Wei Wuxian almost breathes a sigh of relief when it's Lan Zhan himself that goes to investigate the compartment - he's the only one among all of these navy men that he actually trusts with what - or rather, who - is inside.
When the compartment floods with light, the small figure inside blinks up dazedly, a sword that's really more of a dagger clutched in his tiny hand. It takes him a second to realise what exactly he's looking at, though it's very quickly obvious that it isn't Captain Wei or any of his crew who have opened the little door, and he was under strict instructions to stab and run if that's the case.
(Wei Ying might have forgotten about those instructions until after Lan Zhan has left, so he'd been left saying a silent apology to Lan Zhan's soon-to-be-injured shins and hoping he didn't get too mad)
Lan Zhan's shins are safe from stabbing, though, because as Yuan's vision adjusts and he looks up at the tall man in front of him, there's a spark of recognition in his mind. He drops his little sword and instead latches on to the navy man's leg.
It wasn't that Lan Zhan didn't trust his men, he did. That wasn't, however, to say that he would allow them to check Captain Wei's ship. Not with how he'd described things. Most precious, indeed.
He's honestly expecting to have that little dagger shoved at him. Lan Zhan wouldn't deny a little one trying to protect themselves. However, that never comes. Instead, he's got a little one clutching to him like his little life depended on it. Something that broke his heart, especially with how young the little one was.
The child is picked up and held on his hip when it hits him. This child was older now and the last time he'd seen him... it had been before Wei Ying had gone to ground and disappeared. Once he does return back to where Captain Wei is, Yuan on his hip and he sees the look from his men.
"Yuan will stay in the captain's quarters with me." If any of his men had a problem with that, Bichen would find their throat. He really didn't want to hurt his men. He would not put the little one down in the brig with the others.
Those golden eyes look towards grey and he shakes his head," You had to go and complicate things, Wei Ying."
Yuan doesn't seem distressed at all, he also doesn't seem inclined to talk right now - even when he sees Captain Wei. He simply stays quiet, blinking owlishly at the captain with chubby fingers curled into the back of Lan Zhan's coat and his other hand in his mouth.
Wei Ying wonders if the boy told Lan Zhan his name, or if he remembered it.
"Fingers out your mouth," he scolds the child softly. Yuan does so, turning to bury his face into Lan Zhan's shoulder instead, like he can escape being told off. Wei Ying just smiles fondly at him before shifting his attention to the man holding him.
"You really think I'd have come out here without my son? You know I'd never leave him behind, Lan Zhan..."
One should remember that Lan Zhan has an exceptional memory. So, the little one did not have to tell him his name. Much less after the whole bit of clinging to him like his life depended on it. It wasn't what he'd expected, but that was neither here nor there.
He, himself, knows that his men were not too thrilled and he did not care. If any harm came to any of them, there would be problems. He shakes his head at the question, as well as the statement.
"I did not know what became of you or Yuan. So, how would I know what Wei Ying would have come out here with or with out."
Wei Wuxian looks away at that, not wanting Lan Zhan to see the regret in his eyes. He clears his throat, not responding to the comment but instead changing the subject.
"Whatever happens to me or my crew, please, Lan Zhan," he finally turns his face back to meet the other man's gaze, serious and pleading "promise me you'll protect A-Yuan? He's just a child..."
In an ideal world, Wei Wuxian and his crew are going to narrowly escape the noose and sail away leaving the navy far behind, he knows he's making his plans that much harder by letting Lan Zhan take Yuan to his quarters - by practically asking him to - but his first priority has to be Yuan's safety, and he knows that's the safest place for him.
"You know that I will not let anything happen to him."
No matter what happened to anyone else the little one, Yuan, would stay safe. Children were not exactly a weak point for Lan Wangji, but this one was. Something that Wei Wuxian knew. Even if the others did manage to get away, he would keep Yuan safe and raise him.
He does not want to. Does not want to send them to the brig, but there are things that needed to be done. Even Captain Wei knew that. Yuan, however, would stay with him in his cabin. Safe and sound. This was going to be harder than he imagined.
"I know." Wuxian says simply - that's entirely why he's letting this happen.
