Chapter Text
“Lan Wangji!” His neighbour, Wei Wuxian, beams at him as he leaves his apartment. “You’re up early!”
Lan Wangji resists the urge to check his phone for the time. He’s checked it three times in the last minute. “It’s seven thirty AM.”
“Exactly!” Wei Wuxian grins, balancing a ridiculous number of bags on one arm as he locks his door. A little boy hides behind his leg, peering up at Lan Wangji with big brown eyes. “I’d normally still be sleeping but it’s time to take A-Yuan to kinder.”
Lan Wangji stares at the boy for what would be an uncomfortable length of time for most toddlers, but A-Yuan’s eyes almost seem to sparkle. Lan Wangji doesn’t want to know what about him has captured his interest.
“Ah!” Wei Wuxian says suddenly, spinning to point at Lan Wangji. “You haven’t met! Lan Wangji, this is my son. Well, he is now anyway. A-Yuan, this is Lan Wangji. He’s our neighbour.”
A-Yuan gives him a little smile, clutching at Wei Wuxian’s pants. “Uncle.”
Lan Wangji knows he’s still staring, but. What else is he supposed to do in this situation? None of his family have had children, and the kids they adopt into the clan all tend to keep their distance. “Hello,” he settles on.
A-Yuan brightens and reaches into his tiny pockets, then assumes a brave face to step forward and present him with something. Lan Wangji bends down – really, how are humans this small? – and opens his hand. A-Yuan gravely sets a sparkly dolphin sticker upon his palm.
“Thank you,” Lan Wangji says seriously. Wei Wuxian is giggling away above them, and the sound has Lan Wangji's ears heating a little.
Satisfied, A-Yuan turns to Wei Wuxian. “Baba, kindie.”
“Ah fu- udge! Gotta go!” Wei Wuxian ducks down to sweep A-Yuan into his free arm. “See you later, Lan Wangji!”
Lan Wangji watches them go, sighing quietly through his nose.
Lan Wangji moved out of the clan estate to stay in the city for several reasons. First of all, it lets him keep a closer eye on less well supported mutants who may need help or redirection to one of the major clans. Second, he was getting sick of driving through city traffic after a long shift at hospital. And third –
“You should come visit soon!” Lan Xichen says cheerfully through the phone, but Lan Wangji can hear the underlying or else.
“I will,” Lan Wangji agrees easily. Pauses. “Will your partners be there?”
Lan Xichen laughs. “I made them promise not to bully you!”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji trusts this exactly zero percent. “You said that last time.”
“I used more specific wording this time. A-Yao was impressed.”
Lan Wangji closes his eyes and rolls his shoulders. “Tired of being nagged to marry. You did it twice, can’t they just take that.”
“You know the answer to that one,” Lan Xichen says smoothly. “Let me know when you’re free.”
Lan Wangji's schedule flits through his head. “I’m covering for someone. I’ll tell you when I get a break.”
“Excellent,” Lan Xichen's smile is in his voice.
Lan Wangji hangs up and lies back on the couch, rolling his neck. His shoulders are still stiff. He breathes deeply and scrunches his nose at the smell; he needs a shower.
He casts a longing glance at the darkening sky and heads for the bathroom.
Twelve-hour shifts are not Lan Wangji's favourite. Cover shifts with multiple MET calls and code greys are definitely not his favourite.
He unlocks his door with no small measure of relief, flicks on the light and heads straight for the fridge. He’s halfway through tomorrow’s lunch, feeling guilty before he remembers he only has an evening shift, then downs the rest of it.
A shower and comfortable pyjamas later, he’s lounging on the couch with mindless TV on. He closes his eyes, wondering if he’d sleep better if he could just ease the ache of his shoulders –
A soft breath. That isn’t from him.
Lan Wangji’s eyes snap open. There’s a head poking through his wall. A very short head, with the rest of his body following as he stumbles through the wall. Large eyes scan his apartment and fix on him.
He knows he’s staring again. But he’s entitled to, isn’t he?
“Uncle,” A-Yuan rubs at his eyes, taking hesitant steps towards him.
He’s frozen to the couch. “Yes,” he manages.
A-Yuan is in front of him now, looking up hopefully at him. “Orange?”
Lan Wangji had his last orange yesterday. “No oranges,” he says gently.
A-Yuan’s lower lip wobbles slightly, then he abruptly sinks into the floor. Lan Wangji reacts without thinking, grabbing him by the armpits and lifting him into the air. He’s a little unnerved as little legs kick through his torso while the boy’s arms are warm and solid.
