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Qinghe is such a maze. Wei Ying thought as he stumbled drunkenly through walkways, the world a blur beyond his intoxicated haze. The flickering lanterns melted together into hues of amber and gold, the wet ground glistening reflectively. Wei Ying took another swig from the large liquor jar and hissed as it burned his insides. The copious amount of alcohol he'd consumed on an empty stomach was starting to make him nauseous, but he wasn't so cold anymore.
He was always cold. The moment his core was wrenched from his chest, a deep frost had settled within the gaping wound, leaving him perpetually freezing. He felt like the copious dead bodies clothing the Burial Mound's belly, dead without a lick of warmth. That mountain was a hell in itself, a hell frozen over.
It left Wei Ying a stranger to heat. He no longer knew what it felt like not to be cold—so cold you feel it in your bones, so cold it hurts.
Wei Ying's chattering knees finally gave out, sending him to the floor. He whimpered as his brittle bones smacked the concrete and clutched the liquor jar to his chest protectively. His iron stomach refused to empty itself of the toxicity Wei Ying kept drinking, but consequentially, the world spun like a globe, and the nausea was overwhelming.
He'd drink more. That'd warm him up.
"It's chilly tonight." Lan Xichen commented as he walked side by side with his betrothed, but the cold didn't bother him much; his golden core kept him warm, not to mention his Gusu upbringing.
"Spring chills." Nie Mingjue shrugged, "I can't wait for summer when it's warm."
Xichen winced. Qinghe summers were brutal. Ripples of heat dusted the sandy grounds, and the sun scorched the earth; whenever Lan Xichen visited, he struggled with the temperatures.
He much preferred this temperature, to Lan Xichen, this was a nice in-between.
Nie Mingjue grasped his love's hand. Planning for the war had taken them deep into the night, past the Lan's early bedtime. They admired the stars as they walked through Qinghe, leisurely strolling to their rooms. Peaceful moments like this were precious in war, to be savoured and made the most of. Lan Xichen sighed contently as they walked.
As they grew nearer to the rooms and guest quarters, Lan Xichen squeezed his love's hand and nodded in the direction of several liquor bottles sitting empty on a bench. Nie Mingjue huffed. With all the people staying in Qinghe, decorum and manners were feeling more and more sparse, "Do they think this in an inn?" He growled, "What group left that many liquor jars just sitting around?"
"They must be quite intoxicated." Lan Xichen grimaced, counting the jars, "I'm sure we'll find them easily tomorrow."
Nie Mingjue shook his head disapprovingly. The servants would have it cleaned up by morning, but it still grated on his nerves, "Whatever." He sighed, "Let's just go to bed."
They kept walking, but as they grew nearer to the centre of Qinghe where the higher-ups were staying, an odd feeling settled in their guts. There was a stench of liquor, and they followed it to the courtyard where they spotted a someone curled into themselves, leaning tiredly on a pillar.
Lan Xichen squinted. It was dim, but he could see the tell-tale red ribbon and black flute clear as day, "Is that-"
"Wei-Gongzi?" Nie Mingjue frowned, looking down at the large liquor jar in his arms, "Goodness. Did he drink all of those jars himself?"
Lan Xichen blinked in surprise, "Wei-Gongzi always had a high tolerance."
"Xichen, that amount of alcohol would do me in."
Lan Xichen sighed. Wei Wuxian had been an anomaly since he returned, avoiding everyone and everything and keeping his brother at arm's length, but Lan Xichen wasn't naive enough to believe the behaviour was born from arrogance as others did. "Let's get him to his room."
Nie Mingjue huffed tiredly but didn't argue. They made their way to the lump beside the pillar. Wei Ying was shivering, curled tight like a fetus around the liquor jar as if protecting it like his cub. Every breath was white, and as they got closer, they could see a blue tinge to his lips.
