TITLE: Crimson Scars
SUMMARY: Alternative ending to See You Again (Chapter 1).
Lan Wangji was hurt, and the Yiling Patriarch was out for blood.
Or, what if Wei Wuxian had come just a bit later?
TAGS: Hurt!LWJ, Badass!Protective! YilingLaozu!WWX
For Qwerty_Hargreeves_25 over on AO3 for their comment: "It makes me wonder about what would have happened if he had arrived just five minutes later..."
It had been six months since Wei Wuxian had last seen Lan Wangji and he ached for him.
Since visiting Jin Ling, Wei Wuxian had visited Qinghe and schemed with Nie Huaisang, travelled to Lotus Pier and paid his respects to his family, had an awkward but necessary talk with Jiang Wanyin (there were still more things to talk about, cry over, but the air between them was that much clearer and Wei Wuxian's belt was once more decorated with his bell that was symbolic to every member of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Wei Wuxian wouldn't deny the tears he had shed when his brother had gruffly informed him that Lotus Pier would always be his home), and now, finally, he was on his way to the Cloud Recesses, to Lan Wangji.
Passing through Caiyi Town, his lips curled into a happy, mischievous smile on hearing the people talk about how the Chief Cultivator was so good and how he had done so many deeds to help the people for their living conditions and for their protection.
The common people had only good will for their Chief Cultivator, and this put the minor sects who turned their noses up at Lan Wangji in a corner.
What could they possibly do when their own people talked highly of Hanguang Jun? If they continued to try to besmirch him, they would be the one held in contempt.
Wei Wuxian smirked to himself. His friend, Nie Huaisang was surprisingly creative and adept at manipulating rumours, making sure the truth was told in ways that were captivating, and in turning public opinion.
It was as he was climbing the mountain towards Cloud Recesses that Wen Ning and Lan Sizhui crashed into him.
"A-Yuan! A-Ning!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed in surprise, as both Lan Sizhui and Wen Ning caught hold of him before he could tumble on to the ground.
Looking at the two in front of him, Wei Wuxian laughed.
"Isn't running forbidden in Cloud Recesses?" he teased, one hand reaching out to cup Lan Sizhui's cheek.
"Young Master Wei," Wen Ning started, before being interrupted by a frantic Lan Sizhui.
"Senior Wei," Lan Sizhui gasped out, head tilting into Wei Wuxian's touch, a hand coming up to grasp Wei Wuxian's wrist desperately. "Xian-ge! You need to help! Please, it's Hanguang Jun! Father is-"
Wei Wuxian didn't let him finish as he rushed up the remaining stairs, Lan Sizhui and Wen Ning on his heels, a terrible fear overtaking him.
With barely a thought, Wei Wuxian disabled the ward covering the entrance, temporarily, so that Wen Ning will be able to enter. The guards' confused shouts were answered by Lan Sizhui's "They're with me!"
Wei Wuxian was tugged by Lan Sizhui over towards the pavilion where, once upon a time, both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had received punishments for drinking alcohol.
Usually that memory would cause Wei Wuxian to let out a chuckle, but now, his heart was racing and his fingers clenched Chenqing so tightly that the carvings dug painfully in his palm. The pain didn't register in his mind as the only thought that was being repeated, with increasing urgency, was 'Lan Zhan'.
He needed Lan Wangji to be well, to be his usual graceful, stoic self. If anything had happened to him -
It didn't bear thinking about.
And yet, that's what Wei Wuxian's mind was conjuring up - Lan Wangji sick, Lan Wangji hurt on a night hunt, Lan Wangji in all sorts of distress when Wei Wuxian wasn't where he was supposed to be, wasn't by Lan Wangji's side.
Wei Wuxian came to a stop, Lan Sizhui and Wen Ning on either side of him. No one had noticed them yet and it gave him time to take stock of the situation. It took him but a moment to take in the scene before him, and when he did, his eyes flared a bloody crimson, as a red haze settled over him.
A distant part of Wei Wuxian's mind acknowledged that Lan Sizhui was trying to explain what had actually happened but Wei Wuxian wasn't listening, because it didn't matter.
Nothing mattered but Lan Wangji.
Nothing could ever be enough of a reason for what was happening to Lan Wangji.
His vision narrowed to Lan Wangji kneeling in front of the elders, including Lan Qiren who had turned his head away, not speaking a word as Lan Wangji was being whipped.
A single word was clear over the roaring in his ears.
"Seven."
Lan Wangji had been given seven lashes that had already torn the back of his robes, that had already caused his skin to tear and blood to stain the pale cloud-blue robes, before Wei Wuxian had arrived.
The sheer rage that Wei Wuxian felt then had no bounds.
It happened as though in slow motion.
The discipline whip descended for the eighth time.
Lan Wangji clenched his fists.
The resentful energy burst out of Wei Wuxian, as he raised Chenqing to his lips (the demon flute vibrated in his hands, with the same fury as its master, eager to wreak destruction on behalf of the one who was its Master's to care for, to protect and to love).
Wei Wuxian kept his eyes on Lan Wangji's back, where a strip of the cloth had fallen away to reveal the new lashes and the scars of of old ones.
Placing the very flute that had once commanded the armies of the dead, the Yiling Patriarch played.
He played because his heart might have been a fickle thing but, even in the height of his madness, it had placed Lan Wangji alongside Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin.
