Chapter Text
He had opted for traveling on foot instead of by sword, as he needed to gather his thoughts and, more pressingly, prepare himself to speak.
As urgent as the matter was he needed to be able to actually speak when he saw Wei Ying, to explain himself and lay bare his own feelings as Wei Ying had bared his.
This meant Lan Wangji had to think, and think a lot, to be sure he did not leave out any of the important parts.
Therefore he could not stay in Cloud Recesses under his uncle’s watchful gaze and his brother’s knowing one. He needed peace. For Wei Ying. This had to be perfect.
~
Lan Wangji had brought the letter with him, securely pressed close to his heart by the many layers of his robes. Every time he held a short break on his travels and every evening before sleep, he would take it out and read it all over again.
Such an unassuming piece of paper. From an outsider’s perspective the sheet held no special significance, would possibly be considered little more than waste with its scribbled, near illegible handwriting and smudges. But to Lan Wangji the letter was his most prized possession, holding an invaluable treasure within its scribbled lines and crumbled pages.
Wei Ying’s heart.
Although a little brash in some places and very forward, (enough to make Lan Wangji blush every time he read or remembered those passages – not that he minded, and if he was to be completely honest with himself, they weren’t so foreign or far from the thoughts and desires that had plagued his own mind), Wei Ying had bared his soul and heart for Lan Wangji to read.
The self-deprecating nature of some of the lines had Lan Wangji frowning. It would not do for Wei Ying to think himself anything less than perfect and beautiful. To Lan Wangji nothing could measure to the wonder that was Wei Wuxian. His free spirit and caring nature paired with the most brilliant smile to ever exist left Lan Wangji breathless and a little dizzy at every turn. He had always been a very succinct speaker and near Wei Ying speaking became almost an impossible feat, but speak he must to dissuade Wei Ying from his less than stellar self-view. No-one else could ever be worthy of Lan Wangji if not Wei Ying. He had to know this. He had thought he had already known.
The pages, now a little limp and even more creased from being folded and refolded with all his readthroughs, were once again in his hand.
The words had already been memorized, he could draw out every character and paint every smear or drop of ink in his sleep as an exact replica of the letter, but every once in a while he would doubt his memory. He would convince himself it was all an elaborate dream of his, his yearning finally reaching its peak and dragging him with it to madness. He would stop, find a secluded area for a short break and carefully unfold the treasured little scroll, afraid the words would have somehow disappeared or that he had deluded himself to them ever being there.
They were still there, he would tell himself, breathing a little relieved sigh. Still there.
He would reread the words, carefully carving them deeper into his soul. He traced the ink and small indents with his fingertips, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
~
He was so close. So close. Yiling and the Burial Mounds were nearly within reach, he was sure to reach it within the next day, possibly even at mid day, but to Lan Wangji, even mid day seemed too long. If he could speed up his arrival even just a little it would be worth it. Wei Ying may be asleep when he reached, but he would be there with him – infinitely better than him being away, being gone.
Mind made up with new determination Lan Wangji decided to continue on his journey forgoing a room or any sleep for the night in favor of reaching Wei Ying.
Soon.
~
The haunting landscape of the Burial Mounds greeted Lan Wangji as he steadily ascended the mountain. Although bearing ample leaves the trees carried an air of melancholy and eerie resentment. The quiet unnatural and unsettling even for an experienced cultivator such as himself. Especially knowing the free spirit it held in its grasp. Wei Ying’s very nature the polar opposite of these suffocating trees with their creaking branches and the whining wind.
Continuing up the winding path Lan Wangji let his thoughts wander to the man he sought. Would he be welcomed? He had not replied to the letter, needing to be near Wei Ying now unable and unwilling even to wait the length of a letter.
I will be arriving long before any letter could, he kept reasoning with himself, but he couldn’t shake the nagging fear of being sent away, of intruding, of demanding more than was freely given.
So deep in his thoughts were he that he convinced himself the surprised figure in the tree illuminated by the moon was merely his imagination teasing him. But as the figure sat up, mouth agape and eyes gleaming in happiness and disbelief, Lan Wangji felt his own answering smile curving his lips as his heart finally settled in his chest.
Wei Ying.
~
Wei Wuxian unfroze. His breath still caught in his throat, he climbed down from the tree, his eyes firmly on the pale jade before him. His clothes snagged on a few branches as he made his way down, nearly tore several places, yet his gaze never faltered.
Bathed in moonlight Lan Wangji, Lan Zhan, was truly a sight to behold. His pale eyes revealed new depths. Hidden layers and entire worlds laid bare for Wei Wuxian to see. As he neared, he noticed the inky pupils swallowing up the clear irises till only a sliver remained at the very edge. The tenderness found in his eyes bleeding out, suffusing every part of his face and softening every part of his being.
