[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]

"You sound pleased now." Wei Wuxian gathers the last piece of hair and twists it up with the others. "Wait until I have a strange dream and you wake up with as many braids as a Nie disciple."

There! He thinks that's the right of it. He tucks the hairpiece in place and secures it with its pin.

[lightamidchaos]

He turns, and reaches up to cup his hand behind Wei Ying's neck, drawing him down for another kiss.

"If Wei Ying braids my hair, then I will wear braids," he says. "But for now, I will fetch tea, and breakfast."

He gets up and collects his robes and trousers from where they lie fallen, shaking them out and starting to dress.

[acrookedpath]

What a disappointment to have to dress again! Wei Wuxian pretends to pout as Lan Zhan steps into his trousers. Ah, well. It is a view he will see again soon enough.

(The knowledge that it is a view he can see at all -- and will continue to see, as long as he wishes -- fizzes joyfully through his blood.)

"Do not be long," he chirps as he reclines on the bed, tucking his hands behind his head.

[lightamidchaos]

He can feel his blood heat at the sight of Wei Ying stretched out like that, and shakes his head at him.

"Shameless."

The single word is unimaginably fond.

"But I will not take long."

He leans down for a quick farewell kiss, then heads downstairs to retrieve tea and breakfast, as promised.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian beams smugly as Lan Zhan exits. When the door shuts, he lets out a long, pleased sigh and closes his eyes, taking a moment to bask in the sunlight.

...He probably ought to see his way toward putting on trousers as well. And his inner robes, at least.

Eventually.

This still doesn't feel wholly real. Not in a bad way; in the way of a pleasant dream, buoying him out of the darkness of too many nightmares. Part of him hears forever and wonders how long that can truly last, when he knows it is only a matter of time before the nightmares return.

But he will enjoy the reprieve. If it does not last forever -- at least he can hope it lasts for a good long while.

By the time Lan Zhan returns, Wei Wuxian is tying his inner robes in place, shaking his loose hair free of the collar.

[lightamidchaos]

He smiles a little at the sight, then carries the tray to the low table. By now, it is a familiar routine for him to set out breakfast for them both.

Today it is a small plate of the fruit that Wei Ying had liked so much before, along with congee and steamed buns, as well as the ever-present chili oil.

He arranges their places, then pours tea, first for Wei Ying, then for himself.

[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."