Work Text:
"Come back to Gusu with me, Wei Ying".
Wei Wuxian rubbed his hands over his face and sighed in frustration. "Ugh not this again! It was such a nice day today, why did you have to go and ruin it, Lan Zhan?"
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were standing by the roadside of Yiling market Wuxian had coincidentally bumped into Lan Wangji when he was buying groceries there and he decided to stop and chat a bit. It was mostly Wei Wuxian telling Lan Zhan about A-yuan's new shenanigans. Well, that was before Lan Wangji decided to ruin his good mood.
Lan Wangji frowned. "I did not intend to ruin your day Wei Ying. I was simply-", he started to say but was cut off by Wei Wuxian. "Yeah whatever. Well, this has been nice. I will get going now so...see you".
Wei Wuxian left without sparing Lan Wangji a second glance and was almost halfway to the burial mounds before he felt a weird presence. He whipped around and saw Lan Wangji a couple distances away from him.
"You're following me!?", Wei Wuxian said, in disbelief.
Lan Wangji looked stricken and avoided his eyes. "No.. Wei Ying listen to me-" He was cut off by Wei Wuxian again.
"No, you listen! What right do you have to actually follow me into my home, Lan Zhan?! I thought you were better than that but seems like I was very much wrong about you. Why don't you just go back to your stupid clan and leave me alone?" Wei Wuxian finished saying, his hands shaking with anger and hurt.
Lan Wangji was not faring well. He was looking at Wei Wuxian miserably, with a little anger and confusion mixed with hurt. "Wei Ying".
Wei Wuxian immediately pulled out his dizi and put it to his lips. "You need to leave right now or you will be forced to, Lan Wangji".
Lan Wangji immediately rushed forward and put his hand on Wei Wuxian's arm stopping him. "No.. wait-". But before he could finish there was a sudden strong gust of wind threatening to blow them away.
Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian to ask what he was doing, but Wei Wuxian seemed just as confused. He kept turning around to find the source of the wind but could find nothing.
And then came the darkness. With that darkness, they both felt the ground underneath their feet shift and felt like they were falling.
Wei Wuxian was frozen in shock. They were standing together in the woods just seconds before so what happened? He could neither see nor hear anything, but could feel Lan Wangji's comforting presence beside him. Wei Wuxian reached out his hand and captured his with his own. He felt Lan Wangji squeeze his hand back, which made him feel all warm inside, considering they were just fighting a few minutes back.
Wei Wuxian kept opening his mouth to speak but everytime he did, a strong gust of wind came, threatening to choke him. He could only hold Lan Wangji's hand and hope for this- whatever this is, to pass.
After a minute, which felt like an hour, they finally came at a standstill. Wei Wuxian opened his eyes to see that they were standing on an open space with trees all around. "Uh hey, Lan Zhan where are we?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Wangji who was dusting his pristine white clothes.
He took one look around and said with surety, "We're in the cloud recesses". But something felt.. off. This was not the same cloud recess that Lan Wangji had grown up with. There were a lot of unfamiliar trees and a pond that he was pretty sure hadn't been there before. "I did not bring you here without your consent, Wei Ying", he added hastily, seeing the look on Wei Wuxian's face.
Wei Wuxian huffed but didn't say anything. He knew that Lan Wangji was telling the truth, besides he felt deeply ashamed of himself for raising his voice at Lan Zhan. Lan Wangji didn't deserve any of it. He'll have to apologize to him when he gets the chance. What he needed to do now was to figure out how to get back.
"This.. does not seem to the same cloud recesses", Lan Wangji finally said, after a whole minute of pondering whether or not to tell Wei Wuxian that he couldn't even recognise his own home.
Wei Wuxian scrunched his nose. "What do you mean?", he asked. Lan Wangji sighed and said, "That pond hadn't been there before I left. Nor did these trees. But other than that it is still the same".
Wei Wuxian was even more confused now. Before he could say anything he saw a white silhouette just a few distance away from them.
"Oh hey isn't that Zewu-jun? Ask him what's going on. I won't go with you though, do it on your own", Wei Wuxian said, flippantly.
Lan Wangji saw him too and was about to go over but stopped abruptly when he got a good look at his face. That man.. was not his brother. But his face.. his face resembled a lot like his own and was wearing the exact same forehead ribbon that only the inner elite members of the clan have access to.
Lan Wangji grabbed Wei Wuxian and ducked behind a tree. "What's wrong?", Wei Wuxian asked, confused. "He is not xiongzhan", Lan Wangji said calmly. "I have never seen that man before".
Wei Wuxian was perplexed. He turned his eyes back on that man and focused on his face. He got a little shock. "Lan Zhan, don't be scared, but isn't that... you?" Wei Wuxian said, hesitantly.
Lan Wangji felt that Wei Wuxian had perfectly vocalised what he himself was choosing to acknowledge. "No. How is that possible." Lan Wangji said, stiffly. That man was nothing like him. He had broad shoulders and was considerably taller than Lan Wangji.
