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The sun was yet far from rising, but Wei Wuxian had woken, miraculously.
He blinked the sleep off his eyes and wondered why on earth would he wake up before the sun, even worse, before Lan Wanji.
Looking over to his side, he could see the other male resting peacefully, looking like a good dead person in his sleeping-Lan position, body completely straight and hands perfectly folded over his chest.
That was, by the way, the only hint of life he showed while sleeping, the calm and perfectly timed movement of his chest rising and falling with his breathing.
Wei Ying had spent many nights drinking by himself and looking over at his friend, eyes crossing in an attempt to focus on that steady rising and fall. It felt comforting knowing that even after everything that happened to them, Lan Zhan could still just heed the Lan nine o’clock call to sleep and actually go to sleep.
Shifting on the bed, Wei Ying finally realized what had woken him up: hunger. His stomach was contracting hard and the lovely smell of something warm and rich kept teasing his nose. He took a deep inhale, trying to identify what the innkeeper could be baking at this ungodly hour, but came empty handed.
The aroma he was smelling lacked the fermented tones of bread, or the syrupy sweetness of sugar. It smelled like the fragrant rice wine he drank last night, although a lot more inviting without the alcohol fumes, but also a little sweet, a bit woodsy, almost like a vanilla infused sandalwood, almost like-
Wei Ying sat on the bed with a start, his hands closing over his mouth and nose. That sandalwood smelled just like Lan Zhan, sweet, caring, Lan Zhan. The moment he realized that, his stomach cramped hard and he felt achy all over, skin rasing in goosebumps as he forced his body to calm down.
His mind started to race, counting the days since his last cycle. How many days since they left Gusu? Four. How many days before that? He couldn’t remember, and now completely awakened by his upcoming heat, the only thing his foggy mind could think of was ‘Need’. He needed the source of that smell under his nose, needed the owner of it to scent him properly, needed to move and beg for the things he wanted.
This felt so wrong. Ever since waking up in Mo Xuanyu’s body he and Lan Zhan took extra care for him to always be in an Omegean Inn before his heat started.
It took some time for Wei Ying, previously an alpha, to get used to being an omega now.
People treated him differently, and he knew full well it was because he and Lan Zhan were a very unorthodox pairing. It was almost unheard of for an alpha and an omega, both unmated, to travel together, let alone be around each other the way they did. They shared everything, they even shared a room most nights, for fuck sake.
More often than not, people would comment on how he would ruin their esteemed Hanguang-jun reputation, on how could the younger Twin Jade of Lan keep an unmated omega around, one with a history of craziness, and worse, one he cared for and protected.
But no matter what people gossip behind their backs, not even once after their reunion had Lan Zhan looked him down for being an omega.
He made sure that Wei Ying was always wearing enough clothes to keep the cold away since he was always cold now, and whenever possible, would pay for a warm bed and all the food his friend could eat at inns and markets they passed by during their travels.
But now… now Wei Ying felt a hunger he never felt before, all his five previous heats came with warning, a steady rising of his temperature, aches that got progressively worse as the days went by, and according to Lan Zhan, his own scent of apples and lotus flower would get stronger and warmer as it got closer. But none of that had happened this time.
By now Lan Zhan would have found an omegean Inn for him to spend the next two days being cared for, likely by an elderly omega lady with enough herbal medicine to tamper most of his lust, if not his pains.
He felt the tremors that would anticipate his slick being produced, and all he could think of was how amazing licking Lan Zhan's neck would taste.
That rich sandalwood wine made his mouth feel full, way too full of his saliva, and despise trying to force himself to stand and run, he actually ended up crossing the distance and sat by Lan Zhans side on his bed, hands softly running over his arms, head bending by his friend ear to reach his scent gland.
He was so close to just nuzzling at it, so down under his own desire that he had not sensed any movement around him, never saw Lan Zhan's eyes shooting open, as lost for words as for actions. A first.
Strong hands held Wei Ying’s shoulders, preventing him from touching the origin of that amazing scent, and he whined deep in his throat, trying to get closer.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan sounded alarmed, his nose flaring with every deep breath he took, his cool golden eyes turning an amazing amber, mouth as thin as a sword's cut. It was his tone that brought a little bit of clarity back to Wei Yings head.
"Lan Zhan, I’m so sorry, I don’t know what is happening, my heat was not supposed to happen now was it?" He is still whining lowly, his whole body shivering as if dunked in cold water, desperation foe warmth clinging to his soul.
"Not for another two weeks. Wei Ying, breathe." His voice is soft, but his usual calmness is gone.
"How can you ask me to breathe Lan Zhan, have you no idea of how good you smell, how much I wanna bury my head on your neck and just die there all over again?" His fingers are twisting Lan Zhan's robe now, knuckles white.
"No dying." is all Lan Zhan shushes him before pulling him down over his chest, strong arms encircling his torso and fast fingers finding acupoints that make Wei Ying’s body go slack against him, the release of pain from his lower back drawing a deep moan out of him.
He feels Lan Zhan’s fingers roam his back, kneading the tension and pain away, hears distantly the humming of a song he can almost remember the taste of, and closes his heavy eyes.
He must have fallen asleep for a bit, for when he opens his eyes again, the sun is rising, and Wei Ying stretches his body languidly, wonderfully warm and pliant until he feels the hands cradling his head massage his scalp. His eyes feel sore, as if he had cried in his sleep, and he tilts his head up to look in the eyes of his friend under him.
"How are you feeling?" The quiet question comes.
"Better. Lan Zhan, what did you do?"
