Chapter Text
Just as he felt arms wrap around his waist from behind, Wei Wuxian finally put together the thought that had been nagging at the back of his mind for the past week: someone was watching him.
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--1 week ago--
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TUESDAY
The cheerful dingle nearly made Wei Wuxian jump out of his skin. It was not a noise he’d heard in weeks – and one he was beginning to think he would never hear again.
Ever since he’d officially been handed the evidence for this case, signed and approved by the director himself, he had been striking zero. Not a single hit on even one piece of evidence.
For the sheer amount of evidence there was, not one piece had gotten him any further than his predecessor.
Allowing himself only a single moment to be frozen in surprise Wei Wuxian put down the knife he was using to carefully bludgeon a mannequin to turn to the screen in the other room. Still a little skeptical – maybe he had finally gone insane and was hearing things – he walked slowly, cautiously over, as if he might scare his one piece of useful evidence away.
On the screen, blinking happily away big and bold, were the words he had been about ready to summon through nefarious means: “MATCH FOUND”
Big letters, all capitalized, background an eye-catching green.
Before Wei Wuxian even had the chance to get a hold of himself and call. . . anyone, the melodic ‘ding’ of the elevator filtered through his ears.
There was only one other person who would still be at the office at this ungodly hour.
The case’s lead agent.
The Agency’s best and brightest.
Absolutely brilliant.
And a complete fuddy-duddy.
Lan Wangji.
Clad in a too stodgy suit for work, especially that of a field agent, and looking supremely uncomfortable being in the presence of another human being – even if he’s the one who walked into Wei Wuxian’s lab – Lan Wangji stood in his doorway. His eyes were a little wide, like he hadn’t been expecting Wei Wuxian to be standing there.
Which was a bit weird. This was his lab after all.
Albeit at 1 o’clock in the morning, but still, his lab.
Too soon. Way too soon, Lan Wangji seemed to recover from his stupor, face evening out into the cool nothingness Wei Wuxian had quickly realized was a state of being for the agent.
“Dr. Wei,” with a voice roughed by the late hour, Lan Wangji spoke in his familiar deep, no-nonsense tone.
Deep and resonate in a way that always seemed to make Wei Wuxian shiver – just a little – every time he heard the man speak, even after all these years working together.
Such a voice really shouldn’t belong to such a. . . such an expressionless, boring. . . hot, hot- tall specimen of a man.
Ok, so, Wei Wuxian might have a little – tiny, really. . . itty bitty – crush.
It was nothing. Really.
He could deal.
He had been dealing.
Now, though, he was just standing here staring dumbly at Lan Wangji, who, other than looking a bit tired – the minor, lightly purpling, bruising under his eyes telling Wei Wuxian that he had been putting in similar hours since this case fell on them – was standing, perfectly patient in the doorway.
Waiting for something- waiting for Wei Wuxian to do something.
“Ah. . .” his voice cracked and was about two octaves higher than need-be but he forged ahead anyway, “hello Agent Lan.”
For a while they just stood awkwardly staring at each other.
Of the two of them, Wei Wuxian was the talker – could hold a solid conversation with a rock if he really wanted to – but his mind was drawing a solid blank. Whether it was the sudden appearance of another person at this hour, right after his first (maybe) lead or just Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure.
Rocking forward onto his toes, Wei Wuxian tested the waters, “uh- ah w-what are you still doing here? It’s late, y’know.”
“I saw the light on in the lab. I thought you might have forgotten to turn it off.” Still Icy, message received, loud and clear.
“Ahhh, nope! Everything’s in order here!” closing his fist to rap his knuckles lightly against the side of his head Wei Wuxian gave a half-hearted smile. “Too many thoughts rattling around, too little time to think them all. Thank you, though. For checking.”
“Mn.”
And they were back to silence.
Wracking his brain for quite literally any remotely appropriate topic Wei Wuxian continued to come up empty.
He had no idea what Lan Wangji liked or did in his free time. Wei Wuxian wasn’t even sure Lan Wangji liked him.
They weren’t friends.
Their relationship – and he means this in the loosest sense of the term – could hardly be classified as an acquaintanceship. Not for lack of trying. . . or maybe it was.
Compared to others Wei Wuxian had made little effort in the way of casual conversation with Lan Wangji. Preferring to keep it safe, strictly sticking to shop talk when Lan Wangji inevitably came down for updates of the forensic nature on his cases.
With others, Wei Wuxian would stray into casual, sometimes even flirtatious territory, simply for the socialization. By nature, he was a social creature, thriving off conversation and being a part of a crowd.
The thing was, though, all of the others, they had only met Wei Wuxian: their coworker. Lan Wangji, however, met Wei Wuxian under very different circumstances – on the other side of an investigation, as it had turned out.
Coincidentally, the same circumstances that led his to being offered this job in the first place.
He’d have been a fool to turn down an opportunity like this – and he hadn’t – but his record and true nature of his introduction to the agency had to be buried.
Deep.
Of his coworkers, only three knew just who Wei Wuxian was. Lan Wangji, Luo Qingyang (senior agent on Lan Wangji’s team), and the director.
Pointedly, though, they never talk about it.
And, he was friends with Mianmian. So, maybe it was a flimsy excuse.
Maybe being friends with Lan Wangji was just too much (or too little)?
