Archive of Our Own ^beta

Snow had been falling heavily for the whole day, changing the familiar look and feel of the Cloud Recesses to something new and strange.

Wei Wuxian stared out into the whirlwind of snowflakes illuminated by the lanterns arranged around the Jingshi. The world felt smaller blanketed in snow, he decided. Smaller, and emptier. In the stillness of the cool night he could close his eyes and pretend that Lan Zhan and he were the only people in the world, that there were no worries and no duties. Just the two of them in their comfortable, warm home with enough food and firewood to keep them cozy until the end of time.

He didn't think back to his life on the streets often because it was useless to dwell on things long past but from time to time he thought about how that half-starved, constantly afraid little boy had come to live a life of comfort and luxury.

And love.

Forget about everything else, love was the most important thing that had ever felt out of reach and now infused every day of his existence.

"Wei Ying."

Lan Zhan's voice was soft and barely held any inflection but Wei Wuxian could easily read the slight hint of worry and the deep exhaustion carefully hidden beneath his husband's tranquil exterior.

"Lan Zhan," he echoed back with a smile but didn't turn around from his position in the open door. He could feel Lan Zhan coming up behind him and sighed softly when strong arms encircled his waist and drew him back into an embrace. A moment later Lan Zhan's chin came to rest on his shoulder. He exhaled softly and Wei Wuxian could feel he tension leave his body.

He petted Lan Zhan's hands, neatly folded on top of his stomach.

"Do you remember the last time it snowed so much?" he asked some time later. Mostly to see if Lan Zhan was still with him or if he had fallen asleep holding on to him.

A soft hum of confirmation and Lan Zhan's hold tightened.

"Things were so easy back then," he mused. They hadn't been, not really, but no matter how serious their problems had been back then it was so different from the weight of duty and responsibility that threatened to bury Lan Zhan, and by extension him, now. "We had a mystery to solve and each other to discover. It was a good time."

This time the sound Lan Zhan made was much more skeptical but otherwise he stayed silent. Not that Wei Wuxian was surprised - the last few days had been an exhausting chaos of delegations from other sects, all trying to get the Chief Cultivator's ear before the snow would make Cloud Recesses much harder to access and life would slow down for a few blessed weeks.

His poor Lan Zhan had been forced to attend meetings and hold banquets non-stop. So much talking. Wei Wuxian had tried to deflect as much of it as possible but Lan Zhan had still been forced into far too many conversations and the constant barrage of questions and being with people had depleted his naturally scant resources for interaction with others completely.

Lan Zhan was made for nighthunting, not politics, and no amount of training, sense of duty and practice would ever change that fundamental truth.

The last delegation had left this morning, just as the heavy snowfall had set in, and Lan Zhan had vanished for hours into a meeting with the Elders. He'd only come home in the late afternoon, shortly before dusk. The moment Wei Wuxian had sensed his approach he'd set out to meet him halfway.

For a moment Wei Wuxian had even entertained the notion of leaving the Jingshi for the night to give Lan Zhan some much needed peace and his overtaxed senses the quiet he needed to recover but one look at him had eliminated that thought.

Lan Zhan was far too exhausted to be left alone. Besides, the moment he'd seen Wei Wuxian he had brightened up and reached out with his free hand while his other had a strangle-hold on Bichen. All Wei Wuxian could do was take his hand to lead him home where a cozy braziers and warm tea were waiting.

Apart from the single 'Wei Ying' and some non-verbal sounds he hadn't uttered a word but he didn't mind Wei Wuxian's chatter. With darkness falling and Lan Zhan absently trying out new melodies on Wangji Wei Wuxian had slipped into a quiet, introspective mood as well.

"Our first night," he said softly. They both hadn't had any experience and while Wei Wuxian had seen his fair share of porn booklets in his youth they hadn't prepared him for how intimacy really worked.

Lan Zhan hummed softly and moved just enough to kiss his shoulder.

They had discovered what they liked together, hesitant at first but getting more and more sure as time went on. By now they were comfortable with their needs and desires, the easy and constant give and take that had characterized their relationship ever since his return to life had easily translated to their bedroom activities.

Lan Zhan should have been long asleep by now, and Wei Wuxian had tried to put him to bed a while ago, but he had stubbornly shaken his head as the Lan bedtime hour came and passed. He was tired and exhausted, yes, but still needed more time to wind down, Wei Wuxian realized. So he'd emptied his cup of wine and fucked off to watch the snow fall to give his beloved the time and privacy to put himself back together. Lan Zhan was a solitary man but he didn't enjoy being alone. It had taken Wei Wuxian far too long to realize that. His presence was enough; his absence would put further strain on Lan Zhan.

He would come to him as soon as he was ready, and he done exactly that.

