Drunken Mistake

DM 56

The moon hung low in the night sky, its pale glow illuminating the quiet street. Lan Wangji stood outside the modest apartment building, his posture rigid but his gaze soft with determination. He had been standing there for hours, unable to leave, unable to summon the courage to knock. Wei Wuxian's address was neatly scrawled on a piece of paper clenched in his hand, though he had already memorized it.

The night breeze carried faint scents of jasmine and city life, but Lan Wangji barely noticed. He replayed the conversation from the previous night in his mind, over and over. A'Ying's words had been kind, comforting even, but they had left him with a question he couldn't ignore.

When Wei Wuxian appeared in the distance, his figure backlit by the early morning sun, Lan Wangji straightened instinctively. Wei Wuxian, as always, exuded an effortless charm even after a very early journey from the Cloud Recesses. His steps were light, his smile teasing as he spotted Lan Wangji waiting.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian called out, his tone both amused and surprised. "What brings you here so early in the morning? Couldn't wait for me to get back?"

Lan Wangji inclined his head slightly, his face as stoic as ever, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of nervousness. "I could not sleep."

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, his smile growing. "So you decided to camp out in front of my door? Should I be flattered or concerned?"

Lan Wangji ignored the jab, stepping forward as Wei Wuxian approached. "I came to discuss something important."

Wei Wuxian opened his apartment door and motioned for Lan Wangji to follow, but the latter remained rooted to the spot. Wei Wuxian paused, glancing back. "Are you planning to have this discussion on the doorstep? Come in already."

Lan Wangji hesitated before stepping inside. The apartment was small but warm, filled with mismatched furniture and scattered trinkets that spoke of a life lived in vibrant chaos. It wasn't easy to believe that it had only been occupied for a little over a week. Wei Wuxian gestured for Lan Wangji to sit, but the latter remained standing.

"I spoke with A'Ying last night," Lan Wangji began, his voice low but steady.

Wei Wuxian froze for a fraction of a second, his hand hovering over the kettle he was filling with water. "Oh? And how did that go?"

"We talked at length," Lan Wangji admitted, his gaze fixed on Wei Wuxian. "I told him things I had not shared with anyone before."

Wei Wuxian turned to face him, leaning casually against the counter. "Lan Zhan, if you keep this up, your married life will be in jeopardy by day two."

Lan Wangji blinked, confusion flickering across his face. "I do not understand."

Wei Wuxian waved a hand dismissively, his laughter filling the room. "Never mind. It's a joke. But seriously, why come all the way here to tell me about your conversation with A'Ying? You could've just called."

Lan Wangji's expression grew serious. "I wanted to share an idea with you."

Wei Wuxian tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Go on."

Lan Wangji took a deep breath, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. "You once told me about the rejection and abandonment you felt as a child. How those experiences shaped you, and how you overcame them."

Wei Wuxian's playful demeanor faltered slightly, but he nodded. "I did."

Lan Wangji's gaze didn't waver. "A'Ying's trauma may not be as different from yours as you think. If I did not assault him, as he insists, then perhaps his pain stems from a similar sense of rejection. If you two met and talked, it might help him recover."

Wei Wuxian stared at Lan Wangji, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, his mind racing. Then he shook his head, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Lan Zhan, you're oversimplifying things. A'Ying's situation isn't the same as mine."

Lan Wangji frowned, his brow furrowing in thought. "How can you be certain?"

Wei Wuxian hesitated, searching for the right words, but before he could answer, Lan Wangji continued, his voice tinged with a rare vulnerability.

"I remember your experience as both you and Wen Qing explained it," Lan Wangji said quietly. "When you were a child, you were assaulted. Your Lan Ge-he pushed you away afterward, just as I pushed-" He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening slightly. His mind connected dots he hadn't considered before.

"You were in Cloud Recess when this happened?" Lan Wangji asked suddenly, his voice sharp with realization.

Wei Wuxian froze, the casual façade slipping for the briefest moment. "Lan Zhan, why are you asking-"

"A'Ying called me Lan Er Ge when we were in Cloud Recess," Lan Wangji interrupted, his tone a mixture of disbelief and dawning comprehension. "Why would you call your Lan er ge by the same name during the same time with us never having crossed path unless-" He stopped again, his eyes narrowing as he studied Wei Wuxian's face.

"No one can call you stupid, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian muttered, his voice resigned. "Just incredibly dense at times."

Lan Wangji's breath caught. "You're A'Ying?"

Wei Wuxian didn't reply immediately. Instead, he offered a bright, mischievous smile before darting past Lan Wangji, slipping out of his grasp and into the safety of his bedroom. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Lan Wangji standing in stunned silence.

The room seemed to spin as the realization sank in. A'Ying was Wei Wuxian. The tone, the conversations, the moments of connection-they all made sense now. Lan Wangji raised a hand to his temple, his usually steady mind struggling to process the implications.

Inside the apartment, Wei Wuxian leaned against the closed door, his heart racing. He hadn't planned for Lan Zhan to figure it out like this, but now that the truth was out, he felt a strange mixture of relief and apprehension.

Outside, Lan Wangji stood motionless, his thoughts a storm of regret, confusion, and hope. A'Ying-or rather, Wei Wuxian-had always been there, even when he thought he'd lost him. And now that he knew, he wasn't sure how to face the man who had been his confidant, his solace, and perhaps, something more.

Wei Wuxian called the one person he could always turn to. The one who had supported him through this farce unconditionally even at the cost of his principles- his Baba.

A/N Moving on... I don't think it's in Wei Wuxian's capacity to lie too much. What do you think?

Vote and Comment.