Work Text:
Wei Wuxian wakes up to an empty bed and an empty baby crib next to said empty bed. His bedroom is blissfully silent, his bed is warm from the sun seeping in through the open curtains and Wei Wuxian can hear his sweet husband’s soft voice as he speaks to their three-day-old twins in the main room and he knows immediately that it’s going to be a good day.
He stretches his body languidly, rolling to the side and pressing his face into Lan Wangji’s pillow to greedily gulp in some of his scent.
His ears flick on top of his head as he tries to figure out if he has enough time to curl up in his husband’s lap in his small huli jing form before the twins start to fuss for a feed. It seems quiet enough, the air of their home is practically steeped in contentment and it makes Wei Wuxian’s heart race a little bit quicker than normal with the need to be near his little family and bask in the softness that he feels through every inch of his soul.
The urge to change into either of his other forms, the smaller huli jing or his larger one, is strong though. He hadn’t been allowed to transform in the final stretch of his pregnancy but now he craved it, and with the help of his golden core the surgical site from the twins delivery had healed more than enough for the transformation. The magic in his veins sings with the need to change, even if only for a little while. And there was an odd prickle under his skin, like an undercurrent of something—an itch—that he hadn’t yet figured out how to scratch.
He decides to risk it and quickly transforms into his small form, giving his still slightly drowsy body a graceless shake to settle his fur only to notice the way a few clumps of hair drop from his coat and land on his bed. He had known it was almost shedding season but if he’d known it was this close he wouldn’t have transformed on the bed.
The prickle that had sat beneath his skin made much more sense now that he’d changed forms. He always felt uncomfortable in his own skin during shedding season. The sensation to molt during shedding season was always there in all his forms but it was obviously something he was unable to do in human form and it always made him itchy.
At least Lan Wangji would be happy when he realized what time of year it was.
Wei Wuxian’s adorable husband loved shedding season. He diligently brushed Wei Wuxian’s tails every day anyway, but he always loved brushing through Wei Wuxian’s coat in fox form and plucking out the loose hair during his shed. Something about it seemed to settle him and who was Wei Wuxian to deny himself a few hours of pampering from his beloved dragon.
It was certainly one of the only things that could get Wei Wuxian to sit still for hours at a time.
With a happy little yip at the prospect of pleasing his husband, Wei Wuxian carefully jumped from the bed and trotted towards the main room to see his kits and his alpha.
Lan Wangji was lying on his side on the floor, head propped up with one hand while the other was in the air above the twins, fingers slowly wriggling to try and entice the babies to follow the movement. There was a gentle curve to his lips that made Wei Wuxian’s heart stumble and the scent of pure happiness was so thick in the air from his husband that it made him feel almost drunk, his mind going hazy with pleasure at the knowledge that his alpha was so happy.
“Good morning, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji murmured once he caught sight of him, eyes sparking with joy as he pushed himself upright carefully, quickly brushing his fingertips across both Lan Yuan and Lan Xinyi's cheeks before stretching his hands out for Wei Wuxian to go to him.
With a happy screech Wei Wuxian skitters across the floor and throws himself into his husband’s arms. His tails wag furiously and he can’t help but jump up onto his back legs to press his front paws to his husband’s broad shoulders and shove his nose against Lan Wangji’s neck directly over his scent gland and their bond mark, greedily taking in more of his scent, taking in more of his effervescent happiness that makes him feel like he’s floating.
Lan Wangji tipped his head to the side to allow him more room to snuffle and lap at his neck with his tongue while carefully carding his fingers through his fur. Wei Wuxian leans up further and licks a quick strip up Lan Wangji’s left antler, enjoying the familiar taste of him as it explodes on his tongue.
“It is shedding season,” Lan Wangji murmured, making a soft noise of happiness in the back of his throat as he tilts down to let Wei Wuxian lick at his other antler. “Will you let me get the loose fur?”
Wei Wuxian purred happily and immediately dropped down in to his lap and turned so his back was facing him instead to make it easier for Lan Wangji to groom him. The movement brings him face to face with his children and his heart melts.
