Work Text:
When he rings the bell, small enough to hide in his robes, shining silver attached to a simple red thread, his baba always comes to his aid. Alerted through his own bell that was connected to the Shen Jiu's.
Whether big or small. As serious as running into a dangerous situation he can not control, or as minor as not wanting to sit through a lesson, baba always arrived. That's what he was told when it was first given to him, and actions proved it true time and time again.
A rushed pace, a worried cry, "Little one!?" and then a through look over, a hug, a pat, questions filled with concern. Never once downplaying the reasons for why the bell was rang.
Shen Jiu stares at his bell now, thread looped around a finger, the bell laid on his palm.
Baba hasn't answered his call in a year now. Each missed ring leaves him disappointed, bitter. The man left to do something important, he knows that. He knows. But baba was supposed to stay with him, yet he left!
Still, Shen Jiu turns his hand, letting the bell fall, dangling from his finger now, catching rays from the setting sun. A small breeze greets the bell, barely swaying the thing, instead blowing through Shen Jiu's hair.
Two fingers pinch the thread, shaking, ringing the bell.
Breaking the silence, the ringing fills the space around Shen Jiu. It keeps going, going, going. Then it stops. Then the silence returns.
And it stays silent.
It stays silent.
It stays silent.
It-
"Liar."
He rings again, despite the bitterness growing, throat feeling tight, and the knowledge that the tears he wants to cry won't be shed.