Work Text:
Jiang Cheng’s heart is racing.
He’s waiting for the dust to settle, he can’t make out shapes or movements, and Lan Wangji is nowhere in sight.
“Hanguang-Jun!”
Jiang Cheng’s worried call goes unanswered and his stomach does an anxious summersault. He’s wary of walking any further, not sure of what awaits beyond the debris.
Finally, the dust settles and Jiang Cheng is met with an unexpected sight.
“What. The. Fuck?”
What the hell was happening?
Jiang Cheng released a half hysteric half disbelieving laugh as he rushed down the small ledge into the small clearing where Lan Wangji’s robes laid spread out and rumpled. In the middle of them sat a small child bearing Lan Wangji’s features only well—younger. Way younger.
The child sits quietly, carefully staring at his surroundings. Jiang Cheng couldn’t tell if he was scared or confused or—well he couldn’t tell what the child was feeling at all. His face blank, not giving way to any kind of strong emotion.
“Lan—“ Jiang Cheng stops, would Wangji answer to the name Wangji? “Lan Zhan?”
Little Wangji’s eyes widen a fraction as Jiang Cheng carefully approaches him.
“Xiongzhang” Wangji says, voice shaky, his lip quivering a bit and Jiang Cheng has half a second to panic before he watches the small boy before him huff resolutely, clenching his little fists on his lap. “Where is Xiongzhang? And Shufu? I want—where is Xoingzhang”
He looks a little angry now. His little brows furrowed deeply, a frown that looks more like a pout, prominent on his lips.
“I—well they’re, home” Jiang Cheng falters, because well they are. Wangji stares at him with his little angry eyes and it takes everything in Jiang Cheng not to coo at how adorable Lan Wangji actually looks right now. “Lan Zhan, listen—this gege is going to take you home, can you trust me?”
Lan Wangji appraises him for a good full minute before releasing a very put upon sigh.
“Mn.” He gives Jiang Cheng a small nod and finally unclenches his fists. Jiang Cheng releases a sigh of relief and goes to gather the boy, wrapping his too big robes around his little form. He picks him up gently, pulling him up to his chest hugging him tightly.
This isn’t his Wangji, but as long as he is safe and alive, Jiang Cheng can handle whatever comes their way.
—
The first thing Jiang Cheng does upon reaching Lotus Pier is tell Jiang Ziwen to send out an urgent message to Sect Leader Lan.
Jiang Cheng’s head disciple’s surprised eyes zero in on the child held firmly to his chest, and he throws a curious and worried glance over his Sect Leader’s shoulder.
“What shall I say?”
“Let him know Lan Wangji is fine, but there’s been an incident—honestly, I don’t even know what to make of this” Jiang Cheng says lips pressed into a thin line as he looks down at Lan Wangji, whose face is buried deep in his neck. “I—figure something out, please. I have to take him to Auntie Yu. Do let him know his presence would be greatly appreciated”
Jiang Cheng’s robes flutter behind him as he hastily makes his way towards the healer’s ward.
—
“Oh my heavens” Auntie Yu coos, “now who is this precious little bundle”
She tries to pry the child from Jiang Cheng’s arms but Wangji whimpers, his little knuckles going white with the ferocity he’s holding on with.
“It’s Lan Wangji, Yu A-Yi” Jiang Cheng says gravely, “I don’t even know what happened. One second we were patrolling the perimeter of the outskirts of Yunmeng when suddenly Lan Wangji’s attention was on something apparently only he could hear, because I didn’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary”
“Breathe, child” Auntie Yu soothes, hand on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.
He takes a shaky breath.
“I don’t know what to do, Yu A-Yi. He just pushed me out of the way, there was so much dust everywhere—impossible to make sense of anything. And now he’s here but not really because he’s literally six years old, gods above what even—“
“Jiang Wanyin, I need you to get ahold of yourself” Auntie Yu says firmly, “it seems he only trusts you at the moment, and if we’re to figure out what is happening to him, I need to check him”
Jiang Cheng nods a little jerkily before walking further into the healer’s room. He tries to settle Lan Wangji on one of the beds but the boy doesn’t budge.
“Home” Lan Wangji mumbles looking up at Jiang Cheng, and for the first time that night, his face gives way to fear.
