Work Text:
Lan Wangji walked down the pristine pathways as quickly as the rules allowed.
Mind spinning, unable to settle or focus.
Skin buzzing, feeling too constricting, like he could burst straight through it.
Everything was too much.
He knew the social cues of the Gusu Lan.
Had learnt them as thoroughly as he had learnt the rules.
But those attending the guest lectures didn’t exhibit those same cues.
They were confusing, loud, and unpredictable.
They didn’t follow the script he’d spent his short life learning.
They expected things from him that he didn’t know how to give, didn’t know how to emulate.
And so he took the undignified path of fleeing.
He fled to the one place in the Cloud Recesses that did not follow the rules arbitrarily set by society, where he didn’t have to keep track of the subtleties in a gesture, or unearth the meanings hidden behind indirect words.
His spinning mind latched onto the laughter first.
Bright, happy notes dancing through the swaying bamboo.
The crèche of Cloud Recesses was a hidden place, a protected place.
Set within a once tranquil clearing, the youngest of the sect could thrive, safe beyond the bounds of the public areas.
Only those of the Clan could find this place.
And yet.
Lan Wangji froze, barely a step into the crèche’s courtyard.
Only those of the Clan could find this place and yet seated upon the floor sat a disciple not of the Clan.
Lotus flowers, embroidered in delicate purple thread sat upon the shoulders of dust smeared white robes.
A red ribbon stark again dark hair.
Only those of the Clan could find this place and yet Wei Wuxian was here.
Unruly, mischievous, beautiful Wei Ying.
A sleeping infant held securely to his chest with one arm, while the other traced talismans in the air, sending sparkling butterflies fluttering to the delighted laughter and stumbling steps of toddlers.
Behind him stood two of Lan Wangji’s shimeis, not yet old enough to attend their first lessons, their faces scrunched in concentration as they twisted Wei Ying’s hair into lumpy, uneven braids.
Everything within Lan Wangji stopped at the sight.
In a cool rush his skin settled, comfortably accommodating everything that he is once more.
His spinning mind came to a standstill, focusing unerringly on a single point, a single person, like a compass finally finding its north.
From the shadowed archway of the courtyard, he watched the beautiful boy he’d thought of as irreverent and irresponsible.
Watched him keep an eye on the sleeping infant, drooling on his robes, while also keeping the giggling toddlers entertained.
Watched him praise and fawn over the lumpy braids shyly shown to him.
The moment was broken when he was spotted.
Little a-Chun shrieked with childish glee, running at Lan Wangji as fast as his chubby little three year old legs could take him, babbling, “Ji-gege, Ji-gege!” as he went.
Lan Wangji had the wonder of seeing Wei Ying’s eyes widen in such obvious shock, before creasing into crescent moons, a brilliant grin taking over.
“Lan Zhan!” he called just as a-Chun thudded into Lan Wangji’s legs, delighted laughter and happiness sounding clear as a bell in his voice.
Lan Wangji nodded in greeting; tongue not quite ready to form words.
It was a simple thing, to reach down and sweep a-Chun into his arms, long strides taking them to Wei Ying’s little group where he was once again treated to Wei Ying’s wide-eyed surprise.
Lips still trying to smile, even as his mouth gaped slightly with shock.
Settling beside the group, Lan Wangji shifted a-Chun to his lap, careful to not dislodge the clumsy, slightly sticky, fingers from tracing the cloud embroidery on his robes.
The smile Wei Ying gifted him with was one he’d not seen on the other’s face before. It was smaller, softer, almost vulnerable.
A tug on his sleeve had him pulling his gaze away from the soft smile to Lan Yin standing shyly beside him, sucking on the ends of her ribbon.
“Can I braid your hair, Shige?” she asked past the damp silk.
With the hand not currently supporting a-Chun, Lan Wangji softly tapped the little hand holding the sodden ribbon end, a gentle reminder to help stop an unconscious habit.
“You may,” he granted, bringing the tails of his own forehead ribbon over his shoulder, where she could not accidentally catch them.