Wei Wuxian felt himself getting lost in the sheer love emanating from his soulmate. The night was quiet, his breath having yet to return, apparently taking the night off.
His soul tethered to that of the other seemingly pulled him over, closer, closer, till he was standing right before Lan Zhan drowning in his presence, the pull still present, but slower now, softer, as if content to simply be near him now. Within reach.
Swaying on his feet, his body trying to get even the slightest bit closer yet, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but wonder if this truly could be real. Could his senses be trusted that Lan Zhan truly was here, when he knew how much he had yearned for this exact thing. The Burial Mounds were only too happy playing tricks on him, his senses eagerly joining in on keeping him weary, but on his toes, promising his desires, yet ripping them away as he got close. But he seemed so real. Had Wei Wuxian finally gone mad enough to hallucinate Lan Zhan in front of him? Leaning in for a kiss?
Lan Wangji’s eyes dropped to Wei Wuxian’s lips as the other nervously bit into them, worrying the tender flesh trying to determine the truthfulness of the moment. The softest look Wei Wuxian had ever witnessed on the other transformed his face, the jade warming up, melting into adoration…
Oh screw it.
They could be tender and mushy later! Wei Wuxian needed those lips on his now! Well…actually more like two years ago, but still! Details, details.
Wei Wuxian launched himself at Lan Wangji, tackling him, and wrapping his arms around the other like an octopus squeezing him tight.
Lan Wangji’s eyes widened, shock evident on his features, a startled noise escaped his lips as he was practically attacked by Wei Wuxian’s fervor. The sudden attack - lovely though it may be, Lan Wangji was certainly not complaining – coupled with his surprise and the uneven ground made him stumble, his tight grip on Wei Wuxian ensuring their graceless fall together.
A dignified yelp left them as they lost their footing and the world tipped. Well. Dignified on Lan Wangji’s point. On Wei Wuxian’s…less so. But dignity rarely mattered in these situations! Besides, if dignity or lack thereof was such a deal-breaker to Lan Zhan he surely wouldn’t be here now with Wei Wuxian, but would have probably cut off any tie to him long before, he reasoned. Wei Wuxian had been accused of many things, but dignity was not one of them.
Really, it was almost fitting that their reunion led to a fall and a tumble in the mud. It seemed to fit right in with the rest of their shared history.
Thus satisfied Wei Wuxian continued to the next stage of his siege of Lan Wangji; showering him with kisses, very intent on winning both the battle and the war.
Lan Wangji’s world toppled so quickly, when it finally righted itself again, he was still dizzy from the surprise of it all. Not so much from the fall itself – Wei Ying had always been impulsive and reckless - but from the evidence, the proof right here in his hands (well, on top of him and pinning down his entire body, but the other sounded more romantic, his brain supplied), that the letter had spoken the truth, had been real, not a prank nor something he had dreamed up. He had of course checked the letter along his journey, making sure it existed and that he hadn’t misinterpreted it. (Not that it lacked in directness, but it was eerie how close it got to the exact words he had longed to hear from Wei Ying since the birth of his soul it felt like – yes, those parts too, he grumbled to himself.)
Just as he was about to inquire about Wei Ying to check if he was hurt, he felt something soft briefly touch his cheeks, forehead, nose, eyelids, and chin over and over again. Confused he opened his mouth, when it, too, was sealed. The soft pressure from before exchanged for a hungry, insistent press instead.
Lan Wangji groaned as his eyes closed, his brain finally catching up to the present.
Wei Ying nibbled at his lower lip, biting it and pulling it between his teeth. A shudder went through his entire body, making Wei Ying chuckle deeply against him, satisfied and enjoying Lan Wangji’s reactions to him.
The teeth scraping against his lips, demanding an answer to their question, broke Lan Wangji’s stupor vaulting him into action.
He gripped Wei Wuxian’s waist tighter with one hand as the other travelled up the length of his body, firmly pressed against him, feeling the texture of his clothes, the coarse fibers against his skin, reveling in the weight of Wei Ying on top of him. His hand finally reached its destination, curving around his neck and burying into his hair, pulling him down and closer, tugging at the strands to elicit a startled breath followed by a sinful moan from the other man, rumbling through his chest.
Lan Wangji vibrated with his want, his need, soaking up everything he could of Wei Wuxian.
Their lips sliding together creating the melody for the rhythm their hearts beat out. In sync. Finally aligned.
Wei Wuxian pulled away breathing heavily. Tearing his eyes away from Lan Wangji’s lips, he gazed into his eyes.
“Lan Zhan,” he sighed.
And really, how was Lan Wangji supposed to say no to that?