WangXian/YiZhan Oneshots And Short Stories ✔

The Crying Boy

(Trigger warnings for death and self-harm so read at your own risk 😔)

The sky was grey, the air was grey, everything was grey. Lan Xichen and his younger brother Wangji were walking down their usual melancholy path to their parents' graves. Their footsteps crunched against the pebbled path and each sound echoed loudly in the silent air. The phrase as silent as the grave was horribly true.

As they reached the two white marble headstones, Xichen cast a look at his younger brother and saw the familiar blank expression. Since their parents died two years ago, Wangji had become cold and closed off from the world, building up a mask of indifference to hide his pain. Only Xichen could see the flickers of sorrow as his brother bowed towards the graves and placed the small blue and white wreath against the adjacent headstones.

Xichen sighed at the brother he saw, thinking back to the boy who was happy and full of life. It only seemed like yesterday when their parents passed and Wangji cut himself off from the world. He turned his gaze back towards the graves, bowed, and then spoke to his parents about his wishes for their peace and how the brothers were doing alright in the world.

Several minutes of silence ensued as the brothers reflected and prayed by themselves. But, this time, something interrupted the usual lamenting silence. Heavy sobs that were trying to be contained reached them from their spot in the graveyard and both brothers looked automatically to the figure standing at the other end of the row of headstones.

This boy, who looked of similar age to Wangji, was a familiar presence to them. Nearly every time they visited their parents the boy was there, bowing and talking inaudibly to the conjoined headstones. What did surprise them was that the boy was crying. Usually he seemed composed and calm but this time he was crying heavily and fell to his knees on the ground. His arms wrapped around his stomach and mouth as he tried to quieten his sobs but was to overcome with grief to do anything.

Xichen frowned at the male and immediately went over to try and comfort him. Wangji stood still for a moment before he followed after his brother with a final bow of goodbye to his parents. He walked a few steps behind Xichen and caught up to him when he stopped and kneeled down to the crying boy.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just-"

"Don't apologise for being upset, death can be difficult to deal with at times. Just when you think you have come to terms with it, it hits you all over again."

The boy looked at the boy behind the one who was kneeling beside him in surprise at how accurate his words were and replied with nothing but a nod through his sobs.

"What's your name?" Xichen asked as he rubbed a hand warmly on the boy's back to give some comfort; he also cast a small smile to his brother, who he could see looked concerned under his blank expression.

"Wei Ying." the boy muttered as his sobs became slightly quieter.

"My name is Lan Xichen and this is my younger brother Wangji. Why are you crying today?" Xichen asked. "We see you here often when we are and you always seem composed."

"It's just that-" Wei Ying tried to explain but broke off into more cries.

"Hey, shh, it's okay. Take your time Wei Ying."

Wei Ying wiped away the fallen tears on his cheeks and took a couple of shuddery breaths before speaking:

"Today is a decade since... since my parents died. They died saving me but, but I... I can't help feeling like it's all my fault."

For the first time in his life Wei Ying expressed this thought and to two complete strangers no less. Well, not complete strangers, for he had seen the brothers when he came to visit his parents too. He saw the older was talkative but the younger hardly spoke a word, instead he looked expressionless and reserved.