TITLE: See You Again

SUMMARY: They had known (after that terrifying defense by the Second Jade against thirty three cultivators, after the thirty three flesh-peeling lashes) that the one person Lan Wangji would break all the rules for, the one person he would wage war upon the world for, was Wei Wuxian.

But they forgot that the reverse was also true.

Or, the one where Wei Wuxian travels to different places, while his road ever leads to one person.

RELATIONSHIPS: Wangxian

TAGS: Protective!WWX

Lan Xichen went into seclusion as soon as they had returned to Cloud Recesses. Lan Wangji knew how it felt to be truly heartsick, but he, never in a million years, would ever have wished it upon his brother (sweet, gentle Lan Huan, elder brother who held him unflinchingly when he had been frozen after hours and hours outside a door that would never again open, waiting for a voice that would never again call out 'A-Zhan, A-Huan, how are my precious little ones?'; his caring brother who only ever wanted the world to be a better place, and who got his open heart ripped to shreds for daring to be compassionate towards the truly ungrateful).

Lan Wangji came back to the Cloud Recesses (alone, without Wei Wuxian, already missing his other half like one misses a lost limb) as His Excellency, the Chief Cultivator, just as Sect Leader Lan withdrew from the world, and into seclusion. With neither a complaint nor an expression of displeasure, Lan Wangji took over the responsibilities and duties belonging to the position of both the Sect Leader and the Chief Cultivator.

Weeks passed, each day blending together till it was almost impossible to differentiate them. Lan Wangji worked diligently, dedicating all his efforts to improve the cultivation world because things could be better, and if he could help to move it all in the necessary direction, to make the changes that were very much overdue, then he would do so without hesitation.

There were whispers and rumours, as there would always be.

About Wei Wuxian.

About Lan Xichen.

About Jin Guangyao.

About Lan Wangji himself.

As for Lan Wangji, he never really cared for the opinions of others, the rumours that spread behind everyone, and he wasn't going to start caring now. He only ever kept an ear out for any news that might be about Wei Wuxian.

Hanguang Jun was the beloved of the Gusu Lan Sect, along with his brother. The junior disciples, especially, worshipped the ground Lan Wangji walked on. After the adventures they had all had together, the juniors had become adept at reading his mood and gauge his temperament. They helped him out with his work and other duties, voluntarily.

He was quite proud of them.

Lan Wangji faced opposition from few other sects. Not outright challenges, of course, but snide remarks and delayed reports, a lack of respect not enough to be called upon, but enough that it was obvious to Lan Wangji and the ones who were observant.

When these occurrences happened in front of Sect Leaders of Yunmeng Jiang or Lanling Jin, it was greeted with vitriol by both. As the Sect disciples follow the lead of their leaders, Lan Wangji had the overwhelming, steadfast support of both Yunmeng Jiang and Lanling Jin. Sect Leader Nie had his own way of showing his support, and his Sect too threw their lot behind Lan Wangji.

The elders of Gusu Lan Sect were another category all together.

It is said that wisdom comes with age and experience. Accordingly, the elders of the Gusu Lan Sect ought to be very wise. But somehow, they forgot the reality. They swept the truth to the back of their mind and took comfort in their arrogant, righteous pride.

They forgot that Wei Wuxian, for all his good-natured laughter and bright smiles, had earned the name of Yiling Patriarch.

They had known (after that terrifying defense by the Second Jade against thirty three cultivators, after the thirty three flesh-peeling lashes) that the one person Lan Wangji would break all the rules for, the one person he would wage war upon the world for, was Wei Wuxian.

But they forgot that the reverse was also true.

Wei Wuxian would do the same for Lan Wangji.

It is a well-known fact that Wei Wuxian's memory isn't exactly reliable. But there are certain moments in time that are etched in his soul.

The predominant memories of his previous life were of his family - the Jiangs and later, the Wens. There were others too - of pain and suffering, of rage and vengeance, of the pleas and entreaties, rare moments of peace and belonging.

