Little Fish. Chapter 6

Taking Gun Wen and Xiao Li out to play, Wei Zangchen kept a close eye on the environment around them. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to be simply paranoid, yet was it really paranoia when he was actively attempting to escape his past and people would actively be searching for the culprit that dared to attack an on-duty esper?

When they left for dinner, he’d put on a slight show. Previously, when they’d taken Xiao Li out to see the ocean, they’d taken everything with them—Wei Zangchen asking to do the same again. Gun Wen might have made a contact, but Wei Zangchen couldn’t trust so easily. If nothing happened, then that was good. If something happened, then they didn’t need to worry about heading back to retrieve their personal items.

Disappearing into the night food market, Gun Wen held Xiao Li’s hand tightly, their little prince dressed as a princess again. Leading the way, Wei Zangchen pulled them deeper into the market, away from their accommodation. He could feel low-level guides in the crowd. Having spent so long without actual guiding, his body craved the light frequencies in the air. The more Wei Zangchen craved, the narrower the gap between his eyebrows became.

Catching his arm, Gun Wen stopped him. Wei Zangchen jolted, realizing he was shaking. Concerned, Gun Wen asked softly,

“Why are you walking so fast? What’s wrong? We’re out to get food, remember?”

That was right. Raising his right hand, Wei Zangchen pinched the bridge of his nose as he took a breath.

“Too many guides. I can feel them closing in.”

Should a guide brush against him, he feared losing control. The crowd was too stimulating, coupled with Gun Wen’s behavior, he couldn’t help being on edge. Cold sweat ran down his spine, his face pale beneath his mask.

“You need to sit down. I’ll get you something to drink.”

Shakily, he was led to sit. Gun Wen helped take his crutches, then lifted Xiao Li onto the table. Free from the crutches, Wei Zangchen took his backpack off and placed it next to his feet.

“I’ll be back in a moment. Don’t go moving.”

Gun Wen said that, yet all Wei Zangchen wanted to do was run. Flexing his hands, he felt as if he were about to go out of control. A little hand tugged at his mask, and for a moment, the esper went to smack it away before looking into Xiao Li’s wide eyes. No toddler should be as astute as the little boy was.

“Xiao Li, I’m okay. I’m all okay.”

In case the mask was scaring him, Wei Zangchen pulled it down over his chin. Taking the toddler’s hand in his, he kissed it, narrowing his focus back down to their little prince.

“We’re okay. Gun Wen will be back soon… Do you like all the lights and colors?”

Xiao Li nodded. It seemed he was perfectly fine with all the sudden excitement in his life.

“Good. We’re going to see more lights and colors tonight. How about we draw them all when we go home? We still have a lot of things to show our Xiao Li. We’ll go on a great big trip and show you all the cool things out there. My little Xiao Li is so smart I’m sure he can draw it all. I hope Uncle won’t be much longer… Never mind, I have my Xiao Li for company!”

--*

With all the people around, it made sense the queues were long, yet Gun Wen had seemed to vanish into thin air. The wait dragged on and on until Wei Zangchen couldn’t hold his nerves in any longer. Standing, he lifted Xiao Li down and took his hand. He felt as if he were so buzzed that his skin could barely contain him. Any more, and mania was sure to kick in.

First, he picked up his backpack and placed it back on, then his mask, before looking to his crutches. Taking the left one, he left the right one, then gripped Xiao Li’s hand tightly. They had to get out of there.

“Xiao Li, let’s go find something yum to eat. Gun Wen will come find us.”

Wei Zangchen gave his friend what he felt was a generous half an hour, then gave up. More espers came and went, control getting harder and harder to the point he was biting his tongue to keep himself in line. When he tasted blood, he knew he had to go.

Getting out of the night market and back onto the road, Wei Zangchen didn’t look back. Gun Wen had been gone too long. If they were looking for them, then they needed to be on the move. Hailing a taxi, he quickly led Xiao Li over. When he’d been alone, he’d already moved a portion of their cash over. Gun Wen had no idea the serious consideration he’d put into leaving him behind. Now it seemed there was no choice.

Asking to be taken to the nearest train station, Wei Zangchen then stroked Xiao Li’s head. The boy’s bottom lip was quivering, no doubt scared by all that had suddenly happened. He hadn’t gotten to try any of the yummy things he’d been promised, nor could he yell and scream out his feelings about it all.

With it being safer for Xiao Li to have his own seatbelt, Wei Zangchen couldn’t cuddle the little boy until he forgot to be scared. Thankfully, the taxi driver didn’t seem in a chatty mood, because Wei Zangchen wasn’t either.

After arriving, he paid the fare, then led Xiao Li out of the taxi. Getting them organized, Xiao Li tugged against him, not wanting to enter the train station… But Gun Wen had gone missing on them first. Even if he hadn’t willingly sold them out, anything could have happened. The man had mentioned his sister, and the temptation to get in touch may have been too strong.

Pulling the reluctant toddler along, Wei Zangchen took the elevator down, then continued dragging Xiao Li over to the ticket machines. Checking what was coming first, he picked the line that went the farthest out of his choices and booked two tickets. That instinct to run was still burning strong. Taking their tickets, he held Xiao Li’s hand tighter, then followed the directions down to the correct platform.

For all their escaping, they’d never actually set a rendezvous point. It wasn’t a rookie error, as he trusted Gun Wen so much, and both knew they could have their minds read by the right esper. Still, now he wished they had. He hoped Gun Wen would be okay. The man hadn’t done anything actually wrong—or, at least, in his eyes, he hadn’t. They’d arrived at Perpex. It wasn’t their fault there was no follow-up.

Making their train, Xiao Li went into full meltdown. Wei Zangchen had a handful of seconds to shove cash into a vending machine and buy a few snacks for the little boy. Choosing a seat at the back of the carriage, he immediately settled Xiao Li down with the snacks, keeping the boy protectively between himself and the window.

If only Cai Dan had never shown up at the institution. Gu Lang wasn’t one to ever let it drop, far more tenacious than an esper in every respect. If their great escape via rail was intercepted, he’d have to state he’d surrender as long as he was kept away from Gu Lang. His life might be pathetic, but he at least wanted to keep living long enough to see Xiao Li grow up.

“Xiao Li, I know you’re angry with me, and I know you’re tired, hungry, and scared. I know you’re frustrated you can’t yell at me. I’m sorry. You’re my most precious person, and I’ll do anything to stay by your side. We’ll see Gun Wen again, but until then, we’re on an adventure of our own. You can be angry and bossy, as long as you know I love you.”

Kissing the angry prince’s hair, Wei Zangchen wished Xiao Li could vent at him. It was hard to comprehend how much he knew without that developmental milestone, so all he could do was keep telling him he loved him and that these feelings were okay to have… because he felt the same way now that they were in the outside world.