Dust & Gold

44

The past month has been nothing but productive. So much so that Wangji and Wuxian barely had time alone together unless it was early morning or late at night. They would be so exhausted from their work they didn't even have energy to do their everyday activity. It was actually starting to get to Wuxian slightly too but he kept it to himself.

He had finished with the talismans for the new wards of the sect and created a defensive system talisman to go with it. He also made sure to work with the library pavilion and made sure it was safe and secure so it would not be damaged.

Wangji had been doing well with training disciples and since they have been doing well, he decided to let them return to their normal routine classes.

It was around lunch time and he wanted to spend it with Wuxian. He searched everywhere for him. He had to go as far as using their soul bond to find him. Turns out, he was still at the library working. When Wangji saw him, he knew Wuxian was tired. Wuxian's health had taken a bit of a hit. Since they have been working so much, Wuxian has been accidentally neglecting his own health. Such as missing meals, staying up late, and even staying up all night for some days.

"Wei Ying?" Wangji called out.

"Huh?" He replied. Wuxian was sitting at a desk scanning through a couple books.

"It's lunch time," Wangji told him.

"Okay," Wuxian said but did not look up at him or move to get up.

Wangji sighed and knelt beside him, "Wei Ying, My Love, can you look at me?" He asked moving some hair behind Wuxian's ear so he could get a better look at his face.

Wuxian obeyed and looked up from the book into his husband's eyes, "yes?"

"I think we have helped enough for now. Both of us need some time off. Especially you. You look so exhausted," Wangji said, worried, "come have lunch with me at the dining hall and then we can go back to the Jingshi to rest for a while."

"Alright," Wuxian agreed. Wangji was surprised Wuxian didn't argue, "can you help me with these?"

Wangji nodded and helped put the books away. When Wangji returned to Wuxian, Wuxian could barely stand without toppling over in exhaustion, "Wei Ying, perhaps we can have someone bring lunch to us and we can go back to the Jingshi now," Wangji suggested.

Wuxian nodded but couldn't speak. He didn't realize how tired he really was. Through the bond, Wangji could feel Wuxian's exhaustion. Wuxian could barely stand let alone walk. So he picked him up.

"I can walk," Wuxian said with a slight slur to his speech.

"Just let me carry you," Wangji said.

Wuxian didn't argue. He rested his head on Wangji's shoulder and wrapped his arms around him. As Wangji left the library, Zewu Jun happened to be passing by.

"Is everything alright?" He asked as he was a bit concerned by Wuxian's presence.

"He is just overworked," Wangji answered, "too much work, lack of nutrition and sleep. It happens occasionally when he works."

"You should have had someone looking after him," Zewu Jun said, "has he had lunch?"

"No, I was going to walk him over to the dining hall but I don't think he can handle it right now," Wangji said.

"I will have someone send food to you," Zewu Jun said, "you two have done enough. I am sure we are set now for whatever comes our way."

Wangji nodded, "alright, let me know if you need anything."

"I should be saying that to you," Zewu Jun said and let them go.

Wangji made it back to the Jingshi. He set Wuxian on the bed and he was already fast asleep. Wangji sighed and decided to let him. He took his robes off leaving him in his tunic and trousers and tucked him in. He folded Wuxian's robes and set them aside for when he woke.

The food arrived after a few minutes. Wangji ate but he put some aside to keep warm with a heat talisman for when Wuxian woke up. Wangji then undressed and went to lay down with him for a while. Wuxian felt Wangji nearby and curled into him the moment he felt him. Wangji smiled and held him close.

Sometime during their little nap, Wei Wuxian managed to move from snuggling beside Wangji to laying on top of him. His face was shoved into the crook of Wangji's neck and his limbs wrapped around Wangji like a sloth to a tree. Wangji didn't sleep long, an hour at most. He wasn't as tired as he knew how to manage his time and energy. Wuxian was a bit different. Due to the curse he had growing up, he didn't know how to manage himself properly. Now that he was curse free, Wangji was helping Wuxian adjust to the best of his ability.

Wangji smiled when he felt a body wrapped around him. His eyes opened only to see his husband sound asleep on top of him. Wangji wrapped his arms around him and lightly ran his fingers through Wuxian's hair. He managed to turn his head enough to place a kiss on Wuxian's cheek. It was enough to wake Wuxian up slightly.

"Mnn," Wuxian moaned, "hmm?"

"Go back to sleep," Wangji whispered to him.

"Best husband," Wuxian told him.

"I think you are too," Wangji said.

Wuxian slowly lifted his head, "you dot on me a lot."

"Because I like it," Wangji said, "did you want to go back to sleep?"

Wuxian shook his head and slowly sat up. The way he sat, he was straddling Wangji's waist, "I am hungry."

"I am too, but for something other than food," Wangji told him.

Wuxian smiled, "I will let you do whatever you want to me after I eat something, is that alright?"

"Yes," Wangji said and sat up, "there is food on the table. I placed a heat talisman to keep it warm and fresh for you."

Wuxian gently grabbed Wangji's face and kissed him, "I love you."

"I love you too," Wangji said and carried Wuxian over to the table to eat.

As promised, Wangji and Wuxian finally had some time together after Wuxian finished eating. The two savored it and didn't know how long they'd be going but they didn't plan on stopping for a while.