It’s not like not being friends with Lan Wangji was an oddity in the office – it was actually the other way around – but Wei Wuxian had always been a bit taken by the man. When most people looked at Lan Wangji they saw a man who thought he was just better than them; than everyone.
When Wei Wuxian looked at him, he saw a man who didn’t feel the need to bend himself to fit into what everyone else thought he should be as a scion of the Lan family and top-notch criminal investigator.
Lan Wangji was just himself.
And, with a little bit of work, Wei Wuxian could see under that carefully blank exterior – just a little bit – and into the inner Lan Wangji. The one that was funny, and kind, and a bit bitchy.
Gods, that lazy quirk he got in his brow when someone said something he didn’t agree with, a single glimpse of that got Wei Wuxian going for hours. Lan Wangji never glared outright, but that single quirk, once noticed, sent the recipient packing in record time.
Speaking of, the look he was receiving now was one of the ones Wei Wuxian could identify as a pre-cursor to the brow quirk.
Covering the rush of misplaced elation with a giggle – rather embarrassing in hindsight – Wei Wuxian tilted his head, unable to resist a little teasing.
He would pay for it later but Lan Wangji couldn’t avoid him for long this time. They were working an active – though cold – case.
Score.
Making sure his smile rode the edge of innocent and not Wei Wuxian lowered his voice, “ah, gege. Was there anything else I can do for you? I was just wrapping up. I will be sure to turn the light off when I’m leaving.”
The reaction was immediate. Surpassing the eyebrow quirk right to the pinch between his eyebrows and the slightest frown, Wei Wuxian barely supressed his elated grin at Lan Wangji’s forceful, “shameless!” on the way out the door.
From the absence of the elevators ‘ding,’ Wei Wuxian gathered Lan Wangji had gone straight for the stairs for an even quicker getaway.
This assumption was confirmed seconds later when the stairwell door slammed with gratifying finality, Wei Wuxian let his grin free and returned to his computer. For some reason, looking at the results seemed so much easier now.
Even though he did nothing in particular – didn’t even know that Wei Wuxian had been having crippling doubts – Lan Wangji’s visit did wonders.
Since the moment the case files and evidence had been dropped at his desk, Wei Wuxian had been doubting his choice in lobbying for this case.
Wei Wuxian really needed this case to go well. He hadn’t told anyone why he fought so hard to pull the case from the depths of its frozen memorial – over 10 years cold – and no one really asked, happy just to be rid of it, but he could almost feel Lan Wangji biting at the bit for him to spill.
He wouldn’t though. Because if he did, he would suddenly be known.
Glancing to the overflowing folder with all the reports the local police had filed, Wei Wuxian finally allowed himself to read the words on the front.
In big letters were two names and a date:
Cangse Sanren
Wei Changze
DOD: October 28th, 2012
Thirteen years.
Had it really been that long?
Must be. It had happened just before his twelfth birthday. His parents had been in a fatal car accident.
Single vehicle. No witnesses.
They had, as the police gathered and reported, driven off the road and into the freezing lake below, killing both occupants before anyone arrived on scene.
A resident walking her dog had noticed the headlights in the water and called police.
The crash had been ruled an accident.
Wei Wuxian knew it wasn’t, though and he was hellbent to prove it.
Gritting his teeth, Wei Wuxian turned back to his work. He wasn’t ready to go home. Not quite yet. He was still jittery and everything just felt so unfinished.
There was no way he could leave. Not now that he had this case at his fingertips, answers just waiting to be unearthed.
The next time he looked up he was faced with a nearly complete sunrise, the sky holding only the whispering vestiges of pink as it brightened to a cheery blue.
He had worked through the night.
Again.
WEDNESDAY
A rather brief cat nap is interrupted by the eerie feeling of being watched. Whipping his head around so fast his neck creaked in warning Wei Wuxian was promptly struck frozen by Lan Wangji’s glare.
Well. . . blank look, but his eyes were glaring.
Looking a fucking vision, Lan Wangji was in a new suit and hair styled just so. Wei Wuxian’s mouth was suddenly dry and he had to swallow several times to avoid doing something as unattractive as coughing on Lan Wangji so early in the morning.
Wei Wuxian scrambled to his feet, covertly – he hoped – swiping at the drool drying on his chin. “Ah! Agent Lan. How gracious of you to check on this one so early!”
The truly deadpan stare Wei Wuxian was getting seemed to search his very soul and he had to lock his knees so as not to fidget. It was like Lan Wangji knew his every thought – and that he hadn’t left that night.
Wei Wuxian wasn’t entirely sure Lan Wangji had left either. He did not seem to ever be gone when Wei Wuxian was in the building – always working away at his desk when Wei Wuxian left or entered the building.
To be honest, Wei Wuxian wasn’t sure Lan Wangji even had a place of his own and was maybe just a permanent fixture in the office. No sleep required.
What a way to exist. Wei Wuxian could only dream. Sleep truly was his greatest enemy.
Imagine the work he could get done if only he didn’t have to sleep in fear of losing all cognition – he had tested it, four days with no sleep is his limit, though cat naps could extend this to over a week.
“The door was open. You are not usually in at this time.” Wei Wuxian squawked in protest. He didn’t sign up to be bullied so early in the morning!
