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Laughter, firecrackers and the clinking of cutlery. The festivities outside are in full swing. It’s a time of happiness for their families and friends, and the Wei are an exuberant bunch, loud and unruly. Lan Wangji can hear their muted cheers even through the walls of the chamber.

His own family had not been as loud in their happiness. But when Lan Wangji first stepped out of his room in his swathes of red silk and heavy gold jewellery, his brother’s smile and his uncle’s nod of approval had been enough. 

Lan Wangji will mould his own happiness in time to come. For now he is content in their happiness.

The veil over his face flutters with every breath he takes. It makes him realise how shallow his breathing has become. Slowly he works on evening out his exhales. In through the nose, out through the mouth. It helps settle his heart just a bit. 

‘A match to be envied,’ he’d heard someone say during the wedding ceremony.

Lan Wangji had lifted himself up from the final bow and looked at the man before him. The veil obscured his view but he’s sure he’d seen a smile, the dazzling white of teeth on display. The same smile he remembers from years before, big and bright and irksome. It had the same effect on his heart now, despite the gauzy thin layer between them.

In through the nose, out through the mouth. His skin smells of pomelo, the air in the room floral and sweet. Lan Wangji sits patiently, silent and waiting, exactly as instructed. He wonders what changed in the years since they last met. What could’ve brought about a change so big, big enough to bring Lan Wangji to this connubial bed, waiting for Wei Wuxian; his husband, his alpha.

Finally the door slides open. He hears giggling and whispering and then the man in question is pushed inside the room. The sound of the door closing reverberates. Lan Wangji’s fingers dig into the soft sheet beneath him. 

Wei Wuxian walks over slowly. If Lan Wangji didn’t know any better he’d think him to be hesitant. But hesitant isn’t a word that can be used to describe Wei Wuxian. He would not be hesitant in the face of his worst enemy, nevermind his own marital bed. 

The floral scent gets stronger as Wei Wuxian approaches, thick and consuming. Lan Wangji breathes in deep lungfuls, feels like he can’t get enough. His heartbeat hammers in his throat. Perhaps it’s the instincts of an omega awakening, for he has never before felt anything like this. He hopes Wei Wuxian cannot smell it in the air.

Once his silhouette is right beside the bed, Wei Wuxian speaks up, “You— you don’t have to keep wearing that. You can take it off.”

It takes a moment for Lan Wangji to figure out he’s talking about the veil. He has to swallow and wet his throat in order to talk. “It is customary for the groom to be the one to lift it.” His voice sounds fraught with nerves.

“Ah.” The mattress shifts as Wei Wuxian settles down opposite him. The veil is carefully lifted off his face and set aside. “Wow, um. You look…” Wei Wuxian clears his throat. “Good.”

When the blurriness of his vision dissipates, Lan Wangji finally lays eyes on his husband.

Wei Wuxian is as handsome as ever. Or indeed, even more so than before. Gone is the softness of his youth, replaced by angular cheekbones and a sharpened jaw. Broad shoulders fill out his red wedding robes, his stature tall and proud. The flickering lamplights of their bed chamber dance in his eyes.

Lan Wangji’s memory could not have done those eyes justice. “As do you.” His voice comes out barely above a whisper, heart beating to a strange and unruly rhythm.

They both stare at each other for what feels like an eternity, unable to form any words. All that can be heard is the crackling of the lamps and the sound of their irregular breathing. He isn’t sure how things usually proceed from here but he cannot pretend to be anything but amenable. Something in him that has been lying dormant for years is yawning awake. He hasn’t felt this way since—

“I wanted to speak to you before the wedding but your family did not allow me to,” Wei Wuxian says.

Lan Wangji nods. “It would have been inauspicious to meet once the wedding date was set.”

“Yeah,” he sighs. “I returned from my travels too late.” 

There is a deep furrow between his brows and a troubled look on his face. Lan Wangji wishes to smooth it away. He reaches out tentatively, fingers brushing the back of Wei Wuxian’s hand. “Wei Ying—?”

Wei Wuxian abruptly pulls away. “I’ll just—” He stands from the bed and makes his way to the bedside table where there are two cups of sweetened wine placed for the newlywed couple. One after the other he downs both cups and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Then without meeting Lan Wangji’s eyes he says, “Good night.” And hurries out of the room, without so much as a single glance back.

The door closes behind him with finality.

Lan Wangji is left reeling. His grip on the bed sheet goes slack, his heart doesn’t know whether to pound or to wither. His husband has just walked out of their marital chamber within moments of entering, turning away from his awaiting spouse. 

Spurned isn’t enough to encapsulate what Lan Wangji is feeling. This is not at all how he expected the night to go. He wants to call out to Wei Wuxian, to chase after him, to grab and yell and plead. It feels like being sixteen all over again. It feels infinitely worse. Nausea rises within him like an unruly tide. He still doesn’t understand what has happened.

If he were to go after Wei Wuxian and be seen stumbling through unknown hallways, the red of his robes a bright siren, it would cause nothing but shame. More shame than he’s already been dealt. And who knows what state he would find Wei Wuxian in; perhaps in the arms of a lover, perhaps openly mocking Lan Wangji amongst his many friends. There is no use.

He tries his best to get his breathing under control — in through the nose, out through the mouth — but it doesn’t work. The sweet floral fragrance has vacated the room along with its owner. Lan Wangji blends into the rough wooden smells of the chamber, indiscernible from the furniture. If he were capable of making any noise right now he wonders if it would echo.

Eventually he manages to peel his eyes away from the firmly shut door. They prickle with the unshed tears of humiliation but he doesn’t let them fall. Not again. Not even when he catches sight of the empty cups of wine, meant to be shared by the newly married couple. Lan Wangji does not drink but he would have readily drank today, for his husband, for the sake of their marital happiness.

There is nothing he can do except stay here in this empty room and wait. How foolish of him to have thought he’d be able to mould a life of happiness here.

———

“We could not want for a better proposal than this, Wangji,” Lan Qiren states. “There is no adequate reason to reject it. Not without causing offence.”

“Yes, there is.” When both his uncle and brother look at him questioningly, Lan Wangji elaborates, “He is annoying, loud, obnoxious. Shufu hated having him as a student. Described him as ill-mannered and contrary.”

“That is all in the past,” Lan Qiren sighs. “Now he is one of the top ranked alphas in the land, second only to your own brother. No small feat, considering he does not belong to any big sect, nor does he come from any fortune.”

Lan Wangji resists the urge to roll his eyes. “He is Cangse Sanren’s son.”

“And yet remarkably he has still managed to make a name for himself, on par with his mother.” 

“Shufu.” Lan Wangji puts down his brush. The scroll he was writing on has long since been ruined with a thick blotch of furious ink. “I cannot stand him.”

“Hmm. But I recall you striking up quite the friendship during his time here at the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Xichen supplies. There’s a knowing edge to his smile. Lan Wangji’s whole body heats up. He gives his brother a vicious glare.

“They have sought your hand most eagerly, Wangji. That is not without reason.” His uncle’s face remains unchanged, but his words are meaningful enough.

Lan Wangji bristles. “I am not short of good proposals, Shufu.”

“Well,” his uncle strokes his beard thoughtfully. “Is there anyone else whose proposal you would rather accept?”

And if Wei Wuxian ranks highest in eligible alphas, then there is also no omega of marriageable age who is more sought after than Lan Wangji. He thinks of the many sect heirs and sons of nobility who have proposed marriage to him. And yet not one so far has seemed worth his while. Not one has brought forth a reaction greater than a shake of his head or a concise ‘no’ when Lan Qiren has informed him of their interest. 

Wei Wuxian is the only one to have caused such irritation.

When he cannot come up with an adequate counter argument, Lan Wangji huffs and simply walks out of the study, ears burning red. He refuses to spend a moment longer entertaining such pointless conversation.

But much later, well into the deep darkness of the night, he remembers something from years ago. Something he has spent days and weeks and months trying to forget. Something that now echoes in his mind.

“I would marry you in a heartbeat, Lan Zhan.”

———

Exhaustion must catch up to him at some point during the night. Lan Wangji jolts awake the next morning, dry-mouthed and disorientated, unable to recall when or how he fell asleep. His body aches from having slept upright all night.

And when he looks down and sees his rumpled wedding robes, it all comes crashing back to him. The heartbreak, the humiliation. How bitterly he’d been rejected on his wedding night. Lan Wangji wishes the earth could open up and swallow him whole. But no such miracle occurs.

Instead he’s faced with the sad reflection of himself in the mirror. The bronze mirror that had been part of his dowry, a symbol of togetherness for a newly married pair. Now it holds only the solitary image of Lan Wangji, alone and abandoned. He quickly looks away, using his sleeve to wipe off the remnants of rouge from his face.

Under ordinary circumstances his husband should rise with him this morning and take him to meet all the members of his family, but he has no idea where Wei Wuxian could even be. In fact he has no idea where anything is. Wei Manor is not grandiose in any sense, but neither is it unsizeable. Lan Wangji doesn’t even know where the kitchens are or where he might be able to find running water. He’s sure to get lost if he walks out of this room.

But the first rays of dawn will soon begin breaking through, and he hasn’t eaten since the previous morning. He decides it’s best to try and navigate through the foreign corridors while everyone is still asleep. Perhaps a servant will take some pity and show him the way.

His belongings were brought to the room sometime before the wedding ceremony and he easily locates his trunk of clothes. Instead of reaching for the heavy silken garments befitting a newlywed, he pulls out one of his plain robes. He’s already suffered enough humiliation to last a lifetime, he will not seek out anymore. 

However his hand falters before he can put the robe on. Even in the dimly lit room the plain white of the material stands out, only lightly accented with colour. Something he often wore while residing at the Cloud Recesses. But now as a married man, it would not be auspicious. No matter how much Wei Wuxian may have hurt him, he still cannot bring himself to wish the man ill.

A wet sounding exhale leaves his mouth, something between a sob and laughter. He pulls on an unassuming robe of blue and grey. Despite everything, he wishes for Wei Wuxian to live a long and prosperous life. He wishes to never have to wear the white robes of a widower. 

The hallways of the manor are deserted, not even a servant in sight. Lan Wangji wonders if the residents are all late risers or if the festivities of the night before have gotten to them. He gets his answer as soon as he sets foot in the courtyard and almost immediately steps on a man. The man is knocked out cold and sprawled across the ground, wine jar still clutched tightly in his hand. He barely even grunts at being stepped on. 

Lan Wangji tiptoes away from the drunken man and heads back inside. It's by sheer chance that he somehow manages to find the kitchen. There isn’t a single cook or pot on the boil inside, but he spots a few platters of leftover food from yesterday's feast. Lan Wangji helps himself to the fruits and bread, grateful to finally have something to eat.

There are muffled sounds coming from outside, like that of an animal groaning. He thinks nothing of it until the noise gets louder and he realises it’s not an animal at all. It’s the sound of Wei Wuxian yelping at something. Lan Wangji’s heart picks up pace just as his ears perk up.

“—Ma! Let me go!”

“Not until you answer me truthfully!” Both mother and son are trying hard to whisper, but neither are doing very well at it. “Where were you last night?”

Wei Wuxian yelps again. It seems his mother is twisting his ear or pinching his side to make him fess up. “Okay, okay! I was in the barn, alright? Now stop pinching me!”

“The barn?!” Cangse Sanren squawks. “You spent your wedding night in the barn?” She sounds just as outraged as Lan Wangji feels. “Are you in your right mind, A-Ying?” When Wei Wuxian doesn’t respond his mother continues, “And what about your husband?”

“What about him?” The tone of insolence in his voice makes Lan Wangji’s blood boil.

“‘What about him?’” She does something to incite another yell from Wei Wuxian. “You chose to sleep in the barn with the donkeys over your own marital bed! How do you think your husband feels? You must go and apologise to that poor boy at once!”

‘“Leave it, Mama. It’s fine,” he sighs. “It’s better this way.”

“Don’t make me throw you into the swamp, A-Ying. This is no way to treat your husband.”

“My husband, Lan Wangji,” Wei Wuxian scoffs. “Of all the people in the world. Just look at me and then look at him. In what world would we be a good match?” What little is left of Lan Wangji’s heart sinks to the ground. “I don’t know what on earth possessed his family to agree to this marriage. Were they really so desperate to get rid of him? Now I’m stuck—”

“Wei Ying! Not a word more.” Cangse Sanren sounds furious. “I won’t tolerate this nonsense any longer. You swore him as your husband in front of the heavens and the earth. Now take responsibility.”

Lan Wangji finds he cannot move. Long after both mother and son have walked off, he still remains rooted to his spot in the dark corner of the kitchen. Wei Wuxian’s words ring through his mind; he does not think Lan Wangji is good enough for him. 

To feign enthusiasm and go through with a wedding he had no interest in, just to turn his husband out that very same night. It’s hard to believe that the Wei Wuxian he’d once known would be capable of such cruelty. What could Lan Wangji possibly have done to deserve this? 

“Oh.”

Lan Wangji jolts at the sound and sees his mother-in-law standing in the doorway, watching him. “I—um. Food,” he fumbles, a piece of bread still in his hand. Then his gaze lowers to the ground in shame. “Forgive me.”

Cangse Sanren enters the kitchen. “He didn’t bring you anything to eat during the night?” Lan Wangji continues looking down. She already knows her son slept in the barn last night. Now she’ll figure out that he hadn’t spent a moment longer with Lan Wangji than it took to lift his veil. “Oh dear. Come, let me make you something to eat.”

“No, please don’t worry.” He tries to stop her. Putting his mother-in-law to work on his first morning here would not be right. “It’s alright, please.”

“Tell you what,” she says. “I’ll have someone bring you your breakfast. I’m not much of a cook anyway, my husband does most of the cooking around here.”

As kind as she’s being, Lan Wangji knows he can’t avoid the inevitable for much longer. “Would you like me to leave after breakfast?” 

“Leave?” his mother-in-law asks. “Whyever would you leave?”

“If Wei Ying wishes to dissolve the marriage—” His voice breaks, a lump in his throat. “I will not cause any trouble. Nor will my family.” He has to pause before continuing, “I’m sorry I could not be a better spouse for your son.”

“Do you wish to dissolve the marriage?” she asks him quietly.

Lan Wangji doesn’t have it in him to answer. It’s too painful to lie or to say the truth. Tears well up in his eyes unbidden. They're enough of an answer for Cangse Sanren, who looks at him with pity. 

Then her face suddenly shifts. “Sending our son-in-law home after one day… What will people think?” She shakes her head theatrically. “We’ll be disgraced! People will think me a terrible mother, a tyrant, a witch! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear…”

For a moment Lan Wangji watches her in confusion as she paces and laments. And then his heart swells. For they both know that there’s very little disgrace for an alpha and his family in such a situation. No one would question Wei Wuxian or hold him accountable. Instead all fingers would be pointed at Lan Wangji. People would believe that he’d done something wrong, or that there was something wrong with him for him to be sent back like so. The reputation of his family would be irreversibly tarnished.

But instead of humiliating Lan Wangji further by having him grovel and plead to stay, his mother-in-law has taken the burden upon herself. “Give it another shot, will you? For my sake.” She gently clasps his arm. “I’ll have a word with my son. He’ll be good as gold, I promise you. Just give it some time. Please.”

Her expression is open and earnest. Lan Wangji looks down again and nods. “I will try.”

Cangse Sanren squeezes his elbow. “Thank you, dear.” The endearment is something new to him, but he keeps his face carefully blank. “Let’s get you some food now. Oh, and a bath and something nice to wear. We’re having another feast today, to properly introduce you to the family. And I won’t have my son-in-law looking anything less than perfect!”

“Please, there is no need.”

“Don’t be silly.” She looks at him like he’s gone crazy. “My only child just got married. Of course there’s a need!”

