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Lan Wangji knew many things about Wei Ying, many of which he knew even before they were married. He knew Wei Ying loved spicy food, that he would wait to finish a story until months later because he didn’t want it to end, that he loved to point at things at stalls and never buy them (and Lan Wangji would then buy whatever that was, of course). Lan Wangji knew many things about his husband, and one of them was that he knew that Wei Ying was a wonderful swimmer.
Lan Wangji had only seen his husband swim a lake or river a few times, but from his quick pace in currents, the way his body moved gracefully through the water like it was second nature, was enough for Lan Wangji to notice and keep it locked up in a mental box of ‘all things Wei Ying’. The few times he mentioned this in passing, Wei Ying would playfully scoff and wave Lan Wangji off, pink cheeked and avoiding all eye contact.
“I mean, I am fantastic at it, of course,” Wei Ying had said the last time Lan Wangji brough it up, his bravado sounding confident to anyone that wasn’t Lan Wangji, or A-Yuan. “But I haven’t had a chance to – well, really swim, in a long time. Come on Lan Zhan, I would probably drown within minutes.”
Lan Wangji furrowed his eyebrows, swallowing down the bile that crept up in the back of his throat. Wei Ying looked up when Lan Wangji said nothing and grimaced when he saw the other’s despondent look. Wei Ying swiftly moved towards his husband, holding his hands firmly over his beating chest. “Ah, ignore me, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said softly. “I didn’t mean it like that.” Lan Wangji knew he didn’t, but the casual way Wei Ying would sometimes joke about his own death was still a raw sibject. He held their intertwined hands tighter. “Let’s go to Caiyi Town, hm? My treat! You can get whatever you want with the money!”
The money was Lan Wangji’s, of course, but Lan Wangji didn’t comment on it, smiling faintly as he felt himself get lost into Wei Ying beaming grin. Instead, he went along with Wei Ying to the town, refusing to let go of Wei Ying’s hand the entire time. Every so often as they walked and examined the stalls, Wei Ying would squeeze Lan Wangji’s hand as they walked. The gesture made Lan Wangji’s ears burn and stomach flip excitedly; Lan Wangji’s fingertips brushed over Wei Ying’s pulse point as he listened to his husband talk enthusiastically about the new stalls that opened up. The topic that instigated the improve trip was quickly forgotten.
Still, the original thought about Wei Ying and swimming was not forgotten; Lan Wangji knew Wei Ying had practically grown up in the water – he doubted that was something that someone like Wei Ying could just forget merely because he hadn’t done it in some time - Not after growing up in Lotus Pier.
Lan Wangji wondered if Wei Ying missed it. Should he perhaps write a letter to Sect Leader Jiang so Wei Ying could visit? He doubted Wei Ying would ask, even with Jin Ling’s well-meaning meddling, Wei Ying and Jiang Wanyin were still in, as Wei Ying put it, an ‘awkward place’.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying’s eager voice broke though Lan Wangji’s internal thought process. “Look at what they are selling over there, let’s go see!” He insisted, carefully pulling Lan Wangji along. “Little Apple would love that!”
Lan Wangji smiled appreciatively, knowing Wei Ying must have sensed Lan Wangji’s desperate need for a distraction. It didn’t matter how many years have passed since Wei Ying had been brought back to him – there was never a way to make Lan Wangji forget the years without him, and any thought of Wei Ying being gone was…it was too much. “Okay.” He replied softly.
Wei Ying grinned happily, his two front teeth looking so prominent as his smile grew brighter. Lan Wangji smile softly in return; and in that moment, his husband’s bright smile was all that mattered.
*
The night hunt was simple, it was supposed to be simple. They never would have brought A-Yuan along otherwise; even with all of his knowledge and time working on hunts, Lan Wangji would stand near the hunt, waiting in case Lan Sizhui sent a distress signal.
Lan Wangji turned his head towards Lan Sizhui; his son had been staring at him with a look of fear that probably matched Lan Wangji’s own expression. “He was just here - Did it get him?” Lan Sizhui whispered fearfully, looking around the area as erratically as Lan Wangji was. Wei Ying had been right next to them, had been by Lan Wangji’s side mere moments ago. And now -
Lan Wangji couldn’t answer, not when he knew that was must have happened. “Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji called out, his voice starting to break the more he shouted, turning his head towards every breeze, every stick that cracked from a skittering animal, hoping that when he turned he might see his husband.
