kadytheredpanda

Title: Little Gift
Author: Kady the Red Panda
Fandom(s): Tintin
Pairing(s): gen
Rating: K
Warning(s): none
Summary: prompt: family.  Chang's life is better than ever, but it's missing one important thing...
Word Count: 944
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. That's a good thing IMO.
Other tidbits: There's some fanon between my Tumblr friends and I that Chang has/had a stuffed panda named Xiao Liwu ("little gift"). It's also the name of the San Diego Zoo giant panda that we pretend is RL panda!Chang but that is not important. Anyway, I recently realized that in the flood that took place in "Blue Lotus" that Chang lost everything in the disaster, and that got the ball rolling for this fic.

0000

Dearest Tintin,

How are you back home?  I hope my last letter already arrived. The reason I wrote without waiting for a reply is that I had an update that was far too important for me to not tell you until weeks later.

As you know, before you left the Wangs expressed the idea of adopting me. Recently the process finished. The papers and everything cleared so I arrived home with the Wangs a few days ago. There was a wonderful welcome home party. It feels odd to receive one but the thought is a very nice one, I'll admit.

I share a room with my new brother, Didi. My side of the room has far fewer decorations than his, but I am new and the bed and everything else is comfy enough. If anything it definitely made it easier to figure out where I was sleeping. That first night was the worst! The bed really was warm and everything, Tintin. It was the dark that scared me. I did not feel as scared because I was with you and Snowy but I've been scared every night since you left.

You see, this is silly, but until recently I slept with a toy. It was a stuffed black and white panda bear (perhaps you've heard of them?) that I received from my late mother when I was very little. My father herded cattle but also had an interest in making toys, and this was one of his best creations. It was named Xiao Liwu, or little gift. From that day he never left my side, or far from it. When my parents both died from famine and I was sent to the orphanage the clothes on my back and Xiao Liwu were the only possessions I had. As I got older I could leave him alone for the day but only with him in my arms could I fall asleep. My little gift gave me his own little gift of feeling safe in bed from jaguars and robbers and the monsters under my bed.

If I could I would've saved him and passed him on to my child so that he would not be afraid of the dark.  However, the flood stopped those plans. I lost my one comfort item during it. Xiao Liwu was still resting on my bed when the floodwaters struck the orphanage. I thought I could try to get over it and sleep well but I couldn't. It was easier around you because you're such a good friend however short our time together was, but now that I was in a new home I felt more uncomfortable in the dark than ever. The Wangs are good people and would never hurt me like the occasional teacher or missionary, so that wasn't what I was worried over, but that does not mean a thing when I'm surrounded by outstretched shadows and hearing weird noises. Didi woke up to me hiding under the covers crying. So embarrassing! When he asked what was the matter I answered with the explanation I just gave you. Strangely, he didn't laugh at me. You know what a joker he can be. He allowed me to squeeze into his bed with him that night. I didn't sleep well, but I definitely woke up from a dream about pandas at that time. Even my dream self missed my dear Xiao Liwu it seems!

The next morning everyone else was gone. My new father and uncle left for private business. Didi went off to university. My new mother left to shop. I spent most of the day drawing on paper one of the servants found for me. Mostly they were of pandas in the bamboo. I saw a real one once, when I was real little. For something called "giant" they are no different in size than most bears from what I know. (I included one of my drawings so you can see, Tintin. There's also a little doodle of my old Xiao Liwu. His neck ribbon was red for good fortune.)

Mother arrived later that day with packages. Slowly she unbagged and unboxed and placed items about. The last rectangular box found itself on my lap. It was for me, she said. I was confused because I received so many gifts in the party the night before. I thought that was all until my birthday. Still, it was a gift, and she seemed so eager to see what I felt about the thing inside the box. I loosened the green ribbon, lifted the top, and cried. I cried, Tintin. In the box, nestled in white paper was a stuffed panda bear. Mother stated that Didi had told her what I said to him the night before. She knew that it was not the same as my old bear but she hoped it would help.

My honorable mother was right. Xiao Liwu II has helped me fall asleep in my own bed. He stands guard on my night table during the day until it's time to go to bed. No, it's not the same as my old bear. He smells fresher, softer than my old dirty bear. But the reason he came into my life is the same: a mother's love. I know the story is different with you, but do you feel similar with Snowy?

My honorable father just said that it's time to go to turn the lights off. He's giving me just enough time to write goodbye. May this come to you safely, Tintin. As my friend you deserve to hear my news, or this simple little gift of mine, you could say.

Your friend,

Chang