What comes easy won't last long, and what lasts long won't come easy. Wei Wuxian has a destiny that has yet to reveal itself. Hardship was just the beginning, sacrifice is the price he must pay and love will be the light that guides his way to great...
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Wuxian was making his way to the Library. He knew that his soul-bond was there, trying to refine the treaty that Zewu Jun wrote to include Shenhua Clan should they choose to join. He just dropped off his daughter at the guest house Mianmian was staying at. She volunteered to babysit Hweiru and he wanted to spend some time with his soul-bond.
He was ambushed by the one and only giant teddy bear: Zizhen. The boy jumped from behind the bushes he was hiding in and caught Wuxian in a tight embrace: "MASTER WEI! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"
Wuxian almost had a heart attack and it took him a few seconds to realize who it was. When his heart stopped beating a mile a minute, he smacked the boy hard: "YOU ALMOST KILLED ME!"
Zizhen moved back to block the assault: "I couldn't help it! My father has guards everywhere, preventing me from finding you!"
Wuxian sighs and looks at the smiling boy before him: "You've grown."
Zizhen's smile grew and he bounced a little: "REALLY? Do I look stronger? More handsome?"
Wuxian chuckles awkwardly: ".. sure."
Zizhen leans in to sniff Wuxian: "You still smell like my mother."
Wuxian felt his heart break a little and he gently pulled the boy into a loose hug. After being called 'Mama' by Hewiru, he couldn't imagine the pain it would cause her if he wasn't around. He asks: "Do you miss her?"
Zizhen: "Sometimes, when I have arguments with my father, I wish she was here to help me communicate with him better. She always knew what to do."
Wuxian pulls away and looks at the sad smile on the boy's face: "Did something happen?"
Zizhen's face morphed into a dreamy expression and he said with a breathy voice: "I fell in love."
Wuxian: "With whom?"
Zizhen: "Well.. you met him before. Lijian, the boy who joined the test to become the second master."
Wuxian smiles and nods: "I remember. He was the clever one."
Zizhen got excited: "He's smart, funny and mature. He makes me happy and we've been spending a lot of time together. We train together and study together. I couldn't help it. I fell in love."
Wuxian frowns: "He's a good choice. What's the problem?"
Zizhen sits at a nearby bench and Wuxian joins him: "My father wants me to marry a woman and have children of my own to carry the bloodline. I'm an only child and I don't want to disappoint him."
Wuxian: "Soul-bonding is rare but a beautiful thing. Children will find their way into your life if it's meant to be. Marrying a woman doesn't guarantee offspring. I'm bonded to a man and have two unplanned kids!"
Zizhen absentmindedly plays with Wuxian's long hair: "I was glad to see your daughter present during the negotiations. My father saw you with her and commented about how natural your bond is. At least it will help my case if we choose to bond in the future."
Wuxian feels his heart fill with warmth over this boy's trust in him: "Love always finds a way. If it's meant to be then it will be."
He leans in and whispers with a mischievous smile: "If your father refuses to let you bond to whoever you want, I would be more than happy to.. persuade him for you."
Zizhen winks at him: "I almost wish he would refuse so I can see you in action."
Wuxian smacks the hand playing with his hair: "Don't be weird. We almost had a nice moment."
A thought struck Wuxian when Zizhen looked joyfully at him. He grabbed Zizhen by the arm and asked with urgency: "Is Linao here?"
Zizhen frowns: "She had to come. You made her the second master of our clan."
A wide evil smile spread on Wuxian's face and he whispered: "Good. Let the courting games begin."
Zizhen leans in to hear his low voice: "What?"
Wuxian shakes his head: "Nothing. Just make sure she finds me by tonight. I miss her company."
Zizhen was caught by one of his father's guards and made a run for it. Wuxian laughed at him before continuing his way to the Library. Before he opened the door, an unsettling thought crossed his mind. The last person present in the predicted Treasure Room fire was Zizhen. His new robes that Wuxian just saw matched the ones from his vision. It left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth and unsettled his thoughts. Does that mean that the future was still set on that awful outcome?
Wuxian made his way in and saw his soul-bond sitting at one of the tables, reading in silence. He sat next to him and leaned his head on Wangji's shoulder. Wangji instantly wrapped an arm around his mate and kissed his head before continuing reading the papers before him.
Wuxian stayed silent for a few minutes, thinking of more ways to insure that the future he saw will never happen. He stared at the beautiful features of his soul-bond and couldn't help but trace them with his finger. Wangji catches his wandering hand and kisses it, before intertwining their fingers. Wuxian whispers to him: "Lan Zhan, can we.."
He trails off, then shakes his head: "Never mind."
Wangji turns to look at him: "Ask me."
Wuxian sighs: "You're busy. Maybe some other time."
Wangji pulled the smaller man sideways into his lap, supporting his back with one arm and caressing his cheek with the other: "Ask me."
Wuxian blushes hard, looking around and ducking his head in embarrassment: "Lan Zhan, there are other people here! We talked about the manhandling and PDA."
Wangji gently grabs his chin and looks into his eyes: "Ask me."
Wuxian sighs: "Our daughter has no toys."
Wangji: "I can have someone fetch her some from Gusu City."
Wuxian plays nervously with Wangji's robes: "I want to do it. She's been in my care for a while now but I don't feel like a providing parent. Mianmian washes her, Ran buys her clothes, Father teaches her, Ayuan picks her books and you teach her music. I'm barely an emotional support. I want to do something for her."
Wangji cups Wuxian's cheek: "You want us to take her to Gusu City to buy toys?"
Wuxian winces over how stupid it sounded when Wangji said it back to him: "It's just.. she's just three. The only thing she has is a dagger that her uncle gave her. I want her to play and be her age. She needs toys."
Wangji smiles tenderly at Wuxian: "I will accompany you tomorrow noon. You can buy her anything you desire."
Wuxian smiles widely: "Really?"
Wangji nods and plants a gentle kiss on his soul-bond's soft lips.
Wuxian snuggles into Wangji's chest and sighs: "Thank you."
Wangji wrapped his arm around the smaller man: "Thank you for asking me."
Wangji used his free hand to continue his task while Wuxian stayed in his embrace. An hour later, Wuxian whispered: "Do you mind if we pass by a place near Gusu City on our way back?"
Wangji: "Where do you wish to go?"
Wuxian: "I know where the Slayer is. Let's go make his acquaintance."
