Wei Wuxian P.O.V
Wei Wuxian's head was still spinning from the night before, he couldn't believe he was really back in the past for one thing. Another thing that left his mind reeling was the realization that his brother DIDN"T hate him, he missed him, had carried his flute 'Chengqing' on his person for years. "I thought he just brought it back to me at the temple." He thinks.
His mind spinning, he actually pays attention to Qiren's lesson this time around, it gives his mind something easier to focus on, before he knows it he's headed for the library pavilion to finish copying lan sects rules and see his Er-gege. "He doesn't even know I like him at this point... don't call him too familiarly." Wei Wuxian tells himself, he remembers he had studied and copied diligently the last time around and gotten done early, he hasn't brought his sword this time, he thought about it all morning and ultimately decided that avoiding the previous incident with the book and the fight was probably a wise move. "It would be nice if we could be friends before the war at least..." some part of Wei Wuxian's mind is unsure of how to go about confessing, he remembers clearly how badly his first attempt had gone back then, his Er-gege had simply thought he was making fun of him. While it might have started out as teasing he never would have been that cruel, the fact it had been taken that way stuck in his mind like a meat hook, it's barbs making it hard to remove.
Arriving at the pavilion, he enters and sits down and gets straight to work, he finds himself having to reread the rules just to be sure he doesn't record rules that have yet to be added. "The last thing the elders need is more rule ideas." He thinks mirthlessly, to his surprise it doesn't take him that long to finish copying, there are still a couple of hours left. He starts doodling on a blank sheet of paper to entertain himself as before, drawing the other youth seated ahead of him again! He has a lovely muse in front of him after all. As before Wei Wuxian held his piece up to show Lan Zhan, asking silently if it was good.
"You have spare time and yet you scribble instead of copying." Lan Zhan says slowly, "In my opinion your release from this punishment will never happen."
"I finished it already!" Wei Wuxian says, blowing on the ink which had yet to dry, "I won't be coming again tomorrow!" Once again not receiving any response beyond a surprised look, Wei Wuxian gently throws the art work at him "It's yours."
Lan Zhan's eyes drift to the fallen artwork of himself on the floor, he stares at it blankly for a moment before noticing the flower crown Wei Wuxian had drawn on him, the corners of his mouth twitching. Wei Wuxian doesn't try to bait him this time around, instead saying "You'd look better if you smiled, Gege." what he'd just called Lan Zhan doesn't click in his brain for several seconds and when it does, he freezes. "Shit... that was too familiar... what the fuck Wei Wuxian." He internally groans.
"Ridiculous." Lan Zhan responds after a moment, keeping his face as blank as ever however Wei Wuxian can see his ears have gone pink at the tips. The lack of reaction to the negative emboldens him a little.
"Ah, Lan-Gege is blushing!" Wei Wuxian laughs, "Will Gege miss seeing me every afternoon?" he asks, his tone is playful teasing.
Lan Zhan's ears turn even darker red if that's possible, and Wei Wuxian almost thinks he's imagining the little "Mn." he gets in response to his question.
Jiang Cheng P.O.V
Jiang Cheng had barely made it out of the class room before being accosted by Nie Huaisang, the Nie sect leader's little brother was really more Wei Yings friend at this point in time, however with Wei Ying currently in the library pavilion copying rules there had been little choice outside of studying. "Jiang-xiong! I wanted to ask if you knew what was going on with Wei-xiong..." Nie Huaisang started, he sounded worried, of course it was hard for Jiang Cheng to tell, he seemed perpetually worried about everything.
"Why would anything be wrong with him?" Jiang Cheng says, "He's just getting sick of copying rules."
"Sure, but Wei-xiong was going to prank 2nd Young Master Lan today, he told me yesterday." Nie Huaisang starts, "He returned this to me before class though, he said he changed his mind." Huaisang holds up the porn book with the poetry book cover that Wei Ying had been laughing over last night.
