For Wei Ying

[lan_wangji]

Thirty six hours. Lan Wangji has not rested in thirty six hours. He cannot and he will not, no matter how many times the guardians of the City tell him to leave this place or how often his back and shoulders protest. He can feel the badly treated wound trying to reopen but the pain is incidental and he is Hanguan-Jun of Gusu Lan. He has trained for this. He will not fail Wei Ying, again. He will not lose him.

He has heard rumor of another man recently arrived with similar looks to himself. He'd arrived two days prior; Wei Ying had died two days prior. It must be him.

The sun has set again over the park where Lan Zhan sits next to the river, desperate for quiet as his fingers pluck at his guqin. Inquiry rings out over the park, broken up only when he switches to his Wangxian until his heart can no longer stand to hear it.

His Wei Ying has to be here.

Comments

[lan_wangji]

"Sorry, I'm sorry," Lan Zhan breathes, stepping forward for every step backward. "Not dead, now. Not dead. Alive. Glad Wei Ying is alive."

He carefully sets Bichen down on the ground and raises both hands in supplication, ignoring the way his back and shoulders rip and pull.

"Am sorry. All of it. Sorry for all of it."

[yiling_laozu]

Lan Wangji's empty hands come up, and Wei Wuxian becomes aware that he is cringing, shrinking away from his estranged friend. He makes his back straighten, even if his feet still itch to run. "Sorry for calling me dead," he decides Lan Wangji means, a hint of challenge in his voice.

But his fierce expression doesn't hold, and Wei Wuxian dares a half step forward. "You move like you are injured," he says, craning his neck to try to see the stripes of red on his back. "What happened, Lan Zhan?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan opens his mouth to clarify, to explain that he's sorry for telling Wei Ying about his death so bluntly. He's sorry he couldn't hold on. He's sorry he didn't defend him before everything had gone so wrong.

Before he can do so, he finds himself now stepping back, angling his back away automatically. "It does not matter," he answers, because it doesn't, only so much as it prevents him from helping Wei Ying. It is a weakness and he will need to swiftly overcome it. "What matters is I found you. Want to help you. Want to stand by you."

[yiling_laozu]

"Of course your back matters," Wei Wuxian sighs, taking comfort in the familiar conversation. He'd hounded Lan Wangji for ages to rest when he had a broken leg - he assumes the struggle to help him through this injury will be no different.

Still, what Lan Wangji has said is extraordinary. "You mustn't stand by me," he says, brow pinched. "They say we will go home eventually, and I will ruin you," he reasons. "You've already risked enough for my sake among the other clans. I won't destroy you, too, Lan Zhan."

[lan_wangji]

"Wei Ying will not be rid of me," he states, entirely firm in his resolution, despite the tiny trembles running through him as lack of sleep and proper wound care allow themselves to be known now that he has found what he sought after.

"Made a mistake not doing it, before. Will not make it, again. Want to stand with Wei Ying. Do not want to lose you."

[yiling_laozu]

He's wanted an ally for so long. Not only someone he loves but must protect like the Wens, but a friend, someone standing beside him and not behind. Yet Lan Wangji's sudden fervor brings him disquiet rather than comfort. What has changed that has made him so certain of his alliance, so afraid of losing him?

Death, Wei Wuxian's mind supplies, and he shies from it. The evidence of his continued life is here before both their eyes, whatever Lan Wangji thinks. He only needs to ignore his strange words long enough, and like everything else that troubles him, they will go away.

"Lan Zhan can scarcely stand now," he says, moving more forcefully this time to look at Lan Wangji's back. "These haven't even been treated!" he says, scandalized. "Let me tend to them, Lan Zhan."

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan stiffens as Wei Ying moves but does not try and pull away, afraid that if he refuses him, Wei Ying will leave him, again. The city is large and he needs to know where to find Wei Ying, especially if he is still so unstable.

"Wei Ying should not look at them," he murmurs, staring resolutely at the ground until this inspection is over. "They are distasteful." It is bad enough that Lan Zhan has been in nothing but an inner robe for so long, but to have Wei Ying see him in such a state would be unbearable. "Is Wei Ying hurt? You look pale."

