The metal wasn't really cold - Wei Ying was much too thoughtful and, well, soft-hearted - for that but Lan Wangji still shivered when Wei Ying's hand vanished from his throat and the silver choker settled against it instead.
"It'll protect you," Wei Ying had promised, almost shyly, when he had presented Lan Wangji with his latest gift, at the beginning of the night. "I engraved and infused it with spiritual energy myself." As if anything not extensively handled by him was allowed to touch Lan Wangji's skin.
Still, it was endearing that he still mentioned it with each and every gift he gave.
"One day I will drown under all the silver you encase me within," he said mildly while adjusting his body for better access. He raised his wrists, heavily adorned with silver cuffs to illustrate the point.
He was still undressed after their lovemaking from before but the night was so warm that the light breeze against his skin was pleasurable.
"If that's what it takes to keep you safe." Wei Ying's words were definitive, not that Lan Wangji's had been a complaint. He rather liked the feel of heavy jewelry against his skin; it made him feel loved and protected even without its magical properties. A piece of Wei Ying, a constant reminder on his body, even when the man himself couldn't be with him.
He touched the choker, trying to imagine how the intricate piece would look on him. It looked almost delicate but he knew that Wei Ying's works could only be removed by one of them and could withstand everything.
Lan Wangji swallowed hard and relished in the slight pressure against his throat, then he moved his head to get used to the feeling of it. It felt so nice.
Wei Ying watched him with and indulgent expression.
"You look so beautiful in silver," he said eventually. He brushed a strand of loose hair out of Lan Wangji's face and tucked it behind his right ear. "Like an immortal from the legends."
Wei Ying, devious devil that he was, had tucked his hair back to see his flaming ear. Lan Wangji resisted the urge to duck his head and stared straight ahead instead.
"Flattery is unnecessary. You have already won me over a long time ago."
Instead of killing him, as would have been his right, Wei Ying had courted him. Protected him after his mother had given her life to do the same. Given him a life far beyond his wildest dreams, even if it was hidden in the shadows. Lan Wangji had become a creature of the night and of the moonlight, not because it was his nature but because it had been necessary to keep him away from praying eyes.
He had learned to not only appreciate the anonymity but actually enjoy it when he could wander the night market in a dark cloak, protective silver encasing him under a heavy cloak, embroidered with even more protective spells in black silver thread on black cloth.
He had been not only permitted but actively encouraged and supported in developing his golden core and acquire the sword skills fitting for his status.
The one he'd had at his birth and the one he'd had since Wei Ying had taken him in, both.
Wei Ying gave him whatever freedom he could, but never at the cost of his security.
Being made feeling beautiful in silver jewelry and dark blue silk robes - the combination Wei Ying preferred most on him - was not even a price he had to pay, he did it joyfully and out of his own free will.
"I do not even want to imagine how you will spoil your wife one day," he teased with a gentle smile, well-knowing that he, himself, had the position in all but name and would never have to relinquish it.
He would fight to the death and beyond before giving up his Wei Ying and, he had to admit to his shame, the power their relationship gave him.
The power behind the throne, Jiang Cheng had called him once and if Lan Wangji hadn't known him so well he would have missed the respect behind the grumpy words. It's good that he has you to keep him in line or he would be even more insufferable.
Had there ever been a more insolent brother to an emperor than Jiang Cheng? Lan Wangji didn't think so but he - or Wei Ying - wouldn't have it any other way.
In retaliation for his teasing, Wei Ying pinched his thigh. Hard.
"Don't even joke about that," he said with a grimace. "They're talking about it again." Lan Wangji let his thighs fall open at the lightest of gestures. It seemed as if Wei Ying wasn't finished with him for tonight. Good.
"Talking about what?" he asked, despite having listened in on the council session where some advisors had, once again, tried to convince Wei Ying to finally find a suitable bride.
Another pinch and he was pushed back rather roughly. He went willingly and tried to make the movement as elegant as possible. Judging by the unwilling smile Wei Ying gave he had succeeded.
"I should just simply dress you up and present you to the court. You're more than pretty enough to be my bride, Lan Zhan."
Every answer he could have given to that was swept away by the moan that was forced out of him when Wei Ying pushed three fingers at once into his still sensitive body.
