Yiling Sani

Forgot to share something here. My long Wangxian threadfic "Make Me Your Villain" is finally going up on ao3 if anyone's interested 🥰

"Maybe you should go to Caiyi, Wei-qianbei," Lan Sizhui brings Wei Wuxian back from his thoughts.

They both are sitting in Jingshi and having tea. Wei Wuxian is moping because Lan Zhan has been gone for more than a week now.

Cultivation conference and some clan business in Lanling.

Wei Wuxian had decided to sit this one out. Besides, he needed to take care of the juniors and the Cloud Recesses since Lan Xichen was still in seclusion.

So Lan Wangji went off while Wei Wuxian remained behind.

"Perhaps I should, baobei," Wei Wuxian agrees and finishes his tea.

The worried look on Sizhui's face doesn't fade.

Wei Wuxian was getting sadder and quieter by the day, to the point where it even worried Lan Qiren himself.

"You always enjoy the bustling city and the markets," the young man adds. "I can go with you if you wish."

Wei Wuxian shakes his. "No need. You have your lessons. And I'll be back by nightfall. Or maybe I'll stay the night there."

"You're a good boy, a-Yuan," he adds, noticing Sizhui's concerned expression.

Lan Sizhui frowns. Wei Wuxian hasn't called him like that for a very long time. He fights an urge to hug and comfort the man who has always been so kind to him, but he opts for a comforting squeeze of the shoulder instead.

Wei Wuxian heads to Caiyi. His new core is not strong enough yet to ride a sword, so he takes Little Apple.

Not that he really wants to go. But there is nothing for him in the Cloud Recesses anyway. And everything there reminds him of Lan Zhan.

This was the first time they were separated for so long since their return to the Cloud Recesses.

Yes, Wei Wuxian sometimes took the juniors on a Night Hunt on his own, but he'd be home in the evening and fall asleep in his husband's arms after a few rounds of mindblowing sex.

But Lan Zhan was gone for too long this time. And only now Wei Wuxian realized how much his happiness and his peace depended on Lan Zhan. With his husband gone, the intrusive thoughts, the nightmares, the ghosts of his past – it all returned.

Wei Wuxian missed Lan Wangji to the point of physical pain. He missed the feeling of being safe and loved. Not that he lacked any of those in the Cloud Recesses. But this was different.

He needed his Lan Zhan. Needed those warm golden eyes, the lips that pulled into a faint smile when Wei Wuxian said something very silly. Needed the way Lan Zhan's arms held his hips when his husband thrusted in, bringing himself home.

But Sizhui was right. He could do with a distraction right now. So Wei Wuxian went to Caiyi.

He and Lan Zhan were visiting the city often as Wei Wuxian tended to grow restless after a while in the Cloud Recesses, so the people around the city knew them well and always welcomed them with a warm smile.

So, Wei Wuxian walks from stall to stall in the market, speaking to the traders who know him well by now. He asks about their families, laughs and shares a joke. He buys a small trinket here and there – nothing fancy or expensive. But he likes to support the people.

And it helps. For a while, it distracts him from the thoughts about Lan Zhan. But as the day drags on, his smiles begin to dwindle and he grows tired of keeping up the pretense.

He heads to the inn and shares some wine with the travellers, listening to their stories and the news of the cultivation world.

Once dinner time arrives, Wei Wuxian decides to eat. He isn't really hungry, but he knows Lan Zhan would be mad if he skipped a meal. But nothing tastes good. Even the most spiciest dishes, which the innkeeper has prepared for him especially, seem bland. His favourite wine tastes sour. Even the colourful lanterns outside seem to have lost their brightness.

He decides to stay the night, so he reserves a room in the inn. Ordering another bottle of wine, he goes outside and sits down on the stairs, watching the busy square.

He has no desire to go back to the cold and lonely bed in Jingshi.

The joyful music playing nearby doesn't bring joy to his heart and he quickly gets through his jar of wine.

His fingers brush against the white cloud-patterned ribbon tied around his wrist – a reminder of Lan Zhan and the only thing that still somehow grounds him while Lan Zhan is gone.

Wei Wuxian sighs. He used to be a man who walked his own path, his single plank bridge. But then Lan Zhan came along and suddenly he finds it very hard to walk alone again.

Perhaps, it will get better with time. Things were still too fresh. He needs Lan Zhan's presence and assurance to build himself up to where he was before. But he can't help but think how lonely his life would be without Lan Zhan in it. No other company could ever replace him.

"Aiya, Lan Zhan," he says loudly. "Turns out that I'm such a fool in love."

Wei Wuxian grabs his jar of Emperor's Smile and empties it at once. He then lifts his eyes from the white ribbon and scans the crowd.

And there he is. Robes white as freshly fallen snow. Surrounded by folk chatting and laughing. Illuminated by the nearby lanterns, his face soft, lips smiling faintly.

Wei Wuxian smiles fondly, his heart filling with warmth at last. Perhaps the wine was a bit too much tonight...

