Lan WangJi stood and crossed to where Wei WuXian awaited him, dressed solely in those red inner robes that sang their siren call, impossible for Lan WangJi to resist.

Wei WuXian raised his hands and removed his husband's guan and pins, then placed them in a small tray. Nimble fingers undid the knot holding Lan WangJi's forehead band in place and the ribbon was removed, folded, kissed and laid aside on the table beside their bed. Lan WangJi in turn removed Wei WuXian's leather and bronze guan, then his scarlet hair ribbon, placing the guan beside his own in the tray and curling the ribbon to lay beside his own. Long practise made short work of complicated knots in tangling ties until both men's hair lay sleek behind their shoulders, twin clouds of warm, dark weight.

Wei WuXian's gentle hands reached out and undid Lan WangJi's belt and sash, setting them carefully aside, before moving through each layer of robes, untying fastenings. He folded each garment and set it neatly out of the way, as he knew his husband preferred. Layer by layer, Wei WuXian lovingly exposed his husband until he was revealed in all his beauty; strong, lean muscles leading up to a sweetly carved face. Wei WuXian's lips parted in an exhalation of appreciation, mind and thoughts caught up in admiration. Truly, my Lan Zhan is the human equivalent of a perfect jade carving. The planes and angles of Lan WangJi's strong face and body, the gentle curves at cheek and thigh entranced Wei WuXian's eyes. A flash of darkness passed through his silver eyes as Lan WangJi turned to place his garments on the wardrobe where they belonged and revealed the 33 criss-crossed scars of his love for his Wei Ying. Yes, a carved jade figure perhaps, but one that had been terribly, painfully defiled. Wei WuXian reached out and laid his hand tenderly upon the proof of his love's devotion.

"All for you. Only for you," Lan WangJi whispered. He turned, took Wei WuXian's hand and raised it to his lips. His heart hurt, noting how the knuckles stood forth so clearly, too large for the slim fingers and wasted hand they adorned. He gently removed Wei WuXian's final layer, those tantalizing scarlet robes, until the two men stood together, moon pale and golden skin in soft contrast.

Lan WangJi's eyes took in the sight of Wei WuXian, something of which he never tired. He noted the dark circles, too clear beneath those hollow but still mercurial silver eyes. The chin too sharp these days, ribs too prominent. He tightened his jaw as he saw Wei WuXian's gently swelling tummy. One full bowl of rice and he was so overfull it could be seen. The hipbones cast stark shadows below the small bump of stomach. Once beautiful legs were now too skinny, the knees too large in contrast to the narrow limbs. Lan WangJi felt something in his heart twist and ache at the sight of his beloved husband's wasting frame.

Wei WuXian was returning the favour, view for view, lost in admiration for the long expanses of lean muscle and beautiful proportions, revelling in the thought that this vision of male pulchritude was his, given wholly into his keeping. He felt keenly aware of the honour, while doubting his own worthiness. He struggled with feeling his own sorrows. Grief for the scars he could see licking over the shoulders and upper arms from the Discipline Whip. A spiritual weapon intended to leave such damage it would inflict a lifelong reminder of both the transgression and the cost. Thirty-three stripes Lan WangJi should never have survived and so nearly did not. The Wen Sun branded onto an otherwise perfect chest, an ever-present memento of a love once thought lost beyond redemption. They had suffered through much to find one another, to finally be together.

"We're together now," Wei WuXian said softly, as he gave voice to his thoughts. "I'd endure everything all over again to be with you. Or to save you from going through any of it."

Lan WangJi raised his eyes to Wei WuXian, who caught his breath at the pain he could see reflected. "Lan Zhan? Are you alright?"

Rather than answer immediately, Lan WangJi stepped into the tub and, turning, swept Wei WuXian up into his arms before settling down, placing him in his lap.

"Lan Zhan?" When no answer was received, Wei WuXian knew Lan WangJi was struggling to express himself as he so often did and settled to quietly wait for his response. He was both too exhausted to press and unwilling to goad Lan WangJi into speaking before he felt his words prepared.

Lan WangJi took the soft cloth and soap from the stool next to the tub and began to gently attend his husband. Long, soothing strokes down limbs too painfully thin. Gentle rubs over a tender stomach, warm sweeps across a back... Lan Zhan's hand trembled and stilled. Every knob of Wei WuXian's spine was clearly visible, from just below his hairline, down to the gentle swell of his decreasing behind. Even his buttocks were withering away, their jaunty protrusion grown flat and unimpressive. Lan WangJi dropped his forehead to his husband's back with a short, broken cry, the agony in his soul finally demanding expression, even as he fought to suppress it.

Wei WuXian turned quickly, his eyes wide with concern.

"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, my love, what's wrong?" He placed one wet hand below Lan WangJi's chin and raised it until their eyes met, silver searching gold. "What's the matter?"

"Wei Ying. You... I... Wei Ying, you aren't well!" Lan WangJi's silence broke; he knew Wei WuXian did not handle discussions of his own well being in a gracious manner, knew he would dismiss and scoff at his concern, yet he could hold back no longer.