In his second life, the moment when Wei Wuxian laid his eyes on the horrifying scars on Lan Wangji's back and the brand on his chest, over his heart, was etched into his mind. When Lan Xichen divulged the reason and the cause for the lashes, Wei Wuxian's mind went blank.

'How dare they! How could they do such a thing!? Lan Zhan had always been a model disciple, he had done everything for his Sect, and this is how they repay his dedication? By stripping the flesh off his back for his first ever serious 'transgression', all because they didn't agree with him?'

Wei Wuxian had felt true hatred then, towards the ones who had decided upon the punishment, seeking to pull the soaring Hanguang Jun till he crashed on to the land in a mess of broken bones and a broken heart.

He had promised himself then, that just as Lan Wangji had vowed to protect him, he would protect the other from the ruthless cruelty of the world, and his own Sect (especially his own Sect).

Their paths took them on different paths, after everything.

Wei Wuxian looked at the face of the man who had carved himself a place in his heart without Wei Wuxian's awareness, the one man for whom Wei Wuxian would willingly lay his life down for, but since it would only cause Lan Wangji more pain, the one man for whom Wei Wuxian would care for his own life in a way he never had before. He looked at the love and adoration obvious in Lan Wangji's eyes, and he knew that his own eyes reflected the same.

Wei Wuxian did not want to leave Lan Wangji. He wanted to stay with him, wake up every day to see that beloved face, reach out to hold his wrist, caress his shoulders, kiss his lips, hug his warmth till their souls were alight with mutual contentment and happiness. He wanted to make Lan Wangji smile, to give him the world, take him to see distant lands, go on nighthunts with him, save people and help the helpless with him. He wanted to do everything with him.

But Wei Wuxian knew that the presence of the Yiling Patriarch would only cause problems for Lan Wangji when he has only just begun to be the Chief Cultivator. And even if Lan Wangji wouldn't care for any hardships he may face, as long as Wei Wuxian was with him, Wei Wuxian wouldn't, couldn't, stand to be a burden.

(He could have asked Lan Wangji to come with him. To throw away the responsibilities and spend his life travelling and living for themselves. He knew how Lan Wangji's heart survived for him, how his soul sang his name. Had he but asked, Lan Wangji would have reached into his own chest, plucked his fragile heart out to place it in Wei Wuxian's hands. Had he but asked, Lan Wangji would have conquered the heavens to place the stars at his feet. Had he but asked, Lan Wangji would have left Cloud Recesses to be with Wei Wuxian. Wei Wuxian knew all this, and that is why he wouldn't ask such a thing of Lan Wangji.)

Wei Wuxian walked away, after carving into his mind the much-loved sight of Lan Wangji, leaving behind his heart, knowing that he held in his possession the other's own, full of steady devotion and immeasurable love. He walked away, knowing that he will be coming back to Lan Wangji sooner than expected, already feeling the tug on his soul towards his other half.

Even though Wei Wuxian never bothered to hear the rumours about himself, he knew that rumours and the talk in inns and the streets were a good way to gauge the state of affairs.

As he travelled, going where the road took him, he heard about how Lanling Jin Sect was being overturned and cleaned off the mess that the previous Sect Leader Jin Guangyao had caused. He heard how, even though Sect Leader Jin Rulan was young, he was leading the Lanling Jin Sect with grace, making amends and accomplishing much, with the help of his uncle Jiang Wanyin, the man who had rebuilt Lotus Pier from the ashes. He heard about how Sect Leader Jiang Wanyin had knelt in the Jiang's ancestral hall for three days in front of Jiang Yanli's name.

Of all that he overhead, he paid particular attention to the news from Gusu Lan and about Lan Wangji. And it was because of that, and some discreet investigation, that Wei Wuxian realised that the most opposition that Lan Wangji faced was not from other Sects, but was from his own. To be specific, the elders of the Lan Sect were blaming Lan Xichen for his inability in realising the true nature of Jin Guangyao, but since the First Jade of Lan was in seclusion, they were taking it out on the person who was readily available. Of course, the fact that Lan Wangji had opposed them again, to stand by Wei Wuxian, even after the punishment he had received last time, didn't help matters.

