Word Count: 617
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Post Canon Wangxian, loving husband Lan Zhan
Lans do not lie.
Lan Wangji will not lie.
He loves his husband.
He loves his husband so much.
He loves his husband when he is being silly, running around the rabbit field with the bunnies. He loves his husband when he is showing off his intelligence, teaching classes in The Cloud Recesses when another teacher is out. He loves his husband when he is doting on the juniors and the children, fussing over their health and happiness. He loves his husband when he is tired, sleepily clinging to him when it is time to wake in the morning, mumbling a soft ‘five more minutes’ that turns into a few more hours. He loves his husband when he acts defenseless, running behind him and begging his husband to protect him from a threat that Lan Zhan knows Wei Ying can defend himself from.
He loves his husband when he is being bratty, demanding all of Lan Zhan’s attention– and he gives it to him. He loves his husband when he is mischievous, pulling pranks on the other sect disciples and then howling in laughter. He loves when his husband is turned on, moaning endlessly for Lan Zhan to do unseemly things to him well into the night. He loves his husband when he is considerate, when they both wake in the middle of the night, scared that the past few years have been a dream and Wei Ying holds him, gently caressing his scars and reminding him that they are together at last.
He loves his husband when he is strong, when he shows that he is not the feeble Lan-Er-Furen that everyone claims him to be.
Like right now.
Wei Ying had said he was restless and wanted to stretch out his muscles and work on his fighting skills. Several disciples quickly jumped at the chance to prove themselves, to prove that they can level with the great and terrifying Yiling Patriarch.
But they cannot.
Lan Zhan watches in absolute adoration as Wei Ying single handedly takes out each and every disciple who stepped up to challenge him, all without the use of a golden core. Lan Zhan is in awe of this man's strength. He hides the twitch of a smile when Wei Ying punishes the fallen disciples to 100 handstand pushups for their arrogance, citing that Lans must always be regal and humble.
Of course Wei Ying joined them, the whole purpose of today was to train, after all.
He watches as they fall into several more exercises, Wei Ying leading them and correcting their forms as if it was the most natural thing to do. Always leading by showing.
His husband was amazing.
As the sun finally sets and Wei Ying decides he’s trained enough for the day, he bounds over to Lan Zhan, collapsing into his arms. “Lan Zhan! Husband! Did you see how hard they worked me today?!” He wails, throwing his head back, his arm moving to cover his face.
“Mn.”
“Not a moment’s rest, I tell you! Do they not know that their Hanguang Jun will keep me awake all night long?”
Lan Zhan’s interest is piqued and his ears tint red.
“I tell you,” Wei Ying continues, “no consideration for this feeble one! I am absolutely wrecked!”
He certainly would be by the time they fell asleep.
“Mn, very inconsiderate.” Lan Zhan mused lightly, easily grabbing the tray of food nearby so he could feed his husband.
“Aiya~ You’re so good to this one, husband~”
“Will always spoil Wei Ying.”
Wei Ying’s grin grew as he happily took another bite, settling into Lan Zhan’s arms to be fed like a spoiled Prince.
Word Count: 558
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Meet the parents, teen wangxian
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan cleared his throat lightly as he fidgeted with his clothes. "What if they do not like me?"
Silver eyes blinked rapidly at him several times in utter disbelief. "What?! Not like you? But Lan Zhan, what's not to like! I promise! They're gonna love you! You even got all dressed up!"
"Mn... I am meeting your parents, I want to look my best." Which was saying something, since the 17 year old always looked his best. Lans were very well known for their pristine attire, after all.
Wei Ying couldn't help but cackle a little. "Lan Zhan, you'll be fine. Just be yourself. I love you, so I know they will love you." He grabbed his boyfriend's hand and pulled him into the house. "Mama! Baba! I'm home! I brought Lan Zhan like you asked!"
The sweet smell of food hit them instantly and Wei Ying's stomach growled, but neither had time to worry themselves over it as a loud hasp was heard, and Cangse Sanren came hurrying over, her boundless energy instantly reminded Lan Zhan of his perfect boyfriend.
"Ooooh! Qīn’ài de! Hurry, hurry! He's here!" She called over her shoulder before looking at Wei Ying with a loving warmth before pulling him into a hug. "Welcome home, baobei! And you must be Lan Zhan?" She turned her attention to the rather anxious looking teen who was trying to mask it with a neutral expression.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you for having me. I brought these for you." He held up a small bouquet of three mixed colored roses.
Her eyes lit up and she smiled, gently taking them from him. "Oh, they're lovely! Thank you, A-Zhan!" Without warning, she pulled him into a hug, doing her best not to giggle at how stiff he became. (She remembered the first time she forcefully hugged Lan Qiren, who she only recently learned was related to this dear boy.)
"Thank you for taking such good care of our YingYing. He talks nonstop about you~" she released him, delighting in how red the poor boy's ears were.
"Darling, don't suffocate him yet, he just walked in the door." Wei Changze stepped around the corner and ruffled his son's hair before he held his hand out, briefly sharing a firm handshake with Lan Zhan.
"It's nice to meet you."
"You as well, sir. Thank you for having me."
"Oooh, he's so polite~ come, come! Dinner is just about done. We can all sit at the kitchen table while it finishes."
She easily dragged the teenage boys inside, and Wei Ying couldn't help but grin at his boyfriend. He knew his parents would love him!
The dinner went off without a hitch, and Sanren eased Lan Zhan into talking quite a bit before and after the meal. She respected that he didn't speak during their meals, so instead, she shared all her favorite baby stories about Wei Ying, which flustered her son to no end.
It was a nerve-wracking experience, but it was easily one of the best nights Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had. It was full of acceptance and love and laughter. Neither could have hoped for the night to go any better.
