Chapter Text
Lan Wangji had been awake for twenty-three hours.
The hospital corridors were quieter now, the usual rush of footsteps replaced by the distant hum of machines and the occasional murmur of night nurses changing shifts. The fluorescent lights above cast the entire hallway in pale, sterile white.
Lan Wangji finished signing the last of his charts.
Across the station, a nurse looked at him sympathetically.
“Dr. Lan, you should really go home.”
Lan Wangji inclined his head slightly.
“I will.”
He removed his glasses, rubbing briefly at the bridge of his nose before placing them carefully into his coat pocket. Exhaustion tugged faintly at the edges of his senses, but it was nothing unfamiliar.
Long shifts were expected.
Especially for someone with his name.
The Lan name carried weight in this city.
It appeared on hospital wings.
On research grants.
On entire medical facilities across the region.
Lan Wangji had grown up surrounded by expectations of excellence. Discipline. Reputation.
None of that had changed when he chose medicine. He simply carried the weight somewhere new.
Outside, the night air was cool and quiet.
Lan Wangji walked toward the subway entrance a few blocks from the hospital. It was the fastest way home, and at this hour the trains ran mostly empty.
The station lights flickered faintly overhead. A few commuters lingered on the platform.
Lan Wangji descended the stairs.
Halfway down, he paused.
Raised voices echoed from the far end of the tunnel.
One voice was rough, sharp with irritation.
The other was small.
Frightened.
Lan Wangji continued down the stairs.
By the time he reached the platform, the scents reached him first.
Alpha.
Aggressive.
And beneath it—
Omega.
Fear.
Sharp and panicked, flooding the air so strongly it made Lan Wangji’s chest tighten.
He followed the scent toward the dim end of the tunnel.
Three figures stood near the far wall.
One was a young Omega—barely more than a teenager—pressed back against the tiled bricks. His shoulders shook visibly, hands clenched in the sleeves of an oversized hoodie.
Blocking his path was a tall Alpha.
The Alpha’s scent rolled through the tunnel like smoke.
Predatory.
Lan Wangji’s steps slowed.
He was already moving forward—
But someone else reached the scene first.
A second Omega stepped into the space between them.
Lan Wangji stopped.
The newcomer moved with startling confidence, sliding into the confrontation as though he belonged there.
Slim build.
Dark hair loosely tied up.
Worn jacket.
Lan Wangji’s breath stilled.
The Omega placed a hand flat against the Alpha’s chest, stopping him.
“Hey now,” he said lightly.
The Alpha blinked.
“What?”
“You heard me.” The Omega tilted his head, smiling lazily. “Now back up.”
Lan Wangji stared.
Wei Wuxian.
He had not seen him in years.
The last time had been the first semester of their final year in high school.
Even then, Wei Wuxian had already been surrounded by rumors.
Troublemaker.
Omega who provoked Alphas.
Reckless.
Irresponsible.
Lan Wangji had never spoken to him.
But he remembered him.
Everyone did.
Wei Wuxian had been impossible not to notice.
And then, suddenly—
He was gone.
Dropped out.
Vanished.
The rumors only grew after that.
Lan Wangji watched the man in front of him now.
Older.
Lean.
But unmistakable.
Wei Wuxian glanced briefly over his shoulder at the younger Omega behind him.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
The boy nodded shakily.
The Alpha scoffed.
“This isn’t your business.”
Wei Wuxian turned back slowly.
“You’d be surprised what becomes my business.”
Lan Wangji noticed it then.
The faint tremor in Wei Wuxian’s fingers.
The way his shoulders were slightly tense.
His scent was controlled, but beneath it lingered something sharp.
Protective and angry.
The Alpha stepped forward. “Move.”
Wei Wuxian didn’t. “Not happening.”
The Alpha swung.
The punch landed hard against Wei Wuxian’s jaw.
The crack echoed through the tunnel.
Wei Wuxian stumbled back, his shoulder slamming violently into the tiled wall.
The impact made a dull, sickening sound.
Lan Wangji moved.
Two steps closed the distance.
His hand caught the Alpha’s wrist mid-swing before a second strike could land.
