Chapter Text
"Did you really believe me back then?" Wei Ying says through tears. Lan Zhan stares at him for a moment. He looks over every part of him. His face, pale and taught, wet with silver tears. His beautiful dark hair, long, shiny, messy after his sleep. Wei Ying is practically naked, with only his robes lazily thrown on to cover him. Lan Zhan breaths in deeply.
"Well? Did you?" Wei Ying persists. Lan Zhan turns around to look out the window of the Jingshi. He hears Wei Ying huff behind him.
"Lan Zhan." Wei Ying says softly. Lan Zhan feels his shoulders stiffen as a hand carcasses over it. The palm radiates a comfortable warmth that he feels through his robes. Lan Zhan swallows.
"You know I did." He finally replied, turning to look at his beautiful lover. Wei Wuxian sniffs softly, gray eyes welling up with more tears.
"Please don't lie to me." Wei Ying begged. Lan Zhan felt a tinge of pain in his heart.
The feared Wei Wuxian, Yilling Lazou, one of the best demonic cultivators of their time's biggest weakness was being lied to.
Lan Zhan grabbed him by the hands, feeling another clench at his heart when Wei Ying began sobbing softly, his body shaking as he fell into Lan Zhan's embrace.
Lan Zhan, "I've never lied to you. I believe your integrity. I believe you."
Wei Ying looked up at him with watery eyes.
"Then please believe me now. You know it wasn't me, it couldn't have been."
Lan Zhan swallows again.
Thousands of cultivators, young and old, were dead. And the main suspect, with multiple eye witness, was Wei Wuxian.
Sure, it sounds completely plausible. Wei Wuxian was known for, well, mass murder. And it was his Stygian Tiger Amulet that was the main cause of the ruckus.
But it couldn't have been Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji knew it.
There was a knock on the door of the Jingishi. Wei Wuxian jumped, and Lan Wangji instinctively tightened his grip onto Bichen.
But they were in Cloud Recess. No one dared to attempt anything here.
Wangji stood up and greeted the person behind the door. Zewu Jun politely nodded to his younger brother, and began to walk into the Jingshi. If he'd noticed Wei Ying's lack of clothing, he hadn't said anything about it.
"It's troublesome." Zewu Jun said. They didn't need any clues to know what he was referring to. The Battle at Nightless City. The battle that everyone was convinced was caused by Wei Wuxian.
Lan Zhan, "What are they saying, Xichen?"
"That's it's your fault," Zewu Jun nodded toward Wei Wuxian, "they're convinced that you created puppets to fight."
Wei Wuxian swallowed. Then blinked.
"It wasn't him," Lan Zhan said shortly, walking to his table. Swinging his white sleeve over, he poured himself a cup of water, and slowly lifted it to his lips.
Zewu Jun, "How are you so sure? Forgive me, Young Master Wei, but I do want to know the truth. I won't think any differently of you-"
"It wasn't him!" Lan Zhan shouted. It was less of a shout, more of a short bark. However, it was so out of character that Zewu Jun's eyes widened, and Wei Ying was left open mouthed.
"Wangji." Zewu Jun said firmly. Lan Zhan bowed his head.
"It really wasn't me, Zewu Jun." Wei Ying stood up and stepped in. Zewu Jun turned to him, then uncomfortably coughed.
Wei Ying furrowed his eyebrows, until Lan Zhan cleared his throat. Wei Ying looked at him, and Lan Zhan gestured at his body with his eyes. Wei Ying looked down, and quickly realized his mistake. When he stood up, his robe had flown open.
As he wrapped the thin fabric around him protectively, Zewu Jun cleared his throat and looked at the floor.
Zewu Jun, "I'll take my leave. Wangji," Zewu Jun turned to him. After a long moment, "I trust you."
Lan Wangji nodded, and Zewu Jun left. Wangji turned and looked at Wei Ying, who was desperately covering himself up, cheeks red out of embarrassment.
Lan Zhan walked over to him, and stood in front of him. Wei Ying looked at him. Lan Zhan breathed in, out.
"You know it's not me." Wei Ying breathed. Lan Zhan nodded. Wei Ying touched Lan Zhan's hand lightly, then began running it up his arm.
"My Lan Zhanie~" Wei Ying whined. Lan Zhan felt blood rushing to his cheeks.
"Wei Ying. This is serious." Lan Zhan said slowly, averting his gaze away from Wei Ying.
"Of course you'd say that." Wei Ying huffed, rolling his eyes and moving closer to Lan Zhan.
"It's the truth" Lan Zhan said, sitting down on his bed. Wei Ying clambered into his lap.
"Come on. Let's have some fun." He said, resting his arms on Lan Zhan's shoulders. He began giving tiny kisses down Lan Zhan's neck.
"We can't, Wei Ying." Lan Zhan denied again, realizing he was fighting a losing battle. His dick was enjoying the pressure from Wei Ying's body on his, as well as the hot kisses pressed against his neck.
"Please, Lan-er-gege." That was all Lan Wangji could take before kissing Wei Ying on the mouth. They tumbled down onto the bed, stripped, and some 30 minutes later that was that.
They lied nude on Lan Zhan's bed, his white robes providing warmth. Lan Zhan held a sleepy Wei Ying tightly to him.
"I'll protect you no matter what." He spoke into silence. Wei Ying slowly looked up at him and blinked.
"It might ruin your reputation. Are you okay with that?" Lan Zhan almost smiled. The entire cultivation world was against Wei Ying right now, and the only thing he cared about was Lan Zhan's reputation being spared.
"I'm okay with anything, as long as I can keep you safe." Lan Wangji responded. He wasn't stupid. He knew the risks behind supporting Wei Ying. However, he would never leave him to fight alone. Ever.
-
An hour or so later found Wei Ying and Lan Zhan gathered together in the main hall of Cloud Recess. Zewu Jun sat in front of them.
"So, how are you positive that it wasn't Young Master Wei? There are many people who are positive that it was." He said slowly, clearing his throat and looking at Lan Wangji.
"It wasn't, Xichen." Wangji said.
"But do you have proof? An alibi? Anything? Where were you when everything happened, Young Master Wei?" Zewu Jun turned his attention to Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian, "Zewu Jun, it really wasn't me."
"But they won't just believe your words. Jiang Wanyin is positive that it's your fault. I'm afraid he won't simply believe you." Zewu Jun said.
"Xichen, you said people saw Wei Ying?" Zewu Jun's eyes turned towards Wangji and nodded.
"Yes. Many people from various different clans saw him. In fact... I..." He paused.
"You?" Wei Ying questioned, urging him to finish his sentence.
"I also... I saw Young Master Wei." Wei Ying opened his mouth in surprise and Lan Zhan's eyes widened.
"How? Zewu Jun it wasn't me!" Wei Ying exclaimed.
"I saw you, Young Master Wei. I saw you, many Lan disciples saw you, and various members of other clans did as well. It's hard to say that it wasn't you when one of your allies saw you." Zewu Jun said seriously.
"So, you are an ally?" Lan Wangji questioned aloud.
"Of course, Wangji. I want the best for both of you." Zewu Jun turned to Wei Ying, "But I did see you last night."
"That's impossible." Lan Zhan said.
"I'm afraid it is quite possible, Wangji." Zewu Jun, blinking slowly and drinking a sip of water from the cup in front of him.
"How? It isn't possible." Wangji asked.
"Why not?" Zewu Jun countered.
"Because Wei Ying was with me last night." Lan Zhan said shortly.
"With you?" Zewu Jun asked.
"In the Jingshi." Zewu Jun's eyes widened as he suddenly understood.
"Oh."