Lan Wangji’s expression didn’t change but Wei Wuxian would swear on his own grave that Lan Wangji’s lip twitched – just the tiniest bit.
Did Lan Wangji find him funny?
Oh, Wei Wuxian could work with that.
Turning himself to face Lan Wangji fully he took a single step forward, “ah, Lan Wangji, Lan Wangji. Was that a smile? Do you find me funny?”
The immediate shuttering of Lan Wangji’s expression only egged him on.
“No.” Though his tone brokered no question, Wei Wuxian spied the pink colouring the tips of Lan Wangji’s ears – oh the things Wei Wuxian thought about that particular fact – and promptly threw Lan Wangji’s words onto the bullshit pile.
Oh, oh, he had been right!
In all his years, Lan Wangji had never acted as such around him. Normally dry as the Sahara, Lan Wangji would never have indulged him so, even the week prior. What a treat Lan Wangji was so early in the morning.
If Wei Wuxian had known the delights he’d be provided for his efforts he might have come into the office early more often.
If this were a normal day, Lan Wangji would just walk away. Or, if he needed something from Wei Wuxian, he would deliver his request promptly upon arrival, wait just long enough to hear Wei Wuxian’s answer. Then leave.
The sudden change was giving him a case of whip lash, but Wei Wuxian wasn’t one to kick a gift horse in the mouth.
If Lan Wangji was going to start listening to him and finding him funny, far be it for Wei Wuxian to question a miracle.
But, Wei Wuxian was a merciful soul. He was perfectly capable of self-regulation – fuck you, Jiang Cheng – and saving his truly shameful comments for another day.
Tomorrow, perhaps.
Instead of the rainbow of replies his mind had immediately supplied, Wei Wuxian opted for a shit-eating grin that conveyed his exact thoughts without giving them a voice and turned to his computer to pull up what he had been working on; regulation.
Lan Wangji looked at him suspiciously for entirely too long, in Wei Wuxian’s humble opinion – he was not that bad – before joining him at the computer.
Resisting the urge – barely – to knock their shoulders together in a way he knew would have Lan Wangji fuming and glaring for days, Wei Wuxian pulled up the match from last night and got down to business.
Bullying – ok fine, maybe a bit of flirting, too – Lan Wangji was fun and an important step in loosening the Agent’s perpetually clenched asshole, but this case had to be more important this time.
“Ok, so, I think I may have gotten a lead on the accident case. It’s a bit flimsy, but it’s there.” Continuing to pull up his findings, Wei Wuxian noted the exact moment Lan Wangji realized Wei Wuxian was not, in fact, going to continue their. . . whatever they had been doing and switched into agent mode. “There were some tire tracks on the opposite side of the road captured in some of the photos taken at the scene. Originally, they were dismissed, but I took a look anyway. It can’t be a coincidence they’re there, at the exact same location as the accident.
“I was able to clean up the images enough to run through our databases and got a match. The tires are custom made and are only outfitted to very few, specific cars – luxury cars.
“I don’t want to be the one to make speculations without evidence, but this area and this road are extremely out-of-the-way and not a place one would expect to find a luxury vehicle. None of the residents would have the money – or the need – for anything as frivolous as that.”
A look from Lan Wangji had him re-routing back to the point, “anyway, I did some digging. These specific tires were only made for about 2 years back around the same time as the accident, and only for these four types of cars – I sent the list up to Mianmian already – and only a limited number were sold.”
Lan Wangji’s eyes were locked onto his screen when Wei Wuxian turned to look, “how many?”
“One hundred forty made. One hundred thirty-six sold, one defective set sent back to the manufacturer.”
“The manufacturer?”
“Goodyear.”
“Hm. Anything else?”
And suddenly, all of Lan Wangji’s attention was back on him and Wei Wuxian just about preened under it.
He caught himself though. Barely.
“I’m working on miscellaneous tiny objects today. I’m sure I can make them talk to me.”
“Mn.”
This was much more their speed. Wei Wuxian giving information, Lan Wangji shooting questions right back at him. They worked through everything until Lan Wangji eventually left.
Regularly scheduled programming and all that.
Wei Wuxian wanted that feeling, though, from before back. So he poked the bear a little.
“Ahh, such approval from Agent Lan himself. I’m flattered, really. To what do I owe this honour.” This time, like usual, Lan Wangji turned on his heel and immediately made his exit as Wei Wuxian continued to call after his, “your fan club will surely have me head now, don’t you know, Agent Lan. You’ve signed my death warrant!”
At the last word the slam of the staircase door was his punctuation.
Wei Wuxian had gotten his prize, though. Those pinkening tips of Lan Wangji’s ears as he stormed out playing back in his mind’s eye.
And, in the sudden silence, Wei Wuxian realized he was smiling so hard his cheeks ached.
Huh.
Who knew such a fuddy-duddy could make him so happy?
--
Miscellaneous tiny objects ended up shedding exactly no light on anything, instead leaving him with a throbbing headache. Wei Wuxian, in a depressive state, packed up his backpack and pouted.
Lan Wangji hadn’t even made a second trip down the entire day to cheer him up. It had just been him, his sad little beeps, and the aggravating ‘NO MATCHES FOUND,’ for eight fucking hours.
