Work Text:
“Wei Ying, the bath is ready,” Lan Wangji called as he added a few flowers to the warm water before he started undressing.
“Ah! Yes, coming!”
The brush strokes became more hurried on the paper. His husband would undoubtedly find himself deciphering them in the morning, he thought fondly as he removed his ribbon and folded it neatly on the table by the bath.
Wei Wuxian joined him moments later, his robes already halfway opened and a bright smile on his face.
“Jingyi seems to be taking our comments to heart,” he announced as his black robe pooled on the floor around his feet and his white inner robes were soon to follow. “Soon I won’t even have anything to write. I’ll just have to draw silly little faces instead I guess...”
Lan Wangji hummed in way of answering. His hands had paused in the air, too distracted by his husband to pay attention to the clothes he was folding. Wei Wuxian was almost glowing in the soft candlelight and Lan Wangji could only admire him, unable and unwilling to look away.
Wei Wuxian caught him staring and he winked with a cheeky smile as he untied his ribbon and let his hair cascade down his shoulders. “Do you like what you see, dearest husband of mine?” He asked, batting his lashes at him. He beamed at Lan Wangji’s approving nod and dropped a quick kiss on his cheek before he slipped in the water with a happy sigh.
While Wei Wuxian soaked in the water and told him about his day, Lan Wangji quietly finished folding their clothes, only commenting or humming occasionally. After placing their night robes beside the bathtub, he finally joined him in the water, sitting in front of him. He reached for the soap to start washing his husband but Wei Wuxian suddenly sat up on his knees and batted his hand away with a smile.
“Nope, no! I’ve decided that tonight I’m washing you,” Wei Wuxian chirped, his hands sliding over his arms and shoulders and setting his nerves on fire as he manoeuvred around the bathtub to sit behind him. “So be a good boy and let me take care of you.”
Lan Wangji was tempted to protest because he loved pampering Wei Wuxian but he quickly gave in, instead inching forward so Wei Wuxian would have more space to sit behind him. He was rewarded with a kiss on the shoulder before Wei Wuxian picked up the soap.
“Close your eyes, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian whispered, gently covering his eyes with one hand to shield them from the water and soap.
Obediently, Lan Wangji closed his eyes and tilted his head back so Wei Wuxian could wash his hair more easily.
He hummed softly when his husband massaged his head, his movements slow and tender as he carded his fingers through his hair, undoing the small knots that somehow tangled his usually neat hair. After rinsing it, he carefully braided his hair and pushed it over his shoulder, moving onto his arms and chest, all the while telling him about their plans in the morning or a new restaurant he had discovered in town.
Before he knew it, Lan Wangji was drifting off to the sound of his husband’s voice, cheerful but soft, like a warm ray of sunshine on his skin. He had not realised how tense he had been until now but of course, Wei Wuxian had.
Lan Wangji smiled, soft and private.
“Wei Ying.”
“Yes?” Wei Wuxian asked, interrupting his monologue to hook his chin over his shoulder and look at him. He made a delighted sound at the smile he found on his lips but Lan Wangji continued before he could comment.
“I love you.”
Lan Wangji felt lashes brush against his cheek as Wei Wuxian blinked in surprise then his arms came around his chest to hold him tight as he buried his warm face in his shoulder.
“Lan Zhan! Hanguang-Jun, my love, my moon and stars! Have some mercy on your husband, what did I say about warning me before saying such sweet things? I love you so much, my poor heart can’t take it!”
Shaking his head fondly, Lan Wangji covered his hands with his before he turned around to seek a kiss, hopelessly enamoured with his husband. Feeling his intent, Wei Wuxian lifted his head and met him halfway, his smile tasting sweet on his lips, before he pulled back all too soon.
“Stop distracting me,” he chided, tugging on his ear. “I’m trying to take care of you!”
Lan Wangji wanted nothing more than to turn around to pull him into his arms and kiss him senseless but he settled back obediently and melted into his husband’s love. He felt it in his every touch, heard it in his voice and laughter, saw it in his eyes, tasted it in their kisses, but in this moment, he was nearly overwhelmed with its intensity.
Quietness settled around them once more, only disturbed by the soft sound of water and the praises Wei Wuxian whispered as he continued washing him.
Lan Wangji drifted once again until Wei Wuxian’s hands started mapping the scars marking his skin, the last part of his body he hadn’t yet worshipped tonight. Pulled out of his thoughts, Lan Wangji shivered faintly.
Some part of his back had become insensitive to the touch, the tissues and nerves too frayed by the lashing to ever truly recover despite his golden core or the attentive care his brother had given him, but Lan Wangji didn’t miss the first kiss that was placed on his back. It was followed by another, a little on the right, and Lan Wangji had to close his eyes.
It was not the first time his husband was doing this. Sometimes, when they laid in bed, Wei Wuxian would trace the scars with the tip of his fingers, learning their shapes in the same way he had learnt every curve and angles of Lan Wangji’s body.
Tonight, Wei Wuxian’s kisses were unhurried and achingly tender, each a silent mark of love pressed into his skin, as if Wei Wuxian wanted to replace the memory of the whip biting into his skin with the memory of his loving kisses.
They had long agreed that some words were not necessary between them but Lan Wangji could hear their echoes in the kisses Wei Wuxian was placing on his back, one for each of the thirty three scars. Some scars had blended together and he couldn’t feel his lips on every kiss but he knew without a doubt that Wei Wuxian was dutiful.
When he was done, Lan Wangji had no idea how much time had passed.
All he could think about was the present, the warm presence of his husband holding him, kissing him, lovingly piecing him back together.
One last kiss was placed on his neck, on the soft spot beneath his right ear, and Lan Wangji was finally allowed to turn around to face his husband.
Wei Wuxian was waiting for him, his eyes filled with love, and their lips met as Lan Wangji pulled him on his lap, his hands coming to rest on his waist while Wei Wuxian wrapped his arms around his neck and settled on top of him.
In that moment, no words were needed between them.