Jiang Cheng’s heart breaks.
He had been so busy trying not to lose his mind at the current events that he didn’t take into consideration Lan Wangji’s own feelings. He was merely a child at this given time with no recollection of who Jiang Cheng was or where he was being taken to.
He couldn’t imagine how terrifying that could be to a child.
“A-Zhan, hey bun—I’m sorry. Look” Jiang Cheng says pressing a soft kiss to his little forehead. “We’re in Lotus Pier, this is my home. It was way closer than the Cloud Recesses, but your Xiongzhang will be here I promise you. Can you trust me?” he asks softly.
Lan Wangji takes a second but nods eventually.
“Lying is forbidden” he tells Jiang Cheng.
“Lying is forbidden” he agrees, “this is Yu A-Yi, will you be a good boy and let her take a look at you?” Jiang Cheng asks gently.
Lan Wangji’s hands tighten on Jiang Cheng’s robes for a second before loosening. He gives him another small nod and Jiang Cheng sighs.
“Okay little one, let me take a look at you” Auntie Yu says as Jiang Cheng deposits Lan Wangji onto the bed. He doesn’t get a chance to stray to far for Wangji’s little hand goes to trap the sleeve of his robes between his stubby little fingers.
Auntie Yu laughs delightfully and proceeds to check if everything is ok with Lan Wangji.
—
“A-Zhan!” Lan Xichen exclaims barreling through the healer’s doors without any semblance of decorum.
“Shh!” Jiang Cheng exclaims shooting down a worried glance to the sleeping boy on his chest. Lan Wangji had finally fallen asleep after hours of refusing to shut his eyes and honestly, Jiang Cheng himself was so exhausted he couldn’t be bothered to be respectful towards the sect leader.
“Sect Leader Jiang, do forgive my rudeness” Lan Xichen whispers, “but—“ his voice falters as he looks at the boy in Jiang Cheng’s arms. “A-Zhan?” he asks coming closer.
“What gave it away?” Jiang Cheng deadpans, “before you ask, I don’t know. We were honestly just on a regular perimeter patrol and this happened. I didn’t even see what or who did it. It was a matter of seconds and then I had arms full of a baby Second Jade of Lan” he sighs.
“What is the healer’s verdict?” Lan Xichen asks brows furrowed with concern.
“He’s healthy, he’s fine. His core intact, he’s just—six years old. I have Ziwen and a few others looking through our library to see if there’s any mention of anything like this ever happening to anyone else. I’d lend a hand but he’s quite the clingy one”
“He must’ve been so scared” Lan Xichen laments carding his fingers through his brother’s short black silky locks.
“He’s very brave” Jiang Cheng chuckles, “you know—you’re the first person he asked for” he tells him.
Lan Xichen smiles. It warmed his heart to know that his didi would immediately think to ask for his xiongzhang.
“Auntie Yu gave him a bath, and he just settled after hours of refusing to sleep. Would you mind watching him while I bathe and change into a clean set of robes?”
“Please!” Lan Xichen is quick to nod, carefully taking Wangji off of Sect Leader Jiang’s hands. Wangji whimpers softly in his sleep but otherwise doesn’t stir.
Sighing with relief, Jiang Cheng gives him one last glance before making his way back to his private chambers.
—
Jiang Cheng isn’t sure who is shocked the most—though his bets are definitely on a panic stricken Lan Xichen.
He hasn’t even been gone for more than an hour when he reaches the healer’s quarters once again and he hears an unfamiliar wailing.
He bursts through the doors, heart hammering in his chest with panic. Lan Wangji sits in the middle of the bed, crying at the top of his lungs. His nose runny with snot, cheeks red, blotchy and tear streaked.
“A-Zhan, please” Lan Xichen begs trying to get closer to his younger brother. It gets him nowhere, and Lan Zhan kicks his small feet in front of him in an attempt to keep Xichen away.
“You are not xiongzhang!” Wangji wails, hands in little tight fists. “I want the purple gege!”
Lan Xichen looks on the verge of tears.
“What is going on?” Jiang Cheng exclaims, both Lans snap their heads towards him visibly relaxing at the mere sight of him.
“Purple gege!”
