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True or False: Lieutenant Yanqing of the Cloud Knights was only interested in swords.
Contrary to popular belief, this was false.
Yanqing had other interests. He did. Really. It’s just that they were secondary. Plus it wasn’t proper to let anything distract him while he's training or on duty. And training took up most of his spare time, which he was fine with. It’s fun, and if he wants to become the Sword Champion then, logically, he needs to train as much as possible.
Besides, he isn't exactly close enough to any of his fellow Knights to feel comfortable talking about his other hobbies. The newer ones always either look down on him, or pity him because of his age. Some of the others were jealous or intimidated for the same reason, and he knew they all talked about him behind his back. Just because he was young didn’t mean he was stupid. Meanwhile, the older ones who have worked with him long enough, look up to him.
There’s no inbetween.
And since he was homeschooled it wasn't like he had any friends his age either. He had Bailu, but the two of them barely ever had a chance to hang out together. They have to make excuses for him to act as her guard on the rare chance she was allowed outside the Alchemy Commission’s halls.
So why even bother mentioning them to anyone?
Which is why he’s here, in Aurum Alley.
Alone.
While it was raining.
The General had demanded he take a break. Normally, when this happened, he'd go to the Artisan Commission. But… well… that wasn't exactly an option right now. Besides, the General would be pissed if he found out Yanqing had gone into an active combat zone when he was meant to be resting. And he didn't want to have to hear another lecture on the importance of taking care of oneself. Not when he could practically quote it word for word.
That was fine, though. It just meant he could browse the stalls for new books to read, or games to add to his small collection. Maybe look at the music stores and find a new book of sheet music for his flute.
See. He did have hobbies outside of swordplay. They just… weren't ones that needed other people. And that was fine too. He preferred it that way. That way there was no one who could judge him, or find him annoying or… or say he was trying too hard to prove himself to someone because he didn't. He knew his worth. He’s the General's Retainer, Lieutenant and personnel student. He’s the youngest lieutenant in the Luofu's history. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.
… He hates that it feels like a lie…
… He wonders how long it’s going to take for Sushang to end up like everyone else…
Closing his eyes, he let the rain wash those thoughts away. They wouldn't do him any good. So why bother dwelling on them? Here and now is what matters. Best to focus on what he could control, over what he couldn't. That's what the General would tell him. The rain felt nice. Its pitter patter against his paper umbrella was soothing.
Yanqing liked the rain, even if it did get in the way of training.
He walked, only half heartedly avoiding the puddles in the road, smiling to himself whenever he “accidentally” stepped in one. Splashing occasionally when he did. Diviner Fu would scold him, and tell him that someone of his position and status really should be acting far more mature than that. Then the General would laugh and argue that it didn't hurt anyone, so why did it matter. Tingyun would chuckle and ruffle his hair while joking about how the staff was going to be upset at how they needed to clean up after him. Or… maybe she wouldn't… she's been acting off lately.
No. He thinks, shaking his head. Everyone was on edge. Even here, he could see it on the faces of the few people out on the street. Tense, serious, some wrapping their arms around themselves and eyes wandering left and right. No one was truly unaffected. So he let the sound of the rain drown that thought too.
Despite it all, it was okay.
Peaceful in its own way.
Maybe the General had been right. Maybe he really did need this. Maybe some time away from-
“Ni-ao.”
He paused, blinking. Was that-
“Ni-ao.”
It was. High pitched and strained. A tiny sound that struggled to be heard over the rain. But where-
“Eow.”
Louder this time, to his left maybe?
“Mia ao.”
Definitely to his left. He turned looking down an alley between store fronts and stalls. Without thinking twice, he went towards it. Hand hovering above the hilt of his sword, just in case.
“Mew.”
It was just like every other back alley. Crates pulled high and boxes strewn about. Lights hanging haphazardly off the overhang that shimmered faintly in the falling rain.
“Ni-ao.”
Okay, so it was definitely down this alley. If he were a cat, left in the rain, where would he hide? It was just like when he'd play hide and seek with Mimi when he was little.
Think…
One of the boxes, duh. Where else was there? Aeons, it was so obvious. So he began to check the ones nearest to him. Listening as the cat meowed and keeping an ear open for any passersby.
