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“Have you guys noticed that Senior Wei seems kinda...off lately?”
Zizhen asked from his perch on Jingyi’s bed, his legs tucked underneath him. Since there wasn’t much to do, the juniors had all voted to take refuge below deck. Anything to get out of the mind-numbing work that Xue Yang always put them through. (Honestly, it was like that guy couldn’t do a single thing on his own just because of some long-since healed injuries.) A Qing had taken the spot next to Zizhen on the bed, Sizhui sat at the small desk that had been half-heartedly pushed to the wall, and Jingyi sat on the floor with Jin Ling sprawled lazily across his lap.
“Yeah, he was so annoyingly off the walls for like, the first month of you guys joining our crew. And not to mention...the sounds-”
The juniors shared a collective shiver of disgust.
“But...anyways, he and Hanguang Jun still fuck like rabbits, but he just seems kinda distant and sad. It’s strange,”
Jin Ling finally finished, shifting his position on Jingyi. The other juniors all nodded in agreement, A Qing piping in.
“Or like he’s always deep in thought.”
“Right.”
Jingyi agreed, carefully moving Jin Ling’s ponytail that had somehow gotten trapped under the other boy as he moved. He ignored the glare that was given in return.
Zizhen frowned, his brow furrowed in thought as he mindlessly wrapped an arm around A Qing.
“But what could he possibly be thinking about?”
“The only thing he seems to think about is Hanguang Jun’s dick.”
Jin Ling grumbled miserably, burying his face in his boyfriend’s thigh. Sizhui looked down at his cousin with a frown, rolling his eyes at his dramatics.
“You do realize that Wei-ge is more than just horny, right?”
He pointed out, recrossing his stiff legs. A Qing snorted.
“Don’t even bother with him, Sizhui. Horny and angry are the only emotions he understands.”
Jin Ling lifted his head and shot her a death glare, the entire room filling with the sound of laughing at his expense. The boy whipped his head around to see that Jingyi was laughing too.
“Oh, I know you’re not laughing.”
He deadpanned. Jingyi rolled his eyes with a grin. Reaching down, he smoothed the stressed creases in Jin Ling’s face, combing a stray lock of hair away from his eyes.
“It’s just a joke, A-Ling. We all know you’re secretly a big-ol’ sweetheart.”
Jin Ling’s face erupted with heat, automatically punching Jingyi’s arm and turning away.
“Shut up.”
A Qing gagged from the bed, making a show of having to hold herself back from vomiting at their display.
“You two are disgusting .”
Jingyi and Jin Ling both flipped the girl off, unimpressed. A Qing huffed and folded her arms indignantly, only lifting her angry facade when Zizhen kissed her hair gently. Sizhui scoffed from his seat and shook his head with disbelief.
“None of you have any room to talk, you’re all love-crazed morons.”
No one spoke after that.
-
The juniors weren’t the only ones to notice that something was up with Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji frowned, watching the man closely as he worked. They weren’t due to land any time soon, so he had suggested that they sit down and have a nice breakfast for once while everything was at least somewhat calm. Watching Wei Wuxian’s face light up with excitement was enough to make his entire morning. He missed how his smile used to brighten his face, now he always seemed to sport a far-off expression that Lan Wangji couldn’t place for the life of him.
Despite his inability to cook anything that was remotely able to be eaten, Wei Wuxian still insisted on making their breakfast saying it would be good practice. The captain had been standing in front of that pot for a suspicious amount of time, not making a sound. With a feeling of unease, Lan Wangji stood up from his seat and carefully made his way over to his partner. He settled behind him, glancing down at the damage from over his shoulder. He could see the sprinkling of chili seeds, even from that distance.
Lan Wangji’s gaze shifted to the other man’s face. It was as though he hadn’t even noticed his arrival, his expression dull and unenthusiastic. He could count the lines of stress on his face, dark circles tugging at his eyes. He felt his heart seize in his chest as he tried desperately to think of something he could do to kick the man out of his trance.
“Wei Ying?”
Wei Wuxian blinked and craned his neck to see Lan Wangji standing over him. A soft smile quickly replaced that horrible look from before, the dim light in his eyes melting with a look of love that Lan Wangji still couldn’t believe was all for him. Propping himself up on his tip-toes, Wei Wuxian pressed a velvet kiss to his lips.
“Hm? Did you say something?”
He asked after the two finally broke away. Lan Wangji fought the frown that threatened to show, shaking his head.
“No, just wanted to see you.”
Wei Wuxian laughed, a sound that was more rare these days, shaking his head.
“You act like you couldn’t see me from the table!”
Lan Wangji hummed, wrapping his arms around Wei Wuxian’s waist and nuzzling his face against his neck. He practically melted as the other laughed again. He would do anything in the world to hear that sound again and again.
“Not close enough.”
He complained, his voice muffled against his skin. Wei Wuxian cooed softly, running a gentle hand through Lan Wangji’s hair.
“Aww...my poor, big, strong captain. Please forgive this servant for leaving you so all alone over there.”
Lan Wangji grunted in answer, only holding onto him tighter. He clung to this moment, knowing that the instant he looked away the man who meant more to him than any kingdom in the world would revert into that place he couldn’t reach. Wei Wuxian gave his arm a final pat before tuning back to his pot, stirring the molten mess.
“I think I finally made a batch that’s edible, Lan-er-gege!”
Wei Wuxian beamed, turning back to look at him with eyes bright with anticipation. Warmth spread through Lan Wangji’s veins as he gave the other man a small smile, pressing a kiss against his hair.
“Proud of you, A-Ying.”
He murmured, taking great pride in the way Wei Wuxian stiffened in his arms. The man whipped around to face him, eyes wide and cheeks flushed, and threw his arms around Lan Wangji’s shoulders. The man was tugged down to meet the pirate’s flustered kiss, their movements slowly relaxing into a long, lavished embrace. Wei Wuxian was the first to back away, his chest heaving as he stared at Lan Wangji with wide eyes.
“You...always...surprise...me...Lan Zhan…”
He breathed, his kiss-bitten lips tugging up in a lop-sided grin. Lan Wangji’s expression softened and he tucked Wei Wuxian’s hair back behind his ear.
“As do you, Wei Ying.”
The smell of burning hit the two at the same time.
“Shit!”
Wei Wuxian swore, untangling himself from Lan Wangji and quickly pushing the pot away from the heat. He ran a hand through his hair roughly, his fingers getting caught in the tangles as his expression soured.
