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AN:
This is my favorite chapter so far <3
I hope you enjoy it..
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Wuxian was conflicted. His soul-bond's attention made his life wonderful and stressful at the same time. He didn't know one could love and be mad at once.. because that's how he feels right now.
After he ate like a starved warrior all the food his disciple and daughter brought, he made his way to their room with the help of his soul-bond. Wuxian tried the silent treatment on Wangji, but it seems the taller man was not affected by his lack of words.
Wangji made him a hot bath and sat next to him, gently running a cloth across his body with a satisfied look on his face. Wuxian felt himself wavering: 'How could you be mad at a man that clearly worships you?'
He grabs Wangji's wandering hand and whispers: "You promised that you would listen to me."
Wangji frowns: "I did."
Wuxian leans on the side of the bathtub and looks into his mate's eyes: "Then what happened last night? I asked you not to feel me up or drink but you didn't listen."
Wangji closed his eyes, his facial expression was clear as day. He was fighting with his emotions. Wuxian reached with his hand and placed it on Wangji's heart: "Talk to me. I need to hear your reason to understand. I can do many things but read minds."
Wangji took a deep breath and said: "I.. I don't see you most of the day."
Wuxian smiles sadly: "We're both busy. It's ok."
Wangji shakes his head, clearly trying to find the words to express his thoughts to Wuxian: "I don't see you as much as I want to everyday. So I convinced myself that when the sun sets and it's time to rest, you are all mine. I need you. Having you in my arms, breathing in your scent and feeling your body next to me.. It sustains me. If I can't touch you freely.. It hurts and I get frustrated."
Wuxian could see the sincerity in the taller man's eyes: "I know that you like to manhandle me and display your claim on me, but it makes me feel owned.. caged.. Like I'm your property and you need to show others your dominance over me."
Wangji shakes his head: "That was not my intention."
Wuxian sighs: "That's how it makes me feel.."
They stay silent for a few minutes, while Wuxian continues to pat his soul-bond's chest to lessen the blow of his confession. After a while, Wangji traces Wuxian's exposed pale soft skin with his fingertips. His collarbone, chest, stomach, and his back. He leans as close as possible to his partner, without soaking his clothes in the hot water, and whispers softly into his ear: "I'm addicted to you."
Wuxian can feel his face heat up from the intense attention. Wangji places small kisses on his cheek, under his jaw to his neck and collarbone, saying between each kiss: "I'm addicted to the taste of your soft skin, the smell of your hair, the way you call my name, the way you laugh while playing with our daughter, your music, your voice, your intelligence.. Your everything. It baffles me.. how much I yearn for you. Every fiber of my being is calling your name.. while I'm awake or asleep."
He moves a little bit back to look dreamily at Wuxian: "I'm addicted to you and I don't care if people misunderstand my need for your affection. I will not apologize when your touch is the only thing driving me to be better, stronger and more loving. I don't own you, Wei Wuxian. I seek you desperately because you own me."
Wuxian can feel tears welling up his eyes over the intense tidal wave of emotions Lan Wangji just dumped on him. He chokes a little before whispering back: "Ok.."
Wangji smiles tenderly at him, moving a few wet strands of hairs behind his ears: "Ok?"
Wuxian nods and grabs his robes, pulling him close to rest his head on Wangji's chest: "I understand now. I won't fight you anymore."
Wangji's wide smile all morning was worth the confession he forced out of him during bath time. Wuxian never thought that a person can love that deeply. Every time he thinks he understood the stoic man, he reveals a whole new layer he never saw before. Healer Shi passed by after his bath and checked him over again. The crease in her brow did not bode well. She made him sit in bed and drink a few potions. Wuxian: "Why are you freaking out? I feel fine. Even the hangover is gone." Wangji shoots the healer a questioning look too while trying to dry and tie up Wuxian's long wet hair.
Shi shakes her head: "Your heartbeat is a little bit erratic. It's not a big deal but when it comes to you, anything small can become a problem if not properly tended to."
Wen Ning emerged from the shadows: "Maybe it has something to do with last night's.. fiasco?"
Healer Shi jumped a little, startled by his appearance: "Where did you come from?"
Wen Ning smiles apologetically: "I was here the whole time."
Wuxian chuckles at her reaction: "He's always around.. somewhere. You get used to his weird entrances after a while."
Healer Shi looks at the living corpse: "Alcohol doesn't cause heart irregularities, Master Wen."
Wen Ning stands next to Wuxian and Wangji and shakes his head: "I mean what you guys did yesterday, after drinking excessively."
They stared blankly at him. When he doesn't get a reply he sighs: "You guys don't remember?"
They all shook their heads. Wen Ning scratched his head: "Well.. it kind of went downhill after Zewu Jun's confessions and Hanguang Jun's performance. Master Wei is well known to be.." He coughs to defuse the awkward conversation a little: ".. emotional when he drinks."
Wuxian rubs his chin: "I don't remember being emotional."
Wen Ning sees no way out of having a replay of what happened last night so he went with the direct approach: "Jiang Clan Leader said something a little bit insensitive and you started crying."
Wangji's expression darkened: "What did he say?"
Wen Ning: "Master Wei was teasing him and he insinuated that he's glad that he's Lan Clan's problem now.."
Wuxian pulled his knees up and hugged them to his chest, clearly affected by what Wen Ning said. The younger man continued: "You took it to heart and started crying.. uncontrollably. Jiang Clan Leader and the rest started freaking out and did weird things to try to cheer you up. Master Jiang even went as far as wearing the dress to make you feel better."
Healer Shi: "That's one mystery solved."
Wangji: "How did we manage to stop Wei Ying?"
Wen Ning shakes his head: "None of you did. He cried for an hour and a half straight until he ran out of energy and fell asleep."
Wuxian looks sadly at Wen Ning: "I'm sorry."
Wen Ning kneels in front of his charge and holds his hands: "Don't be. It just breaks my heart seeing you sad like that. I think his offhanded comment was just a nudge. The rest was pent up emotions that needed release."
Wuxian smiles at him: "Thank you."
Healer Shi: "Emotional stress certainly explains the odd heartbeat. You just need to rest and relax for a few days in bed."
Wuxian leans on his soul-bond and sighs: "I can't. The Slayer is coming to fight Wen Ning and I have to discuss the vision I saw and deal with it."
Wangji kisses his head and says: "We."
Wuxian closes his eyes, tired from just thinking of the things he has to do: "Yeah, we."
Healer Shi taps his knee to get his attention: "Take a nap and when you wake up, I will ask Zewu Jun to come here to discuss your vision. Don't get out of bed today. We will deal with tomorrow when it comes."
Wuxian smiles at her and nods. She walks out, leaving the three men behind.
Wen Ning retreats into the shadows as Wangji helps Wuxian lay down and snuggles close to him. Wuxian whispers: "Don't you have work to do?"
Wangji rubs Wuxian's arm to warm him up and soothe him to sleep: "I need this too."
Wuxian wiggles closer to his soul-bond: "Good. Because I wasn't planning on letting you leave. You're like a furnace and I'm cold."
Wangji smiles while breathing Wuxian's fresh clean scent: "I am yours."
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