[Seeing the disgusted look Jin Ling gives his clothing (and feeling a bit of that same disgust himself,) Wei Wuxian makes a mental note to have their things washed, glad at least that the attendants had brought up spare robes along with the bath. He looks up when Jin Ling addresses him, some of his exhaustion immediately falling away at Jin Ling's words only to be replaced by the briefest pang of hurt followed immediately by shame.
He lets a crooked smile slip onto his lips, laughing lightly under his breath.]
Yeah, of course I'm not. [As if he had any right to the title. That's not what Jin Ling means and Wei Wuxian is aware enough to know that, but it doesn't mean it's not true. For as much as he cared for the boy and as much as he knows that Jin Ling does have some kind of soft spot buried deep within for him, he also knows with absolute certainty that he doesn't deserve it. He would never deserve Jin Ling's affection or good will and it was the sheer depth of Jin Ling's ability to forgive that allowed him even this level of closeness.
To think that he could ever think himself one of Jin Ling's guardians is as laughable as it is sad.
But that was all the more reason to look after him, even if he could expect nothing in return. He owed it to Shijie. He owed it to Jin Zixuan. He owed them so much more than he could ever pay. The least he could do was look out for their son in whatever ways he could. While these thoughts consume his mind, he's vaguely aware of Jin Ling pulling up the private screen and getting into the bath. It takes a while, understandably given his state, and by the time Jin Ling is out, Wei Wuxian is sitting on the bed leaning against the wall, eyes closed as he struggles to remain awake.]
no subject
He lets a crooked smile slip onto his lips, laughing lightly under his breath.]
Yeah, of course I'm not. [As if he had any right to the title. That's not what Jin Ling means and Wei Wuxian is aware enough to know that, but it doesn't mean it's not true. For as much as he cared for the boy and as much as he knows that Jin Ling does have some kind of soft spot buried deep within for him, he also knows with absolute certainty that he doesn't deserve it. He would never deserve Jin Ling's affection or good will and it was the sheer depth of Jin Ling's ability to forgive that allowed him even this level of closeness.
To think that he could ever think himself one of Jin Ling's guardians is as laughable as it is sad.
But that was all the more reason to look after him, even if he could expect nothing in return. He owed it to Shijie. He owed it to Jin Zixuan. He owed them so much more than he could ever pay. The least he could do was look out for their son in whatever ways he could. While these thoughts consume his mind, he's vaguely aware of Jin Ling pulling up the private screen and getting into the bath. It takes a while, understandably given his state, and by the time Jin Ling is out, Wei Wuxian is sitting on the bed leaning against the wall, eyes closed as he struggles to remain awake.]