'I don't think A-Ying knows how to take care of himself.' Wen Qing had told Lan Wangji that before. Only now was Lan Wangji realizing that he had not fully understood. In the context of the conversation he thought she met that Wei Wuxian neglected his emotional needs. Lan Wangji still believed this was true, but it was not the entirety. Wei Wuxian was not only someone who ignored his own emotional well being, he also ignored every other aspect of his well being.

For a little over three weeks Wei Wuxian had been completely engrossed in working on talismans. Lan Wangji was almost certain he had never seen Wei Wuxian work on something with so much enthusiasm. Lan Wangji had been completely enchanted. The chaos that spread around Wei Wuxian when he worked was like watching the brilliant energy of his mind spread around him into the real world. Watching him work was mesmerizing. Every brush stroke was sift, seeming haphazard and casual, yet the result was always beautiful and intricate.

Talismans were not something Lan Wangji had ever given a great deal of focus. There were standard talismans that every cultivator learned, and that was mostly the same between one sect and another. Sometimes a sect might have a few talismans that were different from another, but usually it was a case of using a different process to get the same result. New talismans were infrequent creations. Cultivators were usually more interested in perfecting sword techniques. Wards and boundaries were considered very important, but changes to them came slowly. Likely because it was more exciting to show a new sword technique or musical composition. It really wasn't a rule, or even a matter of importance, it was just the general popular opinion.

A prime example in Lan Wangji's mind was that GusuLan sect was known for cultivation through music. This was certainly an important feature of GusuLan sect and something they excelled in, but arguably the strength and intricacy of the spells woven into their uniforms was an equally impressive feat. GusuLan sect had specialized techniques for imbuing fabric with spells. Most sects did some of this, but none could achieve what GusuLan sect accomplished. Yet, Lan Wangji had never heard anyone ever speaking of this. Even within Cloud Recesses you wouldn't hear people talk about it much unless you happened by one of the classes teaching it, or needed to pass through the building where the disciples would work on this. It was considered a specialization within the sect, so disciples only started to learn it once they completed their general education.

The way Wei Wuxian's brilliant mind could manifest his ideas and thoughts. The way he worked to materialize them in the real world. Lan Wangji was completely enraptured in watching Wei Wuxian work. When Lan Wangji did manage to drag his attention away from what Wei Wuxian was working on, his attention was then captured by Wei Wuxian himself. The first time Lan Wangji saw it he forgot how to breathe. Wei Wuxian made faces.

The entire time Wei Wuxian worked he was in constant motion. Twisting in his seat, sporadically flopping onto the floor, and draping himself over his work space at odd angles that Lan Wangji could not understand. The entire time his facial expressions were just as active. His nose would scrunch up in adorable displeasure. His lip would jut out in an unhappy pout. His eyebrows would sporadically shoot up with inspiration. He'd chew on his bottom lip in thought. His mouth would move along making the shapes of words as he read or wrote something down. His tongue would stick out in concentration.

Lan Wangji could not get enough of it. It was a level of adorableness that Lan Wangji previously believed could not be achieved in the world of mortals. Except that Lan Wangi also realized that Wei Wuxian made noises while he worked. Humming in thought, groaning in annoyance, huffing in irritation, squealing in excitement. When he was particularly focused on a difficult process he would mutter under his breath, talking to what he was working on and scolding it to behave like it was a naughty pet. It was entirely too much for Lan Wangji's brain and he could be forgiven for spending the entire first day completely lost in observing the source of all joy in his life.

Then the unfortunate thing happened and he realized that Wei Wuxian did not stop working. He spent the entire day working with no breaks to even eat. Trying to get Wei Wuxian to bed had been completely unsuccessful. He'd tell Wei Wuxian to go to sleep, and Wei Wuxian would respond that he'd be there in a bit. Except that, come sunrise the next day, Wei Wuxian had still not stopped working and Lan Wangji understood that Wei Wuxian really was not good at taking care of himself. More than putting others first. More than not tending to his own emotional wellbeing. When he was working he not only forgot to eat, or sleep, but reminding him was not even enough to correct this error.

Reminding was acknowledged and never acted upon. Requests were met with excuses. Even when Lan Wangji upgraded to outright demanding Wei Wuxian stop working and eat, Wei Wuxian would say he'd be there in just a few minutes. He'd say he would stop in a few minutes, but it never actually happened. In this way Wei Wuxian working became simultaneously the most wonderful thing in Lan Wangji's life, while also becoming incredibly frustrating. He could not bear for anything to happen to Wei Wuxian.

