[pfsb]

[acrookedpath]

Lan Zhan, he writes, I'm swimming in the lake! I love you -- Wei Ying. After a moment's thought, Wei Wuxian adds a smiley face to the bottom like Madam Bar so often does with her napkin notes.

It's unseasonably warm today, more early summer than late fall. The trees have dropped enough of their leaves that Wei Wuxian knows such days will depart for good soon enough. And frankly, if he stares at his latest iteration of the energy-revealing array much longer, his eyes will cross and stick that way. He needs to clear his head.

After leaving one copy of the note in their room and another with Madam Bar, he requests some swimming attire; she provides a black short-sleeved shirt much like the one he wore to London Above, the fabric smooth as silk but much stretchier, and loose red trousers that end just above his knees. A little revealing for a lake shared by many, perhaps, but they'll do.

He changes in the public washroom and walks to the shoreline. Stepping onto one of the larger rocks, he eyes the water with a smile.

Then he backs up, sprints forward to spring off the rock, and cannonballs into the lake with a loud whoop.

Comments

[lightamidchaos]

Wei Ying is the better swimmer, he is certain. That does not mean he will not try.

The splashing helps. He skims along the bottom of the lake, then plants his feet against the ground and pushes off with as much force as he can, arrowing toward him with the intention of catching him around the waist.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian feels the water ripple as Lan Zhan shoots upward. He could probably dodge if he twisted aside fast enough. Probably. But where is the fun in that?

His laughter veers into a sputtering yelp as Lan Zhan barrels into him and seizes him by the waist. "Ah, no, have mercy!" he shouts, windmilling his arms to spray as much water over them as he can.

[lightamidchaos]

The absurdity of the entire situation is not lost on him. He feels his lips quirk at the corners.

“Mn.”

Holding him tight, he stops treading water and sinks like a stone, bringing Wei Ying with him.

[acrookedpath]

He sucks in a lungful of air right before they go under, struggling not to laugh so he does not immediately lose it all. A few bubbles escape his nose as he squirms in Lan Zhan's grip.

Around them, their hair swirls in a dark, rippling wave as they sink to the bottom of the lake.

[lightamidchaos]

He blinks at the other man, floating beside him, bright-eyed and laughing, and feels quiet amusement well within him.

He cradled Wei Ying’s cheek with one hand, shakes his head at him, then lets go — only to grab him by the wrist and pull him along, back up toward light and air.

[acrookedpath]

They crash through the surface; golden sunlight refracts through the water droplets, throwing a shower of sparks around them. Wei Wuxian is already laughing again the instant he can take a breath.

He sweeps his free hand behind Lan Zhan's neck to drag him into a kiss. "Do I get to catch you, now?" he asks, eyes dancing.

[lightamidchaos]

Here is Wei Ying, shining bright; Wei Ying, playful and laughing. Wei Ying, happy.

Lan Wangji loves him.

He captures the vision before him as memory, storing it safely in his heart, the sight of Wei Ying with sunlit water-stars in his hair, the glowing smile on his face, the pure and uncomplicated joy in his eyes, before he nods.

“Yes. If you can.”

[acrookedpath]

"If?"

Oh, a challenge. His grin slopes toward wicked as he lets go of Lan Zhan.

"I will give you a count of five as a head start," he says. "One. Two..."

[lightamidchaos]

On 'three,' he grabs Wei Ying by the front of his shirt, pulls him into a quick kiss, then shoves him under the water.

By what would have been 'four', he is swimming toward the center of the lake with strong, fast strokes.

[acrookedpath]

"You -- !" he splutters as he claws his way back to the surface, beaming, and throws himself forward after Lan Zhan.

(When has he ever seen Lan Zhan play like this? He is so proud!)

Years in the care of Yunmeng Jiang have left him able to swim as swift and easy as running across land. Within moments, he's close enough to seize Lan Zhan by the ankle and haul him backward, ready to wrap himself around him like a barnacle.

[lightamidchaos]

(Never. The answer is never. Lan Wangji has not played like this before, that he can recall.)

He cannot say that he is surprised that Wei Ying has caught him, although he was not trying to let himself be caught. Still, as fingers close around his ankle, he stops kicking away, and instead twists around in the water to face him -- and put his arms around him.

[acrookedpath]

As soon as they're wrapped around each other, Wei Wuxian heaves them backward and underneath the water. A quick spin puts him between Lan Zhan and the surface; they float deeper, arms around each other, sunlight filtering around them in long streaks of pale yellow.

He sticks his tongue out at Lan Zhan and mouths, triumphant, I win!

[lightamidchaos]

Bubbles rise as he huffs out a hint of laughter, and his hair floats around him as he nods to Wei Ying, confirming his victory.

[acrookedpath]

He sneaks a brief kiss, sending up another tiny cascade of bubbles, and pulls Lan Zhan along as he kicks his way to the surface.

Half his hair ends up plastered to his face when they emerge. Reluctantly, he lets go of Lan Zhan so he can shove it aside, revealing another bright smile.

[lightamidchaos]

"Ridiculous."

He looks amused, all the same.

[acrookedpath]

"Admit it." He prods Lan Zhan in the shoulder. "You're having fun! You are being just as ridiculous as me and you're enjoying it."

Wei Wuxian is so smug right now.

[lightamidchaos]

Lying is forbidden, and he knows it, and he knows Wei Ying knows it, too.

"...Yes. I am having fun. With you."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian cackles in delight and throws himself at Lan Zhan, dunking them both underwater. When they surface, he's hugging Lan Zhan tight again, face pressed to his neck for the simple joy of holding him. Having fun with him.

"Maybe next I will even have you pulling pranks with me," he says.

[lightamidchaos]

"Unlikely," he says, even as he puts his arms around Wei Ying and keeps him close, treading water with him.

[acrookedpath]

"Ah, you never know, Lan Zhan." He pulls back just enough to kiss his forehead. "There is a lot you've done since arriving here that I never thought you would do. Maybe in another year or two..."

[lightamidchaos]

“We will see.”

Firmly said, but warm. He very much likes the thought of Wei Ying planning for things in a future together with him.

[acrookedpath]

That may, in fact, why Wei Wuxian said it. They have the luxury to think ahead on the order of years; they have the chance to build a little life together here, strange as it may be. He can make up for all the time he spent oblivious to Lan Zhan's feelings. If the world grows too harsh again, he can make a respite for his zhiji.

They will not be parted.

He does not want to speak of the prophecy right now, but -- never the type to remain stoic -- his smile wanes fractionally as he smooths a hand over Lan Zhan's wet hair. It is hard not to think about it when he met Ciri so recently.

[lightamidchaos]

Attuned as he is to every nuance of Wei Ying’s looks, his actions, and more, he cannot fail to miss the change in his expression.

“What is it?”

[acrookedpath]

"Ah, it is nothing," he's quick to say. He swipes the pad of his thumb over Lan Zhan's cheekbone to catch a rivulet of lake water. "Just..."

A small shrug follows, rippling the water.

"I met Ciri. We spoke, some, maybe half a shichen ago."

[lightamidchaos]

"Ah."

A chill passes through him, as though a cloud has crossed in front of the sun. His arms tighten around Wei Ying, and he leans forward to give him a quick kiss.

"Come with me to shore first, where it is warmer. And tell me about it?"