In the cool morning dim, Lan WangJi was unhappy to notice that once again Wei WuXian had not moved during the night. Slipping carefully out of the bed, he tucked a pillow under his husband's head and brought the covers more closely about his still form. Silently Lan WangJi went about his morning routine; a little tidying up, dressing, and settling into meditation. It was harder today to lose himself in the vastness of not being. He was a little too solidly being right now – being concerned for his husband, being worried about how skinny he'd become, being unsure just how hard he could or should press for a Healer's input... time passed and finally Lan WangJi opened his eyes with a sigh. It was no use today. He could not settle, no matter how he tried.

Lan WangJi moved to his guqin and quietly played, allowing the peace of the strings to soothe his rumpled spirits. He drifted through Clarity and numerous other healing scores, hoping that somehow one would provide help and healing while Wei WuXian slept. As the sun rose higher and the hour closer to the time he usually woke Wei WuXian, his thoughts turned ever more sharply in that direction and his fingers subconsciously began to bring forth the poignant notes of the song he'd written for his Wei Ying; written before he'd known what love was, or could be, or that he was deeply lost within it already.

A frail hand stretched out of the blankets, followed by too-slim feet kicking free of the covers. A few minutes more and Wei WuXian turned in the bed, shaking his hair from his eyes as he lifted a sleep-slackened face towards his husband.

"Lan Zhan? Why are you playing so early?"

Lan WangJi came to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Good morning, Wei Ying. Did you sleep well last night?"

"No worse than ever, my dear," Wei WuXian sidestepped the question. "Are you out of sorts this morning?"

"Mn."

One slim hand on a skinny arm rose, tucking Lan WangJi's hair back from his face where it had fallen forward as he looked down to his husband on the bed before him.

"Worried?"

"Mn."

"I won't hurt him, you know. I'm just going to see if I can help think of anything to help the Grandmaster."

"I know Wei Ying would not hurt Uncle. Worried Wei Ying is not well."

Wei WuXian smiled fondly at his love. "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan. My lovely Er-Gege. I like you so much... what am I going to do with you?"

"Kiss." Lan WangJi suited actions to his statement and leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on his husband's forehead, then another on each cheek before his lips captured their rosy match awaiting their turn. A soft kiss, warm and lingering, and then he sat back.

"I will get breakfast. Wei Ying..."

"I know, I know. I'll get dressed, sweetheart."

After breakfast, the two men walked to the Hanshi, where Lan XiChen awaited their arrival, ready to leave for the Cold Cavern.

"Good morning, WangJi. WuXian," greeted Lan XiChen. "Are you ready to visit Uncle?"

"Yes," answered Wei WuXian. "We appreciate the evening meal and other thoughtfulness of yesterday. It was kind of you, XiChen-Ge."

"My pleasure," answered Lan XiChen. "With so much work to be done, I really appreciate the help you both give every day. I thought perhaps you might like an evening of peace before we try to tackle anything more."

Lan WangJi reached out, and placed one hand gently on his brother's arm, catching his eyes for a moment.

"You're welcome, Xiong-Di." Lan XiChen put a warm hand over that of his brother for a moment and gave him a gentle smile, before he turned and headed briskly out and down the path towards the Cold Cavern, Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian following closely behind.

It was a beautiful early morning, that delicate time bridging beyond the end of Spring and before the fullness of Summer. Still a lingering memory of nighttime coolness in the air, which was wet and smelled wonderfully of night-blooming flowers and sweet, dewy moisture. The path was damp, and their robes were soon saturated where they brushed against plants hanging over the edges of the path, heavy with condensation. Wei WuXian shivered, once, and Lan WangJi brought him close to his side, holding one cold hand in his own warmer one and laying his arm about his husband's shoulders.

Once at the Cold Cavern, Wei WuXian was again pleased and impressed with the entrance, so uniquely disguised and so utterly preferable to the first means of entry he'd experienced.

"This is a lot better than that frozen flume we rode in on the first time, isn't it, Lan Zhan?" he asked as they passed within. Lan WangJi held his husband tighter a moment and nodded in agreement.

