Chapter Text
Lan Wangji unlocked the door to his apartment. He was exhausted, truly exhausted. In fact, he never knew a time where he had been so utterly tired. Not just from work, but with life. But, Wei Wuxian promised to let Lan Wangji take the day off at home. That meant no cooking, cleaning, or other housework. Which was a nice surprise Lan Wangji hadn’t expected when he got that text from Wei Wuxian during his lunch break earlier that day.
As soon as Lan Wangji stepped into their apartment, the black mini lop rabbit they owned practically ran to see him. Lan Wangji smiled softly as the small ball of fluff tumbled over his feet.
“Hello, Xian.” He greeted the little rabbit as he set his back down.
Wei Wuxian’s head popped up from where he sat on the couch. Lan Wangji didn’t notice the slight frown on his face as he realized that Lan Wangji was talking to the rabbit, and not him. But still, Wei Wuxian still got off the couch and headed to go greet his husband, well, his boyfriend. Calling him husband was a joke he started early in their relationship, it just happened to stick.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian smiled as he approached his husband who started to take off his shoes in the entryway. “How was your day?”
“Tired.”
Wei Wuxian frowned as he wrapped his arms around Lan Wangji’s neck, pushing the mini lop away from Lan Wangji with his foot. “Aw, really?”
Lan Wangji responded with a simple nod as he made his way into the living room, Wei Wuxian still hanging off his shoulders. As he leaned into Wei Wuxian’s hug, Lan Wangji closed his eyes for a moment. The lights of the apartment felt too bright—blindingly so. Lan Wangji forced himself to open his eyes, blinking back the bright light that illuminated the entryway, so he wouldn’t fall asleep on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. Lan Wangji started to make his way to their bedroom and, after following behind Lan Wangji for a moment by hanging off his shoulders as he walked, Wei Wuxian finally let go, allowing his husband to change into pyjamas. Lan Wangji had to coerce Xian to not follow him into the bedroom, gently picking up the little rabbit and placing it just outside the door. Finally able to change in peace, Lan Wangji put on a matching set of pyjamas that included soft light blue pants adorned in small white rabbits and a white t-shirt with a small embroidered rabbit in the left corner to go with it. Wei Wuxian begged him to buy an actual pair of pyjamas when he learned that Lan Wangji normally changed into another pair of dress pants and a new collared shirt and deemed it “comfy clothes”. While he changed out of his work clothes, Wei Wuxian started to get out ingredients to make dinner.
“So… I know I said I would make dinner, Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian said with a shy smile when Lan Wangji returned from their bedroom. He displayed his band-aid covered finger as he continued. “But I cut my finger earlier today! So maybe you could make dinner again today? I promise I’ll make it tomorrow if you do!”
Lan Wangji stared at him silently for a moment. This wasn’t an unusual occurrence in their household. There have been many times where Wei Wuxian somehow shirked off duties or tasks given to him. In fact, this wasn’t even the day Wei Wuxian was supposed to make dinner. Lan Wangji first asked him two days ago, and Wei Wuxian has managed to shirk his duties off because something always happened. He had a headache, was more tired than Lan Wangji, and today, a paper cut.
But, how could Lan Wangji deny him just this one last time? He truly had cut his finger and, to be honest, the last thing anyone needs is a band-aid falling off while cooking. So, with only a faint sigh, Lan Wangji nodded.
“I will cook.”
Wei Wuxian smiled brightly and practically jumped onto Lan Wangji as he hugged him. He thanked him profusely. Punctuating each thanks with a kiss on the cheek—or lips—or whatever he felt like during each given second.
“Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian freed Lan Wangji from his tight embrace with an innocent smile. “What?”
“Need to cook dinner.”
“Right, right.” Wei Wuxian gestured to the kitchen with a wave of his hand. “After you.”
Lan Wangji didn’t respond verbally, but the light curl of his lips told Wei Wuxian that he didn’t mind. So, content that he didn’t have to risk his poor paper cut while cooking, Wei Wuxian flopped onto the couch and picked up his phone to text Nie Huaisang.
While cooking their dinner—radish soup with pork ribs—Lan Wangji glanced over at Wei Wuxian. He didn’t mind cooking tonight. If he was really tired, maybe he would see if he could go to bed earlier tonight. That is, if Wei Wuxian was fine skipping their nightly activities. Lan Wangji turned his attention back to the soup that boiled on the stovetop. The spoon clinked against the metal pot as he stirred it. Wei Ying will cook tomorrow. Lan Wangji reminded himself, fighting through how exhausted he was so he could at least finish making the soup.
