Seeking Solace

Chapter 13 - Part 2

  Wei Wuxian drifted through the familiar halls of Lotus Pier. Since Jiang Cheng was in the main hall with all the others, Wei Wuxian knew Jin Ling must be here being taken care of by nurses. 

He then heard a cry. The cry of a child. Wei Wuxian rushed forward, following the cry. 

He stopped suddenly.

A nurse was holding Jin Ling and rocking him, trying to calm him down but he wouldn't stop crying. 

Could he sense Wei Wuxian? 

Wei Wuxian walked toward him. The cry turned into a wail. Wei Wuxian flinched. If he had had a body and a beating heart, that sound would have stabbed through him. 

Wei Wuxian started humming, unsure and quiet as he drew closer to his nephew. The toddler slowly started to quiet once he came to a stop a a few inches away from him as Wei Wuxian stood beside the nurse rocking him and Wei Wuxian looked down on the boy with a sweet, sad smile and reached out a finger and gently brushed it along the child's cheek and he cooed at Wei Wuxian, like he was a baby. Wei Wuxian nearly crumpled to the ground when small fingers wrapped around his finger with a string grip and the boy saw him and smiled. 

Wei Wuxian felt immense relief and smiled back. He played with his nephew who was smiling up at him in the nurse's arms and giggled and hugged his finger tightly, not wanting to let go. It gave Wei Wuxian a sense of peace and calmed a bit of the chaos inside him and soothed him. Tears sprung to Wei Wuxian's eyes. 

The nurse looked a little uncertain, wondering who the toddler was looking at and giggling at because she could not see Wei Wuxian. 

Wei Wuxian snickered slightly, feeling a bit better than he had until he stiffened when he heard footsteps and the door slamming back open.

"What's wrong?! Why was Jin Ling crying?"

Jiang Cheng snapped angrily as he strode forward. Wei Wuxian instantly moved back, pulling his finger from Jin Ling's grasp.

But the moment he did move away, Jin Ling started crying. 

Wei Wuxian was befuddled. He went closer again and Jin Ling calmed. 

What was Wei Wuxian supposed to do?

Jiang Cheng was scowling and scanned the room warily but he saw nothing.

"Is something wrong?" 

Wei Wuxian turned to the new arrival that had spoken, whose eyes were on him. Wei Wuxian was tense. 

"Hmph. It's nothing, my nephew was just being fussy it seems." Jiang Cheng glowered.

He spoke with the nurse for a moment after making sure Jin Ling was okay and settled before leaving the room.

Wei Wuxian sighed and looked at Jin Ling who had fallen asleep. He gently caressed his forehead and pressed a lingering kiss to his forehead before pulling away so he didn't disturb him. 

He glanced at the man with the ruby red eyes and his companion that had followed them. They seemed to be waiting to speak with him. 

Wei Wuxian wanted to sigh again but he followed them out of the room and to a quiet, secure place where the man made a barrier around them. 

The man smiled. "Now, we may speak with no worries of anyone hearing us. Wei Wuxian, it's so good to see you. We didn't know what happened - where you had gone after. . . After you died."

Wei Wuxian frowned. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

The man blinked and the red haired one beside him chuckled. "Oh, of course. Forgive me. You do know us. But…I think it would be better if I show you instead of telling you. May I?" The man smiled and asked softly, reaching out his hands and coming closer.