Lan Xichen gaped, "Wei-Gongzi?" He kneeled, and the boy finally seemed to notice their presence. His eyes were glossed over and unfocused, and he squinted in their direction. Pity tugged in Lan Xichen's chest. There was something achingly vulnerable about Wei Wuxian, and Lan Xichen felt a nearly familial wave of protectiveness, similar to his feelings for Wangji, "You've drunk a lot."
Nie Mingjue kneeled next to him, his own gaze inquisitive as they talked to the boy, "The trail of alcohol wouldn't be all yours, would it, kid?"
Wei Ying blinked hard, a trembling hand coming to rub his eyes. It was clumsy, uncontrolled like a toddler's hand, "I'm-" He swallowed, "I'm not-"
Lan Xichen turned to his betrothed. This wasn't the aftertaste of a fun night. Wei Ying was half gone, eyes drooping. He'd be all too easy to harm. Lan Xichen leaned closer and lifted a hand to Wei Ying's blushing face, feeling his forehead. At the scorching heat, he nearly gasped, "You're burning up!"
Wei Ying just whimpered, leaning into the hand like it was the only thing keeping him upright, "Wei-Gongzi?"
Nie Mingjue landed a hand on the boy's bony shoulder, and the reaction was instant. Nie Mingjue gasped, and Wei Ying fell into the man with a dry sob, his shaking becoming violent, "Warm..." He hiccuped, "Warm..."
"Xichen." Nie Mingjue's puzzlement sobered, his voice serious. He wrapped his arms around the boy nearly instinctively, "He's freezing."
Lan Xichen felt Wei Ying's arm for himself, eyebrows raising in shock. Wei Ying was colder than battleground corpses, colder than someone of his calibre should be.
"Why is he so cold?" Lan Xichen whispered, shrugging off his thick outer robe. He draped it around Wei Ying's shoulders and felt his chest burn as Wei Ying snuggled into it, a wet hiccup coming out.
"We need to warm him up." Nie Mingjue rubbed the boy's arms.
Wei Ying's eyes closed, a shuddering sigh escaping him as he slowly sagged. Lan Xichen shook him, "Hey, no sleeping, Wei-gongzi; wake up."
Wei Ying whined, his eyes fluttering as they tried to stay open. He frowned, "I h've to get to Jiang Cheng..." He murmured, "Madam Yu made me pr'mise..."
The two older men were surprised at the mention of the late Yu-furen and the tears that sired in Wei Ying's dark eyes. They rippled like pond water until they fell, gliding down the rosy cheeks, "Wei-Gongzi." Lan Xichen spoke gently, "You're in Qinghe."
Wei Ying shook his head. He looked like he wanted to struggle but couldn't bring himself to shy away from Nie Mingjue's warmth. He grabbed the grey robes in tight, weak fists. "L'tus Pier..." He hiccuped, "It was my fault... I'm sorry..."
Nie Mingjue held the boy closer. "Wei-Gongzi, Lotus Pier's destruction wasn't your fault, " he said. It was so unusual. Wei Ying has been a devastating force in their war on the Wens—solid, unbeatable, downright horrifying—and yet now he sat in a heap of trembles and despair, clinging to Nie-zonghu's robes. He looked like his young age for the first time in weeks—younger, maybe. Too young to be in a war.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Wei Ying slurred, seemingly unhearing, "I fixed it... I fixed him. But now I'm so cold..."
Lan Xichen watched Wei Ying slack further into the Nie's hold and could almost see the invisible baggage weighing him down. "Let's just get him to bed, " he said, the two lifting him on wobbly legs.
"Mn..." Wei Ying whined, "No..."
"It's okay, Wei-Gongzi." Lan Xichen threw one of the boy's twig-like arms around his shoulder and stumbled at how light he was. After a brief, horrified glance shared with his betrothed at the feeling, he said: "You're with us."
Wei Ying opened his mouth to protest further, but only a deep sigh came out as if he no longer had the strength for words. They carried him to their quarters and sat him on their bed. The mattress barely dipped, and Wei Ying whimpered pitifully like a wounded animal as their warmth left him, "Shh, Wei-Gongzi." Lan Xichen knelt before him, "We're still here."
