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Sunsets in Gusu seemed to come a lot sooner than in Yunmeng. It was barely evening yet the full moon shone down through the dark still cold, casting reflections on the perfectly placed stone tiles.
Oh well, Wei Wuxian thought, as he fluently scaled the Cloud Recesses walls, all the less likely that someone would notice him.
Someone did though, an elegant boy dressed in white, with the personality of a rule book and a sword form which even breathtakingly beautiful fell short of expressing.
“Ehe, tell you what, I’ll give you a jar, and maybe you can forget this happened?”
“Attempt to bribe an enforcer, added to your violations.” Piercing golden eyes, a voice as cold as the air, silky black hair and robes billowing in the wind.
They crossed swords, each move played against another, Wei Wuxian’s playful banter seemingly bouncing off his white clothed pursuer. He dodged, attempting to keep the two bottles of Tianzi Xiao safe and out of the other’s pursuit. He threw both bottles up, just in time to dodge a firm swing, twirling back to catch one.
The combination of fighting a skilled swordsman and attempting to carry two fragile jars left him with little time to think, and as he reached out to catch the second, still off balance on the unfamiliar smooth stone tiled ridge of the boundary wall’s roof, wobbled, then began flailing as his foot slipped off the round ridge.
“Wah-ah-ah-AH!”
Lan Wangji seemed to notice he was off balance even before he did, moving like a winters breeze off the wall and down beneath his falling body on the inner side of the wall.
Wei Wuxian fell right into his arms. The moment froze for a split second as grey eyes met gold, the former’s arms hung around the latters neck, the back of his hands felt silky smooth hair.
“Haha, looks like you’ve caught me in more ways than one!”
Then that forgotten second jar of Tianzi Xiao dropped and smashed on an unflinching Lan Wangji’s head, sending out a spray of ceramic and wine.
Wei Wuxian cried out as his whole body was unceremoniously dropped onto the floor, his back hitting hard stone.
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
“Wei Wuxian!” He vaguely heard Jiang Cheng yell as the violent waves of the waterborne abyss knocked him off Suibian.
His shidi flew over, hand outstretched, yelling again, louder as Wei Wuxians fingertips just missed it.
He flinched, bracing for the fall into pounding waters. He was a strong swimmer, had been ever since he’d lived in Lotus Pier, will all the lakes and such. The younger disciples loved when he’d take them swimming into private lakes, stealing lotus pods and enjoying their spoils.
But this wasn’t a calm, lotus filled lake. This was a waterborne abyss, He didn’t know how long he could fight against it in its own territory before being dragged completely under. Jiang Cheng would try to save him, of course, and he suddenly realised with a panic that he could die trying.
He was jerked out of his thoughts by a hand on the back collar of his robes, and he looked down to see his body slowly ascending.
“Lan… Zhan?” He peered up to see a familiar figure in billowing white, and a usual flat look on his face. “Hey! Lan Zhan! This is so uncomfy!” He whined, kicking and flailing around. “Here, grab my hand so that I can breathe at least!” He held out his palm.
“I don’t like touching strangers.” Came the neutrally cadenced reply.
“Hmph! You’re such a stick in the mud!” He pouted.
Even so, Lan Wangji adjusted his grip so he was holding Wei Wuxian’s arm, pulling him up onto Bichen. The boy grinned as the two of them flew back towards Caiyi together, ignoring Jiang Cheng as he exasperatedly pointed out that Wei Wuxian could’ve gotten back onto his own sword at any time, but instead opted to let it simply float next to him.
Wei Wuxian stuck out his tongue and threw a loquat at him.
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji yelled, his broken leg not cooperating underneath him as he ran towards the falling figure. An earth shattering crash sounded out as the body of the Xuanwu fell against the stone cave floor, followed by a roaring splash of water, dyed pink with blood.
He stumbled, again, gritting his teeth in frustration, The injury should have healed by now, but a combination of the constant exhaustion of his qi, walking on the injury, and the recent bite by the turtle on the leg had kept it in a half functioning state.
Wei Wuxian’s body fell into him, heavy from unconsciousness, Lan Wangji’s legs gave out and his body began falling towards the rigid stone floor. He tucked Wei Wuxian into his chest, biting back hissing in pain as the weight of the unconscious boy's full body landed on his injured leg.
Taking a moment to catch his breath, he noticed the sheen of sweat on the other's forehead, noticeable even in the dimly lit cave. Wei Wuxian was breathing heavily, heartbeat erratic, and suffocating in layers of resentful energy.
Lan Wangji grabbed his hand, pouring what little qi he had left into his soulmate's body. He had to remove the resentful energy, sooth his fever, the arrow wound, the burn-
“Lan Zhan?” His croaky voice called out.