“Fuck…”
His voice cracked with disappointment, still trying to rip his fingers through the, now tangled, mass on his head. Lan Wangji frowned and gently moved the other man’s hand away from his hair. With as much care as he could muster, he brought his hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss against each of his twitching fingers.
“It is alright.”
He reassured, looking up to see Wei Wuxian giving him an unconvinced look. There were unshed tears shining in his wide eyes.
“Lan Zhan-”
He whimpered, biting down on his trembling lip. His voice was so broken, the poor man on the verge of the breakdown that Lan Wangji had been expecting for a while. He reached behind him and pulled up a chair, sitting down and gently easing Wei Wuxian down onto his lap. The smaller gratefully curled up against him the best he could, hiding his face in his chest as silent sobs wracked his body. The poor man just clung to him, Lan Wangji watching helplessly and doing his best to soothe him. He hummed softly, rubbing slow circles against his trembling back.
“Come back to me, baobei. You’re okay.”
He whispered against his hair, pressing a kiss where the ghost of his voice lingered. Wei Wuxian only clung to him tighter, whimpering softly.
“I’m sorry...I’m so sorry.”
He sobbed against his shirt, Lan Wangji’s heart tearing at the sound. He could feel the damp stains on his shirt from Wei Wuxian’s tears.
“There’s no need to be sorry, my love. Look at me.”
Wei Wuxian froze for a moment, his chest still heaving from the force of his sorrow. Slowly, he lifted his tear and snot stained face up to look at him, tears still racing down his blotchy cheeks. Lan Wangji’s expression softened and he carefully wiped his face clean with his sleeve. He watched as Wei Wuxian forced a small smile on his lips.
“God I probably look like a mess…”
He chuckled humorlessly, unable to meet his gaze. Lan Wangji frowned deeply, his words cutting down to his very soul. There was no way he was going to let him get away with that. Shifting slightly in his seat, he took Wei Wuxian’s chin between his fingers, forcing him to look up into his eyes.
“There is no one more beautiful than Wei Ying. Ever.”
He said seriously, leaving no room for argument. Wei Wuxian flushed brightly and wrestled out of his grip, hiding against Lan Wangji’s chest again.
“I love you so much, Lan Zhan.”
His voice was weak and scratched from crying, but it was still music to Lan Wangji’s ears. He smiled sadly and did his best to smooth down Wei Wuxian’s hair.
“And I love you, Wei Ying.”
They stayed that way for a while, Lan Wangji holding Wei Wuxian while the latter did his best to calm down to the sound of his lover’s heartbeat. It had been frantic at first, feeding into his panic, but it soon evened out to the very sound that Wei Wuxian fell asleep to every night. Lan Wangji noticed with relief that Wei Wuxian had finally stopped crying, his fingers tracing random shapes against his arm. They had been at sea for about a month now. Staying on the Mainland was too risky, even a year after the unfortunate events with his uncle. However, he was sure it was more than safe to, at the very least, shop around a bit for supplies.
“Wei Ying-”
Lan Wangji started, shifting the other man to try and regain feeling in his arms. Wei Wuxian didn’t look up, simply humming in response as he tried to trace what felt like a bunny against his skin. Lan Wangji sighed softly and continued.
“Do you think it would help you feel better if we found somewhere to dock? We could go out and get some supplies. I know how much you miss the food stands.”
Wei Wuxian sniffled and lifted his head, his eyes glimmering with hope. His expression was hesitant, his brows perking up before he spoke.
“Can...we go drinking?”
Lan Wangji’s expression softened and he nodded, Wei Wuxian’s glum demeanor immediately brightening at the promise of liquor.
“Yes! You’re the best, Lan Zhan!”
He cried, throwing his arms around the other’s neck and pulling him close in a tight hug.
“Don’t worry, I’ll watch over you!”
He promised, drawing a less than excited sigh from Lan Wangji. He wasn’t a fan of drinking by any means, but...if it made the other happy he would do it.
“Mn, why don’t you go lie down for a while and I’ll start the ship on route to Caiyi Town.”
Lan Wangji prompted, kissing the space between Wei Wuxian’s eyes sweetly. The man looked about to argue, but his lips parted in a yawn before he could speak.
“Mm...I suppose.”
He pouted in defeat, hopping off of Lan Wangji’s lap and stretching his stiff limbs. The other followed after, ignoring the painful cracking in his back from sitting down for so long. Was he getting old?
The man looked over to his companion and saw him looking up at him through his lashes, a small, suggestive smile on his face.
“Will my big, strong captain be joining me when he's finished?”
He asked, batting his eyes with faux innocence. Lan Wangji blinked slowly, thinking through his words carefully. He stepped forward, lifting a hand to his cheek and whispering the ghost of a kiss on his lips before answering.
“Go. Wait.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes opened comically wide and he practically ran back to his room. Lan Wangji watched him leave with a fond smile playing on his face. Every day he fell more and more in love.
-
“Captain Hanguang Jun, Caiyi Town is within eyeshot!”
Jingyi shouted from the front of the ship, glancing back to his captain with eyes bright with excitement. Lan Wangji nodded.
“Continue forward. We will dock in the main harbor.”
Sizhui frowned from beside his father, glancing up with a concerned expression plaguing his face.
“Captain, are you sure that would be the best decision? I mean, we aren’t exactly in a convenient position to-”
“It will be alright, Yuan.”
Lan Wangji interrupted, giving the boy a small pat on his head. Sizhui looked like he wanted to argue but didn’t, sighing softly.
“I trust you. Just...please be careful?”
Lan Wangji’s face softened and he nodded.
“I promise, please watch over the juniors in my absence.”
Sizhui chuckled, a bright sparkle in his eyes.
“I’ll try my best sir, but you know how they are. They’re a fat load of trouble all by themselves.”
Lan Wangji smiled fondly.
“That they are.”
-
It didn’t take long for the ship to settle down, nestled precariously between two trading ships in the Caiyi Town harbor. The other ships helped somewhat with hiding their eerie ship. Hopefully it would last long enough to get what they needed. Most of the crew had gathered on the deck, minus Song Lan, Wen Ning, Wen Qing, Granny, and Fourth Uncle who had all volunteered to keep watch over the ship while they were gone.
“Wei-xiong! Oh- dear gods in heaven above what has that perverted prince done to you?!”
