The Untamed Oneshots / CQL / WangXian

Sweet Life

Fear flashed in Wei Wuxian's eyes, his warm brown orbs almost a silver storm of emotions. "There is trouble at the Burial Mounds." His voice wavered, mouth set in a grim hard line when he finished speaking.

Lan Wangji felt like the rest was a blur. Wei Ying scooping little a-Yuan into his arms and racing outside, meal forgotten and conversation discarded as the pair disappeared from sight.

The Burial Mounds were not like any sect territory. It wasn't protected grounds under the rule of an iron hand of a sect leader. Resentment was the chosen monarch that made up the laws and decided what was right or wrong. Such being the case, with the entire cultivation world looking upon Wei Wuxian with distaste for his crafty methods and abandoning the path of the sword, not to mention that he decided to take the Wen remnants under his protective wing, made him all the more of a target to others.

Mind made up, Lan Wangji paid for their meal before hurrying after them, remembering to take a-Yuan's wooden swords with him that had been forgotten in their haste. It didn't take him long to catch up to the fluttering red ribbon in the crowd of people bustling in Yiling. He grabbed Wei Wuxian's wrist—too thin and fragile, a ship's sail drawn over the mast—before asking, "Where is your sword?" Surely flying would get them there quicker, buy them more time to face whatever danger awaited them.

He missed the subtle flinch of response that the younger expressed when the ache of the betrayal of his beloved Suibian scraped against his heart, instead letting a lie pour easily from Wei Ying's lips. "I forgot to bring it."

So be it then.

Lan Wangji took a-Yuan and set off, hearing footsteps follow suit as they made their way to the Burial Mounds together. Yes, together, because without knowing what danger lurked in those mountains of corpses, he wasn't going to let his Wei Ying face it alone.

Lan Wangji's heart jolted, just like it did when those Wen soldiers admitted to throwing Wei Wuxian into the Burial Mounds so long ago. His Wei Ying. Emotions were such a turmoil to untangle, an art of finding the meaning behind the different changes one felt in reaction to situations, and sometimes they were too complex for Lan Wangji to comprehend. Although feeling drawn to the vibrant youth beside him, what made him feel so much more? What made him feel Wei Wuxian was his to cherish, his to protect?

Lan Wangji couldn't wonder any longer for they stumbled upon a scene of utter chaos. Wen Ning, who Wei Wuxian had been working with tirelessly to restore his consciousness and soul to his body – paying with his health as penance – had managed to break through his restraints and gone fierce, wreaking havoc as far as he went. Uncles and aunts were scattered upon the grounds clutching at limbs that ached from the sheer force of the Ghost General's attacks, housing and structures lay overturned and damaged whilst resentful spirits whipped through the air.

It took the combined efforts of Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, the dark and light, the yin and yang, to tether him back to his self, waking to his somewhat usual self once more, much to Wen Qing's relief and delight.

After many tears and rejoicing, dusk was nearing and the sands of time counting Lan Wangji's stay had run out. It was time for him to go and return to Cloud Recesses.

To break the tense silence between them, "You should come visit us again, Lan Zhan." Wei Ying clearly attempted to sound cheerful and not betray his emotions but his eyes was an ocean of longing, the bags under them speaking of exhaustion from countess sleepless nights having been plagued by nightmares. The world had wronged him so yet he smiles it off, laughing until the joy turned to pain and anguished tears streamed down his cheeks.

A little radish barrelled into Wei Wuxian's leg, clinging like the frail boy that bore the responsibility of a man was his lifeline. The child's steamed bun cheeks had streaks of dirt on them, his robes slightly frayed but no doubt only one set of a few he possessed, but his eyes shone with childlike innocence not even war and poverty could diminish. "Xian-ge, won't Rich-gege stay for dinner?" A-Yuan lowered his voice, little hand next to his mouth as if sharing an official political secret. "A-Yuan heard there will be yummy food tonight."

