Cloud Recesses morning bell chimed out at 5:00 AM and Lan WangJi opened his eyes. Despite his late and active night, his conditioned reflex of waking at 5:00 AM held, although he was less widely awake than his usual. The warm weight of a naked Wei WuXian was draped over his own unclad body beneath the bedclothes, and he could see the ceiling of the Jingshi only through the veil of dark hair draped over his face. Blinking, he tried to reconcile what he felt with what he saw as the last of sleep lifted from his mind and memory swept over him. Jingshi. With Wei WuXian. Married.

That rare and lovely, gentle smile brightened Lan WangJi's face as he turned to see Wei WuXian sprawled half over the bed and half over himself. Only one eye, closed in sleep, was visible through the curtain of dark hair that covered them both. Married. Lan WangJi offered a quick prayer of gratitude to the gods, before gently working to free himself from his lover's embrace. Wei WuXian became restless as he slipped from the bed, and once again Lan WangJi used his pillow to soothe him back to dreams. He knew Wei WuXian would not be ready to rise for some hours yet.

Moving quickly, Lan WangJi settled to his normal routines, although the details struck him anew as married life brought with it some necessary differences. A wash was interrupted several times by a quick flinch where he rubbed a bruise arising from the night's activities. Dressing meant closing his robes higher about his neck than usual, to hide the marks he'd enjoyed receiving. Hair that had been caught beneath bodies and bedclothes was more tangled and difficult to comb, although it was soon in order, his Lan hair ornaments neatly in place and his forehead band once more in perfect alignment across his brow. The Jingshi had never resembled a junkyard more closely and he found items of clothing in the most peculiar places. He had absolutely no recall of how on earth a sock had ended up hanging from a beam above the table, nor inner robes been suspended from the frame of a picture on his wall, now hanging crookedly and in danger of falling.

This married life would mean changes. Married. Lan WangJi felt a warm and happy sensation flush through him at the idea. I can enjoy changes for Wei Ying, he thought as he settled himself to meditation.

Two hours later, Lan WangJi opened his eyes. Looking to the bed, he saw Wei WuXian sitting up, looking sleep drunk in the centre of the bed, hair free and tumbling over his shoulders as he blinked.

"Good morning, Wei Ying."

"Mnnn?" answered Wei WuXian.

"Wei Ying would like breakfast in the Jingshi this morning?"

"Mnnn....." Wei WuXian threw himself back on the bed. "Aiya, I am not a morning person, my love, but I'll try. For you I'll try..."

Rising, Lan WangJi crossed to the bed and gave his husband a quick kiss on his forehead.

"Wei Ying, get up. I'll get breakfast."

Returning with a tray holding hot congee and tea, Lan WangJi entered the Jingshi and stopped dead in his tracks. Across from the doorway, on the far side of the Jingshi, stood his husband, just tying his red ribbon into his half-up ponytail, the long dark hair cascading down his back. All Lan WangJi saw was Wei WuXian in his red inner robes; all conscious thought had stopped at the intimate sight.

Wei WuXian, seeing his husband immobile in the entrance, quickly skipped over and kissed his cheek, then relieved him of the tray.

"Good morning, dearest! I'm so happy this morning I could take on a night hunt single-handed! Thank you for bringing breakfast... don't just stand there, come and eat."

Lan WangJi allowed himself to be led to the table, Wei WuXian chattering animatedly all the while.

"What will you be doing today, Lan Zhan? Do you have any idea what I could do to help? I don't want to be useless and would really feel better if I had something to do. You broke my poor back last night so perhaps there's something I can do that will let me sit down today, yeah?... Hello? Lan Zhan?" Wei WuXian waved his hand in front of his husband's eyes.

Lan WangJi blinked. "Wei Ying. Dress," he croaked.

Wei WuXian looked down at his red inner robes and back to his husband.

"I am dressed, love, it's only just us and at breakfast."

"Please."

Wei WuXian was a bit puzzled but got up and put on his smoke-grey middle robes, then the black outer robe, tying his sash snugly around his small waist before adding his belt and returning to the table.

"Is that better, Lan Zhan? Is there a problem?"

Lan WangJi's posture relaxed, and the tension eased in his face. "Can't think when Wei Ying undressed."

Merry peals of laughter rang out.

"Aiya! Who knew the perfect Second Jade, the impeccable HanGuang-Jun could have such ideas at breakfast with his husband! Such thoughts! Shall I always be careful to be fully robed before meals, my love?"

"Yes."

"My poor husband! I shall have to take greater care for you and your delicate eyes."

Breakfast was eaten in what passed for silence on the part of Lan WangJi, broken by regular giggles from Wei WuXian whenever he thought of his husband's face on seeing him in his red inner robes, and his insistence that Wei WuXian put on the rest of his clothes before eating.