Huaisang called out in horror, running across the ship to Wei Wuxian whose skin closely resembled that of a dalmatian’s coat, blotched with bruises and bitemarks. The man laughed and shrugged, his eyes shining with admiration.
“Nothing I didn’t deserve.”
Huisang’s eyes widened with horror, his hand whipping to cover his mouth in disbelief. He finally regained his composure and shook his head.
“You two- you’re made for each other...that’s all I’ll say.”
“They both should be put in jail for public indecency.”
Jiang Cheng grumbled from Xichen’s side, giving his brother a dirty look from across the deck. Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes, sticking his tongue out childishly.
“As if I’d ever let anyone see. Ha! I’m far too selfish.”
Jiang Cheng gagged, unable to face the other man.
“Gods- you’re worse than a married couple.”
Wei Wuxian’s face paled as Jiang Cheng’s words met his ears, his face darkening drastically compared to his seemingly unbothered domenor from only seconds before.
“Shut up, Jiang Cheng.”
He snapped, receiving a concerned look from Huaisang.
“Wei-Xiong are-”
“Just...it’s...it’s nothing. It’s nothing! Sorry I...have no idea what came over me there!”
Wei Wuxian chuckled uncomfortably, tossing his messy hair over his shoulder.
“If...you’ll excuse me.”
He pardoned himself and quickly walked away, making his way back to his partner. Huaisang looked up to see both Jiang Cheng and Xichen looking at him with twin looks of confusion on their faces. Huaisang shrugged helplessly, turning back to go and save the juniors who were currently being barked at by his older brother.
“And if I see even a single one of you out of line, it’ll be your heads! Do you understand me?!”
Mingjue growled, the group of juniors looking to him unimpressed before responding robotically.
“Yessir.”
Huaisang frowned and marched forward, tugging his brother back by his ear.
“Da-ge! Leave them alone!”
Mingjue growled in pain and wrestled away from his grip, giving him a fierce glare.
“They need to be on guard or-”
“Or what?! They’ll, gods forbid, have fun?!”
Huaisang pointed out, rolling his eyes. Mingjue opened and closed his mouth, his brows furrowed as he struggled to find a response. Huaisang looked unimpressed.
“That’s what I thought. Da-ge- we’re ex guards. As long as we’re around they’ll be safe. You don’t have to worry.”
Mingjue’s face flushed with embarrassment and he looked away stubbornly.
“I am NOT worried about those brats, Huaisang.”
“Whatever you say.”
Huaisang gave up, turning to the juniors who were watching, unimpressed. The man smiled at them, stepping in front of his older brother who still seemed to be getting over his tantrum.
“Don’t worry about him. Try to have some fun! Caiyi Town has some of the best street food in the kingdom! I can show you some of my favorites if you’d like.”
At the mention of food, their expressions brightened. Zizhen answered for the rest of them.
“Yes please, Nie-ge!”
-
“Let’s go Lan Zhan!”
Lan Wangji glanced down at the other man skeptically. He couldn’t help but notice the air of despair that has encircled Wei Wuxian when he had come over, but it seemed like he was trying to act like everything was okay when it so clearly wasn’t. He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Wei Ying...are you-”
“I’m fine!”
Wei Wuxian cut him off, the tone of his voice dripping with faux cheerfulness. However, now was not the best time to start an argument, so Lan Wangji simply nodded and stepped forward, making his way down to the dock with Wei Wuxian at his side. He would just have to keep a close eye on him.
The streets of Caiyi Town were as busy as ever, people all pushing past each other to get to the front of the lines at the more popular stands. His brother had already come to him to let him know that he and Jiang Cheng would be getting half of their supplies while Xue Yang and Xingchen would get the other so that he and Wei Wuxian could have some much needed relaxation. Lan Wangji was eternally grateful.
Wei Wuxian suddenly took his hand and started to tug him towards one of the many bars in Caiyi Town. He had almost forgotten that he had promised to drink with him...which, admittedly, was going to make watching over him much harder than he thought. However, a promise was a promise, and he would do anything to make the other man happy. Especially with all the stress that seemed to be draining him lately.
The two took a seat, and Wei Wuxian immediately ordered a jar of wine for the both of them. The bartender looked to the two men suspiciously and Lan Wangji’s blood ran cold for a moment. Did he recognize them?
“And may I ask who this order is for?”
He asked, his eyes lowering slightly as if he was trying to catch any sort of hesitation, but Wei Wuxian answered without thinking.
“Of course! I’m Mo Xuanyu and this is my cousin, Mo Ziyuan! It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir! We’re new to this area, do you have any recommendations for us here in Caiyi Town?”
Wei Wuxian lied without missing a beat, his kind smile enough for the bartender to fully relax.
“Ah! Sorry about that sirs, I just...I thought I recognized you from somewhere but...I suppose not. I’d highly recommend the trading stocks down at the end of the main road not even a full mile down. They have good prices that are harder to find up here by the harbor. It’ll save you a pretty penny, that’s for sure!”
Wei Wuxian’s smile widened and he thanked the bartender, practically vibrating with excitement as the wine was placed in front of them. Lan Wangji glanced down at the liquid that had already been poured into the small bowl that had been placed in front of him. Wei Wuxian had already downed two cup-fulls, carefully pouring himself a third. Well...there was no point in holding off any further. Without a second thought, Lan Wangji downed the bowl in one sip. The last thing he remembered seeing was that broken look in Wei Wuxian’s eyes before everything went black.
-
“Cheng-ge! What if they’re selling candy at one of these stalls?”
Xue Yang pointed out excitedly, his fingers laced with the other’s. The taller of the two smiled warmly, glad to see the other so happy. Xingchen had never regained his sight after the tragic battle with the Xuanwu. However, he had never had any real setbacks, Xue Yang was always more than happy to lead him wherever they went.
“Mm...I believe the last time I visited Caiyi Town that was the case. We could check out some of the stalls before picking up the supplies for the ship if you’d like, A-Yang.”
He offered, feeling the grip on his hand tighten. Xue Yang let out an excited chirp at his words, quickly tugging him forward. Xingchen almost stumbled, his feet shuffling a bit before he finally fell in stride behind his partner. He could tell the other man had slowed down considerably. A smile broke out on his face, the hand in his so warm and comforting. There is not a single person in the world who would say, without a doubt, that Xue Yang was a patient man. It took less than nothing to set him off some days. However, that was almost never him. Xue Yang would always help lead him and explain their surroundings no matter what time or day it was without so much as a complaint. It meant the world to him.
