"Bound by Destiny"

Chapter 32 : Unspoken Boundaries

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The tension had been building between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji for weeks. Despite Lan Wangji's reassurances, Wei Wuxian's insecurities continued to gnaw at him. The whispers of the elders and the judgmental looks from other clans still echoed in his mind. He wanted to prove himself, to show Lan Zhan that he was mature enough, ready enough to stand beside him as his equal.

One evening, Wei Wuxian decided he'd had enough of the restraint, the self-control that Lan Wangji always seemed to exert around him. He knew Lan Zhan loved him -he felt it in every touch, every look. But it felt like there was always a wall between them, a line Lan Zhan refused to cross. And tonight, Wei Wuxian was determined to break it down.

A Night of Recklessness

It started innocently enough. After dinner, Wei Wuxian suggested a walk through the moonlit gardens. Lan Wangji, always attuned to his husband's moods, without any hesitation, though he sensed something different in Wei Ying's demeanor.

They walked in comfortable silence, the soft rustle of the leaves and the distant chirping of crickets filling the air. Wei Wuxian's heart was pounding, and he could feel a nervous energy building inside him. As they reached a secluded part of the garden, he suddenly stopped, turning to face Lan Wangji.

"Lan Zhan," he said, his voice low but steady, "why do you always hold back with me?"

Lan Wangji blinked, taken aback by the directness of the question. "Wei Ying, I am not-"

"Yes, you are," Wei Wuxian cut him off, stepping closer, his eyes searching Lan Wangji's face. "You're always so careful, so controlled. It's like you're afraid to be yourself with me."

Lan Wangji frowned, a flash of hurt crossing his features. "I do not wish to hurt you. You are still-"

"A child?" Wei Wuxian's voice was sharp, his hands clenching into fists. "Is that what you think? That I'm just a child who doesn't understand anything?"

No," Lan Wangji said quickly, reaching out to grasp Wei Wuxian's hands in his own. "I do not think that. But your body-"

"I know my body!" Wei Wuxian interrupted again, his voice trembling with frustration. "I know what I want, Lan Zhan. I want you. I want to be close to you, completely. But you always push me away."

Lan Wangji's eyes softened, and he squeezed Wei Wuxian's hands gently. "Wei Ying, I do not want to hurt you or rush you into something you are not ready for."

Wei Wuxian shook his head, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "I'm ready, Lan Zhan. I've been ready for a long time. But you're the one who's afraid. You're the one who keeps holding back."

There was a silence, thick with emotion. Lan Wangji could see the pain, the longing in Wei Wuxian's eyes, and it broke his heart. He reached out, gently brushing a tear from Wei Wuxian's cheek.

"I am not afraid, Wei Ying," he said softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "I just... I want to protect you.''

Wei Wuxian let out a shaky laugh, leaning into Lan Wangji's touch. "Then protect me, Lan Zhan. Protect me by being with me, by trusting me to know what I want."

A Moment of Weakness

That night, back in the Jingshi, Wei Wuxian decided to push Lan Wangji further. He had spent the past few days secretly reading through a book he had found in a dusty corner of the library-a book that detailed the more intimate aspects of marital relationships. He had blushed furiously while reading it, but he was determined to understand, to be the partner Lan Zhan deserved.

When Lan Wangji returned from his evening duties, he found Wei Wuxian sitting on their bed, a playful yet nervous smile on his lips. He was dressed in a loose, pale blue robe, his long hair cascading over his shoulders.