Work Text:
Lan Wangji didn't understand the appeal of big birthday celebrations. He was used to his birthday remaining decently uneventful, and he liked it that way. It was almost always the same. His uncle offered him an acknowledgment of his age growing by another year. He was used to his brother taking him out to eat lunch with him. Later in his life, he had grown accustomed to spending his afternoon with Sizhui, going out for a walk by a river that could be found close to Cloud Recess. As years went on, they spent time in different places, but the idea stayed the same.
After the addition of Wei Ying returned to his life, birthdays became far more eventful. Wei Ying respected his previous routines, pushing him to continue with them, even if he argued that he was content to spend the day with his husband.
So, Wei Ying respected his previous routines, but he also added to them. Wei Ying would cook him a breakfast that was far too spicy for his tastes, even after Wei Ying claimed to tone down the spice (he would never tell his husband this.) After eating, they spent the morning back in bed, Lan Wangji fucked his husband until he was properly sated. (An activity Lan Wangji thoroughly enjoyed.)
Lan Wangji then goes to meet his brother – after taking a proper bath. Seeing his brother always was pleasant. It was comforting to check on him. Though his brother wouldn’t ever really talk about what happened, it was reassuring to see he was okay. Aside from the slight dimming of his light, Lan Xichen had returned to himself with time.
After eating with his brother, he would find Sizhui already waiting for him by the river. They would walk. Lan Wangji always used time like this to let Sizhui talk about whatever was on his mind. Lan Wangji liked listening far more than talking – so, he would just walk next to Sizhui, his steps silent and efficient.
The part of the routine that changed, was when Lan Wangji would go back to Cloud Recess, eat, finish his night routine, and sleep directly after. Wei Ying had caused his previously perfect sleep routine to turn rather jagged. He was quite content with it. Wei Ying would find him and Sizhui, on some birthdays they’d meet him, some birthdays he’d come seek them out. The fact never changed, the three of them would reconnect and make their way down to the nearest place to eat.
After eating, Lan Sizhui would head back – his routine similar to what Lan Wangji’s once was.
This was when Wei Ying would drag him through the streets, which Lan Wangji gladly did, holding his hand with a smile on his face (one so small only Wei Ying could see). Nothing made Lan Wangji happier – seeing Wei Ying happy was all he ever needed. Sometimes the both of them got too busy to spend time together – of course, they always wake up together (and have sex), but it was different to have time to talk to each other (mostly Wei Ying talking), or laugh together (which, in Lan Wangji’s case, looked to an outsider as if he was barely smiling.) His birthday was a day that Wei Ying always made time for. In turn, Lan Wangji also made time for it.
After Wei Ying got tired of wandering, they’d find themselves moving away from civilization, walking until they found somewhere to lay under the stars. This was Wei Ying’s idea, the first time they spent Lan Wangji’s birthday together, Wei Ying brought him to a tree in an otherwise empty field, laying him down to look up at the unfiltered skylight. Lan Wangji was reluctant to dirty his robes, but he wouldn’t fight anything Wei Ying wanted, so he went down willingly. He ended up utterly enjoying himself – having his way with Wei Ying under the stars was the best gift he could ever ask for.
After they grew tired, they’d go find a place to sleep. If they weren’t busy, they’d spend the next few days traveling and trying their best not to find trouble.
That was how Lan Wangji’s birthdays went. They always went as such.
He and Sizhui had just spent the afternoon talking, to which he now learned a lot about the drama between SIzhui and his friends. (Lan Wangji attempted to give advice, but he was not very well equipped with socializing.)
The both of them had been content to go find Wei Ying Walking over to the closest town. It was taking abnormally long – usually, his husband was easy to find – he just had to listen for him. Or , look for the most beautiful man in the room.
But he saw no sign of his husband anywhere. This wasn’t too out of the ordinary – Lan Wangji was used to his husband finding himself in some sort of situation. It did not change the way it made Lan Wangji antsy, being unable to find his husband.
“He probably was asked by someone to help with something.” Sizhui offered, looking a little unsure of how to react. He seemed to sense his father's discomfort.
Lan Wangji nodded. Sizhui was right, of course – but it did not help ease his mind. After losing him once, Lan Wangji didn’t like being away from his husband without being sure he was okay.
Lan Wangji was looking around, scanning faces, listening for the voice he yearned to hear. It had been too long – the sun was already setting, painting the sky a dark orange.
“See!” Sizhui interrupted his thoughts, “There he is.” Sizhui pointed across the town. Only someone as attentive as him could recognize someone from so far – Lan Wangji taught him well.
Lan Wangji made his way over in quick, smooth steps, Sizhui not far behind him. He stopped when he saw his husband, quickly scanning him for any sign of injury.
“Ah, Lan Zhan.” Wei Ying laughed nervously. “Sorry, I’m late. I… found something unexpected… and I didn’t know what to do.”
Lan Wangji had been so busy searching Wei Ying for injury, he barely noticed the baby his husband was holding.
His first assumption was that his husband had found the child, and they were going to try and return them to their parents – but when he met Wei Ying’s gaze, he felt something was amiss.
“Where are their parents…?” Sizhui asked the question Lan Wangji was just about to ask.
