In the past week Lan Wangji had felt an itch under his skin alongside the thrumming. His limbs ache with a need and he's been longing in a way he hadn't felt in years. He yearns- needs and he held off chasing because of decorum last time but now that his claws have sunk in Lan Wangji will not let this little rabbit run off again.
Nothing will touch him. Nothing.
That is if Mo Xuanyu is Wei Ying. If his blood is not lying to him and deluding him but who else would provoke such a reaction in him on sight? Who else would make his fur stand on end? Despite the appearance, Lan Wangji doesn't act like an animal or think one. He'd say that he's even more of a man than Jiang Wanyin if the way he barks orders is anything to go by.
But looking at this man of skin and bones with a face caked in makeup and threadbare robes- who clearly hasn't bathed in days going off the smell- his first thought is to curl him close and growl at anyone who gets near.
Lan Sizhui keeps glancing over at him and to Wei Ying, if it is him and it certainly is, shaking his head softly. Politely he asks for a moment alone. With a deep sigh, he agrees and follows him a distance all with an eye trailed on Wei Ying daring him to run.
Do it and he will pounce with no mercy.
"Hanguang-Jun, I know your circumstances are somewhat special, but please leave Mo-gongzi be. Can't you see you're scaring him?"
He turns up his nose, it's fine. Wei Ying is full of theatrics and if he knows the man will simply try to escape again if he lets him.
Mine.
He's spent thirteen years believing him dead and pining for the afterlife so they'd meet again. Thirteen years being alone and now- "Now, of all times you decide to be a spoiled cat."
Not a cat, just a bratty Lan Wangji. He's always been childish when it comes to Wei Ying and he's not keen to let him go especially with the Jiang sect leader out for his blood. And, even if it was mere teasing a bit of pride filled him at the thought that Wei Ying thought his stripes were lovely.
For you. These are for you
"At least don't hold his hand the whole day. I've been worried about your reputation a lot as of a late and you should make sure to save face where you can."
What face? Lan Wangji knows he doesn't look like a pillar of virtue anymore. No, not in the slightest. He's got fur and claws and he cares little for what people have to say about him on that. He knows he looks like a freak and is fine with the slander and the loss of his reputation of a pearl among men but for some reason he doesn't grasp his son does. His son who claims not to understand shame but shows constantly that he is aware of it.
Maybe it's that Lan Sizhui has no shame for himself in particular?
Either way, it doesn't mean much to Lan Wangji in the end though for his son's sake he guesses he can pretend to give Wei Ying some slack.
If he runs he'll still pounce.
Kill him.
Somebody, please kill him! Or at least before Lan Wangji gets his hands on him and skins him alive. The man's claws have been digging in his wrist long enough to bring up blood. His savior is once again Lan Sizhui who pulls Lan Wangji away just long enough for him to get a distance still kept in sight.
Those eyes say he's dead. So dead! What to do?
If he stays with them he'll be brought back to Cloud Recesses but if he runs Lan Wangji is just going to keep coming after him unless he's kept busy by for say a large monster that eats souls. If he points them along and gets them into a large fight that could be good for a distraction. Hmm, solving puzzles has always been a specialty of his and it is what he came to do originally.
Dammit, he's not even going to be paid for all this!
I would like to avoid dying a second time if I can.
He's had a lot of time to reflect on all his regrets and the pain in his heart- the things he never got to do and how much he missed. Even if Wei Wuxian doesn't deserve his second chance he wants to take every advantage of it.
But if he dies less than a week after coming back then he won't forgive himself for a different reason.
It's somehow more pathetic than if I had starved on the road.
At least Lan Wangji would make it more pleasant than Jiang Cheng. Probably quick in easy compared to whatever torture is in store for him if what he heard is anything to go by. It had taken every ounce of courage not to scream and run when he saw him as a wolf both because it might give him away but also he'd found that if the event it's a real dog or wolf or whatever abomination people are calling them if you run screaming they will bite and tear your flesh even more than they normally would.
Simply bite your hand until your numb and bleeding crying in the fetal position on the ground. That's how he survived most of the SunShot campaign and the horror of Jiang Cheng being guarded by those evil fluffy creatures and the whole slowly turning into one as his soul started shattering till they fixed that portion of his life. If you bite into your bones it makes for good muffling and learning to put all your tears and fear into what Wei Wuxian calls a trauma square. It's really just a fancy way of saying here is all my fear and trauma and then pretending the square means anything because it covers your whole body and has no organization whatsoever.
Everything is traumatic if you think about it too long. "A-Xian, come and clean up. I made your favorite."
Everything.
That's why the true path to enlightenment or whatever is avoidance and hiding in waterfalls or caves.
The real test to getting out of all this would be figuring out what he could even do to push the chaos along on this night hunt. Well, he's gotten some ideas about what might be going on around here so let's give it a push. Within less than a minute Lan Wangji is back looming over him with a small growl in his throat that definitely speaks of ill things to come.
Has Lan Wangji always been this tall or is he just very short now?
Looking at all the disciples and how he's stacked against most people since he's been back it's probably a mix of both. "Ah, Hanguang-Jun can we play hide and seek? This one is so bored?"
"Mn."
"Ahhhhhhhhh but I want it!"
"Do we really have to drag this guy along?" He hears Lan Jingyi mutters. Oh, he almost lets out his mischievous smirk. Kid, when he's done here you're going to be throwing him down a river in a burlap sack while Wei Wuxian applauds his genius.
Nobody annoys like Wei Wuxian.
"At least let me make my wish!" Wei Wuxian leans dramatically into Lan Wangji's arms knowing the man must loath it before standing up on his toes, "See, I want to wish for…" he let his voice go off into a whisper of naughtiest and most horrible thing his mind could conjure up in hopes of riling his capturer.