———

True to her word, his mother-in-law has a whole array of food and a bathtub sent to his room. Wei Wuxian is nowhere to be seen so Lan Wangji lets himself soak in the hot water, hoping it’ll help reduce the soreness from having slept upright all night.

The robe Cangse Sanren has had sent to him is of the finest quality, deep red silk brocade that contrasts sharply against his pale complexion. A part of him still hesitates to dress himself up like this. His marriage is little more than a sham and his husband seems to resent him. But the robe has clearly been tailored to his size, made with care at the instruction of his in-laws. He cannot refuse something so lovingly gifted.

When he steps out of his room he almost walks straight into a small body. There is a child, about knee-high, waiting right outside his door with a comical frown on his face.

“Hello.”

“Are you Xian-gege’s husband?” the child questions without any preamble. When Lan Wangji nods in response, he continues, “Qing-jie says you’re really pretty. Is that true?”

“I—” Lan Wangji has no idea what to say to that. He doesn’t even know who this ‘Qing-jie’ is.

The child reaches up and makes beckoning hands at him. “I want to see!”

It takes a moment for Lan Wangji to work out what it is he must do. Then he crouches down to be level with the child. Up close the boy has big soulful eyes that blink curiously up at him. He grabs Lan Wangji’s face with his cold, clammy hands, and turns it from side to side, inspecting every angle. Lan Wangji remains silent and lets him do as he pleases.

The child’s frown finally clears and he steps back. “Hmm, you’re alright,” he concludes, and before Lan Wangji can say anything, he runs off down the hallway without looking back.

Lan Wangji is left utterly confused, still crouched outside his room like a fool. He has no idea who that child even was.

There are only a few people sat around the table when he makes his way to the dining area for his welcoming feast. Lan Wangji doesn’t recognise anyone except Wei Wuxian’s parents. He makes his bows regardless. As the alpha of this household, Cangse Sanren is sat at the head of the table with her husband to her right. She calls Lan Wangji over and has him sit on the other side.

The delicious smell of cooking wafts in from the kitchens. Some of the banners in the hall are slightly singed from last night’s celebrations. The man that Lan Wangji had stepped on this morning is now slumped on the table, still looking comatose. 

“Wei Ying’s uncle,” Wei Changze supplies, noticing Lan Wangji’s attention on the man. “Through marriage. Hence why he cannot handle his drink like a Wei.”

Lan Wangji doesn’t know what to do except to nod. He’s seeing his father-in-law for the first time without the obstruction of a veil over his eyes. The man is exceptionally handsome. It seems Wei Wuxian takes almost entirely after his father in appearance, the only difference being a few signs of age and the quiet air about Wei Changze. And the besotted gaze with which he looks at his spouse.

“Ah but remember, the Lans don’t drink either,” his wife reminds him. “Don’t worry dear, no pressure from us,” she says to Lan Wangji. “You’re still part of the family, whether you like to drink or not.”

She’s just teasing him, Lan Wangji knows this. But her words fill a space inside him that’s been empty since Wei Wuxian walked out of their room. He would love to be a part of the family, to know them all and build a place for himself amongst them. If only Wei Wuxian would let him.

The sound of loud chatter erupts as a group of young men walk in. Wei Wuxian is in the middle, engaged in conversation and not paying any heed to his surroundings. When he sees Lan Wangji he suddenly stops short, obstructing the path of his friends.

Lan Wangji doesn’t know what sort of expression is on his own face, but his mother-in-law squeezes his hand in reassurance.

“Look at him,” someone whistles, pointing at Wei Wuxian. “He’s completely starstruck!”

“Come along now, Xian-ge,” one of the young men says. “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you to stare at Lan-er-gongzi. Stop blocking our way!”

They push past him, laughing as they make their way to the table. Wei Wuxian stumbles but still doesn’t look away from Lan Wangji, a strange smile on his face. If Lan Wangji didn’t know any better he would say Wei Wuxian looks shy. But that’s an impossibility. 

“Late to your own wedding banquet,” a young woman remarks as Wei Wuxian takes his seat beside Lan Wangji. She’s a delicate beauty with a stern face, like something from a painting. “How unmannerly.”

“Bet he wasn’t late to his wedding night,” someone titters. It’s another one of the young men who walked in with Wei Wuxian.

“Boys,” Wei Changze says, sternly. The group quietens down. “The food is ready to serve.”

The boys immediately get up and head to the kitchen. They bring out dish upon dish of steaming food and lay it out on the table before them. It’s still unclear whether these young men are Wei Wuxian’s cousins or friends, or a combination of both. But what’s slowly becoming clear to Lan Wangji is that there are no maids or servants around. Instead the members of this household seem to share tasks amongst themselves. It’s most unusual for a household of this size, but Lan Wangji isn’t at all displeased. He’s always found joy in completing his every day tasks and chores by himself. 

Once the final dish is set out, Cangse Sanren holds up her cup of wine in a toast. “Lan Wangji,” she says with a smile. “Welcome to the family.”

“Welcome to the family!” the rest of the people around the table chorus, their cups also raised. With his own cup empty, Lan Wangji is unsure how to respond. So he opts to bow instead.

As everyone begins to tuck in, an older woman with a head full of white hair pushes several dishes towards Lan Wangji. “Here, these ones were made especially for you. No meat or spice, just how you prefer.”

Lan Wangji is surprised to say the least. It may be common knowledge that the Lan do not drink alcohol or consume meat, but Lan Wangji’s spice intolerance is specific to him alone. He can’t imagine how anyone here would know. Still he thanks her and accepts the dishes graciously. 

When Wei Wuxian’s hand reaches for the food, the woman smacks it away. “Uh uh! Stay away from your husband's food, you silly boy.” She passes him a furiously spicy looking bowl of food instead. “And introduce him to us properly!”

“Ah yes, of course.” Wei Wuxian grins sheepishly. “This is our lovely Wen-popo. She lives here with her grandchildren.” He points them out to Lan Wangji.

The granddaughter, Wen Qing, is the same woman who’d scolded Wei Wuxian for his tardiness earlier. She sits with Wen-popo’s youngest grandchild in her lap, chewing messily on some food. Lan Wangji recognises the boy. “We have already met,” he nods at the child.

“You have?” Wen Qing frowns. “When?”

The boy giggles. “When I went to check if Gege is pretty or not.”

The elder grandson, Wen Ning, gasps and chokes on his rice.

“A-Yuan! You cannot say such things!” Wen-popo tells the boy off. 

“I do not mind,” Lan Wangji reassures them. “Besides, he concluded that I am ‘alright’.”

A-Yuan continues to giggle while his grandmother and cousins look mortified. He can hear Wei Wuxian snickering quietly but pays him no mind. 

“I’m a doctor,” Wen Qing says quickly, perhaps to divert the conversation. “I’m training some of the disciples here—”

“How many times do I have to say,” Cangse Sanren interrupts. “This is not a sect and I do not have any disciples!”

There is a moment of silence as everyone stops to listen to the outburst. Lan Wangji holds his breath, unsure what to expect. And then altogether a bunch of them chime, “Yes, Sect Leader!”

Laughter breaks out across the table. Cangse Sanren sighs loudly in a mock show of annoyance. It seems as if this might be a recurring joke amongst the household.

“I’m training some of the not- disciples here,” Wen Qing repeats with a smile. “If you ever need anything you can come to me. I specialise in omega medicine.”

Lan Wangji is intrigued. Usually the health of omegas is left in the hands of healers and midwives. He can’t say he’s heard of a doctor taking any interest in the subject before. But he observes how Wen Qing mothers over her rather frail looking omega brother, refilling his bowl and making sure he eats. Perhaps the interest is personal.

Next Wei Wuxian introduces him to his paternal relatives. Most of them are only here for the wedding festivities and will soon return back to their village. There are only a few cultivators amongst them. The rest are largely farmers and craftsmen. 

Lan Wangji doesn’t understand why people don’t sing praise of the Wei family’s beauty the way they do of the Lan. All of them sit tall and bright eyed with striking features, bearing a strong resemblance to Wei Wuxian and his father. Except the drunken uncle of course.

Even the old lady, who Wei Wuxian introduces as Wei-nainai, an aunt of Wei-Changze’s. She has a head full of snow white hair and deep wrinkles on her face that make it seem like she’s permanently smiling. But her eyes are deep and wise. She clasps Lan Wangji’s wrist firmly and asks, “Is he treating you well?”

“Nainai, it’s only been a day!” one of Wei Wuxian’s cousin protests.

Wei-nainai ignores the girl. “Is he?”

Lan Wangji wonders if she knows something or if she’s just looking out for her newlywed grandson-in-law. Either way he will not say anything that might shame his husband. For the first time since he sat down at the table, Lan Wangji looks directly at Wei Wuxian and says, “Perfectly.”

Wei Wuxian quickly looks away, making something in Lan Wangji’s chest pang. Some of the aunts coo over them but he doesn’t hear any of it.

“Treat him well too,” Wei-nainai says and then leans forward to whisper, “He’s my favourite grandchild.”

Lan Wangji makes himself nod. “I will, Nainai.”

Along with the Wei family members and the Wens, there are also numerous others who live and train in Wei Manor, young and old, alphas, betas and omegas alike. While Cangse Sanren may refuse to admit it, Lan Wangji cannot think of a better way to describe them than disciples. But the way everyone interacts with one another suggests family rather than sect.

Some of the younger kids have even taken on the Wei surname, likely not having any known family names of their own. He knows sect leaders who have refused to give their names to their own offspring, nevermind to complete strangers. Lan Wangji is truly fascinated by this household.

“Ah, I’m so full,” Wei Wuxian groans. He tries to stretch his arms out wide but stops mid-stretch with a wince, rubbing at his shoulders. “Can you give me some of that salve for my muscles again, Qing-jie? I feel so sore.”

“Why are you sore, Xian-ge?” his cousin asks in an overly sweet voice. “Did you perhaps have an arduous night?”

The boys laugh themselves silly. One of them wheezes, “Did Lan-er-gongzi put you through your paces?”

“Enough!” Wei-nainai puts an end to their nonsense at once. “Don’t be crass.”

Lan Wangji bitterly ignores the exchange and focuses on the one remaining grain of rice in his bowl. The blush on his face must be visible to all. He doesn’t know if he’d feel less or more embarrassed if something had actually occurred between them last night. But that’s something he supposes he’ll never find out.

———

When the evening comes he retires early, as per his usual routine. He has no expectation that Wei Wuxian will show up to their room. It’s been made abundantly clear to him that Wei Wuxian does not wish to be anywhere near him.

So when he does turn up after nightfall, Lan Wangji startles awake.

“Oh. I didn’t mean to wake you.” He’s rifling through the wardrobe for a fresh set of robes. “Just need to get some things and then I’ll go.”

Lan Wangji is aware that this is Wei Wuxian’s room, not his. If anyone should vacate it should be him. But he cannot very well go traipsing around the manor as if it’s his own home, looking for someplace else to sleep. He’s been assigned this room and this room alone.

“You need not sleep in the barn tonight,” Lan Wangji states. Wei Wuxian freezes like a thief caught stealing. The look on his face is scared, as if he expects there to be an angry outburst. Lan Wangji instead turns over in bed to face the wall. “I will not bother you.”

The silence extends for a while during which he thinks his offer will be rejected. But then very quietly Wei Wuxian says, “Okay.”

As he climbs onto the bed, Lan Wangji holds his breath. The bed is large, almost palatial. Plenty of space for the two of them to share without ever overlapping. And Lan Wangji is practised at sleeping deathly still. He remains rigid and unmoving as Wei Wuxian settles in. The wind rustles in the trees outside. Not a squeak can be heard inside the room, not even the sound of their breathing.

Wei Wuxian doesn’t say a word, neither in apology nor in explanation. Gone is his usual talkativeness. It feels like there’s no one else in the room, miles of distance between them.

What an inauspicious marital bed, Lan Wangji thinks bitterly, and wills himself to fall asleep. 

When he wakes the next morning Wei Wuxian is still fast asleep. He’s curled right into the opposite edge of the bed, as far away from Lan Wangji as possible. As if it repulses him to be anywhere near his husband. It’s a surprise he hasn’t fallen off during the night. 

Lan Wangji quietly places a chair next to the bed. So that if Wei Wuxian were to roll off he would not go very far. Then he quickly gets dressed behind the privacy screen and leaves without disturbing the man.

———

The next few days pass in a similar fashion. They navigate around each other in strained silence, trying their best not to cross paths. He sees so little of Wei Wuxian that if it weren’t for him sleeping in the same bed, he would believe him to have left the manor along with his relatives. 

Cangse Sanren watches him with knowing eyes, even when Lan Wangji tells her that things are okay between them. But she doesn’t blame or criticise him which he’s infinitely grateful for. Others in the household seem to be none the wiser, teasing him playfully and treating him like they would a normal son-in-law. Again Lan Wangji is grateful that Wei Wuxian hasn’t disparaged him amongst the members of his household. He may not have given Lan Wangji a place by his side, but at least he hasn’t done anything to prevent him from making a place for himself in the family. 

It comes as a surprise though, when his mother-in-law tells him to prepare to head back to the Cloud Recesses for his homecoming banquet.

“What’s the matter?” She must sense his hesitance. “Do you not want to go see your family?”

“I do, but…” Lan Wangji thinks he might be misunderstanding. “Three days have already passed.”

“So you’ll go on the seventh day,” she explains matter-of-factly. 

“Oh.” He hadn’t considered that. He feels like sighing in relief.

“What, did you think we wouldn’t allow you?” Cangse Sanren frowns. He doesn’t respond but the answer is obvious. “My child, do you think so terribly of us?”

Lan Wangji rushes to explain, “No, not at all! Forgive me, I did not mean that. I only thought that you were not pleased with the outcome of the marriage, hence…” He’d assumed that like many in-laws, they too were expressing their displeasure with him by not allowing a homecoming. 

His mother-in-law looks distraught. “Not pleased? We couldn’t be happier to have you as part of our family. Have we done anything to suggest otherwise?” Lan Wangji shakes his head. “Exactly. I’m going to send you to the Cloud Recesses with enough gifts to drown your grouchy old uncle!”

And she does exactly that. They leave Wei Manor bright and early on the seventh day, laden with so many boxes and baskets that were it not for their qiankun pouches, it would be impossible to carry them all.

Wei Wuxian’s grin fades as soon as the gate closes behind them. Lan Wangji tries not to let it sting. “How do you want me to act around your family?” he asks. Lan Wangji frowns at the question. “I mean, do we need to pretend that— that everything is normal?” 

“You do not need to pretend anything.” He would hate to get a taste of normality for but an afternoon. Wei Wuxian can keep his pretences to himself.

“Your uncle already doesn’t like me,” Wei Wuxian grumbles. 

“He likes you well enough to have given you my hand in marriage.”

“Yeah…” Wei Wuxian scoffs. “What a mistake.”

It pierces through Lan Wangji’s heart to hear him say that. “A mistake indeed,” he retorts, and immediately picks up his pace, stepping onto his sword and taking off into the air. 

He doesn’t know if Wei Wuxian follows behind and doesn’t care to find out. The cold wind hits his face, making his eyes sting and water.

———

It's most unfortunate that their arrival in the Cloud Recesses coincides with a visit from Sect Leader Jin. Lan Wangji cannot think of a worse omen than this. Just the sight of the man aggravates him. He pointedly ignores him throughout the banquet, making full use of the Lan rules. 

Despite what he’d said earlier, Wei Wuxian looks to be on his best behaviour. He’s silent whilst eating and exceptionally polite when greeting the elders, not a step out of place. Lan Wangji is surprised. Seeing Wei Wuxian back in the Cloud Recesses, but not running amok or disrupting the peace is very strange. 