At least he kept his promise to Lan Wangji – though maybe a bit later than Lan Wangji might have thought – turning off the lights to the lab as he tugged his jacket onto his shoulders and slamming the door shut.
To himself, he giggled, hoping Lan Wangji might feel some sort of pride – or annoyance – for him if he were to say anything on the way out.
He wouldn’t. But a man could dream and create fictious scenarios where he had the courage to talk to Lan Wangji.
Up the stairs and into the habitat of the agents and various office workers Wei Wuxian’s eyes invariably found themselves locked onto the space that Lan Wangji had been inhabiting since before Wei Wuxian started haunting these halls. And, as he rounded the corner Wei Wuxian watched like a hawk, like Lan Wangji might escape his scrutiny if he lost even a moments concentration.
Just as he had been every day before, Lan Wangji was at his desk, working away, fingers only briefly pausing as he checked the paper beside him – Wei Wuxian’s report.
And, just as every day before, Wei Wuxian’s heart skipped a beat at the sight.
Unlike every day before though, as he passed Lan Wangji’s desk this time, Lan Wangji’s eyes lifted to catch Wei Wuxian’s.
A pause. A single nod. Then back to his work.
Wei Wuxian floated through security and out of the building. He didn’t emerge from his happy space until he was paying his fare and venturing further onto the bus.
Today there weren’t too many inhabitants.
Another young woman at the front with her young child. An older man just a few seats behind. A homeless person at the very back. And, an interesting young man just off to the right – a bit too in the shadows to make out much – but he had on a pair of cargo pants that were ripped and frayed in a few places in a way that Wei Wuxian absolutely could see fitting into several of his outfits. He filed that thought away for later.
As he passed, the man sits up some, pulling his face from the shadows. He was a lot younger than Wei Wuxian had originally pegged – maybe his age or younger – with black hair and dark eyes. For a moment he just looked at Wei Wuxian like he was studying him, then he nodded and smiled before flopping back into his seat and into the shadows once more.
On anyone else, the smile might have been charming, but on him it seemed to hold a dangerous edge bordering on psychopathic almost. It raised Wei Wuxian’s hackles and had him shuffling closer to the older man than he had originally planned.
For some reason, sitting any closer to him than he had to was just not an option.
--
Though not a long commute, it was tiring to do every single day. Wei Wuxian made a lot of money at the agency but he also could never convince himself that moving was really necessary.
A long commute was a problem he would welcome if it was the worst thing plaguing him.
There were worse things out there. . .
“Dr. Wei, you’re home early.” The soft voice came from his neighbour, the one right across the hall.
A tiny woman that could go toe to toe with Wei Wuxian’s sarcasm any day.
“Granny!” plastering on his widest smile Wei Wuxian rushed down the hall to gather the two large bags from his friend’s arms, heaving them up and away so she could unlock her apartment. Inside was just the same as his own place – with vastly different décor, of course – so he easily made his way into the kitchen, prattling as he went, “yes. Late night at work last night so I thought I would treat myself tonight.
“Suibian will be annoyed with me and starting my grovelling early always seems to placate her.” Dropping the bags onto the counter with a heavy thud he leaned forward, bringing his hand up to cover his mouth like he was about to impart a shameful secret, “I even bought her some treats on the way back. I’m not opposed to bribery.”
Delighted in the way her face crinkled with laughter Wei Wuxian smiled softly. He may not have any family left that could stand him for more than a few minutes, but he could still mean something to someone – even if it was being the joker next door to an old woman.
“Oh! There was something I’ve been meaning to mention, dear. I went over – like you asked – to feed our precious girl and there was a man at your door!”
Wei Wuxian froze, heart picking up a little, “a. . . man?”
“Ah, yes. A bit suspicious if you ask me. Make sure you keep yourself safe now, dear.” She placed a hand on his are in comfort.
Wei Wuxian smiled a little, reassuring, even if he felt like the ground was about to open up and swallow him whole, “yeah. . . yeah. I will. Thank you, Granny.”
The rest of their visit was laughed and cackled away until he was standing back at his own door, pulling his jangling keychain with way too many keys and trinkets hanging off of it. Granny’s words continued to ring in his head.
Could it be. . . no, no. He had made his thoughts on Wei Wuxian’s choices very clear. He wouldn’t.
THURSDAY
Strolling into his lab promptly at 10:45, Wei Wuxian was immediately assaulted by the mess of evidence he had left for ‘future Wei Wuxian to clean up.’ And, well. . . ‘future Wei Wuxian’ didn’t want to clean it up either.
So, in an unfortunate turn of events, Wei Wuxian found himself head down, ass up, digging under his desk for one of those tiny evidence bags he despised that had tossed itself over the edge of the desk when he reached for it earlier, when there was the distinct sound of a throat clearing behind him.
“Ah! Shit! Just a second,” pulling out – with only a few minor bumps and bruises – Wei Wuxian flung himself around to find Lan Wangji standing in his doorway looking rather guilty and extremely uncomfortable. His cheeks blazed as he forced a smile onto his lips, “Agent Lan! What a surprise!”
Lan Wangji’s eyes looked everywhere but him and Wei Wuxian was weirdly grateful for it as he finally got his flush under control and turned to his computers, “ah, Agent Lan, you came so early. I haven’t even started in on my plans for the day.”