And suddenly midway through his sentence lips sealed with the silencing spell and he did his best to dramatically run around in a panic and roll about on the ground while Lan Wangji looked genuinely unamused.
Not even annoyed.
"Foolish."
Still as witty as always Lan Zhan. Truly a comedic mastermind of the ages.
He's in for a long day of this fuckery. He just knows.
Finally getting a break from the lunatic's antics and just being alone with Lan Sizhui is for Lan Jingyi not just a huge relief when they slip into the goddess cave but also a new stress because Jin Ling is there and he does not like him. He's got that rich spoiled attitude that gets on your nerves all the goddamn time like he's some rich lady who's dish didn't turn out 'just right'.
Not to mention, "Oh, it's the Lan and his pet Rabbit."
Lan Jingyi knows that it bothers Lan Sizhui no matter how much he claims otherwise. That his cool and pleasant demeanor hides a vapid soft hate for this disrespect. "How dare you!"
"What? Isn't it true that they only put that ribbon on students that are either failures or kids who were born on all fours?" He says it so easily. Like his friend genuinely doesn't deserve the respect. "It's not much different than a pet Dog or a Peacock. So which is it are you a trouble maker or a pretender?"
The only thing that keeps him from decking this asshole's lights is Lan Sizhui's smile and the hand on his shoulder, "I'm a humble Rabbit but I do my best to be a shining example in all fields I can Young Master Jin Ling. Perhaps I can demonstrate that to you."
Can't I just punch him? Please?
He pouts with his eyes at Lan Sizhui who only stares him down. Who's the pet in this situation again? Geeze.
"I can't believe anyone would pray to a bunch of rocks to get wishes granted how stupid can you get?" Lan Jingyi has often been referred to as incredibly un-Lan for a Lan and he gets it but he thinks that it's important he is because otherwise nothing would ever change in their boring sect and he'd be just another dull person who calls his friend a 'pet'.
He thinks this also why he's the only Lan he can think who would willing say anything of this sort to another disciple; especially when that disciple is the current only heir to not one but two major sects. "You're such a stuck-up asshole. I can't stand guys like you."
"What you say! You fucking Lan Rabbit!"
"Talentless Jin Peacock!"
They're only held back from fighting by Lan Sizhui stepping in to mediate, "Guys, please no need to fight."
"Who you calling talentless?" Jin Ling spits.
"The princess who needed their uncle to litter the whole mountain with traps because they're no good at actually fighting monsters," Lan Jingyi scoffs and he can practically hear the wilting sigh when his friend steps away. "I mean, you even need to insult my friend and everyone knows Jiangs turn into dogs of their own volition!"
"Unlike Rabbits the Jiang clan does it out of a matter of pride and principle rather than shame. People who smile like him will roll over at any compliment and it's disgusting. Just go back to being covered in fur and rolling on their bellies if they want attention that badly."
That's it! Insult him- fine, whatever. But not his friend!
Only his fist doesn't strike and neither does Jin Ling's.
Once again Lan Sizhui is the better man between them and merely smiles, "I think it best we both calm down before the blood between us all runs a bit too hot?"
Jin Ling pulls away clicking his tongue, "I wish that soul-devouring monster would just show up already."
Lan Jingyi tries to read into the expression on Lan Sizhui's face. It hurt. He knows it hurts. It can never not hurt to have his humanity once again insulted. He pulls that gaze away and laughs, "That spoiled princess doesn't know anything. You're one of the coolest persons I've ever gotten to meet. Not to mention your arm strength," he pulls Lan Sizhui into a headlock and messes with his hair knowing he'll hate him for it, "is insane! How are you so stupidly strong?"
Lan Sizhui pushes him off and admonishes him for messing his appearance muttering about how Hanguang-Jun is gonna be pissed.
He wishes people would realize how much Lan Sizhui is just like him or any other disciple in Gusu Lan. He gets an annoyed giggle and it's magical. He's not sure how to explain it but since his friend laughs so little any opportunity to hear it is rare and enchanting because it's only ever around him or Hanguang-Jun and the latter even less.
The moment is broken though by the creaking and cracking of stone as suddenly the statue in front of them has come to life.
As Wei Wuxian stares at the chaos that unfolds as the statue runs after Jin Ling and he puts in all the pieces he can't help but think he's an idiot for only realizing what's going on just now. Dammit!
He can't run if it's something like this. Even Lan Wangji would struggle against it.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck his sense morality and all the fucking bullshit it's always putting him through!
Why the hell is he carving a flute? Why the hell isn't he running? Why is he doing this? Why is he- why- because if Jin Ling got hurt he'd never forgive himself and there's already too many regrets he has piled high inside of him.
Fuck. Fuck. Anything, give him anything! He doesn't care that Lan Wangji is watching him because his cover was blown the minute they locked eyes. He'll let the notes come out even if his playing is awful from both improvising an instrument but also being… ya know dead for a decade.
Give him something- anything! He reaches into the depths of his power and the resentment out there calling. A tendril of deep hatred and regrets that speaks mountains to him; his notes call out resonating through the earth and land.
Come to me.
Come
And when the last person he ever thought he'd see arrives, when the chaos and fighting rises, when Jin Ling now is in danger of being hurt by a rampaging Wen Ning he's unsure what to think or do other than play to calm Wen Ning's spirit.
So he plays a song he thinks of when he remembers the good moments in his life. When times weren't full of tears and hellfire and there was a small child that adored to hear it played. He plays even though Lan Wangji grips him tightly and draws blood with his claws.
He can still try to get out after this. He can-
"Wei Wuxian!"
He's on the ground in pain as the electric jolts of Zidian shake him.
"You're dead!"