Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The discussion conference was loud, the expected entertainment and stomping around of fools that didn't understand how sound carried in and over water made his skin and scales hurt. He hated being made to slink off under the floors of Lianhua Wu during these events, hated having to hide away so no one could demand he show them his other form.

Because he didn't look the same as the Jiang jiaoren.

They all had delicate skin over their short tails, lines of scutes down their backs, neat, sleek fins in earthy, rich colors, and pure black eyes.

In contrast, he had a long tail covered in hard iridescent black scales that he could coil around prey should he choose, his fins were deceptively flowy, hiding the lethal, venomous barbs that hid amongst the trailing red that waved in the current. He didn’t blend into the river, too dark while also too bright, the red and black a warning flag to too many. And his eyes glowed red, an unsettling gleam that more than a few had called demonic.

The Jiang didn’t like his differences, didn’t like to swim with him, and did their best to hide him away from anyone outside the sect.

The promise of a family, of a pod, that he’d been given so long ago in Yiling was long broken. And, frankly, he was done with the broken promises.

Which was why he had a plan. 

He was going to sneak out to the market in the night and find someone to breed him. He would make his own pod of two, maybe three if he was very lucky. He wanted a real family, even if that family was just him and a child.

He bided his time under the deck and then, when night fell and the discussions and competitions of the day were done, when the guests filtered out, drawing their human guises around themselves once again, to the market town outside Lianhua Wu, he slipped silently down the shoreline and from the water.

The deep blue robes he'd woven for himself shed the water perfectly and fit to him in a way that would tempt even a stone. He fixed his hair so that it fell in teasing waves, kept out of his face with pearl set combs, and flowed down his back. He found the shoes he'd hidden and slipped them on then hurried to the market.

Music, light and cheerful, played in the center of the market and many of the visiting disciples danced when beckoned by flirtatious Yunmeng folk.

He circled in the shadows until something, some one caught his eye.

Tall, in robes of palest blue adorned with trailing ribbons and sparkling blue gems, the man stood still and quiet amongst the lively party. A silver guan kept sleek, rain straight hair contained and exposed a face that could have been carved of jade by a master's hand. He looked like a celestial spirit and his strength was obvious even from a distance.

The man was perfect. 

It didn't take very long for him to slip into the throng of dancers and find himself directly in the path of the celestial's gaze. He spun, let loose a melodic laugh that he knew drew attention, and neatly moved his feet and body in a way that was designed to hold attention without seeming indecent.

He could feel a gaze on him and it took a great deal of willpower to keep from looking but he couldn’t move too fast. He had to lure his prey in, not pounce and scare the celestial away.

He danced away from anyone that tried to invade his space, tried to claim him as a partner in their own dance, with a laugh and a flick on the hand or nose for the most persistent. Each time someone tried to claim his hand for a dance, he felt the gaze on him intensify. Anger? Or, if he was lucky, jealousy?

The heat on the back of his neck increased until he felt it was just the right time and on a turn he looked out and locked eyes with the celestial.

Ohhhh yes. There was heat in those eyes, golden as a cat's, and he stilled just long enough to send the celestial a flicker of a smile, a silent greeting, before he had to slide away from another fool trying to claim his attention.

He faded into the dancing crowd, vanishing from the celestial's sight, and circled around.

Luck had put the celestial beside the well so he could easily pretend an innocent reason for drawing near. But when he spotted his target, the celestial was looking into the crowd, seeking.

Perfect.

He slipped through the throng and came up just as the celestial turned his way. He smiled, hand reaching out for the bucket. "Hello. Don't mind me, just getting some water and catching my breath."

He dropped the bucket down and began to crank it up, not a hard task not even heavy, then stilled when broad, long fingered hands took over. He glanced up at the celestial, his lips curving in a teasing manner. "Well, thank you handsome stranger. Though I'm certainly used to pulling up water to drink."

"Mn." 

The single syllable rumbled deeply and made him shiver slightly. Oh yes, this was the one.

He let the celestial pull up the bucket and take the dipper to fill it, bending to drink from it, his eyes holding on the celestial's face as he slaked his thirst. He caught a tinge of pink tipping the celestial's ears and the way golden eyes locked onto the droplets of water that slipped down his chin until he wiped them away.

He straightened, his own eyes shining with humor. "Are you enjoying the dancers?"

"The music." 

"Ah, not one for dancing then?" He leaned on the well in a way that showed his body off perfectly.

The celestial shook his head. "Crowds."

"I see." His smile was kind. "You might find one of the tea houses or an inn more to your taste then. You can get a private table behind a screen and enjoy the music to your heart's content without worry of someone bumping into you. All for the price of tea or liquor."

"Tea. Liquor is forbidden."

His eyes widened. "Is it now? Whence do you hail that forbids liquor?"

"Gusu."

Oh. "You're a Lan?" He'd never met one of the reclusive sect but they were well known to be powerful and refused to show others their shift. He looked up, finally registering the shimmering ribbon with a silver cloud motif in the center that a teardrop blue gem dangled from. His celestial was a member of the main line.

"Mn. Lan Zhan, courtesy Wangji." 

The golden eyes seemed to devour him, making his stomach jump nervously. He kept his smile in place. "Wei Ying. I can show you to the best place for tea and music, if you'd like."

Lan Wangji turned, offering his arm.

Wei Wuxian took it, hiding his glee as he led his Lan to an inn he knew had excellent tea, beautiful music, and complete discretion. He greeted the innkeeper cheerfully and got a privacy screen near the back, near the stairs leading to the rooms, easily.

"Now, what sort of teas do you like, Lan-gongzi? Yunmeng has a spicy lotus tea."

"Er-gongzi. I have an older brother."

"Oh, Lan-er-gongzi then." He grinned, watching his Lan's eyes drop to the mole just under his bottom lip. "Your preferences?"

Lan Wangji looked up, almost falling into the gleaming silver eyes holding steady on him. "No spice."

"Hmmm," he tilted his head and tapped his bottom lip, reveling in the instant drop of his Lan's eyes, "they have a good silver needle jasmine, would you like that?"

"Mn."

Wei Wuxian bounced up and slipped away, hiding his glee at the way his Lan reached for him, to get the tea. He came back with a tray and settled at the table, pouring a cup for his Lan with perfect grace and etiquette. Golden eyes followed every move hungrily.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Lan-er-gongzi!" It was a chirp. 

Lan Wangji paused before he drank, "Lan Zhan."

"Huh?"

Something fond sparked in the golden depths. "You may call me Lan Zhan."

Wei Wuxian swallowed a purr. "Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan. It suits you." He smiled, resting his cheek on one hand. "Will you call me Wei Ying then? You haven't spoken my name at all just yet."

Lan Wangji took a sip, humming at the delicate, pleasant taste, then said, "Wei Ying."

The low heat in his voice curled in Wei Wuxian’s belly deliciously. He sat back and quietly sang along with an erhu and xiao, telling the story of a noble's daughter that fell in love with a lotus farmer only for her father to kill him.

When the song was over, Lan Wangji asked, "Is it true?"

"The song? I don’t know. It was written so long ago that there aren't any records. It's become a Yunmeng folk tale. I always felt worse for the farmer. He knew from the start they'd never be allowed to be together but let her convince him otherwise."

"She lived knowing that."

"I suppose so. She lived with his blood on her hands in a way. I don't like the song to be honest. It's sad in a bad way."

"Mn. Do you have a favorite?"

"Let's see, sad or happy?"

"Both."

"I rather like the tale of Lianhua. It's sad but the villain never gets what he wants and Lianhua's family gets the peace of knowing that their child is free and can lay her to rest." 

He smiled. "Happy? My favorite is about a little carp that wants a family and goes searching among all the fish and water birds. He swims higher and higher each time he's rejected until he jumps through the heaven gate by accident." He laughed, the sound ringing brightly. "And the dragons welcome him in, one in particular that watched his journey chooses him as her mate and they have many adorable babies. He got the family he wanted because he never gave up on finding one."

Lan Wangji stared at him for a long moment before catching the attention of a nearby server, murmuring a couple requests.

The server returned with Wei Wuxian’s favorite liquor just as the song about the carp began to play. Wei Wuxian's eyes sparkled in delight as his Lan poured a cup of liquor for him. Oh yes he was certain to get what he wanted with his Lan already catering to him. 

He toyed with the cup of liquor and sang, weaving just a touch of power too subtle to be noticed into his voice, along with the story. Once the song was done, he drained the cup. "Are you trying to spoil me, Lan Zhan?"

Lan Wangji sipped his tea. "Some drink and a song can not spoil anyone."

"Oh, I don't know. Some can be spoiled by the smallest things. Good, simple food and drink, and welcoming company can be strangely hard to find."

"You would always be welcome in my company."

Wei Wuxian felt himself blush, entirely uncontrived, and pat a hand over his heart. "Lan-er-gongzi should be careful with such sincerity, lest it overwhelm this humble one's heart!"

Lan Wangji angled his head, seeming to see past the layer of silliness meant to shield the honesty of the words. "Good hearts deserve sincerity."

Wei Wuxian actually warbled, barely managing to keep the sound human. "Lan Zhan!"

"Mn." Humor glowed in golden eyes as he poured another cup of liquor for his companion.

Wei Wuxian snatched it up and sipped as the musicians shifted into more lively music meant to encourage dancing and he heard the familiar voices of the Jin main family's men enter the inn. 

He wrinkled his nose. "Ugh, not them." He caught the attention of one server, gesturing toward the sound of Jin Guangshan laughing, and swept a hand in a curve before shaking his head. The server's face flashed with anger briefly before he nodded.

"Wei Ying has encountered Jin-zongzhu before." It wasn't a question.

"The Jin come often so that Jiang-guniang’s betrothed will spend time with her." Wei Wuxian frowned. "While that peacock spends hours insulting her, his sire carouses. Everyone here knows to keep the vulnerable away from him and his nephew by now."

"You are fond of Jiang-guniang?"

Wei Wuxian met his Lan's eyes. "She is very kind to the common folk of Yunmeng. Her hand is the one that created the orphanages and ensured that temples always have food for the hungry and shelter for the homeless in ill weather. She has a good heart at the core of her." It wasn't really his Shijie’s fault that she couldn't stand confrontations and sought to keep the waters smooth. But in doing so she, like the rest of her family, had othered him and kept him from the promise of a pod.

Lan Wangji reached out, tucking a lock of hair back behind Wei Ying’s ear. 

Wei Wuxian felt the touch deep in his belly and leaned into it, a hand carefully moving out of his Lan's periphery to put two drops of intoxicant into his tea. It would be just enough to overcome any propriety his Lan may have without forcing him to act against his wishes. "So, no one here is very fond of the Jin."

"Understandable." Lan Wangji didn't press for Wei Ying to tell him what made shadows darken the silver gaze to steel. Such questions could be asked in the future.

A teenage girl, a different server from the previous one, checked on them then, asking if they'd like any snacks.

It gave Wei Wuxian time to compose himself again and a subtle signal to the girl, when his Lan asked that the girl bring Wei Ying’s favorite snacks, made sure she'd bring fruits he normally didn't snack on with his liquor. This was a seduction, he couldn't seduce his Lan eating peanuts and lotus seeds.

He happily plucked up a loquat to nibble at when she brought a tray of fruits, fresh and candied, biting into the juicy flesh perfectly so that he had to suck his fingers clean.

He felt the hot gaze of his Lan on him and only smiled coyly, anticipation bubbling in his blood as his Lan drank the now dosed tea.

Then he stared in shock when the man swayed a little and slumped, falling unconscious. He reached out, checking his qi. "Lan Zhan?" 

The spiritual energy in his Lan's meridians pulsed strongly, fierce and wild in a way that made him shiver and grow wet. He chased that energy, looking for any clue to why the chosen sire of his offspring had reacted so strongly to the intoxicant. He found no health concern, nothing to indicate a problem.

'Liquor is forbidden.'

