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Lan Xichen doesn’t venture out of Lotus Pier very often; not because he’s not allowed, or because he fears getting lost, but because all he needs is right there and he doesn’t actually want to leave.
But right now his heart is outside of Lotus Pier—even if he is just at the fields for the archer training—so Lan Xichen goes outside, too. That’s just how it works.
When Lan Xichen finds the field where they are practicing—aided by many helpful pointing workers on the other fields—Lan Xichen makes sure to be as still as he can, so as not to disturb the image in front of him.
Jiang Cheng had left that morning, telling him his disciples needed more archery training, but right now Jiang Cheng is alone in the field. Lan Xichen guesses he sent everyone home already, after a hard days work, and then stayed to practice himself.
It’s late afternoon now, the air hot and humid, and Jiang Cheng shed his robes, only wearing his purple arm sleeves now, and Lan Xichen is helpless against that sight. He just has to stop and to stare.
Lan Xichen watches as Jiang Cheng draws the bow, movements even and precise, and then he holds it for long moments. Lan Xichen can’t drag his eyes off the muscles in Jiang Cheng’s back, watching their beautiful play.
Jiang Cheng’s whole stance is making Lan Xichen breathless; he is used to Jiang Cheng being in motion, a true whirlwind; always finding something to do at Lotus Pier. Usually, Jiang Cheng is a concentrated storm, powerful but always on the move and to see him now, standing still like this, with none of the power being lost, is actually doing things to Lan Xichen.
He watches Jiang Cheng breathe before he finally lets the arrow fly, and soon enough it’s past even Lan Xichen’s enhanced eyesight.
Though judging the smug expression on Jiang Cheng’s face, it hit exactly what he wanted it to hit.
Lan Xichen watches as Jiang Cheng nocks another arrow to the string and when Jiang Cheng resumes his position from before, Lan Xichen can’t help himself.
He silently walks forwards—and he knows what he’s doing could be potentially dangerous, but he just doesn’t care—and then he plasters himself to Jiang Cheng’s back, slinging his arms around his middle, palms resting on his smooth belly.
“I was wondering how long it’d take you to announce yourself,” Jiang Cheng says, barely even startled and his stance didn’t waiver for one second.
“I was enjoying the view,” Lan Xichen mumbles into Jiang Cheng’s skin and he can’t help himself but to drag his lips over his shoulders, feeling the powerful muscles with his lips.
“You’re an idiot,” Jiang Cheng tells him and then draws the bow that little bit further, indicating to Lan Xichen that he should be careful and not cling too hard right now, and then he releases the arrow.
Lan Xichen can feel the muscles relax under his hands and in Jiang Cheng’s back, and he doesn’t hesitate to plaster himself to his back again, gripping on tighter, now that he doesn’t have to worry about messing with Jiang Cheng’s shot.
“Did you miss me?” Jiang Cheng softly asks as he rests one hand on Lan Xichen’s arm around his middle and Lan Xichen nods into Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.
It’s been some time since he came out of seclusion, since he ventured out into life again, but he still feels unsettled when he’s left alone for too long—fears his thoughts will drag him down again—and he doesn’t want to tempt fate.
Plus, he prefers to be near Jiang Cheng, to have him close and just in his reach, so Lan Xichen can give all the love he has to him.
“Always,” Lan Xichen honestly answers and presses a lingering kiss to Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. “My Lord Archer.”
That startles an actual laugh out of Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen smiles in response.
“If you think I can shoot down nine suns, then you’re mistaken,” Jiang Cheng says and it’s a testament to how far everything is behind them when Jiang Cheng’s voice doesn’t turn self-deprecating on his next sentence. “I couldn’t even shoot down one sun.”
“You were so young,” Lan Xichen mumbles and kisses a trail up Jiang Cheng’s neck. “You’re older now. You totally can shoot down nine suns.”
“You’re being silly,” Jiang Cheng says with a sigh but he turns around in Lan Xichen’s arms, so he can drag him into a proper kiss, that leaves both of them breathless.
“Maybe you’re right,” Lan Xichen says, and wrinkles his brows in thought. “You could probably shoot down only eight suns,” he then adds, and he can’t fight the wide smile on his face when Jiang Cheng laughs again.
It’s such a wonderful sound.
“I have missed you,” Lan Xichen breathes as he nuzzles Jiang Cheng’s cheek who leans into the contact.
“But you found me,” Jiang Cheng mumbles as he puts his hand into Lan Xichen’s hair to scratch at his nape.
“I did,” Lan Xichen agrees and tucks his face into Jiang Cheng’s neck to enjoy the scritches better.
