Spiritual Weapon: music once more

[keeperofseeds]

Title: music once more
Author: keeperofseeds
Word Count/Drabble Type: 200/double drabble
Character(s)/Ship(s): Lán Xīchén centric, 3zun background
Rating/Warnings: Gen
Summary: Lán Xīchén follows the tattered pieces of his heart back to the Temple
Author's Notes: Lán Xīchén just seems like he's in such a terrible place at the end of the show so my brain started wondering about all these post canon possibilities for him. This idea of him not being able to get over the death of his sworn brothers and friends and going back for them stuck. I imagine he's not in the best place mentally to think about the consequences of such an action, but grief can be like that.
I like leaving this a bit open like maybe he will let (help?) his friends escape from their trapped coffin and maybe things could turn out better despite it all
AO3 link

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Lán Xīchén rides out of the Cloud Recesses before the sun rises. He tells no one, not even his brother of this trip. He follows the tattered pieces of his heart back to the Temple. His dreams are full of memories and tears and he wakes in the mornings with his face wet more often than not. It does not slow him down.

The Temple ruins look as they did. There have been no efforts to restore the site after the bodies had been removed. Well, all but two. Xīchén did not think any would dare disturbing those left behind.

None save him.

Lán Xīchén raises Leibing to his lips for the first time in months and plays. He begins with Rest, though without Wanji the song feels empty in parts. Xīchén plays anyway, fingers finding their place, his breath flowing steadily, letting power flow into the open air and around the broken pillars remaining.

It was a gamble, in so many ways. Coming here alone. Using music. Xīchén lets the notes linger on the wind, straining his senses.

That's when he hears it. The scrape of stone, a pounding knock.
He makes his way into the Temple once more.

Comments

[elwendell]

That ending was creepy. I love the idea that without his brother at his side the music feels empty in places.

[alightbuthappypen]

Oh this is haunting, I love this take on the ending so much.

[aroberuka]

Oh I like this. It starts out very soft and evocative and then the ending hits like a truck. The open ending works super well too, those last two sentences are extremely ominous.