The steam from the soup warmed Lan Wangji’s face as he stared blankly into the beige stock. But what could have been a comforting warmth didn’t soothe the tired ache behind his eyes. When Lan Wangji finished waiting for the soup to cook, he was only half aware of what was going on, his tiredness pulling at his head. He shook the exhaustion that kept threatening his consciousness and asked Wei Wuxian to help set the table. Wei Wuxian gave a thumbs up from where he lay sprawled out on the couch. Lan Wangji dished out the soup into bowls, a larger portion for Wei Wuxian and a smaller one for himself, per usual.
As they ate dinner, Wei Wuxian talked about his day and Lan Wangji listened contentedly.
“Nie Huaisang was with xiongzhang.” Lan Wangji commented.
“I know! He told me!” Wei Wuxian’s wide smile faded into a sympathetic look. “How is Zewu-jun doing? Nie-xiong didn’t tell me.”
Lan Wangji paused for a moment before answering, finding the right words to explain it. “Xiongzhang is… not well.”
“I assumed so, Nie-xiong said he’d talk to me later because Zewu-jun wasn’t doing well. Still recovering from whatever the hell happened between him and Jin Guangyao?”
“Mn.”
Wei Wuxian hummed in understanding. He hoped Lan Wangji’s brother would start feeling better about it soon. Though, deep in his mind, he wondered if it really was that bad? It was just a messy break up, from what he heard. Surely that couldn’t be that bad. Wei Wuxian’s life had been a living hell for 13 years and he didn’t go and seclude himself from society. He shrugged, pushing the idea to the back of his mind.
“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji noticed the shrug.
“Nothing, don’t worry about it, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian responded with a smile. “But I got a question for you.”
Lan Wangji nodded, a silent agreement.
“How much radish did you put into the soup?”
“Followed the recipe.”
“Hm..” Wei Wuxian swirled his spoon in the pale soup. “It just tastes different from normal, that’s all.”
Lan Wangji didn’t say anything, but his long eyelashes flinched. Wei Wuxian realized he was making an expression as he continued to stir the radish soup. He fixed his expression then, per usual, spoke his mind freely.
“Maybe I should cook dinner tomorrow.” He chuckled. “I love your cooking, Lan Zhan! You must really be tired today, huh?”
“I am tired.”
“Yeah, I know you already said that earlier but you’re normally never tired!”
Lan Wangji nodded and went back to eating his soup, but this time, slower.
Wei Wuxian paused, he hurt Lan Wangji’s feelings. He didn’t mean to do that. He never meant to do that. Ever. But sometimes he just said things without thinking. Okay, he often said things without thinking. But how often didn’t really matter.
“Sorry, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian said, keeping his voice soft. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“No need to say sorry.”
“I know but… you looked upset?” Wei Wuxian retorted. “Was I not supposed to apologize after upsetting you?”
A tense silence fell over them like a thick blanket. Wei Wuxian couldn’t be expected to not apologize when he upsets someone, he had too. He needed to hear himself apologizing. Wanted—no—needed to hear Lan Wangji respond with something more than “No need to say sorry”. Something like “It’s okay Wei Ying, you didn’t mean it” or “It’s okay Wei Ying, I still love you”.
They finished their meal in silence, only disturbed by the clinking of their spoons in the bowls.
For the rest of the evening, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji hung out together. While at first, it was still quiet and tense, soon the conversation at the dinner table was forgotten and Wei Wuxian launched into a few stories Nie Huaisang told him over text.
“Yeah! Apparently drivers in Gusu are terrible!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed. “Nie-xiong almost got hit by a few of them on his way to Zewu-jun’s place.”
Lan Wangji nodded, showing his engagement in the supposedly entertaining stories of Nie Huaisang’s many near-death experiences with Gusu drivers. The story then evolved into an “I hope Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue are doing better after the whole Jin Guangyao situation” speech, then into a story Lan Sizhui texted Wei Wuxian earlier that week about Lan Jingyi getting into some serious trouble at school. And Lan Wangji nodded along, listening to every word.
As Wei Wuxian told story after story for the whole evening, Lan Wangji pushed his tiredness to the side. Sure, he was tired, but he felt bad that the dinner he made wasn’t to Wei Wuxian’s liking. So, as an apology, he stayed up later than he hoped he would, listening to his husband ramble on.
