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Chapter Text

 It started as any other day in Wei Wuxian’s current day-to-day life. He woke in the dry and warm stables out behind a well-off inn in a medium sized country town. He had gotten on well with the inn's owner and her husband while he was eating a light but well spiced midday meal and catching up on news and gossip.

When the man had reminded him that the inn had rooms available, Wei Wuxian had declined, saying he was already at his spending limit for the day, and he was no stranger to sleeping outside.  But the couple had liked Wei Wuxian, and hadn't liked the thought of a cultivator sleeping in the woods when they had perfectly good rooms available. They had argued, pleasantly, until finally, after another shared bottle of wine, they agreed that Wei Wuxian would sleep in the well built stable across the inn's yard.

The musty scent of warm, sleeping animals, and the knowledge that the horses at least would wake him in their panic if disturbed, Wei Wuxian slept better that night than he had in many nights before.

He had the strangers dream, however, in the blurry moments between sleep and waking. A specter hovered above where he lay curled on a robe he had lain out over a bed of hay. It looked down on him with a sad devotion on it's face. A voice like a whisper on the wind blew through his hair, making it tickle his nose. And he woke fully with a sneeze that startled a cow into braying.

"Odd," he muttered to himself, but he felt no malicious intent (he would know), and chalked it up to just an odd dream. He soon forgot about it, as he gathered up his pack and washed his face in a barrel of rainwater outside the barn. As he did, the inn owner came out to meet him. He quickly dried his face on his robes and turned to greet him properly.

"We agreed last night," the man told him, with little preamble, "Our normal boy we hire to help out with the animals took ill a few days ago, caught some bug that's been going around the town. We could use another pair of hands to get the work done. We can give you meals in exchange and you can use the barn as long as you're in town - unless you change your mind about renting a room."

"You offer a good deal, I accept." Wei Wuxian rubbed the side of his nose. "I wonder though, you said you normally hire a boy to help out. I assume you pay him in more than meals, why not offer me the same?"

The man looked faintly embarrassed and rubbed the back of his neck, "We considered that but, and I hope you take no offence, but we've been putting aside what we normally pay the boy to add to his earnings when he comes back. He a good kid, doing very well taking care of his little sister after their parents died a couple years ago. We do what we can to help him, but he's a proud kid and says he won't accept charity while he can still work. My wife has been bringing over hot meals for them in any case, since he can't work now. And she's fierce when she wants to be, he won't turn down good food for that sister of his. He dotes on her, as it should be."

Wei Wuxian listened with interest and his respect of the couple grew. "You are good people, I can tell. I take no offence, one should always do their best to care for those in the city." His eyes darkened slightly, as he remembered his own childhood on the streets, and wished he had known a couple such as these inn keepers. He waved off his gloom with long practice and rubbed his hands together.

"Show me where to start!"

The morning passed pleasantly in labor and good food. Afterwards he went sauntering through the town listening to, but not participating in, the lively gossip and laughter that filled the streets. After a while however, he noticed a trend. People kept talking about how people kept getting sick. It was curious and many folks agreed that it was just an illness that swept through towns, as tended to happen, but others argued that it wasn't a normal sickness. So far it seemed that it only affected young people between the ages of ten and twenty-three. Wei Wuxian agreed that those were odd ages for a sickness to sweep through exclusively, and paid a little more attention. It seemed that youths of any gender caught it as well, and that it had been going on for a couple months now, with few deaths but as of yet, no one had recovered either.

Curious, Wei Wuxian thought of how the boy the inn usually hired just caught an illness. He decided to investigate, as he had nothing else planned. He did some digging and found out that the lad, a young man of seventeen, and his four-year-old sister lived in a small but well-built hut at the edge of town on the same side as the inn. He goes to visit and knocked on the door.

On receiving no answer, Wei Wuxian called out, "Good afternoon! I'm a cultivator, and I wish to speak with the residents of this house!"

After a moment, there is a sound much like a chair being dragged away from the door, and then the door opens. The young man looked dreadful, cheeks sallow and lips pale and pressed together tightly. He opened his mouth to speak but rocked back on his heels when he did. Wei Wuxian moved quickly and caught him before he could fall. He helps him to the bed that's tucked in the corner of the room.

"Hello," the boys says, once he's settled and loses some fo the deathly white pallor. "What can we do for a cultivator such as yourself?"

While he spoke the young man extended a hand and gestured for someone to come to him. After a moment a very small, but well fed, child who had tucked herself away behind a box on the other side of the room comes out of her hiding spot and goes to him. She crawled onto the bed and situated herself between the wall and her brother, staring at the stranger in her home with wide, dark eyes.

"I'm just stopping by for a chat," Wei Wuxian explained, "I'm helping out at the inn - don't worry I'm not here to steal your job - but if there's anything I should know about the animals there I would appreciate the advice."

"Hmm," the boy nodded, accepting this and the two chatted about livestock and horses for a short while until the girl caught Wei Wuxian's attention. She waved shyly, and he smiled at her.

"Hello," he said, "I'm Wei Wuxian, I'm a cultivator. What's your name?"

"A-Li," the toddler told him, "I'm four! What's a cultivator?"

"Four!' Wei Wuxian exclaims, properly impressed, and she giggled. The brother relaxed at his sister’s happiness. "That's so big," Wei Wuxian continued, "A cultivator is someone who can help people if they have a problem with ghosts and spirits and things of that nature."

"Oh," A-Li said, "I've seen a ghost! It wasn't scary though."

"I bet you were very brave," Wei Wuxian praised, exchanging a look with her brother, "Can you tell me about this ghost? Where you saw it, what it was doing, anything you can remember."