And if Changze teased Wei Ying after he saw Lan Zhan kiss him goodnight, well, what else is a loving father supposed to do?
Word Count: 3,814
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Immortal Dragon Wei Wuxian, Sacrifice Lan Wangji, Misunderstood dragon
“The sacrifice has been chosen.”
“Old man Lan isn’t going to like this.”
“He doesn’t have to like it. All of us suffer for this beast!”
“...Right you are.”
----------------------
“What?! Wangji? But why? I-” A pause.” I am older so I should be the sacrifice!” Lan Xichen looked at his uncle in disbelief. Of course, no one wanted to be sent to the beast, but he couldn’t stand the idea of his little brother dying at the hands of the old God.
“You know that is not how it works, Xichen.” Lan Qiren mumbled sullenly, his head hung low as his gaze remained unfocused on his tea. He knew it was a chance. Every family that had two or more children were always hit. But his nephews were well past the normal age of sacrifice.
He thought… He thought that they had lucked out. He thought that his nephews were safe. Of course he had been too hopeful.
“We can’t just let them take him, Shufu! We… We can’t… I don’t want to lose him…”
“I know.I do not want to either.”
----------------------
Lan Wangji watched his brother and uncle for a moment before he did something that the Lans never did. He stepped forward and pulled them both into a tight hug. “Everything will be okay.” He said softly.
There were tears and lasting embraces before Wangji finally stepped back and bowed to his family before beginning the trek up the winding mountain stairs.
It took almost the whole day for him to reach his goal.
The gorgeous mountain pass had almost made him forget about his impending death. He paused in front of the gorgeous moon gate, noting the delicate plants and twinkling chimes that decorated the entryway.
A soft mist gathered around the gate, swirling mystically as Lan Zhan stepped forward, chimes echoing around as he passed through the archway. As soon as he passed through, the thin air from the mountain top suddenly felt much more breathable, and instead of a mountain top, Lan Zhan found himself standing in a massive field with thick, luscious grass, and wild flowers speckled all throughout the field. The starlit sky was now bright and blue with a blazing sun high above.
In the far back of the field were dozens of trees, speckled across the horizon in a beautiful forest, but just in front of the trees was a beautiful cabin. He briefly wondered what it was for.
In the center, however, was the object of his concern.
Larger than any creature he had ever seen, coiled around itself like a snake, was a massive, black dragon that glittered with flecks of red in the brilliant sunlight. Red horns and a mane trailed along its back. The creature was absolutely stunning. Despite his massive size, the dragon seemed much smaller as he coiled around himself, head resting on top of his own body as he slept.
Lan Wangji remained frozen, watching it for several long moments, but the creature never stirred. So all he could do was sit patiently and wait for it to wake so he could fulfill his role as the sacrifice.
He waited for some time until his own tiredness won out. With arms folded across his chest and his head tipped forward, he fell into a deep sleep, somehow, he didn't feel in danger despite his circumstances.
----------------------
Lan Wangji woke when the sky had shifted from a beautiful blue, mid-day, to a shimmering array of blues and purples and pinks. Stars began to freckle the sky and he was sure that he had slept for several hours, though given the shift of time when he passed through the moon gate, he wasn't sure how time worked here.
But his main focus was not on the glittering sky or the fireflies that began to flicker around the field. No. His golden gaze was focused on the massive dragon laying in front of him. His head, easily the size of a horse drawn carriage, rested mere inches away from him.
Large, beautiful silver eyes watched him curiously, never once blinking for fear of missing a movement. The dragon was breathing very slowly, very carefully, as if to not blow the poor human away with his breath.
Somewhere far behind the dragon, there was a heavy sound of something dragging through the grass, and it wasn't hard to piece together that it was the dragon's tail, slowly sliding from side to side in a lazy fashion.
For a moment, Lan Wangji sat very still, his gaze locked on the large silver eyes.
This dragon… really was magnificent, and he was sure fearsome, but the only feeling the human was getting from him, was curiosity.
"...Hello. I… apologize for falling asleep. I did not wish to wake you." Lan Wangji wasn't sure if the old God could understand him or not. But he felt awkward having been asleep.
The dragon huffed a large puff of air through his nose, his two long, red whispers blew out, tickling either side of Lan Zhan.
Then, without warning, a voice emitted from the dragon. It was thunderous, yet somehow gentle at the same time. The timbre was lovely, but Lan Wangji could feel a sense of… resignation… Loneliness, in his voice.
"You did not run?"
"No. I was chosen, so I will fulfill my role."
The dragon lifted his head, easily towering over Lan Wangji.
"Surely, you do not wish to die."
"...I do not, but death comes for all of us. If my death keeps my family safe, then I will accept it without complaint."
The dragon hummed, standing up onto his feet before a bright light emitted from him, quickly followed by a gust of wind. Lan Wangji had to shield his eyes, but when he opened them, he was no longer face to face with the dragon. Instead, in front of him was the most beautiful man he had ever laid eyes on.
"I will allow you to leave." He said quietly, "but you will have no recollection of your life up to this point."
Confusion and shock flickered through Lan Wangji's golden gaze. "What?"
He took a few steps forward and crouched down in front of him. Lan Wangji could see the same, beautiful silver eyes with dark slitted pupils. His tanned skin was freckled with black and gray scales reminiscent of his dragon form.
He truly was the same as the magnificent beast he saw.
"You will travel through the forest behind me until you reach the moon gate. When you pass through, you will have no memory of your life up to this point. But you will be alive and safe." He stood and turned to leave, but without thinking Lan Wangji grabbed his hand.