“Jiang Wanyin!”
Wangji and Xichen exclaim at the same time.
Wangji pushes himself up on the bed coming towards the edge to throw himself into Jiang Cheng’s arms.
Jiang Cheng barely manages to catch him with a small oomph of a sound.
“You were gone” Wangji cries snuggling into Jiang Cheng’s neck.
“I needed to bathe, I am sorry A-Zhan. I left you with your xiongzhang” Jiang Cheng apologizes.
Wangji shakes his head.
“Do not lie. You are breaking the rules” Wangji admonishes. “That is not xiongzhang” he glares back at Lan Xichen who looks thoroughly heartbroken.
Jiang Cheng can not believe this is his life right now.
“But A-Zhan, I am your xiongzhang. Didi its me, Lan Huan” Xichen pleads taking a step closer to the pair. Wangji refuses to look at him, instead buries his face in the crook of Jiang Cheng’s neck.
“I thought being loud wasn’t allowed” Jiang Cheng sighs.
“This is truly a first. A-Zhan never behaved in such a way before, he’s never shown this strong an emotion—even as a child he was quite reserved with those”
Lan Xichen’s eyes are wide and confused.
“Lan Zhan, hey bun, we have to talk” Jiang Cheng says rubbing at his temple with the hand he currently isn’t using to hold Lan Wangji.
The boy in question looks up at him and blinks once, twice, three times before nodding his little head.
“Can I sit you down on the bed for a second?” he asks.
“Mn.”
Jiang Cheng sets him on the edge of the bed then kneels in front of him. He wipes the tears and snot off of his face with the edge of his sleeve. Lan Xichen comes to stand nervously behind him and Jiang Cheng fails at not laughing at the disdainful look Lan Zhan shoots him.
“A-Zhan, this is Lan Huan, your older brother. He just—he’s different because he’s all grown up now”
Lan Zhan looks at him like he’s not quite believing him then gives Lan Xichen a dubious look.
“Would anyone else but your xiongzhang know about the bunnies we keep behind the Jingshi?” Lan Xichen asks, and Lan Wangji’s eyes widen a fraction. “Who eats the mushrooms off your soup because we aren’t allowed to waste food, but A-Zhan hates mushrooms?”
Lan Zhan’s lips part in awe, and he turns to look at Jiang Cheng who nods at him.
“Xiongzhang is so big” Lan Wangji marvels. “Why is A-Zhan still small?” he asks brows cutely furrowed.
“Because you didn’t eat your mushrooms” Jiang Cheng tells him and Lan Wangji gasps looking up at Lan Xichen.
“He is kidding. A-Zhan, you are definitely much bigger these days, but something happened to you” Xichen tries to explain.
“Night hunting?” Lan Wangji questions and Jiang Cheng marvels at how perceptive and smart Lan Zhan was at mere age six.
God if Jiang Cheng can barely remember if he was this intelligent at that age.
“Sort of” Jiang Cheng says.
Lan Wangji nods as if contemplating all his little six short year’s life choices.
“If A-Zhan eats his mushrooms, will he be big and strong again?” he asks quite seriously and Jiang Cheng can’t help but laugh.
“Don’t worry your little head about that. This purple gege and your xiongzhang are going to take care of it” Xichen promises and Jiang Cheng has to swallow the lump in his throat.
He really does hope they can fix Wangji. He’s not sure how to feel about the possibility of them not finding the solution to this problem.
“Can I sleep in gege’s room?” Lan Wangji asks and Lan Xichen laughs delighted beyond belief.
“Wanyin?”
“Come on you little gremlin, let’s go”
Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes and picks Lan Wangji up once again.
—
A week later and Lan Wangji was still nowhere close to turning back to normal.
Jiang Cheng was trying not to lose hope, but the more they exhausted all their resources with no leads or clues or possible solutions well…
Jiang Cheng had even taken Xichen to the exact spot where the events had taken place.
It had taken a bit to convince Wangji to stay back in Lotus Pier with Ziwen and the rest of the junior disciples, but a quick promise of a dip in the lakes and few sweet snacks, Wangji was as willing as he could get.
Still, they found no traces nor evidence of anything that could’ve caused the change in Wangji.
