Archive of Our Own ^beta

Wei Wuxian can no longer feel his legs.

Rain lashes down from the dark sky, sheets of water pummeling his body and soaking him to the bone. His sopping wet robes are no longer providing any warmth, instead forming a heavy weight plastered to his limbs. He clutches at his saddle, his fingers white and numb with cold. His legs are buckled in securely, at least, which is fortunate because they are so rubbery and exhausted that he’s not sure he could hold on otherwise. 

It’s only early evening, but it might as well be full dark for all that Wei Wuxian can see anything. He’s surrounded by gray clouds, his vision further impeded by the rain in his eyes and the wind whipping his long ponytail into his face. His hair will no doubt be a horrific mess of tangles by the time they land. A sudden flash of lightning illuminates his surroundings briefly, but there’s not much to see besides Suibian’s familiar black form cutting through the air. Far below, the sea is a roiling mass of whitecaps and heaving waves. 

Fortunately, Suibian knows where they are going. She can see better than him in the dark, too, so he trusts her to navigate. She’s tired, but flies steadily, every beat of her wings bringing them closer to their destination. Through their bond, he feels her anticipation at the prospect of finding shelter, but can also tell she hasn’t yet been pushed to her limits. With her impressive stamina, she could probably fly for another several hours if she really had to. But fortunately that won’t be necessary- he’s fairly certain that their destination is not far now.

The skies had been beautiful and blue when they’d taken flight this morning. They had just finished a patrol of the outer islands, which had been largely uneventful aside from a brief run-in with some pirates. (The pirates had taken one look at Suibian, decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and turned tail. Dragons often had that effect.) Having completed their assigned route, they were winging their way back to the capital and had been over the middle of the ocean when the storm hit. With nowhere to land, they’d had no choice but to keep flying through it until they reached the next waystation.

Suddenly Wei Wuxian feels a little rush of excitement through their bond, and knows that Suibian has spotted their destination: a small outcrop of black rock jutting out of the waves. It might be called a very small island, if one were feeling generous. At first he can’t see it himself, but as they get closer he’s able to make out the faint craggy outline of it, a darker mass against the ocean below. Inhospitable as it looks, it houses a waystation for dragon-riders; it’s one of many sprinkled up and down the coast, and should be a safe and relatively comfortable place to pass the night.

The wind buffets them fiercely as Suibian begins her descent, stretching her wingspan out to its full width as the rocky island rushes up at them out of the darkness. When she lands, it is with a bone-jarring thud that knocks Wei Wuxian’s teeth together. He can’t get himself to move at first- just sits there, still buckled into his saddle and swaying with exhaustion. Eventually Suibian growls impatiently, rousing him from his stupor. With a groan, he detaches his bag and flings it over his shoulder, then clumsily unbuckles himself with shaking hands. When the straps finally come free, he half-slides half-falls to the ground in an undignified heap. Suibian turns and noses at him in concern.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he mutters, swatting half-heartedly at the slippery scales on her blunt snout. “Go get dry.”

She rumbles at him a little in admonishment, watching as he stumbles to his feet and gets his bearings. They’ve landed on a flat patch of rock and dirt that’s been rendered into slippery mud by the downpour. Behind Suibian yawns the dark maw of a cave, just visible through the sheets of rain. They’ve stayed here before, so Wei Wuxian knows that the cave is large enough to house multiple dragons in relative comfort. To his right is the human-sized accommodation: a small, squat stone building. To Wei Wuxian’s surprise, there is light leaking through its windows. Evidently they aren’t the only ones stuck on this godforsaken rock tonight.

Suibian has noticed the signs of habitation as well. She lifts her head, sniffing the wet air, and gives a questioning trill. Immediately, she is answered by a deeper rumble emanating from the cave. She recognizes the other dragon’s call, perking up in interest. Wei Wuxian has only a moment to wonder who it is, before a hulking form emerges from the cave entrance. He sucks in a breath at the sight of the other dragon: a massive male, ghostly white with a crest of blue scales down his back. Bichen .

Bichen lows questioningly at Suibian, who responds with a friendly rumble that’s very nearly a purr. Such a flirt, Wei Wuxian thinks wearily as she arches her neck towards the other dragon, inviting him to scent her. Bichen flares his nostrils, breath steaming in the cold air. He rumbles in approval as he breathes in her scent. The two dragons are a study in contrasts: Bichen’s pale form stands out clearly against the rocky backdrop, while Suibian’s black scales blend in with the encroaching dark as night falls. Although they are both large, Bichen is easily half again her size; his shoulders alone rise to the height of a two-storey building. For a moment, Wei Wuxian watches the dragons greet each other. He can sense that Suibian is pleased to discover him here, and she happily follows him back into the depths of the cave when he moves to make space for her. 

Wei Wuxian doubts he’ll get quite such a friendly greeting from Bichen’s rider. 

But the storm is showing no signs of waning, and Wei Wuxian is starving, completely drenched, and so tired he could fall over. He turns to face the waystation and raises his fist to knock, when suddenly the door swings open and he finds himself face to face with Lan Zhan.

When Wei Wuxian first met Lan Zhan, they had both been 15 and the other boy had hated him on sight. It was their first year at the dragon-riders’ academy. Lan Zhan, either due to nepotism or his own inherent tendency to be a stalwart rule-follower, had been put in charge of discipline for the incoming students. He had caught Wei Wuxian red-handed trying to sneak in contraband alcohol, dragged him to the disciplinary office for punishment, and their relationship had only gone downhill from there. 

Which was unfortunate, because Wei Wuxian had always thought that they ought to be friends. They had plenty in common, after all: they were both orphans, both too smart for their own good, and both excellent dragon-riders. In fact, they were the top two dragon-riders in their year; no one else could match either of them in speed or dexterity. But despite Wei Wuxian’s best efforts, Lan Zhan had continually rebuffed his attempts at friendship. Since he was head of discipline, and since Wei Wuxian was continuously getting in trouble, he was often set to oversee Wei Wuxian’s punishments. Wei Wuxian had spent countless afternoons making copy after copy of the academy rules under Lan Zhan’s silent supervision, all the while attempting fruitlessly to attract his attention. 

Their relationship had thawed somewhat after Wei Wuxian bonded to Suibian at age 16. He was the only male student in their year to bond with a female dragon; although not unheard of, it was much more common for boys to bond with male dragons and girls with females. Wei Wuxian had never regretted his bond to Suibian- he couldn’t, in fact, even begin to imagine being bonded to any other dragon. But there had been a certain amount of teasing from the other boys. Lan Zhan, who had bonded with the largest and strongest of the male dragons, had never said anything derogatory about Wei Wuxian’s bond, however. In fact, he tended to silence anyone who did. 

Wei Wuxian appreciated that, although he had never really needed anyone to come to his defense. He’d quickly learned how to let the comments roll off his back. People tended to make assumptions about him because of the bond, which he delighted in proving wrong. Anyone who flew with him soon learned that he and Suibian were one of the fastest, strongest pairs. And Wei Wuxian’s relentless flirtations with all of the female students seemed to eventually quell any assumptions about his personal preferences as well.

By the time he and Lan Zhan had graduated, they’d reached something of a detente. Lan Zhan was still a stickler for the rules, and Wei Wuxian was by nature a rule-breaker. But they no longer actively fought with each other, and in fact had even gotten along relatively peaceably during a few training missions. Then they had graduated, been assigned their official duties, and over the past two years had seen each other only a handful of times. They’ve run into each other occasionally at the academy, when they both happened to have returned from a mission or patrol at the same time. And last autumn they had both been called out for a week to assist in quelling a border-skirmish. But aside from that, they’ve hardly seen each other at all. Wei Wuxian thinks they are still on somewhat decent terms these days, but he doubts that Lan Zhan will be particularly enthusiastic to see Wei Wuxian on his doorstep tonight, looking like a drowned rat.

And indeed, Lan Zhan does seem surprised when he opens the door to find Wei Wuxian poised awkwardly with his hand still raised to knock. His face, normally so impassive, appears momentarily startled as they take each other in. Lan Zhan looks like he always does- immaculate, dressed in pristine white robes, with a curtain of long black hair falling down his back. His face is still just as heart-stoppingly beautiful as Wei Wuxian remembers.

Wei Wuxian realizes he has been staring. “Surprise!” he says.

“Wei Wuxian.” Lan Zhan’s eyes skim him up and down, taking in his bedraggled appearance. “Come in.”

Wei Wuxian follows him inside gratefully, heaving a dramatic sigh of relief to finally be out of the rain. He takes a moment to look around, and sees that the way station is pretty much as he remembers it. It’s a single room with a few basic furnishings: some shelves of supplies, a low table, and two pallet beds pushed against the wall. He’s extremely grateful to see that Lan Zhan has already got a roaring fire going in the fireplace, making the small space pleasantly warm despite the storm outside. 