"Why would you just let me go? You demand these sacrifices and yet–"
"I demand nothing." The dragon said simply. "Many years ago, a mortal came to my realm and asked for me to aid in battle. I saw through his lies, painting himself and his people as victims, when in truth, they were the villains. So I destroyed their armies. As thanks, tributes were made to me. At first they were reasonable things, like food or money."
He frowned. "But eventually, they began to send humans. My existence began to warp to the humans of your world. They pray to me for protection, and offer me humans as sacrifice, I do not require any such thing. But I also do not align with any one kingdom in the mortal realm. I protect who is deserving of it."
"Then why not tell the humans?! Why accept the sacrifices and then make us lose our memories?"
"I have tried, but they still believe that I will change sides unless they provide sacrifices." He sighed. "Once a mortal passes through the moon gate, they cannot return to the mortal realm without sacrificing something. It signifies birth and renewal. The birth of a new life, in this case." He pulled his hand free.
"So go… you are free to leave."
"...and what will happen if I do not leave?"
"Then you stay here. Just as you are. But what kind of life would that be? A life of solitude is not one I would wish on anyone."
"...do you live a life of solitude?"
He glanced over his shoulder at him before he turned away again. "The path to the second moon gate is straight through those woods. You should go."
The dragon shifted once more, returning to his massive form before he took off to the skies.
Lan Wangji watched him go before he hesitantly stood and headed towards the woods.
It took him an hour of walking before he found the gate in question, yet, he could not bring himself to walk through.
He did not wish to forget his family, but also, he would be lying if he said the dragon did not ignite a curiosity inside of him…. So he turned around and returned to that field, stopping at the cabin near the forest. He could see smoke coming from its chimney, and he wondered if the dragon lived here.
A quick peek through the window confirmed his suspicion and he decided to leave him be for now, making his own make-shift shelter nearby.
The next morning, the dragon exited his home to find Lan Wangji nearby, and his silver eyes widened. "You are still here?"
"Yes. I do not wish to lose my memories."
"..." the dragon watched him for a moment, never before had a sacrifice chosen to stay. But he would not get his hopes up. He was sure the man would leave shortly. So for now, he invited him into his home.
Lab Wangji learned that the dragon's name was Wei Ying, and he learned that he was very good at hiding who he was.
He spoke distantly, as if trying to keep a wall between them, but when he wasn't careful, glimmers of his true self would slip through.
He got excited when he learned about things from the human world. He grew angry when he learned of wars, no matter how distant.
He spoke fondly of humans, but there was always a twinge of sadness.
With his makeshift home forgotten, Lan Wangji began to live with the dragon. Slowly, he chipped away at that wall, each day growing a little closer to the creature.
He was lonely.
Thousands of years he was confined to this realm, only permitted to leave by the other Gods when he received enough prayers. A punishment for the war he aided in, some several thousand years ago. The war that started the offerings.
When you finally got him talking, Wei Ying really never stopped. He talked about his realm, his cottage, his garden. Oh he was so very proud of his garden. He talked about the humans he has met in the past, he talked about his skills and abilities. He talked about flying, and how feeling the wind in his mane is the most wonderful feeling in the world.
Lan Zhan found himself enchanted by the dragon. The beautiful, lonely dragon, who is surprised to see Lan Zhan there every morning. He loves to listen to him speak, to hear him describe his centuries of life, or to ramble about his plethora of knowledge.
But most of all, Lan Zhan loves when the dragon smiles. Or when he laughs. Both make Lan Zhan feel lost in a sea of adoration.
----------------------
By his calculations, he has been in the dragon's realm for three months now, and every morning, he hides a smile as Wei Ying gets excited when he sees Lan Zhan has once again, not left the realm.
The look of surprise that is quickly replaced by a soft happiness and a barely concealed giddiness is what makes Lan Zhan feel weak in the knees.
Lan Zhan takes to making their food for them, delighting in the way his dragon preens and praises his cooking.
There was even a day where Lan Zhan sat there with a brush and brushed out every inch of the dragon's magnificent red mane.
As more time began to pass, the dragon and the human began to grow closer together, relishing in each other's company.
They spent most nights laying in the field, watching the stars as Wei Ying stayed curled up around Lan Zhan, allowing the human to lay comfortably on him.
The more comfortable the dragon became, the more Lan Zhan realized… he was falling in love with him. With his smile, with his laugh, with the adorable little pout he got when Lan Zhan scolded him for talking while eating.
Lan Zhan got to see a side of him that he was certain no one had ever seen before.
There were times he would wake in the middle of the night and find his companion missing from their shared room, and when he would go look for him, he would find him dancing amongst the fireflies, or singing under the stars.
One time, when the human caught him dancing, Wei Ying pulled him into the field with him, spinning around with him and laughing as they swayed to a music that no one but them could hear.
Then one day, Wei Ying seemed to change. He became quiet and distant. Lan Zhan wasn’t sure what was wrong.
He fed the dragon his favorite food, making sure to add extra spice. He warmed him a bath, offered to brush his mane, tried to coax him for a walk… But Wei Ying denied all of it.
Wei Ying even went to bed before Lan Zhan did. In the morning, Wei Ying was nowhere to be seen.
Lan Zhan searched the forest behind their now-shared cabin for hours, he kept his eyes on the sky, hoping to find his sweet dragon, but he saw no sign of him. It wasn’t until much later in the evening when he finally found him.
Wei Ying was sitting against the wall beside the moon gate that Lan Zhan had originally entered through. His dark robes had blended into the deep green foliage around the gate, but he rested against the wall with his eyes closed. He looked… sad.
Lan Zhan didn’t know what was troubling his dragon, but he wanted so badly to take away whatever pain he was feeling. “Wei Ying…” His voice was full of relief upon seeing him. “I have been searching for you, what are you doing over here?”