[yiling_laozu]

"Wei Ying is fine," he murmurs. He hasn't been well in such a long time that it hardly registers beyond a lingering fatigue from Wen Qing's sedatives, all but consumed by now by repeated courses of adrenaline.

"Distasteful." He clucks his tongue. "No Peerless Jade of Lan could ever be distasteful." The wounds are ugly, though, in their newness, and he will need to make a paste of his borrowed herbs. "Lend me Bichen's sheath," he says. "I will grind my herbs against a rock."

[lan_wangji]

He frowns as he picks unsheathes Bichen and hands it over, realizing Wei Ying may mean to apply the medicines himself.

He thinks Wei Ying would be very shocked by how distasteful the entire cultivation world finds this Peerless Jade of Lan. "Was told I have a home in one of the giant, stone buildings," he says, allowing his perfect posture to sag a little once Wei Ying has looked away. The pain is growing worse but he is terrified that if he lets Wei Ying out of his sight, he will not find him, again. "Wei Ying can come to it with me."

[yiling_laozu]

"Ah." Wei Wuxian has been living among the graves, but Lan Wangji has a soft bed and no reason to have his wounds treated under the open sky. "Perhaps we should go there, so you may rest after."

Still, he keeps hold of Bichen, setting a bracing hand against Lan Wangji's uninjured shoulder. "Which ugly building is yours?"

[lan_wangji]

He breathes a steady, quiet sigh of relief when Wei Ying does not try to leave and pulls out the key and paper from inside his thin robe. "High Gate," he states, nodding his head to the north as he has already memorized the map of the city. He imagines it will be as unappealing as the rest of the city and he wishes very much to remain in the park.

The guardians do not agree with that wish.

"Wei Ying can stay there with me. I will find you food," he promises, turning towards the strange noises and sight yet again as they walk. Something near his shoulderblade tugs too hard as he walks and he is afraid the wound will re-open. He ought to be grateful all thirty three lashes had not been dealt before is arrival, he knows this. But he is still so angry.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian has memorized it also, searching out proper places to hide as is now his instinct, and he nods in relief. High Gate is only four clusters of buildings away from the park, and Lan Wangji's movements are painful to behold. He would hate for him to have to walk much further.

He maneuvers one of Lan Wangji's arms over his shoulder. "Put some of your weight on me. We will worry after food when your wounds have been dressed."

[lan_wangji]

A part of him hates this, hates putting any sort of burden on Wei Ying. He hates that it hurts to have his arm lifted and he hates that it helps him walk and he hates that Wei Ying has to care for him.

But it means that Wei Ying will come with him, it means that Wei Ying will not immediately disappear back to wherever he has been before he found Lan Zhan.

He allows himself to shrink into Wei Ying, just a little bit, as they are assaulted by sights and smells and sounds so unfamiliar. He does not understand the magic that runs this city. He does not understand the hulking, metal carriages and the glowing colored lights and why he and Wei Ying look so different to everyone around them. He hates the stares as he has always hated stares his entire life and he hates that his clear dismissal has no effect.

He is afraid he will hate this new dwelling.

"Thank you for accompanying me," he says, the knuckles of his free hand white where they grip Bichen.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian snorts. If he weren't, he has no doubt Lan Wangji would play by the river until he passed out, still hoping for Wei Wuxian's return. The thought sinks warmer into his belly than he expects, and he tightens his hold on him.

"They are called cars," he says of the racing metal beasts as they wait for the light that means they may safely cross. He's learned so much in this place already. "And the lights draw from a magical source they call energy. I know someone who wields it," he adds, sounding a little proud.

[lan_wangji]

"How did you already meet a wielder of this energy?" Lan Zhan asks, irritated and unsure why. It has only been a matter of days and Wei Ying has already met energy wielders and learned the names of the beasts and understands the commands of the lights.

Granted, Lan Zhan has spent nearly every moment of his time in the park, playing the guquin without rest but he is still disturbed. Regardless, he allows himself to lean a little more on Wei Ying, pleased at his firm hold where he has never before been pleased with such close proximity to another.

"Did you make friends, already?"

[yiling_laozu]

"I think so," Wei Wuxian answers. "People here have been unexpectedly kind and welcoming." Of course, they don't know Wei Wuxian's reputation, but he sees no need to enlighten them. "I suppose it helps that everyone I met was always made to come here against their will."

