"Well, well," Wei Wuxian inclined his head, biting back the scowl with a summery smile. "Am I surprised to see Jin Gongzi? What brings you here?"

Jin Guangyao, standing before the couple in the middle of the Cloud Recesses compound, bowed low. "Wei Gongzi, good to see you again. Is my arrival suspicious to you? Why ask?"

"Oh, not at all! Merely asking out of curiosity. I do believe you didn't have an appointment with Xichen-ge today...?" Wei Wuxian wiggled his fingers as though trying to remember something. "If I remember right," he continued in a mumble.

"I really don't think I need an appointment to meet with Er-Ge, Wei Gongzi," Jin Guangyao smiled.

Oh, I see where this is going. Attacking your love-rival's brother by boasting your closeness now, aren't you? Hmph. "Really? I thought Xichen-ge wouldn't allow anyone but us two and A-Cheng to visit him whenever," Wei Wuxian smiled.

Jin Guangyao blinked. Clearly the information that Jiang Wanyin had come to pay visits without appointment — long before he could — astonished him... Ten points for me! Wei Wuxian grinned. But then... he side-glanced at his husband, who subtly shook his head. No? Meng Yao isn't here to boast about his blossoming love? Then... Ah!!

"Ahem, Jin Gongzi. I believe you wished to see us for a reason?"

"Is it wrong of me to merely want to chat with you, Wei Gongzi?"

Wei Wuxian quickly turned things over in his head. Lan Xichen was supposed to have a conference today, so maybe it's started and he has no time to talk to Meng Yao. Come to think of it, Xichen wasn't in a mood to talk to anyone after Jiang Cheng left, so maybe it's that too... but why is this guy still here? Ah, of course, too shameful to leave as soon as he came, he'll lose face before the Nies.

Tsk. What, he expects me to entertain him?

Wei Wuxian poured out tea and while his husband and guest drank slowly, he walked around to open the windows for some fresh air. "Well, Lan Zhan, I believe you have a class to teach? You leave, I'll chat with my... friend... for a while."

"Mn," Lan Wangji nodded and walked out of the Jingshi with not even a nod to Jin Guangyao.

"Friend?" Yao smiled.

"Why not? After all," Wei Wuxian smiled back and returned to his seat. Let's try brainwash him for the better... "You and I have both been orphaned and tossed around. I found Jiang Fengmian and you found Nie Mingjue out of sheer luck. God sent us second chances to live better."

"Hmph," Meng Yao smirked. "He forgot to make sure the second chance was a bit smoother life. Nothing's much different."

Bitter past the root of your troubles? I see... "Still, of course. You went through a lot of crap with the Jins, Nies, whoever. Think I had a wonderful time at Lotus Pier? On one hand, there was Madam Yu thrashing me whenever she felt like it. Feeding into my brain that I was a servant. On the other hand, the rest of the disciples chitchatting behind my back."

"Let me guess. Orphan, useless brat, good-for-nothing disciple, undeserving servant? At least you didn't have the bastard bit..."

"Hey, you forget easily. People used to gossip I was Jiang Fengmian's..." Wei Wuxian pursed his lips and looked down, a most pitiful expression conjured onto his face.

"Oh, right. I see what you mean now. We aren't too different are we?"

"Precisely."

"Wei Gongzi... I wonder if you would want to... how do I say... perhaps... join hands?"

It took all of Wei Wuxian's strength to not raise an eyebrow. This brat thought he could recruit me into his conspiracy? EXCUSE ME?

No, this has to stop.

"Jin Gongzi... I don't know what you mean but... when I said we have a lot in common, I meant even with the later part. You suffered with the Jins, but Nie Mingjue found you, and look at you now! Deputy General of the QingheNie sect!"

"I still do go through the same stuff, mind you. Turns out, bearing a title only shuts off faces barking straight AT you, not behind you," Jin Guangyao stirred the tea in his cup.

Wei Ying sighed. "I can't... really deny that... being Jiang Head Disciple... didn't mean as much as you'd expect either."

"And yet you seem so happy. What is it that keeps you smiling all the time, Wei Gongzi?"

"You smile all the time too!"

"You know what I mean."

