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Lan Zhan has exactly two compatible souls in the world and one of them is his brother.
It should be embarrassing, really, having so few people in the world with whom he should just click, feel good around, love more than he might his other associates.
But Lan Zhan really couldn’t care less. It's easy having no one, there is just himself and Lan Xichen to consider. They don’t argue much and Lan Xichen gets Lan Zhan’s jokes. Lan Zhan doesn't even want to find out who his other likely is, but Lan Xichen is insistent.
“What will you do when I move out, Lan Zhan?” Lan Zhan will simply wait for the days when Lan Xichen comes to visit.
“You cannot just spend your days waiting for me to visit.” Then perhaps Lan Zhan will adopt more rabbits, or spend more time at work. He doesn’t need the extra money but he likes having enough to give away. He buys backpacks and school supplies for needy children at the end of every summer. It makes him warm inside.
“Didi, doing things for others is nice but you must think of yourself. You will go crazy in here all alone.” Lan Zhan feels a spark of irritation. He’s said nothing and his brother still keeps reading his mind like this.
Lan Xichen sighs and lowers his voice, he had not been shouting or even speaking loudly, he never did, but he had been louder than normal and he toned it down. Lan Zhan was just a baby after all. (Lan Zhan was 24 but Lan Xichen always left off the 20.)
“Please? For me?” Lan Zhan cannot say no.
Lan Zhan knows he has two soulmates because the family witch told him so at birth. Because Lan Xichen was present the witch was able to determine he was one of them. It's different than it was 24 years ago though, now the soulmate information is all online these days. A few clicks on the computer and-
Lan Zhan stares at his screen. Bunny teeth, tan skin, a red hair ribbon. He’s beautiful. He has over a dozen other matches. Wei Ying has over a dozen other possible matches. He has pictures with some of them; his arm around one man in particular who scowls at the camera. He’s trying to break a record from the bit of his profile Lan Zhan can see without paying.
He looks happy. Lan Zhan feels a spark burn within him. Wei Ying has picked his soulmate already. He's making it happen. Lan Zhan closes his computer. They are not a perfect science, soulmates. It's not often that they have nothing in common. Not often that they meet once and never again. But most have at least five. Five friends or family or partners who are soul compatible.
And Lan Zhan just has one.
Is something wrong with him? Perhaps his soul is too picky. His only other possible match has so many. Is Lan Zhan lacking? He doesn't post his results on the soul finder website. It would only be depressing. Lan Zhan leaves the laptop on the counter. He doesn't have a password. All of his pornographic interests are things he can read and those are all on his phone. He doesn't see a reason to lock it.
So, as usual, once he has left the room, Lan Xichen opens the laptop up and snoops.
It's his brotherly duty to make sure Lan Zhan is not being sucked into another pyramid scheme, okay?
He finds Lan Zhan’s results as soon as he opens the laptop, frowning at the singular match other than himself. Wei Ying has over twenty possible compatible souls. He's met fifteen of them. He was incredibly close friends with four of them and saw another three a little less frequently.
"A popular guy..." Lan Xichen murmurs. He scrolls down the page, already an expert at finding the information. Lan Zhan hasn't even paid for the site membership. Lan Xichen buys it. With the premium membership, he can not only see all of Wei Ying’s posts but also message him.
"Hi 😃 I'm Wei Ying 24 and trying to break the record for most soul connections😌! Please message me if we are compatible!😘" There's a lot of emojis to unpack.
Lan Xichen sighs. Lan Zhan has never had many close friends despite all his efforts. (His being Lan Xichen’s. Lan Zhan never felt the need to meet people.)
Alright. Big brother will fix it.
He checks Wei Ying’s page one last time. No romantic soul matches are listed.
Lan Xichen opens the chat and gives his best impression of Lan Zhan.
Hello. I believe we are compatible. I would like to meet you.
To help, he adds some pictures of himself. Lan Zhan never smiles in photos but the two are identical so it should be fine, probably.