"Some acupoints may be helpful when pressed using the transfer of energy during a heat. It’s soothing for the omega and makes the symptoms less harsh for a while. You should feel good enough now for us to go find this city’s Omegean Inn." His tone is gentle, always is, but by the end of the sentence he is struggling, as much as Lan Zhan can struggle to anything.
Wei Ying feels the tears running down his face. No, he can’t go, he can’t be parted from his Lan Zhan, he will not, never!
"Wei Ying, calm down, it’s gonna be-"
"It is not!!! How can you throw me out like this Lan Zhan, how can you be so cruel to me?"
"Wei Ying, I would never-" but he is interrupted one more time.
"Yes you would! You want to send me to another awful room, have me locked up and fed nothing but that horrible bitter tea and plain congee." Wei Ying is sitting on top of Lan Zhan now, pulling at fistfulls of his own hair, the idea of having to spend another heat without his mate unbearable.
Wait.
Wei Ying lets go of his hair and stops breathing altogether. He looks down at the man under him, and all he can see is a reflection of his own desperation. Lan Zhan’s hands are by his side, avoiding touching him, but his fists are clenched shut, his teeths are gritting and his scent is much more rich now than it was before he put Wei Ying to sleep.
He looks as affected by Wei Ying’s heat as the omega himself feels, his aura a dark and sizzling ember, his golden core sending wave after wave of qi out of his body, making Wei Ying tremble at the sight of him.
"Lan Zhan… Lan Zhan, please." he speaks softly, fingers finding the other's hands, enlacing them.
"Lan Zhan, tell me what you feel?" He sees Lan Zhan’s Adam's apple bob up and down, his eyes shining in the low light.
"Lan Zhan, tell me I’m not the only one that feels this." He brings their joined hands to his chest, over his solar plex, where his small golden core is trembling, and the closeness of Lan Zhan's big hands over it makes him sigh. He parts those fingers and places the hands over his body, one pressing against his chest, the other he brings to his neck over his scent gland, and feels Lan Zhan hold him more firmly, thumbs caressing his skin.
"Did you knew, Lan Zhan?" He all but mewls, Lan Zhan's hands in him feel heavenly.
A gulp: "Knew what?"
"Did you knew that we are mates? Is that why you always sent me away for my heats?" Wei Ying lets go completely of his hands now, he knows they are not parting from his body, so he sits more comfortably and leans forward, palms over Lan Zhan’s ribs.
"Wei Ying!" His tone is aggravated, but he is not denying.
"Do you not feel this energy between us? You made the pain go away with just your touch and I am pretty sure my head is as clear as it will get for the next couple of days, so let’s get things straight while I can, shall we Hanguang-jun?" Said Hanguang-jun is breathing with his mouth open, that is also a first.
Wei Ying pushes "I can feel your golden core calling for me, you can’t hide it. Can you feel mine? Is this new one too weak or do you feel how it wants to pull you in?" When has he leaned down so much? Their mouths are a dizi length away.
"I can feel it." comes the rushed response.
"Tell me more Lan Zhan." The comfort of having his mate admitting to it makes Wei Ying's eyes water.
"I could feel it the first time you got your heat, the first time your scent turned warm and sweet for me and I could hear your golden core sing."
Wei Ying closes his eyes and openly moans at that. "Why didn’t you tell me?" He reclines even more, hands now holding the sides of Lan Zhan's neck, the pulsing heartbeat in the veins under his fingers calming and alluring.
Lan Zhan takes a deep breath under him and puts his hands over his waist, pulling him even closer "I was afraid of rushing you. You had just come back, this body was new to you, I can see how you struggle with the idea of being an omega now, how hurt you look when people judge you by it. I will never rush you into anything you don’t want." He says these things as if they are burdens he carries, but he still sounds hopeful.
"And had you said anything.. then what?" Their mouths are so close Wei Ying can feel the warmth of Lan Zhan’s breath spreading over his lips.
"Then you would have to choose between being free as you wish to be, or being mine, my omega."
He turns his head slightly to the side at this, obviously uncomfortable with their situation.
Wei Ying is grateful, he really is, that Lan Zhan had not only not rushed him into a relationship, but also wanted to make sure that when the day for the truth to come out came, Wei Ying would be able to make his own decisions, be it what it may.
But since Lan Zhan is being so honest with him, Wei Ying will also be.
"Oh Lan Zhan, did you not know? Back then, before I died, when I was also an alpha, I was already yours."
Lan Zhan’s eyes go wide, his parted mouth hanging open, shock all over his features.
Wei Ying knows it is tabu, knows that what he just confessed is seen as wrong by most people, but he can’t hold this from his mate, needs him to understand that there was never a choice between his freedom or Lan Zhan. He was always his. No matter how long he searched his memories, he always knew deep down that the silly infatuation of their teenage years was a lot deeper than he was comfortable admitting.
They gravitated around each other, not even death could make them part for long, they always found one another in this world. Wei Ying brushed it off as a result of their great friendship, of how good they worked and fought together…
But back then something kept pulling at him, even when Wei Ying no longer had a golden core to call for him, even in death and after it. Alpha or not, Lan Zhan was the only one that had captured him so completely.
Lan Zhan suddenly sits up, and Wei Ying braces himself against his chest. He has never seen Lan Zhan this affected in his lifes, hair lose from sleep and mouth slack, breathing as harshly as if he was a normal man forced to run up the mountains to the Cloud Recesses. The sight makes Wei Ying smile a little, his brain trying desperately to hang onto his lucidity.
Lan Zhan’s hands find his face and hold onto him as if Wei Ying might break apart. His heart may actually explode, if the way it is beating wildly is any indication.
"Yours."
"What, Lan Zhan?"
