Silver & Silk

Lan Zhan was a vision of beauty, clothed only in a sheer silk. White silk was covering his body wile a wide dark blue outer robe, embroidered with silver thread, was carefully arranged over his shoulders. The whole ensemble was deliberately loose to keep him comfortable and the silver jewelry around his wrists and throat glinted enticingly in light of the brazier next to him. Hidden by his pose and the two layers of silk were the silver chains that harnessed his upper body, restraining and protecting him at the same time.

Wei Wuxian allowed himself the rare luxury to simply look and enjoy the music for long moments before stepping into the room and drawing Lan Zhan's formidable attention. He himself had put the delicate chains and the heavy cuffs around Lan Zhan this morning and it was good to see his handiwork still intact after a long day full of court intrigue and boring games of politics.

Lan Zhan looked up from his guqin as he stepped into the room and gave him the rare gift of a shy smile. His hands rested on the instrument and the robes had slipped far enough up to bare his wrists, heavily encircled in silver.

"Wei Ying," he greeted with a respectful nod as Wei Wuxian loomed over him with his arms crossed.

"I hope that you have prepared yourself for me." It was important to acknowledge the lengths Lan Zhan went to please him, he'd discovered, as well as to remind him of his status.

Despite his role as a concubine he managed to give the impression of being the one in charge greeting one of his subjects. Wei Wuxian loved the effortless elegance and power he could project even while kneeling. This playing around with their roles was something that was important for Lan Zhan. Soon those useless defenses and smokescreens would fall but they both enjoyed the steps before it did.

Hearing his private name was a rare privilege these days and Lan Zhan's deep voice always managed to add something special to it. Wei Wuxian was powerless against the smile that took over his face.

Another nod of recognition. "The new silks you gifted to me are of exceptional quality."

Wei Wuxian had given them to him this morning, as an apology for having to keep up appearances and minimize their contact for the last few days. They had been his farewell gift for the day, after arranging the silver jewelry and restraints to his satisfaction, together with a promise to be back in the evening.

"Beautiful," he said now as he came up and cupped Lan Zhan's face with his hands before leaning down to kiss him deeply. He wasn't talking about the silks or the jewelry and Lan Zhan knew it. A faint hint of red appeared on the tips of his ears and he closed his eyes in pleasure at the touch. "I should never have left you behind," he confessed, "I've missed you the whole time."

Lan Zhan looked pleased at that but he kept up appearances. "It would have been unseemly," he said slowly and very measured, "to keep court with me at your side."

"Fuck unseemly!" Wei Wuxian snapped back. "I wanted you with me and I should just have taken you, damn it! It's not as if everyone already knows that you're the only one of my concubines I visit." At all, he added silently. He carefully didn't mention the fact that there was barely anyone who knew of Lan Zhan's existence in the first place.

He had never taken a wife and never spent his nights with anyone but his Lan Zhan. In another world, another life, he would have taken him as his husband years ago but things being as they were he was unable to do so.

Lan Zhan looked at him with wide eyes. He reached up and pulled Wei Wuxian down into an embrace. The heavy silver cuffs around his wrists - lovingly engraved with protective symbols and infused with spiritual energy by Wei Wuxian himself - were slightly cool against his skin and he shivered in pleasure at the familiar feeling.

"I am content with my role in your life." Lan Zhan's voice was quiet as always but the emotion behind it was easy to discern if one knew how to listen for it.

"You shouldn't be." Wei Wuxian was tired of this meek acceptance of fate his beloved tended to show sometimes. He, better than anyone, knew the fire that burned behind the calm façade and it annoyed him that Lan Zhan had never fought to be more than he was.

"I would be dead if you hadn't chosen me to be your concubine," Lan Zhan reminded him gently. "Taken as prisoner, tortured and executed without ever knowing any love, let alone pleasure. You saved me and gave me a life away from being a political figurehead, easily disposable once I've fulfilled my role."

