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Both men were unsure of when or how it happened, but they did know that the once elegant twin jade had been cursed. Not a malicious or evil curse by any means. More of a mischievous hex that would wear off oh too soon. Well that's how Wei Ying liked to see it.
They were coming back from a night hunt trying to ignore the elephant in the room which was the tail that had sprouted through Lan Wangji’s robes and the snowy cat ears peeking out of his long hair.
One man trying to overlook the physical change mostly out of shock, the other looking away just to hold in his laughter.
‘‘Wei Ying.’’ the first said sternly.
When hearing his name he couldn't contain his laughter anymore.
‘‘I’m sorry it's just too cute!’’
Wei Ying stared at the hole the tail had made in the clothes when it had appeared. Considering Lan Zhan wasn't in any serious pain, why couldn't he enjoy the change.
‘‘Ridiculous’’ Lan Zhan predictably replied.
‘‘Yes ridiculous indeed.’’ he just chuckled back.
Oh you have no idea how everyone would react if they found out that the 2nd most eligible bachelor of the cultivation world had become… a cat boy.
Wei Ying burst into laughter all over again and couldn't control the stray tears that slipped out of his eyes. He hadn't laughed this hard in years. Of course it was his beloved Lan Zhan that could reduce him to this. And worst of all, the target of this prank didn't seem to find it funny at all!
‘‘I think the ears really suit you,’’ he said after a whole minute of stifled laughter.
The little white ears turned up at the compliment, completely betraying the blank stare its owner’s eyes gave.
‘‘Maybe you should keep them for a while.’’
This time his tail thrashed around reacting to his words.
‘‘Wei Ying be serious. It is still a curse.’’ the commanding words didn't carry much force behind it so Wei Ying knew there was still room to tease.
‘‘But you're fine! You're more than that,’’ he stepped forward in front of Lan Zhan which stopped him in his tracks, ‘‘you're adorable～’’
For anyone else, they wouldn’t be able to see the difference, but for Wei Ying he could read his friend so easily. The way his hands clenched around his sword and his eyebrows slightly rose towards his forehead ribbon.
‘‘I’m not… adorable.’’ The cat ears drooped slightly and his tail hung low.
Oh my god, he's shy!
Wei Ying stared at his completely bashful companion, relishing in what his words had done.
If only I could just-
‘‘What are you doing.’’ Lan Zhan snapped, batting the other’s reaching hands away from his head.
‘‘Oh stop being all … you, and just let me check something quickly.’’
The other didn't seem like he was going to budge at all, in fact his knuckles started to turn white from his tight grip on Bichen.
‘‘Come on, you know I wouldn’t hurt you. I want to check something to do with the curse.’’
This seemed to have a better effect on him and hesitantly Lan Zhan released some of the tightness. But he still watched closely to see what Wei Ying would do.
The other smiled in response, ‘‘Good boy! Now let’s sit down for a moment while I do the checking.’’
Of course there would be no ‘checking’ or ‘curse breaking’, he just wanted to get a closer look or maybe even touch one of the fluffy ears.
When they were seated Wei Ying spread his legs out in a V shape and petted the patch between his thighs. Having already surrendered to the man with no good intentions, Lan Wangji settled awkwardly in the space.
Wei Ying peered over looking at the others head before letting out a long sigh, ‘‘oh dear Lan Zhan.’’
Upon hearing his negative tone, the cursed cultivator stiffened visibly.
‘‘... Is it bad?’’
‘‘No, not bad,’’ Wei Ying took in an dramatic deep breath, ‘‘but it's worse than I thought.’’
Everything was going just as planned.
This little baby. No wonder he got cursed, he's walking right into my trap.
Slowly Wei Ying lifted his hand into the other's hair and brushed out the hair around the ears. He noticed the way the other man completely froze to the touch.
‘‘No need to be afraid, I won't touch your forehead ribbon.’’ he smirked, nearing the fuzzy base.
‘‘I-it's not that.’’