Finally Lan Wangji had resorted to picking Wei Wuxian up and carrying him away from his work. Wei Wuxian's flailing and protests that he was, 'close to figuring something out,' were immediately silenced by Lan Wangji's lips. Much to Lan Wangji's delight he discovered he could easily take anything Wei Wuxian was holding out of his hands, as long as they were kissing. Lan Wangji would then plant Wei Wuxian in his lap, and if he didn't start eating on his own he would begin to feed Wei Wuxian himself.

Sleep was a bit more challenging. It had already been a problem in the first place, but Lan Wangji was determined to try his best to improve it. Every night he dragged Wei Wuxian away from his work. He played songs designed to soothe the mind. Then he wrapped Wei Wuxian in his arms as they both lay in bed. Wei Wuxian snuggled in Lan Wangji's embrace. Sometimes they both fell asleep. Sometimes Wei Wuxian would get up in a couple hours and go back to work. Sometimes Wei Wuxian would fall asleep while he was working in the early hours of the morning. Anytime Wei Wuxian fell asleep while working, Lan Wangji would gently pick him up and move him to the bed.

It was the middle of the afternoon now, and it was also one of those times that Wei Wuxian had fallen asleep while working. Lan Wangji gathered Wei Wuxian in his arms and gently put him to bed. He silently admired the beautiful sleeping face of his love. Lan Wangji could not hold back from kissing Wei Wuxian. He kept his kiss soft and gentle, not wanting to wake Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian made a slightly unhappy groan in his sleep as Lan Wangji pulled away. He settled in a few minutes as Lan Wangji gently stroked his hair.

Lan Wangji did not understand how Wei Wuxian could be so beautiful. His sleeping face. The way he worked. The way his mind worked. Even the adorable sounds of protest when he forced him to stop working and eat. The wonderful sound of his voice when he spoke, seeming to never run out of words. Lan Wangji loved that sound, and he loved Wei Wuxian's ideas. He loved that Wei Wuxian made him think, reconsider, debate... Wei Wuxian's mind was full of contradicting perspectives and new discoveries. Lan Wangji loved it. He loved Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji knew with absolute certainty that Wei Wuxian made things better. Wei Wuxian changed his world into something beautiful, even when it hurt.

Lan Wangji looked over Wei Wuxian's notes fondly. So many ideas, each more dangerous than the next. Ideas about how to make a flammable structure resistant to burning. An entire page devoted to both mundane and fantastical ideas about how to protect the contents of the library. Notes about the wards and barriers around Cloud Recesses. A footnote to ask Lan Xichen about existing evacuation strategies. Further notes about ideas for evacuating Lotus Pier, and for altering the barrier of Lotus Pier so that it would not require disciples to actively power it. Lan Wangji noticed the notes related to Lotus Pier were in a slightly shakier script and seemed to be deliberately positioned to be partially blocked by all his other notes.

Lan Wangji's heart ached. Even thinking about Lotus Pier was painful for Wei Wuxian. He didn't talk too much about the war. Lan Wangji had asked him a bit and Wei Wuxian shared what he could remember. He didn't actually remember most of the details about when battles took place, and he admitted he almost never attended the strategy meetings. Most of the battles of the war didn't seem to haunt Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji knew they were bloody, but they didn't fill Wei Wuxian's eyes with horror the way Lotus Pier did. Lan Wangji knew that was going to be an important and difficult event this time around. Wei Wuxian would not be able to save everyone. No one could. It wasn't a realistic expectation and Wei Wuxian seemed to be aware of that as well. Lan Wangji was afraid that no matter how much Wei Wuxian improved that event, it was still going to devastate Wei Wuxian.

Lan Wangji stood slowly, casting his eyes over the sleeping figure once more. He already knew that no matter what he would not be separating from Wei Wuxian. When Wei Wuxian needed to visit Lotus Pier, Lan Wangji would accompany him. He was worried about when that time would come. He didn't know when Wei Wuxian would decide it was time to go back there. Lan Wangji knew Wei Wuxian was terrified of going there, but also missed it. Lan Wangji managed to remove his gaze from his Love's face and moved silently across the room.

Lan Wangji stopped at the bookshelf and took out the written notation of an incomplete song. He had been working on it for two weeks now. Only when Wei Wuxian was asleep. Lan Wangji sat down and began to pluck very softly on his guqin. Humming along quietly as he went back to make adjustments to some of the measures. He continued the melody replaying a single phrase over and over as he found the notes that sounded right and adjusted the length where appropriate. He didn't want to share it with Wei Wuxian until it was complete. He wanted it to be perfect first. As perfect as the man he was writing it for. Lan Wangji glanced at the sleeping figure on the bed. He wondered if the him of the future had composed this song. If he did, did he ever share it with the one it was written for?

Author note: I am testing out a new strategy for naming chapters so we will be moving away from labelling them based on location. I have a harder time naming chapters than writing them, so bear with me I might be changing how I do it again in the future.