Lan Xichen had woken up with a mild throb in his head at late night and found Wanyin sleeping on the floor with his head on the bed, near his own head. For a moment, he was taken by surprise then he remembered the last thing, Wanyin looking at him as his insides burned with the alcohol he had consumed. If he could, he would curse himself for being impulsive but with Wanyin around, this seems to be a natural occurrence.
He held back a sigh and indulged himself in studying those sharp edges everywhere, from his brows to temple lines, to his nose, and the jaw. His favourite was the eyes that would look soft while he is sleeping but threw around lightening at every possible thing while awake. He had also come to see a new side to his beloved, the side that can be teased at the smallest thing and can tease back with fierce intensity. The bruise on his lip had taken two days to vanish. It had been a rise of calmness and teasings and more stolen kisses in each other's rooms. And despite the palpable tension post those kisses, neither of them had made a move but laid down talking into the night before either of them drifts to sleep.
He couldn't help but imagine life married to Wanyin, full of angry eyes, reproachful looks and small smiled, long peaceful walks. But something bugged him and Wanyin had seen it before he had. They were both sect leaders and had sect responsibilities. They could always try going back and forth between CLoud Recess and Lotus Pier but wouldn't Wanyin get fed up with it? He could easily see that happening in the future. Neither Wanyin nor himself are the kind of people to jump into the fire without a thought but that is what he has been doing for some time now, ever since Wanyin walked back into his life to hand-pick him up from the pit of despair.
His thoughts come to a halt as the man stirred. He held his breath, a few moments passed, then he got down and picked Wanyin to put him in bed when there was a loud knock on the door.
"Sect Leader Jiang." Lady Zhou called from the door and Lan Huan is caught in an awkward position with his hands stuck under Wanyin as he is on the bed while Wanyin snaps his eyes open. It takes Wanyin a moment to come to his surroundings and he didn't know why he had not retraced his hands back.
"Dinner is here. Can I come in?"
"No." Wanyin called out in a loud voice. He finally retracted his hands while Wanyin attended to the door, gave accusatory gratitude which Lan Huan did not particularly like but didn't comment on either.
When Wanyin returned to place the food on the table, he is still standing. Then he took the previous trays and handed them out. He realised that Wanyin did not allow anyone in the room, probably because of his drunken state or does he want to keep them a secret? Not knowing how to feel he just sat on the bed still looking at the man walking over to him now.
"She was only bringing in dinner." he didn't understand why Wanyin was reassuring him and didn't know how to reply. Most of all, he is too tongue-tied from not remembering what happened between drinking that strong flavour and getting to sleep in Wanyin's bed with Wanyin on the floor instead of being in bed.
"You must be parched," Wanyin added before pouring him some water from the bedside. He really was parched. He handed back the cup and Wanyin poured him more. This happened about two more times before he looked up to say, "I am full."
Wanyin was smiling at him. Not smiling, Wanyin was grinning at him and he was weary to ask why.
"What happened while I was drunk?" Now Wanyin wasn't grinning anymore. Worse, he was smirking, one side of his face stretched out to the extreme. Lan Huan felt like he had to be mentally prepared for what was to come next but Wanyin fell back into a light smile suddenly and walked back to the food.
"I will tell you sometime. For now, let's eat. You did not have lunch."
Lan Huan breathed in relief. Too soon. "Aiya. Almost forgot. So, you remember any of it?"
The wide smile on Wanyin's face told him that he will not like what comes after his answer either way. No use lying which he wouldn't have chosen any way, to begin with. He composed himself and sat opposite the man, looking at his food instead of the man, "No."
"So, you don't remember being jealous of Lady Zhou?"
His hand that was about to reach for the food stopped. He could hear the teasing tone and heat began to flood his face. Furthermore, Lan Huan couldn't find any more things to say while Wanyin didn't say anything. Eventually, he picked his food and looked over at Wanyin who has simply not touched anything and was still smiling. He comes clean.
"She likes you and her family likes you for her. She is also a potential match for Sect Leader Jiang." Lan Huan had difficulty keeping his voice level but with satisfaction saw that he was not the only one flushed now. Wanyin began to do the same as he stutters away, "But.. I do not like her... I.. like you"
Though Wanyin was already not looking at him, he turned further away and colour fills his cheek. Lan Xichen stops once again. He would never get over listening to those words. As per nature, Wanyin snaped.
"Let's just eat. And stop smiling." He hadn't realised he was doing that. Lan Huan could only think about what other embarrassing things he had said or done while drunk, so he dare not broach a topic. At the end of the meal, Wanyin cleared his throat to speak.
Lan Huan noted he was beyond flushed, even veins stood at his temple, taunt. He quickly found out why.
"I am only going to say this once. No repeating. So listen carefully. I have a bad temperament.." he made a doubtful, disagreeable noise but Wanyin continued, "I am moody, foul-mouthed and will not be able to devote time to you. Moreover, as two sect leaders, all our lives would be about going back and forth for some sparse time together. We might not be able to stand together in health and sickness nor in happy or sad times. We can be lovers but might not be able to be partners. This is the only forever scenario we can have together but I wish to marry you if you are ready to deal with these things lifelong because I know there will be no one else for me."
