CH 55 – Sweet dreams

While everything was going smoothly, for once, for Wei Ying. Lan Zhan was busy back home in the Cloud Recess. He had gone over his plans of how to present his idea to the Sects and spent many late nights either perfecting it with his brother in the Sect leaders office or working on it alone in the JingShi. After all he couldn't sleep well alone so he may as well keep himself busy and make good use of his time. After the first night of tossing and turning in fitful sleep, despite being tired from the days travel, in the cold bed of his home he had given up. He didn't know just how long he had been dependent on having Wei Ying beside him to be able to sleep well but obviously he had. Part of him wanted to send a message to Wei Ying at Lotus Pier and ask him to come home but the greater part of him knew that was both selfish and childish as Wei Ying was spending some much needed time with his brother and preparing to recognise his sisters birthday. If he was honest with himself he had actually liked the last few days spending all his time with XiChen, it was like all those years growing up.

Back then of course their Uncle would have them either reading, reciting or copying the Lan Sect rules and they were not allowed to speak one word to each other while in the classroom. Lan XiChen, being the eldest, had gone into the mainstream classes first leaving him alone with just his silent Uncle their all day. Lan QiRen had only spoken to correct something or admonish him. Still those days were etched in his memory as the two brothers had been especially close. Both of them had known that one day Lan XiChen would become Sect leader, and after him Lan Zhan would follow, so both of them had treasured those days as children when they had not had the responsibility for anything but their own learning. It was entirely the opposite of course to what was going on at the present moment, one brother had the responsibility of a large Sect while the other had the responsibility of the entire cultivation community.

Lan XiChen clicked his fingers in front of his younger brothers face, snapping out of his revere and back into the room.

'Where were you just now? He asked, honestly curious about what could make his brother daydream at a time such as this.

'If I said it was something to do with Wei Ying…..would…..' Lan Zhan began

Forget I asked!' Lan XiChen interrupted with a small wince, obviously trying to hide the ideas that forced themselves into his head about what his brother possibly could tell him.

Lan Zhan's eyebrows rose a little and his lips twitched but Lan XiChen had already turned his head away and missed the rare quirk of mischief from his brother. Schooling his face back into its normal neutral form Lan Zhan shifted slightly on the couch. The two of them had been going through the idea one last time before the leaders of the large Sects arrived tomorrow for a meeting. The two had decided that introducing the idea to a large audience might not be a great idea straight away but if the backing of the large and powerful Sects could be achieved then the mid and small Sect were more likely to fall into line. The disciples had already set up the smaller hall in the Cloud Recess, one which was hardly used as their Uncle had decided that having two meeting halls was an extravagance, and it would great the guests as they arrived in the morning. Lan Zhan had been unhappy to find his Uncle still in seclusion when he returned home, but was happy that he seemed almost ready to return to world, so would be back in a month or two probably.

XiChen at last turned back round to face his brother, having decided that if Lan Zhan was actually going to say anything he would have done it by now. Lan Zhan wanted to laugh at the look on his brothers face and say….who do you think I am my husband? I'm not that shameless!…...but instead he placed his hand on the neatly folded papers on the desk and looked at his brother. Lan XiChen nodded as if understanding what his younger brother meant by that simple action and spoke quietly.

'I agree we have done all we can to give it the best chance, it is all down to luck tomorrow. For now we can just make sure we get enough sleep so we are well rested for what comes.'

Lan Zhan nodded and the two brothers walked out of the Sect leaders office shoulder to shoulder before splitting up to go their respective homes.

Unlike the nights before though Lan Zhan had no work to warrant breaking the nine O'clock sleep rule. Of course he had broken it many times in the past but it was one of the rules that became…...flexible…...in private once one had a partner. Unfortunately his partner was like the work….no where to be seen. Sighing out loud at the idea of yet another night tossing and turning waiting for his wayward husband to return, Lan Zhan went about his normal evening routine before climbing into the cold bed beneath the sheets. With a wave of his hand all the candles illuminating the JingShi were extinguished and he lay back staring at the ceiling trying to will himself asleep so he would be refreshed for the day ahead.

Willing himself to sleep didn't work! Hugging Wei Ying's pillow and pretending it was the man didn't work either, not that he would ever tell anyone he tried it. Instead he just laid under the sheets and waited for the tiredness of the past few days to overtake him.

