Chapter Text
.STUDIES SHOW.
Nie Huaisang thinks that the hybrids he cares for are much braver than humans when it comes to relationships. He would know, because he's an expert.
For starters, he’s watching the two of them swimming about in their tank, ignoring the world around them. One naps while the other races back and forth, playing with one of the very dead fish that is meant to be eaten. It’s a little endearing and just a tad bit gruesome.
Nie Huaisang has worked in the marine hybrid research team for a couple years now, had been hired straight out of college out of pure luck or something. He doesn’t know. But he’s grateful for the job and even more, he’s happy to work for such a large company. Their research is extensive and they’ve been working with hybrids for longer than most companies, have never had a complaint about them, and treat all their hybrids well.
Nie Huaisang is in charge of the two hybrids who’ve recently been introduced into one another’s habitat to see if they could be potential mates, and though it’s unprofessional, he can’t help but find them truly adorable. He keeps his emotions bottled up inside, however, never doing more than maybe smiling when they show interest in one another. He saves his reactions for when he goes home, screaming to his roommates about how cute the two of them really are.
The first hybrid is an omega named Lan Wangji, and was only recently separated from his pod. He’s so pretty that sometimes Nie Huaisang thinks he’s a sculpture. He’s got dark, pretty eyes, no sclera, and a cute face. His tail is the prettiest from his pod, white and a light, baby blue, scales reflecting light on the side. There’s more blue as the scale travels downward but only on either side of the tail. His nails are trimmed short and his hair is long, dwindling around him as he floats about. He doesn’t move around much in his tank at first, gets used to the surroundings closest to him before venturing out further.
The tank is new to both of them, as to not create any territorial disputes, and while Lan Wangji is cautious about it, Wei Wuxian is nearly bouncing off the walls, and has no problem swimming about to explore his new surroundings. The tank is separate from the main tank, which is in the largest room of the facility. The opening to the tank are often kept closed and when it’s time to transport them, or if they let the hybrids swim freely, they open those gates. Most of the hybrids have been in the same pod for generations, so there is very little territorial issues. They have separate enclosures for their living, and mates will be kept together until they start a family.
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji have been suspected of being mates for quite some time. But the biologists at the company cannot deny or confirm this as they’re a confusing pair. Some of them think that they are promising mates and others do not. Nie Huaisang has heard them argue during breaks about why or why not. When he’s assigned to the two of them, he takes the opportunity. He can figure this out, he swears. He’s the perfect man for the job.
Wei Wuxian is an alpha who has been away from his pod for years, taken in to a different pod and rehabilitated by the company for a particularly nasty bite to one of his fins. His tail is black, with very subtle red near the thinnest layer of his fins, and those fins are much larger and rounder than Lan Wangji’s. He spreads them to twice their size when he needs to try and intimidate a worker or feels threatened, frilling them widely. His ears are the same as his fins and he can expand those, too, though he rarely does. Sometimes he flaunts his fins to be a dick, smacking them against the glass, and startling Nie Huaisang or the other employees. His nails are dark and long and whenever they try to clip them he snaps at them with his teeth, which are much sharper than Lan Wangji’s, though he doesn’t bite. He just snaps. He’s nipped an employee only once before, Nie Huaisang has heard the story, but he thinks it was called for. His hair is shorter than Lan Wangji’s, his eyes black, but his sclera is red and therefore unsettling to look at.
If Nie Huaisang had to describe them, and he often does in his reports, he’d say that both of their looks are deceiving to what’s inside.
Wei Wuxian is terrifying to look at, quite frankly, his tail is long, his fins large and spiny, his eyes ruby red and his talons intimidating. Most of the hybrids are pretty, like typical fairytale mermaids, but Wei Wuxian (though cute) reminds him of darker sirens from more grim like mythical legends. But he’s sweet. He’s a generally happy hybrid, full of energy, and likes to play with the employees. Though his pranks can be annoying, like splashing them with his tail or stealing things from them. He’s playful and this makes it easy for Nie Huaisang to observe him and learn his personality, who that he can better create a map of his moods, likes and dislikes.
Lan Wangji looks pretty and gentle but he is rather strong, and tough. He’s tough to solve and tougher to crack. Though his tail is pretty, it is mostly muscle and not as fatty as other tails. Nie Huaisang has felt it only once, surprised by how muscular and thick it felt, instead of squishy and soft. He doesn’t smile, ever, despite Nie Huaisang’s treats and praises. He rarely engages with the employees, keeping a safe distance from them, often observing them . At first Nie Huaisang thought it was some form of anxiety, being separated from the rest of his pod, but he soon learns that this is just who Lan Wangji is . He’s a quiet little omega who Nie Huaisang hasn’t even heard as much as chirp, spends most of his time just floating about, swimming mindlessly to some places. He engages with his new mate sometimes, allowing him to be close, and other times stays far away from him. He sleeps near the cove of rocks in the dark, and sleeps at much different times than Wei Wuxian. He flicks his tail when he’s annoyed it seems but other than that he shows no signs of aggression. He’s just . . . a chill hybrid.