"Maybe he's realized how immature he was acting." Jiang Cheng snorted, rolling his eyes, "Or he decided against scarring the guy he's obsessed with." he adds after a moment, "Why not have a little fun and his expense... not like Huaisang will tell anyone." he thinks.
"Wei-xiong likes 2nd Young Master Lan?" Nie Huaisang parrots, fluttering his closed fan under his mouth to signal 'tell me more'
"As if that much isn't obvious" Jiang Cheng scoffed, "Every time he sees him, he calls after him."
"He also talks about 2nd Young Master Lan a lot." Nie Huaisang adds thoughtfully "I don't know how I missed it."
"I only realized it last night." Jiang Cheng admits, it's only a half lie, after all, at this point in the past he hadn't even known Wei Ying liked both genders (Wei Ying had actually told him himself after everything that had happened with his resurrection)
"2nd Young Master Lan avoids him though, he's going to have a hard time." Nie Huaisang says, shaking his head. "Poor Wei-xiong."
"What about me! I'm the one who has to listen to him chatter about that guy" Jiang Cheng groused, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated manner. Jiang Cheng still vividly remembered Wei Ying going on and on about how much he wished Wangji would have come to visit Yunmeng the summer after they returned from Gusu Lan.
"Maybe you should get them together Jiang-xiong" Nie Huaisang offers, "Then Wei-xiong won't talk about 2nd Young Master Lan so much"
"Yeah, I'll just walk in on them making-out or something instead." Jiang Cheng said in a half mocking tone. "I'm trapped with either witnessing dog food or hearing Wuxian pine over the 2nd jade like a girl." He adds with a defeated sigh and a mild expression of disgust. "I had more than enough Dog food from those two the last time."
Wei Wuxian P.O.V
"Is it possible that Lan-Gege likes this one?" Wei Wuxian of course knows the answer, he had been told repeatedly by his husband in the other timeline that in-fact, his Lan Zhan had been in-love with him from the first time they met. It seems strange not to ask though, and as shy as Lan Zhan is at this age it is probably the most logical route to take.
"Mn, like Wei Ying." Lan Zhan's ears had only just begun to fade from pink but the flush comes back full force at this. Wei Wuxian feels his own cheeks heating, he knew what he was asking but hadn't honestly expected an answer, yet as usual, Lan Zhan managed to catch him off guard.
The bell telling the time can then be heard, his studying time is over. Wei Wuxian awkwardly neaten the stack of papers he copied, setting them aside to be graded. "I-I guess I will see you in class Lan-gege."
"Mn, see Wei Ying later."
With a small nod of acknowledgment, he left the pavilion. Wei Wuxian wasn't sure why he was in such a hurry to get out of there, he'd spent the last five years married to the adult version of the golden eyed youth he'd just been speaking to. Maybe it had something to do with the fact this was his real body and not someone else's? Either way he felt like he was a few seconds from doing something stupid like kissing Lan Zhan, he needed to get out of there. He almost ran down the steps, and nearly ran into Jiang Cheng and Huaisang as a result.
"Did you confess yet?" Jiang Cheng totally blind sides him and he starts coughing.
"Ah... Cheng... You can't just..." Wei Wuxian gets out between coughs.
"I won't tell anyone Wei-xiong!" Nie Huaisang says quickly, "I'm great at keeping secrets." Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng both internally grimace at that remark, it's all too true of Huaisang...
"I haven't yet... I got him to admit he likes me though!" There is an almost giddy quality to Wei Wuxians voice as he says this. "I don't know if confessing will be a good idea or not, it could just result in something being messed up for the worse." Wei Wuxian thinks, trying to ignore the whispers in his mind telling him he doesn't deserve to be happy, that he's just the son of a servant.
"You will tell him SOON though RIGHT?" Jiang Cheng half asks half demands, "DON'T test me Wuxian, I will tell him for you if you don't" Nie Huaisang looks back and forth between the two with an uncomfortable expression, no doubt trying to decide what happened between the brothers.