As soon as his fingertips made contact with the ear, a deep rumbling sound erupted from the man in front of him. He noticed the man also started shaking slightly. He snatched his hands away, suddenly much more worried.
Shit, was this actually a malicious curse?
‘‘Lan Zha-’’
‘‘-Keep going.’’ Lan Zhan suddenly interrupted. ‘‘Please… keep going.’’
Wei Ying was in shock. Was this another symptom of the curse?
In all the years he’d known Lan Zhan he knew better than anyone that physical touch was absolutely not something he indulged in. But who was he to rob his dear friend of something he was now asking for.
‘‘Okay.’’
He reached up once again and lightly stroked the base of the ears. The rumbling returned but more violently this time around. If he hadn’t been given the okay from Lan Zhan he would have surely stopped by now, but since he was given the green light he was sure going to enjoy the feeling.
His fingers lightly touched the fluffy fur over and over again until the shaking couldn’t be ignored any longer. As the time had passed, Lan Zhan had started brushing up against the petting hand and making whining noises when it left for too long.
‘‘You okay?’’ he asked the other who seemed to snap back into reality.
‘‘Mn.’’ the response he had heard thousands of times sounded different to his ears. Too breathy, too warm.
Then all at once it suddenly clicked.
Lan Zhan is… purring!
Coming to this conclusion he felt his confidence increase by the second. He leaned forward towards one of the ears and lightly blew on it before saying,
‘‘You're enjoying this.’’
It wasn't a question, it was a fact. And Lan Zhan knew it too. He knew it by the way he unintentionally pushed his body further into the warmth behind him. He knew it in the way his eyes slipped closed when it all felt too good.
‘‘T-the curse,’’ he tried to argue but Wei Ying wasn't having any of it.
‘‘I did all my ‘checking’, you’re completely fine. Maybe a little touch starved but you're fine.’’
Touch starved? Lan Zhan thought. How could I be touch starved? I hate physical contact of any kind.
‘‘It's okay to want to be touched every so often,’’ Wei Ying had obviously felt the tension rising in the other, ‘‘you didn't have to go and get yourself cursed.’’
It's okay?
‘‘But the rules-’’
‘‘Lan Zhan, you know I’ve never cared about those rules and I know how you feel about them too. But of all the rules to break, I’m sure you can break a few for some harmless hugs’’
Everything came crashing in at once. It wasn't that he didn't like physical contact, he was honestly really enjoying this attention he was being given. He had just internalized for so long that he didn't need physical comfort, didn't want it... didn't deserve it.
And here his most trusted Wei Ying was, kindly offering what he had been needing for so long.
‘‘Would you like a hug Er gege?’’
‘‘...Mn.’’ Even though it was a short and sweet answer, it was simply Lan Zhan, and Wei Ying wouldn’t ask for anything more.
Lan Zhan’s eyes were still closed, lost in the comfort of the hands in his hair. But he slowly nodded, feeling too happy to resist anymore.
The body behind him let out a soft laugh. The hands in his hair left all too soon which would’ve angered Lan Zhan but the hands quickly returned sliding around his waist, pulling him closer to the other’s chest.
The man in front turned slightly and was immediately pulled down into the grass. With his head on the other's chest and hands unsure of what to do, Wei Ying led the embrace by protectively curling his hands around his the other's waist and breathing softly in his hair. Lan Zhan couldn't remember the last time he had been held like this. It must have been when he and his brother were only carefree children.
It had been too long.
The purring was completely involuntary, but now invited. Even though he was bad with words, he liked the way his purr could convey his happiness without him stressing over finding the right words.
‘‘Haha, you seem to like this.’’ Wei Ying observed, rubbing soothingly up and down his back.
‘‘I think you like it more.’’
The chest he was laying on lifted with every chuckle, ‘‘You aren't wrong.’’
It felt good to hear Wei Ying laugh. It felt good to hear Wei Ying. It all just felt so good.
In the long grass just outside Cloud Recess, two of the most renown cultivators could be seen curled up next to each other sleeping soundly. Finally happy.