Wei Wuxian turned his attention back and noticed someone else had joined the mysterious man. He was wearing black robes that was a stark contrast to the white. He had his hair up in a long ponytail, not unlike how Wei Wuxian used to do his hair.
"Who's that? Do you know him?", he asked. "No", Lan Wangji shook his head, this time sure of himself. He truly did not know anyone of his clan who would dare wear black and behave so roguishly.
The man wearing black robes seemed to say something to the not-Lan Wangji, before he put his arms around him and kissed him.
Lan Wangji got a slight shock. He thought the mysterious man would push him away, but to his surprise he pulled the other man even tighter to himself.
Wei Wuxian averted his gaze and chose to look at Lan Wangji. "Hey, at least we now know that's not you! You're not a cut sleeve!"
I wouldn't be so sure of that, Lan Wangji thought to himself, bitterly.
He was about to go over and confront the man himself before he felt someone grab his hand. He turned around to see two boys wearing their clan robes and forehead ribbons stare at them.
"Ha-Hanguang jun? But you were just standing there!" One of the boys said, whipping around to confirm something. When satisfied with what he saw, he turned back to Lan Wangji with suspicion in his eyes.
"I see. An imposter huh? You're coming with us now, sir. Sizhui, grab the other one. Let's go", the boy said haughtily and moved the grab Lan Wangji again. He dodged smoothly and pulled out bichen calmly.
This will be an easy fight, he thought, swinging bichen in his arms and staring the two boys down.
Wei Wuxian just stood calmly by the side, eagerly watching the drama unfold. The other boy, Sizhui was about to grab him, but changed his mind the last second when he saw what Lan Wangji just pulled out.
"Is that bichen?! Where did you get it?", Sizhui exclaimed in shock.
The other boy frowned and said, "It's obviously a fake? Sizhui, just grab them so that- HOLY FUCK!! Is that chenqing?! What is going on?" He screamed in shock and whipped out his own sword out.
Wei Wuxian had pulled out his dizi, and was now twirling it between his fingers, an unsettling smirk playing on his lips. He had mostly done that to scare the kids, he wasn't stupid enough to try anything in Lan territory.
"Jingyi, calm down.. just call Hanguang jun. He'll know what to do." Sizhui tried to diffuse the situation and himself reached out to grab Wei Wuxian in a strong grip. "Don't go anywhere until he comes". Jingyi ran off somewhere screaming, "HANGUANG JUN!!"
Wei Wuxian looked down at the hand holding him in his place and slowly looked up at the boy. Then he started laughing and said, "Lan Zhan! Your Lan disciples sure are handsy!"
Sizhui's eyes shot up. "What did you just call him?", he asked, his grip tightening.
Wei Wuxian's eyes darkened and they glittered dangerously. He fixed his stare onto the boy, making him break out in cold chills. Sizhui thought, there's something wrong with this person. And the aura around him was dark.. too dark.
"Get your hands off me, or you might just lose it", Wei Wuxian whispered, his hand tightening on his dizi. Sizhui gulped but still didn't remove his hand.
"Wei Ying! Don't do anything stupid", Lan Wangji immediately rushed over to put a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, listen to him you little shit. Otherwise you'll really regret it in the future", someone called out.
Wei Wuxian turned and saw that it was the man with the black robes and a ponytail who was now standing just a few feet away from them with the mysterious man. Now that he got a closer look at them there was no doubt. That man was the splitting image of Lan Wangji. And about the other man..
"Who the fuck are you?" Wei Wuxian blurted out. The other man just smirked and said, "Call me Mo Xuanyu. For now".
Wei Wuxian let out a humorless laugh and said, "Give me your real name".
Mo Xuanyu just said, "Only if you behave. Besides don't you have other things to worry about? Like how you have time travelled thirteen years into the future?"
Wei Wuxian just gave a dry laugh while Lan Wangji stiffened beside him. The man with white robes sighed and said, "Let's go back to the jingshi and talk about this".
Wei Wuxian laughed again, wiping tears from his eyes. "Lan Zhan, your clan is hilarious. Truly. This is such an ingenious ploy to catch the big bad Yiling Laozu. I am in awe. I didn't know you were such a marvellous actor Lan Zhan".
"I told you I do not know anything nor do I know these people", Lan Wangji said, obvious distress on his face. He reached out a hand towards Wei Wuxian. "Wei Ying.."
"Stop. Just leave me alone, Lan Zhan. I'm leaving, don't you dare stop me" Wei Wuxian shook Lan Wangji's hand off his shoulder and took off the direction opposite cloud recesses.
"I do not remember him being so dramatic, do you Lan Zhan?" Mo Xuanyu said. The man beside him just sighed and said, "Be kind to him." Mo Xuanyu just grinned and gave him a thumbs up.
He walked over Wei Wuxian and whispered in his ear, "You are not to go anywhere unless you want your precious Lan Zhan to find out what happened to your golden core".
Wei Wuxian visibly froze. "I'll ask again. Who. Are. You", he hissed through his teeth.
Mo Xuanyu just patted his head, "All in due time, little friend".