The memory of that statement surfaced. Perhaps whatever being the Lan were couldn’t tolerate any sort of intoxicant? It didn't seem to be hurting his Lan, simply hitting him harder than it would even a human.

"Aiya, Lan Zhan, you had to make me work harder than I planned didn't you?" He snagged the server and requested a room and a bath for his companion. Perhaps this might work out even better. He could carry an 'inebriated' guest upstairs, as he'd been known to do before, and it would be assumed he'd left as soon as he had them settled, as he always did, especially since it was his Lan that had ordered the liquor.

He easily lifted his Lan into his arms, despite the solid weight of him, and carried him up to what was the best room available. He had to smirk. Obviously the innkeeper was heading off Jin Guangshan from taking the best suite by giving it to Lan-er-gongzi. Even better.

He took note of the large bath tub, big enough for exactly his purposes, and laid his Lan down on the luxurious bed. He took down the guan without removing the headband, a vague memory of lessons about it being sacred to the Lan stirring. Then he carefully stripped his Lan's robes and undergarments off, revealing the body of the one he wanted to breed him.

And oh, his Lan was exquisite. Broad, strongly muscled, even soft in unconsciousness, and there was a shimmer of iridescent scales that scattered over his chest and down his abdomen to...

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened at the sight of not one but two very impressive cocks that had bands of faint blue going down the lengths of them that likely formed ridges when erect. The cocks rested over large testicles that looked positively meant for breeding. The iridescent scales covered the scrotum and area around the penises, all so pretty that it took a great deal of effort for Wei Wuxian not to simply touch. He could touch later, when his Lan was conscious and capable of saying him nay. For now his purpose was blood.

Letting his claws slide out, Wei Wuxian delicately worked one between scales nearest the root of those pretty cocks to slice the skin. He caught the blood in a shallow dish until it stopped flowing naturally. Then he added an ink and cinnabar mixture he’d prepared earlier, mixing it together with a little of his own blood to create the perfect medium. Using the same claw, he painted a tiny array on the underside of his Lan’s scrotum that would complement the one he used for himself.

Once that was done, he deftly redressed his Lan in his trousers and inner robe, folding the rest of the fancy clothing and setting it neatly aside. All very proper for when the night was over and he was gone.

Then he stripped out of his own robes, leaving a trail from the bed to the bathtub, and sank down into the water with a pleased sigh as he allowed his human guise to release and his tail took the place of his legs. It was a little cramped in the tub but this part was best done in his most natural shape. 

Taking the dish of ink and blood, he angled his lower body out of the water and, dipping his claws into the mixture, he began to cut lines into his lower belly, just above his slit, so the array would sit over his womb. He infused each line and sigil with the mixture so that no one but his chosen sire could trigger the array or impregnate him. Blood, magic, and intent went into each delicate cut and at the end of it he poured the remainder of the mixture over the cuts and activated the array, hissing at the brief pain as the work was seared into his skin permanently.

But it was done, appearing as a tattoo on his skin, rather pretty were he to be honest, and would work with the temporary array he’d painted on his Lan to guarantee conception.

He stretched in the tub then settled fully into the hot water to enjoy it until his Lan started to wake and he had to shift back. The heat soaked into him, forcing relaxation until sleep crept up on him before he realized and could fend it off.

The next he knew the sound of a sharp inhale and deep vibration jolted him awake and his eyes shot open to see his Lan standing just past the privacy screen, staring at him with golden eyes wide, pupils turned elliptical. Shock made him warble, his tail curling up tight in distress. He’d fucked up! The other man wasn’t meant to see him in his truest form, wasn’t meant to see what so repelled everyone else. This would cost him what he’d worked for!

“Wei Ying.” Lan Wangji’s voice rumbled like thunder and his form shimmered briefly before two elegant silver antlers appeared on his head, his ears growing long and pointed with soft blue fuzz wisping along the bottom edge, scales shimmering into existence over his cheeks, down the sides of his neck, and across the back of hands that grew silver claws. A great tail covered in those iridescent scales with a long mane that matched the fuzz on his ears appeared, curling out and around his feet, the end and fan of that fur flicking back and forth.

The motion reminded Wei Wuxian of the cats that roamed the fish market just before they pounced to steal someone’s catch. “L-Lan Zhan.” Antlers, the tail, the scales. His Lan was a dragon. No wonder the Lan sect kept their heritage under wraps. People were almost as greedy for the power of a dragon as they were for jiaoren tears or huli jing tails. He really had chosen well and now he’d ruined it.

Before he could force anything else out of his mouth, his Lan was suddenly there, kneeling beside the bath, one hand curling around his jaw, keeping him from looking away.

“Wei Ying, do not fear me.”

“ Fear you? What?” Confusion made his fins flex, unsure of whether or not to raise the spines in defense or not.

“You’re cringing.” A sliver clawed thumb stroked over Wei Ying’s cheek, trying to soothe. “I will not hurt you. I will never hurt you.”

“I...I don’t think that. I...you’re not...disgusted by me?” Wei Wuxian’s eyes, the red of his jiaoren form, were wide, his gills flexing to take in more oxygen as his lungs didn’t seem able to do so properly just at the moment.

Shock made the pupils in golden dragon eyes constrict. “No! Wei Ying is,” Lan Wangji deliberately looked Wei Ying over from tip to tail and back again, looking into his eyes at the end, “ beautiful.” He saw skepticism in the red eyes and, silently hoping he would be forgiven for his boldness, dipped his hand into the water to stroke along the black scales, feeling the muscle of the long tail flex as Wei Ying made a trilling sound.

The flex pressed into his touch, not away, and gave him leave to be bolder, stroking up the tail, delicately running a finger along the stiff spine of one blazing red fin, his palm stroking up to the stomach, barely paying attention to the marking there in his intent to assure Wei Ying that he was sincere, and chest, to curl around his neck, thumb flicking over the ear fins and their trailing barbels. “It is forbidden to lie.”

Wei Wuxian shivered at the touch, the heat in his belly that had been at a low simmer since spotting his celestial increasing and making his tail flex so show off. It was a pitiful display in the tub. In clear water he could have flared his fins and properly enticed his Lan. “I’ve heard that.” And he had. The rumor that the Lan didn’t lie was well known.

He tentatively reached out, hands dripping, to run the pads of his fingers, webbed with his transformation, over the scales gracing his Lan’s cheeks. He kept his touch light, ready to jerk away at the first sign of refusal or displeasure.

Lan Wangji leaned into the touch, angling his head to nuzzle into one palm, breathing in the scent of seasalt and seepweed that seemed to cling to the jiaoren. “Who has made you think you are anything but exquisite?”

Wei Wuxian blushed, unused to compliments to his natal form. “I’m not like the other jiaoren in Yunmeng.”

Something like anger flickered through the gold of Lan Wangji’s eyes as he heard what lay between the words. “The common is not so prized as the unique.”

Wei Wuxian let his eyes flutter, it was a genuine reaction but also the perfect flirtatious move to get the evening back on track. “Does that mean Lan Zhan finds me a prize?”

“I do.” Lan Wangji’s eyes fell to the lush mouth that had tempted him all evening.

“Lan Zhan should prove it,” he purred, arms twining around his neck.

“I would not dishonor you.” Lan Wangji swallowed, unable to pull back.

“Is it dishonor when it is invited?” Wei Wuxian’s fingers found the furred edge of one dragon ear, stroking it. “Lan Zhan,” he breathed it over the dragon’s mouth, “won’t you show this one that you really find me pretty?”

He arched his body in a way that allowed his slit to gape open just a little and saw Lan Zhan’s eyes drop and see, watched the pupils expand, heard the gasp and hungry rumble. “Lan-er-gongzi, Lan Wangji, Lan Zhan,” he flexed, the very tip of his penis starting to peek out of his slit, keeping it open so the hole underneath was visible, “Lan-er-gege,” oh there it was, a growl and the hand on his chest twitching, “you did this to me, you know? I saw Er-gege in the square and had to come over. So many people visiting but it was you that caught my eye.”

“Only me?” Lan Wangji’s voice was deep, a possessive need riding him.

“Only you. No one’s ever interested me before, drawn me before.” It was the truth. He still planned to vanish, still planned to go somewhere to have his child and raise them away from the bitter waters of Yunmeng, but he was sad that it was necessary. He wished he could risk staying, risk trying to fully claim and be claimed by Lan Zhan, but he wasn’t of proper social standing to be accepted by the leadership of a major sect and he would not allow his child to be taken from him.

“Er-gege, Lan Zhan, you’ve made me ache, won’t you take responsibility?”

Lan Wangji growled and leaned in to capture Wei Ying’s mouth in a biting, savage kiss. He swallowed the moan the jiaoren made, one hand fisting in the long fall of hair, the other petting down the glorious body again, pausing at the slit before pulling in his claws so he could gently touch.

Wei Wuxian moaned as Lan Zhan’s fingers slipped over the emerging cock to rub the soft flesh below, teasing his hole. He arched into the touch, hands going to the broad shoulders still covered by the inner robe to anchor himself. He cried out, a forked tongue slipping deep into his mouth, as the fingers pressed into his hole. In this form it was more elastic, easily and eagerly took two and then three fingers, but it was so sensitive. He was worked up from the anticipation of the night, his plans and preparations having held him on the edge of arousal all evening.

He tore his mouth away to gasp, “Please, Lan Zhan, please. More. I need...”

Lan Wangji angled his head to press his mouth to Wei Ying’s neck, licking and raking his fangs over his pulse. “So sensitive,” he thrust his fingers in and out of the hole that hugged them and clung eagerly despite the viscous fluid that made the inside of the jiaoren’s body slick. “Wei Ying is hungry.”

“Y-yes, I’m hungry for you, Lan Zhan.”

He growled, biting down and drawing another cry from Wei Ying. “For me, only for me.”

“Yes! Only for Lan Zhan. Please. Please, please, please,” Wei Ying felt his flexible cock extend fully and wrap around Lan Zhan’s wrist, pulling his hand in, forcing the fingers deeper. A curse of frustration hissed out of him when that turned Lan Zhan’s attention from his hole to his cock and the hand slick with his own fluids curled around him to stroke. “Nooo, not that! In me. Lan Zhan!” 

He writhed, arching his hips up, his own hands going down to spread himself wider. He wanted Lan Zhan’s cocks in him, he wanted to be fucked, to be bred. “I need Lan Zhan’s cock in me.”

He felt Lan Zhan freeze for a moment, silence humming for too long as he squirmed, trying to get his partner to move, to touch him more, to do something that would ease the fire in his blood.

Then suddenly there was a snarl and Lan Zhan was straddling him in the bathtub, strong thighs on either side of his tail as the long, elegant hands pulled the robe open and the trousers down, exposing his cocks.

Wei Wuxian stared at the two erect members, the ridges flushed deep blue and prominent along the shaft. They were so big, so thick and long. The tips were pointed like an arrow and would, without a doubt, reach his womb. He whined, arching. “Fuck, get in me, Er-gege. Fuck me with those pretty cocks.”

Lan Wangji angled one of his cocks down against the slick hole with one hand, the other going under Wei Ying to cup his tail just below where scales turned to smooth skin. Then he pulled Wei Ying up as he pushed down and in, a deep rumble shaking the very room as the hot walls opened for him and clung.

Wei Wuxian arched up, a melodious call breaking from his throat. Yes, yes this was what he wanted, what he needed. It felt so good, the shaft splitting him open, pushing him wide and filling him up. He trilled, hands going to Lan Zhan’s hips, claws digging in as he pulled, encouraging him to go deeper.

Lan Wangji bared his teeth and pushed in as deep as he could go, snarling when Wei Ying’s flexible, tapered penis curled around his second cock, flexible flesh stroking it. He pulled Wei Ying up so he could kiss him again, biting his bottom lip to make his mouth open enough that he could drive his tongue past those perfect lips and make him swallow it. His dragon venom seeped out of the glands on the underside into Wei Ying’s throat. 