Entering the mountain, the men moved toward the Archive chamber repurposed for the care of Lan QiRen.

Lan WangJi stopped just inside the entrance to the chamber, taking in the sight of his uncle, supine on a bed in the centre of the room. Quiet apprentices murmured about the records at tables or passed to and fro on tasks. It was, however, the sight of six armed Cultivators ranged evenly about the perimeter of the room that was nearly his undoing. Cultivators. Ready to act should his uncle break stasis. Ready to... Lan WangJi couldn't finish the thought this time. Swallowing hard, he took a deep breath. Wei WuXian looked up and saw the pain in his eyes. He lifted Lan WangJi's hand swiftly to his lips and kissed it.

"Lan Zhan. Sweetheart. We'll help him somehow, yeah? Together we can do anything."

A few deep, calming breaths and Lan WangJi found he could move again. He looked at his husband, then his uncle. He eyed the room once more, resting on the healers, trying to pass over the alert Cultivators.

"Yes, Wei Ying. Together."

Healer Zhang came up to the three men, standing just inside the entrance to the chamber and gave them greetings, before continuing.

"May I help you?" he asked. "I haven't noted any further changes and things are as stable as we are able to make them, despite indications that the stasis may not hold much longer. Is there anything different you would have me do?"

Lan XiChen indicated Wei WuXian. "I have brought my brother's husband to see Uncle."

Healer Zhang turned to face Wei WuXian, a soft look of question on his face. "Master Wei? I didn't know you have had any Healer training."

Wei WuXian snorted.

"Healer Zhang, I confess I have none. But I have the most experience with resentful energy of anyone alive. And I have the only experience of working with Yin Iron."

"I don't understand," began Healer Zhang.

"We have reason to believe Uncle's condition is related to a novel use of Yin Iron," explained Lan XiChen. He plowed onward, over the Healer's gasp of shock. "WuXian is willing to see if he can check into that possibility. Also, perhaps he may find a way to draw the resentful energy from Uncle. Even if it's no cure, it may help restore the stability of his stasis."

"I see," answered Healer Zhang, although he was clearly not convinced. "Well then, please step over here. I'll just have my apprentices take a break for a time, shall I?"

"Yes, please," murmured Wei WuXian, his eyes already on the Grandmaster lying inert on his bed. It was strange to see him so still, no cover nor blanket to warm his body, only thickly quilted pockets encasing his four extremities.

There was a quiet rustling of robes as the apprentices left the chamber, until only the three newcomers, Healer Zhang and the Cultivator guards remained.

Wei WuXian barely noted the change in personnel, already lost in observation. He walked up to the Grandmaster, and stood a few minutes at his feet, simply looking, his mind ticking off what saw.

Lan QiRen lay on his back, unmoving, the sole concession to comfort being a small pillow behind his neck. His hair was carefully combed back over the top of the bed, out of the way. Wei WuXian had never seen his former teacher so unguarded and undone, so casual in presentation and it moved him uncomfortably to see him vulnerable like this.

Each hand and foot wore its own quilted shelter. He could see the end of a warming bottle sticking free in front of him and absently reached to push it further inside the pocket, to better warm the Grandmaster's foot. Simple white inner robes were all the clothing worn and would have been inadequate for anyone in normal circumstances. These were not normal circumstances. The cold, and the positive natural energies were the essential elements helping to support the stasis and with it provide any hope for helping the Grandmaster.

Wei WuXian bit his lower lip, then stole a glance at Lan WangJi. His husband's eyes were fixed on his uncle and bore a dark expression Wei WuXian knew spoke of enormous emotional pain. He could feel the hurt singing out until it plucked at his own heartstrings. His resolve strengthened. Somehow, he must find a way to help the Grandmaster. For the sake of his nephews, as well as his own sake and that of his Sect.

Somehow.

Someway.

After all, he was raised with the motto, "Attempt the Impossible."

He'd done it countless times before. He'd survived by doing it. He'd won a war by doing it.

It was time to do it again.