The Untamed Oneshots / CQL / WangXian

Mafia's Mistake (Vol. 6)

The sixth and final instalment of the Mafia's Mistake series.

Author's Note: It took forever to write and I had little time to proofread, so whatever mistakes you saw: no, you didn't. LoL. And the song I refer to is 'Wuji', even if I say 'WangXian'. Enjoy.

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji breathed.

Perhaps it was the tone of his voice, horror laced with concern and eternal guilt, perhaps it was merely the way he ceased to breathe and an eerie atmosphere fell over the room. But whatever it was, it was enough to make Wen Qing snap her gaze down at owl speed, her doctor's instincts kicking in.

Two people turned. Two people ran. And Wangji made it to Wei Wuxian's side in record time, Wen Qing having yet to appear at the door leading to the courtyard.

The mafia leader took a seat next to the boy and felt his weight collapse against his chest. He wore a halo made of pearly beads of sweat and his eyes were scrunched together as he panted. Placing an arm around his shoulders, the pristine Second Warrior of Gusu Lan discarded whatever pretence he had for appearances and tenderly wiped the blood away with his thumb. He was no stranger to blood, to murder, considering his line of work, so a trickle like that would not put him off. It did, however, make him sick with worry.

"Wei Ying--" The crack in his voice betrayed his usual stoic armour that he brandished. "Wei Ying, wake up. Please, wake up..." He did not realize he was crying until a tear landed on the boy's hair and vanished between the inky strands.

A disgrace. That is what his people would say if they were to see him weeping as he was now. Rule with an iron fist and use their fear to your advantage. That was how he was supposed to act. But for the first time since his mother's death, he knew there was two sides to every coin. The feared Second Warrior of Gusu Lan, and Lan Wangji. One and the same yet different nonetheless.

Wen Qing had reached them by now and fussed over Wuxian's pulse, checked his pupil dilation. Her brows knit together and she glanced at Wangji who held him like he was his lifeline, like his entire world revolved around the ball of sunshine in his arms. Sighing irritably, she turned and gestured for the Lan to follow. "Bring him inside. Now."

He obliged without a hint of hesitation.

It was only after Wei Wuxian had been settled back into his bed and his stats and vitals did a 180 degree turn back to stable that the shaken mafia leader dared ask their best healer, "What happened?"

With evening drawing a curtain on the outside world, she closed the window and pulled the fluffy blanket snug over the slight frame in bed. She sighed. "He paid a price, though not voluntary. He doesn't remember much of anything from the...incident. When he tried to force himself to remember, his body pushed back at him. Seeing you must have sparked something in his memory and it was too much for him to handle as of yet."

Lan Wangji stared at the spotless floor, his clenched fist drawing crescent moons in his palm with his nails. His fault yet again. How much more will the one he loves have to suffer because of his actions? He took his home, his family, his childhood and whatever innocent streak he had left in him.

When a small hand touched his arm, he flinched. Raising his head, he looked straight into the piercing eyes of Wen Qing. Her voice was soft when she spoke, a tone she never used with him. "It's not your fault. But I want you to stay. Help him recover, tell him the truth and do what needs to be done. Forget your mafia duties for a while." She waited until he nodded before walking out. Just before she disappeared out the door, her voice called out once more, "I'll explain everything to your brother, but Wangji?"