It is not quite fine.
"You said you would meet him, so go and meet him." Lan Zhan is doing that thing where he pouts without moving his face. Lan Xichen can tell he is particularly annoyed because he's making the effort to speak. Lan Xichen will never tell him how cute it is when he pouts.
Lan Xichen sighs. Mistakes have been made. "Didi, please. He wants to meet you ."
"No, he wants to meet you. Look at this photo. I do not smile like that. He will not like me."
"He won't just like you, he will love you. You are adorable!" Lan Zhan is 6'4 with a stern face and ice-like beauty. Children cry when they see him.
"I am a grown man."
"Didi, I'll go with you okay? Just try. Please." Lan Zhan can not say no.
The site recommends not meeting strangers alone so it isn't unexpected that Lan Zhan might want to bring someone with him. Wei Ying would also be bringing a friend, one of his other, established, soulmates. They set the date for a Sunday evening, a little spot that Lan Xichen has actually been to a few times before.
Lan Xichen makes Lan Zhan change three times before they finally leave.
"You aren't getting married, Wangji. There's no need to dress so formally."
He gives Lan Zhan a pair of his own pants, the slacks Lan Zhan have chosen are much too prim. Lan Xichen’s pants are ripped over the thigh. Lan Zhan doesn't own any ripped clothing. He picks at them the entire car ride.
Lan Zhan stares out the window.
Lan Xichen drums his fingers against the wheel. “I know, I know, it's scary right? Don't panic. If you panic I'll panic.”
Lan Zhan pulls at the strings on the jeans, staring at the pale skin it reveals.
Lan Xichen frowned. “Didi, don’t worry so much. You look nice. Show me your smile. Like we practiced.” Lan Zhan’s lip trembles. He turns to Lan Xichen and lifts the corners of his mouth to reveal his pearly whites. He looks ill. Lan Xichen takes a deep breath. “Okay, so maybe don't force it.”
Then pull into the parking lot of the restaurant, Lan Xichen biting his lip as Lan Zhan sits perfectly still beside him. "You're nervous. That's normal. I'll stay with you the whole time."
Lan Zhan opens the car door and tries not to vomit on his brother's ripped pants.
The restaurant isn't overly crowded, which helps Lan Zhan calm down.
"Hey, over here!" A voice calls to them. It fills Lan Zhan’s belly with snakes. The brothers look over. Wei Ying is seated beside a pale man in a booth towards the back. He is beautiful in his black and red, his smile easy.
Lan Zhan runs outside and dry heaves. When Lan Xichen finally (finally!) manages to drag him inside again Lan Zhan makes a beeline for the bathroom. "He's going to like you, it's fine.”
"Didi, don't think so negatively." Lan Zhan stares into his own eyes in the mirror and then sends Lan Xichen a pleading look without speaking a word. "Okay fine I'll do most of the talking but you have to at least introduce yourself."
Lan Xichen slides into the booth first before Lan Zhan can protest, bringing the shy little flower up close and personal to the bright sun across from him. Wei Ying smiles at him. Bunny teeth. "I'm Wei Ying and this is my friend Wen Ning. Which one of you is Lan Zhan?"
Lan Zhan makes a shape with his mouth. No words come out.
"This is Wangji! I am Lan Xichen, his older brother."
"Wow, so you aren't twins?" Lan Xichen laughed. It was so easy for him to laugh. Lan Zhan found his voice. "No, Ge is four years older."
Wei Ying’s eyes found his face again, a little wide. "Well, your voices are certainly distinguishable. Are you guys soulmates? Some siblings are."
"Yes."
"Oh, cute! You guys must be close. My brother's aligned with me too but he's a stinker. Wen Ning’s the first soulmate I met that wasn't family. He's helping me try and beat the record for most compatible souls. What can I say, I'm a catch." He laughs like this was a joke. Lan Zhan feels he is perfectly right. Wei Ying is a catch.
