For Wei Ying

[lan_wangji]

It is unfortunate that Wei Ying's birthday had coincided with an attempted mass murder. He does not know what sorts of things are done for a birthday as any real attention on said day was forbidden, but he is certain it is not murder.

So here he is, the day after. He thinks this will be a positive surprise. He thinks this is something one might do for another on one's birthday. The man at the coin depository had been mostly silent when Lan Wangji had listed his demands and presented his stack of paper coin but had eventually presented an acceptable option.

The house is small but directly on the river. The price is incredibly low, even Lan Wangji had understood that. He thinks it could be perfect.

It is also extremely haunted. It had taken nearly five minutes of staring the man down in silence before that truth had been revealed. He simply signed the paperwork and left, no mention needed.

He thinks Wei Ying will enjoy the surprise even more, now. He waits outside the mausoleum at the burial grounds, noting the biting temperature and glad to bring Wei Ying away from this place and its insidious energies.

Comments

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian sleeps late whenever possible, and the sun is high enough to warm his cheeks when he finally shuffles out of the mausoleum and into the light. He's still pulling on his outer robes when he spots Lan Wangji waiting for him, and he grins at him as he rubs his eyes.

"Good morning," he says, rather generously when the sun clearly marks mid-day.

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji nods, choosing not to comment on the sun directly overhead that in no way resembles a morning sun. He wants to reach out, pull Wei Ying to him and kiss his still sleep swollen mouth but he has yet to fully understand what he is comfortable with, in such a public place. He has yet to find that space between his Lan Sect teachings and his own preferences.

He supposes that is a little ridiculous in the face of the gift he has come to give. "Have something for Wei Ying. Birthday gift. Late," he says, smiling softly at Wei Ying's disheveled form.

[yiling_laozu]

"Yes?" Wei Wuxian's grin widens, and he walks right up to him to kiss his mouth in greeting. Lan Wangji is as warm as the air is cold, and he finds himself lingering, enjoying the warmth and the kiss both.

"Is it the sort of gift that requires one to have combed their hair?" he asks when he pulls back, pushing a tangled lock back over his shoulder.

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji happily kisses him back, noting that this is something he likes, he is comfortable with this in any setting. This is a preference. "Would never give Wei Ying a gift that required combed hair," he gently teases, reaching out to carefully untangle a mess of waves and tucks it back into place.

"Requires flying. Assume Wei Ying does not want to fly himself?" he asks, voice as neutral as possible. He has questions, more and more adding as they grow closer but he does not want this to be the day for them. He knows it is selfish and irresponsible but he wants a good day for Wei Ying.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian laughs, reaching up to straighten his topknot and make certain his ribbon is not among the tangles. He's never worried much after his appearance, but he finds he likes to look nice for Lan Wangji. "Suibian is not here," he says, shrugging before his grin turns sly.

"And of your two swords, Bichen is not the one that obeys me."

[lan_wangji]

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji scolds after he finally understands the insinuation. He huffs a bit before stepping back to reach into his qiankun pouch. He pulls out a heavy, black robe, lined with something soft and warm that he had not been able to recognize.

"Before we go, had this made for you. Getting too cold for you," he says, holding it out for inspection. It is not precisely in the correct style, but it is very close and it is warm and Lan Wangji is not certain Wei Ying would seek it out for himself. "This is not the gift. Not the main gift."

[yiling_laozu]

"I like it when Lan Zhan warms me best," says Wei Wuxian, but it's clear from the delight on his face that he likes the robe. He reaches for it with cold fingers, pushing his arms through it at once until it settles around him like an embrace. Immediately the bite of the wind is gone, and Wei Wuxian bounces on his toes as he ties it closed.

"Thank you, Lan Zhan," he says, touching his cold nose to his cheek before he kisses the spot. "I feel much better."

[lan_wangji]

He has to duck his head for a moment, fighting a wide smile and takes Wei Ying's cold hand in his. "Happy Birthday," he tries, having heard the phrase a few times in his time in this new place. "Glad Wei Ying was born."