A part of him had expected Wei Wuxian to not just be ill-mannered, but also air all his grievances in front of the family. To let them know just how dissatisfied he is with Lan Wangji. He holds his breath as Wei Wuxian talks to his uncle, waiting for the words to come out. But they never do. Wei Wuxian says very little and quite curiously, only speaks positively of him. 

The only mischief he makes is presenting Lan Wangji’s uncle with a carefully wrapped jar of fruit wine. “Mother sent this, especially for you. She said it’s exactly what you need to loosen up a little.”

A vein in Lan Qiren’s forehead throbs. He has no choice but to accept the gift. Lan Xichen pretends to cough into his sleeve to hide his laughter. Under different circumstances Lan Wangji may have also found the situation amusing. But as it stands he is too on edge.

As is customary, Lan Wangji is invited by Lan Qiren to speak privately. In the meantime Lan Xichen will show Wei Wuxian around the Cloud Recesses to pass the time. Wei Wuxian walks off in step with his brother, already chewing on the sugarcane he’s been gifted. A symbol of a sweet, harmonious life ahead for the married couple. He watches as Wei Wuxian spits the pulp out onto the path once he’s sapped out its sweetness. 

“I take it things are going well,” his uncle says as they take their tea together in his study.

“Yes, Shufu,” Lan Wangji lies. He hopes he doesn’t get caught. He’s never been very good at lying.

Lan Qiren narrows his eyes. “Your in-laws are not too difficult to deal with?”

“No, Shufu.”

“Not even that mother-in-law of yours?” The vein in his forehead throbs again. Lan Wangji wonders what he’s done with the jar of wine. 

“She is most kind. They all are,” he says truthfully. “A very gracious family.”

“Hmm.” Lan Qiren takes a sip of his tea. “And you are happy?”

Lan Wangji considers his words carefully. “I am fortunate to have been married into such a household,” he says, avoiding having to lie again.

His uncle nods, taking his response at face value. Lan Wangji breathes a sigh of relief. Had this conversation occurred between his brother and himself, the outcome would’ve been largely different. It’s always been very easy for Lan Xichen to catch him in a lie.

Neither he nor his uncle are great conversationalists, particularly not when emotions are concerned. They continue their stilted conversation for a while until there’s a knock at the door. A disciple brings a message from one of the elders, who requires Lan Qiren’s assistance for an urgent matter.

“Finish your tea. I will be back shortly,” his uncle tells him, and leaves with the disciple. 

Lan Wangji does as told. He looks around at the study, taking in all the little details he’s already familiar with. He can’t say he has many fond memories attached to the place, or to most of the Cloud Recesses really. Most of his time in his uncle’s study was spent completing punishments as a child. But at least there was familiarity. When Lan Wangji awoke here every morning, he knew what to expect. He knew how he would be treated, what was expected of him, and how to navigate through the day.

In Wei Manor he spends each day walking on eggshells, not sure of his place in the family when his own husband doesn’t want him there. The kindness shown by his in-laws only adding to the uncertainty. 

When the door slides open Lan Wangji looks up, expecting to see his uncle back from his task. Instead he’s met with the sight of Jin Guangshan.

“Wangji,” he says, overly familiar as always. He closes the door behind him and makes his way inside uninvited. “What a pleasant surprise.” Lan Wangji can only watch in dismay as the man takes a seat before him. “Ah…” Jin Guangshan remarks, “Exquisite as always.”

Lan Wangji’s skin crawls. He can feel the man’s gaze trailing over his form, lecherous and discomforting. It lingers at the crook of his neck and Lan Wangji has to fight the urge to pull his collar up further. He has never before felt so grateful for the Lan rules of propriety that do not allow one to display their mating bite. Especially since he does not have a bite to bare. The high collar of his robe keeps what Jin Guangshan is searching for carefully hidden.

“Congratulations on your marriage.” His eyes take a while to come back up to Lan Wangji’s face.

“Thank you, Sect Leader Jin.” It’s quite improper for them to be alone like this, as unrelated alpha and omega, but there’s nothing Lan Wangji can do about it. Walking away from a sect leader, or telling him to leave, would cause much more damage than remaining with him.

“I must say, it came as quite a shock to hear who your family were marrying you off to. I had expected so much more for an omega of your…” He smiles smarmily. “Pedigree.”

“Yes.” Lan Wangji’s stomach turns. “I am aware of exactly what Sect Leader Jin expected of me.” The man had sent a proposal of marriage to Lan Wangji barely before he’d even come of age. Lan Wangji had spent years trying to dodge these propositions without causing offence. 

“You must be terribly disappointed.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Marrying the son of a servant and a stray— Oh, excuse me,” Jin Guangshan chuckles facetiously. “I mean a rogue cultivator. It can’t be very easy for you.” 

Lan Wangji feels his blood boiling. “With all due respect, Sect Leader Jin, you may not speak of my family in this way.”

“Family,” Jin Guangshan repeats in amusement, as if Lan Wangji has made a joke. “You mistake my intent, Wangji. All I mean is that a man like that cannot give you what you deserve.”

“And what is it that I deserve?”

“Let’s see,” Jin Guangshan smirks. “Prestige, riches, a title…” He wets his lips as he looks Lan Wangji up and down. “Just to name a few things.”

Lan Wangji suppresses a shiver. “I do not desire any of those things.”

“Then what is it that you desire?”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji states truthfully. 

“Oh, come on now,” Jin Guangshan scoffs. He’s beginning to look less collected, perhaps unused to such rejection. “What does that good for nothing boy even have to offer?” 

“Good for nothing?” Lan Wangji frowns. “You are speaking of one of the most skilled cultivators of our generation, Sect Leader Jin.”

“And that is all that’s required for an alpha to tame you?” 

Lan Wangji’s nostrils flare with anger. “Wei Ying is also a wonderful man and an excellent husband. I could not wish for anyone else. I have never wished for anyone else.”

“No one else?” Jin Guangshan asks, challenging him.

“No one at all.” Lan Wangji no longer cares if he causes offence. “Since the day I first met him. Now if you’ll excuse me, Sect Leader Jin.” He stands up abruptly. “I must reach home before sunset, so that I may bear sons for my husband.”

Lan Wangji doesn’t wait for Jin Guangshan to respond. He gives an appallingly shallow bow and storms out of the study, his robes whipping behind him. The image of Jin Guangshan’s face purple with fury brings little solace. He wishes he could punch the man’s skull in. The door slams on its frame behind him as he turns furiously to head towards the Jingshi. Only to walk right into Wei Wuxian.

His husband steadies him with a hand around his waist. Lan Wangji’s anger quickly turns into shock and then dismay. The wide-eyed bewilderment on Wei Wuxian’s face speaks for itself. He’s heard Lan Wangji’s conversation with Jin Guangshan. Who knows how long he was eavesdropping outside the study.

“You…” he begins.

“Not here,” Lan Wangji says, and continues down the path.

———

As it happens, they do not get a moment together in private for a while after that. Thankfully Lan Qiren doesn’t make him see Jin Guangshan off, but they still get swept up in this and that. Lan Wangji makes several quick stops around the Cloud Recesses, first in his room, then the infirmary, and then finally at the Gentian House. His brother sees him as he’s making his way back and gives him a sad smile.

“It is time for me to head back, Xiongzhang.”

“Leaving us already,” his brother sighs. “What a fleeting visit.”

“We must get back home before sunset,” Lan Wangji reminds him.

“Of course, of course.” Lan Xichen’s sad smile takes on a teasing edge. “Our Wangji wishes to be fruitful for his husband.”

“Xiongzhang.” Despite the sternness of his voice, Lan Wangji knows his ears have turned a traitorous red. He walks off quickly, cursing himself and Wei Wuxian alike. No amount of good luck gained from reaching home before sundown will help him bear sons without ever being touched. And yet he still strives to get back on time.

The journey home passes by in an anxious blur. Lan Wangji avoids so much as looking in Wei Wuxian’s direction, worried it’ll prompt him to speak. The last thing he wants is to hear whatever it is that Wei Wuxian’s overheard and assumed of him. 

But no matter how much he tries to avoid it, they end up in the same room at the end of the day.

“Will you please stop avoiding me, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian says, obstructing his path. “I just want to talk.”

“There is nothing for us to talk about.” Lan Wangji tries to brush his way past, but Wei Wuxian grabs him by the arm to stop him. Lan Wangji’s irritation peaks. “Unhand me,” he snaps. “Unless you wish for a broken arm.”

But the threat seems to have the opposite of its intended effect, making Wei Wuxian smile. “Do you mean it?”

“Would you like for me to demonstrate?” Lan Wangji asks, and then wrenches his arm out of the hold, taking Wei Wuxian’s arm and twisting it behind the man’s back instead. From his position behind Wei Wuxian he asks, “Should I proceed?”

Wei Wuxian looks over his shoulder at him, still smiling for some strange, unknown reason, and says, “I missed you, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji immediately lets go of him, stumbling back several steps. His heartbeat pulses in his throat. “You are a despicable person, Wei Wuxian.”

It doesn’t escape his notice how Wei Wuxian’s face crumbles. Whether at the words or at the formal term of address, he doesn’t know, nor does he care to find out. It’s the least of what he deserves. 

“So I take it you weren’t telling the truth,” Wei Wuxian says wryly.

“What?”

“What you said to Jin Guangshan. It was a lie.”

Lan Wangji never thought it possible to feel so furious. “Are you accusing your own husband of wanting another man?” His voice shakes with anger. “Have I given you a single reason to doubt me, despite this complete sham of a marriage you have me trapped in?”

“You misunderstand me, Lan Zhan.” Even now Wei Wuxian continues to shamelessly use Lan Wangji’s given name. “I’m not accusing you, believe me. I just…” He runs both hands through his hair, messing it up completely. “Did you really not wish to accept the Jin sect’s proposal?”

Lan Wangji scowls. “Have you not insulted me enough? Of course I did not.”

“But when my mother sent the proposal, you didn’t reject it…” Wei Wuxian looks frustrated. “I thought you had no choice. But if you were given a choice, if your family didn’t force you, then why would you go through with this, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji turns away. He had never known Wei Wuxian to be so cruel. To question him like this, despite knowing exactly how Lan Wangji feels. What more explanation is he expected to give? He wishes he could sink into the shadows and never reappear. 

“Had I known how you felt—”

“Since when has knowing how I felt made any difference to you, Wei Wuxian?” Lan Wangji fumes, whirling back around. “It did not matter to you all those years ago and it does not matter to you now. All that matters to you egotistical alphas is yourself.” His voice wobbles around his next words, “Forgive me for believing you were any different.”

This time he manages to push past Wei Wuxian, not stopping to hear whatever meaningless apologies or excuses he tries to give. He has no strength left in him to bear this.

———

No matter how much he doesn’t want them to, his eyes crack open at the break of dawn like always. They feel gritty and sore from the tears that silently spilled as he willed himself to sleep last night. He quickly gets up to get ready and leave before Wei Wuxian wakes, just like he’s been doing every morning so far.

But there’s no sign of Wei Wuxian around. Lan Wangji clearly remembers Wei Wuxian climbing into bed last night, whispering, “Sorry, Lan Zhan. I’m so sorry.” Again and again until his voice had petered out and sleep overtook them both. So when he’d left, Lan Wangji has no idea.

When he goes to make the bed, something on Wei Wuxian’s pillow catches his eye. A flower; pink and not too large, with part of the stem still attached, entirely unassuming to look at. He checks to see if there are any others around but finds none. One of the windows of their room has been left open a sliver, presumably through the night. Outside is a garden full of flowers. It’s possible that one flew in during the night.

Lan Wangji slides the window shut and brushes a few leaves off the windowsill. Then he takes the flower and puts it in a vase on the bedside table before making his way to the kitchens.

It’s not until the next morning that he realises. He wakes up to an empty bed again and is thankful for it, as at some point during the night he’d rolled over to face Wei Wuxian’s side of the bed. And there on the man’s pillow is another flower, a different shade of pink with more flower buds on the stem. Carefully placed for Lan Wangji to see as soon as he opens his eyes. The windows in the room are all tightly shut this time.

Lan Wangji huffs. Had he known where the flower came from yesterday, he would’ve discarded it. But the damage is already done. Wei Wuxian is sure to have seen it placed in the vase and taken that as a sign of Lan Wangji’s approval. Does Wei Wuxian really think it’s so easy to win him over? He should toss both flowers away at once. 

How Wei Wuxian even managed to wake up early enough to pick them is unclear. Usually he sleeps well into the afternoon, until either his hunger, or his mother, shake him awake. So what could compel him to rise before dawn.

Lan Wangji touches one delicate, fresh petal. It’s soft and sweet smelling. Not too different from Wei Wuxian’s natural scent, and yet not quite the same. Wei Wuxian smells sweeter, not cloying but subtle, like blossoms in the spring breeze, like warm sunshine and birdsong and fresh spring water. 

Just the memory of it alone is enough to overtake his senses. Only Lan Wangji knows how difficult it is to be so close, to lay in the same bed as that sweet, enticing scent, and not act on his instincts. He finds his eyes fluttering closed as he fights the urge to bury his face into Wei Wuxian’s pillow, to breathe in the fragrance he has left behind. 

He quickly stands, cursing his omega instincts. Lan Wangji is glad he’s alone. There’s a dizziness to his steps as he puts on his outer robe. He picks up the flower so that he can get rid of it, along with the one from the day before.

But when he leaves the room he’s empty handed, both stems standing tall in the vase, flowers facing towards the sun.

Little to no words are exchanged between them over the next couple of days, but the amount of flowers in the vase is ever growing. For some strange, odd reason, Lan Wangji doesn’t throw even a single one away. Every morning he wakes to a new flower waiting for him on the pillow. And every morning he carefully admires it, breathing in its sweet smell and brushing his fingers against the translucent petals, wondering when Wei Wuxian rose to pick it. Then he changes the water in the vase and slots the newest flower amongst the rest. But neither he nor Wei Wuxian talk about it.

A loud thud wakes Lan Wangji one night. The darkness suggests it must be around chou shi, too early even for Lan Wangji . He flicks at a lamp to turn it on and sees Wei Wuxian picking himself up off the floor. 

“Ah sorry, Lan Zhan. I woke you again.” He dusts himself off and Lan Wangji sees that he’s shamelessly only wearing his thin inner robe, despite clearly having just come into the room from outside. His hair is mussed up from sleep and there’s a pillow crease on his cheek. “Who put this here, huh?” He moves his own sword — the cause of his fall — over to one side. “Don’t mind me. You can go back to sleep.”

Lan Wangji notices how Wei Wuxian is very obviously using only one hand, the other hidden behind his back. “Mn.” He sends another flick of energy to light the lamp above the bedside table. “You may place it in the vase with the rest.”

Wei Wuxian smiles sheepishly and finally brings his hand forward. He’s holding a rose today, beautiful even in the low light. Lan Wangji has no idea where he might have procured it from, and that too at this time of night. There aren’t any rose bushes around Wei Manor as far as he’s seen.

“You caught me, Lan Zhan,” he says, and arranges it in the vase. He steps back and asks quietly, “Do you— do you like it?”

The room is rose scented and bathed in moonlight, and so is the man before him. Lan Wangji doesn’t trust himself to speak. He huffs and gets back into bed. 

———

Lan Wangji wouldn’t exactly say he’s bored, but he’s still not entirely sure of his place in the household and what he ought to do. He spends a lot of time drifting around, trying to familiarise himself with those who live here and make himself useful. Wei Wuxian’s parents still refuse to let him help out with any of the housework and he doesn’t know if offering to help with the training of the younger not- disciples might cause offence.

So when his mother-in-law asks if he'd like to supervise some of the disciples on a night hunt, Lan Wangji jumps at the opportunity. What he doesn’t realise until it’s far too late, is that Wei Wuxian will be joining him.