"Look how skinny you are! I'm afraid for you..." Lan WangJi raised one of Wei WuXian's hands and held his own beside it for contrast.

"Look how thin your fingers are."

He pulled the hand he held, stretching it out until the arm straightened and thrust his own beside it in comparison

"Look how thin your arms are."

Wei WuXian pulled his hand back and wrapped his arms around his (shockingly, terribly clear) ribs.

"I don't know what to say, Lan Zhan."

"What can I do? How can I help you?"

"I don't know, alright?!" Wei WuXian snapped at his husband, his own upset rising by the minute. "I don't know why I can't eat. I don't know why I keep throwing up. I don't know, Lan Zhan, I don't know!"

Lan WangJi enfolded Wei WuXian in his arms, who seemed to shrink, as if trying to hide within that protective embrace, turning his face into his husband's throat.

"I'm trying, Lan Zhan," Wei WuXian continued, the heat gone from his words and a pleading tone in its place. "I try to eat. I promise I try, even though so often I end up losing it. I'm just so... so tired all the time. I'm so tired I can't stand the thought of food. So tired sometimes sitting up to make notes is too hard and I write lying down. I ache from being tired. I..." Wei WuXian swallowed. "I think I need to ask for that sleeping medicine from Healer Shui, after all, alright my love? I'll go see him tomorrow after the Cold Cavern and try and see if getting some sleep helps, yeah?" He turned his pinched face up to see his husband's eyes, full of concern and more than a little fear for him.

"I'll go tomorrow, I promise. And I'll take it. Even if it's one of those horrible, medicine teas you Lans love so well," he continued.

"Promise?"

"I do."

Lan WangJi stood and took a towel, then lifted Wei WuXian easily into it, tucking it about him securely before wrapping another about his own hips. He easily lifted Wei WuXian in his arms and placed him softly in their bed, turning away a moment to secure another towel and a comb. Sitting himself down on the bed behind his husband's back, Lan WangJi gently dried and combed his husband's hair, humming quietly. Wei WuXian, for his part, sat silently, enjoying his husband's ministrations even as he understood the message of the humming. Lan WangJi was too upset to continue speaking and needed to soothe himself before continuing the conversation. Once his hair was combed and nearly dry, Wei WuXian returned the favour, gently untangling and combing through Lan WangJi's hair until it fell like silk down his back. When this was done, Lan WangJi took the towels away, placed the comb where it belonged and brought their night robes over. Moments sufficed to dress, and Lan WangJi returned to sit on the bed with his husband once again. He took Wei WuXian's hands in his own and was quiet for a minute before raising his face to his husband once more.

"Wei Ying promises to see Healer Shui tomorrow."

"Yes."

"Wei Ying will take sleeping medicine if prescribed."

"Yes."

"Wei Ying will tell Healer Shui things are getting worse with eating and sleeping."

Wei WuXian shifted uncomfortably before heaving a sigh of surrender.

"Yes. I'll tell him."

"Wei Ying promised. Wei Ying will do it."

Lan WangJi held his husband's gaze, unflinching, until Wei WuXian gave a small nod in reluctant agreement.

"I promise."

Lan WangJi stretched forward and sealed the promise with a kiss. Carefully he pressed his husband back on their bed, using his kiss to tell him wordlessly how deeply he was loved, how terribly he was wanted, how cherished he would be forevermore.

Warm, clean skin was kissed and licked, caressed by mouth and hand until all worries fled and there was nothing left but two souls entangled together in a heated place outside the world and its cares and concerns. A place the size and shape of the two men with room only for their mutual devotion.

Night robes were sloughed, and bodies worshipped. Lips and tongues and hands travelled without direction, content so long as their soulmate's skin was in contact; where didn't matter, how was irrelevant, their connection was the only need that remained. Nature and instinct combined to lead them where they were meant to be, and neither man resisted the direction. Pure, naked desire brought them together in a mess of sweat and wet kisses, hands sliding on slick skin, throats gasping wordless sounds of want and of welcome. A final, heaving convulsion and two voices cried out almost in unison before the calls faded away and the panting breaths slowly evened out.

Lan WangJi slipped reluctantly from his husband's arms, returning quickly with a basin of warm water and a cloth, attending to Wei WuXian and then himself before once more dressing them in their night robes and slipping close together into bed. Wei WuXian curled close to Lan WangJi's left side, placing his ear where he could best listen to the heartbeat of his lover, that calming and reassuring backdrop to his nights. Lan WangJi bent his neck and kissed Wei WuXian on the top of his head.

"Good night, Wei Ying."

"Good night, Lan Zhan, my love."

Lan Zhan slept well that night, despite his concerns over what the next day might bring.

Wei WuXian could not really be said to have slept at all. The fragment of sleep between awake and trapped within a nightmare was now vanishingly short. No sooner had Wei WuXian's body relaxed to sleep than the ice, the heat and the torment kicked in, and lasted until his very essence fled in fear of its continuation.

"... meant well..."

"... appreciate...."

"... listened to us...."

"... tried... help."

"Thank you."

"... sorry."

"...you..."

"... we..."

"... what was yours..."