Lan Yuan had closed his eyes and had drifted off to sleep while Wei Wuxian had greeted his husband, his little mouth was open slightly and his nose wrinkled with every other breath he took, while Lan Xinyi was blinking up at the ceiling slowly, sleepily, only moments away from sleep herself.
He leans forwards and carefully nuzzles his kits with his nose, relishing in the feel of their chubby little cheeks against his snout. Wei Wuxian purred again quietly, just taking a moment to bask in the knowledge that these sweet babies were his and that they were actually here.
The pregnancy had felt like it had been both too fast and too slow and he couldn’t deny that he missed being pregnant. He missed feeling the twins wriggle in him, he missed the little prickle of their spiritual energy flowing through him and twining with his own. But he loved seeing their little faces, holding them, scenting them, loving them. He was so beyond happy that they were here.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji called after a few moments of Wei Wuxian just nuzzling and purring at their children, dragging his attention back to his husband. “Let us get as much fur off as possible while they are asleep. Soon they will wake up for their feed so let us do it now.”
Wei Wuxian chirped softly in agreement and immediately settled back in his lap, blinking lovingly down at his babies, both of them now slumbering peacefully on the bundle of blankets Lan Wangji had laid them on.
He was starting to crave his morning kisses but he also knew how much Lan Wangji enjoyed plucking him when he was shedding so much and so he resigned himself to not getting a kiss until Lan Wangji was satisfied or the twins woke up, whichever came first.
Lan Wangji’s fingers immediately got to work, carefully tugging and brushing and pulling at his fur, clumps easily giving way under his talented fingers.
Wei Wuxian melted against him, barely feeling anything other than the occasional gentle tug. The Wei Wuxian of his childhood would be envious of him if he could see him now; shedding season had always been a pain in the ass. He could never quite reach some of the itches on his back when the fur grew too clumped and matted together before falling out. Now, he had his beautiful dragon to get it all for him while he got to just lay there like a well-pampered noodle.
He was living the dream.
He purred contently, eyes drowsily watching the steady rise and fall of his children’s chest’s as they slept peacefully. This was everything Wei Wuxian had ever wanted. His beautiful husband and their wonderful children, even if it did make him feel a little unpleasantly fuzzy around the edges with anxiety sometimes.
His mind was still flooded with the rush of hormones after having the twins, his body still trying to resettle into itself now that he was the lone occupant once again. So it was easy to push away the anxiety that bubbled in his abdomen whenever he thought too much about how he was responsible for two lives, it was even easier to ignore the paranoia that urged him to just shut himself and his little family away from the outside world to keep them all safe.
Even though he couldn’t help but worry about what that anxiety and paranoia would become when the endorphins had settled.
Wei Wuxian inhaled slowly and he relaxed each individual muscle in his legs, then he exhaled so deeply that his spine cracked, and he wagged his tails carefully so he didn’t disrupt Lan Wangji’s meticulous work.
Time passed easily; his mind moving slowly like sticky syrup, his body like one giant fox puddle beneath his husband’s talented hands. He would be quite happy to lay there for the rest of the day because he was all to aware of how long it usually took for Lan Wangji to brush his coat out properly, but he could see Lan Xinyi’s little feet beginning to move, her body twitching as she slowly came back to the waking world.
Lan Wangji made a short, quiet noise of resignation. He ran his fingers through his fur one more time to smooth down the parts he hadn’t been able to tidy up before giving Wei Wuxian a gentle pat above his tails.
“You can change back and I will get the stuff to clean them.” Lan Wangji murmured, dropping a swift kiss to the top of Wei Wuxian furry head right between his ears that Wei Wuxian immediately leaned into.
He transformed back into his human form and watched with wonder as Lan Xinyi slowly woke up, her little lips parting with a gentle breath, her eyelids fluttering as she blinked open slowly, her little arms starting to wiggle.
“Good morning my sweet love,” Wei Wuxian croons while carefully scooping her up and into his arms. “Did you have a good morning with your A-Die? Hm? Was it fun?”
