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"Roll over like a good boy." Jin Guangshan chuckled, sitting back on his throne with Wei Wuxian kneeling before him, staring at the glass jar situated on his thigh.
Alone in the large hall, Wei Ying did just that, before returning to staring at the jar, the soul inside wilting, losing its flame and flicker like a ceasing fire. Wei Wuxian was wearing thin, his hope running out and his humanity fading.
Jin Guangshan barked a laugh, moving Wei Ying to his side by his hair, tutting at the bruising on his jaw, he clutched his leash, "Feed me, pet." He ordered, sitting back he slung his legs over the edge of his throne and pulled Wei Ying to do the same, wrapping an arm around the boy's waist and waiting to be hand-fed grapes like a child.
Wei Ying blinked, turning away from the fading crimson orb to collect a few grapes in his palms, picking one and feeding it to Jin Guangshan who hummed appreciatively, "A man can get used to this," He sighed, forcing Wei Ying's head down on his shoulder, "More grapes."
Wei Ying continued feeding him, like a puppet he moved with the lifelessness of a water wheel, lifting his hand back and forth, numb to the caresses on his waist.
Wei Ying lifted his hand, about to feed him another grape only for his wrist to be caught.
Jin Guangshan squawked, one second, he was being fed grapes, and the next, the jar had been taken and he was on the floor.
Lan Zhan breathed in relief, bringing Wei Ying into his chest and hugging him tightly, "Wei Ying..." He whispered, cupping the back of his head and gathering his hair.
Nie Mingjue grinned, passing the jar to Jiang Yanli who held it close. He glared, lifting Baxia to the man's throat.
Jin Guangshan clenched his fists, "I was just putting an uncontrolled beast to use!" He yelled, trying to stand only to be kicked down again.
Lan Zhan grit his teeth, taking the lid of the jar and throwing it like a liquor bottle's corkscrew, "No. You were merely acting cruelly." He growled, turning his sights away from the vile pathetic man on the floor to his beautiful soulmate whose eyes were glued to the jar once more.
His heart ached, knowing how his soulmate had been taunted for weeks and weeks with his own soul... but it burned to see the purple patches lining his jaw and the leather around his neck.
Yanli sniffed, bringing Wei Ying into a back hug she passed the jar to Lan Wangji who took it with a heavy breath, holding it like the pure treasure it is.
Wei Ying was still silent as the grave, his eyes following wherever the jar went.
Lan Zhan's heart skipped beat after beat as he oh so carefully cupped the orb between his fingers, it felt like everything and nothing at the same time. All Lan Zhan could feel was the slight pressure of it touching his fingers, his heart was in his hands.
Lan Zhan took a shaky breath, he could feel all of Wei Ying's emotions, laid out for him like a buffay, he felt his anxiety, his fear, his impatience, his eagerness.
He felt love.
Lan Zhan trembled, turning to Wei Ying, the boy met his eyes.
Lan Zhan clenched his jaw, maintaining eye contact as he returned the soul.
Wei Ying's eyes widened and he jolted as if he had been stabbed, his arms moving to wrap around Lan Zhan's neck for support as he fell to the floor.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see if it had worked, if they had succeeded.
"Lan Zhan..." Wei Ying whispered, making the boy gasp and scramble to bring him closer.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan cried, tearing the filthy leather off of his neck and pulling him onto his lap, "Wei Ying Wei Ying..."
Yanli and Jiang Cheng sobbed, falling to the floor and hugging their brother, they'd missed him so much, finally, it was over, everything was over and their precious Wei could return.
Wei Ying trembled, eyes darting around he could finally process weeks and months worth of torture. Losing his home, the Burial Mounds, returning, fighting in a war, then being trapped in this golden palace.
Everything he should have felt, would have felt had he been in possession of his soul, hit him all at once.
The cries grew gradually, his shock fading, with the patience of a volcano his pain bubbled, rising gradually until he erupted in screams and tears and thrashes, hitting his own head in hopes of escaping his misery and fleeing to the dark realm of unconsciousness.
Finally, with a jolt of blue, it turned dark.
***
When he next awoke, he was back in Lotus Pier, finally, home, and being pampered by his elder sister, "Shije..." He whispered, making her gasp in relief.
"A-Xian!" She cheered, leaning down to hug his neck, "Oh A-Xian, how are you feeling?"
Wei Ying winced, sitting up he felt like an old rocking chair, aching and creaking and clicking as he sat up, "Tired Shije." He smiled softly, looking around and breathing in a deep breath, "But I'm relieved to be home..."
Yanli smiled, "I'm so happy your home too A-Xian." She sniffed, cupping his cheek, "Ah... I'll take my leave now." She chuckled.
Wei Ying frowned, watching her leave only to blush at who was standing in the doorway, looking at him with the softest of gazes, "Wei Ying..." Lan Zhan murmured, walking forward sit beside him on the bed.
Wei Ying almost felt like prey as Lan Zhan sat next to him, their knees clashing, "I-I guess I should thank you for s-saving me." Wei Ying bit his bottom lip awkwardly.
Lan Zhan grinned, shaking his head, "You owe me nothing, you are my soulmate."
Wei Ying's eyes widened and he blinked repeatedly, a soft pink hue dusting his cheeks, "A-Ah..." He nodded, "R-Right, yes yes soulmate." He agreed, looking away.
Lan Zhan smiled, intertwining his fingers with Wei Ying's, "Wei Ying," He took a deep breath, caressing the back of his hands, his thumbs rising and falling like riding waves, "When I held your soul... I felt love."
Wei Ying stiffened, "L-Love? Lan Zhan I-I- mmph!"
But Lan Zhan could no longer resist, Jin Guangshan was behind bars, his soulmate was free, the war was over and he was ready to live his life.
Like a magnet, he was lured to the adorable pink hue and plush red lips, laying a loving kiss on them.
Wei Ying gasped, yet, his eyes sunk like a sunset and soon fluttered shut, dropping back down into the pillows, they shared soft kisses.
Wei Ying smiled, wrapping his legs around Lan Zhan's hips, I love you, and it's the best feeling in the world.