He turns his attention back to Lan Zhan, who is observing him silently. “Sorry to barge in on you! I bet you weren’t expecting to have company tonight, huh?” he asks cheerfully. His teeth are chattering.

“No. I was unaware you were in the area.”

“Yep, on my way back from the outer islands. You?”

“Stationed for a month up north.”

Wei Wuxian grimaces. “Augh, I hate that route. So cold! Speaking of which, I should probably-” he interrupts himself with a sudden sneeze.

Lan Wangji frowns ever so slightly. “You should dry off.”

Wei Wuxian looks down at where his water-logged robes are dripping all over the floor, forming quite the puddle. He’s still shivering rather violently as well, despite the warmth of the room. When he drops his bag, it hits the floor with a wet squelch.

“Ah, yes. That’s a great idea. Except- hmm, I think all my stuff is pretty much soaked through.” He bends and starts rifling through his bag for anything that might be wearable, but as expected all of his spare clothes are nearly as drenched as the ones he’s wearing. “Oh well, I’ll just take some of this off at least…” He begins absentmindedly stripping out of his wet layers- first his cloak, then his outer robe. He’s beginning to fumble with the ties to his inner robe, thinking that sitting by the fire bare-chested will be better than leaving them on, when he’s interrupted.

“Wei Wuxian.” He glances up to see Lan Zhan looking a bit alarmed, perhaps worried that he’s about to just strip naked in the middle of the room. “You can borrow my spare robes.”

“Oh! Are you sure?” 

“Mn.”

“Well… ok, thanks! That would be really great.”

He watches, still shivering, as Lan Zhan pulls a spare set of robes out of his own travel bag and lays them out neatly on one of the beds. He then pointedly turns away, gaze trained on the opposite side of the room while Wei Wuxian gets dressed. The unnecessarily chivalrous gesture is rather funny, but Wei Wuxian shows uncharacteristic restraint by not teasing Lan Zhan about it. He is grateful for the spare clothing, after all.

The robes are a little large on him, and his stiff and shaking fingers are awkward with the unfamiliar ties. But it does feel incredibly good to be in something dry again. In the back of his mind, he’s aware of Suibian’s similar contentment to be out of the rain. She’s making herself comfortable on the soft sand of the cave floor, enjoying the chance to rest and eyeing Bichen with interest. His scent permeates the cave, and she basks in the comforting pheromones.

When he’s finally dressed, he presents himself to Lan Zhan with a flourish. 

“Ta-da! How do I look?”

Lan Zhan turns around, sweeping a cool glance over his body. His eyes linger, for a moment, on the strip of skin that’s revealed where the slightly too-large robe hangs off of Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. “Warmer,” he pronounces.

“I sure am! And thanks again, they’re pretty comfy.” Wei Wuxian heaves a deep sigh of satisfaction, breathing in the pleasing scent of sandalwood. “Mmm, smell good too,” he adds, unthinking.

Lan Zhan’s face does something strange, and Wei Wuxian realizes what he’s just said. “Um! Sorry, sorry, I think that was a little bit of bleed-through from Suibian. She likes the way Bichen smells, haha. Not that you don’t smell good too! You smell great! I just- you know how it is, we’ve been on patrol for a month and I’m so used to having her thoughts in my head…” Wow, five minutes in and he’s already made this awkward.

“I prepared food earlier. You should eat,” Lan Zhan says, politely ignoring his rambling.

Wei Wuxian’s stomach chooses that moment to growl loudly. “That… sounds really great. Thank you.”

He slumps at the table in exhaustion, watching blearily as Lan Zhan fills a bowl with some soup that’s been simmering by the fire. He didn’t realize Lan Zhan could cook, but then again it’s a pretty useful skill to have in their line of work, considering how much time they spend traveling. It’s a plain vegetable soup, but Lan Zhan fetches a box of dried fish from the supplies on the shelves to add to it. He places the steaming bowl in front of Wei Wuxian, frowning slightly at it. 

It looks pretty bland, but Wei Wuxian’s not in any position to complain right now. “Thanks!” he says, preparing to start wolfing it down. 

“Wait.”

Wei Wuxian looks quizzically at Lan Zhan, who turns back to the shelves and rummages around for a minute, opening various boxes and jars. Wei Wuxian waits as instructed, watching in bemusement. Finally Lan Zhan finds what he’s looking for, and returns to the table with a jar of ground chilis in hand. He sets the jar next to Wei Wuxian, then sits down across from him. 

Wei Wuxian laughs, picking up the jar. “Wow, I didn’t realize this place was so well stocked! You remembered how much I like spice?” he asks, a little surprised by the thoughtful gesture.

“Mn.” Lan Zhan watches somewhat warily as Wei Wuxian dumps the contents of the jar into his soup and begins eating with gusto.

“Hey, this is pretty good! Especially with the chilis added. Do you want some?”

“No, thank you. I already ate.” 

For a minute they are both silent as Wei Wuxian shovels food into his mouth. As he does, he becomes aware of Suibian’s hunger as well and winces. They’re not far from shore, but she’s too tired to hunt right now and the storm would make it difficult anyhow. The waystations are usually stocked with some uninspiring but palatable foodstuffs for their human guests, but of course there aren’t any provisions for their dragons. Dragons don’t need to feed quite as often as humans, but nonetheless Wei Wuxian can feel Suibian’s displeasure that she’ll have to wait until morning to eat. He sends her an apologetic thought, and senses her appreciation in return. Then, suddenly, he feels a sense of surprise from her. Wei Wuxian, curious, opens himself up more to their bond. Through their shared senses he smells fresh meat, and sees Bichen returning from a corner of the cave with the carcass of a deer. He must have caught it earlier and hadn’t begun eating it yet. He gently lays it down in front of Suibian, waiting to see how she’ll react.

Wei Wuxian’s breath catches a little in surprise. Dragons, as a rule, do not share their kills with one another. Exceptions are typically only made for offspring… and mates. Suibian rumbles in satisfaction, then lets out a brief jet of flame, thoroughly roasting the meat before diving into the meal. For a moment, Wei Wuxian shares her visceral pleasure as she tears into the soft hot flesh, before he disentangles himself from her thoughts and turns his attention back to his own meal.

Lan Zhan is looking at him questioningly. “Seems like you’re not the only one who wants to feed us,” Wei Wuxian comments, unable to keep the teasing lilt out of his voice.

Lan Zhan’s face goes blank as he clearly takes a moment to consult with his own dragon bond, then his eyes widen a fraction and his ears turn the slightest shade of pink. “I see. We arrived before the storm hit, so Bichen had time to hunt earlier.”

“And now he feels like sharing, huh? I guess he must like her.” 

“Mn.” The tips of Lan Zhan’s ears are very definitely red now, and it’s distractingly cute. Wei Wuxian actually feels a bit embarrassed as well, which is rare for him. He’s pretty used to Suibian’s occasional dalliances with male dragons, but she’s never shown that kind of interest in Bichen before. But then again, their dragons haven’t spent much time alone together since reaching maturity. It suddenly strikes Wei Wuxian just how alone the four of them really are right now. Maybe that’s why the whole thing feels so… weird. But he does his best to ignore whatever tension is developing between the dragons, hoping that Suibian is too tired to actually do anything about it tonight. He decides to change the subject.

“So, it’s been what- six months since the last time we ran into each other? Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

Lan Zhan, seeming grateful to drop the topic of their dragons’ flirtations, begins to recount some of his latest doings. He’s never been much of a conversationalist, and especially in their youth had a habit of answering Wei Wuxian’s endless questions and conversational gambits with quelling single-word responses. But tonight, for whatever reason, Wei Wuxian finds that the conversation flows pretty easily between them once they get over the initial awkwardness. Maybe it’s that they’re both a little older and more mature, or maybe it’s that their dragons are getting along so well. Throughout their conversation, Wei Wuxian maintains his awareness of Suibian at the back of his mind as the dragons get similarly reacquainted. 

It seems that Lan Zhan’s route up north had indeed been cold, and he had also had to help fight off a neighboring warlord with aspirations towards territory expansion. Wei Wuxian, in turn, recounts some stories from his latest travels. When it becomes apparent that they are both currently destined for the capital, Wei Wuxian perks up. “That’s great, we can fly together! It’ll be just like old times.”

He wonders suddenly if Lan Zhan might prefer to travel alone, but to his surprise Lan Zhan just says, “I would like that.” 

