Thread by @mzblackpoison

#mdzs lwj doing regular maintenance on his guqin as ayuan paints in the next room humming and whistling softly to himself and suddenly wen ning is Just There.
lwj turns to look at ayuan who hasn't noticed wen ning's presence yet, then to wen ning who is unmoving outside the deck

#cql #mdzs #wangxian
sfw
implied relationship, fluff

little ayuan continues working on his painting blissfully unaware of his father's internal battle of confusion, hope, and despair.
how... how is wen ning here..? how is he Alive? the jins proudly announced the execution of the "traitorous wen" years ago, so how.....

if wen ning is here, then maybe... No. no he mustn't think that. lwj cant bear to get his hopes up.
he observes wen ning, merely standing outside the jingshi. his clothes are filthy and tattered, his hair is loose and unkempt. this isn't the meek archer he helped in yiling before

this isn't the boy wei ying and wen wing fretted over endlessly in yiling. this.. something Must have happened to him.
there is no ill intent nor resentment. but there also lacks recognition or even consciousness.

lwj looks at ayuan again.

the humming, lwj realizes after a moment.
he doesn't recognize the tune, no, but it must be a piece composed by wxx. a tune used to summon wen ning, and ayuan has picked up - or rather, suddenly remember it now.

but what caused ayuan to only remember it Now?

"ayuan," he calls gently, keeping his gaze set on wen ning.

his sweet, little boy pauses his painting, carefully putting down his brush as to not spill any ink and raises his head. with a quick wave, lwj beckons over his son.

the jingshi is quite aside from the pitter-patter

of ayuan's feet as he scampers over and excitedly climbs into lwj's lap.

lwj relishes the privacy of his quarters to openly show affection for his little ayuan, still so young and impressionable and green.

"ayuan," he begins.

"that piece you were humming, do you recall where you learned it?" he inquires, voice steady enough to hide his nervousness.

a gentle hum, then a shake of his head.

ayuan's gaze is curious, but he doesn't ask. he knows his fathers will tell if needed, or when the time is right.

"look outside," lwj instructs pointing to where wen ning still stands unmoving.

ayuan follows his guide and gasps when he catches sight of the haggard looking man - can wen ning still be considered a human? ayuan tenses in his lap, pressing up closer into lwj's chest and

both hands grips his robes anxiously. he turns his gaze to lwj again.

"do you recognize him?" another head shake; as lwj expected but hoped against. "he was - Is - your father's old friend."

"my other father?"

"yes, your other adoptive father, before me."

"that man outside, he's special, different from you and me."

anxious eyes become wide with wonder now. "he is?"

lwj nods. "he is. first let's bring him inside, then i will tell you more."

"okay," ayuan agrees easily. such an obedient boy. lwj smiles.