"So, I was thinking of letting the soldiers cross the river by swimming across it-" Jiang Cheng pointed at the map animatedly, his amethyst eyes glinting with satisfaction and pride, chest huffed up.

Sighing, Wei Wuxian rubbed at the dark circles beneath his eyes. That wouldn't work,"  without referring to the map, he continued. "One, it's winter. No soldier can swim across a frozen lake, and our temperatures are not low enough to reach a state where most of the river is solid enough for them to walk pass with ease. Two," he put two fingers up in the air as if to emphasize his point, "there's a bridge there. You're using an old map. The maps need to be updated."

The fine hairs in Jiang Wanyin's nostrils flared up, and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Of course Wei Wuxian was going to criticize his plan again, of course he was. He was always 'better' than him, wasn't he? "If you're so smart, then you can come up with a better plan." He replied stoutly, puffing his chest up like a peacock did his feathers.  Wangji looked at him with bored eyes, his mind winding down a different route. Maybe he'd make a good jester if he had feathers, he thought. They'd look wonderful with his purple robes, sprouting up out of nowhere.

"Sure. To get them across, we can get some of the skilled commanders to go across the bridge undercover and infiltrate the nearby village as a base. Get them to evacuate the villagers quickly, and send the troops in to pose as villagers for a few days. Then, we can launch a pincer attack and capture their base, before moving north to get to their resources and cut off access."

Wangji's eyes widened in keen surprise. For the first time, Wei Wuxian seemed to take the words out of his mouth, saying exactly what the famed Hanguang-Jun would have suggested. Nie Mingjue stroked his chin, contemplating. "That's good, where do you want to go from there?"

At this, a few eyebrows were raised. Even though Wei Wuxian was known as the Jiang Prodigy, Nie Mingjue wasn't named Head Cultivator for no reason. And for him to accept the plan so readily…

"From there on out, we can move towards the base, leaving behind a second force to defend the area and silence any oppressors that stand in the way, or get the townsmen and merchants to swear themselves to silence. If not, we may have to resort to other measures." Silvery eyes hardened, a talisman flickering right at the corner of his robes as his "brother" rolled his eyes at him. I have at least a thousand selective silencing talismans stocked up, and they can be used to make sure they don't tell us to the Wens."

Wangji was filled with an odd sense of pride hearing him say this, as if he was the one who came up with the plan. He found it odd, he guessed. But there was something about Young Master Wei that drew him in like a moth drawn to flame, helpless in his presence.

"Good," Nie Mingjue continued. "We'll follow that plan, then."  And the rest of the meeting faded into Wangji's memory, centred mostly on fine-tuning the plan. The hours streamed past in disjointed moments, turning into evening before any of them knew it. "Alright, we'll stop here for today. He rubbed his hands in satisfaction. "It was a very productive session today, thank you to all of you. Rest well for tonight, we'll discuss the rest tomorrow. You are dismissed."

With a quick flutter of Nie Huaisang's fan, the rest scurried from their seats. Jiang Wanyin stood up first, Wei Wuxian not too far behind him. For some odd reason, though, it looked more as if Wei Wuxian was the one leading, instead of the one in the Jiang Heir's shadow. The moment the rest of the Clan representatives were out of sight, Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei Wuxian harshly by the shoulders, pulling him into one of the many vacant classrooms the Unclean Realm now held. A stark symbol of the war that raged, the war that ravished and consumed, leaving nothing behind but empty hearts and shattered dreams, all in the name of long-forsaken glory. Nothing but a glimpse of pleasure in an ocean of horror, lapping against city walls and drowning people under.

The moment Wei Wuxian saw the storm in his adopted brother's eyes, he knew he was half done for. His eyes were a livid shade of violet, Zidian sparking vigorously under his touch. He stroked it carefully, as if contemplating how to use it. Or who to use it on. The blood in Wei Wuxian's face seemed to drain out, and he slumped lazily against the wall, closing the door beneath him. Making sure the door was always within his reach. Then he turned to face the beast-peacock hybrid, dread filling his stomach, creating a layer of ice over churning acid.