Wei Wuxian moaned around the muscle, tasting something sharp and acidic before heat spread from where Lan Zhan’s tongue was fucking his throat at the same time he began to thrust in and out of his hole.

‘Aphrodisiac.’ The awareness slipped past the fog of heat that was beginning to cloud his mind. His dragon’s saliva worked as an aphrodisiac when consumed in a way similar to the venom that Wei Wuxian’s spines held. He really had chosen the perfect sire for his child.

He sucked at the tongue, swallowing more of the venom, and moved in concert with Lan Zhan, meeting each thrust and squeezing his second cock with his own so that it wasn’t neglected nor would it come. He wanted both cocks’ worth of seed filling him.

Lan Wangji drove into Wei Ying, drove him under the water in the tub, taking full advantage of the gills that kept him from suffocating even as Lan Wangji fucked his mouth with his tongue. The water sloshed and spilled over the edge with their movements, each thrust splashing. His hands went to the sides of the tub, gripping for more leverage to thrust deeper into the welcoming heat that embraced his cock. 

Wei Wuxian cried out around the tongue as Lan Zhan rubbed against the deepest part of him, the entrance to his womb. It hurt in a delicious way, a pleasurable pain that he pressed into. His cock pulled Lan Zhan closer and he screamed when the next thrust pushed hard against his cervix, the pointed tip fitting perfectly against the opening in exactly the right way. He tried to beg for Lan Zhan to do it again, just like that, but he couldn’t speak around the tongue stuffing his throat.

He didn’t need to, the whine was all that was necessary because Lan Zhan started to hit that perfect spot each time he pushed in, drawing muffled, wild noises from Wei Wuxian. He lifted his tail, careful not to let the spines dig into flesh, and wrapped it around Lan Zhan, clinging to him as ecstasy built and built, and built until he was screaming again, the tongue pulling out of his throat so that Lan Zhan was swallowing the sound.

He jerked in orgasm, clenching around Lan Zhan, claws digging into his dragon’s hips, fins flapping as light burst behind his eyes.

Lan Wangji panted, trying to hold on, to hold off his own orgasm but Wei Ying’s inner walls tightened around him too well, pulsing in a way that dragged him over the edge despite his best efforts. He groaned and thrust deep, held there as he came, spilling inside Wei Ying, hands gripping the tub so hard that it broke around them. His groin seemed to grow hotter as he pumped his seed into Wei Ying.

Wei Wuxian moaned, the burn of his array fully activating as Lan Zhan’s semen spilled into him in a warm rush that triggered the final stage. He shuddered in aftershocks, satisfaction a nice buzz in the background of his mind, and stroked his hands up Lan Zhan’s hips, over his sides and up to cup his head as they kissed, panting into each other’s mouths and trembling in the aftermath.

He nuzzled his nose against Lan Zhan’s when he managed to gather enough thought to speak. “Lan Zhan, you broke the tub.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji nipped at Wei Ying’s chin then angled his head to press his face into his throat.

“The innkeeper’s gonna be mad about water damage if we don’t-” he broke off when he saw the water lifting up from the floor and out the window. Right. Dragon. Water manipulation was one of their gifts. He raked his hands through Lan Zhan’s hair, feeling the heat building inside him again. “Lan Zhan.”

“Hm?”

“Why did you feed me venom? I’m not mad, but I’m still very, very horny.” He felt fangs ghost over his neck but that was overshadowed by the grind of Lan Zhan’s hips. He moaned at the way the softening cock rubbed inside him but the still hard second cock was what caught his attention.

“Can not stop before both come at once.” Lan Wangji began to suck a mark onto Wei Ying’s neck.

Wei Wuxian felt the air rush out of him in realization. “Oh. I don’t know if you noticed, Er-gege,” and oh the cock his own was holding kicked at that diminutive, “but my cunt can accommodate whatever you have to give me.”

“I noticed,” it was a growl.

“So you just made sure that we’ll be doing this all night without any real need.” Wei Wuxian laughed and shifted from tail to legs, keeping more of his jiaoren features the same way Lan Zhan had his tail and antlers, the limbs wrapped around his dragon’s waist. “Not that I can complain but no more venom, okay?”

“Mn.” One of Lan Wangji’s hands stroked over a leg, enjoying the firm muscle and soft fat. “Why?”

“You broke the tub. I need water for my tail, Er-gege. But,” he coaxed Lan Zhan’s head up so he could nip the tip of his nose then brush a soft kiss over his lips, “we can have more fun with legs, all sorts of positions to play with all night.” The golden eyes went from the hazy post orgasmic softness to hot lust in a snap.

Hands went to his hips and then he was being lifted, a shrieking laugh bursting out of him as Lan Zhan stood, first cock still inside him, and walked them over to the bed. He grunted as he was borne back and finally pulled out of so Lan Zhan could strip fully naked.

He watched, not feeling bereft because Lan Zhan’s tail had curled around his thigh, the soft fur tickling the skin and teasing at his cock and slit, and devoured the sight of Lan Zhan. Once the clothes were shed and all that remained was the headband, Wei Wuxian held his arms out. “C’mere and kiss me.”

Lan Wangji crawled on top of him, catching one hand to kiss the black claws and pounding pulse in the wrist. He held Wei Ying’s eyes as he pulled his headband off and tied it around that wrist but, before he could be asked anything about that, he bent to kiss Wei Ying again, driving thoughts out of both their heads in favor of sensation.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian cried from pleasure, pink pearls falling to the bed around them, as Lan Zhan released for the final time inside him, both cocks filling him at once as he rode them to completion.

“Mine. Mate.” Was growled out against where Lan Wangji had bitten into Wei Ying’s neck, drawing blood and leaving a mark that would never fade, just before the exhaustion of not one but three nights spent trying to sate them both overcame him and he passed out.

Wei Wuxian swallowed thickly, slumping down on top of his dragon. He pressed his face into Lan Zhan’s chest, hiding from the claim Lan Zhan had spoken. He wanted it. He wanted it, wanted to return the bite, to echo Lan Zhan’s claim. He knew he couldn’t. Lan Zhan might want him, might truly want to be his mate, but Wei Wuxian couldn’t possibly see his family accepting a jiaoren without anything to his name as the Second Jade’s mate.

He lay there just long enough that he knew he’d be able to move without trouble, then he eased off Lan Zhan and began to gather his things. He winced at the soreness of his body, looking down at himself and smiling bittersweetly at the sight of his belly bloating. Lan Zhan had really taken to his duty of filling him.

He managed to get a new tub sent up, avoiding the innkeeper’s knowing look, and bathed himself, careful not to fall asleep. He dressed, hesitating on the headband tied around his wrist. He tried to take it off but the knots wouldn’t budge, a buzz of power in them, and he didn’t have time to work out how to untie them. So he covered it with his clothes instead and finished dressing. 

Then he used a basin and cloth to wipe away the worst mess from Lan Zhan so he wouldn’t be itchy and sticky when he woke. He also changed the absolutely ruined bedding and gathered the pearls he’d cried over the course of their tryst into a bag.

He could have taken them and left then but the ache of the bite Lan Zhan had given him made him reconsider. He didn’t want to hurt Lan Zhan. So he sat and wrote a brief letter, setting it on top of Lan Zhan’s folded clothes, and setting the bag of pearls atop the letter.

He sat beside Lan Zhan’s prone form for a minute then leaned down to kiss his brow. “I wish I could be yours. I’m sorry, Lan Zhan.” He didn’t notice the tear that escaped him and turned to a black pearl in the hollow of Lan Zhan’s throat as he got up and left the room as quickly as possible.

He had too much to do to dwell on hopeless wishes.

Lan Wangji woke to a frantic knocking, grumbling a little before he recognized the voice outside the door.

“Wangji? Wangji answer me. Are you well?”

He made a soft, rolling sound of reassurance, not quite up to speaking just yet. He looked to the side, expecting to see Wei Ying, but found only an empty bed. He jerked upright, felt something fall from his chest to his lap, and looked down. 

A lone black pearl.

His breath left him, anxiety crawling through him as he picked up the pearl, the tear, and held it tightly in his fist. Black jiaoren pearls were cried from sorrow.

He surged out of bed and went to look behind the privacy screen, finding nothing but a bath filled with cloudy water and fading seasalt and seepweed scent. He scanned the room, looking for any trace of Wei Ying, ignoring his brother’s voice once again calling for him.

He spotted the bag and folded paper atop his folded clothes and lunged for it. The rattle of pearls told him what was in the bag but he was focused on the paper.

He unfolded it and read the letter, anger and sorrow gripping him as he did.

“Lan Zhan, I’m sorry. I can’t stay. I’m not worthy of the Second Jade. I’m a stranger without family, without reputation, without fortune. I have nothing to recommend me that a gentry family would accept. In the circles you must travel I have no worth.

I wish I did. I wish I could be yours in truth but I know what gentry think of those like me all too well.

Thank you for giving me three nights to feel wanted.

Yours in heart,

Wei Ying, Courtesy Wuxian.”

Lan Wangji felt himself shaking, the endless rage building in his chest walking the sky as lightning. Not at Wei Ying. No, he couldn’t be angry at his mate. Not when it was so very clear that Wei Ying was running from a pain he had faced too often. No, his anger was at whoever had convinced his mate that he had nothing to offer and, somewhat, at himself for allowing his lust to overtake him before explaining anything to Wei Ying.

He should have told Wei Ying about dragons recognizing their mates at first sight. About the way the Lan were open to all who married in regardless of their bloodline or social status. All mates were welcomed in because a dragon only ever had one and would never bond with anyone but their mate, would never have children with anyone but their mate.

The door burst open and he only turned to look at his brother as Lan Xichen rushed to his side, almost frantic.

“Wangji! What’s wrong? Why have you called a storm? Why are you naked?” Lan Xichen looked his brother over, searching for any injuries, and clue to why there was a storm now whipping outside. He spotted some scratches in...indiscreet places, noted the barely faded smell of sex in the room, and the way his brother was clutching a letter in one hand while tears dripped down his face.

He carefully eased the letter open enough to read it as well, relieved that Wangji allowed it, thankfully not feral. His jaw flexed and his eyes narrowed on the words. There was so much said in the short message but it wasn’t the full picture. “Wangji?”

“I found my mate.” Lan Wangji closed his eyes, gathering himself enough to ease the storm outside to a less violent rain. “And foolishly explained nothing before I lay with him.”

Lan Xichen measured his breaths. “I will call for fresh water so you may bathe and tell me all you can. Then, Wangji, we will search for your mate so you may correct your error.”

Lan Wangji leaned into his brother for a moment, grateful for the steady presence. “Mn.” He opened his hand to look at the black pearl. He would find his mate and ensure he never shed a pearl so black again.

As Wangji bathed and dressed, Lan Xichen listened to his brother with half his mind while the other put information together and devised vicious punishments for those involved in devaluing Wangji’s mate so thoroughly that the man had believed he wouldn’t be allowed to be Wangji’s. 

Soon his brother was once more cloaked in the armor of the Second Jade, dragon features concealed, and Lan Xichen had an idea of where to start. “The Jiang are the only jiaoren in Yunmeng. That is who we must speak with first.”

And may the Ancestors pity them if they were the ones that had so wounded the spirit of his brother’s mate.

Lan Wangji stayed in step with his brother as they were shown into the main hall of Lianhua Wu. With the conference over it was empty, the large space stripped of the banners and decorations that had been put out for each visiting sect's section. 

At the head of the hall Jiang-zongzhu sat on the Lotus Throne, his wife, from the goushe Yu of Meishan, in a luxurious chair beside him, his children on a lower dais. Though Jiang-zongzhu had pasted a welcoming expression on his face, there was something approaching grief hidden behind it. The Jiang heirs were also hiding upset behind polite masks, the daughter far more successfully than the son. But the lady of the sect...

Lan Wangji felt the hair on the nape of his neck rise at the barely hidden satisfaction, slightly edged with irritation, on her face.

