I would have done the same

Lan Wangji gently combed the beautiful mess of Wei Ying's hair with his fingers. They were soft and smelled like his beloved - a subtle mixture of hot spices, which names were unfamiliar to the Second Jade, the smoke and the delicate fragrance of sandalwood and lotus.

"You've found them.", he murmured.

Wei Wuxian glanced at him surprised.

"Them?', he asked, not paying much attention to the conversation. He seemed rather focused on leaning into Lan Zhan's touch.

"The lotus fragrance. You were smelling like that when you arrived at Cloud Recess the first time."

"I came across them on the market at Lotus Piers. Couldn't resist them. I've sworn not to use them after… I left Yunmeng Sect but… I've thought maybe… as Jiang Cheng does not seem to hate me actively… That place was a part of my life… I… I know that my home burned down and this one - rebuild is not my home anymore but… I still miss it… Obviously Gusu Lan is great but… it has four thousand rules and no lakes!"

"Wei Ying doesn't have to justify his feelings."

As much as Lan Wangji wanted Wei Wuxian to be happy in Cloud Recess, he was aware that the place was not ideal for him. When he had been optimistic he thought that was the main reason for Wei Ying's travel… when not - he blamed Wei Ying's need to create distance between them.

"You're too good for me, Lan Zhan", Wei Wuxian chuckled, actively searching Lan Wangji's touch. He rubbed his head against his fingers in a catlike gesture. Lan Zhan changed his position to be able to watch his beloved's face. He was dreaming about kissing his lips but what if the kiss was not welcome?

Wei Ying solved his dilemmas for him, capturing his lips with mischievous sparkles in his eyes. It was not exactly a chaste kiss and Lan Wangji happily allowed it. He regretted when his betrothed withdrew to catch his breath even if the Second Jade was also breathless. He watched intently his beloved for any kind of distress but the other only laughed merrily.

"What?", Lan Zhan asked, a bit disoriented.

"Jiang Cheng will kill us if he ever knows what we're doing while unconscious!"

"Should we wake up?", the Chief Cultivator was not really sure how he even could try to achieve this. The other thing was that the meadow was such a beautiful place to caress Wei Ying's hair and skin and…

"The colour of your ears speaks volumes about what you wish…", Wei Wuxian was laughing, "However I am not sure… if our bodies don't react accordingly and… Well, if we were simply dying in the river, I'd vote for it but… I am quite sure we've been saved, so you know, Lan Zhan, my brother… I prefer to spare him a bit…", his lips touched the Second Jade's in an attempt of a brief kiss but Lan Wangji could not resist the urge to catch him, to make their kiss longer, more intense.

Jiang Cheng was sitting between the two beds on the floor. He was trying hard not to cry. Nie Huaisang gently gave him a cup of tea.

"I need wine…", the Yunmeng Sect's leader replied, his voice trembling.

I saw him falling down! I saw him dying! Again!

"Nie Feng is an accomplished healer and he is rather optimistic.", Nie Huaisang carefully chose his words.

"Rather optimistic?! I want my brother safe and sound, and not an optimistic healer, especially a rather optimistic one!" - he added a few curses at the end of each sentence.

Jiang Cheng drank the tea and focused on his brother's face. It was so disturbing to see it lax and still. Wei Wuxian should be full of energy and life. He missed his irritating brother. The Wei Wuxian who came back, summoned through Mo Xuanyu's sacrifice, was a different person than his care-free older brother. He missed that boy full of contagious laughter. He missed their shenanigans, their playful quarrels, the past they had shared. The past before the Wens' attack, before the death of his parents before stupid Wei Wuxian's sacrifice, which was caused by his own decision. If he had not drawn attention to himself, Wei Ying would have probably lost his golden core in the same way he did and then he would have lived as a mediocre or died…

But Shije would be alive! So… is it my fault she's dead?

"Jiang Cheng, you're thinking too much. It'll do harm to you…", the Nie Sect's leader murmured. He sounded concerned.

"It was easier when I hated him…"

"You're free to hate him. Obviously you cannot take action against him as he's under Chief Cultivator's protection but it doesn't forbid to despise him.", Nie Huaisang stated calmly.

"I can't. Not anymore…", Jiang Wanyin shook his head. He gently touched his brother's too cold hand.

"Lan Zhan?", Wei Wuxian murmured, his fingers tracing Jiang Cheng's palm.

"No, you idiot. Don't try to seduce me!", he growled, utterly relieved, "Open your eyes!", he commended.

"I prefer… the meadow."

"There isn't any meadow. You're in an inn room and you should drink bitter, awful medicine, so wake up!"

"You just know how to encourage a man…", Wei Wuxian mumbled but suddenly he opened his eyes, alarmed.

"Lan Zhan?!"

"First the medicine, then I'll tell you about your precious Lan Zhan.", Jiang Cheng unmercifully put the cup to his brother's lips, "Drink!",he ordered.

To his surprise the Yiling Patriarch gulped down the whole cup.

So that's the method! Worth remembering!

"The Chief Cultivator is healing. He was badly wounded but his core is strong…", Jiang Cheng stopped. Normally he would not continue but when he glanced at his brother he saw so much remorse and pain, that he added, "your reckless action saved him."

"He should not have jumped after me. It was stupid", Wei Wuxian mumbled.

"It was extremely stupid", Jiang Cheng agreed.

I would have done the same…

The Yiling Patriarch became paler though it should not be possible.

"What's wrong?!"Jiang Cheng asked terrified. He watched as Wei Wuxian curled on his side and vomited blood on the floor. The healer warned them his patient may react this way but… was it the case?

Wei Wuxian whimpered and curled into a ball, his breathing fast and wheezing.

"Call the healer, NOW!", Jiang Cheng ordered and Nie Huiasang obeyed though he had no reason to do so.

Lan Wangji was drifting between the soft grass and much more softer rabbit fur and a shade of less pleasant reality which seemed quite painful and draining. He was aware enough to feel his spiritual energy dealing with his injuries. He knew that if he focused his attention, it would speed up the whole process, but he was too tired.

However, the desperate order to call the healer woke him fully. He did not even realize he sat up, his body screaming in pain at him. He ignored it and launched towards Wei Ying, barely avoiding Jiang Cheng.

"Wei Ying!", he murmured, cradling the ailing man despite the loud protest of his own wounds. He concentrated on his soulmate's meridians to assess if the bloody puddle on the floor was a reason for panic.

A/N

Sorry for the dealy but I am truly busy and my awesome Beta - Legate_of_Apples too.

Enjoy! (I hope you like when they are coughing up blood ;) )