"A-Cheng... it's not, I can't just... he's busy, I don't want to bother him." Wei Wuxian stumbles his way through his words, the voice that's been whispering in his head gets a little louder 'your supposed to stay in yunmeng' it whispers 'you owe the Jiang family... Besides, Lan Qiren hates you.'
"2nd Young Master Lan has been busy for a while now." Nie Huaisang offers, "I think he would be happy if you told him though Wei-xiong."
"What if I cause more trouble for him?" Wei Wuxian states more than asks, "Qiren hates me... how do you think he will act if he thinks I've corrupted his favorite nephew?"
Jiang Cheng P.O.V
Wei Ying's words make their conversation from the night before pop back into Jiang Cheng's mind and he mentally curses. "Excuse me and Wuxian." He says curtly, grabbing Wei Ying and dragging him away before the other can argue with him, thankfully Huaisang doesn't follow. Wei Ying tries to pull his hand off, and tries several times to ask what he's doing or tell him to let go, he ignores him until they are far enough away to have some privacy.
"What the hell A-Cheng!?" Wei Ying barks, finally snatching his wrist out of Jiang Chengs grip and rubbing it in a soothing manner, glaring at his brother.
"The voices are messing with you right now aren't they?" Jiang Cheng asks bluntly, "you had acted like you weren't being bothered by them at all before we ended up back here." There was a piece of the puzzle he was still missing, when they were this age before his brother had been confident and loud despite his apparent struggles with the voices in his head. "So why is Wei Ying struggling more this time?"
"It doesn't matter." Wei Ying tries, he really doesn't want to talk about this right now. The voices whisper 'you are causing trouble again.' and 'worthless idiot, you can't even keep him from worrying'.
"YES it DOES" Jiang Cheng argues, how the ever-loving fuck is he supposed to fix things if Wei Ying doesn't let him help. "I can't help you if you won't let me, Wei Ying." He pleads, he rarely ever calls Wei Ying anything other than Wuxian, but right now he feels like his brother needs a reminder that they are family damn it. "I don't want to lose you again." After the words leave his mouth Wei Ying just stares at him in shock for what feels like an eternity. Jiang Cheng finally speaks again after a while, "Does it have something to do with Lan Zhan?"
"Er-gege used to play clarity for me at night to help with them." Wei Ying admits slowly after another long moment staring. "I was getting used to not hearing them as much."
"More reason for you two to get together sooner." Jiang Cheng sighed. "And as for Qiren, do you honestly think that grouchy old goat would keep you apart?" He asks, "Because I seem to remember the 2nd jade fighting 33 elders for you."
Wei Ying looks at him like he's been hit by lightning, suddenly being forced to remember the scars that Lan Zhan had born for his sake. "Yo-you're right... it's just... what if we screw it up even worse A-Cheng? I don't think I could take it..."
"We won't let it happen again." Jiang Cheng tells Wei Ying decidedly, "I won't let it happen again." The truth is he can't stand the thought of it getting worse, he wants to stop everything bad just as terribly as Wei Ying does, he's scared too, but failure is not an option.
"A-Cheng... it's easy to say that but we can't know what will happen with even the smallest changes" Wei Ying reasons.
"Then we will just make sure it's not bad, we can change things A-xian." Jiang Cheng promises, "I know we can."
"What are we going to do about the water borne abyss?" Wei Ying asks after a moment, it's the first major event on their list, and also the first run in with Su She.
"Let Su She drown." Jiang Cheng snorts, he wishes they could, but he knows his brother too well.
Sure enough the next words out of Wei Ying's mouth are "We can't, he hasn't done anything yet... there is a chance we can stop him from taking that route."
"I'd rather he never had the chance."
"Me too, which is why I'll have to make sure we resolve his bitterness towards my Er-gege before he gets kicked out of Gusu Lan." Wei Ying says, giving Jiang Cheng that goofy lopsided grin he hasn't seen since the first time they were 15.