It will be a three-day trip from their current location, and Wei Wuxian smiles at the thought of getting to spend so much time together. “Maybe we could even race part of the way.” He raises an eyebrow. “Think you can still keep up with us?”

Lan Zhan meets his eyes, a hint of heat in his gaze. “I am confident we can.”

For some reason, Wei Wuxian feels a shiver go through his body at the look on Lan Zhan’s face. He’s feeling much better now- he’s warm, his belly is full, and he actually doesn’t feel nearly as tired as he ought to. Instead he feels increasingly… anticipatory. It takes him a minute to figure out why, and when he does there’s a nervous swooping sensation in his stomach, like when he and Suibian take a sudden plunge out of the sky. Their dragons are… cuddling. Suibian has finished eating, and moved to curl up against Bichen. They’re continuing to scent each other; Bichen is currently nuzzling her neck with his snout. A quick check of Suibian’s feelings is all the confirmation Wei Wuxian needs to know what’s about to happen.

“Um, so just as a heads up,” he says, aiming for casual and probably missing it by about a mile. “The dragons are getting pretty- ah, pretty cozy.”

Lan Zhan, who has been cleaning up the dishes and putting them away, pauses to consult with his own bond, then freezes. He’s a hard person to read, but Wei Wuxian is fairly certain that he looks alarmed, for a split second perhaps even panicked. 

“I guess it’s not so surprising, considering that he offered her food earlier,” Wei Wuxian says. “I thought she might be too tired to. Um. But I guess not.” He laughs weakly. 

“You…may want to suppress your bond for the rest of the evening,” Lan Zhan says, now staring resolutely at the floor. “Bichen is…”

“Interested in mating with her?” Wei Wuxian responds bluntly. “Yeah, I can tell.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji’s ears are red again.

“Um…tuning her out is going to be difficult though.”

Now Lan Zhan meets his eyes. “Ah. Yes, I recall your bond is very strong. How difficult?” 

Wei Wuxian winces. “Well… it’ll be pretty much impossible, actually,” he admits.

The problem is that Wei Wuxian has never been very adept at controlling his bond with Suibian. Most dragon-riders are able to modulate their bond to some extent, choosing to what degree they wish to share thoughts and sensations with their dragon. Wei Wuxian knows that Lan Zhan’s family, in particular, encourages a strict control of the bond at all times. Wei Wuxian, however, has always had difficulty with that. Most of the time, he appreciates how easy it is to share thoughts with Suibian. It makes them a formidable team, able to communicate precisely and instantly with each other, as easy as breathing. But unlike most riders, it’s always been very difficult for Wei Wuxian to separate their consciousness: he’s always aware of her thoughts at the back of his mind. He doesn’t mind it, most of the time. He never really feels lonely, and her thoughts are steady and simple in a way that his own often are not- he feels grounded by her. But, her thoughts and experiences become increasingly difficult for him to tune out the more intense and instinctual they are. When she hunts, for example, he always shares in her excitement, the rush of satisfaction she feels when she catches her prey. 

And then there is sex. Dragons, like humans, enjoy sex recreationally. Suibian has not yet experienced a partnered heat or a mating flight that would lead to conception, but she’s had a number of very enjoyable encounters with males of her species. And every time, Wei Wuxian experiences it along with her. Up until now, it has thankfully only occurred in situations where he was able to find a private place to hunker down and…ride it out, as it were. All of the dragons she’s mated with have been bonded to men, so Wei Wuxian’s usual move is to make himself scarce as soon as it’s clear what is happening. Any following encounters with that dragon’s rider are often a bit awkward initially- most of the time, they are unused to their dragon’s mates having a male rider. Wei Wuxian, for his part, has become practiced at giving them space or laughing about the situation, depending on the individual. He is careful to never let on exactly how much he experiences through his bond.

Wei Wuxian himself has only ever had sex with women, and only a handful. It’s been fun, but has never led to anything serious- it would be difficult for him to have a relationship, considering how much he travels. He’s also never had sex with another person simultaneous to Suibian’s mating. He knows that many dragon riders do so- that it is supposedly a uniquely powerful experience, but there’s never been an opportunity for him to try it. 

There had been one time when Suibian mated with a dragon whose rider, a friendly and unassuming man named Cao Bin, had propositioned Wei Wuxian. Once their dragons’ intentions became clear, Cao Bin had mentioned that he himself was interested in both men and women, and then asked whether Wei Wuxian wanted to spend the night with him. Wei Wuxian had actually considered it. He’s never been quite clear on whether he’s attracted to men or not, mostly because it’s been difficult for him to separate his own desires from Suibian’s. Plus, he’s always been frustrated by the expectation from some people that since he bonded to a female dragon that must mean he likes men. In the end, he had felt too nervous and weird about the whole thing, and turned Cao Bin down. It was probably for the best- it can be pretty intense when Suibian mates, and he’s not sure how he’d feel about sharing that with someone else.

Except that tonight, it looks like he may have to, at least to some extent. There’s certainly nowhere here he can go for privacy- it’s not like he’s going to go stand outside in the rain until Suibian and Bichen are done fucking. Maybe he and Lan Zhan can just go to bed and pretend like nothing is happening? That might work fine for Lan Zhan, who of course has impeccable control over his bond and is probably capable of mostly ignoring Bichen’s activities, but it will be next to impossible for Wei Wuxian. 

He wonders suddenly whether Lan Zhan has ever slept with anyone during one of Bichen’s matings. It’s certainly possible- Bichen is surely not celibate, after all. He is briefly struck by the image of Lan Zhan naked and entangled with some beautiful young woman while their dragons do the same nearby, and feels an embarrassing thrum of desire. He’s not sure at this point whether it comes from Suibian or himself.

Lan Zhan, for his part, still has a look of alarm on his face. He’s presumably distressed to hear that Wei Wuxian is still unable to significantly dampen his bond.

“Don’t worry!” Wei Wuxian hastens to add, trying to reassure him. “You should just get some rest, I’ll be fine. This just happens sometimes, right? I’ve pretty much gotten used to it at this point. You don’t have to… ahh .” His garbled rambling is cut off by a sudden inhale. Bichen has just gently bit down on Suibian’s neck.

Lan Zhan’s eyes widen just a fraction more.

“Aha. Wow, Bichen is really not wasting any time, huh?” Wei Wuxian asks.

“No. He is…eager,” Lan Zhan responds tightly, looking away.

“Yep. Yes, so is she. Very eager. Um…” Wei Wuxian cuts off again, taking another deep breath. It’s getting increasingly hard to think, Suibian’s thoughts intruding further into his own. Bichen is rubbing his mouth up and down the length of her neck, eliciting a deep purr from her as she arches against him. Wei Wuxian shudders and closes his eyes, unable to stop her growing lust from seeping into his mind. 

“We should really go to bed now, I think.” He stands abruptly, crosses the room on somewhat shaky legs, and sits on the edge of one of the low beds. Then he realizes what he’s just said. “I mean! Not like- go to bed together! I mean you should try to get some sleep. I’ll just-”

Lan Zhan, still looking deeply unsettled, stands. Rather than retiring to the other bed, however, he approaches Wei Wuxian.

“Wei Ying. Will you be alright?” His voice is hesitant, surprisingly gentle. It is not lost on Wei Wuxian that he uses his birth name, and he feels a warmth in his gut at the sound of it on Lan Zhan’s lips.

Wei Wuxian’s breath is coming faster now. The dragons are nipping gently at each other, breathing deeply of each other’s scents: the dragon equivalent of making out, he thinks woozily. All of Suibian’s thoughts are focused on her desire to be mounted. Wei Wuxian looks up at Lan Zhan, at his beautiful concerned face, and suppresses a whimper.

“Yep. I’ll be fine. Just fine. A-ok. I’ll- nrgh .” Bichen abruptly pushes Suibian down, levering his body over top of hers. Wei Wuxian grips his knees and tries to remember to breathe. Then he makes the mistake of looking up, and so unfortunately he is making eye contact with Lan Zhan at the exact moment that Bichen enters Suibian.

The problem is, being telepathically bonded to a dragon who is having sex feels very much like having sex oneself. When Bichen enters her, Wei Wuxian feels it. He can’t quite swallow down the moan he lets out. 

“Sorry, sorry, fuck , sorry,” Wei Wuxian pants.

Lan Zhan sucks in a breath. “I- you- they are…?”

Wei Wuxian nods, squeezing his eyes shut. “Mhm. They definitely are,” he chokes out.

He feels a dip on the bed, and opens his eyes in alarm to see Lan Zhan sitting next to him on it. The look on his face would be difficult to interpret even if Wei Wuxian had all of his faculties, which he currently does not. Lan Zhan’s eyes are wide, his mouth open slightly. Wei Wuxian finds himself fixating on the pink curve of his lips before he tears his gaze away.

