Work Text:
The market was loud with life, as it always was on the busiest day of the week. This wasn’t their own village, but a larger town down the road, the kind of place that drew in merchants and gossip from half a dozen farming hamlets.
Bozhi had come along at the request of their neighbour, who wanted to try his luck selling to a broader crowd. The man’s back wasn’t what it used to be, so Bozhi was the one hauling crates from the wagon, setting them out at the stall, and keeping pace with the rush of customers. His shirt clung damp against his shoulders and sweat beaded at his brow. He swiped it away with the back of his wrist before reaching for the next load.
“Bozhi? Bozhi! Is that you!?”
The voice cut too sharp through the noise, too knowing. Bozhi froze for the smallest moment before lifting the crate again.
A man pushed his way through the crowd, all swagger and grin, and clapped him on the shoulder hard enough to jolt the box in his arms. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he crowed, as though announcing it to the whole square. “Never thought I’d see you again! Man, let me tell you, you and that sly little fox of yours caused quite the stir when you ran off.”
He chuckled, loud and pleased with himself, waiting for Bozhi to share in the joke. Bozhi only shifted the weight in his arms and carried on, setting the crate down with steady care.
The alpha leaned closer, dropping his voice to something almost conspiratorial, as though he were sharing gossip between old friends. “Course, no one was surprised Yanlin turned up pregnant- everyone expected as much, wild thing like him. But with you?” He gave a low whistle, shaking his head. “Now that was the shocker. You should’ve heard them talking. But I said you were a good man, Bozhi. Stand-up fellow. Taking responsibility, doing the honourable thing- not many would’ve had the backbone.”
He clapped his shoulder again, the weight of it just a little too hard, the smile a little too wide. “Always knew you had it in you.”
Then, lowering his tone further, he continued with mock sympathy, “Tell me though… at least the pup turned out an alpha? You deserve that much, after all you gave up.”
Bozhi’s silence was heavy. He lifted another crate, his jaw tightening, but said nothing.
The man clucked his tongue and pulled a face of exaggerated pity. “I'm guessing not? That’s rough man, I'm sorry to hear it. Risked your life for a pretty face, and he couldn’t even give you a kid that was worth it.” His words dripped false concern, pitched just loud enough for anyone passing to catch them.
Bozhi set the crate down with careful deliberation. He straightened, wiped his palms against his trousers, and let out a low, humourless laugh, shaking his head.
“Well, what can I say? You’re right about the pretty face.” His voice carried, casual, almost indulgent. Then he tipped his chin toward the man, eyes narrowing just slightly. “You’d know best how lethal it can be- I still remember how rough it got when Yanlin rejected you so publicly. That mouth of his has always been so sharp.”
He let the pause stretch, long enough for the onlookers to lean in. Then, tilting his head, he raised his voice just enough for the crowd to hear.
“Tell me, did the matchmakers ever agree to take you back on after that? I’d heard they struck your name off entirely after the scene you made.”
The alpha froze, the smirk on his face cracking.
For a beat there was only the hum of the market around them- and then a ripple of sound as nearby stallholders and shoppers began to murmur. Someone gave a short, surprised laugh; another vendor smothered a grin behind his hand. Two women bent their heads together, whispering, their eyes cutting toward the red-faced alpha.
The man’s mouth worked, but no words came out at first. He gave a stiff little scoff, as though he’d meant to laugh all along, and muttered something about not wasting his time. He straightened his coat, glanced around at the watching eyes, and then pushed his way back into the crowd, his shoulders drawn tight.
Bozhi let out a breath, then stooped to lift another crate, hefting it with steady arms to set it neatly in place beside the rest. His face was calm and unreadable, but the tips of his ears were a betraying red.
Around him, the onlookers turned back to their own business, yet the impression lingered. The stallholders nodded to him with quiet approval; their laughter still buzzing faintly in the air.
The alpha had come swaggering in, but it was Bozhi who remained- solid and unshaken, the last word his.
~~~
By the time Bozhi left the town behind, the sun had sunk low, painting the fields in bruised streaks of purple and gold. The market’s noise had long since faded, but the words of that smug alpha still clung to him, replaying in his mind no matter how he tried to shake them off. His jaw ached with how tightly he’d held it, his hands restless at his sides.
He kept his eyes forward, shoulders squared, though the anger still simmered, hot and unsettled.
But then, as he neared the gate to his home, another sound reached him- Meiyun's unmistakable shrieks of laughter, so bright and piercing they rang through the dark like bells. Yanlin’s voice followed, exasperated and half-yelling, chased by Meiyun’s squeals of delight.
Bozhi stopped just short of the door. He let the night air cool his face, just listening. Without him even noticing it, his jaw eased, the tight knot in his chest unspooled and the day’s bitterness ebbed away with every peal of laughter that carried out to him.
He stood there for a long moment, steadying himself in the warmth of those sounds, before he finally pushed the door open.
The moment he did, he was all but barrelled over by the chaos and he stopped on the threshold, blinking.