There. A small white kitten pushing themselves as far back against the wall as they could. Forced into a corner by the rain and himself. Its fur was standing on end, ears pointed back and icy blue eyes watching him.
He smiled, crouching down. “Hey there little guy.” He whispered softly. “It's okay.” It just stared at him. The poor thing was so tiny. Yanqing could probably lift it with one hand and it would probably only take up that much space. “Where's your momma?”
The cat, being a cat, did not answer.
Slowly, carefully, he reached out with one finger. Pausing when it hissed. “It's okay.” He repeated, “No one here is going to hurt you.” They stayed that way for a few moments. Staring at each other. A standstill.
Then, just as carefully, the stray moved forward.
It sniffed his finger, and he extended a second. “That's it little guy,” he murmured. Opening his palm slowly. “You're okay.” And he felt warm when it pressed its head into his hand.
“See,” Yanqing smiled, “safe.” It’s fur was soft. Cautiously, he pets the kitten, moving the umbrella to cover them and it’s home(?) as well. Or, at least, he hoped it wasn't it’s home. It was a stray, sure, but there had to be someone else here caring for it. It’s fur was so soft, he didn't think a kitten this young could clean itself. So it probably wasn't alone. “Where's your mom?” he asked again.
Something strange welled up inside him. Was how the General had felt all those years ago? Staring at this small kitten, scared and alone, it was a familiar enough story. Had this been what made the General want to help him? But was it pity, or sympathy? Yanqing couldn't tell. And he hated that more than anything.
Yanqing had been told by more people then he could count that the General only pitied him. A lone survivor, a child, hiding in a tree. No family or records. Too traumatized to even be able to speak. Why else would the Arbiter General ever take interest in someone like him?
It was stupid.
They were stupid.
They didn’t know anything about him or the General and it was insulting to pretend they did.
The kitten rubbed his knee and mewed softly. He looked back at it, shook his head, and sighed “What am I gonna do with you?” It mewed again, nuzzling against his palm and he scratched it lightly behind the ear. He knelt down, letting himself become more comfortable among the boxes and clutter. Not caring about the way the water seeped into his pant legs. Shoving the umbrella in the crux between his arm and chest, he pulled out his phone, and scanned his list of contacts. Diviner Fu, the General, Madame Yukong and Tingyun were all busy. Sushang probably was too. Same with Bailu…
And thus was the end of his contact list…
Well… that wasn’t entirely true.
There was Stelle.
The General had insisted on the two of them sharing phone numbers. Something about being available for the Nameless in case of an emergency? Yanqing, didn’t really understand it. It wasn’t like there weren’t other Cloud Knights they could go to or even the General himself.
They hadn’t talked to each other much. Just small things, really. She would tell him about the things she had seen beyond the Luofu, and they’d go back and forth for a while. Or she’d show off something she managed to pull in whatever gotcha game she had downloaded most recently on her phone. It was weird, but who was he to complain? He was sure the General was just happy that he was talking to someone else.
Would… would she be mad if he texted her about this? Aeons, that was stupid. If she didn’t want to talk to him or was busy she just wouldn’t reply and that was that. Why was he overthinking this?
Stelle
Shopping bags are little ghosts
Yanqing
Stelle, SOS!
It’s raining and I found a kitten without its mom, what should I do?
There. Now all he had to do was wait until she responded or the cat’s mom returned. Whichever came- his phone pinged. Well that solved that.
Stelle
Take them home. Become a cat dad.
He blinked, once. Twice. “I mean…” the kitten now was curled against his leg. Technically, he could. It wasn’t as if the General would be against the idea. With how many finches he feeds, plus the stray cats around their home, what was one more? Besides… it wasn’t like they had to worry about Mimi getting jealous anymore… he missed her. But…
Yanqing
I'll wait for their mom to return, she could've gone away to hunt food. It would be bad if she can't find the kitten when she comes back
Luckily, I bought a paper umbrella, I can keep them under it for a while
That was probably the smarter idea at least. This little guy was clearly loved by someone. He couldn’t take that away from them. The smile fell from his face.