He pulls Wei Ying closer, nosing along his jaw for a moment before kissing his temple. "Come on. Will fly us." He unsheathes Bichen and holds out a hand for Wei Ying, quickly running through his preparations.

The house has been cleaned, although some repairs are still needed. There are blankets so they can spend the day and night, if desired. Food in the giant ice box. He thinks he has everything they will need.

[yiling_laozu]

Lan Wangji is one of precious few to be glad of such a thing, and Wei Wuxian steps onto the blade, turning to shamelessly wrap his arms around Lan Wangji. "Lan Zhan's gift is so mysterious," he notes with pleasure, cheek pressed to white robes.

"Will you not give me any clues? A gift to which we must travel...It is...a cellar full of wine?" he guesses.

[lan_wangji]

"Yes," he says flatly as he gathers Wei Ying close and takes off, glad he has gifted the robe as the cold wind starts to slice through them. "Dug a cellar in the woods and filled it with wine rather than bringing wine to my home."

He finds himself feeling more bold in the air, on their own and slips one arm low around Wei Ying's back, squeezing his hip. "Can guess again, if you like. Not a cellar," he says as they fly over fewer and fewer buildings, trees growing more dense. "Not only a cellar."

[yiling_laozu]

"But there is a cellar?" asks Wei Wuxian, fighting back his astonishment that Lan Wangji has made a joke. His brow furrows. The sorts of places with cellars are usually inns and taverns with a need to store their wares in cool places.

He lifts his head. "Surely Lan Zhan has not bought or built me a tavern?"

[lan_wangji]

"Did not build or buy Wei Ying a tavern," he huffs, realizing that he ought to have stocked their kitchen with more than one bottle of wine, according to what he is hearing.

He follows the winding path of the river as they fly north, dipping a little lower as they near the spot.

"Try again," he encourages, enjoying this game. "Not alcohol. Or related to alcohol."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian hums in thought, eyes unfocused on the countryside as they fly. A gift with a cellar? It's nothing he can conjure, no matter how he tries. He watches the river instead, and after perhaps too long a beat, realizes that they are journeying along it.

"Lan Zhan!" he says, pulling back suddenly. He promised to find them a home along the river, but surely that is too great a gift. Wei Wuxian doesn't have much coin - he's not been industrious like Lan Wangji and found work - but he always meant to contribute. Lan Wangji has done this much for him? "You have - it is a home?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji nods, tightening his hold on Wei Ying as they travel low, just above the trees until they come to a clearing, the small white house just in front of them.

"Not in the correct style but it was not expensive, we can make changes," he says as they land, the only noises those of the river and the birds. "It is haunted, apparently. Thought Wei Ying might enjoy that challenge."

He looks only at Wei Ying throughout the entirety of the speech, hoping he was not too bold in doing this. He hopes it is a good surprise.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian's mouth drops open, and he twists, struggling to see the approaching home without falling off the sword. He steps off as they land, regarding the home with wide eyes. It has a nice space beneath a long wooden awning, nearly boxlike in every other regard.

"Oh, it is funny looking," he laughs, putting both hands over his mouth as another nearly hysterical giggle escapes him. It's funny looking, secluded in the country, with an uninterrupted view of the river, and it is theirs. Wei Wuxian dashes forward to see how the water looks from the porch, before doubling back to grab Lan Wangji's wrist to drag with him.

"Come sit with me!" he demands. "I want to see what we will see each day!"

[lan_wangji]

He follows along happily, glad that the shape and style hasn't completely put Wei Ying off. He is knowledgeable of architecture but not of building but he vows to change that as soon as he is able. He will make this home into whatever Wei Ying wishes.

There is a bend in the river just next to the house, creating a natural nook of calmer and deeper water. He thinks it will do nicely for Wei Ying's swimming. It is not Lotus Pier, but it is something. It is a start of, as Wei Ying has said, each day. Every day.