"Um, well I saw it by the barn where Gege works," she said, faced screwed up in concentration, "And, um, she was just, um, she was just walking by! I could tell she was a ghost because I could see through her!"

"Wow, and you weren't scared at all?"

"Noooo!" The girl tells him, giggling again, "No no! She wasn't scary at all. She saw me, and she looked sad. Then she went into the barn where Gege was before I could ask her why she was sad. Gege got sick then and we haven't been back to the barn."

"I see." Wei Wuxian chewed his bottom lip in thought. He directed his next question at the boy, "When did you get sick."

"A few days ago, four, maybe?"

"Interesting, getting sick directly after this young child sees a ghost enter his place of work," Wei Wuxian muttered to himself. The young man looked very tired after their conversation, and Wei Wuxian eventually said, "Well thank you so much. And since you are sick, and you and A-Li have been very helpful I'd like to repay you!" He produced some pork buns he had bought in the market during his morning wanderings and handed them to the kids. "It's not much, but I hope they are yummy!"

When he exited the home the sun was on it's way down the sky, moving in to kiss the mountains on the horizon.

Wei Wuxian made his way to the roof of the barn, staring at the sky as he lost himself in thought. Flashes of memory of other nights and other rooftops flitted through his mind, but he pushed them away, no point in wallowing, not when his every instinct told him there was a mystery going on that he itched to solve.

"Wei Ying?" A familiar and oh so welcome voice broke him from his rumination. Unfortunately, it also broke him of his balance, and he tripped over the edge of the roof before he could catch himself.

Luckily, Lan Zhan was there to catch him instead.

They stared at each other, face inches apart and Lan Zhan's arms tight around his body.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying yelped, kicking his feet in a rush of giddiness and throwing his arms around Lan Zhan's neck. "Good catch, Lan Zhan! But look at you, carrying me like a bride, what would people say?"

Lan Zhan's arms tightened around him for a moment before he carefully lowered Wei Ying to the ground. Wei Wuxian, however, did not feel like letting go of Lan Zhan just yet, and kept his arms around his neck. In shadow of the barn with the half-moon rising in the sky, they had plenty of privacy.

"Not a woman," Lan Zhan reminded him.

"Yes, yes, I'm not a woman. Why is this a surprise?"

"Not a surprise, women are wives, men are husbands."

Wei Wuxian stared at him blankly. In his excitement in seeing Lan Zhan again, he had been talking without processing anything he had been saying. "Yes, you're correct. Lan Zhan what-"

"You said," Lan Zhan interrupted him, (which thrilled Wei Ying each time it happened), "that I was carrying you like a bride. This is incorrect. I was carrying you like a husband." His eyes were intent on Wei Wuxian's as they often were when they met in times such as these.

Wei Ying blushed a deep red and finally untwined him arms from around Lan Zhan's neck. "Oh haha, Lan Zhan," he laughed awkwardly, rubbing his nose and stepped once away from the other man. "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, always taking everything I say so seriously! What am I going to do with you?" He held up both hands before Lan Zhan could answer, "Rhetorical question! I'd rather not hear you say to leave you alone, ha!" he laughed and winked, teasing.

But, on seeing Lan Zhan's frown he plowed ahead, hoping speed in conversation would put all his awkward moments around Lan Zhan behind him faster. He may act shameless, on occasion, but against Lan Zhan's calm and confident demeanor he felt slightly off-kilter.

In the best way.

Wei Wuxian lived for moments when he had to think, when he was surprised by those around him. When they threw him off balance. And this man did that to him better than anyone else he had ever met. He tried to return the favor. He was better at it when they were kids, he had to admit. But that just met he needed to work harder now.

"Anyway,  Lan Zhan, not that I'm not glad to see you - you know I always am - but what are you doing all the way out here?"

Lan Zhan continued to frown at hi, (and the slight wrinkle between his eyebrows was just! So! Cute!) But thankfully he allowed the change in topic and soon his expression smoothed back to his usual expression. "We received a plea from the town's mayor. His eldest child is sick and he thinks it may be a curse of some sort. I remembered your last letter came from this area so I volunteered to lead a small group."

"Oh! So you came all this way in hope of finding little old me?" Wei Wuxian teased, falling back into this easy companionship with Lan Zhan, standing closer than social convention dictated, but that was par the course for them. He grinned up at Lan Zhan from under his lashes.

"Yes," Lan Zhan told him, meeting his gaze without flinching, his own eyes hooded and intense.

"Ah ha, I see," Wei Wuxian mumbled, looking down and away and rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, who else came with you? Anyone I know?"

"See for yourself, they are getting everything settled for us inside." He gestured towards the inn. He turned and made his way towards the warm glow of the main building. Wei Wuxian followed easily, starting up and easy chatter about everything he had gotten into that he didn't want to bore Lan Zhan with through letters. (Also, he had to save on how much he could spend on paper).

When they went inside the group of Lans were easy to identify. Taking up only two tables, they sipped tea and chatted quietly amongst themselves while they waited for their senior to rejoin them. Upon entering, Wei Wuxian zeroed in on two Lan's in particular.

"Lan Sizhui! Lan Jingyi!" he exclaimed, "My two favorite Lans, after Hanguang-jun of course!" He threw open his arms in greeting as the two boys - men now, really - stood to greet him.

They both stopped and bowed a few paces away from Wei Wuxian , but both were grinning slightly more than what could be considered proper for a Lan, but they new that Hanguang-Jun was slightly more lax on the rules when they weren't in Cloud Recess, and especially when Wei Wuxian was around.

