Wei Ying wakes up slowly, stretching his smaller body in confusion while yawning so widely that tears come to his eyes. Lan Zhan brushes them away fondly, not even blinking because doing so would make him miss precious seconds of being able to see him.
This is Wei Ying.
Alive and well, and apparently happy, because his sunny smile lights up his whole face, his brilliant silver eyes curiously watching Lan Zhan back with the same intensity. He sits up, and stretches again with his tiny fists in the air, and then he looks around.
"Mama? Baba?" He inquires, not necessarily worried about them.
"They will be back soon," Lan Zhan says. He's not overly fond of his own voice in his younger body, but he loves the way Wei Ying speaks.
Wei Ying has a tooth missing on his bottom row. It's too cute for words, and Lan Zhan has to open his arms. Wei Ying shuffles towards him on his knees and propels himself with a little too much force, and down they go in a tangle of limbs, hugging each other tightly. Lan Zhan's smaller hands stroke his hair gently, his heart overflowing with love for this sweet soul.
"Wan Zhan," Wei Ying whispers contentedly, and inadvertently makes Lan Zhan freeze.
The array. He thinks back to the characters and the strokes he added to retain his own memory, too distraught after killing and injuring members of his own clan to think properly. He's sure he retained his own memory, but what exactly does Wei Ying remember? He hopes nothing too painful but they must talk before the adults get back because he might not get this chance again.
"Wei Ying-"
"YingYing," Wei Ying pouts.
Lan Zhan can feel his heart bursting into fireworks again and again.
"YingYing, how do you feel?"
"Hungwy."
"Then you must eat first." Lan Zhan guides him up and together they ease off the bed. Lan Zhan is tall enough to jump off, but Wei Ying doesn't.
"Mama says I must do it dis way," he says, turning onto his stomach and wiggling off the bed slowly until his cute little feet touch the ground. They go to the little table and Lan Zhan uncovers the meal.
Wei Ying looks around, frowning. "Where's your breakfast?"
Lan Zhan points to his tummy. "I already ate."
"Wivout YingYing?" Wei Ying crosses his arms stubbornly over his little chest and pouts, making no attempt to eat. His stomach rumbles loudly and yet he doesn't move an inch.
"I ate at home," Lan Zhan replies, stirring the congee in the bowl and offering up a spoon full of it.
"When?" Wei Ying presses his lips into a thin line, refusing to open his mouth yet.
"Chen shi."
Wei Ying turns to the window, squinting at the light so he might be able to tell what time it is.
"It is Wu shi now. Eat, YingYing," Lan Zhan presses the spoon against Wei Ying's lips again.
"But that means-"
Lan Zhan takes his chance and stuffs his mouth with the spoon, quickly dumping it in and retreating, refilling the spoon even as Wei Ying glares at him. He chews slowly on purpose, never looking away once, and Lan Zhan should have known that he's no ordinary boy, his fast mind already presenting him with several solutions to his problem.
Quick as a flash, Wei Ying's hand shoots out, taking the second spoonful and feeding it to Lan Zhan, giggling at his face and the outrage of the indignity of being fed when he's old enough not to require assistance.