He had to focus, there was so much to heal and so little to work with-
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, my er-gege.” He babbled, still barely conscious.
“Shh.”
“Ah, Lan Zhan,” His thumb ran over his hand. “You’re really too good. Thank you for taking care of this poor Wei Ying…”
“No need for thanks, Wei Ying must save his strength.”
“Mhmm, I wiiiiill.” He drawled out, pulling their joined hands back and forth. Lan Wangji’s brows furrowed, it made it harder to focus. “Er-gege, Er-gege, sing me a song?”
Lan Wangji paused, then sang a confession of his love.
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
He didn’t have the energy to scream as Wen Chao’s lackeys dropped him into the Burial mounds. It was cold, it was dark, it was hate; it was resentment.
And there was no Lan Zhan to catch him.
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
Green flames danced to the manic tune of a flute. Wen Chao’s desperate screaming turned into gurgles, then glugs, then nothing.
The figure on the roof lowered his flute, a distant smile where a beaming one once rightfully sat. “That was for my family.”
“Wei Wuxian! Where on earth have you been!” Jiang Wanyin demanded, yelling up at him.
“Oh, you know, here and about…” He dodged. “What, did you miss me that much?”
“Hmph, as if. Here’s your sword.” He tossed Suibian up. “Don’t lose it again, I won’t keep fetching it for you!”
Wei Wuxian caught it, drawing the blade to look at its state on instinct. He wobbled.
Lan Wangji was underneath him in an instant, feeling the much too light weight of his world in his arms. The half drawn sword clattered on the ground beside them.
“Wei Wuxian!”
Wei Wuxian practically jumped out of his arms. “Ahaha, just kidding Jiang Cheng! See, you really do care about me!”
“See if I continue if you keep acting like this!”
Lan Wangji took his hand, starting to pass qi in when Wei Wuxian quickly snatched it back.
“You’re lightheaded.” A perfectly factual statement. He knew his soulmate, he could tell that fall wasn’t on purpose.
“I’m fine, Lan Zhan.” Wei Wuxian returned quietly, out of his brother’s earshot. “You shouldn’t touch me so easily, someone like me will dirty your perfect white robes.” He stepped back.
Lan Wangji wanted to tell him, that the war had already thrown blood after mud after rain at him. that absolutely nothing in the world could make him find Wei Wuxian dirty.
Maybe he didn’t know him as well as he thought, he realised as he watched him walk away with clan leader Jiang.
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
“Me and Jiang Cheng used to hunt peasants all the time as kids.” Wei Wuxian said as he drew up his bow. “Not many peasants in the burial grounds though! But sometimes I can snag a few crows.”
He let the arrow fly through the air. It struck the target through the wing, dropping the crow out of the air but leaving all the meat intact. The black feathered mass fell onto the branches of a large, old, dead tree, still desperately flapping around.
“Don’t tell a-Yuan about this, he’d cry for days.” He joked.
Lan Wangji solemnly nodded.
Wei Wuxian put down the makeshift bow, took off his shoes, and began climbing the rough bark up the tree to retrieve the crow.
“Wei Ying. I can get it.” He offered.
“Ah, Lan Zhan, you’re sweet, but I couldn’t make you do that! You almost cried when I talked about cooking those rabbits when we were younger!”
“I did not almost cry.” He said petulantly.
Wei Wuxian laughed, “Sure, sure you didn’t. But you know me! I get antsy if I don’t climb at least one thing a day, and climbing trees is fun! So let me handle this, okay, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji thought a lot of words in those lines were unnecessary, but he wouldn’t have it any other way, he thought fondly.
He watched the other man scale the tree. It reminded him of when he used to climb trees to escape Jin Zixuan’s dog back in Cloud Recesses. Of course, he would protect Wei Ying from any dogs now.
“I got it!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, a little out of breath. The crow was still, its life having been quickly ended at his hands.
And then he started falling.
Lan Wangji naturally moved to catch him, the weight of his body still too worryingly light for comfort in his arms.
Wei Wuxian didn’t open his eyes.
Lan Wangji kneeled down, laying his head over his lap. He was still breathing. He reached to check his spiritual pathways-
“‘m fine, fine, Lan Zhan, don’t touch me, please-” Wei Wuxian shakily managed. He attempted to sit up, only to drop down again.
“Wei Ying!” He cried, worried. His hands at his sides, he wouldn’t disobey his love’s wishes.
“I’m just dizzy, I promise,” He attempted to sit up again, being successful this time. “Just, help me to Wen Qing, okay?”
Lan Wangji frowned, but nodded.
“Dehydration, Malnutrition, Overexertion, there’s a plethora of reasons why you fainted.” Wen Qing lectured. “You don’t have a golden core anymore, so stop acting like you do. Why do you refuse to take care of yourself?”
