Chapter Text
There are three things Wei Wuxian knows for certain about his First Officer Lan Zhan:
One, his favourite tea is a Vulcan blend that can only be sourced on his home planet, and as a result is reserved for special occasions.
Two, that he has a brother, who works as Vulcan’s ambassador to Earth, with whom Lan Zhan is close.
And three: his First Officer hates him.
The first two were things Wei Wuxian found out purely by accident and being in the right place at the right time, and he doubted Lan Zhan even wanted him to know. The third was something everyone knew, and Lan Wangji took no pains to hide.
Oh it wasn’t presented as hatred, after all “Vulcans do not feel hatred” but it was . It always had been, from the first day they met. And somehow, by some trick of the Universe’s fate he had ended up as Wei Wuxian’s long suffering First Officer.
Wei Wuxian had told Lan Zhan as much, apologised for it after a night spent with Jiang Cheng and a bottle of Saurian brandy, but had only been met with a blank stare and an expected “ There is no such thing Captain” .
In all the time Wei Wuixan had known him, there were very few occasions Lan Zhan had ever been wrong about something, whether it was the exact distance to the nearest space port or when the Trill joined the federation to the day. But this was the one thing Wei Wuxian knew that Lan Wangji didn’t - fate exists. And it, like Lan Zhan, hates him.
Wei Ying still remembers the first words Lan Zhan had said to him, back when they’d been first years at Starfleet Academy. Lan Zhan's uncle, and famed hard-ass, Lan Qiren taught Intergalactic Ethics, and having been waylaid by multiple morning disasters Wei Wuxian had careened in with 10 seconds to spare and found the only available chair was next to the foreboding but ridiculously attractive Vulcan sat right at the front.
Of course he hadn’t known Lan Zhan was Lan Qiren’s nephew at the time, so after being thoroughly reamed out by their teacher on the importance of timekeeping he’d turned to his new class partner and whispered conspiratory about just how much of a dick their new teacher was being. In retrospect, maybe it wasn’t the best move, but how could he have known the only two Vulcans at the Academy this year were related? For an ethics teacher, grading your nephew’s work seemed pretty damn unethical to him, but then again it was hard to accuse a Vulcan of emotional favouritism. Wei Ying knew - he'd tried - after the third time Lan Qiren had been particularly harsh on his work and told him to be more like the impeachable Lan Wangji.
Their first actual conversation hadn’t gone any better, as the work sheets had been handed out Wei Wuxian had introduced himself, only to receive a blank nod in return.
“But you can call me Wei Ying if you like, all my friends do!”
Without lifting his eyes from the worksheet he’d replied “We are not friends.”
And well. That was that.
Jiang Cheng, his roommate and pseudo brother had a field day the first time Wei Wuixan told him.
By their second year, it had gotten to the stage where he barely rolled his eyes at Wei Wuxian’s harrowing stories of Lan Zhan’s regular rejection. After months of having been completely unsuccessful in any of his many attempts to win Lan Zhan over, he’d frequently taken to complaining over their weekly drinks night.
Huddled up in the corner of one of the small bars within walking distance of the Academy they’d officially claimed the nook for their Friday drinks.
“Of course he doesn’t like you, the first time you met you literally called his uncle a dick! To his face! Who does that?” Though it had been years, Jiang Cheng still didn’t miss the opportunity to bring it up as frequently as possible, “he doesn’t like anyone but you’re definitely at the top of his shit list now”.
“It’s impressive,” Wen Qing added, “Vulcans are usually adverse to all emotional reactions, and yet you’ve managed to get one to hate you.” She and her younger brother had found their way into their ragtag group of friends after Wei Wuxian had a stand up row with their cousin, which had ended up with him almost getting suspended and gaining two incredible friends. Mianmian became a de facto member as Wen Qing’s girlfriend, and Nie Huaisang had turned up one day and just never left.
Every attempt Wei Wuixan made to gain his attention was met with the same disinterested hum. The few times he managed to get Lan Zhan to even notice him the only reaction he could get was vague irritation, not even real anger. No matter how much he teased, whined and acted up just to get Lan Zhan to look at him, it didn’t make a difference.
“Yes, thank you for all of your support, it’s my greatest achievement to date. At least my wonderful friends are so gracious as to support me in my finest moments! You should have seen him,” at this stage, the glass Wei Wuxian was gesticulating with was almost empty, “he looked me dead in the eye and said all Vulcan seriousness, your ambition to become Captain will endanger others - I mean what the fuck? Who says that? And what gives some stuck-up, tight-assed, anally-retentive…” Mianmian was viciously waving her hand across her neck, and Wen Ning’s eyes had gone round while Jiang Cheng looked like he was about to burst out laughing.
“Ah, he’s behind me isn’t he.”
And there said Vulcan was, looking as distastefully at Wei Wuxian as he ever did. Like he’d attended an art exhibit only to find all the renaissance paintings had been replaced with taxidermy roadkill dressed up as cowboys. A pretty standard look when it came to Wei Wuxian.