The next day they are reminded by Nie Huaisang that Lan Qiren had gone to a conference in Qinghe Nie and thus wouldn't be teaching the classes for a few days. Wei Ying had delightedly declared he was skipping to go hunt pheasants, and Jiang Cheng had told him he was going to be punished when the old goat returned. "Why worry about what will happen later? I'll just enjoy the freedom in the meantime!" Wei Ying had laughed.
As the three of them walked together chatting about random things, Wei Ying suddenly exclaimed "Ah! Lan Zhan!" waving at the 2nd jade who had just walked out of the reception room with the 1st jade and several disciples.
Lan Zhan had the same reaction as before, however what Jiang Cheng had once thought was a glare now looked more like someone who'd just been greeted by a crush. "How the heck did I miss read that?" He wonders, trying not to laugh as he notices The 2nd jade looks away like he's trying desperately to avoid Wei Ying's gaze.
"And you are...?" Lan Xichen asks, smiling warm as ever... honestly Jiang Cheng thinks it suits him better than the past few years of sadness and seclusion in their time line ever could.
"Jiang Wanyin of Yunmeng." Jiang Cheng salutes
Wei Ying follows his lead, "Wei Wuxian of Yunmeng."
Lan Xichen returns their salute, before turning to Nie Huaisang. "Your brother asked about your studies, are you going to pass this year?"
Nie Huaisang wilts and his voice is quiet as he responds with "Generally speaking yes..." he looks at Wei Ying as if to say 'help me'.
Wei Ying grins widely, "Zewu-Jun, what were you two heading out for?" He knows the answer of course however they both need to keep playing their roles.
"To exterminate a water ghoul. We were short of hands so I returned to get Wangji." Lan Xichen explains.
"Mn." Lan Zhan says before adding "There is no time for small talk, we should depart."
"Wait! We are really familiar with water ghouls. Why not bring us along?" Wei Ying volunteers.
"It is Against the rules." Lan Zhan declares, next to him Xichen just smiles at Wei Ying's enthusiasm.
"How is it against the rules? We don't even have class right now and A-Cheng and I catch water ghouls all the time in YunMeng." Wei Ying responds quickly.
"A-Xian is correct. We can definitely help you Zewu-Jun." Jiang Cheng confirms.
Lan Zhan tries to assert that they don't need their help again, and is cut off by Xichen welcoming their help and asking Huaisang if he will be joining them as well, which he denies, saying he'd rather study instead. Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying head back to their rooms to gather anything they might need. It wasn't long before they returned to join the twin jades. Jiang Cheng notices this time the awkward silence between the brothers and the way the 2nd jade is still refusing to look at Wei Ying. "Damn, I really was oblivious before wasn't I?" He thinks.
They mount their swords and make their way quickly towards Caiyi town. The nets Xichen had placed a few days ago once again prove to contain the corpses of strangers unknown to the area, and Wei Ying once again points out the oddity of it. Xichen is quick to say that this is why he returned to get Wangji's help in the matter, and Wei Ying tells them that the ghouls may hide if they continue their current approach. Wangji suggests waiting them out and Wei Ying questions the logic of using 'just nets?' to catch them.
"Does YunMeng have other methods?" Lan Xichen asks patiently. To which Wei Ying smiles but doesn't respond, Jiang Cheng remembers seeing him dive into the water to drag the water ghouls out. Diving in would be considered too dangerous here given the temperature of the water, it would also definitely bring on a lecture from the old goat.
Wei Ying looks around for a moment before taking on his normal shit eating grin looking at Lan Zhan's boat. "Lan Zhan, look at me!" Wei Ying shouts splashing water at him with his bamboo paddle.
"Ridiculous!" Lan Zhan responds, jumping lightly onto another boat. Clearly he thought Wei Ying was goofing off, at another point in time, Jiang Cheng would have agreed. Wei Ying however lightly kicked of the boat he was standing on and used the momentum to flip the boat where Lan Zhan had been standing moments earlier. Revealing that there were three water ghouls on the bottom, other lan sect disciples immediately moved to suppress them.