“Wei Ying!” He yelled out again. Almost distantly, he could hear Lan Sizhui calling for Wei Ying as well, his own voice sounding raw and frightened. Lan Wangji instinctively reached out to grab his son’s wrist.
“Careful,” Lan Wangji whispered. “The spirit may be close.”
They had been searching for a restless spirit that night, one that drowned in Biling Lake, near Caiyi Town. It was simple, one that they had done together dozens of times – it wasn’t supposed to end where Wei Ying disappeared from his side because Lan Wangji was too slow to notice that his husband was no longer next to him.
Lan Sizhui nodded, looking fearful for the first time in a long time. Lan Wangji and Lan Sizhui called for Wei Ying again, and Lan Wangji felt his chest clench as they heard nothing in turn. Not even Lan Sizhui was unable to see anything at this pitch black time of night; not a flash of Wei Ying’s red ribbon, or the telltale sound of his joyous laughter when they successfully completed a night hunt. He had been right next to him – Lan Wangji knew Wei Ying had been right there by his side as usual - and then he was just gone. Lan Wangji’s hold on Lan Sizhui tightened carefully. He couldn’t lose him too. Mercifully, Lan Sizhui didn’t shake him off, and instead squeezed Lan Wangji’s hand back.
A sound of a splash drew Lan Wangji’s attention. He and A-Yuan spun around towards the sound, quickly realizing that both of them was too close to the edge of the lake. Lan Wangji let go of A-Yuan and raised his hand, holding Bìchén upwards as he stared at the fading ripple.
“Bàba,” Lan Sizhui whispered behind him anxiously.
Lan Wangji nodded to him once, letting him know he heard it too. He took a cautious step back, looking for a sight of red or tanned skin that proved that sound was Wei Ying. There was nothing, no sign that it was he under the water, desperate for breath.
But what if he was there? What if the spirit grabbed Wei Ying and was dragging him down, even now at this very moment as Lan Wangji wasted time?
Lan Wangji hesitated.
He hesitated one second too long.
He didn’t even feel the grip on his ankle before he was being dragged towards the water. Lan Wangji has been too close to the water’s edge to fight back before he was pulled forward, his head quickly falling past the lake’s surface once.
He pushed his head up above the water, he could hear Lan Sizhui screaming his name, probably getting closer to the edge. Lan Wangji prayed that their son wouldn’t get too close; he couldn’t have this thing getting Lan Sizhui too. Lan Wangji hoped that if Wei Ying was still alive, that he didn’t have to see Lan Wangji’s sword get ripped from his hold as he was pulled further down, or how he desperately tried to suck in a breath as the water covered his head.
The spirit’s hold left him once he was down far enough, too far down to swim upwards with his nonexistent swimming skills. How could he have protected Wei Ying when he was too slow to notice the restless spirit? Lan Wangji tried to kick upwards, useless clawing his way up but never feeling his fingers break through the water above him. His vision got dark around his peripheral, his lungs burned with the water that slipped past his lips as he couldn’t feel his feet hit the bottom of the lake, or feel anything but water as he clawed upwards. He – he couldn’t – A-Yuan - where - Wei Ying –
*
Wei Wuxian grinned to himself as he brought his flute down, spinning Chénqíng between his fingers triumphantly. “Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian called out excitedly. He hadn’t seen his husband since the creature had grabbed Wei Wuxian silently, attempting to draw him towards the dark water. It was probably was for the best that Lan Zhan didn’t see that; Wei Wuxian knew his husband would have been worried if he had seen Wei Wuxian’s head disappear under the water. Sending the spirit away and to rest in peace had taken longer than usual, Wei Wuxian thought it was a shame he didn’t have a chance to ask Lan Zhan to use Inquiry to discover why the spirit was so angry. He felt a bit sad over that.
After a few moments Wei Wuxian turned his head left and right, his smile fading as Lan Zhan still didn’t reply. “Lan Zhan?” He called again, moving closer towards where he thought the edge of the lake would be. “We did it! We can go home! I am for one am ready for…Lna Zhan?”
“Bàba! Bàba!”