Next to him stood a second Vulcan who for all intents and purposes could have been his twin. His eyes were a deeper brown, less golden then Lan Zhan’s, and his expression was much less severe, almost smiling - but it was clear they were related. Unlike Lan Zhan he also didn’t look like the sight of Wei Wuxian was causing him intense indigestion.
“Ah, you must be Wei Wuxian? My name is Lan Xichen, my brother has told me so much about you, the first cadet to graduate into the command track a year early since Captain Kirk,” at his brother’s words the tip of Lan Zhan’s ears turned a pale green. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,”
“Oh, er– yes! I’m he, I mean me,” Wei Wuxian tried to drag his eyes away from straight up ogling Lan Zhan’s ears, but didn’t cover his tracks well if the look on Jiang Cheng’s face was to be believed. “I haven’t seen you at the Academy, right? Or have I and I’ve just completely forgotten?” After calling Lan Qiren a dick this seemed like vital information.
“You have not. I recently returned from Vulcan, and have been serving as the ambassador to Earth following my Uncle’s retirement and move to teaching. Lan Wangji has spoken of you often.”
Of course. Wei Wuixan wondered if it was worth trying to redeem his image from the constant terrible things Lan Xichen must have heard. Though, something warm stirred from the knowledge Lan Zhan did talk about him, even if it was only to complain how bad he was. A danger to society even.
“Ah, I promise I’m not as awful as I’m sure he makes me out to be! And, uh, the thing I just said about being stuck-up, you shouldn’t listen to me, I’ve had several drinks, “ he gestured with the glass again, “and you know I talk so much nonsense Lan Zhan, you shouldn’t-”
“Unnecessary.” Lan Zhan interrupted. It was definitely the first time Wei Wuxian had ever seen him interrupt anyone before, and it seemed to surprise even Lan Zhan himself who nodded once at his brother before swiftly leaving, not even glancing behind him to see if he was following.
Lan Xichen gave the equivalent of a polite smile, and tipped his head and as he left to follow his brother, before turning back as if an afterthought “I am sure I will see you again soon Wei-gongzi”.
Within seconds of the Vulcans leaving all hell broke loose.
“That’s Lan Xichen, he graduated at the top of his class at the Vulcan Science Academy-”
“Did you see the way Lan Wangji looked at you? I thought he was going to actually murder you this time-”
“You have the worst timing of anyone I’ve ever known, it’s almost a skill,” The last one from Wen Qing had everyone nodding, and Wen Ning even reached across to pat Wei Wuxian’s shoulder in sympathy.
“Who needs him anyway?” Jiang Cheng huffed, clearly torn between the sibling need to mock his brother and to defend his honour.
“If it’s any consolation,” Nie Huisiang added, “I don’t think it’s possible for him to dislike you anymore then he already does.”
It was, in fact, not a consolation.
After talking Wei Wuxian down from ordering body shots and subsequently explaining body shots to Wen Ning while a furious Wen Qing watched with one eye twitching - they eventually all ended up staggering back towards dorms. The beginning of December was nipping the air, and the cold drew off the worst of the alcohol as everyone began to peel off towards their own dorm and just Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were left to head back to their shared room.
“Do you really think he hates me?” It had come out a lot more vulnerable than Wei Wuxian had intended, his voice almost cracking at the end. He’d blame it on the alcohol but -
“Why does it matter? He’s clearly an asshole, did you hear what he said to Jin Zixun last week - not that he doesn’t deserve it too but still. He reamed him out in front of the entire Xenolinguistics class over some Romulan dialect - Lan Wangji is a certified ass.” Jiang Cheng had voiced this particular feeling before. Multiple times in fact, pretty much whenever Wei Wuxian brought up his various attempts to get Lan Zhan to notice him.
“You know why,” again Wei Wuxian would blame the alcohol but this wasn’t the first time he’d bared this particular secret to his brother. Even knowing how Jiang Cheng felt about him. Though, in all fairness he’d actually told Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng had happened to overhear so it hadn’t even been a choice.
At this, Jiang Cheng looked a little sympathetic. While it had initially started as no more than a challenge, after all no one had ever managed to completely ignore Wei Wuxian before- it had become obvious it was more than that. Especially after the first time Jiang Yanli sat him down and asked him outright how he felt when Lan Zhan ignored him.
Wei Wuxian did not like being ignored. Blame it on his personality, blame it on his ADHD, blame it on the fact that if you could ignore a begging child that child would starve. Ever since he was a child, Wei Wuxian had cultivated the skill of being impossible to ignore. Whether you liked him or loathed him, you at least looked at him.
So why was Lan Zhan so different? Why when he faced Wei Wuxian could he look past him as if he was no more than smoke, why did his every attempt to befriend the Vulcan end with a swift rejection even after he’d apologised about his uncle? And why did it matter?
“He’s not worth your love, you know. You may be an annoying brat, but you’re my brother and he doesn’t deserve you” At Wei Wuxian’s silence, he glanced over, “besides, give it another year and you’ll never have to see him again - everyone knows you’re going to be one of the youngest captains in Starfleet history and it’s not like he’s going to sign up to be on your ship”.
As he said, fate hated him.