Lan Xinyi just blinked her little golden eyes up at him. She looked so much like Wei Wuxian with her little white-tipped black ears and her cute button nose, but her eyes were all Lan Wangji and every time he saw them it made him smile helplessly.
She began to wriggle restlessly in his hold, rooting around for her food and Wei Wuxian immediately chuckled and helped ease her to his chest for her morning feed. It turns out that babies ate a lot - an exhausting amount. It always made Wei Wuxian feel slightly wrung out whenever he’d finished feeding them, but he wouldn’t change it for anything.
“Is it just A-Xin awake?” Lan Wangji asked as he walked back into the room, a bowl filled with warm water and some clean scraps of cloth in his hands for cleaning the twins up.
Wei Wuxian murmured his answer with a quick glance down to check Lan Yuan was still sleeping before looking back up to watch Lan Wangji set the bowl and cloth down on the ground nearby.
He readily leaned back against Lan Wangji’s chest when his husband settled back down behind him, legs falling on either side of Wei Wuxian’s hips and arms coming up to help cradle Lan Xinyi close to his chest.
“Mm,” Wei Wuxian hummed happily, tipping his head to the side and peering up at his husband through his lashes. “Good morning, Lan Zhan!”
Lan Wangji moved one hand up to cup Wei Wuxian’s cheek and he carefully tipped his head to the side a little bit more before leaning down and capturing his lips in the morning kiss that Wei Wuxian had been craving.
Wei Wuxian nibbled carefully on Lan Wangji’s bottom lip before pulling away and pressing their foreheads together.
“How did you sleep?” Lan Wangji asked, the hand that had been cupping Wei Wuxian’s cheek falling to help hold Lan Xinyi again.
Wei Wuxian looked down and traced Lan Xinyi’s features with his eyes as he said quietly, “It wasn’t too bad. I still feel exhausted though.”
Lan Wangji made a quiet noise of acknowledgment and pressed his lips to Wei Wuxian’s temple before pulling away to gather Lan Yuan up in his arms as their son began to fuss slightly.
“Ping Daifu did say you may struggle to sleep for a little while. So it is normal - if it becomes a bother we can always ask her for some herbs to help you sleep easier at night.”
Wei Wuxian scrunched his nose up and shook his head, his ears flicking uneasily on top of his head as a burst of anxiety swelled in his chest.
“No… I would rather be able to wake up easy enough for the babies.” he explains, lifting Lan Xinyi up and away from his chest once she’d finished eating. “Here let’s switch.”
Lan Wangji easily handed Lan Yuan over to Wei Wuxian before accepting Lan Xinyi in return, carefully settling her on his shoulder and burping her.
“That is fine,” Lan Wangji promised, giving Wei Wuxian a soft, knowing look that made Wei Wuxian want to curl into him until the uncomfortable prickle of anxiety had resettled.
Wei Wuxian looked away and his gaze fell upon the bundle of fur Lan Wangji had plucked from his coat and bundled to the side to be given to the birds later for their nests.
“Aiya,” he huffed out a laugh. “That’s a lot of fur already!”
His husband followed his gaze and then looked back at him, his pretty eyes squinting in pleasure. “Mn. There will be more to get later as well.”
Wei Wuxian beamed at him, “Sorry you can’t finish it now, er-gege! I know how much you enjoy plucking me like a chicken!”
Lan Wangji furrowed his brow and tipped his head to the side as though he were contemplating Wei Wuxian.
“Maybe this is why the chickens chase you. They have found a likeness in you.”
Wei Wuxian wheezed, the noise long and high-pitched and he tips his head forward to butt against Lan Wangji’s chin.
“You!! Who told you that you could be this funny, huh?” Wei Wuxian hissed with a laugh, bright sparks of happiness shooting through his veins like fireworks.
Lan Wangji just gives him a smug look that makes Wei Wuxian shake his head fondly at him. God, he was so in love with his silly husband.
Lan Wangji has been patient. He has been extremely, overly, exceptionally patient.
His routine has changed a lot since Wei Wuxian had given birth to their children. He ran on a timetable that best suited their kids now, and after three days he was rapidly realizing that his life going forwards was going to be exceptionally chaotic.