After breakfast Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian set off for the Hanshi, to ask Lan XiChen how they could best be of assistance. If Wei WuXian took an extra-deep breath for courage before leaving the Jingshi, it went unremarked. He was determined to be himself and be proud of his husband, no matter what the disapproving Lans might think. He took firm hold of Lan WangJi's hand, and they set off to see how they could be of service.

Walking through Cloud Recesses together, Wei WuXian looked about eagerly, seeing the familiar paths and buildings where so many memories lived. He stole a glance at Lan WangJi, tall and cool beside him, and looked where their hands joined, clinging together in warmth and comfort. A broad smile lit his face as he raised his eyes once more to his husband.

My love. My love! My love...his heart sang inside and for that moment in time life seemed faultless and wonderful.

Arriving at the Hanshi, they knocked and awaited response.

"Enter."

The two men bowed to Lan XiChen, seated at his table within.

"ZhongZhang. How is Uncle?" asked Lan WangJi.

"Good morning, WangJi. WuXian." Lan XiChen bowed in return. "Thank you for coming. I appreciate your..." he paused, seeking the right word. "...your clever solution so you could return immediately. Healer Zhang says the Cold Cavern seems to be helping. Uncle has been more stable, and the stasis is more effective there. He thinks they can carefully extend the stasis indefinitely, with close monitoring of Uncle and care so that his body isn't harmed by the cold." Lan XiChen closed his eyes, took a breath, and reopened them. "There's no history of anything similar yet and no way to know how long this will continue or if it can even be treated. We simply know nothing yet..." His voice trailed away.

"Thank you for sharing," said a quiet Wei WuXian. "Grandmaster would appreciate your great care and concern for him."

"What shall I do?" asked the practical Lan WangJi.

"If you agree, I would appreciate if you could oversee the classes Uncle was teaching. The disciples are too young to help and should be kept in classes to maintain their studies as well as discipline while we figure things out. Will you agree?"

"Mn. And for Wei Ying?"

"XiChen-Ge, I would like to help, too. I know your elders would never approve me leading a class, but surely there's something I can do to help? They won't let me near the teaching or your uncle because of my Demonic Cultivation." Wei WuXian paused to roll his eyes. "Surely there's something I can do? I never liked classes but you know I was always a top student, and I've got a lot of experience in many things these past years. Please put me to use. And a task should help keep me out of mischief, yeah?" A crooked grin flashed out as silver eyes sparked.

"WuXian, thank you. Yes, I always enjoyed how quickly you could think and draw useful conclusions from little evidence. If you are willing, would you please help the research efforts? We have begun to receive the elders' written recollections and we hope the nearest Clans will start to return responses from their records soon. If you could help sift these through and find anything we can use to help Uncle or understand what's happening, it would be appreciated."

"I am honoured to help in any way I can. Where is the information being collected?"

"For now, we are using the Library Pavilion, to facilitate any research in our own records."

For a few minutes the men discussed the division of tasks and arranged to speak again after the evening meal, unless something should arise earlier. Matters settled to their satisfaction, they rose to head out to their responsibilities. Outside the Hanshi, as XiChen left for the Main Hall, Wei WuXian turned to Lan WangJi. Taking both hands in his own, he leaned forward and gave a small, light kiss.

"Thank you, husband, for knowing I want to help. And for asking your brother to let me," he said quietly.

Lan WangJi looked at Wei WuXian. He kissed him back, another quick soft kiss. "Of course, Brother will let Wei Ying help. Wei Ying is smart."

A pretty blush spread over Wei WuXian's features and his smile broadened into one of his trademarked ear-to-ear radiant smiles.

"Aiya, husband! You'll make my head swell with the compliments and then where will we be? You all perfect and towing a melon-head husband with you!"

A faintly heard wisp of sound "...shameless..." slipped into hearing on the breeze, from where others were passing toward their own tasks. As soon as he saw the smile falter on Wei WuXian's face, Lan WangJi took decisive action. Arms suddenly went around Wei WuXian and drew him close in a firm embrace as two lips crushed his in a fierce and wonderful kiss that lasted a breathless minute. Knees weak, Wei WuXian's eyes went wide, then closed, and his useless knees left him sagging into the embrace, held up by his husband as his own legs abandoned their duty. Drawing apart once more, a slightly dazed Wei WuXian looked up at his husband.

Warm fires in golden depths glowed. "Shameless? Why should there be shame in loving? Remember, we're..." and Lan WangJi paused, waiting for Wei WuXian to finish his sentence.

"...married," answered Wei WuXian, with a return of that brilliant smile. Legs regained strength and he stood tall and proud before his husband. "Thank you, my love. I needed that." A quick hug and the men parted, Lan WangJi to the Lanshi, while Wei WuXian headed to the Library Pavilion, feeling a renewed confidence and determination to beat the whispers into the ground. And a not quite entirely hidden desire that if the whispers could not be beaten, then perhaps the whisperers... he removed his hand from ChenQing, tucked into his sash, shook off the thought and turned to the task in hand.