“Do you want to try it?” Jiang Cheng asks after a while and lightly raises his bow when Lan Xichen moves away from his neck to stare quizzically at him.
“I haven’t done this in so long,” Lan Xichen lowly says and then tilts his head slightly. “Do you remember that tournament Jin Guangshan held?”
Jiang Cheng’s groan is answer enough for Lan Xichen.
“You mean the one where my idiot brother asked for you brother’s forehead ribbon and then proceeded to show off in an unnecessary display?” Jiang Cheng still asks him and Lan Xichen can tell that he wants to smack his forehead just thinking about this.
“Exactly that one,” Lan Xichen says with a slight chuckle and then puts his head back on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, content to stay here, with Jiang Cheng’s hand now at his hip, and the warm afternoon sun keeping them company.
“Can you do it?” Lan Xichen asks after a comfortable silence and Jiang Cheng hums in question at that. “Shoot blindfolded?” Lan Xichen elaborates and Jiang Cheng shrugs, carefully, so as to not dislodge Lan Xichen.
“I have actually never tried it, but I think I could,” Jiang Cheng says after some deliberation and Lan Xichen finally moves away from Jiang Cheng but not without pressing a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“Proof it,” he dares him and Jiang Cheng frowns at him.
“I don’t know if you have noticed but I don’t exactly carry a blindfold with me,” Jiang Cheng gives back and Lan Xichen gives him his sweetest smile.
He can’t deny that he’s nervous, the thought of what he’s about to do almost turning his stomach in fear of rejection, but he shoulders on.
“Lucky that I always do, then, isn’t it?” he asks sweetly and watches as Jiang Cheng’s eyes go wide with understanding.
“Xichen, what are you doing?” he mutters, clearly shaken by what Lan Xichen just said, but Lan Xichen is not going to take it back.
He means this. He loves Jiang Cheng. He wants to marry him.
“I love you, my heart,” Lan Xichen says and reaches up to undo his forehead ribbon.
He frowns when Jiang Cheng stops his movement, bow falling to the ground when Jiang Cheng catches his hands with his own.
“Wanyin?” Lan Xichen asks, unsure now that Jiang Cheng has stopped him, but Jiang Cheng gives him a blinding smile.
“Let me,” he offers instead and Lan Xichen is so relieved his knees go weak.
“With pleasure,” he whispers and is entirely unprepared for the bruising kiss that follows his words.
He can feel Jiang Cheng’s fingers at the back of his head, can feel him undoing the knot that secures his ribbon and then it comes loose.
Lan Xichen has never before allowed anyone to undo his forehead ribbon and it’s a liberating feeling to see it in Jiang Cheng’s hand now, especially since Lan Xichen knows that it will be safe there, just like his own heart is always safe with Jiang Cheng.
“This really is too small to be a good blindfold,” Jiang Cheng teases him and when Lan Xichen pouts at him, he kisses it right off.
“If you don’t want it, I can take it back,” Lan Xichen grumbles but Jiang Cheng tightens the grip around the ribbon.
“No way, I’m never giving it back,” he quietly says and then brushes a soft kiss across Lan Xichen’s lips. “I love you, too, my light. Just in case that wasn’t clear.”
“I know that,” Lan Xichen whispers back, even though it’s always good to hear it.
“Alright,” Jiang Cheng then says, and takes a step back. “Let’s do this then,” he decides and holds the ribbon out to Lan Xichen. “Would you do me the honour?” he asks and Lan Xichen is more than happy to fasten it over Jiang Cheng’s eyes.
“Okay, but remember I have never done this before, so don’t judge me too harshly,” Jiang Cheng reminds him as he picks up his bow and knocks an arrow, before he carefully draws it.
He points it into the same direction as before, and even though Lan Xichen still can’t find a target, he’s sure Jiang Cheng knows exactly where it is.
“Noted,” Lan Xichen says, though he doesn’t doubt Jiang Cheng’s abilities for a second.
When Jiang Cheng draws the bow completely, Lan Xichen can’t help but to reach out to put his hand in the middle of his back, just to feel the play of his muscles under his fingers, and since Jiang Cheng doesn’t complain, it can’t be too distracting.
Jiang Cheng takes a steadying breath and then lets the arrow fly, the ends of Lan Xichen’s forehead ribbon trailing in the wind after him, and he’s breath-taking in the warm afternoon sun.
A Lord Archer, indeed, and Lan Xichen is more than lucky to call him his.
(Jiang Cheng did hit the target; with that arrow and the four he shoots after.)