Phoenix

Chapter 17*Revised*

                Wei Wuxian woke up feeling sore but with a sense of peace that promised nothing could be wrong with the world. The closer he got to wakefulness the more comfortable he felt. He was reluctant to wake up from the best sleep he has had in years. Snuggling closer to his great-smelling pillow while burying himself further in the bed had him realizing a few things that initially escaped his notice. 

                 For one, his pillow was hard, had a heartbeat, and moved up and down slowly. He also noticed that someone was running their hands through his hair softly. It puzzled him with the number of knots he usually had after sleeping. After his brain began functioning, he registered the soothing scent as Sandalwood. He associated the scent with Lan Wangji, making him remember the day before.

                His face became tomato red, thinking of their wedding night. He squeaked and hid his face in what he now knew to be Lan Wangji's chest. He was so flustered that it took him a second to register the chest below him moving. Small, airy sounds seemed to be coming from his husband. Worried that something might be wrong with Lan Wangji he looked up. 

                He froze at Lan Zhan's smiling face in awe. The noises were small chuckles that returned at Wei Wuxian's stupefied face. Lan Wangji kissed his forehead gently before shifting Wei Wuxian off him to get ready for the day emotionless face back in place. Wei Wuxian was wondering if he had imagined the beautiful sight. His husband just looked at him impassively. " Wei Ying, the others are waiting for us to go."

                Lan Wangji walked away to prepare a bath for Wei Wuxian and get him some clothes to wear. Wei Wuxian thought it was sweet but highly unnecessary since he could do it himself, or so he thought. As soon as he tried to stand up from the bed, he collapsed on the floor. His legs did not support his weight, and the hard fall aggravated the pain in his backside. Lan Wangji hurried over to him effortlessly, lifting him back up to the bed with an exasperated, fond look on his face. " Wei Ying"  

              Not wanting to be embarrassed further Wei Wuxian looked away pouting. He was obviously ignoring the reprimand in his husband's voice. He just sat with crossed arms, grumbling about stupidly strong husbands who had to show off. If Lan Wangji had not been a Lan, he would have rolled his eyes at Wei Wuxian's childish commentary. As it was, he was just fond of the man that would be at his side forever.

             When the bath was nice and hot, he undressed again down to his pants before carefully lifting Wei Wuxian and placing him inside. It was when he was pulling his arms away to get the soaps that he felt Wei Wuxian grab his arm in a death grip. " La-Lan Zhan, what's this?" Lan Wangji looked at the arm that Wei Wuxian was holding stoically. 

               From the wrist to the elbow of his inner arm, runes were etched into his skin, surrounding the shape of a phoenix, all in different shades of red. He just motioned towards Wei Wuxian's left upper arm. A blue dragon seemed to be wrapped around Wei Wuxian's arm with silver runes all along the dragon's serpentine body. "We might have to ask Lan Yi, but I believe they are full mate marks." He answered emotionlessly before walking away, letting Wei Wuxian bathe himself.

                 It's not that Lan Wangji didn't want to help Wei Wuxian get clean, but he knew the limits of his self-restraint. Touching a naked Wei Wuxian would definitely make them late. If they left the house at all. Personally, that would have been his preference if he had any say in the matter. Wei Wuxian was now his and all Lan Wangji wanted was to keep him in bed and show him repeatedly how much Lan Wangji loved him. To show him that he was now part of Lan Wangji's hoard. 

              However, Lan Wangji understood the importance of training. He already felt that he was different from yesterday. While he had tried meditating in bed, his core had surged with a cold power, and the room they had been resting in had acquired a layer of frost. He was worried about his new husband, so he stopped immediately and tried to cover him further with a blanket. It was a pointless endeavor since when he touched Wei Wuxian's skin, a wave of heat came out. The heat was enough to melt the ice while he sleeping. He pulled the surprised Lan Wangji under back him like a pillow.