Paper Men (The Untamed; Fanfic)
Title: Paper Men
Rating: G
Pairing: Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian
Warnings/Notes: Takes place after the end of the series but before their official reunion; mild AU due to that. Fluffy. CQL Universe.
Summary: After a hard day of dealing with clan leaders, Lan Wangji needs a break. When a little paper man reveals itself, he gets a better gift than he'd anticipated.
Author's Notes: This was written for the
sholio's Distracting Comment Fest! The prompt was "paper" by
goss. I hope you enjoy this piece. ^^
----
Lan Wangji let out a low sigh as he settled in to meditate before his zither in the Silent Room. Night had finally fallen; it had been a long day of speaking with fellow clan leaders as head cultivator and he was already tired of the job. He’d had to resolve (or, perhaps more accurately, attempt to resolve) several disagreements between the Jin and Jiang clan and he had to wonder if everyone even remotely related to Wei Ying was difficult.
He wished the actual Wei Ying were here to laugh about the situation; he found humor in the oddest things.
Unfortunately, Lan Wangji wasn’t about to be let off the hook anytime soon, so he may as well embrace his presently humorless duties.
But it was so tedious. They wanted to speak to him all the time.
More than a little disgruntled with the situation and the path his own thoughts insisted on taking, he decided it was time to focus on music; nothing more, nothing less.
As he reached for the strings he noticed a small slip of paper tucked under it. It was completely ordinary without any adornment. Cautiously, for there were many people who would wish him harm, he pulled it from under the instrument and unfolded it.
Look up.
The handwriting was familiar and he proceeded to follow the instruction, the faintest of grins forming on his lips as he did so.
He was unsurprised to see a little paper man waving at him from the rafters. It was a delicate little thing, the exact kind he’d grown so familiar with. It proceeded to jump off and gently fluttered down into his waiting hand.
“Wei Ying,” he said unnecessarily, with overt fondness. “It is not yet time to meet.”
The paper man rubbed the back of its head awkwardly and then, somehow, gave a little shrug. Well, he couldn’t say he was displeased to see him sooner. Parting with Wei Ying had been difficult and it had only led to more difficulties.
When the paper man jumped off his hand and beckoned for him to follow it outside, he did so without hesitation. If Wei Ying had need of him, he wasn’t about to make him wait.
The little paper man ran jauntily down the pavement of his remote home and bounded up the hill. As the journey grew longer, Lan Wangji realized they must be heading for the springs they’d spent some of their last time together.
It was a rather odd place to meet one another, but it was also terribly nostalgic, so he could hardly fault him. But why the paper man and not Wei Ying himself?
When they finally reached the top, the paper man jumped excitedly around something on the ground.
Lan Wangji crouched to get a better look and allowed the small figure to jump into the safety of his hand as he did so. On the ground was another piece of paper.
Feeling somewhat perplexed now, he grabbed it and carefully unfolded it.
There appeared to be an incantation on it, but it was one that was unfamiliar to him. That was hardly surprising; Wei Ying was always inventing odd talismans. Thankfully, this one had instructions written in small, hasty script, Place in water.
He held the paper man aloft. “In moving water?”
It shook its head vigorously.
So, he’d need to find a calm pool. Considering where he was that would be a simple task. He simply needed to go a little higher up.
The paper man was practically buzzing with excitement now. Lan Wangji ducked his head in amusement. Whatever this was, Wei Ying had put some effort into it.
He eventually came to a large pool of water that the stream flowed into and out of. He glanced at the paper man, which gave him a firm nod of approval.
He picked his way carefully across some stones, so he’d be as near the pool’s edge as possible and set the paper talisman into the water. It was a very isolated spot, hidden by copses of trees and the night sky. At first, nothing happened save for the very predictable fading of script and the bend of paper as it met water.
But then, a soft glimmer began to ripple forth from it. Lan Wangji tilted his head in fascination as it continued until it formed a perfect reflection of the moon, large, much larger than it was usually.
He glanced up at the sky. It was cloudy and dark; the moon was nowhere to be seen. He looked back down and let out a wide grin in delight as the moon in the water glowed ever more brightly, allowing him to make out the shadow of the rabbit living there.