Slowly, the dragon opened his eyes, letting the silver orbs rest on the human for a moment before he stood. “I was waiting for you.”
“Waiting for me? Here?”
“Yes.” He closed the distance between them, stopping a mere few inches from the human. “Lan Zhan,” He asked gently. “Do you know how long you’ve been here?”
“I… do not.” He shook his head.
“Almost a year now.” Wei Ying said lightly, and Lan Zhan was struck by the realization.
“Has it really been that long?”
“...It has.” He nodded before carefully taking Lan Zhan’s hand and pressing something small and cool into his palm.
“This is for you, Lan Zhan.” His gaze remained on Lan Zhan’s, but it wasn’t hard to hear the way his voice echoed with something that the human hadn’t heard from him in some time.
He was sad.
He was lonely.
Wei Ying pulled away from Lan Zhan and stepped around him,walking back towards the cabin before he paused and turned back to face the human.
Lan Zhan whirled around to face his dragon, confusion in his gaze before he looked down at what was given to him.
In the palm of his hand was a small jade token with an elaborate carving of a dragon. He closed his fist around the cool stone and looked back at Wei Ying, clearly confused. “What is this for?”
“That token will allow you to pass through the gate behind you. The one you came through. Unlike the gate in the forest, no one can pass through it once they enter my realm. Unless they have that jade token.” He gestured lightly to his hand. “You can return home, Lan Zhan.”
“Return… home…?”
“Yes. You can see your family. You can tell them I do not require nor want any more sacrifices.” He gave him a smile, but it was not the smile he had come to love. It was small and full of sorrow. “I know your family will be excited to see you. You should go. I believe it is early morning on the other side of the gate.” He urged gently before turning, his body shifting into his long, serpent like form before he took off towards the sky, not giving Lan Zhan a chance to ask any further questions.
For a moment, all Lan Zhan could do was stand there. He watched as his dragon flew off, weaving slowly through the air. His golden gaze landed on the token once more before he frowned. Why was Wei Ying so sad?
He shook his head and hurried through the gate. He had a lot he needed to do.
----------------------
Lan Zhan’s return to the village was… unexpected. The confusion and surprise that etched itself into everyone’s expressions was somewhat comical.
“You’re alive!”
“The beast didn’t eat you?”
“Have you slain the creature?!”
“Was he dissatisfied with our pick?”
“What sort of hell will he unleash upon us?!”
The accusations and slander itched at Lan Zhan’s nerves, irritating him more than he had ever felt before. How dare they think that Wei Ying would harm anyone! “He is no beast.” He said flatly. “He has no intention of harming anyone here. But he does not want any more sacrifice.”
“What?”
“He does not want you sending any more of your family to him to appease him. If you want to appease him, send him food or wine. But he said he does not even need those. So please,
no more sending your family to him.”
Confusion swept over the crowd, but the people were quickly ushered aside as two figures hurried forward.
“Wangji!”
“Did!!”
Lan Zhan’s features relaxed and he stepped forward to meet his uncle and his brother, hugging them both tightly as he had the day he left.
Lan Qiren hurriedly ushered his nephew back home, setting him down with tea. “You’re home.. Oh thank the heavens.”
“Wanji, we have missed you so much, we thought… We thought we would never see you again.”
“Mn. I have missed you both as well.” He nodded lightly. “But, I am not here for long.”
“...What?”
“I came to visit, and to get some things, but I need to return to Wei Ying.”
“Wei Ying?”
“Yes… Wuxian the dragon.”
“... You are returning to him?”
“Yes. He has been upset the past few days, and I am not certain why, so I wish to bring some things to him.”
“Wangji, but… you’re… you’ve been returned to us, why would you go back to him?” Lan Qiren frowned, not understanding what his nephew was thinking.
Yet, Xichen seemed to understand. “...Will you return to visit again?”
“Mn. I believe so. Wei Ying did not explain how my token works fully, but I do not think it is a one time use. So I will try to visit once a month moving forward.”
Xichen nodded and gently squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “I am happy for you, didi. You seem happy.”
“I am. Wei Ying makes me very happy.”
Qiren glanced between the brothers, still unsure, but the relief that his nephew was alive and well sated him for now, as well as the promise of future visits.
For the night, Lan Zhan stayed with his family, telling them all about Wei Ying. Then in the morning, he gathered some supplies and made his way back up the mountain.
Stepping through the moon gate this time was as surreal as the first time he had done it. The dark evening sky shifted to the clear blue of early day and the luscious field welcomed him with a gentle breeze.
His gaze scanned the field until he found the large, coiled figure he was searching for. Sound asleep in the sun just as he had been the first time he arrived. How nostalgic.
He heard the gentle chimes from behind him, signifying someone had entered the realm, but the dragon did not stir.
Deciding he should let him sleep, Lan Zhan made his way to their cabin and set his belongings down before he began to prepare Wei Ying’s meal for when he awoke.
When his dragon did not come in by the time the food was done, Lan Zhan went to fetch him, stopping just a few feet in front of him, still sound asleep.
The human took a moment to admire his dragon. His large, imposing form that looked so small when curled up like this, yet still larger than a house. His glittering scales, and magnificent mane. He really was stunning in all forms.
Carefully, he stepped forward and pressed his hand to Wei Ying’s snout. “Wei Ying, it is time to wake up.”
The dragon stirred lightly, shifting in his sleep until his eyes opened slowly, pupils dilating slightly as his vision came into focus.
“Lan Zhan?”
“Mn. It is time to wake, sleepy head.”
“You… came back?”
