WangXian Untamed

Chapter 19 - Help

Cloud Recesses morning bell chimed out at 5:00 AM and Lan WangJi opened his eyes. Despite his late and active night, his conditioned reflex of waking at 5:00 AM held, although he was less widely awake than his usual. The warm weight of a naked Wei WuXian was draped over his own unclad body beneath the bedclothes, and he could see the ceiling of the Jingshi only through the veil of dark hair draped over his face. Blinking, he tried to reconcile what he felt with what he saw as the last of sleep lifted from his mind and memory swept over him. Jingshi. With Wei WuXian. Married.

That rare and lovely, gentle smile brightened Lan WangJi's face as he turned to see Wei WuXian sprawled half over the bed and half over himself. Only one eye, closed in sleep, was visible through the curtain of dark hair that covered them both. Married. Lan WangJi offered a quick prayer of gratitude to the gods, before gently working to free himself from his lover's embrace. Wei WuXian became restless as he slipped from the bed, and once again Lan WangJi used his pillow to soothe him back to dreams. He knew Wei WuXian would not be ready to rise for some hours yet.

Moving quickly, Lan WangJi settled to his normal routines, although the details struck him anew as married life brought with it some necessary differences. A wash was interrupted several times by a quick flinch where he rubbed a bruise arising from the night's activities. Dressing meant closing his robes higher about his neck than usual, to hide the marks he'd enjoyed receiving. Hair that had been caught beneath bodies and bedclothes was more tangled and difficult to comb, although it was soon in order, his Lan hair ornaments neatly in place and his forehead band once more in perfect alignment across his brow. The Jingshi had never resembled a junkyard more closely and he found items of clothing in the most peculiar places. He had absolutely no recall of how on earth a sock had ended up hanging from a beam above the table, nor inner robes been suspended from the frame of a picture on his wall, now hanging crookedly and in danger of falling.

This married life would mean changes. Married. Lan WangJi felt a warm and happy sensation flush through him at the idea. I can enjoy changes for Wei Ying, he thought as he settled himself to meditation.

Two hours later, Lan WangJi opened his eyes. Looking to the bed, he saw Wei WuXian sitting up, looking sleep drunk in the centre of the bed, hair free and tumbling over his shoulders as he blinked.

"Good morning, Wei Ying."

"Mnnn?" answered Wei WuXian.

"Wei Ying would like breakfast in the Jingshi this morning?"

"Mnnn....." Wei WuXian threw himself back on the bed. "Aiya, I am not a morning person, my love, but I'll try. For you I'll try..."

Rising, Lan WangJi crossed to the bed and gave his husband a quick kiss on his forehead.

"Wei Ying, get up. I'll get breakfast."

Returning with a tray holding hot congee and tea, Lan WangJi entered the Jingshi and stopped dead in his tracks. Across from the doorway, on the far side of the Jingshi, stood his husband, just tying his red ribbon into his half-up ponytail, the long dark hair cascading down his back. All Lan WangJi saw was Wei WuXian in his red inner robes; all conscious thought had stopped at the intimate sight.

Wei WuXian, seeing his husband immobile in the entrance, quickly skipped over and kissed his cheek, then relieved him of the tray.

"Good morning, dearest! I'm so happy this morning I could take on a night hunt single-handed! Thank you for bringing breakfast... don't just stand there, come and eat."

Lan WangJi allowed himself to be led to the table, Wei WuXian chattering animatedly all the while.

"What will you be doing today, Lan Zhan? Do you have any idea what I could do to help? I don't want to be useless and would really feel better if I had something to do. You broke my poor back last night so perhaps there's something I can do that will let me sit down today, yeah?... Hello? Lan Zhan?" Wei WuXian waved his hand in front of his husband's eyes.