・–・—・✧・✧・✧・—・–・
Wei Wuxian smiled as he pulled Lan Wangji into bed. He wrapped his arms tightly around Lan Wangji’s broad shoulders and pulled him into a kiss. While he tried to make it a deep, passionate one, Lan Wangji barely parted his lips. With a dissatisfied look, Wei Wuxian broke the kiss, leaning back on the mattress beneath him.
“What’s wrong?”
Lan Wangji stared at him for a moment before sitting up, gently pulling Wei Wuxian’s arms off his shoulders so they could part.
“Tired.”
Wei Wuxian grumped. “Come on, Lan Zhan! Please! You were the one who said, and I quote, ‘everyday means everyday’!”
When Lan Wangji gave him no response other than a long look, Wei Wuxian pouted more. He pulled Lan Wangji back down on top of him, wrapping his legs tightly around his waist.
“Please, Lan Zhan?” He asked with a smile. “Pretty please?”
Lan Wangji looked at him with eyes that were darkened by tiredness. But, however reluctant he may have been, he conceded.
In only a few moments, Lan Wangji was thrusting deep inside Wei Wuxian. And in response, Wei Wuxian moaned loudly, begging for mercy as he often did. But partway through, when Wei Wuxian was reaching his limit, he spoke his mind thoughtlessly once more.
“Lan.. Zhan…! You’re… Mercy! Mercy, Lan Zhan!” He gasped out between moans. “You’re being so… rough today… Lan Zhan!”
Lan Wangji didn’t respond, he only continued his motions in that same relentless rhythm. Though, Wei Wuxian had to admit that Lan Wangji didn’t seem as focused on it. His normal thrusts felt like he was intending to spear Wei Wuxian in half, but today, they were still rough, but more… sloppy. But before Wei Wuxian could think about it more, his head reeled back while his vision sparked with white as pleasure course through his body.
When he came back to reality, Lan Wangji had already finished inside him. Normally the aftermath of such events lead to another round or two while bathing— or showering, whatever they were in the mood for—and another couple rounds back in bed. But tonight, Lan Wangji didn’t reciprocate any of Wei Wuxian’s advances while they bathed.
“Lan Zhan… why aren’t you… y’know?” Wei Wuxian asked as he rested his chin on Lan Wangji’s chest.
“Tired.”
Again? Wei Wuxian thought with a sigh, then responded with a pout as he hung his arms around Lan Wangji’s neck. “Yeah but, you’ve never once been too tired to fuck me, right?”
Lan Wangji stared at him in silence. “I am too tired. Sorry, Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian sat up with a cocky expression. “Now look who’s apologizing for no reason! Don’t worry, Lan Zhan!” He ran a finger from Lan Wangji’s lips to his chin. “You can make it up to me.”
Placing himself on top of Lan Wangji, he placed a few kisses on his neck, slowly working his way to Lan Wangji’s soft lips. Right when Wei Wuxian thought he won and was finally going to get what he wanted, what he deserved. Lan Wangji seized his wrists. But not in the normal way. This was a gentle grip.
Lan Wangji gently moved Wei Wuxian’s hands from him. With a sympathetic look, he repeated himself once more. “I am too tired.”
Wei Wuxian frowned in silence. Without a word, he stood up and got out of the bath. Picking up a towel and drying himself with tense, angry motions.
Behind him, Lan Wangji called to him from the bath.
“Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian shot him a cautionary look. When he saw Lan Wangji go to speak again, he cut him off before he could utter even a single syllable.
“Shut up, Lan Zhan!”
Naturally, Wei Wuxian’s sharp and sudden outburst made Lan Wangji flinch, his golden eyes growing wide as his lips parted in surprise.
“All I wanted was a little love and fucking affection tonight! But maybe you don’t love me enough to give me that!”
That escalated rather quickly.
Wei Wuxian threw on his black shirt and red shorts and stormed into their bedroom. Trying to come up with some plan to calm Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji let himself take a few moments longer as he dried and dressed himself. Lan Wangji had to duck as he entered the bathroom, just narrowly dodging a pillow that had been thrown in his direction by his husband. Lan Wangji picked up the pillow from the ground, his fingers lightly tensing on the silk pillowcase.
“Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian glared at him as he climbed into their bed, of which all of Lan Wangji’s things had promptly been removed. After Wei Wuxian made sure Lan Wangji saw his angry glare, he spoke.
“Why don’t you want me?”
Lan Wangji’s eyes widened. “I want Wei Ying.”
“But you don’t love me!”
“I love Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian looked away, a dark shadow over his eyes. “You… are a liar, Lan Zhan…”
“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji approached Wei Wuxian, caution in his slow steps. “I do not lie.”
