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He cannot tell how much time had passed, only that he had started to doze off, feeling peaceful enough with the preys sent to Jiang Cheng and the lack of people in the immediate area. With a branch to lay on, a blindfold that blocked the light, and his body warmed gently by the few rays of sun passing through the trees; how could his body resting the temptation of a little nap?
However, no one would expect the Yiling Patriarch to be vulnerable, and for good reason. The moment someone's presence came closer and closer, Wei Wuxian found himself snapping back to wakefulness, frame tensing and senses sharpening toward the presence that had stirred the energy within his body.
Yet, while a new presence made the resentful energy attentive, the lack of killing intent calmed it as much as it relaxed Wei Wuxian. He tilted his head, but made no other movement, thinking that whoever it was, they would either announce themselves, or leave.
A minute passed in silence, yet the presence was still there. Chenqing felt more aware now, growing curious, and Wei Wuxian shared the sentiment. “Are you here to hunt?” He paused, but when there was no reply, he added, “You won't get anything good from being around me.”
It seemed those words made the person move finally, and with a thrill shooting through his body, Wei Wuxian realized they were walking closer. His energy spiked in interest, not enough to be felt, as there was no one to fight. Oh, he knew it hoped for it, the curl of energy wishing from a reason to strike; but with the lack of ill intent, it was willing enough to calm under Wei Wuxian's will.
Who were they, that unlike many who would fear, they dared to approach? If it was not for the utter lack of any negative intents toward him, he would have thought they meant to attack him. But there was nothing that made Chenqing grow protective, as Wei Wuxian knew her to be, nothing to mark this person as a danger.
So, it was with great shock that, as his lips curled into a smile and he opened his mouth to speak again, he felt himself being pushed rather forcefully against the tree at his back. He made a sound of surprise, yet there still was no ill intent, even when one hand grasped tightly his wrist and the strength of the fingers made him loosen his grip, Chenqing falling to the ground.
In the next moment, something warm pressed to Wei Wuxian's lips, freezing his body. His heart skipped a beat, and then he registered what was happening. Lips! He was being kissed!
He moved to shake talismans out of his free arm, but the person was faster, a second strong grip forcing his arm upward with the first. One hand wrapped around both wrist, freeing the second hand that came to grip firmly but gently his jaws, the kiss having been interrupted when Wei Wuxian had tried to get to his talismans.
He made to protest, but barely half a word left him before the lips were covering his again. The muscles of his arms stiffened under the instinctive reaction to try and pry himself free, but this person, they were too strong!
Energy sparked into his veins, the little mass that had buried itself in his body and never left him since Burial Mound flaring with something akin to offended fury.
Yet, as fast as the energy flowed into his body, in the split second before it made contact with the person, in the split moment where it could feel the other person's aura, the energy… froze. The fury left.
Who was it, that not even the forever resentful energy of Burial Mound, calmed only by having made itself at home in Wei Wuxian's body, wished to harm them?
And then, he realized something else. This person was shaking.
This person… although strong, was nervous. The grip on his arm and his face, while firm, was not harmful. Had it taken all their courage to steal this one kiss?
But it should not be enough for the resentful energy to stop. It had only meant to create a spark, something to make them release him.
So, didn't this mean...
There are only three people I could never harm willingly...
Externally, Wei Wuxian had stopped struggling, and the person deepened the kiss, biting his lower lips, growing more aggressive, more passionate, bringing sounds out of Wei Wuxian that he only half registered.
His heart thumped harder at the realization he was coming to, in the middle of the fire burning through his body at how good the kiss felt. Later, he would fully realize how it was due to his mind being in the middle of realizing who it was.
There are only three people that his cultivation would never, ever harm. But two were his siblings.
So, the one kissing him, the third person that his energy had never lashed out at, no matter how hurt or angry their arguments made him feel…
The person had to part, to take a breath, and before their lips met his own again, Wei Wuxian, voice breathless, called out, “Lan… Zhan?”
Lan Zhan froze, lips so close their brushed his own, a sharp intake of breath taken, arms giving a spasm to prevent was would otherwise have been a painful tightening of fingers.
Wei Wuxian tilted his head up a bit, as if to meet the man's eyes. Their lips brushed with the movement, and he felt the warm puffs of Lan Zhan's breath, trying to control his breathing.
He felt the work of muscles just before Lan Zhan made to move away, but the moment his wrists were free, both hands shot out, quick like snakes and with strength born from the energy still into his veins.
