Work Text:
“Aww, baobei, come here,” Hua Cheng says softly, holding out his arms.
Xie Lian sniffles and throws himself into Hua Cheng’s embrace. “Baba,” he says, muffled. “Why are people so mean?”
Privately, Hua Cheng decides to make those bullies’ lives hell. He’ll have to be careful how to do it, so as not to invite retaliation and hurt his precious son further…
“Some people are just trash,” he says aloud. He presses a gentle kiss to the top of Xie Lian’s head. “They’ll hurt even the most wonderful, perfect person, just because they can’t handle being inferior. But your baba will protect you. Don’t worry any more.”
Xie Lian snuggles closer, giving one last sad sniff. “I know,” he says. “You always protect me. Please don’t kill them, though.”
Hua Cheng holds back a surprised laugh. “I’ll do my best,” he promises solemnly. “How do you feel about maiming?”
Xie Lian giggles, pushing at Hua Cheng’s chest. “Don’t do that either,” he scolds. “Bad baba.”
“Aww,” Hua Cheng says. “But I had so many ideas.”
Xie Lian laughs for real, at that, and Hua Cheng knows he’s okay.
Those bullies won’t be, though.