Backlash Part 2

Chapter 243: Lanling - Wei Wuxian

Wei Wuxian woke slowly, or maybe realized he was awake, about halfway through breakfast. He has a vague recollection of movement and murmured voices. It was all very vague and surreal. He's not sure what parts might have been real or a dream. Then he just sort of blinks and suddenly there's the familiar taste of his Shijie's, Dajie's, Lotus Root and Pork Rib soup. There's a spoon hovering in front of his face and he opens his mouth automatically, not even really registering that someone is apparently feeding him until he has actually swallowed two more spoonfuls.

He ignores the next offering of food to catalogue the situation. He is wearing different robes than he went to sleep in. His hair is slightly damp, like it was recently washed. He has a fuzzy half memory of whining about not wanting to wash his hair himself. He's not sure if that really happened but evidence suggests it might have. A solid arm is wrapped around his waist attached to an equally solid body that he's leaning against. He's pretty sure he knows whose lap he is sitting in, but just to double check he turns his head just enough so that he can subtly shift his gaze up and get a peak at their face. Apparently he was not as subtle as he thought, because Lan Zhan is already looking at him, pale gold eyes warm and fond.

Yep, he's in Lan Zhan's lap. He is in Lan Zhan's lap being hand fed breakfast that he was not awake enough to really register before this moment. Lan Zhan probably washed his hair, and maybe even bathed him without properly waking him up and Wei Wuxian is having some feelings about that. He squirms a bit in Lan Zhan's arms, not with any real intent but because he can't possibly stay still. Lan Zhan's only response is to tighten the arm wrapped around him more. Before Wei Wuxian can start to get any ideas about that there is a soft laugh from across the table.

"Good morning A-Xian," Shijie, Dajie, is smiling with fond amusement at him from across the table.

"Good, you're properly awake. I was beginning to worry you were going to sleep through your own wedding along with breakfast." Qing-jie said, giving him a pointed look while she took a sip of her tea.

Wei Wuxian can feel his face heat with embarrassment. They've all just been sitting here, watching him sleepily eat whatever Lan Zhan put in front of him. It's too early for this. It's not his fault that it takes him so long to properly wake up. He's contemplating his options between pretending this was all deliberate with some increasingly shameless flirting or hiding behind Lan Zhan's back. It's a good back and Wei Wuxian is deceptively good at folding himself into a smaller space than seems feasible for his tall frame. On the other hand that would mean leaving Lan Zhan's lap. Then his brain finished processing what Qing-Jie actually said.

"Wedding?!" Wei Wuxian did not squeak, he did not. He was an appropriate level of surprised for someone who woke up in their fiance's lap to their big sister teasing them about sleeping through their wedding. Which, Wei Wuxian would note, he was pretty sure wasn't happening today. Maybe? Admittedly he was beginning to remember Lan Zhan making some ridiculous statement about marrying him in the morning, but obviously no one was going to go for that.

"We'll have a larger ceremony once things have calmed down, but that will take time to arrange. I think you've both waited long enough as it is." Jiang Yanli, his Dajie, smiled at him gently.

"Today?" Wei Wuxian cleared his throat as subtly as he could manage, attempting to get his flaming face under control. So they were serious. This was happening? Today?

"We thought after breakfast would be a good time." Lan Xichen somehow says this like it is perfectly reasonable and not practically an elopement. So they don't just plan to have the wedding today, but this morning. Maybe within the next shichen!

Wei Wuxian has no idea what happens after that. There's the rest of breakfast, and more conversation. He talks, but the words come without bothering to stop in his brain first so he has no idea what he might be saying. His head was full of white noise and wedding and Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, repeating over and over without break.