"Yours. I was always yours. Back then, when things were different. I was yours." His thumbs keep caressing his cheeks softly, spreading the wetness Wei Ying crying left behind.
"Really? Lan Zhan, don’t play with my poor heart now, I would not survive-"
"Yours, Wei Ying," and his face is getting really close to Wei Ying’s now, "Always yours. Will always be only yours." he murmurs, and then their lips finally touch.
Wei Ying knows he is crying, knows that his hands are now so tangled in Lan Zhan’s hair that he will never be able to free them.
He knows that they still have so much to talk and discuss, knows that his impending heat is not the prime time for any of this to be happening, but he can’t care, not when Lan Zhan’s lips are so soft against his own, not when his mates hands are holding him against a strong chest, hearts beating in synchrony and golden cores singing loudly.
He gets lost in it, in the way Lan Zhan kisses him as if he will die of starvation if they ever part.
He loses a bit of his sanity when he opens his eyes for a moment and breathes deeply in the pheromones around them, so strong and so heavenly smelling like both of them that his whole body shudders.
Wei Ying is floating, a weightless mass of sensations, until his back hits the mattress and he feels himself trapped under a heavy body: Lan Zhan has him comfortable against the pillows, body pressing him down in the best way imaginable. His core is sending waves of power though them, his warmth caressing his whole being like nothing Wei Ying ever felt.
For a moment he just lays there, basking in the sensations, but he can hear voices and then a low rumble start to form and shake around him.
When he opens his eyes, Lan Zhan is downright growling, head turned towards the door and showing his teeth, the voices outside quieting for him.
Territorial. Possessive. Rude. All the hairs in Wei Ying's body stand up. He never heard Lan Zhan being so primal before, never even imagined that it could happen to the perfectly poised Hanguang-jun, who always looked down to any alpha misbehaving in public.
And yet, this simple show of how territorial he actually is, is enough to send Wei Ying’s body into a frenzy.
He feels slick soaking his clothes and skin, feels how hard his rim closes on nothing. His cock is hard between his legs and just now does he take notice of the hard length pressing back at him. Lan Zhan is hard.
Lan Wangji is an alpha, his alpha, and he is hard against Wei Ying while being rude towards the poor innkeeper outside their door.
Wei Ying almost comes right then and there. Almost. He does moans at the thought, and that makes Lan Zhan snap his head back at him, his nose flaring at the smell of the slick pouring out of his omega.
Lan Zhan sighs and closes his eyes briefly, a pained expression on his face when he stands up quickly and marches to the door, yanking it open before Wei Ying can do so much as complain about his absence.
Between the blood pumping in his ears and the little shriek the innkeeper gave at the door abruptly being open to reveal Hanguan-Jun looking like that, Wei Ying can’t hear what his mate says, but the poor old man just nods his head, accepts whatever is handed to him, and scurries down the corridor.
"He won't bother us." Lan Zhan is bolting the door close.
"What did you give him?" Wei Ying is supporting his weight on his elbows, umblinking.
"Money. We'll have this floor for ourselves for the next three days. He will bring food and ring a bell for meals, but he will not get close to you." He tells this while removing his robes, layer after layer of silk sliding to the floor as he approaches the bed. Wei Ying is, for the first time, silent; never in his life has he seen Lan Zhan openly undress and leave a mess behind.
Another wave of tremors hits him, and this time he recognizes it for what it means.
Want. Need. He needs Lan Zhan to touch him, to fuck him until he cries, needs to be filled with his seed, as deep as it can go, and to bear his bite.
The trembling doesn’t stop like usual, he feels his core contracting and making his whole body shake with want, knees coming up and toes curling as he moans.
'What the fuck is happening? Will he just come like this?'
He can feel his dick throb and his hole twitch, a warm sensation spreading through him making him squeeze his eyes shut.
A hand cards through his hair and his body relaxes as if by command. Lan Zhan pulls his head back so they can look at eachother, but Wei Ying eyes can only focus on his cock, eye level with him, hard and proud, head glistening with precome, ready to fuck him.
He could gag on that beautiful cock and thank Lan Zhan for it.
He reaches forward but the hand on his nape closes around his hair tightly, turning his head all the way up and making him sag on the bed and finally look up.
"Are you about to come?" And honestly, how can Wei Ying survive this if Lan Zhan is gonna say dirty things like this in such a serious voice?
"No… almost" He is having a hard time breathing around the moans trying to escape him.
"Good," Lan Zhan says, "Only with me."
Wei Ying knows he will come as a whimper leaves his soul and his hands fly to grab his own cock, but the fist holding him up releases his hair and he tumbles down on the bed, Lan Zhan's body pressing him down as his hands are pinned up above his head.
The mouth against his is feral, their kisses, so soft and languid before, turning into pure animalistic bliss.
Lan Zhan kisses around his jaw, over his ear as he commands "Keep your hands up", and then he is untying the knot of Wei Ying’s robe, removing his clothes as he did his own, but never stopping his licks and kisses around his mate’s neck.
When he slides his hands over the omega’s naked calves and up his thighs, Wei Ying can no longer obey his order, hands grabbing the alpha’s shoulders for dear life.
He feels Lan Zhan hum of approval and jolts when teeth close over his scent gland, sucking and scraping at his skin. A white hot feeling travels his whole body and he is pretty sure he just screamed as those teeth sink in deeper, not yet breaking skin, but oh so close to that.
"Lan Zhan, please!" His knees brace his alpha waist and he can feel how heavy and hard Lan Zhan is for him.
"Please please pleeease" but is shushed by gentle lips and caring hands that go around his hips and back to pull them both impossibly close.
