Pitched Normal

Spying

Nie Huaisang was not above sneaking around Cloud Recesses. He had done it more than once, and the moment that he had brought Wen Ning to his dorm and was released by a politely smiling Lan Xichen he had run off as fast as he possibly could to the Cloud Recesses' library. It was where Lan Wangji often did his punishments. Lan Wangji was notorious for making most punishments extremely unsettling and unnerving. Most people had a hard time staying in Lan Wangji's presence for more than a few minutes, as he just seemed to have this aura about himself, one which overawed many to feel as though they were a feeble mouse in comparison. Wei Wuxian however, from what little that Nie Huaisang had seen of the Head Disciple of the Jiang Clan, seemed to be the exact opposite. It was a surprising revelation. The other was not anything which Nie Huaisang had expected.

The fact remained, everyone avoided Lan Wangji, well, almost everyone. Even if they did not necessarily avoid him, they tried to stay away from him as much as possible. Everyone, except perhaps those members of the Lan Clan, but even the disciples of the Gusu Lan sect tended to steer clear of the Second Young Master Lan. He was someone who was highly intimidating, just his gaze alone seemed as though he could see through everything and slowly deconstruct you, and it was utterly terrifying to most people. He just seemed to breathe justice and righteousness without even trying, and many people found it frightening to even be near him, let alone be stuck alone with him in a small section of the library forced to do lines as punishment. Wei Ying had willingly done so, however.

Though Nie Huaisang had to admit to himself, during the time which Wei Wuxian had been here he had certainly somehow managed to bring something out in Lan Wangji as well. After all, Lan Wangji allowed Wei Wuxian to hug him, and call him by his given name of all things. Nobody ever dared to call Lan Wangji by his given name, ever, rarely did they even dare even think of using it for fear that their thoughts would be brought into the light. Nobody even dared to ask if it was alright if they did so, too terrified of him to get very close. Let alone actively drag the Lan boy into a hug. Nie Huaisang thought for sure that would be the end of Wei Wuxian. Instead, Lan Wangji had simply endured it and indulged the young master before dragging him back for his punishment of writing lines.

It was fascinating. Nie Huaisang thought it was astonishing to think that the boy managed to bring out something less ice cold, perhaps was the best description, in Lan Wangji. Nie Huaisang had been studying in the Cloud Recesses for quite some time and he had never seen Lan Wangji even talk to anyone else willingly other than Lan Xichen or Lan Qiren. None had ever dared to utter his given name, and most did not even dare speak his courtesy name, they were always painfully formal whenever they spoke to or about him. Perhaps they just did not have the heart or the strength to be capable of handling the young Lan's presence, it was so ... intense. Everything about Lan Wangji was intense. His gaze, his posture, his eyes, his feel, everything just screamed, "Run". Nobody had the strength of will to be able to stand with him. Wei Wuxian seemed completely oblivious to it all, however. Or perhaps it was not that Wei Wuxian was oblivious to the aura which the Lan boy gave off, perhaps it was that it simply did not bother him. Something was quite astounding.

There was just something about Wei Wuxian as well. Something more than the rumors. As though Nie Huaisang needed any other proof that the Wei Wuxian from the rumors was vastly different from the Wei Wuxian in real life given the fact that Nie Huaisang was at least 90% sure that he was a cutsleeve. Not that it was a bad thing, of course, and Nie Huaisang would never judge Wei Wuxian for it. Perhaps the other had not even willingly admitted it to himself. Yet, it was so obvious. The actions that he used with Wen Ning, the light teasing, the gentle touches and lingering fingers. Furthermore, with Lan Wangji his entire spirit seemed to lift effortlessly and he seemed so hopelessly excited to even see him. He had dragged both himself and Wen Ning over to Lan Wangji without a second's thought, and he had given the other boy a hug. Something which Nie Huaisang had not seen him do with anyone else, and he would bet that it was not a common thing, giving hugs to others, at least not from Wei Wuxian, despite what the rumors would say. There was something so ... sweet and gentle with the minimal interactions which Nie Huaisang had seen between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji.

Which only meant, of course, that he would need to figure out if Wei Wuxian truly did feel something for the Second Young Master Lan. It was clear that the Second Young Master Lan did not like the fact that Wei Wuxian had wrapped his arms around Wen Ning, if the fiery eyed glare that he had sent to where the hands had connected to Wen Ning's shoulders had been any indication (it was of course). Nie Huaisang also had a very bad habit of being incredibly curious and helpless to his curiosity. He could not deny that it was a fascinating thing. He had never expected Wei Wuxian to enjoy the intimate company of men more so than women. Perhaps it was just because he, like many, did not know much about Wei Wuxian. There always seemed to be something ... something just underneath the surface that the other was always hiding. Something ... lingering, Nie Huaisang supposed one could call it. It was incredibly difficult to get a good read on the other. It was as though there were two Wei Wuxian's which were shoved together.

Nie Huaisang of course could not just let this go. He needed to spy on the Second Young Master Lan and Young Master Wei. It was necessary. He could use material like this, and it would be most fascinating to see how two very different people handled each other's presence. Though, Nie Huaisang figured that it should not be as difficult as he was leading himself to believe. He was curious though, and he wanted to find out.

So, spying really was his only option.