Work Text:
“It must be spring, with how much birds are chirping this week,” Nie Huaisang said idly. Wei Wuxian felt his headache throb - he was far too sober for poetic bullshit today.
“Cherry blossoms aren’t expected for another two weeks,” Wei Wuxian responded.
Nie Huaisang hummed and tapped away on his phone as Wei Wuxian watched the walls of the tunnel rush past. One pane of glass and a few inches from total destruction. He thought he had a mini bottle in the bottom of his pack, that would help. He thought smashing through the metro window and smearing himself against the blue line would help even more.
“A volcano will wash away the cherry trees before that happens. There’s some blue in the mix.”
Wei Wuxian missed working in the pathology lab. The only riddles he had to solve there came from dead bodies. Specimen samples were easier to pick apart than Nie Huaisang’s metaphors.
Something smacked into the side of his head.
“Ow!” Wei Wuxian protested, hand flying up to grab what turned out to be a sealed manila envelope. Nie Huaisang glared at him from the seat ahead. “Is this-?”
“Yes,” Nie Huaisang hissed. “Now will you pay attention?”
Wei Wuxian nodded vigorously as he carefully slid the envelope in his bag.
“Wen Qing was dropped off at the hospital by Lan Wangji yesterday evening, and picked up by him this morning.” Nie Huaisang said. “I don’t really care about petty romance drama, but Wen Ruohan’s burly hunks in suits sure seem to.”
“What would Wen Qing be doing with Lan Zhan?”
“Do you want me to call a deer a horse?” Nie Huaisang arched an eyebrow over his phone and fluttered his eyelashes. “Lan Wangji is a very handsome man, with deep pockets. Wen Qing was also seen purchasing food in the hospital cafeteria, which she has not done since you moved into her … home.”
Wei Wuxian appreciated the pretense that they were still in the old apartment and not sleeping in a shack in Yiling park. “You think my girl is stepping out on me?”
“I think Wen Ruohan has demonstrated his commitment to protecting his investments, even against his family members. I think Lan Wangji has an uncle with a lot of political influence that could make Wen Ruohan’s life difficult. I think Wen Ruohan knows exactly who is living in Yiling, and the only thing that is protecting you is how little a threat you currently pose. I think spending any amount of Lan money is going to change the calculations of your threat level.” Nie Huaisang was looming over the seatback into Wei Wuxian’s space by the end of this little tirade. He took a deliberate breath and sat back. “I think a great many things, but I don’t know anything.”
Wei Wuxian blinked. “I think you blew your poetic cover.”
Nie Huaisang rolled his eyes. “You’ve come this far, don’t you dare ruin everything just because you and Wen Qing have finally got your acts together with Lan Wangji.”
Wei Wuxian tried to smile in response as he rested his forehead back on the glass. He wasn't sure what Nie Huaisang meant about Lan Wangji. He and Wen Qing had agreed not to draw Wen Ruohan’s eyes to anyone else, why would she change that now? His stomach twisted unpleasantly.
“I’m busking at the next station,” Wei Wuxian said. “Got any ones to get me started?”
Nie Huaisang smirked over the renewed tapping of his phone. “Only if you play Taylor Swift.”
Wei Wuxian whistled the chorus to a Rick Astley song instead. Nie Huaisang groaned loudly but handed him some dollars for the pot.