Chapter Text
“Xaio get your stuff ready. Your father’s here to pick you up!”
One of the teachers called into a big room full of other kids. Zhongli was standing at the doorway smiling a bit as he saw Xaio running up to him with one arm out. The other holding a brown and gold dragon. He hugged his leg burying his face into it. “Hey buddy.” Zhongli said picking him up having his dragon squish between them. “Hi daddy!” Xaio smiled back holding onto him. “How was he today?” Zhongli asked the teacher as he rubbed Xaio’s back.
“Same as usual.” She smiled. “He likes to stay by himself while others play together. But he did enjoy arts and craft today didn’t you Xaio?” She said now looking at Xaio. He got a bit shy and tried to hide in Zhongli’s chest nodding earning a chuckle from the long haired man. “Well thank you for watching him.” “Of course! It is our job after all. He’s a sweetheart really.” The two waved goodbye as she sighed watching them walk away. A smile growing on her.
Zhongli carried Xaio to the car ruffling his hair. “Ready to go home?” Zhongli asked making Xaio nod. “Mhm!” He buckled him in his car seat and the two drove home. Once there they entered the house Xaio ran straight inside. “Xaio remember to take off your shoes.” He called as he started to take off his own shoes and his coat. Beside his coat he had a black turtleneck that was tucked into regular gray pants with a black belt around it. “Kay!” He called coming back and sitting on the one step there is before entering the house. He struggled to untie his shoes so Zhongli had to help him.
“Could have done it m’self!” Xaio whined a bit. Being 3 he now sees himself older than what he actually is. “I know I know. It’s just faster if I helped.” Xaio made a “hmph” sound pouting a bit. “Don’t get pouty now Xaio. Where’s morax?” Xaio perked up looking around seeing him on the couch. He got up quickly running to the dragon. Zhongli remember buying it for him because Xaio kept looking at it while they where out one day.
He grew attached to it because it quote “reminds him of daddy.” He isn't sure why exactly but he finds it cute that he does. It really does get him through the days when Zhongli is out on a long business trips. “I’ll get dinner started soon. You can just stay here and play.” Zhongli turned on the TV to some cartoons. Xaio was busy looking through his toy box. Tonight’s dinner was some cut up chicken and rice with a side of broccoli. Nothing too special since they needed to go grocery shopping tomorrow.
While in the middle of making the rice, Zhongli felt a tug on his pant leg. Looking down he saw Xaio holding a pice of paper. “Yes Xaio?” Zhongli ask. “Made you this, during craft time!” He then flipped over the paper and it was a mini drawing of Xaio in one hand holding Zhongli’s hand, and the other morax. It even had a bunch of hearts around it. “Where’d you keep this?” Zhongli chuckled. “In here!” Xaio smiled pointing to the big pocket on his overall. “It’s perfect Xaio I love it.” He bent down to kiss his head making him giggle as he took the picture from him. He placed it on the fridge seeing Xaio beam with pride. “Go sit down now dinners almost ready.” Zhongli said going back to watching the rice.
Dinner was a bit hard since Xaio did NOT wanna eat the broccoli. It took a lot of patience and a bit of sternness, along with a time out warning but they eventually got through it. And he even got candy afterwards. Later on in the night, Xaio got a bath before going to bed. Zhongli was about to fall asleep in his own room he heard his door handle being messed with. There he saw a half asleep Xaio holding morax with his pjs. He yawned for a second before coming into the room and hoping onto the bed and snuggling right into Zhongli.
Zhongli huffed as he smiled pulling him closer. Playing with his hair. Xaio always liked to sleep in his room. Sometimes he would throw a fit if he had to go into his own room instead of Zhongli’s. Sometimes he’d even sleep there for weeks before being ready to back to his own room. He isn’t sure why he does this. Maybe it’s because he misses him? He does go on a lot of business trips. Maybe it’s from past issues with his now ex-wife or maybe he just loves his dad. Maybe it’s all three. Whatever the case may be he loves his son and spending as much time as he can with him.
He always feels bad leaving him behind on trips. It gets painful every time he has to drop him off. But he always does his best to make up for the lost time when he comes back. He makes Xaio’s favorite food, let him pick the movie they watch, take him to his favorite places. Anything to see him smile. He was all he needed at times. Right before he drifted to sleep he kisses Xaio’s head, his arm pulling the blanket up more for them. Before hearing the softest, “love you daddy.” Zhongli smiled again before saying, “I love too Xaio.” And the two drifted to sleep.