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It took a few seconds for Wangji to recognize what woke him up. Last night was one of his worst nights ever. Some truths about his soul-bond were revealed and all he could do all night was watch Wuxain sleep in his arms and ponder the choices he made since they bonded. What Yuxio said burned deep in his soul and if Wuxian truly feels this way, then Wangji needs to up his game and fix it. Bonded or not, if Wuxian dies this time, he will die too.
He can hear two people whispering on the other side of their room. He slowly opens his eyes to take a look and sees Wuxian sitting in front of the mirror while Keeper Daozi fusses around him, fixing his hair with jade ornaments, adjusting his fancy robes and adding more flashy elements to his attire. Wuxian would smile at Daozi when he looked and his expression would drop when he wasn't. Wangji couldn't take his eyes off of the sad beautiful man. If his fake smile was not enough to convince Wangji of how Wuxian felt about being dressed up like a doll then his white knuckle clenched fists was more than enough.
Wangji almost smacked himself for not noticing this before. He was so blinded by his needs that he failed to see Wuxian's displeasure. He saw Wuxian thank Daozi as he kissed Wuxian's ring hand and took his leave. Wuxian turned to look at himself in the mirror, as the hollow feeling of apathy started to spread within him. Wuxian never thought of it before, but Yuxio got it right. This is not him.
Wangji made his way towards his soul-bond and stood behind him, looking heartbroken at him through the reflection of the mirror. Wuxian's eyes widened when he realized that the taller man saw through his emotions. Wuxian turned and smiled at Wangji: "Lan Zhan, you're finally awake."
Wangji puts his hand up, ready to touch his mate but halts as doubt starts to color his thoughts: 'Does he even like it when I touch him?'
Wuxian saw his hesitation and grabbed his hand, kissing his palm gently and placing it on his cheek: "I love it when you touch me."
Wangji felt relief wash over him. He pulled the smaller man into a tight embrace and asked: "Why are you awake this early? You fainted from exhaustion. You need rest."
Wuxian closes his eyes, feeling Wangji's warmth wash away some of his worst thoughts: "I had to get ready. You seemed tired so I asked Keeper Daozi to help me get ready."
Wangji: "Ready for what?"
Wuxian chuckles at Wangji's confused voice: "I am your soul-bond and the Divine Oracle. We have Clan Leaders to schmooze."
Wangji pulled away to look at his soul-bond: "Did you forget what happened yesterday?"
Wuxian's smile dropped and he sighs: "I didn't. It's just.. Not the right time to fix my insecurities.. We have a violent clan to tame. It's more important than my woes."
Wangji cupped Wuxian's cheeks: "You can't expect me to put this on hold. What Yuxio said yesterday was.. jarring. Tell me the truth. Was it all true?"
Wuxian bit his lips and looked desperately at his soul-bond. He didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to add to Wangji's problems. His soul-bond was stretched thin with his duties just like him.
Wangji saw the look of desperation and moved close to place his forehead to Wuxians: "You asked another for comfort. You asked another for help. And now another has become your voice. I must be the worst soul-bond to ever walk the earth if my partner thinks so low of me."
Wuxian started to panic: "What? NO! That's not true!"
He pulled away to grab Wangji's arms: "I just.. I know how tired you are all the time. I didn't want to worry you over trivial things."
Wangji felt tears well up in his eyes: "How are they trivial? Nothing about you is trivial!"
Wuxian was taken back by Wangji's exposed emotions: "I'm sorry."
Wangji shook his head: "Don't apologize to me."
He kneeled before Wuxian and placed his forehead on his hand: "Please forgive me. Please.. never leave again without me. Please.. don't die.."
Wangji was openly sobbing and Wuxian was frozen. He didn't know what to do.
Wangji continued: "We did not abandon you. I went after you.. all the way to Gusu City. Zewu Jun and Wen Ning stopped me. Your soul-brother promised to find you and bring you back if I returned home to tend to the leaders. I didn't feel any danger coming from our bond so I agreed. I trust Wen Ning because you trust him. You promised never to leave me so I knew you would come back.. I'm so sorry if I made you feel abandoned. I swear we would never abandon you."