"What's wrong with him?" Nie Mingjue wondered, arms crossed, "Besides the obvious."
Lan Xichen snorted softly, "Get me the basin and a cloth."
Nie Mingjue placed the bowl beside the bed and took a seat beside Wei Ying, fastening Lan Xichen's outer robe around him, "Why did you drink this much?" He asked, though, his tone suggested he wasn't expecting an answer.
Lan Xichen wrung the cloth tight, water dripping into the basin, then ran the wet cloth over Wei Ying's burning forehead and rosy cheeks. For a moment, it was like taking care of little Wangji again, "Cold." Wei Ying just whined again, "Cold shije..."
Lan Xichen felt his heart break a little. Perhaps Wangji was right to fret. This was not the Wei Wuxian that Lan Xichen met in Cloud Recess. He was miserable, pale as webs and thin. Way too thin.
"Let's just lay him down." He said.
They loosened his belt, out falling Chenqing. Lan Xichen kicked the flute away gently, aware not to touch it, "Alright, Wei-Gongzi, lay down." He removed his boots and guided the boy beneath the covers, watching him shudder happily at the warmth.
Nie Mingjue started to undo his own robes, letting his hair down as Lan Xichen tucked Wei Ying in tight and unfurled the charcoal strands from their red ribbon, "He's still cold." Lan Xichen noted unhappily and wrapped his fingers around Wei Ying's brittle wrist and closed his eyes in focus to transfer energy. A moment later, they wrenched back open with a horrified gasp, "A-Jue."
Nie Mingjue turned immediately at the alarm in his love's voice, "What is it?"
Lan Xichen looked horrified, "His-" He stammered, "His core-"
Nie Mingjue took a seat to feel for himself, and soon, his own sense of horror settled within him, "His core is gone." He gaped, staring at the boy on the bed, his shuddering, slender frame, "Wei Wuxian..."
"How-"
"Wen Zhuliu." Nie Mingjue seethed, feeling the echoing emptiness of Wei Ying's spiritual pathways. The barren, dry veins, "What the hell is he doing fighting a war in this condition?"
Wei Ying stirred, a high-pitched grumble coming out as he tried to tug his wrist free, "No..." He slurred, falling back under the moment they let him go.
He was suddenly bathed in a new light. Despite the dark smoke that often curls around him, he wasn't the fearsome demonic cultivator he had been for months. He wasn't the untrustworthy, suspicious young master that Lan Xichen had worried about. He was but a young boy, wounded, hollowed out, and entirely broken laid out before them.
Lan Xichen's sigh was damp. "What do we do?" he asked. "I-I mean, he can't keep fighting."
"He has to." Nie Mingjue shook his head regretfully, "Without him, we won't win the war."
Lan Xichen closed his eyes, a deep sorrow settling within him. Not just for Wei Wuxian, who lost everything, yet came back for them and suffered suspicion and the pain of losing his golden core, but for Wangji, whose zhiji could never be on par with him again. Who is beyond their help.
"Jiang Wanyin doesn't know." Nie Mingjue theorised, "No way he'd let his brother fight if he did."
"Maybe he wouldn't." Lan Xichen said, "But we can't be sure if he knows. They don't exactly have a conventional relationship."
"You mean Jiang Wanyin pushing him around? I not even that harsh with Huaisang."
Lan Xichen frowned, "Then surely he doesn't know. He's not gentle with Wei Wuxian, but surely he wouldn't be so rough if he knew his condition. He should know."
Nie Mingjue grabbed his wrist as if he'd shoot up and find the Jiang Clan Leader now, "You can't tell anyone, A-Huan. Wei Wuxian was going to take this secret to his grave."
"What?" Lan Xichen trembled.
"In his condition... the way he's been acting," Nie Mingjue shook his head. "He doesn't intend to survive the war, especially if he wants to keep this secret."