A soft gasp was heard as, no doubt, Lan Zhan felt the energy flowing just under Wei Wuxian's skin, giving him the strength to stop the man by catching one arm with both hands. However, it made him lose his balance, and his body tilted off the branch, toward the other man.
A yelp left Wei Wuxian's lips, hands leaving the strong arm to catch his fall, but he had barely moved them that he heard the shift of fabrics, felt the displacement of air, and then he collided against a solid chest, hands catching him by the shoulders.
He felt how Lan Zhan froze again, tense, fingers twitching, but above all, like this, Wei Wuxian heard how fast his heart was beating.
Slowly, he placed his palms beside his head, his energy still there but too quiet to be felt, his hands tightened into the robes in warning when he felt the slight hint Lan Zhan meant to step back, a whispered, “Don't,” freezing the man again.
This close, Wei Wuxian felt feelings that stirred the resentful energy he was the master of. He felt the anger, and the… the fear.
Only the second one was directed at him.
He's angry at himself, and he feels afraid… Is he…
Lan Zhan had never been afraid of Wei Wuxian. Then… In such a situation… Wouldn't it be…
Hadn't he realized, earlier, that the person kissing was so nervous they were shaking? Hadn't he thought, at the back of his mind, that it had taken all their courage to kiss him, no doubt only because he was unable to see them?
He felt his lips curl at the corner, a faint little smile, palms flattening over Lan Zhan's chest, the little smile growing fond, as he felt how the man's heart thumped harder still. Pressing his body closer, hearing the deep inhale, the way this strong body shook again, but the tightening of fingers betrayed something else than nerves; Wei Wuxian lifted his head.
“Hanguang-Jun, Lan Wangji, Lan Zhan… Did you know, if it had been anyone else daring to steal my first kiss,” Oh, he heard that tiny gasp, “they would have discovered it may be worse to catch me without Chenqing?” He pressed closer even more, lips brushing at Lan Zhan's jaws, finding them clenched hard.
“Wei Ying-” Finally, the man's voice came, sharp into a warning, but it trembled and he cut himself off.
Wei Wuxian slid his hands up, placing them around the man's neck, it almost looked like an easy position to strangle, but all he did was feel the pulse them, the way that throat worked to swallow. Unknown to Lan Zhan, what Wei Wuxian felt too was how the fury at his own self lessened, swallowed by the sudden fire in the man, something almost fearful, but more so almost angry something that was focused solely on Wei Wuxian.
Without his sight, it was so much easier to take note of how deeply his energy was able to pick emotions, especially any emotions that could agitate it. Like this… Wei Wuxian could feel it.
He could feel the burning desire, aggressive in its nature, something that wanted to dominate, to attack him in a meaning quite different than the usual attack. Yet, something warm was mixed into it, something that appeased his energy, in a manner he only encountered once.
The love of his sister in all but blood was the only emotion of someone else that would soothe his energy, have it willingly grow calm.
Silver eyes softened behind the blindfold. His own heart thumped hard, emotions he had tried to pretend he didn't understand slowly flooding his chest.
“I am glad it's you,” Wei Wuxian admitted in a soft voice, feeling how the trembles grew. “There's no else I would kiss, after a-”
He could not finish his words. The moment the meaning was clear enough, the hands at his shoulders moved to the back of his head, a simple shift needed for their lips to lock together again. Wei Wuxian made a sound from the back of his throat, tilting his head to make it easier, to deepen the kiss, parting his lips just in time for a tongue to invade his mouth.
He was made to walk backward, and it amused him briefly, to feel the tree at his back, to be pressed against it again, this time upward. Only briefly, because then, all thoughts left his mind, the kiss stealing his breath, stealing his whole focus, sending fire and warmth into his veins.
Lan Zhan kissed him like a man thirsty who had found an oasis, like it was the end of the world and this was his last act. His hands cupped his face now, body still trembling and the hold tender, like a man who found his most precious treasure.
The kiss slowed, turned more gentle, one hand at the back of Lan Zhan's neck and the other sliding down to rest at one hip, feeling thumbs brush his cheek with a hold still trembling, the tip of them sliding under the blindfold at each pass.
