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A cool breeze swept through the Cloud Recesses, causing the fresh flakes of snow to swirl about gently.
Disciples moved swiftly about with winterrobes pulled close to their frames, being particularly mindful of any patches of ice along their paths.
“There’s a storm on the horizon…”A disciple spoke with their friend as they passed the Hanshi.
“A storm?” A voice spoke up from the nearby doorway.
The disciples paused as they turned to the speaker and bowed in sync, “Lan-zongzhu”They greeted.
A gentle smile pressed up Lan Xichen’s lips, “Are there any details about this storm?”He asks.
“Not quite, Zongzhu. I wasn’t able to hear much about it, though the people in Caiyi Town seemed concerned. From what they said, it sounds like it’s expected to bring a lot of snow and harsh winds quite rapidly later today”The disciple responded.
Though neither one was able to pick up on it, the tiniest fraction of a frown tugged the eldest jade’s lips down, “I see… you may continue on to your classes”He says with a nod.
As he watched the two bow in farewell before continuing along their way once again, Lan Xichen felt the pace of his heart accelerate as his mind drifted to the letter which sat on his table, announcing that his younger sworn brother would be journeying to visit him and should arrive later that day.
—
“Xiongzhang is worried…”
“Ah, it is nothing, Wanji,” he says as he presses a smile to his lips upon looking up at his brother from his empty cup.
The two were sitting in silence together, having completed their shared tea. It was usually Lan Xichen who would speak up to break it, but he had prolonged it for so long that it seemed his brother felt he ought to break it instead, an unusual occurrence, were his concerns really so obvious?
The younger Lan remained silent now, face and body seemingly unmoving as his gold eyes looked upon his brother and yet Lan Xichen was more than aware to pick up on the subtleties of his body language.
“You know me too well, Wanji. Earlier, some of the disciples were talking about a storm. Lianfang-zun has sent me a letter to say that he will be visiting today, so I am worried he will be caught in it”
“Xiongzhang has given praise to Lianfang-zun’s planning… He will surely take shelter before the storm hits”The younger jade spoke up once again.
It made him pause for a moment, before a small smile broke on his face as he took in his brothers words, “Hm, that is quite true, in all likelihood he has prepared for all sorts of issues that might arise before he arrives at the Recesses. Thank you for alleviating my worries, Wanji. I’m sure all will be fine…”He says before glancing out the window as the beginning flurries of snow commence.
—
It was late now, without any sign of the Jin, and Lan Xichen was still worrying, no matter how much he silently reassured himself and attempted to distract his mind with a book (it was one of Jin Guangyao’s favourites as well, which only led him to further wonder about the other…). Lan Wanji must have been right, of course, Jin Guangyao was smart enough not to push through it to make it up the mountain.
Ever the exceptional strategist and event planner, surely A-Yao would have found refuge in Caiyi Town or one of the smaller villages along the way, and once the storm settled, he’d be on his way once more, perhaps sending a message ahead of himself to let him know he was on his way again.
Lan Xichen would not mind this tardiness, of course, he could never be upset with Jin Guangyao being late, though such a rare occurrence only really happened when he travelled with the whole of the Jin party.
He hoped the other had found somewhere nice for the night.
As Lan Xichen mused to himself, there was a quiet knock at the door. Gentle, yet slightly forceful…
Surely not–
Perhaps he might be imagining it, but still… better to check just in case rather than ignore it, perhaps a disciple needed his urgent attention. That was certainly plausible. Lan Xichen rose to his feet and made his way over, his hand pressed against the door, and pushed it open ever so slightly to peek outside. Immediately, the wind was sharp against his face and blew flakes of snow into the Hanshi.
As his eyes adjusted to the harsh winds pushing in through the small opening, he saw a figure standing on his doorstep, hair tangled from the winds, cheeks flushed pink from the cold, and body curling into itself and shaking, it was a man clad in golden robes, not at all like the pale blues and whites of the Lan sect, this was not a disciple.
“A-Yao…?”Lan Xichen asked in disbelief, as if he could not believe that the other was truly standing in front of him, perhaps his mind was playing tricks as the worry bubbled over in his chest, showing him the image of who he wished to see most.
Familiar brown eyes looked up at him through crystallized lashes, “E-E-Er…Er-ge…”He managed to force out through violently chattering teeth, and his body swayed forward in motion to perform his usual bow, yet his arms stayed tight to his chest rather than circling in front of him.
The door promptly slid open further, and hands grabbed at shoulders instead of their usual spot at the arms. He moved much faster than their normal motions played out, but this was not the time for the games they played. He was seriously concerned for the other man’s health, as the other slowly adjusted into his regular posture, though now further bowed into himself. He grabbed his own cloak from nearby and, upon ushering the other in, he took off the wet golden cloak and replaced it.
Upon guiding the other further in and seating him on a cushion, he then made his way down the hall to grab some blankets from the closet.
