Parting is such sweet sorrow

Lan WangJi woke at five in the morning, like usual, but unlike in Cloud Recesses, he lingered in bed for a moment longer. He could smell sex on the sheets, on Wei WuXian, and on himself, and it made him hard again. But he had only just let Wei WuXian drift asleep a few hours earlier, any more would have to wait until evening. He traced the lines of Wei WuXian's face with his finger, feather light, a light in his eyes. He still hadn't tired of the exquisite joy of waking next to his beloved every morning. He didn't think he ever would.

They had spent the months after the downfall of Jin GuangYao roaming leisurely around the country, choosing their direction on a whim and on news about fierce corpses or unruly ghosts that required the attention of experienced cultivators. The sight of the two men, both tall and slender, elegant in their robes, Lan WangJi in his white and pale blue and Wei WuXian in his black trimmed with red, raised considerable attention wherever their went. They were almost legendary now, the lovers who had conquered evil and death so that they could spend their lives together.

Whatever resistance there might be to two men living openly as lovers would usually vanish after the two eradicated whatever dark forces were threatening their peaceful village. They might be infamous cut-sleeves, but they were polite, efficient, and best of all, free.

Lan WangJi was deeply happy for the first time in his life. The only cloud in his blissful life was his brother's regrets and grief. Lan XiChen had been close with Jin GuangYao and the full extent of his treachery had cut him deeply. They would visit Cloud Recesses soon to see what they could do for him, but for now, Lan WangJi had an errand to run. He sat up and was about to get up when he felt a flutter against his cheek. He turned his head slightly.

"I thought you would still be asleep."

The paper man rubbed his face lovingly against his cheek, and Lan WangJi turned to look at Wei WuXian, seemingly still asleep next to him. He gave a faint smile that made the paper man jump excitedly. "Keeping me company?"

The paper man bowed in response and hopped onto Lan WangJi's palm. Lan WangJi walked to the small wash basin, holding the amorous paper man steady on his hand, and set it beside the basin on the dresser. The paper man hopped on the edge of the basin, swinging its legs as Lan WangJi had a quick morning wash, then it fluttered around his head, tugging at his forehead ribbon until Lan WangJi narrowed his eyes at it. He could have sworn that the paper man giggled at him.

The paper man then flew to Lan WangJi's shoulder and marched along until it nuzzled his neck, his tiny papery hands patting him softly, then curled around his neck with no evident intention of leaving.

"I have to go now," Lan WangJi said sternly. The paper man slumped onto his neck with disappointment, and walked dejectedly along his shoulder, flew in front of his face and lifted his arms up.

Suppressing a smile, Lan WangJi picked up the fluttering paper man carefully and walked to their bed. Wei WuXian was immobile, and if someone had seen him they might have thought he was asleep. Lan WangJi knew better now. His lover was totally helpless in this state, his consciousness in the little paper man now wrapping himself lovingly around Lan WangJi's long fingers. 

Lan WangJi glanced at the immobile Wei WuXian, then the little paper man who was now rubbing himself sensuously against his fingers. He made a swooping motion with the fingers of his other hand, and the paper man went limp. A heartbeat later, Wei WuXian opened his eyes, giving Lan WangJi that smile that never failed to make his heart flutter.

"Lan Zhan." Wei WuXian's voice was like a caress.

Imitating his little paper self from earlier, Wei WuXian lifted his arms commandingly, and Lan WangJi did what he always did, which was whatever his lover wanted. He placed the little paper man carefully on the table, even though it was now just a spent piece of paper, and went to embrace his still sleepy lover.

"Shameless," he whispered, and Wei WuXian huffed a sleepy laugh. He pulled his head from the crook of Lan WangJi's neck and snuck his hand under Lan WangJi's white robes, rubbing his thumb against the hard nub of his nipple, his eyes never leaving Lan WangJi's. His smile widened.

"I thought you had enough last night."

"You're leaving. I hate to see you leave."

Lan WangJi let Wei WuXian tug the sash on his waist loose, pull it off, and peel the layers of robes off his slim body. Lan WangJi slipped under the covers and into his lover, finding the still slick opening with well honed experience.

"Ah!" Wei WuXian arched into the slow thrust, in truth still too spent from their previous night for more, but greedy for more.

"Never", Lan WangJi whispered.

A long while later, when Lan WangJi was again ready to leave he sat on the bed and looked at his now deeply sleeping lover, his still damp hair clinging to his face.

A slight smile curved his lips upward and if anyone had seen Lan WangJi at that moment, they wouldn't have recognised the tender look on his face. Only Wei WuXian had ever seen that look, and even he seldom. Lan WangJi used one finger to move the strands from his lover's face, tenderly as with a newborn babe, reluctant to go now that the moment was at hand. He would be back soon, but parting even for a short while was torment. Yet, he had errands to run, and his lover wouldn't wake anytime soon. And when he did, he would be ravenous.

Lan WangJi's glance fell on the little paper man, lying still and empty on the bedside table. He took a small leather-bound book from inside his robes, opened a new page and tucked the spent paper man between the sheets of paper. He closed the book and tied it with a leather string and tucked it back inside his robes, patting it gently.

He thought of his list of things he would need to get this morning. Wei WuXian's favourite foods, a jar or two of his favourite drink, and the special item that they needed for their nights of loving. Wei WuXian hadn't liked their most recent purchase, so he had to find another type of oil for them to try. 

Lan WangJi frowned. It shouldn't be that hard to find an oil that not only performed the function it was bought for, but tasted good, too. But Wei WuXian had found the soybean oil too bitter, the sesame oil too strong, and the peanut oil too.. peanutty. The oils they had tried had certainly worked, and were vastly superior to saliva which was all they had had for their first times, but Lan WangJi wouldn't rest until he found the perfect accompaniment to their nightly pleasures.

Lan WangJi got up with purpose. He would find something else and they would test it. All night if they had to.

Wei Ying deserved nothing less.

----

A/N:

Lube is love. Even when it hasn't been invented yet.

In the drama, the characters seldom carry bags, but in the novel they have little magical pouches which can hide Lan WangJi's musical instrument, changes of clothing, and entire dismembered bodies (!). 

I imagine one of those pouches is now filled with just lube and shampoo.