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He hadn’t been able to sleep.
Something had gotten Wu extremely worried, yet he didn’t know what. It was almost 12am, and he sat in his study, attempting to tire himself out. He scribbled down equations, complicated equations. He didn’t know what he would use them for, but he could figure that out later on when he wasn’t trying to force himself to sleep. He leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was getting frustrated. What the hell got him so worried?!
He sighed and just listened to the rain pattering against the window. It was usually a calming sound, but now it only irritated him even more. He groaned and slammed his head onto his desk with a loud thump. He just laid there, ignoring the pain that shot through his skull.
“Wu?” the voice startled him, causing him to shoot up with a yelp, almost falling out of his chair.
He looked over at the person standing at the doorway, a worried expression on her face, “Xiu Mei?! What are you doing up so late?”
She crossed her arms, “What are you doing up? Wu, it's almost twelve in the morning.” she said with a small chuckle and a shake of her head, “You’re work can wait until later.”
He sighed, “Couldn’t sleep. Something- I’m just really worried about something.”
She tilted her head, “What is it?”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know.” He looked back at the papers scattered across his desk, “It’s the same feeling I felt that day. When that bastard refused to listen to me. I was right about that.”
“So, you don’t know what’s got you so worried,” she walked over to him, “and you’re convinced it’s something like Project Overlord?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“That’s what it sounds like.” She placed a hand on his shoulder, “I’m sure it’s nothing. Just come to bed. You can figure this out in the morning.”
“I need to figure this out now.” he said, “I need to know what’s going on and how I can prevent what may happen.” Xiu Mei only sighed, shaking her head. Wu looked back at his desk and picked up a piece of paper, “I know it may have something to do with the Initiative. It has to. I can’t think of anything else that-”
“Wu.” she cut him off, “You can focus on this later. I’m worried about the Initiative as well, but we have more important things to worry about, like this family.” she gently brushed some hair out of his face, “now let’s go to bed.”
“I already told you, I can’t sleep.”
“Then at least come lay down.”
He scoffed, "what's the point if I can't sleep?"
She didn't say anything. She just glared at him.
"I'll be alright."
"Wu."
He thought for a minute and then just sighed, "Alright, alright, fine."
He got ready to stand. Suddenly, there was a loud boom of thunder, followed by a loud fearful squeal.
Neither of them even noticed who had been standing at the door until the little five year old was curled up on Wu’s lap, trembling. “Wing? What are you doing?” Wu asked, staring at the scared child.
The little boy looked up at his dad, a look of fear in his eyes, “The rain is loud. And- and there was a really loud boom!” he said as he dramatically threw his arms out at the word boom . “I can’t sleep.”
Xiu Mei chuckled and patted Wing on the head, receiving a squeal of frustration from the small boy, “It’s ok, Wing, the rain won’t hurt you.”
“It’s loud!”
Wu smiled, “It’ll be ok. Now, let’s get you to bed.”
“NOOOOOO!” Wing protested, squirming away from his father and flopping face first onto the floor, “I’m not tired! The rain is too loud!” he shouted, his voice muffled.
Wu knelt down next to his son, who was just pouting on the floor. He carefully picked up the small boy. Wing squirmed in protest. Wu sighed, “Do you want to come lay with us?”
Wing stopped squirming and smiled, wrapping his arms around his dad, “Yea!” he said with a happy squeak. Wu stood up, letting the boy cling to him.
Xiu Mei placed a hand on Wu’s shoulder, “We can continue this conversation in the morning, alright?”
“What conversation?” Wing asked, sounding sleepy. His grip around Wu was loosening a bit.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Wu responded, patting him on the back. The only response he got was quiet snoring.
“Well, we got someone to sleep.” Xiu Mei said jokingly, “You’re next.” she poked him in the shoulder. Wu chuckled. He did feel pretty tired, maybe he could try to go to sleep.
They got to their room and Xiu Mei laid down as Wu sat down on the bed, attempting to get the clingy five year old off of him. “Looks like I’m stuck with him,” He said with a smile. He didn’t lay down, despite how tired he felt. He just sat there, listening to the rain hitting the window and Wing’s quiet snoring. He felt a tug on his arm.
“Lay down, Wu,” Xiu Mei said, tugging his arm again. He didn’t want to. He was feeling worried again, but why? What was there to worry about? He looked at his wife for a few seconds before looking at the boy in his arms.
He took in a breath, “I’m still worried.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know… I’m just- what if this is all taken away?” He tried to keep the fear from seeping into his voice, “What if I lose you two?”
She sat up and carefully placed a hand on his cheek, “You won’t. We’re not going anywhere, I promise. Now please, lay down.” He didn’t lay down. He stayed silent. She sighed, “Wu ple-”
“What if he finds out?” he whispered.
“About what?”
“About… about our past?”
She shook her head, “He won’t as long as we stop talking about it when he’s right here," She motioned to the little boy still clinging to Wu, “Even if he does, he’ll probably understand why we had to hide.”
He stared at her for a bit before finally laying down. She smiled and laid down next to him.
“You won’t go, right?” he asked, “You two are safe?”
She put an arm around him, “We’re safe. Now try to sleep, and don’t go back to your study.” she said sleepily.
“That would be difficult considering i have a kid clinging to me.” he said with a quiet laugh. She didn’t respond. How did her and Wing always fall asleep so fast?
