Lan Wangji did not ask how Wei Wuxian is feeling. They were both exhausted, only standing tall as they travelled back to camp as a means of keeping up appearances. It's important, both for morale and for Wei Wuxian's safety. If they left the battle looking like they were ready to collapse it would feed rumours of Wei Wuxian being weakened by his cultivation. It may encourage the idea that Wei Wuxian is vulnerable after battle.

Lan Wangji had never needed to think about that before.  His lack of communication and overall demeanour had always given Lan Wangji an intimidating presence.  He always would have disguised his fatigue in order to keep morale up.  Lan Wangji knew that many younger disciples on the GusuLan looked up to him.  Not just them, if Lan Wangji's title was any indication.  '

Within the first six months of the war Lan Wangji had been given the title Hanguang-Jun.  Lan Xichen was thrilled with the title.  Lan Wangji was not certain he felt one way or another about it.  He didn't think he felt anything about it, until Wei Wuxian started calling him by it.  Wei Wuxian apparently adored the title.  It would fall from Wei Wuxian's lips with a bright teasing lilt that made Lan Wangji want to swallow Wei Wuxian's words whole.

Lan Wangji took a deep breath as he allowed himself to focus on the feeling of Wei Wuxian in his arms.  Lan Wangji  still found it strange that he had been given a title and Wei Wuxian had not.  Lan Wangji had always been with Wei Wuxian.  Lan Wangji was aware that he had made great contributions to the Sunshot campaign, but those contributions could not possibly amount to what Wei Wuxian was able to contribute with demonic cultivation.

Lan Wangji had felt slightly offended that Wei Wuxian was not receiving a title honouring his efforts in this war.  Like with most things, it was Wei Wuxian's assurances that he 'didn't mind' and 'it was better this way' that managed to mollify Lan Wangji.  Wei Wuxian seemed to be accustom to being treated differently.

Too often Wei Wuxian is the subject of rumours.  They range in scope and intention.  Some are fearful whispers that paint Wei Wuxian as cruel and monstrous.  Some of them are dismissive in tone as they denounce Wei Wuxian's capabilities.  No matter how negative or loud the rumours become, Lan Wangji does not miss the hungry gazes that watch Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji has seen the looks of certain sect leaders. There is a disturbingly lustful quality to some of the gazes that watch Wei Wuxian. In the early days of the war Lan Wangji had believed those looks meant that those sect leaders were lusting for Wei Wuxian in the way Lan Wangji lusted for Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji had found it offensive that those sect leaders were gazing at Wei Wuxian in such a way with Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian's betrothed, right there.

Lan Wangji understood why they might find Wei Wuxian so appealing. Lan Wangji had long ago fallen in love with Wei Wuxian fighting with Suibian. Wei Wuxian's movements as he wielded a sword had a grace and dexterity that left Lan Wangji breathless. Lan Wangji fell in love with the man who could fight with him across rooftops. Always a step ahead of Lan Wangji, turning their fights into a breathless dance. Lan Wangji still felt a breathless thrill at the notion of crossing swords with Wei Wuxian, but the charm and excitement of Wei Wuxian fighting with Suibian was very different from Wei Wuxian commanding resentful energy with Chenqing.

Wei Wuxian on the battlefield. His eyes glowing red, like burning rubies, as he held Chenqing to his lips. The black bamboo flute let out fierce and haunting melodies that commanded the resentful energy to action. Black swirling energy, like thick smoke, twisted around Wei Wuxian's form. Crackling sparks, like red lightning, flashed inside the churning clouds of resentment. As it shot out to animate the dead, smaller tendrils would playfully tease at Wei Wuxian's hair, and twist delicately around his ankles.

Watching Wei Wuxian on the battlefield was like watching a god of death descend to the realm of mortals. As such, Lan Wangji could understand why others may be directing such gazes towards Wei Wuxian. However, they should know that Wei Wuxian is Lan Wangji's betrothed and as such is not for them to look at in such an indecent manner. It wasn't until Wei Wuxian explained that some of the sect leaders were trying to bribe him into joining their sects to teach demonic cultivation that Lan Wangji realized what those lustful gazes actually meant. They wanted Wei Wuxian's abilities, his strength, for themselves. It filled Lan Wangji with a different, but similar, feeling of disgust.

Lan Wangji took a deep steadying breath and slowly directed Wei Wuxian to remove his blood splattered robes. They didn't have the luxury of a bath to clean themselves after every battle, but a basin of steaming water and a clean cloth would do. They took turns wiping each other clean, relaxing each other with warm water and soothing touches. Lan Wangji gently massaged Wei Wuxian's arms and legs. Slowly loosening the stiff muscles as he simultaneously took the edge off of the frigid chill that Lan Wangji knew had sunk into Wei Wuxian's body.

Any battle that required Wei Wuxian to control so much resentful energy always left Wei Wuxian in a similar state. Exhausted. Drained. His body stinging with the echoes of the pain from channelling massive quantities of resentful energy for such a prolonged period. Lan Wangji had seen the slight stiffening in Wei Wuxian's form in the latter half of the battle. Even without that loud cultivator talking about some of the fierce corpses being put to rest mid battle, Lan Wangji knew what that sudden rigidity meant.

Channelling large amounts of resentful energy was painful. The larger the amount, the longer the duration, the more it hurt. Wei Wuxian had compared it to pain in your muscles when training. There was a level of pain that signified that you were pushing yourself, and then there was a level of pain that signified you needed to stop or you would actually do damage to yourself.