Nie Huaisang’s days are always scheduled, and he rarely strays from that schedule. Not so much for him but for the hybrids. They get fed at a certain time (and Wei Wuxian makes damn sure of that) have their tanks cleaned, get moved to other tanks if necessary, are observed, have playtime and social hours.
Since the two of them are getting ready to be mates, they aren’t socialized as much as they used to. Nie Huaisang thinks that this is the opposite of helpful but not much changes when Lan Wangji’s goes and swims around his podmates, and then returns to his regular tank. Neither of them seem to have any issues with possessive behavior nor have they even begun to truly court one another. Wei Wuxian swims around Lan Wangji sometimes, chirps at him, but it’s nothing more than that. They share their food equally and don’t squabble over territory, so Nie Huaisang can see they’re getting along rather swimmingly.
It’s a dumb pun but he writes it down anyway hoping someone will appreciate it.
The only thing that confuses him is how and why they’re mates. Lan Wangji doesn’t seem particularly interested in Wei Wuxian (though he doesn’t mind him) and while Wei Wuxian does seem more interested in Lan Wangji, he’s often out doing his own thing. It’s why they’re under such careful observation in the first place. To figure out what’s really going on.
The first suspicion he gets arises during cleaning hours, when they’re both brought up to the open air tank outdoors, since it’s so nice out, and given some fish as a treat to get them to come further out. Wei Wuxian takes two of the fish by their tails and brings them straight to Lan Wangji, who hasn’t moved from the furthest corner of the tank, or even looked their way. Lan Wangji seems to contemplate the fish before he takes one right out of Wei Wuxian’s mouth. Nie Huaisang nudges his coworker to look but by then it’s too late. Lan Wangji swallows the fish whole, bone and all, chewing awkwardly with his small fangs. Wei Wuxian swims in circles for a few seconds, dusting the edges of his tail fins against the sand, before swimming off.
“Do you think that counts as courting behavior?” Nie Huaisang asks.
“I think that’s just him being a little bit of an idiot,” they reply. Nie Huaisang sighs.
“I meant the fact he just gave Lan Wangji one of the fish. Not the . . . little circle dance,”
“Maybe,” Mianmian watches them now, “it at least shows that he’s considerate.”
Nie Huaisang makes a mental note to watch out for the behavior in the future. He can’t give them more fish now, risking their strict diets, but he’ll try it a couple times a week.
“How long do they need to stay out for?”
“An hour or so.”
“Do you think we should play with them? Lan Wangji is looking less and less grateful for the fish and more . . .”
They all look towards Lan Wangji, who closes his eyes, resting against the rocks while Wei Wuxian prods at him with his tail. He flicks his tail at him and instantly Wei Wuxian retreats.
“Tough rejection,” Mianmian says.
“He’ll get over it, he always does,” Nie Huaisang laughs. And it’s true. Wei Wuxian never seems to be discouraged from bothering Lan Wangji for long, nor do any of the tail flicks seem to be personal. He grabs a plastic ring and waves it around, waiting for Wei Wuxian to notice. “Do you think he’ll actually bring it back this time?”
“No. He’ll steal it like always. And hoard it, and then we’ll need the divers to go confiscate it during tank cleanings. I wouldn’t throw it in there,”
But it’s too late. Wei Wuxian spots the red ring and his eyes go wide. He swims to the top of the tank, sticking his head out of the water. Nie Huaisang feels trapped now. He laughs nervously, looking between Mianmian’s disapproving scowl and Wei Wuxian’s narrowed eyes. He’s just about to make a decision when Wei Wuxian goes to pull himself out of the tank and they both panic.
“No! Wei Wuxian, no!”
Wei Wuxian knows the word ‘no’. They know he knows the word ‘no’ and they also know that he is chaotic, and won’t listen. But he settles back into the tank anyway, and huffs, staring at them both. Instead of trying to do it again, as he usually would, he swims away and down to Lan Wangji. The employees look at each other and then back. Wei Wuxian settles by Lan Wangji’s tail but he isn’t flicked. Lan Wangji opens an eye and just stares at him. Nie Huaisang can’t see his exact expression but his body language is relaxed and he seems to not mind having Wei Wuxian there.
It’s a start.