"Senior Wei!" Lan Jingyi greeted excitedly, "It's so good to see you again!"

"Yes," Sizhui agreed, "It's always good to hear of your health, but seeing the truth of it in front of up eases all of our worries." He looked over to Lan Zhan for the briefest moment before focusing back on Wei Wuxian. There was depth to that which Wei Wuxian did not have the capacity to delve into right at that moment.

"Boys, boys," Wei Wuxian scolded playfully, striding forward and throwing an arm around each of their shoulders, hugging each of them close to his side. "There's no need for you boys to worry about me! When I was your age I had developed and entirely new form of cultivation!"

Lan Zhan gave him a perfectly blank look and Wei Wuxian winked at him, "Not that I'm saying you should do that. Learn from my mistakes and at least listen to your friends, if not your elders. My point is I'm perfectly capable taking care of myself. Kids your age should only be worrying about romances and cultivation tournaments! Not perfectly capable elders!"

"But, you just said," Lan Jingyi began to protest.

"Zhhst! I know what I said, forget what I said! You must listen to me," he waved a finger in mock scolding and both Jingyi and Sizhui covered laughter behind their sleeves. Even Lan Zhan had a twinkle of amusement in his eyes at Wei Ying's playacting.

Wei Wuxian let himself be led to a table, sitting between Lan Zhan and Lan Jingyi, purposefully making a fool out of himself for their entertainment. Every so often he would catch a twitch of a smile or a huff of laughter from Lan Zhan, which of course only encouraged him to double his efforts.

After dinner and an evening of tea and swapping stories, Lan Zhan ushered everyone to their rooms with a tilt of his head and a raised eyebrow. The group left, bowing politely to Hanguang-Jun and Wei Wuxian. Eventually they were left in the mostly empty main floor. Most guests having made their way to their rooms by now. The inn keeper who Wei Wuxian had been making friends with eyed them curious from the other end of the room, but kept quiet and out of the way.

Lan Zhan had that effect of people.

In the sudden peace Wei Wuxian rested his chin on his hand, his elbow propped up on the table. He studied Lan Zhan, looking for changes from when he last saw him, rememorizing his features.

"Where are you staying," Lan Zhan asked him.

"The inn keeper is loaning me a nice spot in the hay loft. It's nice, warm and quiet. You've rented rooms here?"

Lan Zhan nodded. "There is space in my room, for another."

"Is there? I thought Lan seniors always had their own rooms on nighthunts."

"By custom, yes, we are not required to share rooms as the juniors are. When one is invited, however," he trailed off, eyes lowered now to the table.

Wei Wuxian quirked an eyebrow at him, "Are you inviting me, Lan Zhan?" And wow okay that came out much less teasing and a whole lot more intimate than Wei Ying had intended.

"I am," Lan Zhan answered, voice quiet but sure.

Wei Ying smiled at him. A small, true smile. Much different than his loud sunshine smile that had blinded Lan Zhan for all others on the night they met, but this smile was for Lan Zhan, and it stunned him all the same.

"Well, who am I to deny the great Hanguang-Jun," Wei Ying said, standing.

Lan Zhan stood as well, only a beat behind. "You are Wei Ying," he answered him, "I would accept anything from you, when freely given, even your denial."

Wei Ying stared up at him, for all he was only two inches taller, "That's not likely to happen again," he confessed. They stared at each other, standing at the bottom of the stairs in the main floor, until the inn keeper knocked a cup off the table and it fell to the floor. He cleared his throat and nodded to them in apology.

But the spell was broken, and Lan Zhan lead Wei Ying up to their room.

Wei Wuxian woke feeling more refreshed than he had in a long time. If he thought having protective horses made him feel safer, it was nothing compared to how he felt sleeping a few feet away from Lan Zhan.

To his secret disappointment, the room had two beds in it, and each man took one. When Wei Wuxian woke sunlight was already streaming through the open shutters and Lan Zhan sat at the table, writing what seemed to be a report. There was a full breakfast laid out on the other side of the table.

When Wei Wuxian stretched and yawned, Lan Zhan set down his brush and turned his full, quietly intense focus on him.

"G'morning," Wei Wuxian mumbled, stumbling to the table and sitting down across from Lan Zhan, "S'for me?"

"For you. I and the others ate already."

"'Course you did. Good Lans, waking ear-" he yawn cut off his own words and he stretched his arms over his head in an involuntary stretch. "Early," he finished, when the yawn abated and he felt slightly more away. He sipped the tea Lan Zhan had poured him and surveyed the food before digging in.

"What are you working on?" He asked, between bites.

"I'm writing a collection of information that we know regarding the sickness here. We talked to several people around town this morning and I'm compiling the information."

"I see, well maybe I can help. I haven't been idle while I've been here you know. What have you learned so far?" Lan Zhan gave him a brief summary and Wei Wuxian nodded along. "That's about what I've learned as well. I've also talked to one of the infected kids. He's seventeen, and looked terrible. The illness mostly seems to be affecting stamina and balance, from what I can tell. He got nausea when he stood for too long, but was fine when he was settled onto a bed. He ate fine, after that, but was exhausted after a short conversation." He shook his head at the little injustices in the world, "We need to do our best to fix this soon. He has a little sister he needs to take care of."

"We will solve it, if it is a curse or corruption."

"My instinct tells me it is. There's something else also." He tells Lan Zhan about the girls encounter with the ghost, and his own vision the morning before.

"It seems the barn has something to do with it.

"Possibly, yes. But we need more information before we can say for sure. What are your plans for today?"

