Chapter Text
'Give it back, please,' he cried, 'Please give it back.'
'Aww does the new boy want his teddy bear?'
'It's not a teddy, it's a bunny and he's mine. Please give him back.'
The toy sailed over his head once more, too high for him to catch before it fell into the hands of one of the other boys. Their laughter made the heat rush to his cheeks and tears pool in his eyes. He shook, desperate to reach out and make a grab once more for the toy but he'd already tried it and they'd pulled back so hard it had nearly ripped.
'Please give it back,' he tried again, receiving only more cruel laughter.
A hand landed heavily against his back, knocking him to his knees, his hands scraping against the gravel of the playground as he tried to save himself. He kept his head bowed, desperate to hide his tears.
The sound of a shout made him shudder, not sure what was coming next, instinct making him curl tighter in around himself as he heard a scuffle around him. He heard shouts from the older boys that had been tormenting him before there was a yelp of pain and the sound of running feet.
'There's more where that came from,' snapped a new voice.
He flinched as he felt hands on him, trying to coax him from the ball he had curled himself into.
'Come on, I'm not going to hurt you,' said the new voice, 'Here's your rabbit thing. I got it off them for you.'
He dared to look up, recognising the face of the boy before him as one of the children from his new class. He'd been sat at the back, scribbling away on a piece of paper whilst the teacher had asked them to look at the board. He was scruffy, hair in desperate need of a trim and his clothes faded as though they had been through several owners before him. He held the stuffed rabbit toy in his hand, waving it a little as he smiled brightly before he pressed it towards him once more.
'Take it,' he said, 'I won't snatch it back. You're the new boy in my class. What's your name?'
'Lan...Lan Wangji,' he said, sitting up and finally taking hold of the toy, hugging it tightly to him before he blushed and stuffed it into his bag.
The boy patted his hand, 'It's alright, you can hug him. Lan Wangji, that's a strange name but I like it.'
'My mama says it's a courtesy name,' said Lan Wangji, 'All my family have them. I'm meant to tell people my courtesy name rather than my real name unless they're my family.'
The boy grinned, 'Maybe one day you'll tell me your real name,' he said, 'What do you call your toy? I have a bear and I call him Suibian because I couldn't think of a name for him.'
'He's called Bunny,' said Lan Wangji, 'I couldn't think of a name for him either. What's your name?'
'I'm Wei Ying,' said the boy, poking his own thumb into his chest for emphasis, 'And I'm a bad influence.'
Lan Wangji frowned, 'Is that a good thing?'
Wei Ying shrugged, 'Don't know,' he said, 'But I reckon it's better than being a bully like those lot who were picking on you.'
'How did you scare them away?' said Lan Wangji.
'Bit one of them,' said Wei Ying before he scrunched up his nose, 'Didn't taste good.'
Lan Wangji couldn't resist the giggle that escaped him. 'Bit him? Like a tiger?'
Wei Ying growled before he took hold of Lan Wangji's hand, fingers gently picking out several pieces of gravel. 'You should go to the nurse,' he said, 'You need a plaster.'
'Hurts,' said Lan Wangji, paling, 'I don't like blood.'
'I'll take you,' said Wei Ying, taking hold of his wrist and tugging him gently to his feet, 'Is Bunny safe?'
'Bunny is safe,' said Lan Wangji, a small smile coming to his lips.
Wei Ying grinned back. 'You smiled!' he said, 'You have a nice smile. Do it more.'
'I'll try,' said Lan Wangji, before he forced himself to be brave, 'Wei Ying? Will you be my friend?'
Wei Ying looked back at him, a frown creasing his eyebrows, 'We're already friends,' he said, 'I decided to like you the minute you walked in the class this morning. You looked nice and you look nicer when you smile.'
Lan Wangji allowed his lips to curl up a little more, seeing the bright answer on his friend's face before he turned and led him back to the school building.
Though his first day had been terrifying to start with, it ended far better, Wei Ying on hand to show him where everything was and how it all worked and to make him laugh whenever things got scary. He was almost sad when the bell signalled the end of the day but he knew he had the rest of the week in front of him.
He reached for Wei Ying's hand as they began to file out of the classroom. 'Come and meet Mama,' he said, 'She can be friends with your mama.'
Wei Ying stopped, pulling back on his hand, 'I don't have a mum,' he said, as Lan Wangji turned to him, 'Or a dad. I'm from...'
'From where?' said Lan Wangji with a frown.
'The children's home,' said Wei Ying with a sigh, 'It's ok if you don't want to be friends any more.'
'Why wouldn't I want to be friends?' said Lan Wangji.
'Because...because no one wants to be when they find out.'
'I want to be,' said Lan Wangji, 'I don't care where you're from. Will you still come and meet Mama?'
Wei Ying nodded, a bright smile returning to his face as Lan Wangji led him out of the doors and to the line of waiting parents. He spotted his mother quickly, the worry on her face melting into a smile as he waved at her and hurried his steps, Wei Ying following behind him. He loosed his hand for a moment as he was swept up into the familiar hug, burying his face in her soft neck and breathing in the scent of her perfume mixed with violin resin and the distinctive smell of home.
'Did you have a good day?' she said, releasing him.
'It was good,' said Lan Wangji, 'Mama, this is Wei Ying, he's my friend.'
Wei Ying bowed, 'Madam Lan.'
'Nice manners,' she said gently, 'But no need to call me Madam Lan. My name is Li Xuanji, Wei Ying, and I'm happy to meet you.'
Wei Ying smiled as he straightened, 'Your smile is pretty, like Lan Wangji's.'
'A little charmer too,' she said, 'A-Zhan, I'm glad you made a friend.'
'A-Zhan?' said Wei Ying, 'That means your name is Lan Zhan?'
Lan Wangji nodded before he looked up at his mother, 'Mama, is it ok?'
'For him to know?' she said, 'Of course it is. It's not a secret. What do they fill your head with?'
'Wei Ying!'
The call from the small group gathering nearby caught their attention and Wei Ying pulled a face.
'I have to go,' he said, 'See you tomorrow, Lan Zhan.'
'Bye,' said Lan Wangji waving as he headed towards the group.
'He's nice,' said his mother, stroking his hair.
'He's my best friend,' said Lan Wangji, 'Can he come to Cloud Recesses one day?'
Li Xuanji nodded, 'When we're a little more settled,' she said, 'Come on, you can help me sort the programmes for tonight's show and then you can tell me about everything you've learned today.'
Lan Wangji smiled, taking hold of her hand, 'Yes, Mama.'