For Wei Ying - Courting Take 3

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji would be the first to admit that he knows little of courtship or marriage, not the details at least. It had not been a subject he'd received any instruction or advice on so he must rely on what little he has witnessed in his youth outside of Cloud Recesses. The hair pin and comb had been the obvious choice but the second is less so. He provides Wei Ying with food and drink daily so there would be no great gesture in such gifts.

The idea had finally come to him as he had flown home one evening and array of animals in the countryside.

It had not been hard to conceal the building of a small structure by Bunny's own hutch as Wei Ying rarely noticed such things or took part in the maintenance of the home. He had smuggled them home under the cover of night when he'd known Wei Ying would be in the city, fraternizing with Klaus and likely speaking of all manner of subjects Lan Wangji would rather not know of. The four chicks, two yellow and two black had seemed cozy when he had left them that night and again when he'd checked as the sun rose the next morning.

He opens the door to their room and smiles softly at the still sleeping bundle of blankets now in the middle of their large bed. He kneels onto the bed, pushing his fingers through the mess of black hair half buried by blankets. "Wei Ying. Wake up."

Comments

[lan_wangji]

He carefully does not acknowledge Wei Ying's observation, instead peering closely at Wei Ying's face to ensure he does not look to pale. He could still do with more food. "You should eat a snack," he declares, catching Wei Ying's hand to give it a quick kiss.

"Let me make a snack while you prepare something cold to drink. Perhaps will make one for Jin Rulan as well," he says, having recently forced himself to stop calling the cat, Cat.

[yiling_laozu]

"Oh?" Wei Wuxian brightens further. He knew Lan Wangji would warm to the cat eventually, and now he's preparing him snacks. "I'm sure Jin Rulan would enjoy that very much."

Still smiling, he searches the teapots from breakfast, finding a half pot of oversteeped leaves that will be perfect for what he has in mind. The house had come with a cold box, and an even colder box above it, which Lan Wangji pretends not to indulge in, but Wei Wuxian has his doubts. He reaches into it now and finds many cubes of ice to put into the tall glasses Darrow favors, pouring the bitter tea over the cubes so that the melting ice mellows the flavor. "There," he murmurs. "Cold as Gusu."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji turns from where he has take the leftover sticky rice dumplings from breakfast and all but smothered them in spicy pepper sauce and takes in the glass of cold tea with wonder, condensation already starting to form.

"This is perfect," he murmurs, accepting the glass carefully as he takes in Wei Ying's thoughtfulness. It has truly never occurred to him to prepare it in such a way and it is perfectly Wei Ying to do so. He takes a long sip, feeling the cold wash over him in a way that makes it certain that he will give in to the allure of the ice, yet again. It is as good as one of his charms. "This is yours," he finally says, handing over a plate for Wei Ying and a smaller plate of chopped chicken. "And the cat's."

[yiling_laozu]

"Some of their inventions are so clever," Wei Wuxian muses, glad not to have to venture all the way to an ice house when he wants to make Lan Wangji a cool treat. He smiles at the refreshed look on his face, then even wider for the food.

"Jin Rulan," he calls, "Come for lunch, Lan Zhan has made you food!" He sets it on the ground and accepts the dumplings happily, making short work of them in spite of - or perhaps because of - the spice. He does make sure to drink his tea after, though, for he has every intention of kissing Lan Wangji as much as possible today.

Smacking his lips, he asks, "Is it now time for your little pants?"

[lan_wangji]

"Now can be the time for swimming, yes," he says, taking another sip of his drink and shooting Wei Ying an unimpressed stare. It is Wei Ying's day. He will wear the ridiculous, little pants. "Finish eating and I will change," he offers, steeling himself.

His inner robes, wrapped tightly, manage to hide them but he knows. He can feel the air around his knees and calves in a way that is simply wrong. He realizes he does not think his knees have ever been exposed, out of his home. It feels entirely scandalous, in spite of the things they have done outdoors on their property.

[yiling_laozu]

More than happy to swim naked, Wei Wuxian wears only his thin inner robe outside, grinning when he sees Lan Wangji gingerly make his way outside. Apart from what they look like, these little pants are the next best thing to swimming nude - Wei Wuxian thinks Lan Wangji will warm to them, eventually.

