becoming part of us

a family

"Come on Xiao, just stand still. We need to get you dressed for school, don't make this harder than it is." Zhongli sighs. "How can a three year old have so much energy?" he mutters to himself.

"Never." Xiao runs around the bedroom in his underwear, pieces of lego in both his hands. "I want to play all day."

"I need to go to work, so I'm going to send you to a place where you can play all day."

That seems to get Xiao's attention. "Really?"

"They even have toys there, and snacks. You will meet some friends your age and you can play with all of them." Zhongli coaxes, getting closer to Xiao and putting his sweatpants on. "You will have a lot of fun."

"What about you?" Xiao asks, head poking out of a sweatshirt that Zhongli bought just for him, with a drawing of Guoba on it.

"I have to work Xiao, but I'll be there as soon as I'm done." 

While Zhongli sits Xiao down on his bed to put some socks on, he seems to have a pensive look on his face. "You won't play with me today?" That's when Zhongli notices that Xiao might not be comfortable with the idea of being separated from him, his memories from the past probably still fresh.

"I will play with you once I get off from work. I'll be at your school before the sun is down." Zhongli extends his pinky finger. "I promise."

Xiao still seems a little sad and avoidant, but he still takes his pinky out and links it with Zhongli's, a small smile on his face. "People who lie have to swallow a thousand needles."

"I better keep my promises then." Zhongli picks up Xiao and carries him to the front door, making sure to pick up his son's backpack, his work bag, Xiao’s shoes and his keys.

He looks back at his apartment once more before leaving through the door. He smiles at the toys scattered on the floor, Xiao’s shoes at the entrance next to his, and some more of Xiao’s belongings. His former clean and spotless apartment had turned into a mess, but he didn't seem to mind it, his heart full of warmth.

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"What is that?" Xiao's eyes are shining once they get out of Zhongli's car, wondering what all the things he was seeing were.

"That's a seesaw, you sit with a friend and go up and down." Zhongli explains, taking Xiao's hand and guiding him through the playground. "This one you can climb very high, but you're still too little for it."

"I'm big." Xiao lifts his arms up, standing on his tiptoes. "Dad, I want to play here."

"We need to meet your teacher first, and then you need to wait to play." Zhongli sees some stairs ahead to enter the building and picks Xiao up. "Remember what I told you about the school?"

"I need to listen to the teacher and have good manners, say thank you and please." Xiao recites almost robotically, making Zhongli laugh.

Zhongli gives him a little hug, and once they're inside the building he drops him on the ground once again. "That's it. You're very smart Xiao."

They pass through the halls of the building where they see several rooms with people inside. It seems the first rooms are for the babies and smaller children, and as they get further in he starts to spot some parents leaving their kids, all of them about Xiao's age.

"Leaf room, Leaf room." he mutters to himself trying to find the room that was indicated to him by email. "There it is." 

Zhongli crouches down and looks at Xiao in his eyes, he seems a little nervous. "Dad…"