Backlash Part 2

Chapter 204: "We are not repeating the same future."

Wei Wuxian tried to open the door as quietly as possible. He wasn't certain what time it was, but it was late. So late that it might almost be considered early. For all Wei Wuxian knew it might have been a few hours before Lan Wangji would be rising for the day. Wei Wuxian didn't want to cause any more stress than he already was. With everything else... he didn't need to add interrupting sleep to his list of sins.

Wei Wuxian expected to crack open the door to a dark room. He expected to be navigating by faint moonlight before he stumbled into bed. He froze in place once he opened the door. Lan Wangji sat at the table, bathed in the warm glow of lamp light. Lan Wangji was sitting at the table... awake. Lan Wangji was sitting there drinking tea like it wasn't the middle of the night.

Wei Wuxian anxiously glanced around the room. His first thought was that something must be wrong with A-Yuan or Nuan-er. That Lan Wangji had needed to stay up to take care of them. Wei Wuxian's mind was filled with images of Lan Wangji having to care for an sooth a sick or crying child all alone. Alone, because Wei Wuxian was hiding and pulling apart curses instead of being with his family.

"A-Yuan and Nuan-er are alright. They are with Jiang Yanli and Luo Qingyang." Lan Wangji spoke, perhaps seeing Wei Wuxian's anxiety.

Wei Wuxian calmed slightly, but found a different sort of concern rising in the back of his mind. Why were they staying with Jiang Yanli and Luo Qingyang? Why was Lan Wangji still awake?

The cold dread creeping in the edges of Wei Wuxian's mind whispered. 'It's because of you. It's your fault.' Wei Wuxian fidgeted slightly. He had expected to come back to a dark room. He expected to slip into bed and curl up against a warm body without having to think about anything.

Before Wei Wuxian could figure out what to do Lan Wangji stood and crossed the room. A warm hand caressed Wei Wuxian's cheek. Wei Wuxian melted. The tension that had been building since he found Lan Wangji awake slid out with a sigh as Wei Wuxian leaned into the touch.

They were okay. Lan Wangji was touching him. Wei Wuxian hadn't ruined this yet. That fear had been climbing in the back of Wei Wuxian's mind more and more of late. Wei Wuxian hadn't even realized it was there. Never looking at it too closely, afraid of what he might fine. Until he came back to their room and found Lan Wangji waiting up for him. Then that fear had suddenly crashed to the forefront of his mind.

"I do not want to go to sleep another night without Wei Ying." Lan Wangji said softly. Wei Wuxian's breath caught in his throat.

"Lan... Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian's voice came out breathy.

Wei Wuxian wasn't sure if it was a question or maybe the start of a longer sentence. Wei Wuxian wasn't certain what the sentence might have been, because then Lan Wangji was kissing him. Wei Wuxian gave up paying attention to anything else. He trusted Lan Wangji to hold him upright. To lead him wherever he needed to be.

The next thing Wei Wuxian knew they were sitting on the bed. Wei Wuxian's hands were tightly gripping Lan Wangji's robes. Wei Wuxian did not remember grabbing onto Lan Wangji, but he fully supported this development. Wei Wuxian rested his head on Lan Wangji's shoulder as he relearned how to breathe. The room was quiet except for their rapid breaths as they both calmed down.

"You've been avoiding me." Lan Wangji said quietly. Wei Wuxian turned towards Lan Wangji abruptly. He opened his mouth to protest, but Lan Wangji's eyebrow twitched up in a look that usually meant Wei Wuxian's arguments were not likely to be as sound as he thought they were.

"I haven't," Wei Wuxian protested anyway. The eyebrow of doubt twitched higher. Wei Wuxian frowned petulantly.

"Mn." Lan Wangji hummed doubtfully.