With every word steadily flowing from Wanyin, Lan Huan's insides turned into the softest sweet from Caiyi town. He opened his mouth to respond when the person in front of him shuddered with a deep breath, but only the last few words came out, "No one else for me."
Wanyin did not respond to that, if possible, his face swelled with how embarrassed he was right now.
"I..." he couldn't form any other coherent sentence immediately.
"Don't answer now." he saw Wanyin start to get up with a wave of his dismissive hand but Lan Huan came before him to intercept before the other could rush away.
"Yes." he had already thought of these issues and knew what he wanted to do. He filled his hands with Wanyin's face and crushed himself to the man in the fever of the only confession he is ever going to hear, if he goes by what Wanyin had said earlier. He sees the calm wash over Wanyin, something he has been seeing a lot more lately. Neither turns away from the other as the air feels thick between them demanding to be shoved away but none of them moved. The feeling hangs in the air, the unanswered want of the other. Lan Huan can see that Wanyin wants him just as much.
"Would you take three bows with me at the Ancestral hall?"
"Yes." Lan Huan feels the gravity in Wanyin's unflushed, direct eye-contact and knows that it is perhaps the only tie between them that is holding the two back. It is perhaps the most awkward immediate reaction to the want but he knew that this what they both wanted, this what they were both waiting for and that is all it will take for the last wall to fall away.
So, he silently followed Wanyin into the night between many passages and found himself at an honorable place, all anticipation and need replaced with happiness and a giddy promise of an entire future together. Then his heart stopped, picked up and he was thrown over the edge.
His Ribbon
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His ribbon came undone with a hook of a sharp finger and Zidan flashed before his eyes.
The image, the feeling, Wanyin's eyes, the setting, everything about that moment will forever be etched in his memory; into his soul to be carried into his next life or immortality. And so will the image of a bashful Wanyin, under him, telling him to stop looking. But he couldn't help it. To be bare before one another and still have Wanyin blush because of something as simple as looking, Lan Huan knew he wanted to make his husband blush all his life.
So he lets the red spread before he dived into the crook of the soft skin between the collarbone and the neck that he had found in those times when the heat of a kiss had strayed too far and Wanyin had moaned.
"Huan-er" the moan filled with his name, pushed him into latching on to that soft spot. He had been called Lan Huan more recently and Huan maybe one time and to skirt to endearing terms from Wanyin was a pleasurable ride in itself. They rode on the ecstasy of his name filled with controlled, rattled moans as the night progressed. Lan Huan was slow and sensual, discovering Wanyin and whenever overcome by impatience, he'd let Wanyin flip them and explore. When exhausted, Wanyin would collapse and he would take the lead. The back and forth, built up in him more and more with each touch and teasing.
Right now he was teasing the rim, getting to see how long Wanyin can struggle between embarrassment and impatience.
"Just come on already." Lan Xichen felt himself twitch against Wanyin's thigh listening to the voice that was supposed to be stern but comes out breathy and pleading. Some day he'd like for his husband to plead properly, when he is comfortable with it, for now, this will have to do and so he touches and prods, checking for discomfort but the trembling mess from of Wanyin opens his eyes, sits up straight with lightening flashing across those eyes in impatience, and does something that undoes him.
Wanyin sits straight up, looking at him. Grabs his member with one firm grip and used the other hand to plug Lan Huan's finger within himself without warning. His body shudders at the sudden boldness and rawness, feeling the heat and tightness and most of all the way Wanyin hisses but never closes his eyes. The fast rhythm of himself being palmed coupled with the impatient, hungry and bold Wanyin pushes his restraint away and without much preparation he lines himself.
The room filled with hisses that turned to screams and heavy breathings, mingled together with his own pants and Lan Xichen could barely remember to throw up silencing wards and hope that it was not too late for it, sometimes during all that. It was only at the crack of dawn that they fell asleep and soon after he woke up only to be lulled back to sleep with Wanyin's peaceful face and even breathing.
Lan Xichen did nothing but lay with his husband all day, neither talking about the eventual parting that was upon them. He was not going to make this a regular thing between them. He had something in mind even if it took a long time, it would come to fruit. It will also give him enough time to have Wanyin warm up to the idea.
As the sun threatened to set, Lan Xichen collected himself for his goodbye and thought of how to get the words out without saying the words himself. After some contemplation, he made Wanyin turn who was setting them an early dinner table.
"I love you. I will miss you and think of you every moment. I promise that the future you see for us, always tied down by our duties, never truly being able to be together, will change it. I will change it. It might be a few months or a few years but I promise to change it."
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Lan Xichen stood shocked, well, kneeled shocked, in front of his uncle as he roared and scolded and huffed. Not because he was here to seek permission to marry Wanyin but because his uncle thinking Wanyin has been a better nephew-in-law than any of his nephews and Wei Wuxian combined had ever been to him.