Wei Ying’s smile falters at his silence. "I'm just kidding, haha. All these compatible people and I have yet to meet anyone who I don't feel platonically bonded to."
He laughs again, this time with a feeling. "Well, I mean for a second there me and Wen Ning-"
Wen Ning, a quiet man with hair in his face, goes red. "Y-you said you'd stop telling people about that!"
Wei Ying keeps laughing right along, his smile so white it glints. "Wen Ning, I’m just breaking the ice. It was like two days, relaaax ."
Lan Zhan bites his tongue and Lan Xichen clears his throat. "Wow, this food is taking forever."
Wen Ning tilts his head, hair shifting to reveal shimmering eyes. "We haven't ordered yet?"
"Exactly."
Wen Ning makes an O with his mouth, understanding flickering across his face. He turns to Wei Ying. "How compatible did you say you and Lan Zhan were again? It was the highest right?"
"Oh yeah! Lan Zhan, Me and you are 98% matched. That site is lazy, their magicians are cheap. I have to do my own spells to get the percentage! Just need a name and birthday and I can figure it out."
Lan Xichen leans up on the table. "You're a witch?" He doesn’t even try to hide how impressed he is.
"Oh yeah, I majored in black magic. It's not as bad as everyone makes it sound I swear! I could find out all the soulmate information on my own; the website just makes it easier to get in contact with them. Most people have around five you know? Possibly more than one romantic match but it's normally mostly platonic. I'm trying to set the record. Of course, it's harder when I'm working with witches who can't even tell the percentage of compatibility.” He turns to his friend. "Wen Ning was, what? 92%?"
Wen Ning pinches at his bread roll. "Hmm. I think it was 95%"
Lan Zhan picks up his drink and then remembers it is empty. He sits it down again.
"Of course," Wei Ying continues. "Compatibility means nothing without work."
Lan Xichen stretches his arms. He winks at Lan Zhan. "Wen Ning would you care to help me pick a song in the jukebox? I haven't touched one of them in years, might take us a moment to figure out how to use it."
Lan Zhan almost breaks his neck turning to look at his brother. "The what?"
"Wangji, don't be silly. You know what a jukebox is. Now move over, you're in the way." Lan Zhan blindly stands to let his brother out, not missing the fact that Wen Ning scoots right over Wei Ying’s thighs like it was nothing. Like he isn't basically on Wei Ying’s lap.
Wen Ning and Lan Xichen wander off, chattering casually like they did this every Sunday, and it occurs to Lan Zhan that Wen Ning might actually spend quite a bit of time doing this. Wei Ying smiles at him again, softer, a little sweet. "Your brother’s awesome."
Lan Zhan feels his stomach drop. "He is very charming."
"Yeah he is. Don't tell him but ... I think you're cuter." He winks.
Lan Zhan feels his ears flush and his mouth pucker as he fights a grin. "I think you are also quite cute."
Wei Ying laughs. He seems to do that a lot. "You've been so quiet, I was worried maybe you didn't like me. But then again I do seem to have a type. Most of the soulmates I meet are pretty quiet."
"I am quiet. But not because I dislike you. I like listening to you talk.” Lan considered his words. Lan Xichen would tell him to be upfront and honest. “You move your hands a lot."
Wei Ying smiles again and Lan Zhan feels warmth blossom in his chest. He did that. He made Wei Ying smile.
"Nervous habit you know?"
Lan Zhan took that in. "You ... are nervous?"
Wei Ying waves a hand. "I'm meeting a gorgeous man who I am highly likely to fall in love with. Of course I'm nervous."
Lan Zhan blinks, ears heating. "Gorgeous-"
"You silly. You're beautiful and cute and your ears turn pink. It's adorable."
Lan Zhan couldn't help his smile this time.
"Oh my god, you're amazing. What are you doing for lunch tomorrow? I think we can play nice, no wingmen next time?"
"Wingmen?"