The paper man went suddenly limp in his hand, his only warning for what was to follow. He let out a quiet oof as two arms wrapped about his waist suddenly and a voice whispered into his ear, “Do you like your present, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji didn’t bother hiding his smile as he tilted his head to face him. “I do.” He placed the piece of paper into his pocket. It might not be Wei Ying now, but it had been only moments before and he would like it to remain undamaged.
“Really, is that all you have to say?” Wei Ying said with a mock pout. “This took some practice, you know. I might have singed the ends of my hair on a few attempts.”
“I like it very much,” Lan Wangji said softly as he turned to stare at the image again. “How long will it last?”
“Mm, about five minutes or so?”
They watched it together in comfortable silence. Wei Ying kept his arms about him, his head resting on his shoulder. Lan Zhan couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening.
Eventually, the paper moon faded away and Lan Wangji turned to face the man that had brought it to him in the first place.
“I didn’t expect you back yet.”
“Disappointed?” Wei Ying asked mischievously.
“Never.”
“Well, to be perfectly honest,” Wei Ying said with more seriousness than was his wont, “I missed you an awful lot. There’s only so much traveling you can do before you start to feel, well, you know.”
Lan Wangji inclined his head in understanding. Yes, he knew that all too well from when he had traveled the world looking for the man that stood before him now.
“There was … one other thing I wanted to give you. If you’ll have it,” Wei Ying said as he glanced out at the still pool. “I don’t know what you’ll think about it, though. Not really.”
“What is it?”
He expected another incantation or possibly an odd joke, but when Wei Ying turned toward him and leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to the side of his mouth, his eyes widened in understanding.
“So… what do you say?” He shuffled slightly, uncomfortable. “I could make you another paper moon. Er, regardless of the answer.”
“I would like it,” Lan Wangji said thickly. “And the paper moon as well.”
“Oh. Oh!” Wei Ying let out a joyous laugh. “I’m glad.”
He leaned in to kiss him once more. Truly, Lan Wangji thought, it could not be a more perfect night.
Rating: G
Pairing: Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian
Warnings/Notes: Takes place after the end of the series but before their official reunion; mild AU due to that. Fluffy. CQL Universe.
Summary: After a hard day of dealing with clan leaders, Lan Wangji needs a break. When a little paper man reveals itself, he gets a better gift than he'd anticipated.
Author's Notes: This was written for the
sholio's Distracting Comment Fest! The prompt was "paper" by
goss. I hope you enjoy this piece. ^^
----
Lan Wangji let out a low sigh as he settled in to meditate before his zither in the Silent Room. Night had finally fallen; it had been a long day of speaking with fellow clan leaders as head cultivator and he was already tired of the job. He’d had to resolve (or, perhaps more accurately, attempt to resolve) several disagreements between the Jin and Jiang clan and he had to wonder if everyone even remotely related to Wei Ying was difficult.
He wished the actual Wei Ying were here to laugh about the situation; he found humor in the oddest things.
Unfortunately, Lan Wangji wasn’t about to be let off the hook anytime soon, so he may as well embrace his presently humorless duties.
But it was so tedious. They wanted to speak to him all the time.
More than a little disgruntled with the situation and the path his own thoughts insisted on taking, he decided it was time to focus on music; nothing more, nothing less.
As he reached for the strings he noticed a small slip of paper tucked under it. It was completely ordinary without any adornment. Cautiously, for there were many people who would wish him harm, he pulled it from under the instrument and unfolded it.
Look up.
The handwriting was familiar and he proceeded to follow the instruction, the faintest of grins forming on his lips as he did so.
He was unsurprised to see a little paper man waving at him from the rafters. It was a delicate little thing, the exact kind he’d grown so familiar with. It proceeded to jump off and gently fluttered down into his waiting hand.
“Wei Ying,” he said unnecessarily, with overt fondness. “It is not yet time to meet.”
The paper man rubbed the back of its head awkwardly and then, somehow, gave a little shrug. Well, he couldn’t say he was displeased to see him sooner. Parting with Wei Ying had been difficult and it had only led to more difficulties.
