Work Text:
Kung Lao was normally a very sweet little.
That didn't mean he didn't like bouncing off the walls, or testing how much patience Raiden had. But he didn't like getting in trouble. Sometimes he pushed things too far and would be sent to time out. He never really served his full sentence though, Raiden was a sucker for puppy eyes and tears.
But he almost never purposely acted like a brat.
Which was why Raiden was so confused when he saw a broken vase on the floor.
More importantly, his broken vase.
Raiden had just come back from some training. It had gone smoothly. In fact, his entire day had gone mostly smoothly. But now he was home. Kung Lao had retired early for the night, mostly per Raiden's request. He could tell that Kung Lao was slipping. Raiden had just helped clean up and wipe down the place, so it wasn't like Kung Lao had a bunch of time to be mechevius. An hour at most.
He had expected the TV to be on some random channel, and Kung Lao crying about being unable to figure out the buttons. Or maybe even him trying to make food because he was hungry. He wasn't supposed to be using the microwave or stove while small. But Kung Lao sometimes threw a hissy fit, claiming he was a big kid and could do big things. Although a quick kiss on the forehead and telling him he was too small for something 'allowed' Raiden to help him.
Raiden wasn't concerned about the vase. Well, he was, he wish it wasn't broken. But he wanted to make sure Kung Lao hadn't cut or hurt himself first. He'd think of a small punishment or something later. He wasn't concerned about that right now. He needed to make sure Kung Lao wasn't hurt before anything happened.
"Kung Lao! Where are you-" Raiden cut himself off as Kung Lao waddled into the room with a dustpan and small broom.
The two stared at each other for a few moments. Kung Lao's eyes were wide. He hadn't expected Raiden to come home so early! He also hadn't meant to break his vase. He was gonna clean it up!! And try to put it back together! But now he was gonna get yelled it.
Kung Lao gasped, pointing at the broken pieces, "Oh-no!"
Maybe he could get out of trouble?
"Yeah, oh-no," Raiden nodded, smiling as he crossed his arms.
"How'd that happen?" Kung Lao put on a puzzled face.
Raiden saw through his act.
"That's a good question, Lao. How'd it happen?" Raiden asked, crossing his arms. Kung Lao suddenly looked skittish. "I'm not . . . mad, baby. I'm upset my vase is broken. But let me see your hands. Did you cut yourself? Does it sting anywhere?"
Kung Lao looked at the ground, but showed Raiden his hands. There was a small cut, but nothing bad. Raiden frowned at it.
"How'd you get that, sweetheart?" Raiden asked. Kung Lao looked at the wall. "Kung Lao, did you try picking up the glass with your own hands?"
"Are you disa-disaponted?" Kung Lao strugged, looking up at Raiden meekly.
"No, not disappointed. And especially not at you," Raiden kissed Kung Lao's temple. "A bit upset, but not mad or disappointed. I'm more concerned that you got hurt more than anything though."
"It's just a scratch," Kung Lao huffed.
"Just a scratch? No, no, this is very important," Raiden shook his head. "I'll pick up the glass, okay? Don't touch it. Let's get you a bandaid."
"But I was gonna glue it together!" Kung Lao whined. "I was playing wif the ball and it hit the vase. And so I thought I'd put it together for you!"
Raiden blinked at Kung Lao before smiling, laughing at his kind gesture. The thought was nice, but he didn't want to see Kung Lao get hurt by cutting himself on the pieces again. He was upset about his vase being broken, but the pieces did seem big enough to try to put back together. Plus he hadn't gotten the chance to put anything in it, so nothing inside spilt.
"How about we try to put it back together?" Raiden suggested. "We'll get this finger all bandaged up, and then I'll pick up the pieces, and then you and I will try to put the pieces back together, okay?"
"Like a puzzle?" Kung Lao asked, bouncing slightly. He liked puzzles!! They didn't own any, but Kuai Liang owned some!
"Exactly! But we've gotta be a bit careful around this puzzle, since it's super sharp," Raiden warned him.
Raiden fussed over Kung Lao, washing and kissing his small cut. Kung Lao got a Mickey Mouse bandaid, per his request.
Raiden refused to let Kung Lao touch the glass. He let Kung Lao guide his hands while putting the vase back together. Kung Lao fussed and huffed, but he was happy about how they put it back together!!
Although. . . it didn't look the same. Some pieces were too small to hot glue back together. And the glue was obviously sticking pieces together. It looked wrong. Kung Lao didn't like it very much.
"It looks all funny now," Kung Lao frowned.
Raiden shook his head, "Nah, it looks perfect. See? You can see all the hard work and care that went into it."
Kung Lao puffed his cheeks, "Yeah but it still looks wrong."
"Well then we'll make it a lesson, no more bouncing the ball inside," Raiden said, Kung Lao crossed his arms, glaring at him. "Did you think you'd get away without a lecture?"
"Well . . . maybe," Kung Lao shrugged.
"Wrong answer," Raiden booped his nose. "Now, it's okay to play with the ball, but we've gotta be careful when we throw it. Because if we throw it in the wrong direction, we can break something more breakable than a vase. We've even gotta be careful when we're rolling the ball! Otherwise we can hit the table leg again and drop a cup. Remember that?"
Kung Lao giggled at the memory. Raiden had done it when he was small. He rolled the ball in the wrong direction and it smashed into a standup table, knocking it and the stuff on it over. Nothing broke, but it was a huge mess. The poor baby sobbed over it. Kung Lao didn't yell at him, since Raiden really hadn't meant to do it.
And Kung Lao hadn't meant to break his vase. It was fixable, although they'd probably never be able to put anything in it anymore. Which was fine, it was more for decoration anyhow. He'd have to put it in a safer place though.
"I'll remember!" Kung Lao nodded. "Oh! Papa?"
"Yes, dear?" Raiden smiled, kissing Kung Lao's temple.
"The TV remote came apart again," Kung Lao said, holding back a giggle.
Raiden shook his head and ruffled Kung Lao's hair, already leading them both to the living room. So that's why he was playing with the ball. Raiden would have to leave simple instructions on how to put on Kung Lao's favorite show instead of just smashing buttons and dropping the remote on the ground when he gets upset. Maybe a picture design?