Chapter Text
Lan Zhan ducked under a low-hanging branch as he made his way to the wooden shack Wei Ying declared their “dream house.” It was an abandoned building they found off the road during their last night hunt together. The roof was caved, there was no food, and overall the structure was not suitable for proper living.
Lan Zhan indulged Wei Ying. A lot . So when this exact beat down home reminded Wei Ying of a particular domestic fantasy involving his husband as strong handsome farmer, who was Lan Zhan to say no?
Wei Ying’s inventive nature and quick thinking resulted in their little house looking… well it still looked awful, but at least the rain won’t leak in from the ceiling anymore.
The sky was bright, red sun setting low and casting rays over white clouds. Smoke billowed out from the windows, wafting the scent of hot peppers right into Lan Zhan’s face.
The smell made Lan Zhan smile to himself. Not two seconds later, the cook himself slammed open their rickety wooden door with a spoon in one hand and a towel in the other. Upon sighting Lan Zhan, Wei Ying waved his hands in big motions.
“Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan!” It was his favorite sound in the whole world.
Wei Ying tossed the towel over his shoulder and ran at full speed towards his husband. Lan Zhan opened his arms wide, catching the smaller man in a tight hug.
Wei Ying pulled back, smile brighter than the sunset. “I’ve missed you so much, did you miss me too?”
“Mn. I have.” Lan Zhan held Wei Ying up with one arm so that his other hand was free to cup his face.
Wei Ying hid his blush under a giggle, peppering Lan Zhan’s face in kisses. Each press to his cheek (and forehead, and ears, and mouth) was sent straight to Lan Zhan’s heart.
He got used to how Wei Ying crumbled into dust every time Lan Zhan so much as uttered a genuine breath in his direction. It was partly Lan Zhan’s own fault for being so closed off in their youth.
At first his sincerity was embarrassing. But now, he found it within his power to make Wei Ying bury his face in his shoulder at the slightest compliment, even if it was something Lan Zhan kept in his heart for years. He spent too long keeping his feelings away. So if Wei Ying wanted to know, he missed him so much that even buying potatoes at the food stalls took all his conviction to accomplish.
He carried Wei Ying all the way inside the house. Something was sizzling with ferocity on the stove. Lan Zhan saw red under the rattling lid.
Seeing his husband eye the dish, Wei Ying leaped down from Lan Zhan’s arms. Having been apart for so long (at most an hour), Wei Ying maintained a grip on Lan Zhan’s wrist, tugging him towards the kitchen.
“Lan Zhan, come see what your dutiful lover has spent all day preparing for you.” Wei Ying revealed a frying pot full of… something that was buried under a million spicy peppers. He held a spoonful of it out, cupping a hand under to prevent spillage. “Open!”
Lan Zhan ate it in one bite, leaving not even a single bit of garlic on the wooden spoon.
Wei Ying bounced up on his toes. “Well? Isn’t it so good? Aren’t I so talented? You have such a talented husband, Lan Zhan!”
Of course it was good. Not for the taste, which was burning through what was left of Lan Zhan’s taste buds leftover from last night’s dinner. But Wei Ying made it. So yes, it was good.
“Good. Wei Ying is very talented.” To distract himself from the fire that caught from his mouth to his stomach, Lan Zhan pulled Wei Ying in for a long kiss that resulted in a charred dinner.
Wei Ying grumbled at the sight of the black mess. “Aw, Lan Zhan! It looks like we got carried away again. Now what are we going to eat?”
Lan Zhan cleaned out the cookware and began anew. He picked up a potato and began to cut it as Wei Ying clung to his side, nosing at his white sleeves.
“So many potatoes. If it weren’t you cooking it Lan Zhan, I wouldn’t eat it. But somehow you always make them taste good! Hanguang Jun truly is a wonder. I’m so lucky to have him make good potatoes for me.”
Lan Zhan’s ears heated up, as did the stove. He said nothing and tossed another handful of spices into the mix.
Later, the two of them laid on the straw mattress covered with loose sheets and robes known as their bed. Wei Ying’s head perched on Lan Zhan’s stomach, feet propped up in the air. Lan Zhan’s eyes were closed in a semi-meditative state. He listened to Wei Ying ramble.