"Your brother is trying to get you laid. Personally, I'm all for it, I don't kiss and tell, ah!-Wen Ning doesn't count! I don't kiss and tell normally . Unless you're into that. I'd have no problem telling people I managed to breathe the same air as a guy like you."
Lan Zhan needs a moment to take that in. "I am free tomorrow for lunch. And the day after. No wingman."
"Perfect. This is completely unrelated but. Want me to show you how to spell lubricant from thin air? It takes a strand of hair, some saliva, and good pronunciation..." Lan Zhan has very, very, good pronunciation.
Wei Ying tongues his straw, the cup of water he's finally gotten almost empty already. "Lan Zhan, such a quick learner. Anything else I can teach you?"
"I might know more than you think."
"Oh? What sort of things do you know?"
Lan Zhan takes a sip from his cup. "All sorts."
"That cup is empty."
Lan Zhan sits the cup down, clearing his throat. "All … sorts?"
Wei Ying hmmed, leaning up on the table so that his chest came together. Wei Ying worked out. His pecs form a delicious divot between them. He smirks, not the happy grin but a devious baring of teeth. "Alright. If you teach me yours I'll teach you mine."
Lan Zhan nods firmly, eyes unmoving. "Yes."
"Lan Zhan, darling, my eyes are up here. Why don't we get outta here? You can tell me aaalll about yourself. I'll keep my mouth busy, I've done enough talking."
Lan Zhan sprang up from his seat instantly, reaching for Wei Ying’s hand as he did so. "Yes. Enough talking. Where are we going."
"Lan Zhan, slow down, we never even got our food!"
"I will feed you."
Wei Ying smirks again, eyes bright. "Please do. Lead the way."
Wei Ying stares down at his plate of food. "Oh … you meant this kind of feeding."
Lan Zhan puts a fork into his hand. "Eat. It is very nutritional."
"Nutrition is the last thing on my mind," Wei Ying murmurs, taking a bite of the asparagus. He doesn't even like asparagus. The minute it hits his tongue his eyes light up.
"Wow. Lan Zhan this tastes amazing!"
Lan Zhan pretends not to be on fire inside. "Mn. Better than eating out."
"No seriously I don't even eat this … green stuff. It tastes amazing! And you made it so fast."
"I told you. I know many things."
"Betcha can't do this." Wei Ying thumbs one of his rings and pricks his thumb on the spoke that appears there. He dots his thumb on the table before his and Lan Zhan's drinks, murmuring a spell as the lights dim for a moment, the blood sizzling on the table and fizzing out of existence.
"And done!" He picks up his drink. "Emperor’s smile. Best wine you'll ever taste. It took me ages to get the spell down to just this. Pretty cool party trick - not too cool when you've got to create half a dozen incantations."
Lan Zhan thumbs his own drink warily. He takes a sip. "Does black magic not hamper your health?"
Wei Ying dims a little, licking the pad of his thumb clean. "Well, it's certainly not extending my life force. But it's what I do. It's what I like. Does it bother you?"
It bothered a lot of people.
"I would not keep you from doing as you pleased."
Wei Ying feels warmth thread through him the way he does with his close compatibles. "Thank you. There's nothing I hate more than when people try to change me."
Lan Zhan finishes chewing his food and dabs his mouth with a napkin. "There is nothing to change, you are perfect."
Wei Ying choked on his asparagus.
Lan Zhan pats his back. "Are you alright? Did I upset you?"
Wei Ying shakes his head, taking a sip of water. "No. No it's alright I just - you surprised me that's all. Just warn me next time."
"Mn. I will warn you."
"Thank you." He took another bite of his salmon to cover his embarrassment, pink-faced and meek.
"I am warning you."
"Oh, already? Okay go for it."
"I think that after this would be an optimal time for you to put your mouth to work."
Wei Ying rolls his eyes. "Hm? What are we doing next, singing church hymns?"
Lan Zhan put his fork in his mouth.
"There is no food on that fork."
"Next." Lan Zhan says, a little louder than needed. "I would like us both to continue keeping our mouths busy."