Lan Wangji’s grip tightened.
The Alpha froze.
Lan Wangji’s voice was calm.
“Leave.”
The Alpha sneered.
“Mind your—”
Lan Wangji’s expression did not change. But something in his gaze must have shifted.
The Alpha hesitated.
Then wrenched his arm free and retreated, muttering under his breath as he disappeared down the platform.
Silence settled over the tunnel.
Wei Wuxian leaned heavily against the wall. He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
Then he laughed.
Softly.
“Well,” he said, glancing back at the younger Omega, “that went about as expected.”
The boy nodded quickly, then bowed. “Thank you.”
Wei Wuxian waved him off. “Go home.”
The teenager did not argue. He hurried down the platform, disappearing up the station stairs.
Wei Wuxian exhaled slowly. Then he pushed himself upright. Only to sway slightly.
Lan Wangji stepped forward.
Their eyes met.
Recognition flickered across Wei Wuxian’s face.
“…Oh.”
He squinted slightly.
“Lan.. Wangji?”
Lan Wangji inclined his head once.
“We attended the same school, right?” Wei Wuxian laughed under his breath. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
He pushed away from the wall. Then immediately winced.
Lan Wangji’s gaze flicked briefly to the bruise already forming along his jaw.
“You are injured.”
Wei Wuxian wiped his lip again.
“It’s nothing.”
Lan Wangji stepped closer.
“You should be examined.”
Wei Wuxian waved a hand dismissively.
“I’ve had worse.”
Lan Wangji studied him carefully. The rumors returned to mind.
Irresponsible. Provocative. Troublemaker.
And yet the Wei Wuxian he had just witnessed had stepped between a frightened Omega and an aggressive Alpha without hesitation.
Lan Wangji spoke quietly. “Why did you intervene?”
Wei Wuxian blinked. Then he shrugged. “Someone had to.”
Lan Wangji did not respond.
Wei Wuxian tilted his head slightly, studying him. Then he grinned. “Lan-er-gege, you’re staring.”
Lan Wangji realized he was.
Wei Wuxian pushed himself away from the wall again.
He managed two steps.
Then the world tilted.
Lan Wangji caught him before he could fall.
Wei Wuxian blinked up at him. “…Okay,” he admitted weakly. “Maybe slightly dizzy.”
Lan Wangji did not release him.
“I will escort you home.”
Wei Wuxian laughed softly.
“Ah, come on. I’m not going to collapse dramatically in the subway.”
Lan Wangji did not respond.
Wei Wuxian sighed. “…You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
Wei Wuxian rubbed the back of his neck. “Well.” He gestured toward the stairs. “Guess you’re walking me home.”
Lan Wangji did not mention that he had planned to do so regardless.
They climbed the station stairs slowly. Wei Wuxian insisted he was fine.
Lan Wangji did not believe him.
The night air outside the station was cool and carried the distant hum of traffic. Streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement as they walked.
Wei Wuxian stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets and stretched his shoulders as though trying to loosen the stiffness from the earlier blow.
“Well,” he said after a moment, glancing sideways. “This is nostalgic.”
Lan Wangji said nothing.
Wei Wuxian grinned. “Walking home from the subway with Lan-er-gege. Just like high school.”
Lan Wangji looked at him.
“We did not walk home together.”
Wei Wuxian blinked. Then laughed.
“Ah. Right. That was more of a me following you and talking while you pretended I didn’t exist situation.”
Lan Wangji did not deny it.
Wei Wuxian nudged a loose stone along the sidewalk with his shoe as they walked. “So,” he said lightly, “Doctor Lan. Long shift?” He motioned to the badge still around Lan Wangji’s neck.
“Yes.”
Wei Wuxian let out a low whistle.
“You look like it.”
Lan Wangji’s gaze shifted briefly toward him.
Wei Wuxian was thinner than he remembered.
The lines of his face are sharper.
There was a faint hollowness beneath his eyes that even the dim streetlights could not hide.
Yet he still carried himself with the same careless ease. As though none of it mattered.
