Have to protect you
The faint light of dawn was penetrating the room. It looked gloomy compared to the soft light of the candles. However, it also meant that Wei Wuxian had lasted till daylight. According to the healers, the third dawn would bring relief. Now, each hour was bringing fear and desperate hope.
Jiang Wanyin had refused to leave the room. He was sitting in the corner, his eyes never leaving the silhouette on the bed. Lan Wangji was kneeling as close as he could while playing the guqin. One of the Yunmeng healers approached every hour to pass some healing energy, and withdrew silently each time not to disturb both men's vigil.
Wei Wuxian's fever was still rising. The healing music Wangji played seemed to stop influencing him at dawn. The wounded man started to mumble something, his words too slurred to be recognized even by the cultivators' acute senses. Lan Wangji finished the song and his fingers were hovering over the instrument in indecision. The healers had been explicit in informing him that Wei Wuxian was literally covered in injuries and every touch might hurt him.
"Shijie…", the desperation made the word audible.
Jiang Cheng tensed but remained at his place. He had no idea how to comfort the other man, and he was too afraid that Wei Wuxian would react badly to his touch.
It may hurt him further. It is going to hurt me further.
Jiang Yanli's death, even after all those years, remained a festering wound. Logically, Jiang Cheng knew that Wei Wuxian did not kill her but still she was on that battlefield for him, so he was the one who had lured her away from safety. It had been far easier to put all the blame on him. It justified the role the Yummeng sect leader played in the Yiling Patriarch's death. When the truth behind this tragedy was revealed, it did nothing to sooth Jiang Cheng heart. It only complicated things. Convincing himself to hate Wei Wuxian was becoming more and more challenging. Forgiving him, though, still remained impossible.
Achieve the impossible…
Jiang Cheng was seeing the insecurity in Lan Wangji's demonour, and that in itself was a very rare sight. But it did not last long. A faint whisper "Lan Zhan", made the Second Jade move, completely disregarding the healer's warning hiss.
Lan Wangji sat carefully on the bed, and lightly took Wei Wuxian's hand in his.
"I am here", he said softly.
The wounded man froze.
"No! Why have you come, Lan Zhan?! They'll hurt you… It's my fault… I'm your weakness… they know it… please… don't get caught, please…", Wei Ying was shivering. His half-open eyes searching and not seeing. He tried to move closer to his soulmate and moaned in pain.
"Wei Ying is safe", Lan Wangji murmured, gently stroking his hair with his free hand.
"He's hurting himself", the healer alarmed.
The Chief Cultivator froze. The last thing he wanted to do was aggravating Wei Ying's wounds. However, he knew that his soulmate was looking for his warmth.
"Hold him", Jiang Cheng ordered with fury, "He needs it to rest. He did exactly the same as a child. The physical pain has no significance for him in the moment he feels abandoned!"
Many years ago it was my role to hold him when he was ill or wounded or simply insecure. I've lost the right to comfort him. It's your duty now. If you…
"Or just leave", he added suddenly.
Lan Wangji looked at him. Jaing Cheng could not read the emotions in his eyes.
"If you comfort him now, you'll need to stay with him until he recovers…"
You need to stay with him forever, because he loves you.
"I won't abandon Wei Ying", Lan Wangji replied solemnly, but Jiang Cheng was not sure of the hidden meaning in these words.
The Yunmeng sect leader could not fight the regret and self-directed anger while he was watching Lan Wangji manhandling Wei Wuxian. The closeness of those two brutally reminded him of what he had and lost.
"You're hurting him", the healer protested.
Lan Wangji froze, Wei Wuxian partially draped over him.
"It's my decision. This position won't be comfortable for anyone", Jiang Cheng intervened. He felt sick, watching Wei Wuxian being manhandled like a puppet with its strings cut. His strong-headed and bold brother should never look like this!
Finally, Hanguang-jun managed to find a somehow better position, with the wounded man leaning against his chest. The pain was slowly ceasing to mar Wei Wuxian's face.
"I cannot agree that it's been the best idea", the healer murmured to herself. She did not react, even when her leader murdered her with his furious gaze. Jiang Wanyin would love to order her to leave, but his stupid brother needed her help.
"Lan Zhan?", a barely audible whisper made the Second Jade to focus solely on his charge.
"I'm here. You're safe", he murmured. His fingers were gently caressing Wei Ying's hot forehead, obviously in an attempt to check his fever. The wounded man leaned into the touch.
Wei Wuxian tried to change his position, probably to see Wangji's face. He hissed in pain.
"Don't move. You're wounded."
"They wanted to hurt you… ", Wei Ying rasped.
And they have succeeded.
"Who?", he asked, though he should rather not allow his charge to talk.
"Sorry… don't know… strong cultivators… knew some Jin GuangYao's tricks... planned to lure you… use me as leverage… I'm sorry… so sorry…"
"Not Wei Ying's fault. There's no need for "sorry" or "thank you" between us."
Yiling Patriarch tried to grasp Lan Wangi's hand, but cried in pain.
"Careful, you're wounded. You need time to recover.", Hanguang-Jun could sense Wei Wuxian's distress.
"Stay put, you idiot", Jiang Cheng growled, "Your golden core is sealed. There's no unmarred skin on you. You've sustained some internal damage and your every wound is infected! So calm down or I let the healers put you to sleep 'till you recover!"
Lan Wangi felt that Wei Ying curled against his chest when his brother started to scold him, but then he seemed to relax. As much as he did not like the Yunmeng sect leader, he could not deny that the other man cared for Wei Wuxian. Though the way he was showing this… maybe Wei Ying accepted it, as it did not farther upset him.
Hanguang-Jun could not ignore the revelations given by his soulmate. Wei Ying was not too difficult to capture with his tendency to lose consciousness due to depletion of his spiritual power. It was much harder to keep him as a prisoner. Unfortunately the use of forbidden methods might have facilitated it.
Obviously, they were people who still hated Wei Wuxian, and believed that it was his intrigue to overthrow the former Chief Cultivator and put Lan Wangji in his place. No logical arguments seemed to change their opinion. However, which of them would be able to use Wei Wuxian as a hostage? It was hard to imagine a worse prisoner than Wei Ying. Lan Zhan definitely preferred not to think about it, but why did the captors not break Wie Wuxian's legs to prevent his escape?
He did not escape. He was rescued. Was it a mistake or a part of the plan? I have to see the place my Wei Ying was held, but I cannot leave him now. Why have they chosen this way to hurt you?
"Sect leader Jiang I want the place where you've found Wei Ying secured. Chenqing?"
"She wasn't there. My disciples are guarding the place. If they find anything interesting, they'll bring it. However, I can go there and check myself as long as you're here."
Wei Wuxian shivered violently. Lan Wangji gently caressed his cheek. The skin under his fingers was so hot!
"I cannot… they mustn't blackmail my Lan Zhan… I had to… Lan Zhan… please… forgive me…"
Lan Wangji heart froze.
"Wei Ying, what have you done?"
"...'ve to protect you"
A/N Legate_of_Apples, thank for betaing!