"Relax, Wei Ying" he murmurs between kisses.
"No! Lan Zhan, I need…" He doesn't know what he needs more; his mate’s cock inside of him right now, or the bite that will bind them together. Both. Preferably at the same time, preferably right now!
One of Lan Zhan arm is supporting him up and that hand has found the omega's scent gland, lightly pinching it while the other has come between them to slowly run his fingers down Wei Ying’s cock.
His touch is reverent and his eyes never stray from Wei Ying’s face, but his gentleness is killing the omega slowly.
"Lan er-gege, oh" He tries to tease the other but Lan Zhan choses that moment to close his fist around his cock and anything Wei Ying had to say vanishes from his head.
The alpha strokes him a couple of times and lets his dripping cock go in order to continue his way down, ignoring the broken pleas from under him.
"This is not how I wanted our first time" Lan Zhan confesses, fingers now rolling Wei Ying’s balls.
"Wanted to take my time with you, learn you slowly" His voice trails off while his fingers circle Wei Ying’s rim, tongue licking his lips at the wetness he finds there.
"Wanted you for so long," he exhales as his index finger breaches in.
Wei Ying has stopped breathing, can’t while staring at the man above whisper such decadent words to him. He feels the first finger, then the second enter him slowly, and yet he is quiet, eyes so wide that tears have started to gather.
Those deep amber eyes are hypnotic and arresting, holding him still. It's only when he feels those fingers hit a spot deep in him that the enchantment is broken and the frenzy returns.
Wei Ying is moaning and gasping as those fingers stretch him, tears falling freely down his face as Lan Zhan adds another finger, then another, and if Wei Ying has ever fucked himself with his fingers while in heat, he has been doing it wrong.
"Oh, oh by the gods, how???" He is gasping for air while Lan Zhan holds him open with just the tip of his fingers, exposing his gaping hole to the air.
"Mmm?" Lan Zhan asks, lips closed around the soft lobe of his ear.
"How do you- aaaah- do you know how to do that, oh, ooh gods, Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying’s hands are once more holding on Lan Zhan’s shoulder as if his life depends on it, and maybe this time it does.
"Books." he answers hoarsely, humor in his voice.
"What??"
"Books," and now he is smiling wickedly back at Wei Ying. "When we were young I read books on how to prepare for this," he admits to his omega who can do no more than stare stupidly at him.
He removes his fingers from Wei Ying and shushes his protests, "Remember how you always teased me by saying that I would never learn how to fuck since I was so cold and distant?"
He takes his own cock in hand, Wei Ying’s slick coating him fully in one long pull and he moans deeply at it, blinking his pleasure away as he continues "I learned. Read every sex book I came by ever since" and he strokes himself again, a drop of precum falling on Wei Ying thigh and branding him hotly. The omega thrashes, body vibrating on pure need as he feels Lan Zhan tease the tip of his cock to his wet rim.
"Lan Zhan I need you now, please, aah, I need you" and he feels a slight pressure as he is entered, slowly but firmly. He forgets how to breathe and how to talk, and Lan Zhan slides in on and on and on, he never felt so full in his life, his body contracting around the cock in him, his cries bouncing on the walls around them.
Lan Zhan has his forehead pressed against his and they share the pheromone filled air around them as he finally bottoms out.
Wei Ying is trembling but there is no pain. Usually during his heats he will give in to his need to fuck himself and all he ever felt was discomfort and the pains the cramps brought with it. Now he feels hazy, the pleasure cursing through him so acute that he is sure he did indeed die and is now in heaven.
Soft lips kissing around his face bring him back, and when he opens his eyes, he sees his mate looking at him loveably.
"Are you in pain?" Lan Zhan’s voice is quiet and full of emotions.
"No, it’s perfect" he answers, and it’s true, he never felt more at peace in his life. They kiss once more, and the slight movement of Lan Zhan’s cock reaching even deeper inside him is enough to break the little respite from his heat that they had until now.
His blood boils as he hooks his legs around his alpha and grinds down on him, Lan Zhan ending the kiss in a throaty moan.
He grabs Wei Yings waist and pulls out, not slowly like when he was opening him, but hard and abruptly, making Wei Ying gasp as he fucks back in at once.
It is not slow and sweet as Wei Ying had first imagined, but it’s perfect for what his heat needs, the tempo making his slick pour out of him with every pull of Lan Zhan cock, his dick dripping after every thrust. He can feel when he is about to come and tries to warn Lan Zhan, but his mate doesn’t slow down, if only he seems more riled to make it happen.
When Wei Ying’s orgasm hits him, it’s like being swept away by a broken dam. His whole body contracts and its force rings in his ears. His golden core reaches out and he feels a pleasure like no other when it finds its mates and they link.
Lan Zhan is moaning above him, his knot growing and catching with every thrust, teeth around his omega’s scent gland, and when he finally comes, his knot locks in place as he bites, the circuit closes and Wei Ying blacks out.
When Wei Ying opens his eyes, it’s early morning and rays of sunlight dance through the wooden panels of the windows. Lan Zhan’s knot has come down some and he is so warm and comfortable in his mate’s arms that when he blinks again, he falls back asleep.
A soft caress down his spine makes him squirm, then a lighter touch, like a feather running down his back makes him giggle softly.
He is lying on his belly, and when he turns his face to find the source of the tickles, he finds Lan Zhan sitting on his thighs, lips caressing his back muscles and loose hair following.
He is equally shocked and happy to see him there, to see him so open with his affections, so he slowly turns on his back and Lan Zhan follows him up, coming face to face.
