Operation Barking Dog
by Rose Thorne
Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with The Untamed, and make no money writing fanfiction.
Chapter One
Lan Wangji's attention was always on Wei Ying, so he couldn't help but notice his uncharacteristic silence following their stop in Lanling during their travels. He couldn't place a reason for his zhiji's pensive mood.
Jin Rulan had been hospitable, if prickly. Had, in fact, called Wei Ying "Dajiu," even in front of other people—or perhaps especially, as though laying claim. Protection, perhaps, as much as a boy so young, sect leader or no, could offer. Wei Ying had seemed overwhelmed by it each time, which could potentially explain it.
The new sect leader had asked for Wei Ying's counsel on several occasions on sect matters, clearly feeling the loss of Jiang Wanyin, who might have helped him otherwise.
"You were head disciple," Jin Rulan had argued when Wei Ying tried to demur. "You got tons of training on this sort of thing, but… Well, Xiao-Shu—I mean, Jin Guangyao never taught me about sect matters. He kept saying it could wait until I was older."
The boy's face had been red, his jaw trembling after the slip addressing Jin Guangyao.
"He was your xiao-shushu," Wei Ying told him gently. "You're allowed to honor family, no matter what they did."
After all, went unspoken, Jin Rulan was honoring Wei Ying as family, the man who had lost control and killed his parents.
Jin Rulan had fallen into Wei Ying's arms with a soft sob, murmuring softly about the kindnesses his late uncle had bestowed upon him, his fears that his love had all been a lie, his loneliness, while Wei Ying patted his back and stroked his hair and offered kind words. It was clear the boy had held this in for some time, unable to express his grief as Jin-zongzhu.
It was difficult to know the mind of the late Jin Guangyao. After all, he had been unmoved by the prospect of killing Jin Rulan, and had killed his own son, cousin, sworn brother, half-brother, father, and countless other people. Even xiongzhang had stated, after the Guanyin Simiao, that he didn't know whether his claim he would never hurt him was truth or just another manipulation.
For Jin Rulan, those doubts clearly hit hard, with evidence for both possibilities.
After, Wei Ying had done his best, with the help of the Jinlin Tai kitchen staff, to approximate Jiang Yanli's lotus root and pork rib soup, serving it to Jin Rulan and telling him stories of his mother over dinner. He'd wound up giving him the advice he sought on sect matters, as well.
Lan Wangji and Wei Ying had spoken of it, alone in the spacious quarters they had been assigned, the next day while Jin Rulan was busy attending sect matters. Bonding with his nephew made him feel close to his Shijie again, he'd confessed over a quiet lunch.
He understood the unspoken, that Wei Ying wondered if he was worthy of the title, of the forgiveness and love it implied. Wei Ying's sleep had been restless since, and he could hear him shifting beneath the blankets on his bed.
Lan Wangji's sleep was difficult, as well, but for selfish reasons; he had become too used to sleeping with Wei Ying's warm weight atop him to remind him he lived. That had largely stopped when his Mo Xuanyu facade had fallen. They often shared bedding when camping, but most inns had rooms with two beds.
Wei Ying had even apologized for making him uncomfortable during that time, expressing that at first it had been an attempt to escape, believing as he did when he had died that Lan Wangji hated him.
"No apologies between us," was all he had managed to say, too overcome with a myriad of emotions to find more words.
They were settled at one such inn, in their room (two beds, alas) having just finished dinner, when he poured a cup of wine for Wei Ying and slid it across the table, giving him a meaningful look.
"Wei Ying."
Lan Wangji trusted Wei Ying to read him, and was not disappointed. The other man sighed softly, rubbing a finger along the cup before picking it up and downing it.
"It's… well… I overheard something at Jinlin Tai."
He couldn't stop himself from stiffening, remembering Wei Ying bleeding and unconscious on the desperate flight back to Gusu when Jin Rulan stabbed him.