Wei Wuxian looked downwards, sitting on what was a bed by his standards. “You know why, Qing-jie. We have elderly, sick, and a young one. They needed the supplies more than me.”
“And how do you think they feel about that? How would a-Yuan feel if he knew his Xian-gege was starving himself so that he could have a second apple? How about granny? Uncle? What we need is you, Wei Wuxian, alive and well. Did you forget that’s the only reason we’re alive today? If nothing else gets you to give a single damn about your well being, at least know that if you die, we will too.”
“I know. I know! I’m sorry, okay? I’m trying! I’m trying…” He bit his bottom lip.
She sighed. “I have radishes to plant. I’ll send Wen Ning to grab that crow. You, are on firm doctor's instructions of bed rest and fluids. And no. Alcohol.”
He whined, pulling the hay filled potato bag he used for a pillow over his head. “You’re trying to kill me, Wen Qing.”
“Funny, you should say that, I feel the opposite.” She turned to walk out of the cave. “And by the way, Lan Wangji has been waiting outside, god knows how hard it was to keep him out. I’ll send him in to keep you out of trouble while I'm gone.”
“I don’t need a babysitter!” He complained, although he couldn’t fight back a smile when he thought of seeing Lan Zhan again.
It must’ve been less than a minute but it felt like an eternity until he saw that familiar white robed figure walking into the entrance of the cave.
“Lan Zhan!” He called, excitedly, getting onto his feet.
Lan Zhan was already beside him, catching him when he inevitably stumbled.
“Haha,” he laughed nervously. “Don’t worry about that, okay Lan Zhan? Just a resentful energy thing. It’s okay though! I’ve figured it out now so it won’t happen again!”
“Wei Ying should not use it if it is a danger to his health.”
“I thought we’d already had this conversation, Lan Zhan, It’s not up to you to decide what I should and shouldn’t do.” He shook his head. letting the taller one lower him back onto his bed. “I don’t want to argue with you, Lan Zhan.” He said earnestly.
Lan Zhan looked at him, attentive, listening. God he was such a good listener. Lan Zhan was so good, too good to be with the likes of him.
“Anyways, no matter how many times I fall, you’ll always be there to catch me, won’t you, Lan Zhan?” He grinned cheerfully.
“Mhm.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. Will always catch Wei Ying.”
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
The image of the sword through shijie's chest played again, and again in his head. Jiang Cheng’s wailing, his look of pure betrayal. His fault, his fault, his fault,
When had he done anything right in his life?! He tried to keep the Wens safe, and they were all dead. And now he’d gotten shijie killed too. Jin Ling would grow up without both his parents.
It felt like everything he’d ever done was all a waste. Like it would have been better for the world if he’d never existed. No, not like, it would. Then maybe Yu-furen and Jiang-shushu wouldn’t have argued all the time. Maybe Jiang Cheng would be happier. Maybe all the deaths he’d brought to this world would’ve never happened.
The screams were so loud. He couldn’t tell if they were from the battle or the Yin Amulet. He couldn’t hear anything.
Maybe his existence was one big mistake. Maybe he should’ve died long ago.
Well he couldn’t change the past but he could always do something about the present.
He let himself fall backwards, off this cliff, into the depths where he belonged.
A hand gripped his wrist. He knew who it was even before opening his eyes. There was only one person in this world who was good enough to spare even the most grotesque monster.
“Lan Zhan.” He whispered through teary eyes. Lan Zhan was crying too. “Let me go, okay?” He asked gently.
“Promised, Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian gave a sardonic laugh. “What did I promise, Lan Zhan? To stand by the side of justice and live with no regrets? Look how that turned out. Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, can’t you see it’ll be a better world without me? Let me go.”
“Wei Ying doesn’t remember, but I will.”
“WEI WUXIAN!”
“Jiang Cheng-”
“GO TO HELL!”
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
“DOG! DOG! Lan Zhan help me!” Wei Wuxian screamed as he jumped into Lan Wangji’s arms to escape the pursuit of the absolute menace named Fairy.
Lan Wangji’s hands wrapped protectively around him.
“Hangguang-jun-” Jin Ling started in disbelief of what he was seeing.
Lan Wangji gave a piercing stare.
“R-Right, sorry.” He turned to the dog. “Shoo. Fairy, shoo.” The dog trotted away with a jingle from the bell on its neck. “U-um, senior Mo-”
“A-ah?” Wei Wuxian responded, looking down and realising he was still wrapped up in Lan Wangji;s arms. “Oh, right. Let me go, Lan Zhan?” He asked.
“No.” He replied, simply holding him closer.
“Lan Zhaaaaaaaan~” He whined. “Why are you acting so shameless? This is a public street! Think about your reputation! Soon everyone will be talking about how Hangguang-jun is a cut sleeve!”
