What Happens in Lanling

Heart to Hearts

Lan Wangji flagged down a servant to take his requests for their breakfast while his brother sat next to him, sipping his tea with a smug smile on his face. His fingers itched to wipe it right off of him.

He shifted uncomfortably, wishing Wei Ying would hurry to fetch Jiang WanYin so they could eat and be on their way, but Wei Ying never did anything with expediency.

"Do you have something you want to say?" he asked his brother.

"Not a thing," said Xichen, still sipping his tea. "Though you do keep squinting your eyes, are you in pain?"

Wangji gave him a sideways glance. "Someone hit me with their sword last night."

"Someone touched something they shouldn't have," Xichen retorted with another smile and sip of his tea.

Wangji just stared at the wall in front of him, unwilling to argue, talk or think about last night whatsoever.

"Answer me, Wangji, are you in pain?"

Wangji nodded and his brother took out a tin of medicinal herbs from his travel sack, adding them to two cups along with steaming water to let them steep. When they were done he fished out the herbs and handed it to him.

"Thank you," he said before downing the bitter drink.

"You will, of course, need to apologize to Sect Leader Jiang."

Wangji nodded, knowing it would be awkward but it was the right thing to do.

"Wangji, I don't want you to take this to heart as I know you are. Accidents happen, it's how we reflect and remedy the problem that matters."

Wangji swallowed his emotions down, thankful for his brother in so many ways. "He said he has forgiven me."

"Of course he has, Wei Wuxian isn't unreasonable," he said as he cocked his head to the side. "Most of the time."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment and Wangji wondered if everything truly could be alright. "Brother?"

"Hm?" Xichen responded.

"What if I can't forgive myself?"

Xichen sighed. "That is something you have never been the best at, Wangji, but if you don't it will hurt not only you, but Wei Wuxian as well, I promise you. I know a bit about not being able to forgive oneself," he said with a bitter smile. "Let it go."

Wangji nodded, knowing his brother was right and that he would need to trust in not only Wei Ying, but himself.

- - - - - - - -

"Jiang Cheeeeeeng, hurry up, will ya!" Wei Ying whined as he laid on the floor his room, obviously bored from waiting on him to dress for the last half hour.

Jiang Cheng sat in front of his mirror, having washed his face and changed into a fresh set of robes he was now trying to braid his hair but in his frustration his fingers refused to cooperate. He huffed and threw down his comb.

Wei Ying jumped up and walked up behind him lowing his head behind his shoulder where he could see both their reflections.

"Don't be angry, Jiang Cheng," he said, his voice more serious and quiet than usual.

He sighed and picked up his comb once more. "Are you saying this for my benefit or his?"

Wei Ying plucked the comb from his hands and started to comb the messy braids from his hair. "Can it not be for you both? I don't want the two most important people in my life to hate one another."