quoth the ohmu

narie got me thinking about Wangxian teaching A-Yuan to swim and this whole sequence popped into my head. 



They practice in the shallows of the pond for a few weeks first, getting A-Yuan used to the feel of being submerged, teaching him the how to kick his legs in the water, stroke his arms through the air.

Wei Wuxian learned to swim when Jiang Cheng pushed him off the dock at Lotus Pier, but even he can see that will not be a good method for A-Yuan. His little radish needs a gentler hand.

When A-Yuan is finally used the water, Wei Wuxian tows him out to the deeper part of the pond. A-Yuan floats on his belly, his little fists clinging tightly to Wei Wuxian's thumbs, his face bright with excitement where it rises above the surface of the water.

Wei Wuxian twirls them slowly around the pond while A-Yuan chortles gleefully. "I swimming, I swimming!"

"Now kick like we practiced!" A-Yuan's chubby legs churn the water, no form but lots of enthusiasm.

Wei Wuxian laughs, water splashing him as he pulls A-Yuan around the pool faster and faster, A-Yuan's legs paddling quicker and quicker.

Sfter one to many splashes land right in Wei Wuxian's face, he lifts A-Yuan into his arms, eyes narrowing as he stares into the child's grinning face. "A-Yuan, were you splashing your poor old baba on purpose?”

With a peel of baby laughter, A-Yuan nods, wriggling in Wei Wuxian's arms like a fish. Wei Wuxian gasps in mock outrage. "A-Yuan, how could you? You must accept you punishment for disrespecting your father!"

Lifting A-Yuan higher in his arms, Wei Wuxian blows a raspberry against the child's wet belly. It make a horrible, rude noise. A-Yuan loves it.

"Again! Again!"

The punishment does nothing to deter the splashing.

Later, once they've managed to calm down, Wei Wuxian places his palm against A-Yuan's round belly, holding him steady in the water while he kicks his legs and flails his arms.

Lan Wangji, who slipped quietly into far side of the pond while they were fooling around, is meditating quietly, up to his shoulders in the relatively still water. Wei Wuxian can't resist the urge to ruffle both water and man.

Wei Wuxian steers A-Yuan toward Lan Wangji, fast enough that A-Yuan is shrieking with joy but not so fast that he’s in danger of falling out of Wei Wuxian's careful hands. "Look out, Lan Zhan! There's a water monster coming right for you! Oh noooo, it's going to get you!"

A-Yuan paddles right up to Lan Wangji, little hands slapping at his chest and arms, water splashing everywhere. In moments, Lan Wangji's smooth hair is soaked, water bringing out the hint of a wave that Wei Wuxian loves so much.

Plastered against Lan Wangji’s side, Wei Wuxian’s hands still reassuringly pressed against his belly and back, A-Yuan looks up at them and smiles, little face aglow with happiness. "Die-die, I got you!"

"Hmm." Lan Zhan lifts A-Yuan from Wei Wuxian's hands, cradling the child against his shoulder. He brushes the clinging strands of hair from A-Yuan's face, then dips his head and blows a raspberry against the child's belly. It’s not as magnificent as the raspberries Wei Wuxian doled out earlier, but is delightful in its unexpectedness.

Squealing louder than A-Yuan, Wei Wuxian wraps his arms around his son and his husband, squeezing tight as his joy threatens to overwhelm him.

Later, A-Yuan falls asleep against Lan Wangji’s strong shoulder, worn out from the day's adventures. Always up for a nap, Wei Wuxian falls asleep against the other shoulder, and Lan Wangji holds them both close.