Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 7

                      On that fifth night, Wei Wuxian had not returned by dinner time. Lan Wangji quickly set off to find him and Madam Yu. He found her quickly enough, but she had no idea where Wei Wuxian was. Together, they searched for the mischievous young man. When they found him, Lan Wangji's blood ran cold. "Lan Wangji, he is your soulmate, so it is your job to handle this. If you are unable to my ward will leave with me at dawn. Prove to me you are worth my ward's regard." With a new sense of fear filling his anger, he rushed into the ancestral hall. He refused to lose Wei Ying without a fight.

                     Wei Ying was kneeling surrounded by elders yelling about his insignificance. Telling him how embarrassing it was for their second jade's soulmate to be an unruly servant. At that point, Lan Wangji didn't care about the rules. Wei Wuxian looked almost broken. "Elders, what is the meaning of this? You are not authorized to speak to my fiance. You are breaking the very clear terms of our marriage contract. As such, I require the council to immediately apologize to him for your lack of decorum." 

                    The elders sputtered in rage. "Wangji, how dare you Inter-" "NO! How dare all of you assume to know how I feel about my soulmate? How dare all of you target my betrothed behind my back? I am NOT my father. I refuse to allow this council to destroy my other half. This Wangji is willing to leave the sect first."

                      He gently lifted Wei Wuxian off the floor and led him out of the hall by the hand. He nodded to the woman waiting outside, knowing Madam Yu would handle the rest. He took Wei Wuxian back to the Jingshi as fast as he could. After closing the door, he started looking over his love to make sure no real harm had been done to him. His bright silver eyes were dull, his face expressionless, and he was eerily still. 

                     Lan Wangji was so worried that he dragged the man to the warm bath he had prepared for him earlier. He undressed Wei Wuxian so worriedly that not an ounce of desire crossed his mind. The warm water started bringing back some color to the young man's features. Tenderly, Lan Wangji washed Wei Wuxian's hair, hoping his actions would show the boy how much he was cared for.

                      It was much later, as Lan Wangi was gently combing Wei Wuxian's hair that the silence was broken. " They are right, Lan Zhan. If it weren't for this soulmate bond, you would have never had to be stuck with someone like me." Lan Wangji wished he could go cut all those elders' tongues out for upsetting Wei Wuxian that much. 

                   " No, Wei Ying, that is not how soulmate bonds work for the Lan main family. We recognize our soulmate at first glance by a tug on our core. It does not force me to accept you. It does not implant feelings. It is just a tug telling us that the person in front of us is the person who is able to complete us. I chose to accept the bond after getting to know you during our time together. You made me feel. 

                    Before I met you, all I felt was numb, going through the motions because it was expected of me. I had already decided that if I was not with you, I would have no one else before this dumb curse was cast. The elders are just mad that they can't force you to follow the rules without Madam Yu's consent. So please don't leave me." Lan Wangji was startled when Wei Wuxian turned around and threw himself into his arms. 

                  "Oh Lan Zhan you really mean it? I was so scared you hated me for being cursed to marry me. I mean Zewu-Jun said that-".The door opened, interrupting the conversation, allowing a furious Madam Yu into the room. They quickly pulled themselves apart to look at her respectfully. She walked over and pulled both of them into a fierce hug. " Lan Wangji, you did well, but you will join our lessons starting tomorrow. You both need to learn to navigate the world of politics you will be pushed into as soon as you are married. 

                   Wei Ying, this situation was out of your hands, but stand your ground. If they try to corner you, it is because Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen are on your side. Plus, you are not becoming part of the Lan, so they can not punish or belittle you. Your training and classes will be increased. I will push you both to your limits before this wedding happens. No one messes with my children. That includes you, Wangji." 

                 She kissed the crown of their heads and left as quickly as she had arrived. The two young men gaped at the place she had just been wandering if there was any possibility she was possessed. It was a theory they quickly discarded, remembering the constant purple sparks that surrounded her from her fury.

                   After a while, Wei Wuxian turned to his desk to write his Shijie a letter asking for advice. Lan Wangji took a bath and got himself ready for bed, the food long forgotten in the night's events. That night, Lan Wangji didn't pretend to sleep. He was still worried about his soulmate's quietness. Gathering his courage, he pulled Wei Wuxian into his arms. Wei Wuxian's muscles tensed at his touch but then loosened completely. 

                     The warm press of his betrothed's body was quickly lulling him to sleep, but the boy shifted to look at Lan Wangji's face. "Hey, Lan Zhan, are you really okay settling with me?" The whisper cut through Lan Wangji's sleepy haze. "Mn. Not settling. I only want Wei Ying." He held the boy tighter before allowing himself to fall asleep.