Work Text:
A Walk to Remember
Wei Ying loved taking walks around Cloud Recesses, especially during the early afternoon when his husband was busy with clan business and he was left to his own devices. The Cloud Recesses of Gusu really were beautiful, after all, and he enjoyed exploring. Walks kept him occupied and out of trouble.
He refused to let these outside excursions stop just because he was pregnant.
So that is how he found himself waddling around Cloud Recesses by himself one winter morning, all bundled up against the cold, big round belly leading the way.
Most of the snow had been cleared off the stone path by some of the disciples earlier in the morning. But under the new layer of fallen snow was a patch of ice, the sun not having risen high enough in the sky yet to melt it away. With Wei Ying’s center of gravity being off due to the steadily growing baby in his belly, he couldn’t catch his balance once his foot hit the hidden patch of ice. So he slipped.
He could feel himself falling. Time seemed to have slowed down, the frosted covered trees and snow capped mountainous terrain of Cloud Recesses sliding past his vision as he fell, like the slowly moving landscape out of a carriage window. The bright sky blinded Wei Ying as he hit the ground, his world literally turned upside down. Pain shot up his side as his hands reflexively went to protect his swollen belly, his baby. The thick overcoats he wore weren’t enough to keep the chill of the icy, stone pathway from seeping into his bones. Or maybe that was the shock.
Wei Ying just laid there, frozen, head ringing as blood rushed in his ears and panic set in. He’d landed on his right side. There was a cold, sharp sensation on his cheek but he didn’t know what it was, oblivious to the tiny red droplets of blood falling from the cut on his face and darkening the snow beneath him. Tears pricked his eyes.
His baby. His baby was kicking early. Now everything was still. Too still.
The moisture fogging his vision stung his eyes in the cold morning air. Had something sucked out all the sound from the universe because everything seemed far too quiet, the only thing he could hear the frantic beating of his own heart. Which meant he couldn’t hear the shouts of several Lan disciples calling for Hanguang-Jun and rushing to Wei Wuxian’s side.
Fluttering white flashed in front of Wei Ying’s face. Was it more snow sent to cover him where he lay unable to move on the ground? Then he was floating and the cold was gone. Something warm enveloped him, reminding him of the warm embrace of his husband.
The tears started falling freely now, his body shaking with quiet sobs. Lan Zhan had told him to not walk outside alone anymore, not in his condition and with this weather. But Wei Ying had brushed him off, assuring his husband he’d be fine and to stop worrying about him so much.
Of course he’d been right, though. And because Wei Wuxian was too stubborn to heed his husband’s words of concern, he had put their baby at risk.
Their baby…
Wei Ying nuzzled further into the warmth surrounding him as he held his stomach. He didn’t know how he was going to face Lan Zhan, yet all he wanted was his husband. To have his calming presence next to him. For Lan Zhan to tell him he didn’t blame Wei Ying. To take away some of the guilt gnawing at him for putting his desires over the wellness of their unborn child.
His chest felt heavy as his lungs took in air too quickly. How could he have been so reckless? Suddenly, all the times Madam Yu had told him how thoughtless and rash he was flashed unbidden to mind. She always did say he would bring ruin to the family, did that mean he’ll be the same for his baby too? For Lan Zhan? He’d already been the cause of Lan Zhan’s pain once, was he fated to do that again? What would happen if his baby couldn’t be born into this world? All because he wanted to prove he could still do things on his own.
“Wei Ying.”
The turbulent thoughts and fears wracking Wei Ying’s brain suddenly stopped at the sound of his name. Lan Zhan? His eyes that were squeezed painfully shut slowly opened to see his husband’s beautiful face highlighted by the afternoon sun.
The world seemed to return to normal after that. Wei Ying’s ears opened up so he could hear again and his eyesight was no longer narrowed. It was all too loud and too bright. There was bustling outside the room, Wei Ying could hear people rushing about and talking loudly. Were they still in the Cloud Recesses? He took in his surroundings. How’d he get in bed? A little slow on the uptake, the brain fog finally lifting, he eventually worked out that the warmth from earlier must’ve been Lan Zhan carrying him back to the jingshi.
He looked at his husband as panic once again threatened to strangle him.
“Lan Zhan,” his voice was scratchy from crying, “the baby!”
“Wei Ying. Hush.”
Wei Ying immediately complied, shutting up as Lan Wangji continued to lightly wipe the blood from his cheek. More tears slid from the corners of Wei Ying’s eyes, falling uncomfortably into his ears. Watching his husband’s stoic face had his heart clenching in his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Lan Zhan. Please don’t hate me. I should’ve listened to you. The baby. I think he’s hurt. He’s not moving. I’m so sorry-“
Wei Ying knew he was on the verge of rambling nonstop if Lan Zhan hadn’t shut him up again with a simple call of his name. He met his husband’s gaze through tear-clumped lashes.
“All I care about is Wei Ying, right now.”
“But the baby-“
“We’ll find out soon enough. But Wei Ying comes first.”
“But-“
Mild anger darkened Lan Wangji’s face for just a split second, making Wei Ying zip his lips once more.
“There is only one Wei Ying. And I will not lose him again.” His hand cradled Wei Wuxian’s cheek possessively. “We can always make another baby, we can’t make another you.”
Wei Ying hiccuped out a sob at those words. He grabbed at his belly. He didn’t want another baby, he wanted this one.
Just then, a soft knock came from outside the room and Lan Zhan was telling whomever it was that they could enter. Lan Qiren came into the room accompanied by the Lan Clan’s doctor.
Wei Ying held fast to Lan Zhan’s hand as the doctor checked him over. He bandaged Wei Ying’s cheek before he finally told Wei Ying what he’d been needing to hear.
“The baby is fine.”
The relief Wei Ying felt was overwhelming. His mind swirled and his veins seemed to finally shake off the ice they'd been filled with since gravity had pulled him to the frosty ground. He turned and gave the brightest smile to his husband, noticing Lan Zhan’s shoulders relax at the news.
The doctor instructed him to rest and advised against any more lone adventures outside. Wei Ying had no intention of defying those orders this time.
Once the good doctor and Lan Qiren made their leave, Wei Ying turned to face his husband.
"I'm sorry. I made everyone worry."
Lan Zhan kissed his forehead. "Wei Ying needn't apologize. You're both safe, that's all that matters."
More tears threatened to fall from Wei Ying’s eyes again. He's cried so much today. But hearing Lan Zhan include the baby in that sentence had Wei Ying crying happy tears this time.
His baby was okay. He was okay. They were okay. It was all going to be okay.