Wei Wuxian felt his eyes growing hot, the reverent hold and touches doing things to his heart. “Lan Zhan...” he breathed out, almost a whine, and shivered when his bottom lip was nipped, then lips pressed gentle kisses at the corner of his mouth, up to his cheek, to end up giving a feather-like touch to his blindfolded eyes, one after the other.
A forehead pressed against his own, both of them recovering their breathing.
There was a shaky edge to Lan Zhan's breath. Wei Wuxian's lips curled into a soft smile.
“Lan-Er-Gege, will you let me see you?” His hands came to cup the man's face, thumbs brushing cheeks. “Please?”
Fingers touched his own cheeks, then followed the line of the blindfold, a slight tremble to them. His smile turned softer, fondness growing into his chest, knowing his eyes to be misty. The knot was undone, and the blindfold was removed.
Wei Wuxian blinked his eyes, a little glad that the sudden light would be able to excuse the teary look of his gaze. As soon as his eyes could focus, he locked them with golden ones, and his breath was stolen all over again.
Lips swollen, with a slight tremble to them. Eyes shimmering with emotions, hope and anxiety battling. Gaze lowering soon, the shame of his initial action too great.
Clicking his tongue, Wei Wuxian encouraged Lan Zhan to lift his gaze again, with his hold that still remained on his face.
“Taking a kiss from me when I'm vulnerable… has this been a fantasy of yours?” Gold eyes widened, but when he tried to jerk away, Wei Wuxian tightened his fingers lightly. It was, however, the soft look in silver eyes that stopped Lan Wangji. “How else would you lose control like this? I cannot believe this is a whim. So tell me, Lan Zhan…” He started to brush his thumbs back and forth.
Lan Wangji could not help but notice that something vulnerable grew in Wei Ying's gaze.
“Tell me why… Why would you want to kiss me?”
Lips trembled, but golden eyes grew intense, hope blooming in his chest at the own hope in Wei Ying's eyes. “...Why would you let me?” A faint frowned formed. “You… Resentful energy...”
Wei Wuxian let out a breath of laughter. “I told you, didn't I? If it had been anyone else, they wouldn't have been able to do more than try to kiss me.” Eyes growing half-lidded, he let one thumb brush Lan Zhan's lips, while his other hand moved to smooth the furrow of brows with a finger. “Don't be worried, Lan Zhan. It's our little secret, now.”
He meant that Lan Zhan had discovered Wei Wuxian need no Chenqing to defend himself, and he knew that Lan Zhan had understood, but the man glanced at Wei Wuxian's lips again and Wei Wuxian laughed.
“Oh? Does Hanguang-Jun mean to keep me a secret?”
He didn't quite expect the sudden fire in Lan Zhan's eyes, nor the low growl of the one word, “Never.” It did things to his heart, and he felt his cheeks heating up, eyes widening. Then Lan Zhan had to add, eyes softening, one palm cupping his cheek gently, “Would be proud to call Wei Ying mine.”
Wei Wuxian couldn't help it, he whined and dropped his face to hide against Lan Zhan's shoulder, hitting lightly the other shoulder with a hand. “Lan Zhan! Warn a man, will you?”
That little, “Mmh,” was way too smug, but there was a hand petting down the back of his head in a gentle manner, making him sigh in contentment. Wei Wuxian shifted, nuzzling against Lan Zhan's neck, lips curling into a little grin when he heard the deep inhale, felt the slight stiffening of Lan Zhan's frame.
Interesting, interesting. Is my dear Lan-Er-Gege's control tested by me?
Considering how this situation all started, it might be indeed be the case. It… might put into a new perspective Lan Zhan's reactions toward Wei Wuxian, now that Wei Wuxian felt first-hand how Lan Zhan's emotions translated.
So…
“… Lan Zhan. How long have you wanted to kiss me?”
Jackpot. Lan Zhan had frozen. It made his insides clench, Wei Wuxian gently leaned back, whole expression softening at the look on Lan Zhan's face. It screamed caught, but eyes still intense, and gaze so warm that it warmed Wei Wuxian's face all over again.
“You...” Wei Wuxian started, trailed off, then started again. “I need to hear it, Lan Zhan.” He declared suddenly, feeling vulnerable, wanting all of the sudden to know he was not misunderstanding.
There was no doubting desire, but… but…
Lan Zhan seemed to see right through Wei Wuxian though, he cupped his cheeks with both hands, tilting Wei Wuxian's head up slightly, lips brushing together as he looked into silver eyes.
