Work Text:
Honghong-er was running.
Really, there was no point in running. It wasn’t like they were going to follow him anyway. They would sit peacefully in their home and scoff at Honghong-er’s actions, then punish him once he got home. Honghong-er could never escape. He could try living on the streets, but the kids who lived on the streets didn’t like him. He would eventually end up back in that house, sooner or later.
Honghong-er felt angry. How could he not be angry? His life was horrible and it wasn’t even his fault! Was it just because of his eye? Was it something else?
Honghong-er stopped. In front of him was that one pathetic temple for the Crown Prince of Xianle. He reached into his pocket and took out a flower. It had gotten crushed at one point, but it wasn’t like he could get another one at the moment.
Taizi Dianxia was kind. Perhaps he was kind enough to forgive Honghong-er for such a horrible offering. If not, then Honghong-er deserved to receive his god’s wrath.
Honghong-er stepped inside and stared at the statue of Xie Lian. The flower in his hand had already wilted, so Honghong-er gently took it out and replaced it with the new one. It didn’t look like much of an improvement.
“I’m sorry, Dianxia,” Honghong-er murmured. “I’ll find a better one tomorrow.”
He remembered falling and landing in Xie Lian’s arms. He remembered how kind Xie Lian was. He remembered–
Too bad that the only one kind to Honghong-er had already ascended to the heavens and could no longer speak to him and show him such kindness once more. Honghong-er was on his own. He always would be.