Meiyun tore across the room stark naked, her hair still damp from a bath, her pink cheeks shining with mischief. Her little feet slapped against the floorboards as she shrieked with delight. Yanlin followed right after, flushed and breathless, waving a tunic in one hand like a net.
“Meiyun! You’re going to catch a cold- get back here this instant!”
“Nooo! No clothes!” she screamed back, darting past the hearth.
“Yes clothes! It’s cold out, you little terror, you’ll freeze!”
Bozhi leaned against the doorframe, deadpan. “…Should I even ask?”
Yanlin glanced up at him then, grinning despite the exasperation in his voice. Relief flickered in his eyes at the sight of backup. He darted close enough to press a quick, breathless kiss to Bozhi’s cheek before blurting, “Don’t just stand there- catch her!”
Bozhi obediently set down the bundle he was carrying and stepped forward. By now he was an expert Meiyun wrangler and it took him no time at all to scoop her up mid-sprint, tossing her once in the air as though she weighed nothing at all. She squealed in outrage, kicking her feet as he caught her and tucked her neatly under one arm.
“Baba! No!”
“Baba doesn’t want a block of ice for a daughter,” he said calmly, tightening his hold as she squirmed.
Yanlin hurried over, still brandishing the tunic, and tried to wrangle her arms through the sleeves. She thrashed and wriggled, giggles bubbling out of her chest in hiccuping bursts.
“Hold still, you gremlin! One arm- just one arm through, that’s all I’m asking-”
“No! I’m a wild animal, no clothes for me!”
Bozhi raised his brows, unimpressed but faintly amused. “A very small, very cheeky little kitten then.”
She squealed at that, wriggling harder until the sleeve slipped off again. Yanlin groaned and dropped back with a dramatic flop.
“I give up,” he declared, throwing an arm over his eyes. “She wins. I’m no match for her.”
Bozhi chuckled low in his throat, but before he could comment Yanlin sat bolt upright again, determination blazing in his eyes. With a sudden lunge, he snatched Meiyun out of Bozhi’s arms and yanked her under his own oversized tunic.
“That’s it!” Yanlin announced, triumphantly. “Naughty babies go back to their mama’s tummy!”
From inside the fabric came muffled shrieks, “Nooo!” followed by wild laughter.
Yanlin patted his stomach smugly. “Maybe when you come out this time, you’ll be a good girl!”
Tucked close against his bare skin, Meiyun quieted for a moment, curling in closer, hiccuping through the tail end of her giggles. The warmth of her mother’s body seemed to soothe her and she happily wiggled deeper under the fabric.
“I’m staying in here forever!” she declared, voice muffled but gleeful.
Yanlin rolled his eyes but adjusted her slightly so she could sit more comfortably. Bozhi let the sight of them both settle in him- of Yanlin sitting cross-legged on the floor, his arms folded protectively over the small, squirming bundle tucked against his bare chest. The absurdity of it all softened into something warm as he watched them.
Yanlin tilted his head up, his grin easing into something gentler now that the chase was over. “Welcome home,” he murmured, leaning into Bozhi’s shadow. Bozhi bent, catching his lips in a kiss that was unhurried this time, a brief press that tasted of warmth and laughter.
When he drew back, he turned his gaze to the lump under Yanlin’s tunic. “And where’s my greeting from Meiyun?” he asked, voice low and coaxing.
His answer was silence, followed by a muffled snicker. The only thing visible was one small chubby foot poking from beneath the hem of the tunic, her tiny toes wiggling.
Bozhi arched a brow. “No greeting?” He reached down and tickled his fingers lightly against the sole.
Meiyun squealed, bursting into laughter, and yanked her foot back up into the safety of the tunic. “No!”
Yanlin snorted, tugging the fabric closer around her. “You see? She’s made up her mind to live in there forever.”
Bozhi crouched beside them, resting his elbows on his knees so he was level with Yanlin’s chest. “Forever’s a long time,” he said, tilting his head at the small lump wriggling beneath the stretched tunic. “If you stay in there, you’ll miss out on things. Sweet buns, for example.”
There was a sharp intake of breath under the fabric, followed by a muffled giggle.
Yanlin seized the moment, lowering his voice into an exaggerated coax. “Mm, that’s right. Fresh ones from the market. Come out now and I’ll save you the biggest one the next time we go.”
Silence- then another snicker.
Bozhi hummed, as though considering his own bargain. “If you come out now, Baba will carry you to bed like a princess.”
“No!” she squealed from inside, still laughing. “I’m staying with mama forever!”
Yanlin gave Bozhi a helpless look. “She’s dug right in. This might take all night.”
Bozhi’s mouth curved, the faintest hint of strategy glinting in his eyes. He tapped lightly at Yanlin’s side, as if to make sure the little ears under the tunic were paying attention.
“All right,” he said, voice thoughtful, almost conspiratorial. “If you come out now… Baba will let you sleep in our bed tonight.”
There was a sharp gasp from beneath the fabric, high and delighted. The tunic wiggled furiously, tiny hands pressing against it from the inside.
But when Bozhi reached to tug her free, she only burrowed in deeper, giggling wickedly. “But, mama won’t let me!”