“Always wanted to kiss Wei Ying. Always wanted Wei Ying.” A pause, breathing in then out, expression growing tender. “Love Wei Ying.”
A noise left Wei Wuxian's lips, as if he had been punched, a drawn out whine, lips trembling and eyes misting. He couldn't tell if it was him who connected their lips again, if it was Lan Zhan, or if they met midway.
All he knew was that they were kissing again, tender and passionate in equal measure, back pressed to the tree again, and in between kisses, Wei Wuxian breathed out, “Love Lan Zhan too.”
It stopped Lan Zhan for a brief moment, their eyes opening to meet, and then it was as if more fire was lit within Lan Zhan, the next kiss bruising, Wei Wuxian's lips nipped and bitten, tongue ravaging his mouth; and oh, oh, lips and nips and tongue going down his neck, a sharp sting bringing a little cry out of him, body shuddering at the tongue that soothed the bite, the mark that claimed Wei Wuxian as Lan Zhan's.
And damn his cultivation, it was the first time he felt the energy within his body feel so contented.
Ours. He's ours.
Protective and possessive, Wei Wuxian had known they were as such, and well…
He could not mind that the sentiment extended to Lan Zhan.
His Lan Zhan. His! Lan Zhan!
The happiness that warmed his chest, that made the dark curls of his energy contented and calmer, always ready to react to his anger, but now quite pleased with the fire existing in Lan Zhan's love…
Wei Wuxian wanted it all, wanted Lan Zhan, and the intense energy of Lan Zhan's emotions chased away the fears, that he hated him, hated any part of him, there was no hate when Wei Wuxian's energy had come into contact with Lan Zhan, and at the back of his mind, he still worried, he didn't want to tarnish Lan Zhan, but he knew from the moment he felt all those emotions, felt the way Lan Zhan held him, kissed him, that Wei Wuxian could never, ever deny Lan Zhan.
“I love you, Lan Zhan.” He voice again, when they need to breath, and the emotions in his chest burst, more words passing his lips. “I want you, I need you, it can't be anyone but you. I adore you, I cherish you, I want to spend every day with you, I want to night hunt with you. I want to kiss you everyday and hold you everyday, wake you with you and sleep with you.” He traced Lan Zhan's jaw, smile more and more tender, eyes growing teary as Lan Zhan's gaze widened while he drew in a sharp breath. “There is only one thing you cannot ask of me, Lan Zhan. Please… don't ask me to stop demonic cultivation.”
Lan Zhan's expression did a thing, Wei Wuxian could see the internal war, but now, now he knew, he still felt, it was concern, pure concern. And Lan Zhan knew now, could see through Wei Ying better, and he saw the sadness, saw something hiding still, yet it was not hidden from his own view, his Wei Ying was asking for trust, there was something vulnerable, a silent plea to accept him whole.
Lan Zhan rested his forehead on Wei Ying, eyes slipping closed, breathing in and letting it slowly. When he opened his eyes again, he was caught into silver eyes, hesitant, hopeful, warm, please Lan Zhan.
“Let me help you, Wei Ying.” I understand, but don't do it alone.
Wei Wuxian's eyes brightened, he titled his head up to brush his lips at the corner of Lan Zhan's lips. “It cannot be anyone but you.” he said again with a little grin, but eyes soft. I don't want to be alone.
Lan Zhan's arms wrapped around him then, his face pressed into his shoulder, his own arms went around the man's frame, his cheeks rested against the side of Lan Zhan's head. He worried for the briefest moment as he felt the slight tremors, then he knew when the first muffled whispers reached his ears.
“Love you, want you, need you...”
Wei Wuxian's lips curled into a fond smile. “Yes~”
“Cannot be anyone but you...”
“Yes!”
“Adore you, cherish you, want everyday with you-!”
“Yes! Yes!”
“Want to night hunt with you, want to kiss you everyday and hold you everyday, wake with you and sleep with you..!”
“Yes, Lan Zhan!”
Meanwhile, a few feet from the new couple…
Well, that was not quite what they thought it might be, when they heard the first yes, which… was fortunate, for all Maiden Jiang had been determined once she recognized the voice, he had not wanted her to see anything… not decent.
But, wow, those two had no shame!
Yet, as Jin Zixuan found himself glancing away from them and down at Maiden Jiang, who had such a soft, warm expression, his heart doing a thing…
Maybe he could draw a lesson from them…
The end