Lan Zhan dreamt. His dreams seemed to jump from one place to another but they all, as usual, had one thing in common. Wei Ying! Wei Ying underneath him in bed, Wei Ying having so much fun that night they first met on the roof, him kissing Wei Ying for the first time while the other was blindfolded during the Phoenix mountain hunt. So many dreams, or bits of them, all seeming to mix together. Suddenly his eyes shot open although he couldn't see anything in the pitch darkness. Lan Zhan couldn't figure out what had awoken him, none of the dreams had been nightmares and everything in the JingShi was normal. Just to be safe though he cast out with his senses into the courtyard surrounding the JingShi and finding nothing out the ordinary got even more confused. Sleep….he really needed sleep if he was beginning to jump at shadows! Moving himself slightly to make room for the body curled up next to him he closed his eyes once again and …...his tired and muddled mind finally figured out what was wrong with the current picture.

Turning over, possibly faster than he should have as he almost fell from the bed, he stared in amazement at the figure next to him. Wei Ying lay there, his hand on Lan Zhan's waist and his eyes fixed on his own. Just lay there quietly as if waiting for some response to his sudden unannounced appearance in the middle of the night. The problem was Lan Zhan's mind was already tired from too many days hard work and too many nights not sleeping and now Wei Ying had suddenly appeared out of nowhere he felt as if it was suddenly going into meltdown. All he could do was lie there staring, raised up on one arm, with his mouth agape. Wei Ying seemed to realise that something was wrong after a few seconds of silence and raised a hand to gently pat the bottom of Lan Zhan's jaw prompting him to close it, before speaking quietly.

'I thought I would give you a surprise Er-ge, but I didn't expect you to be so tired you didn't even wake up when I got into bed.'

In truth Lan Zhan didn't know if it was his being tired that had made him not notice Wei Ying's arrival or that fact that it was Wei Ying NOT being there that had been causing the problems. Having Wei Ying home and back in bed with him felt like things were back how they aught to be. Realising that he still hadn't said anything since waking up Lan Zhan forced his mind and mouth to somewhat function and managed to speak.

'I thought you were coming home with Sect Leaders Jiang and Jin tomorrow'

'I rushed home to give you a surprise because I thought you would be happy to see me and you just want to know where my brother and nephew are' Wei Ying sulked with an exaggerated pout.

Ok so maybe hadn't got his mind and mouth functioning as well as he thought he had! If this had been his old, teenage self, he would have struggled with this side of his husbands temper but adult Lan Zhan knew exactly how to deal with it. Well he knew two ways of dealing with it…..but he was to tired to for the most appealing option right now. Instead he remained propped up on one arm while the other rested and soothed Wei Ying's shoulder through his sleeping robe. Obviously Wei Ying is too tired for anything else tonight as well…...he thought idly to himself. After all it was not often they both wore robes to bed, and they did it was rare they lasted very long. Lan Zhan spoke into the darkness, letting his soothing tone double with his touch.

'You are right Wei Ying. I have not slept very well the last few days so I am not thinking properly that's all'

Wei Ying looked at him for a few seconds before smiling with mischief but soon replaced it with a look of seriousness.

'You have been worried about if the Sects will like your idea?' Wei Ying asked.

Both men knew the question, and any answer Lan Zhan would give would be false. Lan Zhan hadn't been worried about anything the Sects thought since before he was a teenager. He had never cared what anyone thought him or his ideas, if people liked them or didn't like them then it was always the same to him. They both also knew that Wei Ying wasn't dumb, knowing Lan Zhan hadn't slept very well in the past few days…..the only few days in the past few years that he had slept alone…...wasn't hard for Wei Ying to work out. However as Lan Zhan hadn't come out and said the truth openly Wei Ying had decided to give his husband some face and come up with a reasonable excuse. Lan Zhan didn't nod but just let out an 'mmm' which could be interpreted however the other liked. Wei Ying smiled once again, but this time it was soft and loving, as he patted the pillow next to him.

'Come sleep then Er-ge. With a little sleep you will the scary HanGuang Jun again and no one will dare say no to you.' Wei Ying spoke gently.

'Scary?' Lan Zhan asked with a raised brow.

Wei Ying laughed.

'Of course! Everyone thought you were scary even when you were only a teenager. No one wanted to get close to that icy look on your face they were terrified of you punishing them for breaking a rule.'

'Not you obviously' Lan Zhan grumbled gently.

'No I was having too much fun teasing you...and still do...' Wei Ying sobered slightly and patted the pillow again. 'But not tonight, come sleep my Lan Zhan'

Lan Zhan laid down again, pulling Wei Ying close to his chest as he did so. The position was so natural and Lan Zhan felt like that piece of him that had been missing for the last few days had suddenly been returned. The unspoken words hovered comfortably between the two…..I'm back now Lan Zhan you can sleep….as Lan Zhan first heard Wei Ying's breathing slow as he dropped to sleep in his arms, then his own eyelids fluttered closed as he dropped into a deep sleep himself. That night Lan Zhan had no problem sleeping.