“Lan Zhan, this is the point where you should probably move away unless you want this to get super awkward,” he grits out.

Lan Zhan does not move away. Instead, still with that indecipherable look on his face, he reaches out and takes Wei Wuxian’s hand in his. Wei Wuxian gasps. It shouldn’t feel like a terribly intimate gesture, it’s just a hand after all, but the touch of Lan Zhan’s skin feels like a brand. Wei Wuxian’s hand spasms in his grip, then clenches tightly. His breath is coming even faster now; he’s practically panting as waves of pleasure begin to wash through him. He feels Suibian’s elation at every thrust of Bichen inside her, the heavy press of his body, the scrape of his scales against her back.

He holds onto Lan Zhan’s hand like an anchor.

Wei Wuxian is hard, desperately so. He wants so badly to have another body up against his. It hasn’t been so bad going through this alone in the past; it feels good after all, and he’s never shied away from touching and enjoying himself. But this time Lan Zhan is right here, looking very beautiful and very tempting and upsettingly composed for how much Wei Wuxian is falling apart next to him. It’s very confusing, in fact- Wei Wuxian’s brain is getting all mixed up, his thoughts a jumble with Suibian’s. Lan Wangji is just sitting there, holding his hand. But it feels like… it feels almost like he’s fucking him. Bichen is thrusting hard now, holding Suibian down, pleasure coursing through her like fire. Lan Zhan’s eyes on him are dark, stormy like the clouds outside.

Wei Wuxian can hardly think anymore as the intensity of feeling continues to mount- he sways helplessly towards Lan Zhan as if drawn by a magnet. Lan Zhan, wide-eyed, lifts his free hand and lays it gently, tentatively, on his shoulder. Wei Wuxian’s response is immediate: he moans, long and low, then buries his face in Lan Zhan’s neck.

He feels Lan Zhan’s body stiffen against his; the hand on his shoulder tightens. He inhales deeply, breathing in Lan Zhan’s scent as Suibian is breathing in Bichen’s. He’s so so hard but he refuses to touch himself, remaining at least self-aware enough to not give in to that final indignity. But he can’t seem to stop himself from pressing closer and closer to Lan Zhan, gasping against the skin of his neck and clutching at his waist. When Suibian suddenly reaches climax, the wave of pleasure is so intense that he’s helpless against it- can only give into the inevitable rush of his own orgasm, even though he’s been untouched this whole time. He comes hard, practically sitting in Lan Zhan’s lap, hand now fisted in his hair, mouth open on his neck.

For one blessed moment, afterwards, Wei Wuxian floats in his and Suibian’s mutual afterglow. Then Bichen pulls out of her, and reality comes crashing back in.

He looks up at Lan Zhan in horror. “Sorry, oh gods, I’m so sorry. Just- so, so sorry,” he begins to stammer.

Lan Zhan is not a very expressive person, but Wei Wuxian knows him well enough to tell that he looks, currently, a bit stunned. “There’s no need to apologize.”

Wei Wuxian laughs, a nervous bark, too loud in the quiet room. “I just climbed into your lap and came in my pants. Actually, fuck- I came in your pants,” he says, remembering that he’s wearing Lan Zhan’s spare clothing. He closes his eyes in mortification. Even he isn’t thick-faced enough for this. “I definitely owe you an apology.”

Lan Zhan’s response, however, is firm. “You do not. Your reaction is understandable, given the strength of your bond. In fact, since Bichen initiated this, I should apologize to you.”

“What? No no no. I’m the one who can’t control my bond properly.” He pulls back from Lan Zhan just a little. “Not like you. Wow. You’re so- did you feel any of that? You look totally-” He still looks so put together, unlike Wei Wuxian who is still shaking a little and is having difficulty stringing together a full sentence.

Lan Zhan’s mouth tightens minutely. “Yes, I could feel- some of it. I’m not completely unaffected.”

Wei Wuxian gives him a skeptical look. In response, Lan Zhan takes Wei Wuxian’s hand and moves it to his chest, settling it over Lan Zhan’s heart. Which, Wei Wuxian realizes, is beating fast- very fast , actually, like he’s been running. 

“Oh,” Wei Wuxian says dumbly. 

“Mn.”

For a moment, they just sit there looking at each other as Wei Wuxian’s breathing slows, his hand still on Lan Zhan’s chest. Despite having just come, his arousal isn’t really fading much- it’s just taken the edge off slightly. He knows, from experience, that this is because Suibian is only momentarily sated. Dragons typically mate multiple times in a given session, so they’re probably in for a long night. They’ll most likely repeat this several more times, dragging Wei Wuxian into ecstasy along with them over and over again. 

He shifts awkwardly against Lan Wangji. “So, um, you’ve been really cool about this and I uh- I really appreciate that! But you can- you can try to get some rest now, you don’t have to keep me company while they- um.” 

The dragons have resumed scenting each other, the fog of pheromones beginning to cloud Wei Wuxian’s senses once more.

“Wei Ying. Bichen will not tire for some time. You…”Lan Zhan pauses, uncharacteristically fumbling his words. “You do not have to be alone in this.”

Wei Wuxian blinks in astonishment. Is Lan Zhan… offering to fuck him? “Ah, you really don’t have to- I mean, don’t feel obligated.” He can feel Suibian’s excitement beginning to ramp back up. 

“I do not feel obligated,” Lan Wangji responds. His arms tighten around Wei Wuxian, gently drawing him back into his lap. This close, Wei Wuxian can feel that Lan Zhan’s breathing has picked up as well, and- oh , he’s hard too. He can feel it suddenly- the full length of Lan Zhan’s cock pressed up against his thigh. Wei Wuxian freezes, caught somewhere between embarrassment and desire. He’s never felt another man’s cock before and isn’t sure what to do next, feels strangely unmoored.

“Unless, you do not want me to?” Lan Zhan asks, clearly reading his hesitance from his body language. 

He begins to pull back, but Wei Wuxian grabs him tightly. “No!” He’s surprised by the loudness of it, by the sudden force of his desire. “No, I- I want- I do. I want .” He finds that he does. He really does. It is very suddenly all he can think about: how much he wants to hold onto Lan Zhan, to share this with him, to see him come apart.

Lan Zhan casts a searching glance over his face. He must be satisfied by what he sees there, because he says, “Alright then,” and closes his eyes. For a second Wei Wuxian wonders what he’s doing, but then he realizes: he’s opening up to the full force of his bond with Bichen. Wei Wuxian watches in fascination as Lan Zhan intentionally sinks down into it, melding his mind with that of his dragon. His nostrils flare. He sucks in a deep breath. When he opens his eyes, there’s a look of pure hunger in them- and all of it is focused on Wei Wuxian. For a moment, they just stare at each other. Wei Wuxian has just enough time to think- this is it, this is really happening , and then Lan Zhan is kissing him. 

The previous times that Wei Wuxian has had sex, it’s usually started out pretty slow and gentle, as he and his partner get to know each other. This kiss, however, is neither of those things. Their mouths meet in a fierce clash as Lan Zhan grips Wei Wuxian’s thighs and hauls him forward to sit fully in his lap. He presses Wei Wuxian’s mouth open with his tongue, and Wei Wuxian moans around the intrusion, clutching Lan Zhan’s shoulders and pressing their bodies together as hard as he can.

It’s different from kissing a woman. Wei Wuxian is very aware of the breadth of Lan Zhan’s shoulders, the size of his hands where he’s gripping Wei Wuxian’s hips. Lan Zhan kisses with determined intent; all Wei Wuxian can do is sink into it, allowing Lan Zhan to set the pace. He’s still closely linked with Suibian, who rumbles in approval as Wei Wuxian’s sensory experiences now come to the forefront of their bond.

Eventually Lan Zhan breaks the kiss, moving his mouth to leave a meandering trail of bites and kisses down Wei Wuxian’s neck. Wei Wuxian, panting and trembling, is reminded of Bichen biting down the length of Suibian’s neck earlier. He whines, not sure if he wants to pull away from the pain or lean into it. Then Lan Zhan pulls the loose fabric of his robe to the side, and sinks his teeth into the meat of Wei Wuxian’s shoulder at the same moment that Bichen bites down on Suibian’s. Wei Wuxian and Suibian keen simultaneously, intermingled pleasure and pain shaking through them.