"A-Yuan, you be good for Lan Zhan, you hear?" he tells the little boy firmly. Yuan lifts his head from Lan Zhan's shoulder with a frown.
"Baba...?" he finally speaks "Are you going away?"
"I won't be very far, A-Yuan, I'll still be on the ship, but you have to stay in the captain's quarters with Lan Zhan while we travel. Be good and do as you're told and I'll see you soon, okay?"
As long as no one got too close to them, they would be fine. He knows, for a fact, that some of his men were not happy. If he were in their postion he might not be either. Finding out that their Navy Captain knew the Pirate Captain.
"Lets get you fed, Yuan. I'm sure you're hungry."
If anyone was going to do anything, he needed to get the little one in his quarters before it did happen.
Wei Wuxian's expression shuts down, watching as Yuan nods eagerly - honestly this kid, offer him some food and he'll switch allegiance in a second. He trusts Lan Zhan, he knows Yuan is safe with him, but he has to keep his expression blank so none of Lan Zhan's men see how much it breaks his heart to see his son being separated from him - he has a reputation to uphold after all, he's already shown them enough weakness.
He lets himself be led down to the brig with the others, already trying to plan their escape.
Lan Wangji had a bad feeling about all of this. However, he didn't have time to analyze those feelings at the moment. Not when he had to get Yuan into the captain's quarters, which he does. The little boy being sat down and food offered. He isn't sure the last time that they'd actively eaten. However, he also wasn't going to let Yuan over eat either.
Once everything was set, he gets them back out at sea. Even making sure that the pirate ship was tethered. Especially seeing as he had plans to take it back with them.
He would, unfortunately, have to keep an eye on his crew as well. Especially when he had a feeling things were going to go sideways. Maybe not right away, but they were going to.
Yuan was mildly distressed at being separated from Wei Wuxian and clung to Lan Wangji for reassurance, though he was soon calmed with food and settled well enough in Lan Wangji's quarters to eat.
He liked to eat.
Wei Wuxian caught a few of those looks from Lan Zhan's crew as well, he thinks perhaps it's best if they get out of there sooner rather than later, and with their own ship being towed behind the navy one, he just needs to get them out of the brig, grab Yuan, get back over and separate the ships without anybody stopping him... easy, right?
He can't do anything until nightfall, anyway, when most of the crew have gone to sleep and they only have to deal with the watch.
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Wei Wuxian almost breathes a sigh of relief when it's Lan Zhan himself that goes to investigate the compartment - he's the only one among all of these navy men that he actually trusts with what - or rather, who - is inside.
When the compartment floods with light, the small figure inside blinks up dazedly, a sword that's really more of a dagger clutched in his tiny hand. It takes him a second to realise what exactly he's looking at, though it's very quickly obvious that it isn't Captain Wei or any of his crew who have opened the little door, and he was under strict instructions to stab and run if that's the case.
(Wei Ying might have forgotten about those instructions until after Lan Zhan has left, so he'd been left saying a silent apology to Lan Zhan's soon-to-be-injured shins and hoping he didn't get too mad)
Lan Zhan's shins are safe from stabbing, though, because as Yuan's vision adjusts and he looks up at the tall man in front of him, there's a spark of recognition in his mind. He drops his little sword and instead latches on to the navy man's leg.
no subject
He's honestly expecting to have that little dagger shoved at him. Lan Zhan wouldn't deny a little one trying to protect themselves. However, that never comes. Instead, he's got a little one clutching to him like his little life depended on it. Something that broke his heart, especially with how young the little one was.
The child is picked up and held on his hip when it hits him. This child was older now and the last time he'd seen him... it had been before Wei Ying had gone to ground and disappeared. Once he does return back to where Captain Wei is, Yuan on his hip and he sees the look from his men.
"Yuan will stay in the captain's quarters with me." If any of his men had a problem with that, Bichen would find their throat. He really didn't want to hurt his men. He would not put the little one down in the brig with the others.
Those golden eyes look towards grey and he shakes his head," You had to go and complicate things, Wei Ying."