Yu Ziyuan spoke first, smiling at them. "Lan-zongzhu, I see you have found your brother. We are relieved to see nothing ill befell him."

Lan Xichen didn't smile in return, something that immediately unnerved the Jiang family. "Yes, I did. However, while my brother’s absence was due to a joyful revelation, there appears to be a difficulty. You see, my brother, my heir, found his mate."

Something flashed over Jiang-zongzhu's face, an approaching dread and that hidden grief.

Yu Ziyuan continued speaking, affecting faint concern, "That is indeed wonderful. How has it turned into difficulty?"

"His mate left on an assumption that his status would not allow him to be welcomed. He left my brother a letter of apology for being unable to measure up to what he knows a gentry family wishes for those who marry in and vanished."

Now the woman known as Zi Zhizhou lost all pretense of polite compassion and something ugly rose in her eyes as she began to piece together the clues. 

Jiang Fengmian took up the task of conversation. "Do you have a name or description so we might help?"

Lan Xichen watched the four closely. "He introduced himself to my brother as Wei Ying."

Jiang Yanli gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth, eyes shimmering with tears. "Oh, A-Xian."

Jiang Wanyin’s face darkened in a bitter combination of grief, fury, and jealousy.

Jiang Fengmian looked pained, as if he'd taken a heavy blow.

Yu Ziyuan barked a laugh. "Ha! That brat? You would sully the Lan name by letting your brother claim that gutter rat son of a whore as hi-" She cut herself off as, faster than she could blink, Lan Wangji was suddenly there with his sword, burning with icy qi, against her throat.

"Do. Not. Insult. Wei. Ying." His eyes blazed gold, pupils gone to dragon slits.

Lan Xichen made a simple gesture that spun wind throughout the hall, closing all the doors and shutters.

Yu Ziyuan twitched, fury in her face, Zidian sparking violently on her hand. Then suddenly it went dead, the lighting seeming to siphon off into Lan Wangji’s sword. Her face went slack in confusion. "What?"

Lan Xichen met the now pale Jiang-zongzhu's eyes and allowed his dragon features to appear. "The Lan have never cared about bloodline or wealth when it comes to our mates. You would do well to step lightly when speaking of a dragon's mate, Zi Zhizhou. The lightning you wield is at a dragon's beck and call."

For once in her life, Yu Ziyuan found the wisdom of holding her tongue.

Jiang Fengmian slumped back into his seat. "Hanguang-jun, please lower your sword. My lady will say nothing more about A-Xian. Will you, San-niang?"

Her jaw flexed in anger but she carefully nodded. "I will not."

After a long moment, Lan Wangji lowered his sword and returned to his brother’s side.

Jiang Fengmian sighed, running a hand over his face. "Please, sit. A-Li, would you be so kind as to bring us tea?"

Jiang Yanli nodded, bowing to the two dragons and hurrying away to get tea.

"Jiang-zongzhu, we have little time. Wangji must catch up to his mate."

"Dragon or not, you won't be able to. A-Xian left hours ago, his lead is too great and his skill too immense for you to catch him in a water chase." 

Jiang Wanyin hissed a little. "That idiot's the fastest swimmer and strongest, sneakiest hunter. Fuqin is right, you won't catch him in water. Dragons being lords of the waterways won't matter, not with him."

Lan Wangji rumbled, thunder rolling in anger but was interrupted by the return of Jiang Yanli before he could lash out at the opening insult to his mate.

"A-Cheng, don't call A-Xian such insults." She quickly poured and served the tea. "But, Zewu-jun, Hanguang-jun, my father and brother speak truly. A-Xian has been gone too long for you to chase through the rivers. We will share all we know of him and, hopefully, that may help you find him."

Jiang Fengmian took the tea and, once both dragons had taken a sip, signaling their willingness to listen, began to speak. "Wei Ying, A-Xian, is the son of my sworn brother, Wei Changze, and the wanderer Cangse Sanren."

Yu Ziyuan shifted as if she was going to say something but a click from her husband reminded her that there were two dragons that weren't likely to take kindly to her vitriol.

"Changze was, at one point, my head disciple, my right hand. I was happy for him, when he found Cangse Sanren, and she was a good friend as well. They were both jiaoren but we never saw her shift. For a year after their marriage, they called Lianhua Wu home. They wandered to help the common folk but always returned. They seemed happy," Jiang-zongzhu looked perplexed and hurt, "I don't understand why they left."

Lan Xichen caught Yu Ziyuan glancing away furtively and thought that the answer to that question was right in front of Jiang-zongzhu if he ever bothered to look directly at the issue.

"They wandered for some time and made names for themselves. They wrote letters and congratulated me on each of my children's births. They told me of their own child, Wei Ying, in letters. I could not send letters of my own, they would never reach them before they moved on, else I would have invited them to let their pup grow here safely when they went on hunts."

Old pain, old grief crumpled Jiang-zongzhu's face, stirring pity in Lan Xichen.

"I should have found a way. Should have gone looking or requested use of a Jin butterfly but I didn’t." His wife had been vicious in her anger at the mere idea and how could he leave his little A-Cheng? His son had needed him. "Four years after I learned of Wei Ying’s birth, news that Changze and Cangse Sanren had died on a night hunt reached me. I spent five years trying to find their son. Five years, Lan-zongzhu. He'd been ejected from the inn they'd paid for, the things they left stolen by the innkeeper, and had been living on the street for five years."

Lan Wangji felt his heart ache. So young, his mate had been so young to suffer so much. Street children weren't treated kindly. In Gusu there were hardly any, their sect looked among the towns and streets and brought children to orphanages or good homes, some with aptitude were brought into the sect, and all had horror stories about the streets.

Jiang Yanli spoke, giving her father time to compose himself. "A-Xian doesn't speak of his time on the streets much. At first...at first he was open about it, laughing as much off as he could because he'd learned that smiling, happy children that don't complain are treated more kindly. He made jokes about eating melon rinds from the refuse piles, scrounging dumplings and buns that had burned and been discarded, about his fingers and toes hurting in winter. The only thing A-Xian could never make a joke about were the dogs. He's terrified of dogs. They attacked him on the streets, trying to steal the food he'd scrounge, and I suspect sometimes hunting him as a meal."

Lan Wangji recalled the scars, faint and faded from age and jiaoren healing, that had been on Wei Ying’s legs, looking like the mauling of some savage beast.

Jiang Wanyin huffed. "When Fuqin brought him here I'd just been given three puppies, spiritual dogs, for my birthday. Puppies and he screamed like they were huodou." He rolled his eyes.

Lan Wangji glared viciously. "Were I to shift and spend years hunting and maiming you, Jiang Wanyin, you might develop a fear of snakes. Do not mock a terror you have no concept of."

Jiang Wanyin puffed up, about to snap back.

"Jiang Cheng!" Jiang Fengmian barked. "I will admit that sending your pets away rather than finding a compromise that wouldn't terrify A-Xian was wrong of me. Wrong of me. Not him. He was a traumatized child and bore no fault in my decisions." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I found A-Xian and brought him here. I promised him safety, food, and a family. I am shamed to admit I made good on only one of those promises. He never went hungry once I brought him here."

"But he wasn't safe?" Lan Xichen asked, deceptively mild.

Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Wanyin both couldn’t look at them. Yu Ziyuan glared challengingly. And Jiang Yanli ducked her head to hide tears.

It was she that answered. "No."

Yu Ziyuan sneered. "I did what was necessary to keep that," she caught herself before she insulted Wei Wuxian and set off the dragon again, " boy in his place!"

“Somehow I doubt that.” Lan Xichen's expression was hard. “Your jealousy sits plainly on you for any who look to see.”

Jiang Fengmian reached over, a hand gripping his wife’s arm to keep her from responding.

“Jiang-zongzhu, do you know enough of Wei Wuxian to predict where he would go?” Lan Xichen's jaw tightened at the slow shake of the Jiang sect leader’s head.

“A-Xian would stay in water for the first shichen or two,” Jiang Yanli said, “so that he can travel quickly and undetected. The rivers all grow too shallow or busy eventually for him to be unseen and he would leave them and go on foot away from people. A-Xian is gregarious and thrives among people but if he feels unwanted or...unworthy he will try to hide away so that he does not have to hear that he is not valued.”

Lan Xichen turned to her as she stood. 

“A-Xian’s room had not been cleared out yet. I will take you there so you may examine it and gather what he could not carry for safekeeping. I will also tell you all I know of A-Xian.”

“Thank you, Jiang-guniang.” Lan Xichen hid away his dragon features, ensuring his brother did the same before they followed her out of the hall. 

Lan Wangji swept the rest of the Jiang main family with an icy look that promised their business was not finished. He would remember and give his mate revenge once he'd hunted him down and settled him safely in Yunshen Buzhichu.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian sat off to the side of a road far north of the river. He’d been traveling for several weeks, running from thunderstorms and avoiding rivers as much as possible. He could very nearly feel Lan Zhan’s energy in the storms and knew that he was looking for Wei Wuxian.

He huffed and looked down at his stomach, softly patting the small swell that was hidden by his robes. “You have a very stubborn Baba.”

The flash of white and blue under his sleeve caught his attention and he laughed a little about the ribbon that remained on his wrist, resistant to every attempt at undoing the knots. “Very stubborn. I wonder if you’ll take after him?”

His stomach growled and he nodded. “Right, food first, wondering about how you’ll turn out second.”

He dug the last of the bao he’d picked up a few days ago out of his qiankun bag and bit in. He was lucky that the baby wasn’t very picky nor did they make him ill, as he’d heard horror stories about. Still he needed to find someplace to settle soon, someplace near enough to a midwife or doctor familiar with cultivators that he could get to medical care easily.

He wasn’t fully sure where in the jianghu he was. He’d flown for a day since the village he’d gotten the bao from, wanting to get more distance when a storm had begun to brew. Really what was Lan Zhan doing? Didn’t he have responsibilities as the Second Jade of Lan? How did he have so much time to chase after Wei Wuxian?

It was, without question, flattering and made him almost want to stop and be caught. But he knew better than to risk that, better than to let Lan Zhan catch him and then face the criticism of his clan.

He rubbed his belly and took another bite of his lunch, listening to the sounds of the forest around him.

As he was finishing off his bao, he caught the sound of someone yelling that drew closer and closer. By the time a young man came into view being chased by what appeared to be a tempermental ox pulling a cart full of produce, Wei Wuxian was on his feet.

He quickly cast a binding talisman at the ox’s front feet, hobbling the beast, to its great frustration. It bellowed and shook its head, swinging its horns as if looking for a target, side stepping but unable to get rid of the hobble.

“Xiao DouDou!” An old man, sweaty and panting, came running up, his whip dragging behind him. “Xiao DouDou, you stop that!”

The ox turned its head and made a sound that Wei Wuxian could swear was an audible pout, holding still as the old man reached it and leaned against the beast as he caught his breath, one wrinkled hand taking a firm grasp of the reins that had fallen to dangle.

“Nervous thing. That young man didn’t do a single thing but walk by. Gongzi, are you alright?!”

The man that had been chased poked his head out from behind a tree. “Y-yes.”

“Thank goodness.” The old man looked down at the glowing cord around the ox’s feet then scanned the area, spotting Wei Wuxian. “Ah, this your doing?”

“It is, xiansheng.” Wei Wuxian’s lips twitched in amusement.

“Well good. You mind keeping it there while I get settled on the cart with the reins?”

“Not at all.” Wei Wuxian watched the old man as he pat the ox, gently scolding the ‘little bean’ the entire time, gathered the reins and his whip, and sat at the front of the cart. When he got the nod, Wei Wuxian released the talisman and the old man turned the ox around to go back the way they’d come.

“Well, that was exciting.” Wei Wuxian turned to look at the young man that was easing out from behind the tree. “More for you than me.” He lifted his water gourd. “After a run like that I’m sure you’re thirsty.”

“O-oh. I don’t want to im-impose.”