The more Wei Wuxian heard of how the Lan elders were undermining Lan Wangji's authority, causing the other minor sects to act out (the other three major Sects - Yunmeng, Jin, Qinghe - even though in favour of Lan Wangji, couldn't interfere in Lan Sect matters), the more Wei Wuxian wanted to march right back to the Cloud Recesses to show the supposedly wise elders why, exactly, the name of Yiling Patriarch had reduced many a people to incoherent, terrified pleas.

Wei Wuxian breathed in deliberately.

He set out for Carp Tower. He needed more information and who better to get it from than Jin Ling, who would definitely be in frequent contact with Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi.

As Wei Wuxian expected, his arrival at Carp Tower had resulted in a huge ruckus that only calmed with Jin Ling's arrival. With a few stern looks and sharp words, Jin Ling made it clear that Wei Wuxian was always welcome in the Carp Tower and anyone who had a problem with that can take it up with him, the Sect Leader, directly. So saying, Jin Ling led Wei Wuxian inside, away from prying eyes.

Once they were alone, however, Jin Ling dropped the 'Sect Leader' act.

"You!" Jin Ling blustered. "Always causing trouble! What do you want now?"

Wei Wuxian pouted. "Is that how you greet your long-lost uncle, A-Ling?"

A red flush crept upon Jin Ling's cheeks.

"Don't call me that!" he snapped. "Well? Why did you come?"

Wei Wuxian grinned. "Shouldn't I come visit my one and only, dearest nephew?"

Jin Ling's eyes widened with surprise and, if Wei Wuxian wasn't mistaken and he was pretty sure that he wasn't, with a shy kind of pleasure.

Those eyes...

Wei Wuxian couldn't stop himself from bounding forward to pull his nephew into a tight hug.

Jin Ling struggled a bit, saying, "Let me go, you lunatic!"

Wei Wuxian chuckled. Jin Ling was so much like his other uncle.

"No way," Wei Wuxian declared. "I want a hug and who better to get it from than my darling nephew!"

To keep up appearances, Jin Ling muttered unsavory comments about Wei Wuxian's mental capacity, trying to hide how he had involuntarily shuddered and melted into the embrace. He tucked his head under Wei Wuxian's chin, a soft warmth spreading through him.

(It had been a long while since he had felt safe and secure, even in his own home. Jiang Wanyin had returned to Lotus Pier to look to his own duties, even though there was a letter to Jin Ling every few days. Within Wei Wuxian's arms, however, his world steadied, his mind quieted.

'His uncle', his now-calm mind supplied. 'His family.'

'He doesn't hate me even though I stabbed him,' a part of him sighed in relief.

'He cares for me,' he hesitantly acknowledged, a bloom of pleasure taking root in his heart.)

Wei Wuxian's smile softened as he rested his cheek over Jin Ling's head.

He had missed the brat more than he thought he would.

It was later, when Wei Wuxian had asked after the Sect matters and the stability in the cultivation world that Jin Ling divulged what he had heard from his Lan friends.

After a few days, Wei Wuxian was on his way to Qinghe, after cheekily promising Jin Ling to convey how much he missed Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi.

He kept remembering what Jin Ling had told him.

"Sizhui is worried. He wrote about how the atmosphere is too heavy in Cloud Recesses nowadays, as though something is about to happen."

"Jingyi said that Lan Qiren does not acknowledge Hanguang Jun at all."

"You're going there, aren't you? You'll help them."

"How am I so confident that you'll help them? Well, you're the Yiling Patriarch, aren't you? And you're my uncle. Of course, you will help them."

Wei Wuxian chuckled on recalling how his young nephew had flushed with embarrassment but still had tilted his chin up as he spoke of having absolute faith in his uncle. (A crack in Wei Wuxian's weak, weak heart healed as his nephew acknowledged their familial relation.)

So, now, Wei Wuxian was travelling to Qinghe, to meet up with an old friend, who had the mental acuity and cunning necessary for what he had in mind.