He glances sidelong at Lan Wangji. "What were you doing before you arrived here? Why are you so hurt, Lan Zhan?"

[lan_wangji]

Lan Zhan arranges his face into it's most neutral state, not wanting his irritation to be known. Wei Ying ought to have friends. He deserves many of them. Lan Zhan should not begrudge that.

The neutral facade falls just enough to be known to someone like Wei Ying at the line of questioning.

"Does not matter. Not important," he insists, knowing the answers will not only agitate them both but lead back to the death Wei Ying will not acknowledge. "Wei Ying can help prepare medicines, I will do the rest. Is Wei Ying certain he has no wounds?" He has not seen the wounds but he can feel them, can feel they will look too ragged to be from a sword.

[yiling_laozu]

"Of course I have no wounds," Wei Wuxian scoffs. Whatever hurts he carries are internal, and he won't be speaking of them tonight. "And you can hardly reach across your entire back. I'll make the medicine and apply it. Otherwise we'll have to take you to a healer here."

He doesn't say so, but he's just as eager to avoid that as Lan Wangji must be. "Who knows what they'll do."

[lan_wangji]

"Do not need a healer," he mutters, frowning as the building looms before them, a small sign designating it at this High Gate Terrace. It is large with tiny beaming windows, square and uniform. There is nothing natural or green to be seen.

He may allow Wei Ying to apply, if Lan Zhan thinks it will distract from the questions of how and why.

"If Wei Ying needs, he can live here," he offers, pulling out a small, metal key, not bothering to look anything but dismayed with the structure. A couple comes out the front door, casting them both a suspicious look before turning down the street. "Unsure if it will be what Wei Ying would like."

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian's nose wrinkles. "This structure is as ugly as the one they tried to make me live inside," he notes, though most of the buildings in Darrow share its features. It's a terrible shame. "I'm sure I'll figure something else out."

He already has, but he's in no mood for another lecture about living among the dead, smiling with malicious cheer at the couple until they scurry along.

"How are we meant to go up with no stairs?" he wonders, eyes landing on the symbolic sign for Stairs without comprehending. "I've not seen anyone flying here."

[lan_wangji]

This is ridiculous, Lan Zhan huffs, growing irritated at the knowledge that they must ascend six flights of hidden stairs without being certain will physically manage.

There is an open room and two doors, neither of which seem to indicate anything particularly useful. One door is unmarked with two smalls disks on the wall beside one labeled up and the other down. He steps forward as solidly as he can manage and stabs the up with Bichen's hilt, ready to fight when there is an ominous ringing sound.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian's head tilts, his eyes wide as a door appears suddenly in the wall. He waits for something to happen, but nothing does, and Wei Wuxian shifts closer to Lan Wangji. "Are we meant to go inside?" he asks. "It appeared when you struck the symbol for up."

If he were alone, Wei Wuxian would already be inside, but Lan Wangji is far more cautious.

[lan_wangji]

He can see no other option save for the other door which contains no direction at all. "Ready Chenqing," he mutters, unsheathing Bichen as he steps inside, frowning at the wall of even more etchings. There are a series of numbers, more strange arrows, and an ominous one labeled Fire. This land is entirely wrong.

"In!" he barks as the doors start to slide closed without warning. He does not want to think what this place could do to Wei Ying if they were separated. "Go Up," he tries, peering closer at the numbers with deep suspicion.

[yiling_laozu]

Wei Wuxian darts inside, prompting the doors to slide wide open again before closing, which he finds rather courteous. They stand in the strange metal room, but nothing else happens. The numbers on the wall panel are simple enough, but he has no idea which one might correspond to Lan Wangji's room.

"What is yours called?" he asks. "The Cold Room, perhaps?"

[lan_wangji]

"Twenty-eight," he mutters, unimpressed with both the still box and the name of his housing. "Floor six."

Ah.

He jabs yet again, this time at the engraved six and grabs at Wei Ying's wrist at the box shudders and pressure increases. It feels much like the pressure of flying and he wonders at the idea, that this box flies as his sword flies. If that is possible, it seems ridiculous that the hulking, metal beasts stay trapped on the ground. "Ridiculous. Where are stairs?" he huffs as the pressure starts to lessen.