"Uncle? Nephew-in-law?" He could barely find his voice.
"Or what? The way you have been pursuing Sect Leader Jiang, did you think it would go unnoticed? Had Jiang Wanyin not been a composed man and a capable sect leader, you would have turned out just like Wangji. What did I ever do wrong in my upbringing of my nephews that they don't even consider me in their decisions?"
Lan Xichen refrained from pointing out that it wasn't an upbringing flaw, it was his uncle's tendency to deny any self-indulgent actions like marrying for love that caused the problem.
"You are not opposed?"
"What will come out of it? You will just go ahead and marry anyway as Wangji did. And Sect Leader Jiang is much better than Master Wei as far as cultivation partners go." Despite the words, Lan Xichen saw how close his uncle was to losing his temper. He had so many questions but he chose to accept what was coming instead of hindering it himself.
"So, Can I have your blessings?"
"Sect Leader Jiang asked me for my blessings already. You both have them. I have found a date for the wedding, four months from now. You will be living separately three months prior to the wedding."
Lan Xichen could do nothing but stare.
-----
"What did you do to my uncle?" was the first thing Lan Huan asked when he landed, right from the skies in front of his room in the dead of the night. Jiang Cheng could only shuffle and throw the doors open to find a pair of grey clouds in front of him.
Words melted away and so did his answer. There wasn't much to answer anyway, he didn't know what he did.
"What did you say to my uncle for him to readily agree to this marriage?" Lan Huan held both his arms tightly and shook him like a paper doll. He patiently went to remove those large hands and pulled the large to sit and planted himself near.
"I told him you had proposed marriage. I asked if he would give his blessing if I agreed to the proposal."
"And he did? Tell me everything." Wanyin was once again pulled in by the man and Lan Huan placed his arm around Wanyin's shoulders. Wanyin threw his feet to the side, stretched out from the day's tiring events and laid his head on the shoulder, causing Huan to make small adjustments in his hold.
"He reasoned."
"What did he say?"
"The same things that I said. We are sect leaders and the union would be blessed but a difficult one. It would also dim your and my chances to find a relationship like Hanguan Jun's. Also, about offsprings." He felt himself holding back shivers and hurried on, glossing over that last part.
"There is no one to find. For me. Told him as much. As for offsprings, I will be willing to adopt if my partner is. Wei Wuxian did and I already have Jin Ling in my care. Did tell him that I have affection towards..." saying it out loud was too embarrassing and he did not want to see Huan's smile at his expense, "anyways it would also be a good show as a political marriage and our separate stays would be considered viable with occasional visits. Jin Ling would also benefit from the alliance."
He hesitated a little to say the next words.
"He did say.. Umm.. you wouldn't... Propose without amicable feelings."
He couldn't find himself talking about it.
"Whatever. Grandmaster Lan was very polite and wanted to talk to your first before he gave me any permission but I did inform him and I guess that is all that matters."
Lan Huan did not say a word during that and for a long time, Lan Huan did not say anything after. Wanyin had to peel himself away to glimpse at the man and his expression was indiscernible. When he was beginning to think that perhaps he had crossed a line, Lan Huan spoke up.
"Your relationship with my uncle unnerves me." If it wasn't for the voice, Wanyin would have thought Lan Wangji had spoken those words. No expression, no tone, controlled, without emotion.
Wanyin did not know what to say to that except, "Should not have."
"You did right. Better than me. I am beginning to realise why he feels a camaraderie to you. You have similar temperaments and way of thinking about how society works and views things. The words you say resonate with him more than any of us. He expects compliance of us but of you he expects opinions. Perhaps it has something to do with how similar your life journey is to him."
Wanyin understood. Bringing up children and having sect responsibilities unexpectedly. The weight on their shoulders had been similar. He felt the weight every now and then and realised how tired Grandmaster Lan might feel and how lonely now that both his grandsons had moved on with their life.
"Jin Ling was a life line in a time when I had none. I had always thought that marriage wasn't necessary even when Jin Ling moved away to Lanling Jin after a certain age but the idea was extremely lonely. I wonder if your uncle would be lonely now that you and your brother have moved on with your lives."
After that, there was a comfortable silence between them before they had to part again as the sun peeked over the horizon. They chose not to tire out as there was a whole day ahead, still.
It was close to 5 in the morning when Lan Huan had to leave and Wanyin was not prepared for the suggestion.
"I do have something to ask before I leave. I might not be able to see you for some time." Wanyin waited.
"Shifu set the date. How do you feel about a Gusu wedding?" If he felt the breath knocked out of his lungs it was nothing. He saw Lan Huan smile in delight and felt his breathing ragged. He just wanted to kiss Lan Huan now, wipe away that satisfied smile.
"We cannot see each other for three months before the wedd..." And Wanyin stepped forward and kissed Lan Huan. He need jot listen to anything else. He kissed deep and hard and needy and hungry.
Lan Huan did not leave!
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That's the end of the story guys. I have an extra fluff chapter after this but I would like to know what you think of the story. Please leave a comment on what you think of the overall story?
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