Title: Making Different Choices
Fandom: Modao Zushi
Rating: Gen
Length: 848
Content notes: Alternate Universe
Author notes: For the current Amnesty challenge using the prompt, choices.
Summary: Despite waking waking up that morning after an unexpected trip to the past, he and his husband decide to try a path against the chosen choices of destiny.


He’d woken up that morning feeling disoriented, but aware enough to know that he was in the Cloud Recesses during the Lan lectures. Especially once he’d seen younger versions of both his soulmate and the people, who were either dead or grew to hate him.

Time travel was definitely a new thing for him, whether the choice was intentional or otherwise.

As he leaves the guest disciple quarters to walk the familiar path of the sect grounds, he wonders quietly if he came back alone as he joins up with the other sect disciples in one of the halls.

“Can do better now. Together.”

Startled, Wei Ying glances over to meet his husband’s calm golden eyes as Lan Zhan gently touches his wrist, squeezing gently while his tired mind works quickly trying to figure out how they had done this.

He nods before stiffening as he actually realizes distantly how far back they’d gone as he hears Jin Zixuan insult Jiang Yanli and notes in the corner of his vision, how impatiently Jiang Cheng is looking at him to do something about it. Wei Ying glances knowingly at Lan Zhan before amusement briefly enters his partner’s gaze before they choose to go to another corner of the room as though to examine the Lan paintings further.

“Agreed. How much should we try to change though?” Wei Ying asks in a whisper, doing his best to pretend he hasn’t noticed the brewing altercation between Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan. “I’m not completely certain that conflict with the Wens can be avoided.”

“Mn.”

Lan Zhan nods, looking thoughtful as though he wants to say more, before his eyes widen at something over Wei Ying’s shoulder before he’s knocked to the floor as harsh pain suddenly blooms in the back of his head. He hits the floor at Lan Zhan’s feet, puts his hand to check the area as he looks up.

“Why didn’t you do anything?!” Jiang Cheng asked snarling with a dark expression, standing above him before Lan Zhan smoothly pushed his way between them.

Wei Ying snorts as Lan Zhan helps him up, not raising his voice to yell back. “So I’m supposed to do everything for you again? Why should I have? Why is it only up to me to defend your sister and her honor? How does me choosing to not hit a Sect Heir for their remarks warrant you punching me?”

“She’s your sister too!”

“Not by blood. I’m already on thin ice as it is with my rule breaking for things that you and the others have so expectantly asked me to do as if no trouble will come to me. I have no wish to break any more rules if it means I can learn something worthwhile from the Lan teachings. I won’t risk myself, when you are just as capable of defending your own sister.” Wei Ying responds calmly, rubbing gently at the spot on his head where his brother had hit him and gently squeezing Lan Zhan’s hand to soothe the other boy now vibrating with suppressed anger.

Jiang Cheng snarls at him while Jin Zixuan slowly stands up with help from one of his fellows as though he wants to leap at Wei Ying and hit him again.

“You! Just wait until Father and Mother hear about this mess! Then you’ll be-”

“Enough. Report to the Punishment Pavilion with Jin Zixuan and wait for your punishment.”

Blinking in surprise at the new voice joining them, Wei Ying watches as a stern-faced Lan Qiren calmly joins them with a lightly frowning Lan Xichen and another unknown disciple at his back.

“It is against our rules to needlessly pick fights and harm others without provocation. It is wrong to expect someone to use your position to take advantage of others. I have received reports from others that you use your Head Disciple’s loyalty against Wei Wuxian to make him do things against our rules for you. I will not allow this pass blindly within the walls of my sect any longer and will be sending a message to your respective Sect Leaders. Lan Zhong will take those two for punishment, Xichen will go with your brother and Wangji isn’t distracted taking Wuxian to the healers.” Lan Qiren states calmly, not looking at any of them before he turns and walks away.

Blinking, Wei Ying bows respectfully to the older man and opens his mouth to protest before shutting his mouth as Lan Xichen and Lan Zhan both look at him, ignoring the heat of Jiang Cheng’s angry glare at his back. As they part ways, with Xichen walking in front of them, Wei Ying breathes out in soft relief and grins leaning towards his husband to whisper in his ear.

“Do you think that despite my troublemaking ways your uncle might let us court properly this time?”

The beating of his heart quickens at the sight of quiet pleasure brewing in his husband’s lovely golden eyes as he gently brushes the top of his hand in the folds of his robes.

“Perhaps.”