Chapter Text
It had started off as a normal day, well as normal a day could when your parents were Hanguang-jun and the Yilling Patriarch, the two most renowned people of the era and the parents of Lan Xin and Wei An - they themselves a miracle all on their own. It's as Lan Xin chases his fathers rabbits and his sister, just marginally younger than him sits still like a jade statue, the only movement the gentle and soothing repetitive motion as she strokes a black rabbit, her golden eyes flickering like a liquid gold galaxy as she watches Xin run around. She watches him, the perfect image of their father with youth clinging to cheeks and their mothers silver eyes that laugh like the sun in the sky. She on the other hand, is a perfect reflection of their mother in looks, but as calm and serene as their father. Forehead ribbons flutter in the brisk breeze in the Gusu mountains, the sudden rustle of leaves drowning out sound and leaving white noise in its wake as her brother now bored of chasing fluffy tails plops down next to her, a smile ready as he turns towards her.
"Hey, sis you ever wanna see what mum looked like before he came back?" She side eyes him and sees the mischief etched into his features and the lilt in his young voice. She sighs and feeling like the older twin she then asks:
"What did you do this time?" He laughs light and bold, throwing his head back, "Noise is forbidden in Cloud Recess." she mutters, his laughter cutting abruptly as he sticks his tongue out at her, exaggerated sound and all.
"Well i was gonna tell you but your such a spoil sport!" he pulls a face and huffs before over exaggerating his movement as he turns away. She can still see him peeking at her. She sighs again and humors him, finding him more than happy to share his discovery with her as he babbles rapid fire plans at her. She hums finding that although it sounds like a bad idea, its not so bad that she is averse to it (she is after all still her mothers daughter) and soon they toddle off to go and complete what they want to do, not realising the waves it could cause in their world.
In a flash everything changes.
Luckily the array, drawn by stubby fingers works and they're not catapulted through time and space. Which they both agree with a sharp nod is a good thing as they end up at the bottom of the Burial Mounds. They look at each other before making their way through with no trouble - the corpses guarding the place take no notice of two children who wonder in with nothing but love in their hearts, no maliciousness in them what so ever as they stomp up the hill. The closer they get the more they can hear the familiar sound of ringing laughter, a soft child's giggling an accompaniment to rambunctious amusement. Then turn the corner and come face to face with a mum look-a-like. This must be their mother. Lan Xin is all but ready to run into the warm embrace, but Wei An holds him back - enough sense and discipline to make sure before she so much as launches herself at this stranger, that he is in fact their mother.
"Wei Ying?" her voice wavers slightly as she looks at the man. He looks puzzled before giving them a wide smile.
"That's me? And what are two little Gusu disciples doing all the way out here?" He tilts his head and squats down to their level, a small boy holding onto the ends of his banbi, the flames of red stark against the grey almost black material, he laughs and rubs his chin, "Lan Zhan must be trying a new approach." he mutters a little darkly, but a wistful tone carries underneath it. Lan Xin and Wei An throw themselves at the unsuspecting Yilling Patriarch and laugh as they call him mum. He looks a little stumped when he gets his balance back, thoughts unbelieving that anyone of the Gusu lot - let alone Lan Zhan - had a face thick enough to get two toddlers about the same age as his dear A-Yuan to call him 'mum'. He laughs and disentangles them, "Hahaha, sorry but I would remember if I'd given birth to two little cuties like you!" He smiles as he panics on the inside, "Now tell me your names and we'll see about getting you home." The two children look at each other before pointing:
"That's My little sister Wei An-"
"-And that's my older brother Lan Xin."
There's a beat of silence, then more as Wei Wuxian looks at them. He opens and closes his mouth and lets out a short hysterical laugh. The twins look at each other worriedly, before they move to place a hand on his shoulders, much like their father did when he tried to sooth him. Wei Wuxian breaths deep and stands abruptly, shocking all three children as he tells the twins to come with him. They nod and follow like a trial of ducklings after their mother duck, a few of the Wen refugees look on in both confusion and amusement. Wei Ying sees Wen Qing and grabs her arm and pulls her along into the Demon slaughtering cave, her startled and outrage spluttered out only to stop abruptly as she sees Wei An and Lan Xin.
"Wei Wuxian! Who'd you knock up?! And why on Earth is there a small Lan Wangji look-a-like following now?!" Wei Wuxian yelps as she hits him on the head only to stop when Lan Xin and Wei An step in front arms open wide, both telling her to 'stop hitting mother' she balks and looks at Wei Ying and the the children. She sighs and her fine shoulders slump, "You're going to kill me one day." She shakes her head and moves to sit down, A-Yuan already dropped off with his grandmother. There's a moment of tense silence and the twins shift, tears prickling at their eyes. They had known their mother wouldn't recognise them, but the rejection was hurting more than they had thought it would. It is Wei An who sniffles first surprisingly, Wei Ying reacts thoughtlessly and grabs them both, placing them on his lap as he coos at them. Wen Qing raises a brow and looks at Wei Ying, "You sure they're not yours?" He frowns at her knowing she is just joking at his expense. He sighs and pulls the twins closer before asking what was on his mind.
"Who's your father?" He gulps and waits for the children to stop sniffling.
"Hanguang-jun." They both answer. Wei Ying looks a little lost and hurt, the feeling of hurt and bitterness stirs the cocktail of confusion into a mess. He opens his mouth to ask again when the little boy starts talking, "Please don't be mad, but - but I found a time traveling array in yours and Dads study, and we just wanted to know what you and father were like before you had us! And and-" Lan Xin trails of and in a very Wei Ying fashion gestures and flails. Wei Ying sighs and shakes his head, torn between belief and disbelief. He's about to ask for the truth when Wei An offers to draw him a small copy on some paper. He frowns but allows it, not thinking it would be legit - only to have to swallow his doubt as he gazes at a Time array. He breaths out and now believing he looks at them both.
"Now what? As much as I want to know you more time travel has always been a bit of a murky area and I don't know how long you can stay here as you are. I mean, the future now - or your future could be completely different now!" He worries his bottom lip as he clutches the two closer, they don't struggle, but snuggle closer into what little warmth he has to offer. The twins share a glance, eyes a light with an understanding.
"we want to see Dad." Wei Ying sputters and coughs.
"Er, I don't think that's going to be possible, ahh Lan Zhan doesn't like me very much at the moment." The twins share a look, one mirrored by Wen Qing as they look at the emotionally inept Yilling Patriarch. Lan Xin sighs and loudly exclaims:
"But Dad said he was always taking night hunts near Yilling in case he ever got a chance to see you! I bet if you went down into the village you would find him!" Wei An looks at her brother before quietly mumbling to him,
"Betting is not allowed." Lan Xin gives a loud high pitched yell in return. Both children unaware of now changing the future just that tiny bit, look at Wei Wuxian as he throws his head back and gives a full belly laugh, wheezing at the end.
"Oh my God! I can't believe it, but if he is there I am going to tease him till he's purple!" Wei Ying cackles and the twins have a moment to apologise to their father about throwing him into the deep end. In the end Wei Ying, A-Yuan and the twins make their way down the mountain (after the twins change out of such eye catching clothes) where excitedly they keep an eye out for white in the crowd.