Chapter Text
Lan Wangji was too young to really remember anything about his mother. When he closed his eyes, he could imagine her face, her soft smile, and the deep seated emptiness within her eyes.
But her voice was distant, foreign. Her touch, even more so. His mother had avoided touching Lan Xichen all together, and the affection she gave to Lan Wangji was little to nothing.
But it was natural for a child as young as him to want his mother. Even if she had never wanted him.
The day Lan Wangji’s mother committed suicide, all of Gusu had become even more quiet than usual. Lan Wangji was never a loud child, hardly ever a child to begin with. The Lan clan was strict, he’d been learning the rules since the moment he could understand language.
But when she died, Lan Wangji became even more quiet than before. He still quietly chatted with Lan Xichen, spoke when spoken to, and played in the corners of Gusu. The first of each month, he waited outside his mother’s residence. Hoping she’d come back, she’d let him in, and Lan Wangji could express all the love he had for her despite everything.
He was six, and his understanding of death was loose and nonsensical. Lan Qiren dragged him back the first few times, but eventually gave up. Lan Wangji was stubborn, and grieving in his own way.
Then, there was Wei Wuxian.
A servant boy from the Jiang clan, whimsical and full of life. Due to internal conflicts in the Jiang clan, Jiang Fengmian was forced to send Wei Wuxian away. To Gusu, because he still cared for the boy despite everything. Gusu had seemed like the safest place, and Jiang Fengmian knew there was a boy there just a little younger than Wei Wuxian.
The day Lan Qiren introduced Wei Wuxian to Lan Wangji was the first time in months that Lan Wangji had felt even the smallest bit of light.
“Wangji, this is Wei Wuxian,” Qiren had begun, gesturing towards the boy with wild hair beside him.
Wei Wuxian had a blinding smile on his face, so eager to learn and befriend. His black hair was wild, tied into a low ponytail with red ribbon. He still wore the purple colored robes of the Jiang clan, and could hardly sit still.
“Hi!” Wei Wuxian chirped.
Lan Qiren’s lips pressed into a thin line as he gave a quick glance at Wei Wuxian. The boy only tilted his head in confusion. Lan Qiren cleared his throat.
“He has some potential, and Jiang Fengmian has sent him over as a gift to Lan Wangji,” Qiren explained, “A condolences gift, on account of your mother. He hoped that Wei Wuxian might keep you company in her stead. From today on, Wei Wuxian is yours.”
“Mine?” Lan Wangji questioned. Gusu did not have any servants, really. They hardly kept people around aside, the chores and managing of the household was left up to disciples or whoever was around to volunteer.
Lan Wangji had never had a personal servant.
“I trust Wangji will treat him well,” his uncle continued, “He is as much of a servant as Lan Wangji wishes, all to say do what you please with him. Your father already arranged for him to sleep in the room next to yours.”
“How old are you?” Wei Wuxian piped up again, ignoring the glare from Qiren.
“Six,” Lan Wangji replied.
“I’m older?!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, placing his hands over his mouth in pure shock. Qiren merely sighed and gestured for the two boys to get lost.
Lan Wangji stood up straight, bowing to Lan Qiren before leaving the room. Wei Wuxian followed, giving a half hearted bow to the elder as well before following Lan Wangji.
“I just turned nine!” Wei Wuxian said, reaching out his hand to grab at Lan Wangji’s, “I hope you don’t mind, I talk a lot. Jiang Cheng always says I need to learn when to be quiet. What’s the point of being quiet, though? I always have so much on my mind, I need to get it out somehow! By the way, can I call you by your birth name? What is your birth name?”
Lan Wangji’s lips pressed into a thin line, being bombarded with so many questions. He hadn’t heard anyone talk this much, aside from Lan Qiren’s lectures.
“Lan Zhan,” he replied.
“Can I call you A-Zhan?” Wei Ying said with a smile, bright enough to light up the whole room.
For the first time since his mother died, a small smile made its way to Lan Wangji’s face.
What neither of them knew, is that this relationship would be a path of great pain and a test of strength.
...
Escaping the Mo manor was supposed to be Wei Wuxian’s one way ticket out of his previous life’s responsibilities. He was supposed to be free now, right? He’d fulfilled the Sacrificial Ritual and escaped Lan Wangji’s gaze before he could fully recognize him.
