Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

“A-yuan is not in his class!” Wei Wuxian barged into Wen Qing’s living room, panting.

Wen Qing looked up from where she was hosting Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang, and Mian Mian for tea, her brows immediately lowering into a frown.

“What do you mean? Where is he, then?” Wen Qing asked, putting down her teacup.

“I don’t know, I can't find him,” exclaimed Wei Wuxian, throwing himself on the seat next to Jiang Cheng, and drinking from his tea to soothe his parched throat.

“His last class was at the Lotus Lake today, for aquatic animals practice,” Wei Wuxian started ranting after a few sips. “I went to get him early, thinking we could go to the dandelion garden together. But I couldn’t find him, and his classmates didn’t know where he was either.”

“So you were gonna get him to bunk the class, but he had already bunked?” smirked Jiang Cheng, and the others chuckled.

“Hey, this is not funny!” Wei Wuxian slapped Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. “A-Yuan was not in class! Something must be wrong!”

“It is kind of funny that you are panicking about A-Yuan, the last fairy child in the forest you need to worry about…” Nie Huaisang snickered. “I have no idea who that boy takes after. How did you, the worst example ever, manage to raise someone like A-Yuan, quite literally the perfect child?”

Mian Mian shook her head at Nie Huaisang, then reached out to pat Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. “Huaisang is being annoying, but he does have a point. If A-Yuan was not in his class, I’m sure he has a valid reason for it.”

“You think so?” Wei Wuxian sighed, burying his face tiredly in his hands. He had lost his energy after rushing around the Lotus Lake in a panic, then flying on Lil’ Apple to search the summer forest.

“Relax, you are worried about nothing,” Wen Qing agreed with Mian Mian. “A-Yuan will probably be here in less than an hour, telling you how he was tasked with something and couldn’t go to his class.”

“And if he did bunk the class, so what?” Jiang Cheng added. “Dont act like you've never bunked before.”

“Jiang Cheng, you can’t say that, I am a father now!” Wei Wuxian protested, but instead of taking him serious, everyone burst out laughing. “Hey! Don’t laugh at me!”

“No, no, I love it when you pretend to be a responsible adult! Keep doing it!” Nie Huaisang laughed at Wei Wuxian again, waving his fan lazily in front of his face.

“Hmpf,” Wei Wuxian crossed his arms. 

It wasn’t an act! He really was trying to be a responsible adult now, even if he didn’t succeed all the time.

“Don’t sulk,” Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “If you are that worried, let’s go look for him, and you can finally stretch your wings. It’s been years since you were injured, you are gonna let flying turn into a fear for you if you continue like this. What kind of fairy doesn’t fly?”

Wei Wuxian stiffened, dread rising at the familiar speech.

He had not told Jiang Cheng about his broken wings.

He hadn’t wanted his younger brother to feel sad or worry for him. 

Neither had he wanted Jiang Cheng to see his mangled wings, torn and lifeless, and look at him with pitying eyes.

So Wei Wuxian had told Jiang Cheng he had gotten so injured that his wings needed to heal for a long time before Wei Wuxian could fly again.

A half-lie.

His wings were terribly injured; it was just that they were never going to heal.

Wei Wuxian’s lungs twisted in his ribcage.

What kind of fairy, indeed.

“Give him time, Jiang Cheng,” Wen Qing quickly interrupted, making Wei Wuxian relax slightly. “Also what about Jin Ling and Ouyang Zizhen? They probably know where A-Yuan is.”

“No one has seen them either,” Wei Wuxian shook his head. 

“That is suspicious.” Mian Mian smiled slightly. "Well, this is exciting. Your boy could be up to his first misadventure, Wei Wuxian."

Wei Wuxian hesitated. 

Could it be true? Was A-Yuan really bunking class and causing trouble?

He didn't know whether to worry or feel strangely proud of his son.

On one hand, Wei Wuxian’s ideology of fun for most of his childhood was based on mischief and rule-breaking. So when A-Yuan had shown zero inclination to do anything outside of Wei Wuxian’s permission, Wei Wuxian had felt anxious that he had been too strict, raising A-Yuan with too many rules. 

Even when Wei Wuxian had wanted A-Yuan to feel free and comfortable.

That anxiety had been relieved when his siblings and the Wen siblings had sat him down to remind him of all the times Wei Wuxian had blatantly encouraged A-Yuan to misbehave. They told Wei Wuxian that, maybe, A-Yuan was just the type of child that did not find breaking the rules enjoyable.

And Wei Wuxian knew, from personal experience, that there really were people who found it pleasant to live a disciplined life with many rules.

Strange though it was.

So he had let his concerns go, and accepted A-Yuan the way he was: A rule-following model child.

But now that there was a real possibility that A-Yuan was breaking rules and skipping class, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help the fear and worry that sneaked up on him, making him imagine all sorts of dangerous scenarios A-Yuan and his friends could end up in.

What if they ate poisonous berries without noticing? What if they went swimming, then fell down a waterfall and hit their heads? What if they got attacked by a hive of bees?

Wei Wuxian rubbed his face, and decided to stop thinking the worst. He didn’t even know where A-Yuan was just yet! Plus, A-Yuan had learned how to fly from Wen Ning, who was the fast-flying fairy in charge of safety protocols, and Wen Qing had taught him emergency first aid when he was just a toddler. Surely he could get himself and his friends out of any danger if necessary.

A knock came on the door right then, interrupting Wei Wuxian’s overthinking.

“Message from the Fairy Queen!” called out the royal guard, “For Master Tinker Wei Wuxian!”

“Yes, I’m here!” Wei Wuxian called out, standing up with a groan. He had forgotten he had a meeting today. As he always did. 

Not that he didn’t like having many excuses to see his sister, but he couldn't say that he enjoyed all the meetings that came with his new role.

Why did Xiao Xingchen have to leave and assign Wei Wuxian as the Master Tinker in his place? What was interesting enough to pull Xiao Xingchen to the humanland, that couldn’t be found in Neverland?

“Tinker Wei, Queen Yanli requires your presence,” said the royal messenger, knocking again.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” Wei Wuxian waved goodbye to everyone sitting around Wen Qing’s tea table, and ignored Wen Qing’s comment about the world going up in flames if Wei Wuxian ever remembered a meeting.

He opened the door to find two royal guards waiting.

“Well, let’s go,” Wei Wuxian mumbled, and let out a shrill whistle.

A caw echoed his whistle, and in a few moments, Lil’ Apple came diving through the red-orange autumn trees.

After that night more than a decade ago, when Wei Wuxian had started living in the Yiling Grove, Lil’ Apple had moved there too, building a nest right next to Wei Wuxian’s hut. Ever since then, he had been following close to Wei Wuxian, always there to carry him on his back to wherever Wei Wuxian needed.

Just like now.

“Let’s go to my sister, Lil’ Apple,” Wei Wuxian reached up to pat his beak. It felt like the crow was getting larger and larger every year, but he always crouched as low as he could to help Wei Wuxian climb up easier. 

Wei Wuxian held onto Lil’ apple’s neck, and they took off.

The two guards flanked Wei Wuxian as they flew over the spring forest and reached the fairy dust tree, where Jiang Yanli’s courtroom was.

Lil’ Apple landed at the tree, right next to the pool of fairy dust. Wei Wuxian jumped down with ease and stroked Lil’ Apple in thanks, before heading to Jiang Yanli’s audience room.

Wei Wuxian pushed her doors open, finding her at her throne. “Hello, Jiejie, sorry I forgot about the meeting.”

“It is okay, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli smiled, lowering down the document she was reading. “I knew you were going to, so I sent the guards early; you are actually right on time.”

“Jiejie, you–” Wei Wuxian gasped, “You are a genius.”

Jiang Yanli giggled softly, standing up and heading to the meeting table. “Thank you. Now, let’s begin our meeting, come, sit.”

Wei Wuxian did, and they spent the next hour going over the week’s tinker reports, what products were made, what was late, materials needed, new broken items that were sent for repair…

After everything was planned for, Wei Wuxian leaned back in his chair, stretching his stiff limbs.

Though he didn’t like long meetings, Jiang Yanli made them easy.

After Wei Wuxian had lost his wings, a crack had formed between him and his siblings. The secret he didn't want anyone to know, the heartbreak he couldn’t hide nor heal, the regrets that piled up… They all formed a wall around Wei Wuxian that made him feel different, wrong. Like he was pretending to be his old self when he had been changed beyond repair, pretending he belonged with his family when he wasn't even the same person anymore.

Over the years, they had had to work hard on their relationship.

His siblings hadn't given up on him, visiting regularly when he refused to move back to the summer forest, bringing him his favourite fruits and flowers even though he hardly spoke to them.

And they had been a perfect aunt and uncle to A-Yuan when he bloomed, supporting Wei Wuxian in every part of his parenthood journey. They cleaned, dressed, and fed A-Yuan, helped him learn how to walk, speak, and swim. They often visited just to play with A-Yuan for a bit. And over time, as they took care of A-Yuan together, they became close with the Wen siblings too, despite not liking them at first for reasons Wei Wuxian couldn’t comprehend. 

Now it was like A-Yuan had two sets of uncles and aunts, and Wei Wuxian was very happy that his son was loved by so many.

It had been even better when Jin Ling had bloomed, and A-Yuan had a cousin to grow up with.

The two of them were very cute together as babies, and just watching them interact brought joy to all of them. Though Wei Wuxian still did not think that Jin Zixuan deserved Jiang Yanli, the two had fallen in love very quickly after Jiang Yanli woke up, and after a quick courting period, had gotten married with a huge festival. When they had found a daylily ready to bloom a fairy and felt an instant connection to the child, they had been elated, and Jin Zixuan had been a father that even Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng could find no fault with. He was loving and gentle, even when Jin Ling was grumpy or demanding.

Jin Ling was a particular child, always wanting things a certain way and sulking for hours when he didn’t get what he wanted. Uncle Jiang and Aunt Yu often had to recruit A-Yuan's help to get Jin Ling out of a mood, as his stubbornness melted away the easiest when A-Yuan distracted him with games or books. Most of the time though, the two were adorable, and got along even better as they grew up.

Though Jin Ling was younger and in a different class, A-Yuan and Ouyang Zizhen, A-Yuan’s classmate, included him in whatever they did. The three flew to and from school together, and when they didn’t have class, they usually swam at the Lotus Lake or had picnics in the autumn forest.

Maybe they were having a picnic today too?

“Jiejie, have you seen A-Ling?” Wei Wuxian asked suddenly, unable to keep it in any longer.

“He said he was going to hang out with the boys today,” Jiang Yanli replied distractedly, looking through her letters.

Wei Wuxian sighed in relief. 

At least Jin Ling had let his mother know about their plans. 

“I got another letter from Xiao Xingchen,” Jiang Yanli brought up suddenly, carefully watching Wei Wuxian’s reaction.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help tensing up.

“He is still sending me information about any human inventions that he thinks could be used to provide a method of travel between winter and warm-weather forests. Did you have a chance to look at those schematics he sent last time?”

Wei Wuxian had, in fact, looked at those schematics.

He had hesitated at first, the thought too good, too unrealistic to be true. Could it really ever be possible, moving between the borders, safe and easy, with no risk?

But he had poured over the schematics one sleepless night, trying to understand the confusing mechanics and energy sources that Tinker Xiao had described in his letters.

And he had found one schematic of a machine that could possibly work for their purpose, a wind producing tower with rotating blades that constantly provided cool air.

Wei Wuxian had tried to adapt the schematic to make it transportable, drawing a big bell jar placed on wheels, with a wind tower inside it.

But the circulating air alone would not be enough to keep it cold enough for the winter fairies.

He had thought of placing ice in there, then realised that while ice would melt, he could replace it with fire instead, and use it for warm weather fairies to go into the winter forest. He had redrawn the large jar bell with wheels, with a fireplace to keep it warm, then added a steering system to move the jar easier.

Though it was still not as easy as it could be if Wei Wuxian used his other methods.

“There is a lot to work on, Jiejie,” Wei Wuxian sighed. “I did look at them, and I tried to make something out of them, but… I don't have anything ready to be produced yet. Nothing that is safe enough.”

“It is okay, A-Xian,” Jiang Yanli patted his hand softly, “I trust that if anyone can invent something to make this possible, it’d be you. I understand that you won't use your previous techniques–”, she hurried on before Wei Wuxian could speak, “–And I agree with your opinion. But if there is another way out there that can help us strengthen the connection between the winter forest and the warm-weather forests, then we need to find it.”

Since she had become the Fairy Queen, Jiang Yanli had really been doing her best to bring the forests together.

Years ago, she had formed a council of advisors to be able to reach and help every part of Neverland. Her council included the Lords and Ladies of each forest, the Treasurer, and the leaders of each fairy talent.

After her council had been formed, Jiang Yanli had built a large meeting hall on the border. It was built over the stream flowing between the autumn and winter forests, so that Winter Lord Lan and other winter fairies could join the weekly council meetings.

Wei Wuxian had attended his first meeting as Master Tinker after Tinker Xiao had left Wei Wuxian in charge.

There was no need to mention how awkward and disquieting it was for Wei Wuxian and Lord Lan to make eye contact when Wei Wuxian walked into that hall, and how the two resolutely ignored each other.

It was painful to see Lord Lan.

He looked so similar.

But aside from the meeting hall, Jiang Yanli had also built different bridges and offices to ease the transportation of fruits and vegetables that were now regularly sent to the winter forest.

Sadly, there was still no progress in travel, nothing that was not without fatal risks. Jiang Yanli was the only fairy that crossed borders with no repercussions, and she did so frequently, visiting to meet the winter fairies, learning about them and their traditions, supporting them in any way she could. 

Yet, without safe travel between the forests, the winter fairies still remained a far away legend to the warm-weather fairies, and likewise.

“As you wish, Jiejie,” Wei Wuxian gave in, taking the new letters from Jiang Yanli. “I will work on these, and see if there's anything helpful.”

“Thank you, A-Xian.” Jiang Yanli smiled. “You can have any resource you need, you have an open permission from me on this matter.”

Suddenly, the doors opened and Jin Zixuan walked in, his golden robe fluttering behind him.

“The guards said you two were here. Hello, Wuxian,” Jin Zixuan casually greeted Wei Wuxian, before moving closer to Jiang Yanli like he was drawn in by a magical force. 

He took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a slow kiss to his wife’s hand under Wei Wuxian’s horrified wince. 

“My queen,” Jin Zixuan whispered, voice sticky sweet. 

Jiang Yanli giggled with a blush dusting her cheeks, and Wei Wuxian looked away in a hurry.

He did not need to see his sister and brother-in-law flirting. In broad daylight, no less!

Wei Wuxian did not make potions anymore, but for a second he wished he did, so that he could turn invisible and escape the room. 

Then he decided that he did not need to be invisible to do that, and stood up.

“See you later, you two, bye!” he called out, and ran out without looking back.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

When Wei Wuxian arrived at his house hidden amongst the chrysanthemums, he gave Lil’ Apple his daily slices of apple before bidding him goodbye.

He walked into his house, entering the area combining the living room and kitchen, and found A-Yuan sitting at the table. 

The anxiety that had been constricting Wei Wuxian’s heart all day left in a puff.

It was almost sunset, and the stained glass windows were turning the last rays of the day into a harmony of colours, reflecting rainbow sunbeams all over the house. A-Yuan was haloed by the colourful light, a silent silhouette that made Wei Wuxian feel peaceful.

A-Yuan looked up from his notebook and smiled at Wei Wuxian. “Hello, A-Die. How was your day?”

“Ahhh, don’t ask, A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian sighed loudly, groaning as he affected dragging his body tiredly. “Today was soo long, and the meeting with your Aunt Yanli was so tiring it gave me a headache!” 

A-Yuan bit back a chuckle at Wei Wuxian’s dramatics, standing up to take Wei Wuxian’s satchel from him and hanging it on its hook. “What would help you feel better?”

“Just having my sweet, helpful son next to me is enough,” Wei Wuxian breathed out, pulling A-Yuan into a tight hug. A-Yuan hugged him back instantly, still short enough to be embraced fully despite his recent growth spurt.

Wei Wuxian took in A-Yuan’s familiar comforting scent, then pulled back to move A-Yuan’s long fringes out of his face. 

A-Yuan always kept his hair in a half-up top knot, with two long side pieces framing his plump cheeks. He had stuck to the same hairstyle since he was a toddler, when Wei Wuxian had styled his hair like this and said that it suited a nice, studious boy like A-Yuan.

A-Yuan smiled sweetly now as Wei Wuxian smoothed his hair, closing his eyes like a baby animal being pat.

Wei Wuxian kissed the side of A-Yuan’s head, then walked over to stretch himself across the large sofa with a groan. 

“Now that I think about it, maybe a massage would be nice too,” Wei Wuxian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, making A-Yuan laugh.

“How about you, A-Yuan, how did your day go?” Wei Wuxian asked then, searching A-Yuan’s expression discreetly.

“It was good– um, a normal day, just the usual,” A-Yuan stuttered as he sat at the table again.

Wei Wuxian saw his blush, and smiled. 

Because A-Yuan had never done something like this before, Wei Wuxian didn’t even know what to do in such a situation. Should he subtly let on to A-Yuan that he knew about him skipping class?

But… subtlety was not Wei Wuxian’s strong suit.

And if A-Yuan wanted to hide it, Wei Wuxian should probably let him try, though his son’s lying skills could use some improvement.

For now, Wei Wuxian decided to just nod and move on.

