youfightgood:

“Ah,” Shang said, although he was staring at Ping and furrowing his brow, as if doing so would help him understand the strange boy. He wasn’t sure who the soldier was trying to impress with his dramatic routine - unless the boy naturally spoke and gestured with theatric flairs. Similar to Chi Fu. The two had a lot in common: the effeminate hand gesticulations, the lilt to their voices that was present when they spoke. Perhaps they would have been good friends if they were of the same class. And there was something about already having eaten? The captain stood puzzled, as the cook woke a little past dawn and was finishing up the morning meal as they spoke. On training days they would have eaten even earlier, but he had given the overworked cook a much-deserved break. Had Ping… cooked a meal for himself? Shang still gazed at Ping, his eyes the only hint at his confusion and thoughtful speculation.

It wasn’t working. Ping was still as bizarre as ever.

A pause, and Shang stirred. He moved and stood before Ping, not close enough to touch him but near enough to prevent him from leaving too quickly. He folded his hands behind his back and stood straight and tall, much taller than the little recruit. He was a figure of authority.

“Fine,” he answered him briefly. Ping didn’t need details. Not about his reports and not about his morning exercises. Shang was still staring at Ping as he uttered his next words.

“I’ll join you for your walk.” There was no question to it.

The recruit couldn’t help but wince slightly as Shang moved closer, already expecting to be told off sharply: for what, he couldn’t have guessed.  But by now Ping was sure that even on the days he managed to scrape by without doing something wrong, Yao would frame him for some misdeed or Ling - who was as clever as he was annoying - would have a prank in store for Ping.  On the other hand, it strained credulity to imagine that the trio of oddly-assorted soldiers were awake at this hour on a day off.  At least, it was what Ping was counting on.  It was hard enough to handle them when he was fully awake.

Besides…his eyes widened at the captain’s suggestion.  If Mushu hadn’t been hidden away, he might have pointed out that the company of Yao, Ling, and Chien Po was preferable to Captain Shang’s scrutiny any day.  And Ping would have agreed.  His mouth gaping like a fish’s, Ping floundered for a way out that wouldn’t attract suspicion.  "Oh, uh, thank you, sir, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want to join me.“  Ping tried his best to look humble and scrawny.  He was sure it was working.  "I’m as slow as a snail in the morning, I bet I’d just tire you out waiting for me to keep the pace you’ve set!”

Jiànguǐ!  Where was that sorry excuse for a guardian when Ping needed his help most of all?  There was a tiny part of Ping’s brain (the part that sounded a lot like Mushu) that knew it probably wasn’t a good idea for his commanding officer to spot the dragon whatsoever.  But just now, Ping felt like bad advice would’ve been better than none at all.  He was certain that walking - or running, if the captain forgot that this was supposed to be a day of rest as Ping feared - with Li Shang was not what Mushu had had in mind for him today.