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Yuan doesn't seem distressed at all, he also doesn't seem inclined to talk right now - even when he sees Captain Wei. He simply stays quiet, blinking owlishly at the captain with chubby fingers curled into the back of Lan Zhan's coat and his other hand in his mouth.
Wei Ying wonders if the boy told Lan Zhan his name, or if he remembered it.
"Fingers out your mouth," he scolds the child softly. Yuan does so, turning to bury his face into Lan Zhan's shoulder instead, like he can escape being told off. Wei Ying just smiles fondly at him before shifting his attention to the man holding him.
"You really think I'd have come out here without my son? You know I'd never leave him behind, Lan Zhan..."
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He, himself, knows that his men were not too thrilled and he did not care. If any harm came to any of them, there would be problems. He shakes his head at the question, as well as the statement.
"I did not know what became of you or Yuan. So, how would I know what Wei Ying would have come out here with or with out."
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Wei Wuxian looks away at that, not wanting Lan Zhan to see the regret in his eyes. He clears his throat, not responding to the comment but instead changing the subject.
"Whatever happens to me or my crew, please, Lan Zhan," he finally turns his face back to meet the other man's gaze, serious and pleading "promise me you'll protect A-Yuan? He's just a child..."
In an ideal world, Wei Wuxian and his crew are going to narrowly escape the noose and sail away leaving the navy far behind, he knows he's making his plans that much harder by letting Lan Zhan take Yuan to his quarters - by practically asking him to - but his first priority has to be Yuan's safety, and he knows that's the safest place for him.
no subject
No matter what happened to anyone else the little one, Yuan, would stay safe. Children were not exactly a weak point for Lan Wangji, but this one was. Something that Wei Wuxian knew. Even if the others did manage to get away, he would keep Yuan safe and raise him.
He does not want to. Does not want to send them to the brig, but there are things that needed to be done. Even Captain Wei knew that. Yuan, however, would stay with him in his cabin. Safe and sound. This was going to be harder than he imagined.
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"I know." Wuxian says simply - that's entirely why he's letting this happen.
"A-Yuan, you be good for Lan Zhan, you hear?" he tells the little boy firmly. Yuan lifts his head from Lan Zhan's shoulder with a frown.
"Baba...?" he finally speaks "Are you going away?"
"I won't be very far, A-Yuan, I'll still be on the ship, but you have to stay in the captain's quarters with Lan Zhan while we travel. Be good and do as you're told and I'll see you soon, okay?"
Yuan nods.
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As long as no one got too close to them, they would be fine. He knows, for a fact, that some of his men were not happy. If he were in their postion he might not be either. Finding out that their Navy Captain knew the Pirate Captain.
"Lets get you fed, Yuan. I'm sure you're hungry."
If anyone was going to do anything, he needed to get the little one in his quarters before it did happen.
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Wei Wuxian's expression shuts down, watching as Yuan nods eagerly - honestly this kid, offer him some food and he'll switch allegiance in a second. He trusts Lan Zhan, he knows Yuan is safe with him, but he has to keep his expression blank so none of Lan Zhan's men see how much it breaks his heart to see his son being separated from him - he has a reputation to uphold after all, he's already shown them enough weakness.
He lets himself be led down to the brig with the others, already trying to plan their escape.
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Once everything was set, he gets them back out at sea. Even making sure that the pirate ship was tethered. Especially seeing as he had plans to take it back with them.
He would, unfortunately, have to keep an eye on his crew as well. Especially when he had a feeling things were going to go sideways. Maybe not right away, but they were going to.
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Yuan was mildly distressed at being separated from Wei Wuxian and clung to Lan Wangji for reassurance, though he was soon calmed with food and settled well enough in Lan Wangji's quarters to eat.
He liked to eat.
Wei Wuxian caught a few of those looks from Lan Zhan's crew as well, he thinks perhaps it's best if they get out of there sooner rather than later, and with their own ship being towed behind the navy one, he just needs to get them out of the brig, grab Yuan, get back over and separate the ships without anybody stopping him... easy, right?
He can't do anything until nightfall, anyway, when most of the crew have gone to sleep and they only have to deal with the watch.