“I wasn’t expecting you to arrive tonight, some of the disciples informed me earlier that this storm was arriving and that the people of Caiyi were concerned about it…”He says as he took to unfolding the blankets and carefully wrapping them around the Jin, who put up no fight.
Lan Xichen was mindful of how much his hands lingered, only really taking the time to ensure the layers underneath the cloak weren’t soaked, but even so, he could feel the others' harsh shivering, especially as his body adjusted to the change in temperature. He decided then that it would be best to begin pressing some of his own abundant qi into the other, who was certainly depleted of it from his trip and unable to regulate his temperature on his own.
Jin Guangyao remained silent until he felt the warmth of the other’s qi beginning to cycle through his meridians. A gasp escaped his lips before he quickly cleared his throat as if he had not expected the sound to leave him, “This one didn’t want to disappoint his Er-ge…”He said softly, trailing off as if there might be more to the tale that remained unspoken.
At this, Lan Xichen’s brow raised, and he took a moment to truly study the man’s face, though it was currently twisted from the cold he’d suffered in his journey to the mountain, it was clear that he was beyond exhausted. Jinlin Tai was not kind to Jin Guangyao… but there was little Lan Xichen could do besides stay by the other’s side, even if he desperately craved to do something more, to do many un-Lan-like actions to aid.
“You wouldn’t have disappointed me, A-Yao… I would have understood, but ah-...hm…”He begins before trailing off. He watched as Jin Guangyao turned to look up at him, eyes searching for him to continue.
When did the Hanshi get so warm? He could feel the heat creeping up his neck to rest on his ears, ever thankful it did not yet settle on his cheeks as such an open display. “Ah… well, I am perhaps rather thankful that you still came anyway… This Er-ge was quite worried about his A-Yao and couldn’t think of anything else ever since he was informed of the pending storm”He says.
An amused smile played at Jin Guangyao’s lips, “Is that so? Aren’t you Lan, skilled enough in your meditation capabilities to expel such concerns from your mind?”
The corner of Lan Xichen’s lips quirked up, “Well, most certainly, however, it would appear I was right in not expelling such concerns away, for it would appear that I needed to keep them until A-Yao found his way here even amidst such a terrible storm”He responded. He was rewarded with a light laugh, it was a beautiful melody to his heart.
“This A-Yao is here now, and now I have remembered something, that might aid in warming us…”The Jin paused for a moment before reaching into his sleeve and pulling out a packet, “It is a new blend I found in Lanling”He finishes, raising it for the Lan to take and observe.
Lan Xichen carefully took the packet though not without indulging in a brushing of fingers with the other, they were still freezing, not uncommon for the other but still, a warm cup of tea would surely be a temporary fix. “A-Yao is as thoughtful as always, this Er-ge shall begin making it right away… you must be chilled to the core”He says before turning to fetch one of his tea sets.
Jin Guangyao hummed, taking a moment to properly relax himself, his head tilted to the side to feel the soft furs of the Lan’s cloak, perhaps even indulging in the other’s scent which had long since sunk into the well-loved fabric. “Not my most careful of planning… But my schedule simply could not be swayed by such a troublesome weather”He muses.
He watches as the Lan returns, and sets the tea to steep, with the use of some qi, it takes no time at all, and soon his cold hands find themself cupping around the warmth of a cup, “This one hopes he did not worry his Er-ge too severely, however…”He says after a few sips of the new blend.
Lan Xichen shakes his head, “Do not worry for my worrying, A-Yao… again, you are here and my worries have taken flight now…”He says.
They sat in pleasant silence, enjoying the tea and company.
“Will this Er-ge share more qi, or would A-Yao like to rest now?”He asks after musing on his own cup for some time, he waited for a response from the other, and yet there came but silence in answer. “A-Yao?”He asks once more as his eyes glance at the other, a noise of understanding suddenly slipping past his lips as he takes in the sight.
Though the other appeared upright in his sitting, it was clear his head was leaning to the side, and his nose was buried in the fur lining of the cloak, lids long since closed in reflection that had slipped into slumber, and his hands still clutching to the cup.
“Oh, A-Yao… what will I do with you?”He asks quietly, before carefully extracting the cup from the other’s hands and then gently lifting the smaller man into his arms to bring him to his usual room.
Gently setting the other down on the bed, he carefully lifted the blankets over the other.
Just as he was about to slip through the door, he heard a rustling from the bed, and a quiet voice spoke up.
“Stay…?”It calls to him.
Lan Xichen turns his head to find brown eyes shimmering in the dim light flooding in from outside the room, pleading for him, and who is he to deny them?
It is how he finds himself curled up beside the other once more, as they had done back when they hid from the Wens.
In many ways, they are still the same anxious youths of the past and yet so different…
The storm outside no longer the blaze of a false sun, instead a chill of natural winter, yet it brings them to share a bed once more, to share such close quarters, if only they might be able to do so one day with no threats at their doorsteps.