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

[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."

[yiling_laozu]

"Oh?" Wei Wuxian's mounting indignation dissipates all at once. He winds his arms around Lan Wangji's tall, straight neck, leaning in until their torsos slide pleasantly together. "I am very likeable, aren't I? I must be, for everyone says I talk too much, yet I'm rarely told to go away. Only Lan Zhan has done that."

He grins. "I bet he is glad I didn't."

[lan_wangji]

"Am glad," he agrees, long fingers gripping Wei Ying's hips as he leans in for a kiss. "Do not want Wei Ying away at all."

It is a wonder they ever complete a real lesson, Lan Wangji's ability to focus utterly ruined by Wei Ying on display. "Like how you look in the water. Look natural. Lovely."

[yiling_laozu]

"Lan Zhan will look the same eventually," Wei Wuxian promises, lingering close after the kiss. "As powerful in the water as he is on land. And Lan Zhan is very powerful on land," he adds with a wink, helping himself to the sight he's been resisting all afternoon and grabbing two handfuls of Lan Wangji's ass through the wet fabric of the shorts. His brows raise, and he squeezes again.

"These don't leave much to the imagination at all!"

[lan_wangji]

"That is Wei Ying's fault," he points out, hips shifting against Wei Ying as he is firmly taken in hand. "This cannot be how they are meant to fit."

He does not, in fact, know that for certain as they had seen all manner of nudity at the beach but he does not understand how anyone can feel comfortable on display in public places. Even Wei Ying would not do so and he is nearly entirely shameless.

"Easier to move in than pants. You were correct."

[yiling_laozu]

"Aiya, I am so smart," Wei Wuxian agrees. "If I am wise, then Lan Zhan is all the more wise for courting me," he laughs. "They make loose swim pants as well, but they are not meant for swimming, I think, only lounging. You would not look nearly so handsome in them, even if Lan Zhan could make a sack becoming."

But he is curious now, and curious enough to abandon his current handholds, though he does so with reluctance. "Will Lan Zhan swim for me? Just the length of the pool and back."

[lan_wangji]

He gives a quick nod, pulling back to gather himself. He knows that Wei Ying will not allow him to progress without sufficient demonstration and now that he has made a promise, he cannot simply attempt to do so himself.

He pushes off, cutting through the water in neat, efficient strokes. They are done precisely as instructed but Lan Wangji can tell they are still slower than Wei Ying's. His body feels heavy in water in a way it has never done so on land and he does not know how to fix it, how to perfect it.

Maddening.

[yiling_laozu]

The strokes are good - rendered cleanly and efficient, yet Wei Wuxian can tell that each one is delivered with more self-directed scorn than the last. He claps all the same, whooping when Lan Wangji again comes to a halt.

"Perfect," he declares, for commanding joy from Lan Wangji is the same as requesting ire. "If you continue to practice, the strokes will come as naturally as breathing, and then you'll see how quickly one may go, Lan Zhan. How does it feel?"

[lan_wangji]

"Not perfect," he mutters with a tiny scowl, even as he leans in to kiss Wei Ying's cheek. The enthusiasm is appreciated even if it not earned. "Feels slow and heavy. Not due to Wei Ying's instruction but my own failing."

He does not understand why it is so, why learning to yield Bichen had come so naturally and in sync with the power of his own core while moving in water has rendered him little better than the children he has seen struggling at the beach.

"I am...complaining. Apologies."

[yiling_laozu]

"It's alright," says Wei Wuxian, winding their arms together. "I know very well that you will not be satisfied with mere perfection." He rests his head on his shoulder. "When the movements become natural, I'm sure Lan Zhan will find a way to use his qi and go faster than I ever did. I suppose I must use this time to enjoy being the best," Wei Wuxian sighs. "It will not last, not when Lan Zhan is so determined."

[lan_wangji]

"There are many things Wei Ying will always be best at," Lan Wangji protests, gathering Wei Ying up and dropping a kiss to his head. He wonders if he ought to stop working as hard at this, or at least put an end to his whining. He is actually quite certain he ought to put an end to his whining. It is unbecoming and against several rules he is still determined to follow.

"Do I truly have to swim with rocks five times to be allowed to go outside the pool?" he wonders aloud, trying to find the next attainable goal.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian snorts. "How about just once," he says, "So you can see how truly difficult it is when the water fights back. I'm sure the small taste will be enough for you to imagine fighting a real current, and know better than to try anything stubborn and foolish before you are ready," he adds, only a bit pointed.

"If Lan Zhan drowns I will lose two things I love, Lan Zhan and the water."

[lan_wangji]

"Wei Ying," he breathes, squeezing him somehow even more tightly before letting Wei Ying go enough to cup hip face in his large hands. He is not thinking of his properly, he knows. He recognizes the discomfort of his ego at the idea of being defeated by mere water when he spends endless hours worrying over Wei Ying's safety, especially now that he knows of his core.

It is unfair to Wei Ying, offensive. Inconsiderate.

"I am sorry. I am being prideful, am I not?"

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian lets himself be held, smiling when he feels those hands against his cheeks. He hadn't meant to be so morbid, but Lan Wangji understands now what's at stake, and the tension drains from him as if it was never there.

"Aiya, such a scandal, too. Isn't it against one of the Lan rules? I'm sure it must be right at the top of your uncle's scroll," he says, wrapping his hands around Lan Wangji's wrists to squeeze.

[lan_wangji]

"Many rules," he admits, with true remorse. He is, by and large, at peace with the Rules he has forsaken. But he knows it is a slippery slope leading to the emergence of aspects of himself that shame Lan Wangji. He has not been diligent in this and Wei Ying ought not pay the price.

He will do better. He will pay better attention.

"Swimming is difficult," he admits, voice soft and nearly in a whisper. "Think it was wrong not to be taught. It was never questioned that my Core would be powerful enough to overcome nature."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian nods, careful not to give any hint of teasing as Lan Wangji dares to speak critically of the sect that shaped and raised him. "Lan disciples are very good," he says. "You are rigorously taught and inattentiveness is punished severely. I suppose they thought it impossible that any Lan would not be able to access their Core in times of peril. It isn't all oversight, Lan Zhan."

He tugs one of those large hands down to hold inside his own. "I don't think anyone in the cultivating world foresaw someone like Wen Zhuliu. There has never been anyone like him before, and I hope there never will be hence."