Sometimes, even bearers of the heaviest weights get a moment of solace.
Even with a whole clan on each their backs, rest was very much needed. After all, they were but humans, made of flesh and bone.
A soft caress to the cheek, a light kiss to the forehead. Little gestures that made it all easier to deal with, pure blessing- be it in the dark or in plain sight.
The Lan leader was quick to set up a carriage to Qinghe, and viceversa. When responsibilities got too much, they knew exactly whose arms they could rest in.
Sometimes they would chat, sometimes they would just close their eyes and enjoy the calm of silence together, joining hands. Everything felt peaceful when they got some time together.
"These weeks have sure been tiring, Mingjue-xiong..."
Lan Xichen's voice carried the playful tone of his smile, hands cradling his sworn brother and best friend's head on his lap.
The bigger man nodded with a hum, eyes closed. Lately, his moments of quietness were getting briefer than ever.
His eyes rested upon dark circles, and his cheeks had gotten sharper. Lan Xichen knew that he was tired, it was obvious- his own shape wasn't much better.
Luckily, the fields by the Cloud Recesses were all theirs to rest their souls heavy with fears and years, with secrets and many regrets.
"It's alright... It will get better, da-ge. I'm sure,"
For a fact, it never got better. But it was reassuring to hear the wisest person Mingjue had ever met saying so.
At the moment, his mind was too busy registering the feeling of long, slender fingers massaging his scalp and playing with his hair to stray away.
In Xichen's hands, no Xue Yang or Meng Yao were important enough to make his blood boil as usual. He was the one with the ability to make him feel safe, even hopeful.
"I guess. How are you doing with your brother, Xichen?"
"Oh- he's just fine, don't worry. He does miss Wei Gongzi, but he's found a way to entertain himself. He's learning how to play the guqin,"
"I wonder who he got it from,"
Whenever his humorless answers elicited a shy giggle from Lan Xichen's lips, Nie Mingjue's heart skipped a beat.
There wasn't anything he cherished more than those moments along him. The soft scent of grass and its gentle touch underneath, the murmur of the river flowing nearby, and Lan Xichen's radiant smile. All of it made a man like Mingjue believe in beauty after making war his daily life.
The Nie leader's eyes slid open to his closest friend plucking a little white flower from the ground and place it into his hair with a loving smile.
It was rare for such a strong, serious man to display such a child-like expression, or at least it was for others. He got to catch a glimpse quite often.
In moments like this, he could feel his throat tighten slightly at the many feelings around his head, as if a thousand butterflies were trying to flee from his stomach at once.
He closed his eyes again and took a deep breath. He wanted to drown those damn butterflies and get to enjoy Lan Xichen's company a little longer. Always a little longer.
Little did he know, those butterflies were just reaching out for Lan Xichen's. They were also fluttering around in his belly, next to Mingjue's ear, but they found an easier way out with every smile, with every gentle word.
"You deserve a rest, Mingjue,"
"Are you eating well, da-ge?"
"It'll all get sorted out. Try not to get yourself worked up,"
Mingjue always found himself at a loss of words around Xichen. Lan butterflies were powerful against his strength.
Eventually, the sun started to go down, dying the sky red. Mingjue had never liked that color, it reminded him of blood, of Wen, of his father's eyes the last time he saw him. It was the color of farewells. Lan Xichen knew this, and that's why he didn't like it either.
With a deep sigh, the Nie leader pulled himself up from his sworn brother's lap onto his knees, now sitting beside him. He could not help but notice Xichen's amused stare.
"Hm? What is it?"
"No, nothing... I was just thinking, light colors really suit you."
Mingjue didn't know this, but his formerly tightly braided hairdo was now a single, lax braid down his back, and it was covered in little flowers that Xichen had placed in his hair as they rested.
"Um... I guess. Maybe the Lan colors would suit me as well,"
This time, he did notice a glimmer of excitement in his friend's eye. He simply smiled at the ground and gave in to the pleasure of holding his hand for the last time before he got in his carriage back to Qinghe.
"I hope to see you again soon, da-ge. Have a safe trip."