"They are busy now?"
"I would like. To suck your dick."
Wei Ying chokes on his spit this time.
"I would like to make you choke on something else."
Wei Ying bangs on the table, allowing Lan Zhan to pat his back. "Do not tap out, we are not even in my room."
"Lan Zhan, you're horrible at warning me. What kind of warning was that? I'm shocked. You wanna drag me into your bedroom like we are horny teens?"
"We are compatible. I would assume that means you are also horny."
"Well, I am. But don't assume it, I have a reputation to uphold!" Wei Wuxain's reputation was horrible actually but that wasn't the point. He scooped up a bit more mashed potatoes, both eager and shy now. "Sixty-nineing is a skill. Takes a lot of coordination. Good thing we're so compatible, huh?"
"Eat."
Wei Ying is already half swollen in his pants. "I'm full."
"You've hardly touched anything."
"I'm saving my appetite for dessert."
Lan Zhan lifts his eyes to meet Wei Ying’s. They gazed at one another for a long moment, silent and solemn, their breathing heavy in the silence.
Wei Ying moves first. Their lips meet softly at first, a light brush, the feather-light swipe of tongue against tongue.
Wei Ying laughs into it. "You taste like potatoes."
Lan Zhan watches him, the gentle smile on his face, the warmth of him. And he feels sad suddenly. "Soulmates - a perfect soulmate. Do you believe it exists?"
Wei Ying blinks, alarmed by this sudden drop in mood. "Ah, well - there are people more likely to be compatible than others. But it's what you make of it, the fact of the matter is it doesn't matter how closely aligned you are if you can't put the effort into the relationship. There are people who aren't aligned at all who get along fine. Hell, I've heard of people who are 100% compatible splitting up. Love is what you make of it. Your comparability can't decide anything for you, we aren't puppets of some higher force drawing us together. We're people. And people fight and make trouble and they upset each other no matter how much they think they get along. I guess what I'm saying is falling in love is easy.”
“Finding your 'soulmate' or whatever is just one step. When I met Wen Ning’s sister we were 70% aligned - a really good sign. But I thought she hated me." He laughs. "We had to have a lot of talks, and a lot of agreements. She's my best friend but I can't touch her the way I do Wen Ning."
(Lan Zhan silently rejoices at this) "She isn't big on physical contact and she hates when I make trouble - which is my hobby. But we make it work because we love each other and we want to love each other." He laughs again, blushing, perhaps a bit tipsy. "Sorry, that was a lot."
Lan Zhan is silent, his grip on the wine glass dangerously tight. "So then. You could find a better match?"
"I-" Wei Ying grasps his hand. "Lan Zhan, I honestly doubt I'd ever find anyone even close to you. If you like me, if you'd have me-I'd very much like to love you. It's a decision I'd make every day. To love you. To take care of you. To have sex with you even when you make me eat green things."
"Every day?"
"Yes. You have to make sure to love someone every day."
"Sex every day." Lan Zhan clarifies.
"What?"
"What."
Wei Ying laughs again and Lan Zhan takes his hand. "I would also make you laugh every day. Your laugh is beautiful."
"Lan Zhan, you're making me blush. Enough talking let's just 69 I want to suck your dick."
"Mn. I want to make you cry, so drink a lot of water first."
Lan Zhan does make him cry - with laughter. Turns out he is incredibly lightweight. He has hardly polished off his wine before he’s hunched over the table humming softly. “Lan Zhan? Are you sick?”
Lan Zhan makes unhappy baby noises.
“Okay, alright.” Wei Ying is stronger than he looks. He pulls Lan Zhan’s arm over his shoulder and hauls him up. "Lan Zhan, where's your room? No no. I'm not going to have sex with you when you're drunk. I have morals to uphold."
Lan Zhan reaches for him again anyway, leaning heavily on Wei Ying. "You said we would 69." Lan Zhan accuses, his lip jutting out.
"We can. When you are sober."
"You said I was cute."
