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Emperors Smile was a nostalgic taste of sorts. One that is broken when he remembers that the great Lan Wangji is sitting right across from him having a few as well. That’s right, it’s no longer considered “nostalgic” they were in Lan Zahn’s room having a midnight victory.
It’s been some days since Wei Wuxian was finally revealed as the Yilling Patriarchy instead of being known as Mo Xuanyu. No one saw him as the ultimate evil but Demonic Cultivation was still something difficult to warm up to for many. Despite this pale lips and eyes upturn in glee at how lucky he is to be in the position he has fought to now.
He watches as Lan Zahn sets down his cup of liquor with a slightly upturned mouth, curiosity dancing his gaze. “And what would be so funny?” He shrugs black hair falling in silky strings off his should from his hair tie. “Ah nothing… just, I’m glad I’ve finally gotten to this point of celebration”, his companion nods his head.
“It is something you have worked centuries for, of course you’re relieved” a charming grin is flashed. “You must be too then Lan Zahn, after all you’ve witnessed many years that I cannot live through” he watches as golden eyes cast off to the side for a moment. “I believe, being chastised even in death would pain me more than living” there’s a moment of silence.
Then a small chuckle “Thank you, even drunk you like to spew some form of advice” he sighs after. “Though I really would have liked to keep my old body, even if my actions were… embarrassing”. He watches the others brows crease as he finishes his fourth glass “Wei Ying, I do not understand what you find so embarrassing about your past”.
The raven haired male sheepishly smiles and looks away while scratching the back of his head “Well… I would always say and do embarrassing things that probably seem ridiculous now seeing how I've changed”. Lan Zahn waves his hand as if waving off his concern “Give me an example and I may believe you”.
He pauses feeling a wave of shame so deep it starts to slightly color his pale features “Are you really asking me to retell you things that I wish I never did?”. The ladders eyes widen a bit in a form of realization “I didn’t mean to- I mean I wasn’t asking you to dredge up painful memories, my apologies”.
While shaking his head the raises his hands in front of him to wave it off in his own version of Lan Zahn’s earlier brush off“ No no, ah- nothing like that, you see… I kind of dislike how rebellious and cold I acted, like some kind of anti-hero”. He watches the other blink slowly “You mean when you became the Yilling Patriarch?”.
The ravenette cringes at the mentioning of it directly and so bluntly, he hadn’t talked with Lan Zahn about this kind of thing since he was summoned. “Yes… I thought I knew better
than everyone else and instead of let you help me I pushed you away in fear of losing you to the campaign”.
At this point he’s sitting cross legged with his hands behind him, leaning back as he looks at the ceiling. The others sigh causes Wei Ying to raise a brow with a slight smile “And what could the great Huanguang-Jun be sighing about? Surely not me?”. He catches the others hand as he reaches for the jug and takes it to pour the others cup before he could spill any.
He bows his head in slight thanks before taking the cup and looking up “When you had returned, yes it scared me to see what you had become but… not because I feared you”. He takes a slight sip and so does Wei Ying “It is simply because I feared for you, as for your actions...”.
Lan Zahn pointedly seems to avoid his gaze, that or he can’t find the courage to do so “I thought a sharp look was quite… endearing on you”. He pauses before taking a sip of his drink “Would you repeat that again?” his counter part does his version of an eye-roll, closing his eyes and inhaling quickly.
“I said… that your look during that period was quite… attractive” this time Wei Ying is at a loss for words. The red that deepens slowly but surely across a still face shows how serious the other is, he blames the liquor for the faster heart beat. A mischievous smile slyly takes place “Lahn Zahn~ don’t tell me you’re type is tall dark and handsome”.
He laughs, but his resolve falters slightly as the other seems to be flustered, he knew the other could be teased easily with exotic art but-. He leans forward on the table putting his head in his hand and closing his eyes, when he opens them he forcefully sharpens his expression.
Tilting his head to the side with a small smirk like smile, smooth and hidden “Well Lan Zahn? I thought you had a simple way with words?”. He jerks back from the table facade completely broken as the other splutters, spewing liquor. The ravenette blinks, then laughs as the others brows furrow, he hands over a napkin for the other to use.
He watches with amusement as Lan Zahn coughs lightly into the napkin “You had a more untouchable gaze about you, it was a different time”. Wei Ying debates that “I know I kept you at arms length, and you’re right it is different now” he takes the jug to drink from this time seeing as his partner has reached his last cup.