"You-" Jiang Cheng's temper flared up, along with his nostrils. Zidian crackled to life behind him, sending Wei Wuxian flinching.

"I what?" He retorted on pure reflex, voice soft but firm, though tired. Eyebags lined his eyes, his silver eyes starting to dim. Not that his brother could see it. No, Jiang Cheng only saw what he wanted to. Unable to help himself, Wangji's curiosity took over. He hid behind the door, hoping to eavesdrop on the conversation. Wei Ying hadn't seemed like himself lately and Wangji couldn't help but know that the Jiang Heir had something to do with it. Jiang Wanyin was getting on his nerves, and he wasn't particularly nice to his brother at strategic meetings, either. Always dismissing his ideas and throwing him to the wolves, as he'd done earlier. Even Lan Zhan was convinced and impressed by Wei Wuxian's strategies and plans. And that wasn't easy, considering Wangji had been strategizing since the age of seven.

"You what?"

"Yes, that's what I said," Wei Ying's voice was barely a whisper, exhausted and heavy. Wangji imagined he could see the weight on his shoulders, though there was nothing on them, only a slouch of back that bore the heavy burden hoisted on Wei Wuxian's shoulders. One that seemed to grow heavier as the days pulled on. The way he spoke told Wangji volumes of how often that happened-

"You still dare to ask me? You prance into the meeting, spouting your nonsense, and you still dare ask me why I'm mad at you?"
Wei Ying rubbed his temples and eyes tiredly. "It wasn't nonsense, Wanyin. It was strategies. Even Lan Zhan approved of them."

Jiang Chen scoffed, rolling his eyes. Wangji bristled at the blatant disrespect but couldn't help but notice the change of term he used. Jiang Cheng became Jiang Wanyin...

"That fool? He's only a child prodigy because of that esteemed uncle of his," Jiang Wanyin rolled his eyes, as if to prove a point. Lan Zhan hoped they rolled out of his head someday. Maybe then he'd be useful as an experiment.

"And we haven't even got to you. Always so reckless, so carefree, showing off as if you own the place- you're only alive because of my father, you know? You're a son of a bitch. So don't think you can ever replace me, because I am and always have been better than you." At this, Lan Zhan's temper started to flare up. What gibberish was he speaking? Wei Ying was better than him by MILES. His own plans were flawed, fatally so, and atrocious, the sheer AUDACITY he had trying to tell Wei Ying that, when he was inferior to him in the ways that mattered, that counted. Lan Zhan’s heart hurt for Wei Ying, and the sullen, lost expression in his eyes irked him, disturbing the depths of his soul. But the way he barely flinched was telling. He could see the way Wei Ying's shoulders bunched together, as taut as string. He looked down, shifting his gaze to bus shoes. When he looked up again, Wangji lost his breath.
His eyes.

"Don't call me that, Jiang Wanyin. I've had enough of this. I don't care what you think anymore. You can try to kill me as many times as you want, but just remember," cold, bottomless eyes glinted in the dark, stained crimson instead of dove grey. There was barely any shred of humane emotion in them, something that both enthralled and terrified Lan Zhan. There was a visible shift in the aura of the room, turning into one of nothing but hostility. Wei Ying traced his fingers over Jiang Wanyin's shoulder. He flinched from the touch, almost as if Wei Wuxian's touch was smouldering, piercing hot.

"It doesn't matter to me anymore."

Remember that.

With that, he left, leaving Jiang Wanyin behind.

To Wangji's surprise, Jiang Wanyin's body thudded heavily to the ground, eyes closed in anguish, lips parted. However hard he tried to suppress it, a sense of satisfaction tore through him, gnawing at his conscience. But the whimpers of pain coming from the bastard's mouth thrilled him, sending a rush of adrenaline and gratification up his spine. He deserved it, really. But Wangji wanted more, wanted worse. Grinning, a spell leapt into his head. They wouldn't know, would they? His magic was untraceable. Only one person could recognise it with ease, not even his brother knew. And the other would never give him away. Chuckling softly, he muttered the incantation, watching in minute curiosity as thousands of tiny cuts nipped into Jiang Wanyin's skin, small beads of blood started rolling down, bathing him in blood.

