The next morning Lan WangJi finished his meditation and went to fetch their breakfast, as he did every morning. Today, though, he did not wake Wei WuXian. After leaving the Jingshi he stopped by the Hanshi and asked his brother to have one of the elders monitor his classes for the morning, as Wei WuXian had a bad night. He sought out Lan SiZhui and asked him to let Wang Xiu know that Wei WuXian would be late today. Lan SiZhui had immediately asked if his Father Wei was well, and Lan WangJi reassured him that he was simply exhausted from nightmares and he intended to let him sleep longer today. His last stop before the kitchens was at the Healing Hall, where he asked that a Healer come to the Jingshi mid-morning.

Back at the Jingshi, Lan WangJi left the breakfast tray on the table and sat at his guqin. He played Clarity, to dispel any lingering negative energies from the nightmare. When Wei WuXian still did not awaken, he played it several more times, then moved to playing WangXian. By the middle of the second playing of WangXian, Wei WuXian was sighing lightly and at the end he sat up in bed. His hair fell loosely around his shoulders, his sleeping robe had allowed one shoulder to escape, and he blinked like a sleepy owl.

"Lan Zhan? I had the best sleep..." Wei WuXian's voice trailed away. "Why are you playing the guqin? Isn't it breakfast now?"

"Mn. Past breakfast."

Wei WuXian looked out the window and saw the morning was well established. It was an hour or two past his usual rising time.

"Lan Zhan! With so much work to do, why did you let me sleep in? Why aren't you teaching? Is Cloud Recesses falling apart?"

"Wei Ying's nightmare was worse. Rest was needed."

Wei WuXian blew a kiss to his husband. "You take such good care of me, husband. But I'm fine. It's only a nightmare, after all."

"Want Wei Ying to see a Healer."

"For a nightmare? Aiya, Lan Zhan! I'm no baby, to be coddled because of bad dreams. They will listen and laugh and then dismiss me with hawthorn candy, like a child. Why trouble them?"

"Nightmares only one part. Wei Ying is also not eating."

Wei WuXian grimaced. "It's not like I don't want to, Lan Zhan. It's just hard to get used to the food, and while chili oil helps a lot it's only one taste all the time. Eating is hard when there's no appeal. I do try. I promise you I do."

"Nightmares. Not eating. Pains."

"Oh. Yeah, about that...I don't know what it is, Lan Zhan, so how can I tell a Healer? And it's not all the time. It comes and it goes and it doesn't last very long."

"Three things. A Healer is needed."

"Lan Zhaaaaannnnn....!"

"Healer will come soon. Wei Ying should dress and eat."

Pouting at his intractable husband, Wei WuXian accepted that Lan WangJi's mind could not be changed and got up and dressed. First the inner robes of red that were so distracting for his husband. Mischievously, he made certain to pass beyond the privacy screen and ensure Lan WangJi had a good look at him in that tantalizing garment, before adding the middle robes. Smoky, dark charcoal grey these were, as if coals and smoke had merged into colour just barely removed from black. Finally, the black outer robe and the sash and belt. Hmmmm...thought Wei WuXian. Lan Zhan may have a point. This belt is does feel a little loose. He tugged up the excess length and fastened it snugly, the way he preferred.

Sitting at the table the two men ate breakfast, quickly warmed by a heating talisman, courtesy of Wei WuXian.

Even as the dishes were returned to the tray, ready to go back to the kitchens, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in, please," called Wei WuXian, wrinkling his nose at this husband for having arranged this without his consent.

A Healer entered and placed his bag on the floor beside his feet before bowing.

"I am Healer Shui. HanGuang-Jun, Master Wei." Straightening up, he looked from one to the other. "How may I be of service?"

Wei WuXian gestured the Healer to a seat and poured him a cup of tea, placing it before him on the table. "Lan Zhan is being a fuddy-duddy and worrying too much about too little. I don't think you need to interrupt your duties at all, but he will not let me go to work until you say it's alright. So will you please check me quickly, tell him I'm great - not that he shouldn't know that already - and let me get about my work?"

Healer Shui blinked a moment. He had not been introduced to Wei WuXian before, and the breezy informality was a bit startling to encounter unprepared.

"Um, certainly, I can try, that is, I need to examine you of course," he stumbled. "What is the problem?"

"Nothing! Nothing is the problem. It's just everyday little things and my husband being a particularly gifted worrier." Wei WuXian attempted to downplay any need for the Healer, but Lan WangJi wasn't going to allow it.

"Nightmares. Very bad and getting worse. Loss of appetite. Erratic pains."

"Pfft! None of those is anything to worry about, Lan Zhan and you know it. A nightmare is simply a bad dream. I'm not hungry because the food here is boring. Boring, Lan Zhan, you know it. And the pains are probably just because..." Wei WuXian stopped, not knowing how to dismiss the pain. "Well, they just are! No big deal, they go away quickly."