He sets down the jug with a relieved sigh and wipes his mouth “Besides, I’d never wear my hair down like that again! I don’t see how you do it, it’s so inconvenient sometimes!!”. The other replies with a noncommittal “Mmn” and Wei Ying raises a brow “Disappointed Lan Zahn?”. Smiling he sighs, grabbing one end of the ribbon that holds his hair up and pulls it out, his hair falling down lying past his waist. “What are you doing?” he places the ribbon in his mouth and gathers the longer strands behind his ears. Tying his hair in a half up half down style “What? Can’t I take fashion advice from a long time friend?”. Looking up the ravenette bats his eyelashes dramatically, laying his chin on the back of his hand “Is this attractive enough for you? Huanguang-Jun?”. His breath catches in his throat when uncontrolled red flushes the other’s face as he begins to bury said face into his hands. “A-are you serious? I was only joking but I didn’t think I’d strike a chord”. He says it in a way that sounds like he’s trying to retain his cocky attitude but it falls short at the rising of his own blush. Wordlessly the brunette stands, wracking up his nerves at the others silence “Lan Zahn…?”. Before he knows it his counterpart is behind him taking a sitting position and holding up his left hand, pulling him back into his chest. “L-Lan Zahn?!” He feels a slender but strong hand gently comb through the right side of his hair. His ears burning up exponentially as Lan Zahn leans in close, breath ghosting over cartilage. “It’s true that I miss your sharpened and defining features, they showed your life experiences and now you have to earn those edges once more…” he feels the others thumb softly trace his palm.
All he can do is look at his feet trying to ignore the growing feeling in his chest as Lan Zahn continues. “For someone who speaks so often you’re suddenly quiet, care to explain?” He elegantly slides his hand down his palm traveling up his arm exposing it more til he reaches his chin.
“A-ah-“ his loss of words sounds so oddly lewd that his blush flares and he resorts to closing his eyes, brows trembling in a furrowed position. “Sorry I didn’t mean-“ Wei Ying doesn’t open his eyes but apologizes for presumably making the situation awkward if the other’s silence is anything to play on.
He feels the other lean close “Don’t be” was his only reply as he moves his hands to lay him in his lap. Once his head is settled the ladder continues to thread his finger through inky hair “L-Lan Zahn- you’re drunk…”. He turns his head to slightly to hide his face against the other.
“Mmn” is his only reply as he continues, eventually Wei Ying settles, finally opening his eyes and looking up. The fondness in honey eyes takes his breath away “you…” he sounds breathless too, making the brunette huff a laugh. “Well Wei Ying? It seems like I’m not the only one susceptible to teasing” he blows air out his nose while crossing his arms.
He knows he looks like a petulant child, but the room for caring has already been booked out “It’s only because you…”. He pauses, he can’t exactly say ‘seduced me’ now can he? “I what?” silver and gold connect as they make eye contact. “You turned my own tactics against me- that’s cruel Lan Zahn” he watches as the others smile becomes warm and soft.
“Then you only have yourself to blame I’m afraid” as the other says it he closes his eyes and leans down until their foreheads connect. Wei Ying closes his eyes and breathes deep, his face incredibly warm “You’re incredible when you’re drunk” a soft chuckle “So I’ve heard”.
They stay like this for a moment, enjoying each others presence until it’s broken by Wei Ying running his hand on the others cheek. “I think… it’s time for bed huh?” He feels Lan Zahn nod before he rises his head, letting him sit up. They clean up the table and alcohol before changing into their night robes and laying down.
The moment he’s under the cover the other blows out the candle and relaxes against the bed, “Goodnight Lan Zahn” “Goodnight, Wei Ying” he turns over, hair now fully untied for once and spilling over the sheets. After a moment of silence, where the quiet is so deep that he thinks the other has fallen asleep, he hears shuffling.
His eyes widen and heat rushes to his ears as an arm is draped over him and a chin is placed above his head. “Is this okay?” He closes his eyes with a smile “You’ll be embarrassed in the morning” a shake of the head “Never”. An inhale and a burst of courage has him indulging in his intrusive thoughts as well, scooting and snuggling down further into the bed and Lan Zahn.
In return a nose is lovingly burrowed into his hair with a long deep inhale, making his heart rate Jack rabbit through his veins. He closes his eyes, feeling the most warm and full than he ever has in all these years.
•••
Jin Ling wakes early that morning his stay as an honored guest at Gusu, something that has offered quality time ever since he became the Clan leader. He yawns with an outdrawn stretch, walking into the kitchen where it was oddly silent. Looking left and right had his suspicions confirmed, he was indeed up before Huanguang-Jun and Senior Wei.
He raises a brow with suspicion, worry creeping up his throat slightly at the thought that they may not be sleeping soundly. Looking towards the door to their room he quietly walks over, hands balled at his sides, tensed incase of the worse. He puts his ear up to the door to listen first, soft breathing can be heard from the other side.
Relief settles in as he opens the door just to check on them despite knowing they were still present. Quietly he slides open the door then freezes, his eyes widen slightly with disbelief. He blinks them a few times for good measure just to be certain but the reality doesn’t change. Heat creeps up his face as he watches his seniors sleep soundly next to each other on the same bed.
Huanguang-Jun’s hand around Senior Wei whose hair was down, they were pulled together unbelievably close. His mouth gapes then closes, his heart stopping when he thinks Senior Wei is waking up as he moves his head upwards under Huanguang-Jin’s chin. He covers his eyes and mouths ‘Sorry for the intrusion’ before closing the door as quietly and as hurriedly as possible.
He walks as quickly as he can to his room, vowing that he would never speak of this incident to anyone ever, how embarrassing!