"...sleep love. sleep now."

~WEI YING'S POV~

Wei Ying woke to the clean, crisp smell of sandalwood. His vision blurred as he struggled upright. A cough rattled out of his bloodied lips, and he felt a faint sting from his abdomen. Wei Ying looked down at the rows of bandages wrapped around his middle, and sighed. "Lan Zhan?" he called, rolling his eyes. Lan Zhan was clearly overreacting. It's not like Wei Ying hadn't been stabbed before, just that his current body was too weak. Had it been his old body, even getting stabbed in the gut wouldn't have posed a problem for the Yiling Patriarch. 

"Wei Ying?" came Lan Zhan's faint reply as he pushed open the doors of the Jingshi. In his left hand, he held Suibian- in his right, he held a snow white rabbit. 

Wei Ying eyes darted back and forth as his mouth dropped in shock. He wasn't sure whether he should ask where Lan Zhan had found Suibian, or why on earth a bunny was curled up in his hand.  

Actually, the better question was probably, where had Lan Zhan even FOUND a rabbit. Didn't the Cloud Recesses prohibit raising animals as pets? Wei Ying spluttered, "L-Lan Zhan?" 

"Mn?" Lan Zhan gave him a confused look, unsure of his intentions. 

"W-When the fuck did you get a rabbit?" 

Lan Zhan frowned at his crass words, "It's mine," he replied. "My pet." 

Wei Ying's jaw was trying to unhinge itself from his skull. "W-What the fuck!" he exclaimed, sounding uncannily like Jiang Cheng. 

Lan Zhan's frown deepened, his brows twitching in irritation, "Is there a problem?" 

"You can't do that!" Wei Ying said in a strangled voice. "That's against the rules!" 

Lan Zhan's mouth twitched as he took in Wei Ying's flustered expression. "Cute." he muttered, before his eyes widened when he realized that he had just said that aloud. A deep flush crawled up his neck and his ears turned a bright red. 

Wei Ying nearly fainted. 'How many surprises can one take?' he thought as he looked at Lan Zhan incredulously. 'First Suibian, then the rabbit, and now Lan Zhan was calling him cute?!'  Wei Ying let out an involuntary shudder. There had to be a catch. 

"So..." he muttered, "Explain." 

"There's nothing to explain." Lan Zhan replied stoically. 

Wei Ying's eyes bulged. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S NOTHING TO EXPLAIN?! YOU COME IN HERE HOLDING MY SWORD- THAT I HAVEN'T USED IN GOD KNOWS HOW LONG! AND YOU HAVE A RABBIT. LAN ZHAN YOU'RE HOLDING A RABBIT! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? IT MEANS YOU BROKE A RULE. YOU'RE TELLING ME THE GREAT HAN-GUANG JUN JUST WALTZES ON IN HERE, A RABBIT IN HAND, COMPLETELY IGNORING HIS FAMILIES VALUES?!" he screeched, struggling to make sense of the situation at hand. "AND NOT ONLY THAT. YOU COME IN AND YOU CALL ME 'CUTE!' CUTE?! CUTE?! NO. I'M NOT CUTE. I'M THE TERRIFYING YILING PATRIARCH. THE BIG BAD WOLF THAT EATS YOU LITTLE WHITE SHEEPS! HOW DARE YO-" 

Wei Ying was abruptly cut off when Lan Zhan leaned forward, and curtly muffled his mouth with his. 'Ah shit,' he thought, grumbling to hi. 'I really don't want to stop... but I probably should. I need to know what happened.'

"Mm-" Wei Ying groaned, reluctantly pulling away. "Lan Zhan! Answer me!" 

Lan Zhan stared at him, a look of displeasure on his face. He looked like he had just seen something extremely unpleasant, his stoic features twisting. 

He narrowed his eyes, grabbing Wei Ying hands and quickly tying them with his forehead ribbon. Wei Ying gaped at him, mouth opened like a fish. "Lan Zhan?!" he squeaked, very much alarmed. Wei Ying didn't know what exactly the ribbon meant, but he knew it was something important. The last time he had touched Lan Zhan's forehead ribbon, the latter had glared at Wei Ying and stalked away, sulking.  

Now here they were, positions reversed. This time, Lan Zhan had tied the strip of fabric to his wrists, effectively caging him in his arms. Wei Ying wasn't sure what to make of this, but he had a bad feeling about it. If Lan Qiren saw them, he would've definitely spat blood.  

"Lan Zhan..." he murmured, tugging weakly at his restraints.

The other paid him no mind as he began to trail light kisses down the slender column of his throat. 

"LAN ZHAN!" Wei Ying shouted, voice cracking in the middle. 

"Mn?" Lan Zhan paused, glancing over to see Wei Ying's fear filled eyes. Immediately, he shot upright, pulling Wei Ying into a fierce embrace. "What's wrong?" he asked, panicked. 

"I- I need to know..." Wei Ying whispered, insecurity swelling up inside him. "Are you sure?" he choked out. "L-Like are you sure about this? They know about me now... if you stay with me, you'll get implicated too." 

Wei Ying braced himself for Lan Zhan's rejection. This was what he had feared all along. How could someone like Han-Guang Jun- who had already built up quite a reputable name for himself, turn his back to his clan? How could someone like Lan Zhan, who was an inner member of the Gusu Lan Sect, not hate Wei Ying? Especially now that his identity had been exposed. Why would one of Gusu's Twin Jades go against the whole cultivational world? And for nothing more than in the name of love. 

