Work Text:
Wei Wuxian weighs heavily on Lan Wangji's back, both of them soaked to the skin as torrential rain continues to pour down from the sky. But that's okay. Lan Wangji flies faster than most of their pursuers, but the rain gives them another advantage as they flee back to Cloud Recesses. How many times have Wei Ying and he found themselves in extremely dangerous situations? Lan Wangji has lost count. Some things never seem to change, while others... Wei Wuxian has revealed his feelings to Lan Wangji. It's already the second time in their long history, and hopefully he won't change his mind again. Lan Wangji's thoughts wander back to that time and place...
***
“This song is beautiful, Lan Zhan! What's it called?”
Before Lan Wangji can tell Wei Wuxian the name of the song, Wei Wuxian faints.
Lan Zhan is very worried, gently lays his beloved‘s head in his lap, and begins to hum their song “Wuji” over and over again.
The name came to him quite naturally during one of his regular qigong exercises. The most relaxed posture, which collects the dark yin energy of the earth and also harvests the bright yang energy of the heavenly qi, mixing them together and creating a balance of equality and harmony, is called Wuji. As soon as Lan Wangji realizes how similar their dynamics are, and also because of their names, he has finally found the name for the song he composed.
Lan Wangji gently touches his forehead, which burns like fire. Why hasn't the fever gone down yet? Even if they are exhausted from fighting the turtle of slaughter Wei Wuxian should be feeling better by now. Their access to clean water is limited at best, so they have no way to wash the blood from their own skin or make a cooling cloth for Wei Wuxian. All Lan Wangji can do is share what little spiritual energy he has left and hum. Always hum.
Time is a tricky, capricious thing here in this cave. It could be half a day or just a shichen before Wei Wuxian wakes up again. His eyes still burn bright with fever, and with a voice hoarse from illness, Wei Wuxian begins to whimper.
“My head hurts so much, Lan Zhan. Would you lend me your hand to cool my forehead? Your hand feels so pleasantly cool. Don't stop humming, Lan Zhan. Is that a love song?”
Lan Wangji feels the heat rising until it reaches its peak in his throbbing ears. They could burn just as well as Wei Wuxian's forehead. What a relief Wei Wuxian still seems unfocused as Lan Wangji tries to find his voice.
“Yes, it is!”
Something difficult to interpret flits across Wei Wuxian's face.
“Oh, so you really like Mianmian that much?!”
“Ridiculous!”
A bone-deep weariness resonates in that one word. Lan Wangji's feelings seep out of every pore, his every action betrays the longings of his heart, and Wei Wuxian still has the audacity to ask him such a question? The nerve! How dense can this man be?
“What's so ridiculous about liking Mianmian?!”
Will Wei Wuxian ever stop teasing Lan Wangji for a non-existent crush, even when he's seriously injured and almost delirious with fever? Lan Wangji's patience has become as thin as his tattered lace robe. He has been trapped in this cave for five days with this terrible, lovable man and the corpse of a legendary beast that is becoming more foul-smelling with each passing hour, and he doesn't know what to do.
“This Lan Wangji likes boys and only boys! Mianmian is out of the question because she's a girl. Besides, she's not Wei Ying!”
Wei Wuxian's eyes widened. Oh, what those big, moist, beautiful eyes do to Lan Wangji's heart.
“Oh, fine! I like boys too! Lan Zhan...”
Lan Wangji can't help but interrupt his lover's speech.
“You're not disgusted by a filthy cut-sleeve like me?”
Wei Wuxian reaches his trembling right hand toward Lan Wangji's face and runs his thumb over his prominent cheekbones.
“Lan Zhan, don't cry. You're fine. You're the best person I know. You're strong, just, and one of the kindest people I know. I wish I could be that boy for you. That lucky-dog you'll love one day!”
“Wei Ying!”
Lan Wangji's heart beats fast and hard against his ribs.
“Breathe, Lan Zhan. As your friend, I will make sure you are treated with love and respect. Just look how well you take care of this Wei Ying. You will be such a good husband one day!”
Is that whisper in the darkness really Lan Wangji's voice?
“I will never marry a man who is not Wei Ying. Wei Ying is the person I like the most. You have always been the only person I like!”
Wei Wuxian's eyes grow even wider. When Wei Wuxian reaches out his hand to Lan Wangji and strokes his soft lower lip with his thumb, Lan Wangji shudders. He wants it, oh, how he wants it. He wants to bite that thumb and never let go. But he can't do that to the injured Wei Ying. So Lan Wangji catches his agonized hand and breathes a gentle kiss onto his knuckles.
"Lan Zhan, let's make it out of this cave alive. And now that that's settled, we'll go on so many night hunts together. Oh, and you have to come to Lotus Pier as soon as possible. I'll show you the blooming lotus flowers and take you to my favorite lake. We'll swim and laze around in the sun all day. And I think there will be a lot of kissing too!"
Can it really be that simple? Can it really be true?
“Mhm, I'll come visit you!”
As Lan Wangji strokes his lover's side with his hand, he feels hidden in an inside pocket the perfume satchet.
“Wei Ying, is there still medicine in the perfume satchet Lady Luo gave you?”
With his right hand Wei Wuxian reaches into his robe and pulls out the object, while his left hand still clutches the strange sword he brought back from the body of that fake legendary beast.
“I'm sorry, Lan Zhan! I don't think there's anything left. Why did you use it all up on that stupid burn on my chest?”
“It's not stupid to use it on you!”
Lan Wangji gently takes the perfume bottle from Wei Wuxian's damp fingers. Perhaps there are still a few crumbs of crushed herbs left deep in the hidden folds. He just wants to make sure.
“It's really empty.”
How can his voice sound so utterly desperate?
“Don't be sad, Lan Wangji. Please keep it. Back in the Cloud Recesses, you can keep your money in it. My gift will remind you to keep your promise and visit me at Lotur Pier.”
Lan Wangji feels the soft but sturdy silk under his calloused fingertips. Of course he will keep it, along with the promise he has made. He cannot attach it to his belt as lovers usually do, but his heart is taken. Against all odds, Wei Wuxian loves him back. He will honor the man and the perfume satchet forever. „Rest. Gain your stregth. All will be well. Sleep now. See you tomorrow morning, Wei Ying!“
old silk satchet
the memories still as fresh
as on that day