Yanqing
Looking at them…
He stopped himself. No. He wasn’t going to go down this rabbit hole again. His parents were probably dead. Even if they somehow weren’t, they clearly didn’t want him. If they had, they would have found him by now. It’s not like he was in hiding. They had no excuse. Same goes with the rest of his biological family.
Why did it even matter? He never knew them. Maybe he did at some point before the attack on Míshī de Sēnlín, but not anymore. Still… it would be nice to at least know something about them. But Yanqing knows the General had looked. He told him that they couldn’t find anything. They couldn’t even divine it. So why-
Stelle
Something the matter?
Oh no, had he actually sent that? He looked at the message history. Sure enough, he had typed what he was thinking and sent it.
For a moment, he stared at her text. Could he really tell her about this? They barely even knew each other. Almost perfect strangers, really. Would it be right? Would it be too much? But she was asking. It’d be wrong not to respond somehow. And he couldn’t just lie and say he was fine because that wouldn’t be fair to her either, right? Or would that be the better option?
He typed.
Yanqing
I just thought how I never saw my birth parents. I don't even know if they didn't want me, or if they're already gone…
And he hit send before he could let himself think about the consequences. Following it up quickly with:
Yanqing
But then again, I don't have many memories anyway, so... I'm okay
My earliest memory is the general teaching me
A lie. He remembered red skies and red leaves. He remembered red eyes that tried to kill him. He remembered being scared. But, somehow, no one ever believed him. Not unless they had read the official reports. Reports that the General kept close to his chest. Reports that were purely released on a need-to-know basis. He learned that one the hard way. Attention-seeker. Overdramatic. Street rat. Stop telling stories to try and pretend that your more than just some stupid kid who parents didn’t love him and threw him out the first chance they got and-
The first thing he learned during his brief stint in private school was that kids were cruel.
So he started lying instead.
His phone pinged.
Stelle
It must have been difficult for you
Idly he pet the kitten by his side, and sighed.
Yanqing
I'm okay, the general had it harder, I think
Stelle
He has his work cut out for him
He smiled at that. It wasn’t exactly what he had meant. But it wasn’t as if she could have known that. Let her think he was just a hassle as a kid. It was true, after all. Yet, despite all the problems and trouble Yanqing brought him, the General never seemed to care. And Yanqing… nothing Yanqing could ever do would be enough to repay him for everything the General had given him. The opportunities to learn and grow. The safety of his home. The care he was shown.
Yanqing
Yeah, he must've put in so much effort
Understatement of the century.
The kitten abruptly stood from his side, running towards a larger gray tabby that was coming their way, a decent sized mouse in its mouth. The kitten rubbed its head against the tabby’s leg and he smiled. That must be its mom then. Good. He was glad. And he watched for a moment as the two nuzzled each other. The mom dropped the mouse and licked the kitten’s head as the kitten mewed and purred loudly.
Yanqing
Oh, cat mommy is back
Stelle
That's good!
Briefly, he looked around him. The crates were good enough shelter from the rain but… he stared at the umbrella in his hand, and nodded to himself. It took some rearranging and a few tries, but he eventually managed to rig the umbrella to stand at an angle, covering the small spot he had found the kitten in. Maybe it wouldn’t do much. What they both really needed was a warm blanket. But that wasn’t exactly something he had on hand, and if he tried to give them his hanfu then he would definitely be scolded by the General.
This was something at least. He could live with getting rained on until he bought a new umbrella. It wasn’t exactly a hardship.
Standing up, he looked back at his phone.
Yanqing
I'm going now, thank you for listening
She didn’t have to offer. She didn’t even have to respond. But he was glad she did. It was… nice. He decided. To have someone who could at least pretend not to judge him for being vulnerable for a second. Or maybe she didn’t care at all. Wouldn’t that be a novelty?
Yanqing
Remember to keep it a secret! I'm a big boy now, so no pinkie swears are needed
Besides, even if she did tell on him it would just be one more rumor to add to the pile. Aeons know he and the General have dealt with them all before. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the cats one more time, before turning and walking away. It was about time for him to return to the Seat of Divine Foresight, there was still plenty of work to do.