They are smiling, and for a while there is no need for words, no need for anything but to look at the other. Lan Zhan eyes drift to the side of his neck and his hand follows, butterfly touches over the bite mark.
"How do you feel?" He speaks so softly it’s enough to make Wei Ying’s heart skip a beat.
"Wonderful," and it is the truth. Wei Ying has never felt this good in his lifes. He can feel that not only is his body relaxed and sated, but his soul is happy, his underdeveloped golden core pulsating in radiance it did not possessed before.
He touches his solar plex and asks "Does my golden core feel different to you too? Can you even sense it?". Lan Zhan’s smile grows even bigger, taking Wei Ying’s breath away.
"Yes. It's a lot stronger now. I’ve been able to sense it since you came back."
Wei Ying is taken back by this "How come you could feel mine if I could never feel yours Lan Zhan??"
"I think yours was too weak before. Can you try to feel mine now?" And Wei Ying concentrates for barely a second before he feels it.
Lan Zhan’s golden core is much bigger than his, impossibly stronger and a lot more developed. There is something so familiar to it though, something that Wei Ying can’t identify at first, but it slowly reveals itself.
It’s like a little mark, like a lingering scent, and the more Wei Ying focuses on it, the more easily he can sense it, the bigger it seems to grow. And then he really sees it.
Right at the center of Lan Zhan’s golden core, a reflection of himself is embraced. This little eco of his own golden core is protected all around by Lan Zhan’s, and when he closes his eyes it feels like being held in adoraling.
His own golden core pulses at the thought and Wei Ying finally recognizes the new glow around himself: Lan Zhan is holding him, a little piece of his vital energy stretched all around Wei Ying’s, making it stronger than before, making it glow brighter.
"Shelter". Wei Ying is amazed by how readily he can recognize the feeling. He looks up at Lan Zhan, still patiently waiting for Wei Ying to understand what he must have realized as soon as he woke up.
"We are more than mates."
A hum "Yes, Wei Ying", his smile is going to be a permanent imprint in Wei Yin’s mind.
"We are mates, but we are also cultivation partners!" And if he could die of happiness, it would be right now.
"We are forever." is all Lan Zhan has to offer before Wei Ying is kissing him desperately.
They stay in bed for a long time just basking in each other's company, touching and kissing without hurry. They know Wei Ying heat will come back later and force everything into a fever, so for now all they do is take things slow.
They also talk, and Wei Ying learns that as soon as he came back to life, Lan Zhan felt their connection, felt how fated they were to be together. They talk about how in the past they would have a much harder time since they were both alphas, and Lan Zhan admits that by the end of the Sunshot Campaign he was willing to just throw it all away and confess his feelings for Wei Ying, but didn’t because back then there was an abyss lodging itself between them.
Wei Ying confesses that he was certain that before dying, he was never meant to be happy.
Coming back to life in an omega’s body was how the universe found a way to apologize for how it treated Wei Ying before.
At some point Lan Zhan got dressed in only his outer robes and went to grab the food the innkeeper had left by the stairs for them after ringing the bell. When he got back holding two huge trays, he made sure that Wei Ying was dressed in his white silk inner robe while they ate at the table, otherwise, as he pointed out, he would never be able to let go long enough for Wei Ying to eat what he needed to go through his full heat.
"This heat feels so different, Lan Zhan." he said between spoonfuls of a spicy lamb soup.
"Different how?" He never once told Wei Ying to be quiet during meals ever since he came back.
"I feel no pain at all… and I can talk and eat!". Now Lan Zhan seems surprised "Did you feel so much pain you could not?"
"Yeah, most of the time I was either crying myself to sleep or in so much pain I could not even cry. The ladies at the Omegean Inns would bring me that horrible herbal tea but it did very little to help." He takes a huge bite of a roasted pumpkin.
"For the full two days?" And it’s Lan Zhan tone of despair that brings his attention from the pumpkin.
"Yeah, but that is normal, right? Unmated omegas have a really hard time until they mate, I was just not expecting such a contrast between the before and after mating." He states warily as the frown on Lan Zhan’s face deepens.
"What's wrong Lan Zhan?"
"I had no idea you were in such suffering, I was under the impression that the tea they give to unmated omegas would take most of the discomfort away."
He sounds so upset, as if any of Wei Ying’s past heats were his fault, so Wei Ying gets up, walks around the table and plops himself on his alpha’s lap.
"Lan Zhan, I know you, I know you think that by not telling me about us being mates you were somehow responsible for my heats being so miserable, but please believe me when I say that it was for the best. We had so much going on since I came back, this is the first time in our lives that we have no urgent business to attend to, no saving the world responsibilities, no danger to run away from. This is the best moment for this to have happened." He says it while playing with Lan Zhan’s scent gland, apparently never able to be this near and not touch his mate’s skin.
The alpha closes his eyes and touches his forehead to Wei Ying’s, a gesture the omega is growing quite fond of as the day passes, and says in a soft but clear voice: "I love you".
Emotion surges so fast in Wei Ying’s heart that he almost falls back in his haste to look his mate in the eyes.
"Love Wei Ying" Lan Zhan says again, holding his mate in place, "Love you so much!"
And then they are crying, kissing, and hugging like they have never allowed themselves before today, and Wei Ying mumbles his ‘I love you’-s in between kisses while Lan Zhan stands up and carries him back to the bed.
It doesn't take long for Wei Ying's heat to start again after that, leaving him incoherent in his need for Lan Zhan to knot him.
This time when Lan Zhan enters Wei Ying, he takes his sweet time, sitting on his knees and hoisting Wei Ying's waist up with his legs proped over his arms, moving so deliciously slow and so deep, he makes Wei Ying come twice before his knot even begins to grow.
