Talking To The River

Talking to the River 12

Wei WuXian woke up with a dizzy head. He somehow got up and looked around the dark room with a blurry vision. His head was spinning and he wasn't thinking straight. When he couldn't see Lan WangJi inside the room with him, he immidiately tensed up. Without thinking that Lan WangJi wasn't supposed to be there, he walked out the room with unsteady steps and put his hand to the wall, propping himself. When he was suddenly surrounded by light he squinted and blinked. His heart was racing with anxiety. He rushed out the corridor without waiting for his eyes to adjust. He stumbled a couple of times but didn't decrease his speed. His mind was filled with fright. He was looking down as he kept on murmuring Lan WangJi's name unconsciously. Without a thought to his body which was bruising all over as he kept on bumping and tossing to the walls and corners he walked down the hall. Wei WuXian still couldn't see Lan WangJi. His eyes were stinging and he was at the edge of a panic attack. He rushed out and started running towards the woods full speed with a blurred vision. He tripped and fall over a couple of times. He kept on running forward without a care, letting the branches cut through his body, and his feet hurt for a reason. He didn't even run for five minutes when he bumped into someone with much force. With the impact he staggered backwards. His eyes were already blinded by tears that he was trying so hard not to fall. Just as his legs gave up, two familiar hands held both his shoulders firmly and kept him from falling. Wei WuXian looked up to his saviour. His brimming eyes were fixed to the light, stern ones. Lan WangJi's eyes widened immidiately as his hands on Wei WuXian's arms tightened. Wei WuXian was still whispering "Lan Zhan..."

Lan WangJi "Wei Ying..? What happened?" He looked at the red blood stains on his body and he became even more worried "What is wrong?"

Wei WuXian was unbalanced. When he finally realized who was in front of him he spoke again with despair "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan..."

Seeing his partners behavior with red cheeks and pale face, Lan WangJi understood he was drunk "Wei Ying. I am here. Do not worry."

Wei WuXian's voice was filled with affliction "Lan Zhan... Why did you..."

Lan WangJi had to ask when Wei WuXian didn't continue "Why did I, what?"

Wei WuXian held his shaking hands together and looked down again sniffing "Why did you leave?"

Lan WangJi was suprised but not showing it one bit, he spoke "I was asked to do something."

Wei WuXian's voice was hoarse "But you said... you said you would stay!" His lips were trembling and his eyes were brimming with tears.

Lan WangJi was unprepared for this, he suddenly realized what he did and guilt surrounded him "I am sorry, Wei Ying. I was thoughtless."

Wei WuXian fell to his knees. He was stuttering but he still spoke fastly "Lan Zhan... don't... don't go... Don't leave me. I- I don't know what I would do if you... if you... So please... d- don't..."

Lan WangJi widened his eyes again, he bent down on one knee right in front of Wei WuXian, he stroke his hair gently with one hand and whispered "I will not leave. Do not worry. I will not leave you."

Wei WuXian was still trembling and looking down. Lan WangJi gently held his chin with his right hand and forced him to look at his eyes as he spoke with full determination "Wei Ying, I will never leave you. I promise."

Wei WuXian's eyes were red, he asked with a weak voice "...For real?"

Lan WangJi "Yes."

Wei WuXian "Can- can I really believe what you said?"

Lan WangJi lowered his eyes and answered again "Yes."

Wei WuXian lunged forward and hugged Lan WangJi with all the strengt he had left. He buried his head to Lan WangJi's chest. He was hiccupping and still trying to hold himself when he spoke with difficulty "Is it... is it okay for me to cry..? You- you are family too, right? So it... it must be okay?

Lan WangJi's lip trembled so slightly for a second realizing even in this state of his, he was still trying to keep his promise. He spoke with a solemn voice "I am your husband so yes, we are family. It is okay."

With Lan WangJi's last words Wei WuXian finally let it out. He closed his eyes and let his voice be muffled with Lan WangJi's chest. His wails were soft and silent but every single one of them broke Lan WangJi's heart to pieces. Tears were streaming down at both sides of his face and his body was still trembling like a leaf. Lan WangJi bit his lower lip and closed his eyes as he hugged Wei WuXian tightly. His eyes were tinted red too. After learning so much and seeing him like this today, Lan WangJi's emotions were beyond his control. He hugged Wei WuXian even tighter without realizing. In the embrace of his loved one and being surrounded by his heat, Wei WuXian felt safer than he had ever been. He slowly nuzzled Lan WangJi's neck and tried to cover his hiccups. With his hand in Wei WuXian's back, Lan WangJi drew soothing circles, trying to comfort him. After quite some time, Wei WuXian's shoulders finally stopped shaking and his muscles relaxed. His hug was still tight on Lan WangJi and tears were still streaming down his cheeks but his hiccups slowed down. Realizing his lover fell asleep, Lan WangJi held him bridal style and got up. He slowly walked back to the room.

When he arrived he gently put Wei WuXian down on bed. He looked at Wei WuXian more carefully and frowned right after. Wei WuXian's body was all covered in bruises and cuts but the worst part was his feet. He wasn't wearing his boots. After all the running his feet were torn and some of the deep cuts were still bleeding. Lan WangJi quickly left the room and came back with warm water and a clean cloth. He washed Wei WuXian's body very tenderly. He cleaned every wound one by one. After he finished he took out an ointment from his left sleeve. He pomade and then bandaged his cuts and bruises carefully. After he finished bandaging his feet too, he kissed Wei WuXian's left ankle softly. He dressed him up in clean clothes then he putted Wei WuXian inside the sheets and gave him a proper sleeping posture. Lan WangJi cleaned the mess and after he was finished he kneeled beside Wei WuXian. Lan WangJi "Wei Ying, do not worry. I will not leave you."

Lan WangJi closed his eyes. After some silence he spoke again "I can never leave you. You are my life."

Wei WuXian, still sleeping, turned to Lan WangJi and murmured something not understandable, he then took out his arm from under the blanket and let it hang down from the edge of the bed. Lan WangJi opened his eyes and looked at his partners pale face, the bags under his eyes, the shining tears, the bandages all over his arm. His eyes narrowed with discomfort. He gently wiped away the tears at Wei WuXian's cheeks and eyelashes. Lan WangJi then stared at Wei WuXian's hanging arm. After a while of staring, instead of putting it back inside the blanket, he held his hand with his right hand softly but firmly. He then closed his eyes as well, feeling the warmth of his lovers palm.