It made too much sense. Lan Xichen breathed through the sting in his eyes. Wei Ying was still shivering. Without the burning sun in his chest, frost oozed where warmth would've, "Let's just go to bed." He said, wincing at the bed, "We should..."
"Just lie down." Nie Mingjue shrugged, taking a place on Wei Ying's left side, leaving Lan Xichen to sleep on Wei Ying's right, next to the wall. He sighed, "No different than a Nie puppy pile. Besides, he needs to warm up."
Lan Xichen felt his cheeks burn. Surely, this wasn't a good idea. Even before when Wei Ying was generous with his touches, this might've been too much, "A Nie puppy pile?"
Nie Mingjue grinned, "Yeah. A tradition!" He insisted, "You'll learn. You'll have to, of course."
Lan Xichen chuckled, any argument defeated as Wei Ying curled into the radiating warmth Nie Mingjue oozed and grabbed a fistful of his robes in his sleep, "Of course." He lay down. He could still feel Wei Ying's cold from here, and he couldn't stop himself from shuffling closer in hopes of soothing the boy's pitiful shivers.
He felt tears clog the back of his throat, "What am I going to tell Wangji?" He whispered, placing a hand on Wei Ying's back over the spot where a gaping chasm of ice sat.
Nie Mingjue shook his head, "You can't tell him anything. Only Wei Wuxian can."
Lan Xichen sighed, "What is Wangji going to do? This is his..."
Nie Mingjue shrugged, "He can only do what he can. Maybe you can convince Wei Wuxian to tell Wangji in the morning."
If Lan Xichen were less dignified, he would have dragged exasperated hands down his face, "What are we going to tell Wei-Gongzi? He won't be happy that we have found out about his condition."
Nie Mingjue exhaled heavily, his cheeks puffing, "Leave that problem for the morning."
Wei Ying's shivers died down, and Nie Mingjue brought an arm around them both and closed his eyes.
Lan Xichen cracked an eye open. Honey golden light seeped through the window shutters, glinting off the silver paint like little jewels. The chilly spring air swept in, cold and clarifying in his lungs, and he took a deep, meditative breath and enjoyed the peaceful silence. The comfy warmth of the bed, the—
"What the fuck!"
Wei Ying tumbled out of the bed in a messy heap, his loosened robes swishing around him. He was a tangle of frizzy hair and dishevelled clothes, and he stood on shaking, thin legs and stumbled away from the bed, "What-" He flicked between the two tired men, woken by his tumble, "What- why-"
"Wei Wuxian." Nie Mingjue groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes, "It's too early."
Wei Ying briefly stared at the toned, tan muscles beneath the gaping collar before looking away, backing up till he hit the wall. He wavered, the effects of his drinking suddenly hitting him, "Oh god." He clutched his head, "What happened?"
Lan Xichen left the bed significantly more graceful than Wei Ying, tying his robes tight, "I apologise for the shock, Wei-Gongzi." He said, and Wei Ying looked at him like he had three heads, shrinking as Lan Xichen edged closer and wrapped his arms around himself like shields.
"Why were we-" He choked on the words, "What was I-"
A knock on the door interrupted them. Wei Ying clammed up at the voice, "Xiongzhang." Lan Zhan called, "Are you awake?"
Lan Xichen winced. Terrible timing on his brother's part. This could not get worse. Hesitating momentarily, "Yes." He answered and took a step closer, this time murmuring quietly, "Wei-Gongzi, are you okay-"
Wei Ying recoiled from the offered hand like it was on fire, "Don't!" He yelled. His mind was racing, his heart hammering, and it felt like his eyes were being ripped out through his eye sockets. Who thought drinking was a good idea?
"Wei Ying?"
The door opened in a display of a lack of manners that otherwise Lan Xichen would gape at. His little brother walked in, eyes widening at the scene. Lan Xichen sighed as he felt things become a thousand times worse. Wei Ying was still breathing heavily, hugging himself, one layer slipping off his shoulder. Nie Mingjue was still in bed, and Lan Xichen's robes were few and rumpled.