"You're the cutest. Kiss?" Lan Zhan is very happy to have another kiss, even if it isn't going to be followed by dick sucking. They manage to make it to Lan Zhan’s bedroom, flopping down onto the bed and snuggling together as though they've done it a thousand times before. "You don't have a TV? We could have watched a movie.”
Lan Zhan thinks for a moment. "I have a laptop. On the desk." Wei Ying tries to get up to get it only to be squeezed within an inch of his life. Lan Zhan whines, gripping him around the waist. "Don't go. It's lonely."
Wei Ying kisses his nose. "Don't worry. Just grabbing your laptop. Do you like horror movies?" Lan Zhan can't even watch Coraline all the way through. "I will watch whatever you want," he bluffs.
"Oh good! Wen Ning and I binge horror movies all the time I'm glad I finally know someone else who likes it." Lan Zhan is suddenly very determined to like this movie.
They spoon on the bed, Wei Ying resting his chin on Lan Zhan’s head, his leg over Lan Zhan’s hip. The movie is about a family who are trying to deal with the death of their grandmother. Lan Zhan lasts up until the little girl loses her head - he turns away from the screen, burying his face into Wei Ying’s chest. "Turn it off," he pleads.
"Hm? Too gory? Are you okay? I'm sorry, I'm being a bad date, the worst." He holds Lan Zhan tighter, kissing the top of his hair while he switches the movie off.
Lan Zhan is mostly just disgusted by the gore, but he plays up his fear to have more kisses.
"Still scared? I'll hold you tight." Lan Zhan nods, wrapping his arms around Wei Ying’s hips. His chest is so soft Lan Zhan never wants to sit up again.
He nods some more. "Scared. Hold me tight."
"Of course, I'll work to keep my soulmate happy."
"Mn. Wei Ying should protect me tonight."
"I'll take good care of you." Wei Ying assures him.
He kisses Lan Zhan’s head again and they fall asleep like that, wrapped around each other and tangled in the sheets.
Wei Ying wakes up as all men wish to be woken up - with his dick in someone's mouth. "Holy shit."
Lan Zhan has him down to the root, his eyes half shut as he flicks his tongue against Wei Ying’s balls.
"Holy fuck." Lan Zhan raises himself to the tip again, his eyes finding Wei Ying’s, the golden hue of them gone deep brown. Lan Zhan swirls his tongue around the tip sweeping his lips across it like it was a treat to be eaten.
"Come up, come up here so I can do you too."
Lan Zhan licks him from base to head. "No."
"That's not fair we were gonna - oh, oh yeah that's - hng"
Lan Zhan blows a heavy breath out from his nose, the heat of it making Wei Ying shudder. "Fuck. Waking up with a handsome man between my legs has always been a dream of mi- ahhh okay, alright, no more." He squirms as Lan Zhan brushes his teeth against him in warning.
Lan Zhan is getting hotter by the moment, his breathing sharpening, his lips clamping down harder like he could wring the cum right out of Wei Ying’s cock. Wei Ying reaches for his hair, getting a hand in the inky locks for an instant before Lan Zhan releases him with a wet pop.
"No touching." Lan Zhan says, even as he shuts his eyes from the touch of Wei Ying’s fingers in his hair, his cheek, fingers brushing his mouth, Wei Ying cock brushing his chin.
"You like that don't you? Having something in your mouth?"
Lan Zhan starts sucking on the fingers as soon as they enter his mouth, not bothering to answer, eyes still shut in bliss as Wei Ying begins caressing his hair with his other hand, a smile blooming on his face. "You're greedy, you'd swallow me up if you could. I can tell."
Lan Zhan opens his eyes again. He seems to like that idea. He kisses Wei Ying’s fingers again reverently, shuddering so hard that Wei Ying feels the bed tremble.
