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Lan Wangji wakes to the birds trilling sweetly outside the Jingshi. The sun is rising, light already starting to show through the perpetual fog of morning. It's summer, though the air of Cloud Recesses doesn't get much warmer.
Lan Wangji dresses for a day of lectures.
The guest disciples have their white robes with their reigning sect's symbol embroidered in colors on the shoulder. Lan Wangji has a set of his own, though he is not required to wear them. He chooses a slightly blue tinted belt over his white Lan cut robes and sets his morning tea to steep.
The tea is the correct temperature when he begins to drink, and the birds outside keep him company.
Classes start promptly after breakfast. The visiting disciples are herded in by Lan clan members.
It's a normal day, except Wei Wuxian is sending him an odd look. That in itself isn't very odd. Wei Wuxian has many odd looks, and they all seem to pass in his general direction, were he to glance over. This look is slightly odder than most, as Wei Wuxian looks confused, instead of devious.
"Lan Zhan," he whispers in a tone barely below a normal voice. Uncle has not yet begun to speak, the disciples are allowed a few moments after the classroom door is opened to sit and adjust themselves. A grace given to encourage all attendees to settle in for the lecture. Lan Zhan ignores him anyway.
"Lan Zhan! Is anything... odd happening?" Wei Wuxian says, which actually is odd. Lan Wangji turns his head just slightly, keeping his eyes turned towards the dias where his Uncle is casting eyes one last time over the lecture materials. It's odd that Wei Wuxian hasn't mentioned anything about his clothes, how clean/white/nice they are, as is his usual greeting.
"Wei Wuxian!" Uncle says sternly.
Wei Wuxian turns abruptly to the front. Jiang Wanyin, sitting just in front of his martial brother, seems to sigh and drops his shoulders. Lan Wangji can sympathize. Lan Qiran hasn't even managed to begin the lecture, and already Wei Wuxian is causing trouble.
Wei Wuxian is silent through most of the lecture. From the corner of his eye, Lan Wangji can tell he's not paying attention as he should be. If he's honest, and he always is, it's a relief to not be distracted by Wei Wuxian's mischief.
The lecture ends, and Wei Wuxian isn't the first out the door, as is so often the case. For his brilliance (as Lan Wangji is always honest, he gives Wei Wuxian the credit due, he lives up to the Jiang motto) Wei Wuxian seems to be against learning. In the dark corner of his heart, Lan Wangji wonders if it's the Lan teaching which is off putting to Wei Wuxian's mind. Someone so free spirited may not like the Lan's structured memorization and repetition.
Lan Wangji shakes his head. It's not for him to criticise. The Lan style works for him, and is all his mind should be focusing on.
Training is also odd. Wei Wuxian seems to be interrogating their fellow students. He accosts Jiang Wanyin and distracts him for many moments. If the look on Jiang Wanyin's face is anything to go by, though Lan Wangji often has his doubts, Jiang Wanyin is upset with his Shixiong. Wei Wuxian's hand motions seem to be describing some large and complicated idea. Lan Wangji realizes he's distracted at his own sword movements and turns his mind back to the forms.
Something Wei Wuxian says to Jiang Wanyin eventually pushes the boy over the edge.
"Wei Wuxian! If you're going to keep spouting nonsense then leave!" Jiang Wanyin has been abrasive and irritating the entire lecture, but Lan Wangji can't help but agree with him. Wei Wuxian is distracting, even when he's performing the sword forms perfectly.
Lan Wangji misses him, a little, when Wei Wuxian stomps off the training grounds and disappears over a hill.
Dinner is quiet, as always. Even the visiting disciples are quiet though, with no need for Lan Xichen to send them his pleasant-but-disappointed look.
Wei Wuxian does not appear on time. He comes in late, which does cause a ruckus among the disciples he sits with. Nie Huaisang shoots a look at Lan Qiran, and finds Lan Wangji watching. The Nie boy pales and immediately turns back to his food.
Wei Wuxian doesn't eat much, as far as Lan Wangji can tell. His pushes the food around and folds it together, but the utensils never seem to make it to Wei Wuxian's mouth.
Lan Wangji has to tell himself that it is none of his business what Wei Wuxian eats or doesn't eat. Just because he's seen the Yunmeng disciple put away the three bowls allowed by Lan rules and stare longingly until Nie Huaisang swaps empty for full, doesn't mean the half bowl that actually makes it to Wei Wuxian's stomach is cause for concern.
