Chapter Text
Lan Wangji never thought he would experience the joys of pregnancy. He had never anticipated being chosen as one of the human bearers of alien young; much less could he have anticipated that the alien in question would be the long-lost love of his life.
If he thinks about it, it truly is an honor, just as his uncle had said when Lan Wangji was first chosen. It may be an honor, but it is also an indignity. Never in his life would he have thought that the sentence he's about to say would come out of his mouth, but—
"Wei Ying." He takes a breath. "Could you pass me the hot sauce, please."
Wei Ying is in his human form, because they had decided (Lan Wangji had been seized by the sudden urge) to go out to eat, and Wei Ying prefers to avoid the stares and questions that people have when he goes out in his core form. Even in Yiling, if the aliens walk the streets in their core forms, people will want to stop them for pictures and conversation. It’s mostly friendly, but—
Wei Ying stares at him, eyes wide and mouth curving up in delight. “Lan Zhan?"
"This dish is insufficiently spicy," Lan Wangji admits.
This is hardly his first pregnancy-related craving; a lifelong vegetarian, he has suddenly found himself wanting meat. Wen Qing said that was perfectly normal and simply increased his protein. He has eaten more legumes in the last month than ever before, but at least he had stopped dreaming of pork ribs.
Lan Wangji knows for a fact that Wei Ying does not leave the house without chili oil, and indeed, Wei Ying is already rummaging in his backpack. Lan Wangji's mouth floods with saliva as Wei Ying passes it over; a heretofore unknown reaction to the possibility of spice.
Lan Wangji puts some on the side of his plate so that he can dip his food in it. It seems like a wise precaution, and indeed, after the third bite, his eyes start to sting. His cravings may change to accommodate spice, but his taste buds are still sensitive. It's a good pain, though, the kind that is a pleasure of its own and not merely to be suffered.
"Are you sure you're enjoying that?" Wei Ying asks, his eyes wrinkled in amusement.
"Yes," Lan Wangji says with as much dignity as a man with streaming eyes and nose can manage. "Or anyway, the babies are."
"That's justification enough," Wei Ying murmurs, and then leans across the table to give Lan Wangji a very spicy kiss.