title: distracted
fandom: Guardian
words: ~400 words
rating: gen
pairings: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
contents: AU-ish, in the sense that it's set in the Yashou Market. Spoilers around episode 20-ish. Humor around a difficult situation. Canon-typical ableism.

Summary: Shen Wei runs out of patience.


The Yashou market sounds like a festival. Everywhere they go, Zhao Yunlan can make out a half-dozen voices hawking goods, layered over the shrieks of children’s laughter and the excited chatter of old friends greeting one another. Shen Wei keeps tugging at his arm, trying to lead him faster as he looks for the medicine sellers and the woman he knows there, but Zhao Yunlan keeps finding himself distracted by all the fun.

After the third time Zhao Yunlan comes abruptly to a halt, listening with fascination to the sizzling of meat over a grill -- it smells so good, he really just has to buy some -- Shen Wei lets out a sharp breath and suddenly drags Zhao Yunlan in a different direction.

One with a lot fewer voices. Most of them children.

After a few minutes of hushed negotiation with one of the few adults in the area, Zhao Yunlan realizes: Shen Wei intends to leave him with the babysitters.

Zhao Yunlan supposes he should be mad about that. He's blind, not helpless. But it's clear Shen Wei has reached the end of his ability to cope with surprises for the day.

Besides, Zhao Yunlan is going to tease him about this for years.

“You will stay right here.”

Zhao Yunlan can’t help laughing at the determination in Shen Wei’s voice, as if he could somehow will Zhao Yunlan into more dutiful behavior.

“I’ll stay right here,” he agrees, faking meekness as broadly as he can. “This lovely young woman,” he waves a hand in the general direction of the grandmother Shen Wei had been talking to, “will keep an eye on me for you. I’ll be fine.”

The adults around them snicker.

There’s a pause, and Zhao Yunlan pictures the doubt on Shen Wei’s face at that statement. “If you need me...”

“Why would I need you?” Zhao Yunlan makes a show of looking around, as if he could see all those highly responsible faces. “We have snacks and games. If I’m good, I get a mooncake. Though I suppose you could paint my face? I like rainbows.”

A couple of the kids are giggling, now, too, and Zhao Yunlan is having a great time. Even if he can’t see the look Shen Wei is giving him, he can imagine it.

He can also hear the long-suffering sigh. “Zhao Yunlan.”

“Go. Talk to your friend, Shen Wei.”

“He’ll be fine.” The old grandmother sounds like she’s consoling a worried parent. “He’s no worse than the rest.”

“I object to that!” Zhao Yunlan turns in her direction. “I’m so much worse than they are!”

Shen Wei sighs again, as the others laugh. “I’ll be quick.”

His footsteps start to move away, hurriedly, and Zhao Yunlan calls after him. “Don’t forget my mooncake!”