Work Text:
Two words
“Wei Ying.”
Two words.
Wei Wuxian froze. The next note of his favorite song wasn’t played.
Is he really here? Is this real? He couldn’t be here, he’s Chief Cultivator. He can’t. He isn’t.
Wei Wuxian put his flute down slowly. His heart was beating so fast, it hurt.
Relief started to spread throughout his body. He could feel his presence.
Wei Wuxian’s eyes began to water. He smiled.
He’s here.
Wei Wuxian turned around slowly.
There he saw Lan Wangji, wearing his pristine white and blue robes, a shiny headpiece that showed his status to the world, and his headband, not even a millimeter out of its place.
His eyes were looking at Wei Wuxian as if it was the first time. The hand holding his sword was shaking slightly, and he motioned to hold it firmer.
Wei Wuxian let out a relieved sigh. It’s not a dream.
He smiled wider.
Lan Wangji was right in front of his eyes.
Lan Zhan.
Lan Wangji took two more steps; he had a nervous look on his face.
“Lan Zhan. You’re really here.” Wei Wuxian said. His voice just above a whisper.
“Mn.”
They got in silence for a moment, their eyes never leaving each other.
Wei Wuxian laughed a little. He looked at his flute, breaking their eye contact to try to disguise the tears on his eyes and the fact that he was extremely nervous of seeing the other man again after so long.
“I never thought you would actually come when I told you in the letter that I was going to pass by this mountain again.” He looked at Lan Wangji, turning Chengqing on his fingers. “I’m glad you did.”
Before they separated six months ago so Lan Wangji could take care of his clan’s issues, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji promised to keep in touch as much as they could.
Every new town Wei Wuxian arrived, he would write the other a letter, telling everything about his journey. Lan Wangji always answered back, using his Chief Cultivator’s powers to find Wei Wuxian wherever he was. He kept every single one of Lan Wangji’s letters on his Qiankun pouch, and when his feelings became unbearable, he would read them and cry until he fell asleep.
In the last one he sent, he told Lan Wangji that he would - by coincidence - pass by the mountain they saw each other for the last time. He even joked that he would play the nameless song Lan Wangji wrote, so that the other could find him. It really was a joke, he would never imagine that Lan Wangji would actually appear.
And he did.
“I was hoping I calculated the time of travelling correctly.” Lan Wangji said.
“You did.” Wei Wuxian said softly.
They went silent again.
“I…” Lan Wangji started. His eyes had a glow that made Wei Wuxian’s heart jump.
“Yes?” Wei Wuxian said, a hopeful tone in his voice. The mood was still a bit awkward, as if both didn’t know what to say after six months without seeing each other in person.
“I’m glad I met Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji said lowly, a soft smile on his face.
Wei Wuxian’s heart accelerated again. All the love and affection he felt for the other came strongly back to surface, causing goosebumps on his skin. Tears threatened to fall from his eyes once again.
“Lan Zhan, don’t hate me for this, please.” Lan Wangji gave him a confused look.
Suddenly, Wei Wuxian walked towards him with determined steps, and hugged Lan Wangji. His flute fell from his hands, dropping on the ground with a soft thud, as both of his hands held Lan Wangji as strong as he could. He closed his eyes letting his tears roll down freely on his face and wet Lan Wangji’s robes.
Lan Wangji’s eyes went wide for a moment before he dropped Bichen and hugged Wei Wuxian back with the same intensity. With a sigh, Lan Wangji closed his eyes. He could feel the happiness, love, and relief of finally having Wei Wuxian on his arms running through his veins.
Wei Wuxian and him fitted perfectly, as he always thought they would.
“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian whispered on Lan Wangji’s ear. “I love you.”
Lan Wangji’s eyes went wide again. His heart raced.
Wei Wuxian separated from the hug, but still stayed within Lan Wangji’s reach. He looked at the other’s eyes, and he could see the surprise on them.
“I love you.” He repeated, not even blinking. “I love you ever since I saw you for the first time at the Cloud Recesses’ gate. My heart jumped, I didn’t understand why, but I thought that you were the most beautiful person in the world, and…” Wei Wuxian let out a nervous laugh. “I love you every single moment of my day. I’ll love you forever.” His face was wet because of the tears, and his hand grasped Lan Wangji’s shoulder.
“I don’t care where we are, or what we’re doing, I just need you by my side. I need-” He got interrupted by Lan Wangji’s lips, and Wei Wuxian’s eyes went wide for a second before he responded to the kiss.
Their lips moved chastely for a few moments before Lan Wangji separated them.
They looked at each other’s eyes, breathing each other’s breath, feeling each other’s heartbeat.
“I love you too.” Lan Wangji said lowly. “I need you by my side. I don’t care where we are, I just want you, I love you every single moment of my day.” Wei Wuxian smiled widely, and grabbed Lan Wangji’s nape, kissing him fully on the lips.