Wei Wuxian was forced to walk back to the little group. Sizhui and Jingyi were told to return to their duties and they looked extremely sad at that. Lan wangji perked up again at the sight of Wei Wuxian coming back. They all headed towards the jingshi.
"It.. was my mother's house. I live in it now", Lan Wangji quietly told Wei Wuxian, while they were walking. Wei Wuxian just made a soft noise of assent. He wanted to ask more, but his pride held him back. He proceeded to ignore everyone on their way there.
The white robed man let them in and poured a cup of hot tea for Lan Wangji and a jar of emperors smile for Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian was too stunned to speak. "I didn't know alcohol was allowed in your clan Lan Zhan.", he just said, softly. "It's.. not", Lan Wangji said, staring at the white robed man.
Wei Wuxian shrugged and drank to his fill. He then wiped his mouth and said, "So according to you, we are now what? thirteen years into the future. And let me guess, you are Lan Wangji?"
"I am", the man said, calmly. Wei Wuxian scoffed in disbelief.
"Prove it then. Hey, Lan Zhan ask him a question only you would know", Wei Wuxian said.
"He does not need to ask me anything. I'll prove it."
The man got up and whispered something in Lan Wangji's ear that Wei Wuxian couldn't quite catch. He saw Lan Wangji grow more and more rigid until he whipped around to look at Wei Wuxian as if worried that he had overheard their conversation.
"What?" Wei Wuxian asked. Lan Wangji shook his head and said, "Nothing. He is.. me".
Wei Wuxian rubbed his hand over his face. Gosh, he needed another drink. As if hearing his thoughts the older Lan Wangji placed another jar of Emperor's smile before him.
Mo Xuanyu did not look happy at that.
"So you two are what? A thing? I did not know you liked men, Lan Zhan. No- no judgement though!" Wei Wuxian put his hands up, grinning at Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji chose to ignore him and fixed his stare at his older version.
"Who's he?", he asked, his voice tense, indicating Mo Xuanyu.
"Ahh, Hanguang jun is my beloved husband! Isn't that right er-gege?" Mo Xuanyu said, in a sickly sweet voice that made Wei Wuxian want to throw up. Lan Wangji beside him was equally miserable.
"Mm", Hanguang jun said, letting himself be kissed sweetly by his apparent husband.
Wei Wuxian forced out a laugh, averting his eyes and turned to Lan Wangji beside him. "Look you bagged yourself a husband Lan Zhan! I didn't know you had it in you haha!"
Lan Wangji gave him a withering glare and turned to his older self. "How did you-", Lan Wangji started then hesitated. "Where is- where is he?"
Wei Wuxian was confused. "Where is who, Lan Zhan?" he asked. But neither of the two Lan Zhans gave him any reply. Hanguang jun gently pulled away from his husband and turned to his younger self.
"He is okay. He is more than okay. He is happy. We did not forget about him, Wangji, believe me", Hanguang jun said, as gently as he could, holding Mo Xuanyu's hand in his own.
Lan Wangji was furious now. He stood up and said, "If you did not forget then why is he-" he stopped and forced himself to calm down. He took a few deep breaths then said, "I apologize for my outburst. But I won't- I won't marry him, whoever he is- in the future. I won't" Lan Wangji said, his eyes hardened and body rigid.
Hanguang jun's eyes softened and he was about to say something when Wei Wuxian cut in between.
"Yeah, sorry for interrupting but I just had a question. Am I dead?"
There was a sharp intake of breath by everyone in the room. Mo Xuanyu just laughed.
"No, Yiling Laozu you're not dead. Besides, even if you died you would surely find a way to come back to life, right?" Mo Xuanyu said and immediately started laughing like he had just said something hilarious. "Ah Lan Zhan! I'm so funny even I sometimes surprise myself".
Hanguang jun just sighed with a small smile playing on his lips. But Wei Wuxian did not let the matter go just as easily.
"Well if I'm not dead then why do you have my dizi lying on your fucking bedstand?" Wei Wuxian stood up and brought out his own dizi. "I'd know chenqing anywhere. I'll ask again. What did you do with me?"
Lan Wangji followed his gaze and saw that he was right. It was indeed chenqing, which was currently lying on his older self's bedside. He froze, then unsheathed bichen, preparing to fight his older self if need be. Something was not right here.
Mo Xuanyu groaned. "Ugh, of course I forgot to take it out with me today of all days." He turned his attention back to Wei Wuxian.
"Stop being so dramatic. If you would just sit down, then we can have a proper conversation. You know. Like adults".
Wei Wuxian was unrelenting. He put his dizi on his lips preparing to summon every corpse in this area and felt Lan Wangji shift in a fighting stance. He was touched and truly grateful to have at least one friend here.
Hanguang jun reached out. "Wei Ying", he called out. Wei Wuxian froze. "Wei Ying, please put your dizi down. We can explain everything you need to know".
In a daze, Wei Wuxian slowly put down his dizi. Lan Wangji turned to him, confused. Wei Wuxian thought hard. There was something weird about Mo Xuanyu. And he finally figured out what.
Wei Wuxian started laughing.
