Honkai Star: Rail x Reader Oneshots

"I'm sorry that I let you down" | Dad!Jing Yuan x Kid!Reader

Summary: Jing Yuan, the General of the Luofu, is faced with the aftermath of a disaster in the Outer Sector, where his estranged child has been living. After months of distance and guilt following his divorce, he arrives to find his child alive but emotionally scarred. Through a quiet, painful reunion, Jing Yuan confronts his mistakes and apologizes for not being there when needed. The two begin to rebuild their fragile relationship, uncertain of the future but willing to try again.

Tags: Dad!Jing Yuan x Kid!Reader, Platonic, Family Reunion, Apology, Guilt, Father-Child Relationship (Jing Yuan is Reader's Father), Emotional Healing, Hurt/Comfort.

Warnings: Emotional Distress, Abandonment, Dysfunctional Family Dynamics, Mild Violence (disaster aftermath), Trauma

Jing Yuan sat silently in his office within the Luofu, his golden eyes fixed on a stack of reports. His usually composed expression was fraught with something unspoken, something that had been gnawing at him for months. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d truly been able to focus on his duties.

The quiet hum of the room was broken by a soft knock on the door. Jing Yuan looked up, his gaze softening as the door creaked open. Standing there was one of his trusted aides, a concerned expression on their face.

"General... there's a situation." the aide began hesitantly.

Jing Yuan’s brow furrowed as he stood, adjusting his armor. "What happened?"

“There’s been a disaster on the Outer Sector. The place where... your child has been living with their mother.” the aide continued, not meeting his gaze.

A chill ran down Jing Yuan’s spine. He had not seen you in months, ever since you had run away after the divorce with your mother. You had been angry, hurt, and confused. You blamed him for the fallout, and perhaps he had been too distant to see the cracks forming in your relationship. Now, you were in danger.

Jing Yuan’s heart ached with guilt, but he masked it with his calm, composed exterior. "Prepare the Cloud Knights. We leave at once."

The journey back to the Outer Sector felt like the longest of Jing Yuan’s life. Despite the urgency of the situation, his mind couldn’t help but drift back to the last time he saw you—your eyes filled with tears, your voice accusing him of failing you. He had tried to do what was right, but somehow, all his efforts had been in vain. The divorce had torn your family apart, and Jing Yuan had never known how to bridge the chasm that had formed between you. Now, he feared the damage was irreversible.

As they arrived in the disaster zone, Jing Yuan’s heart pounded in his chest. He moved swiftly through the wreckage, his soldiers clearing debris as they searched for survivors. His thoughts never strayed far from you. Where were you? Were you safe?

Then, in the distance, he saw you. Sitting on a pile of rubble, looking smaller and more fragile than he remembered. Your eyes were wide and filled with fear, your clothes torn and covered in dirt, but you were alive. Jing Yuan’s breath caught in his throat.

"[Name]..." he called softly, his voice breaking through the chaos.

You slowly turned your head, your expression cold, guarded. You had clearly been through a lot, and Jing Yuan could see the bruises of both physical and emotional scars. His heart sank.

Without waiting for an invitation, Jing Yuan approached cautiously, kneeling in front of you. “Are you hurt?” he asked, trying to hide the tremor in his voice.

You shook your head, but your eyes stayed locked on the ground. You didn’t speak.

Jing Yuan’s gaze softened. "I’ve come to take you home."

Home. The word seemed to make you flinch, and Jing Yuan’s heart ached even more. He had failed you. He had failed to be the father you needed, the one who would always be there for you.

“I know I haven’t been there for you," Jing Yuan said, his voice barely a whisper. "And I know I’ve hurt you, more than I should have. I’m sorry... I should have done better.”

You finally met his gaze, your eyes searching his face for something—anything—that might give you the reassurance you needed. But it wasn’t there, not yet.

"You saw it, didn't you?" you suddenly spoke, your voice hoarse. "The video diary. I thought you’d never find it. I thought if I just ran away, everything would stop hurting. But... it didn't. It only got worse. I couldn’t fix it. I couldn’t fix... us."

Jing Yuan's eyes widened in shock. The video diary. He had stumbled upon it by accident weeks ago while investigating something unrelated, but seeing it, hearing the pain in your words, had struck him like a sword to the heart. It had been raw, unfiltered. The child he had once held so close now seemed a stranger, their emotions raw and unspoken.

“I didn’t know, I didn’t understand," he whispered, reaching out a hand to gently touch your shoulder. "I never wanted to hurt you like that. But I understand now. I see my mistakes. And I’m sorry for making you feel like you weren’t enough.”

You didn’t pull away from his touch, but you didn’t look at him either. You were silent for a long time, your emotions swirling in the quiet space between you.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you spoke again. "I didn’t want to be alone, Dad. I didn’t want to be in the middle of all of it. I didn’t want to choose... I just wanted everything to stop."

Jing Yuan’s heart shattered at your words. How much had you suffered, thinking you had to carry the weight of everything alone?

“I’m sorry,” he repeated softly. “I should have been there. I should have been the one to help you carry it.”

You were silent for a moment, before you slowly stood up, brushing off the dirt from your clothes. “I still don’t know what to feel,” you said, voice small but strong. “But... I’m glad you came. Maybe... maybe we can figure it out together?”

Jing Yuan nodded, his golden eyes filled with an earnest hope. “We will. And I’ll be here, no matter what.”

You didn’t say anything more, but you didn’t pull away either. For the first time in months, there was a flicker of something between you—a small, fragile bridge being rebuilt, one careful step at a time.

As you both returned to the Luofu, Jing Yuan couldn’t help but feel a sense of quiet relief. The journey ahead would be long, and it wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time in what felt like forever, he had the chance to try again. To be the father he should have been all along.

And he would do whatever it took to make sure you knew you were never alone again.