"Ah, my Lan Zhan is smooth like fish scales and will dart through the water," he says, leaning forward to kiss Lan Wangji's cheek before dragging his hair up into a topknot.

[lan_wangji]

Lan Wangji watches Wei Ying's fingers make quick work of an endearingly messy topknot, a stark contrast to Lan Wangji's own neat as a pin knot on top of his head. "Perhaps with more of Wei Ying's training I will do so," he murmurs, laying a hand on the curve of Wei Ying's waist, still unused to seeing him so disrobed for purposes other than intimate.

He takes a few steps closer to the shore and undoes the knot of his robe, keeping a careful eye out for boaters before cutting his gaze back to Wei Ying, unsure if the little pants will be cause for amusement. His legs look startlingly pale, is the first thought and he notices yet again the difference between the fine hairs and the dark hair that runs up Wei Ying's legs.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian's gaze is indeed fixed on him, and despite his smile he looks far from amused. Lan Wangji's legs are long and as white as jade, smooth and refined looking unlike Wei Wuxian's own dark streaked legs. The shorts are tightfitting, stretching pleasantly over his backside, and Wei Wuxian fights the sudden urge to touch.

He mostly succeeds, not grabbing Lan Wangji's ass but slapping it happily as he pushes his robes from his shoulders, diving naked into the water.

[lan_wangji]

He tries to admonish Wei Ying but all he manages is a startled splutter as he sees miles of bare flesh cutting through the water, graceful in a way he knows he will never be.

It is, however, bare flesh that Lan Wangji is very determined will be viewed by no one but him and he keeps an eagle eye out for any witnesses as he steps into the water. He is not yet willing to admit it, but the cold water is delightful against his bare legs, a welcome reprieve from the overwhelming heat.

"Ridiculous," he mutters, waiting for his beloved to surface.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian surfaces like a dolphin, blinking the water from his eyes as he surges back into the open air. The water never ceases to feel like home, and he heaves a happy sigh as he flops onto his back. "Ah, Lan Zhan, how is it?" he calls, floating happily. "Isn't it easier to walk in your new pants than all those cumbersome robes?"

[lan_wangji]

"The water feels very pleasant," he says mildly, making quick work to wade out to Wei Ying. He is...quite on display and Lan Wangji feels he needs to be ready to shield him from passersby at a moment's notice.

He carefully runs his hand down the curve of Wei Ying's side, reminding himself that they are here for a swim and not other activities. "They do seem easier for swimming. Less drag. Wei Ying has opted for the most aerodynamic option."

[yiling_laozu]

"Ah, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian laughs, reaching for his hand to use as an anchor as he drifts gently in the water while Lan Wangji stands rigid as a sentinel. "We will hear any boat long before it appears, you needn't protect my virtue with such ferocity."

He tugs. "Try a few strokes. To try out your pants," he adds with another laugh.

[lan_wangji]

"Not while you are laying in such a way," Lan Wangji counters, only his thumb running along Wei Ying's knuckles and soft gaze betraying his unyielding posture.

"Should attempt swimming outside of this inlet. Skills will not improve unless I try in the current. Does Wei Laoshi approve of this?"

[yiling_laozu]

"Lao Wei does not approve," says Wei Wuxian, standing up at once. "River currents are strong and difficult to predict. Even I dare not swim out in waters I don't know well, and Lan Zhan is still learning. Lan Zhan will practice here - " Wei Wuxian points.

"Where it is safe."

[lan_wangji]

"Hm," Lan Wangji hums in mild frustration. It was perhaps a mistake to ask in such a way, even if it did mean that Wei Ying's modesty in now more protected in his ire. Such a directly expressed wish will prevent Lan Wangji from simply trying it when Wei Ying is not present.

"If you learn the waters, you can teach them to me. Or we could learn them together," he counters, trying to tug Wei Ying close as it his automatic response to having his bare skin so close.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian huffs. If he still had his core, this would all be different, but he can no longer fly to Lan Wangji's rescue, nor summon anything but darkness to pull him from the water. Lan Wangji is far too precious to entrust to his weakened self.