"Well," Wei Ying kept down his teacup. "Sure, I must have secretly been going through too much back there. But you know... someone I know," Wei Wuxian smiled to himself, his third eye on the window at the back of the house. "Saved me. He brought me to his own home and promised a much securer, happier, peaceful life. Over here, somehow... everyone's just... so nice. Accepting. Kind, almost. Even respected!" He grinned. "Really, Meng Yao. Trust me when I say this, but someday, maybe you'll find a person like that too. Life will be so much more tolerable when you're no longer alone to endure it all."

"I guess having someone by your side really means that much, eh?" Meng Yao shook his head. "Guess I'm happy for you, though."

"Why do you doubt yourself?"

"The person I used to count on... seems too far away now. Ah, well, no use talking," he shook his head. "You seem pretty close to Lan Er-Gongzi now. Didn't you use to be infatuated with the Dark Knight?"

Wei Wuxian gulped subtly. Why you idiot, keep it low! You're ruining my proud image before my husband! "Erm... what... made you think that?"

"Haha, pretty obvious. Nothing I know personally, just whenever A-Sang gets news of that rascal of a hero, he instantly thinks of you. Last time he said something... 'It's been so long since Heiguang-Jun appeared, Wei-xiong must have missed him!'."

"Rascal of a hero?"

"Ah, yeah. Mask, dark robes, with a symbolic design and flaunting skills... suits a fancy dress contest. Here I am suffering and smiling and striving, there he is having all the admiration he needs without ever even showing his face. Just shows how unfair the world is, I suppose. Anyways, where were we?"

This is interesting indeed...

"Nie-xiong. Dark Knight. Me and Lan Zhan being close."

"Aha, yes, yes. What did change your mind? Weren't you two rivals? Or perhaps there wasn't much to be rivals about in the first place. You know, both of you being di– different from others."

Different? Or perhaps he meant Divergent? Why this swine testing my limits? Tsk. "Different from others? Why, we're both normal as ever, what do you mean?"

"Oh nothing, just that you two are strong and talented for your age. Ah well, blessed by the very heavens above, I suppose," he gave a big smile. "Well then, I better get going. Thank you for having me here for the day, Wei Gongzi, truly appreciate it."

"Safe journey home! Do I need to see you off... or...?"

"Oh no, it's fine, thank you! Tea, chat, everything." He bowed and scurried out the Jingshi, down the path, into the main compound and out of sight.

Dusting his hands, Wei Wuxian turned around. "You can come out now!"

Lan Zhan brushed down his robes a bit as he walked towards the front of the house. Never in his life had he eavesdropped but he knew something was up when Wei Wuxian opened the windows and chased him out of the house.

"Sorry I had to do that, just that Meng Yao wouldn't have poured everything out as easily had you been there."

"Mn, I understand. What did all that mean?"

"Simple. One, he knows you're a Divergent. Two, he hates Heiguang-Jun and is determined to capture the 'rascal of a hero'. Three, a plus point, he doesn't know you're Heiguang-Jun, doesn't know who Heiguang-Jun is at all, in fact. He seems to hate people who have it all. Either have it all in an 'unfair' way, like the Dark Knight, or who've had it all since birth. Like you. So... more or less, you could say he's out to kill you. Either as Lan Wangji or Heiguang-Jun, even I don't know... something tells me this isn't as easy as we thought, Lan Zhan..."

"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan frowned. "Are you alright?"

"Not sure anymore. Lan Zhan, where's A-Yuan?"

"Playing with Jingyi, why?"

"Tough times call for drastic measures." 

**********

Knock-knock! Rap-tap! "Hello? Anybody home?"

"Diedie? Baba?"

"Wangji?"

"Baba?"

Weilan Sizhui looked up at Xichen, who frowned. "Maybe they aren't home, Shushu?"

"No, I checked the class timetable, they're both free by now–"

All at once, a desperate and sore voice, quivering with grief, began to shout. Beg.

"Stop, just stop, listen to me!"

"I hate you."

That's... Wangji's voice... Lan Xichen gulped. What on earth? Since when would Wangji say something like that?

"Sorry to disturb but– Wangji? Wuxian? OPEN UP RIGHT NOW!"

Crrreak!

"Xiongzhang."

"Ah, Wangji, there you are."

"BABA!"

Lan Zhan picked A-Yuan up and cradled him onto his shoulders. Lan Xichen frowned. He didn't even smile? What's going on? "Wangji, where's Wuxian?"

