An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/?
Fandom: 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī/Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn
Characters: Wèi Yīng | Wèi Wúxiàn, Lán Zhàn | Lán Wàngjī, Lán Huàn | Lán Xīchén, Jīn Líng | Jīn Rúlán, Mèng Yáo | Jīn Guāngyáo, Jiāng Chéng | Jiāng Wǎnyín, Wēn Níng | Wēn Qiónglín, Lán Yuàn | Lán Sīzhuī, Lán Jǐngyí, Sū Shè | Sū Mǐnshàn, Ōuyáng Zǐzhēn, Niè Huáisāng
Additional Tags: Friends to Lovers, Falling In Love, Pre-Slash, Introspection, Character Study, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Feelings Realization, Protective Lan WangJi, Nurturing Lan Wangji, Fainting Wei Wuxian, Soulmates, Recovered Memories, Mutual Pining, POV Wei WuXian, POV Lan WangJi, POV Alternating, POV Multiple, POV Third Person, POV Third Person Limited, Fainting, Men Crying, Wei Wuxian Falling and Lan Wangji Catching Him, Lan Wangji the Human Shield, Lan Wangji Wont Let Anyone Hurt His Wei Ying
Series: Part 1 of Complementary Hearts
Summary: As they work together to solve a murder mystery, Wei Wuxian starts to wonder about (and angst over) the nature of his and Lan Wangji's feelings towards one other. (Involves WWX's thoughts -- and occasionally LWJ's -- during scenes from many of the post-flashback episodes, and includes a few "missing scenes".)
Snippet:
Wuxian then met up with Lan Zhan at their assigned guest room, settling down to start the next phase of their little spy game, where Wuxian was to put his mind into a paper doll, in order to sneak about. They knew it would be dangerous, but Wuxian had had total faith that his body would be safe under Lan Zhan's watch. After finishing preparing the paper doll for occupation, Wuxian looked up at Lan Zhan -- and had a sudden flash of memory.
One that came with a mischievous impulse.
Lan Wangji had once insisted that the forehead ribbon of a member of the Lan Clan was sacred -- only one's parents, children, or spouse could touch it. And yet, in the cave behind Cold Pond only a short time later, when Wuxian was under threat from a trap laid for outsiders, Lan Zhan had actually wrapped his ribbon around Wuxian's wrist, so that the spell would see Wuxian as a member of the Lan Clan too! And in the cave of Xuanwu, although Lan Wangji had certainly been upset when Wuxian had yanked the ribbon off his head to make a splint, he hadn't actually fought Wuxian over it -- nor had he been upset when Wuxian touched it again to put it back on Lan Zhan's head. With Lan Zhan being more tolerant these days, and considering they weren't in a life-or-death situation at this very moment, how would Lan Zhan react if Wuxian touched the ribbon now?
Taking a swing of alcohol to fortify himself, Wuxian then pretended like he was a bit drunk. That way, if his plan was poorly received, Lan Zhan would hopefully just brush it off as a drunken fool's antics. Feeling a little giddy (maybe he actually was a little drunk?) and hiding a smile, Wuxian sent his mind into the doll. Once within it, he slowly climbed up Lan Zhan's arm and face -- giving the man every opportunity, as Wuxian went, to stop him -- to play with Lan Zhan's forehead ribbon.
And for a moment, Lan Zhan let him.
The moment passed, Lan Zhan gently chiding Wuxian not to kid him. There was infinite patience in his reaction, no hint of anger -- not really even annoyance! But ... "kid" how, precisely? Did Lan Zhan think Wuxian was making fun of him, or did he think that Wuxian was ... well, flirting? Wuxian seemed to remember, from that time in the cave of Xuanwu, that Lan Zhan disapproved of flirting if one didn't mean it.
Wuxian also suddenly remembered that, although they'd been talking at the time about that girl Wuxian had saved, Wuxian had replied that he hadn't flirted with Lan Zhan anyway! But was that actually even true?
And was Wuxian flirting now?
More importantly, did he mean it?