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]

"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."

[lan_wangji]

"Wei Ying saved us all, saved my life," he states, voice stronger as he speaks to Wei Ying's virtue, threading his fingers with Wei Ying's.

"Only Wei Ying could have formed the Tiger Seal in such a way, used it for good. You should be proud of that. You saved me because you can think in ways I cannot."