Wei Ying wanted to answer, even opened his mouth to do so. How the precious Second Jade could never stay with them. How they all had their own paths to walk, their own fates to face....until he was interrupted.

"I will stay."

Wei Wuxian's eyes went wide, words failing him for once (had the circumstances been different, this would have amused the Second Jade to no end for who knew his Wei Ying could be silent for longer than a moment, have nothing to say?). Little a-Yuan cheered, quickly pattering back to tell his granny that Rich-gege would stay for the special meal. Oblivious to the change in atmosphere, the Wen child left behind a stoic jade and a vary flustered founder of demonic cultivation.

"Lan Zhan, what-"

Lan Wangji stepped closer and took the bony hand of the flute player in his own. He knew now. Walking out of the Burial Mounds, possibly never seeing Wei Wuxian again, turning his back on such a pure heart that was dealt a bad hand in a game of Fate that he had no control over; he refused to do it. He refused to leave. Not because it was his duty to help those in need, though that played a role as well. But because leaving here would mean leaving a piece of himself and letting it wither away.

"Wei Ying," he began, struggling to find the right words, taking that he was a man that rarely used them in general. "I want to stay." Lan Wangji considered a moment. With regards to affection for one another, both he and Wei Ying were rather oblivious. He decided to clarify. "Not just for dinner. I want to stay by Wei Ying's side."

Wei Wuxian began to tremble, scared that he misinterpreted the meaning behind that statement. He shook his head sadly. "Lan Zhan, I can't let you do that. I can't take you from your home, your family..."

Squeezing his hand gently, Lan Wangji murmured, "Wei Ying is my home."

Wei Wuxian's eyes became misty. Someone wanted to stay. Someone didn't want to leave. Someone actually cared.

"Brother will understand, he has been hinting at a bond between us since you first came to Cloud Recesses. Uncle...I will convince him, but no matter what I want to stay."

A sob bubbled up in Wei Wuxian's throat and he allowed himself to collapse into the Jade's embrace, muffling his cries against Lan Wangji's white and blue robes.

Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around his beloved, murmuring against his hair, "If I have Wei Ying, then I have all that I need."

It was true. When Lan Wangji had looked around the little village the Wen's had managed to erect for themselves, he could imagine living there with Wei Ying. Farming in the lands for their meals, weaving baskets to sell, playing with little a-Yuan as if he were his and Wei Ying's son or even making clothes with Granny Wen. Lan Wangji had looked around and saw a life with the one he cherished, a life sweeter than any he would have if he decided to walk out of the Burial Mounds and left them all behind.

Wei Ying sobbed. "Lan Zhan, I'm stuck here. Ever since Wen Chao threw me into the Burial Mounds I have never truly been able to leave. I fear what tomorrow may bring, shadows following me every step of the way." His frame shook violently with his cries, Wei Ying at last allowing himself to break down and take the comfort he so desperately needed. He was but one man, one youth, facing off against the world. Caring for outcasts, enduring insults, being reprimanded for righteous decisions. A single person standing strong in a fight for justice.

Wei Ying, you will not be alone anymore, Lan Wangji vowed to himself. Aloud, he said, "Mn. I will be Wei Ying's light. Will be here to guide Wei Ying." Lan Wangji stroked down the younger's raven hair in soft, soothing motions, gently untangling whatever knots he encountered.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying drew away to look at the Jade, brown eyes sparkling beautifully with unshed tears. "I like you," he declared boldly. "I fancy you. I adore you. I whatever you. But most of all...I can't live without you."

Lan Wangji tenderly wiped a stray tear away with his thumb, cradling his entire world in the palm of his hand. "I like Wei Ying as well."

The pair made their way back to the Wen village, both smiling softly when they saw the lanterns that lit the path through the evening darkness, a surprise gift from their grateful little family.

From that day forward they would help each other through the endless dark nights; they would help each other through life.

And years later when asked, the Second Jade of Lan would say that he had no regrets. He could not lie, because it was indeed a sweet life.

A sweet life with his soulmate.