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“What can I do other than this? Nobody can give me a nice, broad path where I can protect who I want to protect.”
In a moment of hesitation, they locked eyes. The connection seemed to last a second too long, held for longer than anything Wei Wuxian thought he could hold. His family, his happiness, all of those things seemed to slip away so easily, but not this gaze. Lan Wangji stared at him with wide, clear eyes. He could see Wei Wuxian for the disgusting person he was, and Wei Wuxian was too restless knowing that he was being seen. Feeling a warmth bubbling in his stomach and a sickness just barely contained from erupting in his throat, Wei Wuxian averted his gaze.
Just as he was about to turn away from Lan Wangji for, again, what felt like the final time, he glanced at the man in white with hope to steal one last look at him. Still, Lan Wangji’s eyes had not moved off of Wei Wuxian. He step forward with determination.
And then, suddenly, strong arms wrapped around him. Wei Wuxian couldn’t process what was happening, his head pulled down enough to bury half of his face in soft white cloth. The arms around him were firm but gentle, one hand bundling up the fabric of his gray robes together with a few strands of long black hair.
Without realizing it, Wei Wuxian took a shaking breath, breathing in the sandalwood scent he was so familiar with, the scent he found an unsuspecting comfort in. Despite Lan Wangji’s cold exterior, the gesture was nothing but warmth and comfort.
He melted into the touch.
The smell, the soft sound of breathing, the warmth, the gentle pressure of Lan Wangji’s hands holding him so close. Slowly, he brought his arms up to hug Lan Wangji back, his arms hooking underneath and weakly grasping at the white fabric of Lan Wangji’s robes. He swallowed dryly, choking back any words of protest he might have briefly considered spouting out, choosing for once to stay quiet. After a few seconds, he clutched tighter and nuzzled his face to fit the curve of Lan Wangji’s neck. He breathed. He breathed him in so deeply.
Lan Wangji didn’t let him go.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t aware of it, but he let out a soft whine as he shifted, as if trying to get closer. And then a little bit of a sniff. Lan Wangji felt a wet droplet touch his skin where Wei Wuxian’s long eyelashes kissed it. With that, he only held him a bit tighter.
They stayed like that for what felt like a small eternity before Wei Wuxian finally pushed himself away. But even that was gentle, full of hesitation, as if Wei Wuxian asked with a weak push of his arm, Is this worth it?
They stared at each other, an unspoken exchange. Wei Wuxian was the first to glance down. Lan Wangji’s grip around Wei Wuxian’s waist tightened a little bit before loosening at last. Peeking up at him through his eyelashes, Wei Wuxian drunk in the sight. Lan Wangji’s face was cold as ever, but he swore he saw bits of pink tinging his eyes, his ears. Finally, Wei Wuxian stepped away, allowing only a few inches of space between them.
Wei Wuxian knew that no matter what he did, there was no other path he could take except the one that drove him away from everyone—from Jiang Cheng, from his sister, from Lan Wangji. At the same time, Lan Wangji looked helpless. There was nothing he could do for Wei Wuxian as well, other than give him a hug.
His hand lingered on Lan Wangji’s chest, pristine white robes crinkled from his tight grip.
“Thank you, Lan Zhan,” the patriarch muttered, and Lan Wangji froze, “for spending the day with me.”