~LAN ZHAN'S POV~

Lan Zhan hurried over to the Hanshi, walking as fast as he could without running. He had been away with Wei Ying, but had rushed here as soon as he heard the news: Sect Leader Lan was hurt. His brother had gotten injured on a night hunt, and he was in serious condition. The healers were working nonstop, and had managed to stabilize his condition. But Lan Zhan needed to see for himself that brother was alright. If something ever happened to Lan Xichen, he would never forgive himself. 

Bursting into the Hanshi, he nearly knocked the door right off its hinges. "BROTHER ARE YO-" Lan Zhan's eyes widened, his jaw dropping at the sight in front of him. Whatever he was about to say immediately died down in his chest, and his adam's apple bobbed. He swallowed, unsure of what to do. 

Jiang Wanyin was kneeling beside Lan Xichen, his lips moving as intelligible words came pouring out of his mouth. One hand gripped Xichen's, the other clenched in a tight fist. His hair was loose, and his eyes were puffy with a certain redness to them. But no- that wasn't what shocked Lan Zhan the most. What surprised him was that Jiang Wanyin was crying. The tears were trailing down his cheeks as his face crumpled in despair. 

Lan Zhan felt awkward, having caught the Sect Leader in such a vulnerable state. He wasn't quite sure how to approach this. On one hand, he desperately needed to see brother. But on the other, he didn't really know how to deal with a grown man crying. The last time he had seen something like this, was when Wei Ying died and he was left alone in this world. Back then, all Lan Zhan wanted to do was dwell in the numbness, not wanting anyone to bother him. But this was different. Brother was still very much alive. 

Lan Zhan paused, still in shock at the sight before him. He frowned, since when did Jiang Wanyin cry? For god's sake, the man almost never cried. He was always the impenetrable Sandu Shengshou, the grumpy asshole that got on everyone's nerves. The only time Lan Zhan had seen the other man break down in tears, was the first siege of Burial Mounds- that same siege that took away his Wei Ying. 

His frown deepened, the acid tone of bitterness clouding his mind. Jiang Wanyin had hurt Wei Ying. He had raised arms against his own brother. Yunmeng Jiang Sect disciples had slaughtered the Wen's just as much as Jiang Wanyin himself had. The betrayal had hurt Wei Ying deeply, causing so many sleepless nights and panicked screams. It took a long time before his beloved could finally sleep with ease- without the ever plaguing nightmares haunting his mind. 

"L-Lan Wangji," Jiang Cheng hiccuped, frantically trying to fix his appearance. But judging from the hesitant look on the other mans face, he was sure that the damage had already been done. Throwing his hands up in defeat, Jiang Cheng glared at Lan Zhan. "What do you want?" he muttered, putting a protective hand around Xichen. 

Lan Zhan's eyes narrowed. What? Did Jiang Wanyin think that he was a threat now? Did he sprout fangs? Was he planning on eating his own brother?! 

Lan Zhan felt his eyes harden, his lips twitching down in a frown. "Why can't I come?" 

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, gesturing at Lan Zhan. "Have you seen yourself? You look like you want to butcher something." 

Lan Zhan felt a slight smirk come across his face. "Not something, just someone." 

Jiang Cheng scowled at him, hints of amusement glinting in his violet eyes. "A-Huan would be mad at you if you killed me," he announced, a smug grin on his face. 

Lan Zhan felt his jaw tightening, his knuckles turning white from the death grip he had on Bichen. That fucker. Lan Zhan knew damn well that Jiang Wanyin never called his brother A-Huan. He was just flaunting their relationship, hoping to get a rise out of Lan Zhan. 

Well then. Two can play this game. 

"Xichen is fine," he shot back, laying emphasis on his brother's name. "Xichen has me." 

Jiang Cheng frowned. "His heart is big enough for more than one person." 

Lan Zhan didn't answer, instead gliding over to sit beside the Yunmeng Jiang Sect Leader. It would seem petty if he rebutted Jiang Wanyin's claim. But there was no way in hell Lan Zhan was going to acknowledge the other man. Especially after what he did to Wei Ying. 

Jiang Cheng sighed, running a tired hand over his face. "You know I love your brother right?" 

Lan Zhan gritted his teeth, "Mn," he replied, clenching his jaw in irritation. It was true how much Lan Xichen doted on Jiang Wanyin. And even if Lan Zhan never approved, brother would go to the ends of the Earth for his Jiang Cheng.

"And you know that your husband also happens to be my brother right?" 

Lan Zhan narrowed his eyes. How dare he bring up Wei Ying. How dare he act like Wei Ying meant anything to him. After all, wasn't it Jiang Wanyin that abandoned Lan Zhan's beloved in the first place? 

Jiang Cheng scowled, rolling his eyes at Lan Zhan. "And you know that Wei Wuxian would hate to see me and you keep arguing right?" 

Lan Zhan felt his lips pulling down in a frown. Oh that was low. Bringing up Wei Ying because he knew that Lan Zhan would do anything to make his husband happy- even if it meant calling a truce with Jiang Wanyin. 

His brows furrowed, but he managed to keep his face a mask of icy calm. 

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes again, throwing his hands up in defeat. "You know what? Fine. Be a prick," he glowered, rising to get a healer. 

"Stay." Lan Zhan commanded, standing up himself. "I will get someone." 

Jiang Cheng shot him a withering glare. "I'm tired, not incapacitated." 

"I do not trust you." 

"Well fuck you. I don't trust your ass either." 

Lan Zhan fought the urge to punch Jiang Wanyin in the face. It wouldn't do to have brother wake up and see his husband with a black eye. "I will go." 

"No, I will." 