Wei Ying leans back against his pillow, eyes a bit red with tiredness. "Go ahead. I won't touch unless you tell me to." He puts his hands behind his head for extra convincing watching Lan Zhan’s every movement. His soulmate doesn't need any convincing. He takes Wei Ying in again, his hands on his hips, his shoulders forcing Wei Ying’s legs wide.
"Pants in your way? You can take them off if you want." Wei Ying lifts his hips to allow them to be pulled off and thrown in some unseen direction. "Greedy. I should have known you would be if you're matched with me. Go ahead, eat your breakfast, you've worked so hard for it. There you go, oh, yeah you're so pretty, Lan Zhan. Eating my cock up like its candy." He groans as Lan Zhan begins licking his slit again, incessant tongue seeking out the salty precum leaking steadily.
"Good boy. If you want it so bad-" Wei Ying moans, his breath coming in quick as he rocks up into Lan Zhan’s mouth, forcing himself to keep his hands above his head and cumming so hard he grays out.
When his vision returns, he finds Lan Zhan's face pressed against his belly, his long lashes splayed against his cheek as he relaxes between Wei Ying’s legs, eyes shut, hands ever rubbing those gentle circles into Wei Ying’s hips. "Lan Zhan? Can I touch you now?"
Lan Zhan presses his face into Wei Ying’s abs fully now, ears going pink yet again. "I already..."
"From sucking me off?!"
Lan Zhan bites him. "Quiet."
Wei Ying laughs. "Are you at least going to come and cuddle me?"
Lan Zhan frowns, "I am." He pinches Wei Ying’s thigh for emphasis. "Your thighs are very comfortable. I like listening to your stomach."
"And if these thighs crushed you?" Wei Ying teases, tensing his legs.
Lan Zhan closes his eyes again, blissed out. "I would happily be crushed."
"Hm, I see. What time is it?" It was 4 am.
"Why do you wake up so early?!? It's probably for the best- I have to work today, I should leave soon." Lan Zhan bit him again. "Lan Zhan, am I food? Why do you keep biting me?"
"Tastes like food to me." Lan Zhan smiles faintly. “I am still eating."
"Lan Zhaaan~ I never thought you'd be like this! Being scared of horror movies and laying on my thighs and biting me and waking me up by sucking me off. If you keep this up I'm going to fall in love."
Lan Zhan hums in affirmation. "That is the plan."
When Wei Ying dozes off again, exhausted from two orgasms, Lan Zhan lay awake, his ear pressed to Wei Ying’s belly, feeling the lazy fingers trail through his hair. He doesn't mention that he was already in love. He can tell Wei Ying that later, on their wedding night perhaps.
They curl together, limp and dirty, for half an hour before Wei Ying needs to leave for work. Lan Zhan watches him go, off down the block, waving cheerfully behind him before he crosses the street. And for the first time since he was a child he does not worry that someone won't come back to him. Not because they were soulmates, and not because fate had decided it. But because they had decided it. Because they wanted it. Wei Ying wanted Lan Zhan as he was. Nothing else mattered.
He goes back into the house, pleased with himself but filthy. A shower then.
Lan Xichen would be gone for work already, his bedroom far enough from Lan Zhan's that he wouldn't have heard him leave. He opens the bathroom door-
"Ah!"
Lan Zhan slams the door closed and hurries to his own room mind racing.
Wen Ning. Wen Ning and Lan Xichen. In the bathroom together.
He was annoyed, at first. Not only was Wen Ning close to Wei Ying he was now also *close* with Lan Xichen. (What would Meng Yao say? (Meng Yao would simply join in))
It seemed unfair. Lan Zhan imagines telling Wei Ying about it. He imagines the laughter it will bring about. Suddenly it doesn't seem half bad. Lan Zhan reasons he can probably handle any trial so long as he got Wei Ying's smile at the end of the day.
And he would. They had a lunch date set for today, and though Lan Zhan didn't know it, he would be seeing Wei Ying for lunch every day for several months afterward.
Oh and also sex. Sex everyday. For spiritual, soulmate stuff. Not because Lan Zhan was super horny.