"A pity that you can't bear me children, no matter how often we try."
The words might have been cruel but the tone in which they were spoken wasn't. Wei Ying had no desire to fuck a woman - or anyone but Lan Wangji, really, he had proven his absolute devotion over and over again over the span of sixteen long years - but from time to time he liked to tease.
"I'm a Lan," he gasped, as he clenched around the fingers inside of him, "I would be put to death the moment I stepped into the light."
Wei Ying's smile at that was nothing but predatory. "Let them try. Nothing and nobody will ever take your from my side," he promised. Lan Wangji whimpered as the fingers were removed after one last, almost brutal twist. The rough treatment had brought his own arousal back, too.
"Besides," Wei Ying continued as he moved into position, "it's been sixteen years. Nobody knows what a Lan looks like anymore and you're more than strong enough to take on the whole court and come out on top."
He entered Lan Wangji with one long, hard thrust, shutting down Lan Wangji's brain and so effectively cutting off any answer he could have given.
"But they will, Lan Zhan. They will remember your family and what was done to them. They will see you, beautiful and glittering like the night sky at my side. You'll be the most ethereal being they've ever seen, dazzling and so far beyond them that they can be lucky to catch a glimpse of you."
Lan Wangji's protest was swallowed by his helpless cry when Wei Ying fucked him brutally. He was still oversensitive from before and the fast pace was almost too much. He twisted his fingers into the bedding in an attempt to hold himself still for Wei Ying's pleasure.
"Wei Ying!"
"You cry my name so prettily." Wei Ying took the time to lean down and kiss him. "Soon the whole world will know yours. You'll be the jewel of the Empire and everyone will know who is responsible for the peace and prosperity they have all enjoyed since I took the throne."
Lan Wangji came with a shout, untouched, helplessly entranced by the half-beautiful, half-terrifying prospect, with Wei Ying following immediately afterwards.
"My Lan Zhan." Wei Ying soothed him through the aftershocks, cleaned him up, and wrapped him in a white silk robe, decorated with a nighttime sky scene embroidered in dark blue silk and silver thread. An older, very beloved, gift after Lan Wangji had dealt with an intruder into their sanctuary. His former favorite set of robes had been unsalvageable but Wei Ying had been very appreciative of Lan Wangji's swordsmanship, as well as the fact that he had left enough of the man to be interrogated.
Wei Ying traced the collar with gentle fingers, easily slipping a finger beneath the metal to caress his throat, subtly checking that it wasn't too tight. Lan Wangji's range of movement could not be allowed to be impaired at all. He moved back his head to expose his throat fully to invite more caresses.
"My bride", Wei Ying murmured fondly. "My consort. Husband." After one last, languid swipe over Lan Wangji's larynx he withdrew his finger, put his whole hand over Lan Wangji's throat and squeezed none too gently. There would be no bruises but Lan Wangji liked to imagine that there could be. He swallowed and closed his eyes in silent surrender, wordlessly enjoying Wei Ying's possessiveness and thinking about his proposal.
After so long in the night he had become scared of the sunlight. He didn't like the feeling, it had no place in his world. Time to leave the night behind.
"Yours," he confirmed. He opened his eyes and wound both of his arms around Wei Ying's waist to draw him down until he was lying on top of him. "You gave me the night sixteen years ago, now give me the day, too. Let me stand by your side for everyone to see. Husband."
Deep in his heart, and against all the teachings of his long decimated family, he had always been a greedy man, after all, and Wei Ying had never done anything to curb those tendencies. Just the opposite in fact. He'd been indulged since the moment Wei Ying had found him, hurt and afraid, trying to decide if he should allow himself to be captured and executed or put an end to his life himself.
Thankfully, Jiang Cheng had shown up and taken Bichen - who had only been a symbolic gift he could barely unsheathe it back then - out of his hands before he could make the decision.
Wei Ying, instead, had made the decision to save him. To Shelter and protect him. Gave him the opportunity to learn to fight and actual, political power, even if it was in secret as of now. Wei Ying had taught him how beautiful love and intimacy could be.
Wei Ying, always Wei Ying, who now laughed and cuddled even closer, before he kissed Lan Wangji breathless all over again, easily dispelling all thoughts of the past and also the future.
"Everything for my Lan Zhan."