“Of course. I only went to see my uncle and brother. I also brought a few things for you, but I can tell you about my visit later, come, it is time to eat.” His hand stroked gently over the creature’s large snout.
For a moment, the dragon was silent, simply watching him before he pressed forward lightly, pressing his snout against the human, nuzzling him gently before he shifted back, his arms wrapping around Lan Zhan tightly.
“...Wei Ying?” He frowned, carefully wrapping his arms around his dragon’s human form, holding him close.
“You came back.” He said much softer this time. Lan Zhan finally understood.
Oh.
That was why he had been upset. He expected Lan Zhan to leave and never return.
He gave him a precious token to make the decision for himself. To decide if he wanted to leave. Wei Ying thought he would be alone again.
His hold tightened around Wei Ying and he nuzzled his face into that soft, black hair of his. “Mn. Will always return to Wei Ying.”
He heard the dragon’s breath hitch before he pulled back slightly, looking at Lan Zhan cautiously, his gaze searching for something.
Thankfully, this time, Lan Zhan understood, and without a word, he closed the gap between them, pulling the dragon into a soft, loving kiss.
Their first of many to come.
From now on, dragon nor human would ever be alone again.
Word Count: 1,323
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Parent Wei Ying, Children with unnamed ex, Smooth Lan Zhan, OC Children, MPREG
Wei Ying heaved a sigh and watched as his three young children ran around the park. Today was his first day off in almost two weeks, and he was exhausted. Between getting up early (never an easy task for Wei Ying), getting the kids ready and off to daycare, the grueling tasks at work, and then feeding, bathing, and playing with his beloved children after work, he was wiped out.
He wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep for 1,000 years. But that's not what parents get to do.
Of course, Wei Ying loved his children, and he would do this every day without question, but that didn't mean he wasn't tired. He wanted a new job as well, but with such little time for himself, he never really had a chance to apply to new places.
So for now, he'd deal.
After rubbing his eyes, he noticed the twins fighting for control of the slide and he frowned. "Baihe! HeLian! Share the slide!"
A little pouty chorus of "Yes, baba!" sounded and Wei Ying nodded, pleased that they were listening.
Wei Ying stifled another yawn before he heard someone close by clear their throat and he turned to see who it was.
He half expected it to be some other parent, ready to complain to him about how he's raising his children, but what he didn't expect, was the world's most beautiful man to be standing there with two cups in his hand, looking rather unsure.
"Pardon me," he started rather unsurely. "I hope you don't find this rude or uncomfortable. But I noticed how tired you seemed..."
He frowned, realizing that likely wouldn't be something someone would want to hear. "But, I just grabbed a tea for myself, and thought you might like a coffee as well."
At first, Wei Ying had half a mind to tell this beautifully sculpted man, with his perfectly tuned voice to fuck off.
Of course he was tired! He was a single parent of three, had no help, had a shitty job, the list went on and on! The last thing he needed was some god-like stranger telling him how tired he was.
But then he heard about the coffee.
Then, he noticed the little boy peeking out from behind him.
Oh.
Oh, he was just another parent looking out for another parent. Wei Ying gave a tired smile and nodded. "You have no idea how good a coffee sounds right now, thanks a bunch! How much was it? I can pay you back."
The man handed over the coffee and then gently touched the little boy's head. "Jingyi, go play."
He nodded and hurried off to play and Wei Ying noticed he instantly gravitated towards his A-Yuan.
"You do not need to pay me back," the man finally addressed. "May... I sit?"
"Oh, fuck! Yeah, sorry." He grabbed the bag beside him, moved it to the ground, scooted over for him as the man sat down. "Are you sure? You definitely didn't need to do that. Buy a stranger a coffee I mean."
"I am certain." He assured, he seemed uncomfortable, like he wasn't used to striking up conversation.
"Well, thanks a bunch." Wei Ying took a sip of the coffee and sighed happily. "It's hard wrangling three kids into a coffee shop, and my coffee maker is broken- go figure, so I haven't had any today."
"Is... your partner not able to help watch them while you get a cup?"
"Oh, pfft, nah. That ass is a deadbeat that I haven't seen since the twins were born. It's just me."
The man seemed surprised by that, unsure how anyone could just leave their children, or their significant other. Especially one as beautiful as this man.
"You're son is cute." Wei Ying spoke up, breaking the man's train of thought.
"My... son? Oh! No," he shook his head. "Jingyi is my nephew."
"Oh! Shit, my bad. You two just look so much alike, I assumed. Sorry!"
"No, it's alright. You're not the first to assume."
Wei Ying smiled a little, the coffee certainly waking him up a little. "Well, he's lucky to have such a handsome uncle!" A pause. "Caring! I meant caring uncle!"
The man's lips quirked briefly into a smile before his neutral expression returned once more and Wei Ying thought he'd kill to see that smile last.
"Mn. And your children are lucky to have such a beautiful father."
Wei Ying's eyes widened and he sputtered lightly, spitting some of his precious coffee out. "Wha- n-no, i--" He laughed a little. "I appreciate the compliment, but I'm a fucking mess." He glanced down at himself, clothes that he was pretty sure weren't in the clean pile, a few food stains from the kids, dark circles under his eyes, his hair was a mess.
"I disagree." The man said simply, taking a sip of his tea. "I think you are stunning. Perhaps... Perhaps it is a good thing you 'look like a mess'. If you looked any more gorgeous, you would be causing accidents."
Silver eyes widened in disbelief, looking at this Adonis of a man as if he said the most outrageous thing in the world. And he had! Yet. Here was Wei Ying, with his heart fluttering against his ribcage. He cleared his throat and hid his face against his coffee cup.
"I don't think that's fair coming from the world's most gorgeous man."