“Where are we going, Xian-gege?” one of the children asks.

He’s asked the same question several times already but Wei Wuxian is yet to get impatient with him. “We’re going to a farm in Yiling.”

“Why are we going there?” 

“Because there’s a resentful spirit disturbing the locals,” he tells them.

Some of the juniors look a bit spooked, which is understandable for their ages. Lan Wangji had been surprised to find that the bunch of children going on the night hunt were all around little A-Yuan’s age. He hasn’t heard of any other sect allowing such young children out for field work.

But before he could raise any objections, Wei Wuxian had spotted the confusion on his face and whispered, “Don’t worry, Lan Zhan. It’ll all be very age appropriate,” and then winked at him.

Lan Wangji was too stunned to speak, following along silently beside the group.

Now he watches as the juniors try to put on brave faces and boast to one another about how they’re going to destroy this resentful spirit. Wei Wuxian simply laughs and doesn’t attempt to chastise them. 

When they get to the farm, it quickly becomes apparent that there is no resentful spirit around. Either it’s already been liberated or was only ever passing through. What’s left behind is a destroyed field, some rotten crops and a despondent farmer. 

Lan Wangji wonders if Wei Wuxian had a hand in secretly putting the spirit to rest before the kids got here. The laughter hidden behind his bitten red lips strongly suggests he did. Lan Wangji looks away.

The children however don’t know that there’s no spirit. They look around, still wary and unsure.

“Oh, your Xian-gege has become so old and forgetful,” he says, shaking his head. “I’ve completely forgotten what the golden rules of a night hunt are. Someone please remind me.”

“Ask, assess, assist!” The children chorus together, not quite in sync but with plenty of enthusiasm. Like all they needed was a light nudge to get them started off.

“Perfect! Now, I wonder if there’s anyone around for us to speak to. Hmm…”

“Let's speak to Farmer-gongzi,” one of the kids suggests.

And off they go, taking their little night hunt manuals with them. Lan Wangji feels terribly endeared. He watches as Wei Wuxian guides them without really guiding them. Not that they need much guidance, they all seem very bright and engaged. It doesn’t take long for them to figure out that there isn’t any active resentful energy in the farm.

“So how can we assist you, Farmer-gongzi?” the little girl’s long braids sway as she questions the man.

The farmer flounders, “I… um, I’m not sure there’s anything else—”

“But the spirit has left your farm a mess,” Wei Wuxian points out. “However will you clear this place up?”

“I’ll figure something out, Daozhang. Don’t worry about that.”

“We’ll do it, Farmer-gongzi! We’ll assist you!” A-Yuan announces, chest puffed up. 

Lan Wangji watches in bafflement as the children shuffle around, fetching brooms and buckets, all eager to clean. He’s never seen such a sight before. Not even in the Cloud Recesses where there is no avoiding chores. No child has ever been happy to clean up. And yet here are A-Yuan and his friends, competing with each other to clear up the farmer’s rotten crops, laughing as they trip and tumble.

They’re having fun whilst learning. How interesting.

Lan Wangji rolls his sleeves up and decides to get stuck in with the children. No point standing around doing nothing. Wei Wuxian is already amongst them, tossing about sheaves of charred grain with great enthusiasm. 

It takes them the whole afternoon to clear up the last of the rot and ash. The children look understandably exhausted by the end.

“I think the kids have done enough for today,” Wei Wuxian says. “I’ll be back with the older disciples tomorrow so that we can start replanting. Would you like to join us, Lan Zhan?”

“Why are you doing all of this?” Lan Wangji blurts. 

Wei Wuxian frowns. “Do we need a reason to help people?”

“Of course not.” Lan Wangji feels himself deflating. “Never.” He remembers Wei Wuxian years ago, pledging to always do what’s right and help those in need. It seems that unlike all his other promises, this one is yet to be broken. “But this isn’t the norm.”

“All the more reason to do it,” Wei Wuxian states. “Then maybe others will catch on too.”

Lan Wangji doubts it. He can’t imagine any sects, big or small, going out of their way to do anything that won’t benefit them in some way. But the cheerful, dirt-stained faces of the children suggest there might be some hope. That they too will grow up to be selfless and kind, just like their Xian-gege.

He grabs a passing A-Yuan and busies himself in trying to dust off the boy’s dirty robes.

“Don’t bother trying to clean them up, Lan Zhan. They’re unsalvageable,” Wei Wuxian laughs. “Hey, kids! Who wants to take a swim in Farmer-gongzi’s lake?”

An excited cheer breaks out amongst the previously sluggish children. Lan Wangji watches distraught as they all make a run for the lake behind the farmer’s house. One after another they jump and dive and plunge into the water, heedless of their clothes. Whoever is on laundry duty next is sure to curse their entire generations.

Wei Wuxian is the only one who tosses aside his robe and jumps into the lake wearing just his trousers. For once Lan Wangji wishes he could’ve been a bit more careless and jumped in fully clothed. What’s one more dirtied robe amongst a whole heap of muddy, ruined ones? 

He tries his best to keep his eyes averted from the shameless sight of Wei Wuxian, dripping wet and shirtless, splashing about in the lake like a child. But it’s certainly difficult to do when the man is the loudest and most disruptive of them all. He cackles with his head thrown back, strands of wet hair flying about as he plays with the disciples.

One moment he has A-Yuan perched on his sturdy shoulders, pretending to be a sea-monster of some sort. The next moment he’s tossing one of the girls high in the air, catching her before she splashes into the water. Lan Wangji’s heart leaps into his throat, worried for the children and for his own sanity in equal parts. Wei Wuxian is terribly good with children, looks terribly good with a child in each arm and a grin on his face directed at Lan Wangji.

The reeds around the lake start to look awfully interesting all of a sudden. 

It takes a few days of hard work to get the farm back to how it should be. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian accompany the older disciples every day, letting them chatter and laugh amongst themselves as they happily get to work. Even Wen Ning joins them, his usually pale complexion blushing under the hot afternoon sun. He remains rather quiet and reserved, but is very hardworking. Lan Wangji appreciates the company of someone who doesn’t feel the need to fill the silence with meaningless talk. He would not mind a friendship with such a person.

After waving off the farmer’s offers of payment on the last day, Wei Wuxian takes the disciples down to the local market. “Go get yourselves whatever you want, my hardworking juniors. Xian-gege’s treat.”

“This is why you’re always broke, Xian-gege!” one of the disciples laughs as she runs off towards the tanghulu stall with her friends. 

“I’ll keep an eye on them,” Wen Ning says, shuffling off behind them.

Lan Wangji wishes he could make the man stay so that he won’t have to be alone with Wei Wuxian. They trail awkwardly through the market, side by side in silence. Several times he hears Wei Wuxian’s breath intake as if he’s about to say something, but in the end he remains silent. Lan Wangji wishes he could just turn over and go to sleep like he does when he wishes to ignore Wei Wuxian’s presence in their shared room. 

“I’m just going to uh… get us something to eat,” Wei Wuxian says eventually. “You can get yourself whatever you like too, Lan Zhan. I’ll be back in a bit.” He waves absently and skips off in the same direction as the disciples, like he’s eager to get away.

Lan Wangji can’t find it in himself to feel offended. He too is happy to finally be left alone. The marketplace is lively but small. He makes his way to the fruit stall, where he’s surprised to see the quality and variety of the fruits. There are a couple of fruits he’s not sure he even recognises.

The vendor catches onto his interest and offers him a few of the colourful berries to try. “Fresh from across the river. You name it and we have it!” The berries are fresh and juicy as promised, so Lan Wangji buys enough for the children back at home.

“How about some lychees? Or some dragon’s eyes! Can I interest you in some—”

“Just a few loquats please,” Lan Wangji interjects. Plenty of fruit grows around Wei Manor so there’s no need to buy more. But he can’t resist getting just a small handful of loquats for himself. “Thank you.”

As he drifts away from the fruit stall he comes face to face with Wei Wuxian once again. “There you are, Lan Zhan,” he says, and takes Lan Wangji’s hand into his own.

Surprised, Lan Wangji looks down and sees Wei Wuxian trying to slide a jade bangle onto his wrist. He quickly snatches his hand away. “What are you doing, Wei Wuxian?”

“I got this for you, Lan Zhan. I couldn’t resist when I saw it.” He grabs Lan Wangji’s hand again. “Someone as beautiful as you ought to wear—”

Lan Wangji yanks his hand away much more forcefully this time. “I am not interested in your meaningless flirtations. Leave me alone.”

“No, Lan Zhan, it’s not meaningless. It’s—” He hesitates, “—a token of my affection.”

“Affection?” Lan Wangji scoffs. He feels bile rise in his stomach. “You mock me even now.”

“I’m not mocking you. I said I’m sorry, and I am!” He moves closer, causing Lan Wangji to instinctually step back. “Why won’t you believe me?”

“Do you really think it is so easy?” 

“I—” Wei Wuxian looks at him sadly. “Lan Zhan, please… Just give me a chance.”

Over Wei Wuxian’s shoulder he sees the disciples walking back towards them, laden with sweet treats. “The disciples are headed back. Do not create a scene in front of them.”

Wei Wuxian lowers the hand holding the bangle with a sigh.

———

Lan Wangji’s tentative request to help the disciples with sword practice is accepted easily by Cangse Sanren. It leaves him wondering why he was so hesitant to ask in the first place. The evening before he’s set to start leading practice, he goes to get the training area ready for the morning. Sword techniques are different across all sects and he would like to see some demonstrations, to learn from them first before he starts any teaching. 

There’s some noise coming from the training ground as he approaches, like the sound of a sword cutting through the air. Lan Wangji frowns. It’s far too late for any of the disciples to still be training. His steps slow as he turns the corner.

And then he stops short.

The training area is completely empty, save for Wei Wuxian who is practising his sword forms. Nothing extraordinary about it, except that the man is bare chested and bathed in the glow of the setting evening sun. Wei Wuxian doesn’t seem to notice his presence, the shade of the trees hiding him well, and Lan Wangji finds himself incapable of moving even an inch. Whether he’d like to move away or to get closer, it’s unclear even to him.

This is far from the first time Wei Wuxian has been so underclothed around him. Just the other day he was swimming in the lake with the children with his chest bared. But Lan Wangji had been able to distract himself with their surroundings. He’d made himself look away. Now however it feels impossible.

The silence and solitude of the moment is overwhelming. It’s just the two of them, all alone, miles of golden skin displayed for him to see. Wei Wuxian’s muscles ripple with each new sword form, arms flexing under the weight of his deceptively heavy sword. His technique is absolutely flawless, twisting and slicing through the air as quick as light. No other cultivator is matched in skill with him. He’s always been so beautiful, and strong, and capable. The perfect alpha. 

There is a trail of sweat trickling down between Wei Wuxian’s shoulder blades. It glistens and catches the light as it makes its way down. The breeze carries the scent of his sweat all the way to Lan Wangji, sweet and syrupy and dizzying. Lan Wangji’s mouth waters, his clothes sticking to his skin. He breathes deeply, trying to inhale every last trace of the smell and not let any of it get away. 

Wei Wuxian turns back around and now Lan Wangji can clearly see each divot, each groove of his abdomen. The deep valleys of his ilium, perfect for Lan Wangji to drag his nose through, to smell and taste and savour. Wei Wuxian swings his sword and kicks high in the air. And when he lands back on his feet, his waistband is slung even lower, the light trail of hair leading down from his navel visible.

Lan Wangji could get lost in it. His heartbeat hammers loud, almost audible. He feels it in his mouth, and his fingertips, and his cock. His cock that is very visibly hard, tenting his robes most shamefully. But Lan Wangji knows there’s no point in trying to will it away, it just won’t be possible.

So instead, with a very shaky hand he takes hold of it. He’s well hidden by the evening shade of the trees, sweaty back pressed against the wall. The rustling of the leaves covers his ragged breathing. No one will know. He squeezes his length hard, thumb circling the head.

If he were to close his eyes he could probably imagine that it’s Wei Wuxian's hand on him. But Lan Wangji doesn’t wish to miss even a second of seeing the beautiful body before him, sweaty and panting. He’s far too worked up and aware of his surroundings to go slow. He rubs at his cock as he watches Wei Wuxian spin and swing his heavy sword down from above, like it weighs nothing at all. 

He’s already so wet and close to the edge. The wind continues to blow from Wei Wuxian towards him and Lan Wangji is grateful. Just a small whiff of his scent and Wei Wuxian would immediately know what he’s up to. He would realise just how desperate and depraved Lan Wangji really is. His hand gets faster, rougher, tighter around himself. 

Then Wei Wuxian quite casually adjusts himself in his thin cotton trousers and Lan Wangji’s knees nearly buckle. He arches back against the wall, one hand clamped tight over his mouth to stop any sound from escaping. The other hand tugs frantically at his cock, thumb digging into the tip. It takes just a couple more seconds and then he’s spilling into his own fist, between his fingers, down his wrist.

But he doesn’t stop to catch his breath. Immediately Lan Wangji turns around and hightails it to his room, legs shaky and unsteady beneath him. He wishes he could drown in the waves of his own shame. Never before has he done anything so disgraceful. Wei Wuxian has brought out the worst in him, has turned him into a shameless, lustful omega with no self control.

He slams the door behind him and rushes to clean himself up. The lingering notes of Wei Wuxian’s scent taunt him even here, his side of the bed still mussed from the night before. Just the thought of sinking his face into the pillow, the sheets, into Wei Wuxian’s worn robes, into anything that has touched Wei Wuxian’s skin, makes his spent cock twitch pathetically.

With a frustrated yell he grabs the offending pillow and throws it as hard as he can. It lands, quite uneventfully, on the other side of the room. He grabs the vase of flowers to throw next but his hands pause. The flowers picked for him this morning are small and deep blue, spilling out of the vase like water.

“Your favourite colour, right Lan Zhan?” 

Lan Wangji puts the vase back down gently. He picks up the pillow too, dusting it off before placing it back where it belongs. 

———

A handful of the children are on some kind of strange frog hunt. Lan Wangji doesn’t question them about it, he knows that any answer he gets will only confuse him further. Instead he patiently stands watch to make sure they don’t fall into the swamp or hurt themselves.

“Pretty-gege, can you come help us please?”

The name still catches him off guard, even though pretty much all the children refer to him as such now. Not even Cangse Sanren corrects them, simply laughing whenever she hears it. The first time Wei Wuxian joined in on calling him ‘Pretty-gege’ , Lan Wangji had nearly died on the spot. He hasn’t yet dared to say it when the two of them are alone and Lan Wangji is thankful for it. Who knows what he might do if that were to happen.

“What would you like help with, A-Yuan?”

“Can you hold the big bucket for us? We have to make sure the froggies don’t run away.”

“Of course.” Lan Wangji does exactly as told, holding the large bucket for the children while they sift through the water with their nets, looking for more amphibians. A look into the bucket finds him face to face with a speckled frog peering curiously up at him. Lan Wangji blinks. The frog blinks too. There’s a talisman written in Wei Wuxian’s messy scrawl stuck to the side of the bucket, stopping the frog from escaping. He feels a sense of solidarity with the creature.

“Hey, who’re those old ladies over there?” A-Yi calls out.

Lan Wangji turns to look where the boy is pointing and sees a whole gaggle of elderly women walking around amongst the trees. He doesn’t recognise any of them and clearly neither do the children. But they’re walking around within the boundary of Wei Manor. One of them picks an apple from a tree and settles beneath its shade like she’s here to stay. Lan Wangji has no idea what to do. He can’t very well kick a bunch of old people out, but he’s not sure he can let them wander in like this either. 

Just then Wei Wuxian comes prancing in behind them, deep in conversation with a couple of old men. He laughs when he sees the lady sitting underneath the tree and goes to sit down beside her, despite getting swatted at. It seems he knows them well so Lan Wangji leaves them to it, getting back to the children and their frog hunt.

