Chapter Text
Alfred strolled pretty casually up the the school gates as hordes of kids ran past him to their bus. This was commonplace. Actually, this was an every day thing. Of course, he was here to pick up his son, Brooklyn.
The sky was still bright with daylight and the sun was warm. The beginning of springtime. That same sky would soon turn a bright orange later in the day and the heat would die down a little to a gentle coolness. A couple of birds flew past and a few kids pointed at them as they went to land atop one of the trees together. The both of them were carrying sticks in their little beaks. Building nests no doubt.
It took about ten minutes for Brooklyn to come out, and Alfred was one of the last parents there. The curly haired little boy was holding onto his backpack straps, fully absorbed in talking to his best friend. That friend of his was Yuuki Honda, who'd joined the class after moving to America when she was just five. The two had pretty much just clicked straight away, and had spent almost all their time together since. She was currently swinging her bag around, throwing it into the air and pretty much just showing off - as was her thing. Alfred kind of knew what they were going to say as they approached him.
"Hey dad!" Brooklyn started, as always. "Can Yuuki come play for a couple hours?"
Alfred fake sighed in response, smiling knowingly at the two.
"How'd I always know what you're gonna ask, huh? It's always that or if you can go to Yuuki's house, huh."
"Please dad?"
"Well I wasn't gonna ask!" Yuuki put her hands on her hips. "I was just gonna come anyway."
"Sure ya were." Said Alfred. "Didja ask your dad this time?"
Yuuki looked sheepish.
"Well he always says yes so it doesn't matter."
"That's naughty." Brooklyn but in.
"Yeah it is naughty!" Alfred followed up, leaning against the school wall. "You gonna ask him, or nah?"
Yuuki sighed and called her dad, who she was on the phone to for a mere twenty seconds. She did have it on speaker however, so Alfred could at least verify the conversation.
"Just be back before seven, okay?" He heard. "Stay safe Yuuki, I love you."
"Bye dad!" Was Yuuki's short response to that.
"He says it's fine!" She grinned, puffing her chest out in triumph.
So with that, Alfred set off with the kids trailing behind him, having plenty of fun in themselves. On the way back, Alfred stopped to point out another birds nest. It had chicks in it, all of which were chirping - presumably out of hunger.
"Yea, I'm hungry too." Yuuki piped up from the back.
"I'll order us some McDonald's or something," Alfred replied casually. "you guys can just have chicken nuggets n stuff."
Yuuki cheered loudly, followed by a halfhearted cheer from Brooklyn.
When they got back, Alfred got right to ordering the food. Lounging on the big grey sofa, Alfred took off his glasses for a second and let his hair flip back, scrolling idly through his phone as the kids played in the big garden outside. He heard a splash, and figured that Yuuki had either dropped something in the pool or just jumped in herself - it was something that did happen occasionally.
"Yall good?" He called through, hoping the echo would carry.
"It was Brooklyn!"
"No it wasn't!"
Was the reply he got back. Both of them were still alive so, that was a plus.
Alfred stretched out and rubbed his eyes, yawning a little. He placed the order for food and put his phone down, taking his glasses and going to see what the kids were actually up to.
"The soccer ball is in the pool and Yuuki did it on purpose." Brooklyn said with a frown. He wasn't one to lie.
"It just went in there itself!" Yuuki protested, clearly lying as she peered over the edge of the pool at the sinking ball.
"Yeah I'm totally sure it did!" Alfred chuckled to himself, finding a big stick to fish the thing out with. He handed the ball back to Brooklyn, who threw it in the opposite direction and watched as Yuuki went blasting after it.
"Thanks dad!" He called, turning to go play again.
Alfred trotted back inside. He was rather content today. Not for any particular reason. He was just.. in a good mood. He went into the kitchen, and looked in the fridge for a can of pop. Once satisfied with his choice, he went back to the living room to.. lounge.