“Shufu—he’s—he’s demanding we take Wangji back home” Xichen tells him on their way back. Jiang Cheng who had been staring straight ahead lost in his thoughts snaps his head towards the other Sect Leader.
“I—when?” Jiang Cheng asks, straightening his shoulders. He understood. Perhaps being somewhere familiar, around his own people…
“Tomorrow, if possible” Xichen seems regretful, but Jiang Cheng is sure he believes it’s also for the best.
“That’s—it’s so soon” Jiang Cheng swallows looking ahead.
“Shufu believes our library could hold the answer to fixing this—if there’s a fix at all. And—well we can’t just leave him here, Wanyin. You understand”
“Yeah, yeah” he sighs. “Will you be traveling on foot? By sword? It’s such a long trip, he’s so small—you have to”
Lan Xichen places a grounding comforting hand on his elbow.
“We will travel by boat, and walk the rest of the way. I promise, he will be fine Wanyin”
Jiang Cheng nods and continues walking, it is for the best
—
He tries to put on a brave face for Wangji when they reach Lotus Pier, it’s hard. The first thing Wangji does is give a little shout of “Gege!” before scurrying over to hig Jiang Cheng’s legs.
“Did you miss me bun?” Jiang Cheng asks and Wangji stares up at him. He raises his hands making grabby hands.
“Up!” he demands, Xichen chuckles beside him.
“A-Zhan is way different down here in Lotus Pier than in the Cloud Recesses” Xichen muses pinching his brother’s cheek when Jiang Cheng picks him up.
“Is xiongzhang swimming with us?” Wangji asks, eyes bright and happy. Xichen is still so surprised about how open this version of his little brother is much more open with showing his emotions. He talks more as well.
It breaks something inside him having to take him back to Cloud Recesses, he’s not sure how it’ll affect him.
“Would you like me to come along?” Xichen asks him, Wangji turns to Jiang Cheng and blinks twice at him. Jiang Cheng merely shrugs.
“Up to you bun”
Wangji turns to Xichen and nods. “Xiongzhang can come, Gege can peal some lotus seeds for us” he tells him.
Jiang Cheng laughs before shaking his head and heading towards the docks where some of the younger children are enjoying their free afternoon.
Setting Wangji on the floor, they let him run off towards the other kids he has befriended and Xichen sighs.
“You spoil him” he tells him knowingly.
“Well—can’t really help it” Jiang Cheng says with a shrug.
“You love him” Xichen says, gauging his reaction. Jiang Cheng stays quiet. “And he loves you”
“He’s six. I’m the first person he saw and trusted in a very dire situation—“
“No—I—Wanyin, my brother loves you, as he is In Love with you” Xichen explains. Jiang Cheng looks at him like he’s grown a second head. “Trust me, why do you think he comes to visit so often”
“He’s my best friend” Jiang Cheng laughs, “he—Xichen, you don’t know what you’re talking about” he rolls his eyes and begins to remove his shoes then his outer robes. “And he helps patrol with me sometimes, and—he doesn’t even come that often”
Xichen raises an incredulous brow at him.
“You can fool each other but you can’t fool me. Wanyin, I know you love him too” Xichen tells him. Jiang Cheng choses to ignore him and runs out into the docks, diving into the Lotus Pier lakes. Wangji gives and excited happy shriek as water splashes him in the face.
Xichen sighs. What is he going to do with those two.
—
After a nice dip in the lakes, Jiang Cheng had dressed Lan Wangji in a new set of robes, some white and blue ones with light purple accents he had especially made for him before he left.
They had a quiet dinner with Lan Xichen, none of them knowing how to breach the topic of Lan Wangji having to leave home tomorrow morning.
“Will you—“
“Yeah i’ll talk to him before bed” Jiang Cheng sighs when Xichen is done wishing Wangji a good night. He’d been sleeping in Jiang Cheng’s room the past week, refusing to stay in his own room or with Xichen.
They set about getting ready for bed, and Jiang Cheng’s in the middle of slipping off his robes when Wangji speaks of.
“Why is Gege sad?” he asks softly, face full of concern.
Perceptive this little gremlin, Jiang Cheng thinks.