Lan Wangji licked Wei Wuxian’s lower lip softly, making the man gasp and open his mouth. Their tongues interlaced, the deep kiss making their legs falter, and their hearts jump like crazy. Almost two decades of feelings were poured, and Wei Wuxian thought that this was the best moment of his two lives.
They separated the kiss when air was needed, but Lan Wangji decided to keep the contact, giving Wei Wuxian’s throat small pecks. The man sighed, clutching Lan Wangji’s hair, and brought their mouths back together again. Wei Wuxian couldn’t think anymore, his mind was filled with Lan Zhan Lan Zhan Lan Zhan.
With a sigh, he separated from the kiss, and hugged Lan Wangji once again.
“This is the happiest day of my life.” He said, and kissed Lan Wangji ear, making the other gasp again. Wei Wuxian laughed, “You’re so cute, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Wangji’s made eye contact with him once again, making Wei Wuxian’s smile falter; there was nothing cute about his stare. Looking at Wei Wuxian lips, the Chief Cultivator kissed the other man slowly, sensually, his hand was holding Wei Wuxian’s nape in a strong but reassuring grip, making the infamous demonic cultivator moan lowly.
Wei Wuxian’s whole body was sensitive, and with a lot of struggle, he separated from Lan Wangji with a push on his chest.
“Lan Zhan…” He was still whispering; his eyes were closed. “I think…” Lan Wangji bit his throat gently, making Wei Wuxian moan again. “I think we should stop… We’re at the top of a mountain, it’s not…” Lan Wangji finally stopped kissing every part of Wei Wuxian’s neck he could reach and looked at the other’s eyes.
“Should we go?” He said, his voice sending a chill on Wei Wuxian’s spine.
“Let’s find a place on the city down the mountain, where we can…” He looked at Lan Wangji lips, and decided to give them a little peck. “Where we can be more comfortable.” He said on the top of Lan Wangji’s lips.
Lan Wangji visibly gulped, gave him a peck back, and agreed. He separated from Wei Wuxian, and picked his sword and Chengqing from the ground, and handed the flute to its owner.
He was already taking Bichen from its sheath when he looked at Little Apple eating grass calmly nearby. They couldn’t fly a donkey on a sword, it was impossible even to the Chief Cultivator.
Wei Wuxian laughed out loud at the look on Lan Wangji’s face.
“Sorry, we’ll have to walk. Although the idea of a flying donkey is hilarious.” He said and laughed loudly again.
There it is. Lan Wangji’s favorite sound in the world.
They looked at each other again, and with a small smile, Lan Wangji walked to Little Apple, and pushed its reins. The donkey obeyed instantly; Lan Wangji was literally the only person the animal answered without any issues.
Without a word, Wei Wuxian walked to Lan Wangji’s side, taking Bichen on his right hand and linking his left with Lan Zhan’s hand. “I’ll walk with you this time.” They looked at each other, and with a smile on their faces, they started to descend the mountain.
--
“I'm actually getting hungry; it would be great to grab some dinner." They were passing by a forest, the city was getting close, and the sun already started to go down.
They talked the whole journey, Wei Wuxian told him about the things he saw and who he met, and Lan Wangji responded to everything, as the great listener he was. They also talked about how Lan Wangji was handling the Chief Cultivator’s and temporary clan leader’s responsibilities.
Wei Wuxian knew that the man had a lot on his plate, but he was decided to not let him handle it alone anymore.
"Wei Ying didn't eat today?" Lan Wangji asked.
"I did, but I'm traveling with low rations, you know. Jiang Cheng gave me a bit of money when I went there, but I had to use it to pay for the rooms I stayed." Wei Wuxian fixed his flute on his belt and Bichen escaped a bit from his hand. Lan Wangji saw this and picked his sword back, holding it with the same hand that was holding Little Apple’s reins. His fingers were still linked with Wei Wuxian’s.
Wei Wuxian decided to go to Lotus Pier, unannounced, a month after what happened at the Guanin temple.
He was afraid that Jiang Cheng wouldn't accept his presence, but with a bit of Jin Ling's insistence, the brothers could sit and finally talk. They still didn't recover their friendship completely, but at least they were able to achieve some peace.
Their nephew - Jin Ling started to call him Uncle Wei, making him beam with happiness - offered Wei Wuxian a house within LanlingJin's territory, but Wei Wuxian decided to keep traveling, and getting to see the world he missed during the time he was dead. Also, he still had some hope, deep in his heart, that Lan Wangji was going to call him to live at Cloud Recesses with him again.
