A Little Too Late

Chapter Three

A/N: Currently working on Chapter Four now, so hopefully it will be ready by next week! For now, enjoy Chapter Three!

Wei Wuxian had frozen at the gasp, not even looking to see who had walked in as if he could become invisible if he willed it. But as a familiar voice spoke his name - his true name, not the name of the one whose face he now wore - he turned around slowly, eyes connecting with the dark gaze of Lan Xichen and found surprise and more than a little confusion there.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke, Wei Wuxian's only movement a slight tightening of his fingers on Lan Zhan's arm as if to keep Lan Xichen from tearing them apart. He wanted to trust that that wouldn't happen, but Zewu Jun's sense of honor had always been strong; perhaps it was so strong that he would have no choice but to turn in the intruder for his crimes against the sects.

When the silence grew too heavy, however, Wei Wuxian tried to play it off as he always did, a soft laugh tearing from his throat. But it ended just as quickly once he realized that the sound only seemed to confirm the older man's suspicions. He looked down for a moment, his gaze finding Lan Zhan's face - mercifully peaceful, for now - before looking hesitantly back up to Lan Xichen.

"Hello, Zewu Jun," he said softly, forcing an awkward smile as he nodded respectfully towards the Lan Sect leader.

Lan Xichen stepped in hesitantly, sliding the door shut behind him without taking his gaze away from Wei Wuxian.

"How?" he asked when the silence once again became too much to bear. His brow was wrinkled over tired eyes, a frown pulling on his mouth. It looked so unnatural on the older man. Wei Wuxian wondered if this was what it felt like to others when he wore something other than a smile.

Wei Wuxian hesitated a moment before dropping his gaze once more and giving a small shrug, another short laugh escaping his lips, though this one exuded bitterness rather than the typical awkwardness.

"I don't know. The last thing I remember is falling. Then I opened my eyes, and suddenly I was in the Jin Sect, in this body. Obviously, the previous owner of this body sacrificed his soul for mine... but I don't understand why."

Lan Xichen's frown didn't fade even as he moved further into the jingshi, heading for the bowl he'd been using the night before and filling it with fresh water. A soul sacrifice was almost unheard of, a part of demonic cultivation that he couldn't see even Wei Wuxian diving into. But whoever had possessed this body before him had been willing, and there must have been a reason. He was sure Wei Wuxian knew this reason, too, but he wouldn't push, not right now.

As he stepped towards the bed to set the bowl down on the floor, Wei Wuxian jumped to his feet, backing quickly away from both Lan brothers, hands held out before him in surrender.

"I'll leave," he said immediately, meeting Lan Xichen's gaze. "You don't have to worry about me causing trouble. You won't see me again. I just - I heard of his punishment and... and I had to see that he was okay..."

Wei Wuxian trailed off as he realized Lan Xichen was shaking his head, the older man's gaze having fallen to his younger brother while Wei Wuxian was speaking.

"You don't have to leave, Wei Wuxian," Lan Xichen said quietly.

Wei Wuxian froze at the words, staring at the sect leader as if he'd lost his mind. He opened his mouth to argue that, of course, he had to leave, when Lan Xichen did something that he would never have done under normal circumstances: he cut Wei Wuxian off.

"This is the most peaceful he's been since before his punishment, since even before Nightless City. Even with me playing for him every night, he's always been in distress."