Wei WuXian was delighted as he made his way to the Library Pavilion. Annoyed as he was that Lan WangJi had insisted on a Healer, the news that his Core was improving lifted his spirits greatly. Suddenly nightmares and phantom pains were as nothing. He had useful work to do, and his Core was getting stronger – what more could a man ask? He bounced his way along, oblivious to those he passed, lost in his thoughts, eyes shining at the possibilities opening before him, smiling in delight as he contemplated things he'd thought would never again be within reach.

"Father Wei?" a voice interrupted him.

"Yes?" He gave his head a little shake to focus his eyes, and spotted his son standing a little to one side, holding a basket. "SiZhui. Going to feed the rabbits?"

"Yes, Father Wei. You seem happy this morning. Is there good news for Grandmaster Lan QiRen?"

A rueful smile crossed Wei WuXian's face. "I'm afraid not yet, SiZhui. But we have an idea to follow up on that is hopeful...and I just got good news myself, so all in all it's a very good day today."

"Good news for you? What is it?" asked Lan SiZhui.

"The neglected and sad little Core I have is developing again! I just saw a Healer and he says it's getting stronger and has achieved the strength of a junior disciple now, which is further than I'd hoped I could take it when it was... gifted to me."

"A Healer, Father Wei? Why did you need a Healer?" Lan SiZhui's brows had knit above a face full of concern.

"Oh, pfft, my child. Your Father Lan is a fuddy-duddy who thinks too much about nonsense. But I'm glad he called a Healer, because now I have this wonderful news! I never dared hope to rebuild a Core worth mentioning, but now the sky is the limit, and my spirits are just as high!"

"I'm really glad for you. But Father Lan wouldn't call a Healer for nothing..." began Lan SiZhui.

"Nonsense!" Wei WuXian cut him off. "If I so much as sniffled he'd be after me with herbal remedies and if I should cough, it would be off to the Healing Hall immediately! He gives worriers a bad name! I promise you I'm well; now off with you, the rabbits must be fed," and Wei WuXian continued to the Library Pavilion.

Lan SiZhui followed him with his eyes for a moment but seeing nothing amiss turned back to his task. It was good to know Father Lan was keeping an eye on his other father. He really couldn't do without him again, now that he was back. He turned away just in time to miss the hitch in Wei WuXian's step when another pain coursed swiftly through him and left him momentarily breathless.

Once at the Library, Wei WuXian greeted Wang Xiu and the two men settled to their task. They had received personal records from one of the larger Families, and a cursory look the day before had revealed potential for their research. All day long they kept at the record, teasing out information, comparing it to other records of neighbouring families and public records. By the end of the day, they sat back exhausted and just looked at each other.

"Well, it certainly doesn't sound like a typical case of Qi deviation, does it?" stated Wei WuXian.

"No, it does not," Wang Xiu indicated his own notes atop his desk. "To have this occur without any outside pressures to create the state of mental distress that could result in neglect of one's cultivation seems odd."

'True," agreed Wei WuXian. "This came up and ended the poor man so suddenly. It's as if one day he was perfectly fit and the next he was a monster in the thrall of yin domination. His poor son, who both ended his father and had to make these notes for their records," a heavy sigh. "I feel for him. This must have been the worst period of his life."

"Yes. And not just the speed with which it took him over, but the fact that it came out of the blue, without warning. Ordinarily in Qi deviation there are signs of impending trouble – irritability, a lack of concentration, inappropriate focus or speech... this just seems so cut and dried. It separates into before and after with barely a during, thanks to ­the son's quick action."

That evening, at the usual meeting in the Hanshi, Wei WuXian told the Twin Jades of the day's discovery. "I think this should be looked into as closely as possible. It was barely over a year ago, but it's the case that seems most like Lan QiRen's. Like the Grandmaster, the man suffered a sudden and complete Qi deviation, and lacked the behaviours or environment that would ordinarily be expected in a case like this." Wei WuXian stroked his nose with one forefinger. "He was fine – he was crazed – his life ended. Boom. Boom. Boom. There was no lead-in towards the deviation. Which is unusual enough to bear looking into."

