@anaphoricae: When LWJ is sad, WWX tries to ...

When LWJ is sad, WWX tries to get him something he knows will make LWJ happier without LWJ noticing it's from him. Like a disciple knocking on LWJ's door to say they just got "more of his favorite tea" randomly, or a stack of the good parchment paper appearing on LWJ's desk.

The thing is, he needs to make it a secret every single time. He has no idea why, but whenever he tried to give LWJ something directly, he reacted... in a weird way, to say the least. He accepted it, and even looked fond, but his answer was always "I don't need anything but you."

And while that makes WWX's heart flutter, it's just not true!

Who doesn't need things? People need shelter, clothes, and things to entertain them! Having someone by your side is important, but it's not enough to live by. The Wen remnants were a family but they still needed food.

So WWX starts waiting for LWJ to go out for the day, and then he sneaks out of the Cloud Recesses to buy him things. Sometimes, it takes him more than a day, and he has to say he was nighthunting. Sometimes, he has to hide the gift for a few weeks before he can give it to LWJ.

But it's all worth it for his husband, who deserves to have every nice thing in the world. Who WWX wants to drape in flowers and pretty clothes and jewelry. Who WWX wants to see smelling the new books WWX gets for him and secretly smiling to himself when he thinks no one can see.

If WWX could, he would live his entire life looking for pretty flowers to place in LWJ's hair. He would fill LWJ's room with his favorite incense scent and always have LWJ munching on his favorite kind of sweet.

LWJ does things for him all the time. Like brushing his hair when he's too tired to even keep his eyes open in the morning, and even dressing him for the day. He gets WWX his favorite food often and insists on them eating almost every meal together, even when he's busy.

So why, when WWX tries to do the same, LWJ acts in such a weird way? Sometimes it feels like LWJ would just be happier if WWX sat by his side and annoyed him with his presence and his bad jokes all day.
It makes no sense!
WWX should confront him about it...

............... WWX does not confront him about it.

He keeps trying to think of what to say, but every time he imagines sitting dow to have a serious conversation about ~feelings~ he gets unpleasant tingles. He tries to plan something, but never seems to find the right time.

But one day, after WWX spends a day choosing a new lacy fabric for LWJ and bribes a disciple into saying they "got it for HGJ from a very kind auntie" and LWJ simply accepts it with a thank you... WWX explodes.

"Lan Zhan, do you hate gifts?"

LWJ, in true LWJ fashion, only stares at him. He's standing by the door of the Jingshi, holding the lacy robes in his hand. Slowly, he closes the door, and approaches WWX by the bed.

"I'm just wondering, since you always react in a certain way to getting them," WWX says.

"How should I react?" LWJ asks quietly.

WWX pauses. How *does* he want LWJ to react? A huge smile isn't really his personality, but maybe he could have his lips turning up, just a little bit? Everything WWX ever does is to make LWJ smile.

"I'm not sure," WWX says. "But when I give you something, you always seemed to just... dismiss it. You were grateful, but then you'd say that you didn't need them..."

"It's true. I do not need them."

WWX holds back from frowning. "Gifts aren't supposed to be things you need. They're supposed to be things you want, things that will make you happy."

LWJ's eyes go impossibly soft. "You already make me happy."

WWX's heart reacts to that, and before he realizes it, he's smiling.

LWJ catches it, of course. He catches everything WWX does. Quickly, WWX holds back his grin, and tries to look serious again.

"That's not what I mean! It's just that I think you deserve to have some nice things. I'm not the only thing you need in the world, not realistically."

LWJ looks at the lacy fabric in his hands, and then at WWX again. Slowly, he sits on the bed, and puts the fabric aside.

"I apologize if there's been a misunderstanding. I'm very fond of the things you give me."

WWX takes his hand. "Really?"

"Mn. The new robes are beautiful."

WWX's eyes go wide. "That wasn't me! That was a very kind auntie-"

"Wei Ying," LWJ gives him a look.

WWX deflates. "How long have you known?"

"The whole time."

"What! Even that time I snuck a brown rabbit into this room just so you'd have a reason to keep it?"

"It was a bit suspicious that a brown rabbit appeared in our home one week after I mentioned how cute they were."

The way LWJ says "our home" almost makes WWX want to give up on having this conversation and tackle him to the bed. Still, he stays strong.

"Fine. I'm a bad liar. But so are you" he says. "And I know you haven't truly been enjoying the things I've been giving you. Do you just... prefer to buy those things yourself?"

"That's not it."

"Then what is it?" WWX squeezes his hand. "Tell me."

LWJ looks away from him. WWX knows, now, that sometimes LWJ takes a moment to completely gather his thoughts. WWX laces their fingers together, and waits.

Finally, LWJ speaks.

"You still call our home 'The Jingshi'. Or 'the room'."

WWX takes a few seconds to understand what LWJ means. What he's really saying, behind the words he is actually speaking.

"Lan Zhan..."

"I don't want you to think that you owe me something for being here," LWJ says, so low WWX almost doesn't hear it.

WWX's chest tightens. He knows he still has a long way to go, especially when it comes to making the Cloud Recesses his home. He knows LWJ is always doing his best to make him feel at home here. It's just hard to make himself believe it.

Slowly, he takes LWJ's face in his hands, and waits until LWJ meets his eyes. He can't assure LWJ that he will learn how to be kinder to himself in the near future, but he can assure him of one thing.

"I told you once before, didn't I? Nothing I do for you is out of grattitude."

LWJ's eyes soften. WWX continues.

"I'm giving you gifts because it makes me happy to see you smile. It makes me happy to see you using something I gave you, walking around in robes I chose for you. Even before everything, I was throwing flowers at your feet. Don't you remember?"

LWJ nods slowly, a fond memory passing behind his eyes.

"But you do not feel like you belong," LWJ says. And WWX can't lie to him.

"I know I belong with you," he says. "Isn't that enough for now?"

LWJ looks uncertain about it. "Everything I own is yours, Wei Ying."

"I know that," WWX laughs a little, trying to soften the mood. "And I'm using your money like it's mine already. How do you think I buy all the gifts?"

"But the rest--"

"It will come," WWX touches their foreheads together. "Be a little patient with me?"

This time, when LWJ nods, WWX feels his head moving, too. He pulls back to look at him, and LWJ shows him a tiny smile, just at the corner of his lips.

"Does that mean I can keep buying you things?" he asks.

"Absolutely not," LWJ says.

"WHAT."

"You spend too long away when you go on gift buying errands," LWJ frowns a little, and it's so cute WWX wants to kiss it off his face.

He realizes he can, and so he does. First a kiss to his forehead, and then a kiss to his lips.

"Is that your only objection?"

"Mn," LWJ says. "I would rather spend time with you and have nothing."

"What about spending time with me, and also having things?" WWX asks. "We can go together next time."

LWJ blinks at him. "You don't want it to be a surprise?"

WWX shakes his head. "I'd rather have you there. If you want to come."

LWJ kisses him this time, lingering for a little bit longer. "I want to," he says.

"Good," WWX smiles. "But you have to follow me around without complaining. Alright?"

LWJ smiles back. "Always."

_ END _

This was going to be about WWX and LWJ having different love languages and communicating about it, but it became something slightly different 😂
I hope it was still enjoyable! ♥️

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