"Um." Nie Mingjue leaned on his elbows, "This isn't what it looks like."
Lan Xichen squeezed his eyes shut in exasperation, "A-Jue!" He hissed. Wangji looked at him with bewilderment and betrayal, and Wei Ying seemed seconds from qi deviation.
Wei Ying grabbed his ribbon and his belt, fastening it messily and snatched Chenqing, "Fuck this." He cursed and beelined for the exit.
"Wei-Gongzi-"
"Wei Ying-"
Wei Ying dodged Lan Zhan's hand and burst out of the room, leaving them in lethally uncomfortable silence.
Lan Xichen avoided Wangji's wide-eyed stare, instead opting to glare at his betrothed, who had the decency to look bashful. Eventually, Wangji's patience ran thin, "Xiongzhang?"
Lan Xichen sighed, "It really isn't what it looked like." He said, "Wei-Gongzi was incredibly drunk last night, and we didn't know where he was staying."
It wasn't enough. Wangji stayed rooted in his place, embers of hot anger flickering in his eyes, but what else could Lan Xichen say? Subtly, Nie Mingjue shook his head, and his words from the night before echoed in his head like the teachings of his clan.
You can't tell him anything. Only Wei Wuxian can.
You must not lie or deceive.
"I'm sorry, Wangji. I can say no more." He spoke regretfully, and gestured to the door, "Please. I will find you later, and we will have tea."
The grip his brother had on Bichen was turning his knuckles white, and after sending them both a fierce glare, Wangji finally left in a flurry of white and muted fury.
Lan Xichen sighed, closing his eyes in a typical Lan display of exhaustion. Behind him, the sheets ruffled, and then Nie Mingjue tugged on his arm, "Quite the mess." He said, "Should we go find Wei Wuxian?"
Lan Xichen huffed, letting Nie Mingjue tug him down onto the bed, "We should probably explain why he woke up in our bed, no?"
Nie Mingjue grinned, "I suppose. Do we need to go right now?"
Lan Xichen bit down the quirk of his lips, "You have something else to do?"
Nie Mingjue, pressing their lips together, answered the question.
After some struggle, they found Wei Ying on a watchtower overlooking Qinghe. He was twirling Chenqing between his fingers, the breeze combing through his hair. At a powerful gush of air, he closed his eyes and tilted his head as if leaning into a caress, bathing in the soothing feeling.
He must be cold. Lan Xichen thought as they approached him, taking a stance on either side. He was significantly less ruffled than he was earlier that morning. His thin robes were fitted, framing his bony frame, and his hair was brushed. How does he look well? How does he not look hungover?
He must be sick with nausea from the alcohol. How does he look okay? They frowned.
"You know." Wei Ying said and tucked his flute into his belt, "About..."
"Your core." Nie Mingjue confirmed, and Wei Ying's shoulder slumped so hard they thought his knees would buckle.
Wei Ying rolled his neck and leaned on the wall. A gush of air swept by, and he shivered. Lan Xichen's fingers twitched instinctively, but a sober Wei Ying might not take so kindly to being held or receiving his coat. "Last night," Wei Ying turned. His eyes were framed with red, and dark bags resided under them. It was nothing unusual, but after the previous night and its revelations, the sight actually hurt. "What happened?"
Nie Mingjue crossed his arms, "We found you drunk, very drunk, and absolutely freezing. You were out of it; all you knew to do was warm up, hence the copious amount of liquor, so you wouldn't let me go."
Wei Ying squeezed his eyes shut, "Oh god." He blushed.
Lan Xichen grinned, amused, "We brought you back to our chambers to clean you up and warm you up, but you still wouldn't let us go; then, of course, we discovered your core."
"It was no wonder you were so fucking cold." Nie Mingjue huffed, "Coreless, exhausted from battle, and underfed."
Wei Ying frowned, "I'm not-"
"I haven't seen you eat at any of the banquets." Nie Mingjue countered, "And don't forget I felt your ribs all night."