Wuxian kneeled to embrace Wangji before his emotions got out of hand: "Shh. Calm down. I understand. It's ok."
Wangji shook his head, looking desperately at Wuxian: "It is not ok. You are not ok. It's my duty to make sure that you're happy, healthy and thriving. All I did was smother you, hold you captive and not fix your body. I don't deserve you."
Wuxian sighs and does the only thing he knows that can fix this. He leans in and kisses Wangji tenderly. He whispers after: "I love you and you love me. That's all that matters to me. Everything else we can fix together."
Wangji nods. He took a deep breath then asked: "You will give me another chance?"
Wuxian smiles at him and nods. Wangji: "You won't leave me?"
Wuxian chuckles over how childish Wangji sounds: "You are stuck with me, always and forever."
Wangji closes his eyes and whispers: "Always and forever." Before pulling the smaller man into his lap and kissing him with hunger.
They managed to get to the morning meeting on time. Wangji made a grand entrance with Wuxian holding one arm and Hweiru on the other. No one would guess that a few hours earlier they were an emotional mess or that yesterday was filled with family drama. All they saw was the majestic appearance of the Divine Oracle and they all kneeled to show their respect.
Wuxian sat next to his soul-bond at the head of the room with his daughter in his lap. She clung to him since Lan Ran returned her this morning and he was enjoying her closeness. The meeting started with welcoming Wuxian and turned sour after a few minutes. Jin Clan leader started it: "Divine Oracle, we wish to discuss something that has been suggested by many of our cultivator brothers and sisters. It is not right for you to be secluded in Cloud Recesses and not share your blessings with the other clans."
Leader Yao stood to back him up: "He is right. We should all be privy to your blessings."
Wuxian rubs his chin and asks: "What are you implying?"
Leader Yao looks around, and when he receives nods of support he says: "Maybe it would be more fair if you would spend time in each of our sects respectively. This way, everyone will get a chance to be in your favor and our sects get to enjoy your blessings without having to travel far and ask permission from Lan Clan."
Wuxian chuckles at him: "You want to pass me around like a shared trophy?"
Leader Yao puts his hands up defensively: "That's not what I meant! We all deserve to witness your gifts equally."
Wuxian strokes his daughter's hair and says: "Leader Yao, when all of you chased me out and wanted my head, Lan Clan embraced me. They made me their treasure, fed me, clothed me and gave me a family. I have responsibilities towards them, my soul-bond and my children. The deities blessed me with gifts but never demanded that I share them. It is out of the kindness of my heart that I am willing to serve the people without restrictions or anything in return. Gusu Lan Clan is kind enough to build me a room, assign an assistant and a consultant to serve those who seek my help. Don't mistake our generosity for obligation. I, Wei Wuxian, owe you nothing."
Leader Yao purses his lips and bows before taking his seat. Jin Clan Leader was not satisfied with that answer: "We passed a petition signed by many cultivators requesting your blessings to be shared. Lan Clan said that they will consider it but nothing has happened. You can't ignore the will of the many to please your own needs."
Wuxian smirks at him and says: "Watch me."
Leader Jin's face was starting to get red from anger. Zewu Jun stood up to mediate: "Leader Jin, We did not refuse your request but we are currently facing a bigger problem. We asked you here to discuss the entrance of Shenhua Clan into our treaty. As you know, brother Wei can see the future and the past. He has foreseen a great darkness that will swallow our world whole. Shenhua Clan is directly involved in the events that precede this tragic outcome. We need to gain them as allies before they choose to become our enemy."
Leader Nie took that as his cue to elaborate: "I have had troubles with them before. They have purged their emotions as part of their teaching and cannot be reasoned with unless we use logic. I suggest we use the fact that Brother Wei is part of our brotherhood to appeal to them. They will make our alliance stronger."
Leader Ouyang stood up: "Tell us everything we need to know and we will consider their application fairly."
Wuxian sighs loudly and says: "Take a seat, Ouyang Clan Leader. This is going to be a long day."
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