Mo Xuanyu watched him for a moment then said, "You've finally figured it out haven't you?" Wei Wuxian just nodded, still laughing hysterically.
"Wei Ying. What is it?" Lan Wangji asked, concerned. Mo Xuanyu turned his soft gaze on him and then back to Wei Wuxian. "Will you tell him?", he asked.
Wei Wuxian finally stopped laughing, and wiped the tears from his eyes. "Should I? I don't know, he might faint from shock", Wei Wuxian said, eyeing Lan Wangji.
"Well, he deserves to know", Mo Xuanyu said, simply.
"Fine. But you're answering every question of mine after this". Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji and jerked his head back at Mo Xuanyu.
"That's me. Me in the future. I don't know why he looks like that though. Don't faint Lan Zhan".
It took a few seconds for Lan Wangji to process what he just said. When it finally hit him, his only thought was 'what'. He felt like he actually might faint.
"Alright let's give the two Lan Zhans some privacy to talk okay? You, come with me. I've got to tell you some things", the older Wei Wuxian beckoned to his younger self and disappeared into another room.
Wei Ying started to place his hand on Lan Wangji's shoulder, but hesitated at the last minute. He laughed awkwardly and said, "I'll be back okay? You two.. talk" and followed his older self to the other room.
"Alright, you agreed to answer any question I have, don't go backing out now", Wei Ying said, shutting the door behind him.
"Oh I wouldn't dare. Fire away, kid", Wei Wuxian said, lounging on a chair and gesturing his younger self to also sit down.
"We died right? I'm not stupid don't give me that look, it was just very obvious. What happened and why are you in that body?" Wei Ying asked, leaning forward, his eyes intense.
Wei Wuxian sighed. "Ahh it's a long story. You sure you have the guts to stomach it?" Wei Ying narrowed his eyes and said, "Spit it out already".
And so Wei Wuxian started his story. Everything that happened to him and everything that would happen to his younger version. He told him about Wen Ning and Wen Qing's sacrifice. About the tiger amulet. About the siege against him. About Jiang Cheng's hatred. About how he died an extremely painful death eaten alive by his own puppet corpses. And finally about Jiang Yanli.
By the time he finished, Wei Ying's face was pale and bloodless. His knuckled were white and stiff. When he finally spoke his voice was shaking. "Ah fuck.. we really messed up my life huh?"
Wei Wuxian smiled bitterly. "Yeah, we did. But not all of it".
"Huh?", Wei Ying looked up confused. His older self just smiled and said, "We now have a husband who loves us very much, Wei Ying. We never got that in our first life".
Wei Ying turned his head. "Yeah..about that...I don't know what happened between you two but as you can see Lan Zhan still hates me. He would never like me like that. I mean, we just had a fight before coming here and-".
"Don't go about assuming things for other people. Lan Zhan has never hated you, Wei Ying. He is the only one who has been on your side from the very beginning" Wei Wuxian said, cutting off his younger self smoothly.
"Lan Zhan? On my side? No you are wrong. Your Lan Zhan may love you, but my Lan Zhan just wants to drag me off to Gusu to punish me", Wei Ying finished saying and laughed bitterly. "I guess we have very different lives after all huh?"
He had such a miserable look on his face that his older self almost felt bad for him. Almost.
Wei Wuxian just sighed heavily. God, this will take a while. "You are so stupid you astound me", he snapped. His younger self just gaped at him in confusion.
In the other room, Hanguang Jun and his younger self were seated on the ground, with two cups of- now cold- tea between them. Hanguang jun had just finished telling his younger self all that happened in the last thirteen years. Lan Wangji just sat there, pale faced, without saying a word.
"Is xiaozhang better now?", Lan Wangji asked, finally breaking the silence. "Yes. He just got out of seclusion and is slowly resuming his duties as the sect leader", Hanguang jun said, his gaze soft, as he looked at Lan Wangji. "And shufu is healthy too, if you were wondering", he added.
Lan Wangji nodded, mutely. He wanted to ask about Wei Ying but couldn't seem to form the words to bring it up. Hanguang jun, after waiting for a while, took pity on him and started the conversation. "You might be curious about your future husband", he said.
Lan Wangji's head snapped up but didn't say anything. Hanguang jun gave him a soft smile and said, "Our relationship did not come to be without hurdles. But I was fortunate enough for Wei Ying to return my feelings."
Before Lan Wangji could say anything there came a voice. "I was the one who confessed to him first, you know", Wei Wuxian said, grinning from ear to ear. Lan Wangji hadn't even noticed him enter the room. "In fact, it was the in the middle of a hostage situation, right after we broke the bathtub, having aggressive sex", he added, with wink.
Lan Wangji's ears became red and Wei Ying started coughing vigorously. "What the fuck? Why would you not say any of this while we were talking just now, privately if I may add?" Wei Wuxian said, still choking.
"Oh it must've slipped my mind. Anyways don't you want to know all about the amazing sex that you're going to have in the future?" Wei Wuxian said, slipping an arm around Hanguang jun.