"I have sent the rest of the group out to gather more information and begin to build a trust with the townsfolk. Myself, Lan Sizhui, and Lan Jingyi are going to see the mayor and talk with his daughter."

"I'll tag along, if you don't mind. I'm invested now."

Lan Zhan bowed his head, "Wei Ying is always welcome."

Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui met them outside the front doors of the tavern when they went down after Wei Wuxian prepared himself for the day.

As they walked through the town, Lan Zhan told the boys that they would take the lead for this portion of the nighthunt. They were strong and smart cultivators, and it would be good for them to build a reputation among the common folk in their own rights.

Nodding seriously, Lan Sizhui thanked him for this opportunity and dragged Jingyi along the road. Wei Wuxian and Lan Zhan followed them a few feet behind. Wei Wuxian leaned over and whispered to Lan Zhan, "They're walking awfully close together, are they not?"

Lan Zhan shot him an amused glance, "So are we," he commented.

"Well yeah, but we're us." Wei Wuxian defended, knocking his shoulder against Lan Zhan's, who accepted it with an air of deference to a power he could not control and was fond of.

They reached the house, a well-off manor, nothing as grand as the sects or rich cities, but graceful and very well built.

"I've noticed that, "Wei Wuxian commented, "Every building here is exceptionally built. They must have a master carpenter living here." Indeed it was, and the mayors house especially. Over each door the frame was intricately carved in new and beautiful designs. Here flowers and scenes from nature, there what appeared to be an abstract depiction of a harvest festival. Wei Ying even noticed poetry carved into some of the doorframes, where the characters looked like vines growing the words.

Wei Ying paused in front of one, a scene of lotus from under water, with fish swimming between the stems. "Truly these are works of art," he praised, "I think I would like to meet this master carpenter. Talking with one who is passionate about their work is one of the joys of living, don't you agree, Lan Zhan?"

"I do," Lan Zhan said, "and these are exceptionally done."

"Thank you," a new voice from one of the doors said. All four men turned to the speaker. She was a strong woman, as tall as Lan Zhan, with intelligent bright eyes and long dark hair tied back in a casual braid. The cultivators bowed and greeting, and Lan Sizhui stepped forward.

"Madam, we are Lan cultivators from the Gusu Lan sect. My name is Lan Sizhui, this is Lan Jingyi, and those men there are our seniors, Hanguang-Jun and Senior Wei. We received a letter from the mayor asking for aid in a supernatural illness."

"Yes, you did," the woman answered in a no-nonsense type of way, "I sent that letter. My daughter came down with the strangest illness two months ago. I have brought in doctors from all over, and not one had been able to help her or give me any satisfactory answer. The last doctor I spoke to suggested that the illness might be supernatural in some way. Although I know the Jin are the closer sect, the reputation of Hanguang-jun's help of non-cultivators is exceptional."

Wei Wuxian decided he liked this no-nonsense woman, who spoke her mind without offering insult. It was a great skill to have, and necessary, he imagined, being a woman in charge.

"Excuse me, you're the mayor?" Lan Jingyi asked, with his usual tact.

She gave him an amused look down her nose. "Not officially, young master. My husband is the mayor by title, but he is more interested in wood working and building planning than politics or the running of a city, even one as humble as ours. You are, of course, more than welcome to speak with him, but I promise you I will be able to answer your questions just as well, if not more so. I love my husband, but his head is not always in the here and now."

Lan Sizhui bowed, subtly knocking Jingyi with his elbow as he did so. "I'm sure you will be able to answer our questions, madam, and we thank you for your time."

"As I thank you for yours," she replied. "Come, let us sit, and I will have someone bring us tea and snacks."

They gathered in a room. It was of a decent size, held them all with comfort but could not have help many more. Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui asked good questions, Wei Wuxian mused. Eventually he grew restless and stood to pace the back of the room, idly looking over the art on the walls and books on the shelves. The madam mayor glanced at him every so often, but did not object to his snooping. Lan Zhan sat still and patient, occasionally sipping his tea, eyes slowly moving from the boys and their conversation and Wei Ying and back again.

"I think it would be helpful to talk with your daughter, if she is feeling well enough for visitors."

"I will check with her, if you would excuse me for a moment." They nodded and she left the room. When she returned she apologized. "I'm very sorry, she says she is not up to strangers today. But you are encouraged to return tomorrow, and she will meet with you then."

They all thanked her for her time, and promised to return tomorrow at around the same time of day. As they left, Wei Wuxian once more admired the woodcarvings. He reached out and touched one of them. It was half-finished, leaning up against the wall like it had been set aside to be completed another day. It was slightly dusty, and felt forgotten. As his fingers brushed it, he felt a zap and pulled his hand away with a yelp.

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan was at his side in an instant.

"I'm all right, Lan Zhan. That thing shocked me, but I'm fine. It was more surprise than anything else."

Nevertheless, Lan Zhan took his hand and inspected it. Wei Ying didn't pull away, skin tingling for different and entirely more pleasant reasons now. Eventually Lan Zhan released his hand and they exited the house.

"See, Lan Zhan, I told you I was fine."

Lan Zhan cut him a wry look, "You are not always to believed when it comes to your own health."

"Psssh," Wei Wuxian pouted at him, but could not, in good conscious, defend himself against this harsh claim.

After a light lunch, the four sat down in Lan Zhan's room and brainstormed.

"So, what do you guys think?"

"I'm not sure I have enough information yet, to form a hypothesis," Sizhui told them honestly. "It's difficult to say without talking to the person who is affected most directly by the sickness."