Wei Wuxian is already hard again, which is unsurprising considering his refractory time is always extremely short when Suibian is involved, her libido pulling him along in her wake. He realizes he’s grinding his hips down against Lan Zhan, mindlessly seaking friction. The pressure on his clothed cock feels good, but he wants more contact. Lan Zhan must have the same idea, because he begins expertly divesting Wei Wuxian of his robes with efficient movements. Soon the inner and outer robes lie pooled on the floor, and Wei Wuxian is left only in his pants. Lan Zhan fists one hand in Wei Wuxian’s already very messy hair and pulls him in for another bruising kiss. His other hand traces down Wei Wuxian’s side, then palms the curve of his ass.

Wei Wuxian moans into the kiss and gasps when Lan Zhan nips at the corner of his mouth. He pulls away long enough to mumble, “You two sure do like biting, don’t you?”

Lan Zhan responds by nipping at the angle of his jaw. Wei Wuxian whines in protest, but feels himself, impossibly, getting even harder.

“Ah! Have mercy, Lan Zhan, I’m going to look like I was mauled by a dragon.”

Lan Zhan sits back, eyeing the trail of blooming bruises on Wei Wuxian’s skin with a critical eye. “Good,” he says.

Wei Wuxian squawks indignantly, but the next thing he knows he’s being lifted and flipped onto his back on the bed. He gapes up at Lan Zhan from his new vantage point, wondering vaguely why being manhandled like that is so incredibly hot. He feels a little out of control now, and fears he looks it too: his chest is flushed and sweaty, his hair a bedraggled mess. But Lan Zhan doesn’t seem to be put off by it. He grips the waistband of Wei Wuxian’s pants, then looks at him with slightly raised eyebrows. It takes Wei Wuxian’s lust-addled brain a moment to realize that Lan Zhan is asking for permission. 

“Oh! Yeah, yes, please,” he says.

At his response, Lan Zhan wastes no time in pulling the pants off, leaving Wei Wuxian fully naked on the bed. Lan Zhan sits back on his heels, gaze roaming boldly over Wei Wuxian’s body in open hunger. 

“Enjoying the view?” Wei Wuxian asks.

“Mn.”

“Well, I’m not.” Wei Wuxian pouts. “You still have all of your clothing on, that’s hardly fair!”

The corner of Lan Zhan’s mouth twitches, perhaps in amusement, but he thankfully stands up and begins stripping. His movements are enviably coordinated, and he doesn’t take his eyes off of Wei Wuxian the entire time. A part of Wei Wuxian wishes that he would slow down, so he could fully catalog the wealth of skin on display: the curve of Lan Zhan’s biceps, the wide expanse of his chest, the ridge of muscle at the juncture between hip and thigh. When Lan Zhan removes his pants, Wei Wuxian’s mouth goes dry.

“Wow, that’s- uh. I guess that’s something else you and Bichen have in common, huh?” he asks.

Lan Zhan raises an eyebrow.

“I mean I could feel earlier from Suibian- that Bichen is, haha, pretty large.”

Lan Zhan’s eyes darken. “How did it feel?”

Wei Wuxian gulps, squirms a little under the intensity of his stare. “It felt really good,” he confesses. “She felt… full. We- we liked it.” Wei Wuxian feels oddly vulnerable, but covers the feeling with bravado. “Now, are you going to touch me or what?”

“Impatient.” 

Before Wei Wuxian can respond, however, Lan Zhan grabs him by the ankle and hauls him to the foot of the bed. Then without further preamble he sinks gracefully down to his knees between Wei Wuxian’s spread legs and puts his mouth on Wei Wuxian’s cock. Wei Wuxian gasps in shock, unable to stop himself from thrusting up into the sudden enveloping heat. “Oh gods, oh fuck , that’s- nnnngh ,” he cries incoherently.

 Lan Zhan responds by pressing his forearm down across Wei Wuxian’s hips, effectively pinning him to the bed. The other hand fists the base of Wei Wuxian’s cock, and then Lan Zhan begins to suck in earnest, setting a punishing rhythm. Wei Wuxian moans, hips tensing as the weight of Lan Zhan’s arm prevents him from moving. Lan Zhan is good at this, he thinks dazedly, really good. Wei Wuxian props himself up onto his elbows so he can get a better look, overwhelmed at the sight of his cock disappearing between Lan Zhan’s open lips. Lan Zhan bobs his head in a practiced rhythm, his long black hair shining in the firelight. He meets Wei Wuxian’s gaze for a moment, then his eyes flutter closed as if in satisfaction. Back in the cave, the dragons are still just scenting each other, Suibian basking in Wei Wuxian’s pleasure. She’s eager to be mounted again though, and with that thought Wei Wuxian realizes abruptly that he’s very close to coming. 

He grabs Lan Zhan’s hair. “I’m- ah! I’m going to-”

Lan Zhan pulls off and looks up at him. “Already?”

Wei Wuxian huffs indignantly. “Yes, already. Fuck, you’re really good at that. Why did you stop?”

The tilt of Lan Zhan’s mouth is perhaps ever so slightly smug. It’s an infuriatingly hot look on him. “Because you were about to come. Don’t you want us to fuck you?”

Wei Wuxian swallows nervously. Up until this moment, he hadn’t actually been sure if he wanted that or not- he had thought that perhaps they would just exchange pleasure with their hands and mouths. He has no idea how to go about fucking a man, but it seems that Lan Zhan does. He’s clearly been with men before, if the blowjob is any indication. Once again, Wei Wuxian wonders who Lan Zhan might have done this with in the past. He feels a sudden stabbing jealousy, but shoves it down and focuses on the question he was just asked.

When he does, he realizes immediately that he does want Lan Zhan to fuck him. Gods help him, he wants to find out how it feels to take that intimidatingly large cock inside of him. He’s not sure how much of it is because Suibian desperately wants to be fucked again, but at this point he’s not sure whether it matters. Or whether there is even really a difference between her desire and his own anymore. It’s not lost on him that Lan Zhan had said “us” just now, rather than “me”- a clear sign that his thoughts are equally entwined with Bichen’s.

Wei Wuxian takes a deep breath, tries to pull himself together. “Right, yeah. I- I do want that,” he manages.

Lan Zhan nods, then stands up and moves away from the bed.

“Hey wait, where are you going?” Wei Wuxian complains.

But in the next moment Lan Zhan returns with a small jar, retrieved from his travel bag. “Oil,” he explains. 

“Oh, right. Oil for- right, of course.” Gods , Wei Wuxian thinks, could I possibly sound any more clueless?

Lan Zhan doesn’t seem to notice, though. He drops back onto the bed, then rolls himself on top of Wei Wuxian, pressing him back down with a forceful kiss. Wei Wuxian bucks up against him, relishing the sudden full-body contact. There’s a strange salty taste on Lan Zhan’s tongue that Wei Wuxian realizes must be his own precome. Feeling suddenly curious, he reaches down and wraps his fist around Lan Zhan’s cock. He can’t help but feel pleased when Lan Zhan groans and thrusts into his grip a little. Lan Zhan is, indeed, very large- a satisfying weight in Wei Wuxian’s hand. He’s never touched another man in this way before, but he knows what he himself likes; using that knowledge to guide him, he gives Lan Zhan a few firm strokes. Lan Zhan groans again, deepening their kiss.

While this is happening, Suibian has begun nipping impatiently at Bichen, urging him to mate her again. When he finally responds by pushing her down with some force, Wei Wuxian shares in her elation and anticipation. At the same moment, Lan Zhan suddenly breaks off their kiss and flips Wei Wuxian over onto his stomach. He presses his body down against Wei Wuxian’s back, a mirror of the position their dragons are in. His cock brushes against the cleft of Wei Wuxian’s ass, and Wei Wuxian can’t seem to help the little whimper he makes at the sensation. He ought to be nervous, and maybe a part of him is, but Suibian’s eagerness is so overpowering that it drowns out almost anything else. Dragons aren’t usually big on foreplay, and Suibian is clearly expecting Bichen to enter her right away. But to her surprise, and some annoyance, he just clamps his jaws down firmly around her neck and holds her in place, making no move to mate her yet. She wriggles in frustration, but he just tightens his jaw further and stays still, as though he’s waiting for something.

Lan Zhan takes a hold of Wei Wuxian’s hips, guiding them up so that he’s on his knees. Wei Wuxian, face down in the bedding, is unable to really see what Lan Zhan is doing. He’s tense with anticipation and Suibian’s impatience, and startles with a jerk when he feels the first press of slick fingers at his opening. The sensation is strange- it’s novel, but not in a bad way. None of the women he’s been with have ever touched him here. 