“Nice. Did you eat anything for dinner yet? ‘Cuz I’m starving, I can get something for you too?” Wei Wuxian stood up and grabbed some dried fruits and nuts from the kitchen cabinet.

“Thank you, A-Die, I ate already,” A-Yuan replied, then stopped scribbling in his notebook. “A-Die… Remember the time you first told me about how you found me in the autumn forest?”

“Maybe..?” Wei Wuxian came to sit on the chair next to A-Yuan. “Why?”

“I had started sleeping in my own room, and had a nightmare?” A-Yuan tried to juggle Wei Wuxian’s memory.

“Ah, that time,” Wei Wuxian nodded, his lips curling up wistfully.

A-Yuan was around five or six when Wei Wuxian had built A-Yaun’s bedroom, made him a bunny shaped headboard with his own hands, and decorated the room together with an excited A-Yuan.

But right on the first night, A-Yuan had woken up with a scream in the middle of the night.

Not used to sleeping alone after years of hearing A-Yuan’s soft breaths next to him, Wei Wuxian had still been lying awake, and had sprung up at the sound.

He had dashed to A-Yuan, and found him crying, standing in the centre of his room.

“Bad dream,” A-Yuan had sobbed, big tears rolling down his cheeks.

“Shh, it is okay, my little radish, I’m here now,” Wei Wuxian had cooed immediately, his rattling heartbeat calming after seeing A-Yuan safe and unharmed.

A-Yuan had held his arms up with a pout, his large eyes shiny. Wei Wuxian had quickly complied and picked him up, stroking his hair and kissing his temple.

Immediately, A-Yuan had buried his face in Wei Wuxian’s neck and sniffled wetly, his arms winding around Wei Wuxian’s neck.

“Do you wanna tell A-Die your dream?” Wei Wuxian had asked gently after a while, hoping to soothe his fears.

“A-Yuan was alone in the forest,” his son had explained with a blubber. “It was night, and A-Yuan was scared.”

“Aiyah, you don't need to be scared about that, my silly radish,” Wei Wuxian had assured easily, settling on A-Yuan’s bed and leaning against the headboard with A-Yuan clutched to his chest. “Do you wanna know why you don’t need to be afraid of being alone?”

When A-Yuan had shaken his head no, looking up at him curiously, Wei Wuxian had smiled, “‘Cuz A-Die will always come if A-Yuan is alone. I won’t ever let you be scared! If my little radish is ever alone in the forest, I will instantly come there and find you, just like when I find you in hide-and-seek, yeah?”

Wei Wuxian had wiped A-Yuan’s tears as A-Yuan nodded, his sleep-warmed body starting to lose its tension.

“And you know… That is actually how A-Die first found you,” Wei Wuxian had revealed in a serious voice. “You were alone in the forest, a tiny baby in a glowing cranesbill flower. It was nighttime and I was watching the moon, when I suddenly heard a small voice calling, ‘A-Die, A-Die!’. I walked through the whole autumn forest, and when I found you, you smiled and said, ‘A-Die found me!’. Then I took you home, and you became my A-Yuan!”

A-Yuan had been wide-eyed at the slightly embellished tale, his nightmare long forgotten.

“A-Yuan baby was alone?”

“Only till I found you,” Wei Wuxian had hugged A-Yuan close, hoping to slowly lull him to sleep again. “And I will always find you. But… being alone is not too bad sometimes. Did you know, in the winter forest, there is a fairy who has a huuuge library, with sooo many books that even A-Die could not count them all! And that fairy sits in his library every single day, with all of his books and no one else. And he likes it, being alone, just writing and reading books all day…”

“Why does the fairy have so many books?”

“Well, the fairy is called the knowledge-keeper, so he looks after all those books,” Wei Wuxian had whispered, feeling his chest ache with a familiar sweet hurt. “But I am sure when A-Yuan grows up, he will have even more books! There will be so many books that they will explode out of our house, and Aunt Wen Qing will scold us for making a mess!”

A-Yuan had given a soft giggle in response, then nuzzled into him sleepily, mumbling, “A-Die, sing me a lullaby?”

Wei Wuxian had begun humming the incomplete melody that A-Yuan had always fallen asleep to, pulling a blanket over A-Yuan as he began to drift off.

He had also fallen asleep with A-Yuan in his arms soon after, dreaming about A-Yuan in a huge library, reading a book in the arms of a fairy with blue robes and soft golden eyes.

“I decided to get you used to sleeping alone gradually after that, afraid that you would have another nightmare…” Wei Wuxian sighed. “But where did this come from, A-Yuan?”

“Nothing, just…” A-Yuan hesitated, scratching his forehead. “The fairy you were talking about, the knowledge-keeper, really exists?”

Wei Wuxian cleared his dry throat, looking away, “Yeah.”

“How did you know about him and his library? Does Aunt Yanli know him, did she tell you about him?”

“Not– really, but, doesn’t it make sense that someone called a knowledge-keeper would have, like, a large library? Anyway– why are you curious about this all of a sudden?”

“I just,” A-Yuan hummed, unsure. “I heard about a knowledge-keeper fairy in the winter forest, and suddenly remembered what you had told me.”

“Alright…” Wei Wuxian concurred, voice quiet. “But I wasn't serious, A-Yuan, don’t take everything your A-Die says to heart. I will… rest in my room for a bit, okay?”

A-Yuan nodded, looking at Wei Wuxian worriedly as he pushed away the plate of dried fruit and nuts untouched.

Wei Wuxian sighed. He leaned forward to press their foreheads together.

“I love you, little radish. Study some more, and then let’s do something together tonight, huh? We can stargaze if you want, it’s gonna be a cloudless night. What do you say?”

A-Yuan nodded quickly. “Okay. And I love you too, A-Die.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes crinkled with his smile.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Two weeks later on a slow and peaceful day, Jiang Yanli came to visit Wei Wuxian.

The two were having light snacks in Wei Wuxian’s backyard, Jiang Yanli trying to convince Wei Wuxian that Jiang Cheng had not been trying to hurt or insult him that morning.

“... A-Cheng doesn’t know that you don’t have the choice to fly anymore. So in his own way, he is trying to help you get over what he believes is your anxiety and fear. Goad you into it, like you two always do to each other.”

“I know, Jiejie, I know he is trying to help,” Wei Wuxian allowed. “But how can I make him stop bringing it up? It is not like I can grow new wings. I would, if I could!”

Jiang Yanli sighed, “I still think you should tell him. Or at least imply that your wings will not heal, so he can come to his own conclusion. And A-Cheng would not judge you–”

Suddenly a squirrel scurried up to Jiang Yanli, its tail flicking back-and-forth rapidly as it made clicky, choppy sounds at her.

Jiang Yanli’s eyes grew wide as her hand flew to her mouth with a silent gasp. 

She stood up quickly, her head whipping towards Wei Wuxian.

“A-Xian. I need you to do something. There is an urgent situation, but I don’t know if I should be there. My presence might require certain repercussions.”

Wei Wuxian stood up straight, nodding. He understood that whatever was going on was serious enough to get someone in trouble, and Jiang Yanli was trying to protect them by turning a blind eye.

Then Jiang Yanli asked the most unexpected question.

“Do you have any potions ready to use?”

Wei Wuxian did a double take. “Huh? N–no, Jiejie, I don’t make potions anymore–”

Jiang Yanli held up a hand. “A-Xian, if you have any, please tell me, it could be really helpful right now.”

“...I do have some, stocked just in case. But what potion do we need?”

“A warmth potion,” Jiang Yanli replied, and Wei Wuxian blinked in confusion.

“I have a couple of bottles, but why? What is going on?”

“Don’t panic,” Jiang Yanli held Wei Wuxian’s shoulders, holding him in place. “But I think A-Yuan crossed the winter border.”

“What?!” Wei Wuxian screamed, heart in his throat. “Jiejie, I need to go–”

Jiang Yanli caught his arm. “I will send Wen Qing over.”

Wei Wuxian nodded, then rushed into his house. He went to where his potions were hidden under the floorboards, one of each kind prepared for emergencies, and stuffed a warmth potion into his satchel. Then he ran out, whistling for Lil’ Apple.

Lil’ Apple materialised in a moment, noticing Wei Wuxian’s urgency. Wei Wuxian sprung onto Lil’ Apple’s back before he could even crouch down. “Lil’ Apple, winter border!”

Wei Wuxian felt the forest moving around him in a daze, not really comprehending anything.

When the border emerged in his sight, he inhaled sharply, the sight of two boys half-dragging, half-carrying A-Yuan exacerbating his panic.

“A-Yuan!” Wei Wuxian jumped off the moment Lil’ Apple was close to the ground, running to A-Yuan and grabbing his face.

His cheeks were so cold.

“Uncle! Please help him!” Jin Ling yelled, his eyes teary as he and Ouyang Zizhen lowered A-Yuan to the ground with Wei Wuxian’s support.

“A-Die?” A-Yuan mumbled, his eyelids parting for a second before they gave up again.

“I’m here, A-Yuan, A-Die is here. Let’s sit up a bit, huh?” Wei Wuxian mumbled, trying to calm himself. His hands shook as he tried to uncap the bottle of warmth potion, and he struggled to lift A-Yuan’s head up to help him drink.

Jin Ling helped, holding A-Yuan’s head while Wei Wuxian tipped the bottle slowly, till A-Yuan had drunk all of the yellow liquid.

A glow surrounded A-Yuan before sinking into his skin.

Wei Wuxian gently touched A-Yuan’s cheek as he waited with bated breath for the potion to take effect. His skin was too pale and frigid, like he could crack at any touch. Afraid that he could be frostbitten, Wei Wuxian did not rub or try to heat his skin, just waited for the potion’s magic to warm him from the inside.

Soon enough, A-Yuan woke up with a gasp, echoed by all three of the people gathered above him.

“A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian bent down to kiss his forehead, eyes going blurry at the warmth he felt.

A-Yuan’s skin gradually got its colour back as the potion took hold, his cheeks quickly turning pink as the heat enveloped his body completely. 

“A-Die, what are you doing here?” A-Yuan mumbled and Wei Wuxian couldn't help but pull back with a fierce expression.

“What am I doing here? What were you doing in the winter forest?! Do you boys realise what could have just happened?”

“A-Die…” A-Yuan tried to sit up straighter, but his arms were still too weak to hold him up and he fell back into Wei Wuxian’s grasp. “I am sorry. I just… We wanted to see the winter forest…”

Wei Wuxian sighed, rubbing his eyes roughly.

“Can you move your wings?” he asked, pulling A-Yuan to stand up with him. “Try it, slowly. Be gentle.”

A-Yuan moved his wings a little, with a weak twitch, before he flapped them and rose off the ground. Wei Wuxian slumped, dizzy with relief.

“Good,” he patted A-Yuan’s head when he touched down again. “Now, who wants to tell me why you thought going into the winter forest would be a good idea?”

“Don’t look at me!” Jin Ling spoke up, miffed. “I told them we shouldn’t do it, but they didn’t listen!”

“We wanted to see the winter forest, just once!” Ouyang Zizhen said with forlorn eyes.

“And you thought these coats would be enough?” Wei Wuxian asked incredulously, pointing at their haphazardly made coats.

“Um, no, we knew they wouldn’t be, but–” Jin Ling paused. “Wait… What did you make Wei Yuan drink just now? Was it a medicine?”

A-Yuan shook his head before Wei Wuxian could say anything. 

“No. A-Die, it was a potion, wasn’t it?”

“What?” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, eyes wide. How was this situation turning on him so suddenly? And what did A-Yuan know about potions? “What do you mean, A-Yuan? A potion?”

“It felt the same as when I drank Jingyi’s warmth potion,” A-Yuan mumbled with averted eyes.

Jingyi?

Who was Jingyi? And– had this Jingyi made A-Yuan drink a warmth potion?

Wei Wuxian followed A-Yuan’s gaze to the winter border, realising for the first time that there was a young winter fairy there, watching them with scared eyes.

He was dressed in blue, with a startlingly familiar white forehead ribbon, his hair held in a high ponytail with an even more familiar-looking red ribbon.

He was kneeling at the border, hands fisted tightly and body tense.

When the fairy saw them looking at him, he swallowed, before asking wetly, “Are you okay, A-Yuan?” 

A-Yuan nodded quickly, walking a little closer to the border. “I am fine, Jingyi, don’t worry.”

The fairy lost all tension like a puppet with its strings cut, mumbling apologies that A-Yuan calmly dismissed as unnecessary.

Wei Wuxian sighed, rubbing at the headache that was forming between his temples.

“Okay, boys, let’s rewind this.” He pointed at the winter fairy, “Who are you?”

The boy stood up to quickly bow towards Wei Wuxian, wiping at his eyes. “I am Lan Jingyi, sir, from Cloud Recesses. I am very sorry about what happened to A-Yuan, I don't understand why it happened!”

Wei Wuxian turned to the other three standing with their hands clasped in front of them guiltily.

“And how do you three know Lan Jingyi?” Wei Wuxian asked, confused how they even got to meet a winter fairy in the first place.

“Umm… The summer festival last month… You didn't want to go, so I went with Jin Ling and Zizhen, right?” A-Yuan began hesitantly. “But then, we decided to leave early and come to the winter border instead. Everyone was at the festival so we thought it’d be the best time to just have a look, and see the snow from afar.”

“You went to the winter border? Without telling anyone?!” Wei Wuxian started pacing with his hands in his hair. “I knew you were hiding something from me, you were acting too strange! But I thought you were just skipping classes to swim in the lake or something, not to come to the winter border!”

“You knew that I skipped classes?" A-Yuan winced, looking ashamed and apologetic.

“Of course we didn’t tell anyone! Who’d let us if we did?” Jin Ling protested at the same time, trying to sound justified.

“We wanted to have a look at the border and come back right away,” Ouyang Zizhen explained loudly, suppressing the other two. “But then, we met Jingyi. He had also come to the border secretly, and he called out to us.”

“And what were you doing at the border, Jingyi?” Wei Wuxian turned to the winter fairy, ignoring the three boys next to him.

“I wanted to see the fireworks,” Lan Jingyi muttered. “I hear their sound sometimes, and I heard from my uncle that there would be a summer festival and that that’s when they have fireworks. I thought I could perhaps see them from the border.”

Hearing the simple reason, Wei Wuxian felt sorry for this winter fairy, looking to be the same age or younger than his son, who couldn’t join the festivals that warm-weather fairies took for granted.

“I couldn’t really see the fireworks from here, but I saw some warm-weather fairies. I thought that maybe they would want to be friends,” Jingyi continued.

“We agreed, and started meeting up here to just talk and play around. Then last week, Jingyi said that he could make a warmth potion for us if we wanted to go to the winter forest,” Ouyang Zizhen took over the story. “A-Yuan said he’d try the potion first, and if it worked, we’d all go. Jing Ling and I were waiting here for them, but then Jingyi brought A-Yuan back, carrying him on Miss Bunny Bunny, and then you came right after!”

“Miss Bunny Bunny?” Wei Wuxian asked with a violent cough. Did everyone in the Cloud Recesses have the same sense in naming animals?

“Miss Bunny Bunny is Jingyi’s bunny,” Jin Ling explained as if it was not clear.

“But it is not my pet, we are each other’s,” Jingyi said defensively, and Wei Wuxian felt his breath catch in his throat, the words familiar from a distant memory close to his heart.

He shook his head, trying to focus on the present, on this gang of rule-breakers.

“So you made A-Yuan drink a potion you made for the first time?”

“I tried it first, obviously!” the winter fairy scoffed, looking offended. “It did work! It was very warm! It was very uncomfortable and I rolled in the snow all night to cool down.”

Jin Ling snickered, before a look from Wei Wuxian shut him up.

“I guess it doesn’t work the same way on a warm-weather fairy though,” Lan Jingyi said with his head bowed, only to be interrupted by A-Yuan.

“It did work well at first, I didn’t feel the cold at all! But… it stopped working before we could go too far.”

“How did you make the warmth potion?” Wei Wuxian asked Jingyi, unable to keep his curiosity restrained. 

This was the first fairy Wei Wuxian had met in his life that had made a potion! 

Even if it didn't work for long, and almost killed his son.

“Um. Me?” Jingyi pointed at himself, and everyone nodded in unison. “I grinded banana seeds, and mixed it with fairy dust and water.”

“Okay…” Wei Wuxian nodded, then rubbed his temples again. “Nice base– It was smart to use banana seeds, they give a boost of energy that increases body temperature. But you need something to bind its warmth effect to longevity, otherwise it will just be a quick burst of warmth!”

“So… What should I add?” asked Jingyi, his large eyes blinking curiously.

“I don't know, something that will increase the duration and keep the warmth in,” Wei Wuxian shrugged. “I used sea otter fur, they are really good at preserving warmth even in the cold waters, and it was effective for me.”

“Sea otter fur… Got it!” Jingyi nodded firmly, and Wei Wuxian looked at him sharply.

“What do you mean, 'Got it’? There is no getting anything, I am not saying these so you continue making potions!”

“Then why are you saying it?” Jin Ling asked in confusion.

“So his curiosity will be satisfied!” Wei Wuxian said, like it was obvious. “And why are you meddling in potions, Lan Jingyi? Don’t you know it is forbidden?”

“You– You just gave A-Yuan a potion too!” Jingyi yelped.

“Well, I don't make potions anymore,” Wei Wuxian huffed, looking away. “I have seen how dangerous they are– And you must have too, after this. A-Yuan could have died, or lost his wings today, and if you really are his friend, you should take that seriously.”