He played because someone had dared to hurt Lan Wangji.
He played because someone had to pay.
He weaved a symphony of wrath and vengeance, never removing his eyes (red as anger, red as protective fury, red as overwhelming love, red as blood) from the kneeling form of the person who held his heart.
The Yiling Patriarch didn't bother looking away as waves and waves of resentful energy crashed against the elders, stripping them off their ability to think, filling their mind with bone-chilling fear and helplessness. The ones who could lift their swords, inspite of the demonic energy dragging them down, were dealt with by Wen Ning, who felt Wei Wuxian's anger as his own.
The disciples, who weren't as affected by the darkness (because Wei Wuxian knew who the real culprit was, and they were his target, not the innocent) ran at the Yiling Patriarch, even though their spines felt like liquid, and they wanted to crumble to the ground, clutching their heads till the haunted screeching drilling into their ears was gone. They were met by Lan Sizhui, who wouldn't let anyone hurt Wei Wuxian (he had lost his Xian-ge once, and had gone through most of his life not knowing why there was an emptiness in him where there should have been laughter and safety. He wouldn't lose him again).
Wei Wuxian didn't see Lan Xichen come running, followed by Lan Jingyi. He didn't see Lan Xichen halt and take in the scene, with a terrible sort of understanding. He didn't notice Lan Jingyi rushing to Lan Sizhui's side, to help his friend.
The resentful energy wasn't sentient. It couldn't think for itself. But what it could do was another matter altogether. It could reflect the emotions of its wielder.
Right then, Wei Wuxian only wanted two things - to keep Lan Wangji safe, and to make the ones who hurt him to suffer.
Hence, the resentful energy that lashed out at the elders, tore their backs the same way they had hurt Lan Wangji, infusing their wounds with the demonic potency, making sure it will not heal anytime soon.
Hence, there were tendrils of the dark energy reaching out to Lan Wangji, from Wei Wuxian, that were simmering with protectiveness, that curled around Lan Wangji's shoulders, ever-so gently soothing over the wounds on his back, twirling around his hair, carrying the echo of Wei Wuxian's bright laughter and whisper of 'Lan Zhan'.
Lan Wangji raised his head, eyes blank, a low 'Wei Ying' falling from his lips, full of hope and light, like a snow flake falling onto a flower petal.
Wei Wuxian did not heed Lan Xichen's call to stop. ("Young Master Wei, that's enough! You've made your point! Please stop before you do something from which you cannot come back from.")
He only watched, unblinking, as Lan Wangji got up and walked towards Wei Wuxian, seemingly unbothered by how the resentful energy was tormenting the elders, Lan Qiren among them, one short step away from ripping them apart. Neither noticed the disciples stop fighting, every eye drawn towards Hanguang Jun, who looked more ethereal than usual with the resentful energy swirling around him.
Lan Wangji stood in front of the Yiling Patriarch, slowly, so slowly, reached out with a slender hand, and stopped just shy of touching Wei Wuxian.
To everyone else, it looked like Lan Wangji was calm and composed, his face a blank slate void of emotions. But for Lan Xichen and Wei Wuxian, it was obvious that Lan Wangji was full of hope and yearning, wanting to reach out but afraid that it would all turn to smoke once he does.
A short breath.
"Wei Ying?" Lan Wangji said, a barely noticeable tremble winding through his voice. His golden eyes were brightened with the sheen of tears that refused to fall.
Wei Wuxian paused, Chenqing and Wen Ning coming to a halt. He lowered the flute.
Without a second thought, Wei Wuxian leaned into the hand offered to him, reaching out to him, and spoke, as low and soft as a breeze, "Lan Zhan. I'm here."
Wei Wuxian watched as Lan Wangji took in a shuddering breath and closed his eyes, a tear streaking down his cheek.
He brought his own hand up to gently wipe the tear away. Leaning in, tilting Lan Wangji's head towards him with a barely-there press of his fingertips, he placed a kiss on the forehead ribbon.
Guiding Lan Wangji into an embrace, Wei Wuxian placed a soothing hand on his neck, extremely careful so as to not cause him any pain, as Lan Wangji tucked his head into the crook of Wei Wuxian's shoulder and neck.
Wei Wuxian kissed Lan Wangji's hair.
"I'm here, now, Lan Zhan. And I'm not leaving again."
END NOTES:
1. yes, wwx absolutely knew what sort of statement he was making when he kissed the forehead ribbon in front of everyone
2. wwx just glances at lxc and lxc knows that wwx has zero regrets
3. wwx would do this and more if it means keeping lwj safe
4. lxc approves
5. wwx takes care of lwj, binding his wounds, dropping soothing kisses on lwj's head, cheeks, wrists, palms, neck, everywhere he can reach.
6. wwx kneels in front of lwj, takes lwj's hands in his own, rests his head on them and just breathes because lwj was hurt but then his anger evaporates in the face of lwj's small smile
7. wwx was there to stay. the elders, when they finally managed to get released from the infirmary, always flinched if they even heard his voice and gave him a wide berth
8. news spread of the incident. jc, jl and nh only snorted, rolled their eyes and shook their heads on hearing about it. when the sect leaders of the major Sects didn't give a damn, the minor sects couldn't do anything about it
9. the junior lan disciples took to following wwx like ducklings
A/N: Comments make me happy.
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