Wei Wuxian’s words trailed off, his steps faltering as he heard Lan Sizhui’s terrified scream. He didn’t know if Lan Sizhui was calling for him or Lan Zhan; either case was petrifying with that tremor in A-Yuan’s voice. Wei Wuxian rushed forward until he spotted something moving faintly in the lake. There, slightly hidden with the darkness of the night, he could spot a bit of white near the surface of the water, before it fell again beneath the dark blue waters. Lan Sizhui was there, knee deep in the water, trying to wade forward, arm outstretched to Lan Zhan.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian distantly heard himself scream. He barely registered that he dropped Chénqíng as he dived in the water, or how A-Yuan looked at him with wet eyes, or how his own eyes started stinging from the murky water. Sucking in a deep breath, he dived down, going further and further down until he could see the white of Lan Zhan’s robes through the black and foggy water.
Wei Wuxian kicked downwards until he could grab Lan Zhan’s limp arm. With his husband’s arm tightly in his hand, Wei Wuxian kicked them both up, keeping his and Lan Zhan’s head upright as he broke through the surface. Wei Wuxian gripped Lan Zhan waist as he kicked towards shore, trying to keep Lan Zhan’s head lolled over Wei Wuxian’s shoulder and above the water.
As gently as he could, Wei Wuxian pulled Lan Zhan towards the dry ground until they were far enough away from the water. Wei Wuxian cupped the back of his husband’s head as he laid Lan Zhan down, quickly feeling around Lan Zhan’s neck. Lan Sizhui was by his side, staring at Wei Wuxian optimistically.
“He was under the water for a minute, maybe two,” Lan Sizhui was speaking quickly, eyes wet as his small frame shook, from the cold or shock Wei Wuxian was not sure. “I tried to get him, bàba, I really tried - ”
“I know you did, sweetheart,” Wei Wuxian patted Lan Sizhui’s cheek, keeping the teen’s eyes on him. “Sit next to me, I may need your…” He trailed off as he felt near Lan Zhan’s neck.
He felt nothing.
He wasn’t breathing. Lan Zhan – Lan Zhan wasn’t breathing he wasn’t breathing he wasn’t breathing no no no –
Wei Wuxian inhaled a trembling breath, eyes stinging as he roughly rubbed the unshed tears away with the back of his hand. No. No. He would not cry – if he did, then that would mean that – That Lan Zhan was –
Wei Wuxian growled as he placed Lan Zhan flat on the ground, gently moving wet hair strands from Lan Zhan’s face as he started pressing down on the center of his chest. Lan Sizhui made a small sound and Wei Wuxian knew he felt the urgency of the situation. Wei Wuxian could do this, he knew what to do. Wei Wuxian had seen this before when he was younger at Lotus Pier, he had done this before. He just – he just needed to work on Lan Zhan’s chest, and then give him air in his mouth. He knew what to do, he told himself with shaky hands, so he just needed to do it, he couldn’t panic, not when Lan Zhan needed him.
“Bàba?” Lan Sizhui whispered as Wei Wuxian made sure Lan Zhan was flat on the ground with his back against the wet ground. So much fear in his terribly young face. Gods, what Wei Wuxian do if it meant Lan Sizhui never had that expression on his face again.
“Okay, okay, it’s okay,” Wei Wuxian tried to reassure their son. “ I know what to do. Just stay there A-Yuan, it’ll be okay - ” Wei Wuxian huffed out as he pressed his hands against Lan Zhan chest and started pressing down– one, two, three, four – he could do this, he could do this. He would not lose Lan Zhan - he would not lose him. Keep counting, keep counting, mouth, breathe in, then back to his chest –
Wei Wuxian’s two hands were centered on Lan Zhan’s chest, pressing two inches down like he was taught, and then tilted Lan Zhan’s head up to pinch his nose shut before he started breathing down Lan Zhan’s mouth for the air.
And repeat, repeat, repeat.
Wei Wuxian blinked rapidly, his eyes burning and blurring his vision as he continued. How could this have happened to Lan Zhan? His husband was rarely caught off guard – was he distracted? Looking for Wei Wuxian? His heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach.