It had been six months since Wei Wuxian had last seen Lan Wangji and heachedfor 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.

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'.

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.

Lan Wangji was kneeling, in front of a committee of Lan elders, Lan Qiren being one among them. He looked resolute, his posture impeccable, his head held high. Senior and Junior disciples all milled around, some with blank faces, but most with gritted teeth and rebellious looks, especially the juniors.

In a whisper, Lan Sizhui filled him in as to what had transpired.

The elders had become more and more vocal about their discontent with the Twin Jades of Lan. They had demanded that Lan Xichen be punished for his failure in upholding the duty and honour of the Gusu Lan Sect. They were dissatisfied by how Lan Wangji had broken rules to stand by the Yiling Patriarch and had been rewarded with the position of the Chief Cultivator.

Lan Wangji had quelled their wishes to drag Lan Xichen out of seclusion, just to punish him and then throw him back into seclusion (the same way they had punished Lan Wangji with thirty three lashes and three years of seclusion). He had dismissed their unreasonable demands, that were presented to him in the form of concerns and requests.

Lan Qiren hadn't advocated the same as the other elders, but neither had he put a stop to it.

It had all culminated in the elders deciding to go forth with their decision to bring Lan Xichen out of seclusion and give him fifty lashes with the discipline whip. Lan Wangji had stepped in, when it was obvious that they wouldn't be deterred, and had stated that he would take the punishment on his brother's behalf.

They had accepted.

Lan Wangji was to receive seventy lashes - fifty on behalf of Lan Xichen and twenty for standing against the Lan elders.

Lan Sizhui, having been told by Wen Ning the other day that Wei Wuxian was near Caiyi Town and was on his way to see Lan Wangji, had scrambled to find Wei Wuxian before it was too late.

And now, there they were, witnessing how Lan Wangji had knelt to receive punishment, that was more akin to torture.

A disciple walked forward, holding the discipline whip in his hand. He hesitated, glancing at Lan Wangji.

Before either he or Lan Wangji could utter a word, one of the elders with a stern face looked to Lan Qiren, waiting for a protest that never came. Lan Qiren glanced at his nephew and turned away, pursing his lips in disappointment.

With a signal from the elders, the disciple raised the whip.

Lan Sizhui inhaled sharply.

Lan Wangji closed his eyes.

Wei Wuxian let loose the resentful energy that was brimming with his vengeful wrath.

Everyone froze for a long second.

Dark clouds of resentful energy crashed against the elders and the disciples, causing many to crumble to their knees, hands scrambling to close their ears against the eerie, terrifying screaming.

A sibilant hiss sounded through the area.

"Don't. You. Dare. Touch. Him."

Lan Wangji breathed out, softly, hopefully, full of yearning, "Wei Ying."

Lan Qiren shook with both rage and effort to hold out against the deluge of darkness around them all.

"You dare bring your taint to the Cloud Recesses!"

"Of the two of us, I'm not the one who is tainted," Wei Wuxian spat out, his eyes sparking with power.

Turning back to the cultivators writhing in front of him, Wei Wuxian loosened the grip the resentful energy had on the younger disciples. They fell to the ground, coughing. The ones who reached for their swords were stopped by others, who seemed familiar to Wei Wuxian.

'Ah, the kids from Yi City,' Wei Wuxian thought, distantly.

The demonic energy curled around Wei Wuxian like a lazy pet, tendrils reaching out to playfully tug at Lan Wangji's robes. The elders caught in the grasp, however, were slowly and mercilessly choked, their faces becoming red and then pale.

A cruel smirk tugged at Wei Wuxian's lips. He barred his teeth, that looked just a bit sharper, at the arrogant cultivators who had dared to think they could hurt the one who was his.

The sound of running footsteps caught his attention.

Lan Xichen, followed by Lan Jingyi, rushed to where they were.

Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Xichen with a placid face, the spark of insane fury still evident in his eyes.

"Xichen," Lan Qiren choked out.

Lan Xichen looked at how his brother was yet kneeling, looking up at him without any blame, unaffected by the resentful energy that twirled protectively around him. Turning to Wei Wuxian, he gave a short nod, his fists clenched in an uncharacteristic show of temper.