Wei Ying's face blushed a bouquet of roses, "I'm fine." He said, "You can't tell anyone."
Nie Mingjue snorted, "Kid, you can't keep going like this."
"I'll be fine." Wei Ying glared, but Nie Mingjue matched it.
"You won't be, and you know it." He said, "I'm not going to stand by and watch you run yourself into the ground. If Huaisang's best friend went and died while I did nothing to help, he'd never forgive me."
Wei Ying flinched, eyes widening. Nie Mingjue sighed, "You're still his best friend, Wei Wuxian. He's worried about you."
"As is Wangji." Lan Xichen cut in. Every new mention of Wei Ying's loved ones weakened his defences like little chips in a shield, "You're not alone in this, Wei-Gongzi."
"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying scoffed, "He hates me. I turned into this, and he wants nothing to do with me."
Lan Xichen gaped. He knew his brother was hard to read, but what? Does Wei Wuxian really have no clue that Wangji is infatuated with him?
"I assure you, Wangji doesn't hate you. Quite... the opposite." Lan Xichen said, "He will help you. As will we. If you let us."
Wei Ying hunched in on himself as if the plea to be allowed to help hurt. Lan Xichen sighed. Just how damaged was Wei Wuxian that their care scared him?
"Wei-Gongzi," Lan Xichen stepped closer, "Let us help. Let Wangji and Huaisang help."
Wei Ying bit his lip, his eyes fluttering and starting to glisten. He looked like a wounded animal, the same as last night—one that had been kicked and shooed away and now cowered in corners. Lan Xichen took another step closer. "I will talk to Wangji. I won't tell him about your condition, don't worry. If you don't believe me, believe what he tells you."
Wei Ying frowned but kept his quivering lips pressed together, and Lan Xichen offered a simple smile before taking his betrothed away.
Nie Mingjue squeezed his hand, "That's it?"
Lan Xichen squeezed back, "He doesn't want our help, so let's get him the help he wants."
Wei Ying curled up on his bed, knees to his chest. He was freezing, cold to his bones. He wanted to drink, but the terror of crawling into another sect leader's bed kept him sober. The worst thing was that the previous night's rest was the best he'd had in months. Warm and safe, he slept like a rock without any nightmares.
Fear coursed through him like icy chills. People knew. How long till Lan Xichen or Nie Mingjue let his condition slip? Until Jiang Cheng finds out and puts the pieces together?
Wei Ying sighed, curling further into himself. He wasn't shameless enough to crawl into their bed again, but he was so cold that the thought of sleeping alone made him cry a little.
Maybe he could get drunk with Huaisang and stay in his bed. It wouldn't be the first time, they routinely stayed in each other's dorms in Cloud Recess to avoid getting caught drunk on their way back, and Huaisang did know how to keep a secret.
Wei Ying shook his head, digging his palms into his eyes. He was sleep-deprived, hungover, and starving. He was losing it.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Wei Ying?"
Wei Ying flinched, "Lan Zhan?"
There was a brief silence before Lan Wangji said, "Please let me in."
Wei Ying sighed, letting his head drop tiredly, "What did Lan-zongzhu tell you?"
"Something has happened to you." Lan Wangji answered, "You're in pain. Please, let me help you."
Wei Ying felt tears clog his throat, burning the backs of his eyes. They came on so suddenly he couldn't stop them, nor the quiet sob. He hadn't realised how badly he wanted to hear those words. Not from Lan Xichen, Nie Mingjue, or even his Shije. Something about Lan Zhan tore into him, leaving him raw and wounded, and powerless to push him away.
"Wei Ying." Lan Wangji pleaded, "Let me in."
The door opened after a moment. Under the moonlight, the tears on Wei Ying's cheeks twinkled, his robes fluttering like wings as he shivered, "Hi." He sniffled.
Lan Wangji's face strained, his heartbeat thundering, "Hi." He replied, "Wei Ying."