"Most gorgeous? But I'm the one who said it, not you." Once more, Wei Ying sputtered, looking at this man in absolute disbelief. But the man in question only raised his brow lightly, lips twitching into a faint smirk that was gone almost instantly.
All of it left Wei Ying flustered beyond belief. He had never been flirted with so shamelessly before!
Normally, he was the shameless one. So all he could do was clear his throat, take a sip of his glorious coffee, and introduce himself.
"I'm Wei Ying."
"Mn, it is a pleasure to meet you, Wei Ying. I am Lan Zhan."
And that is how two strangers met for the first time, kickstarting their future together.
For three months, Lan Zhan 'courted' Wei Ying. Which mostly meant he came over and cooked dinner while Wei Ying tended to the kids. It meant he stayed past their bedtime and talked with Wei Ying until the other passed out from exhaustion.
Lan Zhan would then carry him to the bedroom, and leave, making sure the door was locked.
It meant he would invite Wei Ying and the children out, happily helping with them and playing with them to give Wei Ying a brief moment to himself.
Eventually, it meant convincing Wei Ying to leave the children with Lan Zhan's brother or uncle so they could go on dates.
To say that he spoiled Wei Ying was an understatement. Their dates ranged from beautiful restaurants, to quiet picnics in the park, even to lavish in-home dates where Lan Zhan made a beautiful meal and the pair soaked in a bubble bath with candles for just a tad too long.
Wei Ying was head over heels.
When Lan Zhan officially asked him to be his boyfriend, he made it very clear that he wanted to be a part of the children's life. How could Wei Ying say no? He adored this man. The children loved him. They meshed so well together.
In less than a year, they were married. Wei Ying and the kids moved into Lan Zhan's beautiful home,
Wei Ying ended up putting in his two week notice only a month later when he learned he and Lan Zhan were expecting their first child together. Lan Zhan insisted he not work during his pregnancy. With his job, they would be fine.
Nine months later, they welcomed a little girl called YueHa to their family. And for once, life was truly perfect.
Word Count: 438
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Modern day, high school, the feeling of love
Wei Ying fidgeted lightly as he stepped in front of the class, glancing around before he looked at his teacher, Lan Qiren, who nodded for him to begin.
"Falling, by Wei Ying."
He cleared his throat lightly and glanced up over his paper, his breath catching in his throat when his silver eyes met those warm golden ones in the back of the room. He licked his lips and looked back at his paper.
"Falling is scary. The rush of wind. The uncertainty. The fear of impact, of humiliation, of pain. The waiting is excruciating. The unknown is suffocating. But falling is easy. Most people don't even have to think."
"A jump, a skip, a misstep, or even an intentional stride, all can lead to falling. You're certain, feet on solid ground. You're comfortable. You feel the weight of your life, the weight of your movements and decisions. You know how it will go."
"Then suddenly... Suddenly, the ground is gone. There is nothing around to grab, nothing to steady yourself. There's a rush and fear... then nothing."
His voice had been so soft, so unsure as he read his piece to the class. But he felt himself becoming more comfortable.
"Falling is weightless. It is freedom. The freedom of change, of chance, the freedom to do and be who you want to be. You cannot fly when you are stuck on the ground, but when you are falling.... oh, but when you are falling anything is possible!"
"You can brace for impact, shield yourself from the possibility of pain... or you can open your eyes. You can feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, you can feel the weightless joy of just being."
"But everything that goes up must come down. And the fear sinks in again. The fear of being seen. The fear of no one being there to catch you."
"But what if someone does catch you? Well... then I don't think falling is so bad. Because if he'll catch me... then I'll fall every day."
The class listened in confusion. It wasn't uncommon for Wei Ying's creative writing to go over their head, but despite not entirely understanding what he meant, the words resonated with them.
Wei Ying wondered how many understood that he wasn't just talking about falling, but rather... the feeling of falling in love.
He glanced up over his paper again and found those same golden eyes on him and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the soft look on Lan Zhan's face.
Yeah... falling wasn't so bad when you had someone to catch you.
Word Count: 1,148
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Wangxian, teen Wangxian, street-rat Wei Ying, first kisses
Wei Ying sat on the rooftop of an old building in Yiling. It was old and abandoned, as was quite a lot of the city. But to the 15 year old street rat, it was home. He scoffed as he saw a pristine car park nearby.
Undoubtedly some rich folk trying to see if the area was worth a damn to purchase and tear down. Likely wanting to put up some new shopping center and wondering why customers were getting scared away by the ghosts that called this place home.
Wei Ying had learned to live beside them, he learned to coexist, and it was a peaceful life. He learned that most of these spirits didn't need to be abolished, so he had no desire to do such a thing.
He watched with half-interest as three men stepped from the car.
Some stuffy looking man who looked like he was near a midlife crisis (not really, but Wei Ying already knew he didn't like this one), a young man who was older than himself. He had a gentle smile and a soft air about him. He was a good egg.
And finally, a young teen about his age, if not a little bit older. Wei Ying had to admit.... he was kinda cute... though he wondered why he looked so stone-faced. He had a feeling he had a really nice smile.
He scooted to the edge of the roof, watching them as they discussed something, though he was too far to hear what.
Something on the younger boy's hip caught Wei Ying's attention, and he grinned. He had a wonderfully awful idea!
He waited until the group split up and then he made his move.
Wei Ying sent a few spirits to retrieve that very full looking money pouch from the youngest one's hip. He watched from above as the pouch was snatched, the spirit didn't get far before it was caught. Wei Ying watched with wide eyes as he grabbed the wrapped object from his back,
the cloth flying off of it to reveal the most beautiful guqin he had ever seen.