The boys all turned somber, their expressions tightening.

“Of course, sir,” Jingyi mumbled, his head bent low. 

Wei Wuxian sighed. He knew how it felt to put someone’s life at risk with your potions, and didn’t want to blame this young fairy any more than he was probably already blaming himself.

But he also didn't want to see his own son flightless or hurt.

“Alright, go home now, Lan Jingyi, how worried your parents must have been when you were sneaking away!” Wei Wuxian shook his head, shooing the winter fairy back to his home.

“His father is the knowledge-keeper!” A-Yuan blurted out excitedly. “The one you told me about!”

Wei Wuxian froze, feeling like he was struck by lightning.

“Yeah, and his uncle is Winter Lord Lan,” Jin Ling supported.

“You are Lan Zh– Lan Wangji’s son?” Wei Wuxian breathed, hoping that his stutter went unnoticed.

“Yes?” Jingyi blinked. “How do you know my father’s name?”

“I– heard it in passing,” Wei Wuxian mumbled, his heart aching as he tried to swallow through his suddenly dry throat.

Was Lan Zhan married? 

To whom? Did he love them? 

Did they love Lan Zhan as much as Wei Wuxian had loved him?

Wei Wuxian suddenly regretted that time years ago, when Jiang Yanli had first tried to mention something about Lan Zhan and he had shut her down, not wanting to learn anything that could break his heart even more.

He exhaled shakily now, ignoring his messy thoughts.

“Anyway, let’s all go home,” Wei Wuxian turned to go. “Never mention this to anyone, and never try potions again.”

But he was stopped short.

“Baba!” Jingyi suddenly gasped, and Wei Wuxian whipped around.

His face went slack the instant he saw Lan Zhan, landing gracefully behind Jingyi with a bunny next to him.

Lan Zhan had not changed one bit.

His blue robes fluttered where he stood, his face serious and eyes a bright golden.

He was still glowing as he always did.

When their eyes met across the border, goosebumps spread over Wei Wuxian’s whole body in a moment, then a fever burned in his chest.

Time froze.

The wind stopped, and all sound cut off.

Lan Zhan looked as shocked and affected as Wei Wuxian felt, and Wei Wuxian didn’t know how to feel.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan’s deep voice whispered. 

It was too low to be heard clearly across the distance but Wei Wuxian heard it as if it was spoken right into his ear and shivered.

Then, suddenly, Lan Zhan’s molten eyes turned guarded, and his face closed off.

He nodded to Wei Wuxian once, before turning to Jingyi.

Wei Wuxian almost flinched.

“Jingyi. What is happening?”

“Baba…” Jingyi bowed his head again, scratching at his arm. “Can I explain at home…?”

“Are you harmed?” Lan Zhan asked instead of answering his son, and sighed when Jingyi quickly shook his head. “Alright. We shall talk at home.”

He turned back to Wei Wuxian again.

Despite his calm bearing, Lan Zhan’s gaze was still alluringly intense, and Wei Wuxian burned with the desire to move closer. He yearned to be near him for just a moment, see him better, catalogue all the little changes the years must have left on him, however unnoticeable across the distance.

But he clenched his jaw, trying to hold back any emotion from showing on his face.

Clasping his hands together, he gave Lan Zhan a tight nod.

Lan Zhan nodded back, before he turned around and gestured for Jingyi to follow in a fluid motion, everything about him as elegant and dignified as ever.

The bunny, who Wei Wuxian now realised must be Miss Bunny Bunny, and was likely the kit of Miss Bunny, hopped after the two of them.

Wei Wuxian watched them walk away until Lan Zhan and Jingyi darted up, flying away till they were out of sight.

Someone cleared their throat.

“Should we… leave too?” asked Ouyang Zizhen, before he was shushed by A-Yuan and Jin Ling.

A flutter of wings and a hurried landing broke Wei Wuxian out of his trance. “Wei Wuxian!”

Wei Wuxian lifted his eyes to see Wen Qing and Wen Ning rushing towards them, with a large bag of healing supplies.

“Sorry, we were at the spring forest,” Wen Ning gasped. “We came as fast as we could.”

“What happened?” Wen Qing asked, looking at A-Yuan’s pupils then turning him around to check for wounds. “You look fine. Queen Yanli said you needed help?”

“I am alright now, Aunty, thank you,” A-Yuan smiled sheepishly, and Wen Qing sighed.

“You shouldn't worry me like that then!” She gently slapped A-Yuan’s shoulder, then picked up her large bag. “Let’s go, it is cold here.”

Everyone took off, before noticing that Wei Wuxian wasn’t following them. 

“You guys go, I will take the long way home,” Wei Wuxian said, patting Lil’ Apple, who had walked closer to Wei Wuxian when everyone began flying. Then Wei Wuxian pointed at A-Yuan. “You, mister, are heading straight home. We have a lot to talk about.”

A-Yuan nodded contritely, before flying away.

Wei Wuxian jumped onto Lil’ Apple, and guided him towards the scenic route, hoping to collect his thoughts until he reached home.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Wei Wuxian stroked Lil’ Apple’s beak with a wistful sigh.

“Did you see him, Lil’ Apple?” He leaned his forehead on Lil’ Apple’s warm neck. “He still looks the same as years ago.”

Lil’ Apple made a soft coo and nudged Wei Wuxian like he was trying to comfort him. Wei Wuxian smiled. “Thank you for today, Lil’ Apple. Good night.”

With a final wave to Lil’ Apple, Wei Wuxian walked into his house to find A-Yuan dozing on the couch.

He couldn’t help but release a fondly exasperated sigh. A-Yuan must have been exhausted from the day’s events, the terror and the cold. Wei Wuxian walked lightly to not make a noise, gently grabbing the throw blanket and spreading it over A-Yuan.

But A-Yuan woke up anyway. His eyelids fluttered with a deep inhale as he pushed himself to sit up. “A-Die? You are here?”

“Go back to sleep, A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian sat next to him, stroking his hair. “Or do you wanna go to your bed?”

Yuan shook his head, rubbing his eyes with a yawn. “No, I want to speak with you.”

“Alright,” Wei Wuxian breathed. “Let’s speak. Do you want to start by telling me why you went to the winter forest?"

“I was curious.” A-Yuan looked into Wei Wuxian’s eyes, rueful but honest. “I know it was dangerous, but I trust Jingyi. And Jin Ling and Zizhen were waiting right by the border in case something happened.”

“And what could they do?” Wei Wuxian questioned in disbelief. “They are not healers.”

“Um,” A-Yuan scratched his eyebrow. “I guess… we didn’t think it through that well. To be honest, I thought that even if something went wrong, I’d be fine if I just came back to the warm side.”

Wei Wuxian sighed, closing his eyes. “That’s not how it works, A-Yuan. Everything doesn’t get fixed once you return.”

“...I am sorry, A-Die,” A-Yuan whispered, touching a hesitant hand to Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. 

Wei Wuxian couldn't take hearing his son sound so disheartened. He opened his arms, pulling A-Yuan into a tight hug.

“It is fine now. But, please, little radish, don’t scare me like that again. No more potions, okay?” Wei Wuxian pulled back slightly to look at A-Yuan’s eyes. “And think of Jingyi’s parents too, can you imagine how the two of them would feel if their son was exiled to the humanland for potion-making?”

A-Yuan blinked. “Jingyi only has his father, just like me. His father was there today, remember?”

“Oh,” Wei Wuxian exhaled. “Yeah, I remember.”

A big part of his convoluted thoughts since he had realised Lan Zhan had a child were now suddenly cut off, a relief spreading through his body and his heart calming. 

Then A-Yuan spoke again.

“A-Die, what if– What if Jingyi tried another potion? This time I would test it right at the border, and if anything went wrong, I would come straight to you, or Aunt Wen Qing!”

“A-Yuan–”

“A-Die, I touched snow today!” A-Yuan insisted urgently. “We couldn't go very far before the potion stopped working, but the winter forest was so beautiful! Everything was white and sparkling! And Jingyi is so fun, and really nice, he didn’t mean to put me at risk!”

“I know, I know, A-Yuan. I understand being curious, or excited to meet someone new. But trust me, you don’t understand the danger.” He stopped A-Yuan when he parted his lips to protest. “Listen, A-Yuan, let me tell you a story about two fairies that crossed the border, and maybe you will understand why I say it is too risky.”

A-Yuan slowly nodded, and Wei Wuxian took a deep breath.

“Decades ago, during a meeting between forests, a potion-making summer fairy met a winter fairy. The winter fairy was very strict and a bit of a loner, but he was kind, and he helped the summer fairy with something very dear to him. Afterwards, the summer fairy kept pestering the winter fairy, convincing him to spend time together. The winter fairy indulged him. At first, they met at the border, secretly, every day. And… they fell in love, deep and fast.”

Wei Wuxian’s heart ached something sweet at the visions clouding his mind’s eye, and he smiled bitterly.

“But then, the summer fairy wanted more. He made a cooling potion, and gave it to the winter fairy. The winter fairy came to the summer forest for him, and the two of them spent the day together, happier than it should be possible. It didn’t last long.”

Swallowing with some difficulty, Wei Wuxian blinked, his hands slightly trembling.

“The potion failed. An animal attacked them right when they were defenseless. The winter fairy almost died. And at the end of the night, the summer fairy had to say goodbye. Returning home barely alive, with broken, useless wings.”

He cleared his throat, noticing now that A-Yuan was looking at him with wide, teary eyes.

“I know this might sound strange coming from me, A-Yuan, but I think… that some rules should really not be broken. Do you understand me?”

A-Yuan nodded timidly. “...Did the two fairies never see each other again?”

Wei Wuxian shook his head, “It was better that way. It was better to know that the person they loved was safe somewhere far away, rather than next to them and in constant danger.”

“But– they loved each other!”

Wei Wuxian chuckled at how passionate A-Yuan looked, and pulled him close. “Sometimes, you love someone so much that you think you could never part from them, and then... a time comes that the only place you get to see them is your dreams.”

He hugged A-Yuan tighter, and kissed his hair. “But life goes on, my little radish. Now, promise me. No more potions, and no more winter forest.”

A-Yuan nodded, and buried his face in Wei Wuxian’s shoulder with a sniffle.

They curled around each other, and stayed like that.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

When Wei Wuxian woke up two days later, it was to rhythmic taps on his window.

A white pigeon was waiting in his yard, its icy saddle facing Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian took stumbling steps towards the pigeon, and found two letters inside the saddle, cold to touch.

One of them was addressed, to Wei Yuan, from Lan Jingyi, with a surprisingly messy handwriting for a Lan.

The other was to Wei Wuxian.

It was more like a note than a letter.

Master Tinker Wei Wuxian, the note said. Upon discussions with my son Lan Jingyi, we have reached an agreement that he will be allowed to communicate with Wei Yuan through letters, if they promise to not cross the border again. Please consider this proposition, and if you see it fit, kindly deliver the accompanying letter to Wei Yuan. Lan Wangji, Cloud Recesses.

Wei Wuxian’s vision doubled for a second, the neat calligraphy on the note superimposed with memories from years ago, when he was a besotted teenager watching long, pale hands diligently write for hours.

He almost brought the note close to his face, to see if it carried a hint of that deep, rich scent that drove him crazy with longing on some nights. But he stopped himself, patting the pigeon and going back inside his house.

Would there be any harm in letting the boys send letters? If they both promised to not throw themselves into danger again, a way to continue their friendship could be a reward for them. And if Lan Zhan was using the Cloud Recesses’ pigeon post, he had likely spoken to his brother already. If Lord Lan hadn’t seen any issues with it, why would Wei Wuxian?

He would ask A-Yuan, and if A-Yuan wanted to, Wei Wuxian would allow him to send a letter.

“A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian knocked on A-Yuan’s door before opening it. “Good morning, little radish, time for school!”

A-Yuan turned and twisted on his bed, before sitting up with a languid stretch. He mumbled sleepily, “Morning, A-Die.”

“Do you wanna have breakfast before class?” 

“Hmm… Maybe. Do you have time to eat with me?”

“Of course, you get ready, I will wait for you.”

Wei Wuxian took out strawberry jam and dried banana slices, making fruit sandwiches and wrapping some of them in a leaf for A-Yuan to take to school.

A-Yuan walked in, much more awake, and set his satchel bag near the door. 

They sat side by side and ate quietly, the slow morning peaceful and comfortable.

After finishing his sandwich, Wei Wuxian put Jingyi’s letter on the table.

“So… there is a letter for you. From Jingyi,” A-Yuan stopped eating but didn’t make a sound, looking at Wei Wuxian with large eyes. Wei Wuxian shrugged, “If you want it.”

“I do,” A-Yuan agreed quickly, reaching for the letter. Wei Wuxian pulled it back, holding up a finger.

“Apparently the condition is that you two promise to never cross borders. You already promised me, but you should also speak with A-Ling and Zizhen. Then, you three can write your letters and we can send them to the Cloud Recesses.”

“Don’t worry, A-Die, none of us will go close to the border without permission ever again! I will make the others promise too!” A-Yuan declared, a wide grin blooming on his face.

“Alright, if you say so,” Wei Wuxian smiled, happy to see A-yuan look so bright again after the last couple of gloomy days.

A-Yuan was too energetic to stay still after that, wiggling in his seat and swinging his feet as he read Jingyi’s letter. Then he jumped up and gave Wei Wuxian a goodbye hug before leaving for his class.

Wei Wuxian shook his head, and went to get ready himself. He put on a comfortable outfit and grabbed his reports and checklists. He had planned a full day today, and he was excited to get to it.

Wei Wuxian first visited the workshops of his tinker fairies, doing quality checks on their products and assigning new tasks as necessary. Then he had a practical session with the new tinkers about ideas and inventions, where they brainstormed, sketched, and made models. 

It was productive and interesting, and Wei Wuxian felt fulfilled when he returned home in the evening. He jumped off Lil' Apple, walking inside with a pep in his step.

He stopped when he saw the letters sitting on the kitchen table. 

They were clearly addressed to Jingyi, with A-Yuan, Jin Ling, and Ouyang Zizhen's names written on them.

Wei Wuxian imagined the kids sitting around a table, all writing a letter to Jingyi, and felt his lips curl up fondly. It was bittersweet that the kids could only speak to each other through letters, but it was adorable that they obviously wanted to continue their friendship regardless of the distance.

Wei Wuxian imagined, for a second, what it would have been like if he had kept in contact with Lan Zhan all throughout these years. If they had been old enough to be able to send letters to each other freely, or if they had asked their older siblings for help.

If they could have sent life updates to each other, new books or poems they read, stories about their friends and animals. 

Or perhaps, even love letters.

Would speaking through letters have been enough for Wei Wuxian to feel like Lan Zhan was next to him? Like they were as close as they were under that sunlit baby’s breath garden years ago, when he was held in Lan Zhan’s arms?

Would it have been better than nothing? This emptiness that was created when they parted with a rift, would it have never existed, if Wei Wuxian hadn't cut Lan Zhan off like that?

Or would only being able to send letters to each other have driven Wei Wuxian crazy, until he did something actually crazy?

Wei Wuxian quickly shook his head and picked up the stack of letters, planning to send them with the winter forest's pigeon when it next visited.

The pigeon arrived at the same time the next week. It rapped softly on his window then waited patiently for Wei Wuxian to come outside. Wei Wuxian placed the letters in its cold, snowflake embroidered satchel, along with the note he had written after a long internal conflict.

His note simply read:

Knowledge-keeper Lan Wangji, 

I agree with your offer. A-Yuan and his friends shall exchange letters with Lan Jingyi as they wish.

Wei Wuxian had kept it simple, just enough to ensure Lan Zhan that the letters were sent with his permission.

He didn’t need to say anything else, as neither had Lan Zhan.

Thankfully, this exchange of letters between the boys went on smoothly, and Wei Wuxian sent and received letters through the white pigeon every week.

There were no other notes sent for Wei Wuxian himself.

Wei Wuxian hid his disappointment in the deepest parts of his heart, and carried on with his life. Like everything was normal, like his son was not exchanging letters with Lan Zhan’s son.

He busied himself with his duties and ignored everything else.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

It was time for another council meeting a couple of weeks later. 

Wei Wuxian put on his more formal robes, with a slightly heavier cut and more intricate pattern, and prepared himself to suffer through a long and dragging day.

Surprisingly enough, Lord Lan greeted him with a nod when Wei Wuxian walked into the meeting hall. Wei Wuxian was caught too off-guard to react with anything other than wide eyes, but Lord Lan simply smiled and turned away, back to speaking with his advisor. Wei Wuxian walked to his own seat, shaking his head.

He was still not used to seeing Lord Lan.

The meeting hall was built so that the winter fairies did not need to cross the border. Lord Lan, Advisor Yao, Miss Snowflake, and other winter fairies part of Jiang Yanli's council of advisors had their seats arranged in a half-circle on the winter side, while warm-weather fairies reflected the half-circle arrangement with their seats arranged on the autumn side.

Jiang Yanli was positioned at the head of the circle, right in the middle of the border. She did not feel the cold despite other warm-weather fairies being wrapped in coats every meeting to get through without trembling.

Wei Wuxian saw Jiang Cheng enter the hall, buried in so many layers that he would probably not get a scratch if he rolled down a rocky hill. He nudged Jiang Cheng with a chuckle, earning an eye roll and a scoff as Jiang Cheng settled in the seat next to him. 