From there Wei Ying is in a daze of sensations, his heat fulling hitting him, desire so intense he can do no more than beg and moan for his mate to fuck him.
And Lan Zhan delivers. He knots him once, and after the hour it takes for it to go down and they can part again, he pulls out, gets on his knees and swallows Wei Ying still hard cock down his throat.
By the time Wei Ying comes, he is ready to fuck his omega again, this time by flipping him over and taking him from behind. Wei Ying comes so hard when he is knotted that he rips the round pillow apart.
He wakes up to the amazing feeling of something soft and wet touching his gaped hole and he comes again, a sad little dribble soiling the sheets when he realizes that Lan Zhan is spreading his ass apart with his big hands and is eating him out like a starved man, biting at the skin around his rim and fingering his hole at a slow pace.
He must black out again after Lan Zhan knotted him the third time because when Wei Ying opens his eyes the room is involved in darkness and he is draped across Lan Zhan’s chest. He can feel his mate sleeping under him, his cock nested between his thighs, soft for now. The alpha is holding him in such a protective manner that Wei Ying wishes he never had to leave this room ever again, never be away from the strong arms cradling him.
━◦○◦━
Just as he sleeps punctually at nine every night, Lan Zhan wakes with the rising sun everyday. This time when he opens his eyes he notices a couple distinct things:
One: for the first time since he can remember, he woke after the birds. The sun is now somewhere high enough that it must be around mid-morning.
Two: there is a very heavy, very hot body curled up on top of him. Wei Ying must have woken up at some point during the night and cocooned them under the blankets, trapping his elevated body heat with them. It would be suffocating if not for the fact that this is Lan Zhan’s wildest dream coming true.
He never dared to hope he would be able to one day wake up late, after a day of heat sex with his mate, the person he loves the most in the world, and have nothing to do but to pamper Wei Ying, care for him and love him in any way possible. After all the pain they’ve been through, Lan Zhan never believed something like this would be possible.
He runs his fingers over Wei Ying’s head, delicately untangling the fairy knots and wonders in what state he must be right now. He can see the bonding bite on his omega’s neck, and wishes Wei Ying could mark him like that too. Lan Zhan’s body is covered in scars, all of them related to Wei Ying somehow; there are the ones covering his back that sometimes make his muscles ache as if the skin will never heal properly; the one over his heart, a sad drunk reminder of everything he lost.
He is pretty confident that his shoulders and neck must look like a criss-cross of red lines by now, Wei Ying’s need for something to hold on while being fucked leaving its marks too.
Omegas don’t scar their alphas with a bite to seal the bonding, but Wei Ying is an alpha in an omega’s body, and he must still feel some alpha tendencies, at least subconsciously, if the way he behaves around Lan Zhan is any indicator.
Unlike other omegas, who are usually quiet, shy, sweet and almost meek most of the time, Wei Ying is loud, expansive, bigger than life even when he is thinking. He carries himself with a confidence that is prevalent in their alphas peers, and if he now recognizes his new physical limitations and steps back when needed, he still acts as if the world is his for the taking.
There are some differences though, some things that Lan Zhan picked in these months since his return.
Wei Ying is more mellow now. He had a tendency of acting cute and flirty as an alpha, but now he is just all around softer. When he flirts, it’s with a sweet smile instead of a killer one. When he clings to Lan Zhan’s side, be it out of playfulness or fear, his scent spikes sweetly, a call for Lan Zhan to take care of him. Lan Zhan is certain that happens without Wei Ying realizing he is doing it, just another proof that his new biology is changing him.
The new omega has always had a soft spot for animals and kids, and if back then they did not share his adoration, now they all but flock to him. He sees the way Wei Ying has all of their juniors wrapped around his little finger, how the rabbits of the Cloud Recesses are more than willing to cuddle him and sleep on his lap. Juniors and bunnies alike follow him everywhere when they find themselves in Gusu Lan, eyes sparkling whenever in his company.
He is also more introspective. He still acts harshly when people around them are in danger, muscle memory of his alpha days, but when confronted verbally he speaks more politely and now he rarely makes fun or tries to rile people up with his wit like he did before.
Wei Ying came back to life in a different body, his old and overly masculine alpha scent of rain and spices nowhere to be found, but he came back with the will to live his life renowned, to just be. He came back as a cute boy, if a weaker one, and Lan Zhan does miss the old him sometimes, but he desperately loves this version of him that is finally happy, finally at peace.
“I can hear you thinking, you know.” A mumbling voice comes from around his navel. Wei Ying squeezes his whole body around Lan Zhan, arms and legs everywhere, face rubbing the skin of his stomach.
“Did my thinking woke you up?” Lan Zhan inquires, a soft smile already in place.
“Yes, your adoration of my person was very loud,” he softly bites at the skin he is nuzzling, “but why would you just lay there and only pet my head??” He uncurls and stares at Lan Zhan, nestling under his arms, “Is my mate so cruel that he will not wake me up with kisses after getting what he wanted all day, yesterday?” Lan Zhan wants to kiss his flushed cheeks.
“If I recall correctly, you also got what you wanted all day. Many times, actually.” He sees the sparkle of mischief shine on his omega’s eyes, always ready to play.
“Lan Zhan, how can you say things like that? I was just a virgin little omega not many hours ago and you are judging me for what my heat made me do,” he pouts, pointy fingers digging on Lan Zhan sides as he goes on, “poor me, such a brute alpha took me all day and night and now he won’t even pepper me with kisses.”
