The White Phoenix

Chapter 37 - Emotions and Feelings

"A'Zhan?" Wei Ying called out weakly.

"I'm here, A'Ying," Wangji said to him. Lan Wangji was sitting on the bed beside him as he waited for Wei Ying to wake, "how are you feeling?"

"Sleepy," he answered quietly.

"I bet," Wangji said, "you were hurt so you were given something to ease your pain. It makes you feel sleepy."

"My throat feels dry," he said.

Lan Xichen was already making some sweet water for Wei Ying and handed it to Wangji. He then helped Wei Ying drink, "better?" Wangji asked.

"A little bit," he said, "are you mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?" Wangji asked.

"The tree I climbed, you told me not to ever climb it, but I was in trouble and I felt it was the only way I could get to a safe place," Wei Ying said.

Lan Wangji gently ran his fingers through Wei Ying's hair, "you did the right thing. It actually saved you," Wangji said, "I am sorry if I couldn't get to you quicker."

"A'Zhan, you told me if there was ever an emergency to go to the cave, even if I am away from you. I did as you said but I got kicked out...was it really my fault?" Wei Ying asked.

"No, the people that attacked our home were from the Wen Sect," Wangji told him, "they were looking for something but also received word that you are a very special person. They wanted to take you and use you for evil things."

"We did not want to go with them. I did not want to bring you guys problems," Wei Ying said, "I am so sorry."

Lan Wangji carefully pulled Wei Ying onto his lap and held him close, "you did nothing wrong, A'Ying. I am just glad that you are okay and alive. I do not know what I would do if I lost you."

"I was really scared, A'Zhan," Wei Ying said as he started to cry, "why did that disciple kick me out? What did I do?"

"You did nothing wrong, that person will never hurt you again. They are gone," Wangji assured him.

Wei Ying let out a sob and shoved his face further into Wangji's robes. Lan Wangji held Wei Ying in a comforting embrace, and rocked himself back and forth. He leaned down so he was closer to Wei Ying's ears and started humming a soothing tune. It was something that Wangji had been working in for a long time and was always eager to play it for Wei Ying. He now had the opportunity to do so. As he was humming, Wei Ying was starting to calm down a bit.

"A'Zhan?" Wei Ying said.

"Hmm?"

"My side hurts," he said.

"It is where you were shot with the arrow. Will you let me look at it and change your bandages? GeGe can help by getting you something to ease the pain," Wangji said.

"Okay," Wei Ying agreed. Lan Wangji helped Wei Ying remove his robes so he could check his would. As Wangji was looking at it, Wei Ying was giggling a little bit.

"For someone who is in pain, is quite giggly," Wangji said.

"It hurts but you make me feel ticklish," Wei Ying said and giggled again as Wangji was trying to apply some herbs to his wound.

Lan Wangji just shook his head, "I make you feel ticklish?" He asked, "it's your body not mine."

"Then how do you know how to make me feel ticklish or you know how to soothe me when you comfort me?" Wei Ying asked.

"I don't know, I just do," Wangji answered, "a lot of times, we don't really know how to interpret how we feel. The way you feel better when you feel my fingers run through your hair, because it just makes you feel good and helps you relax. You like how it feels when I hold you, because it makes you feel safe and comfortable. When I am holding you, I feel at ease because I know you are feeling okay. Your happiness is all I want, A'Ying."

"So then, what are feelings and emotions? Why do we feel?" Wei Ying asked.

Lan Wangji looked to his brother for help, so Xichen spoke for him, "having emotions and feelings makes us all human. It lets us know if, say a person is sad, they have a right to cry because they need an outlet to express themselves. Crying helps relieve the pain in a way, it helps you let out pent up emotion. If you feel anger, the first instinct a person would want to do is scream so having emotions is normal."

"Why are you so interested?" Wangji asked.

"I am just curious," Wei Ying answered, "I just like how A'Zhan makes me feel. Even though I'm in a little bit of pain, I don't feel as bad when I am with him."

Lan Wangji smiled fondly at him, "my sweet little bunny," Wangji said as he brushed his finger against Wei Ying's nose.

"I am not a bunny," Wei Ying argued.

"Not a bunny, but my bunny," Wangji told him as he helped him put his robes back on.

Wei Ying giggled as he snuggled up to Wangji, "you're lucky I love you, A'Zhan."

"I love you too, A'Ying," Wangji said as he started running his fingers through Wei Ying's hair again. Wei Ying let out a sigh as he relaxed completely on Wangji and just took in the soothing feeling of Wangji's touch. Lan Wangji even emitted some of his spiritual energy through his fingers to help Wei Ying heal a bit better.