After he heard the news of A-Yuan crossing the border, Jiang Cheng had teased Wei Wuxian heavily about A-Yuan finally being the child Wei Wuxian deserved to have, much to Wei Wuxian’s annoyance. But he had also called the boys to speak to them seriously about not crossing the border again, so Wei Wuxian had forgiven him.

Jiang Cheng had been joining these council meetings far longer than Wei Wuxian, Uncle Jiang having appointed him in his place two years ago. Though Jiang Cheng had been ready to rage and easily stressed about responsibilities in his youth, once he received the position of Summer Lord, he took to his role very well. Uncle Jiang supported him every step of the way, and assigned him duties gradually till Jiang Cheng was able to handle his leadership role confidently.

Wei Wuxian felt proud to see his younger brother like this, sure and comfortable in his skin.

The council meeting went as usual, long and boring, all the advisors submitting their reports to Jiang Yanli one-by-one. Wei Wuxian also presented the tinker fairies’s preparations for the next season, and summarised their future plans and projects.

When Wei Wuxian’s explanation ended, Treasurer Jin started bombarding him with insults disguised as questions. 

Wei Wuxian was used to that, and just rolled his eyes in unison with Wen Qing, who was sitting close by in just a single coat, not feeling the cold of the border as much as Jiang Cheng did.

Jin Guangshan attended the council meetings as the Treasurer, still adamant to hold his title despite all his agemates leaving their posts to the younger generation, keeping Jin Zixuan as his assistant even now.

It would have been fine, of course, to have a wise elder to guide and advise them in the council – if Jin Guangshan had been a wise elder. 

But Jin Guangshan was just a self-obsessed man with questionable ideals, and he was a pain to everyone in the meetings. He loved degrading any and everyone to make himself feel better, especially Wei Wuxian for reasons unbeknownst to him. Luckily, Wei Wuxian didn't care enough about his opinions to feel insulted.

"...I'm sure Young Tinker Wei has also prepared new tools to distribute fairy dust to fairies on duty in humanland, seeing as you criticised our current methods so much in the last meeting," Jin Guangshan was still speaking, in that lax and arrogant way of his.

Wei Wuxian swallowed his annoyance. Replying to Jin Guangshan only made him more insufferable, so he kept quiet.

Sadly, Jin Guangshan went to open his mouth again, and Wei Wuxian sighed internally.

"While the topic has come up, allow me to express our gratitude to Master Tinker Wei," Lord Lan spoke up suddenly, like he hadn’t noticed Jin Guangshan wasn't done speaking yet. Wei Wuxian didn't know if Lord Lan had intentionally stopped Jin Guangshan’s words or not, but he felt grateful regardless.

Though being directly spoken to by Lord Lan was slightly surprising.

"Your recent invention, the box that keeps summer fruits fresh for longer, has been really effective. The most recent cargo was a successful attempt, and we are preparing for new cargoes soon," Lord Lan said, and Wei Wuxian smiled. 

He had built a storage box with a heated outer layer to keep the fruits from freezing, inspired by Xiao Xingchen's sketches of gadgets in the humanland. It lit a warmth inside Wei Wuxian to know that his invention had helped the winter fairies.

"I'm glad to hear that, Lord Lan," Wei Wuxian replied. "I will prepare more boxes and have them sent over to the winter forest then."

"We would be most grateful," Lord Lan bowed his head.

Then suddenly, his wings shimmered, and started glowing brightly.

Wei Wuxian’s breath caught in his throat. 

Was that..?

When he saw Lan Zhan enter the hall and walk up to Lord Lan, Wei Wuxian suspected that he was hallucinating, or had fallen asleep in the meeting.

“Lan Zhan,” he whispered without intending to, but his voice didn’t reach anyone other than Jiang Cheng, who looked at him with a concerned gaze.

"Xiongzhang," the soft but serious voice spoke up. "Could I have a moment with you?"

Lan Zhan had a snowflake hairpin on, holding his top knot in place. His robes were as impeccable as always, and he stood still and graceful next to his brother.

But Wei Wuxian could tell that the beloved face, which appeared too often in Wei Wuxian’s dreams, was hiding panic right now.

"Wangji?" Lord Lan turned to Lan Zhan in surprise. "What is it? Can it not wait?"

"It is urgent," Lan Zhan insisted, his golden eyes somber.

Lord Lan looked at his brother, then looked helplessly at Jiang Yanli.

"I apologise for my brother’s interruption, Queen Yanli and esteemed council members. It seems an emergency has arisen. If you could excuse me for a moment?"

"Queen Yanli too," Lan Zhan cut in. "She needs to be made aware of the situation quickly."

The stunned silence that had settled over the meeting hall at Lan Zhan's abrupt entrance deepened even more.

Even through the daze of being in the same room as Lan Zhan, Wei Wuxian could realise how strange Lan Zhan was acting. He had barged into the council meeting without waiting for permission, and was demanding the Queen's time.

What could be so important?

And he hadn’t looked at Wei Wuxian at all since entering the hall, though that was a minor detail.

"Of course, if the situation is so urgent," Jiang Yanli agreed, though with slight confusion. "Let us go to the tea room."

Jiang Yanli stood up to leave with Lan Zhan and Lord Lan, through the door that opened into the winter forest.

Just as he was leaving the hall, Lan Zhan slightly turned back to steal a furtive glance at Wei Wuxian, then followed after Jiang Yanli and Lord Lan.

Strangely, that single look made Wei Wuxian feel the tension in his body uncoil.

Whispers rose then got louder till everyone was speaking all at once.

Wei Wuxian pushed off his desk without warning, unable to sit still and wait while not knowing what was going on.

"I gotta go," he murmured to Jiang Cheng, and headed to the door on the autumn side.

"Hey– Wei Wuxian! You can't just– Agh," Jiang Cheng sighed after Wei Wuxian, but Wei Wuxian didn't look back.

He heard Jiang Cheng attempting to calm down the other council members as Wei Wuxian walked out, telling them to wait patiently until Jiang Yanli was back.

The tea room was built south of the meeting hall, a smaller and more casual room used for meetings with less participants. Wei Wuxian almost ran there, his feet stomping on the dry earth surrounding the border.

When he reached the tea room, Lan Zhan, Jiang Yanli, and Lord Lan were standing together, looking at something Lan Zhan was holding.

"What is that?" Wei Wuxian asked, making them all look up at once. "What happened?"

Lan Zhan just looked at him, his eyes moving rapidly across Wei Wuxian’s face as if he was drawing his features.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said quietly instead of replying.

Hearing his name uttered in that voice, Wei Wuxian was suddenly as distracted from the topic as Lan Zhan. He stared back at Lan Zhan across the distance, much closer than that day A-Yuan had crossed the border.

Lan Zhan's golden eyes looked darker now.

Was that possible? Could eye colour change as people got older?

"Wangji was just showing us a letter he received," explained Jiang Yanli, breaking the trance-like moment that had trapped the two.

Wei Wuxian felt a sizzling hurt in his veins at the way Jiang Yanli addressed Lan Zhan so familiarly. Had his sister kept in touch with Lan Zhan all through these years, while Wei Wuxian had not even known Lan Zhan had a son? Had his sister seen Lan Zhan as a new parent, feeding and playing with a baby Jingyi, adorable and awkward? Did they regularly meet up, speaking to each other casually as they had tea together?

Wei Wuxian knew that Jiang Yanli had invited Lan Zhan to join the council years ago, considering his unique role. But after a couple of meetings, Lan Zhan had gotten sick of the slow and windy political discussions, and had stopped attending, giving the excuse that his record-keeping would benefit more from reports and notes from the meetings rather than attending them himself.

Wei Wuxian had heard this through Jiang Yanli's whispers to Jiang Cheng, his heart beating fast when he realised it was Lan Zhan they were discussing about. Then Jiang Yanli had noticed Wei Wuxian and quickly changed the topic, seeing as Wei Wuxian had previously shown a strong aversion to discussing anything related to Lan Zhan.

Now he was reconsidering whether he should have asked for more information about him.

"Jingyi received this letter," Lan Zhan corrected, his expression turning tense again. "From Wei Yuan."

"A-Yuan?” Wei Wuxian asked in surprise. “Why is that such an emergency, didn't you encourage them to exchange letters in the first place?"

"It is the content of the letter that is urgent," Lan Zhan explained. "The letter talks about an egg he found in the spring forest, a drawing of the egg attached. Jingyi showed it to me to ask what the animal was."

Wei Wuxian walked closer to the border line dividing the room, and looked at the drawing. A-Yuan was a good artist, and the picture was beautiful. It was a sparkly silver egg with purple and blue spots, hidden amongst soft green grass and dark leaves.

"Well, A-Yuan has clearly taken some creative liberties with it, but I still don't understand what the issue is?" Wei Wuxian scratched at his eyebrow.

"He has not," Lan Zhan protested, much to all of their confusion. "The drawing is accurate."

"Surely, there are some differences to reality, Wangji?" Lord Lan questioned. "I mean, he noted here that it was glowing?"

Lan Zhan nodded firmly.

"A slu bird egg."

Not even a single breath was heard in the room for a moment.

"The slu birds from the legends, the ones that sense magical power and hunt fairies?" Wei Wuxian asked, voice going higher and higher in his surprise. 

Lan Zhan simply nodded once again.

"Wangji, can it really be a slu bird?" Jiang Yanli asked, eyes concerned and brows furrowed.

"Yes," Lan Zhan said. "They have been extinct for centuries, but they are recorded as the most dangerous magical animal fairies could face, purple birds with blue spots that hatch from a glowing spotted egg. I do not know how an egg has appeared now."

"Perhaps, it has not survived," suggested Lord Lan, looking at Lan Zhan as if Lan Zhan had the power to decide. "Perhaps the bird in the egg is undeveloped?"

"Wei Yuan described that the egg had been twitching, and that a crack was already forming," Lan Zhan informed them grimly. "I fear we do not have much time."

"Okay. How do we beat this thing?" Wei Wuxian asked, determination replacing the panic he had felt.

He would do whatever he could to protect the fairies.

"..."

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian whispered when Lan Zhan kept his quiet, staring at the ground.

"I do not know," Lan Zhan confessed, his voice hushed. "The records only mentioned that it could not survive the cold."

"Well..." Jiang Yanli took a deep breath. "That's good. We know its weakness. Theoretically, if we bring the egg to the winter forest, would it not be enough? If it cannot survive the cold?"

"It should be enough. But the slu bird is too close to hatching," Lan Zhan warned. "It will awaken in hunger and start hunting fairies to feed on their magic once it leaves the egg."

"So we need to hurry, and bring it here in a flash, got it," Wei Wuxian nodded. 

“Yanli-Jie,” Lan Zhan said, giving Wei Wuxian a small heart attack, “Wei Yuan did not write where the egg was found, it would be better to ask him the location rather than search the whole forest.”

“You are right," replied Jiang Yanli. “I will send word for A-Yuan to be brought here quickly, and then we can prepare a group of scout fairies to find and carry the egg here. "Lord Lan, please ask the council to be patient until I assess the situation, and keep them calm while we confirm the egg’s location. If we can find and bring the egg to the winter forest immediately, the danger might pass without anyone needing to know about it."

"Yes, Queen Yanli," Lord Lan nodded firmly. "I will do my best."

“I will stay with you, Jiejie,” said Wei Wuxian, and watched as the Lan brothers left the room with a bow, walking out onto the bright white snow of the winter forest.

Jiang Yanli walked towards the other door, on the autumn side.

"Please go to the fairy school and bring Wei Yuan to us, immediately," she told her guards standing outside the tea room. 

"Yes, Your Majesty!" replied the guards, and one of them parted from the group.

Fortunately, it didn’t take the guard very long to return with A-Yuan in tow.

"A-Die! Aunt Yanli! What is going on?" A-Yuan asked in worry the moment he entered the room.

"We don't have much time to explain, A-Yuan," Jiang Yanli replied. "Can you tell us where you found that egg in the spring forest?"

"What egg?" A-Yuan looked at them with wide eyes. "Wait– The one I saw yesterday? How do you know about that?"

"A-Yuan, just say it please," said Wei Wuxian.

"Um. Next to the large cave entrance," A-Yuan said, still looking anxious. "The one right next to the Qinghe River. I can show you,"

He turned around, but Wei Wuxian held onto his arm to stop his movement. 

“We have to get the scout fairies,” said Wei Wuxian. “They should check that the egg is still there before we do anything else.”

"I will call for them," Jiang Yanli agreed, hurriedly sending her guard to the closest watch tower with an instruction to bring the scout fairies there to her. 

"A-Die," A-Yuan shook Wei Wuxian’s sleeve to grab his attention. "Is something wrong?"

Wei Wuxian turned to see A-Yuan’s wide eyes looking scared. He pulled A-Yuan closer and patted his hair comfortingly.

"Jingyi’s father noticed that the drawing you sent is not a normal animal’s egg. It is a magical bird called slu bird, and it feeds on fairies and their magic. You don’t need to worry though, we are going to find the bird quickly and take care of it.”

Jiang Yanli nodded, then turned to A-Yuan. “You should go back to your class now, A-Yuan. Do not be alone and go to the summer forest after your class ends."

After many assurances that they were all going to be okay, A-Yuan finally nodded and left.

When the scout fairies positioned at the nearest watch tower arrived, Jiang Yanli told them to look for a sparkly egg around the location A-Yuan had described. The two scout fairies jumped into flight, with warnings from Jiang Yanli to be careful.

"Jiejie, we should think of a precaution in the meantime," Wei Wuxian said afterwards.

"You are right," Jiang Yanli agreed. “If we are too late, we might need to find a method to keep the fairies safe while we look for the bird.”

“And even if the bird is found, what are we going to do if we don’t know how to kill it?” asked Wei Wuxian, trying not to sound anxious. “Lan Zhan said that cold fights the bird, but how can we take it to the winter forest if we cannot even go near it?”

“I might have an idea about what to do…” Jiang Yanli hummed, not saying anything else despite Wei Wuxian’s questioning look.

The scout fairies knocked on the door right then.

“Queen Yanli, all we could find were broken pieces of an eggshell, sparkling and with colourful spots like you described,” one of the scout fairies spoke, her expression glum.

“Oh no,” Jiang Yanli rubbed at her forehead, while Wei Wuxian felt his stomach drop. “Thank you, fairies. You can go back to your post.”

Once they left, Jiang Yanli turned to Wei Wuxian, her brows furrowed. "Let's go back to the council first, Lord Lan must be struggling to keep them calm."

Wei Wuxian nodded, and they walked back to the hall.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

A cacophony of angry and rushed voices met them when they entered the meeting hall.

Everyone that had been yelling at Lord Lan paused when they saw Jiang Yanli, but then their questions were directed at her instead.

Jiang Yanli held up a hand to silence the room.

Lord Lan stepped forward in the quiet, and bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, do you have any news for the council?”

"Yes, Lord Lan. I am afraid I do,"Jiang Yanli sat on her throne, and brought her hands together. "Everyone, please, let us all sit. There is something important I need to share with you all. Fairy lives are at stake."

When the hall was settled down, Jiang Yanli explained that a slu bird egg was found in the spring forest. She said that the bird had now hatched, with the eggshell left behind.

"The slu bird is deadly, and it should be found immediately," said Jiang Yanli. "The scout fairies will be tasked with this, but knowledge-keeper Wangji, is there anything we should know that could help fight against the slu bird?"

Lan Zhan, who was standing behind his brother like a silent sentinel, nodded. "The slu bird is not a physical bird, and it absorbs the magical energy of the fairies if it gets close. You should not engage in close range combat when it is found."

“Thank you, Wangji," Jiang Yanli nodded. “Scout Leader Yue, please, if you could arrange your troops to look for the slu bird and head to the spring forest, keeping in mind that close combat is not suggested. Send word to me when the bird is found."

Everyone in the hall was wide-eyed and tense, but Scout Yue bowed and quickly left the meeting, her wings fluttering rapidly even before she took off.

"Your Majesty, we need to think of an action plan for when the slu bird is found, right?" Jiang Cheng spoke up, face serious.

"That's what I want to discuss with you all," Jiang Yanli agreed. "I was told that the slu bird is weak against the cold. So we initially wanted to find and bring the egg to the winter forest, but unfortunately, we were late. Now, I would like to take the council's opinions and form a plan, as quickly as possible."

Wen Qing raised her hand. "I believe we should focus on how to remove the slu bird without getting the fairies in harm's way.”

Everyone in the hall nodded in agreement.

"Surely the scout fairies can kill the bird from afar," said Head Flower Fairy Ming. "Don't they have arrows?"

"Slu bird is not corporeal in the sense that we understand," Lan Zhan reminded. "It does not get injuries from physical attacks."

"Then how can we fight a bird like that!" Jin Guangshan protested loudly, like Lan Zhan himself had made the bird. "How did all fairykind not die in the past?"

"I cannot tell for certain," Lan Zhan said calmly. "They only wrote about fighting the bird using the cold. The records also say that freezing the birds made them evaporate instantly, but they do not mention how to freeze them if the bird is in the warm-weather forest."

"Then the fairies in the spring forest are in danger right now, and there is no way to kill the slu bird even if we find it?" called out a voice.

"Not just spring fairies, all fairies!" said another voice. "Where can we hide in our forests if even the scout fairies cannot kill this bird?"

Minutes of useless discussion passed, circling the same arguments over and over, while the bird was still somewhere in the forest waiting to run into an unfortunate fairy.