“I think we should make this a real home, you know? Don’t get me wrong, the Cloud Recesses are great. I wouldn’t ask you to move out completely. But what if this was like, another home?” Wei Ying began to move his hands around in the air as he spoke. “ It can be our latest project! Just think. There’s also a town nearby with good food and plenty of minor spiritual problems to tackle. Should be no issue for the handsome Hanguang Jun and fearsome Yiling Patriarch to handle!”
A beat of silence. Lan Zhan opened his eyes to find Wei Ying beaming up at him, lips crooked in a sweet smile. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan. I know I called you handsome but you have to listen to other parts of what I’m saying!”
“Mn. I am.”
Wei Ying put a finger to his chin. “Eh? Then what are your thoughts?”
Lan Zhan replied at once. “Another home. Sounds nice.”
The look he received was dazzling. Wei Ying gave a loud cheer and flung his arms around Lan Zhan’s whole body. The shakes of Wei Ying’s laughter travelled up his spine. “You say yes just like that, huh? Ah, Lan Zhan you’re so great, you know?”
“Wei Ying also great.” Within seconds, Lan Zhan’s two broad arms captured his husband in a tight embrace. Wei Ying feigned struggle, but got a kick out of squirming around and attacking Lan Zhan with teases and kisses.
“Such a great location, too! If any of the kids want to visit. They can help us on our night hunts. And Wen Ning can come by! Come to think of it, we aren’t too far off from Lotus Pier either. We can have some furniture from all over. Trust me, I know how to decorate on a budget. Living in a cave will teach you those kinds of things…”
Lan Zhan’s grip tightened at the thought. He remembered the cave when they faced off against the entire cultivation world. The overpowering scent of blood, the screams, the cold rock floors. He moved to hold Wei Ying’s hand to ground them both. “Never again,” he promised.
“Hm?” Wei Ying tilted his head up.
“No more caves.” Lan Zhan experienced enough for a lifetime. “Will always be here to protect Wei Ying. Keep him warm. Never alone. Promise.”
Wei Ying’s eyes widened. “Hah?! Lan Zhan oh, Lan Zhan! You can’t spring this on a guy like me! It’s too sweet! You’re too good! How am I to survive? Ah, taken down again by my precious husband?”
Lan Zhan’s lips tugged into a smile at Wei Ying’s antics. He was so happy. The two of them, laying here, making light of such painful events. All possible because it was in the past. With the two of them here and a steadfast heart, Lan Zhan had nothing to fear.
“Did you cook up all the potatoes tonight, by the way?” Wei Ying asked.
“No.”
“Good, good! We can use them for breakfast tomorrow. Wait, no! Let’s go explore the town. We can go buy stuff to fix up this old place. Maybe plant some flowers. It’ll be so nice! Right, Lan Zhan?”
“Mn.”
They continued like this for a while. The more Wei Ying described simple things like purchasing groceries, paying visits to friends, or new night hunt techniques, Lan Zhan’s chest filled with warmth. Soon enough, the heat from how red his ears were became a steady presence. Compared to the other sensations he carried with him for so long, it was a welcomed addition.
“Mhmm. It’s past nine, isn’t it? Lan Zhan, I can tell. You’re looking drowsy.” The passing observation sent another shade of pink to his ears. “Don’t keep up just for me. We can talk more later. We have lots to do! Good night for now, Lan Zhan. I love you so much, you know? I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Wei Ying put another ten kisses all over Lan Zhan for good measure before flopping back down onto him.
“Mn. Good night.” Lan Zhan adjusted their positions so that Wei Ying’s head was tucked in his neck. Wei Ying’s arms moved on their own to take up as much space on Lan Zhan as possible. “I love you too.”
Before Lan Zhan fell asleep, he thought over Wei Ying’s words.
See you tomorrow .
They will have a tomorrow. And a day after. With a lifetime stretching on before them. Together they weathered a thousand storms, yet Wei Ying dozed so peacefully in his arms. The loneliness of decades gone in an instant. Pain and envy forgotten.
Left in the wake was simply Wei Ying and Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan and Wei Ying.
In his sleep, Lan Zhan will not dream. He has no need to. Everything he ever wanted lay beside him each night.
He was free.