Chapter Text
Long Gone
Thank you @liebinmin on Twitter for the idea!
SoulmateAU where Wei Wuxian finally finds his soul mate but it’s not as happy as one might think.
Chapter 1
Wei Wuxian was excited as he scurried around his apartment trying to find his jacket, wallet, and keys. God if only he learned to pick up his mess after he was done. It almost made him miss being roommates with his little brother, even if he did get yelled at all the time for being so messy.
He perked up when he found his things. He slipped on his jacket and shoved his wallet and keys in his pockets. Then he grabbed his hair ribbon and went to the bathroom. He brushed out his long hair before putting it up into a high ponytail, ribbon holding it all in place. He smirked at the peony on his cheek, keeping his hair out of the way so it would be more visible.
The knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts and he ran to the door, opening it with a grin! “You guys are a little early aren’t you?” He laughed, coming out. He was about to close his door behind him when a foot kicked it open.
“Trying to hide your mess?” Jiang Cheng said, looking inside the messy apartment. “You knew we were coming to pick you up and you didn’t think I would check on how bad the apartment might be?”
Wei Wuxian sighed in defeat. “It’s just stuff. You know I don’t leave trash around. That’s gross. And it’s not your place anymore so shush!” He elbowed his brother in the side, causing him him to back up so he could close the door.
Nie Huaisang laughed from a few feet away. “A-Cheng leave him alone. We already knew he was a mess. Besides if we don’t hurry up we’ll miss the movie!”
Jiang Cheng sighed and walked over to Huaisang, taking his hand in his. “Come on idiot or we’ll leave you behind!” He then started walking down the hall toward the elevator, pulling his boyfriend with him.
Wei Wuxian quickly locked his door and ran after them. “Don’t let the doors close!”
The car ride was actually kind of quiet. Wei Wuxian sat in the back so Huaisang could take the passenger seat next to Jiang Cheng. He smiled looking at his brother. He’d lightened up so much since finding Huaisang. There were less creases around his forehead and new one forming around his mouth. ‘Laugh lines.’ Wei Wuxian thought, also noticing how the lotus marks on both Jiang Cheng’s cheek and Huaisang’s cheek glowed ever so slightly every time they looked at each other. It honestly filled him with so much happiness to see them both together. And since Huaisang was one of his close friends, he never really felt like a third wheel when he was invited out like this.
Wei Wuxian was brought out of his thoughts as they parked in front of the café his older sister ran with her husband. “Gotta stop and get the good stuff!” He said excitedly as they piled out of the car. They were treated by the smell of coffee and sweets as they walked in. Both Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng smiled as they saw their sister behind the counter.
“A-Cheng, A-Xian, A-Sang! I was wondering if you three would be by! I got some news I’d like to tell you!” She seemed really excited as she came around the counter, beckoning her husband to come over from where he was cleaning a table.
“Good thing we came at the slow hour then!” Wei Wuxian said, sticking his tongue out at Jin Zixuan before sitting with everyone at a large table.
Jiang Yanli looked nervous for a second as she reached into his pocket and pulled something black and white out. “I want you both to see your nephew!” She laid the ultrasound pictures on the table.
Huaisang beamed. “Congrats, Yanli! When will he be here?”
Jiang Yanli chuckled a bit as her brothers were rendered speechless, both sitting closer to each other to look over the ultrasound pictures. “He’ll be here this November! I’m only a month along!” Jin Zixuan was smiling the whole time they talked, finally adding to the conversation by looking over at his two brother-in-laws. “We want you two to help us name him.”
Both of them looked at each other and started going through names instantly, bickering about one being better than the other before they both seemed to agree and turned to Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan and both said “Jin Ling.”
The new parents both smiled warmly, looking at Jiang Yanli’s stomach. Jin Zixuan nodded slightly. “It’s perfect. Thank you both.”
Huaisang stood suddenly. “Crap we’re gonna be late!”
The other two jumped up and quickly gave their sister a delicate but warm hug before running out of the shop with Huaisang, diving into the car before taking off toward the theatre.
They had just barely made it and Wei Wuxian was panting as they stood in line for drinks. “Why do so many people have to come when we do? We had to park so far away!” He groaned.
“At least we’re made it with enough time to get snacks and stuff.” Jiang Cheng huffed.
“Thanks to you speeding. I swear you are never aloud to do that again, babe.” Huaisang shivered just thinking about how scary the ride was. “But thankfully we still get to see the new horror movie!”
Wei Wuxian smirked. “Yeah, just don’t scream this time, okay? I don’t think Jiang Cheng can take another near heart attack!” He snickered and grabbed his portion of their food before they all headed in the room.