“Not an imposition. This one is Wei Wuxian,” he offered a friendly bow, “why don’t you come sit and catch your breath?”

The timid man hesitated then bowed, “T-thank you. This o-one is Wen Ning.”

“Wen?” Wei Wuxian held out the gourd, smile still welcoming. “Am I in Qishan then?”

“D-Dafan Shan.” Wen Ning finally accepted the offer of water and sat on the boulder. “M-my my family is a healer b-branch.”

“Healers, hm?” Wei Wuxian settled beside Wen Ning and considered his condition. “Is your branch familiar with a variety of,” he paused meaningfully, “unique sect traditions?”

“Mm.” Wen Ning nodded emphatically. “I-is Wei-gongzi in need of such care?”

“Perhaps.” It wasn’t wise to speak freely of the inhuman blood running through the veins of the sects out in the open where anyone might overhear. “At the least I could use a place to rest for a day or two if your home is nearby.”

“A s-shichen walk f-from here. M-my sister is the b-best doctor in all the j-jianghu.”

“Really? I'd like to meet the best doctor in the jianghu.” Wei Wuxian grinned even as he scanned the sky for clouds. None so far and there was not even the faintest trace of the scent of rain in the wind so it wasn't likely that any of Lan Zhan’s searching storms were close enough to worry about. 

He could see a doctor about his condition.

The village was neat and busy and well warded. So well warded that Wen Ning had needed to accompany him through three layers to get into the village. 

It didn't take long to see why. Not when a qilin foal came gamboling up to Wen Ning without a hint of caution.

“A-Y-A-Yang!” Wen Ning's hands fluttered, unsure of what to do, around the foal. “You-You're not sup-supposed to show yourself to st-strangers!”

Wei Wuxian hid his amusement when the foal didn't so much as pin its ears and just bumped against Wen Ning demanding his attention.

“A-Ning!” The voice, for all its soft sound, barked out fiercely. “What do you think you're doing bringing some strange man into the center of the village?!”

Wen Ning bowed his head, his shoulders hunching. “Jiejie. He h-helped me. I o-offered him shelter in return.”

Wei Wuxian turned to watch the approach of a tiny woman with a thunderous expression and a presence much larger than her body. 

“Helped you how? Unless he rescued you from a death pit it doesn't necessitate bringing him so far in.” She set her hands on her hips, giving her brother a reprimanding stare before turning her gaze on her brother’s guest.

Wei Wuxian lifted his arms and bowed in a proper salute. “This one is Wei Ying, courtesy Wuxian. My apologies for intruding but Wen Ning mentioned that you are a skilled doctor with experience in the inhuman.”

“And do you need such a person, Wei-gongzi?”

He allowed his eyes to shift. “I rather do, Wen-daifu.”

Her stance shifted a bit. “Hm. A-Ning take A-Yang back to Popo. Wei-gongzi, come with me.”

He followed her to a cottage set slightly apart and stepped into what was clearly an infirmary.

“Are you injured?”

“No. I'm pregnant, twelve weeks and five days. I haven't been able to see a doctor, healer, or midwife yet.”

Her brows lifted. “That's a very exact amount of time. What sort of other are you?”

“Jiaoren. I only laid with the sire...well technically it was three days and multiple times but there was no break so,” he shrugged.

The corners of her lips twitched faintly. “I see. So you can be exact. Helpful. Strip and sit on the table and I'll start the exam.” She paused, remembering her manners. “I'm Wen Qing.”

He smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

She hummed, cleaning her hands as he undressed. “How did you meet my brother?”

“He was running from an out of control ox. I used a talisman to hobble the ox until its owner caught up.” He neatly draped his clothes over a rod then sat on the sheet covered table. “I offered him some water and introduced myself.”

“You're a cultivator?” Wen Qing sorted through a few tools she wanted to use.

“Formerly of Yunmeng Jiang. I seceded to find a better place to have my child.”

“Better place than among other jiaoren?” She looked over at him.

“I'm different from the Jiang jiaoren. They don't like it.”

“I see.” She brought her tools over to the table and reached for his wrist, freezing when she saw the ribbon tied there. 

He lifted his wrist. “I can't get it off. The sire tied it there during our encounter.”

“A Lan. A main line Lan? You fucked a dragon?”

“Yes. Is that an issue?” He angled his head in an expression of belligerence.

Her eyes raked over him piercingly for several minutes of silence before she shook her head. “You don’t know much about dragons, do you?”

“No more than is common knowledge.” Something in her posture, her expression, had him cupping a hand over his belly, seeking an anchor. “Is there something I should know?”

She took his other wrist to examine his meridians. “There are several unique traits that dragons have. Most of those should be told to you by your dragon but I can tell you this. Dragons do not simply fuck a pretty body then move on.” 

She looked at his neck, nodding at the white scarring on his neck. “This scar, Wei-gongzi, is a mating bite. Dragons only have sex with their soulmates. Only their soulmates. If they tried to fuck someone that wasn’t their soulmate they’d very quickly lose any trace of arousal.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes went wide as she gently pressed on his chest, checking the tenderness there. “Soulmate?”

“Yes. He should have told you about that.” Wen Qing huffed in light irritation.

“I drugged him, he was more than a little high on jiaoren venom,” Wei Wuxian admitted, sheepishly.

“Hm, lay back.” Wen Qing studied the array lines that lay over the subtle rise of his belly. “You were determined.” The sort of desperate need for family that such actions spoke of made her heart twinge for this jiaoren. “As for being drugged, even high to the gills if he had any mind for even the slightest bit of conversation,” she glanced up at his face, brow raised in question.

Wei Wuxian blushed but nodded.

“Mm-hmm, then he had enough to at least explain that social standing means nothing to dragons.” She gently palpated his abdomen. “Because they can’t have sex with anyone but their soulmate and thus can not breed with anyone but their soulmate, dragon clans accept anyone that is proven to be the soulmate of a clan member.”

Wei Wuxian felt his heart start racing. “No matter what?”

“No matter what. There have been cases where dragon hunters have been brought in as mates. I sincerely doubt anything about you could be more offensive than one that kills their kin.” She prodded at his hips, humming critically. “You should stop traveling. You need to gain more fat.”

He let her coax his legs up and out so she could check his internal structures, blushing the whole while. “I’ve been outrunning storms.”

Wen Qing finished the pelvic exam and coaxed him to sit back up and dress again. “He’s looking for you.”

“Yeah. I...I guess I sort of expected that for maybe a couple of weeks, not this long. I figured his family would stop him after a couple weeks.” He wriggled back into his clothes, tying his robes neatly. “But if dragon clans really don’t care about bloodlines or social standing...”

Wen Qing studied him closely as he mused on the situation. There was a fragility in this man, something in need of healing. Both her doctor’s code and her qilin heart told her to give him a place to rest, a place among those different from him that would welcome him in, take care of him, and speak for him when an idiot Lan dragon came looking. “His family will be encouraging him, and probably roasting him a little over letting his mate slip away in the first place. As they should.” 

Wei Wuxian laid a hand over his belly again, hope a delicate flutter in his heart. What should he do? Did he let Lan Zhan find him? Trust what Wen Qing said? She had no reason to lie to him, no benefit in it. He wanted to but he also...he wanted to make Lan Zhan work for it. Something deep in him, in the same place that drove the hunger for pod and family, insisted that Lan Zhan had to catch him properly.

“I can’t just let him find me by stopping.”

“Of course not, the idiot didn’t court and catch you and when he had you he didn’t keep hold. Your instincts won’t accept just giving up. But you need to stop travelling and tend to your pregnancy. What sort of water do you need?”

“Any really. River, lake, the sea, even a pond, as long as I have enough room to stretch out and swim.”

“Follow me.” She didn’t wait for a verbal agreement and walked out of the cottage. The sound of footsteps following came quickly as she led him to another cottage around the edges of the village, this one stood beside a large, deep pond they maintained for fish. “This cottage is kept free for whoever’s turn it is to gather fish from the pond. You can stay here and use the pond. It’s unconnected from any river so your dragon can’t find you that way. Once the rain stops falling, the water no longer carries information to the dragon calling the storm.”

Wei Wuxian looked at her, eyes wide in surprise. “You’re offering me a place to hide?”

“Yes.” Wen Qing met his gaze. “Your baby is healthy but you will need a doctor to watch over you and ensure that continues. You need to rest. And frankly it irritates me that some jumped up water lizard let his lust rule his brain.”

He burst out laughing, head going back and the sound of delight echoing over the village. “Well, how can I say no, Wen-daifu?”

“You can’t.” Wen Qing smiled in satisfaction as he began to inspect the pond, his shoulders relaxing.

She knew his dragon would find him eventually but they’d at least make him work for it and until then she and her clan would take proper care of Wei Wuxian.

Chapter Text

Lan Wangji sank into a hot bath, eyes closing as he allowed the steaming water to ease the aches in his tired muscles. None of his storms had found a trace of Wei Ying and the rivers held nothing new. His mate was avoiding the rain and traveling over land.

Because he was a fool that hadn’t held fast when he had Wei Ying in his arms nor explained anything.

He couldn’t blame Wei Ying for running him a chase now, regardless of how frustrating it was.

He sighed, head tilting back as he brought to mind the first sight of Wei Ying in his full form. The beautiful tail, gorgeous golden skin, long dark hair, the slender, lethal claws, the graceful lines that had unfurled over his belly.

He frowned, eyes opening as he remembered those lines. A tattoo was what he’d thought at the time but now, remembering with a clear head, he could recognize the shape of sigils.

He remembered tracing those lines with his tongue. Raised, they’d been raised and tasted faintly of blood still. Cut into the skin and healed recently.

Wei Ying hadn’t smelled of blood at the well nor as they’d sat in the inn’s tavern. The array had been made after Lan Wangji had fallen unconscious.

Talismans and arrays weren’t his forte but Lan Wangji knew the basics, was trained in making standard talismans for hunts and a few other uses. So he could pick apart a few of the sigils.

Rising from the bath, he dried himself off quickly, dressed again, and left in search of the only talisman master the Lan currently had.

He knocked very lightly on the door frame.

“What? What? Who is it? I’m busy, what do you want?” The voice was irascible and creaky with age.

“Elder Bai, Wangji requests some of your time.”

“I can’t make something to track down your mate, boy. Come in.” 

Lan Wangji stepped in, knowing the offer was brief and would be rescinded should he not immediately accept. 

“Well, boy? What do you want?” Lan Bai grumbled as he sketched something out, squinting in the low light.

“I remembered something and would like your opinion on the function.” Lan Wangji sat when a wrinkled old hand gestured. Lan Bai was the human mate of one of his great-great aunts and hadn’t managed to cultivate to immortality due to poor training as a child. When he passed, his mate would go into seclusion for a few years then wander the world until she found his reincarnation.

“Function of what?”

“An array. My mate had an array in his skin.”

Lan Bai’s eyes, rheumy as they were, sharpened. “In his skin, not on?”

“In. Fresh scarring.”

“Hmmph,” Lan Bai shoved some paper over to him and passed him a brush, “draw it.”

Lan Wangji brought the image into his mind again, his ears heating as he used the memory of following the lines with his tongue to get each stroke correct.

Lan Bai snorted in amusement but soon was hanging over his shoulder, peering at the array that was drying on the paper. “Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. That stroke would...hmm...but then...ah I see. Hmmm. Now why would, oh of course.” 

Once it was dry the old man snatched the paper up, holding it close to better examine it. “Incredible. Those Jiang need a boot up their asses. This sort of genius should have been shown off and paraded. Morons.” He sat again, setting the paper down and leaning back a little as he picked up a pipe and lit it. “Well, Wangji, I can tell you three things. One, your mate is an array genius. Two, I’m going to throw my own weight into helping Xichen ruin the Jiang family. Three, you have a time limit. How long has it been since you woke to find him gone?”

“Four months.” Four months of fruitless searching and exhausting every avenue he had. “Time limit?”