And that was absolutely fine. If anything, he was looking forward to seeing what kind of chaos his son and daughter would bring alongside his husband. It would be a pleasure, he was sure.
But having children that required their full attention and care had meant that Lan Wangji hadn’t been able to spend the hours he usually spent grooming Wei Wuxian during his shedding season. He had started pulling the loose fur out that morning but their parenting duties had stopped him in his tracks barely even thirty minutes after he’d started.
Which was fine. Lan Wangji enjoyed being a father more than he enjoyed shedding season but his mind was focused.
He hadn’t spent all day thinking about the clumps of fur still clinging to Wei Wuxian’s neck like a necklace in his huli jing form because he’d been more focused on his kids. but he had certainly thought about it enough that he was practically vibrating with the need to get the comb and rake it through his husband’s fur to loosen it all up and make it look nice and soft once more.
Wei Wuxian took one look at Lan Wangji once their children were settled in their bed that evening and immediately threw his head back and laughed.
Lan Wangji watched, entirely transfixed by the joy emitting from his husband. His eyes slowly roamed over the tantalizing curve of his neck, the sharp jut of his jaw, the flush of his cheeks. Wei Wuxian was so completely beautiful that even years later it still rendered Lan Wangji speechless.
“Lan Zhan, ah, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian beamed at him. “You want me to transform again so you can finish making me look all pretty again?”
Lan Wangji rolled his eyes slightly and said quietly, “You are always pretty.”
Wei Wuxian’s cheeks flushed brightly and he muffled his squeak behind his hands, his tails wagging happily against the mattress - which was covered in fur. He would have to change the sheets soon but to do that he must first finish the deshedding process on his husband’s other form.
“Lan Zhan! Warn me!”
“Apologies.”
“Liar.”
“Mn.”
Wei Wuxian laughed again, this time softer. He stared up at Lan Wangji like he was something amazing. Lan Wangji thinks that if Wei Wuxian looked in the mirror more often he would not gaze at Lan Wangji like that at all because he would find a picture of amazingness within his own reflection.
“I’ll meet you in the main room then, er-gege. I may as well transform into my larger size cause that’ll have even more hair that needs to come off.”
Lan Wangji hummed in agreement and immediately turned towards their bathing area to grab the comb and oils specifically used for Wei Wuxian’s fur. He decided on the usual, familiar citrus scented oil, his dragon already roiling happily inside of him at the scent usually associated with his mate.
He quietly padded back over towards the children to check on them, taking a moment to just stand over them and watch them breathe and sleep peacefully.
It still felt strange whenever he realized that he was a father. It made the entire world seem almost scarier now that he had two little lives to keep safe and cherish and love and teach. He had made a promise to himself to be better than his own father and uncle and after only three days of having the twins with them in the world, Lan Wangji couldn’t even begin to imagine inflicting the sort of pain and trauma onto his children that had been inflicted onto him.
It made him want to transform and curl his body around his treasures and just hoard them close forever where nobody could ever hurt them or Wei Wuxian ever again.
But he already knew he couldn’t do that. They may be his children, but they were also Wei Wuxian’s. And he already imagined that his sweet babies may grow up with wanderlust in their veins just like their Baba.
“Sleep well, little treasures.” Lan Wangji murmured softly, brushing his finger carefully down Lan Yuan’s cheek and then again with Lan Xinyi’s cheek.
He wandered out to his husband feeling so full of love that all he wanted to do—before brushing Wei Wuxian’s fur—was smother his husband in kisses.
Wei Wuxian was finishing off setting out some tea for Lan Wangji and placing a talisman on the teapot to keep it steaming for a few hours, already knowing they would likely be at this for a few hours. The sight of him doing something so small yet so meaningful just because Wei Wuxian thought it might make Lan Wangji happy made his eyes burn with tears.
His omega turned to face him as he walked into the room, his eyes lighting up with happiness and a beautiful smile stretching across his face. He leaned forwards the closer Lan Wangji got, like a flower blossoming under the sun.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian greeted sweetly, readily accepting Lan Wangji into his space as Lan Wangji dropped to his knees and quickly crowded his husband.