Lan Zhan doesn’t waste any time- after just a moment of circling his rim, he sinks one finger in. Wei Wuxian grunts at the foreign intrusion, feels his body clench instinctively and wills it to relax instead. Lan Zhan pushes the finger in farther, then pulls it back in a slow drag. The oil helps to ease the sting of it, and the stretch only burns a little. The dragons are holding still, waiting. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes and breathes into the novel sensation. When Lan Zhan adds a second finger, Wei Wuxian and Suibian both squirm. It’s both too much and not nearly enough at the same time. Lan Zhan spreads his fingers, stretching him open, and Wei Wuxian groans.

“Can you- ah! I need-” Wei Wuxian trips over his words, unsure of what he’s even asking for. He just knows that he needs something.

Lan Zhan hums in response, then pushes his fingers in deeper and hooks them, pressing against a place that suddenly sends sparks of pleasure zinging through Wei Wuxian’s body.

He cries out, and Suibian growls. “Oh wow, oh fuck, do that again, do that-”

Lan Zhan complies, his fingers stroking over that spot again and again. Wei Wuxian keens, gasps, and bucks backwards, chasing the ripples of pleasure that spread out from that point. As Lan Zhan fingers him open, Suibian becomes increasingly impatient. She snaps her teeth in frustration, writhing in Bichen’s implacable grip. As good as Lan Zhan’s fingers feel, Wei Wuxian soon finds himself feeling equally impatient.

“I’m ready, I’m ready,” he pants.

Lan Zhan makes a doubtful noise and spreads his fingers further.

“Please,” Wei Wuxian moans, heedless of his dignity, “we’re ready, please, just fuck us already.”

Lan Zhan removes his fingers then. Wei Wuxian turns to look behind him, and is greeted by the sight of Lan Zhan spreading oil over his cock. Lan Zhan looks as disheveled as he’s ever seen him, which is to say, not very: hair slightly mussed, eyes wide and hungry, and a light dusting of pink over his cheeks. Wei Wuxian is certain that he himself must look an absolute mess in comparison, but he doesn’t have long to dwell on that before Lan Zhan grips him by the waist and brings their hips together. Then, in the space between one breath and the next, he pushes in.

Lan Zhan and Bichen enter them simultaneously in one slow, smooth stroke. Wei Wuxian, utterly overpowered by the doubled sensation, pitches forward onto his elbows and closes his eyes. His mouth hangs open, but he’s too overwhelmed to even make much noise. Lan Zhan’s cock is much, much larger than his two fingers were, and the stretch feels nearly unbearable for a moment. It hurts, it hurts …but in a way, it also doesn’t. Suibian is nearly incandescent with pleasure and satisfaction at finally being fucked, practically forcing Wei Wuxian to relax into it as well. 

Then Lan Zhan and Bichen begin to move, and the pain is soon replaced in a wash of shared pleasure between him and Suibian. Lan Zhan’s first thrusts start out slow, but they don’t stay that way for long. Bichen, who evidently had been waiting patiently for their humans to catch up, sets a brutal pace that soon has Suibian melting with pleasure. Lan Zhan matches him stroke for stroke, setting Wei Wuxian’s nerves on fire with every pass over that sensitive spot deep inside of him. He grips Wei Wuxian’s hip with one hand, pressing his upper body down onto the bed with the other. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes, completely overwhelmed with sensation. He feels Lan Zhan in him; he feels Bichen in her; it’s all a muddle of pleasure so intense that all he can do is hold on and let it happen. He’s vaguely aware that he’s making some truly wanton noises, but can’t even begin to be embarrassed about it. His face is pressed down into the bedding; he thinks he might be crying.

He’s not sure how long it lasts. It feels like an eternity, the obscene wet sounds of their fucking  filling the small room. But in reality, it probably doesn’t take that long. His pleasure builds and builds- Lan Zhan must be able to tell when he’s close, perhaps by the noises he’s making, because he reaches forward at just the right moment and takes Wei Wuxian’s cock in hand. A few strokes is all it takes, and Wei Wuxian nearly whites out as his orgasm rips through him. This time, in a reversal of their usual roles, it is his climax that triggers Suibian’s. Lan Zhan and Bichen fuck them both through it, Wei Wuxian’s body oversensitive and shaking with the aftershocks. Then, hips snapping hard one final time, Lan Zhan finally comes with a long groan, buried deep inside him, as Bichen does the same.

Wei Wuxian’s knees give out, and he collapses onto his stomach, Lan Zhan’s body a heavy weight on top of him. Lan Zhan stirs ever so slightly, nuzzling his nose in the damp hair at the back of Wei Wuxian’s neck. Wei Wuxian can feel every breath the other man takes, Lan Zhan’s chest expanding against his back. For a minute, they just lie there like that, breathing heavily in tandem. Wei Wuxian’s mind is peacefully, utterly blank, Suibian’s contentment mirroring his own. 

Eventually, Lan Zhan peels himself off of Wei Wuxian’s back and pulls his softening cock out. Wei Wuxian twitches feebly at the strange sensation, intrigued but surprisingly not displeased by the novel feeling of Lan Zhan’s spend seeping down his thighs.

He takes a deep breath, and flops over onto his back, limbs akimbo. “Holy shit, that was…wow,” he finally says.

Lan Zhan lays down next to him. “Mn,” he agrees.

“That was so intense, I can’t believe I’ve never done that before!” Wei Wuxian adds wonderingly.

Lan Zhan stares at him. “You’ve never…” He frowns ever so slightly.  “What part of that had you never done before?” he asks carefully.

“Oh, well I’ve had sex before,” Wei Wuxian hastens to assure him. “Don’t worry Lan Zhan, you didn’t deflower me! Although actually, I guess you sort of did? I’ve never slept with a man before, or at the same time as Suibian,” he admits.

Lan Zhan’s eyes are wide. “That was your first time…?”

“... being fucked? Yeah.”

Lan Zhan sits up. “Wei Ying, I did not realize. I am sorry.”

“What? What are you sorry for?” Wei Wuxian asks, staring at him in confusion.

“I was not gentle,” Lan Zhan responds with a frown.

“Oh, nah, that’s ok,” Wei Wuxian says, waving off his concern. “Suibian was so desperate for it, I didn’t really… need you to be gentle?”

Lan Zhan is still frowning slightly. “You are sure?” he asks.

“Yeah, very sure. Wait, have you done that before? I mean, not have you ever fucked anyone before because like, clearly you have. But I mean, with Bichen?”

“No. He is exclusively interested in female dragons, and I am exclusively interested in men. The opportunity has not presented itself before.”

“Oh.” Now it’s Wei Wuxian’s turn to be somewhat taken aback. “So I guess that was kind of a first for you too, then.”

“Mn.”

Lan Zhan settles back down, and they lie there in mutual silence for a moment. Bichen has pulled out of Suibian and is nuzzling her affectionately, a contented purr rumbling through his chest. Suibian nips gently back at him. Already, Wei Wuxian can feel her desire beginning to build again. It feels like a slower burn this time though, and he suspects that the dragons will take their time with the next round.

He turns to Lan Zhan. “Sooo…I think the dragons are gonna be ready for round three pretty soon here. Do you still want to…?”

 Lan Zhan’s response is to draw Wei Wuxian forward into a spine-melting kiss. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes and lets himself get lost in it for a minute or two, savoring the sensation of Lan Zhan’s mouth and tongue on his. He hardly even got a chance to touch Lan Zhan before, so he takes the opportunity now to run his hands all over him. He traces the strong lines of Lan Zhan’s back, the firm plane of his chest, the hollow of his hip. Lan Zhan raises a hand to gently cup Wei Wuxian’s face, running his thumb over the bruise he left at the corner of his jaw. It feels different from their previous desperate coupling, this slower exploration of each other’s bodies. The dragons continue to nuzzle and scent each other, occasionally exchanging a playful nip or two.

Eventually, Wei Wuxian pulls back a little. “I take it that’s a yes, then?” he asks.

“Mn.” Lan Zhan rolls them so that Wei Wuxian is pinned underneath him, slotting their thighs together. Wei Wuxian rubs up against him, realizing that his cock, incredibly, is already beginning to fill out again. Is he going to want Lan Zhan to fuck him again? Yes , he thinks hazily, yes I am . He feels Suibian’s affirmative response in his mind as well. 

“What do you want, this time?” Lan Zhan asks him.

“I- I want to suck your cock,” Wei Wuxian responds, a little surprised by his own answer. But he definitely does. Lan Zhan had looked so satisfied when he went down on Wei Wuxian- he wants to see what that feels like for himself.

Lan Zhan’s eyes darken, his gaze turning hungrier. “Alright,” he says.

