Chapter Text
Arthur bounces onto the sofa and picks up the remote. He’s excited to watch TV because now, he can put the volume as loud as he wants. Turning it on, he relaxes into his seat. Carolyn walks by the TV room.
“Mum, come watch with me, there’s this special they’ve got where-“
“Can’t,” she cuts in. “Got to get ready for tonight. Bloody socialites with their parties…” Carolyn’s muttering fades away as she continues down the hallway. Arthur looks after her for a moment, then turns back. Apparently his mum was in a bad mood. The TV talked on, unresponsive. Arthur felt the couch was too big.
After a few episodes, Carolyn walks in again. Arthur is about to invite her to sit when he sees her face and his mouth shuts with a click.
“Arthur, Gordon’s not happy and he’s about to come home any minute now. So, you probably should…”
“Go to my room, yeah.” Arthur turns off the TV, not forgetting first to lower the volume to where it was before he changed it. He pads up the stairs while listening for the sound of the front door. He makes it to his room without hearing it, and by then he’s far away enough that he doesn’t get that warning before the yelling starts. Arthur shuffles to the middle of his bed and starts humming- it works to tune them out, but doesn’t cheer him up as much as humming usually does.
Later, when Arthur has hummed 6 songs and the argument is finished, he finds his mum standing in the doorway to his room. Carolyn looks at him still sitting on the bed for a moment before she steps in and sits down next to him. Arthur smiles tiredly at her. She pats him on the shoulder and he looks at her arm to check for marks.
Outside the bedroom door, Gordon walks past with a spring in his step.