"I haven't even had my first kiss yet", Wei Ying grumbled. Hearing this all three of them whipped their faces around to stare at him. Wei Wuxian was feeling self conscious at their stare. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Wei Wuxian was deep in thought. "If my calculations about the time line is correct, you have already participated in the Phoenix mountain hunt, correct?", he asked, his lips slowly turning to a grin. Now it was Wei Ying's time to get red. "Ahh.. yes. And what about it?", he asked, getting defensive. It's not like he ever considered that as his first kiss anyways. In his mind he was still saving that for.. someone else..and his older self should know that.
Wei Wuxian was grinning even more widely now. "You already had your first kiss, little me. You should acknowledge it, or you might hurt the feelings of your secret admirer", he finished, with a flourish.
"Which one? I have plenty of them. Also, that stupid blindfolded kiss wasn't even that good. There's no way I'm acknowledging that as my first", Wei Ying said, folding his hands to his chest. Hearing this, both his older self and Hanguang jun winced. "Do you not have a filter when you talk?", Wei Wuxian said, his eyes glancing furtively between his younger self and Lan Wangji.
Wei Ying was even more confused now. He was about to ask what did he mean by that when he saw the way his older self was sneaking glances at Lan Wangji, and he promptly shut his mouth. Lan Wangji was sitting stiff backed, his hands folded upon themselves and knuckles white. And the look on his face... well, Wei Ying didn't even want to go into that.
Now that he come to think about it, his secret kisser was unusually strong and definitely did not have the body of a woman. That kiss was desperate, messy and clumsy, and only could be that of someone inexperienced. Fruits of doubt seemed to emerge in Wei Ying's mind. And seeing Lan Wangji in front of him only confirmed his suspicion.
If what he was thinking was true then... oh who was he kidding? Of course it's not true. Lan Wangji could never see him like that. He hates him and wants to punish him. Not aggressively kiss him blindfolded against the trees.
Wei Wuxian clapped his hands joyously. "Alright kids! Who wants food? I know you two are starving after such an.. eventful day!", Wei Wuxian said, grinning.
Wei Ying was about to happily agree when he was cut off. "How do we return to our timeline?", Lan Wangji asks, frowning slightly. God, Wei Ying had completely forgot about that.
Wei Wuxian let out a nervous laugh while Hanguang jun just sighed in exasperation. "Yeah um about that. You two coming here... might be.. kind of.. my fault?", Wei Wuxian said, wringing his hands, nervously. "What do you mean?", Lan Wangji asks, frowning again.
"So I may have been researching and tinkering around with time travel, you know, for science. And I may have opened up a portal near the burial mounds to give it a test, again, for science", Wei Wuxian says, avoiding everyone's gazes. Wei Ying gave a dry laugh and said, "Oh brilliant. Good to know I'm still the same after all".
"Yeah but I didn't expect you two of all people to fall into that portal! At most, I expected I will be seeing a mangy dog or something suddenly appearing before me", Wei Wuxian shuddered. Wei Ying lightly patted his older self's arm in sympathy.
"Please do not be worried. Wei Ying thinks you'll both be returned to your original timeline within a day. This is temporary", Hanguang jun says, in a calm voice. Wei Ying shrugged. "I don't mind. In fact, it gives me more time to get to know you, hanguang jun. God, you have changed", Wei Ying says, slinging an arm across the older Hanguang jun.
Hanguang jun just sighs in fond exasperation and turns a soft gaze on him. "Hey what are you doing flirting with my man? Hands off, kid! You have your own cute little Lan Zhan", Wei Wuxian says, in mock outrage. Wei Ying decided to ignore him. It was an advisable thing to do considering he still wasn't ready to face his feelings and face whatever is going on between him and Lan Zhan. Flirting with the older Lan Zhan was much more safer and better for his fragile heart.
"You have filled out Lan Zhan! What do they feed you?", Wei Ying says, leaning in. "The usual, Wei Ying. Our menu has not much changed from during your time", Hanguang jun says, a small smile playing on his lips. Wei Ying was taken aback. Did he just.. smile? Lan Zhan had never smiled at him!
Wei Ying quickly recovered and grinned widely. "You have changed a lot Lan Zhan! What happened to my uptight little fuddy duddy?" Hanguang jun was about to answer when the older Wei Wuxian interrupted him. "Lan Zhan! The love of my life! Why are you looking at him like that? Look at meeee, he has his own Lan Zhan to look at him", Wei Wuxian said, fake-wailing.
In all the commotion and rowdiness no one noticed Lan Wangji get up and quietly slip away. When they finally noticed, Lan Wangji was nowhere to be found. "Where did he go?", Wei Ying said, in obvious distress. "Hey Lan Zhan...you're a Lan Zhan too. You should know where he went?" Wei Ying was now slightly panicking.
"Hey, calm down. Breathe. I'll go look for him, you stay here with Hanguang jun. It's not advisable for Yiling Patriarch to suddenly start running around in the cloud recesses after thirteen years", the older Wei Wuxian said. He grabbed his dizi and went out in search of Lan Wangji.
