[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]

His brows knit together as he looks at Wei Ying, still a little confused.

"Wei Ying. What is it?"

[acrookedpath]

"Nothing urgent," he insists. "Really. I was too loud, that is all -- I did not mean to startle you."

[lightamidchaos]

"Wei Ying is not too loud."

He reaches up and draws his fingers through the other man's hair, petting him.

"It is fine."

[acrookedpath]

"Mmm."

Well, now his mind is rapidly devolving to the pleasant blank expanse of before. (Amazing how it takes so little.) He goes boneless against Lan Zhan, leaning into the touch.

[lightamidchaos]

He makes a wordless, pleased sound, and keeps repeating the caress.

"I will comb Wei Ying's hair," he murmurs. "If he wishes."

[acrookedpath]

He draws in a small, surprised breath, but that is the only move he makes as Lan Zhan continues running his fingers through his hair.

"So soon?" he asks with the smallest laugh, and wants to smack himself the instant he says it.

[lightamidchaos]

He freezes for an instant, utterly still.

After a moment, he draws his fingers through Wei Ying's hair again, and continues to do so, as slow and steady as before.

He says nothing.

[acrookedpath]

"Ah, no, Lan Zhan -- "

He pulls away from him, but only so he can brace his hands on either side of Lan Zhan's shoulders, his hair falling in a curtain around them. His wrist flexes against the ribbon tied snug around it; he feels sick, as if the words expelled some horrible acid as they left his mouth.

"No, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. That was a terrible thing to say, I don't know why I said it, I -- "

(It was just -- everything seemed far too real, far too close for an instant, and before he could stop himself he had to -- )

He cards his fingers through the hair just above Lan Zhan's temple. Tries to anchor himself: we are here. "I'm sorry," he whispers.

[lightamidchaos]

He reaches up with one hand to cradle his face, and strokes his thumb back and forth over the arch of his cheek.

“Wei Ying.”

Although that is all he says, the tone of his voice somehow conveys acknowledgement, understanding — and forgiveness.

[acrookedpath]

He sighs, unexpectedly shaky. "I'm sorry," he whispers again: helpless, reflexive as yanking a hand from a burning flame. He kisses Lan Zhan. "I love you. I know I should not joke about such things. I will do better."

[lightamidchaos]

“Wei Ying,” he says again, and kisses him back, gently, before shifting his hand to curve around the nape of his neck instead, lightly holding him in place, anchored and secure.

“And I love you. For who you are. As you are. There is no better. You are my Wei Ying.”

[acrookedpath]

The tension flows out of him as Lan Zhan anchors them together. He manages a nod, small enough not to disturb Lan Zhan's touch, and leans until their foreheads meet.

"And you are my Lan Zhan." He quirks a smile. "Who is welcome to comb my hair in the morning, when we are forced to be presentable to the world again."

[lightamidchaos]

"I would enjoy that," he admits.

He slides his other hand up Wei Ying's back and twines a lock of hair around his fingers.

"Your hair is beautiful. You are beautiful."

[acrookedpath]

The compliment catches him in a soft, startled laugh. "Shameless," he teases, leaning into another brief kiss. "I've told you, Lan Zhan, if you give me no warning before saying such things, I will be helpless."

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn."

Apparently, he is not bothered by that at all.

He coaxes Wei Ying a little closer, returning kiss for kiss.

[acrookedpath]

The unpleasant moment has long passed; he is content to settle more comfortably atop Lan Zhan, weaving his fingers deeper into his hair, and continue to kiss him, gentle and unhurried.

"What were you singing before?" he whispers at last, when their lips part.

[lightamidchaos]

He blinks in confusion.

"You know."

[acrookedpath]

"Yes, but there were words," he insists with a grin. "Those I do not know."

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji stares at him.

His ears flush bright red.

[acrookedpath]

"Lan Zhan!" He isn't quite cackling, but he is near enough to it. "You're blushing! What could you have written to make you turn so red?"

He would not have marked Lan Zhan for the type to write a bawdy song, but before today, he also would not have marked Lan Zhan as the type to bodily haul Wei Wuxian into bed and pin him down by his wrists. Who knows what the rest of those lyrics might be!

[lightamidchaos]

With Wei Ying sprawled on top of him, the only possible way for him to escape, to hide, is to either twist out from under him or to close his eyes.

He chooses the latter, and struggles to find words.

"You know," he says again. "That song."

He had even, in one of the most daring moments of his life, confessed the name of the song to Wei Ying in the Xuanwu's cave. Wei Ying had never said anything about it, and Lan Wangji had silently concluded that Wei Ying was being kind, choosing to not embarrass him, and had never mentioned it again.

He had not even realized the other man remembered the song at all until Wei Ying had started to play the melody, here at the inn.

"It -- has words, yes. I--"

[acrookedpath]

Eagerly: "Well? What are they?"

And half an instant later: "Ah, no, if you are too embarrassed to say, you do not have to tell me now. But someday!" He kisses one of Lan Zhan's bright red ears. "Someday I hope you will. If I have been playing something fit for a tavern this whole time -- "

[lightamidchaos]

His eyes snap open, at that, and he fixes Wei Ying with a flat glare before shaking his head, resigned.

He draws a deep breath, and begins to sing, soft but clear:

wén dí sheng dú chóu chàng
yún shēn yè wèi yāng
shì yǔ fēi dōu guò wǎng
xǐng lái le zěn néng dāng mèng yī cháng...

(Listen for the melody of a flute, alone in sorrow)
The nights in the clouds are long
Once together, now it’s all in the past
In wakefulness, how can I brush everything away as a dream?)

[acrookedpath]

He beams when Lan Zhan glares at him, cheerfully unrepentant... which lasts until the moment Lan Zhan begins to sing.

He lowers his chin to Lan Zhan's chest, watching him, and listens in quiet astonishment. This is what he has been playing the whole time? Every time Lan Zhan hummed that melody to soothe Wei Wuxian, this is what he was thinking -- and this is what Wei Wuxian echoed back to him, unrealizing.

He can feel his cheeks heating up the more Lan Zhan sings, as if this truly were the most bawdy tavern song imaginable.

[lightamidchaos]

hóng chén zhōng huǐ yù dé shī rú hé qù liáng
(In this world, the good and evil done, how does one remember?)

Wei Ying's eyes go wide and startled, and color begins to rise in his cheeks. Lan Wangji can feel his own expression softening as he watches, and as he continues to sing, laying his heart open in front of the other man.

...yòu wén qín xiǎng
chén qíng wèi jué...

(...the qin sounds once again
Echoes, feelings yet to disappear...)

It had taken years, for him to settle on the final version. Years, thinking of Wei Ying's smile and laughter, his untamed spirit and unblighted heart, trying to capture the memory of it all in words.