But then, Dafan Mountain had to happen too. And Wei Wuxian was too curious for his own good.
And of course, he had to run into Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng. Because Wei Wuxian’s life is nothing but unfortunate accidents happening over and over again.
And, for fuck’s sake, Jin Ling had to get himself into trouble. Wei Wuxian couldn’t just let his nephew fucking die, no, he had to help.
And, and, and, he had to summon Wen Ning. Who was supposed to be no longer of this world.
Fuck my life, fuck my life, fuck my life, is all Wei Wuxian can think as he’s trying to calm down Wen Ning.
Fuck everything! Wei Wuxian thinks as he’s trying to escape the horrific pain that is Zidian.
And fuck you especially, Mo Xuanyu! Wei Wuxian thinks when Lan Wangji arrives at the scene, managing to stop Jiang Cheng’s ruthless pursuit of Wei Wuxian. Two of the people who knew Wei Wuxian most, now in the same vicinity, trying to figure out if Mo Xuanyu is possessed by the awful Yiling Patriarch. Wei Wuxian contemplates if continuing to live in his body is really worth it at this point, or if he should do himself and Mo Xuanyu a favor and just end it all now.
But, he doesn’t. Because it would be a waste if he killed himself now.
Instead, he cuddles up behind Lan Wangji. If there’s anything Wei Wuxian knows how to do, it's to get under Lan Wangji’s skin.
“So mean,” Wei Wuxian whines, “Even if I do like men, that doesn’t mean I like all men. Sect Leader Jiang is definitely not my type!”
Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes, Jin Ling looks absolutely appalled, and Lan Sizhui is pretending he’s not witnessing this entire scene.
“Fine! Dear Mo Xuanyu, what is your type?” Jiang Cheng answers, though the dear part of his sentence is full of venom.
Wei Wuxian smiles. This is easy, Lan Wangji is easily uncomfortable when people start showing him romantic advances. Especially sexual advances. Wei Wuxian remembers when a prostitute tried to win over Lan Wangji when they were teenagers on a night hunt, Lan Wangji immediately ducked into an alleyway and vomited.
It’s a little sad in the grand scheme of things, but thankfully Wei Wuxian can use it to his advantage today.
“Hmmm, well, Lan Wangji is certainly more handsome than you,” Wei Wuxian replied, reluctantly feeling up Lan Wangji’s shoulders.
This definitely feels a little weird, feeling up his childhood best friend.
“I bet he’s much more gentle in bed, anyway!” Wei Wuxian finished.
Jin Ling’s face is red. Originally, Wei Wuxian assumed it was out of embarrassment or disgust. But this next sentence gives another perspective.
“How dare you!” Jin Ling yells, stepping out next to his uncle, “How dare you come onto Lan Wangji like that, knowing there's no way he could possibly reject you! Have some shame!”
No way he could reject me? Wei Wuxian thinks to himself, but Jiang Cheng immediately silences his nephew.
Lan Wangji gestures at Lan Sizhui. The disciple hurries along to Lan Wangji’s side. Lan Wangji made some hand gestures, and Lan Sizhui responded with a nod.
Weird, Wei Wuxian thinks to himself, but immediately brushes it off. Must be a secret code.
“Please allow this disciple to be Hanguang-jun’s voice in this conversation,” Lan Sizhui announced, “I request that Mo Xuanyu return with us to Gusu for further investigation.”
Lan Wangji makes a few more hand gestures to Lan Sizhui, Wei Wuxian isn’t able to make out any of them due to Lan Wangji’s stupid flowy sleeves.
“Hanguang-jun says that we, the Lan clan, came across Mo Xuanyu first within the Mo family residence, therefore we have the right to claim,” Lan Sizhui continued.
Wei Wuxian tries to obscure his expression as much as possible. Going back to Gusu would be a damn nightmare, additionally… Lan Wangji is acting extremely strange. His face was completely blank when Wei Wuxian was being all touchy feely with him, not even the smallest bit of blush at Wei Wuxian mentioning the bedroom.
Jiang Cheng sighs, closing his eyes.
“Fine. We concede, take him.”
Fuuuuuuuck my life, Wei Wuxian can’t help but think to himself again as he's hauled off of Dafan Mountain.