"First, Lan Zhan must become a strong swimmer to resist a powerful current," he says, eying the shorts for the first time with something less than glee. "Fill your sleeves with stones and swim the length of this pool five times, and then we will see."

[lan_wangji]

He has realized his mistake too late and can feel Wei Ying's agitation rolling off of him. "Do not need to do this, today," he concedes, grabbing at Wei Ying's hand in apology. It is...difficult to be presented with such a challenge that he is not able to simply tackle head on. Difficult to believe he could be bested by water.

"Today is Wei Ying's day. I will obey. Will not go out without your instruction."

[yiling_laozu]

Head filled with thoughts of Lan Wangji disappearing beneath dark water, never to be seen again, Wei Wuxian shivers, looking up only when he feels a large hand enfolding his own. Lan Wangji looks worried, and Wei Wuxian stands up straighter. "It's different than you think it is," he says.

"It is like fighting a Waterborn Abyss, but instead of over the water you are in its belly, pulled in so many directions you cannot get your bearings. You might be so turned around that when you do have a moment to move your limbs and swim, you won't know which way the surface is. I don't want Lan Zhan to endure that."

[lan_wangji]

His lips press into a thin like as he looks out at the seemingly placid river and back to Wei Ying's drawn face. He believes Wei Ying but he does not understand it. He cannot imagine his considerable skill could not best water.

But for all his considerable skill, the heat of the summer in this place grows harder and harder to bear without complaint for reasons he also does not fully understand.

"Have you experienced this? Did something happen?" he asks pushing wet strands out of Wei Ying's pale face.

[yiling_laozu]

"Once," says Wei Wuxian, startled to find them suddenly refocused on him. He tugs his face into something less dour. "Jiang Cheng and I were playing a few li from home. We were roughhousing, and he pushed me into the water, not thinking of where we were. I was lucky enough that an older disciple was passing and fished me out before I could be swept too far."

It had been terrifying, but Wei Wuxian is far more concerned with Lan Wangji not experiencing it than that he himself has. "Honestly coming home was worse. Madam Yu had me confined for an entire week until I could 'learn not to bother Yunmeng disciples on official business.'"

[lan_wangji]

He draws in a sharp breath, his rage towards both Jiang Wanyin and Madam Yu dark and deeply rooted. He knows he cannot tell Wei Ying of his final encounter for Jiang Wanyin, but his anger remains knife sharp.

"Unfair to you," he murmurs, wrapping his arms around Wei Ying's cold back. He will never fully understand Wei Ying's anger towards Lan Wangji's upbringing when his own had been so much more cruel. "If Wei Ying does not wish me to go into deep water, I will not."

[yiling_laozu]

"Ah, Lan Zhan, I don't mean to clip your wings," says Wei Wuxian, happy to lay his head on Lan Wangji's shoulder now that they are close together. "I only want you to recognize the river's power before you throw yourself into it, expecting that it, like so many things, will bend to your considerable will."

He chuckles. "Though of course, you are Hanguang Jun. Perhaps it would bend for you after all."

[lan_wangji]

He kisses Wei Ying's wet, dark hair, running a hand up and down his knobby spine. "It is," he admits, after a few moments of quiet. "Difficult to imagine being defeated by water with no magical properties. But I believe Wei Ying."

Another kiss is dropped to Wei Ying's temple before he pulls back. "Think we are both difficult pupils, in different ways."

[yiling_laozu]

"Eh?" Wei Wuxian also pulls back with a scoff. "I am a perfect pupil! I know most things without being taught, and I always try to think of better ways to do them. Any teacher would be thankful to have me, for they needn't do any work at all."

He folds his arms, gaze sliding sideways. "Lan Zhan is not a bad pupil either. Only eager."

[lan_wangji]

"Wei Ying was an infuriating pupil," Lan Wangji says, voice mild as he imagines years and years of attending classes with Wei Ying instead of merely six months. He is certain he would have suffered a Qi deviation out of sheer frustration.

"And I was stubborn. Inflexible. Interesting that we match well, now. Now I like Wei Ying's infuriating qualities."