Healer Shui held up a hand to silence Wei WuXian. "Nightmares can be more than dreams. They can be a guide to other issues. The mind has ways to cope and sometimes we need to find out what is being handled to know how to stop the nightmares. Long term sleep disruption is its own health hazard. Loss of appetite may well be part of adjusting to the diet here, but that needs to be determined. And any pain is a signal that something is happening within your body, usually not something good. And we need to figure that out as well."

"Your wrist, please."

A pouting Wei WuXian glared at Lan WangJi, sitting serenely at the table, but obediently placed his wrist before the Healer. Taking his pulse, the Healer's face remained impassive, however he adjusted his fingers several times, and requested the other wrist as well. When the pulses were done, it was time for the eyes, then the tongue and a thorough examination was made.

"Well, what is it? I can leave now, right? We received new records yesterday and Wang Xiu is waiting for me."

Healer Shui looked at Lan WangJi a moment, then turned his attention to focus on Wei WuXian.

"No, I can't say that it is alright."

"What?" gasped Wei WuXian.

"It's not terrible, but it's not usual, either," began the Healer. "I reviewed the healing records we have on you before coming this morning. This body you have," he indicated the frame of Mo XuanYu, currently animated by the soul of Wei WuXian, "has a weak Core, according to the notes. Your records indicate it is considered to be barely functional. But now, after examining you and checking your Core, Qi and Meridians, I would say it has improved quite remarkably. In fact, I think I would place it at a junior disciple's level at present."

Wei WuXian's eyes could not have opened wider, and Lan WangJi reached over and gently closed his gaping jaw.

"It has improved most significantly. Far faster than I've ever seen, and it has gained markedly in strength. That is the good news."

Lan WangJi's eyes narrowed slightly as he picked up the "but" implied by the Healer.

"At the same time, I can find no cause for the pain. Your organs are healthy and functioning properly, and your skeletal structure is fully intact with no breaks nor weak areas. There seems no reason for pain. Can you describe the pain for me, please?"

"It's just pain...not anywhere specific. It just kind of passes over me, or through me, everywhere really, and then it's gone. Simply gone."

"Have you had any accidents or injuries recently?"

"No, nothing."

"Hm." The Healer thought a moment, then shook his head to clear it. "So, the pain is a mystery for now. Please let me know if it changes at all. If it is more, or more frequent, or localizes to one area. Will you tell me if it does?" He pinned Wei WuXian with a look, already feeling he knew his patient well enough to know he would minimize ay discomfort.

"All right, Healer Shui. I'll tell you if I remember."

"I will remember. I will tell Healer." Lan WangJi nodded to the Healer and gave a sideways look to Wei WuXian for downplaying his pain.

"Can you tell me about the nightmares? Perhaps there is something going on subconsciously that is acting on you to manifest as pain."

Wei WuXian sat back. "I... no... that is, I can't really tell what's happening in the nightmares. I'm freezing to death, can barely breathe, and a hot, hot wind screams around me while I can hear voices but no words..."

"Have you had these nightmares previously?"

"No. Never. A bad dream once in so often, but never this one. And never repeated night after night."

"Hm. We'll have to keep a watch on it then. In the meantime, there doesn't seem to be anything which we can address directly. I'm happy to give you a prescription for a sleeping aid or something to stimulate your appetite, but these things should ordinarily clear themselves over time. Your tastes and gut will adjust to the food and when whatever is worrying you is addressed, the nightmares should cease."

Healer Shui stood and collected his things.

"I will add to your notes at the Healing Hall. If there are any changes or you wish the prescriptions, please don't hesitate to see me. You may return to work without restriction." Healer Shui bowed and left the Jingshi, closing the door behind him.

"You see, Lan Zhan? You see?" Wei WuXian threw himself into his husband's arms, smiling widely. "You are worried for nothing. I'm perfectly healthy and in fact, I'm better than perfectly healthy. Did you hear him? My Core is developing again! It's getting stronger! I'm going to be able to use spiritual power again one day!" He peppered Lan WangJi's face with little kisses. "See? It's all good! This was actually a good idea, Lan Zhan. Now you don't have to worry, and I'm going to work today with such wonderful news I think I could fly there without a sword!"

Wei WuXian sat up straighter, and a light of joy brightened his entire face.

"A sword! Suibian! My partner, I'm getting better! We'll be together again soon, my old friend, I can feel it now! I have to get word to Wen Ning to bring Suibian back to me."

"Wei Ying."

"This is amazing. I never hoped to be able to use Suibian again in this life with this body."

"Wei Ying." Lan WangJi raised his voice slightly to get his attention.

"Yes?"

"It is not all good. The Core is good. Better than good. But you do have nightmares and cannot sleep well. And you are not eating, which harms your body."

"Oh, hush, you! It's far better and good than it isn't. A nightmare is just a bad dream. And with you so kindly stocking me with chili oil for meals I can manage the food. You heard the Healer. It takes time to adjust to new things. It will be fine. I'm fine! You're better than fine, my love!" Pressing a quick, hard kiss on his husband's lips, Wei WuXian danced out the door to work.

Lan WangJi sat a moment, savouring the kiss, then shook his head and collected the tray to take to the kitchens on his way to the Academy. He would be watching Wei WuXian. 

 Very closely.