Work Text:
He’d seen those eyes before.
Those warm, brownish-reddish eyes where sparkles danced in. The gentle curve of the plump underneath them. The bright and hopeful soul that was laid bare behind them.
He’s seen them before. No, more than that, he’d-
He’d seen him before.
Perhaps in a different time.
A headband, a red ribbon.
Interlocked fingers.
Two jars of wine.
Two lifetimes of one.
The first, shattered and gone.
The second, savoured with joy and love.
“Your name’s Lan Zhan, right?” The young student with a red tie approached him, wispy bangs framing his beautiful face, barely pinned up with a red bunny-shaped hairclip that only further brought out his eyes, those bright eyes that barely hid that bright soul. That all-too-familiar bright soul.
He’d known him before.
Tasted him before.
Loved him before.
Loved him forevermore.
~~~~~~~~~~~
He must’ve seen those eyes somewhere.
The golden, sharp eyes that swept across every detail keenly, efficiently. Almost coldly if not for the hints of warmth that seeped out from the quiet yet caring soul that watched silently from behind them.
He must’ve seen them somewhere. Or further than that, he must’ve-
He must’ve seen him before.
Perhaps a while ago.
A gentle strum of strings, the melodic whistle of a flute.
Two separate pairs of hands moving together in perfect tandem.
Two first encounters.
One cold and on edge, harsh and agitated.
One filled with a desperate hope, and almost tearful joy.
“Mn.” The classmate with the blue and white tie responded. Slung across his shoulders was an oblong instrument in a leather-bound case. Hair parted and combed through evenly to showcase a magnificent face that highlighted that golden pair of eyes that revealed so much if people dared to look into them more, to melt the coldness with basic warmth. Those golden eyes that revealed a gentle soul. A patient soul. A soul battered by grief and patched up with strings of joy and gluey tears.
He totally had known him before.
Opened himself to him before.
Was loved by him before.
Loved him back forevermore.
==========
“Lan Zhan?”
“Mn.”
“Do you think we’ll ever reincarnate after we die?”
“Did Wei Ying see anything of the sort?”
“Nope…but I was wondering.”
“I see.”
Comfortable silence fell before it was broken again.
“Lan Zhan, here, give me your hand.”
“Mn?”
The sound of rustling could be heard. In the faint candlelight, all that was seen was a young man’s high ponytail falling loose as the ribbon holding it was yanked away.
Crimson silk was wrapped around Lan Wangji’s third finger.
“This?”
“Lan Zhan, ah, Lan Zhan.”
“Mn. I’m listening.”
“Lan Zhan, promise me.”
“I will promise whatever.”
Wei Wuxian smiled faintly.
“That’s so nice of you, Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan, one day, let’s reincarnate! And when we do, promise me…”
Wei Wuxian placed his hand gently over Lan Wangji’s, the other end of the crimson silk wrapped around his own middle finger.
“We’ll find each other and be together again in the next life.”
Lan Wangji removed his forehead ribbon and wrapped it around their two hands.
“Mn.”
=============
The two students stared back at each other. One’s face was in open surprise and the other’s expression was calm.
One singular thought ran through their heads as their hearts sped up together.
I found you.