With an almost lazy gesture, Wei Wuxian lifted the elders up into the air, their swords clattering to the ground.

"If this happens again," Wei Wuxian said, the deadly threat evident in his voice, "You will witness a bloodbath that would make the massacre at Nightless City a walk in the park."

His voice was low and yet it resonated everywhere.

"Is that understood?"

When there was no response other than sounds of choking, Wei Wuxian tightened his grip.

"I said, is that understood?"

The walk to the jingshi was made in silence.

Wei Wuxian peeked at Lan Wangji, trying to guess if the other was mad at him for what he did. But Lan Wangji's face was smooth as jade, with no discernable emotions evident.

When the door closed behind them, Wei Wuxian fidgeted.

"Ah, Lan Zhan," he started, glancing at him from under his eyelashes. "Lan Zhan, are you mad at me?"

There was no response.

Wei Wuxian gritted his teeth and turned to the window, looking at the green meadow beyond. It really was a beautiful day.

"I will not apologise," Wei Wuxian said, firmly. "I know that you hate, that you loathe the demonic path. But I am not sorry for doing what I did. They were going to hurt you, Lan Zhan. And I won't - I can't just stand by doing nothing."

His grip on Chenqing tightened unconsciously. The already raw skin of his palm split open and blood dripped down.

Wei Wuxian didn't notice as his eyes were glazed over, recalling what had almost happened.

"Even if you are angry with me," he stopped to inhale shakily, "even then, I won't apologise for protecting you. Nor will I regret it. You deserve everything good, Lan Zhan. Not more pain and suffering. If you had been hurt even once, I would have -"

He broke off, closing his eyes, his body shuddering with the remembered red-hot fury.

A soft touch to his hand still holding Chenqing made his breath stutter. He didn't dare move.

Wei Wuxian was gently but insistently maneuvered to face Lan Wangji, who still looked at him expressionlessly.

No, wait.

He wasn't expressionless -

- the small quiver of his lips, the way his fingers trembled as he ever-so gently loosened Wei Wuxian's grip on Chenqing so that he may place the flute on the nearby table, carefully, the way he slowly, and with utmost care, wrapped Wei Wuxian's bleeding palm with a clean cloth and the way he, with a loaded glance at Wei Wuxian, had brought his hand to his lips and so, so lightly, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings, kissed the knuckles and -

Oh.

Oh.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said, helplessly caught in that golden gaze.

"Wei Ying," was the reply, lips tracing the words on Wei Wuxian's skin, the words uttered with the devotion one would usually witness in a devotee worshipping a god.

And Wei Wuxian couldn't breathe for how much he loved this amazing, beautiful man in front of him.

With a gentle tug, Wei Wuxian pulled Lan Wangji closer, just as he himself stepped towards him.

Looking at those eyes, brightened with adoration, Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh in pure joy.

"Lan Zhan," he said, looking at the curve of Lan Wangji's lips.

"Mn."

"Lan Zhan," he said, against the very lips he had been gazing at.

"Mn."

"Lan Zhan," he sighed out, blissfully, through swollen lips that had been thoroughly kissed and bitten and worshipped.

Lan Wangji's response got lost in the curve of Wei Wuxian's neck.

And they lived happily ever after.

End Notes:

1. lxc politely and verbally eviscerates the morons who wanted to harm his little brother

2. lxc comes out of seclusion, it's still hard, but lwj and wwx aren't gonna let him be alone

3. jl and wwx meet up quite frequently. jl loves the affection that wwx showers him with but will never admit it

4. jc and wwx talk it out after jl got sick of both jc and wwx moping about the other

5. word spread about how the yiling laozu was protective af over lwj and the opposition (and marriage proposals) stopped immediately

A/N: I originally had the idea of wwx living in CR for a while before this confrontation would take place. But this is how the story wanted to go.

An alternative ending will be posted as chapter two.

Drop a comment or send me a PM and let me know how you found the fic to be.

Take care!