"If the slu bird can't survive the cold, can we assume that the winter fairies will be safe?" Wei Wuxian blurted out, then continued when Lan Zhan nodded. "Warm-weather fairies would also be safe from the slu bird if they were in the winter forest?"

A confused silence followed his words.

Lord Nie raised an eyebrow. "If the cold doesn't kill them instead."

"What if the cold didn't kill them?"

"Wei Wuxian."

Wei Wuxian went quiet at Jiang Cheng's warning glare. 

Maybe it would be smart to listen to his brother, and not bring up potions in the middle of all of Neverland's council members.

Even though he was sure that his warmth potions worked till the end, unlike his cooling potions.

"Lord Jiang, let’s listen to Tinker Wei's idea," Jiang Yanli said suddenly. "We need to come up with a solution, and our discussion is not yielding anything. Please, Tinker Wei, tell us what you mean."

Her eyes had a strange glint in them that both encouraged Wei Wuxian and made him feel apprehensive.

"If there was a way to take the warm-weather fairies to the winter forest, they would be safe there until we found a way to kill the slu bird," Wei Wuxian repeated slowly, watching everyone's reaction carefully. For the moment, they looked interested but uncertain. 

"Yes, but how would that be possible?" asked Wen Qing.

"Well, if we make a liquid that would make them immune to the cold..."

"A medicine?" asked Lord Nie. "A medicine like that exists?"

"No," said Wen Qing promptly. "There is no medicine that could protect the warm-weather fairies in the winter forest."

"A potion," Wei Wuxian confessed, heart beating too fast. "I meant a warmth potion."

"You are suggesting we use a potion?" slowly asked Lord Nie after a moment of utter quiet. "Tinker Wei, have you made a potion before?"

"Um. Yes," winced Wei Wuxian. "I can make potions. And if you all agree, I can make warmth potions right now to keep the warm-weather fairies safe in the winter forest."

A second of silence commenced again as everyone comprehended Wei Wuxian's words. Then a commotion exploded in the room, and Wei Wuxian flinched, overwhelmed.

"But potion-making has been banned for centuries!"

"No one knows how to make potions anymore, who taught you?!"

"And potion fairies use fairy dust! If potions weren't banned, fairies would have all gone extinct by now with no magic, flightless!"

"I am not sure that is true," interrupted Jiang Yanli, her voice echoing over the chaos.

A surprised hush blanketed the room instantly.

"Your Majesty?" said Lord Lan, brows furrowed.

"We know that fairies used to make potions since the beginning of time," Jiang Yanli said, calm and sure. "Potion fairies had been a part of fairy life as important as any other talent, just until a few centuries ago. So perhaps, one unfortunate incident should not have made us ban potions completely, but instead look for solutions."

"Queen Yanli, do you mean when the fairy dust tree dried up?" asked Lord Nie. "Can that be classified as 'one unfortunate incident'?"

"It might have been dangerous," allowed Jiang Yanli. "But it was a one-time event, likely caused by increasing fairy population, and could have been solved by other methods. Each fairy talent helps our society in a different way. But potion fairies have been forced to give up their skills for centuries, given other tasks that perhaps left them searching for more. I am sure that potion fairies would have been contributing to Neverland greatly with their potions still, if only they had the opportunity."

Everyone in the hall was looking serious, carefully thinking through Jiang Yanli's words.

“Your Majesty… Do you think that a fairy dabbling in potion-making would have been a potion talent fairy had they not been banned?” Lord Lan’s advisor Yao questioned softly.

“Yes. And I think that is why some fairies feel the instinct to make potions.” Jiang Yanli nodded. “Imagine forcing animal fairies to never interact with animals. Would they not still find their way to animals, despite any rules?”

"It would be cruel for fairies to be controlled like that, I understand your point, Queen Yanli,” replied Fairy Ming. “But …even if potion fairies were given another chance, how could we make sure that they do not run the fairy dust tree dry again?"

"Of course that would be the most undesirable," said Jiang Yanli. "That’s why I have been planning a method to gradually bring potion-making talent back. I did not expect such an urgent situation to come up, but if the use of potions can help fairies survive, I'd like to quickly propose my plan so that we can use the potions now and remove the threat of slu bird without any casualties."

As Jiang Yanli explained her plan on how to create a system that allowed monitored potion-making, and how the impact of potions on other talents would be observed to ensure there were no clashes, Wei Wuxian listened with wide eyes and jittery hands.

According to Jiang Yanli’s plan to introduce potion fairies to Neverland again, all fairies were going to be invited to come and test whether they could be potion fairies. They would try and produce one potion in front of Jiang Yanli purely by relying on their instincts, and if they succeeded, they would be allowed to experiment more with potions. They would be given one acorn-full of fairy dust a week, and would have to log in exactly what potion they used the fairy dust for, the ingredients, and the method of preparation. The potion recipes would be tested repeatedly and then gathered together to create a recipe book.

Wei Wuxian didn't know what to think. 

He was grateful that his sister was advocating for something about Wei Wuxian that Wei Wuxian himself didn't have the courage or power to. But it was something that he had forced himself to give up years ago. Now, he wasn't sure how he would feel about making potions again.

Especially the one specific potion that he would never touch again.

When Jiang Yanli's explanation was over, everyone in the hall looked pleased, and willing to give her plan a chance.

A quick show of hands with the majority in support proved that she had indeed convinced the Neverland council to allow a trial of potion-making.

"So from today on," Jiang Yanli brought her hands together, "I am announcing a period of monitored potion-making, where Treasurer Jin will be reviewing the amount of fairy dust used and its impact on the tree. If we do not see an adverse effect in any way or form, we will implement a new system for the potion fairies."

"So you are removing a ban put into place by our ancestors?" asked Jin Guangshan angrily.

Wei Wuxian took a deep breath to speak up but he was interrupted.

"Why not?" a young voice yelled passionately.

Everyone stared in surprise at the winter fairy that barged into the hall.

"Jingyi, what are you doing here?" Lord Lan asked Jingyi while Lan Zhan just looked on with a long-suffering expression.

"How can the fairy society change and improve if we keep holding onto old rules without questioning them?” Jingyi said, ignoring his father and uncle. “What is wrong with making potions if it is a fairy's natural talent?!"

Had Jingyi been eavesdropping on a council meeting?

So Lan Zhan's son was an eavesdropping, rule-breaking potion-maker. 

Interesting.

He was also the one that had influenced Wei Wuxian's son to break the rules and cross the border.

Was Jingyi Wei Wuxian’s karma?

"Let me guess, you can also make potions?" questioned Jin Guangshan in a sarcastic tone.

"I can," Jingyi confirmed without any hesitation. "I began making potions by following my instincts, without even knowing that what I was making was a potion. But I want to explore this part of me more. I think potion-making is a talent just like any other fairy talent and we should be given a chance."

Another moment of interested whispers passed among the council before Jingyi started speaking again.

"Also, just wanted to bring up, taking the warm-weather fairies to safety is nice. But we can also make cooling potions, so that the winter fairies can cross the border! Then the snow or frost fairies could go to the spring forest, and attack the bird!"

Wei Wuxian inhaled sharply at the words. Using a cooling potion to fight the slu bird could indeed end the danger in an instant.

But cooling potions were finicky. They could very well lead the frost fairies to their death.

"Thank you, Lan Jingyi, I think that is a great idea," Jiang Yanli said with an amused smile, at odds with Wei Wuxian's doubtful expression. “What does everyone else think?"

"Maybe that's what they meant in the records by the cold fighting the bird," Lord Nie muttered thoughtfully after a moment. "That could work. The frost fairies could fight the slu bird from afar. They would not be harmed if they surrounded the bird all together and froze it quickly."

He turned to look at the leader of frost fairies for confirmation. Frost fairy Pei tilted his head, then nodded. "Doable. If the council allows it, I could take a group of frost fairies to the spring forest... by using a cooling potion?"

"Maybe that's how the fairies fought the slu birds back then too, since potions weren’t banned yet," Jiang Cheng said, looking at Lan Zhan. "Maybe they also used potions to cross the border and freeze the bird?"

"Might be so," agreed Lan Zhan, nodding once.

“The plan sounds good,” Lord Lan spoke up, looking at Jingyi, then at Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan. “But what if the potion failed? Do the potion’s effects not have a risk of waning after some time?”

Wei Wuxian swallowed.

“It depends on the potion,” he mumbled. “But– Jingyi, can I speak to you real quick?"

Jingyi looked up in surprise from where he had settled next to Lan Zhan. "Me?"

"Is it a private discussion?" Jiang Yanli asked Wei Wuxian. 

"Ahh, yes?" The council members looked at each other with quiet whispers and Wei Wuxian smiled uneasily. "It will be just a moment."

"Sure, let's talk, Mister Wei," said Jingyi, walking towards Wei Wuxian.

Lan Zhan grabbed the back of Jingyi’s robes before he could move forward. 

Jingyi turned to his father with surprised eyes.

"Border," Lan Zhan pointed at the line in the middle of the hall, dividing the room into winter and autumn.

"Oh," Jingyi paused. "Sorry, Baba, I didn't realise. Then... should we go outside, Mister Wei?"

Jiang Yanli nodded her permission, and both Wei Wuxian and Jingyi rushed out through their respective doors.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The meeting hall was built on the stream quietly flowing between the forests. Wei Wuxian thought that they would speak on one of the bridges built on the border, or in the tea room again.

But after walking out of the meeting hall, Jingyi simply pulled out a potion bottle and took a couple of sips. A brief glow surrounded him before he flapped his wings to reach Wei Wuxian’s side.

Wei Wuxian's mouth was agape when Jingyi landed next to him.

"What did you want to talk about, Mister Wei,” Jingyi asked with eyes sparkling with excitement and curiosity.

“This!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, moving his hands to encompass Jingyi as a whole. “Did you just drink a cooling potion?!”

“Yeah,” said Jingyi in confusion. “So we could have a talk.”

“You have made a cooling potion before?” Wei Wuxian asked, and continued when Jingyi nodded. “Don’t you know how unstable they are? Cooling potions do not last for a long time, they are very risky!"

“Huh?” Jingyi blinked. “Cooling potions are so easy to make. Really simple! I made one months ago, and flew all the way to the spring forest! I spent the whole day exploring, but then I saw a really big spider, and decided to come back. There are too many strange creatures in the warm-weather forests!”

It was Wei Wuxian’s turn to be confused. 

“What do you mean it is simple? How do you make your cooling potion?”

“I use the fur of an arctic fox and a snowy owl feather, with a pinch of fairy dust,” said Jingyi easily. “They are very good for lowering the body temperature and keeping it stable. What do you use?”

Wei Wuxian, who had never thought of either of those ingredients, struggled to remember how he had made his cooling potion years ago. “Ahh… I used the old skin of a wood frog?”

“What?!” Jingyi exclaimed, his eyes almost bugging out. “A wood frog skin would help to keep the fairy cold, but a cooling potion with it would wear off after some time, especially if the fairy moves about!”

“Yeah, it would,” Wei Wuxian breathed out softly, thinking about how the potion had worn off. Was it a simple thing that he had gotten wrong? Was this child better at making potions than Wei Wuxian was?

Though, Wei Wuxian was not that much older than Jingyi when he had made his cooling potion…

“I understand why you would want to try wood frog, but it is not the best idea for a cooling potion that winter fairies will use,” Jingyi tried to soften his words after seeing how Wei Wuxian was not saying anything, lost deep in thoughts. 

“I guess it is not, maybe I should have experimented more before risking it,” Wei Wuxian mumbled, rubbing his forehead.

“But the actual tricky potion to make is the warmth potion!” Jingyi blurted. “They just don't work as they should!”

“What–?” Wei Wuxian blinked. “Warmth potion is so easy compared to the cooling potion.”

He had gotten the warmth potion right in one try! It had worked the whole night too, unlike the cooling potion that took days of researching and testing but still felt unfamiliar, and ultimately failed.

Then it clicked in his head.

“Ah, damn it,” Wei Wuxian rubbed his face roughly as he realised what had been the issue all along.

The reason that both Lan Zhan and A-Yuan had almost died, why both Wei Wuxian and Jingyi could not get just one potion right despite making everything else easily.

Wei Wuxian could make a warmth potion, but not a cooling potion.

Jingyi could make a cooling potion, but not a warmth potion.

Because one of them was a warm-weather fairy, while the other was a winter fairy.

Did potion fairies have different affinities towards different potions as warm-weather or winter fairies? Did that mean that if potion fairies still existed, their skills would be different based on their season?

“Jingyi, I think–” Wei Wuxian began. “I think there might be different types of potion fairies.”

“Ahh... Like what?” asked Jingyi with a raised eyebrow.

“Like you being able to make a warmth potion but not a cooling potion, and me the other way,” Wei Wuxian said. “I don’t know for sure, but it might be that we just have different affinities, and if I’m right, this might work for us. You can make the cooling potions for the frost fairies, while I make the warmth potion for the warm-weather fairies, and we will both be sure that they will work.”

“Okay,” Jingyi agreed, eyebrows furrowed. “But are you sure we can make that much potion? There are hundreds of fairies! And we would need to make extras just in case the bird is not found quickly!”

“We can if we have to. And I am a tinker, I have been mass-producing since I was your age,” Wei Wuxian waved a hand. “Anyway, let's go back to the hall, everyone must be impatient, considering the situation.”

Jingyi nodded and joined Wei Wuxian as they walked back into the meeting hall through the autumn forest’s door. Everyone looked at Jingyi with alarmed eyes, worried for his safety, before they remembered that he had confessed to making potions just now.

“Jingyi,” Lan Zhan called out softly, and when Jingyi smiled at him in assurance, he simply nodded.

“Lan Jingyi, I am guessing you drank a cooling potion just now?” Jiang Yanli asked with a head tilt.

Jingyi nodded sheepishly.

“It seems to be working well,” said Jiang Yanli, then turned to Wei Wuxian. “Has your talk been fruitful?”

“Yes, we are going to use the recipe of a cooling potion that was tested and proven to work,” said Wei Wuxian, hopeful and determined. Determined to protect the fairies, and determined to show that potions were helpful and should not be banned.

Now that he had a chance, he felt that he had to make the best of it.

"Is it safe?" Wen Qing asked, her brows furrowed. "Are potions safe to ingest with no prior use? Would it have any side effects on the frost fairies?"

"It is safe," Lan Zhan nodded. "Fairies already ingest fairy dust everyday.”

Jiang Yanli clapped her hands together.

“Well then, if everyone has reached an agreement, you two can start producing the potions now, and let us know if you need any assistance. The warmth potions shall be given to the fairies in the spring forest first. We will begin evacuations with them as they are the ones at the biggest risk. Lord Lan, we will rely on your hospitality and care.”

Lord Lan bowed his head. 

When no one gave any objections, Jiang Yanli released a deep breath. “I guess this will be the first step of observing potions. I hope we will come out of this situation with good results, and with no fairy harmed.”

Everyone in the hall voiced their agreement, and after telling the warm-weather council members to immediately gather their fairies for evacuation, Jiang Yanli ended the meeting.

They had a lot to do.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The council members promptly left the hall to prepare their charges for an emergency move to the winter forest. Wen Qing waved goodbye at Wei Wuxian, while Lord Lan nodded at Jingyi and Lan Zhan before hurrying off with Advisor Yao and Frost Fairy Pei.

As everyone was leaving, Wei Wuxian and Jingyi got into a discussion of which materials to acquire and how to get them quickly.

“Animal fairies can send us sea otter hair, arctic fox fur, and snowy owl feathers,” Wei Wuxian listed. “As for dried banana seeds… I believe I have them in my workshop, but we will ask plant fairies if it is not enough.”

“Okay,” Jingyi nodded easily. “We only need a dozen or so bottles of cooling potion for the frost fairies, so we can make them first and get it out of the way. Oh, we also need fairy dust!”

“Don’t worry about that, my brother-in-law can bring us as much fairy dust as we want,” Wei Wuxian said.

“Yes, he can, I will send him to you with a supply of fairy dust,” said Jiang Yanli, walking up to them. “I will also send a message to the animal and fruit fairies about those requests. But first, let’s get you to your workshop, A-Xian. You two need to begin making potions now.”

“You’re right, Jiejie.” Wei Wuxian started heading outside. “Let’s go.”

“Jingyi,” a voice called out behind them.

Wei Wuxian and Jingyi turned back at once.

Lan Zhan was looking at Jingyi with eyebrows furrowed, a hesitation in his eyes.

“You are going to be in danger in the warm-weather forest,” Lan Zhan said. “Be careful, Jingyi.”

“I will be careful,” Jingyi agreed, then asked softly, “But Baba, do you… Do you wanna come with me? I have one more bottle of cooling potion.”

Wei Wuxian took a sharp breath. 

Lan Zhan crossing the border again would be the last thing Wei Wuxian wanted. He would guess that it would be the same for Lan Zhan.

But Lan Zhan surprised him by easily agreeing.

“Alright.”

“Alright?” Wei Wuxian’s head snapped towards Lan Zhan, eyes wide. “Lan Zhan? What do you mean ‘Alright’?”

Lan Zhan tilted his head. “My son is asking me to accompany him while he takes on a risky task. Is it not normal that I would agree, and help in any way I can?”

“I– I guess it is…” Wei Wuxian mumbled. “But are you not– What if you fall sick again?"

"Wei Ying will be next to me, will you not?"

