[ zhongli is up before xiao can speak, arms wrapping around him and pulling him into a tight hug ─ how many years has it been? how many decades? how long has it been since he had last felt the warmth of his father's arms around him? the security of it? immediately xiao's hands go to his coat, breath hitching as he forces back the tears that threaten to overwhelm him. ]
Fùqīn, I am sorry. [ he did no wrong, he could not have known, yet he feels compelled to apologise regardless, feels complelled to make up for being aware. ] I did not know.
[ his mind feels fractured, fuzzy, memories blurring and mixing together into a confusing soup. all at once he feels terrible for every doubt, for every frustration that had come over the years of non-answers. how could he have said anything? how could he have told him then? yet a part of him wishes he had, wishes xiao could have been there to share in burdens as he had done for xiao for so many years. is it unfair, he thinks, that zhongli had to suffer in silence. unfair.
at least, now, he does not have to suffer the burden of those memories alone anymore. at least, finally, the distance between them has been bridged. ]
All this time... [ xiao shakes his head, fingers tightening around the fabric of the other's coat. ] I am sorry.
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Fùqīn, I am sorry. [ he did no wrong, he could not have known, yet he feels compelled to apologise regardless, feels complelled to make up for being aware. ] I did not know.
[ his mind feels fractured, fuzzy, memories blurring and mixing together into a confusing soup. all at once he feels terrible for every doubt, for every frustration that had come over the years of non-answers. how could he have said anything? how could he have told him then? yet a part of him wishes he had, wishes xiao could have been there to share in burdens as he had done for xiao for so many years. is it unfair, he thinks, that zhongli had to suffer in silence. unfair.
at least, now, he does not have to suffer the burden of those memories alone anymore. at least, finally, the distance between them has been bridged. ]
All this time... [ xiao shakes his head, fingers tightening around the fabric of the other's coat. ] I am sorry.