“Mmmhmm. Let’s see, if memory serves it takes a year,” Lan Bai nodded, eyes squinting as he thought back on it, “Yes, a year with the last three grounded. So you have five more months to find him, Wangji.”

Anxiety made Lan Wangji’s hands curl and clench over his knees. “Is he in danger?”

“Hmm, maybe, maybe not. This,” he tapped the paper, “is a fertility array.”

Lan Wangji’s eyes went wide.

“A particularly complicated one. I won’t go into the intricacies but what you need to know is that your mate deliberately sought to conceive a child, with you, and then the pair of you spent how many days tangled?”

“Three,” it came out a whisper, full of wonder and heartache.

“Three. There’s a very slim chance that he’s not carrying your whelp. He has eight more months before he reaches a full term dragon pregnancy, barring any extenuating circumstances. You have five months to find him and win him before it becomes too dangerous for him to travel back to Yunshen Buzhichu with you.” Lan Bai’s eyes were somber. “Wangji, it is important that you understand what it means that he was so determined to conceive a child yet still ran from the sire despite wishing to stay.”

Snapping himself out of the awe that Wei Ying carried their child, Lan Wangji gave his full attention to Elder Bai. “What it means?”

“Jiaoren are very family orientated creatures, Wangji. They live and travel in pods. Loneliness has been known to kill them.”

Understanding had Lan Wangji’s eyes going dragon. Wei Ying had been deliberately starved of family, of what he needed to survive. So he sought to create his own family and been unable to trust that family could include the sire of his child. “They nearly killed him.”

“Yes. Now you, when you find him, must ensure he knows that the Lan will not do that to him or his child. I do not envy you the task.” Lan Bai cleared a section of his work table and retrieved a sheet of his best quality paper to write a letter. He was careful with his calligraphy so that it was neat and legible. 

He applied his chop, folded the letter, then wrapped some of his best talisman supplies in a neat package with the letter on top. “Give that to your mate when you find him, Wangji. I expect you to bring that brilliant boy home. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone to talk talismans with. You find him, leave the Jiang to your brother and I.” 

Lan Wangji took the package, bowing in respect. “This Wangji will do so, Elder Bai.”

“Hmmph. Go on then.” 

Lan Wangji hurried out, looking at the little package. He changed course from the Jingshi to the Yashi. He would speak with his brother and uncle and, hopefully, have something ready to ensure that Wei Ying would believe he would be welcome. But he wouldn’t tell them about the array. Wei Ying needed to be welcomed for himself, not for the child he likely carried.

Though the fact that he carried Lan Wangji’s child was exactly how he would be able to narrow down where Wei Ying was. Dragons could always follow kin.

Wei Wuxian lay back in the shallows of the fish pond, tail lazily swishing back and forth in the water. The sun was warm and comforting on his skin, especially the taut swell of his ridiculously prodigious belly, and the water supported his weight, easing the ache of carrying what was either a very large baby or multiples.

He still had five more months to go and fewer days to laze around in the pond as more and more storms had increasingly struck this area. He spent more time inside, away from the rain, than he did in the pond because of that. It seemed that Lan Zhan was getting closer.

He tried to ignore the way that made his heartbeat speed up and his fins flare as if ready to display but it was difficult. Lan Zhan hadn’t stopped chasing him, hadn’t stopped looking. It was almost enough to make a jiaoren believe he could have it all.

“A-Ying!” 

He opened his eyes and looked to see an elderly woman walking down the short dock with a basket. He flipped over with a grin. “Popo!”

Swimming over to the dock, he hauled himself onto the smooth wood planks to beam at the woman known only as Popo among the Wen. She was so old that no one remembered her name and she seemed to like it that way. 

The old woman clucked her tongue and fussed over him, draping her own shawl over his bare shoulders. “You’ll get a chill, A-Ying. You’ve been dozing in the water since breakfast and it’s past midday now. You need  to eat.”

She plucked a fresh, hot bao from the basket and pushed it into his hands. “Let me take a look at you while you eat.” 

He hummed in agreement, shamelessly soaking in her grandmotherly attention. He bit into the bao, spicy pork and cabbage, and relaxed as she laid her hands on his belly. He felt the gentle energy of a qilin lightly tickling his spiritual pathways and absently followed it as it brushed softly around the life, or lives, in his womb. 

“Hmm, I do believe you carry multiples. The energy is too entwined to get a proper count but there is a very faint separation that exists only with multiples.” She pat his belly fondly. “May I show A-Qing this evening?”

He swallowed his last bite and nodded. “Of course. I think Qing-jie is taking it personally, being unable to discern if I’m cooking one or more. You really think it’s multiples?” He tried not to let hope color his voice but the way Popo smiled at him and softly brushed his hair out of his eyes told him he hadn’t succeeded.

“I’m almost certain. Nothing is ever completely guaranteed but I feel confident enough to caution you to prepare at least double the supplies.”

Soft wonder filled his heart and Wei Wuxian laid a hand on his large belly. Multiples, he would have more than one pup. Though it didn’t look like Lan Zhan was going to give up, and if his dragon did track him down then in the future he might have more pups, it didn’t change the fact that he’d have more than one other family member in his pod.

“Tell me, A-Ying, is there anything you need done to the pond for your children?”

The question drew his attention to Popo and he spotted little A-Yang, in his qilin form, spying on them from the bushes. Further away, Wen Ning and Si-shu paused in the middle of carrying some heavy sacks to wave at him, and he saw Wen Qing give him a narrow eyed stare that quickly eased into a fond smile and nod before she went back inside her healing hut.

He’d been welcomed, more than welcomed, into the Dafan Wen village. Every single Wen here had attached themselves to him like barnacles in their own way and every one was happy for his presence. They sought him out for company and to make sure he was well or sometimes to ask his advice.

The Wen had made him feel wanted, as he was for what and who he was, over the course of the three months he’d sheltered with them.

Perhaps he already had a larger pod than he’d expected, or more accurately a herd that had adopted a fish as one of them.

He leaned his head down to rest on Popo’s shoulder carefully and closed his eyes when all she did was lift a hand to stroke his hair. “No. If they’re jiaoren they won’t swim on their own for at least six months. If they’re dragons...well I don’t know what dragon babies need.”

Popo made a crooning sound and simply wrapped him up in a gentle hug. “Do you want your fool of a lizard to find you and help?”

“I want him to prove he really wants me, so I guess. But he has to do it. No sneaky spies telling him where I am.”

“Of course. We’re still laying false trails but I don’t think they’re distracting him anymore.”

“The storms.” Wei Wuxian shifted and slithered down so his head was in her lap. “They’re concentrating on the forest.”

“Yes. He may find you soon. What will you do if he does?”

“Depends on how he shows up. He’d better not bully past your wards or I’m gonna smack him.”

He drifted off to sleep on the rusty, delighted laughter of the old woman.

Lan Wangji hovered, sinuously looping and coiling restlessly among the clouds, above a hidden village deep in the Dafan mountain forest. 

Deep in his chest he could feel the pulsing energy of kin and he knew it was here. Wei Ying was here somewhere.

He was very careful as he called up wind, only wind, to push the canopy around so he could get a full view of every building and structure of this forest village. He caught the glint of water beside a building then, with another gentle gust of wind he saw it. A flash of red, a shimmering jewel black. Wei Ying. 

He dove down toward the pond, barely noticing the brief resistance of wards against his scales. They were strong but he was too focused on the jiaoren below, on the way his eyes shot open when the wards broke to pay them any mind.

He landed in a smooth coil all around the pond, his snout just above the jiaoren lounging in the water. He took in the sight of his mate, even more beautiful than when he’d first seen him in this form. 

Instead of crowded into a tub, Wei Ying was stretched out in all his glory, tail and fins free and flowing like gossamer veils in the water. His hair fanned out around him, his shoulders freckled from the sun’s kiss, and, as Lan Wangji’s eyes slid down, his belly swollen, skin tight, with their children.

Lan Wangji lowered his head down further with a pleading croon, trying to bow, to ask for forgiveness.

Temper flashed in red eyes and in a lightning quick movement, a powerful jiaoren tail was whipping across Lan Wangji’s soft, sensitive nose, the barbs leaving painful rakes.

He clearly had his work cut out for him if Wei Ying’s greeting was a tail slap.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian swam to the dock, irritation making his scales itch, heaved himself up onto it, then shifted, standing up and glaring that the dragon coiled around his pond and cottage. 

He snapped, “Fix the wards you shattered or I swear I’ll turn you into an actual lizard and make you some reckless child’s pet!”

That said, he waddled into the cottage utterly unconcerned by his nakedness.

He tossed on robes haphazardly, the sound of several of the Wen appearing and raking his idiot dragon over the coals reaching his ears as he grabbed a snack and settled himself onto the comfy bench that had been put in the cottage for him.

He smiled a little viciously when he heard Qing-jie’s voice above all the others.

“-then after your tremendous stupidity thinking with the heads between your legs rather than the one atop your shoulders you have the temerity to shatter our wards, you idiotic, reckless, empty-headed, poor excuse for a flying lizard!”

Wei Wuxian caught a low, rhythmic rumble. Lan Zhan’s voice magnified. Hm, so dragons could speak in full form. Then there was a shiver in the air, a discomfiting sensation that would have had his fins flaring defensively if he’d been shifted. As it was every hair on his body raised, gooseflesh appearing as fathomless power spread over the entire village as a rainstorm began to fall.

Well, Lan Zhan had certainly met his first task.

Nibbling on spicy nuts, Wei Wuxian counted in his head until there was a brisk knock. “Come in!”

Popo pushed open the door then literally kicked Lan Zhan inside with a tiny foot on his ass.

Wei Wuxian laughed at the stumble of Lan Zhan into the cottage and grinned at Popo as she came in after, closing the door.

“I will make tea while you, young dragon, make your apologies.” 

Lan Wangji, off balance and feeling more awkward than he had since he’d been a youth, blinked wide eyes at her for a moment. Then jerked his attention back to his mate.

His breath hitched at the sight of Wei Ying half prone, robes barely covering the mound of his belly, hair draping over his shoulders in dark waves, lips rosy and smirking. He was so beautiful and Lan Wangji continued to be a damned fool undeserving of him.

He lowered himself to his knees then bent over to touch his brow to the rammed earth floor, hands braced on either side of his head. “This Wangji owes Wei Ying many apologies. For laying with Wei Ying before courting him properly, I apologize. For not speaking of who Wei Ying is to this Wangji, I apologize. For not holding tight to Wei Ying once this Wangji had him in this one’s arms, I apologize. For taking so long to find Wei Ying, I apologize. For being careless with the protective wards around this village, I apologize.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes had popped wide the moment Lan Zhan had hit his knees and now he was simply gaping as the heir to Gusu Lan, a dragon, kowtowed to him. He started to sit up and scoot, thinking to pull Lan Zhan up, then froze at the tsk that came from Popo.

He dragged his hand through his hair. “The last is the only needed apology. Get up.”

Lan Wangji lifted his head, taking in Wei Ying’s flush, then sat back on his heels. “I can not agree. I did not express who Wei Ying is to me as I should have.”

“You know I dosed you, right?” Wei Wuxian began to braid a section of his hair restlessly. “I slipped some of the venom from my spines into your tea. I planned for you to be too aroused to think clearly.”

Lan Wangji’s eyes softened on his mate. “Would Wei Ying have done so had I told him who he was to me from the start? If I had told Wei Ying that he is my soulmate?”

“Soulmates don’t always get accepted,” Wei Wuxian muttered. He knew what Wen Qing had told him about dragons. He even believed her. But he wouldn’t have known when he’d met Lan Zhan and probably wouldn’t have believed him.

“They do in my clan. Dragons can only,” Lan Wangji felt his ears heat and knew they were turning red, “become aroused with their soulmate. Due to this a dragon’s soulmate is always accepted by their clan. Fully accepted, Wei Ying.”

He pulled out several packages from his sleeves. “Many of my clan sent letters and gifts for Wei Ying.” He held them out.