Gild eyes darkened with malice, trailing up to what was above. Suspended from the ceiling was a delicate silver bucket, almost invisible against the dark oak arches that framed it. Wangji watched in anticipation as it dripped down, every drop sending a hiss of phantom smoke against Wanyin's skin, pain framing his features.

The images of the Jiang Heir, prone and helpless, stayed with Wangji for a long time. Diluted blood seeped into his brocade purple robes, tainting the rich fabric with the heavy scent of blood and sweat, the fear emanating from his soul hanging in the air. Lan Zhan savoured every bit of it, gulping it hungrily. It satiated the grappling hunger in his soul, in his spirit, that was as cavernous and empty as the bottomless abyss of the monster that devoured it. Satisfied, he sent a note on the mind link.

He's ready.
I'm on my way.

To Wangji's pleasant surprise, it seemed the Jiang Heir was not as useless as he thought. He was abundant in fear and trepidation, something Wangji didn't expect with how cocky he seemed, almost as if he was devoid of any emotion, safe for the five he loved the most.  Anger, resentment, contempt, hatred and begrudging 'admiration'. But Wangji guessed fear ran deep in his tainted, stained soul…carving its roots into the dark flesh of his heart, painted in purple and blue. It was nothing compared to the onyx and silver core of his brother, though. Wangji fell deep into thought, letting the adrenaline gush over him again.

Silent footsteps alerted him to the second presence in the room. Without asking, the warm scent of roses tinged with sandalwood told him exactly who it was.

"Wei Ying?" To be fair, the question was more of a statement.

"Mm." Wangji hated the way his voice sounded, so tiny against the undercurrent of the world. Like it was barely a tiny scratch in the surface of the word, immiscible and unremarkable. Wei Ying was wonderful, and should be treated as such. "Why did you call me here?"

Wangji felt heat rush up to his ears as silver eyes peered back into his with curiosity, lighting up his eyes. "Wanted to surprise Wei Ying."

Hastily, he stepped aside, putting the shivering body on display. He watched as surprise danced into horror, before prancing back into satisfaction. In a trance, he held his fingers up to his face, watching in avid curiosity as fine threads of azure, grey, white and red webbed across his fingers, each holding a different timeline, a different story, weaving around Jiang Wanyin to form a web, one that trapped and enslaved him into illusion. Illusion…There was next to no way to achieve this level of mastery over the different elements, not with the meagre cultivational skills most possessed. A psychological one, at that. Looking at the spellwork, Wei Ying was enthralled by the simplicity and intricateness of the threads, fine enough to touch, but faint enough that they'd be invisible to almost anyone.

Anyone but them, that was.

He lifted his hand up to toy with the threads, moulding and reshaping them, even as the features of his sworn "brother's" face deepened with fear, lines of shock starting to engrave themselves into his face, along with that of pain. His brows seemed furrowed in place, the sheet of perspiration that coated him giving his prone body a glossy finish.

For a moment, Wei Wuxian fancied he was dead. Gone.
Missing.
Ashes.

Finally, Wangj cleared his throat, snapping Wei Ying out of his reverie. "That can be arranged, you know."

Crap, the mind thread. Wei Ying forgot about that. "Never mind…no one will be able to figure out who did this?"

"The threads are unbreakable and untraceable, so no. They will not be able to pinpoint the threads. "

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened in admiration, glee flirting through his features. Grinning, he prodded the prone figure. "Will he remember any of this later?" Gilt eyes danced across the room, engulfing the sight.

"No. It'll only leave a tiny scar."

Wei Ying nodded in approval, feeling magic like the scent of sandalwood, cold and steady, brush against him. At this, he paused, opening his mouth inky to ask a question he'd already guessed the answer to. "So, you're the other Element Master?"

The words by themselves were an understatement. Lan Zhan looked straight at him with gilt eyes, the intensity of his gaze sending shivers up his spine, brushing against his skin.