He finds out later that Wei Wuxian doesn’t know these people at all. They’re just a bunch of elderly locals he happened across on his trip into town. “They looked lonely, Lan Zhan. What was I to do?” he shrugs.

“A bit of warning would’ve been nice,” Wen Qing complains, puttering about with her medical equipment. “You know I’m extra busy these days, what with A-Ning’s health. And my apprentices are on a night hunt with your mother right now. How am I supposed to deal with this sudden influx of old people, huh?”

“Don’t worry, Qing-jie. We’ll be your apprentices for the day.” He grabs a bag from her. “Right, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji is happy to provide a helping hand but isn’t sure he actually knows what’s going on. “What exactly do we need to do?”

“Just some general checkups, make sure they’re all alright. Qing-jie will deal with anything serious.” He grins and Wen Qing rolls her eyes at him. “We should talk to them over dinner too. To find out how things are fairing in town and if there’s anything we can help out with, spiritual, non-spiritual, whatever. And if any of them want to stay the night they’re more than welcome to.”

“I—” Lan Wangji flounders. “Okay.”

“You’ve married a madman who regularly invites strangers into his home and gives them free food and medicine.” Wen Qing’s mouth turns up in a rare, sardonic smile. “Regretting your choice yet?”

“Not yet,” Lan Wangji grits out, more than aware that Wei Wuxian is listening.

They spend pretty much the whole day with the old folk, listening to their stories and dealing with their teasing. Lan Wangji is surprised at every turn as he watches Wei Wuxian interact with the guests. He serves them food with his own hands and even cleans up after them. It’s impossible to imagine anyone else of the same standing behaving like this. Lan Wangji thinks back to the list of top ranking alphas and can’t think of a single one who would kneel on the ground to help a frail old lady with her shoes. Not even his own brother. 

Wei Wuxian has always been one of a kind. There is no one quite so unruly and reckless, but neither is there anyone so unreasonably kind. So unreasonably beautiful when he goes out of his way to do what’s right, without even thinking about it. The longer Lan Wangji watches him, the more his throat dries up, words evade him, his lungs feel tight. It seems no matter how hard he might try, there is no escaping for Lan Wangji. He will always be weak when it comes to Wei Wuxian and his kind heart.

Clean robes and bedding is brought out for the guests. He helps set it all out, hands working fast, wanting to get the job done quickly. He feels restless, eager to retire to their room for the night. Perhaps a moment alone with Wei Wuxian will help. If he just talks to him, listens to him, just today, just this once.

He’s about to make his exit once everything is done when Wen Qing beckons him over. “These are for the lady with the pain in her joints,” she tells him, handing over a packet of medicine. She’s rolled her sleeves up while working, to get them out of the way. Her wrists are dainty and pale, casting a stark contrast against the dark jade of the bangle, identical to the one Wei Wuxian had tried to give him. “I have to head back to my brother now.” She quickly turns away, rolling her sleeves back down.

‘A token of my affection,’ Wei Wuxian had called it. The tightness in Lan Wangji’s chest turns abruptly unpleasant. He doesn’t know what to think, what to believe. But all the warmth that had been building up inside him throughout the day is long gone. 

———

Lan Wangji and his brother have remained in regular correspondence since the wedding. They keep each other updated on how things are going at the Cloud Recesses and how Lan Wangji is fairing at Wei Manor. He hasn’t informed Lan Xichen of his strained relationship with Wei Wuxian and has no intention of ever troubling him with the knowledge. Wei Wuxian is his problem and his problem alone. No one else needs to be involved. And thankfully his lies are less transparent when written on paper, so his brother doesn’t seem to doubt his words. 

Today he receives a letter that is several pages long. Lan Wangji instantly becomes worried, thinking something must have gone wrong for his brother to write so much. His mind jumps to thoughts of his uncle’s health, the Lan sect’s welfare, his own failing marriage. The possibilities are endless.

But when he finds a private corner to settle down with the letter, Lan Wangji is utterly bewildered. For it is not a letter at all. Lan Xichen has sent pages upon pages of handwritten recipes for some strange, incomprehensible reason. Were it not for his brother’s distinctive handwriting, Lan Wangji would think that pages of a recipe book had been sent to him by mistake. Surely their uncle can’t still be making Lan Xichen copy out lines as punishment.

He flicks through the pages again and again but doesn’t find any explanation. All he finds is that the letter is addressed to Wei Wuxian and him both, which has never been the case before. What exactly is his brother playing at?

“Has anyone seen Xian-ge?” A disciple rushes past, looking harried. 

Lan Wangji calls after the girl, “He is not at home right now.”

“So what are we meant to do with all these damn vegetables?”

“What?” 

It turns out that several cartloads of produce have just been unexpectedly dropped off at their doorstep, supposedly on Wei Wuxian’s orders. Vegetables, fruits, grain, and even honey. The crates are stacked so high he can’t see the disciples standing on the other side. He’s not sure why Wei Wuxian would buy so much, they usually grow most of their produce themselves. Maybe it’s to be distributed and not meant for Wei Manor, but Wei Wuxian isn’t around to confirm that.

He goes looking for his mother or father-in-law, hoping one of them will know what to do. He finds Wei Changze in the kitchen, busy preparing some food. Lan Wangji is about to approach when he hears Cangse Sanren’s voice, “The moon pales in your comparison, oh beautiful!” Her face pops up in the kitchen window directly in front of her husband.

“Your talent for poetry is lacking,” Wei Changze deadpans, sliding the window screen shut on her face. Neither of them have noticed Lan Wangji’s presence.

Cangse Sanren pops up in the next window along. “Darling, don't be so cruel to me. I am but a simple admirer.”

“Well I am spoken for,” he tells her. She throws her head back in laughter, looking strikingly like Wei Wuxian for a moment. Her husband slides this window shut on her too, cutting off her laughter. 

Lan Wangji knows he shouldn’t be witnessing this but he feels frozen. He’s never seen anything like this before. Sure, he knows Wei Wuxian’s parents have a happy marriage, anyone who has ever crossed paths with them can attest to that much. But seeing them so happy, so playful and in love, even at their age — it’s staggering. The complete antithesis of his own parents. He can’t think of a single mated pair, young or old, who might compare. It leaves him in awe and envy alike. What he would give to have just a fraction of such happiness in his own marriage.

Suddenly the window panel in the ceiling slides open and Cangse Sanren hangs down from it upside down before them. “Just give me a chance, sweetheart. Oh—!” She suddenly spots Lan Wangji and jumps down into the kitchen. “I didn’t see you there, Wangji.”

“I’m sorry, I did not mean to intrude.” His ears feel a little hot with embarrassment. “But a large delivery of fruits and vegetables has just arrived and I’m not sure what to do with it all.”

“Ah yes, A-Xian mentioned he’d bought some ingredients,” his father-in-law says. “Just bring them to the pantry.”

“I don’t think it will all fit in the pantry,” Lan Wangji tells them. “There is enough food out there to feed a village.”

“For a few Lan desserts?” Wei Changze turns to his wife. “Does your son have no sense?”

“My son? I vividly recall it being a joint effort,” she jests.

Both men turn noticeably pink. “Lan—” Lan Wangji coughs. “Lan desserts?”

“Oh, it was supposed to be a surprise,” his father-in-law grimaces. “Wei Ying wanted to make some of your favourite dishes for you and asked for help because he’s hopeless in the kitchen.”

“Just like me!” Cangse Sanren grins.

So that must be why Lan Xichen sent them all those recipes. Lan Wangji feels terribly flustered. Had Wei Wuxian really gone to all of this effort, and dragged his family into his ridiculous plans, just for Lan Wangji?

“Please forgive me, I promise I did not put Wei Ying up to this,” he tells them. “I have no problem with the food we eat here. You do not need to go through all this trouble for me.”

“Whatever are you apologising for?” Cangse Sanren questions. “Cooking for our son is no trouble.” Lan Wangji’s eyes widen momentarily, before he realises she’s likely talking about Wei Wuxian. But his mother-in-law catches the split second reaction and smiles softly. “I mean you, my dear. You are our son too, are you not?”

“I—” His throat feels tight and scratchy, a sudden blurriness in his eyes. He blinks rapidly and nods. “Of course. Of course, A-Niang.”

Cangse Sanren’s whole face lights up. She reaches up to pat his cheek and Lan Wangji leans into it like a small child. Like he’s five years old and playing on his mother’s lap, surrounded by a garden of gentians.

“Now let’s go deal with this mess A-Ying’s made.”

Hauling in all the crates and sacks, even with help from the disciples, is a tricky feat. The pantry becomes stuffed to the brim very quickly, with nowhere for the rest of the food to go. Worried about it perishing, Wei Changze hands over some of the boxes of fruit to the uncles to make fruit wine with. Wen-popo takes on the responsibility of sun-drying and grinding what she can. The rest is to be pickled and fermented or preserved. Anything left over will be distributed when the disciples next go into town.

But that still leaves several crates of loquats that his father-in-law says are for Lan Wangji alone. “A-Ying tells me loquats are your favourite fruit.”

“They are.” He doesn’t know how Wei Wuxian knows that, he doesn’t recall ever telling him, neither recently nor years ago. “But what am I supposed to do with so many?”

Wei Changze thinks for a moment. “We’ll use them in the dishes A-Ying wanted made for you. Do you have the recipes?”

“Please allow me, I can prepare them myself.” He begins rolling up his sleeves to get to work. When his father-in-law tries to insist otherwise, Lan Wangji tells him, “I enjoy cooking very much. I would like to help.”

Reluctantly Wei Changze agrees, most likely only because Lan Wangji is already familiar with how the dishes are made. They work together in the kitchen in companionable silence, sharing ingredients and helping each other when needed. Lan Wangji wonders if this is what it feels like to have a loving father, something he himself has never known. Perhaps he should feel envious of Wei Wuxian, but he finds himself feeling grateful instead. Grateful to have been allowed into this family, to get to experience their love firsthand. 

Even Wei Wuxian, despite his previous mistakes, seems to be trying really hard to get back in Lan Wangji’s good graces. It would be wrong to not acknowledge that much.

With great difficulty Lan Wangji gathers up enough courage to ask, “Does Wei Ying—” He clears his throat. “Does Wei Ying have any foods that are his favourite?”

Wei Changze smiles, amused. “Yes, he loves lotus root soup very much. Has done since he was a child. He’ll devour the whole pot if you don’t stop him.” He gives Lan Wangji a knowing look. “Would you like to learn how it’s made?”

“Yes, please,” Lan Wangji nods shyly.

“I’ll teach you, son.” He says it so casually but Lan Wangji’s heart fills with warmth at being called son. “I used to wake in the middle of the night to make it for Wei Ying’s mother back when she was expecting him. Maybe that’s why he loves it so much.”

“You and A-Niang love each other very deeply.”

“More than anything. She and Wei Ying are my world.” He tastes the broth he’s preparing and then adds some more spices. “But it was not always so easy.”

“How so?” Lan Wangji asks without thinking, and then immediately regrets it. “I’m sorry, it’s not my place to ask. It’s just hard to imagine…”

Wei Changze gives a dry chuckle. “Well, try to imagine how the son of a servant might feel when he finds himself falling in love with a disciple of the great Baoshan Sanren.”

Lan Wangji tries to imagine himself in Wei Changze’s place. “You were scared?” he guesses.

“Terrified,” his father-in-law nods. “She was far too good for me. There were sect leaders and lords wanting her hand in marriage. I thought any of them would be a better match than me. What business did a servant of the Jiang sect have even befriending her, never mind falling in love with her?”

The words sound eerily familiar, like he might have heard some variation of them before during their time together at the Cloud Recesses, back when Wei Wuxian was vying for his friendship. Perhaps from another disciple or an elder. Not that he’d paid it any mind. He’d been the one to go and fall hopelessly in love with Wei Wuxian, not the other way around. 

He also recalls Wei Wuxian’s disbelief when he’d found out that Lan Wangji rejected Jin Guangshan’s proposal. Why was it so difficult for everyone to believe that people like Lan Wangji or Cangse Sanren might want to follow their hearts?

“But your mother-in-law did not give up,” Wei Changze continues. “She was the one to pursue me. And I thank her every day for it,” he laughs. And after witnessing their earlier interaction, it’s not hard for Lan Wangji to imagine that at all.

He wonders if Wei Wuxian ever felt the same uncertainty as his father. He wonders if that’s what made him walk away all those years ago, despite his promises of a forever with Lan Wangji. He wonders if that is reason enough. 

“You are very fortunate to have each other,” he says to his father-in-law. “I wish…” He stops himself from continuing. Stops himself from saying, ‘I wish Wei Ying and I could be like you. Could love each other so immensely, despite our differences, despite everything that’s happened. I wish Wei Ying would love me like I love him.’

Wei Changze smiles as if he’s heard the missing words anyway. He puts a lid on the pot and begins washing the rice. “Has A-Ying told you why his mother sent the proposal for you?”

Lan Wangji tenses. “No.” He knows it can’t be a very pleasant reason, if the conversation he’d overheard between mother and son on his first morning here is anything to go by.

“It’s a funny story,” Wei Changze begins. “She found him drunk and weeping about his days in the Cloud Recesses with you.” His hands remain occupied with the rice, but his voice sounds fond. “And how he wished he’d married you then, but that it was likely too late now.”

Lan Wangji freezes, the knife in his hand wedged halfway through a peeled loquat. The juice trickles down his hand, onto the floor. He barely notices it. His heart has begun racing at such a terrible speed, he feels it might lunge right out of his chest straight into his loquat filled hands.

Wei Wuxian wanted to marry him?

All these years Lan Wangji spent hurting and hating and suffocating in his unreciprocated love. Never could he have imagined, not even in his weakest moment, that Wei Wuxian might be hurting too. That Wei Wuxian too might weep over his unfulfilled promise to marry Lan Wangji. That he hadn’t left Lan Wangji out of mockery or malice, nor was he forced or pressured into this marriage. 

That Wei Wuxian wanted to marry him.

Wants to be married to him. 

He puts the knife and ruined fruit down and breathes deeply. His heartbeat has no intentions of slowing but he tries to will it to calm down anyway. 

After what feels like a long, long time, possibly an eternity, Lan Wangji finally regains the ability to speak. “Thank you,” he says quietly, voice almost a whisper. 

His father-in-law just smiles, the corners of his eyes creasing with the fine lines of age. The handsome father of a beautiful son. 

———

Wei Wuxian and the disciples accompanying him aren’t expected to arrive until the following afternoon. But when Lan Wangji turns in for the night, it’s with his husband occupying his every thought. He feels his presence lingering in the air, in the indents of the sheets, in the cultivation notes strewn carelessly around the room. And yet the bed still seems vast and empty without Wei Wuxian in it.

Against his better judgement he turns over and settles down into the wrong side of the bed; Wei Wuxian’s side. And surrounded by the heady, sweet smell of his alpha, Lan Wangji falls asleep in no time at all. 

He dreams of Wei Wuxian all night long, some dreams shameful and some mundane. The most pleasant of all is the dream in which he wakes up in Wei Wuxian’s arms. The soft light of the early morning blankets them, the warmth of Wei Wuxian’s body palpable. There is an arm thrown around Lan Wangji’s waist and he wishes it would pull him closer, close enough to feel their bodies pressed up against each other.

Wei Wuxian is so breathtaking, and this close it’s amplified tenfold. Lan Wangji reaches out and brushes a stray strand of hair off his face, tucking it behind his ear. He traces over the shell of his ear, featherlight. He huffs when Wei Wuxian shivers at the touch.

