#CRYING I SAID GIMME A MINUTE AND I FELL ASLEEP AHAHAH

[twistedappletree]

TYPE: One-shot/Ficlet

JURISDICTION: It’s fluffy, your honor.

PAIRING: child!Jin Ling/child!Lan Sizhui (friendship)

SIDE CHARACTERS: Jiang Cheng, Lan Wangji, Lan Xichen

ELEMENTS: Yunmeng setting, festival, canon universe, first friendship, childhood, baby juniors being too adorable for words~

•

In which baby Jin Ling meets baby Lan Sizhui at a festival in Yunmeng and gets creative while trying everything he possibly can to be his friend.

{ AO3 }

“Remember. You’re to stay with me the entire time. No running off, understand?”

Jin Ling stared up at his jiujiu and nodded, amber eyes reflecting the bustling night around him. His uncle, Jiang Cheng, was the sect leader of the Yunmeng Jiang clan which always made Jin Ling feel extra special while attending events at Lotus Pier, and festivals were his favorite. He loved the dazzling lights, the fun games and prizes, the shop kiosks with all sorts of unique and sparkling trinkets.

But there was one part he found hard to ignore. Festivals meant families and families meant other children with their mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. Everywhere he looked, there was a child his age lovingly squeezed between their parents while they explored the night together and Jin Ling’s heart would sink every time.

As he trotted behind his jiujiu, tagging along fast as his little legs allowed, he spotted a girl about his age running up to a kiosk. She grabbed a toy and skipped back to her parents, tugging on their clothes and waving it around with an excited grin. Her parents smiled and took her back to the kiosk to pay for the toy.

Jin Ling was enchanted by the sight. He searched his surroundings and spotted a small white rabbit plush with purple beads for eyes at a nearby kiosk. He copied the little girl’s method step by step and grabbed the rabbit plush before running up to his jiujiu and tugging on his robes.

The look Jin Ling received from his uncle was nothing like the tender look the little girl had gotten from her parents. Narrowed, disappointed eyes glared down at him as the rabbit plush was snatched from his small hands.

“You can’t just take things, A-Ling!”

Jin Ling’s tiny lips trembled as he watched his jiujiu return the rabbit plush to the kiosk and apologize to the shopkeeper. She waved her hands passively and smiled. “It’s no trouble! The little ones always get excited about the toys. Please, don’t worry about it!”

After thanking her, Jiang Cheng returned to Jin Ling and sighed. “If you want something, you need to ask properly. Stealing is never okay.” He took Jin Ling’s hand and tugged him along. “Come. No more wandering.”

Behind them, Jin Ling could hear someone ask about the rabbit plush followed by the decision to buy it. He didn’t bother looking back and hung his head as he sulked beside his uncle.

At some point, Jiang Cheng stopped to speak with someone Jin Ling didn’t recognize. He awkwardly stood off to the side and waited for his jiujiu to finish the conversation when something caught his eye from a distant food stall.

Two statuesque figures, tall and graceful, were exchanging money for sugary treats. Jin Ling had seen them before—the Twin Jades of Lan. Pretty as they were, he’d heard many stories about the Lan clan’s cold and harsh punishments—stories that terrified Jin Ling.

Right when he was about to move closer to his jiujiu, something curious fluttered between the Twin Jades. A small, white hair ribbon circled around the forehead of a little boy not much older than Jin Ling. He wore the cloud embroidered robes of the Lan clan, his raven hair pulled into a short ponytail. A tuft of bangs swept over his sparkling amethyst eyes like an ocean wave.

Jin Ling watched carefully as the gentle-faced brother of the Twin Jades bent down and handed the little Lan boy a stick of colorful sweet rice balls. He thanked the Lan brother and beamed a smile brighter than every light at the festival.

The three Lans continued to the next kiosk. Jin Ling looked back at his jiujiu who was still deep in conversation with the random stranger. Deciding his uncle was distracted enough to not notice, he snuck away and started following the Lans, focusing on a specific white ribbon and using it as his compass through the crowd.