Wei Ying smiled sadly, seemingly expecting that question. He dropped his gaze. “Dead.”
Lan Wangji’s brow furrowed (an expression most wouldn’t notice.)
“I’ve spent the whole afternoon looking for relatives… she doesn’t have any. Her father was all she had, and he’s gone.” His husband looked up at him with those eyes. The eyes that told Lan Wangji that his Wei Ying was about to ask something of him – something he very well may not like, and he always, always, would say yes. “She has nowhere to go.”
“Wei Ying.” It was the first thing Lan Wangji had said aloud in a long while. His tone said enough for Wei Ying to understand his meaning. Are you asking what I think you’re asking?
“Maybe… it’s a birthday gift. That I found her today.” Wei Ying laughed awkwardly, his eyes looking into Lan Wangji’s. The both of them had a quick conversation with their eyes – Wei Ying giving him ‘ I want to keep her” eyes.
Thinking of what to say, Lan Wangji gave the child a proper look – he’d been so caught up on his husband, that he hadn’t looked down at the baby he held.
If there was any hope of Lan Wangji not falling in love with the child, it was prior to him looking down at her.
She was tiny. Too tiny. Likely not more than a few months old. Precious. Her eyes closed as she snuggled up against his husband’s chest, her own chest slowly rising and falling with each small breath.
Lan Wangji loved her.
“We should take her to a doctor – to make sure she’s okay.” Sizhui offered, looking at the child with a concerned gaze.
Wei Ying smiled at his son, “That was the first thing I did when I found her.” His smile turned sad, “Where I found her... It wasn’t... It wasn’t pretty.”
Sizhui frowned, “But she’s okay?”
Wei Ying gave him a fond smile, “Yeah, she’s perfectly healthy.” He pushed his arms out toward Sizhui, “Hold her.”
Sizhui’s brows tipped up anxiously, “I don’t...”
Lan Wangji watched his husband laugh and gently place the baby into their son's arms. “Just make sure to support her head.” He guided Sizhui’s right hand under the infant's head. She stirred but didn’t wake up. She was clearly exhausted from whatever she had been through prior to Wei Ying finding her. Lan Wangji dreaded to learn the details.
Sizhui smiled down at her, gently bouncing her in his arms without being told to. Lan Sizhui was so attentive – it was no surprise how quickly he adapted to holding a baby.
Lan Wangji was smiling, seeing such a sight made his chest warm. His husband stood beside him, slipping his hand into his. “He’s a natural at this.” Wei Ying whispered – though, if Sizhui was paying attention, he easily would have heard him. The boy was too distracted, staring at the child with amazement.
“I want to keep her.” Lan Wangji spoke, surprising himself.
Wei Ying smiled at him, hesitant. “We don’t have to. I mean – I want to – but, raising a child is a big responsibility. We could just make sure she finds a loving family –”
His husband rambled until he cut him off, “We did well with him.” Lan Wangji didn’t have to explain who he was talking about – Lan Sizhui. And what an exceptional man Sizhui had grown to become.
Wei Ying laughed, squeezing Lan Wangji’s hand. “Yeah, we did.”
Sizhui seemed to have noticed that he was being watched, looking up. His cheeks turned pink when his gaze met that of his parents.
“Sizhui, how do you feel about having a sister?” Wei Ying asked the question with a laugh of endearment.
“Really?” Sizhui looked between the both of them in disbelief, then looked down at the baby in his arms.
“I don’t see why not.” Wei Ying countered.
Sizhui made eye contact with Lan Wangji, his eyes waiting to see what he would say. “Why not.” Lan Wangji echoed his husband – as always, happy to do whatever his husband wanted.
“Okay.” Sizhui nodded, “Why not.”
Wei Ying laughed, smiling at the both of them, then dropping his gaze to the baby held in Sizhui’s arms. “We need to go get baby... stuff.” He looked over at Lan Wangji, “What do babies need?”
Lan Wangji met his eyes, unsure how to respond. What do babies need?
This made Wei Ying burst out laughing. Lan Wangji steadied him with hands at his elbows, ensuring his husband wouldn’t topple over laughing. Sizhui was smiling too, still gently bouncing his sleeping (now) sister.
“We...” Lan Wangji held his husband as he caught his breath, “Ha – we need to learn how to take care of a baby.”
Lan Wangji didn’t say much – he had no clue how to care for a baby. Their son was a toddler when he had begun raising him, and he wasn’t sure that he had done great with him, back then.
“Lan Zhan.” Lan Wangji met Wei Ying’s eyes. His husband pressed a kiss to his lips, uncaring of their son who was definitely looking. When he pulled back, Lan Wangji saw Sizhui respectfully distracting himself with his sister, cheeks tinted pink. Looking back at his husband, Lan Wangji couldn’t keep a smile off his face. “What a birthday this is – now, you’ll have to make room for her on your birthday.”
Lan Wangji leaned down to kiss his husband again. His insides were fuzzy and warm with contentment.
Wei Ying pulled back, kissed his cheek, and then went to aid their daughter from Sizhui’s arms, into his. Lan Wangji stared down at the child in his arms – his daughter.
Wei Ying pushed himself up to kiss his brow, “Happy birthday, Lan Zhan.”