[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]

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.

[acrookedpath]

Lan Zhan, what did he just say about springing romantic notions like this on him?

He wants to bury his face against Lan Zhan's chest, but he is too transfixed to move. His heart feels too big for him, radiant, overwhelming, and he does not know what to do with any of it. Will it wink out if he looks away? He does not dare.

And still Lan Zhan sings.

zhǔ yī hú shēng sǐ bēi huān jì shào nián láng
míng yuè yī jiù hé lái chàng wǎng...

(Teach these young ones life and death’s joy and grief
As constant as the bright moon waxes and wanes...)

[lightamidchaos]

...bù ruò tǎn tǎn dàng dàng lì biàn fēng hé làng
tiān yá yī qǔ gòng yōu yang.

(...so spread your wings and flutter with the winds and waves
And sing this one song to the world.)

He brings the song to a close and reaches up to brush Wei Ying's hair back from his face, very gently.

A small smile curves his lips.

[acrookedpath]

"Lan Zhan," he wails, and finally does bury his face in his chest. "No warning! Again! How can I survive this? You must be gentler with me, I have only had a few days to process everything!"

[lightamidchaos]

"You asked."

He sounds perfectly reasonable about it all, now, as he puts one arm around Wei Ying to hold him closer and returns to stroking his hair with his free hand.

[acrookedpath]

"I did," he grumbles. (It would be a more effective grumble if he could stop smiling.) "I brought it upon myself, I know. This whole time, Lan Zhan. Every time you sang this. I cannot believe it."

[lightamidchaos]

"You remembered the song," he points out. "I thought you would have realized, even if you did not know all the words."

[acrookedpath]

"It was a good song."

He pulls Lan Zhan's free hand closer so he can lay a kiss on his fingertips. By now, he is slightly less red than he was at the end of the melody.

"And a comfort. Perhaps I should have realized when I noticed how comforting."

[lightamidchaos]

"Perhaps. But I am very glad," he murmurs, as he turns his hand to cup Wei Ying's face, brushing his thumb over his cheekbone.

"That you did realize. Eventually."

[acrookedpath]

His smile is small, and warm, and could light the entire sky.

"So am I," he whispers, before he draws Lan Zhan into another gentle kiss.

[lightamidchaos]

He kisses him back, just as sweetly, then curves his hand around the back of Wei Ying's neck again, rubbing back and forth in a gentle massage.

[acrookedpath]

And as before, that is all it takes for Wei Wuxian to melt against him with a pleased sigh. He shifts a little so he does not pin Lan Zhan with his full weight; they are back where they were before, Wei Wuxian half draped over him, his head tucked against Lan Zhan's shoulder.

We are here, he thinks to himself. We are here.

You do not have to be afraid of this.

Gradually, his eyelids droop closed. He rouses himself when he realizes he's begun to doze off; moments later, though, his eyes have shut again. The cycle continues several times more, and each time Wei Wuxian takes a little longer to open his eyes.

Soon enough, he is fast asleep.

[lightamidchaos]

He does not stop the slow, gentle petting until he is sure that Wei Ying is asleep, his breathing deep and even.

Only then does he stretch one arm enough to snag the edge of the coverlet, just barely in reach. He drags it back up and over them both, hoping to ward off any chill.

That accomplished, Lan Wangji puts both arms around Wei Ying, holding him close, and allows himself to drift back into slumber once more.

[acrookedpath]

When he wakes, it is still dark outside, though with the silvery edge that promises sunrise will not be far away.

He cannot remember if he dreamt during the night. He doesn't think he did; there are vague, shadowy impressions upon his mind, but no faces that he can recall, no smell of smoke or taste of blood. No pain. No death. He hopes that means he did not accidentally wake Lan Zhan without even realizing it.

Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan is still here, arms snug around him. Somehow they are buried underneath the coverlet, which Wei Wuxian is fairly sure they weren't when he fell asleep. Two blankets, he thinks sleepily, and almost laughs aloud at how ridiculous he sounds.

As he tilts his head just enough to look up at Lan Zhan, he feels an unthinking smile form on his lips.

[lightamidchaos]

He is still asleep, looking peaceful and somehow younger in contented repose. Even as Wei Ying stirs, he does not move.

[acrookedpath]

He actually woke up first.

Wei Wuxian has to smother another laugh as he returns his head to Lan Zhan's shoulder. Poor, exhausted Lan Zhan; hopefully the sleep will do him good as he heals.

But should he wake him before mao hour to ensure he gets back in time? His smile fades a little as he contemplates it. Lan Zhan did not say what time Zewu-jun would check on him, only that it would be in the morning -- but it will take time for his brother to do his own morning preparations, he thinks. He hopes.

Surely they can spare a little more time.

[lightamidchaos]

The sky slowly brightens as night gives way to the encroaching dawn. Star after star vanishes into a field of blue.

Mao hour approaches, and as it does, Lan Wangji shifts. His arms tighten around Wei Ying.

He blinks slowly, once, twice -- and then smiles down at him.

"You are awake," he marvels.

[acrookedpath]

He breaks into a grin, nose scrunching up. "I am," he says. "I hope you enjoy it, for I will never wake this early again."

He presses a light kiss to the underside of Lan Zhan's jaw.

"Good morning."

[lightamidchaos]

"Good morning."

He holds him a little closer, just for a moment.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian hums, softly pleased, and snuggles deeper into the embrace without complaint.

"Did you rest well?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Yes."

He tilts his head to look down at Wei Ying.

"Did you?"

[acrookedpath]

"I think so."

He sounds a bit awed by such a simple thing: a full night's sleep, with no nightmares rising to haunt him.

"I didn't wake you, did I?"