Okay, this is very specific but I saw #4 and all I could think of was the fics where Fo Ye and Ba Ye were deaged to toddlers, so maybe something there, if inspiration is cooperative?
Let's just not talk about how long that ask was in my askbox or how long the half-written prompt was in my drafts. Let's just cheer the fact that i'm apparently on a writing spree today :D
Little bit of context: so this is set in a 'verse where something happened to Ba Ye at one point and he came back not quite right. And then some undetermined time later, him and Fo Ye got de-aged somehow.
I hope you enjoy this :D
4. “Don’t mess with me, I’m a big boy now and I’m very scary”
Rishan knew it was a mistake to leave the safety of the manor. But after a week of constant anxiety and worrying, his judgment had definitely been impaired.
Even if it had started off with good intentions.
He might not have the first clue about how to take care of toddlers, but he can recognize when someone is getting antsy with boredom. Especially Fo Ye and Ba Ye. And that's without mentioning that with them being much younger versions of themselves, they are even easier to read than usual.
It's not like he had been worried they would cause him any trouble either. Yes, they are playful as children, especially once Tiezui had managed to coaxed Qishan out of his stoic shell, but they are also very obedient. And since whatever has reverted them back to toddlers also seemed to have an effect on Tiezui's singular condition, he didn't even have to concern himself with what potential mayhem would result from him having a tantrum.
Not that he seems inclined to fits of bad temper at all. He is a sweet child and even as an adult, Tiezui is rather well-behaved all things considered. It's just that with this new condition of his, it is nearly impossible to stop him once he starts losing control.
But that's not a problem with Tiezui as a toddler. His main reaction whenever he has been displeased with something had been to pout. And if it has indeed convinced Rishan a couple of times to give into whatever he wanted over the week, well, he would dare any man to resist those puppy eyes, especially when Qishan starts copying him too.
Nevertheless, leaving the manor had been a bad idea. Even with Er Ye's manor being his intended destination and how much he trusts him implicitly with their safety, actually going there comes with its own risks.
Even now that the war is over, Fo Ye still has enemies. And only a fool would think they have managed to keep his currently vulnerable state entirely secret.
But Rishan had been confident he could protect them easily against any threat, especially under the cover of the fog that had risen over the city. And maybe in usual circumstances he would have been right.
But defending two grown men who knew how to get out of the way is very different from defending two very scared toddlers.
He has been doing a decent job so far keeping their attackers away from the children, but there are simply too many of them. Rishan is a good fighter, but even he has his limits.
He takes his attention off their attackers for a precious moment to tell Qishan to grab Tiezui's hand and run. Qishan might not be able to help him fight right now, but he is still a Zhang. Even if he is so very young, Rishan is painfully aware what his childhood has been like. If Rishan can give them a good head-start, if he can distract their attackers long enough, then they've got a chance to get away and hide.
As much as it breaks his heart that Qishan doesn't hesitate a moment to obey Rishan's order, he's grateful to see them disappear into the fog. They're gonna be safe. He'll make sure of it.
Not that he can spare them any more thoughts after that.
He can only fight and continue to try to thin out the number of his attackers.
Unfortunately, he's been outnumbered since the beginning. It was only a question of time before exhaustion and pain slowly got the better of him.
He's too late to block a blow to his temple and he feels himself tumble backwards, losing his balance, knowing he'll fall.
It's that, more than the pain that makes him wince.
Once he's on the ground, it's over. He won't be getting back up and he knows it.
Except he never does fall.
Instead he feels his back make contact with a strong chest, two arms coming around his waist to hold his weight easily.
"I've got you Rishan."
Now, Rishan had never truly lost hope that he would get Fo Ye and Ba Ye back to their adult selves. But given the circumstances, he can certainly be forgiven that hearing Fo Ye voice again has him this close to weeping in relief.
But relieved or not, Rishan is still ever the protector and if he knows that Fo Ye is safe at his back, that doesn't tell him where Tiezui is. If it was any other time, he wouldn't worry, because Fo Ye wouldn't be so calm if he thought Ba Ye was in any kind of danger, but this is not any other time. Who knows what Fo Ye remembers of their current situation.
Even as Fo Ye is backing them away to safety, fear starts rising in his throat unbidden, as he tries to ascertain through the fog that all their attackers are still in front of him and none has managed to sneak past somehow.
Sudden terrified screaming from behind lets him know that at least one man had gone after the children when Rishan was making his last stand.
But this is not Tiezui's voice abruptly cutting off in a disgusting gurgle.
The few men left standing are clearly getting nervous now as they very well should be.
It's a well-known secret something happened to Ba Ye some time ago and he came back slightly different. Most people assumed it was trauma.
Those who have ever learned otherwise never lasted long enough to let anyone know how wrong that assumption is.
A body flies past them a few seconds before Ba Ye emerges from the fog, his teeth bared in what no one in their right mind would think of as a smile. It's not even a threat. It's a promise.
Still, he doesn't attack at once, instead stopping by their side, something that could be worry flashing in his eyes as he glances over Rishan's body. Whatever it was, it's soon replaced with cold fury.
Ba Ye turns his attention back to their attackers and usually Rishan would at least try to stop what he knows is coming next. It's hard to muster the energy to care now however. And it's not even because he got hurt. He's never really cared about that.
It's because they've tried to come at defenceless children. And they nearly succeeded in it too.
Now, they get to deal with a grown up Ba Ye. A different Ba Ye.
And if Rishan knows anything about him, it's that he won't even let those men have the time to regret their attack today.