Lan Wangji is concerned.
The disciples are sent to bed at the proper time, and Lan Wangji thinks through the patrol schedule in his mind. He's not been asked for tonight, but he will have tomorrow evening's watch of the Eastern wards. When he gets to the Jingshi, he changes into sleep clothes, meditates for the time of an incense stick, and prepares for bed.
The kitchens are closed, but Wei Wuxian has always had ways around the Lan rules. Besides, if Wei Wuxian wants something, he usually finds a way to get it. Lan Wangji finds his sleep as the hour is called, thoughts of Wei Wuxian brushing gently across his dreams.
***
The moon sinks behind the clouds. The wind whistles in the trees. The time held in the world's hourglass returns.
***
Lan Wangji wakes to the birds trilling sweetly outside the Jingshi.
The air outside is heavy with wispy fog.
Lan Wangji dresses for a day of lectures.
He makes the same tea for breakfast he has every morning and watches the sun move across the sky. The birds keep him company as he sips his tea, relishing the quiet of the morning.
Class starts promptly after breakfast. The visiting disciples are herded in by Lan clan members.
Uncle has not yet begun to speak, the disciples are allowed a few moments after the classroom door is opened to sit and adjust themselves.
Wei Wuxian takes this given time to walk quickly into the classroom. He's late and he looks harried. His eyes are darting around, but something he sees seems to relax him. Lan Wangji wonders, briefly, why it seemed like Wei Wuxian's eyes were on him as his shoulders came down.
He makes it to his seat, but is not yet settled when Lan Qiran spots him. "Wei Wuxian!" Uncle says sternly. Lan Qiran hasn't even managed to begin the lecture, and already Wei Wuxian is causing trouble.
"Yes, Shifu?" Wei Wuxian says. It's not respectful, and if Lan Wangji were one to purse his lips, he'd have done it at the tone. Lan Qiran does purse his lips, and glares menacingly at Wei Wuxian.
"Class has started. Be seated and open the booklets to the correct page." Uncle says sharply. Lan Wangji can see a day's worth of exasperation already worn into him by Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian doesn't even seem to be pretending to pay attention. He spends half his time staring at Lan Wangji, and the other half asking inappropriate questions of Lan Qiran. It seems to be a test, because as Uncle's face grows more stern and more heated, Wei Wuxian seems to become more amused. Lan Wangji can feel his own frustration with Wei Wuxian's attitude rising.
Wei Wuxian doesn't get kicked out of the classroom as he had the first day. He seems to get bored and finishes the lesson staring at Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji's ears turn red a minute in, and don't cool down until they're released for lunch.
Trouble begins again when the disciples go to the training grounds for sword practice. Wei Wuxian is playing off of Jiang Wanyin now. If the look on Jiang Wanyin's face is anything to go by, though Lan Wangji has his doubts, Jiang Wanyin is upset with his Shixiong.
Wei Wuxian does get kicked out of training. Wei Wuxian is distracting, even when he's performing the sword forms perfectly, but he seems to be actively trying the patience of the swords master Lan Fengli. Lan Wangji does not miss him. He does not.
Wei Wuxian is not found at dinner. Lan Wangji has to tell himself that it is none of his business what Wei Wuxian eats or doesn't eat.
As the quiet of the dining room wears on, Lan Wangji begins to wonder where he might have disappeared to. He doesn't want to admit he's grown used to the whispered conversations between certain disciples over dinner. He refuses to look at where certain disciples are not sitting. He will not admit it. Lan Wangji is concerned.
Wei Wuxian doesn't appear as dinner is cleared away. Doesn't appear as the lamps outside the library are lit. Doesn't appear as the disciples are sent to bed. Lan Wangji goes over the schedule of disciples in his head. He's not been asked for tonight, but he will have tomorrow evening's watch of the Eastern wards.
Finally, on his own way to bed, he hears the loud shouting of Jiang Wanyin. "Where were you all afternoon? Shijie visited and you weren't here. She's very concerned about you and you're a terrible brother." Along those lines.
When he gets to the Jingshi, he changes into sleep clothes, meditates for the time of an incense stick, and prepares for bed. Lan Wangji ponders for just a moment over whether Wei Wuxian got something to eat. The kitchens are closed shortly after dinner. It's none of his business, but he hopes the Jiang sect boy ate something.