Yanlin arched a brow, tugging the neckline tight to his throat as though to seal her in. “That’s right. Mama says growing girls should sleep in their own rooms.”
Bozhi drew back as though struck, hand to his chest. “What? Mama won’t let you? How could he be so mean to my baby?” His tone was scandalised, but his eyes gleamed with suppressed laughter.
Inside the tunic, Meiyun shrieked with glee at having her baba on her side. “See! Baba says you're mean!”
Yanlin snorted, folding his arms stubbornly over the squirming bundle. “Mean? No, I'm scared! You don’t know what this child does in her sleep.” He poked at the lump under his tunic until a muffled squeal rang out. “She farts! Loud as thunder! I don’t want a stinky baby in my bed.”
A furious little head suddenly popped out from the collar of Yanlin’s tunic, hair sticking up every which way. Her eyes were wide, cheeks flushed red as she shrieked, “I don’t! I’m not a farty baby! I’m cute! Mama farts!”
“Lies!” Yanlin roared in mock outrage. He pulled her free from his tunic and rolled them both to the floor to pin her down, fingers darting mercilessly into her sides. “Meiyun is a stinky, farty, naked baby! She can’t stay in my bed!”
Meiyun shrieked with laughter, her legs kicking, arms flailing wildly as she tried to escape. “Baba! Save me!”
Bozhi swooped in with the steadiness of long practice, plucking her out of Yanlin’s grasp and hoisting her high into the air. Safe in his arms, she clung to his neck, hiccuping with laughter.
“If Meiyun promises to wear her clothes and not fart,” Bozhi said, his voice calm but pitched as though passing judgement, “then she can stay with us. Right, Mama?”
“I promise!” she shouted, nodding furiously. “I’m not farty!”
Yanlin tried to keep a straight face but failed, laughter spilling through his feigned sternness. “Fine, fine. If she’s dressed and not stinky, she can stay.”
The wrangling that followed was still full of squeals and wriggles, but this time she let them tug her into her clothes. When the last tie was done up, Meiyun puffed her chest out, triumphantly. “See! I’m a good girl! I get to stay!”
Yanlin immediately pounced again, pinching her cheeks gently. “Good girl? You’re a rascal in disguise!”
“No! I’m good! I’m good!”
Bozhi gathered them both close, pressing his lips to Meiyun's damp hair, smiling softly. “You’re my favourite rascals”
~~~
Yanlin blew out the last of the lamps and the room dipped into soft shadows lit only by the pale spill of moonlight through the shutters. Together they climbed into bed, with Meiyun nestled squarely between them, still warm from her bath and radiating mischief.
She immediately began to squirm, pressing herself tight against Yanlin’s side while kicking her little feet toward Bozhi. “Baba’s too big!” she declared, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her. “He’s squishing us!”
Yanlin chuckled but made no move to interfere, letting the child have her fun.
Bozhi, face impassive, shifted deliberately closer until his broad frame pressed against them even more.
“Baba! Stop!” Meiyun yelled, wriggling in mock distress. “Why are you so big? You should just be small like me and Mama!”
Bozhi tapped his chin, humming theatrically, as if giving the question very serious thought. “Hmm… why am I so big? Maybe I should show you.”
Before Meiyun could protest, he scooped her up with a sudden motion and set her squarely on his chest. Then, with his free arm, he stretched outward, beckoning Yanlin closer.
Yanlin sighed as though put-upon, but he rolled into him anyway, resting his head on Bozhi’s bicep, his body naturally tucking close at his side. Bozhi’s arm curved around him, steady and secure, holding them both as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“See?” he murmured, voice low and steady. “Baba has to be big… so he can hold both of you like this.”
Meiyun giggled, patting his chest with her small hands before nestling in and before long, her weight grew heavy where she lay, the steady rise and fall of his breathing lulling her. Yanlin’s hand traced slow, absent circles over her back, gentling her the last steps into sleep. Soon her cheek was smushed against her fathers shirt, her lips parted, the faintest snore puffing warm against his skin.
Yanlin chuckled under his breath, careful not to disturb her. “You know, my mother always said I’d end up with a child as difficult as me,” he murmured, his voice pitched low for the dark. “A punishment, she called it.” He tilted his head to look at their daughter, and his grin softened into something more fragile, caught between amusement and the soft ache of love.
Bozhi’s reply was quiet but steady. “Then I’m glad she was right. I’m glad she’s just like you.” His gaze flicked to Yanlin, earnest in the dim light. “And you were never impossible, Yanlin. Neither of you are.”
Something in Yanlin stilled at that. His teasing, so quick on his tongue in most moments, faltered and he pushed himself up just enough to brush a kiss against Bozhi’s mouth, light and lingering, a thank you more than words. Bozhi kissed him back with care, unwilling to shift the sleeping child between them, then let Yanlin sink against his side again, tucked close beneath his arm.
The house fell quiet at last. The three of them lay entwined, breath by breath drawing into the same rhythm, while the world outside slipped away beyond the shutters.