Normally, he would have leaned back into Lan Zhan's embrace, secure in the knowledge that he would be caught and held securely, but right now Lan Zhan's hold on him felt almost fragile. To test it he leaned forwards a little bit - a moment later Lan Zhan plastered himself against his back and went boneless against him.

"Oh, Lan Zhan." He kept his voice low and his movements slow as he turned around to gather his sleepy husband into his arms. The moment their positions switched and he was the one holding instead of being held Lan Zhan made a quiet, happy sound and let go. "Time for bed," he said and this time it wasn't a question anymore.

"Yes," Lan Zhan whispered. He slowly raised his head, and even with his eyes half-closed his intention was clear. Wei Wuxian leaned in with a smile to kiss him. Lan Zhan reciprocated eagerly but didn't try to take over.

That, too, had been a surprise on that particular night. How beautifully Lan Zhan, for all his strength, could give in and let Wei Wuxian have his way with him when it suited him.

They kissed for a while and while Wei Wuxian could be persuaded for more with a little bit more kissing and friction some careful exploration with his right hand made it clear that Lan Zhan's body wasn't up for anything but sleep.

Lan Zhan didn't even offer up himself, like he had under similar circumstances in the past, and Wei Wuxian doubted if he had even noticed his short, explorative, groping.

For a moment he entertained the thought of simply sweeping Lan Zhan off his feet and carry him off to bed but decided against it. Another time. Too much of Lan Zhan's agency had been taken from him over the last couple of weeks.

Instead, he led Lan Zhan through the Jingshi and enjoyed every moment of it. Lan Zhan was only wearing a loose, unbound outer robe to keep the chill away, and his hair had been freed from its usual ornaments and brushed out first thing after coming home, only loosely held back from his face by a plain, red ribbon.

It made a lovely contrast with the white of his headband.

Wei Wuxian gently touched the emblem of the white ribbon, still sitting in its usual place.

"Allow me," he begged quietly and Lan Zhan gave his permission with a single, weary nod. Wei Wuxian lost no time of untying the ribbon. He carefully folded it and put it on the small tray reserved for it.

As always, he kissed the spot on Lan Zhan's forehead usually hidden by the emblem. Lan Zhan blinked at him, and while his expression was as calm as ever all the love he carried for Wei Wuxian was on full display.

Wei Wuxian just had to give him yet another kiss, it was impossible not to be overcome in the face of Lan Zhan's affection.

He put both hands on Lan Zhan shoulders and pushed; a wordless sign for him to sit down on the bed. He still needed a moment to get rid of his robes and braid his own hair for sleep. By the time he had dealt with himself, made sure that the fire was banked and the brazier next to their bed had enough fuel to last through the night, Lan Zhan had given up the fight to stay upright and had curled on his side, sleepily blinking up at him.

Waiting, just like always, but not with impatience.

Wei Wuxian smiled at him and leant over him. Lan Zhan might be the most patient man in the world but Wei Wuxian didn't like to keep him waiting. He had waited long enough, after all.

"How do you want me?" The words might be teasing but the meaning behind them was not.

Lan Zhan considered the question for a moment before he patted the space next to him. Only long familiarity ensured that Wei Wuxian understood and he obediently went down to quickly find a comfortable resting position on his back.

"Come here," he invited and opened his arms. A moment later Lan Zhan was cuddling up to him, half blanketing him with his body and his head on Wei Wuxian's shoulder.

It was a position that shouldn't work, not with two tall men, but Lan Zhan had perfected the art of curling up and fitting his body so closely to Wei Wuxian's that all that was left to do was to hold him in place with an arm across his upper back.

Wei Wuxian wasn't surprised that he had chosen this extra-clingy position today - in fact, he had expected it considering the state Lan Zhan was in.

The urge to tease was strong but a quick glance down made it clear that it would be futile - Lan Zhan was already asleep. He probably was since the moment he'd put his head down on Wei Wuxian's shoulder.

Wei Wuxian smiled, affection threatening to overwhelm him for good. If he twisted his neck just right he could just about reach the top of Lan Zhan's head to put a kiss there.

He wasn't that tired, just pleasantly weary. He would be able to spend some time just holding Lan Zhan and marveling once again over where he had ended up in this wonderful second life of his.

In the morning he would take Lan Zhan to the bunny meadow, he decided. Maybe there would be babies for them to meet - at least two of the more tame bunnies had looked suspiciously big the last time they had seen them. Since they were the offspring of bunnies that had spent centuries in a cold cave they didn't care about the winter and reproduced whenever it suited them, but not as often as their truly wild brethren.

"Good night, Lan Zhan," he whispered. "I hope you dream of bunnies." He drew him just a little bit closer to hold him more securely and Lan Zhan snuggled into his tight hold with a content sound that was too cute for words. "You deserve them."

He let the image of Lan Zhan kneeling in the grass and cooing at baby bunnies carry him away into sleep.