"From what the mayor said and what is happening in town, I think we can say that the sickness started around two months ago, with the mayors daughter likely being the first victim. The illness seems to spread by no normal means, as the daughter has not gone out and met with anyone since she got sick."

"According to her mother," Wei Wuxian reminded him, "we cannot be sure of her actions until we talk to her directly."

"It's still a good point, Senior Wei," Sizhui defended his friend, "It seems that the illness does not spread as other illnesses do, which increased the chances of it being a curse of some sort."

"The doctors said they found no curse marks, its why we weren't requested sooner."

"Maybe it's hidden?"

"This doesn't feel like a curse that's trying to hide. Actually, it doesn't feel like a curse at all." Sizhui admitted.

Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow at him, "You think it is a natural illness?"

"No," Sizhui said, "No. It's not natural, but it's also not a curse. I can't explain why, but I have this feeling, it's an instinct that tells me that this is not what it may seem."

Wei Wuxian regarded him serious, "It's good to trust your instincts, Sizhui, but the most important thing is facts. We have to be informed before we act, we cannot act on instinct alone. It can guide, but not control. Understand?"

"Wei Ying is correct," Lan Zhan told them, "Feelings may be instinctual and should be listened to, but actions must be informed and deliberate."

The boys nodded, absorbing the lesson. Each sat with their own thoughts for a time, and eventually Lan Sizhui said, "We need to figure out if there is more of a connection between those who have gotten sick. We know they are any gender, between the ages of ten and twenty one. But is there anything else? A place that they all spent time at, an event they all attended? Something along those lines?"

"It's probably not an event," Jingyi said, "They've all been getting sick at different times. If it was an event they were all at, they would have fallen ill at the same time."

"We will meet tomorrow at breakfast and decide on our next move. For now, rest and  contemplate and talk with your disciples to see if they have learned anything throughout the day that can aid in your decisions."

"Yes, Hanguang-Jun!" They chorused, and left the table to wonder the town and find their peers.

"They're smart young men," Wei Ying commented, "You've raised them well, Hanguang-Jun."

"Not alone," Lan Zhan said, more relaxed now that it was just the two of them.

"Oh yes, I'm sure your uncle and Zewu-jun had their own part as well."

"Yes, uncle and brother were a great help. But I was referring to you. You're a good teacher Wei Ying. Students would benefit from your teaching."

"Yeah, right," Wei Ying said, rolling his eyes, "Like anybody would let me train members of their sect. I'm still the villain in their bedtimes stories, Lan Zhan. I don't think that will change in this lifetime."

On seeing Lan Zhan's expression Wei Ying reached out and gripped one of his hands, "Hey, it's okay. I'm here, I'm alive. And you're here with me, right?"

"I am."

"So I am happy as well. How can I not me, when you admitted yourself that your came all this well on the off-chance of running into me. You flatter me with your actions, Hanguang-jun, be careful."

"Wei Ying is worth it," Lan Zhan said, stating a fact in the face of opposition, as though he were reaffirming something he already knew to himself, instead of tell Wei Ying.

Wei Ying scooted over until he was on the same side of the table as Lan Zhan, and knocked their shoulders together.

They sat like that for a while, the air slightly forlorn but not uncomfortable. 

The light dimmed around them as the sun began to set, and Wei Ying whispered, "I think that's what I regret the most."

He felt for than saw Lan Zhan's gaze, and the question they held.

"Not being there, for A-Yuan. Not seeing him grow up, not teaching him how to ride his sword or comfort him through his first heartbreak. I know you did a wonderful job, Lan Zhan but I think, yes. That's what I regret the most. I know there are other things that are more important in my actions that I should regret, but I don't. Lan Zhan, I regret leaving him. I tucked him in that tree and I promised him I would come back and I lied." To his surprise he felt his eyes well up with tears, but all of a sudden he was too tired to brush them away. He let them fall.

Lan Zhan caught up, reaching out with long, perfect fingers and brushing away the tears, smearing the wet across Wei Ying's cheeks. Lan Zhan didn't say anything, just watched his steadily, fingers still resting as his temples.

"And I," Wei Ying felt the need to fill the silence, "I know I can never, ever repair that. He doesn't remember, I know that but I know-" he took a quiet, gasping breath, "I know what its like when your adult doesn't come back. And I.. I knew I wasn't coming back and I lied and promised him I would anyway. I should have taken him, taken him and run and never looked back, rather than lie like that. I said goodbye like his mother and father, and promised him I would return like his sister, and didn't look back, like Wen Qing. That weighs more heavily on me than all the corpses I've dug up, all the people I've killed. One lie to a little boy who isn't even my son, and who doesn't even remember."

It was only darkness that filled the silence now, but having admitted that for the first time to anyone, even truly to himself, Wei Ying felt lighter.

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan sounded pained, "When A'yuan was a boy-"

A knock interrupted them. Wei Ying stood and went to answer the door, Lan Zhan's hands refolding themself in his lap, hidden from view. One of the inn's workers entered, apologizing for not being there sooner with their dinner. Wei Ying, laughed and made some joke about them not noticing for how could they see anything with no candle lit? He lit the candles while the boy laid out the food and then left, the door closing behind them.

Wei Ying gave Lan Zhan a shy smile, "Secrets are shared best in the dark, huh? Come one, let's eat."

They ate in silence, at first tinged with stress, but gradually eased into the usual feeling of safety that enveloped them when they were alone. Embued by the wine, eventually Wei Ying was leaning against Lan Zhan again, talking about nothing and enjoying the closeness. They prepared for bed, but when Wei Ying slid into his, and Lan Zhan in the bed across he suddenly felt so very alone, and so very cold.

