Chapter Text
There was something red peeking out of the snow, like a tiny copper coloured mountain peak except it moved…and then suddenly another tiny rust coloured mountain peak appeared! Then a little black shiny wet nose and a red furry head appeared out of the snow. Wangji blinked. This is a fox. Wangji knows this because he is a fox too…he’s just never seen a red fox before. The Lan clan are all white foxes. Snow foxes. Where did this new fox come from? Wangji stalked closer. He had the advantage, the crisp snow was as white as his own soft coat. Only his black nose and bright eyes betrayed his location, but the little red fox didn’t appear to realise he was close by. It looked up at the sky and stuck out its tongue to catch snowflakes. Wangji thought that looked like fun. But he couldn’t have fun. He had to make sure this intruder wasn’t here to cause trouble for his clan. Wangji knew he would take over as chief one day after his Uncle and his brother and he took his role very seriously.
He wiggled his behind as he prepared to jump and then…nine red tails sprung out of the snow as the little fox bounded off in a hurry to…smell a snowdrop? Okay. Perhaps this new fox was not a threat at all…but nine tails? What kind of a fox had nine tails? Wangji was curious, so he popped his head out of his snowy hiding place and blinked at the red fox. For a moment they just looked at each other then before Wangji could bark out a protest the little red fox was on top of him smelling his neck with interest and padding excitedly on his stomach and chest with all four paws. Wangji froze. No one ever touched him. Everyone in his clan knew he didn’t like to be touched but the little fox did not seem to care. After a thorough sniffing the little fox settled on top of him. It seemed to like his scent. Wangji found he did not find the weight disagreeable. Feeling brave he leaned forward and inhaled the newcomer’s smell. Spiced apples? Unexpected…but nice. The little fox yawned and snuggled it’s head into Wangji’s chest. Wangji lay still. The red fox seemed very tired. Had it travelled far? Did it have somewhere to stay? Something felt warm in Wangji’s chest and the word ‘protect’ flashed through his thoughts. Once Wangji was sure the little fox was fast asleep, he transformed back into his 8 year old human form and carefully sat up, making sure to cradle the little fox in his arms. He marvelled at how soft it’s fur was and how it made a gentle purring noise in his arms.
“You will come home with me,” he whispered as he stood up very carefully and walked back to the Lan settlement.
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Wei Ying was only six when he lost his parents and found himself wandering aimlessly in the snow. He wasn’t entirely sure where his mom and dad had gone but they had discussed this. He knew it was a possibility one day. Red foxes were often seen as vermin. They told Wei Ying that if something was to happen he was to find a way to travel to Yunmeng and so he had set his nose to follow the scent his father had told him would lead the way to his new home but something pulled him towards a faint soft sandalwood fragrance instead. He followed it until the source appeared right in front of him. A white fox. His parents had told him that white foxes existed but he hadn’t realised they were quite so beautiful. He had so many things he wanted to ask but as soon as the full force of the white foxes scent hit him, the fact that he had been travelling for a day without food and without the comfort of his family hit him hard and suddenly he felt awfully tired. He didn’t remember anything after that until he woke up in an entirely new place…
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To say that Lan Xichen was surprised to find Wangji in bed late the next morning tightly cuddling what looked like a ball of red fur was an understatement.
“Wangji, you did not wake for lessons,” he said softly, placing a hand on his younger brother's arm. Wangji blinked up at him, hands curling protectively around the red circle by his side. Lan Xichen was once again hit by his overwhelming feelings of love for his little brother. There were eight years difference between Wangji and himself and he almost felt like a father to the boy at times.
“What do you have there?” he asked softly sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“Fox,” Wangji replied, sitting up.
Lan Xichen smiled, ever the man of few words that was his Wangji. “A fox?” he enquired with a smile.
Wangji nodded. “Mine,” he said.
“Yours?” Lan Xichen said with a small lilt of surprise breaking through his voice. “But Wangji, how can you own this fox? Surely he has a family looking for him?”
Wangji shook his head. “No family. All alone.”
Lan Xichen softened. “Wangji just because it was alone when you found it does not mean it has no family. They could be searching right now.”
Just then the red fox opened his eyes and looked sleepily up at Lan Xichen. It startled and tried to bury under the sheets, in the process it poked Wangji in the stomach with its little snout and made the boy huff out a small laugh. Lan Xichen melted. Oh how he had missed Wangji’s laugh! He hadn’t heard the most welcome sound since their mother had passed away.