“Who said that?” Jiang Cheng laughs, and Wangji frowns. “Well, I am only sad because I have to say goodbye to A-Zhan” he tells him.
Lan Wangji’s eyes widen, before filling up with unshed tears.
“Does Lan Zhan have to go home already?” he asks, lips quivering as he tries his hardest not to cry.
Jiang Cheng nods and Wangji goes to hug his neck tightly.
“But I want to stay here with Gege forever” he whispers and Jiang Cheng can feel Wangji’s tears on his neck. He rubs soothing circles on the little boy’s back and sighs.
“I thought you wanted to go home” Jiang Cheng tickles his sides and Wangji merely squirms shaking his head. “Shufu misses you, don’t you miss him?”
“Will Gege come visit?”
“As soon as I can” Jiang Cheng promises. He then takes Lan Wangji over to the bed and tucks him in, wiping away the tear streaks on his cheeks.
“I will eat all my mushrooms and get strong and big again so I can marry Gege and live here with him forver” Lan Wangji promises and Jiang Cheng sputters, his face heating up.
“Ridiculous” he mumbles before settling in on the other side of the bed. He begins to hum Lan Wangji’s favorite lullaby and he waits until he can see him visibly slip into a peaceful sleep. “Lan Wangji. Hanguang-Jun. Lan Zhan…I miss my best friend” Jiang Cheng whispers into the night, a pesky tear slipping out of the corner of his eye.
—
Someone is holding his hand. Jiang Cheng isn’t sure if he’s still dreaming but someone’s definitely holding his hand.
Why does it feel so damn hot?
Jiang Cheng groans in discomfort, hating how some mornings in Yunmeng can get extremely hot and humid, sleeping robes sticking disgustingly to your skin.
“Good morning”
Jiang Cheng’s eyes fly open and he is met with a very grown up, very naked, Lan Wangji.
“Good morning” Jiang Cheng squeaks blinking rapidly, trying to place some distance between their bodies. How the hell did they manage to get so close over the course of the night?
“Jiang Wanyin” Lan Wangji whispers tightening his grip on Jiang Cheng’s hand. Jiang Cheng gulps and hums in response, “I need you to forgive me” he whispers moving closer, nose pressed to Jiang Cheng’s own. He gives it a little nudge the. sighs.
“I—for what?” Jiang Cheng asks confusedly.
“I did not mean to leave you. I just wanted to protect you” Lan Wangji tells him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I can protect myself, you idiot” Jiang Cheng whispers licking his lips. Lan Wangji tracks the movement and once again inches closer to Jiang Cheng.
“It came out of nowhere” Wangji explains, “it was so subtle, I don’t think you even noticed. I don’t know what it was or what it wanted, but I sensed mischievous intent. I just wanted you to be safe”
Jiang Cheng closes his eyes and releases a small chuckle.
“I missed you”
Lan Wangji intertwines their fingers and presses a soft kiss to the top of Jiang Cheng’s hand.
“I was right here”
Jiang Cheng shakes his head.
“It wasn’t the same” he sighs opening his eyes looking up at Wangji through his lashes. “Do you remember anything?”
“Bits and pieces, I—must apologize to Brother” Lan Wangji smiles, ears going pink.
“He was so heart broken, you chose the purple gege over him. How naughty of you, not very filial on your part” Jiang Cheng chuckles.
“Purple gege kept me safe” Wangji whispered, and Jiang Cheng shuddered at the feel of his breath tickling his cheek.
He’s not sure who closes the distance, but his lips are suddenly molding against Lan Wangji’s own soft ones.
Wangji throws a leg over Jiang Cheng’s hip and pulls him in close, free hand pulling him flush against him by the waist.
It could’ve been minutes, maybe hours, Jiang Cheng doesn’t know but they finally break apart for air, Wangji pressing his forehead to Jiang Cheng’s.
“Guess you didn’t have to eat any mushrooms to get big and strong again” Jiang Cheng jokes.
Lan Wangji huffs before hiding his face in the crook of Jiang Cheng’s neck like it belongs there.
Jiang Cheng pinches his sides and laughs when Wangji squeezes his waist warningly.
“I do intend on marrying this gege” Wangji says before capturing Jiang Cheng’s lips in a passionate bruising kiss.