His fingers continue in their path, travelling from his temple to his sharp jaw, across to his plush lips. They dimple under the press of his fingertips, soft and full and calling to him. Lan Wangji inches closer across their shared pillow, their breaths mingling, just an inch or so between them. If he can’t have this while awake, at least he gets to have it in his dreams.

Then Wei Wuxian’s eyes open, bleary and unseeing, and it’s all too real, too exact. Lan Wangji jolts with the sudden realisation that this is most definitely not a dream. Alarmed, he pushes himself away with both hands, but ends up pushing Wei Wuxian entirely off the bed instead.

Wei Wuxian hits the floor with a thud and groans loudly in pain. Lan Wangji might have felt apologetic if he wasn’t reeling from the shock of his interrupted dream. “Lan Zhan?” He sits up with another groan, rubbing his shoulder. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” Lan Wangji gathers himself quickly. “You were on the wrong side of the bed.”

“Lan Zhan…” he begins, seeming hesitant. “You were on my side.”

Looking down at the bed confirms the words, and he remembers how he’d purposely settled into Wei Wuxian’s side last night, wanting to soak in his scent. He hadn’t expected Wei Wuxian to come home early and catch him red handed. His ears burn red hot with embarrassment.

“It’s okay, Lan Zhan. I don’t mind—” Lan Wangji scowls at him and Wei Wuxian immediately shuts up, holding a finger to his lips like a child might do in the classroom. 

Lan Wangji’s scowl deepens and he turns away with a huff. But once he’s safely facing the opposite direction, his scowl melts away. He has to bite his lip to keep himself from smiling. How ridiculous.

———

“Here comes your ridiculous son,” Cangse Sanren says the moment Wei Wuxian steps into the dining hall, echoing Lan Wangji’s sentiment.

“Our ridiculous son,” her husband corrects.

Wei Wuxian halts, halfway to his seat. “…Good morning?”

His mother scoffs. “Sit down before I hang you up by your hair.” She gives his ponytail a teasing tug as she passes by with a steaming pot in hand.

“Ow, Mama!” he cries out dramatically, taking his seat beside Lan Wangji. It’s obvious it didn’t even hurt him a pinch, but he’s always been one for theatrics. “What was that for?”

“Explain to us why you had so much produce delivered to Wei Manor yesterday,” she says.

“Oh, it came already? Well…” He looks surreptitiously towards Lan Wangji. “You know why.”

“A few plates of Lan desserts do not require cartloads of ingredients, Wei Ying.” Wei Changze sounds exasperated. “Exactly how much do you think your husband eats?” Wei Wuxian splutters and gestures for him to stop, but Wei Changze continues, “Don’t give me that look. He already knows. He spent the whole day helping us deal with the mess you made.”

“Ah…” Wei Wuxian hangs his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how much—”

“Next time you want to impress your husband, consult someone who knows a thing or two about cooking first,” Wen-popo laughs.

“Popo!” Wei Wuxian cries, burying his head in his arms. 

“You’re on composting duty until all the waste is dealt with,” Wei Changze informs him sternly. “Understood?”

“Understood.” Wei Wuxian mumbles into the table, and then his head shoots up. “Baba, are you angry with me?”

Wei Changze sighs, “Eat your food, A-Ying.”

“I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to make such a mess,” he whines, voice sounding childish. “Please don’t be angry, Baba.”

“I am not. Now eat.” 

This time Wei Wuxian does as told and digs right into his bowl. “Mmmm, so yummy! Diedie always makes the bestest food, A-Ying is so lucky.” He slurps up some more of the soup. His foolishness is amusing to watch. Lan Wangji’s heart warms seeing him behave so playfully with his father. “Ah, so scrumptious! Makes me want to kiss the hands that made such delicious food.” He grins up at his father.

Wei Changze simply looks at him blankly, but Cangse Sanren interjects, “Go on then.”

Wei Wuxian reaches out to grab his father’s hand but Wei Changze moves it out of reach. “The soup you’re eating, I did not make it.”

Wei Wuxian frowns and then takes another sip. “But it's so good, Diedie. If you didn’t make it then who did?”

“Wangji did.”

Lan Wangji freezes, not expecting to be brought into the conversation.

“Oh.” Wei Wuxian sounds shocked. 

“Go on then,” his mother repeats.

“Hmm?”

“You wished to kiss the hands that made your food, did you not?” she smirks.

“A-Niang…” Lan Wangji tries to speak up. But Cangse Sanren pays him no mind, instead raising an eyebrow at her son in challenge. The silence stretches as everyone around the table focuses on the two of them. Lan Wangji wants to disappear so terribly.

And then Wei Wuxian takes his hand from where it rests on the table. Lan Wangji turns to him surprised and their eyes meet, Wei Wuxian’s wide and nervous. There’s a pink blush spreading across his face, all the way to the tip of his nose. It makes him look much younger, like the boy Lan Wangji first fell in love with. 

He watches in alarm as Wei Wuxian lifts his hand to his lips and places a gentle kiss on the back. His lips are soft and warm but somehow manage to send a shiver through his body. The pace of Lan Wangji’s heart is unreasonable for just a kiss on the back of the hand. His whole body feels hot and he knows his ears must be glowing red.

The touch of Wei Wuxian’s lips is gone before he knows it. It leaves him wishing for so much more. He feels envious of his own knuckles, to have felt something the rest of him has not. It takes all of his strength to not bring his hand up to his own mouth and kiss exactly where he still feels the lingering shape of Wei Wuxian’s mouth.

Someone hoots, breaking him out of his reverie. They let go of each other's hands abruptly. He sees his mother-in-law grinning at him, wide and mischievous. Lan Wangji quickly looks away. He busies himself with his food, not daring to look up to see anyone else’s expression.

Wei Wuxian is whining and complaining about his family’s teasing, but he pays it very little attention. His focus is caught on how his hand still feels warm, his ears hot, his stomach fluttery. Just from a peck. Lan Wangji has reached new depths of embarrassment.

In his haste to vacate the table, he doesn’t get the chance to find out if Wei Wuxian’s praise for the food was deserved. He gulps it all down in a manner that would have him severely reprimanded by his uncle.

As he stands to clear the table, Wen Ning also stands. He looks strangely pale, more so than usual. Lan Wangji is just about to inquire after his health when Wen Ning becomes unsteady on his feet, teetering backwards.

“A-Ning!” Wen Qing catches sight of him about to collapse and rushes forth to catch him. She stumbles under his weight as he faints in her arms, but manages to lower him down onto the ground. Wen-popo and the others immediately gather around. Wen Qing pats his cheek repeatedly, trying to wake him up. “Wake up, A-Ning!”

Cangse Sanren fans his face, while Wen-popo takes a cup from the table and sprinkles some water on his face. “My dear, please wake up,” Wen-Popo says tearfully.

It takes a few more sprinkles before he finally twitches awake. Impossibly, he looks even paler now. “A-jie…?” he wheezes. 

Wen Qing helps him sip some water and then leaps into action. She gets her brother’s arm around her shoulders and hauls him up with a surprising amount of strength.

Wei Wuxian hurriedly steps forward. “Here, let me help.” He places Wen Ning’s other arm over his own shoulders, taking most of the man’s weight onto himself. Their steps are slow and small, Wen Ning still shaky between them. Wen-popo follows behind.

“Ning-ge!” A-Yuan cries and runs towards them, latching onto his grandmother’s leg. 

Wen-popo stops. “A-Yuan, I must…” She looks anxious and conflicted. 

Lan Wangji goes and takes the boy by the hand. “Don't worry, Popo. I will take care of him for you.” 

“Thank you, dear,” she says, and hurries off behind her other grandchildren.

A-Yuan begins to cry, calling after his grandmother and cousins. “What’s wrong with Ning-gege?” 

Lan Wangji kneels down to be level with him. “Do not cry, A-Yuan. He will be okay.” He gently wipes the boy's tears away with his sleeve. “But we don’t want to distract your Qing-jie while she helps him, do we?” 

“No,” A-Yuan sniffles and wipes at his nose. “Are you sure he’s going to be okay?” His lip wobbles as he asks the question, tears threatening to fall again.

“Hmm, is your jiejie a good doctor?” Lan Wangji asks.

“Of course she is!” A-Yuan exclaims, affronted. “She’s the best doctor ever!” 

“Then of course Wen Ning will be okay. He’s being seen by the best doctor ever.”

A-Yuan seems satisfied by that, nodding to himself as if it’s all making sense now. In all honesty, Lan Wangji doesn’t know if Wen Ning will be okay, he doesn’t even know what’s afflicting him. There’d been something slightly off about his scent earlier, but Lan Wangji is no expert. He can only hope the man will be alright and that A-Yuan will not have any more reason to shed tears.

“It is time for your morning lesson now,” he tells A-Yuan.

The boy looks awfully disappointed. As much as Lan Wangji wishes to let him have an easy day today, it’ll be good for A-Yuan to remain occupied so that he isn’t caught up worrying about Wen Ning all day long. He offers A-Yuan his hand and this time the boy takes it readily. 

Thankfully it turns out that Wen Ning is well. He’s just gone into heat for the first time in many years. Everyone is overjoyed at this sign of his improving health, but his constitution is still weak, and spending a heat alone is hard on the body. So Wen Qing will have to monitor his health and keep medicine prepared.

A-Yuan is still too young to understand the details, but he’s elated to know that his Ning-ge is okay. After lunch Lan Wangji takes him to play in the grounds around Wei Manor, and A-Yuan wears holes into the grass, chasing after birds and insects. Lan Wangji is more than content sitting under the shade of the trees, reading a book from Cangse Sanren’s extensive library while he keeps an eye on A-Yuan from a distance. The boy is very sensible and his lively chatter is amusing to listen to. The effect of having several great role models is more than obvious in him.

After a while A-Yuan decides he wants to share with Lan Wangji some story he’s made up about the clouds, lying down flat in the grass to point up at the sky. “And that one over there is the princess cloud. Can you see it, Gege?”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji cannot see anything even remotely princess shaped in the sky.

“Well the princess cloud is stuck in a cave. And she’s surrounded by demons! There, and there, and there.” He points to a smattering of smaller clouds around a much larger one. “They’re very evil, and very hungry. They’re going to gobble her all up!”

Lan Wangji gasps in response, making A-Yuan giggle. “What will the poor princess do?”

“Look over there!” A-Yuan exclaims. “Here comes the handsome prince!” Again Lan Wangji struggles to identify the prince amongst all the wispy clouds, but he nods thoughtfully regardless. “He’s going to use his powerful sword to defeat all the demons, one by one.” A-Yuan makes several imaginary sword strikes in the air. Lan Wangji absently notes the precision of his form.

“Then what will happen?”

“Then they’ll—” He breaks out in a giggle, covering his face with both his little hands. “Then they’ll fall in love.”

Lan Wangji looks down at him, amused. “Is that so?”

“Yes,” A-Yuan states firmly, still pink in the face. Then he wriggles across the grass and places his head on Lan Wangji’s thigh.

Lan Wangji does not so much as blink, fearing A-Yuan might change his mind and move away. But A-Yuan simply smiles up at him, gap-toothed and guileless. It makes Lan Wangji’s heart swell. He hopes this familiarity lasts. He wants to love the people who love Wei Wuxian just as much. 

“When I grow up I want to go to the Cloud Recesses,” A-Yuan says, mispronouncing the name of Lan Wangji’s natal home only slightly.

“You do not need to wait until you are older. I can take you with me the next time I visit,” he offers, unsure of where the conversation is headed. 

“You don’t understand.” A-Yuan smacks his forehead and sighs, “I have to go when I’m a grown up so that I can find myself a pretty gege too.” 

“I see.” Lan Wangji has never before found it so difficult to maintain a straight face. “But why only the Cloud Recesses? There are many other places you could go.” 

A-Yuan looks at him like he’s said something particularly foolish. “Because that’s where Xian-gege fell in true love,” he speaks slowly, trying to help Lan Wangji understand. “Everyone knows that!” He doesn’t notice the effect his casual declaration has on Lan Wangji. “Pretty-gege,” A-Yuan taps his side. “Where did you fall in true love?”

The birds in the trees and the nearby stream suddenly fall quiet. All he can hear is the sound of his own breathing. It takes several attempts before he can get his voice to work. “The Cloud Recesses,” he says quietly. The words still feel like they echo around them.

“Exactly!” A-Yuan grins like he’s just won an argument. “So that’s why I have to go there. Will you—” He yawns noisily, interrupting himself. “Will you take me with you?”

“Of course,” Lan Wangji nods, not entirely aware what he’s agreeing to. His mind races, years of yearning coming to a head. He feels completely overwhelmed with it.

The next time he looks down at A-Yuan, the boy is fast asleep, head still nestled on Lan Wangji’s lap. The sun is shining through the trees overhead, directly onto his face. Lan Wangji closes the book he was reading and holds it up so that it shadows A-Yuan’s face. He leans his own head against the tree behind him and closes his eyes too. But there is little chance of him falling asleep with how his heartbeat remains loud and uneven.

He’s not sure how much time passes like that, lost in his thoughts. It’s only when he hears the sound of a twig snapping underfoot does he open his eyes.

“Sorry,” Wei Wuxian grimaces. “I keep waking you up like this.”

“I was not asleep.” Although it’s likely hard to believe with how groggy his voice sounds. The sun has since moved in the sky, leaving them well shaded. He lowers the hand that was holding the book above A-Yuan’s face and shakes it out.

“You’re very good with children, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian sighs.

“As are you.”

Wei Wuxian settles down onto the grass across from them. “Do you want chi—” He cuts himself off abruptly, eyes wide, legs halfway folded.

Lan Wangji feels he knows what he’d been about to ask. “Yes,” he admits quietly, ears aflame. “One day.”

“That’s— that’s good. Yeah…” Wei Wuxian clears his throat subtly. His voice still comes out strained as he says, “I hope this little man didn’t give you too much trouble.”

“You sell him short.” Lan Wangji brushes a few strands of hair off A-Yuan’s face. “He is a wonderful child.”

“That he is.”

There is silence between them after that. Several times it seems like Wei Wuxian is about to say something, only to stop himself before he’s gotten any words out. He fists at the grass nervously, fidgeting in place. It seems like something is eating at him and Lan Wangji assumes the worst. “Has something happened to Wen Ning?” 

“Huh? Oh, Wen Ning! No, no, he’s completely fine.” Wei Wuxian shakes his head. “Qing-jie says everything’s okay. He’s much stronger now so he’s doing well.”

“Then what is troubling you?”

“You know me too well, Lan Zhan,” he laughs sheepishly. Then he takes something out of his pocket and places it in his lap. It’s small and wrapped in a deep purple cloth. “I know you don’t care for frivolous things. And there’s no one quite as frivolous as me,” he says wryly. “But I made something. For you. It’s not meaningless, I swear.” He holds the wrapped object out for Lan Wangji. “It would mean a lot to me if you…” His already faint voice peters out.

Lan Wangji takes the proffered object from his hand and carefully unravels it. Inside is a silver hairpin. He has plenty of hairpins and headdresses already, made of precious metals and the finest jade. Some are inlaid with jewels, just one of which would be worth more than he’d care to admit.

And yet he has never seen anything like the hairpin before him.

Intricate vines of silver are tangled together to form the body of the hairpin, the end of which is carved into the shape of a hand. The hand is slender and realistic, and is holding an unbloomed flower by the stalk. Carefully he picks it up to examine more closely. As he does so, the bud of the flower unfurls by itself, blooming into a silver lotus flower.

It takes some restraint to contain his gasp. “You made this yourself?”

