[[[忘羡 | WangXian 1]] : The Second Kiss That Came Too Soon

[49.] Sleep.

**

Lan Xichen had locked himself in his room, and could not decide. He was torn between politics and his brother's life. The choice looked really simple, but it wasn't. All the repercussions of such an outrageous act – a marriage nonetheless!  -  would be ringing through the years to come – he could not inflict such shame to his whole Clan. Two clans.

But then, there were two lives at stake. Was he bold enough, reckless enough, to sacrifice two lives for politics? He was staring through the open window into the distance; the sky and mountains seemed unattainable and serene from here. 

"What is the most important thing in the world?"  –  he asked himself.

- Serenity. Love. Life. Harmony. Peace. Wisdom.  –  he recited, as if in a dream.

Now he moved quickly. He ordered immediately that his brother be moved to Wei Wuxian's room, and the servants joined two beds together – not daring to comment or ask questions; they all understood how serious things were – the Young Master Lan was as pale as a ghost, but his cheeks were ruby red at the same time. He was burning up.

Night fell again, and all the two Clans could do now was wait.

**

Lan Zhan woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of falling rain, and in a dark and unfamiliar room. He immediately jumped in his bed, his first thought was about Wei Ying, and how he was. He looked around frantically, wondering if the door was still locked, if he could get out somehow and go to him. When his eyes got accustomed to the darkness, he noticed a slender figure, all in white, sleeping in a bed next to his.

His eyes filled up with tears. He knew that figure oh so well! Very carefully, as not to wake him up, he moved to the other bed, and gently took Wei Ying in his embrace, listening to his steady heartbeat, feeling his breath on his skin, holding him tight. The fall of raindrops on the window lulled him to sleep, and he slept, with a smile on his face.


**

Even before the first rays of the sun had colored the sky, Lan Xichen quietly entered Wei Wuxian's room. He hadn't slept all night, and looked awfully spent. He entered the room aware that he might find one, or both of the boys, dead. His mind was blank, afraid to even guess and think about it.

What he saw filled his heart with wonder. They were both sleeping peacefully, entwined into each other  –  one could not guess where Lan Zhan's limbs ended and where Wei Wuxian's started, as they wore identical Gusu Lan Clan robes.

Lan Xichen approached and looked closely. They slept like innocent children, breathing evenly and calmly; Lan Zhan was smiling in his sleep, and his fever was gone, Wei Wuxian had never looked so peaceful, his lips touching Lan Zhan's neck slightly as he was sleeping and breathing into his lover's collarbone, his head nested comfortably in his most favorite spot in the whole world. It was a small miracle, and Lan Xichen's eyes filled with tears. 

He remembered the final words the priest told him, as they were saying their goodbyes:

- No man should part what the Gods have intended to be one. It's a sin. Perhaps the greatest sin of all. Who are we to decide what is black, and what is white  –  what is right and wrong? This is for the Heavens to decide.