"Yes," he answered simply. But there was something more to the words, something that was waiting in the shadows, in the back wings, that was simply waiting to pounce.

It was known that Elements existed in pairs.

Anything in forces followed that rule.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So you're my soulmate, Wei Ying thought. His cheeks turned into a splash of pink and red, topped with freckles for sprinkles. Wangji's eyes couldn't help drifting to his lips, even as the back of his ears burned, his heart blazing with fire, downing in immiscibly miscible love.

"Yes, I am." In another universe, Wangji would have been the more silent, more stoic one. But years of discipline left the youngest elemental master numb, his eyes devoid and empty, soul almost as ribboned as the scars on his back. Fear lined his eyes the same way emptiness filled them, the same abyss that filled his soul. Lan Zhan swore he'd satiate it someday- 

No matter how long it took.

"But only if you want me."

Wei Ying visibly gulped, heart filling with as much hope as it did apprehension, holding him back. Sensing his reluctance, Wangji hastily replied "it's fine if you don't, okay? I'll still be here for you. Just take me as your friend, if that's what you want."

Wei Ying swallowed. Hard on the limo in his throat. He barely pushed the words past his lips, "It's not that," his voice was as soft as the wind, but as firm as the reeds that shuddered "I want to, but I'm just not ready yet. Not now, anyways."

"Then I will wait for as long as you need." The answer that came back was firm, and certain. Lan Zhan's gilt eyes met Wei Ying's silver ones unwaveringly, filled with so much warmth and adoration that Wei Wuxian found himself at a loss for words, vision starting to blur. Wordlessly, he flung himself into the other's arms, pulling him into a tight embrace, letting his warmth seep into his bones, into every empty and unloved crevice of his body, filling it with warmth and love that felt like warm tea on a cool spring day, satiating his thirst, sending warmth spiralling through him.

Without a warning, the world around them faded again, melting and morphing into the familiar arches of carved sandalwood and pristine white sheets that had become Lan Wangji's room in the last few months. "Are you okay with sleeping here?"

A sleepy nod. Chuckling, Wangji laid the younger one in the bed before moving into the other end, tucking the other under the blanket, while getting another one of his. Wei Wuxian edged closer in silent protest, latching onto Lan Zhan's warmth. "Wei Ying, go to the other side?"

"Nope," the other pouted, lips curving into a smile as he savoured the sense of safety that Wangji gave him, the feeling of comfort, and the knowledge that he would never have to suffer alone again.

He'd always have someone waiting for him. Wordlessly, Wei Ying flung his limbs over his soulmate, tucking his head I to the crook of his shoulder before both of them shifted into deep slumber, letting the exhaustion in their bones ebb away leaving behind happy hearts and renewed hopes, their scarred souls beginning to heal again.

Somehow, hands managed to find one another in their sleep, fingers slipping through one another, entwined the same way the red thread of Fate bound them. Threads that were set in place by the gods, unwavering and unbreakable.

Once there were one
Then there were two
Tied to the bone
But split as tools

One quiet
One brash
Turning hardwired
As the other crumbled to ash

But fate prevailed
And love sealed
Helping each other from horrors within
Even if semantics would call it a sin

Their love was greater than the heavens of glee
Rivalling even that of Annabel Lee
In the Kingdom by the Sea
Two were loved by decree

Decree of the gods, sealed in blood
Controlled by unparalleled powers of grief
Held together by joint hearts
Never to miss the brief spark

Together again, never apart
They look down with folded hearts.

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A/N: 3080 words! I think this is the longest I've written for a oneshot that isn't split into parts- don't ask me how I wrote it, I have no idea-  NebulusCharlie. This is a (belated) present for you! And this is also for Paint-me-Black. And DBDavenport8. As well as Chiaroscuro555 , bhava_siri LittlefroggyGilmore and all of you wonderful Jies out there- (you know who you are) and thank you so much to my dear readers, too! We finally hit 1K votes! I don't think I can put into words how much it means to me- thank you for your continued support, hugs to you guys-

P.s. A part of the poem came from Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe....I love the poem! ❤️