[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]

"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?"

[acrookedpath]

"Yes," he agrees. Giving Lan Zhan one more squeeze, Wei Wuxian lets go so they can swim to shore.

He arrives first and hauls himself back onto the same rock as before, nudging Lan Zhan's outer layer aside so he does not drip too much water on it. Gathering his hair, he sets to work wringing it out as he considers what to say.

[lightamidchaos]

He pulls himself out of the water beside Wei Ying, glances at him, and silently picks up the discarded jacket to drape it around Wei Ying's shoulders once more.

Having done that, he twists his own hair into a knot at the base of his neck to squeeze the water out, and waits to hear what Wei Ying has to say.

[acrookedpath]

He smiles at Lan Zhan, small and fond; this time, he does pull the jacket tighter around himself.

"You were right," he settles on at last. "I do like her. And what she said was not her fault."

[lightamidchaos]

"I am glad."

It is very, very quiet.

[acrookedpath]

He sweeps the rope of his damp hair to the front of his left shoulder. The jacket has pockets lined with soft, dense fleece; he stuffs his hands in them to warm them up, leaning his shoulder against Lan Zhan's.

"She explained how she is only a messenger. A conduit to something more powerful that uses her whenever, and however, it sees fit." His mouth twists in distaste at that. "And she showed me the copy of the prophecy you wrote down. It is so vague about 'losing me' that it could be anything, Lan Zhan. We could go to London Above and you could lose me in a crowd for five minutes, for all we know."

[lightamidchaos]

He puts his arm around Wei Ying and holds him close.

"Mn."

Wei Ying may think it vague. He does not.

You lost him. You found him. You will lose him again. Wei Ying is not yours to keep.

The threat is clear, although the source of it is not.

[acrookedpath]

"And the talk of mist and shadow -- " He huffs a rueful breath. "I have already fallen and I am already touched by Shadow. I do not think you have to worry about me too much."

He turns his head to rest his chin on Lan Zhan's shoulder, touching his forehead to the other man's temple.

"Besides. I would rather not live as if we were always looking over the horizon for an army. Especially one that might not even arrive."

[lightamidchaos]

He takes his time coming up with the words for what he needs to ask.

"Ciri offered..."

A long pause.

"Would you. Want to try to learn more? If she -- if she were to speak again?"

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian studies his face.

Quieter: "What would it involve?"

Because if it would make Lan Zhan worry less: yes. In an instant. But Lan Zhan's expression, and the care he takes with his words --

[lightamidchaos]

"She blames herself."

He cannot look at Wei Ying. He looks out across the water, instead, at the spot where Ciri fell.

"She said if I wish, she will submit to another trance. Invoke her cur-- this power. Allow questions to be asked."

[acrookedpath]

His brow knits. He follows Lan Zhan's gaze out to the center of the lake, watching the sunlight split across its waves.

"I don't know," he admits after a moment. "She has been subjected to enough already because of a power she does not even want. So little of her life has been her own. I'm not certain we should use her so."

[lightamidchaos]

My zhiji, he thinks. Of course Wei Ying understands; how could he not?

"She thinks of the power as a curse."

He says it as quietly as before.

"But she offered anyway. Insisted I consider it. I told her I would do so, but that I would not harm one innocent for the sake of another."

[acrookedpath]

He nods; quirks a slight smile.

"Neither will I," he says. "So we have considered it, as she wished, and decided the answer is no."

[lightamidchaos]

"It is the right answer, I believe."

He looks back at him, and places his other hand against Wei Ying's cheek, gently turning his head back from the water.

Slowly, deliberately, he leans in to kiss him.

"As long as I do not lose you again," he murmurs against his lips, when the kiss breaks. "I do not know how I would bear it."

"But what you have said has merit. We cannot spend every day in worry and fear. That will do neither of us any good."