“It is after eleven.”
“It is!” Wei Wuxian didn’t turn around. He wasn’t quite ready to face Lan Wangji’s cool, collected visage when he could feel his brain still clattering around his skull.
There was a huff from behind him – soft but there – and Wei Wuxian decided to let it go. This time. Then Lan Wangji’s warmth was on his arm, the scratchy fabric of his coat scraping along Wei Wuxian’s skin (and he did not feel any type of way about that).
“Ah. . . Lan Zha- Agent Lan. Do you need something from me?” he winced at the obvious cover-up.
“My name is fine.”
“Hmm?”
“You may call me by my name.”
“Oh, right!” surprised Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but peak at Lan Wangji but he seemed to still be avoiding Wei Wuxian’s eyes and looking steadfast at the login screen of his computers. “Right. . .”
Still Lan Wangji wouldn’t look at him, so Wei Wuxian tasted the name on his lips, “Lan Zhan.” A flicker in golden depths, then back to nothing – but that was something, “ok, then, Lan Zhan. Did you need me for something?”
Another flicker before Lan Wangji was turning away to observe the still messy pile of evidence that has taken up residence on his table, “what have you planned for your day?”
Wei Wuxian’s heart skipped a beat, that helpless feeling of excitement that this person wants to know what Wei Wuxian will be doing with his day – cares enough, even, to ask. It was a warm feeling- though he knew better than to think too far into it.
Probably, Lan Wangji was just wondering if he would need to come back later or if Wei Wuxian was working on a different case. . . yeah. That had to be it.
No need to get excited about nothing.
Finally collecting the last of himself, Wei Wuxian plastered on the smile that had fallen at some point and stepped out to join Lan Wangji, “well, yesterday was miscellaneous tiny objects – which, unfortunately gave me nothing at all – so today is fibres!”
“Mn.” This time Lan Wangji finally turned to him, his eyes full of skepticism.
Ah, so he hadn’t hidden his lack of enthusiasm very well. No matter.
“Ah, Lan Zhan-” pausing just a moment to see if Lan Wangji would revoke his earlier statement about his name Wei Wuxian held his breath. But there was nothing, so he forged on- “it’s not that I don’t love fibres – ‘cause I do – but this case has been giving me nothing but- well. . . nothing since we got it and I’m just not feeling very excitable today.”
“Wei Ying is very good at his job. You will find something.” And then Lan Wangji strode out of the lab and left Wei Wuxian with his, once again, scattered thoughts.
Lan Wangji had- he had. . . complimented Wei Wuxian. And he had meant it. There hadn’t been a single ounce of anything other than sincerity in Lan Wangji’s tone.
After Wei Wuxian picked his jaw off of the floor, he got to work.
That warm, excited glow stayed with him even as he started in on the fibre evidence.
--
An indeterminate length of time later Wei Wuxian was pulled from his work by a hand on his arm. Again.
It was large and warm and reminded Wei Wuxian that he had meant to put his sweater on hours ago.
“Dr. Wei.”
Up, up, up, Wei Wuxian eventually found the face he was looking for, towering over him. Lan Wangji.
A quick check of the time, and yep, it was nearing 7pm.
“Agent Lan-” a sharp look and Wei Wuxian could help his giggle this time, “Lan Zhan, to what to I owe this honour. . .” and, because it was only fair, “and Wei Ying is fine.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji’s hand dropped and Wei Wuxian supressed a shiver, snagging his sweater off the hook as Lan Wangji moved to observe the slightly more organized heap of fibres on his table. “Have you finished with the fibres?”
Again, that warm feeling that carried him for most of the day returned with a vengeance and his heart was beating in an interesting rhythm. He paid attention to exactly none of this, ignoring it all in favour of sidling up next to Lan Wangji, hoping to, maybe, get some of that searing heat he had gotten from Lan Wangji’s hand back on his skin.
“Almost,” pushing the piles into slightly neater piles Wei Wuxian pulled the ‘black sheep’ from its corner, “sorted, analyzed, and catalogued every single one except this one.” He held it up for Lan Wangji to see, shaking it for some emphasis, “I can’t quite decide where to put it. It’s. . . odd- to say the least. It’s not just the texture – which doesn’t really fit with any of the others gathered from the scene – but the colour as well.
“Gold. Like actual gold. Not yellow, not tan. Gold. And, for some reason, I’m getting a feeling about this fibre.” Peeking at Lan Wangji he chewed on his lip, “I’ve seen it somewhere. I’m sure of it. I just can’t remember where.”
Clucking his tongue, Wei Wuxian placed the fibre under the microscope again, just as he had countless times over the hours.
It looked just the same as it had the last time.
Huffing he gestured for Lan Wangji to look. Maybe the Agent’s sharp eyes would pick up something his hadn’t.
He was a trained investigator after all. Noticing things was their whole. . . thing, after all.
Obliging him easily Lan Wangji slipped back into his space – and Wei Wuxian, decidedly, didn’t move a single inch – and leaned over to look into the scope.
Lan Wangji took his time looking over the fibre, looking it over completely before leaning back, though, notably, he also did not step away again. Staying in Wei Wuxian’s space after straightening out.