Lan Zhan kisses him playfully, making Wei Ying giggle in his arms, pecking his face and neck everywhere he can reach. Once he is done, he lets Wei Ying cuddle at his side, back to playing with his hair.
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But something he said keeps calling for Lan Zhan's attention. “Do you think Mo Xuanyu was a virgin?” he asks, genuinely curious. Wei Ying is quiet for a second, weighing his words before speaking.
“Mmm, if I had to guess, no. The way he was treated by the Mo’s was horrendous, I don’t think they held back in any punishment they saw fit,” now Wei Ying is frowning, his scent turning sour, “that beta cousin of his had no qualms about hurting him, and from what I could briefly gather when we talked, Xuanyu wanted his vengeance against them for some really fucked up things.”
“You think he was raped.” Lan Zhan feels bile rising up his throat. Here he is, holding the body of a boy that had suffered unimaginable things in the hands of the ones that should have cared for him, looking at his eyes and seeing Wei Ying in them.
When he found Wei Ying in this body he was shocked, to say the least. Mo Xuanyu’s body looked frail and malnourished, peppered with bruises. His hair lacked shine and the bags under his eyes were so dark that even though he has very cute features, he looked exactly like the ghost he painted on his face, so Lan Zhan made sure he was always warm, eating correctly and sleeping in a bed whenever they could reach towns during their travels.
Now, after almost a year of having given himself over to Wei Ying, this body is stronger, healed of the many wounds he carried. His scent of lotus flowers and apples took a while to develop, but with every day they spent together, slowly but surely, it came out. Sometimes Lan Zhan tries to remember what the young Mo smelled or looked like, but if they ever met at Lanling, he could not remember.
“I think the Mo’s deserved to die, and yes, I think he was.” He stares at Lan Zhan and huffs, pulling the blanket more firmly around his shoulder as he sits by Lan Zhan’s side, “I woke up in a pool of blood when Xuanyu brought me back, and my whole body hurt, places I didn't even knew could hurt, hurt like hell. I think whatever went down the night before he summoned me, it was his turning point. I was aching all around, and I am pretty sure his body was recovering from a heat.” He looks down at his hands and legs, folding himself fully under the blanket.
“You avenged him. It's what he wanted you to do. And now you are healing.” Lan Zhan knows Wei Ying needs to talk about this, needs to let this sorrow for the young boy pour out of him.
“I know… but it feels egoistic to be here living my dream life with my mate, knowing what things this body must have suffered. Maybe Xuanyu was a weird kid but he didn’t deserve what happened to him.” Wei Ying eyes are filling with tears, and Lan Zhan sits to wipe them away.
“You honor him by caring for his body now.” He strokes his mate’s face, “and I will help you do it.”
He gathers Wei Ying on his lap, hugging him tightly. “I will never let any part of you go hungry, never let anyone lay a hand on you again,” he knows his own voice is thick with angst, but he continues, “I will care for you, both this heart and this body, until the day we die, and even after that if I have any say in it.” And they stay holding and scenting each other for a while, Wei Ying’s scent gradually turning happy again, the apples in it smelling crisp and delicious, his flowers blooming in a summer night.
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“Thank you Lan Zhan, I love you” Wei Ying is melting in his embrace.
“There is no need for thanking between us.” Lan Zhan answers, and that is when he feels it.
A low and tiny rumble grows steadily louder, and when he looks down at Wei Ying, he has a hand over his throat and another over his heart. He looks amazed.
“You are purring,” Lan Zhan must sound just as amazed because Wei Ying looks up at him, and when his mouth opens to speak, the purr comes out unimpeded, taking him by surprise. He clasps both hands over his mouth and Lan Zhan can see he is trying to work his vocal cords into gulping down the sound. It’s adorable.
“My beautiful omega, purring for me. Thank you, Wei Ying.” he takes one of his mate’s hands and kisses his knuckles.
The purr stops eventually and Wei Ying looks at him, eyes wide and innocent, “No thanking between us!” he reminds the alpha, “This never happened before!” He is blushing down to his neck and Lan Zhan feels like kissing him for hours.
“It only happens when the omega is feeling completely safe and happy.” There is a new level of pride flooding Lan Zhan’s brain right now, one he fears must be strictly forbidden for a Lan to feel, but he can’t help it, his mate just purred for him for the first time, safe and sound in his arms.
“That is how you always make me fe-” He can’t finish his phrase, the purring returning full force now, so he jolts and hides his face in Lan Zhan’s neck, nose buried in his scent gland.
Lan Zhan laughs out loud at this and the purring stops immediately, a tremor running down Wei Ying’s back. He removes himself from his hiding place and stares at Lan Zhan, a wondrous smile spreading on his face, eyes so bunched up they turn into tiny half moons.
The little pang of pain he feels when he realizes Wei Ying is in shock from hearing him laugh out loud is quickly overcome by the full force with which the smaller man throws himself at him, kissing every part he can reach, their bodies crashing back on the warm mattress.
He lets Wei Ying explore his body, enjoying the way the smaller man sighs and whimpers when he vocalizes just how good Wei Ying is for him.
The omega licks at his neck, his collarbones, his jaw. When he gets to Lan Zhan’s pecs he groans and rubs his face all over them, kissing the sun shaped scar and letting his teeth catching on Lan Zhan’s nipples every now and then, fingers running down his sides, hands squeezing his biceps and legs entwined under the blanket.
When he goes up for a second round of licking his scent gland, Lan Zhan remembers his early musters, and in a very un-alpha manner, presents his neck. Wei Ying halts his ministrations and turns to him, full lips shining and eyes blinking rapidly.