He took a breath, steeling himself, got up again. He stood at the side of his bed. Lan Zhan sat up in his, propped up by his elbows. His hair was down, and he wore only two layers under the quilt. He looked young like this, soft, and open, face more expressive in the dark than it ever was in the light.

"Wei Ying?" he asked.

"Lan Zhan, can I-" He cleared his throat, "My bed is right by the window and it's cold out tonight, can I, do you mind...?" He trailed off, hoping Lan Zhan would know what he was asking.

After a moment that seemed to last an eternity, Lan Zhan turned back half of the quilt and moved over so he was closer to the wall. Wei Ying gratefully climbed in and settled down. There was an awkward moment of shifting, and at one point Wei Ying got back up again to get a second pillow from his abandoned bed before returning to Lan Zhan's side and all the shifting had to start again.

Wei Ying lay still, body tense for fear of relaxing too much and distrubing Lan Zhan's space. he was hyperaware of how his every movement would affect Lan Zhan. Eventually, after the third time he jerked awake from a half sleep, Lan Zhan huffed and shifted. He pulled Wei Ying into his arms and held him still against his chest. In his warmth, Wei Ying relaxed finally.

Before he fell asleep however, Lan Zhan whispered, "Secrets are best told in the dark, yes?"

"Yes."

"Then, I would very much like to stay with you, Wei Ying. For always."

Wei Ying curled tight against Lan Zhan's side, "Me too," he whispered, "I want that too, Lan Zhan."

And like that, they fell asleep.

The next morning, when Wei Ying woke, he was alone. In a warm hay loft, with a cow braying it's displeasure in the stall below him.

"What," he said, "the fuck."

Chapter Text

"What the fuck," Wei Wuxian said out loud to himself. Last he remembered he was curled up next to Lan Zhan on a shared bed, the air between them full of quiet and sweet promises that he was eager to revisit in the light of day.

But now....

His first thought was that he was in a dream, trapped maybe in a memory. He pinched himself, but that only left him with a red mark on the inside of his arm. He rubbed it away thoughtfully as he gathered his belongings and exited the barn. Just like he remembered, the innkeeper made his way towards him soon after he entered the yard.

"Good morning," he said cautiously. "Excuse me, but can you tell me what happened to the cultivators who arrived yesterday? A group of cultivators all in white and blue, wearing forehead ribbons."

The man looked at him with concern, "I'm sorry but the only cultivator we've seen for weeks is yourself. You are feeling all right?"

"Yes, yeah I'm fine," Wei Wuxian brushed away his concern. "Excuse me, I have to go."

"Wait, please!" The innkeeper said and Wei Wuxian turned back, poorly hiding impatience.  "My wife and I, we wanted to offer you a trade of sorts. We can give you meals in return for some help in the barn. Our normal boy is ill."

Wei Wuxian sighed and rubbed his forehead. He felt jumbled and wrong. He wanted time to himself to think, he wanted to search himself for something, a curse mark maybe. He wanted to know if this was real, or just a memory. The best way to test that, he decided, was to visit somewhere he hadn't before. If he could, then this was real. If he couldn't, or he tried too and was brought back to a place he did visit, then he could be assured that this was a memory.

But, at the end of the day, Wei Wuxian liked people, and there was no reason to spoil a good rapport with this man and his wife.

"Sure," he said, "that's fine."

He did the work quickly, and ate quickly too. One good thing is that the manual labor gave him good time to think, and he always thought better while he was working with his hands. He decided that the best way to test is leaving the town altogether, but from the other side. He shouldered his pack and thanked the innkeeper before heading through the town. He nodded to people along the way but didn't stop to chat. Eventually he reached the edge of town and looked back.

He hadn't been here before, hadn't seen the town from this angle, hadn't seen these building. But there was nothing blurry or faded with his vision, and nothing felt enchanted or corrupted. He walked for about ten minutes away, until he crested a hill and could no longer see the town through the trees.

He laid back on a log at the side of the dirt road, one knee bent up with his foot on the log and the other on the ground for support. He laid back on his hands and stared at the sky. The birds and the clouds all acted normal, and nothing felt wrong.

But, something must be. He had done this before. He had been through enough by now in his lives to know when to trust his instincts and this day... he had lived this day before. But how? And why? The how was important, but the why is what stuck in Wei Wuxian's mind.

Just then, he heard a group of people coming up the road towards the town. He sat up on his log, heart racing. And there he was, in all his glory.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian stood and ran towards the group, waving. "Lan Zhan!" He reached them and Wei Wuxian was pleased to note that Lan Zhan looked happy to see him. Wei Wuxian reached out and grabbed Lan Zhan's arms. "We need to talk," he told him, seriously. He looked back at the group behind him.

"Sizhui, Lan Jingyi, the town is a mere ten minutes down the road. You both lead ahead, Lan Zhan and I will catch up tp you."

Lan Jingyi looked like he was about to protest but stopped when Lan Sizhui cut in front of him and bowed, smiling at Wei Wuxian.

"Senior Wei! It's good to see you doing well."

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but return a smile to this pure, sweet man who so reminded him of Wen Ning sometimes. "It's good to see you again too, Sizhui. Go on now." And with that Wei Wuxian dragged the unprotesting Lan Zhan to the side of the road and the group passed them. Lan Jingyi shameless and obviously looked back to stare at them as they walked away.

"Lan Zhan, listen to me." Wei Wuxian turned his full attention onto Lan Zhan and Lan Zhan, picking up on his seriousness returned the gaze with equal seriousness and no small amount of worry in his eyes.