In the case of resentful energy there was a line in which the amount of pain served as a warning that Wei Wuxian was about to exceed his limits in what he can control. It was the sign that he needed to reduce the amount of energy he was using immediately, or risk the resentful energy breaking free and acting of its own accord. There was a particular painful stiffening of Wei Wuxian's body whenever this happened on the battlefield. Lan Wangji had seen it more times than he could count. Every time it was immediately followed by Wei Wuxian laying some of the corpses to rest, and continuing to fight at a slightly diminished capacity.

Today was hardly the first time someone had accused Wei Wuxian of pulling back in order to benefit their enemies. Lan Wangji had been so furious the first time someone did it that he nearly drew Bichen on them. Wei Wuxian was the one who had to talk Lan Wangji down. It took months before Lan Wangji finally accepted what Wei Wuxian said about not responding to people like that. Lan Wangji had not wanted to remain silent when people were accusing Wei Wuxian of things, or insulting him. Lan Wangji hated it. Wei Wuxian had to remind him repeatedly and actively point out the differences in the duration of the conversations.

Eventually Lan Wangji had to admit that the conversations did resolve more quickly if they didn't say anything. Wei Wuxian confessed that in his last life he had responded to such accusations. Often stating the obvious, like the fact that he did not even know most of the people mentioned. Why would he want to kill them if he didn't even know who they were? The denials were either scoffed at, or taken as examples of him being arrogant.

Lan Wangji gently massaged Wei Wuxian's hands. Wei Wuxian's skin was ghostly pale following the battle. His hands as white as paper and terrifyingly cold to the touch. Lan Wangji gently rubbed Wei Wuxian's hands to stimulate circulation, allowing the warmth radiating from his own hands to help warm Wei Wuxian's cold ones.

Wei Wuxian's hands were often one of the places that were the most affected following such a long battle. The mundane strains of playing an instrument for so long without break contributed only minorly to Wei Wuxian's stiff fingers and sore trembling hands. Sometimes Wei Wuxian's hands would be so cold that Lan Wangji had feared Wei Wuxian's fingers might be frostbitten. It had never been the case, but Lan Wangji knew that Wei Wuxian's hands were one of the places that suffered from the worst of the pain caused by channelling resentful energy.

Once Lan Wangji could see some colour returning to Wei Wuxian's hands he would gently lay Wei Wuxian down. Lan Wangji channelled a small amount of spiritual energy into his hands. Not enough to actually transfer energy to Wei Wuxian, just enough to radiate a bit more warmth. Lan Wangji had very little spiritual energy left to begin with. Most of his energy was exhausted during the battle, and then he had flown them both back to camp. Fortunately it took barely any spiritual energy to increase the amount of heat radiating from his hands.

Lan Wangji gently massaged cold and tender muscles, slowly warming Wei Wuxian's feet and legs. As colour returned to them Lan Wangji gently did the same for Wei Wuxian's arms, spending extra time on Wei Wuxian's neck and shoulders. This was another place that was often strongly affected. The pain, tension, and stress all accumulating in the muscles there. Wei Wuxian let out a soft moan as Lan Wangji pressed into the muscles of Wei Wuxian's shoulder.

By the time Lan Wangji was done, Wei Wuxian was already half asleep. Lan Wangji slid beneath the blanket and Wei Wuxian immediately burrowed against Lan Wangji's side. Wei Wuxian's entire body still felt chilled to the touch. Cold feet and chilled legs wrapped around Lan Wangji's, trying to soak up as much of Lan Wangji's body heat as possible. Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around Wei Wuxian with a soft smile.

Wei Wuxian was often quiet like this after the more difficult battles. Wei Wuxian used to tease and chat energetically after every battle. Not because Wei Wuxian felt like doing it, but because he did not want Lan Wangji to worry about him. Wei Wuxian was exhausted, just like Lan Wangji was exhausted. Tentatively Wei Wuxian had started to talk about what it might be like to just be exhausted, without spending energy to prove that he was alright. Wei Wuxian had been half smiling, like his words might be a joke. Lan Wangji recognized it for what it was.

'If Wei Ying does not want to talk, Wei Ying does not have to talk.' Wei Wuxian's eyes had taken on a warm glow of amazement, like Lan Wangji had just offered him the moon. Hesitantly Wei Wuxian started talking less after the battles. Lan Wangji watched as Wei Wuxian became more comfortable with allowing them to sit in silence.

Lan Wangji isn't exactly sure when it happened. One day he simply realized that Wei Wuxian wasn't as tense as he used to be. Minutes after they entered their tent all Wei Wuxian's tension would vanish. With no need to do or say anything, no need to prove himself, Wei Wuxian could finally relax. Wei Wuxian could let himself be as tired as he felt. Sometimes they would talk following the battles. Often in soft hushed tones to contrast the long hours of shouting and screaming heard on the battlefield.

More often than not it would be like today, with neither of them speaking as they moved through their routine. Lan Wangji allowed the exhaustion to finally overwhelm him. Later Wei Wuxian would be talkative. He would scold Lan Wangji for exhausting his spiritual energy and every stern word would be dripping in affection. Lan Wangji felt a small smile tug at the corner of his lips. Even war did not seem so miserable, as long as he could be beside his soulmate.