When the paper man jumped off his hand and beckoned for him to follow it outside, he did so without hesitation. If Wei Ying had need of him, he wasn’t about to make him wait.
The little paper man ran jauntily down the pavement of his remote home and bounded up the hill. As the journey grew longer, Lan Wangji realized they must be heading for the springs they’d spent some of their last time together.
It was a rather odd place to meet one another, but it was also terribly nostalgic, so he could hardly fault him. But why the paper man and not Wei Ying himself?
When they finally reached the top, the paper man jumped excitedly around something on the ground.
Lan Wangji crouched to get a better look and allowed the small figure to jump into the safety of his hand as he did so. On the ground was another piece of paper.
Feeling somewhat perplexed now, he grabbed it and carefully unfolded it.
There appeared to be an incantation on it, but it was one that was unfamiliar to him. That was hardly surprising; Wei Ying was always inventing odd talismans. Thankfully, this one had instructions written in small, hasty script, Place in water.
He held the paper man aloft. “In moving water?”
It shook its head vigorously.
So, he’d need to find a calm pool. Considering where he was that would be a simple task. He simply needed to go a little higher up.
The paper man was practically buzzing with excitement now. Lan Wangji ducked his head in amusement. Whatever this was, Wei Ying had put some effort into it.
He eventually came to a large pool of water that the stream flowed into and out of. He glanced at the paper man, which gave him a firm nod of approval.
He picked his way carefully across some stones, so he’d be as near the pool’s edge as possible and set the paper talisman into the water. It was a very isolated spot, hidden by copses of trees and the night sky. At first, nothing happened save for the very predictable fading of script and the bend of paper as it met water.
But then, a soft glimmer began to ripple forth from it. Lan Wangji tilted his head in fascination as it continued until it formed a perfect reflection of the moon, large, much larger than it was usually.
He glanced up at the sky. It was cloudy and dark; the moon was nowhere to be seen. He looked back down and let out a wide grin in delight as the moon in the water glowed ever more brightly, allowing him to make out the shadow of the rabbit living there.
The paper man went suddenly limp in his hand, his only warning for what was to follow. He let out a quiet oof as two arms wrapped about his waist suddenly and a voice whispered into his ear, “Do you like your present, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji didn’t bother hiding his smile as he tilted his head to face him. “I do.” He placed the piece of paper into his pocket. It might not be Wei Ying now, but it had been only moments before and he would like it to remain undamaged.
“Really, is that all you have to say?” Wei Ying said with a mock pout. “This took some practice, you know. I might have singed the ends of my hair on a few attempts.”
“I like it very much,” Lan Wangji said softly as he turned to stare at the image again. “How long will it last?”
“Mm, about five minutes or so?”
They watched it together in comfortable silence. Wei Ying kept his arms about him, his head resting on his shoulder. Lan Zhan couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening.
Eventually, the paper moon faded away and Lan Wangji turned to face the man that had brought it to him in the first place.
“I didn’t expect you back yet.”
“Disappointed?” Wei Ying asked mischievously.
“Never.”
“Well, to be perfectly honest,” Wei Ying said with more seriousness than was his wont, “I missed you an awful lot. There’s only so much traveling you can do before you start to feel, well, you know.”
Lan Wangji inclined his head in understanding. Yes, he knew that all too well from when he had traveled the world looking for the man that stood before him now.
“There was … one other thing I wanted to give you. If you’ll have it,” Wei Ying said as he glanced out at the still pool. “I don’t know what you’ll think about it, though. Not really.”
“What is it?”
He expected another incantation or possibly an odd joke, but when Wei Ying turned toward him and leaned forward to press a chaste kiss to the side of his mouth, his eyes widened in understanding.
“So… what do you say?” He shuffled slightly, uncomfortable. “I could make you another paper moon. Er, regardless of the answer.”
“I would like it,” Lan Wangji said thickly. “And the paper moon as well.”
“Oh. Oh!” Wei Ying let out a joyous laugh. “I’m glad.”
He leaned in to kiss him once more. Truly, Lan Wangji thought, it could not be a more perfect night.