“Chen-ge I think I see-”
Xue Yang started, but his words cut off as he grunted in surprise, his hand suddenly ripping out of Xingchen’s. Xingchen whipped his head around worriedly, trying to sense where Xue Yang had gone. Dread pooled in his stomach as he tried to think of a reason for why the other had practically disappeared.
“Get the fuck out of my way!”
A gruff voice that Xingchen didn’t recognize barked, a rush of wind moving passed him. He could only guess that it was the owner of the voice storming off. Worry flooded over him as he reached forward, trying to find any trace of Xue Yang.
“A-Yang? Are you alright- What happened?!”
There was no response. Panic built up in his chest, becoming a vice wrapping around his throat. He couldn’t calm until his trembling hands finally came in contact with the familiar warmth. His body visibly relaxed and he did his best to help the younger man up. He could tell that Xue Yang was trying his best to hold back, the muscles in his hand clenched tight under his touch. Xingchen’s face softened and he gave the other man what he hoped was an encouraging smile.
“Just some asshole..”
Xue Yang finally grumbled, his body relaxing slightly. The man must be long gone for Xue Yang to have calmed down as considerably. Xingchen hummed in response, reaching up to thoughtlessly fix the other’s hair, smoothing it down behind this back. Usually, he kept it up in a lazy bun, but today he had left it free, rolling in soft waves down his back.
“Pay him no mind, let’s get that candy you wanted, hm?”
He stood up straight, the muscles stretching in his back at his slow movement. Xue Yang hummed, moving up beside him. Xingchen reached down and wrapped his arm around the other’s waist, holding him protectively by his side. They’d be safer if they were close together; less of a target. Xue Yang made no complaint. If anything, he tucked himself closer to Xingchen’s side as they continued their way down the road. Xue Yang went on about his favorite kinds of candy he’d encountered on his travels, describing them in vivid detail to Xingchen who nodded his head seriously whenever he deemed it appropriate. Finally, after walking for some time, Xue Yang let out a short gasp of astonishment.
“Gege! They have it! They really have it!”
He cried out in excitement, tugging impatiently on Xingchen’s arm. The man let out a fond sigh and nodded, easing his hand over Xue Yang’s in a weak attempt to calm the savage beast.
“Do they now? We best go and check it out, A-Yang.”
Xingchen could tell that he must’ve shaken his head in agreement by the way his body moved under him. Despite his enthusiasm, Xue Yang still took his time leading him up to the stand. Voices were passed between them, creating a sort of bowl around him. He couldn’t pin-point any particular voice, all of them simply flying by like a streak of lightning in his mind. Frowning slightly, Xingchen lifted his hands to adjust the cloth that covered his still-healing wound. He didn’t often complain about being unable to see. The people around him on Suibian were always so kind and willing to help him. However, times like these made being blind...rather inconvenient.
“What can I getcha sirs today, eh?”
“That one,”
Xue Yang answered for him, pointing to the flavor he wanted. As the merchant gathered up their items, Xingchen reached down and plucked his wallet out from his belt. Digging his hand in, he handed the merchant a few coins.
“Will this cover it?”
Xingchen asked, having to guess since the man had never stated how much the candies were. There must be a sign on the outside. The man made a small noise, freezing suddenly before finally answering after thinking it through for a moment.
“You’re...two short.”
Xingchen eyebrows perked up in surprise. These candies were quite expensive! Just as he started to search his wallet for two more coins to give the man, Xue Yang suddenly spoke up beside him.
“So...you gonna tell him you’re lying?”
His voice was sickly sweet, sarcasm dripping off every word. The man choked and there was the sound of shuffling in front of them.
“I don’t understand-”
“Your fucking sign says the price you dumb cunt, or...are you as blind as well.”
Xue Yang snapped. The boy shot forward, leaving Xingchen’s side. He could hear a series of loud scuffling, and he could imagine the image of Xue Yang doing his best to attack the man behind the stall. Frowning, Xingchen stepped forward, feeling around until his hand came in contact with the back of Xue Yang’s shirt. Fisting the material tightly, he hauled the man back away from the fray. Xue Yang let out an angry mewl not unlike that of an angry street cat.
“You piece of shit! Apologize to him!”
He hissed out, thrashing to try and get out of Xingchen’s vice-grip. However, he knew better than to let him go. The instant he was free, he was certain everything would just go to shit again. Sighing tiredly, Xingchen bowed in apology to the merchant and hauled Xue Yang away, the man still shouting profanities back where they had come.
-
It had taken quite a bit of convincing to get Lan Wangji out of the bar. He had crashed for longer than usual, giving Wei Wuxian time to finish the bottle of wine before he saw the man’s golden eyes blink open once again. He gave him a questioning look, his eyebrow perked as he met Lan Wangji’s lightless gaze. The only sound around them was the bar, bustling with people despite it being the middle of the day.
“Lan Zhan?”
He tested the waters, leaning down so that he was eye-level with his lover, poking his cheek with a finger. Lan Wangji murmured something under his breath, quickly drawing his interest. Brows furrowed, Wei Wuxian leaned closer to try and catch what it was that he was talking about. Lan Wangji didn’t repeat whatever it was that said, simply glaring up at him through his eyelashes as though he was a child caught playing with something he shouldn’t. Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the ends of his lips. He really was a big baby when he was drunk.
“Come on, Lan Zhan...we’re hogging up the space. Let’s go check out the stalls, yeah?”
Wei Wuxian coaxed, tugging gently at Lan Wangji’s collar. The other man looked at him with a stubborn look, sinking down deeper into his seat. This was borderline ridiculous. Frowning, he pulled a bit harder, doing his best to bring the other back to reality.
“Lan-er-gege, be a good boy and come with me, hm?”
This finally seemed to catch Lan Wangji’s interest. The man sat up quickly, hopping down from his stool in the same movement. Wei Wuxian watched amusedly as he marched with purpose towards the door. He could feel the bartender’s anxious glare on his neck. They hadn’t paid for the wine yet. Luckily, Wei Wuxian had seen this coming and had already swiped Lan Wangji’s wallet while he was passed out on the table. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He tossed the amount due onto the table and rushed out after the other man who was (hopefully) waiting for him outside. Gods, he hoped he hadn’t wandered off somewhere.
Thankfully, Lan Wangji was waiting right there for him, directly in the center of the busy road. Wei Wuxian sighed and jugged up next to his companion, giving him a weak look of disappointment.
“So impatient!”
He accused, immediately regretting it from the look of shame on Lan Wangji’s face. He stepped forward, his heart aching sorely in his chest as he fixed the other man’s collar that had gone crooked somewhere in the midst of...everything. Lan Wangji leaned into his touch, his face blank in his drunken stupor.
“Chicken.”
Wei Wuxian blinked, his fingers freezing against the cloth he was busy adjusting. His gaze lifted to see Lan Wangji looking at him so seriously that it almost made him want to laugh.
“Chicken?”
He prompted, a brow lifted in confusion. Lan Wangji nodded, not explaining his blatant, random exclamation. Instead, he caught Wei Wuxian by the wrist and began to drag him down the road. Stumbling behind, he couldn’t help but feel utterly and completely lost in this situation. What in the world was that man on about? They weaved between the other patrons of the trading block, obviously on a mission of some kind.
The two didn’t stop until they had reached the end where the less popular stands stood. Usually, these were the poor folk, praying that someone would wander far enough to happen upon their stand. Lan Wangji whipped his head around, the man in his hold giving an apologetic look to the owners who were staring at them with mixture of concern and confusion.
“Here.”
Lan Wangji finally spoke, tugging Wei Wuxian hard enough that if he hadn’t been holding him up, he would’ve gotten a face-full of dirt. They stumbled unceremoniously to a small coop of...chickens. So when he said chicken, he meant literally chicken.
Without missing a beat, Lan Wangji let go of Wei Wuxian and thrust his hands into the cage. The poor birds let out a series of frightened squawks as the drunken man forced them out into the open. Wei Wuxian stole a glance back at the owners of the animals and sighed. They looked as though they wanted to intervene but were too afraid to do so. That was understandable.
“Lan Zhan what-”
He started, but was interrupted by the other man forcing the flailing bird into his arms. He fumbled around with the animal before finally catching a hold of it. His eyes widened with confusion as he looked back at Lan Wangji, the man letting forth no expression whatsoever.
“For you.”
Wei Wuxian blinked.
“For me?”
“Mn.”
He looked down and met the frightened eyes of the poor chicken. It looked like it was just about to tremble right out of its feathers!
“I’m...honored, but- Lan Zhan, this poor guy will never last on the ship.”
He pointed out and almost almost regretted it. Lan Wangji’s eyes flashed with such a deep look of disappointment that Wei Wuxian was tempted to just let the bird aboard anyway. His gaze softened and he gently returned the chicken to its cage, reaching up to put a hand on Lan Wangji’s.
“You are too good to me, Lan-er-gege.”
He praised, letting out a silent sigh of relief as the other man’s shoulders relaxed, melting from his compliment. Before he could even continue, Lan Wangji was back up on his feet and storming away from the chickens he had just desired so desperately, lacking his normal air of grace. Wei Wuxian scrambled to his feet and ran after his lover, not before tossing a few coins and an apology to those poor farmers who watched them run off with a look of horror frozen on their faces.
-
“Where the hell do they even sell this shit?!”
Jiang Cheng swore, letting out an impatient huff as they made their way down the road. His fingers twitched achingly at his side, his mind cluttered with all of his anxious thoughts threatening to spill from his lips at any moment.
“Wangji gave me directions before we left...but I have a feeling that isn’t the real issue, is it?”
Xichen mused, drawing an embarrassed flush from Jiang Cheng who hadn’t expected to be read so quickly. He sighed, absentmindedly kicking a pebble out of his path. Well, there was no use hiding it now, he supposed.
“I’m just worried about those guards!”
Jiang Cheng admitted, moving aside so that Xichen could walk beside him. The elder hummed for a moment before correcting him.
“ Ex guards, A-Cheng.”
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, folding his arms stubbornly.
“I don’t give a shit! I just don’t think it was safe to let the juniors alone with them!”
Xichen’s gaze softened, his hand moving up to grip Jiang Cheng’s collar to pull him away from the cart he almost ran into while he was distracted by his worry. Stumbling a bit, the man refound his footing and mumbled out a small ‘thank you’ before continuing on.
“I think you’re being too harsh in your old age.”
Xichen chuckled, annoyance flashing in Jiang Cheng’s eyes. He had some nerve! The younger flipped through suitable retaliations in his mind, finally settling on a weak shove. It was entirely fruitless.
“Maybe you’re just too soft!”
He bit back, blatantly ignoring the obvious amused expression on the other’s face. Instead, he just sighed exasperatedly and turned back to keep on his way down the path. The sun was already beginning to make its path down the horizon, the clouds lit up a warm, glowing amber. It was beautiful in a way that could only be the result of nature. There was a soft cough from beside him and Jiang Cheng whipped his head to the side to see Xichen looking at him knowingly.
“Is there possibly something else that’s been bothering you?”
Jiang Cheng soured slightly, his lips twitching down in a frown. Of course were other things bothering him! In a world like this...what wasn’t bothering him?! However...there was one...immediate issue that was particularly bothering him.
“You already know exactly what it is.”
Jiang Cheng grumbled, drawing a sly grin from the taller man.
“Mm...I want to hear you say it out loud.”
Jiang Cheng’s ears burned and he refused to meet his gaze, his eyes trailed on the ground moving under his feet. He hated saying it out loud. It was just...acknowledging further that it was a thing. It was impossible! Just devious, and sly, and horrifying and-
“A-Cheng-”
Jiang Cheng snapped out of his thoughts, his eyes reluctantly meeting Xichen’s.
“Well- I just...don’t think that Jin Ling is old enough, y’know-”
Xichen hummed, unable to keep the hint of amusement from his voice.
“For a partner, you mean?”
“Obviously! That junior is taking advantage of him, I just know he is!”
Jiang Cheng snapped, his anger burning against the young boy. He knew exactly what went on in the heads of people his age. It was nothing good, and absolutely nothing his nephew should be subject to! He felt Xichen place a gentle hand on his shoulder, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit soothed by the contact. But that didn’t change his opinion in the slightest!
“A-Cheng, I have known Jingyi since he was a boy...he’s a good kid. Plus, they do seem happy, you certainly can’t argue with that.”
Xichen pointed out, and, to Jiang Cheng’s disappointment, he was right. He had never seen Jin Ling so happy. He had never been around people his age, so having the juniors on the crew had made him light up like a firework. And of course, it was impossible to miss the way his eyes softened whenever he looked at Jingyi. Even someone as emotionally blind as Jiang Cheng could tell.