“Yeah… It’s not much, I know.” He rubs the back of his neck, looking abashed. Lan Wangji can’t think of anything more untrue. He gives him an incredulous look and hands the hairpin back. “Oh.” Wei Wuxian’s face falls. “I— Okay. That’s okay, Lan Zhan.” He looks down at the ground, avoiding Lan Wangji’s gaze.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji says. “Help me wear it,” 

Wei Wuxian lights up, blooming like his silver lotus. He takes the pin and moves so that they are knee to knee. Lan Wangji lowers his head slightly to make it easier for him to reach his hair. Wei Wuxian reaches up, and ever so gently slides the hairpin into Lan Wangji’s topknot. 

It leaves Lan Wangji with his face tilted into Wei Wuxian’s neck. He tries his best not to breathe him in, to not get lost in his sweet smell. So engrossed in his efforts, he doesn’t lift his head even after the hairpin is comfortably in place. 

Wei Wuxian pulls away first, putting the smallest amount of space between them. He holds Lan Wangji by the chin, lifting his face up from its lowered position. Lan Wangji looks at him as the moment stretches between them. They’re so close he can see into the depths of his eyes, the sunlight turning the usual dark colour syrupy golden. 

“Beautiful,” Wei Wuxian remarks, voice raspy with awe. “You’re so beautiful, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji swallows. His cheeks are pink, his ears warm, heartbeat thundering in his chest. He can feel Wei Wuxian’s breath on his skin, taste it in the air. It’s sweet like the rest of him. Wei Wuxian’s fingers travel from his chin to cup his cheek. They’re soft and reverent, thumb brushing over his cheekbone. Lan Wangji can’t help but lean into the touch, eyes fluttering shut.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian breathes. His other hand comes up to the crook of Lan Wangji’s neck. His gentle fingers brush against his pulse, against the place that should be bitten, that should be claimed. Lan Wangji nuzzles into the palm against his cheek. “Lan Zhan.”  

When he reopens his eyes, Wei Wuxian is just a whisper away. Lan Wangji breathes in the whisper and closes the distance, pressing their lips together. Wei Wuxian lets out a little noise of surprise but gathers himself quickly, kissing back with fervour. His hands move to clasp Lan Wangji’s face on either side and he pulls away for a moment. “Lan Zhan…” he breathes.

Lan Wangji feels just as awestruck as Wei Wuxian sounds. “Wei Ying,” he says, just to see the way he smiles at the sound of his name on Lan Wangji’s tongue. 

This time Wei Wuxian is the one to lean in, kissing with a desperation that he knows they both feel. How he has longed for this, to be held and loved by his alpha. Since the day of his wedding, weighed down by his lavish robes and alone on the empty bed, waiting for Wei Wuxian to kiss him like so. 

His lips are so soft and intoxicating, Lan Wangji can’t get enough. Were it not for the tree behind him holding him upright, he would’ve collapsed under the onslaught, falling back for Wei Wuxian to take. His fingers hook into the collar of Wei Wuxian’s robe, pulling him impossibly closer. Close enough to erase the years of separation between them, to replace all his longing and heartbreak with nothing but Wei Wuxian.

Their kisses turn heated, mouths parting for each other. The sound of their ragged breaths can be heard over the leaves rustling in the wind. Wei Wuxian pulls away once again, even though it looks like it pains him to do so. “Lan Zhan, do you—” He shakes his head. “Is this— No. Will—” He cuts himself off again, looking frustrated.

“Anything,” Lan Wangji tells him. “Whatever it is you wish for. It is already yours.”

Wei Wuxian inhales audibly and then goes back in to kiss him, fingers weaving into Lan Wangji’s hair. His heartbeat pounds against Lan Wangji’s hand that’s placed firmly over his chest. He kisses like his words will be conveyed through his touch, directly from his mouth into Lan Wangji’s.

A sudden loud snort startles them both, making them break apart abruptly. It’s the sound of A-Yuan snoring away, still fast asleep with his head on Lan Wangji’s lap.

Wei Wuxian laughs at the boy. “How could we forget about you, eh?” Lan Wangji is embarrassed to have also forgotten they had company. He’s glad A-Yuan wasn’t disturbed by them.

“I’ll take him to Wen-popo. She was asking for him.” Wei Wuxian carefully scoops A-Yuan up, managing to not wake him. Then he pauses. “Lan Zhan, I— I have so much I want to tell you, so much I want to ask. I know I haven’t gone about this the right way but please…” He looks at Lan Wangji, imploring. “Please give me a chance.”

The corners of Lan Wangji’s mouth turn up in a slight smile. “I cannot think of anything else I would rather do.”

Wei Wuxian heads off with the promise of meeting back in their room, as soon as he’s deposited A-Yuan in Wen-popo’s care. There’s a thrumming in Lan Wangji’s chest as he watches him walk away. A thrumming that starts and ends with Wei Wuxian. It’s clear by now that nothing can ever stop him feeling this way, not even Wei Wuxian himself.

On his way to their room, Lan Wangji makes a detour and collects a couple of jars of wine for Wei Wuxian, feeling a strange sort of shyness. He hopes no one sees him with the jars in hand. The flush on his face and the spring in his step are embarrassing enough as they are.

He places the jars on the table inside their room and sets out two cups, even though he’s seen Wei Wuxian drink straight from the jar countless times. Today if Wei Wuxian asks for it, Lan Wangji will drink for him. Lan Wangji will do anything that Wei Wuxian wants. His face and ears burn with his thoughts.

He catches sight of himself in the bronze mirror by the bed and huffs. His cheeks are flushed, his hair dishevelled. Only the hairpin sits immaculately, shining away. He brushes and tucks away the errant strands of hair and makes sure his forehead ribbon is straight. 

The thought of Wei Wuxian removing it crosses his mind and he feels like he might melt away. The room becomes warmer and his sandalwood scent fills the space. With slightly sweaty hands he removes his outer robe. To cool down. His inner robe is thin and flimsy. He hopes it looks good.

It’s unlike him to feel so jittery, and yet he cannot help it. He busies himself with neatening the already neat room, brushing away nonexistent dirt and straightening invisible creases. Then he settles down by the table, arranging his hair over one shoulder.

The cups and jars get repositioned several times, even though he knows it matters very little. But waiting has never been so difficult. Every moment spent without Wei Wuxian has finally caught up with him. He wants to spend the rest of his life by Wei Wuxian’s side, listening to everything he has to say, sharing with him his every thought. So he waits.

And he waits, and he waits some more. But Wei Wuxian does not come. An embarrassingly long amount of time passes. Wen-popo’s room is not far from theirs at all, not far enough for it to take so long. 

Perhaps it’s a miscommunication, he tells himself, or perhaps there’s some hold up. Wei Wuxian’s parents might have given him some task to do. He doesn’t fault Wei Wuxian if that’s the case. Though he wishes he knew what was going on. 

Of course he could go looking for Wei Wuxian, it’s now his own house too after all. But what little pride he has left will not allow it. He does not wish to seem desperate. Not anymore than he’s already shown himself to be.

As time passes, it becomes more and more difficult to stop his heart from sinking. It all starts to feel like a humiliating repeat of their wedding night. Or of a night much further back, under the starry Gusu sky; kissed by Wei Wuxian on the steps of the Jingshi and coaxed into baring his heart, only to be cruelly rejected come morn. 

The room has gotten colder once again. Still he sits there in his single, thin layer, feeling too foolish with shame to get up and put his outer robe back on.

Long after the sun has set and the moon has risen in the sky, the door of the room creaks open. Lan Wangji blinks tiredly as Wei Wuxian enters.

“Oh.” He looks surprised to see Lan Wangji, as if this isn’t his room too. “I’m so sorry, Lan Zhan. I got caught up with something. I hope you weren’t waiting for me.” He speaks quickly, words tumbling over each other, and doesn’t quite look at him. “I’m just going to go wash up,” he says, and hurries back the way he came.

And that’s when Lan Wangji smells it. A strange, foreign smell emanating from Wei Wuxian’s direction. Immediately Lan Wangji is up on his feet, striding after Wei Wuxian just as he’s about to re-open the door. He grabs him by the arm and turns him around, inhaling deeply through his nose. 

When the smell finally registers, Lan Wangji’s stomach sinks to the ground. “Why does my alpha smell of a bitch in heat?”

Wei Wuxian looks like he’s been caught at the scene of a crime, the murder weapon lodged deep in Lan Wangji’s abdomen. “W—What? I don’t know what you mean, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji pushes him back into the door. “I said, why does my alpha smell of a bitch in heat?” he repeats, spitting the words out this time. His grip tightens around Wei Wuxian’s arm. The sound of his blood rushing in his ears is loud.

“Lan Zhan, it’s not what you think.” Wei Wuxian deflates in his hold. “I was just helping Wen Ning. He’s not feeling well and—” 

“And what, Wei Ying?” He crowds right in, leaving no space between them, trying to make Wen Ning’s scent disappear. “You are no doctor. What do you have to offer an omega in heat? Except this.” He gets a leg between Wei Wuxian’s, their bodies pressed together. He can feel the unmistakable shape of his cock against his leg, not entirely soft. It makes him burn with desire. It makes him feel sick to think anyone else could have caused it.

“It’s not like that,” Wei Wuxian says firmly, and flips them around so that Lan Wangji’s back hits the door. “You know it isn’t.” 

Lan Wangji grabs him by the collar and pulls him closer, close enough that they are breathing in each other’s air. “You smell of his slick.” He yanks the collar open in disgust and gets his hands on Wei Wuxian’s bare neck, rubbing his wrists into his skin. Furiously trying to replace every trace of Wen Ning. 

“I carried him to his bed when he fainted.” Wei Wuxian takes hold of his wrists and leans into them, rubbing himself willingly against Lan Wangji’s scent glands, nuzzling into his touch. 

Lan Wangji’s breathing becomes ragged. He tries to wrench his hands away but Wei Wuxian tightens his hold. So he pushes both arms outwards with force. But Wei Wuxian uses the momentum to pin Lan Wangji’s wrists behind him, between his back and the door. The full length of their bodies are aligned, Wei Wuxian’s lips brushing against the shell of his ear.

His own face is almost buried into the crook of Wei Wuxian’s neck. Here the smell of Wen Ning is no longer present. There is only the sweet, intoxicating scent of Wei Wuxian mingling with Lan Wangji’s own sandalwood. It draws him in, his nose dragging against the scent gland. He wants to kiss, to lick and drown in it. He bites Wei Wuxian’s bare shoulder instead, wanting to be released from his hold.

But Wei Wuxian doesn’t cry out in pain or let him go as hoped. He just takes Lan Wangji’s ear into his mouth sucking and biting at the sensitive lobe. Lan Wangji’s jaw automatically unlocks. He’s left open-mouthed and exhaling roughly into Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. Quite helplessly he rubs his face against Wei Wuxian’s neck, right where his scent gland is, breathing in so deep.

It takes a great effort to pull himself away. He’s embarrassingly out of breath. The smell of Wen Ning still lingers in Wei Wuxian’s clothes, a bitter reminder of the truth. He ducks away from Wei Wuxian’s mouth at his ear.

“Do you really expect me to believe you held an unmated omega in heat, dripping with slick, and did not mount him?” He sounds as bitter as he feels. 

“Yes.”

“And why is that?” Lan Wangji scoffs. Wei Wuxian must think him stupid. 

Wei Wuxian releases his arms, only to brings his hands up to Lan Wangji’s face, holding it gently. “Because I want you, Lan Zhan,” he says softly. “Only you.”

For a long moment Lan Wangji can only gaze at him with wide eyes. These are the words he’s been longing to hear. For years he has wanted nothing more. But he knows the reality is quite different. “You want me,” he says. “And yet everything you do suggests otherwise.” He finally pushes Wei Wuxian away.

“Like what?” Wei Wuxian steps forward, frustrated.

Lan Wangji could laugh at the audacity. “Until today you had not even touched me. Not once. Your own husband, before the heavens and the earth.” His throat feels like it might close up. “Is this what you call ‘want’?” He shoulders past Wei Wuxian into the room, not wanting to see him any longer. 

“Don’t pretend my touch would have been welcome.” Wei Wuxian follows after him. “You’ve shunned me and all my efforts to win your heart since the very start!” He sounds angry now, as if he has any right to be. “Neither your heart nor your body are in this marriage, Lan Zhan. Admit it.”

Lan Wangji whirls around to face him again. “Your lies know no end.”

“Lies?” Wei Wuxian walks towards him. Lan Wangji steps away but feels the bed hit the back of his legs. “How many months have you been here now? And yet you’ve not gone into heat. I know you’ve been taking herbs to prevent it. Is that a lie? Do you deny that?” 

Lan Wangji’s eyes widen at being caught. He cannot deny it so he remains decidedly mum. He hadn’t expected Wei Wuxian to realise. 

“But I haven’t said a word, not a word!” They stand practically nose to nose now. “Even though my own omega wishes to reserve his heats for someone else!”

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji shoves him away, furious. “How dare you say that?” He gives him another shove. “You accuse me when you are the one to come home smelling of some stray omega!” He pushes Wei Wuxian with both hands.

“Enough, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian finally pushes him back, hard. He stumbles backwards and sits down onto the bed roughly. “You will not talk about Wen Ning like that!”

Lan Wangji’s fingers curl into the sheets, his nails digging into the mattress. He has crossed the point of enraged. “Are you in love with him? Do you despise me because you wish it were him in your bed every night and not me?”

“I only love you!” Wei Wuxian exclaims, grabbing at his own hair. “I have only ever desired you! I ache every night when we lay in bed together and I cannot touch you.” He reaches out and gently holds Lan Wangji’s chin. “Do you know how hard you are to resist, Lan Zhan? Any alpha would go mad with it.”

Lan Wangji’s heart pounds madly, threatening to leap right out of his rib cage. He looks up at Wei Wuxian, eyes hopeful and hungry. “Who told you to resist, Wei Ying?” he says quietly, and hears Wei Wuxian inhale roughly. “A real alpha would have taken me on our wedding night,” he goads him further. “He would not have given me the chance to resist. A real alpha would have made me want it.”

Instead of becoming angry, Wei Wuxian rubs his thumb over Lan Wangji’s lower lip, watching him carefully. “But I do not need to make you,” he says finally, a hue of amusement painting his face. “You already want it, don’t you, Lan Zhan? You ache for it, the way I ache for you.”

Lan Wangji tries to bite at his thumb to get him to back off. However Wei Wuxian moves his hands to either side of his face and bends so that they’re at eye level. He brushes his fingers lightly over his jaw, his neck, then back to his face. He holds him in place as he brushes the tips of their noses together.

“Since that morning before sword practice,” he says into the minimal space between their mouths. Lan Wangji makes a noise of shock when he realises what Wei Wuxian is saying. “Don’t try to deny it, Lan Zhan. I knew you were there, I could smell you.”

“Let go of me,” Lan Wangji says. But he makes no move to get away, cornered as he is.

Wei Wuxian laughs softly. “It seems like you’ve been aching for it for years.”

It’s a vicious attack and Lan Wangji no longer sees an escape for himself. “I have,” he admits quietly. “Since I first laid eyes on you.” He has nothing left to lose. “And not a day has gone by since, where I have not wanted you just as immensely.”

The mocking laughter disappears from Wei Wuxian’s face, leaving behind something wondrous. “Lan Zhan…” he breathes, a tremor in his voice. “Lan Zhan.” And before Lan Wangji can say anything more, he leans in the rest of the way and kisses him.

“Tell me you’re not lying, that you’re not just playing with my heart,” he says when he pulls away from the kiss. He sounds strangely desperate. “Please.”

“I am not cruel. I do not play with hearts or make false promises,” Lan Wangji says bitterly. “That is your forte.”

Wei Wuxian kisses him again. “I didn't mean to break my promise, Lan Zhan. Believe me, I swear.” His eyes look sad, downcast. “There is nothing I regret more than leaving the Cloud Recesses, than leaving you behind. My heart and soul have not been with me since.”