Lan Wangji finds his sleep as the hour is called, thoughts of Wei Wuxian brushing gently across his dreams.
***
The moon sinks behind the clouds. The wind whistles in the trees. The time held in the world's hourglass returns.
***
Lan Wangji wakes to the birds trilling sweetly outside the Jingshi. The air outside is heavy with whispy fog.
Lan Wangji dresses for a day of lectures. Though he's not required to wear student robes during the lecture, he prefers the white. It reminds him of his duty, to the Lan clan and to his family. He layers with a light blue belt.
The tea is the correct temperature when he begins to drink, and the birds outside keep him company. Class starts promptly after breakfast. The visiting disciples are herded in by Lan clan members.
Wei Wuxian does not show up for class.
He is not found at lunch, sword practice, or dinner.
Lan Wangji doesn't panic. He does wonder if something happened in the morning before class to cause Wei Wuxian to stay in the dorms, or fulfill punishment. Or he would, if Lan Qiran didn't have a whispered conversation with Lan Xichen just outside the library about how no one has seen Wei Wuxian all day.
Lan Wangji wonders if he's eaten. He has to tell himself that it is none of his business what Wei Wuxian eats or doesn't eat.
Lan Wangji is concerned. He's not been asked for tonight, but he will have tomorrow evening's watch of the Eastern wards. He would go anyways, to keep an eye out, if it wouldn't unnecessarily break curfew.
When he gets to the Jingshi, he changes into sleep clothes, meditates for the time of an incense stick, and prepares for bed. He's stiff and more tired than usual. One thing he's always been clear on between his body and mind, is worry. He's worried for Wei Wuxian.
Fitfully, Lan Wangji finds his sleep as the hour is called, thoughts of Wei Wuxian brushing gently across his dreams.
***
The moon sinks behind the clouds. The wind whistles in the trees. The time held in the world's hourglass returns.
***
Lan Wangji wakes to the birds trilling sweetly outside the Jingshi. The air outside is heavy with wispy fog.
Lan Wangji dresses for a day of lectures. And then a knock comes on his door.
He stands and stares at it for a moment. Even Xiong-zhang would not interrupt his preferred morning routine. The tea is still steeping, the water too hot to drink yet.
He goes to the door and if he were not a Lan sect member, he might have shut it in the face of Wei Wuxian at his doorstep. He stares and Wei Wuxian clears his throat.
"May I join you?" the other boy asks. He's hesitant, aware of his untimely arrival. Lan Wangji debates with himself for a moment. If he says no, Wei Wuxian might leave. There's also a chance Wei Wuxian would try to cajole his way into the Jingshi, and sit down for morning tea uninvited.
If he says yes...
Lan Wangji opens the door wide and steps aside.
"The air is chilly this morning," Wei Wuxian steps inside and rubs his arms. "It'll be a beautiful day though." The previous afternoon had been so muggy, despite the altitude of Cloud Recesses, that sword practice had been miserable. Lan Wangji takes in the curious certainty of Wei Wuxian's words.
Lan Wangji pours them both tea. The tea is the correct temperature when he begins to drink, and Wei Wuxian is keeping his tongue still. It's almost, companionable. Lan Wangji waits for whatever Wei Wuxian is here for to happen.
"I guess you don't get many early morning visitors, huh?" Wei Wuxian says with a smile. "Dawn is pretty early. And-"
"Classes start after breakfast." He and Lan Wangji say together.
Wei Wuxian smiles again, brightly. "Yes, they do. Shall we walk together?"
Lan Wangji sips the last of his tea and nods hesitantly. "Mn." He agrees. Wei Wuxian's bright smile turns fond and sweet.
When they arrive together to the classroom, Uncle has not yet begun to speak. The disciples are allowed a few moments after the classroom door is opened to sit and adjust themselves, and they all seem to watch Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian walk in together.
Jiang Wanyin scowls and marches up to grab Wei Wuxian's elbow. "What are you doing?" He hisses to his shixiong, flicking eyes over Lan Wangji as though to assess for damage. "You got up so early I thought you might be sick."
Lan Wangji leaves them to sit in his own seat. He pulls out his materials, despite knowing the lecture Uncle teaches by heart. He hears Wei Wuxian say, in a normal voice, "I was just having breakfast with Lan Zhan."