“Mm...I suppose, but still! He better not taint my nephew, or I’ll break his legs!”
Jiang Cheng threatened weakly, his voice gruff but with no real malice in it. Xichen was right, as long as Jin Ling was happy then...he supposed he could let it slide. The taller smiled sweetly at him and pressed a quick, proud peck to the crown of his head.
“He wouldn’t dare. Let’s go, I believe the supplies are just a bit further.”
-
“Lan Zhan- where in the world are you going?!”
Wei Wuxian called out, jogging after the man who very much so seemed to be on a mission. To where, the poor captain had no damn clue. Stumbling to a halt, he finally caught up with the drunk, his fingers clutching at his sleeve to try and get him to slow down for a damn second. Thankfully, they hadn’t quite made it to the more popular area, only a few people passing them and giving them odd stares. Wei Wuxian ignored them.
“Lan-er-gege! You’re being such a pill today!”
He scolded, his voice heatless. He couldn’t stay mad at him when he looked at him with those sweet innocent eyes, no matter how devious his actions. He tutted, smoothing down the wrinkles on the front of his shirt.
“You're lucky you’re so cute Lan Z- Eh, Lan Zhan?!”
Lan Wangji’s knees suddenly buckled out from under him and he collapsed to the ground before Wei Wuxian could react. However, he didn’t completely fall. He only made it down so that he was on his hands and knees before he...bowed? His brow knit in confusion but...yes, Lan Wangji was bowing to him like he was some sort of king! He reached down, doing his best to tug the drunken man up by his collar. If they were getting weird stares before, they definitely were now.
“Lan Zhan, come now-”
He hissed, but before he could haul Lan Wangji up, the man reached up and forcefully pulled him down. Wei Wuxian fell with a grunt beside the man and looked into his eyes. They were deathly serious.
“Now, you.”
He directed before smoothly moving back up to his feet. This was...this was ridiculous! But, he supposed he would do it if it made Lan Wangji happy. He knew that things have been rough lately, and it was entirely his own fault too. The least he could do was go through the actions as told. Sighing, Wei Wuxian bent down at the waist and half-heartedly bowed to Lan Wangji.
“Like this?”
He asked, looking up at him expectantly. HIs breath caught in his throat as he met the gleam of pure love, dripping from his eyes like honey from the sun. It spread warmth through his body and any annoyance he had over these antics completely dissolved away. Drunk Lan Wangji seemed to think that these things were the most important thing in the world, and by god Wei Wuxian was going to give it to him. Lan Wangji’s expression softened and he nodded seriously.
“Now, together.”
Lan Wangji shuffled over and kneeled down beside him, bowing down to the nothingness in front of them. Wei Wuxian watched him for a moment, a small, fond smile on his face. He really did love this man. Finally, he bowed down beside him, feeling the body beside him relax. Wei Wuxian lifted his head, slowly lifting himself up from the ground as Lan Wangji followed suit. Back popping uncomfortably, he stretched and looked around.
“Mm, ready to head back, baobei?”
He asked, shooting Lan Wangji a soft look, knowing damn well he looked like a sap. Hell, he hoped everyone knew just how much he loved that man across from him who was swaying on his feet from the smallest amount of alcohol in his system.
“Mn.”
Lan Wangji nodded, hobbling over to him. Wei Wuxian smiled, reaching out to adjust his stance so he’d be at least a bit more stable.
“Let’s go, I’m sure everyone’s got the supplies by now.”
He reached over to take Lan Wangji’s hand, gently starting to lead him back down the path towards their ship. The other man let out no argument, mindlessly shuffling next to him and staring straight ahead. Wei Wuxian stole a glance over to him, taking in his features warmly. He was like a marble statue, carved perfectly with an almost jagged bone structure. However, that was entirely where the similarities ended. He was so warm and soft; his prince. Well...technically he was just as much a criminal as he was now, but he would always be that sweet innocent little prince in his memories. Lan Wangji had never fully regained his memory. In fact, the only time he seemed to remember anything was in his dreams. There had been countless nights where Wei Wuxian had awoken to the other calling out his name, but when he asked what the dream had been, his answer was always the same. He couldn’t remember. It made no difference to him, though. He knew in his heart that the love Lan Wangji felt for him was the same, no matter what.
“Oof-”
Wei Wuxian drew back from his thoughts and fell back, tugging Lan Wangji back with him. He looked down to see a wide-eyed, young girl now sitting on the ground. He must’ve accidentally bumped into her when he hadn’t been paying attention. Guilt swarmed over him and he rushed forward, reluctantly letting Lan Wangji go as he crouched down beside the girl.
“Oh gods- I am so sorry, sweetheart! Are you alright?”
He asked, meeting the girls eyes. They were huge, unbelievably huge, almost like a bug’s. However, there was no pain in her eyes; no tears.
“Mn, I’m fine, er-ge. Sorry for bumping into you.”
She replied politely, patting the dust from her dress but not standing yet. Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened with surprise. He had never met such a polite child before!
“Well I’ll be! Where did you learn manners like that?”
He asked, plopping down on the ground beside her. Surely they could spend at least a moment with this peculiar girl.
“My mom told me to be nice to strangers, especially the weird ones. Their lives are hard enough already.”
The girl stated matter-of-factly. Wei Wuxian’s eyebrow twitched and his lips froze in shock.
“Are you-...do you find us weird, meimei?”
He asked, raising an eyebrow. The girl’s flat expression didn’t waver, her bug eyes moving between Lan Wangji and him.
“Of course. Your clothes are weird, that guy walks funny, you can’t pay attention, your hair is too long, that tall-gege over there looks like he wants to kill someone, you smell, your-”
Wei Wuxian reached forward, stopping her rant with his hand. A bubble of nervous laugher fell from his lips. This girl....he had definitely judged her too quickly. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was what A-Qing was like when she was this age.
“Mianmian! There you are, you silly girl!”
A woman cried, the girl, Mianmian, turning towards the voice with a small smile. Wei Wuxian quickly removed his hand and raised his head to see a woman and a man running over to them. They must be Mianmian’s parents!
“Oh- sirs, I am so sorry if she said anything to offend you! She had quit the mouth on her.”
The woman apologized, coming forward and pulling Mianmian over to her. Wei Wuxian wavered her apology off, a gentle smile playing on his face.
“No need! She’s a sweet kid!”