It was a beautiful house, really. The sort of thing Alfred never envisioned himself having. It was a big place, with a lot of garden, patio, the pool. Inside it was three bedroomed, but those were big bedrooms. The downstairs was mostly open plan, with the living room, the kitchen, and the dining room all leading into each other. It was nicely decorated and, had become a little messy with just Alfred on his own, but he'd live. The plain white walls and the lime green and grey decoration had been all her idea, and it was her house in the first place. Alfred worked of course, but she was the one with the brilliant job. The one who had the riches to buy this house and make it beautiful. She had declared, whilst heavily pregnant in the midst of decorating, that this house was going to be paradise for their child. That she was going to make this house the happiest place they could ever be. When Brooklyn came along, she kept that promise. She gave him everything.
Alfred caught himself staring longingly at the old photo stood on top of the fireplace. He missed her.
"Hey dad!"
Alfred shook his head and turned to face Brooklyn.
"Um, Yuuki said to ask when the food is coming."
"Don't tell him I said it!" A small voice hissed around the corner.
"Hmm.." Alfred began, playfully going along with it. "Well well, if Yuuki wants to find out, won't she have to come out from around that corner herself?"
Alfred winked at his son, who giggled slightly in return.
Yuuki came stomping out with her arms crossed.
"Ahem! Alfred do you know when the food is gonna be here? I'm gonna die if I don't eat!"
Alfred laughed.
"You're not gonna die!"
"Yeah! She had rice and salmon for lunch!" Brooklyn quickly butt in.
"That doesn't mean I can't be dying of hunger right now!"
"You're not dying though!"
"Anyway! I'm dying." Yuuki said rather boldly.
Alfred had to try so hard not to burst out laughing at the exchange between them.
"I mean, it should be here in like-"
The door knocked sharply, and Alfred grinned.
"Maybe right about now, huh!"
The kids cheered as Alfred went to get the food, and he came back shortly, dishing out the chicken nuggets and fries. Brooklyn and Yuuki ran off to the table to sit with their nuggets and chat, and Alfred followed, having ordered himself a burger and fries instead.
When they'd done, Alfred noted that the clock was getting close to seven, so as always, he offered to take Yuuki home.
"Dad already texted me a few times." She said, getting her jacket on and staring at her phone. "Like, he's already worried! It's not even seven!"
Alfred shrugged his coat on and passed Brooklyn his.
"I mean, did you text him that you're on your way?"
"Well we'll be there soon, so it's okay!"
Alfred shook his head a little.
"Y'know, your poor dad must worry about you. You just do what you want whenever you want it, dontcha?"
He opened the door for them to go out, and stepped into the warm sunset. The sky had turned its shade of orange now, and the baby birds were going to sleep for the night.
The kids hopped out and started conversing all over again.
"Hey Alfred!" Yuuki chirped up about halfway into the walk. "I really need you to do somethin for me! It's actually really important!"
Alfred perked up.
"What's up, kiddo?" He asked, kind of surprised. Yuuki never really asked for help, she was generally a do-it-yourself kind of person instead.
"Well it's actually about my dad!" Yuuki carried on. "See, uh Alfred, I need you to be friends with him!"
Alfred almost stopped dead.
"You.. what?"
"Like uh, hang out n stuff!"
"Uh, Yuuki, that's sweet and all, but you realise I've only ever met your dad like once, right? I can't just decide to be friends with him.."
"Brooklyn can come over to ours tomorrow and you can come too and make friends!"
"It's not that easy, Yuu-"
"Cause like, he's always really sad. He thinks I don't know but I do, cause I'm really clever like he says I am. But sometimes I can hear him crying at night when he thinks I'm asleep, and I know he doesn't have any friends really! He says I'm the only family that he has so I think you should be friends so that my dad can be happier! Deal? Tomorrow, right- right??"
Alfred felt a little pang in his stomach. After that, what was he supposed to say? Yuuki had practically just poured out her heart and soul, and she was a kid who always wanted her way anyway. He couldn't really say no to her.
"I suppose.. I can stay for like an hour." He said, instantly regretting it as they came to the run-down apartment building. It wasn't looked after well, and anyone could tell it was a cheap place to live for those who could afford nothing else. Yuuki never seemed to mind it, but she didn't really know any different, Alfred supposed.
"Alright! See you both tomorrow! Don't you dare forget!" Yuuki called back as she turned to go.
Alfred felt like he would really regret this tomorrow, but he supposed he'd just have to see.