“It is an odd colour for a fibre, yes.” Lan Wangji’s voice is steady, too steady in contrast of how Wei Wuxian’s knees were getting weak in such proximity to all that was Lan Wangji, “It was found inside the victim’s vehicle?”
Wei Wuxian mentally shakes himself. This is not the time. “No. Outside. About a foot away.” Pulling up the crime scene photo Wei Wuxian gestures to the fibre as it looks positively miniscule against the backdrop of the crime scene evidence number. “It was picked up, coincidentally, because of its colour.”
“Mn.”
“I just need to remember where I’ve seen this before. My memory is shit and I don’t pay attention when I don’t have to,” peeking through his bangs at Lan Wangji he continued, because, he had to, “I’m sure gege wouldn’t have such problems, though, hmm?”
Surprisingly, Lan Wangji didn’t bite this time, “Hn. I have a good memory.”
“Ah! Slander!” Lan Wangji is flirting back – Lan Wangji is flirting back – and it took everything in him to fight back the flush threatening to expose just how much he was loving this. Did he always blush this much? “Are you saying my memory is shit, Lan Zhan?”
Not once did Lan Wangji look away from him – and it wasn’t fair at all, he used to win these arguments. . . Wei Wuxian would say something truly shameless and Lan Wangji would walk away. Simple. Easy. Not nearly as exhilarating as facing Lan Wangji head on – as he delivered his next blow: “Wei Ying is brilliant. He is reliable and brave. He is personable and well liked. But, his memory is ‘shit,’ as you say.”
Then, as if the litany of compliments weren’t enough, the corner of Lan Wangji’s mouth twitched into the briefest glimpse of a smirk at whatever he saw on Wei Wuxian’s face.
Then he walked away.
“It is late. Go home. The fibres will be here in the morning, Wei Ying.”
FRIDAY
Like most nights, Wei Wuxian dreams of lost, unattainable things.
Most often, he dreams of his Shijie – the one person he could count on for anything, anytime, anywhere – and with his dreams of Shijie came the inevitable entrance of his Shijie’s good-for-nothing husband. Most nights he ignored him and everything to do with his presence in his sisters life.
Tonight, however, he was the main act.
Most every holiday – before everything happed, that is – his sister would pick Wei Wuxian up to drive them to Shijie’s parents place to be glared at and battered- ahem, celebrate the holidays and another prosperous year with his adoptive family.
More specifically: his sister and her husband would swing down to Wei Wuxian’s end of town to pick him up. In her husband’s car.
Her husband’s family’s car.
Her husband’s family who are Jin’s.
So, in other words, a Jin family car. . . with ostentatious, fucking gold carpets.
Now wide awake at four-o’-fucking-clock in the morning Wei Wuxian checked the bus schedule. Might as well be working if he was awake.
It was too bad he didn’t have Lan Wangji’s number. If anyone would be awake at this ungodly hour it would be Lan Wangji. And, he had a car. Wei Wuxian was sure he could’ve wheedled a ride out of the man.
As it was, though, Wei Wuxian hadn’t even gathered the gall to ask. Pity.
Pulling out his phone he opened the transport app. The first busses started their runs in an hour.
Perfect.
--
Showered, fed, and dead tired, Wei Wuxian walked into the agency building. Not a single person here was familiar to him, the night crew still finishing up the last dredges of their shifts. Still, they nodded to him and indulged his chatter.
One even smiled at him and let him grab a donut that was most definitely stale – but still full of sugar and sure to wake him up as he located the nearest coffee machine that wasn’t broken – like his – or disgusting and probably several hours old – like the one he had spied just past security.
This interaction was much more on track: Wei Wuxian flirted, got what he wanted, maybe flirted a bit more, back and forth – just in the spirit of things – then went on with his day.
None of this. . . feelings shit involved.
Falling in love and sharing your life with another person just seemed like way too much trouble. No person had ever made Wei Wuxian feel as though anything past a polite conversation was worth the time and energy.
And. . . giving another person that much of himself. . . it just seemed too much.
He wasn’t meant for love anyway.
Wei Wuxian destroyed everything he touched. Everything he loved.
Just ask Madam Yu – Wei Wuxian had single handedly ruined their perfect little family – she could rave for days about how ungrateful and conniving Wei Wuxian was.
And it was fine. Really. He didn’t need anyone else to hold such power over him. He had been there when his sister cried over Jin Zixuan and he didn’t ever want to feel like that.
This thing he had for Lan Wangji, it would pass. It had to.
The soft ‘ding’ of the elevator saved his from any more of those thoughts and he made his way across to his lab for another day of re-looking at every piece of evidence.
With every new perspective came a shit-ton of work.
Yippee!
First and foremost: fingerprints.
The Jin’s had a shitload of government contracts. . . but not thirteen years ago, so, their fingerprints may not have been entered into the system yet.
Every single print, partial print, and unidentified smudge would need to be re-analyzed and run through their identification systems. Again.
--
Several hours, one and a half mental breaks, and about nine coffee’s later Wei Wuxian felt like he was being watched, a shiver working its way over his exposed arms.
And there, in his doorway, is Lan Wangji.
“Wei Ying.”
Warm. “Lan Zhan, good morning.”
“Mn. It is.” Three longs strides later and Lan Wangji was standing beside him, “you are in early.”
Ah. Warm, warm, warm.