“You keep coming back to my neck,” Lan Zhan offers, “Do you want something?” And by now he knows just how turned on Wei Ying gets when he gets verbal, so he continues, “You can have it.”
He feels Wei Ying's fingers press on his scent gland and sees how intense his eyes turn, “I…” and he seems a little conflicted, so Lan Zhan bends his head to lick at the scar of their mating bond that is already fading into red punctures. That does the trick and Wei Ying moans before he says, “I know it's weird, but I really want to bite you too”. He bites his own lips instead.
“Why would that be weird?” Lan Zhan challenges, and as he expected, Wei Ying rises to it.
“Because sweet little omegas don’t mark their alphas like that.” He reasons, but Lan Zhan can see the cogs turning inside his head, trying to justify why not and why he wants it.
“You were not always a sweet little omega, Wei Ying.”
“It will be another reason for people to gossip. Not only had the great Hanguang-jun bonded with the now-omega resurrected Yiling Patriarch, but he is as marked as a lowly omega!” He spits the last part as if just speaking it outloud sours his mouth.
“Then we will not care about what others think,” Lan Zhan counters, tucking a stray lock of hair behind his mate's ear, “We will walk the single plank bridge together.” He quotes their past, and Wei Ying visibly shudders.
“I think I still have some alpha in me, I really want to mark you!” Wei Ying confesses, licking his lips.
“Then indulge it, Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan states simply.
“Lan Zhan, would you be fine with this, really?” And by his tone alone the alpha knows that he is losing his will to fight this, almost ready to give in.
“I told you I wanted to be yours even when we both were alphas, don’t you think that includes the bite?” And in a fit of honesty, he continues, “Back then I was ready to be marked and mark you as mine too, that has never changed. If this is something that you want too, as I think you do, then by all means do it, I will proudly bear your bite.”
“Lan Zhan!” and his mouth is attacked by the omega, his desperation pouring out of him so tickly he can taste it, “I wanna ride you,” he moans in Lan Zhan’s mouth, “I want you deep in me, knotting me as I bite you, I want it so much!” and he is already leaking on top of Lan Zhan’s hard cock, skin wet with slick and sweat from the heavy blanket and his heat.
“Yes, Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan holds him, spreading his ass so he can grind directly over his dick, “take it, take what you want.”
Wei Ying uses his hand to position Lan Zhan’s cock, slipping just the tip inside of himself and moaning deliriously. His heat is back at full force and the pheromones he is releasing are so strong that for a moment Lan Zhan imagines that he must be getting his rut too, so strong is his desire for the man above him.
When Wei Ying finally sinks down, he does so in one fast slide, stuffing himself to the hilt in his aching member, and Lan Zhan sees white for a moment, pleasure rippling through his body. He grabs at Wei Ying waist and sits up properly, maneuvering both of them and pulling a guttural moan from his omega. He sits on the side of the bed with his feet on the ground, Wei Ying bracing his waist with his thighs, knees bent and feet on the mattress. Like this he is taller than Lan Zhan and when he rocks on his cock, he swears at how deep it is, how good it fills him.
Lan Zhan helps him by dragging him up and down, strong arms bulging with strain. He bites at Wei Ying chest, arms circling him tightly, Wei Ying’s dripping cock trapped between their torsos, smearing pre come all over their skin.
It’s hard and fast, and when Wei Ying comes, he does so arching his back and trusting Lan Zhan to keep moving, his come shooting to his own chest, crying his pleasure out. It’s the most sensual thing Lan Zhan has ever seen in his life, and he quickens the pace, desperate when he feels his knot growing.
He grabs Wei Ying by the hair of his nape, twisting it with his fist in a thick loop and brings him back to himself, biting his ear as he moans, “I’m gonna knot you Wei Ying, can you feel it?” and the omega sobers up a little, sitting up properly and grinding on the base of Lan Zhan’s knot.
“Bite me,” He says as he feels Wei Ying’s hot lips sucking at his gland, “Mark me as I fill you.” He holds Wei Ying’s head in place as with a final drop, his knot finally catching and staying, his balls drawing up, he starts to come.
Wei Ying bites, hard, and Lan Zhan realizes he must be coming again too, whole body trembling and holding onto the alpha as tightly as he can. Lan Zhan throws his head back and sees stars, the pain of the bite enhancing his pleasure in a way he never imagined possible, whole body convulsing as he spends himself deep inside his mate.
He feels the strength of their bonding deep within his soul, his golden core emanating light and warmth, a smaller twin flame coming from Wei Ying’s. He is still spilling inside his lover, but they have both stopped moving, overstimulated.
Wei Ying removes his mouth from his skin and just stays there, head dropping to Lan Zhan’s shoulder tiredly, his heat finally breaking. Lan Zhan still has his hair fisted around his hand, so he uses it to angle the omega’s face to look at him. His lips are tinted red with Lan Zhan’s blood, and his face is flushed beautifully. He looks dazed and satisfied, gray eyes soft and semi-serrated. He smiles at Lan Zhan and paws at his neck, angling for a kiss.
When they can finally move some, they recline back in bed and Lan Zhan is too tired to try to clean them like he did the day before, so they just cuddle on their sides, kissing and whispering sweet nothings as the knot prevents them from moving too much. The sun filtered through the window is warm on their bodies, and Lan Zhan has never felt this happy in his life.
Things might be different with them, life never as it was supposed to be, but the certainty of how right they are for each other is undeniable. Alpha or omega, they are just Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, nothing can change that. Not the titles they carried over the years, not the opinion of others, not even death. Lan Zhan feels in his soul that this is what they were always meant to be.
Mates. Cultivation Partners. Them, walking hand in hand on a bridge made of one single plank.