He stares at the man who begins to cross the square.

Rubbing his tired eyes Wei Wuxian blinks several times until he realizes he is not in fact hallucinating. The jar he's been holding falls and smashes against the ground when Wei Wuxian jumps up and runs. He runs as fast as he can and throws himself at Lan Wangji who catches him without the smallest effort.

Wei Wuxian hangs around his neck as Lan Wangji's arms wrap around his waist. He cries softly into Wangji's collar, the bottled-up emotions from the last few days breaking loose.

"Lan Zhaaan," he whines through the tears. "I missed you. I missed you so much!"

"I missed Wei Ying too," Lan Wangji replies while planting a kiss on top of his husband's head.

He holds Wei Wuxian for a while until the smaller man finally draws back and looks at Wangji.

He's not been the only one crying. Lan Zhan's cheeks are damp too.

"You came back early," he then realizes.

Wangji nods. "Mn. I couldn't wait. Missed my Wei Ying. My beautiful Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian looks down feeling his cheeks suddenly burning.

"Lan Zhaaan," he complains while clutching at his own chest. "You cannot say such things. You know my heart cannot take it."

Lan Zhan smiles and lifts Wei Wuxian's chin up. "But it's true. My Wei Ying is beautiful."

The way Lan Zhan's eyes look at him causes Wei Wuxian to blush even more.

To Lan Zhan Wei Ying is beautiful. And seeing him tonight again feels like seeing him for the first time. The shimmering silver eyes, the soft features illuminated not just by the lanterns, but also his bright inner light.

Lan Wangji's heart is so full of love he feels like it could explode any minute now.

He takes Wei Wuxian's head between his hands and peppers his face with small kisses, wiping away the remaining traces of those tears on his blushed cheeks.

Wei Wuxian closes his eyes and laughs brightly while scrunching his nose – the sound makes Lan Wangji's heart sing.

And then their lips meet. They kiss for a long time, not caring for the people around them. It's just two of them in their own little world. Nothing else.

Once they draw back – flushed and breathless – Wei Wuxian grabs Lan Wangji's hand and drags him towards the inn.

"Are you hungry?" he asks on the way.

"Only for Wei Ying," Lan Wangji replies smugly.

Wei Wuxian giggles at his answer and drags Wangji upstairs. "Shameless."

Once the door closes behind, Wei Wuxian heads straight for the bed. He sits Wangji down and climbs right onto his husband's lap. But instead of kissing him, he wraps his legs around Lan Wangji's waist and his arms around his neck and buries his face against his husband's neck, breathing in the faint scent of sandalwood greedily.

"Hold me, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian says in a small voice.

Lan Wangji gladly obeys. He wraps his arms around Wei Wuxian, his one hand gently stroking his husband's hair.

He closes his golden eyes, feeling Wei Ying's warmth and his heartbeat against his own chest.

Wangji had missed Wei Ying more than he could ever express. To have Wei Ying alive in his arms, to feel his heart beating is everything to him.

How could he even live a day without it?

"You should not leave your poor husband for so long," Wei Wuxian mumbles against his neck – his joking tone fails and Wangji notices it.

Lan Wangji kisses his hair again and tightens his grip. "Then Wei Ying should come with me next time."

"I will," Wei Wuxian sniffles. "I cannot be away from you so long, Lan Zhan."

They sit like that for a while until Wei Wuxian regains himself and spouts out something so shameless, Wangji has no choice but to push his husband down into the mattress and kiss him senseless.

They make love and this time it's more gentle and slower than usual. They take their time, exploring each other's bodies, fingers tracing every scar and every dent. After a few rounds, once they are satiated at last, they take a warm bath while sharing lazy kisses and caresses.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian speaks all cuddled up to his husband under the soft warm blankets.

"Mn?"

They lie with their foreheads pressed together, their naked bodies a tangled mess. One of Lan Wangji's arms is secured around Wei Wuxian's waist, while the other lies between them, his fingers entwined with his husband's.

"I don't think I could live without you," Wei Wuxian admits softly.

Lan Wangji places another tender kiss on his husband's lips.

"You don't have to," he replies warmly. "I'll always be here for Wei Ying."

Wei Wuxian smiles satisfied. He lifts their entwined hands and kisses Lan Wangji's fingers, one by one, before drawing them to his chest.

"My Lan Zhan," he whispers with a smile on his lips as he closes his eyes. "My wonderful dear husband. I love you to death."

"I love Wei Ying more," Lan Wangji points out with a smile.

"No, not possible," Wei Wuxian argues and then a content sigh escapes his lips. "Lan Zhan, Lan er-gege, stop talking to me or I won't stop answering. I'm too tired."

"Then sleep, Wei Ying," Lan Wangji replies and kisses his husband's forehead. "I'm here."

Wei Wuxian smiles, half-asleep already. "See you tomorrow, Lan Zhan."