"I'll always keep you safe," Wei Wuxian promised with a sigh. He'd been keeping  Lan Zhan hidden from prying eyes and enterprising assassins, far away from any court intrigue, and protected by everything Wei Wuxian could provide for over sixteen years by now. He was tired of it and longed for the day when he could show off the beautiful man that had captivated his heart and his soul so long ago to the world.

His enemies had tried to use Lan Zhan against him in a plot to dispose of him but he had taken his supposed rival to the throne as his lover instead. Had kept him close, protected him, and allowed him to train and develop his golden core to its fullest - and very impressive - potential.

Almost nobody knew it but Lan Zhan was his strongest supporter in every way possible, and Wei Wuxian wouldn't have been able to keep his throne without his quiet and steadfast support, coupled with his truly stellar counsel. It was a shame that he couldn't be acknowledged publicly, like he deserved, but only a selected few people even knew that Lan Zhan was still alive; fewer yet knew that he was the support beam the whole empire rested upon.

Lan Zhan put his head on his shoulder. "Without you I never would have known love and never felt another's touch against my bare skin. I would never have known how safe and loving being restrained can feel."

It was really lucky that Lan Zhan not only merely tolerated his protective jewelry but actually liked being all bound up in silver. He was more than capable of defending himself but Wei Wuxian needed to know that he had contributed as much as possible to the safety of his lover.

Thankfully, Lan Zhan liked to indulge him.

Wei Wuxian hugged him closer and let his hands wander under the loose silk und silver chains  to touch bare skin. "You deserve so much more. You deserve to be out in the sunlight, in front of the court, to be acknowledged as the important part of my life - and the empire - that you are. Without your input we wouldn't have half the reforms that made everything better."

Lan Zhan' satisfaction at this acknowledgement actually radiated off him, between the little moans of pleasure that escaped him while Wei Wuxian caressed his body and played with a few particularly sensitive spots.

"I prefer the cover of darkness," he murmured breathlessly before he pressed a kiss against Wei Wuxian's throat. His voice was markedly rougher than before and the words were followed by a bite that was sure to leave a mark. Wei Wuxian was so used to being treated like this that he barely flinched and only groaned in appreciation.

"Take me out for a stroll and make love to me under the light of the full moon and I will be happy," he continued.

Not content but happy. Lan Zhan didn't lie, as Wei Wuxian had learned a long time ago. He was skilled at dissembling and leaving things unspoken, yes, and he was the most stubborn man to ever walk the earth, but he never said things he didn't fully mean. If he said he was happy he was. No point in speaking more of it for now.

Wei Wuxian hummed and pinched a particular sensitive spot in agreement. Lan Zhan's tiny, surprised yelp, followed by him almost melting into Wei Wuxian's embrace, was gratifying. Sometimes his love needed the reminder who was nominally in charge between them.

The thought alone was enough to fire up his arousal. Lan Zhan in all his glory, spread out on white and dark blue silk, silver jewelry glinting in the moonlight and contrasting with his fair skin, ready and willing to take him in…

… it would be the perfect opportunity to present Lan Zhan with the new hairpiece he had commissioned for him. Nothing protective, those pieces of jewelry were only made by Wei Wuxian's own hands, but something beautiful to keep his air up when it wasn't spread around him on their bed or tied back by his customary braid.

Lan Zhan was always especially happy to receive gifts after having been ravished, Wei Wuxian had discovered. He was less guarded when he was satisfied and relaxed after having been taken, and his face always lit up in such a beautiful way when Wei Wuxian presented him with something new.

Soon, my love, he promised silently as he helped Lan Zhan to get up and carefully arranged the two layers of silk around his body until there was at least some resemblance to being properly covered up. I'll present you to the world as my husband. You'll be at my side day and night like you deserve. He just needed little a bit more time to truly cement his position and then nobody would be able to oppose their marriage.

Not yet but soon.

He put an arm around Lan Zhan's waist and led him to the pavilion in their private garden where a nest made out of the finest fabrics was waiting for them. The public would know soon enough. Now was the time to show Lan Zhan once again how much he meant to Wei Wuxian, how loved and cherished he was.