With a money pouch from Jiang Cheng, brand new robes, and a great amount of food from Jin Ling, the resemblance with Jiang Yanli was hidden, but it was still there, Wei Wuxian continued his journey. He told everything about his encounter with his family to Lan Wangji in a letter.
Well, except for the living in Cloud Recesses part.
“We’re going to have dinner as soon as we arrive.” Lan Wangji said seriously. “Jiang Wanyin should have given you more money.” He still didn’t accept the way the YunmengJiang clan leader treated Wei Wuxian in the past, and even on clan deals meetings, he kept their relationship strictly professional.
Wei Wuxian laughed, “Ah, Lan Zhan, he was even generous, I wasn’t expecting anything, really. Most of it was Jin Ling’s insistence.” He played a bit with their linked hands, “I also don’t think I’d ever be able to pay him back, anyway.”
“You will.” Lan Wangji said, “Everything that it’s mine is now yours too.”
Wei Wuxian’s heart jumped, and he played with their joined hands again, trying to regain his composure. “Lan Zhan, are you saying that you want to marry me, so we’ll share everything?” He said, a teasing tone on his voice.
“Yes.” Lan Wangji answered seriously, and Wei Wuxian stopped walking. Lan Wangji turned, and they stared at each other. “I want to marry Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian gulped; happiness was filling his insides again. The love he felt for the other was bigger than him. He smiled and hugged Lan Wangji by the waist with his free hand. He whispered, “Wei Ying wants to marry Lan Zhan too.” He gave Lan Wangji’s lips a chaste peck, and with a smile, he stepped back and motioned the other to continue walking.
“By the way, how’s the marriage tradition in the clan Lan?” Wei Wuxian asked. They were walking slowly, the hurry from before already forgotten. The sun was already down, and the first mentions of night was already showing on the sky. The forest was slowly getting less dense.
“Of course, I don’t exactly belong to a clan anymore, so I’ll follow your rules.” He stopped as if he just listened himself speak, and said. "I never tought I would say this."
Lan Wangji smiled slowly.
“Oh no, we’ll to have to talk to Lan Qiren, right?” He let out a mocking gasp. “The old man is going to have a qi deviation.” He laughed. “And, oh, I’ll be allowed to touch your headband, right?! I can’t wait!” He laughed again.
“Wei Ying is already allowed to.” He said, and Wei Wuxian smiled widely.
“No, no, I want this moment to be special. It can’t be now!” He laughed, and Lan Wangji agreed with a “Mn.” and a smile.
After making a pause so they could drink some water, rest a bit, and exchange more hugs and kisses, they arrived at the city with a full moon on the sky.
They soon found an inn with a restaurant and were already enjoying dinner. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but think that It feels like we were never apart.
“Lan Zhan…” He stopped, hesitant. It’s too soon? “How’s your brother?”
Lan Xichen decided to get in reclusion after what happened with Jin Guangyao, and, as far as Wei Wuxian heard from Jiang Cheng and the conversation on the streets, he still didn’t come out of it; Lan Zhan was working as the temporary clan leader, with the help of his uncle when his Chief Cultivator job demanded more attention.
“He’s still secluded, but I don’t think he’s staying in much longer.” Lan Wangji said. “He has the sense of responsibility as the rightful heir of the clan.”
“I see…” Wei Wuxian answered. He was mixing the soup the was eating absentmindedly, thinking deeply. “He must feel very guilty still for what happened, even though he was also deceived, it’s not his fault at all. I hope he’s fine.”
They stayed in silence for a while and continued to eat quietly. Wei Wuxian sipped on the wine he ordered, and with a sigh, he said “I can’t wait to drink the Emperor’s Smile again. Did you hide more bottles for me?”
“Yes. They’re at the Jingshi.”
“Our house.”
“Mn.”
--
“Lan Zhan, do you want to take a bath first or can I go?” Wei Wuxian asked softly. They were already inside their room with “A double bed, please.”.
“Anything Wei Ying wants.” The other answered, equally soft.
“I’m going first, then.” Wei Wuxian said, and started to take off his outer robes slowly. A teasing smile crept on his face. “Aren’t you going to ask what I’m doing, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji said nothing and started to take off his own robes as well. Wei Wuxian stopped his movements in shock.
“Please don’t take long, Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji folded his outer robes carefully, putting on the cupboard, next to his Qiankun pouch. He then sat by the table and started to take off his hair garments. Wei Wuxian took the rest of his robes hastily and went to the bath chambers.
“What was I thinking? He wouldn’t join me, would he?” He thought, half of his body submerged on the water. “Well, he’s practically my fiancé, it’s not like…” Wei Wuxian looked at the main room’s direction. “It’s not like nothing is going to happen tonight, we were patient enough.” After a while, he got up, dried his body with a cloth, and, after a second thought, he put his undergarments again. It’s better if Lan Zhan takes them off, anyway.