"Young Master Wei, how did you know they were on the bottom of the boat." Xichen asks, impressed.
"Thats simple, the water displacement was wrong, his boat sat lower than those with two people in it." Wei Ying begins, "there had to be something on the bottom." he finishes. Lan Xichen praises his experience, and then Wei Ying glides his boat closer to the one Lan Zhan had jumped to, apologizing for splashing him with water and explaining he simply was trying to prevent the water ghouls from fleeing. The previous time around Lan Zhan had been angry with Wei Ying over the porn book prank, but that hadn't happened this time, instead he simply looks mildly annoyed by Wei Ying's splashing him with water.
"Why did you come?" Lan Zhan asks, his tone isn't as scathing as last time around, he just looks annoyed and unsure if he can trust Wei Ying to be serious. Wei Ying defends himself saying that he really did come to help and telling Lan Zhan to not be so gloomy.
Jiang Cheng understands Lan Zhans distrust of Wei Ying's seriousness perfectly, he snaps "If you want to be of help stop chattering and get over here!" at Wei Ying with a roll of his eyes. A moment later the net starts to move and a disciple announces it loudly. Things start moving more quickly as the thick black curtains of hair in the water start to surge and swell among the boats, and ghoulish hands dig into the sides of their boats, as before Lan Zhan severs the hands on left side of the boat at the wrist and is about to go after those on the right side when the red sword glare of Wei Ying's sword is seen flashing by on the right, quick as anything it's sheathed again.
The exchange revolving around the name of Wei Ying's sword happens again and Jiang Cheng both internally cringes and rolls his eyes at Wei Yings reasoning all over again. Lan Zhan's exasperated expression and comment of 'ridiculous', strikes Jiang Cheng as funny because frankly it is ridiculous, that's why it's perfect for Wei Ying. Jiang Cheng finishes hacking off the water ghouls on his side when he sees the shadow dart around the boat again "Here it comes!"
Another disciple from the other side shouts "There are some here as well!" the dark masses undulate in the water changing sizes and shapes.
It isn't long before Wei Ying comments on the strangeness of it, before crying out "Lan Zhan! Beside your boat!" and the white robed youth is still quick to send his sword after it but fails to catch anything.
On the other side the disciple Jiang Cheng now recognizes as Su She still sends his sword out like the absolute dipshit he is and it doesn't return. "What a fucking moron..." is all Jiang Cheng can think about it. Jiang Cheng elects to ignore Su She's chastisement at the hands of the other disciple and instead watches as Lan Zhan manages to swipe a scrap of clothing off another water ghoul with the tip of his sword, Wei Ying still laughs, but decidedly doesn't nearly lose his balance this time. "No point in commenting on his dumb sense of humor this time..." Jiang Cheng thinks, rolling his eyes at his brother.
"So the thing sneaking around was just that scrap of clothing?" Wei Ying asks after his laughter dies down.
"Mn. But clothing wouldn't have taken a sword so something else has to be down there." Lan Zhan responds. Just then Lan Zhan seems to notice how far the boats have drifted, "Go back, immediately!"
"Why?" Xichen asks, looking at his brother.
"They led the boats out here on purpose." Just as Lan Zhan answers the question, they all feel their boats begin to sink.
Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying both notice that the once deep green water has now turned black and is beginning to spill into the boats. The clanging of swords is a chorus in the air as everyone mounts their swords quickly, everyone except that fucking idiot Su She who is quickly rescued by Wei Ying, who then throws him at Lan Zhan as the thing from the lake seems to recognize Wei Ying, reaching out and dragging him down. "WEI YING!" Jiang Cheng screams, feeling his heart drop into his stomach, he starts to go after him but Lan Xichen Catches Jiang Cheng's arm before he can.