“Do not care what others think.”
“Lan Zhaaaaaan!” He kicked his legs.
Jin Ling starred in pure disbelief.
◦ ~ ✼ ~ ◦
“Um, senior Wei? Why are you on top of the cloud recesses boundary wall an hour after haishi?”
“Pfft, ignore that old lunatic Sizhui, he’s probably doing some dumb shit.”
“Hey! Language young man!” Wei Wuxian protested from on top of the stone tiles. “And I'm not that old. Mentally, I'm only 22!”
“But you were born 35 years ago…” Jingyi muttered under his breath.
“And a-Yuan, how many times do I have to tell you that Senior Wei is way too formal! Just call me die-die, or just Xian-gege like you did when you were younger. Hey, you even called me a-niang that one time!”
Sizhui flushed red. “Please don’t talk about that, senior Wei.”
“Ayah, betrayed by my own flesh and blood! Kids these days. Maybe I really am getting old. Oh, you know who’s really old though? Lan-xiansheng. Seriously! He was old even when I was a teenager! Can you believe he’s still alive and kicking?”
Jingyi snorted, Sizhui elbowed him. “Senior Wei, I am adopted.”
Wei Wuxian stuck his tongue out. “No you weren’t, I definitely remember giving birth to you, You’re my own little radish, the light of my life, even when your righteous Hangguang-jun left me in the rain after knocking me up-
“What nonsense is he talking about now.” Jingyi whispered. “Maybe the lunatic has finally lost it for real.”
“And then I was like- Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian interrupted himself, visibly brightening up as he saw his husband approach.
“Hangguang-jun!”
“A-die!”
The two juniors rang out.
“Oh I see how it is.” Wei Wuxian teased. “You’ll call him a-die but leave your poor defenceless mother-
“Wei Ying. You were not in bed.”
“Mhm? So you noticed?”
“Dear god I’m out of here.“ Jingyi said. Once a huge glutton for romance tales, frequent exposure to Wei Wuxian has quickly disillusioned him.
“Um…” Sizhui watched his friend leave. He was also clearly looking for an excuse to follow suit, but was much too polite to simply leave without a dismissal.
“You can leave, Sizhui. It is late, go to bed.” Lan Wangji instructed. The boy gave a nodding bow and quickly hurried off.
“It’s just you and me now, Lan Zhan~”
“Why did Wei Ying leave?” He tilted his head curiously.
“To get this, of course!” He proudly displayed two jars of Tianzi Xiao, “Come up here with me, Lan Zhan?”
Never one to deny his husband anything, Lan Wangji rose up to join him. Wei Wuxian held out a jar, but when Lan Wangji reached out to take it, snatched it away with a mischievous grin.
“Wei Ying?”
“Come and get it, love~” He jumped backwards, dangling the two jars in front of him.
Lan Wangji smiled widely, understanding what his soulmate wanted him to do.
The two danced spectacularly under the moonlight, once again trading move after move. The cold empty night felt warm and full as peals of Wei Wuxians delighted laughter filled the air. It went on for much longer than their initial meeting, both of them utterly distracted by the movements of the other, not tearing their eyes away for a moment, never wanting this moment to end.
After a while, Wei Wuxian remembered what he was initially trying to do, throwing the two jars into the air and taking a twirling spin backwards, just in time to catch one jar. He smiled with pure joy as he reached out for the other, closing his eyes and putting his entire body weight to one side of the ridge in a fall of utter faith.
Lan Wangji played his part perfectly, already underneath him. He barely had to wait a second until he felt strong arms supporting his back and legs, holding him close, and silky hair in his free hand as he draped his own arms around his husband's neck.
Lan Wangji gently bounced him up, readjusting his grip so that he was holding him with only one hand, before reaching into the air with the other to perfectly catch the second jar of wine.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian giggled. “You even remembered the second jar this time!”
“Mhm. Was very memorable.”
“What, because it splattered all over you? You looked so annoyed back then too, it was super cute!”
“Wei Ying was also super cute. I was distracted looking.”
Wei Wuxian flushed. “Nooooooooo, you can’t just say things like that! Think of my poor heart!”
“Mhm. Will think of Wei Ying’s heart before I tell him how much I love him.” He teased.
“Lan Zhaaaan!” He whined, leaning his face into his beloved’s neck. “‘m so happy I met you. So happy, Lan Zhan. I’m so lucky.” He mumbled.
“I am lucky too, to have Wei Ying.”
“God I love you so much. I love you so much Lan Zhan!” He cried out.
“Love Wei Ying too. Should go inside before my love catches a cold.”
“And then have lots of hot sex?” The shameless man asked,
“Mhm.”