Reader prompts

Cold damp cave

Prompt by a reader. Thank you for this. I hope you like this one-shot.

Prompt: What if Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian had spoken about their feelings in the cave?

------------------------------------------------------

It was getting cold in the cave. The temperature was dropping as days passed by and there seems to be no improvement in finding food. The only sound was the constant dripping off water droplets from an indoor brook.

They were both tired and hungry. Even though they have practiced inedia, it doesn't mean they can live weeks without food. His thoughts were muddled due to the fever. He slightly lifted his head up, only for it to fall back down. Something seems to pillow his fall.

He touches it and finds a leg covered in soft white robes. He gets up to a half sitting position to look at Lan Wangji.

He really had lent him his lap.

He smiled slightly unable to help himself. He held his gaze longer on Lan Wangji and settled back down.

His fever induced brain seems to think that Lan Wangji was handsome under the firelight.

Wait. He thought that even when he was healthy. Lan Wangji was a beautiful boy and there wasn't anybody who'd deny it. If they deny it, they're lying. Lan Wangji was 17 and he already garnered everybody's attention. He can only imagine what would happen when they're 25.

While he let his thoughts wander he forgot to notice the pair of eyes watching him.

"Get up."

He got started before looking up at Lan Wangji. A sly smile graced his lips. "Lan Zhan you lent me your lap. It's rude to ask me to leave now."

"Get up"

Wei Wuxian pouts before standing up. He was feeling mischievous and made a show of fainting.

"Lan Zhan!.. hold me!"

He barely took another step before Lan Wangji put his arms around him to steady him. Wei Wuxian comically feel into Lan Wangji's chest like a damsel in distress. He put a arm on his face and sighed. Like he had seen the women do in street plays.

He turned to look at Lan Wangji who was actively avoiding his eyes. His ears seem to be in a shade of strawberry red. Wei Wuxian wanted to nibble on it.

Shocked by his own thoughts he quickly stood up properly.

"Thank you for taking care of me second master Lan. I am highly indebted to you. But I am okay now!" He gave a bow of gratefulness.

"Mm.. " Lan Wangji's eyes seem to search his face. To see if he's telling the truth.

He really did care. Wei Wuxian's heart seems to skip a beat. Other than his sister, nobody has ever nursed him back to health. Lan Wangji had a good heart.

They both settled down against the rocks at their back. After a beat of silence, Lan Wangji whispered.

"Thank you... Wei Wuxian."

"Uh? For what?"

"... My leg.."

"Oh... it was my duty Lan Zhan. Were friends aren't we?"

"....". "Ah.. That's right. You don't want to be friends with me." Wei Wuxian seemed exhausted when he said this. He looked tired. Not just because of the fever but because of everything. He seemed.... Lonely sometimes.

Lan Wangji did not know what words to use to make him feel better so he gently wound an arm around Wei Wuxian and pushed him back onto the lap. "Sleep" he commanded.

Somehow it seemed more like a calling than a command.

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and whispered "you're good to me Lan Zhan. I'm afraid if you will be the same after today." ---------------–——---------------- He woke up in a cold sweat. He had dreamt that his sister was eaten by one of the ghouls and had panicked. He woke up breathing hard only to notice Lan Wangji settling a cold cloth over his forehead. He felt a hand on his head.

"Sleep .. It's not real." Lan Wangji's voice sounded a little deeper than usual. It sounded exhausted.

He could see Lan Wangji's face close to him over the haze. Speaking in a low voice. "Talk.... To me."

"I am."

"Don't... leave."

"Never."

There was a conviction in his voice that he hadn't heard before. He promptly fell into Dreamland with the scent of sandalwood drifting over. ------------------------------------------- He woke up. Finally, the haze seemed to clear. He tried turning without avail. He turn the other side to see Lan Wangji curled up next to him holding his face.

Lan Wangji was a man. Why was he feeling this weird attraction towards him? He knew Lan Wangji cared about him but didn't know what it meant for the both of them. They were only 17. All he knew was that he was warm and safe. He hadn't felt this in a long time.

He turned towards Lan Wangji and looked at his sleeping face trying to understand these feelings. He kissed his nose. "We need to talk Lan Zhan. Wake up."

Lan Wangji slowly blinked his eyes open and looked at Wei Wuxian. He gets up with a start.

"Come back Lan Zhan. Talk to me."

"What?"

"Whatever is happening between us. Is this normal? Men don't hold each other this way Lan Zhan..... are we normal?"

Lan Wangji lowers his eyes before replying "I don't know..."

They were 17 and in the throes of attraction. They hadn't figured this part out.

"Do you... not want me to hold you?" Lan Zhan asked in a small voice. Tall, proud Lan Zhan asked in a small voice.

"Come back Lan Zhan. We'll figure out the rules later." Wei Wuxian opened his arms only for the other boy to fall into them. They laid there in the cold rocks with warmth in their chest.

Wei Wuxian ran his fingers along the muscles of Lan Wangji's neck. His fingers disappeared into the collar and onto the warm chest beneath.

He looked up Lan Wangji's face and asked "is this okay?"

He whispered a breathy yes. That was all Wei Wuxian needed.

He laid a long kiss at Lan Wangji's collar bones. "Lan Zhan.... " Lan Wangji noticed the hesitation.

"What is it?"

"Touch me."

Two words. Two simple words seem to make Lan Wangji's blood boil. He hesitates a minute before grabbing onto two muscled thighs. Wei Wuxian lets out a silent gasp.

He removes Lan Wangji's robes with shaking fingers. "Tell me to stop Lan Zhan.."

"No."

He feels fingers brush against him intimately and arches into it closing his eyes.

He opened his lips but no sound would escape them. He could feel the touches, the kisses and the scent of sandalwood. He grabs onto the man on top of him and losses himself.

Wei Wuxian spent the next few minutes in euphoria. He doesn't know if what they did was right or wrong. But he hadn't felt this good ever.

He wasn't cold anymore. Lonely anymore. He felt light. Like floating on a feather.

"Lan Zhan... What does this mean?"

Lan Wangji stayed silent and held him closer. "Will you forget about this?"

"Never"

There it was. The conviction from before. And he knows that Lan Zhan always keeps his word.