It did not take long to find him. He was sitting curled up in a corner of the cloud recesses library, his face expressionless. Wei Wuxian slowly walked up to him, so as to not startle him. Lan Wangji noticed him approaching but didn't say anything. Wei Wuxian took that as an invitation and sat down gently beside him.
"Hey", Wei Wuxian said, softly. "Were we too overwhelming for you?" Lan Wangji didn't reply. Wei Wuxian sighed and said, "You shouldn't have left without saying anything. Your Wei Ying was worried about you, you know".
Lan Wangji scoffed in disbelief. "It's true! I should know, I worried for you all the time when we were young!", Wei Wuxian exclaims. Lan Wangji finally turns his head towards him at this. "Why?", he asks, slightly frowning.
"Because I cared about you Lan Zhan! And I know you worry for your Wei Ying too. That's why you want to take him back to Gusu to protect him right?", Wei Wuxian says, a soft smile on his lips. Lan Wangji hung his head at this. "He doesn't want to come with me. Everytime I bring it up..he.. he always becomes so angry. We were fighting again for that reason before we came here", he said, in a whisper.
Wei Wuxian sighed loudly and said, "Little Lan Zhan, you really need to work on your communication skills. Could've saved us so much time! The reason I didn't want to go back with you was because I thought you were planning to punish me for using demonic cultivation, not protect me!"
Lan Wangji frowned, his head snapping up. "What? I would never do that", he said, confused.
God, Wei Wuxian wanted to pinch the little Lan Zhan's cheeks and pull him into a tight hug. He's so cute!! Wei Wuxian managed to restrain himself just barely.
"Of course, I know that. But your Wei Ying doesn't. That's why you need to tell him how you really feel. Clear up any misunderstandings between you two," Wei Wuxian said, sagely. Lan Wangji pondered over this for a real. Then he nodded slowly.
Wow, he was getting pretty good at this advice thing, Wei Wuxian thought. With the way things are going their younger selves might just get together thirteen years earlier! Wei Wuxian mentally patted himself on the back.
There was also another thing that was bothering him since he had the misfortune to witness little Lan Wangji staring at him with hostility, when he thought his older self married someone other than his Wei Ying.
He finally plucked up the courage to voice his thoughts. "Lan Zhan.. do you feel uncomfortable talking to me in this body?", Wei Wuxian asked, nervously.
Lan Wangji stared at him for a while then shook his head resolutely. "No. Wei Ying is Wei Ying. You are still the same person I know", he said. Wei Wuxian felt his smile growing wider at this. He was about to burst with joy.
"You know, my Lan Zhan said the same thing to me... ", Wei Wuxian gave a soft smile. Then he suddenly remembered something. "Oh! Your Wei Ying must be worried sick! We should head back and get some food in our stomach, I'm sure you must be hungry? Hanguang jun will be doing the cooking", Wei Wuxian said, getting up and reaching out a hand to get Lan Wangji up.
Lan Wangji gaped at him. "I cook?", he asked, slightly frowning. Wei Wuxian laughed loudly. "Oh yes you do and you're fantastic at it! Your dishes has basically saved my life here at cloud recesses. Otherwise, I don't think I could've kept on eating the bland food here, uhhh no offence Lan Zhan", Wei Wuxian said, while walking towards the jingshi.
Lan Wangji was still in a daze. He cooks now? But he has never cooked in his life before. He just hadn't found a reason to. What else can he do now, that he hadn't been able to?
They were stopped on their way by the two Lan juniors from before. "Ahh Sizhui! Jingyi! We're about to have lunch. Join us would you?", Wei Wuxian said, happily. The two juniors kept glancing apprehensively at Lan Wangji, not knowing what to say.
"Ahh don't worry about him! He's not a threat. Come with us and we'll explain everything on the way", Wei Wuxian said, waving a hand beckoning them to follow.
True to his word, Wei Wuxian explained everything to them on their way to the jingshi. How they had time travelled from the past and who they actually were. By the time he finished they had reached their destination and both Sizhui and Jingyi were staring at him incredulously.
"Lan Zhan! You're back! Why did you leave without saying anything?", Wei Ying wailed the minute Lan Wangji stepped foot inside the jingshi. Wei Ying seemed so concerned for him, that Lan Wangji actually seemed to be at a loss for words.
"I.. I am sorry, Wei Ying. It will not happen again", Lan Wangji said, hanging his head.
Wei Ying waved away his apologies immediately. "You don't have to apologize to me Lan Zhan. You don't owe me anything. As long as you're back, I'm happy", Wei Ying said, a soft smile on his lips which Lan Wangji found himself drawn to. God, he would do anything to make Wei Ying smile like that.
"Alright will anyone care to explain what exactly is going on here? Wei qianbei said that these two weird guys are from the past but I find it a little hard to believe, right Sizhui? Are you sure this isn't another one of your pranks, Wei qianbei?", Jingyi said, all in one breathe. Sizhui didn't say anything but just looked at Hanguang jun expectantly.
"What do you mean by 'weird guys'? And who are you anyway and since when did Lan disciples get to be so loud?", Wei Ying said, with his hands on his hips. Lan Jingyi huffed in frustration. "I'm Lan Jingyi. And I'm not loud? What made you come to that conclusion?"
