

"So what did you find in the library?" he asks. "Things from our world? Music from another?"

[lightamidchaos]

"There is a section with sheet music from various worlds," he says. "And composition theory. I hope to spend more time studying it."

He takes a bite of food and follows that with a sip of tea before continuing.

"I admit I spent more time talking with Harrow than looking at music, today."

[acrookedpath]

"Oh?" Curious. "How does she fare?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Well enough. I think."

Given the difficulty of the situation, that is, which is why he sounds a little doubtful.

"I understand Gideon Nav has arrived."

[acrookedpath]

"Ah. Yes."

In the flurry of everything, he had nearly forgotten his sparring match with Gideon at the edge of the forest. It may as well have happened weeks ago, not days; with as often as Harrow has spoken of Gideon, it feels as if she has been visiting the inn even longer than Wei Wuxian.

"She has. I met her while you were -- away."