Wei Wuxian caught him looking and raised a brow. “Careful, Lan-er-gege. People might think you’re concerned.”
“You were struck in the head.”
“Occupational hazard.”
Lan Wangji frowned and tilted his head slightly. “What occupation?”
Wei Wuxian laughed. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Lan Wangji did not respond.
Wei Wuxian’s grin softened slightly.
“Relax,” he said. “I work at a bar.”
Lan Wangji considered that. It explained the late hours.
And the faint lingering scent of alcohol beneath Wei Wuxian’s natural omega scent.
Wei Wuxian glanced up at the sky.
“You know,” he said, “I always wondered what happened to you after school.”
“I attended medical school.”
Wei Wuxian snorted. “Yes, Lan Wangji, that was implied.”
They walked another block. Wei Wuxian kicked another stone.
“You never talked much back then either.”
Lan Wangji spoke quietly. “You dropped out.”
Wei Wuxian’s foot paused mid-step. For just a moment. Then he shrugged. “Yeah.”
Lan Wangji waited.
Wei Wuxian did not elaborate. Instead, he pointed ahead. “My place.”
The building was small and worn, wedged between two larger apartment complexes.
Lan Wangji followed him up the narrow staircase.
The hallway smelled faintly of old carpet and cooking oil.
Wei Wuxian unlocked the door. Before he could step inside—
A small voice called from the living room.
“Mama?”
Wei Wuxian’s entire posture softened.
Lan Wangji noticed it immediately.
“Yes, A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian called back. “Mama’s home.”
A small boy hurried into the hallway.
Three years old, perhaps four. Round cheeks. Bright, curious eyes.
He skidded to a stop when he noticed Lan Wangji.
Wei Wuxian crouched despite the obvious discomfort in his movements.
“Hey,” he said warmly. “Did you listen to Uncle Wen Ning?”
The child nodded eagerly. “Yes! I finished my noodles and my homework!”
“Good boy.” Wei Wuxian ruffled his hair.
Lan Wangji felt something in his chest shift.
The Wei Wuxian he had seen in the tunnel had been sharp-edged and reckless.
This one was gentle.
Soft.
Entirely different.
From the living room, another figure appeared.
That must be Wen Ning. But Wei Wuxian had said ‘Uncle’, so clearly not Yuan’s father.
He froze briefly when he noticed Lan Wangji.
“…Wei Ying?”
Wei Wuxian waved casually. “Relax, Wen Ning. This is Lan Wangji. We went to school together.”
Wen Ning bowed quickly. “Hello.”
Lan Wangji inclined his head. “Hello.”
Meanwhile, A-Yuan had approached him with great seriousness. The child looked him up and down.
Then asked the most important question in the world.
“Are you Mama’s friend?”
Wei Wuxian scratched the back of his neck. “…Something like that, Little Radish.”
Lan Wangji crouched slightly so he was at the child's eye level. “My name is Lan Wangji.”
A-Yuan beamed. “Hello Lan Wangji!”
Lan Wangji nodded. “Hello.”
The boy studied him thoughtfully.
Then he asked, “Are you staying for dinner?”
Wei Wuxian choked. “Ah—”
Lan Wangji looked at him calmly.
Wei Wuxian waved his hands quickly. “You don’t have to—”
“If it is not trouble,” Lan Wangji said.
Wei Wuxian stared at him. Because suddenly he had a problem.
A-Yuan clapped his hands happily. “Dinner!”
Wen Ning glanced uncertainly between them.
Wei Wuxian sighed dramatically.
“Well,” he muttered, heading toward the kitchen, “guess we’re doing this.”
Lan Wangji stepped inside the apartment.
It was small.
The couch showed signs of frequent use.
A child’s toys were scattered neatly along one side of the living room.
From the open bedroom door, Lan Wangji could see bright blankets and stuffed animals covering a small bed.
The room was clearly a child’s.
Lan Wangji looked once more at the couch. Then back toward the kitchen, where Wei Wuxian was rummaging through the refrigerator.
Lan Wangji understood immediately.
Wei Wuxian slept there; he’d given the bedroom to his son.
Was this… really the reckless omega everyone used to talk about?