WangXian Untamed Together

Chapter 1 - Reacquaintance

The afternoon passed quietly in the Jingshi.

Lan Zhan was unable to take his eyes - or hands - from the sleeping Wei WuXian.

Off to one side, seated discreetly at the desk, Healer Shui quietly completed his records. He made periodic checks on Wei WuXian, appending the notes every time. He took careful note of the complexion gradually returning from the stark pallor, pleased to see the gentle improvement in colour. Pulses were checked and a satisfied hum was heard when they, too, were found to be growing stronger, even though Wei WuXian's Qi and Meridians could not be properly assessed with the disturbances within. The utter relaxation of the patient's body, deep in sleep, was duly noted and reflexes approved. No further tremors appeared, large or small, to the mutual satisfaction of both the Healer and Lan WangJi.

Wei WuXian slept peacefully as his colour slowly improved, his breathing soft and even. Every so often he would shift in bed, or roll his head, but he did not awaken again. Lan WangJi sat in an almost meditative state, holding one limp hand in his own, as if to lose contact would see his beloved taken beyond his reach yet again. Lan WangJi's eyes roved from one small detail to another - the tiny mole below his husband's lip, the sharply drawn, thick brows, the way his hair spread thick and heavy across the pillows now and not curling gently into his neck as it had done so very recently. Each small point anchored something deep within Lan WangJi's soul and he spent the afternoon reacquainting himself with the small things he'd believed gone forever, now so inexplicably before him once more. Several times he loosened Wei WuXian's robes and ran gentle fingertips across scars unseen for many years, as he recalled how they were caused or first seen before he tucked Wei WuXian warmly beneath the clothes and covers once more. Those same soft touches would then feather over features impossible to exist, yet miraculously warm beneath Lan WangJi's touch, a face long gone yet now alive once more before his eyes.

At last, just before the evening meal, Healer Shui spoke with Lan WangJi. "I have not seen any further seizure activity, HanGuang-Jun. Master Wei's temperature and pulses have been stable all day. I think probably things have run their course - whatever it may have been. I will take my leave and report to Healer Zhang. Shall I have your evening meal brought to you here?"

"Please," replied Lan WangJi, sparing a moment to look into the Healer's eyes. "Thank you for your care of Wei Ying."

Healer Shui simply smiled and with a reassuring nod, he took his leave.

The evening meal was brought and consumed, and still Wei WuXian slept on. After clearing things away, Lan WangJi turned to his guqin. He could not deny the need for something to redirect his thoughts, which had begun to dwell too heavily on Wei WuXian's continued slumber. Lan WangJi drifted through the healing songs he had played in the evenings prior to Wei WuXian's injury, and found his fingers gradually turned to simple melodies of his childhood. Easy, light airs brought comfort and folk songs that evoked hope and promise flew delicately from the strings as his fingertips wandered without conscious direction. Lan WangJi's thoughts were tangled in memories of Wei WuXian - as he was, as he had become, as he appeared to be again - until his confused and yearning mind brought his light touch back into WangXian, and a semblance of peace at last. Appropriately, and possibly inevitably, the final notes were matched with a musical sigh, as Wei WuXian turned on his side and opened his eyes to his husband at last.

"Lan Zhan," he breathed quietly, reaching a hand toward where Lan WangJi knelt at his instrument.

Like a moth to a flame, Lan WangJi rose and made his way over to the bedchamber, sitting at the edge of the mattress.

"Wei Ying."

For several minutes the two men simply gazed at one another, Wei WuXian always more peaceful near his husband and Lan WangJi drinking in the sight of his Wei Ying - in whatever guise, he did not care, so long as it was his Wei Ying.