10001 Nightmares Party

[Fic] a certain kind of question (Módào Zǔshī)

Summary:

"Stop?" asks Wen Ruohan, laughing just from the novelty of it. Stop, the man says. A junior. Not even a fellow Sect Leader, and he says Wen Ruohan needs to stop. "Do I, now? Whatever for, Xiao Lan?"

Notes:

written for whumpcember 2024 - Day 8: “No. Not Like This”

Work Text:

"No. Not like this," Lan Qiren says, standing tall in the way of Wen Ruohan. Head held high, expression twisted into what should be unattractive frowning, Lan Qiren tells Sect Leader Wen, "You need to stop."

"Stop?" asks Wen Ruohan, laughing just from the novelty of it. Stop, the man says. A junior. Not even a fellow Sect Leader, and he says Wen Ruohan needs to stop. "Do I, now? Whatever for, Xiao Lan?"

Frowning, dark brows drawing tight together, Lan Qiren shakes his head and says in a droll tone, "Killing senselessly is wrong." Wen Ruohan almost laughs again, the mere idea of being lectured on murder utterly absurd, when Lan Qiren adds, "It only leads to cycles of revenge. It is, after all, the duty of the son to take revenge for their murdered fallen. It is the righteous thing to do, then, for all the sons of those you have murdered to attack you."

"Are you trying to warn me I'm inciting a war?" Ruohan asks, raising an eyebrow, looking the young Lan over. The body he'd recently murdered for betrayal was still bleeding at his feet, and yet Lan Qiren does not flinch from the sight, nor does he attempt to get close enough to attack Ruohan, in turn. ...Well, not that Lan necessarily need be close to their targets when attacking.

Blinking, Qiren shrugs slightly, clenching his hands on the sword held in front of him."It is not sensible to start wars one might not win."

"I'm doing no such thing," drawls Wen Ruohan. "But please, do tell me more about this flaw of mine."

"Very well," says Lan Qiren, and straightens his back, launching into a lecture about Wen Ruohan's conduct that lasts a full shichen. It is---fascinating. Wen Ruohan finds himself listening raptly, though the somewhat flat voice takes some getting used to. But Qiren's study of Wen Ruohan's character and goals is genuinely impressive, and if there's one thing Ruohan always does, it is pay attention when something impressive is happening.

"Are you going back to your sect this late, Xiao Lan?" interrupts Wen Ruohan, because there's truly no pause for interjection.

Blinking, Lan Qiren tilts his head and stares at him. "As I was saying-"

"It's almost time for you to go to bed, isn't it?" asks Wen Ruohan, and Lan Qiren starts at that. Looks up at the sky, eyes wide, and gulps. The young Lan must not be old at all, Wen Ruohan thinks. Just shy of adulthood, or something like it. "It's quite a way back to Cloud Recesses, isn't it?" he asks, and can't quite keep the amusement out of it. Ah, he thinks, smiling. What a pleasant surprise.

"It is," Qiren agrees, sounding quite upset about it. He's nearly pouting! Such a pretty expression paired with such a bright, inquisitive mind, and Wen Ruohan can't very well leave it alone, can he?

"Come," Ruohan says, and holds out his hand. "You'll stay with me at the inn tonight. And tomorrow, you can keep telling me about how I'm laying the grounds for my own doom."

"It really isn't entirely your fault," says Lan Qiren, walking over to him and yet keeping just out of touching range. He blinks up at Wen Ruohan; not quite finished growing, still some extra fat to his cheeks. "The cascading effects of something like this is the result of multiple complicated things coalescing and knocking into each other."

"I see." Raising an eyebrow, Wen Ruohan grins wide and says, "Most fascinating."

Lighting up, Lan Qiren continues his lecture during the walk back to the inn the night hunt originated at. Wen Ruohan doesn't look away from him once.

Really, he thinks. How glorious.

He's not letting this treasure go.

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#Fandom: MISC - Books #Post Type: Fic #Rating: Teen #Status: Complete #Tag: AU #WC: 0-1000