He wanted to say hello to the other boy but the Twin Jades served as a petrifying and steadfast pair of escorts, almost like they were guarding a tiny prince. Jin Ling brainstormed several ways to lure the boy away from them and immediately began executing his plans.

His first plan was simple: throw something to get his attention.

Jin Ling scanned the ground until he found the perfect rock and aimed for a wooden bucket near the Lan boy’s feet. He released the rock and watched in horror as it missed its target entirely and hit a small display of jewelry instead. The display toppled over and crashed to the ground, sending jewelry scattering in all directions.

Panicked, Jin Ling dove into a nearby bush and hid until the commotion of confused patrons died down. Eventually, he popped his little head out of the bush and observed as the shopkeeper who owned the jewelry stand politely waved off the Lan trio, telling them not to worry about it.

Jin Ling furrowed his brows and puffed his cheeks, disappointed in his failure. When the coast was clear, he slipped out of the bush and stealthily caught up with the Lans.

Onto his second plan: impress him.

Jin Ling spotted a small weapons training kiosk with racks of wooden swords and various practice dummies. He grinned and scurried over, picking up one of the smaller swords and weighing it in his hands. He’d learned a few moves from his uncle, so he readied the sword and glanced at the Lans to make sure they were heading his way before laying siege on one of the dummies.

He swung and stabbed and flipped and shouted, convinced he’d have quite the audience by the time he stopped. Instead, he’d struck the dummy so hard that it rocked forward and smacked him straight in the middle of his forehead, leaving him in a complete daze.

By the time he regained himself, the Lans had continued past him and were huddled at a new kiosk, admiring several stacks of books.

Jin Ling rubbed his head and frowned. He only had one plan left.

Brave the scary Twin Jades of Lan and courageously charge up to the Lan boy between them. His small fists clenched with determination as he took a deep breath and started running towards them.

Halfway there, his toe caught a groove and he tripped, sending himself tumbling forward and scraping his hands and knees on the rough ground. For some reason, it was the worst pain he’d ever felt in his young life. He couldn’t stop his emotions as hot tears welled in his eyes.

Jin Ling whimpered and cried in the middle of the festival, causing several heads to turn his way—including the Lans’.

The gentle-faced Lan brother frowned and was about to hurry over to Jin Ling when the other Lan brother stopped him and shook his head.

Their junior had already beaten them to it. He ran to the injured Jin boy wailing in the street, bent down and held out his hand. Jin Ling sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve before looking up with big, red puffy eyes.

The angelic, smiling face of the Lan boy he’d tried so desperately to befriend shone down upon him like a soft, comforting beacon. Jin Ling timidly took the Lan boy’s hand and was helped to his feet.

“Hello! I’m Lan Sizhui,” the Lan boy introduced, pointing at himself. “What’s your name?”

Jin Ling tried to respond between hiccups and sniffs. “J-Jin… L-Ling…”

Lan Sizhui grinned and held out his stick of sweet rice balls. “Here! This is for you.”

Jin Ling accepted the stick with a stunned expression and watched as Lan Sizhui pulled a small porcelain jar out of his sleeve. He opened it and dipped his fingers into what appeared to be a salve. Lan Sizhui took Jin Ling’s free hand and gently applied the medicine. When prompted, Jin Ling transferred his new treat to his free hand so the Lan boy could tend to his other palm.

The salve worked wonders, instantly soothing his burning skin. Jin Ling’s cheeks flushed bright red in the process and he felt hopelessly confused by whatever was happening.

Meanwhile, Lan Sizhui appeared perfectly calm and casual, as though this was something he did everyday. He put the salve back in his sleeve and took Jin Ling’s hand again, leading him over to the Twin Jades of Lan.

“That’s Zewu-Jun,” he said, pointing at the gentle-faced brother before switching his finger to the brother with cold eyes. “And Hanguang-Jun. They’re rich!”