Then realization dawned on him. The young street rat moved quickly, jumping from place to place until he could safely land, blocking the attack from his spirit, who threw him the pouch and took off.
Today was not a good day to be liberated.
"Hey, hey! No need to swing that thing so freely, Mr. Cultivator~" Wei Ying grinned, his silver eyes shining mischievously as he spun the money pouch around by its drawstring. "You want it back, you're gonna have to take it from me~"
"You--" Lan Wangji, as the young boy of 16 was called, stared at the other as if he was the most bizarre thing in the world. Did he just protect a spirit?? And he stole his money! "Give that back."
"Oh? This? Mm, how about a kiss and I'll give it back."
He grinned like a mad man and then nearly fell over laughing when he saw how red the other boy's ears went.
Furious at being taunted, the normally calm and collected young Lan lunged forward with his sword, hiding his surprise when Wei Ying dodged.
"Oooh, check you out!! A guqin and a sword?? You're the real deal, yeah? Oh man, that's awesome!" He laughed, dodging another attack before using two nearby buildings to get up onto a low hanging roof. "Not many cultivators like you exist in this day and age, ya know~"
"There are more than you think." He grit out, hurrying to chase after him, but Wei Ying knew these streets too well.
It took every ounce of his speed and skill to not lose the street rat, weaving in and out of streets, over roofs, to dead ends. And unfortunately, Lan Wangji was not prepared for the other to know any form of cultivation, so when he finally cornered the younger boy. He hadn't expected the paperman on his back to cause his body to stop being able to move.
"What did-- wh-when!?"
Wei Ying fell over laughing, holding his sides as he rolled in the dirt. "Oh man! Oh man, oh man! You should see your face!" He was practically wheezing.
The older boy glared at him, struggling to move as Wei Ying finally regained his composure and moved over to him, hands on his hips. "Man, that was a lot of fun~ thanks for entertaining me today."
The money pouch from early was tossed up and down a few times as Wei Ying came to a stop in front of him. "So? How about that kiss~?"
"You---! Shameless!!"
"Aw, well, that's alright. I guess I'll just keep this for myself then~ see ya around, pretty boy~"
However, Wei Ying only got a few steps before Lan Wangji managed to free himself of the crumbling piece of paper that Wei Ying used, and in a flash,
he had the younger boy against the wall.
"Whoa! Whoa! Easy!" Wei Ying held his hands up when he saw the glare fixated on himself. Maybe he had gone too far?
He was about to apologize when a pair of lips were over his,
for the briefest millisecond in history before Lan Wangji was reeling back, ears and cheeks red, he held his hand out for the pouch.
Wei Ying blinked dumbly a few times before he hesitantly held it out and dropped it into his hand.
"Oh my~"
Both boys froze before they glanced over as Lan Xichen approached them, his soft smile was disarming. "Wangji, you made a fast friend~"
"N-no, brother this w-was--"
"It is alright, I won't tell uncle."
He winked playfully at his little brother, who looked like he could die on the spot, before he gave his attention to Wei Ying. "Hello there, can I ask your name?"
"U-um..." He cleared his throat, trying not to think about the fact he just lost his first kiss. "I'm Wei Ying."
"Ah, I see. You're the young boy we heard about that lives here." He smiled warmly. "I am glad we found you."
"Me? What do you want with me?"
"We want to ask you to come back to Gusu with us."
"What?!" Both boys shouted in unison, making Xichen chuckle.
It took quite a bit of convincing, but by the time the sun was setting, the car was pulling out of Yiling with an extra passenger. The back seat was exceptionally quiet, with the two boys still too flustered to look at one another.
Only Xichen wasn't surprised several years later when Wei Ying and Lan Zhan announced that they were getting married. He watched with a knowing smile as Wei Ying once more stole Wangji's money pouch on the day of their wedding.
The illustrious Hanguang-Jun chasing his husband around in their red silk robes like they were teenagers again.
Word Count: 721
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Fan Artist Wei Ying, Voice actor Lan Zhan
Wei Ying sat back in disbelief as he stared as his email.
There was no way.
This had to be fake, right???
His heart wouldn't stop hammering in his chest as he read over the email again and again.
Hello Yilling_Patriarch,
I apologize for emailing you out of the blue, especially when your commissions are closed, but I just had to reach out. I am an absolute fan of your work, and given your work, I know you are a fan of mine.
I was hoping to personally commission you for several large scale projects for some of the characters I voice. If this is something that interests you, please let me know. We can talk more in detail if you decide you're interested in working with me.
Sincerely, Hanguang-Jun
Wei Ying would be lying if he said he wasn't going absolutely feral over this email. The Hanguang-Jun wanted to commission him! Like, actually commission him!
For years, Wei Ying had been a fan of the animation industry. He loved animation from all over the world. But for the past few years, one particular voice actor had caught his attention. He rarely spoke long periods at a time, but his lines were so raw, so full of emotion, so impactful.
And that *voice!*
Most of Wei Ying's personal art projects over the last few years have been of the characters that Hanguang-Jun voiced! He had no idea he had captured the voice actors attention!
He was beyond stoked and so excited.
So of course he had to accept the offer!
There were several emails exchanged between the two, discussing all the art that Hanguang-Jun wanted to commission from him for some upcoming conventions and events. It was an overall straightforward and professional exchange, but Wei Ying couldn't help but fanboy a few times, not that the other seemed to mind.
Eventually, their correspondences moved from email to discord in a private DM where Wei Ying was happy to share progress of his art. Their chatting became more frequent, and Wei Ying wasn't entirely sure when they began talking so casually with one another. It had happened so naturally…
[Hanguang-Jun:] Wei Ying, I know this might be an odd request…
[Hanguang-Jun:] but, I will be in your town this weekend for a meeting with a family friend… would you be interested in getting coffee together? I apologize if this seems unprofessional.