"Stay." 

"Fuck you, I'm going." 

"Do not." 

"Who's going to stop me?" 

"You will stay." 

"Shut up Lan Wangji, I won't stand for your righteous bullshit." 

"Cursing is forbidden in Cloud Recesses." 

"Fuck off. Bet you don't say that to Wei Wuxian." 

"He is different." 

"How?" 

"He is my husband."

"And I'm Xichen's."

"But-" 

Jiang Cheng gave a humorless laugh. "Of course, I forgot that you always bend everything to your favor. Always nitpicking everyone else, but turning blind eye to your beloved Wei Ying." A mocking glint appeared in his eye, "Oh my, the honorable Han-Guang Jun. Not that honorable are we? Always defending your Wei Ying. Even if he causes trouble."

"Wei Ying did nothing wrong."

"Nothing wrong? Nothing wrong? I might not hate him that much anymore, but even I'm not as ignorant as you." 

Lan Zhan felt his temper rising. "How dare you," he hissed, poison underlining his words. "Wei Ying died to keep you safe. He gave up his golden core for you. How dare you act so ungrateful!" he exclaimed, fury bubbling up inside him. 

It had taken months of gentle coaxing before Wei Ying had finally confessed what happened between him and Jiang Cheng. And Jiang Wanyin dared to disregard his sacrifice! How presumptuous! 

"You-" Lan Zhan started, but was quickly cut off by Jiang Cheng's angry voice. 

"He died to keep me safe? That's quite a reach isn't it Lan Wangji? He died to keep the Wens safe. He died to keep Wen Qing and Wen Ning safe. He didn't die for me- he died because of his own choices. Who told him to harbor the Wens? Who told him to leave the Jiang Sect? I begged him! I begged him to stay, begged him to come back! I told him that as long as he gave up the Wens, I would cover for him. I would've made sure that he would be safe! I would've found a way. But did he listen? No! He just had to be righteous about it. He just had to save those Wen dogs. He just had to appeal to his own conscience!" Jiang Cheng was fuming, all the pent up anger and frustration flying past his lips. "He gave his golden core for me? Ha! Did I ask him to? No! I gave up my golden core for him! I fucking distracted those soldiers so he could escape. And then what does he do? He comes right back and completely neglects my sacrifice! Did I tell him to give me his core? Fuck no! He just had to be the self sacrificing hero, just had to save everyone. Did I ask him to help me? No! But then again, it wouldn't be Wei Wuxian if he actually listened to someone else's feelings- now would it? Ha! That fool. That absolute idiot. Who needs his help anyways? Why couldn't he just leave me be?" 

"Y-You..." Lan Zhan's jaw dropped in shock at the revelation. Jiang Wanyin had given his core up for Wei Ying. Jiang Wanyin had been prepared to give his life up for Wei Ying. Jiang Wanyin had been ready to die for his brother. Jiang Wanyin had-

"Me what? You think I'm grumpy and horrible to Wei Wuxian? Well guess what. He fucking deserves it. Does him giving his golden core change the fact that he killed my sister? Does me loving him and caring about him change the fact that he brought the Wen's to Yunmeng Jiang? Does him coming back and us making up change the fact that he betrayed the Jiang Sect? No! No it fucking doesn't. I might forgive him, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten what he did. I might not hold the deaths of my parents against him anymore, but that doesn't mean it wasn't him that caused their deaths in the first place." 

Lan Zhan was speechless, his mind racing to process what Jiang Wanyin had just said. He stood there, mouth opened in awe. "I-" 

"Wanyin?" a feeble voice called, and Jiang Cheng immediately spun back around. Eyes widening with relief, he fussed  over Lan Xichen- who was now awake on his bed. "Xichen. Don't fucking scare me like that again okay?" he muttered, propping up a few pillows for his husband. "Is this okay? Should I get you medicine? Oh god, should I call a healer? You're wound is probably still sore isn't it? Shit. Do you want me to call them over?" 

Lan Xichen gave a soft chuckle. "It's fine Wanyin, don't worry." 

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes. "Don't worry?! You nearly got fucking skewered by that beast and you want me to not worry? Not worry? Not worry my ass!" 

Xichen shook his head, gazing tenderly at the man before him. He turned his head, eyes landing on his younger brother- still standing frozen in shock. "Wangji?" he asked, tilting his head in confusion. "What's wrong?" 

His voice snapped Lan Zhan out of his daze, and the younger quickly gave a bow. "I apologize brother. I was just leaving." 

"Wangji?" 

"I am not mad." 

Xichen's brow furrowed, but he gave a swift nod. "Very well then," he murmured, turning his attention back to his husband. 

Lan Zhan glanced at the pair, something strange bubbling up in his chest. It took a moment before he realized what it was: warmth.

His eyes widened in shock. Warmth was never an emotion he had associated with Jiang Wanyin. Lan Zhan had always thought the latter was too stubborn and difficult to possibly deal with. But looking at him now, arms draped around his brother- Lan Zhan felt a small part of him cave. 

Maybe Jiang Wanyin wasn't so bad after all. 

Maybe Wei Ying was right all along. 

Maybe Jiang Cheng was just as brave and strong as his Wei Ying had been. 

Maybe... just maybe... Lan Zhan didn't hate him as much as he thought. 

With Wanyin's words ringing in his ear, Lan Zhan turned, a soft smile drifting across his face as he put a small hand on Jiang Cheng's shoulder. The latter immediately spun back, jaw dropping slack in shock. "W-Wha-" he trailed off, eyes widening at the sight of Lan Zhan's small smile. 

"You-" 

"Jiang Wanyin. You weren't as bad as I thought."