"I mean he's not wrong, you kind of are", Sizhui giggled. It was then Hanguang jun decided to step in, probably a good choice seeing as Jingyi was about to throw hands. "Whatever Wei Ying told you it is all true. They are truly us from the past, us from thirteen years ago to be exact", Hanguang jun said, calmly.
"But HOW is that possible?! That guy I can believe, he looks a lot like you hanguang jun.. but the other guy looks like he gives out drugs and nicotine to children for fun. He's so scary!!", Lan Jingyi screeched.
"I NEVER gave out drugs to children Jingyi and- what are you doing, put your dizi down!", Wei Wuxian said hastily when he saw his younger version had pulled out his goddamn dizi and now was threatening to use it against the Junior. Amongst the rowdiness, Lan Sizhui slowly turned towards Wei Ying. "Xian gege?", he called out hesitantly.
Everyone froze. Wei Ying had a slight frown on his face when he replied, "Why did you call me that?" "Because that is what I used to call you when I was young! I called you 'xian gege'!", Sizhui said, happily. Wei Wuxian seemed delighted at the turn of events and his beloved husband, Hanguang jun also had a soft smile on his lips.
Wei Ying tilted his head in confusion. "I'm sorry but do I know you?", he asked. Sizhui seemed to deflate at this so Wei Ying hastily added, "I'm sorry if i forgot you, i just have a horrible memory".
Wei Wuxian could bear it no longer and he decided to intervene. "Yiling Laozu, do you really not remember who called you xian gege?", he said slightly frustrated at his younger self's stupidness. Wei Ying thought for a minute and then said, "Only A-yuan called me that. But he-". He abruptly broke off and turned to stare at Sizhui. Sizhui have him a radiant smile.
"But you said everyone at the Burial Mounds died!", Wei Ying cried, pointing an accusatory finger at his older self. "You said I hid A-yuan in the woods!"
"You did! But Hanguang jun found me when he came looking for your body and he saved me. Xian gege.. I thought you seemed familiar when I saw you this morning but time travel seemed so absurd so I brushed it off. But Wei qianbei confirmed my beliefs just now", Sizhui said, still smiling brightly.
Wei Ying was still in shock. How could this handsome young man be the same A-yuan who was weeping his heart out because Wei Ying didn't take him with him when he went to the market this morning. "I.. don't know what to say. You're so big now A-yuan! Lan Zhan! can you believe this? ", Wei Ying said happily, turning his gaze towards Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji seemed equally frozen in place. He was also very fond of the adorable kid and found his heart be filled with warmth when he looked at what a handsome young man that cute child had grown into. "You still have the same smile", Lan Wangji said in a soft voice. Sizhui blushed and didn't say anything.
Haha of course your 'rich gege' would remember, right A-yuan?" Wei Wuxian said with a mischievous wink. Sizhui blushed even more fiercely and this and stammered out, "Don't tease me xian gege, I- I was young okay?". "Alright alright", Wei Ying laughed and reached out to ruffle Sizhui's hair lovingly.
Hanguang jun was watching them fondly, when his husband slipped his hands into his. He squeezed back and placed a soft kiss on Wei Wuxian's forehead.
"Sorry to interrupt but I need to apologize for calling you a drug dealer. I'm sorry Wei qianbei", Jingyi said begrudgingly with a small bow towards Wei Ying. Wei Ying just laughed and reached our to ruffle Jingyi's hair too. "You do realise we're at the same age right now", Jingyi said, through gritted teeth.
"Kids come sit down or the food will get cold. Your Hanguang jun worked so hard give him some face alright?" Wei Wuxian said, while helping his husband set the table and place mats on the ground for them to sit. "Oh of course Wei qianbei!", the juniors said in unison. Wei Ying guessed this is not the first time the juniors had had a meal with their older selves.
Wei Ying looked at Lan Wangji and quietly said, "I didn't know you could cook. Where did you learn it?"
"I do not know how to cook yet, Wei Ying. I must've learned it sometime in the future", Lan Wangji said. He hesitated a bit and then added, "Your older self told me that I..that I learned it for you. Because you do not like to eat our clan's food and I didn't want you to go hungry".
Wei Ying felt himself blush and had to avert his eyes. "O-Oh.. I see", he managed out. Lan Wangji didn't say anything else and sat down at the table along with everyone else. Wei Ying quietly sat down beside him.
Wei Wuxian served everyone their food. Hanguang jun tried to help but his husband swatted his hands away saying he had worked hard enough cooking for so many people. Both Wei Ying and Lan Wangji felt themselves blush witnessing their future selves being so domestic and homey. After all, this type of behavior was foreign to both of them. The juniors seemed to not notice anything unusual and dug in after thanking Hanguang jun for the food.
Their meal time was filled with loud chatter and raucous laughter. Lan Wangji almost cringed after remembering their 'no speaking during mealtimes' rule. He kept sneaking glances at his older self, thinking he'll make them quiet down but on the contrary he even added one or two sentences to the conversation, with a fond smile on his lips. Hanguang jun caught his younger self's eye one time and before he could say anything, lan Wangji quickly looked away.