He nuzzled his nose against Wei Wuxian’s cheek and pressed a kiss to his chin, inhaling his sweet scent and letting his body relax for a moment before he pulled back and carefully picked up the tea cup that Wei Wuxian had thoughtfully filled for him.
Lan Wangji shuffled even closer before carefully lifting the cup and pressing it to Wei Wuxian’s lips waiting patiently and watching as his husband’s eyes crinkled with joy and he carefully began drinking.
“I love you.” Lan Wangji murmured, dabbing at Wei Wuxian’s lips carefully with his thumb to capture some droplets of tea that had spilled before setting the cup back down on the little table next to them
Wei Wuxian tails thumped softly against the floor at the care and attention being bestowed upon him and it made Lan Wangji tail thump happily in return.
He stretched his hand out and tangled it in Wei Wuxian’s messy hair and Lan Wangji used that grip to hold him still as he crowded him again as he swooped in and pressed his lips to Wei Wuxian’s in another kiss.
Wei Wuxian hummed happily against him as Lan Wangji nipped at his bottom lip and then soothed over the sting with his tongue before pulling back. Kissing Wei Wuxian was one of Lan Wangji’s favorite things in life and he would never tire of it.
“I am so in love with you,” the hand in his husband’s hair scratched at his scalp while the other came up to cradle his face as he peppered quick little kisses all across his face and Wei Wuxian blinked his eyes open slowly. “My beautiful Wei Ying. Thank you for the tea.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes fluttered and he sniffled, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Lan Wangji’s lips.
“Love you, er-gege,” Wei Wuxian sighed softly. “I’m gonna transform now before you make me cry.”
Lan Wangji chuckled at him before nodding, pulling away slightly to give Wei Wuxian room to transform and so that he could reach the oil and comb that he displaced in his hurry to love on his husband.
Wei Wuxian easily transformed into his huli jing form and Lan Wangji immediately dragged his eyes over the large body, noting the many lumps of black inky fur that he would’ve otherwise missed in his smaller form.
He waited as Wei Wuxian gave a big shake which sent loose hair that had barely been clinging on flying around the room.
He huffed and brushed his palm across his face, resolutely ignoring Wei Wuxian’s playful chuff before his husband flopped down on the floor with a loud thump and sprawled on his side, giving Lan Wangji full access to the left side of his body.
Lan Wangji immediately got to work. He moved the comb through Wei Wuxian’s fur slowly and methodically, careful not to let the teeth of the comb get snagged in his fur. The larger clumps that were easy to remove he plucked out with his fingers, inexplicably satisfied with the feeling of pulling it free.
Wei Wuxian was on his back with all four paws up snoring by the time Lan Wangji had finished grooming his fur. He leaned backwards and grimaced as his back rippled with a familiar ache that he had become used to over the years. The muscles that stretched beneath his scars would always be more prone to pulling and aching; it was significantly easier to handle when the pain came from doing something for the person he loved the most.
He glanced next to him at the pile of fur that had accumulated over the last two hours he had been brushing his husband and couldn’t help but snort softly. There was enough fur between this pile and the small one he had started that morning to create a whole other Wei Wuxian.
Lan Wangji stood up quietly and gathered up all the hair and the comb but left the oil to the side to run through Wei Wuxian’s coat before he transformed back. He would leave his husband to sleep while he tidied the fur up onto the porch for the birds to take it and place the comb back in its usual place.
Wei Wuxian rolled onto his side and blinked up at Lan Wangji blearily as soon as Lan Wangji moved, and the sleepy contentment in his eyes made Lan Wangji’s chest feel warm with pleasure.
He loved him. He loved him more than anything.
“Hello,” he greeted quietly, giving him a soft smile. “I am going to put this outside if you want to go and look in the mirror. I can put the oil in once I come in and we can go to bed.”
He paused and thought about the fact that it had been two hours since they’d first sat down and said, “Well, the babies may wake soon for a feed so perhaps we can just cuddle instead.”
