《WangXian》 Once in a Lifetime

The Fading Sun

----

TW: Suicide, depression

----

The apartment they shared was a study in contrasts, a testament to the two souls who called it home. Lan Wangji's side was a minimalist's dream: clean lines, books meticulously arranged by subject and author, the scent of green tea and faint sandalwood. Wei Wuxian's, however, was a controlled explosion of vibrant chaos. Discarded art supplies mingled with comic books and energy drink cans, a guitar leaned precariously against a stack of vinyl records, and a half-finished prank prototype (currently involving a rubber chicken and a motion sensor) sat proudly on his desk. Yet, amidst the delightful mess, a comfortable rhythm had long been established.

It was a Saturday morning, bright and early for Lan Wangji, impossibly late for Wei Wuxian.

Sunlight streamed through the living room window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air and settling on a pile of Wei Wuxian's laundry on the floor. Lan Wangji, already dressed in neat casuals, was seated at the kitchen island, nursing a cup of jasmine tea, a textbook open beside him. The air was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the refrigerator.

Suddenly, a loud groan ripped through the stillness, followed by a theatrical creak of a bed. 

"Lan Zhaaannnn... what ungodly hour is it? Why is the sun so insistent?" Wei Wuxian stumbled into the kitchen, hair a glorious mess, eyes still crinkled with sleep. 

He was wearing an oversized t-shirt and mismatched socks, but even in this state, there was an undeniable vibrancy about him. He moved with a restless energy, already halfway to the coffee machine before he was fully awake.

"Eight o'clock," Lan Wangji replied, his voice a low, steady rumble that always seemed to soothe the edges of Wei Wuxian's morning chaos.

"Eight?! You're a monster! I swear, you wake up just to spite me." But the words were accompanied by a wide, dazzling grin, a flash of white teeth that seemed to light up the room. Wei Wuxian was a perpetual source of light and noise, a whirlwind of jokes, pranks, and boundless enthusiasm. He spoke with his hands, his eyes, his entire body, painting vivid pictures with every anecdote. He loved to laugh, loud and unrestrained, a sound that could chase away any lingering shadows. Lan Wangji, for all his quiet reserve, found himself irrevocably drawn to it, his own world undeniably brighter with Wei Wuxian's insistent presence.

"Breakfast?" Lan Wangji offered, gesturing to the lightly toasted bread on the counter.

Wei Wuxian's eyes, usually quick to spark with mischief, flickered briefly to the bread, then away.

"Nah, too early for solid food, Lan Zhan. Coffee, and then I'm going to tackle that beast of an essay Professor Yao gave us. Gotta get my brain buzzing, you know?" He winked, grabbed a mug, and began spooning an improbable amount of instant coffee into it.

Lan Wangji's gaze lingered. Wei Wuxian loved breakfast. He loved food. Missing a meal, even a small one, was out of character. But then again, Wei Wuxian was also famous for his last-minute academic sprints fueled by caffeine and sheer will. Lan Wangji merely hummed, a noncommittal sound, and turned a page in his book.