WangXian Untamed - One Shots

A World Without Wei Ying - Part 4 - Adoption

Over three years had passed in slow recovery. Mind, heart and body gradually healed although brutal scars remained clearly evident, and Lan WangJi would never be free of the Wei Ying-shaped hole in his soul. But it was time now to do what he could. To stand with his lost love the only way that remained to him. And so, Lan WangJi set his mind to the task and went to see his brother.

In the Hanshi Lan XiChen was hard at work, wending his way through the myriad details of Clan business he attended to each day. Trying to maintain an impartial and unbiased mind as he considered the relative merits of each request brought to his attention. Every day was filled with reports and correspondence, broken by meetings and periodically a walk throughout the grounds to monitor the status of everyone and everything within Cloud Recesses. It was a great deal of responsibility for a man still young, but Lan XiChen had been raised with the expectation of assuming this responsibility and he did not resent it. He wanted to do his best for all the people counting on his judgement.

A knock at the door found him raising his eyes from the latest scroll with relief. Sometimes the locals insisted on a decision from Cloud Recesses that simple common sense should have provided.

"Come in."

Lan WangJi entered the Hanshi, closed the door silently and took his place beside the desk where his brother worked.

"This is a nice break in my day, WangJi. I wasn't expecting you this morning."

"Need to speak with you, XiongZhang. Business to be done and I don't know how."

"What business? As you can see, I'm all business today." Lan XiChen spread his hands wide, indicating his crowded desk and the abundant scrolls that still awaited his attention. "I'm happy to help you with anything you need, Xiong-di."

"How to adopt A-Yuan."

Lan XiChen blinked. "A-Yuan has been with us for years now, WangJi. This is his home, and we love him. Why do you look to adopt him now?"

Lan WangJi raised his eyes to his brother's face and Lan XiChen was unpleasantly reminded of a bottomless well. The gold was dark, and deep, and reflected no light.

"Wei Ying's A-Yuan. Must make him my A-Yuan. Must give him every protection possible."

"Protection? Who would hurt A-Yuan here? Everyone loves him, he's so sweet and his smile is so lovely. He already calls you Father Lan." Lan XiChen smiled, remembering how surprised he was the first time he heard that young voice calling Lan WangJi by the title, and yet feeling a certain sense of rightfulness to it at the same time.

"The Lan Clan. Must be official. I did not protect Wei Ying. I will not fail A-Yuan. If a night hunt should end me, I must be sure A-Yuan has formal ties to the Lan Clan and Cloud Recesses. Must adopt him. Need you to promise to care for him if I cannot. Need his name in our Register."

"Are you sure you want to do this, WangJi? A-Yuan is a part of our lives here already and I can't imagine that ever changing, or ever wanting it to change."

"Things change. Know it well." Lan WangJi sighed. "Cannot change the past. Will make changes for the future."

"You're a young man. What if you want to have a family of your own someday?" Lan XiChen knew these words to be hollow. After the loss of Wei WuXian, he had seen his brother fade nearly completely away, only recovering after years of effort and tender care, the best of it coming from baby kisses and little hands. Even so, he felt he needed to ensure his brother had thoroughly considered all the options and possibilities before going ahead with such a permanent change to status, for both A-Yuan and his own sake.

"Wei Ying's A-Yuan. Must be mine, too."

Lan XiChen sat a moment longer, looking at his brother. In the three years since unexpectedly bringing the orphan to live with him at Cloud Recesses, Lan WangJi had never spoken of A-Yuan's origins. No one in the clan knew from whence he came, nor his family name of Wen. Lan WangJi simply did not give a response to any questions on the matter and over time even the most curious and stubborn of elders had to cease their efforts in the face of his refusal to be drawn out on the matter. Lan XiChen was the only one who knew A-Yuan had been loved and cared for by Wei WuXian while he lived. He had no doubt that Lan WangJi had thought long and hard about the responsibilities of formal parenthood, and the obligations and sacrifices that he could be called upon to make. He also had no doubt that his younger brother would gladly take on the heaviest of burdens to keep A-Yuan, Wei WuXian's chosen son, with him.