An amused, teasing twinkle returned to Wei Ying’s eyes once he felt little hands tugging and twisting his hair. Before a single teasing syllable could pass his lips, however, the infant in his arms began to stir.
Upon seeing that the infant was Lan Shan, Lan Wangji almost reached out to help knowing a-Shan was one of the harder babes to settle.
But Wei Ying proved to be a fraction faster, body already beginning to sway gently, as he cooed, “I know, I know. The world is big and bright and scary, and your feelings are big and loud even when you are so very small.”
The grizzling sniffles tapered off.
Big, dark, wet eyes blinked up at that smiling face.
“I know it’s a terrible thing having to wake up, but don’t you worry, you can rest in my arms a while longer.”
A gentle, weapon-calloused finger brushed the tip of a little rounded nose, and the most miraculous thing happened.
A-Shan laughed.
A-Shan did not laugh, the baby barely smiled.
And yet.
Lan Wangji felt the gurgling baby giggles like a kick to the chest.
Wei Ying turned a delighted smile his way, actively inviting him to share in the joy, and a wave of want like he’d never felt before crashed into him.
He wanted this beautiful boy.
He wanted to spend his days with him.
Wanted to raise children with him.
Wanted to encourage that brightness and see it shine.
This boy who, unlike the rest of the world, had asked nothing of him but simple attention.
He wanted to marry him.
x-X-x
Unfortunately, the road to actually making Wei Ying his husband was not an easy one.
Luckily, there were certain challenges that he relished.
Metal clashed against metal.
Through the cross of their blades, Jiang Wanyin snarled, “You dare to send a betrothal request to my father?”
Lan Wangji remained silent, pushing Jiang Wanyin back he traded a few more strikes with the angered Jiang Sect heir before they became locked again.
On the edges of the training field they could hear Wei Ying cheering for them both.
“What makes you think you’re worthy of him? You hate him, we can all see it clear as day.”
Those were words he could not allow to stand unanswered.
“I have never hated Wei Ying,” he said, punctuating the ‘never’ with a harsh shove, forcing Jaing Wanyin to give ground.
“Oh,” Jiang Wanyin sneered, mocking sarcasm lacing his slightly breathless words, “so you glare at him because you want to fuck him so bad?”
The crass words were clearly meant to garner some kind of flustered reaction.
Instead, Lan Wangji quirked a brow at him, the barest hint of a smirk ticking up the corner of his mouth.
The Jiang heir flushed so brilliantly red he could’ve matched Wei Ying’s hair ribbon.
With a yell and a shove, he pushed Lan Wangji away before pointing his blade at him. His attempt at a menacing aura hampered by the flush still burning his skin.
“You! Stay away from my brother!”
Inclining his head in acknowledgement, Lan Wangji waited for Jiang Wanyin to lower his blade before countering. “This one intends to do the precise opposite.”
Lan Wangji was sure the glare he received in answer was supposed to be withering, he remained impassive in the face of it.
The ‘training’ bout now officially at an end, he bowed respectfully and watched with satisfaction as Jiang Wanyin stomped from the field, hauling a confused Wei Ying in his wake, after grabbing his Sect brother’s wrist.
-x-
He was quietly reading in the library pavilion when the angered shout of Jiang Wanyin could be heard in the distance, and a dishevelled figure came tumbling through the window behind him.
“Wei Ying,” he greeted when the grinning boy popped up next to him.
“Lan Zhan,” a breathless laugh, “is it true?”
“Is what true?”
Wei Ying shuffled forward on his knees to plant his elbows on Lan Wangji’s desk, chin cupped in his palms.
“Is it true you asked Jiang-Shushu if you could marry me?”
“Mn, it is true.”
Wei Ying stared at him, wide-eyed, an enticing blush spreading across his cheeks. “You really want to marry me?”
Lan Wangji inclined his head in agreement, “With Wei Ying’s permission, I wish to court you with the intention of marriage.”
“But-“
The angry storm cloud that was Jiang Wanyin came stomping into the library, effectively cutting off whatever Wei Ying was about to say.
“You!” he growled, face like thunder.
Dodging the hand reaching out to grab him, Wei Ying yelped, and quickly put the table between them.
