Work Text:
Wei Wuxian wakes up in "bed" (as close to a bed that you can get while living in a cave) feeling sick. He sits up and immediately falls back down into lying down. He last remembers helping with the gardening.
"Ughh…"
Wei Ying tries to nuzzle down more, feeling his stomach complaining because he moved. He's cold and honestly just wants to disappear into…no. He can't die here and now. He has to take care of the Wens. He shifts to sit up again, but gives up quickly.
"Fuck. Why am I feeling so much worse than I normally do?"
"It's because you're pregnant. Now suck it up and sit up so I can give you a check up."
Wei Wuxian looks to the side to see Wen Qing approaching, the tools of her trade in hand. He slowly sits, feeling like his guts hate him, and put a hand to his stomach.
"I'm…pregnant…?"
"Yes, about 2 months in," Wen Qing starts working.
"How is that possible…?"
"I've noticed the change in you since you started working on some of your weirder new talismans."
Wei Wuxian blinks at her before thinking about it. He…then this child's parent has to be…No, it can't be. It can't be Lan Wangji. He hates Wei Wuxian…right? He's too deep in his thoughts to notice that Wen Qing has left. He keeps wondering about everything. This has to be a dream. It has to be. Wei Wuxian is going to pass out otherwise. He stands up but the whole world turns sideways out from under his feet. He quickly finds himself on the floor.
"I can't. I can't do this… The child will die if I keep going, but if I stop then the Wens are dead. I wish I didn't have to make all the heavy decisions…"
Wei Ying's tears start pouring out.
"I can't…I'm… no matter what I pick, I'm the bad guy…"
Wei Ying's eyes close, as he pulls his knees close, and he cries himself to sleep.
He has to drag himself out of bed. He can't leave the Wens to fend for themselves. He pushes through his regular routine. Overworking is the only thing that can temporarly make his forget.
Every time that Lan Zhan visits, Wei Ying falls into a panic. He has to tell Lan Zhan, but he can't. He's scared. He knows that Lan Zhan will be furious. Lan Zhan will stop visiting and his only connection (even if Lan Zhan hates him) to the outside will be gone. He doesn't know if he can take Lan Zhan hating him.
One day, Wei Ying feels awful, even worse than usual. He can hardly get anything done. He can't stop his stomach turning. He can't eat or drink. He feels like he's going to die. He forces himself to spend some time outside. He sits down because otherwise he's going to pass out. He stares off, looking towards the rest of the cultivation world. He can't help but fall asleep out in the cold air. He feels something warm next to him. He snuggles into the warmth. It's so soft and comfy…until it moved less than an inch.
He wakes with a jolt. His eyes are met with Lan Zhan's stare. From waking up so fast, Wei Ying almost falls backwards from the sick feeling return. Lan Zhan holds Wei Ying's shoulder in a tight grip.
"Let…go…" Wei Ying sounds unstable, which he is.
Lan Zhan's grip loosens for a second before tightening again.
"You are feverish."
"No, I'm not…" Wei Ying weakly tries to pull away. "I've just spent too much time in the sun."
"There is no sun here."
Wei Ying looks up and starts laughing.
"So it isn't. Lan Zhan's so……"
Wei Ying doesn't finish and chooses instead to settle back down.
"Wei Ying…"
"You're going to tell me to go back to Gusu with you."
"I ask."
Wei Ying starts crying.
"You always have the good things in life. I'm st-stuck here. I love the Wens. They deserve better than all this."
Lan Zhan watches sadly as Wei Ying is just venting.
"I'm so unrecognizable to myself… I can't even make any decisions."
Lan Zhan stays still as possible, but he's shaking a little.
"…Lan Zhan?"
Wei Ying looks into Lan Zhan's eyes.
"I know you're going to hate me for this. But…I'm pregnant with your child. I- Lan Zhan?!"
Lan Zhan pulls Wei Ying close. He's shaking and can't hide a small smile.
"Lan Zhan…I- I can't keep fighting on my own. I just can't…"
"Wei Ying, come back to Gusu with me."
"I won't leave the Wens behind. I can't leave them to die."
"They'll come too."
"Your brother wouldn't do that. And you guys just rebuilt not long ago."
"XiongZhang will show kindness."
"I don't know…"
"The Lan Clan will shelter the Wens."
"I can't take your word for it. The moment we leave, they'll be killed."
Lan Zhan stares at Wei Ying for a moment before holding bichen out to Wei Ying.
"Take it."
Wei Ying stares at bichen for 5 seconds before looking at Lan Zhan. There is a dark seriousness in his eyes.
"…your soul will be destroyed by a thousand grudges if you are lying."
Lan Zhan nods and holds out a hand.
"Let's go to Gusu."
"…Yes, let's."
. . . . . . . .
Ariving in Gusu (with all the Wens), Wei Ying is surprised that they were let in. Lan Zhan leads them to a small village-like area in the further downhill part.
"The Wens will live here."
The first one to react is Wen Yuan. He runs over to the buildings.
"Granny! Qing-jie! Ning-ge! Look, home!"
Granny Wen pats Wei Ying on the shoulder.
"Your friend has given us a nice place," she turns to Lan Zhan, "Thank you."
Granny Wen moves to join A-Yuan. Slowly the Wens move to examine their new homes. Wen Qing looks at Wei Ying, then at Lan Zhan, then towards the rest of the Wens.
"…thank you." Her whisper would go unheard if they weren't cultivators.
Wei Ying turns to Lan Zhan.
"Thank you, Lan Zhan. I'm sorry we took all of your time."
Lan Zhan shakes his head.
"Wei Ying is…"
"is what?"
Lan Zhan shakes his head, his ears are a bright red. They turn around and see Lan Xichen approaching.
"Wangji, Wei-gongzi."
"Xiongzhang-"
"Wangji, it is alright."
Wei Ying grips tightly to chengqing. Nobody's going to hurt the Wens, not on his watch. Lan Xichen nods to Lan Zhan.
"Wei=gongzi, be at peace. I came here to welcome you."
Wei Ying doesn't loosen his grip.
"Wei Ying…"
"Then what are you going to do with me?"
"That is-"
"Stay with me, Wei Ying."
…what? Why is Lan Zhan asking Wei Ying to stay with him? Is it only so he will bear the child then be thrown away?
"…Lan Zhan…"
"Wei Ying."
"Lan Zhan….do you…really care?"
Lan Zhan freezes for only a second before pulling Wei Ying close.
"I will protect and love you forever."