Wei Wuxian almost choked on his tongue at the number of parcels and letters. “Did you go to every one of your clan members?!”

“When I felt sure I knew I could find Wei Ying, after consulting a master of talismans and arrays, I told Shufu and Xiongzhang I would be leaving to court you. The clan heard and came to me as I was packing.”

“And just dropped those off?”

“They did not have faith in my own ability to convince Wei Ying of my sincerity and his welcome,” it came out dry as dust.

A laugh bubbled out of Wei Wuxian and he held his swollen belly until the giggle fit ended. Then he narrowed his eyes. “Wait, you said you consulted a talisman master.”

“Mn. I recalled the markings on you and sought his advice. I did not share the information he imparted to me with anyone.” Lan Wangji met Wei Ying’s eyes, his own pleading. “I did not wish Wei Ying to feel that his acceptance was because of a child.”

Wei Wuxian pursed his lips then blew a long breath out through his nose. “Get up and come sit here,” he pat the bench in front of him, “you can set those down near my feet and I’ll look at them later.”

Lan Wangji hurried to do as asked. If Wei Ying was willing for him to be near, he would eagerly accept the offer.

He sat in front of Wei Ying, eyes flicking between his face and belly. “You are well?”

“Yes. Here.” Wei Wuxian took Lan Zhan’s hand and brought it to his belly, pressing it close so he could feel the pups squirming around inside him. “They’re very active most of the time.”

Lan Wangji’s breath caught again and he whispered, “They?” in awe as he felt the movements beneath his hand.

“Ah, yeah. Popo and Qing-jie both agree I’m having multiples. They just can’t tell how many. They say the energy is too tangled together to suss it out. So could be two, could be up to five, we’re not sure.”

Wonder pulsed in Lan Wangji’s chest. “And Wei Ying is...not unhappy with that?”

Wei Wuxian’s heart turned over in his chest at the look on Lan Zhan’s face. “I drugged you intending to get pregnant,” he said softly, “to make a family of my own. Having multiples makes me very happy. Are you angry, that I left and hid and kept this from you?”

Lan Wangji followed the movement of their children in Wei Ying’s belly as the activity shifted more to another side, his hand almost petting. He shook his head, keeping eye contact with his mate. “Not angry. It pains me that you felt it necessary. I am ashamed that I did not court you properly so you did not feel the need to run.”

“Well,” Popo’s voice came crisply, “I certainly hope you follow through on your intentions to fix that.”

She pushed a cup of tea at Lan Wangji, not at all subtly making him move his hand off Wei Wuxian’s belly, then fussed over Wei Wuxian as she passed him his tea. She sat, nudging Lan Wangji off the bench, and sipped at her own tea. “It’s up to A-Ying whether he chooses to accept you or not but he’s one of ours now and we look out for our own. If you want to court him, you’ll do it right.”

“Popo,” there was laughter in Wei Wuxian’s voice, “what are you going to make Lan Zhan do?”

The old woman smiled wickedly. “Prove himself.”

After Popo had shooed Lan Zhan out of his cottage to heavens knew where, Wei Wuxian looked at the pile of gifts and letters warily before he reached out to pick the first one up.

It was long and slender, wrapped in exquisite silk, white embroidery of pines on white fabric. A letter was attached to it in matching white silk cord and he reached for that first.

Opening it revealed painfully precise calligraphy and a message that made the tension in his shoulders vanish.

“Greetings Wei Wuxian,

I am Lan Qiren. Lan Wangji is my elder brother’s son. I must confess to being quite embarrassed by my nephew’s folly in not properly courting you. I assure you he was raised better.

I hope to welcome you to Yunshen Buzhichu soon. The home we hope you will share with Wangji is being expanded to provide you a study of your own and additional rooms should you accept my foolish nephew and choose to raise children with him.

There will also be water for you. A river that leads to a deep lake that your mother once stole away to when visiting Gusu Lan for academic study.

Regardless of whether you choose to accept Wangji or not, I extend the same invitation for academic study to you that your parents once accepted. Should you accept, I will be available for tea and conversation with you after the evening meals. I have many tales of Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze to share.

Sincerely, 

Lan Qiren” 

Wei Wuxian swallowed thickly. Lan Zhan’s uncle had known his parents. Lan Zhan’s uncle was offering to tell him about his parents even if he rejected Lan Zhan, not that he was going to but the sentiment was priceless. 

He unwrapped the gift that the letter had been attached to, finding a long, slim box. Opening the lid, he inhaled sharply.

It was a brush. An exquisite calligraphy brush made of jade and the highest quality goat hair for the bristles. It as the sort of brush presented to master scholars.

“Holy shit.” Wei Wuxian’s fingers actually itched with the desire to use the brush right now but he was entirely too fat to properly prep the brush for use much less do it justice. 

He closed the lid and wrapped the box back up for safekeeping until he could use the brush.

He eyed the pile again then just picked up the next parcel and letter to open.

A good shichen later, he sat amidst a pile of gifts and letters laughing so hard he had tears streaming down his face. 

His poor Lan Zhan. Every single letter cast aspersions on his dragon’s intelligence. The letters from what he suspected were Lan Zhan’s aunties were especially savage. 

Wen Qing had been right. Lan Zhan’s entire clan but for maybe his brother had been roasting his dragon alive.

And everyone who’d sent him a letter had spoken of welcome and excitement for him joining the clan. The warmth and acceptance in each word had nearly poured out and into his lap.

He looked up when the door opened to let Popo, Wen Qing, and Wen Ning inside, a wide grin on his face. “Qing-jie, you were right. Roasted to a crisp.”

She paused in the act of hanging up their cloaks so they wouldn’t drip all over the cottage and smirked. “I take it none of those letters were unpleasant.”

He shook his head. “They all sound really excited,” his voice was soft and small, “They really want me.”

“Of course they do. You’re precious.” Popo sat and began to help him gather up the letters and gifts so they could be put away safely. “Dragons know how to treat treasures. Even idiot dragons.”

Wei Wuxian dropped his head onto her shoulder. “I’m gonna accept him, you know.”

“Oh of course you are, A-Ying.” She pat his head. “But we need to make sure he works for it. Even dragons must put in effort for their treasures.”

Wen Ning took the gifts and began putting them up where Wei Wuxian told him he wanted them. “There’s a l-lot of food.”

“Apparently Lan Zhan has a lot of aunties. Or lady elders. The relationships are a little blurry.”

Wen Qing took the letters and carried them to his bedroom where there was a little desk to store them. Then she came back and sat at his back, taking his wrist to examine his energy and make sure everything was well with the babies. 

Wen Ning joined them and lifted Wei Wuxian’s feet into his lap to begin massaging them and his ankles. “Do any of th-them know about the pre-pregnancy?”

“Just the master that Lan Zhan consulted about the array he remembered seeing on me.” Wei Wuxian made a soft sound of enjoyment when Wen Ning pressed on the right acupoints on his feet that made his hips and back relax. “A thousand blessings on you, A-Ning. Elder Lan Bai seems to be cranky and brilliant and respects privacy. He also offered me three horses, two goats, and twelve laying hens to come to Gusu and talk talismans with him.”

“He’ll get his wish but first,” Popo tapped Wei Wuxian’s nose, “we must set up challenges for your dragon.”

Wei Wuxian blinked. “Challenges?”

“Yes. I’ve already set him the first one, improving the pond for you, but we need more ideas. He needs to complete, successfully or not, a total of eight challenges. So, A-Ying, is there anything in particular you want to have done?”

Wei Wuxian thought about it, about the most challenging thing he could fathom, and grinned. “I might have a couple of ideas.”

Chapter Text

The morning after Lan Zhan found him, Wei Wuxian made his way out to the pond naked and goggled at it. It had trebled in size and if he wasn’t mistaken the fish had multiplied. There were sheltered areas that looked like they’d make an excellent nursery for jiaoren pups and several clumps of blooming lotus throughout. The flowers were a mix of every color of lotus but blue and more vibrant than any he’d ever seen.

Lan Zhan had certainly succeeded with the first challenge Popo set him.

On that thought, he jumped into the water and shifted. The weightlessness of the water and being back in his tail was an incredible relief for the aches of pregnancy. 

He stretched out in the water, fins and all, then began to cruise around and investigate the enlarged pond. Not really a pond anymore but a lake. He poked around the sheltered nursery spots and wove through the stems of the lotus plants. They were rooted well and he could sense the dragon magic that had anchored them and encouraged growth.

He surfaced to float and came face to snout with Lan Zhan again.

Lan Wangji’s massive head jerked back in surprise and he nearly dropped the last bundle of lotus that he’d gathered to finish planting the pond.

“Ah, Lan Zhan. Sorry, am I in the way of your first challenge?” Wei Wuxian smiled teasingly.

The dragon head swayed back and forth in a negative response. “I have only to plant these. Unless there is something Wei Ying would like?”

The deep echo of his voice as a dragon thrummed through the water and made Wei Wuxian shiver. It felt really nice and distracted him from the question for several moments.

“Mmm,” Wei Wuxian thought about it and pointed at a struggling willow and plum tree fighting each other at the water’s edge, “think you can get them to get along? Maybe grow bigger?”

Lan Wangji studied the trees then dipped his head. “Mn. I can.” 

Wei Wuxian watched his dragon dip his snout into the water up to his eyes and root around, blowing bubbles, then delicately put the lotus plants in place. A hum vibrated through the water then a musical scale came from Lan Wangji that made Wei Wuxian melt and the pups in his womb settle down like they’d been sung a lullaby. Before his eyes, the new lotuses became greener and larger and blossomed, the flowers the missing blue. Now his little pond turned lake had every color of lotus in almost impossible vibrancy.

Lan Wangji swished his snout in the water to rinse away the mud before going to the plum and willow, coiling around both trees to sing them into harmony.

The dragon song relaxed Wei Wuxian so thoroughly that he sank to the bottom of the lake and lay there luxuriating in the soothing sound. Stars and ancestors maybe he should ask Lan Zhan to sing for him every day for the rest of the pregnancy.

He started to hum along, his ventral and pelvic fins swaying to the melody, careful not to let his own magic reach out in case it disturbed Lan Zhan’s work.

After a little while the song changed, grew strong and insistent and invigorating. Snapping out of his languor, he swam back to the surface just in time to see the willow and plum trees grow to massive size. 

The plum leaned away from the willow, branches carefully not encroaching on its sunlight as they twisted and gnarled and several skimmed just above the water, blossoms appearing out of season all over it. 

The willow’s long stems draped down from its branches until the leaves brushed the water’s surface. The draping curtain of green created a semi-private little hideaway all around the now huge trunk. 

And Lan Zhan was coiled carefully around both, chin on the ground between them, his singing gently vibrating through the ground to coax the trees to grow a little more.

Lan Wangji let his song fade gently when he was satisfied by the feel of the trees and opened his eyes to see Wei Ying watching him. 

“I was not expecting that big, er-gege. You do like to be an overachiever, don’t you?” Wei Wuxian couldn’t help it, he had to make the innuendo.

Lan Wangji’s ears even in dragon form pinked up but he didn’t balk. “For Wei Ying, yes.”

Wei Wuxian squealed, flipped himself under the water for a roll, hands over his face, then resurfaced with a laugh. “Aiya, Lan Zhan! Make a jiaoren blush, why don’t you?”

He swam up to float in front of his dragon’s snout like a fat, lazy trout. “I like it. The lake. The nursery hollows are perfect, how’d you manage those so well?”

“Lan dragons are meant to be born in water. I modeled the hollows after the ponds most spend their first year in.” The tip of Lan Wangji’s tail swished happily at the praise for the nursery hollows.

“Just the first year?”

“Mn. We can not be on land until our first shift. If we are taken from water before our first shift, we dry out and suffocate within a xiao-shi.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head and he cradled his belly protectively. “Dragon babies are that vulnerable?”

Lan Wangji shifted position so that his tail was in the water, shielding Wei Ying and their unborn children, and his chin was in the water. “Mn. We are not born with scales. Our lungs are very weak and our gills are exposed. Our legs are rather useless as well.”

