The White Phoenix

Chapter 33 - Important

After a long week of training, Wei Ying was able to take a couple days off. He was happy that he is learning to control his fire abilities but he was also happy that he can relax for a bit. He was chilling at the Jingshi sitting at his desk with ink and parchment out in front of him. Lan Wangji was sitting at the table with Lan Xichen telling him about Wei Ying's progress through the week.

Wei Ying was ignoring everything around him except for one person. He was drawing him, getting each line drawn out correctly and making sure the details are right. He was drawing Lan Wangji. As he sat there drawing him, he decided to add one little touch to the drawing. He painted a flower in his hair. Wei Ying giggled at the finished product.

Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji looked at Wei Ying wondering what he was laughing about. Wei Ying took his drawing and brought it over to Lan Wangji.

"A'Zhan, I have a present for you," he said giving it to him.

Lan Wangji took the drawing and looked over it. He was impressed with how well drawn it was...until he spotted the flower and knew what Wei Ying was laughing about.

"It's nice," Lan Wangji said setting on the table, "thank you."

"I'm glad you like it," Wei Ying said with another giggle, "I thought the flower would show off your soft side."

Lan Xichen chuckled at Wei Ying's comment. Lan Wangji looked at his brother and then at Wei Ying who were both laughing. Lan Wangji quickly grabbed Wei Ying and pulled him to his lap. He tickled Wei Ying as a punishment for taunting him.

"A'Zhan!" Wei Ying laughed, "You don't...like...my teasing!"

Lan Wangji stopped tickling him and wrapped his arms around Wei Ying, "I can get you back. A'Ying doesn't like payback."

"That is because all you do is tickle me as payback," Wei Ying argued.

"Well, you are trapped here on my lap now, you can't move or go anywhere," Wangji told him.

"But I still have my ink out," Wei Ying said.

Lan Xichen got up and took care of Wei Ying's ink, "I got it, you just sit there and think about what you did," Xichen said with a chuckle.

"GeGe, would you like a drawing?" Wei Ying asked.

"If you are offering," Xichen said.

"Want a picture of Jilpa?" Wei Ying teased, "I saw that you were googly eyes over her at last practice."

"GeGe?" Wangji asked, "do you like Jilpa?"

"I like her as a person, but not in the way you two seem to think," Xichen argued.

"I thought lying is forbidden," Wei Ying said.

"It is," Wangji said.

"But, GeGe just lied," Wei Ying teased.

"He did," Wangji agreed.

"Don't make me come over there," Xichen said.

"GeGe, is it wrong or embarrassing to like someone?" Wei Ying asked, "I Like A'Zhan. He said we are soulmates. Is that something to be embarrassed about?"

Xichen looked at Wangji. Wangji nodded in confirmation, "It is not wrong to like someone," Xichen said, "and it is not supposed to be embarrassing unless you are being teased about it all the time."

"But teasing you and A'Zhan is fun," Wei Ying said, "you both get so flustered."

Lan Wangji smirked and placed a kiss on Wei Ying's cheek. Wei Ying giggled and shoved his face into Wangji's chest. Lan Wangji placed his hand on the back of Wei Ying's head and gently started to rub his fingers against his scalp. Wei Ying started to melt further into Wangji as Wangji sat there holding him.

"And you just melt into like a puddle," Wangji said.

"Because this feels nice," Wei Ying said as he wrapped his arms around Wangji, "I'm a bit sleepy today."

"You trained a lot this week and you did a good job with it," Wangji said, "you can sleep if you want."

"I just might," Wei Ying said, "but I do not want to move."

"You can sleep here in my lap, you have done so before," Wangji told him. Wei Ying nodded as he snuggled up closer to Wangji. His face nuzzled into Wangji's robes. Lan Wangji continued to rub his fingers through Wei Ying's hair. Lan Xichen is always so surprised on how quick Wangji can get Wei Ying to settle down. It was always so fascinated. For a very long time, Lan Wangji wouldn't even come close to accepting touch or even giving off any sort of comfort. Seeing Lan Wangji like this, it always makes Lan Xichen feel so grateful for Wei Ying being in his life.

Lan Wangji had become a completely different person the moment he agreed to raise Wei Ying. The night Wei Ying was born, all he wanted was to be in Wangji's arms. Lan Wangji grew fond of Wei Ying right away, and Xichen didn't even expect him to so quickly. Lan Xichen also liked that Wangji was so open to Wei Ying. He was willing to tell Wei Ying about his past, what he is, what he could do, and what he is to become. Even telling him they are soulmates.

"Is he asleep?" Xichen asked as he returned to sitting with Wangji.

"Mnn, he is out," Wangji replied.

"You are really good with him," Xichen told him, "it's nice to see you so open, and happy and playful."

"A'Ying makes me feel like I'm important," Wangji said, "I always felt I wasn't long ago. I questioned myself and my self worth a lot."

"Why did you keep that to yourself? Why did you not come talk to me?" Xichen asked.

"Didn't want to burden you with anything," Wangji replied, "since Mother died, I felt like I was always a bad child because no one told me what really happened to her. So I felt I was not good."

Lan Xichen was so surprised to hear Wangji finally talk about how he felt. He knew he was in pain, but he didn't realize just how much that the lack of communication with him hurt him, "Wangji, you deserve to be happy, and you should know that you were never at fault for what happened to our mother. You are important to me, to Uncle, and now to A'Ying. Never forget that you are loved by us," Xichen told him.

Lan Wangji nodded, "I'm sorry I never told you."

"It's alright, but just know you can always talk to me or tell me anything and everything," Xichen said, "I will never judge you or question your feelings. Your feelings are real, and you have to understand that."

"With Wei Ying, I am much happier and I feel like I am doing good by him," Wangji said.

"I can see that," Xichen said.