Wei Ying felt a bit out of place at first but quickly got over that and happily took part in the conversation that the juniors and Wei Wuxian were having. He felt like he could finally and properly breathe after a long time drowning in loneliness. He laughed joyously and joked merrily, endlessly teasing the loud Lan Jingyi.
They finished eating and the Lan juniors wanted to stay behind to help them clean up but Wei Wuxian quickly chased them away. Both Sizhui and Jingyi earnestly waved goodbye to Wei Ying and Lan Wangji before going back to their dorms.
"Alright it shouldn't be long now before you're back to your original timeline", Wei Wuxian said, watching them both. Wei Ying nodded and said, "Anything you want to say to us. You know, before we leave?"
Wei Wuxian thought for a second and said, "Nah. I think I've already said everything that needed to be said." He hesitated for a while before adding, "Wei Ying, just don't.. just don't make the same mistakes that I did. Protect shijie and the Wens. And.. stay with your Lan Zhan"
Wei Ying blushed and nodded silently. "I will. Don't worry", he said. Hanguang jun reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. "Stay safe Wei Ying", he whispered. "I was always on your side and I have no doubt your Lan Zhan is too. He will protect you with his life as he cares about you deeply. As I do for my Wei Ying."
Wei Ying could feel tears threatening to fall so he hid his face on Hanguang jun's shoulder. "I care about him too", he said, quietly.
Lan Wangji was watching them silently when he felt himself be pulled into a tight hug by Wei Wuxian. He instantly stiffened, his body foreign to such affection, but quickly relaxed into it. Wei Wuxian hugged him tightly for a while saying, "Be patient with that idiot. He doesn't think when he acts but he does care for you. A lot". He pulled away and placed a feather light kiss on Lan Wangji's forehead. He could feel his ears getting red.
"Alright kids! It has been great seeing our younger selves after so many years, if only just to witness first hand how immensely embarrassing we were- oh don't give me that face, Wei Wuxian! But I do have this small interaction made you aware of your feelings for each other- Lan Zhan why are you blushing so much? And! Quite possibly prevent mass murder?", Wei Wuxian finished rambling and glanced at his husband only to witness him purposefully avoiding his eyes. Wei Wuxian huffed at the betrayal and was about to continue when Wei Ying and Lan Wangji felt "it".
"It" happened again. They both felt the ground beneath their feet shift and then same the endless darkness. Just like their previous time, Wei Ying wasted no time grabbing Lan Wangji's hand and holding on to him for dear life until the swirling sensation stopped.
It felt like hours until the endless darkness finally disappeared and they were both dropped to the same place they were in before they were forced to time travel to a different timeline. Wei Ying panting for breath, made the grave mistake of looking at Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji was looking at him with something in his eyes that he couldn't quite decipher, a look which made Wei Wuxian feel breathless. "Lan Zhan..", he gasped.
"Wei Ying. Do you have something to say to me?" Lan Wangji asked, quietly.
Wei Wuxian didn't know what to say. He had a million things to say to Lan Wangji but when he opened his mouth all came out of it was, "No. Do you?"
Lan Wangji looked disappointed and felt a bit depressed. "We should probably plan our course of action from now on. We are after all, the only two people who know how to prevent the tragedy that is going to occur", he said.
"By tragedy do you mean my death?", Wei Wuxian joking, grinning slightly.Lan Wangji chose to elegantly ignore this and said, "Rest Wei Ying. I will be back tomorrow for you. We will talk then". With that he turned and left.
Or he was about to leave but Wei Wuxian quickly grabbed his hand and pulled. Lan Wangji, caught by surpise stumbled and held onto Wei Wuxian's shoulders for support. It was then he realised how close their faces were and how red Wei Wuxian's lips were.
"What are we doing Lan Zhan? I mean why are we dancing around each other like this? Why can't we just say what we feel for once in our life?", Wei Wuxian whispered, his gaze locked on to Lan Wangji's. "It took more than thirteen years and me coming back from literal death for our older selves to admit that they loved each other. Are we going to do the same thing now?"
Lan Wangji's breath caught in his throat. All he could think about was how close their faces were, how soft his lips looked and how kissable they seemed. Lan Wangji opened his mouth to say something but Wei Wuxian interrupted.
"No I don't want that. So I'll just say it. You’re really great. I like you. Or in other words, I fancy you, I love you, I want you, I can’t leave you, I whatever you! Lan Zhan.."
Lan Wangji couldn't bear it any longer and immediately leaned down and kissed Wei Wuxian's lips. He gasped. Then did it a second time. And a third time. By the fourth time Lan Wangji had Wei Wuxian against a tree with his thighs around his waist, licking into his mouth.
Lan Wangji only pulled back just to state, "I love you Wei Ying. And I too, fancy you. And whatever you. And-" he couldn't complete as Wei Wuxian had already silenced him with his lips. "Less talking more kissing. I've waited SO long for this", he said, against his lips.
"Mn. Me too", Lan Wangji smiles.
_______
my tumblr !! come say hi !!