Zewu-Jun lifted a hand to his mouth and chuckled while Hanguang-Jun turned his brows down at the tiny Lan boy. “Sizhui,” he said flatly, “Do not brag.”

Lan Sizhui looked up at him and thought for a moment. He didn’t seem negatively affected by the scolding. Instead, he smiled and turned to bow politely at Jin Ling. “I’m sorry.”

Jin Ling blinked, still utterly bewildered by his current situation. Before he could respond, a loud pop filled the night air and the sky bloomed with vibrant streaks of color. Lan Sizhui grasped Jin Ling’s hand for a third time and jumped up and down excitedly. He spun towards the Lan brothers and grinned. “Hanguang-Jun! Zewu-Jun! Can Jin Ling watch the fireworks with us?”

The Twin Jades exchanged a glance but were intercepted by a sharp, familiar voice before they could answer their young junior.

“A-Ling.”

Jin Ling stiffened and slowly turned to look at his jiujiu. Jiang Cheng stood behind him with his arms crossed, his eyes darkened with irritation. “I told you not to run off.”

Jin Ling frowned and hung his head, unable to look his uncle in the eye. Lan Sizhui flashed concern at the other boy. Realization and an idea sparked in his mind as he turned to bow respectfully at Jiang Cheng. “Sect Leader Jiang, I’m sorry for distracting Young Master Jin.”

Jin Ling glanced up, surprised by Lan Sizhui’s eloquence, etiquette and knowledge of titles. Even Jiang Cheng’s brow flinched at the small Lan boy’s skillful courtesy.

“If it’s okay with Sect Leader Jiang, I’d like to invite Young Master Jin to watch the fireworks with me,” Lan Sizhui continued.

Zewu-Jun took a step forward and bowed to Jiang Cheng before speaking. “Sect Leader Jiang,” he acknowledged, his tone calm and polite. “I believe our young disciple has made fast friends with Young Master Jin and is very persistent. Shall we let it be?” He offered a smile that contrasted rigidly with his brother’s frosty, emotionless expression.

Though Jiang Cheng noticed Hanguang-Jun’s avoidance, it was nothing new. He closed his eyes, lips settling into a thin line. “Stay in sight,” he said, opening his eyes again and staring down at Jin Ling to make sure his nephew understood.

Jin Ling nodded and Lan Sizhui grinned delightedly, bowing and thanking Jiang Cheng before whisking his new friend away and leading him to a small, empty pier stretching out into the lotus-filled lake.

Jiang Cheng turned to watch them as they sat together and huddled close, pointing up at the spectrums of sparks exploding in the sky. His stern features softened at a fond memory of his own childhood, seeing himself and a long lost ghost in place of his nephew and Lan Sizhui.

The Twin Jades stood a small distance away from Jiang Cheng. Zewu-Jun smiled up at the fireworks while Hanguang-Jun kept a watchful, protective eye on the young disciples.

Out on the pier, Lan Sizhui filled Jin Ling’s ears with a buoyant laughter like sweet chimes and Jin Ling reached up towards the sky, pretending to grab the fireworks in his hands whenever they fizzled out.

When Lan Sizhui’s laughter stopped, Jin Ling turned to find his gem-like gaze staring back at him, accompanied by a pleased smile. He held something out to Jin Ling—a white rabbit plush with purple beads for eyes, the same color as Lan Sizhui’s.

Surprise bloomed on his face as he accepted the sudden gift, mouth trembling and unable to form any words. Lan Sizhui didn’t seem to expect anything in return. Instead, he leaned against Jin Ling’s shoulder and pointed up at the sky again, blurting all of the different colors he recognized.

Canopies of light showered down on them like rain. Jin Ling hugged the rabbit plush to his chest while he listened to the voice of his first and only friend list curious names for colors he’d never heard before: azure, saffron, fuchsia, periwinkle.

Lan Sizhui smiled at Jin Ling, Jin Ling smiled back—and together, they let the unforgettable memory of the night make a home in their hearts.

{ 🖤 }