Jiang Wanyin seems to shut down. "You got up early, to have breakfast? With Lan Wangji?" His voice pitches higher over the questions and Lan Wangji can feel his ears heating up. Even Nie Huaisang is looking with intent between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian opens his mouth to say... something, when Uncle looks up from his review of the lecture. "Wei Wuxian!" Uncle says sternly.
Lan Qiran hasn't even managed to begin the lecture, and already Wei Wuxian is causing trouble, except it's Jiang Wanyin who is actually still standing. Jiang Wanyin blushes and sits quickly, Jiang Yanli covering her mouth with a smile.
Wei Wuxian does not ask to sit next to him at lunch. But he does stand slightly too close at sword practice. If Lan Wangji were not a better swordsman, he would be wary of hitting Wei Wuxian.
If the look on Jiang Wanyin's face is anything to go by, though Lan Wangji has his doubts, Jiang Wanyin is upset with his Shixiong. The space on the training grounds that is usually Wei Wuxian's is empty, and Jiang Wanyin does not look pleased.
Lan Wangji watches his again, unexpected visitor, a moment. Wei Wuxian is distracting, even when he's performing the sword forms perfectly. He is performing perfectly though. Stances and forms Lan Wangji had memorized as a child, but other disciples had issues mimicking. Wei Wuxian is fluid, strong, and balanced. Lan Wangji feels his ears heating as he returns to his own steady repetition.
Dinner is quiet. Wei Wuxian doesn't seek him out again and Lan Wangji wonders if breakfast was a fluke. He can't imagine how, with Wei Wuxian appearing at his door and asking to be let in. Lan Wangji has to tell himself that it is none of his business what Wei Wuxian does or doesn't do. His heart beats faster.
Wei Wuxian catches up to him after dinner. He looks tired, but in a relaxed way. Tired like Lan Wangji feels after a full day.
"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian says, as brightly as he had spoken at Lan Wangji's breakfast table. "About this morning."
Lan Wangji has resigned himself to Wei Wuxian calling him by his given name. It seems like such a small thing to be upset about, especially when the Jiang disciples, all the visitors, will be leaving again soon. He stops in the pathway for Wei Wuxian to turn to him. "I'd like to join you for breakfast again. Maybe tomorrow?"
Lan Wangji is very glad for the darkness and the lack of lamps on this particular path. He's sure his ears would be bright enough to reflect any light source. He nods quickly and turns to move off again. Wei Wuxian shouts a good night to his retreating back.
He's nearly to the Jingshi when he thinks about the watch schedule. He's not been asked for tonight, but he will have tomorrow evening's watch of the Eastern wards. He makes a note to himself. Wei Wuxian will have to be told, if he wants to breakfast at a later time with Lan Wangji the next morning.
When he gets to the Jingshi, he stares at the table in the sitting room for a moment. Wei Wuxian had sat and had breakfast tea with him. It was almost surreal.
He changes into sleep clothes and stares at the lit stick of incense stick as it burns for the time he's supposed to meditate. Finally he snuffs it out and prepares for bed.
Lan Wangji finds his sleep as the hour is called, thoughts of seeing Wei Wuxian in the morning brushing sweetly across his dreams.
***
The moon sinks behind the clouds. The wind whistles in the trees. The time held in the world's hourglass returns.
***
Class starts promptly after breakfast. This has always been the rule at lectures, but Lan Wangji has never seen a disciple in class before himself.
Wei Wuxian is not only seated at his desk, he appears to be writing notes on the morning lecture as Lan Wangji passes him.
Lan Qiran is sitting at his own desk at the front. He is suspiciously eyeing Wei Wuxian, but he gives Lan Wangji a perfunctory once over and a nod.
Wei Wuxian is a model student. He takes notes, listens attentively, asks a relevant, ingenious question at the appropriate time. Lan Wangji would stop and stare, if he were anyone but himself. From the corner of his eye, and maybe a tiny bit of tilted head staring, He sees Jiang Wanyin turning in his seat every few minutes to also stare at his shixiong.
Wei Wuxian is also focused to the extreme on the training grounds.
If the look on Jiang Wanyin's face is anything to go by, though Lan Wangji has his doubts, Jiang Wanyin is upset with his Shixiong. Lan Wangji can't decide if it's because Wei Wuxian is doing it effortlessly, or if it's just that he's doing it better than Jiang Wanyin.
Wei Wuxian is distracting, even when he's performing the sword forms perfectly.