“Yes! I had an epiphany last night, can you believe it?” Wei Wuxian pauses only to take a breath but he may have heard Lan Wangji give an approving hum, “I remembered where I saw the fibre!”
With his smile turned to maximum sunniness Wei Wuxian twisted his chair to face Lan Wangji, taking in the days suit. This one was more colourful than normal – a soft blue, though the white dress shirt was still there underneath, peeking out as if to say ‘hello’ – giving Wei Wuxian a whole new look to rave about. The blue really brought out the pale, jade-like quality of Lan Wangji’s skin.
Wei Wuxian was having thoughts. Very much Not Safe For Work thoughts. . .
Thoughts he should not be having in this very much ‘not a relationship kind of guy’ phase.
He was getting a look from Lan Wangji and it took him a moment to get back on track – the fibre. “Ah! Yes, my si- uh, someone I know-” and didn’t those words hurt like a bitch- “is married to a Jin heir. I’ve been in his car hundreds of times and it has this exact shade of carpet fibres – all of their company cars do.”
“Mn.” And Lan Wangji, thorough as he was, was writing this down – adorable.
“Soo, I came in as soon as it came to me and I’ve been re-running the fingerprints and smudges hoping to find a match,” at the curious tilt to Lan Wangji’s head Wei Wuxian delighted in explaining his thoughts – people rarely wanted to know his thoughts and processes, just the answers, “well, we all know that the Jin’s have government contracts and have their details in the system.” He paused, waiting.
Lan Wangji didn’t keep him in suspense long, indulging him easily, “mn.”
“Well, they didn’t have these contracts thirteen years ago. Ergo, their fingerprints weren’t in the system – or at least, I’m hoping that’s the case and I get a hit-” and, rudely, his computer decides to dingle at this moment, distracting him from his tirade.
‘MATCH FOUND’
Just below this, a name.
Jin Zixun.
A lackey for sure.
He’d met the asshole before. Dumber than shit and shit’s second cousin.
Which meant- “where was this print found?”
“On the windshield. . . a partial handprint on the glass by the driver’s side. . . like a person was bracing themselves on the glass.” Every part of him was cold. Numb.
There were very few explanations for a partial handprint on the driver’s side of the windshield. And, within the circumstances – what his parents had been investigating before their deaths – there was only one reason a Jin handprint would be on their windshield.
Vaguely he was aware of a warmth on his arm before it and Lan Wangji retreated from his lab. Likely to follow up on the new evidence. Like Wei Wuxian should be doing. But, he just could seem to move.
So, he sat there until the system finished its run. There were no other matches found.
No matter. He really only needed the one to get authorization for his next thought.
Just to be sure.
The thing about thirteen years. . . he could do so much more now. And he cared so, so much about the lives lost that night.
His parents mattered and he would be damned if their deaths weren’t given the investigation they deserved.
SUNDAY
After spending the better part of his Saturday on the phone, first fighting with his bosses, then the local police department, and later the scrap yard, here Wei Wuxian now stood, in front of the old red truck he had so many memories of. He hadn’t seen it since that morning when his parents left for work.
It looked so much smaller now. Older. Sadder.
The front was nearly flat with the force it had hit the water.
Forcing back his tears, unwilling to cry in this building – he had already cried so much – he put one foot forward. And then another.
Until he was there, just a few inches away from the truck.
It was cold to the touch. Which made sense. . . it was metal.
“Come on, Wei Ying. Get it together.”
It took the entire day to go over the truck, gathering a whole new slew of evidence to go through. By the time Wei Wuxian deemed it time to leave he hadn’t the energy the muster more than a glance as he walked past Lan Wangji’s desk and- he wasn’t there.
In five years, this one thing had never changed. Lan Wangji was always at his desk.
Curious.
The elevator called him back to reality, away from where his mind had wandered, and he stepped on.
As the doors began to close a hand swiped in between. Please, for the love of everything be someone he didn’t like. Wei Wuxian wasn’t in the mood to talk.
To his great surprise, the doors split with a protesting ‘ding’ to reveal none other than Lan Wangji.
“Lan Zhan?”
“Wei Ying. I will walk you to your car.”
“Oh, I don’t have one.”
“You live close, then?”
“Well, no. Not really. I live closer to downtown, I take the bus in.” When all he got was a blank look Wei Wuxian tilted his head, a smile reaching his lips easily enough, “Lan Zhan, you know where I live. You’ve been there, remember?
“Though, you were knocking down my door that last time. I don’t think that was the best introduction to my place, huh?” the muted horror in Lan Wangji’s eyes was enough to pull a laugh from him.
“That is not safe, Wei Ying. Are you not paid well enough to move to a safer. . . area?”
“Hmm, well, yes. But is there really a point?”
Lan Wangji was giving his a mildly constipated look and suddenly Wei Wuxian was feeling the day dragging on him again. He really hated to be judged for things he had no control over.
But Lan Wangji was only trying to be nice. It wasn’t his fault Wei Wuxian was fucked in the head, “ah, don’t worry too much about me Lan Zhan. I actually wanted to ask you something!”
“Hm?”
“Can I have your number? When I woke up this morning I realized that I didn’t even have a way to contact you at all. Who else am I supposed to bug with all of my stray thoughts on cases? Only you can make sense of my prattle Lan Zhan, a special skill!” forcing his jaw shut to stop the spew of straight nonsense coming from him he heard his own teeth snap together.
