#i just want a songxuexiao story where sl ISNT a reluctant bystander to xuexiaos relationship

[snootch]

SongXueXiao fix-it arc where Song Lan and Xue Yang Don't immediately try to kill each other, wind up working out a begrudging agreement to try to save XXC's feelings, and wind up co-living in the Coffin House.

The condition is XY can stay [if he so annoyingly insists] but has to be the one to tell XXC who he is.

SL watches on with sheer Joy as XY struggles to explain to XXC who he is and that, no, he did Not lie, just omitted some truths, and was Not at any point thinking about killing him, thank you very much.

But the longer it goes on, the more XXC shuts down and rejects XY, and the more XY is begging him to not be mad/send him away, the more SL just thinks it's. Sad.

He will Not admit he feels bad for XY At All, but does convince XXC to let XY stay, with some poetic speech about the beauty of souls transforming, hearts changing, second chances, etc. that's almost got even himself convinced.

So instead of the standard SongXueXiao dynamic of XXC inexplicably liking XY and SL just putting up with him- XXC is the stubborn grudgeholder and SL is the one that actually starts seeing XY as a person first, because, well, he can See.

He Sees how XY bends over backwards to do things for XXC, even things XXC will never even know he did. He Sees how he takes care of XXC and A-Qing. He sees how, when XY is stripped of all the things that inspired violence and is put in a Home, he reverts back to a mostly-harmless seventeen year old kid.

A seventeen year old kid that loves his sister/girlfriend?/partner-in-crime, is absolutely Starry Eyed In Love with XXC, and has an unfortunate amount of things in common with SL.

SL winds up bonding with him Long before XXC finally starts to let up on his grudge. SL winds up being the one to convince XXC that XY has changed and can be trusted.

Because tricking a blind man is easy. Changing your tone and hiding things from someone who can't see is easy. But SL can read XY's expressions and body language terrifyingly well. He knows when he's lying and when he's being genuine and when he's simply causing problems on purpose because he's bored or not getting enough attention. And moreso, he has the worldly experience to read XY. Unlike XXC, who's only been in the world a few years, SL has lived in it his whole life and has seen people like XY turn their lives around and become good people.

SL quickly becomes the Dad of the household, the mediator, the voice of reason, etc. Which is an actual full-time job and he has no Fucking Clue how they were surviving without him because-

XXC is an actual mess. He has no idea what's going on ever and he's disorganized to boot. This man can spin out a breathtaking basket in minutes, repair a torn robe to near perfection, brew the most divine tea, but does he know where he set down the vegetables he just bought? His left boot is by the door, but somehow the right one made it all the way to the bathroom. And now that he knows who XY is and is clinging to his grudge like his life depends on it? Good God is he petty. He'd Never do anything to harm a living soul, even XY, but he might 'accidentally' knock his tea over when he walks by, or 'misplace' one of his robes while doing laundry. Is someone talking? What's that noise? Hm, who knows, he definitely didn't hear XY talking.

And XY is a tornado of anger and knives wrapped up in a teenager with Horrible impulse control. Not only is SL responsible for teaching him that, No, Stabbing vendors is Not an appropriate way to haggle, and Yes it will upset XXC, but he also has to reel him in from typical teenager shit. Grabbing the back of his robe before he can dive into the river in the middle of winter because 'A-Qing said he should'. In fact, most of the stupid shit SL has to put an end to is the nonstop dares and bets between A-Qing and XY.

Which leads to A-Qing, who is basically just a smaller, less stabby XY. And is a whole other can of worms SL was not prepared to handle. XXC and XY were easy compared to her. SL has never had to live in close quarters with a teenage girl before. Especially one who is used to living with one person that's blind and one person she doesn't care about being underdressed in front of.

XXC is the picture of perfect manners, even when no one's around to see, but A-Qing and XY are vulgar-humoured street kids that lounge around in their underclothes and give no fucks about face.

It takes a hot minute to adjust to the chaotic, ecclectic coffin household, but SL winds up fitting in like a missing puzzle piece.