"We can make it into whatever you desire."

[yiling_laozu]

"We can build a pier!" Wei Wuxian exclaims, without a bit of knowledge on how to do that, but that's a worry for another time. For now he heads for the seat that is suspended from the porch roof, landing in it hard enough that it swings wildly, almost knocking down Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian laughs and reaches for him to pull him into the seat beside him. "Is it really haunted?" he asks, picking up his legs so that the seat can swing even harder. "It's so wonderful, Lan Zhan!"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji follows him down into the chair with as graceful a stumble as he can manage. He feels uncertain that this suspended bench is made for such vigorous movement and drags on foot against the porch floor, slowing it down a little.

"Man at the coin repository claims it has been unable to sell because of it," he confirms, moving to thread his fingers through Wei Ying's. "There is a resentful energy. Wanted to leave it for Wei Ying."

He brings Wei Ying's hand up for a quick kiss before straightening up as best he can. "It is not too much, too soon then?"

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian frowns. The home, too much? "But I love you," he says, swinging again as if the matter is settled. He might need the energy of the burial grounds, but he needn't sleep there, and after sharing Lan Wangji's bed he's not certain why he'd ever sleep anywhere else.

He looks through the curtainless window into the empty interior of the house, shadowed with stray bits of sunlight streaming in. "You should play Inquiry," he suggests. "Perhaps the spirit doesn't even want to be here."

[lan_wangji]

He has to concentrate to keep his breath measured at Wei Ying's words, words that seem to come so naturally now, as if a foregone conclusion. Of course Wei Ying loves him. Of course Wei Ying will live with him, seemingly for as long as they can.

He inclines his head at the suggestion, looking into house and then back out at the river. "Wei Ying is right and good," he murmurs, thinking back to the night of Wei Ying's birthday, the dark and terrifying energy he had seen him wield. And now here, wanting to find a way to do this with as much kindness as they can manage. He does not understand, cannot reconcile the two but he knows Wei Ying at his heart. He will find a way to protect him, this time.

"Now? Wei Ying can try and guide it, if it will speak with me."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian nods. "Let us see if it answers first." Perhaps it will be so easy. Or perhaps the spirit will be angry and break through one of the walls. That...wouldn't be the worst thing for this quaint little box of a house.

He pulls their joined hands to his lips and kisses Lan Wangji's knuckles. "Shall we go inside?"

[lan_wangji]

"Mm," he agrees, pulling Wei Ying up and producing the small, silver key he will likely only use once. He cannot imagine that people trust the safety of their homes to such insubstantial things.

As soon as he opens the door and steps into the first room, there is a drastic drop in temperature, one he had not felt when he had seen the place on his own. The air feels as if it is pressing around them, urging them back towards the still open doorway.

He says nothing, simply drops Wei Ying's hand and sits gracefully, manifesting his guqin and waiting for Wei Ying's signal to proceed.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian nods, too distracted by the unnatural chill to look around their new home. He hesitates, torn between sitting across from Lan Wangji and remaining standing to protect him, deciding on the latter.

It's only a spirit. They've faced many before, but he keeps his hand near his Qiankun bag just in case. "Go ahead, Lan Zhan."

[lan_wangji]

He takes a deep breath, centering himself before he plucks at the strings, trying to establish a line of communication. He can feel the hesitance of the spirit, he can feel the rage and sorrow.

His brow furrow and he tries again, hands still as an answer comes in, full of anger and confusion.

"She lived here, years ago," Lan Wangji murmurs, eyes closed as he listens, translates. "Died here. Waiting for her husband to come home. Wants us out."

[yiling_laozu]

Frowning, Wei Wuxian walks deeper into the parlor, movements slow but head cocked in curiosity. He can't understand the notes Lan Wangji plays anymore than Lan Wangji can understand the notes from Chenqing, but they are beautiful all the same.

"How did she die?" he asks. "When?"