He grinned, sudden confusion tugging on his mind as Lan Wangji stepped forward beside him. His hand reached down into Wei Wuxian’s pocket and the pirate had to fight off an embarrassed blush. That drunk...what the hell was he doing?! He let out a breath of relief as Lan Wangji plucked out his wallet, fumbling around inside and pulling out a pair of coins before handing them to Wei Wuxian.
“Give them to her.”
Why couldn’t he just give them himself, honestly...the things he did for this man. He sighed but was unable to keep the fond smile from his face.
“Anything for you I suppose!”
He took the coins and turned on his heel, stepping forward and crouching down to Mianmian’s height.
“Look here, Mianmian! These here are very lucky coins, given to you specially from some very courageous men! You should forever cherish these, alright?”
He grinned, pressing the two coins into the girl’s palm. Her eyes widened with awe and she tightened her hold around the coins and looked up to Wei Wuxian.
“But...I thought these were from you?! Is there some other, more courageous person I should thank, er-ge?”
Wei Wuxian blinked.
“I- er...no. I suppose not.”
Mianmian’s tiny face brightened and she grinned, throwing her arms around Wei Wuxian who froze with surprise. He definitely hadn’t expected that.
“Thank you, er-ge. I will cherish them forever.”
Wei Wuxian’s expression softened and he returned the hug, feeling the girl bury her face in his neck.
“Good girl.”
Mianmian’s mother smiled and reached forward, tugging the girl away from him. She pouted, but put up no resistance as she was brought back to her mother’s side.
“Thank you, sirs. We are so very thankful!”
Wei Wuxian stretched up, getting to his feet with a bright smile.
“No need to thank us! I pray you have a blessed life and marriage.”
The woman’s face softened and she exchanged a glance with her husband before responding.
“We wish the same for you, sirs.”
Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened. Was it- that obvious that...and the fact that...No, he didn’t want to think about that right now. Instead he chuckled and nodded, reaching back to tug Lan Wangji forward.
“You’re- too kind! If you’ll excuse us.”
Wei Wuxian pulled Lan Wangji behind him and started on his way back towards the ship. His mood was so touchy these days. It was...exhausting. But, without his permission, his mind stormed with thoughts for the rest of their way to the ship. Marriage…
-
“No.”
“Come on-”
“No way.”
“But-”
“Jingyi, no .”
Jingyi folded his arms and let out an indifferent huff, rolling his eyes.
“I see how it is- You just don’t want to, is that it?”
Jingyi snapped and Jin Ling gave him an unimpressed look. He looked into Jingyi’s eyes and he could see a flash of insecurity in his eyes, despite the fact that he was desperately trying to pretend like he didn’t care. Jin Ling knew better.
“Oh for gods’ sake, you’re impossible. Of course I want to go run off and do...that…, but can you imagine what would happen if my jiujiu found out that we went missing? For any amount of time?!”
Jingyi’s face paled with the very thought and he shivered, shaking his head.
“I- oh gods, you’re right.”
Jin Ling grinned, reaching over to ruffle his hair. He promptly received a maliceless glare from the other boy.
“You’ll have to learn that I’m always right, A-Yi.”
Jingyi rolled his eyes but hummed, not arguing as he tugged him closer to his side.
“Whatever.”
What a baby.
“You two! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?! I will not be losing you already!”
Huaisang snapped, turning back to face them. They had done their best to hang back to have some sort of privacy, but he supposed that someone (he glared at the back of Sizhui’s head that was looking quite suspicious) had given them away to the guard. Luckily, Mingjue had gone on his own to collect the supplies so the juniors and Huaisang could mindlessly roam around the different stalls, so they didn't have to worry as much about their physical well-being being in jeopardy due to their defiance.
“They’re probably trying to run off to do who-knows-what, Nie-ge.”
A Qing accused, her lips twitching up in a sly grin as the two boys jogged up to meet the group. Jin Ling shot her a glare.
“Don’t try me-”
“I very much so would like to.”
Zizhen sighed and fixed A-Qing’s hair soothingly, speaking at the same time as Jingyi.
“Shh..”
“Down boy!”
They really were two sides of the coin in regards to their relationships. Both petty parties shut their mouths however, turning away from each other. A Qing and Jin Ling didn’t get along often, but when they did they were a force to be reckoned with. When they worked together, the amount of dirt they could find on a person was...scary.
“You’re giving me a headache.”
Sizhui complained, Jin Ling rolling his eyes with annoyance.
“You know- I miss when you were blindly respectful to me.”
“I don’t!”
Jin Ling spluttered, drawing a snort of laughter from his cousin. Huaisang rolled his eyes, giving the boys an exasperated look.
“It’s so painfully obvious that the two of you are related to Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. My stars...anyway, can we please just try to get along long enough to just get lunch? I’m starving.”
Zizhen’s stomach rumbled in answer and the juniors signed a silent pack to chill out, at least for as long as it took to eat. They were all pretty hungry. Plus, they were tired of the potatoes and radishes from the ship. They walked in relative silence, the only one talking being Huaisang who never quite seemed to shut up.
“Well and then you know da-ge, he’s like a bull! But he’s really caring- well, no. Not really. He’s just- he’s stubborn! But anyway, I got the cat out of the tree just fine and I never quite figured out why exactly da-ge threw it up there in the first place but- Oh! There’s a good stand!”
Huaisang led the group over to a stand that was tucked in the corner of a more busy section of the pier. It was so far back that there was no way that Jin Ling would’ve been able to find it without knowing it was there. There was a table set up in the back where Huaisang waved them off to go sit while he ordered food for them.
“I really like Huaisang.”
Sizhui finally broke the silence as the five sat down, drawing a confused look from Jin Ling.
“You do? Why, he’s annoying!”
“That’s rich coming from you, A-Ling.”
Jin Ling fumed, his face burning bright red.
“Don’t call me that!”
Sizhui rolled his eyes before continuing.
“Anyway- I just think he’s pretty genuine, y’know?”
“I agree.”
A Qing chimed in, taking her seat beside Zizhen who was gazing longingly at Huaisang ordering their food. Jin Ling gave her a side glance, but didn’t say anything, feeling the warning look Jingyi was giving him. He didn’t even need to look to know it was there.
“Here!”