Wei Ying was certain he flatlined right then and there. Was… was Lan Zhan (of course they already shared their names) asking him on a date?!
'No. No it was just coffee! Don't get ahead of yourself, Wei Ying'
[Yiling_Patriarch] Absolutely! I'd love that!
[Hanguang-Jun:] Perfect, it's a date then
Wei Ying stopped functioning for a good hour after that.
Of course, the date, which is precisely what it was, went off without a hitch. Or… okay, there were many hitches, like Wei Ying forgetting how to talk, or tripping and falling right into those big, strong arms, or even the fact that Wei Ying was so jittery his knees hit the table at least three times!
But through all of it, Lan Zhan just made sure he was okay while giving him the softest expression. They talked about their careers, their home life, their likes and dislikes. It was so natural, so warm, and once the nerves finally went away, it was everything someone could hope for on a first date.
The second, the third, and the fourth date were just as magical, and Lan Zhan got to the the work Wei Ying was doing for him personally after being pulled into his apartment and kissing senselessly until they passed out between the sheets after getting to know each other on a much more intimate level.
Wei Ying had learned the next day that having Lan Zhan around while he worked was very distracting. All those kisses and massages meant he got almost no work done.
So one can only imagine how bad it was once they moved in together a few short months later~
Lan Zhan of course continued his voice acting career, and Wei Ying became his personal fan-artist. Always paid for his work despite Wei Ying saying it wasn't needed.
Who knew such a happy ending would come from such a simple email?
Word Count: 840
Pairing: Wangxian
Tags: Lan Clan Wei Ying, competitive Wangxian, Lan Zhan not knowing how to handle his crush, wingman Xichen
Wei Ying rocked back and forth on his feet, his hands folded neatly behind his back as he waited with hidden interest for the results to be announced.
For the past three months, disciples had been working their asses off to prove themselves. They went on night hunts, tripled down on assignments, and busted their asses to show their shizuns that they were worthy of being more than just a normal disciple.
It was a stupid competition that the Lan clan had implemented some years ago after someone complained of favoritism. Each year, for three months, the disciples would go above and beyond. In the end, one disciple was chosen and marked as the head disciple for the remainder of the year. Ever since he was brought back to Gusu at the tender age of six, he always worked hard to prove himself to Lan Qiren. But he was still too much of a rule breaker to ever be considered one of the head disciples.
Once these ‘games’ started around the time Wei Ying turned ten, he decided he had no desire to participate, and only continued to do things as he always had. Sure, Lan Qiren often scolded him, but behind closed doors he was just as doting on him as he was with A-Zhan or Huan-gege.
So really, what reason did he have to participate.
That is, until Wei Ying turned 15, and he noticed that his favorite person in the world, A-Zhan, was acting differently with him. He often avoided him, often told him that he did not have time to ‘play’, or he would just fix Wei Ying with the same glare he always had.
This absolutely would not fly.
So he consulted the ever knowledgeable Huan-gege.
“Wangji has been the head disciple for several years now,” He reminded Wei Ying with a warm, knowing smile. One that told Wei Ying that the older boy knew more than he was letting on. “He is very busy, you know… and, I hear that Wangji is also… looking for a possible future partner. But no one seems to be able to stand up to par with his skills.”
“...What?” Wei Ying asked in disbelief. “A… a future partner?! A-Zhan?! My ZhanZhan?”
“Mhm. But of course, only those who are also head disciple material would be worthy of the second Jade, don’t you agree, A-Ying?”
“W-well, of course!”
Now, Lans were not supposed to gossip, but this truly was a dire situation, so Lan Xichen made an exception. He knew the real reason for Wangji avoiding Wei Ying, so he needed to rectify it.
He spread that very rumor around the young disciples. It needed to be believable for it to work. So when Wei Ying heard his fellow disciples talking about gunning for the top spot to prove themselves to the second young master, it got under Wei Ying’s skin and he had offhandedly commented to someone that he was planning on taking the games seriously this year, to which Wei Ying was met with laughter.
“Wei Wuxian, you’re not head disciple material! Besides, this year is important, so just sit this one out like always.”
Irritation bubbled under his skin, and Wei Ying took the bait.
No one was worthy of his ZhanZhan. And how dare they suggest that Wei Ying couldn’t do something!
A smug smile settled onto Wei Ying’s lips as the results were finally read.
First place in the mini tournament was Wei Wuxian, stunning everyone in the clan. Second place was Lan Wangji.
Wei Ying sidled up over to his runner-up and bumped shoulders with him, grinning ear to ear. “Say, Lan Zhan~ looks like we’re going to be working a lot together this year, but my score was ahead of yours! So that means you have to listen to me too~”
Lan Zhan’s ears burned a deep red and he glared at Wei Ying.
This was not how this was supposed to go! Lan Zhan wanted to maintain head disciple to impress Wei Ying! Perhaps this meant he would have to try harder next year. And he would secretly hold these moments of forced connection dear to his heart.
Unfortunately for Lan Xichen, who had orchestrated this whole plan to get his pining brother together with his beloved A-Ying, he had to watch for three more years as the two love-struck idiots went back and forth between who was head disciple, each year pushing themselves harder to impress the other until their emotions finally came to a head.
He signed in relief as Wei Ying finally dropped out of the running, happy enough to return to his state of goofing off and putting in just enough effort so that Lan Qiren didn’t Qi deviate after he learned that Lan Zhan preferred silly, goofy Wei Ying.
Though the rest of the clan was certainly not pleased as the two 18 year olds had a bad habit of keeping everyone up into the wee hours of the night after their feelings were finally known.