Wei Wuxian’s breath caught in his throat, his heart stuttering.

"Lan Zhan..." he blinked rapidly. "Don't you think you shouldn't trust me with yourself?

"Why?"

"Lan Zhaann," Wei Wuxian rubbed his face roughly. "Did you forget that years ago I almost got you killed, then just apologised and left you?"

Lan Zhan was quiet for a long moment. 

Wei Wuxian looked at him again, chest squeezing uncomfortably when he realised that Lan Zhan looked hurt. "….Wei Ying did leave me."

Wei Wuxian swallowed at the quiet words, whispered with lowered eyes and a twisted mouth.

He wanted to comfort Lan Zhan and remove that expression from his gentle features, but he didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to heal wounds he himself caused.

"Wei Wuxian!" came Jiang Cheng's voice came from the doorway before Wei Wuxian could do anything. "What are you doing standing there?! Are you waiting for the slu bird to kill all of us?"

"I'm coming!" Wei Wuxian called. His eyes moved between Lan Zhan’s to the door where only Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli were left standing.

“Lan Zhan, come with us now, and let’s talk afterwards?” Wei Wuxian asked hesitantly. “Can we?”

Lan Zhan nodded, and looked at Jingyi for the potion. Jingyi quickly produced a bottle and brought it to Lan Zhan, who drank it all in one gulp.

A light glow enveloped Lan Zhan, then faded away, settling into his skin.

“Ready?” Wei Wuxian asked them, then continued walking out of the hall at their nod. “Let's go make those potions then.”

Wei Wuxian whistled for Lil' Apple, then jumped onto his back while Lan Zhan and Jingyi joined Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng in the skies. Seeing the two winter fairies flying, Wei Wuxian tried his best to suppress the anxiety he felt at the thought of Lan Zhan in the warm-weather forest once again, a scene repeated in so many of his nightmares.

They flew to the spring forest in quiet determination, Jiang Cheng continuing on to the summer forest and Jiang Yanli going to the fairy dust tree where Jin Zixuan was.

“Good luck, A-Xian, Jingyi, I trust you,” Jiang Yanli called out before leaving, flanked by her guards. “A guard will bring you the arctic fox and snowy owl feather soon, he is waiting at the border for the head of winter animal fairies to bring them.”

Wei Wuxian nodded in thanks, then guided Lil’ Apple to his workshop. He and Jingyi quickly got to separating out bowls and bottles once they were in Wei Wuxian’s workshop.

They had seen groups of scout fairies flying around on their way here, still unable to find a sign of the slu bird, and it was making Wei Wuxian nervous to not know where the creature was.

Any moment now, it could meet an unsuspecting fairy.

“Lan Zhan, how exactly does the slu bird kill fairies?” Wei Wuxian asked Lan Zhan, who was quietly standing in the corner of Wei Wuxian’s workshop with his hands folded together.

Wei Wuxian was kind of trying not to look at him.

His workshop was still as messy and full to the brim with items as when Lan Zhan had last visited, and seeing Lan Zhan here again was giving Wei Wuxian a double vision, the image of a young and blushy Lan Zhan overlapping with this older Lan Zhan.

While Wei Wuxian boiled sea otter hair in a pot and Jingyi ground up banana seeds, Lan Zhan summoned a book to answer Wei Wuxian’s question.

He brought his hands together palm to palm, and closed his eyes while the golden glow spread out. When he opened his eyes, there was an old book in his hands. He parted the book to read through the pages, eyes serious and hands gentle.

Wei Wuxian’s chest ached sweetly at the sight.

“The slu bird is recorded to have the ability to breathe out fire,” Lan Zhan said calmly, unaware of the turmoil inside Wei Wuxian. “But it is a strange, purple fire that, instead of burning, sucks the fairies’ energy and magic. It is written that the fairies caught in the fire first feel lethargic, then their wings stop working. When they are too weak to fight or escape, the slu bird catches and eats them.”

Wei Wuxian and Jingyi shared a horrified look, their hands speeding up.

“Baba, where did the slu bird come from in the first place?” asked Jingyi.

“Unknown,” Lan Zhan said with a small shrug. “They one day appeared and started hunting the fairies. The fairies tried many methods to kill them, then finally found that cold worked against the slu birds. They were never seen again after the fairies killed all of them.”

Then he closed the book, Wei Wuxian watching it disappear with another burst of glow.

A knock came on the door after Wei Wuxian had started sieving the pot of sea otter hair, and a guard poked his head in.

“Master Tinker Wei?” he said, stepping inside at Wei Wuxian’s nod. “I have brought your requests.”

“Great, thank you!” Wei Wuxian waved the guard closer. “Please put them on that desk! Oh, and can I ask you to call for Tinker Qing and her friends? I need her help with an urgent task, but I can’t leave the workshop right now.”

The guard placed the large bundles he was carrying on the desk, and left with a quick nod.

Jingyi had already put a small spoon of ground banana seeds into the bottles Wei Wuxian had prepared, and now he turned to prepare the arctic fox fur and snowy owl feather for the cooling potions.

“We don’t have enough bottles, do we?” Jingyi asked while he tore the feathers into small pieces.

“No, that’s why I asked for the tinker fairies,” replied Wei Wuxian as he copied Jingyi’s actions. “They can bring more, and make some if necessary.”

Wei Wuxian saw Lan Zhan watching the two of them in interest, and asked, “Lan Zhan, do you wanna help?”

Lan Zhan nodded and came to the desk to join them, his fingers hesitant at first but getting used to the motions with a few tries. After a while, Jingyi left the two of them to prepare the owl feathers as he boiled the arctic fox fur in a new pot.

“Master Tinker!” a tinker fairy rushed in. “The royal guard said that you need help?”

“Yes, A-Qing,” Wei Wuxian smiled at his youngest tinker fairy. She had brought a group of her tinker friends, and they were all looking at Wei Wuxian with wide eyes, ready for orders. “I want you to bring me all the bottles you find. Get everything that even resembles a bottle, and be very quick!”

The young tinker fairies yelled their reassurances as they hurried out of Wei Wuxian’s workshop. In just a few moments, they came back with baskets of bottles of varying materials.

“Are these okay, Master Tinker?” asked A-Qing passionately, stealing a curious glance at where Jingyi was sieving the pot of fox fur.

“They are perfect, thank you everyone!” Wei Wuxian clapped. “Now, please go back and stay with the other tinker fairies gathered at the main hall of the spring forest.”

The fairies nodded and left again with fluttering wings.

Wei Wuxian arranged all the bottles they had brought on the tables in his workshop, then looked out the window.

It was almost evening now, the sky turning orange-pink with the sunset. Wei Wuxian felt like today was passing by in a dizzying blur, the meeting early in the morning interrupted by Lan Zhan, then looking for the egg, talking to the council about potions, followed by Jingyi’s arrival. 

Everything had happened in a flash and Wei Wuxian felt like he had no time to process the day, but he still needed to prepare the potions and get them to the fairies to protect them. Then he could think about the implications of today’s events.

Like the removal of the potion-making ban.

And that he now knew how to make cooling potions the right way, thanks to Jingyi.

And Lan Zhan…

Wei Wuxian was not going to think about these right now.

Luckily, a thump on the door stole his attention. The door was flung open as Jin Zixuan stumbled in with a big basket of fairy dust.

“Here is your fairy dust, Wuxian,” Jin Zixuan said, putting the basket on the floor. “I also brought some royal guards to transport the potions to the forests, they are waiting outside. If you need any more fairy dust, you can send one of them to me, and I will get you more.”

“Thank you, this should be enough,” Wei Wuxian looked into the basket, seeing it full of fairy dust to the brim. “We are almost done here, but I am assuming there is no news on the slu bird?”

“Not yet,” said Jin Zixuan. “Right now, we are going through the forests and gathering all the fairies. We need everyone together so that we can move them to the winter forest once the potions are ready. A-Ling and A-Yuan are also in the summer forest with Jiang Cheng.”

“Good, good,” nodded Wei Wuxian. “You be careful out there, Zixuan.”

“I will,” Jin Zixuan replied as he flew out the door. “Focus on the potions and don’t worry about A-Li or the boys.”

Wei Wuxian smiled, then turned back to pouring the water of the boiled sea otter hair into the bottles of warmth potion. Jingyi was also pouring the water from the arctic fox fur into all the cooling potions, and Lan Zhan was adding a piece of snowy owl feather in each bottle of cooling potion as instructed by Jingyi.

“Lan Zhan, are you… feeling okay?” Wei Wuxian asked quietly. 

Lan Zhan looked into his eyes and nodded firmly, and Wei Wuxian felt himself smile slightly at that serious gaze.

Lan Zhan parted his lips to say something, before changing his mind and turning back to the bottles.

The three of them worked efficiently, completing all the potions by putting the necessary ingredients in all of the bottles in turns. 

All the bottles were quickly filled up, and then came the final step: the fairy dust.

Jingyi and Wei Wuxian added pinches of fairy dust, watching the mixture in the bottles give a little puff of magic before settling and softly glowing.

Lan Zhan put the corks on the completed potions, then carefully placed the bottles in large boxes.

He put the cooling potions in a different basket, and everything was ready.

They had hundreds of warmth potions and a basket of cooling potions, ready to be delivered.

“We did it,” Wei Wuxian sighed, raising a hand. Jingyi high-fived him with a mirroring sigh.

“Let’s get these to everyone quickly,” Jingyi said tiredly, and Wei Wuxian nodded.

He went outside to see the royal guards still waiting on standby, and told them to take the boxes of warmth potions to the warm-weather forests.

The royal guards quickly took off with the potions, and Wei Wuxian grabbed the basket of cooling potions himself. “Let’s go give this to the frost fairies, and then our duty is done.”

“Mister Wei, are we not going to get A-Yuan and the others?” asked Jingyi, brows furrowed in concern.

“The boys will be okay, we will meet them in the winter forest," assured Wei Wuxian. He trusted in his siblings to keep his child safe.

“Wei Ying,” said Lan Zhan in a low voice, and Wei Wuxian’s head snapped to him.

“Yes, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Zhan pulled out a bottle of warmth potion from his bag and Wei Wuxian smiled. “Thank you, I almost forgot.”

Wei Wuxian took the potion, then led them outside, now the sky dark enough to require lanterns. Jingyi had grabbed Wei Wuxian’s glow-worm lantern from the workshop and he lit the way for them. 

Wei Wuxian went to place the basket of cooling potions on Lil’ Apple before Lan Zhan stopped him.

“I will take it,” said Lan Zhan, carrying the basket, then took off towards the winter forest before Wei Wuxian could protest.

Wei Wuxian sighed and got on Lil’ Apple, hurrying to catch up to Lan Zhan while Jingyi flew next to him with the lantern.

He used the journey to let his body slump and rest for a bit, knowing that the night was far from over.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The three of them were close to the border, having passed many patrolling scout fairies still searching for the slu bird, when Jingyi asked, “Why are you always flying on the crow, Mister Wei?”

Wei Wuxian’s body tensed up without his permission, his hands going to fiddle with the cape of feathers he always had on.

He forced himself to appear unaffected when he noticed Lan Zhan’s eyes on him. “No particular reason, I just like flying on Lil’ Apple.”

“Hmm.” Jingyi sounded unconvinced but he didn’t push. Wei Wuxian sighed in relief, and patted Lil’ Apple to go faster.

When they reached the largest bridge on the border, they landed softly on the ground. 

Wei Wuxian told Lil’ Apple to wait at the border with the guards placed near the bridge, worried for the bird even though he was strong enough to take the winter cold now. 

He drank the warmth potion and waited for the heat to encase him. Then he inhaled deeply before walking across the bridge, taking a careful step into the winter forest.

It had been more than a decade since he last set foot across the border, and the strange crumbly texture of snow under his feet was familiar after the brief surprise.

“Are you okay, Mister Wei?” asked Jingyi, holding out a hand to him in case he needed the support. “Are your wings feeling cold?”

Wei Wuxian shook his head with a smile. “Don’t worry, I'm okay, Jingyi.”

He looked up to see Lan Zhan watching him with deep golden eyes glowing in the lantern light, and felt his cheeks blush like he was a teenager again.

“Um, let’s– go?” Wei Wuxian stuttered. “To the frost fairies?”

Lan Zhan nodded, and the three of them started walking towards the Cloud Recesses. 

It wasn’t much further away from the border that they met the group of frost fairies, perhaps about a dozen of them gathered, heading towards the border.

“Knowledge-keeper, Young Master Lan,” the leader of frost fairies bowed to Lan Zhan and Jingyi, before turning to Wei Wuxian. “Tinker Wei?”

They all bowed back, before Wei Wuxian spoke, “We were also looking for you, Fairy Pei, the cooling potions are ready.”  

Fairy Pei took the offered basket from Lan Zhan and thanked them.

“No need for thanks,” said Lan Zhan, making Wei Wuxian smile wistfully, before he addressed all the frost fairies gathered. “Please remember, do not get caught in the fire the slu bird breathes. It might not burn but it absorbs fairy magic.”

The frost fairies nodded, then bowed again before continuing towards the spring forest.

Wei Wuxian, Lan Zhan, and Jingyi continued their walk, and soon reached the Cloud Recesses.

Wei Wuxian had never gone to any part of the Cloud Recesses other than Lan Zhan’s house, which was slightly on the outskirts. He looked around at the simple but elegant structures with interest, lanterns planted amongst the houses to give off a warm light across the snowy clearings.

Lan Zhan led them to the main hall, decorated in light blues and whites, where Lord Lan was speaking to a group of fairies. Lord Lan’s hasty gestures stopped when he noticed them, and he waved away the fairies.

“Wangji,” Lord Lan said, voice soft with relief. “You are alright.”

Lan Zhan nodded, walking close to his brother and touching his shoulder in comfort.

“Queen Yanli sent word that you were in the spring forest and to not worry, but I worried even more, hearing that,” said Lord Lan, grabbing Lan Zhan’s hand. Then he turned to Jingyi, using his other hand to pull him close. “Are you okay, Jingyi?”

“Yes, Uncle,” Jingyi nodded. “Sorry to worry you.”

Lord Lan shook his head, then sighed with a tired smile. “We are going to have a discussion about your extracurricular activities once this whole thing is over.”

“Haha,” Jingyi scratched his forehead. “How nice, can’t wait.”

Lan Zhan and Lord Lan shook their heads at the dry wit, in almost identical fashion, before Lord Lan released his brother and nephew.

He looked at Wei Wuxian with a slight nod. “Welcome to the Cloud Recesses, Tinker Wei. The potions must be ready?”

Wei Wuxian nodded, “We met the frost fairies on our way and gave them the cooling potions. The warmth potions are also being delivered to the warm-weather fairies, and they should be arriving soon.”

“Let’s go and welcome them then,” said Lord Lan, and turned to his advisor, who was speaking with various fairies flitting in and out of the main hall. “A-Yao, I will leave the rest to you?”

Advisor Yao nodded. “I will make sure all the accommodation and food are ready for our guests, Lord Lan.”

Lord Lan smiled, and the four of them left the big hall, followed by Lord Lan’s assistants.

Just as they reached the border, they saw the first group of fairies coming to the winter border. 

It was the group of spring fairies, protected by scout fairies and royal guards, with Lord Nie at the head dragging Nie Huaisang to the border kicking and screaming.

“No, I am afraid of potions!” Nie Huaisang wailed as Wei Wuxian and the others watched in confused interest. “You can’t make me drink one, I’d rather die in the hands of a bird than drink a potion and erupt into a thousand pieces of fairy dust!”

Lord Nie just rolled his eyes as he grabbed a bottle of potion from a guard and forced the glowing liquid down Nie Huaisang’s throat.

A layer of light quickly settled over him, before fading away.

Nie Huaisang’s struggles stopped, and he hummed in interest.

“This is… not bad,” he said, before crossing the border and throwing an arm around Wei Wuxian’s shoulders. “I feel normal!”

Lord Nie shook his head in exasperation, drinking his own potion and joining his brother across the border.

“The potion works well,” Lord Nie said after reaching their side. “I don’t feel the cold.”

“Yeah?” smiled Wei Wuxian, making proud eye contact with Jingyi and Lan Zhan.

Relaxed after Nie Huaisang’s exaggerated display, all the spring fairies drank their potions, a magical glow enveloping them before settling under their skin.

Once they crossed the winter border, the spring fairies looked around in awe, hopping on the soft snow and looking at the tall pine trees covered in white. Some of them started making shapes out of snow, their excited chatter picking up.

When everyone in Lord Nie’s group had crossed the border, Lord Lan cleared his throat. 

“Welcome to the winter forest, spring fairies. We have been trying to make arrangements for all of you, but please excuse our flaws due to the urgency of the situation.” Then he gestured to one of his assistants. “My assistant will guide you to your places of accommodation in the Cloud Recesses, please feel free to ask for anything you need.”

The spring fairies all nodded, giving their thanks, and moved to follow after Lord Lan’s assistant. Nie Huaisang stopped at the last moment.

“Ge, I think I will stay with Wei Wuxian!” he smiled innocently. “Let me welcome the rest of the fairies, I will join you later!”

“You just want to escape helping the spring fairies settle,” Lord Nie mumbled as he walked away with a quick wave of his hand, and Jingyi tried to hide his chuckle.

Soon after, they saw a lantern held by Jiang Cheng, guiding a large group of summer fairies.

The summer fairies landed on the other side of the wide bridge, none of them daring to move closer to the border.