Taking advantage of the short reprieve, Wei Ying smiled shyly at Lan Wangji, the blush darkening on his cheeks. “Yes,” he said, “court me, Lan Zhan, marry me.”
Time seemed to slow as Wei Ying bit his lip, eyes flicking between Lan Wangji and the advancing Jiang Wanyin.
Lan Wangji barely breathed when he darted in, soft, warm lips pressing against his cheek in a quick kiss, before Wei Ying was dragged away, Jiang Wanyin’s hand fisted into the back of his robes.
The Jiang Sect heir’s aggrieved shouts were unintelligible over the buzz that had taken over Lan Wangji’s brain.
x-X-x
The months leading up to the wedding were some of the most frustrating days of Lan Wangji’s life.
Jiang Wanyin had taken on the role of chaperone with such seriousness that none dared to gainsay him.
It did not matter where they were or where they went.
Jiang Wanyin was there.
Secret notes sent during their time in the library were snatched from the air before making it to their destination.
While sitting together for meals, they were shoved unceremoniously apart, Jiang Wanyin forcing himself between them. Glare forever fixed on Lan Wangji.
Wei Ying’s attempts to sneak them some alone time, ruthlessly thwarted by a shidi who knew his tricks too well.
A hand reaching out to playfully tug on a trailing ribbon, summarily slapped before it could even brush the thin strip of silk.
Far too often, when caught in each other’s eyes, Lan Wangji found his face far too close for comfort to Jiang Wanyin’s glaring one. The Jiang heir having shoved between them again.
Friendly spars brought to a halt, Sandu clashing with Bichen while Wei Ying whined about interfering shidi in the background.
But today was the culmination of all those little battles.
Today he would win the war.
Jiang Wanyin stood before the door, arms crossed, firing off question after question.
Lan Wangji’s mouth was still aflame from the spiced noodles Jiang Yanli had had him consume, and yet he answered every question.
They glared at each other once the questions were over.
A final test of wills.
Jiang Wanyin broke first.
“I don’t know what he sees in you, but know this, if you hurt him, there will be no where on this earth that you could hide. I will find you, and I will make you wish you’d never been born.”
Taking a step back, Lan Wangji bowed. “This one thanks you for your staunch defence of his future husband.”
Moving from the doorway, Jiang Wanyin waved him on, “Just go, there’s one last trial waiting for you.” He paused, a smirk spreading, “It might even be an impossible one.”
The final trial came in the form of the children, standing in a cluster before Wei Ying, dressed in their very best robes.
Lan Wangji fell gracefully to his knees, careful of his wedding finery.
“How may this one pass you, to reach the one he loves?” he asked solemnly.
Lan Yin stepped forward, mouth for once free of her forehead ribbon tails, “You have to make a-Shan laugh.”
“And where is a-Shan?”
“Here, Ji-gege!” a-Chun called from his place beside Wei Ying, pointing at the infant cradled in Wei Ying’s lap.
Rising to join them, Lan Wangji knelt once more, dazzled by the splendour of Wei Ying in wedding reds and golds.
When he finally managed to drag his eyes away, little a-Shan was frowning at him.
This was indeed an impossible task.
Lan Wangji had never made a-Shan laugh, he’d never made her smile.
He looked up to smiling eyes.
His love was a Jiang.
If he could not attempt the impossible, was he even worthy of him?
Lan Wangji knew he was not worthy, not really.
But for Wei Ying, he would spend everyday of their lives together striving to be.
Looking back to the baby, he said, “Do not frown, little one, today is a day of joy.”
With a guqin-calloused finger, he brushed down her little nose, and lightly tapped the rounded tip.
Wide dark eyes crossed as they tried to follow his finger, before a miraculous, impossible thing happened.
Grabbing his finger in little pudgy hands, a-Shan laughed.
Her gurgling baby giggles filling the room with a brightness only a happy baby could bring.
“Marry me, Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying asked, eyes glistening with tears of joy.
“Yes,” Lan Wangji answered, reaching up to press a tender kiss to his soon-to-be-husband’s lips, to a chorus of children’s cheers.