Wei Wuxian pushes Lan Zhan off of him, onto his back. Then he hovers over him, unsure how to proceed. As much as he wants to get his mouth on Lan Zhan, he’s a little intimidated by the thought as well. He decides to start with something simpler, and begins pressing a series of kisses to Lan Zhan’s skin, starting at his neck and working downwards. He’s pleased when Lan Zhan arches up into his touches, and when his downard progress reaches the vicinity of Lan Zhan’s hips, he sees that the other man is hardening again as well. He is, once again, intimidated by the sheer size of Lan Zhan’s cock. However, he figures that if it could fit inside his ass then it can definitely fit inside his mouth. Taking a deep breath, he dives in. 

It doesn’t take long for Wei Wuxian to decide that he likes sucking cock. He likes the slightly musky taste, the weight of it on his tongue. He likes the way he can feel Lan Zhan harden further inside his mouth when he slides down as far as he can. He even likes the way his eyes water when he hits his gag reflex and has to pause, struggling to breath. He likes the way Lan Zhan strokes his hair gently, the way he stares down at him with bright eyes; the way he says “Wei Ying,” with such wonder in his voice. 

In fact, Wei Wuxian is so lost in the sensation of giving Lan Zhan pleasure that he briefly loses track of what their dragons are doing. He’s reminded of them again, however, when Bichen encourages Suibian to roll over onto her back, then noses in between her legs and licks at her slit. Wei Wuxian, who currently has Lan Zhan’s cock what feels like halfway down his throat, stiffens. His surprised noise is muffled around Lan Zhan’s length. As far as he knows, Suibian has never permitted a mate to do this to her before. In fact, Wei Wuxian wasn’t even aware that dragons ever performed oral sex on each other. The things he’s learning tonight!

Wei Wuxian looks up at Lan Zhan- his eyes are closed in pleasure, and he doesn’t seem particularly surprised, so maybe this is something Bichen has done before? Bichen licks at Suibain’s opening again, then begins to press the long muscle of his tongue inside. Suibian keens in pleasure, and Wei Wuxian groans around Lan Zhan’s cock. He resumes his sucking with renewed effort, and is rewarded by a gasp and the tightening of Lan Zhan’s fingers in his hair. It’s harder to focus on what he’s doing with his mouth now, with the additional sensation of Bichen’s undulating tongue pressing against Suibian’s inner walls. But Wei Wuxian is very much enjoying the dual sensations, and if the quiet noises he’s making are any indication, so is Lan Zhan.

After a while, however, Wei Wuxian can feel Suibian starting to get impatient again. Bichen’s tongue feels good, but his cock would feel even better. Dragons aren’t the gentlest of lovers- when she’s finally decided that she’s had enough she kicks Bichen off of herself, then rolls over onto her belly once more, presenting herself to be mated with an imperious snap of her teeth.

Wei Wuxian, feeling his own confidence bolstered by hers, pulls off of Lan Zhan’s cock and climbs up to straddle him. 

Lan Zhan looks up at him, and Wei Wuxian can’t help but smirk a little at the dazed expression on his face. “Ready for more?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow. Lan Zhan doesn’t respond verbally, but his gaze turns molten and he thrusts his hips up, grinding his cock against the underside of Wei Wuxian’s balls. 

“Ok good, me too, me too!” Wei Wuxian gasps. Still feeling confident, he grasps Lan Zhan’s length and positions it at his entrance, then sinks down in one swift motion as Bichen simultaneously enters Suibian. He’s relatively loose and open from their previous fucking, but the stretch still burns as he takes Lan Zhan’s frankly massive cock inside himself once more. Wei Wuxian stills automatically, breathing hard and trying to make the fluttering muscles of his entrance relax around the intrusion.

Lan Zhan looks up at him with some concern. “Is it OK?” he asks, bringing a gentle hand to stroke soothingly up and down Wei Wuxian’s side. 

Wei Wuxian nods, lets his head hang down for a moment and closes his eyes. “Mhm. It’s just really… deep, like this,” he answers.

“You’re doing wonderfully, Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says. He traces his hand down the length of Wei Wuxian’s spine, then further down, long fingers skimming the cleft of Wei Wuxian’s ass. He rubs gently at Wei Wuxian’s rim, feeling the place where they are joined. “You’re taking me so well.”

Wei Wuxian groans, giving an experimental roll of his hips that makes both of them gasp in pleasure. Bichen is moving in Suibian with slow thrusts now, deep and long strokes that let her pleasure build gradually. Wei Wuxian takes a deep breath and begins to follow his lead, raising and lowering his hips in a slow grinding rhythm, gripping the meat of Lan Zhan’s shoulders for leverage. When he finds the right angle to hit that spot inside him that makes him see stars, Wei Wuxian hisses in pleasure and speeds up his movements. 

“Oh fuck, right there, that’s so good. I think I’m starting to get the hang of this,” he groans.

Lan Zhan tightens his grip on Wei Wuxian’s thighs. “Wei Ying has always been a quick study,” he agrees with a quirk of his mouth that might be the prelude to a smile.

Wei Wuxian wriggles at the compliment, speeding up the movement of his hips even further. Lan Zhan groans underneath him, and Suibian purrs in pleasure as Bichen continues to fuck her languidly. Wei Wuxian closes his eyes and throws his head back, savoring the hard press of Bichen and Lan Zhan’s lengths inside of them. Before too long, however, Wei Wuxian finds that his legs are shaking, thigh muscles starting to burn from the exertion of working himself up and down. He’s a little embarrassed that his stamina isn’t better, but then he did just spend several hours on dragonback earlier today.

He scrunches his face up in frustration, and feels Lan Zhan’s grip tighten. “I’ve got you,” Lan Zhan says soothingly. He props himself up on one elbow, then wraps his other arm around Wei Wuxian’s waist to hold him in place before suddenly fucking up into him. Wei Wuxian shouts in pleasure, which Lan Zhan seems to take as his cue to continue, thrusting up into Wei Wuxian with fierce snaps of his hips. Wei Wuxian, for his part, just wraps his arms around Lan Zhan’s shoulders and hangs on for the ride, gasping punched out little noises with each thrust.

Like last time, Lan Zhan and Bichen move as one, fucking into Wei Wuxian and Suibian with abandon. Wei Wuxian is lost in it again as he and Suibian’s pleasure surges precipitously. With a noise that is nearly a snarl, Lan Zhan suddenly flips them over, hauling Wei Wuxian’s legs over his shoulders and nearly bending him in half with the force of his continued thrusts. Wei Wuxian pistons his own hips to meet him, legs shaking and toes curling as he hurtles towards climax. He reaches down to stroke his own cock, and begins coming almost as soon as he gets a grip on himself; he arches back against the bed, mouth open in a strangled gasp, clenching hard around Lan Zhan’s cock and splattering hot and wet across his own stomach. Suibian is coming too- her own orgasm is longer and more drawn out than his, leaving him floating in pleasure so intense that he hardly registers when Lan Zhan and Bichen bury themselves in one final thrust and find their own release.

Afterwards, they lay in bed in a tangle of limbs, floating in the afterglow. The dragons actually seem sated for now, and Suibian begins to nod off, happily curled up against the warm bulk of Bichen. Lan Zhan gives them a cursory wipedown with a wet cloth, then lays back in bed and pulls Wei Wuxian up to sprawl across his chest. Wei Wuxian feels like he ought to say something, like- Thanks for the mind blowing sex? And also maybe- Could we do this again sometime? But now that the dragons are snoozing, the full weight of Wei Wuxian’s exhaustion hits him like a hammer. His eyes droop, then close, and before he knows it he’s fallen asleep nuzzled up on Lan Zhan’s firm chest.

He awakes, an indeterminate number of hours later, in the middle of the night. They’ve shifted in their sleep, so that he’s on his side with Lan Zhan spooned up behind him. The fire has died down to embers, but Wei Wuxian is warm enough with Lan Zhan’s solid heat pressed up against his back. It only takes a moment to figure out what’s woken him- Suibian is awake, and she wants to be mated again. Wei Wuxian groans faintly. Can’t we just keep sleeping? he thinks groggily. But as always, he finds her desires impossible to ignore. She nips at Bichen until he, too, wakes up. And a moment or two later, he’s entering her again as Wei Wuxian squirms and closes his eyes. Lan Zhan is still asleep, and it feels impolite to wake him up asking for sex (even though that’s essentially what Suibian just did), so Wei Wuxian resignedly reaches down and takes himself in hand. 

After only a minute or so, however, his movements must wake Lan Zhan because he hears a sleepy grunt behind him, and then a sudden indrawn breath. An arm comes up to wrap around him, stilling his movements. 

“Wei Ying. Please let me,” Lan Zhan murmurs, voice thick with sleep.

