frostflowers

by semperfiona_fic (semperfiona)

Summary:

It's the coldest night of the year and Lan Wangji finds the door of the hanshi open

Notes:

Written for the Still Bloody discord server drabble prompt series. This is open-ended and I do not know where it will go, but do not be surprised if it ends up as jadecest. Rating may change.

Chapter 1: "the coldest day of the year"

Snow is drifting through the slightly open door of the hanshi when Lan Wangji approaches.

"Xiongzhang," he calls. Getting no response he enters, finding Lan Xichen on the floor, pulse faint, spiritual energy empty, chest barely rising, lips blue.

Lan Wangji lights the cold braziert with spiritual energy. Flames surge high for a few moments.

Quickly stripping the layers from his brother and himself, he moves them both to the bed, laying his body carefully on top of his brother's so that they are touching from chest to toes, pulls the quilt over them, and finally allows himself to weep.

Notes:

December prompt "the coldest day of the year"

Chapter 2: "handle with care"

Many sleepless hours later, Lan Wangji at last feels his brother's body begin to shiver, and breathes a sigh of relief.

The shivers slow and settle, and Lan Wangji falls asleep. He wakes when his brother shifts beneath him and mumbles his name.

"Xiongzhang?"

Lan Xichen startles fully awake, scuttles out of bed and wraps himself in the nearest robe. It's Lan Wangji's, but he says nothing.

"Why?"

"You would have died."

"You should have let me."

"Xiongzhang. What is rule 647?" Lan Wangji demands.

"Treat respectfully things valued by others."

"And yet you damage something very precious to me."

Notes:

January 4-11 prompt "handle with care"

Chapter 3: "scold"

Lan Xichen bows to his brother acknowledging the scolding. "I will meditate on and copy the rules, Wangji."

Lan Wangji shakes his head and lifts him from the bow. "No, xiongzhang. You will allow me to value you until you learn to value yourself. You may begin by coming back here and letting me hold you while you are awake."

Xichen looks around the room, everywhere but at his naked brother in his bed. Lan Wangji does not back down. He pulls back the coverlet and waits.

"As you say, didi." Xichen shuffles obediently to the bed and lays down.

Notes:

jan 19-26 2022 prompt was a list of words, i chose "scold"

Chapter 4: "the knock at the door grows louder and louder, but nobody answers it"

For most of a shichen, Lan Wangji curls close around Xichen's slowly relaxing body, breathing quietly together. Lan Wangji whispers to his brother, "You would not let me leave you, nor will I let you leave me. We are all we have ever had."

Xichen finally reaches out and wraps his arms around his brother. "I will not," he says.

As the day grows lighter around them, a knock comes at the door of the hanshi. Xichen makes to rise to answer it but Lan Wangji holds him fast. The knocking grows louder, and still he does not release him.

Notes:

the monthly prompt for February 2022

"the knock at the door grows louder and louder, but nobody answers it"