“Where’s Wei Wuxian?” He asks, waiting for A-Yuan to become solid.
He doesn’t.
A-Yuan brightens. “Baba!” he beams, tiredness suddenly gone. “I want to play! But he’s sleeping,” he pouts.
Lan Wangji is still holding him and his arms are starting to get tired. “You’re a mutant?” He asks, already knowing the answer.
The boy blinks at him slowly before his face pales. “Baba says I’m not supposed to tell people,” he whispers. His eyes start to well with tears and his mouth opens like he’s going to let out a wail –
“Me too!” Lan Wangji says quickly, standing and finally letting his thick black wings pierce through his pyjama top to fill the space of his living area. “So it’s okay,” he adds, suddenly uncertain. He really should’ve hung out with the clan kids more. Maybe then he’d know how to act around children.
A-Yuan hiccups and reaches out. Lan Wangji lets one wing move close enough for him to touch, then immediately regrets it when he promptly pulls out a feather. “Pretty,” he says, shy again as he strokes the feather.
This is how Lan Wangji is going to spend his evening: dragged into mutant mess he wasn’t looking for, but can’t turn away from. He takes a steadying breath. “Can I put you down?”
A-Yuan’s eyes widen with fear. “No!”
Lan Wangji pulls him in against his chest and adjusts his grip. Thankfully A-Yuan’s bottom is still intact, so it’s easy enough to cradle him. He takes a seat again, arranging his wings to bracket them comfortably. A-Yuan reaches for his wings again and Lan Wangji figures he might not see other mutants very often. “Should we take you back to Wei Wuxian?”
“No!” he yells, and Lan Wangji flinches at the abrupt volume. This is why he’s not going into Paediatrics. “I’ll sink again!”
“Okay, okay,” Lan Wangji says soothingly, eyes flitting about his apartment as he assesses the situation. “Do you think you’ll be able to stand soon?” A-Yuan shakes his head and buries his face into Lan Wangji’s top with wet breaths that immediately ruin it. “Okay. We’ll stay here. I’ve got you.”
A-Yuan nods against his shirt and Lan Wangji sighs. He collapses against the couch and shifts until his wings are more relaxed, shielding his face from the light. A-Yuan settles comfortably against him and curls up a little, making sure his feet aren’t touching the couch.
“Does this help you not sink?” Lan Wangji asks, watching him clutch his stolen feather in his fists as his eyelids flutter. He nods and closes his eyes. Giving up on conversation, Lan Wangji leans his head back and wonders what made this day turn inside out.
A loud knock startles him out of sleep. Jolting awake, Lan Wangji’s wings flare out and smack against the couch. Wincing, he remembers the boy in his arms and confirms he’s still asleep. Tightening his arms around him as the knocking continues, he stands and rearranges his grip before folding back his wings until they’re hidden again. The holes in his pyjama top are unexplainable, but as long as he doesn’t turn around it should be fine.
The urgent knocking doesn’t stop until he opens the door to see Wei Wuxian’s hand hanging in the air, his expression frazzled. “Lan Wangji! I’ve lost- oh,” he stares at A-Yuan and sags with relief. “You found him.”
“He found me,” Lan Wangji says honestly, “he walked into my apartment.”
“Oh,” Wei Wuxian laughs awkwardly, anxiety making his eyes a little wild. “You must’ve left your door unlocked. Happens to me all the time.”
“Actually, he walked through my wall,” Lan Wangji says lightly, stepping back as Wei Wuxian’s eyes widen with panic. Wei Wuxian attempts that strained laugh again and walks inside, closing the door behind him.
“Very funny,” Wei Wuxian says, reaching for A-Yuan. Lan Wangji hands him over with relief.
“No, I watched him do it. Then his legs went through my body and I had to hold him to stop him going through the floor all night,” Lan Wangji says, watching the blood leave Wei Wuxian’s face. He jumps when Wei Wuxian clamps his free hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t report him,” he says quietly, desperation clear in his face. “He’s sweet, really, and wouldn’t hurt anyone!”
“I won’t,” Lan Wangji says, placing his hand on Wei Wuxian’s to loosen his grip but leaves it there, not sure what to do with Wei Wuxian’s full attention. The warmth of his hand seeps through his shirt. “Some of my closest friends are mutants. I wouldn’t do that.” He leaves out the fact that ‘friends’ means his entire clan.