“Then why did you leave, Wei Ying?” Lan Wangji’s heart hammers, compelled to believe what Wei Wuxian is saying, to fall for his words once again. “After I’d told you I loved you. After telling me you felt the same, that you would marry me. Was it just a joke to you?”

Wei Wuxian quite literally falls to his knees before him, his hands taking hold of Lan Wangji’s. “No, no, Lan Zhan! Never. Never would I do such a thing. Every word I said that night was the truth.” He kisses Lan Wangji’s knuckles then his palm, and then says very sadly, “But it would’ve disgraced you, Lan Zhan. It would’ve ruined your future.”

“What?” Lan Wangji’s confusion overshadows the joy he feels at hearing Wei Wuxian’s confession. “What are you talking about?”

“Eloping with the son of a servant when you’re already betrothed,” Wei Wuxian says, as if it should be obvious. “People would not have been kind to you, Lan Zhan. Your family said they would disown you and—”

“Since when was I betrothed?” he asks, feeling hysterical. “Your excuses are becoming more and more pathetic, Wei Ying.” His hands are still firmly clasped by Wei Wuxian so he tries to kick him away instead.

But Wei Wuxian takes hold of his ankle and places his foot on his own thigh. “You were betrothed to Jin Zixuan,” he says with a frown. “Your elders told me, they warned me not to ruin your life.”

“Well they lied!” Lan Wangji exclaims, furious. It’s not hard to believe that Jin Guangshan’s influence would reach as far as the Lan elders. He swears to himself to make those old bastards pay for their lies.

“What? How can that be?” Wei Wuxian seems genuinely baffled.

“Jin Guangshan sent a proposal for himself. And I rejected him, again and again! You heard me say as much to his face, did you not?”

“But I thought— Jin Guangshan?” Wei Wuxian looks both furious and sickened. Exactly how Lan Wangji felt about the proposal.

“Either way, you think I would not have broken it off for you?” Lan Wangji continues. “That I would not have chosen you over him, over anyone, anything, no matter the cost?” 

“I thought you would be better off without me. That you would be happier.”

“You did not want me and I still rejected every proposal that came my way. Because I could not fathom being with anyone but you, Wei Ying! Do you understand?” It’s like ripping his heart right out of his chest and laying it out, bleeding and entirely at Wei Wuxian’s mercy. “You are the only one I will ever love…”

Wei Wuxian stares at him with wide, devastated eyes. “I’m so sorry, Lan Zhan,” he whispers, and then bows his head so that it rests in Lan Wangji’s lap.

He stays there for a while, shoulders heaving but not a sound comes out of his mouth. Lan Wangji places a hesitant hand on his head. He is here now, and that’s all that matters. He is here and Lan Wangji has never loved him more.

When he finally lifts his head, his eyes are wet with tears. His thumb is rubbing circles into Lan Wangji’s ankle. “We could have been married for years, Lan Zhan,” he laughs wetly. “We would’ve had our own children by now.”

Lan Wangji inhales raggedly. He has to swallow before he can speak. “We are married now.”

Wei Wuxian watches his reaction for a moment too long. “We are,” he says, and kisses Lan Wangji’s knee. Then he lingers there, nuzzling his face into Lan Wangji’s lap.

It makes his breath catch. “Wei Ying,” he says, hand clenching in Wei Wuxian’s hair.

“Hmm?” Wei Wuxian absently responds. His hand travels up from Lan Wangji’s ankle to his calf, fingertips digging in. He bites lightly at the top of Lan Wangji’s thigh through the thin material of his robe. “You smell so good, Lan Zhan. You always have.” It’s like the words trigger his traitorous body, his deep sandalwood smell getting even stronger. Wei Ying inhales deeply. “Mm, so good.” He nuzzles deeper, moving upwards.

Lan Wangji gasps quietly. He’s already embarrassingly hard and is beginning to tent the rumpled fabric gathered in his lap. Wei Wuxian will be able to feel it if he moves just an inch or so further. The room suddenly feels too warm. He wishes Wei Wuxian would do away with his flimsy robe and cover the distance. The shamelessness of his thoughts surprises him. “Wei Ying.” 

“Yes, my love?” Wei Wuxian looks up, but still does not move from where his face is nestled in Lan Wangji’s lap. His eyes are blown wide and dark, a blush dusting his beautiful features. He kisses Lan Wangji’s hand where it’s still resting in his hair. Then he kisses lower, at his wrist where his pulse throbs and his scent gland is tingling.

He looks right at Lan Wangji as he brushes his lips against the sensitive gland, first light and then with purpose. His mouth parts and the first open mouthed kiss at his wrist feels like enough to send Lan Wangji over the edge. He clenches his teeth around another gasp as the kisses become wetter, as Wei Ying bites at the gland like he’s claiming it, like he’s claiming Lan Wangji.

It takes a terrible amount of effort to not simply fall back and present himself to his alpha. Lan Wangji squirms in place as Wei Wuxian makes his way up his arm, pushing Lan Wangji’s sleeve out of the way. He bites the crook of Lan Wangji’s elbow and laughs when it causes him to jolt.

Lan Wangji huffs and pushes him away before he can get any closer than he already is. “Stop.” He pushes Wei Wuxian away when he tries to lean back in. Wei Wuxian looks up at him with a pitiful expression on his face and it almost makes Lan Wangji laugh. “Your robes.” He’s too embarrassed to say anymore. All he can do is turn his nose up disdainfully, hoping Wei Wuxian will understand.

Wei Wuxian smirks in understanding. “You want me out of my clothes, Lan Zhan?” He makes quick work of his belt and wrist guards. “You want me that bad?” He balls up his outer robe and flings it across the room.

The last bit of tension finally leaves Lan Wangji’s body, now that the foreign omega smell is far away. He doesn’t even refute Wei Wuxian’s shameless teasing. The sight of the beautiful sculpted bare chest before him is enough to steal his breath away. He grabs Wei Wuxian by the shoulders and pulls him close again.

Wei Wuxian laughs into his mouth. “You really do want me.”

They kiss open mouthed and wet, the desperation palpable in both of them. Lan Wangji feels like swallowing him whole, like being consumed by him. His hands drag hungrily over Wei Wuxian’s bare skin, still not able to get enough of him. He lets Wei Wuxian push him back into the bed and climb over him. He might let Wei Wuxian do anything he desires to him right now.

The change in position makes Lan Wangji realise just how wet he’s become between his legs. Wei Wuxian’s body over his, his sweet scent, the unmistakable feeling of his hard length, all make him even wetter, even more desperate. “Please,” he whispers, not entirely sure what he’s asking for. Anything, everything. He’s far past the point of shame, too gone for his alpha to care for propriety.

Wei Wuxian’s had is around Lan Wangji’s neck, his thumb at his scent gland. He strokes circles into the skin, digging in occasionally to see Lan Wangji’s eyes flutter shut. “Beautiful,” he marvels quietly. “You’re so beautiful, Lan Zhan.” He drags his nose down Lan Wangji’s jaw until he reaches his scent gland and inhales deeply. “Fuck,” he groans, and then latches onto the sensitive skin with his wet mouth.

Lan Wangji jolts and squirms. The feeling is unlike anything he’s felt before, hazy and overwhelming. He can distantly hear the sound of muted whimpers. It takes a long while before he realises the sounds are coming from his own mouth. But he does not care. Wei Wuxian’s tongue drags over the gland, his teeth grazing lightly over the surface of his skin. Right where he could bite, where he should bite. It must be bruised and raw by now, a weak imitation of how it will look once Wei Wuxian claims him. 

Wei Wuxian seems to be having the same thoughts, as he lifts his head just slightly, panting into Lan Wangji’s ear, “Want to bite you so bad, Lan Zhan. Make you mine, once and for all.” He nips at the tingling skin again, dangerously hard this time. “My omega, just mine.”

“I am yours,” Lan Wangji tells him, equally breathless. “Always have been.”

Wei Wuxian kisses him in response, hard and unrelenting, like he’s making up for not biting into his neck by biting at his lips. Their lower halves meet and they both shudder. The feeling is like no other as they grind against each other. Lan Wangji could get lost in it. It’s so good to be held so close by Wei Wuxian, rubbing against him. He feels himself getting close already, and hardly feels any shame about it.

But Wei Wuxian pulls away with an abrupt, “Fuck!” Lan Wangji flounders for a moment before he realises what Wei Wuxian is after. “I need to see you, Lan Zhan. I need to touch you,” he says, and goes to remove Lan Wangji’s clothes.

Lan Wangji lets him, at the same time removing his forehead ribbon and tossing it aside. It’s just in time, as Wei Wuxian gets him completely naked within the blink of an eye, and spreads his legs.

“Fuck…” Wei Wuxian trails off, sounding reverent.

Lan Wangji’s whole body burns pink under the attention. But he lies there, writhing as Wei Wuxian runs his hands up his body, starting from his legs, up his thighs, digging his thumbs into the softer flesh. Then further up, skirting past his exposed, wet cock and instead rubbing his hands up and down the panes of his abdomen, digging into his chest as he situates himself between Lan Wangji’s legs.

Then he pushes Lan Wangji’s legs up and stops short. “Fuck, look how wet you are, Lan Zhan!” He has his eyes trained between Lan Wangji’s legs, unblinking like he doesn’t wish to miss a detail. Lan Wangji squirms, trying to get away. But he feels himself get even wetter and moans out loud, knowing Wei Wuxian sees it too. 

Wei Wuxian traces his fingers ever so lightly between Lan Wangji’s legs, from his balls, between the cleft of his cheeks, dragging over his dripping wet hole and back again. The touch is hardly even there but still has Lan Wangji gasping.

And then Wei Wuxian brings his wet fingers to his own mouth and tastes them. Lan Wangji nearly bucks off the bed at the sight. Wei Wuxian licks and sucks at his fingertips greedily, like he doesn’t want to leave even a droplet of his slick untasted. He looks completely obscene, mouth hollowed around his own fingers. 

“You taste so fucking good, Lan Zhan,” he tells him. “So, so good.” He sucks and licks his own lips, tasting the leftover residue of slick on his lips. “I'm going to eat you out for hours one day.”

And if Lan Wangji was wet before, now he feels like he’s dripping. Wei Wuxian notices how he reacts to the words and smirks. “You’d like that wouldn’t you?” He tilts his head in playful thought. “Well if you’re good for me then maybe I’ll do it later on tonight.” He quickly divests himself of his pants and gets back between Lan Wangji’s legs. “But not right now. First I have to fuck you. And then I can lick my come out of your hole, hmm?”

Lan Wangji’s cock twitches and spurts precome at the same time as his hole twitches and dribbles. He instinctively widens his legs, inviting Wei Wuxian in without even needing to be told.

“Good boy,” Wei Wuxian muses, and lifts his legs up so that his hole is bared to him entirely, twitching and leaking as it is. Then he takes his own cock and pushes it right inside Lan Wangji. 

Lan Wangji nearly lurches off the bed. The intrusion is unlike anything he could have possibly imagined, and in no way comparable to his own fingers. Wei Wuxian’s cock is long and thick and despite Lan Wangji being wet and more than willing, it still feels like a tight fit. His walls squeeze around the length, struggling to accommodate it.

But he wants it so much. He wants it so much that he forces himself to breathe deeply and relax, so that Wei Wuxian’s cock can slide in the rest of the way and make himself at home, nestled deep inside Lan Wangji’s hole.

“Oh fuck, you’re so tight,” Wei Wuxian grunts and kisses him. It’s slobbery and aimless and Lan Wangji loves it. “So tight and perfect.”

Slowly he starts to move. Lan Wangji winces, the stretch burning despite the way his slick gushes around Wei Wuxian’s cock. But it feels so good. To have his alpha nestled deep inside him, giving himself over to Wei Wuxian to do with as he pleases. His legs widen further.

Wei Wuxian’s thrusts begin to get deeper, more meaningful. Each movement sets Lan Wangji alight. He feels pleasure in ways and places that he has never thought possible before. “Wei Ying, Wei Ying,” he moans repeatedly, unable to stop himself.

Wei Wuxian finds his way back to the crook of Lan Wangji’s neck. “Lan Zhan,” he breathes into his ear. “You feel so good. Fuck. Like you were made for me.” And Lan Wangji likes the thought of that, being made just for Wei Wuxian. “My omega, my husband.”

He thrusts so deep Lan Wangji can feel it in the back of his throat. “Husband,” Lan Wangji repeats, feeling dazed. “My husband, Wei Ying.”

“Fuck…” Wei Wuxian gasps. “You’re so good, Lan Zhan. So perfect.” He kisses Lan Wangji’s jaw, his ear. “I love, fuck— love you so much.”

And then he latches onto Lan Wangji’s scent gland once again. Lan Wangji completely loses track of all of the places he’s feeling pleasure in. Wei Wuxian’s saccharine scent feels like a physical weight, a thick cloud in the room, weighing him down, choking him, but in the best way possible. In the same way his neck tingles and his insides clench around Wei Wuxian.

In the same way that the pleasure brims inside him, creeping closer and closer to its peak. He can hear himself panting Wei Wuxian’s name again and again. His fingers dig into Wei Wuxian’s broad shoulders as he feels himself about to lose control. The stretch of the cock fucking inside him seems to become impossibly tighter, thicker.

“I, fuck—” Wei Wuxian struggles to speak, sweat dripping from his brow, face flushed beautifully. “Lan Zhan, I can’t hold back anymore. I have to pull out or else—”

“What?” The daze clears enough for Lan Wangji to realise Wei Wuxian truly is trying to pull out. He wraps his legs tightly around his waist and pulls him back in, holding him impossibly close, buried deep inside.

“My knot, Lan Zhan.” He thrusts shallowly, a strained look on his face. “If I keep going I’m going to—”

“Keep going.”

“Ah, fuck!” Wei Wuxian yells and thrusts so shockingly deep inside him, Lan Wangji’s eyes roll back with how good it feels. “You want me to knot you, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji doesn’t reply. He can’t. The new angle hits somewhere inside him that has him seeing stars with every thrust. And Wei Wuxian’s cock is now obviously swelling, catching on his rim with every movement. 

Wei Wuxian grabs his face, forcing Lan Wangji to look at him. “You want me to knot you, Lan Zhan? Tell me. Do you want me to fill you with my come?”

The words alone are enough to wreck him but being made to admit it does something else to him entirely. “Yes.” He burns as he admits it aloud. “Please.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes glint menacingly. He continues fucking ruthlessly into Lan Zhan. “You want me to fill your wet little hole up. Plug you so tight with my fat alpha knot that you can’t get away.”

“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji thrashes, feeling his orgasm right within grasp. “Wei Ying, please.”

“You want me to knock you up in the first go, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji instantly loses it. His head rolls back as he comes, completely untouched, painting stripes of come over Wei Wuxian’s and his own torso. His hole clenches unbelievably tighter around Wei Wuxian’s cock as waves of pleasure run endlessly through him.

“Fuck,” Wei Wuxian moans. “I’ll knot you every night, make it impossible for you to not get knocked up.” He hammers into Lan Wangji, knot swelling impossibly. “Everyone will know that you’re mine, Lan Zhan. I’ll spread you out and fuck you full every night.” His words are becoming slurrier, more breathless. “Fill you up with my babies, our babies.”

And just as the last words leave his mouth, his hips stutter and he comes right inside Lan Wangji as promised, chanting Lan Wangji’s name.

Lan Wangji clenches some more, his spent cock twitching between them. Wei Wuxian’s come is never ending, spurting inside him continually. It feels so strangely good, plugged with Wei Wuxian’s knot, being pumped full, true to his words.

He wraps his arms tightly around Wei Wuxian, unwilling to ever let go. Perhaps everything Wei Wuxian promised tonight will come true. Perhaps even the seed inside him will take, despite this being their very first night together.

Lan Wangji will just have to wait and see.