Work Text:
Jiang Cheng arrived first, his eyes wild and clothes disheveled. He went in with the intent to yell at his brother, but drew up short when he saw the state that Wei Ying was in. He was too thin, too pale, and too subdued. He laid prone on the bed, too weak to rise to greet his brother that he had not seen in over eight years.
“A-Cheng,” Wei Ying cried, reaching out to his brother with a trembling hand. He had never seen his big brother like this and it scared him.
Jiang Cheng broke down, falling to his knees beside his brother, apologizing non-stop into his side. Wei Ying curled around his head, whispering his forgiveness and love into his hair. He has never been comforted by his adopted brother like this and it made him cry. He hasn’t cried since the sect was burned down and his parents were injured.
They stayed like that for quite some time, giving comfort and receiving comfort in return.
After they calmed down, Wei Ying beckoned to a little girl with huge doe eyes. She shuffled over and climbed up to nuzzle at Wei Ying’s chest. “A-Cheng, this is Wei Rushi. BeiBei, this is my little brother, your Jiujiu.”
Rushi took in Jiang Cheng with a discerning gaze, her brown eyes wide but serious. Jiang Cheng nervously wiped at this own eyes and tried to tug his clothes into order. Rushi turned back to her mother, scooting up to whisper in Wei Ying’s ear.
Wei Ying chuckled (his eyes were finally sparkling again) and planted a gentle kiss on his daughter’s forehead. “Why don’t you tell him that yourself?”
Rushi nodded and got up on her knees to put her little face up by Jiang Cheng’s ear. She smelled like milk and sugar and flowers. “I told mama that you look pretty in purple. And purple is my favorite color. And mama said that I should tell you that.”
She sat back on her heels and stared at her newfound uncle, waiting for something. Jiang Cheng awkwardly stared back. Wei Ying giggled and encouraged him with a look. “Uh, purple is my favorite color too.”
Rushi’s smile was brighter than a thousand suns and was identical to Wei Ying’s. She launched herself forward and clung to Jiang Cheng’s neck and after a moment of quiet shock, he hugged back. His eyes found Wei Ying’s, tired and tear-filled, but bright once again.