Huaisang returned with a large bowl filled to the brim with fried chicken. Jin Ling’s mouth watered as the smell reached him. He felt like he hadn’t eaten in forever, despite the congee he had for breakfast. The juniors waited patiently as Huaisang set the table, dividing the food evenly across the board. As Huaisang finally settled down, the juniors dug in. They all shoveled the food into their mouths with matching groans of delight. Zizhen was shoving food down his throat so quickly that he choked. What a dog!
“So...any of you have any idea what’s up with Wei Wuxian?”
Huaisang asked through a mouthful of food. Jin Ling shivered with disgust.
“I think it’s pretty obvious, in all honesty.”
A Qing stated, drawing the boys’ attention. They all stared at her in confusion, the girl quickly getting defensive.
“Please- don’t tell me that none of you meatheads have figured it out?!”
Jingyi gaped at her, exchanging a glance with Jin Ling who was equally as confused as his counterpart.
“How the hell are we supposed to know what goes on in that head of his?!”
Jingyi snapped, Sizhui, Zizhen, and Jin Ling all nodded in agreement. Huaisang hummed, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
“Do you think it has something to do with…?”
A silent conversation passed between Huaisang and A Qing and the ex-guard nodded in understanding.
“I see. That makes a lot of sense actually. Wei-xiong has always been sentimental like that, even when he was your age!”
Shizhui blinked and suddenly lit up.
“So that’s what’s been going on! Poor Wei-ge, I understand his pain. Not personally, obviously, but-”
A Qing and Huaisang nodded. Zizhen gave A Qing a look of confusion, receiving an eye-roll in response. However, she did lean over and whisper something to him, his eyes widening slightly at her words.
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
Jin Ling demanded, practically vibrating in his seat. How could they all just- know what was going on?! Could they read minds or something because all of this was completely lost on him. In fact, he didn’t even care in the first place. Now he was just pissed that everyone else seemed to know and he didn’t.
“Yeah- you guys all up in Senior Wei’s business or something?”
Well, everyone but Jingyi of course.
A Qing sighed exasperatedly and shook her head.
“Men...if you can’t figure it out then you don’t deserve to know anyway.”
Jin Ling bristled with anger.
“You- But you told Zizhen!”
Jingyi pointed out and A Qing grinned, stretching up to peck her boyfriend’s cheek.
“That’s cause I like him!”
The two gagged.
“Whatever, I’m too hungry to give a shit anyway.”
Jin Ling huffed and went back to eating. He knew he would’ve have a chance to eat this well again for a while, so he was going to take advantage of it while he could. A Qing scoffed but turned back to her own food.
“You’re impossible, I swear.”
-
Lan Wangji woke up in bed, his head aching slightly as he felt the familiar swaying of the water beneath him. He did his best to think back to what happened and….his eyes widened with horror and he shot up in bed. The last thing he remembered was the bar and now he was back at the ship. Was everyone-? Where-? What-?
“Ah- Lan Zhan, you’re awake!”
His gaze moved to the door of the room and in popped Wei Wuxian, holding a glass of water in his hand.
“I was just about to come put this by you in case you needed it when you woke up, but...I guess I won’t have to wait!”
He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. His shoulders were hunched and worn down, his cheerful tone doing little to disguise the fact that he was obviously upset about something still.
Lan Wangji sat up in bed, ignoring the uncomfortable sloshing in his stomach.
“Wei Ying- what...what happened?”
For a moment, Wei Wuxian’s eyes lit up with amusement. He hummed in thought, coming over to sit on the edge of their bed and setting the cup of water on the nightstand. He just prayed he hadn’t done anything too serious.
“Well- first off you tried to force me to take a chicken, then you insisted we bow together, then I bumped into a girl and paid our way out of it!”
Lan Wangji froze, all-too aware of the blood rushing under his skin. He had…does that mean...oh gods. He had tried to marry Wei Wuxian while drunk?! Well- he had done it in traditions but...still. He had overstepped his boundaries for sure this time. Shame flooded over him and he looked up to see the other man giving him an odd look.
“Lan Zhan- is something wrong?”
Lan Wangji blinked with confusion. Did he not...did he not know? Well, if the blank stare he was receiving was any good indicator, he assumed not. He swallowed dryly and shook his head.
“I- no. No, nothing is wrong. But...speaking of which...I have been meaning to ask you. Has there been something bothering you lately? You do not seem like yourself.”
Wei Wuxian stopped for a moment, his hand growing still against the blanket. He didn’t meet his eyes, keeping his gaze trailed on the floor as he thought.
“It’s stupid.”
Lan Wangji frowned, adjusting himself so that he could pull Wei Wuxian closer.
“It is not.”
The man on top chuckled weakly, snuggling up against his chest. He still refused to look up at him.
“How could you possibly know that? You have no idea what I’m going to say.”
Lan Wangji hummed and pressed a kiss against the crown of his head.
“Anything that is important to Wei Ying is important to me as well.”
Wei Wuxian’s fingers gripped his shirt tightly and finally, slowly lifted his head to meet Lan Wangji’s worried gaze.
“I just- well, IreallyloveyouLanZhanandIwouldreallyliketomarryyoubuteverythinghasgonetohellandthat’llprobablyneeverhappensoyeah.”
Lan Wangji blinked, watching the other’s face burn bright as he finally admitted what had been bothering him all this time.
“You...want to get married?”
Lan Wangji breathed, brushing back a stray strand of hair from Wei Wuxian’s forehead. He sniffled and nodded, looking away with embarrassment.
“I...do. But, what with all the drama and stuff, it’ll never happen. And I’m sure that you probably don’t even want to and I’m being-”
“Wei Ying.”
Lan Wangji interrupted sternly, his serious gaze baring into Wei Wuxian. The man froze, looking at him with eyes so wide they looked as though they were about to fall right out of his skull. Lan Wangji continued.
“I would be more than honored to marry you. We do not need all of the family nor traditions. I will be your husband if you will be mine. That is the only thing that matters to me. You are the only thing that matters to me. I love you Wei Ying.”
The man on his lap was already a mess, silent tears streaming down his face as he looked over to him in awe. Lan Wangji could feel tears gathering in his own eyes as he looked to the one thing in the world that meant more to him than anything.
“Lan Zhan-”
Wei Wuxian’s voice cracked with emotion, his entire body shaking with the strain it took to keep from breaking down. Lan Wangji looked into those eyes, soft and warm and loving...and knew that this man was truly his world.
“Wei Ying, will you marry me?”
There was silence for a moment, before the whole in Lan Wangji’s heart that he hadn’t even known was there was finally, finally sealed.
“Yes!”