Wei Wuxian’s tails thumped furiously across the floor and he made a quiet noise that Lan Wangji understood was agreement for his plans before he pushed himself up and stretched.
Lan Wangji held the bundle of fur in his arms carefully and stood still as his fox came close and brushed his body all along Lan Wangji’s side and pressed his nose to his ear.
He let out a high-pitched noise of protest at the press of the wet nose and tried to tuck his ear against his shoulder out of reach as he complained, “Wei Ying!”
Wei Wuxian chuffed at him in amusement, quickly pressing his forehead to Lan Wangji’s before walking past him and heading into their bedroom where the mirror was. Lan Wangji smiled fondly after him even as he continued to wipe his still wet ear against his shoulder.
He loved Wei Wuxian’s little fox form but he enjoyed the fact that his original huli jing form made him as tall as he was in human form. It made hugging him much warmer.
Lan Wangji quickly set the fur down on the porch before turning and heading back inside just as a sharp bark of shock echoed through their house.
He froze for a moment, waiting to see if the noise would wake the children up before immediately rushing towards the bedroom in search of whatever it was that had startled his husband so much.
“Wei Ying?” He called cautiously, hurrying into the room and skidding to a stop next to his puffed up, growling, embarrassed looking husband.
Wei Wuxian’s wide eyes looked between him and his reflection in the polished bronzed mirror, shock and embarrassment plain to see in his bright eyes. Lan Wangji frowned in concern and brushed his palm soothingly down his spine.
“What is it, beloved?”
Wei Wuxian turned to glower at him and transformed back into his human form mid-turn.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian whisper-shouted. “When I said about plucking me like a chicken I didn't mean it literally. It didn’t mean you needed to take half of my fucking fur!”
Lan Wangji’s brow raised and he reached out and tugged at Wei Wuxian’s hair in quiet reprimand for his tone.
Wei Wuxian inhaled sharply at the tug and allowed his eyes to fall shut. He took a moment which Lan Wangji gladly gave him before he exhaled and apologized softly, reaching up to squeeze at Lan Wangji’s wrist gently.
“Sorry. Sorry. It’s just -“ Wei Wuxian’s cheeks flushed and his bottom lip pushed out in a pout. “Lan Zhan, half of the fur around my neck has gone. I look ridiculous. I actually look so dumb. Nobody is going to think I am a serious threat ever again. I am all head and ears and body. There is no neck.”
“What do you mean?” Lan Wangji asked. “I think you look fine.”
Wei Wuxian sighed and grumbled quietly, “You always think I look fine, silly dragon. Look, I’ll change back and you’ll see what I mean.”
Lan Wangji released the lock of hair he’d curled around his finger after tugging it and stepped back to give his husband more room. He watched as Wei Wuxian changed into a huli jing once more and studied him intently.
He frowned apologetically and brushed his hand over Wei Wuxian’s forehead to try and settle the embarrassment he could see in his husband’s waiting gaze.
“I am sorry… I think you look as lovely as ever, Wei Ying. I do not see the issue,” he began slowly, carefully measuring out each word so he wouldn’t potentially upset his husband again. “But maybe you have lost more fur this time around because of your hormones after having the twins?”
Wei Wuxian shifted back and immediately flopped into Lan Wangji’s waiting arms.
“Er-gege,” Wei Wuxian whined. “You are absolutely no help at all.”
Lan Wangji pressed his lips to Wei Wuxian’s head and just held him close, breathing him in and enjoying the feel of him pressed up so close to him.
“Sorry.”
Wei Wuxian sighed and nuzzled his face into Lan Wangji’s neck as he murmured softly, “No, you’re just being sweet. Sorry I freaked out. You’re probably right about hormones being the cause. Maybe I can send a message to Ping Daifu and ask what she thinks. Cause I’d really rather this particular shed never happens again.”
“That is a good idea,” Lan Wangji said, rubbing his back in soothing circles as he swayed them from side to side slowly. “Would you like to go and lay in the nest now or would you like a bath?”