Hours passed, and he still couldn’t sleep. The sun was rising and he was still laying there, wide awake.
Wing hadn't let go of him at all during the night. Even at that moment he was still clinging to his father.
Wu sat up, carefully pulling Wing off of him and laying him down next to Xiu Mei. The two of them were still asleep. At least he'd get a bit of time to work in his study without any interruptions.
He slowly stood, his tired body aching from the lack of sleep. He walked to his study, leaning against the wall to keep himself from losing his balance. He sat down at his desk, looking at the papers scattered across it. His vision was blurry and he could hardly make out what was written on them, but he still attempted to read the equations he had written down.
His mind started to wander. He was still worried. He had no idea why, still, but he wanted to figure it out. As he sat there, zoned out and staring at his desk, he didn’t see the small figure standing at the door.
“Papa?” the voice startled him. He looked over and saw Wing standing there, slightly hidden by the wall.
Wu looked at the clock hanging on the wall, then back at his son, “Wing, it’s six in the morning. You should still be asleep.”
“I’m not sleepy anymore. I want to see what you’re doing!” Wing slowly stepped into the room, “Can i see?”
Wu stood, “You won’t understand it. Come on, it’s still early.”
“But I’m not sleepy!” the five year old pouted.
“Can you at least go lay down?”
“I’m bored!” Wing squealed, stomping his foot.
Wu knelt down in front of him, “I can get you a book.”
“I don’t want to read,” he crossed his arms. “I wanna play!”
Wu sighed and carefully picked him up, “alright. I probably need a break from my work anyways.” he said with a smile. Wing beamed and hugged Wu excitedly.
The worry was still there, but he could probably just ignore it. Maybe Xiu Mei was right. Maybe it was nothing.
Oh how wrong he was.
She was gone. He didn’t react in time, and now she was dead.
It just looked like a break in gone wrong, but Wu knew it was something more. He knew it had something to do with the Renaissance Initiative. It couldn’t have just been a strange coincidence. He knew it.
He failed to protect her.
He should’ve looked more into what got him worried that day. Maybe if he had looked into it more, he could’ve kept her safe.
He paced in his room, muttering to himself. He failed. He failed his family. He failed her .
He felt something grab his leg, and looked down to see Wing clinging to him.
“I can’t find mama. I looked everywhere. Is she at work?” the little boy asked. Wu sighed and picked him up, sitting down on the bed. Wing now sat on his lap, staring up at his father. He noticed how sad Wu looked, “Why are you frowning? I can help you be happy!” He wrapped his arms around Wu, hugging him as tight as possible for a five year old.
Wu returned the hug. What was he supposed to say? He couldn’t just tell Wing that his mother was killed. He took in a deep breath, “Wing,” the little boy squirmed out of the hug and looked at his father, “Your mother… she- she’s gone.”
Wing blinked, processing what he was told. He then tilted his head, “When will she be back home?”
His heart sank. He couldn’t just say never. Wing wouldn’t understand, “She won’t be back for a very, very long time.”
Wing stayed silent for a minute. Wu got worried. Did he understand what Wu meant? Did he understand that Xiu Mei was dead?
Soon, the little boy smiled and hugged Wu again, “We’ll wait for her together! We can wait and wait and wait!”
Wu gave a weak chuckle, “Yes… we’ll wait until she comes home.”
“And when she does come home, I’ll give her the biggest hug ever!” He was so cheerful. It broke Wu’s heart knowing that she was never coming back home. The boy was so hopeful.
“I’m sure you will. Now, it’s getting dark. You should really get to bed soon.”
“But I wanna get started on welcome home cards before I forget!” Wing frowned, “I don’t want to forget!”
Wu patted him on the head, an action that received an angry squeal in response, "I'll remind you in the morning, okay? I promise."
Wing stayed silent for a bit, thinking. Finally, he nodded, "Okay! You better keep your promise!" He then flopped down onto the bed, crawling under a blanket.
"Wing? Come on, let's get you to bed."
"I don't want you to be alone. I'll stay by you until mama comes home." The boy squeaked, his voice muffled by the blanket he laid under. Wu smiled a tiny bit and carefully lifted the blanket up. He carefully picked up Wing and held him in his lap. Wing yawned, rubbing his eyes and soon curling up in his father's embrace.
"Papa?"
"Hm?"
"You won't leave like mama did, right?" He asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes again, "You'll stay, right?
"I will."
"Promise?"
Wu nodded, "I promise. I won't leave you."
"Mmm." He shifted a bit, getting comfortable, "thank you."
I promise. I won't leave you.
He lied.
He lied about so much.
He broke the promise he made to Wing. Breaking promises must've run in the family, though, as Wing now had the man's blood on his hands.
Yet, as Wing stared at the body in front of him, he couldn't help but feel pain.
He still remembered when he was younger, excitedly running to his father for a hug after they hadn't seen each other all day, or when his father read a book to him on those stormy nights, or when he would hide, waiting for his father to walk by so he could jump out and spook him.
He remembered those days from before his father grew distant, when he hardly saw his father.
That was in the past. He was no longer a little five year old who was scared of thunder. A little five year old who got fussy when told to sleep. A little five year old who looked up to the man who now laid dead in front of him.
His father was never there to watch him grow, yet, he still felt regret for what he had done.
He knelt down next to his father's body, trying to choke back the tears.
"I'm sorry, father."