Well, now that he’s awake… Wei Wuxian is hardly going to say no, is he? He lets Lan Zhan’s hand replace his own, stroking firmly over his cock. With a sigh, he presses back against Lan Zhan and feels an answering hardness against the curve of his ass. Bichen is fucking Suibian with gentle rocking thrusts, the movements of both dragons still sleep heavy. Lan Zhan runs the palm of his hand down the underside of Wei Wuxian’s cock, then back over his sack with a firm tug that makes Wei Wuxian jolt a little. He teases at Wei Wuxian’s opening, the pad of his thumb pressing lightly against his rim. “Do you want…?”

Wei Wuxian squirms back against the touch. He’s sore, really very sore, but Bichen feels so good inside Suibian that he finds himself nodding anyway. Lan Zhan grabs the little jar of oil, and it’s not long before he’s slowly working his cock back into Wei Wuxian. Their fucking is slow and soft this time, both of them still sleepy and relaxed. Their bodies rock together in a lazy rhythm, Wei Wuxian pressing his hips back to meet Lan Zhan’s thrusts while Lan Zhan maintains a firm grasp on his cock. Tired and sore though they are, it still doesn’t take long for Wei Wuxian and Suibian to reach orgasm. Once they do, Lan Zhan manhandles Wei Wuxian’s still shaking body down onto his stomach and thrusts harder into him, chasing his own pleasure. Wei Wuxian, still dazed from his release and eyes growing heavy once more, groans into the bedding in overstimulation. After a minute or so, Lan Zhan’s thrusts stutter and his grip on Wei Wuxian’s hip turns bruising as he finishes. This time, they don’t even bother to clean up properly. Wei Wuxian is vaguely aware of Lan Zhan pulling out, then gathering him back into his arms, before he slips back into sleep.

When he wakes, the bed is empty. 

Wei Wuxian rolls over onto his back with a vaguely disgruntled noise, wincing at the unaccustomed soreness he feels in his lower body. Groggily, he sits up to take stock of the situation. He’s naked, hair a matted mess, and covered in dried fluids from last night’s… activities. Gray morning light is creeping through the window, and he no longer hears the sound of rain on the roof; it seems that the storm has finally let up. There’s movement in his peripheral vision, and glances over to see Lan Zhan stirring something in a pot over the fire. To Wei Wuxian chagrin, the other man looks wholly composed- he’s back in his pristine white robes, his hair brushed out perfectly. The look on his face is… well, it doesn’t look like someone who had a great time last night and is eager to repeat it. He looks thoughtful, maybe somewhat resigned? Wei Wuxian shivers, suddenly feeling cold.

He clears his throat, and Lan Zhan startles a little. When he meets his eyes, Wei Wuxian can’t help but notice the way his expression tightens, shoulders going tense. Oh no , Wei Wuxian thinks, here it comes . Lan Zhan had been very accommodating last night- of Wei Wuxian’s neediness, his inexperience, all of it. But now he looks like he’s steeling himself to say something he would rather not have to. Wei Wuxian, still a bit hazy with sleep, takes a deep breath and braces himself for whatever sort of polite brush-off is going to come out of Lan Zhan’s mouth.

But when Lan Zhan speaks, it’s not at all what he expected. “Wei Ying. I must beg your forgiveness for last night.”

Wei Wuxian stares dumbly. “What?”

Lan Zhan’s mouth twists in a little grimace. “I should have tried to prevent Bichen from initiating anything with Suibian. Given the strength of your bond, their mating put you in a situation where you could not exactly… say no, to our advances.”

“Your advances?” Wei Wuxian feels utterly bewildered. “Lan Zhan, are you forgetting the part where I climbed into your lap and humped you?”

Lan Zhan’s ears turn slightly red at the reminder. “You were under the influence of Suibian’s desire,” he says.

“Well… yeah, but. That doesn’t mean I didn’t want it too.” This is… not the conversation Wei Wuxian was expecting to have this morning. 

Lan Zhan doesn’t look convinced. He turns away, face pinched. “You said you had never been with a man before. I’ve only ever seen you show interest in women. No matter how much I wanted-” He cuts himself off with a shake of his head. “I should not have taken advantage.”

Wei Wuxian raises his hands placatingly. “Whoa, whoa, whoa… who said anything about taking advantage? There wasn’t anything we did last night that I didn’t consent to. Very enthusiastically.”

“Maybe in the moment, but-”

Wei Wuxian leaps to his feet, startling Lan Zhan into silence. He’s heard enough. Ignoring the fact that he’s completely naked, he begins prowling towards the other man. “Lan Zhan. What are our dragons doing right now?” he asks.

Lan Zhan, eyes wide, takes a step back. “They’re sleeping,” he says.

Wei Wuxian nods, stepping closer. “Right. Sound asleep. So anything I do now would be totally of my own volition, right?”

Lan Zhan eyes him nervously, but nods once and stops backing away from him. Wei Wuxian immediately crowds into his space.

“Right.” Wei Wuxian leans closer, breath ghosting against Lan Zhan’s cheek. “So if I choose to do this...” He presses his naked body up against Lan Zhan’s fully clothed one, feeling the way Lan Zhan’s breath hitches against his chest. Wei Wuxian leans in and brings their lips together. 

He puts everything he can into the kiss, trying to show Lan Zhan with his body just how much he wanted it last night- how much he wants it still. Lan Zhan remains unmoving for a moment, but then something releases in his body and he begins to return the kiss, at first tentatively but then with growing force, heat rapidly building between them again. He brings his hands to Wei Wuxian’s shoulders, hands trembling slightly.

Eventually Wei Wuxian pulls back, and looks him in the eyes. “This is all me. Ok?”

Lan Zhan looks back somewhat disbelievingly.

“Is it really so hard to believe I could want you?” Wei Wuxian asks incredulously. Lan Zhan is beautiful, and talented, and kind and… well, he’s Lan Zhan . Of course Wei Wuxian wants him.

“You… never seemed to, before,” Lan Zhan says.

“Before?” 

“When we were in school,” Lan Zhan clarifies.

Wei Wuxian blinks at him in surprise. “Lan Zhan, don’t you remember how many hours I spent trying to get you to pay attention to me back then? But you always ignored me! Ah, you were so mean.”

Lan Zhan shakes his head. “You were impossible to ignore. I was just… overwhelmed by how you made me feel.” He looks so earnest, and yet also wary, like he expects Wei Wuxian to pull back at any moment still.

“Lan Zhan… are you saying you liked me?” Wei Wuxian asks wonderingly. “Since all the way back then?”

Lan Zhan doesn’t respond, but his ears turn red, which is answer enough.

“You did!” Wei Wuxian crows. “You did like me! And I had no idea! Lan Zhan, how much time have we wasted when we could have been doing this, huh?”

Lan Zhan somehow still looks uncertain. “Would you have wanted to, back then? You only ever flirted with girls.”

“Ah, well… I guess maybe I did need a little time to figure that part out,” Wei Wuxian says ruefully. “But after last night, I can now say with great confidence that I definitely like men. Or at least, one man in particular.”

He reaches down and takes Lan Zhan’s hand in his, running his thumb over Lan Zhan’s long, elegant fingers. When he looks up at Lan Zhan’s face again, his expression has perceptibly softened. “So are you convinced now? That I want this?” he asks.

Lan Zhan narrows his eyes. His hand slides down the curve of Wei Wuxian’s back and firmly grasps his naked ass. “Mn. I might need… a little more convincing.”

Wei Wuxian laughs. “Well, in that case…” He leans back in and deepens the kiss, groaning at the sensation of Lan Zhan’s fingers digging into his skin, hard enough to bruise. It feels a bit unbalanced with Lan Zhan fully dressed while Wei Wuxian is naked, so he begins tugging and pulling at the upper layers of Lan Zhan’s robes until he can reach in and trace his fingers over the warm skin of his chest. He feels Suibian begin waking in the back of his mind, enjoying her hazy contentment as she curls into Bichen’s warmth. She’s practically radiating satisfaction, and Wei Wuxian can’t help but note that the depth of her feelings seems… stronger than it normally is, after a mating. Interesting.

Wei Wuxian breaks the kiss, but his hand is snaking further down into Lan Zhan’s robes. “Since I apparently need to be more direct… shall I tell you what I really want this morning?”

Lan Zhan raises an eyebrow questioningly, but doesn’t stop the kneading of his fingers in Wei Wuxian’s ass.

“Some breakfast, a bath, and blowjob,” Wei Wuxian says with a cheeky smile. “What do you think?” 

Lan Zhan grunts as Wei Wuxian’s questing hand finally makes contact with his cock, which is hard underneath the layers of his clothing. His lip quirks into the smallest of smiles. “Mn. But maybe not in that order.”

Then without another word he picks Wei Wuxian up and hauls him, laughing, back to bed.