“I spent 13 years away from you, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, burying his face in his arms as they rested on his blanket covered knees. “13 years of living hell… Everything was fucking awful Lan Zhan… My work, where I lived, most people who talked to me hated me before I even spoke…” Wei Wuxian looked up with sad eyes. “So why can’t you just give me your love?”
Lan Wangji went silent. Wei Wuxian told him of all the horrible things he had to go through when he moved into a smaller town. He heard about the boss that treated him like nothing and the coworkers who harassed him to the point of alcoholism. Silently, Lan Wangji approached Wei Wuxian, placed his pillow back where it belonged, and wrapped his arms around his husband’s form.
“I am here.”
Wei Wuxian leaned into his embrace, resting his head in the crook of Lan Wangji’s neck. “I need you to want me.”
“I want you.”
“I need you, Lan Zhan.”
“I am yours.”
So, once again, Lan Wangji found himself entangled inside Wei Wuxian once more. He still wasn’t performing as well as Wei Wuxian hoped, as he made evident by his ramblings between rounds. And Lan Wangji didn’t entirely want to. He was exhausted and just needed to sleep. But, Wei Wuxian needed him. So in the end, he didn’t mind. This was just something he had to do for Wei Wuxian.
・–・—・✧・✧・✧・—・–・
Lan Wangji woke up tired in the morning. Even though he knew he slept just as much as he normally does, it didn’t feel like it. Actually, it felt like he didn’t sleep at all. Despite Wei Wuxian holding onto Lan Wangji, sleepily begging him not to get up, Lan Wangji gently loosened Wei Wuxian’s tired grip and headed to the bathroom.
He looked at himself in the mirror. Dark circles surrounded his pale gold eyes that held a tired gaze. The cold water that he splashed on his face woke him up a bit. But only a little bit.
Lan Wangji silently got ready, careful to not wake Wei Wuxian who had already fallen back asleep and was curled up under a heap of blankets. Breakfast was simple, toast with butter and blueberry jam. Lunch was also easy to prepare since it was just leftover radish soup from the night before. Wei Ying will cook dinner. Lan Wangji smiled as he tucked his packed lunch into his bag.
Overall, Lan Wangji’s day at work was the same as usual. Just some paperwork and marking papers for Lan Qiren’s class because the latter was in a meeting most of the day. The only difference was that Lan Wangji was fighting his tiredness all day. He even drank a few cups of coffee despite not being a coffee drinker—he prefers tea.
Lan Wangji came home and, before he could get his keys out to unlock the door, he smelled the food Wei Wuxian was making. Or rather, he smelled the spices.
The door closed with a click and Lan Wangji silently took off his shoes, peaking around the corner to look at what Wei Wuxian was making. From the look and smell of it, he was cooking some lotus soup with the leftover pork rib from yesterday. And, as Lan Wangji took a step around the corner and wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian’s waist from behind, he learned that the intense spicy smell came from fried rice.
“How was your day, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian asked as he turned to place a peck on Lan Wangji’s cheek.
“Tired.” Lan Wangji responded as he rested his head in the crook of Wei Wuxian’s neck, taking a deep breath.
He pet Lan Wangji’s hair with his free hand while the other finished mixing the lotus soup. “Again? Well, I made dinner today, like I promised! So, why don’t you go get changed and I’ll finish up here and set the table, m’kay?”
Lan Wangji nodded with an ‘mn’ that was muffled by the crook of Wei Wuxian’s neck. After a few seconds, Wei Wuxian felt Lan Wangji’s hands slip away from his waist as his husband changed into comfy clothes.
By the time he got dressed and came out of their bedroom, Wei Wuxian had set the table and served their dinner just like he said. The corners of Lan Wangji’s lips turned upward in a faint smile as he sat down. The meal was as good as Wei Wuxian’s cooking normally was. And, of course, the fried rice was completely inedible to Lan Wangji but, like always, he made an attempt to eat a few small mouthfuls.
Wei Wuxian talked about his day and Lan Wangji shared about his own. Catching each other up on the other’s day was a daily ritual they always made time for during their dinner conversations.
“So, not much work today?” Wei Wuxian smiled.
“No.”
“That’s good! Oh!” Wei Wuxian put down the bowl of rice. “Are you ready for our date night on Saturday?”
“Mn.”
Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but press further. “So… where are you taking me?”
“Surprise.”
“How ‘bout a hint? Just a small one!”
“No.”
Wei Wuxian feigned an offended look. “Ah! You never deny me Lan Zhan! How dare you.”