Lan XiChen nodded. "I see your point, WuXian. It does sound like an unusual presentation and very abrupt, much like Uncle. Did the record come with a family name or an identifier so I can try to reach out to them for more information?"

At this, Wei WuXian snorted a short laugh. "You may be surprised, XiChen-Ge, but the family used a code that's very nearly the one I gave as an example when we talked about asking for private records. Set up a poster requesting that "White Crane on Lotus Lake" come meet with you, okay?"

"I will do that." Lan XiChen gave a quick side glance to Lan WangJi, then addressed Wei WuXian again. "I hope you don't mind, but I was speaking with Brother earlier today and he mentioned you had a visit from a Healer."

Wei WuXian gave a quick glare to Lan WangJi, before returning his eyes to Lan XiChen. "Indeed, I did. Your brother is so good at worrying he just had to include me in his efforts. The Healer said that I am perfectly fine and, in fact, my Core is strengthening at a much faster rate than he would have expected, given its sad state when it came into my keeping." He indicated the slender, smaller frame he currently inhabited. "So, it was really a very nice visit. I got wonderful news and now my husband is free to turn his fretting elsewhere." He stuck his tongue out, ever so slightly, at his husband. "No need to worry at all."

"Not quite so," added Lan WangJi. "Appetite off and not eating properly. Nightmares every night and getting worse. Pains..."

"That's enough!" interrupted Wei WuXian, cutting off Lan WangJi's litany. "The food is boring, nothing more. I'll get used to it. And a nightmare is just a bad dream. It's unpleasant but passes. So does the pain. The Healer himself said there was no reason for the pain, and he checked me out thoroughly. No breaks, no problems, no anything to be done." His voice softened. "It's alright, Lan Zhan. I'm alright. This will pass, my love."

Lan XiChen looked between the two men. His brother, who he loved more than any other living soul, and his brother's husband, who had lived twice and lost more than most could survive, and yet managed to keep his kindness and concern for others above his own well being.

"You must let us know if we can do anything to help you," he told Wei WuXian. "We already have Uncle on our minds and hearts. It's important we keep things from overwhelming us any more than is unavoidable."

"I promise," sighed Wei WuXian, raising three fingers to the heavens. "If I know of anything that could or should be done, I will speak with you or Lan Zhan, alright?"

"Very well," replied Lan XiChen. "See that you do. You matter to me, too, you know, not just for WangJi's sake."

Wei WuXian looked him right in the eyes, startled, his heart instantly warmed by the genuine affection in Lan XiChen's tone.

"I will."

In the Jingshi that evening, Lan WangJi was more attentive than usual to Wei WuXian, his way of apologizing for forcing the Healer visit upon Wei WuXian. For his part, Wei WuXian was especially tender with his husband, regretful to be the cause of his concern.

At the close of their everyday, with the Jingshi warm and dark around them, tucked close to each other in bed, Wei WuXian stroked his husband's face.

"I wish you wouldn't worry, my love. I'm alright. I promise I'm alright."

Lan WangJi's arm tightened around Wei WuXian's shoulders where he lay to his left, head on his heart.

"Promises must be kept."

The nightmare gained traction that very night.

Again, the frozen body, crouched low to the ground. Wei WuXian felt he was colder than snow, colder even than ice, as cold as the limitless space of the Heavens beyond the light of any sun. The vortex of howling, burning wind was even more fierce, scorching about him painfully, without ever thawing that frozen form. And the voices, the myriad voices screaming... but this night they began to merge into a chorus. Most words remained a muddle of syllables, unintelligible, but for a rare few that rose above the clamour.

"Sorry."

"Regret."

"Thank you."

The pain was stronger, too, tonight. It was carried by the emotions that sifted through his very skin and whispered across his heart. Raw emotions flayed his skin and carved his very bone. This time there was no thrashing or muttering in his sleep to alert or alarm Lan WangJi. Wei WuXian was fully trapped within his nightmare, simply experiencing the ongoing confusion, the inexplicable harsh environment and that unceasing, tortuous pain that eclipsed his capacity for thought, until he was rendered unconscious in both worlds. As he had not been able to move, his collapse went unnoticed by his husband, even as he held him close to his side.