“Jiang Cheng!” Wei Wuxian stepped forward. “Did you get the potions?”

Jiang Cheng’s head turned to him, and his shoulders lost some of their tension. 

“Yes, we got them,” he said, nodding to the boxes carried by the royal guards.

“Well, come on, drink them!” Wei Wuxian urged the summer fairies huddled together, trembling in the cold night air they were not used to.

Jiang Cheng hesitated before he reached forward and grabbed a bottle. He drank the potion under the careful watch of all the summer fairies.

A glow surrounded Jiang Cheng before fading away, and he gave a small shiver before blinking in surprise. He took a step forward, then another, till he crossed the border and reached Wei Wuxian. 

“Nice! Now come on, everybody, bottoms up!”

The other fairies whispered and shuffled, before A-Yuan pushed forward through the crowd and reached the box of potions.

“A-Yuan!” Jingyi yelled excitedly and A-Yuan waved back at him with a grin.

A-Yuan grabbed a bottle and downed it, the potion taking effect with a glow again. He quickly walked across the border and hugged Wei Wuxian tightly.

“A-Die, I was so worried for you.”

“Me?” Wei Wuxian asked as he pulled his son closer. “I was just in my workshop, little radish, why would you worry about me?”

“My turn!” a scream interrupted A-Yuan’s answer, Jin Ling running forward while pushing Ouyang Zizhen out of the way.

“No, me!” yelled back Ouyang Zizhen, jumping onto Jin Ling’s back and toppling both of them to the ground. “I said it first!”

“Ah, youth,” Nie Huaisang shook his head wisely while Jingyi and A-Yuan giggled at their friends still rolling on the ground and pushing at each other.

Their fight made the other fairies move hurriedly, taking a bottle before the two young fairies could crash into the boxes. The summer fairies began taking sips from their potions, then crossing the border.

The summer fairies were also quickly led away to their accommodations, though A-Yuan, Jin Ling, and Ouyang Zizhen wanted to stay with Jingyi instead. Jingyi asked Lan Zhan for permission to bring them to his home, which Lan Zhan easily gave, and all the boys flew after Jingyi with cheers. A-Yuan gave Wei Wuxian another hug before leaving with his friends, and even Jin Ling looked happy despite the dangerous situation.

Jiang Cheng nodded at Lord Lan before patting Wei Wuxian on the back and leaving towards the Cloud Recesses.

“There are a lot of fairies arriving tonight,” remarked Lan Zhan calmly. “Accomodation will be difficult.”

“It was quite short notice and we had to make some quick arrangements,” Lord Lan agreed. “But A-Yao will manage it.”

Wei Wuxian marvelled at how completely Lord Lan trusted his advisor.

Then his thoughts went to how the scout fairies were faring on the other side of the border, and if they were close to finding the slu bird. Would the frost fairies have drunk their potions and joined the scout fairies by now?

He hoped that they were all safe.

Wen Qing and her group’s arrival interrupted his thoughts, and just like before, the autumn fairies gained the confidence to drink the potions once they saw their lady drink it and cross the border.

“Pleasure to see you here, Lady Wen,” Nie Huaisang bowed deeply, getting a slap to the shoulder in return for his playfulness.

“A-Yuan was with Jiang Cheng,” Wen Ning said to Wei Wuxian, and Wei Wuxian nodded in thanks, letting him know that the boys had already arrived.

After Wen Qing and Wen Ning had a short discussion with Lord Lan, the group of autumn fairies were led away by another assistant, the Wen siblings waving at Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang.

Once all the large groups from the three forests accompanied by their lords and ladies had arrived, a smaller group of stragglers came, accompanied by royal guards. The council members and elders were also with them, Lord Lan greeting them before they were all guided away to the Cloud Recesses. Uncle Jiang left the border after patting Wei Wuxian on the shoulder, and Jin Guangshan flew past quickly with a scoff.

The last ones to arrive were Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan.

Jiang Yanli flew down to the winter forest in a shower of gold, bright enough to light up her surroundings.

“A-Ling?” she asked Wei Wuxian quietly while Jin Zixuan drank a potion across the border.

“The boys went to Lan Zhan’s house with Jingyi. Jiang Cheng was the first to arrive,” Wei Wuxian assured.

She released a breath, “Good. Lord Lan, is everything sorted in the Cloud Recesses? Have all the council members arrived?”

Lord Lan nodded with an affirmation. “My uncle must be welcoming the council members, he was making sure the guest halls were ready for them.”

“Perfect. I heard on the way that the scout fairies might have caught a trail,” said Jiang Yanli, gesturing to the trees at her back.

“Really?” Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened. “Should I go and help?”

“Why would you?” Jiang Yanli tilted her head. “You are neither a scout nor a frost fairy, A-Xian.”

“Yeah, but– what if they need more potions? I should be ready.”

“What kind of potions?” asked Jin Zixuan, stepping on the snow carefully and walking towards them. “Just prepare them and we will send them with the guards.”

“I can’t know what potions they would need when I am here!” protested Wei Wuxian. He didn’t know why, but he felt like he should be there in the heart of the fight, not hiding here behind the border while other fairies fought for his safety. “I need to be there!”

“Wei Ying,” said Lan Zhan, and Wei Wuxian turned to him immediately. “I will come with you.”

“What? No! Lan Zhan, it’s dangerous!”

Lan Zhan raised an eyebrow, as if to point out that Wei Wuxian was being hypocritical, but Wei Wuxian just rubbed his face. “Lan Zhan, you can’t come. Don’t be stubborn about this please, it is risky!”

“If Wei Ying is going, I am also going,” Lan Zhan insisted, lips pressed together firmly, and Wei Wuxian knew he wouldn't be convinced.

“Then let’s all go together,” suggested Lord Lan like it was a normal thing.

“What?!” Wei Wuxian turned to him with wide eyes. “Lord Lan, you have hundreds of fairies visiting your forest!”

“A-Yao can–”

“I know, I know,” Wei Wuxian interrupted, almost rolling his eyes. “Advisor Yao is capable, he can sort everything out. But don’t you think it makes no sense for us all to go fight a slu bird?”

“No, I think you are right,” Jin Zixuan nodded. “We are all people of responsibility, we should go and personally see to the safety of our charges if we so desire.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind going to the Cloud Recesses for a nice and safe dinner right now,” Nie Huaisang began, fanning himself even in the cold winter forest. “But I guess if you all want to go…”

“I agree, we should be there with the scout and frost fairies,” said Jiang Yanli with a smile. “Everyone, follow me. The trees are going to guide us.”

“But Lord Lan, do you have a cooling potion?” asked Nie Huaisang, and Lord Lan shook his head with furrowed brows.

“I have one,” said Lan Zhan, taking out one of the bottles they had made today out of his sachet and handing it to his brother.

Like everyone had gone crazy, they all watched calmly as Lord Lan drank his potion, then took off to the spring forest.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

That is how the group of fairies that included the Fairy Queen herself headed straight into danger.

The trees were right. A team of scout fairies had indeed found the slu bird, but they had no frost fairies with them yet.

It was a scene of chaos and struggle.

A bird with purple and blue spots that glowed in the dark was screeching at the scout fairies with all its might. It was too small to fly properly yet, but just like Lan Zhan had warned, it released sputters of purple fire into the night. 

The scout fairies were highly trained in fighting and evading, but they were still struggling to escape the bird’s unrelenting attacks. Whoever the fire touched, the fairy turned weak and lethargic, their movements slowing down and wings almost limping before the other scouts pulled them away and set them down out of the bird’s sight.

“Oh no,” whimpered Nie Huaisang, moving to hide behind Lord Lan. “This doesn’t look good.”

“Go and call the frost fairies here!” said Jiang Yanli to a couple of her guards, who rushed off like the wind, while a couple of the guards moved to check on the weakened scout fairies.

“How can we hold the slu bird back till they get here?” asked Jin Zixuan worriedly, looking around for something to fight with. 

But they couldn't harm the bird through physical means.

“Let’s tire it out till the frost fairies come here,” said Wei Wuxian, jumping off of Lil’ Apple as an idea popped into his head. He grabbed the small bottle he carried in his pouch for emergencies like this. “Speed potion, just one sip is enough.”

“That’s great, A-Xian. Scout fairies!" called Jiang Yanli immediately. “Gather!”

Most of the scout fairies came at her call, panting and dishevelled, while a couple of them kept the slu bird busy.

“This is a speed potion. Use this,” Jiang Yanli told them, taking the bottle from Wei Wuxian and holding it out to the scout fairies.

The scout fairies each took a sip, then quickly zoomed across the air, the speed potion taking effect immediately. But they easily adapted to the fast speed and flew back to the slu bird, flying around its head and evading its attacks in an almost annoying manner.

A long moment passed where no scout fairy was hit by the fire again.

“I think it is working,” said Lord Lan. 

“Now we only need the frost fairies to finish it off,” agreed Jin Zixuan.

Luckily, the frost fairies arrived just then, led by Fairy Pei.

“Frost fairies, form a circle!” shouted Fairy Pei upon seeing the situation, and the fairies surrounded the slu bird instantly.

When the bird found itself surrounded, it made a loud screeching sound and sent a large fire towards the frost fairies, but the scout fairies quickly zoomed over to the frost fairies in the fire’s range to pull them out of the way.

“Quick! Ready, and aim!” Fairy Pei yelled, once the stumbling frost fairies were in place again.

The frost fairies had clearly planned their attack, and they all spread out their palms simultaneously, faces concentrated despite the slu bird’s fear-inducing, high-pitched caw.

“Now, freeze!” shouted Fairy Pei, and all the frost fairies blasted tiny ice crystals from their hands at once, coating the slu bird in a layer of white crystal.

The fairies waited in an anticipatory silence.

The bird looked around in shock, then tried to shoot out fire again but failed. It stumbled, its large purple beak opening and closing with weak sounds, before suddenly, the slu bird shuddered and exploded with a strong gust of air.

The frost fairies close to it were sprung away by the impact, quickly caught and placed on the ground by the scout fairies and guards waiting close by.

Where the slu bird was just a moment ago, was now only broken shards of ice crystals, not even a piece of the bird left.

“It really was not a physical bird, I guess?” mumbled Jin Zixuan in confusion as they walked towards where Fairy Pei and his frost fairies were gathered.

“Is anyone harmed?” asked Jiang Yanli in worry, patting the frost faeries' scattered hair and outfits into place.

When everyone shook their heads in negative, she sighed in relief. 

“Good, you did so well, everyone. Thank you all for your courage and hardwork.” Jiang Yanli thanked the frost fairies, then the scout and guard fairies. “Now, let’s get you all to the Cloud Recesses so you can have food and rest, and we will look at everything else in the morning.”

All the fairies agreed, and they began their flight back to the Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian getting back onto his crow that had withdrawn into himself in fear while the fight with slu bird had happened.

Once they reached the winter forest, Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Zhan while Jiang Yanli, Jin Zixuan and Nie Huaisang led away the group of tired fairies. “Lan Zhan, let’s go to your house? The boys are still there.”

Lan Zhan nodded and began walking, and Wei Wuxian was about to say something when he noticed that Lord Lan was also following them.

“You must have been worried for your brother and nephew today,” Wei Wuxian said to Lord Lan in a low voice.

“I was worried when they were in the spring forest,” Lord Lan nodded, voice gentle while his eyes stared straight ahead rather than Wei Wuxian. “But I am glad the cooling potion worked.”

‘This time,’ went unsaid, making Wei Wuxian flinch. He cleared his throat then walked slower to be on Lan Zhan’s other side instead.

Lan Zhan glanced at him with soft eyes but didn’t say anything.

They quickly reached Lan Zhan’s house, with its tall, engraved gates that opened at Lan Zhan’s touch.

Wei Wuxian looked at the house that had changed since he had last been here, now more colourful and disorganised, and took a step over the threshold.

The boys were laughing and running around, Jin Ling throwing something small at them as the others tried to hide behind furniture. They paused when they saw the adults enter the house.

“Oh, welcome back!” Jingyi said as he tried to put some fallen pillows and books into their places discreetly.

“So you all had fun?” Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow with a smile, as Lan Zhan looked around his messy home.

“A-Die,” A-Yuan ran to Wei Wuxian sheepishly. “Is there any news about the slu bird?”

“The slu bird has been found and destroyed,” said Lord Lan, making the boys gasp then shout out unintelligible questions.

"That's great!” said Ouyang Zizhen, plopping himself onto a sofa with a smile. “So we can go back to our forest now?”

“Not yet, we can all go back in the morning,” said Wei Wuxian. “It is too late now, and everyone must have already settled in for sleep. Just like you four should.”

The boys hang their heads with grumpy pouts, but perked up at Jingyi’s suggestion to accompany them to their accommodations.

“We can, right, Baba?” Jingyi asked Lan Zhan with large eyes. “Let’s get them to the Cloud Recesses, then we can come back home?”

“Alright,” Lan Zhan agreed, and the boys cheered happily. They all started walking once again, this time to the Cloud recesses, where hopefully a bed would be waiting for them.

Wei Wuxian needed a nice and long rest after today.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

When they finally saw the lights of the Cloud Recesses, the settlement was quiet, only a few fairies moving around. 

Jin Ling rushed forward once they reached the main hall and they soon saw why. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan were standing on the stairs of the main hall, speaking to Jiang Cheng, and they had all turned to check over Jin Ling when they saw him.

By the time the others walked up to them, Jin Zixuan was hugging Jin Ling tightly, ignoring his son’s grumbling.

“A-Yuan,” called Jiang Yanli, pulling her nephew into a hug. Unlike Jin Ling, A-Yuan went easily, squishing himself into her arms. “Next time you see a strange animal or plant, tell an adult immediately, alright? You did help us stop a huge disaster this time though, so good job, A-Yuan.”

“Thank you, Aunt Yanli,” A-Yuan smiled. “I will, don’t worry.”

Jiang Yanli smiled. Then she turned to Lord Lan. “I was telling Lord Jiang about the events of the night. I think it is safe to say that the use of potions was a great success today, though we should discuss it tomorrow with the council members. Let’s all go inside for food now, then turn in for the night.”

A table had already been prepared inside the main hall, the spread reminding Wei Wuxian that he had not eaten yet. He grabbed some dried fruits and started chewing on them while everyone helped themselves.

The boys huddled in a corner to eat, while Lord Lan sat next to Jiang Yanli, Jin Zixuan, and Jiang Cheng, discussing how a lot of the warm-weather fairies had to share rooms for the night, and how the winter forest would need more food supplies after hosting everyone today.

In the meantime, Lan Zhan came to sit next to Wei Wuxian, and quietly ate his own food.

Wei Wuxian was reminded of the old days where the two of them would try fruits together, sitting opposite each other across the border.

His heart ached fondly.

“You know I didn’t leave you because I wanted to, right, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian asked in a small voice before even realising that he was going to say something.

Guess they were going to have that talk he had promised Lan Zhan now.

Lan Zhan looked at Wei Wuxian with wide eyes, but didn’t reply.

“I only left because I didn’t want to harm you, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Zhan fully, his eyes sincere and pleading with Lan Zhan to believe him. “I was afraid that if I stayed, if I kept meeting with you, that you would be hurt again. I didn't want to risk your life like that.”

“I told you that I loved you,” reminded Lan Zhan, not meeting his eyes. “I told you that my actions were my own choice, yet you still left.”

Wei Wuxian had indeed. He had stolen Lan Zhan’s choice by leaving, but was it really a choice on Lan Zhan’s part if Wei Wuxian was the one pulling him along, influencing his choices?

“I had promised you that my potion was safe, yet I almost killed you,” Wei Wuxian insisted. “I had really thought that the potion would work, Lan Zhan, I never wanted to harm or risk you in any way!”

“Wei Ying, I know,” Lan Zhan finally looked at him, his expression soft and assuring. Wei Wuxian took a deep breath to calm himself, words that he had bottled up for years getting jumbled up in his mouth. “I know Wei Ying did not want to harm me. What happened was not your fault.”

Wei Wuxian shook his head. “Lan Zhan, I’m sorry.” 

“There is no–” Lan Zhan parted his lips, but Wei Wuxian persisted. 

“I know there is no need for thanks or sorry between us. But allow me to say it just this once.” 

When Lan Zhan hesitantly nodded, Wei Wuxian took a moment to organise his jumbled thoughts.

“Years ago, I thought that you could hate me for leaving you, and it would destroy me. But not as much as you hurting would. You were the person that understood me– knew me even better than I know myself, and every moment I spent with you was bright and unforgettable.” Wei Wuxian cleared his scratchy throat before he could continue. “I know I was a coward for leaving you– and if I was in your place, I'd hate me too. But you're alive and safe, and that's better than you loving me while you lose everything you deserve. So please accept my apology, but know that it was never my intention to hurt you.”

“I do not hate Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan whispered, his eyes shiny with emotions, and Wei Wuxian tried to swallow back his own tears.

“You don’t?” he asked, unable to contain the hopeful tone from his words.

“I love Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan said firmly. 

Wei Wuxian inhaled sharply.

“You love me?” exclaimed Wei Wuxian, tears running down his face even as he rubbed them away. “Lan Zhan, do you really still love me?!”

Lan Zhan nodded, looking at Wei Wuxian with the warmest gaze as he moved his hands to cup Wei Wuxian’s cheeks.

“I will always love Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian sobbed, the words too much to hear after so many years spent in regret. But with a tenderness that took his breath away, Lan Zhan reached to move Wei Wuxian’s hair away from his face, gently wiping his tears.