A-Yuan stirs in Wei Wuxian’s arm. His eyes scrunch with a yawn and he looks up at Wei Wuxian for a second. “Baba!” he smiles, flinging his arms around his neck.
Lan Wangji can’t help but smile a little at the sight. Wei Wuxian’s eyes widen. “I’ll make some tea,” he says, letting them talk as he heads to the kitchen. By the time he has a couple of jasmine teas ready, Wei Wuxian looks calmer and A-Yuan is standing on the floor confidently.
He’s thinking the trouble is over when he sees A-Yuan show Wei Wuxian his feather enthusiastically. “This is Uncle’s! He’s part bird,” he says boldly, crawling into his lap.
Lan Wangji’s fingers tremble for a moment. “Children,” he says dismissively, trying not to wince at how strangled it sounds as he passes Wei Wuxian a mug. “Strong imaginations.”
Wei Wuxian laughs, his eyes curious as he takes a sip. “Really strong. It’s the same colour as your hair.”
“Everyone has black hair,” Lan Wangji says flatly, his racing heart loud in his ears.
Wei Wuxian eyes him for a long moment. “The blue tint is pretty unique.”
Lan Wangji is so not being called out on this. “Being mutant is genetic. How’d you end up with him?”
Wei Wuxian’s eyelids fall slightly and it’s unfair how attractive he is when he’s bringing up his guard. “Unusual circumstances,” he says, voice calm and even. Lan Wangji has never seen him so still.
A-Yuan blinks up at them, already bored. “Baba makes fire and shadows,” he says like it’s a fact. Lan Wangji tilts his head while Wei Wuxian starts like he’s been hit.
“No I don’t,” he says quickly, the cool demeanour evaporated. Lan Wangji’s seen some bad lying in his time but this is ridiculous.
“Yes you do!” A-Yuan insists, suddenly awake and determined. “Don’t lie! You said lying is bad. You make fire!”
“Oh my god,” Wei Wuxian groans. Lan Wangji’s lips twitch with a mixture of relief and amusement. The thought of getting Jin Guangyao’s memory manipulation involved was unsettling, and he’s glad to put that backup plan to rest.
“You’ve been accused of being a liar,” Lan Wangji says lightly. He waits until Wei Wuxian’s meeting his gaze, storm-grey eyes defeated and shuttered. “A high crime indeed. How do you plead?”
A-Yuan must sense the joke his father is too tense to notice, giggling into his fist. “Baba. Crimes!”
Wei Wuxian groans again. “Alright, fine, guilty. Try to turn us in and I’ll tie you up.”
Lan Wangji can feel his ears heating. To cover any reaction, he spreads his wings, rolling his shoulders with the reprieve. He looks up hesitantly and all of Wei Wuxian’s emotions seem to battle it out over his face – relief, wonder, confusion and a darkness that Lan Wangji doesn’t want to put a name to. Closing his eyes, he shakes his wings out and stretches them. He thinks wistfully of his last flight – had it really been a month ago?
When he opens his eyes, it’s to realise Wei Wuxian’s pupils have blown wide. “You.” A silence hangs between them, heavy with anticipation. A-Yuan interrupts it by ticking the feather under Wei Wuxian’s chin. “Right. Okay.” His voice is low, his gaze hot as he lifts his free hand to click his fingers. A neat red flame erupts at his fingertips, turning blue as Wei Wuxian holds his gaze. “Lan Wangji,” he says, and the tone of his voice seems to wrap around Lan Wangji’s shoulders and draw him in. “Lan as in the Lan sect?”
Lan Wangji hums in agreement. The flame flickers out when A-Yuan reaches for it curiously. “There’s no Wei sect.” Abruptly he remembers his tea, reaches for it and takes a few long sips.
“No, there isn’t,” Wei Wuxian’s smile is slightly bitter.
Lan Wangji regards him for a moment, frazzled hair and creased night clothes. His intuition nags at him, and for once he’s not reluctant to oblige. “I have time, if you’d like to talk.”
Wei Wuxian sizes him up, suspicion clear in his eyes. Lan Wangji doesn’t move but whatever he’s looking for, Wei Wuxian seems to find it. He strokes a hand through A-Yuan’s hair, who has gotten bored and started to poke at Lan Wangji with his toes. Lan Wangji offers him his hand, and A-Yuan immediately starts playing with his fingers. “Alright, Lan Wangji,” he says, voice smooth. He shifts to sit sideways on the couch, balancing his mug on one knee as A-Yuan settles between them. “Let’s talk.”