Wei Ying noticed his alarm immediately and waved his hands, placating, his expression apologetic.
"Nothing dangerous! I promise!"
Reassured, Lan Wangji reached forward and poured another cup for him, a silent request he continue.
"Remember, I forgot to give A-Ling that communication talisman and ran back?"
He waited for Lan Wangji's nod.
"I heard him talking to his—to Xianzi. I guess when Mo Xuanyu was at Jinlin Tai, he spoiled her with treats and p-pet her a lot and everything."
That Wei Ying hesitated to say the word "dog" didn't escape Lan Wangji's notice, nor his stumble over the idea of touching her, and he had a feeling he knew the reason—Wei Ying's ideas about debt.
"I'm only here again, in this second life, because of Mo Xuanyu," he started, confirming Lan Wangji's suspicion. "Nothing can bring his soul back, so all I can do to repay him is maybe try to live for him a little."
This was something they had not discussed, though Wei Ying had alluded to it once or twice, enough that Lan Wangji knows how troubled his zhiji is over the price of his return.
Every day with Wei Ying back in his life was a marvel, just to see him, his smile even if it was on a new body, one that had once belonged to someone else.
He, too, owed Mo Xuanyu. He liked to think any remnants of his soul would be settled to know his body was cared for, it's new owner loved. So he understood Wei Ying completely.
"Within reason," he cautioned softly.
"Aiya, Lan Zhan, I'm perfectly reasonable."
Lan Wangji only had to shoot him a skeptical look to set him pouting dramatically, his cheeks puffed out in a way that made him want to bite them. He took a breath to center himself.
By the time he was settled, Wei Ying was turning his cup between his thumb and forefinger, watching the alcohol shift.
"A-Ling was telling her she couldn't run to me or say goodbye, that I'm not Mo Xuanyu anymore. She was probably his only friend in that viper nest. And if I'm not afraid of her anymore, maybe we can come more often to help him."
"Wei Ying," he said, trying to tell him through his tone he would help him.
He need not even ask, not after Lan Wangji saw him dead for thirteen years and regretted not helping him, regretted his role in his death.
Despite this, Wei Ying set his cup down and kowtowed properly to him.
"Hanguang-Jun, this lowly one humbly requests your help as I try to work through my apprehension toward d-dogs."
Lan Wangji tried not to be frustrated by the gesture, the self-effacing words, Wei Ying's belief he was inferior in any way. Lan Wangji hated whomever had instilled a concept of debt into him.
"Wei Ying is not lowly," he said, fixing him with a remonstrative stare. "I will help. Will always help Wei Ying."
Wei Ying laughed, smiling sheepishly and rubbing the back of his head.
"You're the best, Lan Zhan. Be careful I don't take advantage."
"Wei Ying cannot take advantage of what is freely given."
Nearly a year ago, the moment he had grabbed Wei Ying's wrist as he played 'WangXian' on Dafan Shan, he had decided he would give Wei Ying anything he wished, be with him in whatever capacity he was permitted. Beyond the impetus of his regret for his failure to support him in his first life, it was selfishness and his need to see, every day, that he lived again.
"Aiya, Lan Zhan! What did I do to deserve such a good friend?"
Lan Wangji intended to be the best friend possible, no matter how he wished for more—he had no right to ask for it no matter how much he desired it.
"Wei Ying exists," he managed.
Because Wei Ying came back and is in the world again and Lan Wangji could make up for all the times he failed to be his friend before his death.
Wei Ying beamed, taking all thoughts of those thirteen years from his mind.
I decided to use Chinese names for places, and to use Xianzi instead of Fairy for this fic.
Note: this was a gift fic for rymyanna for the Winter Solstice exchange, but I forgot to post it here.
Buyetian Cheng = Nightless City
Lianhua Wu = Lotus Pier
Yunshen Buzhichu = Cloud Recesses
Luanzang Gang = Burial Mounds
Other translation:
Xiao-shushu - Little Uncle