Lan Wangji was still sitting by the table when Wei Wuxian got back. They looked at each other, and Wei Wuxian said with a smile. “You can go now; the water is still lukewarm.” He then went to the double bed and sat on it.
With his usual grace, Lan Wangji got up and went to take his bath. Wei Wuxian couldn’t hold his excitement anymore and started to roll on the bed. He couldn’t believe that he was finally going to spend a night by Lan Wangji side as his fiancé. The possibilities of this night were endless.
Wait.
He stopped rolling on the bed and looked at the roof.
How are they going to do it?
He sat on the bed.
Damn it, he should have read more on the man-man books on his trips. He had read some, yes, but the possibility of having a love, sexual, relationship with Lan Zhan was so remote on his mind that he didn’t even considered about making love to him.
Well, most of the times.
His heart filled with nervousness, he didn’t want to screw up his and Lan Wangji’s first night, he wanted this moment to be perfect, there was no room for errors or hesitation.
Then, he calmed down.
It was Lan Zhan, there’s no way it won’t be anything less than perfect.
Some minutes later, Lan Wangji came back. Without saying a word, Wei Wuxian got up from the bed, and taking Lan Wangji’s hand, he kissed his lips deeply. After the kiss, they separated and looked at each other’s eyes.
“Let’s go to bed, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian whispered, his thumb caressing the other’s hand faintly.
Lan Wangji nodded, and they slowly walked back to their bed.
--
Wei Wuxian woke up with a smile. He could feel his body sore in the best way, the soft sheets covering his naked body like a second skin. He was laying on Lan Wangji’s chest, who was breathing slowly, but Wei Wuxian knew that he was already awake.
“Good morning, Lan Zhan…” He said, his voice raspy from the sleep.
“Good morning, Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji’s hand was on Wei Wuxian’s hair, and he started to caress him slowly.
“How long have you been awake?” Wei Wuxian sighed and put his face on Lan Wangji’s throat. He smelled like sandalwood, as usual, but this time there was a hint of sweat thanks to the previous night activities. Wei Wuxian smiled.
“Two hours. Didn’t want to wake Wei Ying up.”
“You must be very hungry, then.” Wei Wuxian said and kissed Lan Wangji’s Adam's apple gently.
“Yes. Very.” Lan Wangji answered.
Wei Wuxian laughed out loud, separated from the other man, and sat on the bed, stretching out.
“Let’s clean up and have some breakfast, then.” He then smiled mischievously to Lan Wangji. “Lan Zhan, do you think we can fit in the bathtub together?”
“We can. Then we can skip breakfast and go straight to lunch.” Lan Wangji said, also sitting on the bed. The covers went down his shoulder, revealing marks of bites that were painting his chest. Wei Wuxian stared at the marks he left, and his smile got bigger.
“Who needs eating, anyways???” He spoke. “We don’t.”
“We don’t.” Lan Zhan agreed, making Wei Wuxian laugh out loud once again.
“Lan Zhan, you’re so funny.” He pecked the other man’s lips. “Let’s go take a bath, then.”
--
After a couple of hours of bathing, they decided to eat their late breakfast and leave again, this time heading toward Cloud Recesses. It took them another day and a half to arrive.
Standing on the front gate, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but feel nervous. He wondered what would be the clan’s reaction to their relationship, although the GusuLan people already were used to his presence for all the time he spent there in the past. He knew that Lan Qiren would be against to his nephew’s choice, but there’s nothing that Lan Qiren could do that would stop him from being with Lan Zhan.
The old man would have to accept that he is Lan Wangji’s future husband.
“Chief Cultivator.” The sect Lan's disciples that guarded the front gate bowed to Lan Wangji, not even sparing a glance to Wei Wuxian’s direction.
“Please, take Little Apple to its usual camp.” Lan Wangji ordered, and the disciples did what they were told without hesitation, the donkey following them without resistance, as if the animal knew it was in its home.
Wei Wuxian sighed out loud. Lan Wangji stared at him and held his hand.
“Wei Ying?”
Wei Wuxian gave the other a smile.
“Don’t worry, Lan Zhan, I’m just a bit nervous, that’s all.”
“Does Wei Ying… want to leave?” Lan Wangji hesitated.
“No, I don’t.” He answered quickly and held his fiancé’s hand firmly. “I want to be with you forever, I just know that this time it's different, you know. Coming back.”
He looked fondly at the clan Lan leader, and smiled tenderly.
“Don’t worry, Lan Zhan." He caressed his cheek slowly. “I have you”.
“You’ll always have me.” Lan Zhan answered, and gave Wei Wuxian’s palm a gentle peck, making Wei Wuxian laugh softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Lan Zhan. Let’s go.”
And then, they stepped towards their new life.
Together.
The end.