"Wei Ying, what's wrong?"

"Has anything felt odd to you, about this day? Familiar, maybe, like you've lived it before, or been here before?"

Lan Zhan's brow wrinkled very slightly in concern. "No," he said, "today has felt no more familiar to me than the morning of the day before. Why do you ask?"

Wei Wuxian let go of his arms and paced in front of him, fiddling with Chenqing all the while. "I'm not sure," he admitted, after a moment, almost talking to himself. "I don't have enough information to be sure of anything."

"Tell me what you know," Lan Zhan instructed, "That is a good place to start."

Wei Ying graced him with a grateful smile, "Right, okay. By my memory, last night I fell asleep sharing a- I mean, um. Sharing a room with you, in the inn in the town down the road." He didn't know why he avoided telling Lan Zhan that they were sharing a bed, but that seemed to intimate a detail to expose to the light of day on this dusty dirt road. Besides, if Lan Zhan didn't remember, and all evidence said that he didn't, then he didn't want to make him feel bad or.... obligated, in any way.

Best to be avoided, for now, while there were more important things to figure out first.

"We were not sharing a room last night," Lan Zhan said, "Not by my memory."

"That's what I was afraid of," Wei Wuxian admitted. "Lan Zhan, two days ago I met you when you arrived in town. We shared a meal and a room. The next morning, you and I, along with Sizhui and Jingyi, began our investigation into the illness that you were asked to research. The day passed and everything was normal. We shared a room, again, but this morning instead of waking up with you, I woke up alone. In the barn where I had woken up two days previous."

Lan Zhan listened with his characteristic quietness, fully focused on Wei Ying and absorbing every word.

"You are saying," he said slowly, careful with each word in the way he was when he was making sure he was saying the correct thing. "You are saying that two days ago you woke up in a barn. That day and the following day were normal, but on what would be the third day you woke up to what appeared to be the first day again. And no one else remembers the other days happening."

"Yes!" Wei Wuxian said in relief that Lan Zhan seemed to believe him.

"Have you checked yourself for curse marks?"

"No, but there is something strange going on in that town, Lan Zhan. The sickness you were asked to investigate is not natural. I think it must be related to our investigation, but I cannot yet say how."

"Let's start there, then. And while we check, you can talk me through everything that you did."

"Okay, lets go to the inn, then. Hopefully the boys got the rooms in order."

They started towards the town again, Lan Zhan stoic as ever next to Wei Ying, content to be at his side.

"Senior Wei," Lan Jingyi called out when he saw them from where he was waiting at the first door of the inn, "Hanguang-Jun!" When they got closer he bowed in greeting, which Lan Zhan and Wei Ying acknowledged.

After they got settled at tables with food on the way, Lan Jingyi said, "I'm glad you ran into us, Senior Wei. Hanguang-jun and Sizhui both came because they were hoping you would make and appearance."

"Jingyi!" Lan Sizhui admonished, but he shot Wei Wuxian a sheepish look, "He is correct though. About me! I cannot speak for Hanguang-jun."

"Lan Jingyi, so cheeky," Wei Wuxian said, "You shouldn't go exposing all your seniors secrets now."

"It's no secret," Lan Jingyi objected.

"Wei Ying is correct," Lan Zhan told him, "It does no good to speak for the intentions of others. However," and here he shifted his focus to Wei Ying, "Lan Jingyi is not incorrect in my motivations."

Wei Ying calmly smiled up at him, "It's good to see you too. All of you." He directs his words at the three of them.

After the meal, while all the Lans headed to their respective rooms, Jingyi and Sizhui lingered at their table. There seemed to be an intense conversation happened between the two that Wei Ying watched with amused interest. Eventually Lan Sizhui sighed and turned to his seniors.

"Hanguang-jun, this one needs to inform you that when Lan Jingyi reserved the rooms he requested that of the three rooms rented, one of them would have a single bed." He looked nervously between Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji before standing hurriedly and bowing. "We apologize for this presumption."

Lan Jingyi bowed as well, not looking the least bit contrite and Wei Wuxian waved them off before Lan Zhan could scold them.

Wei Ying laughed as they left, Sizhui audibly scolding Jingyi on their way to the bedroom.

"Interfering young man," he said, shaking his head mock-sadly to Lan Zhan's amusement. "And a romantic. I bet he's been spending too much time with Ouyang Zizhen."

"Ouyang Zizhen has been spending long visits in Cloud Recesses," Lan Zhan confirmed, "It is good for them to have friends in each other."

"Yes, I'm sure you're right," Wei Ying agreed. "So! Shall we to our room?"

Chapter Text

Loop One, Day Two:

In the room Lan Wangji studied Wei Ying closely. He was pacing, which was usual for him, but the way his hands would sometimes rise and then lower and the way his hair whipped back when he turned suggested a level of agitation that was not usual of him. Wei Ying, even in times of great distress, showed a collected will and focus of direction that the Wei Ying in front of him did not express.

Lan Wangji pondered for a moment, thinking that perhaps Wei Ying was often like this, underneath, and it was only a deep trust with Lan Wangji himself that allowed Wei Ying to show - but dismissed the idea as wishful thinking. He sat at the low table in the center of the room and waited for Wei Ying to wear himself out.

He lit an incense and took out his qin. With a small amount of willpower a piece of spiritual energy wrapped themselves around the strings, in order to mute them subtly so his practice would not disturb Wei Ying's gathering of thoughts.

As he let his fingers pluck and flow over the strings, calluses catching in all the right ways, he hummed to himself. He was working on a new melody, one which he hoped to gift to Sizhui in time. Eventually the movement in front of him stopped, and then Wei Ying was seated at the table across from him.

