Work Text:
The Little Mermaid. Y/d/n's favorite movie. Her eyes were glued to the TV screen but, surprisingly, her mind was off somewhere else, wandering, conjuring thoughts a four year old should have no business or ability to even conjure.
"Daddy, do you have to go to work tomorrow?" She questions softly towards her father seated beside her on the couch.
"Unfortunately, I do, honey" he answers, taking a big bite into a homemade chocolate brownie.
"Aw, when will you be back?"
"I don't know" an honest and true answer. In his line of work fighting bioterrorism, there was never a time limit. It could take a day, weeks, sometimes even months to complete a single mission and only then is Chris Redfield free and safe to return home.
"Okay" she responds with a sniffle, her tiny hand wiping away a tear that slid with ease down her rosy shaded cheek.
"Hey, what's wrong, Princess, why the tears?"
"I don't want you to go to work anymore. You're always away for a very long time and that makes me sad. I want you here all the time like mommy is here all the time"
Her words sent a chill down Chris' spine, his heart literally breaking into pieces inside his chest. No, this is no cliche. He is heartbroken beyond repair, unhappy, sorrowful, his daughters sadness causing his own baby blue eyes to water and nearly spill.
"I know" He swallows back his tears, his large hand rubbing in an up down motion along his daughter's back in a comforting gesture "Believe me, daddy wishes he could be here all the time too but I do what I do to keep you safe, sweetheart, and mommy does what she does to keep us both alive and well"
"What does mommy do?" The small child asks with another sniffle
"Well, mommy cooks so we can eat, she cleans so we don't have nasty germs and ants, she shops so we have clothes to wear and food to cook, she takes you to school when daddy is not here. Mommy may always be at home, darling, but she works just as hard as daddy does. Do you understand?"
"No. Why can't you do all that stuff with mommy?"
"Because daddy is not good with the stuff that mommy is. Daddy is good with fighting monsters. Each person does the job that they are good at. Do you understand?"
"No, I'm so confused"
"It's okay" Chris lowers his head, pecking a kiss against his daughter's temple "You're still too young to be concerning yourself with work. At your age, you should concern yourself with having fun, that's all"
"But I have fun with you, daddy, that is why I don't want you to leave ever again"
"Tell you what, when I get back we can have all the fun you want, okay? We can have a tea party, we can eat tons of ice cream, we can play dress up, we can watch cartoons, we can go to the park, we can go to Chuck E Cheese. Whatever you want"
"You promise?"
"I promise"
Little Y/d/n extends her tiny hand towards her father with extended pinky "Pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise" Chris raises his hand, extending and intertwining his own pinky with that of his daughter's, sealing their deal.
"I trust you, daddy. When you get back I wanna play dress up, eat tons of ice cream, and go to Shuck E Cheese"
"Alright, if that's what you want, then that's what we'll do" Chris finishes the remainder of his brownie and excuses himself into the kitchen
"Hey" his wife greets gracefully with an infectious smile as she cuts up vegetables on the cutting board "Are you okay?" she puts forth, noticing her husband's distressed state, greeting her in return with a shake of the head and a long sigh as he walks over to the refrigerator and opens the door, grabbing himself a bottle of water to which he does not even bother to twist off the top for a sip, simply just resting the bottle down on top of the counter.
"Chris?" she calls towards her husband worriedly "Tell me what's wrong, please"
"Y/d/n. She was crying because I am hardly ever home and that just really hit me hard emotionally"
"Well, did you try to explain to her why you're away?"
"Yes, or at least I tried to but she just ended up getting confused in the end" he answers "Fuck, I'm not a bad father for still working this job with a kid at home, am I?"
"No, absolutely not. Actually, in a weird fucked up way, her feeling the way she does is sort of a compliment towards you if you think about it"
"What?"
"Her being upset and shedding tears at the fact that you have to be away is a sign of just how much that little girl fucking loves you, you idiot. She really thinks the entire world of you, you know"
"Yeah" he acknowledges with a whisper "You really think so, huh?"
"Yes, I really do. To be honest, I can relate to the way she feels. There have been numerous nights where I am unable to sleep because of you"
"Worry?"
"That's a big part of it, yeah, but I manage to still pull through the best I can regardless" she counters "You know me. What other choice do I have?"
"Well" he ambles over behind the counter to where his wife stood, wrapping a strong and muscular arm around her waist, lips pressed against a visible spot on her neck not hidden behind long strands of hair "I know for a fact that you're way emotionally tougher than I am, that's for sure"
"Jesus, stop bringing yourself down all time, will you?" the corners of her lips curve into a simper, warm and sincere "You're tough, emotionally and all, and even if you weren't we'd still love you regardless, darling. Don't ever doubt or forget that, you hear me?"
"Mhm" he adorns her with another kiss "I hear you"
"I'm being serious, Chris"
"I know and I appreciate that. I appreciate you. I appreciate our little girl"
"Oh, we know, handsome" she giggles as his beard pricks against her skin "The feeling is mutual"