"I'm here, Xichen-ge, sorry. Was a bit..." Wei Wuxian stood at the door in such a way that Lan Xichen barely saw the pillow thrown across the room. "Busy."

"Oh... erm... it's lunchtime... you guys coming?"

"Ah, right."

One was focussing only on the child, the other was just looking down at his feet. Wait... why were Wei Wuxian's eyes bloodshot red? And his robes' collar was wet... crying? Why? What in the world...

"Let's go eat," Lan Zhan mumbled.

"...Xichen-ge go ahead, I'll come."

And why is he communicating to Wangji through me? Lan Xichen looked between his brothers, inspecting one's face, then the other.

"Diedie!" Weilan Yuan pouted.

Lan Wangji put Sizhui on the ground. "Come with Diedie," he patted his head and marched down the path. Sizhui hugged Wei Wuxian's legs, sulking, wondering what the heck was going on. Lan Xichen shrugged, shook his head and hurried to catch up with his brother.

"Wangji? What's going on?"

"..."

"Wangji, I heard something... what happened? You'd never say such a thing, Wangji, what's wrong?"

Lan Wangji kept his expression grave and lips pursed shut all the way to the dining hall. 

**********

Lan Xichen kept up his frown all through the first five minutes of lunch, making even Lan Qiren worry about what was going on. Lan Wangji not talking wasn't unusual at all, but Lan Xichen?

He was just worried sick.

"Wangji, please talk to me. What happened?"

"..."

"What's wrong with Wuxian?"

"I don't know."

Lan Xichen squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head out of exasperation. He turned to the closest cousin, Lan Liuya.

"It happens, Zewu-Jun," Liuya reassured.

His wife, Xihua, nodded along."Every couple has their own measly quibbles, it's something that comes with disagreements when living together. Don't worry too much, Zewu-Jun, they'll fix things themselves."

"Mhm," Lan Xichen nodded his gratitude. Right at that moment, a little boy came skipping in.

"Baba! Shushu!"

Lan Qiren cleared his throat. "No shouting."

"S– Sorry, Ta Shifu..." Weilan Yuan gulped and bowed apologetically.

"What is it, Sizhui?" Lan Zhan held out his hand for him, looking at the door wondering where Wei Ying was.

"Baba, Diedie left!"

"Mn?"

"He said he's going on a little trip and he'll be back soon." Weilan Sizhui stumbled closer to his father's lap, lips trembling. "Baba, did A-Yuan do something wrong... Diedie didn't even tell why he's going..."

"Where did he go?" Lan Xichen asked.

"Don't know that either... maybe Diedie is angry with A-Yuan... he didn't tell me anything. Just told me to take care of Baba..."

Lan Xichen's eye swelled. "Wangji, whatever fight you two had, I beg you to tell me what happened. Wuxian isn't the kind of person to leave you here and disappear to clear his head."

"He's the one to endure," Lan Liuya nodded.

Lan Wangji remained silent, feeding A-Yuan his soup.

"Wangji!" Lan Xichen grumbled. "That's it. You're grounded. You are not to leave Cloud Recesses until Wei Wuxian comes back, not even in search of him. You and A-Yuan will come with me to Yanli-mei's party but that's it. Understood?"

Nod.

"But Baba didn't do anything wrong! It's Diedie who left–"

"I heard your Baba saying he hated Wei Wuxian. So it's his fault. Wangji, you better realise that isn't something you should ever say to him. Not something I'd expect of you."

"He said that?" Lan Qiren raised an eyebrow. Even he knew his nephew well enough...

"WHAT? Baba hates Diedie? Why?"

"....."

"Baba answer me! Baba!"

"He never stops taking the risk. Alone."

Weilan Yuan blinked. "R...is...k? What does that word mean, Baba?"

Lan Zhan patted his head. "It's something that you should never bear yourself. Promise?"

"I swear on A-Ying!" Weilan Sizhui held up four fingers and nodded, pledging on his favourite little white rabbit.

A-Ying... tell me you at least took some money with you to find food and lodging... Lan Zhan sighed. "Good boy," he forced a smile. 

_______________________________________________________________________

Quick little note: A-Ying is 

1. the name for the little white bunny. [hence Sizhui's reference]

2. the nickname Lan Zhan uses on Wei Ying in his mind. [hence Wangji's reference]