Chapter Text
The deeper they went, the more Lan Wangji’s muscles tensed.
He followed his older brother, swimming in the deep, colder than they should be, waters. Even if the two princes were the most powerful mermen after their uncle in the Lan kingdom, Wangji couldn’t help but feel like something bad was going to happen.
Of course, he trusted his brother more than he trusted himself. Even if his brother took interest in humans and the way they lived, he was in no way careless. He knew the dangers that can occur, so he never let them see him. The only exception was the day he saved Jiang Cheng, but Wangji could only shamefully admonish himself for his negligence upon seeing Wei Wuxian as well.
However, even if Xichen was a good fighter and a smart strategist, he was often too kind and forgiving. It was Wangji’s job as his younger brother and best friend to ensure that the gentle Crown Prince wasn’t used by malicious individuals.
On the bottom were, where light barely touched, creatures yet unknown to the mankind, some even to merfolk. Their surroundings were dark, and Wangji suppressed a shudder.
They got in front of a cave soon and he felt apprehension and nervousness coiling in the pit of his stomach. He sharpened his senses, but the only thing he felt was a distant school of fish swimming further away, and the silence was almost deafening.
Danger. Danger, his senses screamed at him.
“A-Yao!” his brother called, and a cecaelia suddenly appeared before the entrance. His tentacles swayed gently, non-threatingly, but Wangji still felt a weird sense of foreboding. His gentle face showed a placating, diplomatic smile that turned a bit more real after seeing the older merman.
Wangji gently shook his head, trying to focus. If brother trusted him, he had to give him at least a chance to prove himself.
“Er-ge, how come you’re here? Don’t you have a lot of work to do these days?”
Xichen looked sheepish for a moment, his smile turning shy. The younger prince marveled at the expression he saw on his brother’s face for the first time. “I have to admit, I rushed to finish my duties just so I could come here as soon as possible.”
The cecaelia, for some unknown reason, seemed pleased at the admission. The anxiety Lan Wangji felt, also for an unknown reason, intensified.
“Ah, I haven’t introduced you two yet. A-Yao, this is my brother, Lan Wangji. Wangji, this is Meng Yao, my dear friend.”
Meng Yao nodded curtly. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Lan Wangji acknowledged him and subtly looked around. The cave seemed organized and full of stuff at the same time, and Wangji could feel the magic that kept the things from floating up to the surface. There were some containers filled with liquids (glass bottles, Xichen had said), and they looked familiar in a way that Wangji had seen them in his brother’s collection of human things.
“So, is there a special occasion?” Meng Yao asked, his face polite and only slightly curious.
Faint blush colored Crown Prince’s cheeks. “Yes, actually. You mentioned going above the waters, to the shore, once. With legs.”
Meng Yao’s brows slightly furrowed in confusion. “I did. Why are you mentioning that?”
Lan Xichen curled his fingers. “I would like that as well. Legs, I mean. I… I want to meet someone. A human.”
There was a deadly silence for a moment; Meng Yao staring at Lan Xichen, the latter at the floor, and Lan Wangji at Meng Yao. Only because he was specifically looking for it did he notice it; a brief downturn of the other’s lips, a dangerous and possessive glint in his eyes. It was gone in less than a second, but the image sealed itself into Lan Wangji’s mind. At once, everything made sense, and only a few dots needed to be connected to reach a realization.
Suddenly, he wished that they weren’t here.
It was a stupid, impulsive idea to begin with. For a twentieth time, at least, he asked himself: Is it worth it? What about uncle? What about the kingdom?
He was horrified at the knowledge that Wei Wuxian was of the same importance as the life as Lan Wangji knew it. He felt fear realizing how much the human actually meant to him, and they never even spoke with one another.
If they really met, how much worse, how deep, will Lan Zhan’s affections run?
“You want to meet a human? Er-ge, do you know what you’re asking for?”
Lan Xichen raised his head with a look of confusion on his face. “I do, of course. You know I am not heedless with my decisions.”
Meng Yao smiled slightly, uncertainly. “Then you must know how vile humans can be. I know you often watch the merchant ships pass by, but even if they seem harmless with their jokes and their laughter, they are malicious beings that often look for a way to make more profit, to be above others.”
Lan Xichen’s face lost even the small smile it held, and Lan Wangji’s expression hardened. They knew, of course, how dangerous it was if humans were to find out their true nature. Lan Wangji still held his uncertainties, after all. However, the Second Prince perceived Meng Yao and therefore knew that the concern was just a careful act to mask the jealousy after being informed of Lan Xichen’s obvious crush. Maybe his brother couldn't see how much the other actually thought them to be close, but he certainly could.
“Do not make assumptions. Actions a group of people does cannot and will not represent a whole myriad of them. I believe you understand that best.”
Men Yao flinched, caught off guard. Lan Wangji knew that the implication he made could be considered cruel, but he was right. The time when octopids tried to submit a whole world of merfolk under their feet wasn’t so long ago. They were now looked at with caution; the magic they practiced could easily turn against the ones living under the surface. Maybe even against the creatures walking the earth.
“It is only for a short time, A-Yao. A moon at most. We have duties here that we cannot abandon. Will you help us?”
Meng Yao turned towards him. “You too, Your Highness? Very well, then, if you’re sure. Follow me.”
They went deeper into the cave, a faint light illuminating their surroundings. In the cave was a merman that seemed startled by their presence; he bowed and greeted them formally.
“Su She,” Meng Yao called, “hand me two bottles from the top shelf.”
Su She had widened his eyes for a moment in shock, but quickly collected himself and went to do his task. It wasn’t long before Meng Yao held two bottles in his hand; the liquid seemed silver and pure, still like the sea after a storm. Lan Wangji curled his fingers and reminded himself that if Lan Xichen trusted the cecaelia, he should at least give him a chance. That didn’t include carelessness; he will be on alert and expect the worst. In addition, he didn’t think that any harm will befall his brother, if the hidden affection in Meng Yao’s eyes was any indication.
“Now, what I’m about to tell you is of the utmost importance. Just before you go to the shore, you need to drink the potion. Your tail will disappear, and your legs will take place. After, you will be able to change into your original form, but be careful; if water touches your body, your tail will immediately take place.”
Lan Wangji could practically sense his brother’s restlessness, and to be honest, a small part of him felt abuzz with excitement, absolutely ignoring the large part of him that was screaming in despair for the last few hours. Lan Wangji never went against his family’s principles, and he never knew that breaking rules could make him so exhilarated. Well, that was certainly a thought to consider for later.
However, Meng Yao wasn’t finished. “Unfortunately, this magic is old, and it comes with a curse. One of you will have to lose voice. The only way it can be broken is if your feelings are returned. Otherwise, as long as you’re in a human form, you won’t have the ability to talk. Since you’re related by blood, only one voice is needed.”
The brothers looked at each other; Wangji, however, already made up his mind.
“I will do it.”