Then he pulled Wei Wuxian to his chest, one hand sliding into his hair while the other clasped his back tightly.

Wei Wuxian easily reciprocated the hug, melting into Lan Zhan and inhaling his unforgettable scent. He stayed there for a long moment with his face buried in Lan Zhan’s shoulder, enveloped in Lan Zhan’s arms.

He wondered briefly if this was a dream.

But Lan Zhan’s big hand rubbing his back was too real, his fingers petting through his hair strands too solid to be imagined.

After staying in that position as much as he dared, Wei Wuxian slowed his racing heart enough to lift his eyes and meet Lan Zhan’s gaze. He felt wrecked, but Lan Zhan’s gaze was sweet, flooding his chest with warmth.

“I will always love Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said, more sure of this than anything else in his life.

Lan Zhan’s lips curled up slightly at the words while his ears blushed a dark red.

Something deep inside Wei Wuxian’s chest unfurled in satisfaction at the sight.

He leaned forward slowly, allowing time for Lan Zhan to pull back if he wished, before pressing a kiss to the tip of Lan Zhan’s red ear. Lan Zhan’s ears turned even darker, and Wei Wuxian giggled, reaching up to touch Lan Zhan’s soft earlobe with dancing eyes.

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian whispered, staring deep into Lan Zhan’s eyes as his arms stayed curled around him. “Are we good now? Do you forgive me?”

Lan Zhan quickly nodded, then paused. “There is nothing to forgive. Wei Ying has nothing to apologise for.”

Wei Wuxian smiled softly, his eyes absorbing Lan Zhan’s every feature from up close once again. He felt Lan Zhan do the same, and wondered whether he looked different to Lan Zhan after so many years.

Then Wei Wuxian started rambling excitedly. “Lan Zhan, I can make potions now, it is allowed! We can be together whenever we want, we can visit each other every day. Or even live together!”

“Excuse my interruption, Wangji, Tinker Wei,” Lord Lan said suddenly. “But I understand that both of you have been unhappy for so long due to misunderstandings. So I just want to inquire, do you think there is anything else you should let each other know before you go on, to avoid any further miscommunications?”

Wei Wuxian had not even noticed that the hall had been utterly quiet until Lord Lan spoke up and he slightly pulled back from Lan Zhan to turn towards Lord Lan. 

Everyone in the hall was watching them, not even attempting to be subtle.

He supposed he and Lan Zhan had made quite a spectacle of themselves, confessing their eternal love and crying in each other’s arms in the middle of the main hall.

At least their audience didn’t seem to mind too much. 

Jiang Yanli was looking very pleased, while Jiang Cheng’s face was a mix of satisfied and embarrassed. The young fairies were staring at them in shock and interest, while A-Yuan and Jingyi looked strangely vindicated.

“I have always been truthful with Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan answered his brother, though his eyes remained on Wei Wuxian. “And I promise to never hide anything from him from here on out too.”

Wei Wuxian smiled at him, soft and smitten. 

Then he thought about Lord Lan’s words. What else could be there that Wei Wuxian would need to tell Lan Zhan? Lan Zhan already knew he had a son, and that he made potions, and that he was the most talkative and loudest fairy; yet he still told Wei Wuxian that he loved him.

Ah.

His wings.

But how could he just talk about his wings, his broken wings, in front of everyone important to him?

On the other hand… maybe it was time to reveal this secret he had kept for years and had planned on keeping forever. 

A mixture of dread and relief filled him at the thought and Wei Wuxian took a wavering breath.

“Well– my wings,” Wei Wuxian started, but anxiety settled heavily in his stomach and under his tongue. 

“Your wings?” Jiang Cheng asked with eyebrows furrowed in worry, while Jiang Yanli had a slight wince on her face. “What about your wings, Wei Wuxian?”

The words hung in the air, and Wei Wuxian’s heart hammered in his chest. 

He gave up on explaining. Standing up, he untied his cape with trembling hands and let the feathers fall to the ground. Then he turned around to show his back.

An agonising quiet followed his reveal as everyone in the room stared at his bared, useless wings; one of them violently broken in half, jagged edges numb, and the other dull and colourless, hanging limply down his back.

There was no sound in the room, no reaction, nothing.

Wei Wuxian wanted someone to say something.

He saw Lan Zhan reaching for his back from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help but flinch away before he curbed in the instinctive reaction, born from years of hiding his broken wings and keeping them away from touch. 

When Lan Zhan hesitantly reached for him again, Wei Wuxian kept himself still as Lan Zhan touched his wings with a softness Wei Wuxian couldn't feel.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan breathed, finally breaking the suffocating silence. “What happened to your wings?”

Wei Wuxian turned back to look at Lan Zhan, averting his eyes again at the horrified look on Lan Zhan’s face.

Wei Wuxian knew his wings looked gruesome, but it didn’t feel nice to have Lan Zhan look at him like this, like he was a strange thing, mangled and unrecognisable. 

“They were hurt that day when the eagle attacked,” Wei Wuxian whispered roughly. “And then from the cold…”

“Your wings have been broken all these years?!” Jiang Cheng yelled suddenly, sounding angry rather than disgusted. That was still something.

Wei Wuxian just nodded, not knowing what else to say. 

His wings were broken. They couldn’t be fixed. End of the story.

“So that’s why you always ride Lil’ Apple?” whispered Jin Ling, his eyes looking teary. Wei Wuxian’s heart ached for him, at how he had people feeling sorry for him when it was all consequences of his own actions.

“Yeah, it is not that bad!” Wei Wuxian tried to smile at his nephew. “I have Lil’ Apple for whenever I want to fly!”

Then his eyes caught A-Yuan’s, who was watching him carefully but not looking surprised. 

Wei Wuxian had always tried to keep his wings covered up even at home, but A-Yuan was a lamentably perceptive child.

“You knew already, A-Yuan?” Wei Wuxian winced, rubbing the back of his neck.

A-Yuan nodded confidently. “It doesn’t make a difference to me. You don’t need wings to be the best father, and I love you regardless of anything.”

Wei Wuxian smiled as his eyes teared up again at the words. He loved his sweet son so much, and he stepped in his direction with open arms, urging him to come and hug him.

A-Yuan did, hugging him tightly before pulling back to speak.

“Those who love you will always continue to love you, A-Die,” A-Yuan whispered. “We don't want you to feel guilty for an unfortunate event that happened to you without your control.”

Wei Wuxian swallowed as he tried to make himself believe in the words.

He hoped he could, one day.

“My smart son,” he mumbled quietly as he kissed the crown of A-Yuan’s head, before turning to look at the others in the room. Lan Zhan had walked to stand right next to him again, but Wei Wuxian focused on Jiang Cheng, who was looking away with a betrayed expression on his face.

“Jiang Cheng…” Wei Wuxian sighed. “I didn't want you to learn about this and think of me differently–"

“Who cares if your wings are broken!” Jiang Cheng interrupted angrily, “You are still you! Why would you hide it from me for so long?”

“I’m sorry…?” Wei Wuxian scratched his forehead, feeling his heart warm but not knowing how to make Jiang Cheng’s anger go away.

Jiang Cheng sighed heavily, suddenly deflating. “Don’t apologise, idiot. Next time, just tell me.”

Wei Wuxian nodded quickly, seeing Jiang Yanli smile at them fondly as she patted Jiang Cheng’s back.

“Wei Ying was hurt while saving me,” Lan Zhan spoke up softly, making Wei Wuxian’s head whip towards him. “Yet you have been apologising?”

“I am fine, Lan Zhan, it’s just my wings,” Wei Wuxian assured, trying to comfort him. “Wen Qing and Wen Ning helped me heal that night, so I survived the frostbite with no other injuries."

“You have been so hurt because of me,” Lan Zhan mumbled, apologetic and regretful.

“Lan Zhan, no!” Wei Wuxian protested. “It was not because of you, and saving your life was worth losing my wings!”

Then he broke off, suddenly self-conscious. “Does it– does it look that bad?”

Lan Zhan immediately shook his head. “Wei Ying could never look bad.”

Wei Wuxian shook his head with a smile, relieved to hear the words even if they couldn’t be fully true.

“Does it…change anything? That my wings are broken?”

“Of course not,” Lan Zhan came closer, holding Wei Wuxian’s hands. “I fell in love with Wei Ying, not with his wings.”

Wei Wuxian giggled, blushing deeply despite his tear-stained cheeks. “Lan Zhaaan, you are so funny.”

Then Wei Wuxian’s heart gave a violent jolt when he looked at their joined hands. He took a deep breath to gather his courage as he tightened their hold. 

“Lan Zhan, now you know everything… I left you because I thought it was the best option we had, and I am flightless, but I still love you. So despite everything, do you… want to be my lover?”

He closed his eyes tightly. He didn’t want to stare at Lan Zhan as he waited for a reply with his heart in his throat.

Then Wei Wuxian felt a soft pressure on his lips and gasped, his eyes flying open to find Lan Zhan leaned in close, kissing him gently.

If this was a dream, Wei Wuxian could stay in it forever.

Much too soon, Lan Zhan pulled back, and reached up to touch the snowflake hairpin in his hair.

Wei Wuxian watched in confusion as Lan Zhan took the pin out, and held it towards Wei Wuxian like an offering, cradled in his palms.

“Wei Ying, I want to be your lover,” said Lan Zhan, his voice low and ears pink. “I want to always be with Wei Ying. Will you accept this as a token of my love?”

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian breathed out in a daze. He was filled with a cloud of happiness so light that he felt dizzy.

Then he beamed at Lan Zhan, playfully raising his eyebrows. “Do you want to make me yours, just like Miss Bunny?”

But Lan Zhan replied in a serious tone. “No. We will be each other’s.”

Wei Wuxian tried not to scream at the words, but a delighted giggle still burst out of him.

“We will belong together?” Wei Wuxian asked, and Lan Zhan nodded. “Yes, Lan Zhan, I accept! Come on, put it on me!”

Lan Zhan reached up when Wei Wuxian bowed his head forward, gently moving Wei Wuxian’s hair to place the pin in place. Wei Wuxian felt it snap when it was tucked right into the base of his ponytail, and he looked up with a wide smile.

His breath stuttered at the way Lan Zhan was looking at him, warm and loving, like Wei Wuxian was a rare treasure and Lan Zhan was having his fill observing him up close.

Wei Wuxian felt the same.

He couldn’t stop looking at Lan Zhan in awe, at his golden eyes blinking slowly, eyelashes fanning down elegantly, his lips slightly curled up like he couldn’t contain his happiness.

Wei Wuxian leaned in and pressed a kiss to Lan Zhan’s soft cherry lips that left both of them breathless and giddy.

“I told you they were the lovers in that story!” Jingyi exclaimed passionately, making Wei Wuxian jump away from Lan Zhan in surprise and come back to the real world, where they were surrounded by their friends and family. “And that means we are gonna be brothers!”

Jingyi was slapping A-Yuan in the arm as he rambled happily while A-Yuan just smiled and let him.

Jiang Cheng grumbled about Wei Wuxian’s shamelessness while Jiang Yanli giggled and leaned against Jin Zixuan, who curled an arm around her waist. Lord Lan shook his head with a small smile and soft eyes trained on Lan Zhan.

Jin Ling was trying to escape Ouyang Zizhen’s excited whispers, stealing embarrassed glances at Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan.

Wei Wuxian laughed as he held onto Lan Zhan’s arm, his smile so wide that his cheeks were pulled tight enough to ache.

Lan Zhan pulled him closer, tugging Wei Wuxian into a proper kiss.

And Wei Wuxian went happily, unable to suppress the fond smile that sneaked to his lips at his impatient lover.

His heart soared with love and happiness.

For years, his love was kept hidden and hopeless. But now, it was going to live on forever, for endless seasons upon seasons.

Wei Wuxian was going to make sure of that.

∙⊱⋅•⋅¤⋅•⋅⊰∙∘》 ༓ 《∘∙⊱⋅•⋅¤•⋅⊰∙

Wei Wuxian rushed into the large library that was streaked in sunlight through the wide windows, stumbling as he tried to take off his cape at the same time.

“Lan Zhan!” he yelled, throwing off his cape to the side. “We are back!”

“I am here,” came Lan Zhan’s voice, and Wei Wuxian saw him sitting behind the writing desk, his hair down and in a light shirt, with multiple books laid open in front of him.

He looked so comfortable, so at home in the library Wei Wuxian had built for him that Wei Wuxian felt his chest fill with a calmness, slowing down to enjoy the sight. 

“Hello, darling,” Wei Wuxian whispered with a smile as he threw himself into Lan Zhan’s lap. Lan Zhan’s arms automatically came up to curl around his back, as they always did. “It was so warm in the dandelion garden, I'm burning up! You need to cool me a little.”

Lan Zhan nodded, leaning down to nuzzle his cold forehead against Wei Wuxian’s, and Wei Wuxian giggled happily. 

Even after being in the autumn forest for days now, Lan Zhan’s body was still cold, thanks to the prolonged cooling potion they had managed to produce.

After trying for so long to find the best living arrangement, the two of them and the boys had settled into a nice and comfortable routine, staying in the autumn and winter forest in turns, drinking their potions at the border potion offices and smoothly crossing between the forests. Wei Wuxian was now helping in training young potion fairies in all the seasons too, so moving between the forests was helpful for his job.

The winter forest finally felt like a true part of Neverland these days.

“Did you have fun?” Lan Zhan asked as he leaned back, pressing a kiss to the snowflake pin placed in Wei Wuxian’s hair.

Wei Wuxian nodded, bending down to kiss the pinkish scar running up Lan Zhan’s collarbone in return.

“Mhm, we did, it was nice,” mumbled Wei Wuxian, looking deep into Lan Zhan’s pale golden eyes. Their colour was a light gold once again, and Wei Wuxian was easily lost in their warm glow. “Did you finish the plant reports?”

“Mhm,” Lan Zhan nodded, his guqin-roughened fingertips rubbing up and down Wei Wuxian’s shoulder gently.

Then Wei Wuxian sat up with a gasp.

“Oh, I almost forgot!” Wei Wuxian pulled out a wrapped leaf from his pocket, unfolding it to show a pomegranate seed. “Wen Ning brought us pomegranate seeds today! I wanted you to try it!”

He picked up the seed and presented it to Lan Zhan with a wide smile. Then he cupped a hand under Lan Zhan’s chin, angling his face towards himself. “Open up, Lan Zhan!”

Lan Zhan’s red lips parted obediently to bite into the pomegranate seed. He smiled softly after tasting it, pressing a pomegranate-scented kiss to Wei Wuxian’s cheek.

“I like it,” said Lan Zhan, voice soft and low. Wei Wuxian smiled in delight, pulling him in for a short kiss to share the taste. 

“Good,” Wei Wuxian said, his thumbs drawing slow circles on Lan Zhan’s back. "I am glad you like it.”

“I always like what Wei Ying brings me,” argued Lan Zhan, and Wei Wuxian chuckled fondly.

“Yes, honey, you do. But you were…really affected by the chilli pepper, if I remember correctly." He coughed lightly, trying to conceal a laugh.

Lan Zhan rolled his eyes pettily, making Wei Wuxian burst out into laughter.

Just then, their boys came into the library like a breeze, a dandelion seed tucked behind each of their ears.

“Baba!” A-Yuan called worriedly, leaning on his knees to catch his breath.

Jingyi beat him to speaking first, “A-Die, Lil’ Apple and Miss Bunny Bunny are fighting again!”

“They are just playing, A-Yi, not fighting,” Wei Wuxian said as he moved to the side to slide off Lan Zhan’s lap, snuggling into his side instead.

Jingyi plopped down on the other side of Lan Zhan’s table, pulling A-Yuan down to sit with him as he sniggered. “Then I guess Lord Nie’s cat also plays with Uncle Huaisang, but Uncle Huaisang doesn’t realise it’s a game.” 

Wei Wuxian chuckled at Jingyi’s words, then cleared his throat at Lan Zhan’s soft glare. 

“Don’t talk behind his back, Jingyi,” said Lan Zhan.

“I know, Baba,” Jingyi replied in chagrin, before he smiled mischievously and his hand went to his chin as if he had a beard.

Wei Wuxian immediately caught onto what he was doing and sat up, copying the gesture.

“Backbiting is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses,” Wei Wuxian and Jingyi said at the same, then high fived over the table with a loud laughter, almost rolling on the floor.

A-Yuan and Lan Zhan shook their heads with a sigh.

Lan Zhan’s uncle was a recluse, never leaving the winter forest even after potion use had become common. He was a man that had many rules and ideals that were hard to live up to, but it was that rigidness of his that made him very easy and fun to imitate.

“A-Die, that is also backbiting,” A-Yuan lightly admonished Wei Wuxian. “And that is Baba’s uncle you are mocking, you should be more respectful.”

“Ah, that’s right,” Wei Wuxian winced as he raised himself up on his elbows. “Sorry, husband.”

But when Wei Wuxian looked up at him, Lan Zhan’s mouth was twitching with suppressed amusement too.

Wei Wuxian giggled, reaching up to kiss Lan Zhan’s cheek.

A-Yuan also caught Lan Zhan’s smile and sighed again, nudging Jingyi to sit up so he could redo his messy ponytail.

Wei Wuxian grabbed his husband’s hand as they watched their sons bicker softly, all of them happy, healthy, and free to be wherever they wished to be. Everything in his life was perfect.

Wei Wuxian was forever in his happiest season.

In his fifth season.