Wei Ying scoffed, how ridiculous. Lan Zhan would never betray his family for someone like Wei Ying. Wei Ying had always known that, but that didn't mean it didn't still hurt. A small sob wrenched through his throat. A small part of him had always hoped that Lan Zhan would stay, had always hoped this bond that they had would be enough. Oh well. It's not like he blamed him. 

"Wei Ying," a firm voice sounded beside him. "Look at me."

Wei Ying shook his head, tears pooling in his eyes. He didn't want for Lan Zhan to see him in such a pathetic state. Even he wasn't that shameless. 

"Look at me." the voice commanded, and Wei Ying had no choice but to obey. He looked up with watery eyes and immediately, golden orbs locked into him. Lan Zhan's amber eyes were filled with hurt and disbelief. "You think I would leave you?" he asked, disappointment clouding his tone. 

"I-I..." Wei Ying stammered, "I know that you have too much to lose. I won't hold it against you. Anyone would do the same, in your position." 

"You think I'm like everyone else?" 

Wei Ying felt the hot and heavy tears streak down his face. "Everyone leaves me..." he whispered, finally voicing the fears he had buried deep inside. 

"Wei Ying..." 

He sniffled, "It's alright. I promise I won't hate you," Wei Ying said, forcing a smile. 

Lan Zhan gave him a complicated look and didn't reply. 

Wei Ying lowered his head and braced himself. 'This is it,' he thought, a sad smile gracing his lips. 'This is where Lan Zhan leaves. This is where our time together ends.' 

He sniffled. "I really enjoyed it, you know?" he mumbled to no one in particular. "Even if it didn't last." 

"Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan whispered, trailing off at the end. 

Wei Ying held up a hand to hush him. "I don't regret it." he said, with a bittersweet chuckle. "I know it might not seem like a lot to other people, but it means the world to me. To have someone stay by my side and care for me, it was a luxury for me. Thank you for indulging me." a slight pause before he continued, "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I not the Wei Ying that you wanted me to be. And I-" 

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying gasped, as the other grabbed him for a fiery kiss, swallowing all his complaints. "I-"

Lan Zhan attacked his lips, peppering them with kisses till they were bruised and swollen. "You think I would just leave you like that?" he asked incredulously as he latched onto Wei Ying's throat. Sucking on the hickey that had already formed from his earlier actions, he growled, "You want to let me go?" 

Wei Ying moaned, fingers tangling in Lan Zhan's silky hair. 

"You think I would let you leave me?" Lan Zhan snarled, possessiveness radiating from his voice. "You're wrong." he murmured as he crushed Wei Ying's lips to his. 

Wei Ying groaned, grinding his hips against his lover. "Lan Zhan..." he whimpered in relief. Months of anguish and uncertainty came flooding out as the tears glided down his face. Wei Ying felt the weight on his shoulders lighten, and the boulder that sat in his gut finally disappear. 

Lan Zhan really loved him- he loved him enough to stay with him. 

Wei Ying sighed, the tension that had been building up in his muscles relaxing. For the longest time, he was so afraid to love- so afraid of getting burned. He had been the moth that was drawn to the harsh and unforgiving flame. The stupid moth, that was too drawn to the light, even knowing that he would ignite. The moth that should've died, had the flame not retracted its heat. Wei Ying was one fortunate moth. The fire that should've killed him, the intensity that should've scorched him- mellowed to become nothing more than a gentle blanket of heat.

He moaned, losing himself to the red-hot passion burning through his veins. "Lan Zhan..." he whispered with complete love and adoration, "Please..." 

"Shhh, I'll take care of you," the other promised, still trailing kisses down his throat.  

Wei Ying whimpered, his blood rushing south. "Lan Zhan..." he muttered again, pulling back to look at him. Wei Ying searched Lan Zhan's face for any signs of hesitation or discomfort, but all he could see were those bright amber eyes, glowing with love. That was all the answer he needed. Satisfied, Wei Ying gave a sly smile and attacked. He smashed their lips together, hands trailing down to uncharted territories. 

Lan Zhan groaned, a blissful look on his face. "Wei Ying..." he murmured, tenderly priding open his lover's legs. "Are you sure?" he asked before gently slipping a finger into Wei Ying's warm, wet heat. 

"Nggh-!" Wei Ying moaned, a sharp sting of pain bolting through his cheeks, before giving in to the overwhelming pleasure that rushed past him. "Lan Zhan..." he whined, flexing his hips slightly. "Hurry up." 

Lan Zhan smirked, sliding a second finger in before crooking both upwards. 

"LAN ZHAN!" Wei Ying screamed when his fingers hit that sweet spot inside him. A thick fluid dribbled down his cheeks, as he arched his back forwards. 

"You're wet." Lan Zhan said, golden eyes locked on the liquid trailing between his legs. "Good."

"Mph-!" Wei Ying wailed as Lan Zhan suddenly flexed his hips forward and slid into him with one, wet stroke. The sounds of skin slapping skin could be heard echoing through the room. It wasn't long before Wei Ying felt himself drowning in a tsunami of pleasure. He screamed one last time, moaning his throat hoarse. 

"Lan Zhan..." he whispered before collapsing onto their sodden sheets. 

"Mn?" Lan Zhan asked, gently caging Wei Ying in his arms. 

Wei Ying smiled up at his love through watery eyes. The tears just wouldn't stop flowing as he cupped Lan Zhan's face in his hands. "I love you," he murmured, before placing a sloppy kiss over Lan Zhan's heart. It wasn't a perfect one. Oh no, it was far from it. The kiss was slobbery and gross, with strings of drool trailing down the others chest. 

But it was a start. 

It was acknowledgment of their past grievances. 

It was a promise to get better, to learn and grow together. 

It was a toast to forever.