The red fox seemed to be as enamoured by Wangji’s laugh as Lan Xichen as it stopped trying to hide and started poking Wangji in the stomach and sides with its snout to try and provoke another similar noise. It was successful several times and Lan Xichen almost forgot his purpose as he watched them play with sheer delight etched on his face. Wangji had made a friend. He had prayed so hard for it. He hoped the little fox was situated nearby so they could continue their friendship. As the red fox disappeared under the sheets head first, Lan Xichen saw nine tails follow and his eyebrows shot up. Nine tailed foxes were rare. Where could Wangji have found such a visitor?
“Wangji, where did you find…him?”
Wangji nodded to confirm that the fox was male as his brother had suspected. “In the meadows.”
Lan Xichen looked as stern as he could, which wasn’t very stern but Wangji got the message anyway. “You know you shouldn’t go that far from the grounds…”
“Wangji is a big fox now.” Oh no there was that stubborn lip of his. It would be easier to stay mad at Wangji if he wasn’t so adorable when he was being obstinate.
Lan Xichen nodded. “Yes, you are a big fox now Wangji, but the snow is dangerously high…”
“I’m a snow fox, brother,” Wangji said with a sarcastic edge far beyond his years that made Lan Xichen press his lips together to keep from laughing.
The little red fox head reappeared out of the covers. Lan Xichen stood. “Can you transform, little one?” he asked softly.
The fox blinked up at him and then huddled into Wangji’s chest breathing in deep. Ahhh. Clearly Wangji’s scent had already made an impact on their little guest. Lan Xichen wasn’t surprised. Wangji’s scent was so calm and pure he had once heard their Uncle state that he wished he could bottle it and sell it to the masses. He had seemed convinced it would put an end to all the pointless clan wars.
Lan Xichen sat back down on the end of the bed and reached out a tentative hand. The little fox reached out with its snout to sniff at his fingers, then drew back. Lan Xichen moved his hand slowly until he was stroking the red foxes fur. Soft. So soft. Almost like feathers. Lan Xichen broke out of his trance and smiled. “You have beautiful fur,” he told the little fox. The fox chirped and came closer to him, reaching up his head for more strokes and running its tails back and forth along Lan Xichen’s side.
Wangji frowned and glared at his brother. “Mine,” he said meaningfully.
Lan Xichen raised an eyebrow at his brother. He had never seen him act so territorially before. He hoped it would not cause a problem.
“He is your friend Wangji, yes, but his family may be looking for him.” Lan Xichen addressed the little fox once more. “Can you transform? If you tell us where you come from we can help you get back there.”
The fox blinked back at him. A moment later Lan Xichen found himself sitting next to his brother and a slightly smaller somewhat muddy little boy with large worried eyes.
Wangji gasped. Lan Xichen suspected this was the first time Wangji was seeing the little fox’s human form. He seemed awe struck. Oh dear. Lan Xichen hoped that Wangji would still be able to see his little friend when they returned him to his home. Perhaps even if he was situated quite far away they could arrange visits. It looked doubtful they would be parted from each other easily.
“Can you tell me your name?” Lan Xichen asked.
“Wei Ying,” the little boy said.
“Wei Ying,” Wangji repeated reverently. Lan Xichen’s concern levels were raised even higher.
“Can you tell me where your parents are?”
“Gone,” said the little boy in the saddest voice Lan Xichen had ever heard. Just as he was about to reach out and hug Wei Ying, Wangji placed a hand on the little boy's shoulder drawing Wei Ying’s attention to him. Lan Xichen watched as Wangji put his other hand over his heart. “Gone too,” he said softly. The two little ones looked at each other as if communicating on a different level somehow and Lan Xichen swallowed thickly at the sight of them. It wouldn’t have been useful to cry so he held back his tears.
“So you have no home to return to?” Lan Xichen asked.
The little boy shook his head.
Wangji looked at Lan Xichen. He didn’t have to use words to convey what he was thinking. Truth be told, Lan Xichen was thinking the same thing but it was still entirely unfair of his little brother to turn those big soft eyes on his weak big brother in Lan Xichen’s opinion. “We must speak with Uncle first,” Lan Xichen said as he stood. “He will know what to do.”
Wangji nodded and turned to Wei Ying. “Lan Zhan,” he said, putting a hand on his chest.
“Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying repeated.
Lan Zhan nodded.
The little boy’s face broke into a brilliant smile then. “Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan!” he shouted and pushed Wangji over until he was on his back and they were nose to nose.
Wangji turned his head to the side to look at his brother, a tiny smile playing on his lips. A smile! Laughter and a smile on the same day, Lan Xichen felt truly blessed. “Mine,” his little brother said with clear contentment.
Oh dear. This was going to be a problem. Lan Xichen hoped and prayed that their Uncle was in a charitable mood.
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