WangXian/YiZhan Oneshots And Short Stories ✔

Accidental Child Acquisition

(Another one wrote on a whim hope it's not too bad 😊)

"Brother." Lan Zhan greeted as he walked into the Library.

"Wangji. How are you?" Xichen asked kindly as he looked up from his book.

"Fine."

"Brother, something is troubling you."

Lan Zhan was quiet as he stood by his brother, unsure of how to begin.

"I need assistance."

"May I ask with what?"

"Follow me."

Wangji exited the Library, with Xichen following right behind, and headed right up to the back of the mountain where nobody ever went. Xichen wondered why his brother was leading him up here, maybe he needed some help with the rabbits? He remained quiet and followed until Cloud Recesses were gone from view, and all around them were lush trees and vegetation. They walked along the forest path before they reached a clearing with a small lake and a moving bundle of white.

They entered the clearing and Xichen followed his brother up to the group of bunnies that were bouncing around happily eating bits of lettuce. Then, from amid the white fluff, a pair of wide brown eyes and small outstretched hands reached up to him.

"Zewu-jun!" 

Xichen's eyes widened as he looked at Wangji in disbelief; he saw his brother looking worried and asked quietly:

"Is this Childe Wei?"

"Hm."

"Childe Wei is a... child."

"Hm."

The brothers looked at Wei Ying for a while as they processed the situation. Wangji explained he woke up to this and don't know what caused it, saying that child Wei Ying didn't know anything either except that he was about four years old. Xichen asked how this was even possible but then added with a smile that it was Wei Ying they were dealing with, he could make anything possible if he wanted to.

"Lan Zhan!" child Wei Ying shouted and smiled with grabbing hands.

Lan Zhan bent down and picked up the boy, holding him up on his waist. Xichen looked fondly upon his brother who was talking with Wei Ying.

"Bunnies! So fluffy." Wei Ying said with a giggle as he stroked the rabbit Xichen was holding.

"Hm."

"Lan Zhan likes bunnies?"

"Yes."

Wei Ying smiled then became distracted with Wangji's forehead ribbon, playing and biting on the loose ends. He pulled the ribbon that was holding his hair up and wrapped the red and white ends around each other, smiling happily the whole time.

"Has he said anything about his situation?" Xichen asked as they sat down by the lake.

"One day."

"Then it isn't permanent."

"No."

"Take the day off and spend time with him. What I know of Childe Wei's childhood was that it was poor and difficult without his parents. Allow him to have some fun. Let me know if you need anything." 

Xichen bid the pair goodbye and made his way back through the mountain, thinking with wonder at how this happened. Only Childe Wei would know.

"Swim!" Wei Ying shouted, pointing at the lake next to them; Lan Zhan carried the boy to the water and watched as his eyes lit up as he splashed his tiny hands in the lake.

"Would you like to swim in the lake, A-Ying?"

"Yes! Swim with Lan Zhan."

Lan Zhan couldn't hide his smile at how cute Wei Ying was as a child. He allowed the boy to ramble all he liked as he took off the outer robes so Wei Ying could swim properly, tying up his messy hair with the red ribbon.

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying called, pulling on Lan Zhan's hand and pulling him to the water.

Lan Zhan took of his layers, leaving on his undergarments, before entering the water. He lifted Wei Ying up from the rock and lowered him into the water, taking his time to not upset the child. But Wei Ying began to laugh and smile as soon as he was in the lake; he splashed the water around him and threw some into the air. When the water fell on his face he began to frown and looked like he was about to cry. But Lan Zhan quickly wiped the water away and Wei Ying was smiling again.

"Swim." Wei Ying said, grabbing Lan Zhan's hand and splashing it in the water.

"Can you swim?" Lan Zhan asked quietly.

"Swim with Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying asked, smiling up at the older cutely.

"Hm."

Lan Zhan began to move further into the lake until he was treading water. He held Wei Ying at arms length away, allowing him to kick his legs and swim by himself. The kid smiled as he floated in the water and showed his joy through exclaiming loudly. Lan Zhan let Wei Ying talk all he wanted but asked him to quieten down when it became too loud.

"Why hush?" Wei Ying asked as he held a finger to his lips.

"Because we will disturb others."

"Who?"

"Like my Uncle."

"Uncle... uncle... Qiren! Qiren hates me." Wei Ying said as he remembered the face of the old man. He felt tears come to his eyes so Lan Zhan brought the boy closer and wiped away the fallen tears.

"He doesn't." Lan Zhan assured softly, but the uncertainty was hidden in his eyes.

"You hate me too? Nobody likes me, I do bad tricks."

"Wei Ying, I could never hate you."

"Really?"

"Hm."

"You love Wei Ying?" the child asked with a grin.

"Hm."

Wei Ying giggled cutely and hugged Lan Zhan, his small hands playing with the older's hair. Lan Zhan let the boy play around as he moved them to a shallower part of the lake where Wei Ying could stand. When he pulled Wei Ying off of him, suddenly his hair fell into his eyes. He brushed the fallen strands out of his face and saw Wei Ying holding his forehead ribbon. 

Wei Ying laughed before wrapping the ribbon around his own head but it was too big so fell down easily. He picked it up and tried again but it didn't work. He pouted and gave it back to Lan Zhan, his small hands brushing the older's hair back.

"Thankyou A-Ying." said Lan Zhan as he tied the ribbon back around his forehead.

"Thankyou!" Wei Ying repeated with a smile.

"Hm." 

Lan Zhan and A-Ying spent the rest of the morning in the lake, getting out once the sun was risen high and Wei Ying was hungry.

"Lan Zhan, I'm hungry."

"What would you like?"

"I choose?" Wei Ying asked, looking up at Lan Zhan with ecstatic eyes.

"Hm."

"Yay! I don't know much nice food... You help."

"Okay." Lan Zhan said as he remembered Wei Ying's childhood.

Lan Zhan helped Wei Ying to get back into his robes, which had luckily shrunk alongside him. The red ribbon trailed down his back and fluttered behind him as he staggered around. Able to walk- but not for too long- Wei Ying grabbed at Lan Zhan's hand before they walked through the forest to return home for dinner. Lan Zhan held the boy's small and soft hand in his as he guided A-Ying through the forest, a smile present on his face as he looked at the cute, laughing and innocent child that seemed so carefree and loving. He wondered if they would have gotten along as children but didn't dwell on it too much: he had Wei Ying now and that was the best thing in the world.