Lan Wangji stopped in his playing and looked at him expectantly.

"I haven't heard that one before," Wei Ying commented.

"Correct, it is not yet finished."

Wei Ying brightened. "Another Hanguang-Jun original?" And Lan Wangji inclined his head in affirmation.

Wei Ying leaned forward, resting his cheek on his palm and watching him. "Play it for me?" He asked, staring at Lan Wangji with those stunning silver eyes that he couldn't bear to look away form.

After too-long a moment, Lan Wangji processed the question and looked down at his qin. Wordlessly, he began to play, trying to listen to the melody as how Wei Ying would be hearing it: for the first time.

Wei Ying listened quietly, it was easier for him to be quiet, Lan Wangji considered, when there was other noise around him. It wasn't that he liked to listen to himself talk, (not that that wasn't also true), but that he would rather himself speak than listen to the silence. Lan Wangji wondered what it was about silence that Wei Ying could be avoiding. He wondered what Wei Ying would hear when silence pressed into him in the night. Lan Wangji was keenly aware of the sounds of war and screams that he heard in the quiet of the night, some of them were his own; less often, and maybe less acute than they were a decade ago, but always there. Screams his body held but never gave voice to.

His finger slipped, and a string twanged discordantly. On reflex, he immediately flattened both hands on the strings to quiet them. Blood roared in his ears, muting out all other sounds in the room. His back ached, deeply and intensely, and he stiffened to it.

"Lan Zhan?" A voice drifted through the barrier, and Lan Zhan became aware of a warmth and pressure on his hands. He forced his eyes into focus and saw Wei Ying's strong, graceful hands covering his. He was gently prizing Lan Zhan's fingers off of the strings,  which Lan Zhan realized he was holding too tightly. His second knuckles clutched tightly over the top string and his palms pressing into the lower ones. He slowly, getting his breathing back under control, loosened the tension in his hand.

Wei Ying noticed he was letting go of the strings and turned to look at him, concern obvious. "Lan Zhan?" He said again.

His hands were still on Lan Zhan's, which Lan Zhan liked. He always liked it when Wei Ying touched him. He knew Wei Ying was looking at him but he could not meet his eyes. He focused instead on the way Wei Ying's skin looked compared to his own, how his fingers were slightly shorter but the nails kept a little longer. He focused on the pressure and warmth and their steadfast strength. He loved these hands, and had missed them when he felt for sure he would never see him again. But against all odds, he was here - he had come back.

With a snap the world was thrown into sharp relief and clarity. Lan Wangji's back relaxed and and looked in Wei Ying's eyes.

"Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying's question was unspoken but Lan Wangji heard it clearly. are you okay? what happened?

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji said, for it was all he wished to say. He pressed on, "I"m okay. I remembered something it is difficult to remember." It was easier to explain himself to Wei Ying than to anybody else, except Xichen when he was young.

Wei Ying's eyes flicked down, and Lan Wangji could swear he saw a flare of anger there before it was sent away. "Your back." He sat on his heels and had a hand on Lan Wangji's shoulder. The grip was comforting.

"I am fine, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji said, I would not lie to you.

There was a pause as Wei Ying studied him intently. "Okay," he said, still sounding doubtful but trusting Lan Wangji anyway. "Still, I think we should go to bed soon, right?

Lan Wangji nodded, yes, rest soon. But first... Lan Wangji stood, surreptitiously stretching his back while he did so. "I will meditate," he said. Wei Ying nodded, still watching him carefully. "I'm going to go get us some food and drink for before bed, I might be gone awhile, okay?"

Lan Wangji nodded gratefully and Wei Wuxian left the room. Lan Wangji had been alone for most of his life, and having it always felt like a balm on raw skin. The knowledge that Wei Ying would be back later, that he would see him again for tonight and tomorrow, made it easier for him to sink into a deep meditation.

He was just coming out of his meditation when Wei Ying opened the door, carrying a tray with tea and steamed buns into the room and sat it on the low table. Wei Ying smiled at him with bright relief and Lan Zhan let himself look softly.

"Here," Wei Ying passed him a cup of tea, which Lan Zhan sipped, enjoying the way the warmth spread through him.

"We should speak of your curse," Lan Zhan said.

"Yes, I've caught you up on everything we discovered last time. So I was thinking, since last time we talked to the mayor and the sick boy, what about tomorrow we search for different families have been affected by the illness and speak with them? I'll be able to remember and catch you up the next day."

"The boys?" Lan Wangji referred to Sizhui and Jingyi, the only two he ever referred to as such, although occasionally it included Ouyang Zizhen as well.

"We can send them along to answer the missive," Wei Ying said, "They did a good job last time. Hanguang-jun trained them well."

Lan Wangji was pleased by the compliment but still scolded, "Do not tease."

"I'm not!" Wei Ying protested. "Listen, Lan Zhan, there's something else that happened. We shared a bed. Not because the boys interfered and we had to, but because I didn't want to sleep apart from you, and you allowed me into your bed."

Lan Wangji searched his face, and on finding no jest, blinked slowly. "I see." He sipped his tea and asked, "Did anything else happen?"

Wei Ying avoided his gaze. "Yes," he finally admitted. "You said you would like to never leave my side, and I confessed the same to you."

"That is good," Lan Zhan told him, meeting his eyes and feeling bold, "Then we walk with each other at the same pace, and it will be easy to share a bed together again tonight. Besides, we must check you for curse marks.”

Wei Ying stared at him for a moment, and then shot back his wine.