Wei Wuxian should have been faster, should have fought harder when he was pulled away from Lan Zhan. He couldn’t be too late, he couldn’t be. He just got Lan Zhan back, they just started being a family together; he couldn’t lose him. As Wei Wuxian repeated the motions, his fear grew as Lan Zhan continued to stay still. Wei Wuxian moved his head towards his shoulder to wipe at his eyes. He was not losing Lan Zhan. He was not.
“Should – should it be working by now?” Lan Sizhui asked in a shaky voice.
Wei Wuxian didn’t answer. He couldn’t.
“Come on, come on,” Wei Wuxian’s voice sounded raw and torn even to himself, as though he had been screaming. Maybe he had been. “You can’t leave us,” Wei Wuxian sealed his lips over Lan Zhan’s, breathing in before going back to his chest, his pressure on Lan Zhan’s chest getting rougher and more desperate. “You can’t.”
Lan Sizhui stayed quiet for a bit, and Wei Wuxian could see that A-Yuan was still crying softly, looking between both men. “He’s not moving, dad.”
“Don’t,” Wei Wuxian shook his head. “Please, don’t.”
Lan Sizhui moved closer to Wei Wuxian, tears running down his cheeks as he tried to reach for Wei Wuxian. “Bàba…it’s…I think…maybe he’s…”
“No,” Wei Wuxian huffed, looking up at Lan Sizhui with pleading eyes. “Please. Don’t say that. He’s not, he can’t be. Not like this.” It couldn’t have been that long, right?
Lan Sizhui’s bottom lip trembled but he didn’t say anything else, only letting out a choked off sob as his fingers dug into his knees. Wei Wuxian continued pressing against Lan Zhan’s unmoving chest, the sound of their son’s sobs the only other sound he could hear over his own panting.
Nothing.
“I got you, Lan Zhan. I got you. Please Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian’s vision grew blurry. “I saved you, so you have to wake up.”
Nothing.
Lan Sizhui’s sobs grew softer, placing his hand on Wei Wuxian’s knee with a silent finality and Lan Zhan wasn’t moving and none of this should be happening, it was wrong wrong wrong -
Wei Wuxian’s arms were feeling wobbly, weak, his fingers slipping apart with his fast paced pressure on Lan Zhan’s chest. “You can’t go, not like this,” Wei Wuxian begged. He glanced at A-Yuan, who was staring between Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian with an imploring expression. “please not like this.”
Nothing.
“Lan Zhan – Lan Zhan!”
With one more press on Lan Zhan’s chest, Lan Zhan’s eyes flew open. Instantly, he started coughing violently, water dripping past his pale lips. Wei Wuxian quickly turned him on his side, rubbing his back as he moved Lan Zhan’s wet hair from his face. “It’s okay,” Wei Wuxian breathed out, sounding hysterical to even himself.
“You’re okay - cough it out, that’s it A-Zhan, that’s it.” He mumbled as Lan Zhan continued to split and splutter out the dark water. Soon Lan Zhan’s breathing turn into heavy gasping, but no more water came out of his mouth. His chest and throat would be in agony for a bit, maybe with his golden core, Wei Wuxian was sure Lan Zhan would heal and be back to normal.
Wei Wuxian reached his hand out to Lan Sizhui, needing him nearby, grasping his son’s hand tightly. Lan Sizhui let out a shuddering gasp and threw his arms over Wei Wuxian’s neck, crying so hard that his words became indescribable with his relief. Wei Wuxian used his one arm to wrap around Lan Sizhui’s waist, hugging him close as his used his free hand patted Lan Zhan’s heaving back.
Lan Zhan’s breathing slowed down, starting to regulate. “Wei Y- ” Lan Zhan tried after a few moments.
“No, it’s okay,” Wei Wuxian quickly shushed him, still carefully pressing him on his side, sighing out in relief when Lan Zhan’s cheeks grew pink from breathing heavily. “You don’t have to talk, just rest for a moment.” Lan Zhan nodded, more color growing in his cheeks.
When he was sure Lan Zhan was breathing normally and his face was no longer that terrifying pale color, Wei Wuxian held Lan Sizhui in his arms fully, patting down his back soothingly. “There, there, my sweet boy,” Wei Wuxian mumbled. “He’s okay, we’re all safe. It’s okay now.”
Lan Sizhui nodded shakily before he carefully let go of Wei Wuxian’s neck, quickly going by Lan Zhan’s side. A-Yuan hurriedly started helping Lan Zhan sit up when he saw the other man trying to do that same.