Wei Wuxian hummed quietly in consideration. He tipped his head slightly against Lan Wangji’s collarbone to look in the direction of the twins. Lan Wangji watched, completely in love with the sight of his perfect omega as his entire face lit up with a soft sort of joy when his eyes fell upon their children.
“Let’s just go lay down,” Wei Wuxian whispered, pulling away just far enough to grip at Lan Wangji’s wrist to tug him forwards carefully. “We can just cuddle and maybe nap until they need to feed before going to sleep properly.”
They got themselves settled on their bed, both on their sides facing one another and sharing the same pillow. Wei Wuxian slotted one of his legs in between Lan Wangji’s and tangled their feet together while Lan Wangji gets their arms comfortable between their chests and interlocked their fingers, his large tail carefully settling in between Wei Wuxian’s nine happily wriggling tails.
They lay in comfortable silence for a while, just simply basking in being with one another while their babies slept peacefully nearby before Wei Wuxian suddenly breaks the silence with a somewhat loud snort of amusement.
Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow at him in question, gently smoothing a few stray strands of hair away from his beloved’s face.
Wei Wuxian just giggles and leans into the touch before saying, “My neck is so skinny!”
Lan Wangji huffs in quiet amusement even as he makes a mental note to start feeding his omega some more. He still doesn’t see the issue with how his husband looks in his huli jing form but he can acknowledge that he did look a little bit skinnier than he remembered once he’d been thoroughly deshedded. Either way he much prefers Wei Wuxian to find amusement in it over embarrassment.
(Even though his Wei Ying looks perfect to him.)
Wei Wuxian just contents himself with laughing while Lan Wangji nuzzles in closer, greedily drinking in the sight and sound of his husband so happy even as the feel of his tails wagging against the scales of Lan Wangji’s tail is ticklish.
“Ah, my love, er-gege, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian sings softly once he settles back down, untangling their hands and holding Lan Wangji close to his chest, pressing his face to the top of his head between Lan Wangji’s antlers. “Thank you for always taking such good care of me. I really love you.”
Lan Wangji can hear the sleepiness in Wei Wuxian’s voice as he speaks; the slight slur to the end of his words and the slowness to his voice that is only ever there when he is half asleep because his husband is anything but slow when he is awake.
He thinks about the oil waiting out in the main room for him to brush through Wei Wuxian’s fur but decides to forgo it this time around. His fur won’t suffer for it and he much prefers for his husband to get as much sleep as he needs
“I love you,” Lan Wangji murmurs in return, pressing a soft kiss to Wei Wuxian’s chest right above his heart. “It is my greatest pleasure to take care of you.”
Wei Wuxian makes a gentle noise of embarrassment, squeezing arms and legs tight around Lan Wangji as a silent reprimand for his sweet words.
“Everything is less scary with you,” his husband whispers. “You keep me sane, er-gege.”
Lan Wangji tips his head back with a frown, “Wei Ying?”
There had been something in Wei Wuxian’s words, something in his tone that made Lan Wangji’s instincts flare with the need to protect him. He wasn’t sure what it was yet; anxiety, sadness, fear - Lan Wangji had known his husband was feeling out of level since the twins birth but he had yet to mention anything particularly worrying.
Maybe Lan Wangji was overthinking it. But his instincts as both a mate and as a person deeply connected to another person tells him to be watchful.
“Lan Zhan, love you,” Wei Wuxian whispers, entirely unaware of the direction Lan Wangji’s thoughts had gone in. “‘M gonna sleep, wake me when kids are ‘wake. Love you love you,”
Lan Wangji shifts their positions so that he is on his back with Wei Wuxian splashed out on top of him. He rubs a soothing hand down his husband’s spine and murmurs words of love to him as his breathing settles and he eases into sleep.
He closes his eyes and decides to nap himself while Lan Yuan and Lan Xinyi are asleep but he mentally makes a note to speak with Wei Wuxian tomorrow to feel out the shape of whatever this potential problem could be.
And to remind his husband to ask Ping Daifu about the hormones potentially causing the amount of hair loss this shedding season because he already knows Wei Wuxian has forgotten as he usually does.
He loves him so much.