Lan Wangji shook his head, catching on to Wei Wuxian’s antics quickly. “No hint.”
All the way through dinner and even while cleaning up, Wei Wuxian continued to try to guess what Lan Wangji was planning. At some point along the line, he figured that he probably guessed right and Lan Wangji had said ‘no’ anyways. But that didn’t break the fun he was having by stringing Lan Wangji along in his guessing game. After a while, he gave up. Lan Wangji clearly wasn’t going to crack. Heading to the living room and sitting down on the couch, he gestured for Lan Wangji to sit between his legs on the floor. Compliant, Lan Wangji did so.
“You’re really not going to tell me?” Wei Wuxian confirmed as he brushed his fingers through Lan Wangji’s long black hair.
“Mn.”
Wei Wuxian frowned but didn’t say anything else. He just continued playing with Lan Wangji’s hair as his husband turned on a wildlife documentary. Lan Wangji watched with interest but Wei Wuxian, while loving animals, couldn’t get invested in watching someone describe how the Flemish rabbit is just a really big rabbit. Yeah, no. But whatever, Lan Wangji would probably want to go to bed early again tonight. If he does, Wei Wuxian will just sleep on the couch and watch something that’s actually interesting.
Wei Wuxian folded and fiddled with Lan Wangji’s black locks before eventually twisting it into a long braid. It was a little lopsided, wonky, even. After attempting to fix the messy braid, Wei Wuxian tried to fix it back into Lan Wangji’s normal hairstyle. But even that was done with great difficulty. Eventually, he got it looking halfway decent and left it. Despite being able to do his own hair just fine, Wei Wuxian wasn’t good at doing other people's hair. Content with how he did Lan Wangji’s hair, Wei Wuxian leaned back on the couch and texted Nie Huaisang to see how he was doing.
Wei Wuxian - 8:14
Heyy
U at Zewu-jun’s place?
Nie Huaisang - 8:16
Wasn’t there today
Da-ge was with hom
* him
Wei Wuxian - 8:16
Words not wording
Anyway
Wyd this weekend?
Nie Huaisang - 8:16
Busy, da-ge wants me to talk to Zewu-jun over the weekend
Da-ge’s busy with work, so I have to go hang with Zewu-jun
Wei Wuxian - 8:17
Damn
Nvm then
I was hoping we could hang out
Nie Huaisang - 8:17
WEI-XIONG
WAIT
I’m free Friday
BRB
Nie Huaisang - 8:19
Sorry, bus change
Is Friday good? I don’t have work Fridays
Wei Wuxian - 8:20
I can make Friday work
Nie Huaisang - 8:20
Alr!
TTYL
Wei Wuxian smiled as he put down his phone. He hasn’t been able to hang out with Nie Huaisang in forever. Surely Lan Wangji wouldn’t mind, right?
“Hey, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji tilted his head back to look at Wei Wuxian from his spot on the floor.
“Is it okay if I hang out with Nie-xiong on Friday? I know we have a date night and all, but if I go with him earlier in the day, there should be time for both, right?.”
After a moment of thought, Lan Wangji nodded. “There is time.”
Wei Wuxian patted his head and Lan Wangji went back to watching his rabbit documentary, resting his head on Wei Wuxian’s inner thigh. Shortly, Wei Wuxian fell asleep. He couldn’t help it. Documentaries, no matter how cute the subject matter, were just too boring. And he truly meant to just rest his eyes until Lan Wangji finished watching the episode, but he fell fast asleep before he realized it.
Meanwhile, Lan Wangji finished the documentary, happily musing over the large rabbits that gallivanted across the screen. And, what made Lan Wangji’s evening even better than just watching a rabbit documentary, was that his little lop-eared rabbit joined him. Xian settled down into Lan Wangji’s rabbit patterned pyjama pants after climbing excitedly onto his legs. The soft black fur felt smooth under Lan Wangji’s fingertips as he gently petted Xian. By the time the end of the documentary rolled around, Xian, much like Wei Wuxian, had fallen asleep. Lan Wangji, careful not to wake Wei Wuxian, picked up their pet rabbit and carried him to the rabbit hutch and placed the small lop on the small pillow Lan Wangji had sewn for him as a bed. Returning to his sleeping husband, Lan Wangji smiled.
Wei Wuxian looked so peaceful when he slept. Lan Wangji slowly picked Wei Wuxian up, carrying him gently to their bed. As he crawled into bed and snuggled close to Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji couldn’t help but be a bit glad Wei Wuxian fell asleep. He was still so exhausted. So at least for tonight, he could just go to sleep.