[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

[acrookedpath]

"Yours," he murmurs. The sly smile of earlier returns as he straights the collar of his own borrowed robes. "And everyone knows."

[lightamidchaos]

“Mn.”

That dark promise is back in his eyes as he studies Wei Ying.

“Yes.”

Deep satisfaction permeates the single word.

[acrookedpath]

The smile grows.

Holding the wine bottle away from them, Wei Wuxian slides his other hand up into Lan Zhan's hair to kiss him thoroughly.

[lightamidchaos]

They are in the common room of the inn, and he could not care less.

His arm tightens around Wei Ying, bringing him closer, as he kisses him back just as deeply.

[acrookedpath]

When they break apart, he's laughing, very quietly, more breath than sound.

"Upstairs?" he whispers in Lan Zhan's ear.

[lightamidchaos]

In answer, he takes the wine bottle from Wei Ying’s hand, sets it on the table, and closes his fingers around his wrist, then pulls him to his feet.

Lan Wangji takes a moment to kiss him again, in full view of the room, and then starts toward the stairs, drawing Wei Ying after him.

[acrookedpath]

He would complain more about the abandoned wine if his entire body wasn't already thrumming in anticipation. He'll just have to get more later!

Wei Wuxian lets himself be pulled along, gathering the side of his white robes in a fist to keep them clear of his feet. (Lan Zhan isn't that much taller than him, but -- just enough.) He's grinning broadly by the time they hit the top of the stairs; laughing again, just a little, as they reach their door and the talisman unlocks.

[lightamidchaos]

He pulls him gently inside and to the center of the room as the door shuts and latches behind them.

Once there, he lets go of his wrist and smooths his hands along Wei Ying’s arms, then takes a single step back and just looks at him, as though he were a piece of art, and utterly precious.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian quirks an eyebrow, holding Lan Zhan's gaze as he smirks. The fabric of his borrowed robes whispers as he spreads his arms a little, the better for Lan Zhan to take in the view.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asks.

[lightamidchaos]

"Wei Ying is beautiful," he replies, watching intently as the other man shifts and poses.

"I always enjoy. Looking."

[acrookedpath]

The smirk grows. Idly, Wei Wuxian gathers his hair and sweeps it over one shoulder, baring the side of his throat to Lan Zhan; he arches his neck ever so slightly as he moves.

"Is that all you plan to do?"

[lightamidchaos]

"No," he says, his tone mild. It does not match the look in his eyes.

"But you have a choice to make, first."

[acrookedpath]

"Oh?"

Both eyebrows rise, now, as he studies Lan Zhan with avid curiosity.

[lightamidchaos]

"Since you have misplaced your robes," he observes, "then as I said before -- your choice is between wearing anything of mine you wish, or nothing at all."

He waits, then, to see what Wei Ying will decide.

[acrookedpath]

Oh. Well, then.

Fresh heat blossoms in his cheeks and his belly. His throat shifts, visibly, as he swallows; there's a dark eagerness to the way he watches Lan Zhan now, still smiling.

"We are in private," he says, a little hoarse. Without breaking eye contact, he brushes his fingertips over the ties of his robes.

[lightamidchaos]

"Don't stop," he murmurs, as he closes the distance between them once more.

He settles one hand at the base of Wei Ying's neck, tangled in his hair, holding his head at the angle and with the arch that he had presented so teasingly before, and takes his mouth in a kiss before pressing another to the side of his throat, marking him there - and scraping lightly with his teeth over Wei Ying's pulse as he does.

[acrookedpath]

He gasps. Unbidden, he forgets the ties of his own robes and sinks his fingers into Lan Zhan's clothes, pulling him closer.

"Yes," he whispers. "Lan Zhan -- "

[lightamidchaos]

He breathes out, his breath warm against Wei Ying's skin, hand firm in his hair, then raises his head and looks him in the eye.

"You stopped."

[acrookedpath]

His eyes widen. Exhaling a small, nervous laugh, he lets go of Lan Zhan's robes and smooths them down.

Still, he can't help himself: "Can you blame me," he asks, with all the innocence he can muster despite the rasp to his words, "when you are such a distraction?"

[lightamidchaos]

"Mn. Then I shall not distract you."

He lets go of his hair and takes a step back once more.

"Show yourself to me, Wei Ying."

Both his words and the look in his eyes are dark with promise.

[acrookedpath]

The look in Lan Zhan's eyes ignites an answering fire in Wei Wuxian's blood. He would do -- a lot, really, to keep Lan Zhan looking at him like that.

Anything.

His smile has gone smaller, faintly dazed under the weight of Lan Zhan's intent focus. "Yes," he whispers. He moves his hands back to the ties of his robes, only fumbling a little as he unfastens them.

The first layer hardly makes a noise as it drops to his bare feet.

[lightamidchaos]

As he watches, he is paying close attention, alert to any indication of reluctance. He wants Wei Ying to be nothing but comfortable and happy in this new sort of play between them, and is relieved to see no sign of unease.

"Beautiful," he murmurs, his admiration clear in both expression and tone. "My Wei Ying. So beautiful. Let me see you."

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian laughs a little, a giddy release like steam escaping a pot. He slips one palm into the fold of his robes, widening what it reveals: only a slash of his black swimming shirt, at first, then the red trousers as he finishes untying the robes with his other hand to let them hang loose from his shoulders.

One sleeve at a time, he deliberately sheds the second layer to join the first.

Then, crossing his arms, he grasps his shirt at the hem to pull it over his head.

[lightamidchaos]

He draws in a sharp breath, ragged with desire, as his eyes darken further. He takes a step forward, and reaches out toward him -- but stops before he touches Wei Ying's skin, his hand held flat in the air over his chest, teasing and tempting.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian has never had the impeccable self-control of a Lan disciple. And Lan Zhan is so close. Surely, if it would only take half a step to reach his hand, just one brief touch to quiet the buzzing under his skin --

He sways forward on his feet, intent on pushing himself against Lan Zhan's palm --

and lets out a small, frustrated whine when Lan Zhan nimbly steps out of reach.

"Lan Zhan -- "