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Lan Wangji sits- he sits still, and quiet, and well-mannered. His feet are carefully tucked underneath his legs, his hands folded politely in his lap. He is the vision of grace- of perfection- and yet, he finds himself coming undone.
Lan Wangji feels like a string- perhaps a string on a guqin. Quiet, still, soundless. Yet, if someone were to pluck the string, it would come undone. It would vibrate with noise, almost aggressively so. It would still be the same string, just- more alive. More vibrant. The string wouldn’t know that it could sound the way it does without someone to pluck it- to play it- to showcase its gorgeous sound.
Wei Wuxian felt like the musician. He felt like the owner of this particular string, able to wring out a gorgeous melody that only he can hear. Just for the two of them.
Lan Wangji feels himself coming undone as he sits next to Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian, the love of his life. Wei Wuxian, the shameless child that listened to no one but himself. Wei Wuxian, speaking about something that meant absolutely nothing to Lan Wangji. Except it did mean something to Lan Wangji, because Wei Wuxian was talking about it.
Wei Wuxian, after minutes of talking to the empty space of the Jingshi, finally turns to face Lan Wangji. His face looks concerned, downtrodden. His fingers twitch on the hem of his sleeves.
“Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji has been watching him this entire time, yet still snaps out of a haze. He blinks, slow, then nods, urging Wei Wuxian to continue.
“Are you listening? You seem- quiet.”
Lan Wangji was always listening, if it was Wei Wuxian.
“Mmn.”
Wei Ying’s face morphs into a deep frown as he waits for him to elaborate.
“Am I not usually this quiet?” Lan Wangji breaks the silence at long last.
“Hm… no… you usually hum along. Are you alright? Are you thinking about something?”
Lan Wangji’s heart pangs in his chest. It was a feeling he hasn’t gotten used to- he’s not sure if he’ll ever get used to it, in all honesty. The mere idea that this man could tell that his mind was elsewhere was- Wei Wuxian pushes his hands to the floor and drags himself closer to him, his previously upset expression flickering into something mischievous.
“You are~” He sing-songs, “What could my Lan Zhan be thinking about?” Wei Wuxian mocks a gasp, “Hanguang-Jun, could you be thinking about-“ he lowers his volume, as if someone would hear them, “-other men?”
Lan Wangji doesn’t mean to make a face. If he does, it would only be noticeable to Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian notices with a wicked grin, and silently squirms closer so that their knees are brushing, his breath tickling Lan Wangji’s lips. He only briefly lowers his gaze to them, before directing them right back up.
“I can’t believe you would do something so disho-“
“I was thinking about you.” Lan Wangji mutters into the small distance between them, planting a chaste kiss on Wei Wuxian’s lips. When he pulls away, Wei Wuxian’s eyes are wide, and gorgeous, and dazed.
Lan Wangji waits until Wei Wuxian comes back to himself, and when he does, the sides of his mouth lift, the corners of his eyes crinkle, and his brows lift up into the widest, most gorgeous smile Lan Wangji had ever seen.
No, in truth, he had seen that smile a thousand times before. Yet, every time it appeared before him he was awe-struck. It’s so bright, Wei Wuxian’s smile. His eyes grow soft and fond, beacons of pure joy. He radiates with it- happiness. He sparks with energy, no golden core needed. Lan Wangji melts with it- just being able to see it this close, was-
-spectacular.
Then, Wei Wuxian lurches forwards to suppress a laugh. His shoulders tremble with the effort of it, then his head is thrown back in a fit of giggles and snorts, loud and obnoxious and so painfully Wei Wuxian. He shines even more, like this. It’s distracting, and addicting, the joy Wei Wuxian brings to Lan Wangji. Addicting.
He feels the string tremble, wavering a bit. Feels Wei Wuxian’s nimble hands starting to play it in soft strokes. Lan Wangji isn’t even completely sure why he’s laughing. He doesn’t exactly care. As long as it meant he gets to see Wei Wuxian like this.
After a few seconds of laughter, Wei Wuxian springs up, ignoring the formal setting they had all night to throw his arms around Lan Wangji in a tight embrace.
“Lan Zhan, warn a man!” He laughs a bit more, hands nimbly fiddling with the tie of the ribbon at the back of Lan Wangji’s head absentmindedly.
The strokes on the string are bursting with noise, now. They both know it. Lan Wangji feels his own mouth curl into a smile, unbeknownst to Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji lifts up a strand of Wei Wuxian’s inky hair and presses it to his lips.
“My apologies.”
Wei Wuxian heaves some giggles for a little while longer, settling into Lan Wangji’s lap comfortably. Lan Wangji finds his hands stroking his back in tender circles as Wei Wuxian gets the last of his laughing fit out of his system.
He finally pulls back, then kisses Lan Wangji’s nose gingerly. “I love you, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Wangji smiles again, his string still being plucked ever so carefully- will continue to be played, as long as they are together, “I love you too, Wei Ying.”