The wind picked up, and Wei Ying hissed as a sharp chill stabbed through him, "Ah, come in." He chuckled weakly, "It's cold out here."
When the doors closed, a silence stretched between them. Lan Wangji watched Wei Ying shiver, each tremble ripping apart his heart, "Wei Ying. Xiongzhang told me you have misunderstood my intentions."
"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying frowned, wiping his eyes.
"I have never wanted to punish you." Lan Wangji whispered, inching closer, "I never hated you. I am worried."
Wei Ying's jaw dropped. Not only at the sincerity but the unmoving, intense gaze he was under. He couldn't move beneath it, could barely breathe.
Lan Wangji took a deep breath. "I am not good at expressing myself." He muttered, "I'm sorry I gave you the wrong impression. You are my friend, my closest confidant. My-"
"Lan Zhan." Wei Ying gasped, his cheeks itching as tears rained down, "Stop."
Lan Wangji recoiled at the rejection, but Wei Ying shook his head, "I don't-" He hiccuped, "I can't let you say this blind."
"Wei Ying?" Lan Wangji frowned and stopped breathing as Wei Ying took his hand.
"Feel." Wei Ying said, lifting the large, calloused palm to his chest.
Lan Wangji was confused but did as told. Beneath his palm, there was nothing—just soft skin, rough robes, and protruding ribs. No core. He heard his breath stutter, and he reached out to bring Wei Ying closer, his palm pressing closer, "No-" He choked on the words, "Wei Ying-"
"Ah, Lan Zhan." Wei Ying sniffled, trying not to melt under Lan Zhan's grip on his hip. "I'll tell you everything in the morning, okay?"
"Wei Ying-"
"I'm cold," Wei Ying cut him off again. He had moments until he fell apart, and he'd rather not cry himself to sleep in front of Lan Zhan. "And I'm tired. I want to get into bed."
Lan Zhan pressed his lips together unhappily and finally let Wei Ying go. He nodded, "Mn. Will sleep with you."
He placed Bichen in the sword rack and turned back to see Wei Ying red-faced and gaping like a fish. Lan Zhan felt his ears burn, "Sleep." He clarified.
Wei Ying chuckled awkwardly, "Lan Zhan... I-I don't know what you thought last night was-"
"You were cold." Lan Zhan said, "So cold you wouldn't let my brother go. Cold enough that you've been drinking yourself sick instead of sleeping."
Wei Ying grinned, "So you'll keep me warm?" He teased, but Lan Zhan nodded.
"Mn."
Wei Ying scoffed, "Are you drunk?" He asked, "Lan Zhan- you-"
"You'd accept Xiongzhang's help but not mine?"
Wei Ying balked. He was mystified. Was he hallucinating or something?
"I was drunk!" Wei Ying cried, "I-It wasn't him. I just wanted to be warm!"
"Mn. Will keep you warm." Lan Zhan insisted and walked behind the privacy screen to undress. Wei Ying finally stopped protesting. Sleeping with Lan Zhan wasn't so bad anyway, right?
His cheeks burned, his stomach warming and fluttering as he, too, began to strip, "Lan Zhan." Wei Ying whined, "You're so shameless all of a sudden."
"Wei Ying needs help."
"Are you going to sleep with me every night?" Wei Ying chuckled and dropped into the bed, "Lan Zhan, seriously, what is this?"
Lan Zhan came out, stripped down to his inner robes like Wei Ying, his hair undone and held loosely with his ribbon, "I care for you." Lan Zhan said, "More than you know. I want to help you in any way you'll allow."
Wei Ying smiled softly, "Then keep me warm?"
Lan Zhan returned the soft grin, crawling into the bed, "Mn."
They didn't touch, not right away, at least. They talked until their eyes slipped shut, and when they awoke, they were in a tangle of limbs and achingly warm. There they stayed, bathing in the warmth, night after night.
Wei Ying smiled, his voice a tired croak, "Warm..."
Lan Zhan laughed softly, "Mn."