Wei Wuxian swam fully under Lan Zhan’s chin, hiding himself and his belly in his dragon’s beard. “But the ponds are protected, right?”

“Mn, normally. If both parents are dragons they take turns guarding their nursery pond. If only one is a dragon they remain as a guard while the other parent brings food and necessities. Orphans are normally put into the creche ponds.” Lan Wangji angled his head so that Wei Ying was tucked even more securely under his chin.

“Normally. That's twice you’ve said that.” Wei Wuxian’s hands stroked through the silky strands of Lan Zhan’s beard. “You also said ‘most’ and ‘meant to be born in water’ earlier.”

Lan Wangji was quiet for a moment before he answered. “My parents were not...typical of Lan pairings. Xiongzhang and I did not have an average upbringing.”

Wei Wuxian could hear pain hidden in Lan Zhan’s voice and he huddled as close as he could to Lan Zhan’s snout, his tail lifting to drape over the very end of his nose as he tried to cuddle a dragon big enough to swallow him whole. “Well I think, however unusual your upbringing was for a dragon, that you turned out pretty great. Aside from breaking other people’s wards out of eagerness.”

He stroked the very edge of Lan Zhan’s jaw. “So dragon babies are born soft and squishy?”

“Mn. We look somewhat like a stretched out salamander with external gills. Or an eel with very small legs.” Lan Wangji rumbled in contentment at Wei Ying’s touch. “We are as big around as a large peach. What of jiaoren?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I know the Jiang jiaoren are born with soft scales that harden over the course of a month and their spines don’t come in until about three years old. But I don’t know how jiaoren like me look when they’re born. It’ll be a surprise, if the pups are jiaoren and not dragons. I think it’s equal odds for either since jiaoren can become dragons by jumping a dragon gate.”

“Mn. The Lan histories imply much the same in the case of jiaoren mates.”

“So it’ll be an adventure!” Wei Wuxian continued to cuddle close to Lan Zhan’s muzzle. “If I don’t come back with you and any are born dragons...will you stay? Help with them?”

“I will stay until Wei Ying tells me to leave,” Lan Wangji vowed.

Wei Wuxian buried his face in Lan Zhan’s beard. “I’m really sorry I drugged you and ran. I should have at least stuck around to argue that morning. Don’t say it was your responsibility. My venom is potent and apparently dragons aren’t the best with normal human strength intoxicants.”

Lan Wangji sighed and softly brushed the fanned fur tip of his tail along Wei Ying’s body. “I concede that I was incapable of clear thought for the first night. But only the first night.”

“Stubborn.”

“Mn.”

“Do you-”

“THEY’RE OVER HERE POPO! XIAN-GEGE WHY ARE YOU WRAPPED AROUND THE DRAGON’S MOUTH? DID HE TRY TO EAT YOU?! POPO THE DRAGON TRIED TO EAT XIAN-GEGE!”

Wei Wuxian choked out a laugh as A-Yang bellowed loudly enough to disturb the birds in the forest near the lake. He stayed where he was as Popo was pulled by A-Yang into view of them.

The old woman gave him a very knowing look before she scanned the lake that had once been a simple pond. “Hm, adequate. No, A-Yang, Lan-er-gongzi did not try to eat A-Ying,” the corner of her mouth kicked up, “at least not today.”

Wei Wuxian warbled and dropped fully back down into the water, flushed everywhere that he didn’t have black scales. “Popooooo!” He peeked out of the water, deeply embarrassed. “There is no eating going on. None.” 

He swam up to her and A-Yang, lightly pinching the child’s cheek. “And you, where are you learning manners hm?”

A-Yang giggled and bat at his hand. “Popo and Sishu!”

“Well I know Popo didn’t teach you those manners so I think Sishu’s gonna get a lecture later.”

Popo just smiled and pat his head. “Perhaps a small one. Do you like the lake?”

He nodded then gestured her closer, murmuring into her ear, “Can we change one of the challenges to Lan Zhan singing for me every night? He sang to fix the trees and the pups calmed down and I went boneless.”

She tsked. “Not really a challenge for a Lan but I suppose, since it benefited you, we can do that.”

He grinned and dove back down into the new lake before surfacing somewhere in the middle as Popo gave Lan Zhan a hard stare.

“Are you ready for your next challenge?”

Lan Wangji uncoiled from around the trees, shifted to his half human form, and bowed his head to her. “I am, Wen-furen.”

“Hmph. Your challenge for today is to look after A-Yang while the rest of us do our work. Show us you are prepared to tend a child.” 

Wei Wuxian kept most of his face under the water to keep from laughing at the faint panic that flickered through Lan Zhan’s eyes when A-Yang literally jumped onto his tail and clung like a little heathen.

“I will...do my utmost to provide appropriate care,” Lan Wangji did not squeak, but it was close.

Popo nodded skeptically. “I’m sure. Now, there’s a challenge or two that you’ll need more time for. So,” she took a few slips from her basket and handed them to him, “I would suggest you review those later tonight.”

He took them and put them in his sleeve, aware that he wasn’t likely to find any time to read anything whilst babysitting. “Thank you, Wen-furen.”

She nodded, then turned with her basket and walked away to leave him at the mercy of Wen Yang.

Wei Wuxian remained in the lake all day. Both to fully memorize its layout and because it felt better being in the water.

It was also the perfect place to watch Lan Zhan babysitting A-Yang from since the child preferred to linger around Wei Wuxian. So he had a front row seat when the devious little heathen managed to get Lan Zhan to panic when he concealed himself among the forest ferns. And when he assaulted Lan Zhan with clumps of moss. And when he tried to whine and be a brat about lunch, only for his stomach to win out and have him devour his meal just after Lan Zhan was nearly driven to the brink of tears.

Now, nearing the evening meal, his dragon had clearly reached his limit and, rather than risk A-Yang running off unnoticed, had wrapped the end of his tail around the little heathen’s waist so, whether in human or qilin form, the child couldn’t vanish.

Wei Wuxian sank to the bottom of the lake and rolled around laughing under the water until his ribs ached. Even tethered, A-Yang still ran around back and forth so that Lan Zhan’s tail was yanked one way then the other like a leading rein. It was hilarious. 

Lan Zhan looked like he had been through the wars. His robes were filthy, stained with grass and moss and dirt, his expression world weary, and his hair was tangled and knotted and an absolute rat’s nest from A-Yang’s antics. Yet his dragon hadn’t lost his patience. Oh he was being trampled all over by A-Yang’s whims but he indulged him and didn’t reprimand harshly, or at all really.

Obviously Wei Wuxian would have to be the disciplinarian for their pups. Lan Zhan was too much a sucker for big shiny eyes and baby cheeks.

Wei Wuxian surfaced at dinner time and headed for the dock, waving at his dragon. “Lan Zhan! Come over to the dock with that little menace!”

They reached the dock at the same time and Wei Wuxian had barely begun to set his hands on the edge to lift himself out when there was an iridescent white tail dipping just under his hips, cradling his own tail as it lifted him gently out of the water.

He looked at Lan Zhan and brought a hand to his mouth to keep in the laugh when he noticed that his dragon had a firm grip on the back of A-Yang’s collar to keep the child in place while his tail was otherwise occupied. The laugh escaped when A-Yang picked his feet up to swing by Lan Zhan’s grip on his clothes and squealed, “Wheeee!”

Wei Wuxian slithered off Lan Zhan’s tail onto the dock, giggling at the exasperation on Lan Zhan’s face. He wiggled to brace his back against one of the thick pilings, hands on his belly, stroking it as the excitable pups within wriggled. “Aiya, A-Yang really put you through your paces, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji wrapped the end of his tail back around the qilin child. “Wen Yang is very energetic.”

A-Yang giggled and ran up to plop down right next to Wei Wuxian. “He talks so funny, Xian-gege. All fancy and formal.”

Wei Wuxian tapped A-Yang on the end of his nose. “You definitely are spending too much time with Sishu. Fancy, formal, and funny, is that how Popo has taught you to speak about people?”

A-Yang giggled and rubbed his nose. “No. Is it bad?”

“Being so loud about it could hurt someone’s feelings, make them feel insulted.”

A-Yang’s eyes went huge and he turned to look up at Lan Wangji. “Did I hurt your feelings, Long-gege?”

Wei Wuxian’s heart turned over when Lan Zhan’s eyes softened and he knelt in front of A-Yang.

“No. My feelings are not hurt. A-Yang’s honesty is a virtue.”

A-Yang looked over at Wei Wuxian in confusion.

“What your Long-gege means is that telling the truth is a good thing. But,” Wei Wuxian gave the child a mock stern look, “that doesn’t mean you have to shout what you think about someone to the entire world. You should think before speaking about someone loudly.”

“So I don’t hurt their feelings.” A-Yang nodded. “Okay, Xian-gege. I’m hungry, will Popo be here soon?”

“Yes, sha gua, she’ll be here soon with dinner.” Wei Wuxian reached out to tickle him and distract him until then.

Lan Wangji watched, wonder and awe over how good Wei Ying was with the child striking him right in the chest. The setting sun cast Wei Ying in shades of amber, making him glow and Lan Wangji ached to hold him.

He caught the sound of footsteps and half turned to see Wen-furen coming with another basket, this one with a cloth covering the contents.

Popo took a long look at the three of them, eyes catching on the tail around A-Yang’s waist and the absolute wreck that was Lan Wangji’s appearance. Her lips twitched before she firmed them and walked the rest of the way over. “Well, A-Yang’s clearly just fine. I suppose you did well enough. You can let him free now.”

“Popo!” A-Yang surged to his feet and ran over to latch onto her as Lan Wangji took his tail off the child. “I’m hungry! Is there food?”

“Yes, my silly foal, I have plenty of buns for dinner.” Popo took a baozi from the basket and handed it to A-Yang. “Sit to eat.”

Wei Wuxian angled his tail so that A-Yang could snuggle into his side as he ate and gave Popo a comedic pout with fluttering lashes. 

She laughed. “Alright, alright. Lan-er-gongzi, your next task will be to sing A-Ying to sleep after dinner every night.”

Lan Wangji blinked slowly. That would be no hardship, singing for his mate was something he longed to do, but he saw no reason to reveal that. He bowed to her. “This Wangji will do so.”

“Hm. Sit, eat with us.” She settled beside A-Yang, leaving A-Ying’s other side free for Lan Wangji, and distributed the rest of the baozi among them, careful not to mix up the spicy pork that were solely for A-Ying with the vegetable filled baozi that were for the rest of them.

Lan Wangji gratefully settled beside Wei Ying, murmuring thanks for the baozi before taking a bite. 

Halfway through the meal, he froze for a moment when Wei Ying sighed and settled firmly against his side, head on his shoulder. Then he curled his tail around him so the white scales and blue mane of his lay over the black and red of Wei Ying’s. He also slid one arm around behind Wei Ying’s waist, hesitating before letting his hand rest on the side of Wei Ying’s belly where their children were moving. “Wei Ying?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you well?” He noticed that there were three baozi still uneaten in Wei Ying’s lap.

“Yeah, just need to space it out. Not much room, y’know? I’ll finish them off as a midnight snack.” Wei Wuxian smiled, snuffling into Lan Zhan’s shoulder to enjoy the sandalwood scent beneath the dirt and green things and sweat of his day riding herd on A-Yang. “Kinda wish I could just sleep in the lake but I can’t keep food there.”

Lan Wangji drew a silk cloth from his sleeve and neatly wrapped the three uneaten baozi up for his mate, applying a talisman that would keep them warm. “I will hold them for Wei Ying so he may sleep in the lake.”

A soft, affectionate sound escaped Wei Wuxian. “Thank you, er-gege.”

“Mn.” Lan Wangji’s ears warmed but he just coaxed Wei Ying to lean on him more, averting his eyes from Wen-furen’s knowing gaze as he finished his own baozi.