“I hate it here.” Huaisang pouted as Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian cackled at him. “It’s not that funny!!”
The other two just laughed more. Jiang Cheng was wheezing as he spoke. “You through your fan at the screen! But you were so panicked you hit the guy two rows up!” Wei Wuxian continued where his brother left off, wiping tears from his eyes. “And it was your older brother!” He couldn’t help the next onslaught of cackling from escaping and doubled over in laughter. “You looked like you were going to die right there!”
Huaisang huffed and crossed his arms, turning away from the two to pout, puffing out his cheeks in anger. “Whatever!”
Jiang Cheng tried to catch his breath. “Sorry! Sorry! It was just priceless!” He walked up to his boyfriend and kissed his cheek right on the lotus, causing it to glow brightly.
Wei Wuxian smiled and stood straight. “So are you guys headed home now or did you want to stop by the art museum? I heard they found new art from an artist that lived a hundred or so years ago!”
Huaisang got excited instantly and grabbed Jiang Cheng’s arms. “We have to! I haven’t been in a month! Please?!”
Jiang Cheng huffed out a laugh. “Like you have to ask. Let’s get going.” He walked hand in hand with his boyfriend as Wei Wuxian walked on his other side back to the car.
The museum was bustling with people for a change. The parking lot was near full and there were even school busses parked near the back. “Looks like it’ll be a long day.” Jiang Cheng sighed, getting out of the car with the other two. “You better remember that I was nice enough to bring us here.”
Wei Wuxian laughed as they headed inside. There were signs everywhere showing pictures of different pieces of new art, declaring that they had new art from a mystery artist from a hundred years ago. The three men walked around to the exhibits they always went to see. Huaisang loved looking at all the fans with extravagant art and patterns on them. Jiang Cheng, despite pretending he didn’t like the museum, always made his way around to one of the large oil paintings of a lake of lotus flowers. Wei Wuxian liked everything but always ended up in the war painting rooms, looking at all the different depictions of different battles. As they slowly walked through the different exhibits, Huaisang pointed to the hallway leading to the new one. “Hey it’s looking a lot quieter now. Wanna go check it out?”
Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian nodded. Jiang Cheng held Huaisang’s hand as they headed down the hallway, Wei Wuxian right behind them. They saw a lot of different looking paints. Some were vibrant and colorful, seeming light-hearted and fun, while others were darker and grey, giving off a very distressed vibe. “These are pretty good but nothing can compare to the fans.” Huaisang sighed. Jiang Cheng laughed. “You’d say that about anything.”
Wei Wuxian was listening to their banter before catching the glimpse of white from the corner of his eye. He slowed down a bit, letting the other two continue walking. He turned to look at the most beautiful man he had ever seen. His eyes looked indifferent but somehow soft. The white robes and headband stuck out from the grey background and his long black hair. But the thing that Wei Wuxian couldn’t take his eyes off of as his hand slowly came to his own cheek, was the peony on the man’s cheek. Wei Wuxian could feel his cheek grow warm, a very faint glow reflecting off his hand. He looked back at the painting and then at the plate beside it.
‘Man in White by Artist Unknown 1921’
His heart dropped into his stomach. This man....this long dead man....was his soulmate. He felt the tears welling up in his eyes, head starting to spin, and ears beginning to ring. How can fate be so cruel? He stood there, letting his tears fall, never taking his eyes off of the painting. ‘You’re so beautiful. And I can’t even ask your name. I can’t even hear your voice. I can’t have anything.’ His thoughts swirled around in his head.
“Wei Wuxian! Where the hell did you go?!” His brother’s voice snapped him back to reality and he quickly wiped his face, taking a few shaking breaths before answering.
“I’m coming! Sorry, I got caught up looking at the paintings.” He said, walking around the corner toward his brother and his friend.
Huaisang smiled. “That’s fine! Are you ready to go? The museum closes in an hour.”
Wei Wuxian nodded. “Yeah! Let’s go!” He put on his best smile, hoping to seem normal. And seeing as how no one questioned it, it must have worked.
Getting out of the car Wei Wuxian waved as he headed inside his apartment building. His heart was hammering in his chest as he waited for the elevator to reach his floor and when it opened he sprinted to his door, fumbling with his keys before managing to unlock the door with shaking hands. He opened it, stepped inside, closed and locked it then threw his keys across the room as hard as he could, shattering a photo hanging on the wall. The tears he held back on the car ride home let loose, his knees gave out and he was on the floor, hunched over himself. He wrapped his arms around himself and let out a chocked sob before completely loosing it. His heart hurt so much knowing his soulmate was already gone before he was even born. The image of the beautiful man was stuck in his head and he wailed into the floor, clutching his chest. Why? Why him?