Pulling Through Together (Lan Zhan x Wei Ying)

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones

A/N: Big trigger warning to those who don't do well with sh-

⚠️Heavy subject matter, so please read at your own risk⚠️

It had been 2 months since the death of Wei Zixin after the miscarriage, and about a month and a half since Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian had sat down to have a real conversation.

It was an awkward silence and neither man knew how to adjust to the feeling that everything about their relationship was in shambles.

Lan Wangji would try his best to stay within reach if his husband would ever need him, but otherwise, he didn't want to get in his way. Wei Wuxian didn't speak much to anyone at all, only when he absolutely needed to. He had stopped teaching the young disciples how to properly nighthunt and wouldn't help to grade papers like he would with Lan Wangji.

Though the two were silent, you could tell how the other felt just by being around them. Lan Wangji was reserved, as he always was, adhering to the rules in Gusu, and going on about his daily duties, but was constantly zoning out or forgetting small details that even his brother found to be concerning.

Wei Wuxian would barely eat, sleep, or speak. And when he tried, he would always end up going on a walk through Caiyi town or the forests where he and Lan Wangji would nighthunt before. He couldn't bear to be recognized outside of Gusu or around other people he didn't know, but it was the only way to escape the horrors he had caused.

It was like any other day, a crisp afternoon with the sun high in the serene,  blue sky and the man was waltzing about the forests outside the town's perimeters. His hair was down unlike its normal look and he thought about keeping it that way.

Today, however, Wei Wuxian felt somewhat calm, rather than the anxious mess he was, and he had Chénqíng by his side.

He began humming Wangxian as he slowly walked past the trees. The leaves sparkling with sunkissed dew. As he continued to walk through the forest, he saw a tree that was taller than most of the others and decided to climb it.

He swiftly rose to the top and sat comfortably on a branch thick enough to hold him. And as he pulls out Chénqíng from his waistband, he begins to play.

As the wind carried the calmly played notes, villagers passing by had noticed where it came from, seeing a man dressed in black up a tree. They tried calling him, but to no avail.

"What lovely music", said one lady. She was young and quite beautiful and seemed to be carrying a baby that laid asleep on her chest. She was also accompanied by another young man, who strolled along with her.

"Yeah, I agree." The man turned upward to the tree again, calling for Wei Wuxian, who would finally notice them as he looked down to the small family.

"Oh, people." The man had effortlessly reached the bottom where the small family was, "Hello", he said with a smile.

"Hello, sir, we just wanted to say how lovely your playing was", said the lady, now rocking the baby as it slept soundly. Wei Wuxian had noticed the small child and winced as the lady smiled back at him, but he tried his best to hide it.

"Oh, thank you, miss. I appreciate that", Wei Wuxian said, feigning a smile. The man also smiled at the young man, who was starting to get into his head about the baby the couple had.

"Well, we better get going now, sir. I'm sorry if we have interrupted your music". The man and woman had bowed politely to Wei Wuxian who did the same for them, and continued walking away, along the path.

Wei Wuxian continued to look at the couple as they had faded ahead of him, out of sight. He hadn't realized that he had been holding his abdomen, and a tear fell from his eye. He finally turned around and began walking back to Gusu.