MDZS \ The Untamed Oneshots VOL:I

Severed bonds

Lan Wangji almost stumbled through Cloud Recess. Utterly exhausted from visiting the Burial Mounds, his heart torn to shreds yearning for what he could not have.

He couldn't stop seeing Wei Ying's living conditions. Sleeping on a haybale covered in a blanket thinner than the material of his ribbon and pillows so old daylight could turn them to dust.

And Wei Ying.

Wei Ying was so thin, the figure of a skeleton, like the walking dead he'd read about in fairytales and it was terrifying. Seeing the love of his life wasting away before his eyes, barely able to carry a toddler so malnourished his arms trembled under such a small weight, Lan Wangji's heart felt cold. He remembered the days Wei Ying could go on for hours, could move mountains, swim through the longest of rivers, and fight a war right after.

What had changed?

"Wangji?"

The said man flinched, thoughts cut off by the voice of the man who'd raised him.

He turned to meet his eyes, finding understanding and an offer of everlasting open arms forever engraved in there. His Xiongzhang would do anything for him. He'd proved it many times, whether it be sneaking bunnies into the Jingshi or staying awake till sunrise after a terrible nightmare, unrelenting as his fingers combed through Wangji's hair like it was the soft rabbit's coat. He'd been a brother, a mother, and a father for him, wronged since birth with the weight of a sect on his shoulder's since age fourteen, he was still the kindest and most gentle soul Wangji knew.

His Xiongzhang would do anything for him.

...Anything?

Wangji took a deep breath, cloaked by the gloom of nighttime he allowed himself to stumble forward, Bichen falling from his hand the loyal blade twirled to the ground as its master's head found home on his brother's shoulder.

Lan Xichen gasped, his arms wrapping around his brother holding him close on instinct. It was like the days the Jingshi was just theirs once more, when they'd curl up under blankets in the darkness of the night and giggle along to picture books and feast on dragon fruit.

"Wangji?" He questioned, concern oozing from every syllable, "What's wrong?"

Speckles of tears began to dampen Lan Xichen's silky robes, sniffles muffled by the fabric as Wangji's arms came to curl around his brother's neck like they were the pudgy one's of a young boy once more. Seeking his Dada's comfort, when it was just them. A-Zhan and Dada against the world.

A small part of him dearly missed those days.

"Visited... Wei Ying." Wangji answered, feeling the arms around him tighten in concern, gently urging him to go on, "He... is unwell. Thin. Sleeping on a rock."

Lan Xichen closed his eyes, every tremble and crack felt like knives twisting in his heart. Wangji never cried. Ever. But when he does it hurts more than anything else ever could, "Oh A-Zhan..." He sighed, kissing his temple before pulling away briefly to grab Bichen, then, guiding his baby brother back to the Hanshi so they could continue this discussion in private.

Closing the doors behind him, Lan Xichen sat Wangji down at his table, pouring him a cup of tea and gently forcing him to drink it for hydration before pulling him back into his arms again, allowing him to burrow into his neck and curl into a ball.

Wangji sniffled, clinging to his brother's arm, "W-We have to help him..." He whimpered, wiping his tears miserably, "Please Xiongzhang... he... that environment isn't survivable..."

Lan Xichen closed his eyes, sparing a moment to breathe and collect himself.

Disappointing his brother is his least favourite thing. Watching those doe eyes so trusting of him lose that sparkle of hope, it hurts more than words can describe.