Lan Wangji has not decided if Wei Wuxian is actually doing this to cause mayhem. He turns to Wei Wuxian and allows himself to stare as the other boy goes through advanced sword forms as though he learned them as a child.
"Lan Zha- er, Lan Wangji." Wei Wuxian says, catching the look. "Do you have any advice on this form? Am I doing it wrong?" Wei Wuxian drops his stance to turn to Lan Wangji.
"Was perfect." Lan Wangji says clearly. "Wei Ying." Lan Wangji turns back to his own motions and forcefully ignores the heat in his ears, or the delighted smile which spreads like sunshine over Wei Wuxian's face.
At Dinner, he wonders briefly if Wei Wuxian is dying. Lan Wangji has to tell himself that it is none of his business what Wei Wuxian eats or doesn't eat. Except Wei Wuxian is eating as though he's always eaten with the Lan Clan. The boy stops at three bowls of the frankly delicious soup the kitchens had come up with and doesn't even look at Nie Huaisang's. Wei Wuxian doesn't open his mouth, except to take a bite, the entire meal.
Wei Wuxian does not speak once, even in whisper, through the entire meal.
At this point, even Lan Qiran is looking at his least favorite headache oddly.
Lan Wangji is concerned.
As they're all released from dinner, he glances over at Wei Wuxian and sees the boy is already looking at him. He turns that sunny smile up again and Lan Wangji has to turn away, lest he does something unforgivable like return it.
Xichen walks beside him and watches him more than the stone of the pathway. "Wangji, you are allowed to make friends." He says at last. "Encouraged, even. Is that not what the lectures have always been about? Meeting others your age from different sects to forge alliances and lines of communication." Xichen is smiling, Lan Wangji can tell. He's not just smiling though, he seems to be pleased and attentive towards Lan Wangji.
"Mn." is all Lan Wangji can reply. It is the intent of Gusu's lectures to both educate and ally with other sects. Lan Wangji has been to the last three lectures Gusu has held, in some form or another, but he's never taken the steps to approach any of the other disciples. He's not sure he has in Wei Wuxian's case either, but the Jiang Disciple seems to have attached to Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji can't find it in himself to be upset.
He nods to his xiong-zhang and heads towards his own quarters. Xichen is definitely laughing at his back, as older brothers do when they tease their younger brothers.
When he gets to the Jingshi, he goes to change into sleep clothes, with plans to meditate for the time of an incense stick. His routine is interrupted and the feeling in the bottom of his stomach makes itself known. Wistfulness, a tinge of hope, a dash of wary confusion. And a ton of the other thing he's not yet thinking about, for his own sanity.
It's Wei Wuxian at his door. Lan Wangji blinks at him for a moment before opening the door wider.
Wei Wuxian doesn't come in, as Lan Wangji expects. He stands in the doorway and clasps his hands behind his back.
"I just wanted to say good night." He says. It's almost shy, though that's not an adjective he's ever thought of in conjunction with Wei Wuxian. "I also wanted to say-" He cuts himself off and wraps his arms around his chest. Lan Wangji is beginning to feel alarm surge through him. "I just- I like spending time with you." Wei Wuxian says quickly. His words jumble a little and Lan Wangji's heart beats quickly. "I like training with you, I'd really like to spar sometime, even if you knock me down so fast my head spins. You're really good. At fighting, at learning. You're just... good."
Wei Wuxian stays long enough for Lan Wangji to part his lips and say, "Wei Ying?" in both confusion and shock. Before he can get anything else out, Wei Wuxian is waving from the edge of a building he must go around to reach the dorms. And then he is gone and Lan Wangji can't hear over the sound of his own blood rushing.
He prepares for bed as the hour is called. Sleep evades him for what seems like forever, before he finally drifts off, Wei Ying ushering him softly into his dreams.
***
The moon sinks behind the clouds. The wind whistles in the trees. The time held in the world's hourglass returns.
***
Lan Wangji wakes to the birds trilling sweetly outside the Jingshi. He listens to them as he goes through his morning routines, sipping at his perfectly brewed cup of tea as they charm each other outside his open window.
Wei Wuxian appears as he leaves the Jingshi to move towards class.
"Lan Zhan. I think I'm stuck in a time loop."
Lan Wangji stares for a moment, before he nods and begins to head to the library. Uncle will forgive him for missing one class.
***
The moon is high and bright, moving into the sky. The night is still and quiet, the creatures holding their breath as dawn approaches. The sand in the hour glass remains.
***