Lan Wangji was looking at him with slightly widened eyes – basically gaping for him – what the hell was up with Wei Wuxian this week? Why the hell did it seem like he suddenly couldn’t control himself around Lan Wangji?
Blinking Wei Wuxian realized there was hand in front of him. Lan Wangji’s hand.
Digging his phone out of his pocket Wei Wuxian tried not to stare too hard as Lan Wangji typed his information in methodically, his fingers steady. They were really nice fingers. . . no. Not the time.
Lan Wangji walked him all the way to the bus stop, then waited for the bus to come, and stayed until Wei Wuxian couldn’t see him anymore, the bus travelling too far down the road for Wei Wuxian eyes to pick up on Lan Wangji’s figure anymore.
Somehow, that made him sad.
Facing forward again he took a lazy look around.
There were only two others today. A young college aged girl and a man, probably the same age.
Maybe they went to the same college? Then again, maybe not. The girl had a bag that was clearly weighed down by books and other such school things and the man had nothing but a book.
Like he sensed Wei Wuxian’s gaze the man’s eyes flicked up to his, catching for a moment before he looked away again.
For some reason, they seemed familiar to him. But he didn’t know the man at all. He was sure of it.
Curious.
MONDAY
After some much needed sleep and several hours cuddling Suibian, Wei Wuxian was ready to tackle the small mountain of evidence he had collected from the truck. More miscellaneous tiny objects, a sea of new fingerprints and unidentified smudges, and about a hundred new fibres.
In the end, the most progress was found in the paint particles that should not have been present and a suspiciously well-formed dent. The paint was from another vehicle – though he couldn’t use it to find the other vehicle, it did prove there was another vehicle there. Which brought him to the next piece of evidence.
The near perfect outline of a bumper on the side of the truck. Previously written off as impact from a rock ‘or something’ dinging the truck after it was submerged.
There was definitely another car there.
The rest was up to Lan Wangji and his team.
All Wei Wuxian could do now was scour for more evidence and make sure that every alley was run down to the nub.
Lan Wangji’s next visit brought their most damning evidence yet. Cangse Sanren, before her death, had been investigating the corruption in the Jin’s companies. In so doing she had made herself a target, receiving numerous veiled and outright threats from those under Jin employ – allegedly.
But Wei Wuxian already knew that, as the son.
Now, as the forensic technician, that was for Wei Wuxian to dig into and prove.
Even under the table work could be traced if one had the right resources, clearances, and extreme bone to pick.
Wei Wuxian had all of those things.
So he dug.
--
Lan Wangji walked him to the bus again today. This time retrieving Wei Wuxian directly from his lab, forcing him away from his work, citing the fact that resting his brain would be beneficial in the long run.
Wei Wuxian did not agree, but Lan Wangji was oddly persuasive. . . and goddamn strong.
Today there was a new crowd – as to be expected at the vastly different time.
An older couple who were holding hands – Wei Wuxian felt some type of way about that. . . it might be nice after all – a group of girls giggling in the back, and a young man listening to music, his head swaying along to the tune caught by his headphones.
Wei Wuxian followed his lead.
By his stop, it was only him and the young man left. When he stood his eyes opened for the first time, catching Wei Wuxian in a rather intense stare he really didn’t want to be a part of. With his eyes open, there was something about him Wei Wuxian couldn’t put his finger on.
Rushing off the bus he waved his thanks to the driver before pulling his hood up. The man stayed on the bus, thankfully.
Even still Wei Wuxian waited until the bus was out of sight before heading to his apartment.
Seriously. He was getting way to jumpy. They just needed to wrap up this case and everything would go back to normal.
There was nothing to worry about.
He was just being paranoid.
TUESDAY
The piercing wail of his alarm yanked Wei Wuxian from a rather pleasant dream full of love, warmth, and failed cooking classes. The lyrical laughter of his sister continued to haunt Wei Wuxian all through his morning routine.
Somewhere between washing his face and pulling his clothing on Suibian made her presence known, rubbing against his legs incessantly, reminding him that she had not been fed yet this morning – not that Wei Wuxian had ever missed a meal, not hers, at least.
The fifth time she moved to trip him, Wei Wuxian crouched down, indulging her sudden need for all of Wei Wuxian’s attention, “ah, young lady, what is with you this morning? I haven’t even been to the kitchen yet. Ill feed you soon.” Taking an extra moment to skritch between her ears and earning himself a contented purr Wei Wuxian pushed back up to prepare breakfast and refill Suibian’s water bowl.
Then, much like any other morning for the past five years, Wei Wuxian made his morning commute. With a consolatory kiss to Suibian’s forehead Wei Wuxian bid her farewell, locked the door, and headed to his favourite café to gather his morning coffee, get on his bus, then stare blankly off into the distance for the better part of an hour.
Everything was completely normal and just like every other morning. Until he filed off the bus and stood in front of the Agency’s massive headquarters.
Something didn’t feel quite right. Something, somewhere was amiss.
Just as he felt arms wrap around his waist from behind, Wei Wuxian finally put together the thought that had been nagging at the back of his mind for the past week: someone was watching him.