Work Text:
Lan XiChen likes Lotus Pier for many reasons. The Jiang residence has many paths supported over the water, where anyone can enjoy watching the lakes' wildlife and the numerous boats passing by every day. When you wander close to the kitchens, there's almost always a colourful, spicy scent floating about from the latest meal prepared. There are also the hallways, in which he could spend hours studying the slopes and carvings in the walls without being bored.
But, most of all, he likes the sunset.
The lake, after a humid and sunny day, glows under the tones of orange, pink and purple that come from sundown. The ripples in the water mix these tones perfectly, and it looks like the lotus flowers are changing colours. It's the most beautiful sight of all, and he likes to sit at the edge of the private docks to watch it when he has the chance.
"Sect Leader Lan, aren't you preparing to go to bed?"
There's a smile on XiChen's face when he turns his face around.
He was wrong. The sunset is the second most beautiful sight in Lotus Pier. Jiang Cheng in his Sect Leader robes, holding three-year-old Jin Ling on his hip and making his way to Lan XiChen under the sunset, that's the most beautiful sight of all. Especially when he has a smile on his face.
"I am not in Cloud Recesses. I can stay a little more." Jiang Cheng sits next to him and puts his boots on the side, dipping his feet in the water below them. "How was your day?"
"Uneventful," he sighs, while his nephew is playing with a plushie on his lap. "I trained the juniors this morning to archery, and some older disciples joined in. Then it was the conference with you, Lianfang-Zun and Chifeng-Zun, and picking up A-Ling for dinner and playtime."
At the mention of his name, the toddler looks up and tries to grab at his uncle's hair, dropping his plushie in the process. Lan XiChen catches it smoothly before it can skim a toad resting on a lily pad below and A-Ling starts crying.
"Thank you." The sunset starts to show its neon orange hues, reflecting on the dark purple of Jiang Cheng's robes. "A-Ling, look! Birds!"
The toddler turns his head, and Lan XiChen does too. Indeed, birds are chasing each other just above the water surface, catching a meal or two before retreating for the night. There's also the toad from earlier that decides to jump in the water, splashing cold specks on Lan XiChen's dry ankles. His attention quickly goes back to his partner, though, who seems to have a very comfortable shoulder. Jin Ling's head resting on his uncle's shoulder has to be a confirmation of some kind. "You want to go to bed, A-Ling?"
The toddler starts hiccuping almost instantly, grabbing at his uncle as tight as possible. "Okay, okay." Then, with a bow to Lan XiChen. "Sect Leader Lan."
"You can join me later, you know. After putting him to bed." Lan XiChen catches the young man's eyes light up before the flare spreads to his cheeks. "If you're not too tired."
"I'll...I will see about that."
"I won't be leaving soon, then." Lan XiChen turns his head back to the water, closing his eyes to better breathe in the scent of Lotus Pier.
He opens them again quickly, because he awaits his favourite part of the show: the fireflies, those quiet little buds of light Lan XiChen loves so much.
They rise slowly, as they always do, but with excitement in their wings. They start their little dance, sometimes gliding past Lan XiChen with clumsiness or grace.
Footsteps approach him and soon there is a soothing hand at the top of his head, removing the heavy headpiece and undoing a tight knot in place for a full day. There is sigh of content out before XiChen closes his eyes. "Thank you, A-Cheng. Sometimes I go to bed and I forget it is there."
"You shouldn't forget it, it will damage your head and your hair. Here," he kisses the top of his hair, "now you will always remember it."
"Thank you A-Cheng." Lan XiChen opens his eyes to admire his lover in the dimness of the night, with the moon as their sole lamplight and the fireflies dancing around them. "You're beautiful."
"You say so much nonsense when you're tired."
Lan XiChen decides he doesn't like the reply, so he leaves a kiss on the nose bridge of the fearsome Sandu Shengshou, then on the tip of his nose and on his lips. "Now, you will never forget how beautiful you are."
He doesn't have to look over to his lover to know that he's blushing, but to see the red rise high on his cheeks brings a smile to his face.
"I love you, A-Cheng."
"I love you too, A-Huan."
After setting down his own headpiece, Lan XiChen entwines their fingers together and brings his lover closer, relishing in the night's breeze and nature's nightlife coming out of its hiding spot.
The sounds form a harmony that accompanies the two Sect Leaders in their moment of peace, and Lan XiChen cannot think of anything else that could be better.