Wei Wuxian scooted closer as Lan Zhan started to push himself up with the vigilant help of Lan Sizhui. Lan Zhan cupped the back of Lan Sizhui’s head, pressing their foreheads together as Lan Sizhui almost immediately started to tear up again. When he was sure Lan Sizhui was breathing normally again from his sobs, Lan Zhan eyes sought for Wei Wuxian’s softly. “I heard your voice.”
Wei Wuxian’s laugh was broken as he stared at Lan Zhan with soft wonder. He practically threw himself at Lan Zhan, wrapping him in his arms as he pulled Lan Zhan to rest half of his body weight on Wei Wuxian. He used his hand to grab Lan Sizhui and pull him into the embrace, feeling both of their heartbeats and breathing.
Chest pressed to chest, Wei Wuxian clung to his husband firmly, gripping him close as he heard the pained inhale and exhale of Lan Zhan’s breathing. It was the most beautiful sound Wei Wuxian had ever heard. Lan Sizhuis’s arms were wrapped around Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan, his knuckles white with how hard he was holding their robes.
“Bàba,” Lan Sizhui hiccupped, holding them impossibly tighter. “I was so scared.”
“I know,” Lan Zhan said, pressing a soft kiss to his wet cheek. “But we are all fine now.”
With both of his loved ones in his arms, Wei Wuxian felt his tears start to fall rapidly. “I – I thought – Lan Zhan - ” Wei Wuxian couldn’t finish, pressing his nose in the hollow of Lan Zhan’s collarbones.
Lan Zhan made soft sound, rubbing Wei Wuxian’s back soothingly. “I am fine, Wei Ying. Thanks to you.” He pulled back gently to eye both A-Yuan and Wei Wuxian. “Thanks to you both.”
Wei Wuxian shook his head, the top of his forehead rubbing against Lan Zhan’s pointed chin. “I didn’t notice that the spirit took me so far away – If I had been faster – I may not have been back in time to…to…” Wei Wuxian stopped speaking, his body starting to shake as he held Lan Zhan and Lan Sizhui closer.
Lan Zhan held him tighter with his weakened grip, and Wei Wuxian moved his hand to feel over Lan Zhan’s chest. His thumb rubbing over the fast paced but there, actually there, pulse. He almost lost him. Wei Wuxian damn near lost his mind at the thought of losing his husband; how did Lan Zhan make through those sixteen years? Wei Wuxian barely lasted sixteen seconds.
“But you did,” Lan Zhan said hoarsely, eyes never leaving Wei Wuxian’s. “I could hear your voice, still. Knew you were here.” He cupped Wei Wuxian’s cheek. “You saved me.”
Wei Wuxian cradled Lan Zhan’s face in his hands and desperately pressed his lips to Lan Zhan’s, kissing him fiercely. His lips were slowly getting warmth back in them, and his eyes were not as glazed over as they were when he first jerked awake. Lan Sizhui moved away to give them both some space, wiping at his teary eyes again.
“I love you,” Wei Wuxian said, needing to say it. The fact that he could and that Lan Zhan could hear him was…it was precious. He couldn’t believe he almost lost that.
“I love you, Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan answered back without hesitation, saying the words like they were as easy as breathing.
“I’ll teach you how to swim as soon as you’re better,” Wei Wuxian said, only half joking as his lips curved up into a smile. “Both of you,” He insisted, looking over at a red-eyed but now beaming Lan Sizhui. “As soon as we can, we are going straight to the nearest water and I am teaching you both.”
Lan Zhan smiled softly. “I said that Wei Ying was a good swimmer. Of course you can teach us later.”
Wei Wuxian would have turned his face away and hide his blush, if it weren’t for the fact that he wasn’t able to look away from his husband. Instead he scoffed fondly, pressing a kiss to Lan Zhan’s cheek. “You must be freezing, let’s go home, Lan Zhan.”
Lan Zhan gripped his fingers as Wei Wuxian helped him up. “Hm, let’s go home.” One hand held Lan Sizhui’s while the other gripped Wei Wuxian’s. He didn’t go of Wei Wuxian’s hand once. Wei Wuxian held him back just as tightly.
With his son and husband by his side, Wei Wuxian knew it would all be alright.