Chapter Text
Wei Wuxian looks across the classroom and tries not to giggle at the sight.
He never would have imagined that his respectable and regal Lan Er GeGe would do something so cute. Well, Wei Wuxian has seen him do many cute things from the glares he sent over his pile of work during those honey toned hours in the Library Pavillion to cuddling a pair of bunnies close with his tail when he thought Wei Wuxian wasn’t watching. But he’s never seen anything that others have found cute. While the Lan disciples are ignoring their Second Young Master, the visiting disciples keep sending astonished looks to Lan Wangji whenever Grandmaster Qiren has turned his back.
He is writing – in perfect calligraphy, naturally, Wei Ying preens on behalf of Lan Wangji – as his uncle speaks. This is normal. What’s abnormal is that he’s absentmindedly biting his tail at the same time. Wei Ying cocks his head and contemplates it and ignores the thump in his chest. The other doesn’t seem like he’s aware about the position nor is he biting down hard, he’s just holding his long tail horizontally so the black couple of inches of the tip come out the other side of his jaw. Is it a snow leopard thing? Most Lans have cat characteristics. The Lan family had been regal tigers until Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen, whom had been born as snow leopards instead. Wei Wuxian had once overheard whispers, during a cultivator conference, that it was shame of his sons’ spiritual characteristics that Qingheng-Jun went into seclusion. After meeting the Twin Jades, Wei Wuxian called bullshit. Their regal bearings were only exemplified by their characteristics. Or maybe it was just comforting. His own tail wasn’t long enough to fit in his mouth, but maybe he could convince someone to help him test the hypothesis.
Either way, it is absolutely adorable.
All morning, Wei Wuxian hadn’t been paying attention to the lesson, too busy trying to memorise something so much better. While he normally tries to look like he’s paying attention, today he’s sprawling, with his chin in his hand and his tail wagging against the ground with soft rhythmic thumps. Same as his racing heart. His whole body is turned towards Lan Zhan while he doodles the scene instead of taking notes. Jiang Cheng had turned around when he didn’t try to start an argument or offer a witty comment only to roll his eyes and face the front. He might have done a double take when he caught of glimpse of Lan Wangji, however Wei Wuxian wasn’t paying attention to his brother.
But it’s in this position that Lan Qiren checks up on him, fretful of mischief being plotted. He abruptly brought back to the present when a shout disrupts a vague thought of what if he was the one to bite that tail-
“Wei Wuxian!” He jumps and his tail fluffs up in response to the shout. Lan Wangji eyes flit to him, the very end of his tail giving a flick to show his irritation, only to carry on writing. Wei Wuxian finally looks forward before stifling a wince: Lan Qiren looks pissed “What did I just say?”
He draws a blank. In front, Jiang Cheng’s head bows slightly. He eyes flit to the right. Nie Huaisang, who looks as perplexed as he feels and had evidently been tying ribbon around his horns, is no help. He looks left, begging for mercy with his eyes. Lan Wangji ignores him. Jin Zixuan scoffs from the front and Wei Wuxian bristles at the hound characteristics the Jins are so proud to flaunt. The class is silent as Wei Wuxian flattens his ears to his head and opens his eyes wide in a pitiful show.
It is safe to say he hastily scrambles out the door to avoid the scroll launched in his direction.
He finds himself on the other side of the Cloud Recesses, gently harassing the bunnies. This means he’s sat on one side of the garden they live in behind Lan Zhan’s home, while they sit on the other side of the garden. He’s just watching them and occasionally calls threats to them. They ignore his proclamations of how he’s going to eat them since he hasn’t yet. While he’s a natural predator, they’ve been caught be him and are still alive. They’re pretty smug for Cloud Recess inhabitants. Also, he supposes, they’re used to resting in the lap of a more dangerous predator.
Thinking of Lan Zhan is making him ill, he’s sure. The heat in his face is obviously an onset of fever from a cold from the cold of the Cloud Recesses. It’s a lot further north than Yunmeng even and that’s before he had to climb up the mountain.
He closes his eyes and naps in the midday sun.
He really is more of a night person.
Something shifting nearby wakes him. He throws an arm over his eyes to block out the light and yawns.
“Missed the lesson.” Lan Wangji’s voice prompts him to throw himself into a sitting position and look over. Lan Zhan is knelt perfectly in the grass, the black bunny keeping him company. Wei Wuxian smiles at the sight.
“You should not have been sleeping.” Wei Wuxian laughs, but notes that Lan Wangji hadn’t woken him up.
“Is it against the rules to nap?” He knows it isn’t. Those long library hours have taught him something at least. But Lan Wangji has a response.
“Sleep at nine. Wake at five. It is enough rest, so you do not nap during the day.” It delights Wei Wuxian that he’s able to keep up. Everything about Lan Wangji delights him. He laughs again, rolling in the grass. He is surely staining his robes something awful, but he doesn’t care. Lan Zhan stares down at him, his eyes unreadable.
“You’re such a fuddy-duddy Lan Zhan! I would have thought a cat like yourself would want to nap in the sun’s warmth.”
He writhes in the grass to be directly under Lan Wangji. He stares up into the other’s eyes, noting the honey gold colour the light turns the amber irises. Lan Wangji’s pupils, usually in slits when he looks at him, are rounded and large. He really has beautiful eyes. Any woman would be so lucky to marry him, Wei Wuxian thinks. He closes his eyes to laugh, tipping his head back so the crown brushes Lan Wangji’s knees gently. He loves getting away with touching Lan Wangji.
“You should come to Yunmeng,” he says “I could show you all the best sun traps. They’re my favourite places to nap.” He thinks about curling up with Lan Zhan in a hidden courtyard in Lotus Pier, soaking up the sun before going for a refreshing and lazy swim. Of course, Lan Wangji wouldn’t want to, it goes against his everything. But wouldn’t it be nice?
He yawns deeply, pressing his shoulders into the ground as he arches his chest up to pop the muscles in his shoulders. His eyes slip closed and he covers his mouth with his hand, a moment too late, so Lan Wangji wouldn’t get a face full of canines, despite having Lan Wangji’s much larger and sharper teeth flashed in his direction after that one time he slipped pornography into his poetry. He’d had it drilled into him, along with Jiang Cheng, not to frighten people with sharp teeth and accidentally cause a political incident.
When he settles back, Lan Zhan is looking away with the tip of his tail twisting and the bunny is on its way back to its friend. Wei Wuxian’s heart flipflops despondently for reasons he won’t examine.
“Ah, I’m sorry for flashing my fangs at you.” He sits up as Lan Wangji replies with a familiar,
“Ridiculous.”
They sit in uncharacteristic silence for a moment, before Lan Wangji pulls a small scroll from his sleeve. They’re placed in front of him and Lan Wangji stands.
Wei Wuxian opens it to be faced with perfect caligraphy. He is taken aback by the contents.
“These are notes.”
“Hm.”
Wei Wuxian beams at the sound. Lan Wangji gave him notes from the lesson that he didn’t pay attention to.
“Thank you, Lan Zhan.”
He shifts to his knees so he’s higher.
“I should do something to repay you.” Lan Zhan’s eyes widen slightly, and he takes a small step back,
“Wei Ying.” He says quietly. The air between them feels suspended, like time has stopped. He thinks that the sun must be hotter than he thought. They stay for a heartbeat before Lan Wangji’s pupils and eyes narrow. He takes a larger step back and turns,
“Disrespecting teachers is against the rules. Pay attention in lesson next time.”
He leaves and Wei Wuxian watches as his tail gently swings behind him.
He puts the notes in his sleeve and makes sure the drawing is still there.
He goes to find Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang.