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Henry has always been aware that kids can say horrendously funny things, usually at the expense of the adults they’re talking to. This does not prepare him at all, however, for when his children do it to him.
He’s always made it a point to teach the children that if you don’t have anything nice to say, it’s usually best not to say anything at all (unless it is actually warranted).
When he’s sent by Alex to pick up Arturo and Elizabeth from school (with Cash), he’s half distracted by reading the news and studiously not meeting the other parents’ eyes as he hears quiet whispers around when they realise who he is. So, when Arturo barrels into his legs, he nearly falls right on his arse, only just saving himself by holding onto Cash’s shoulder.
“Art, what did we say about not knocking me over?” He jokingly scolds, leaning down to give him and Lizzie a kiss on the forehead each. “Had a good day?”
Arturo nods as Lizzie starts rabbiting on about her art lessons and what she wrote in English that day, throwing in random facts that seem absolutely unrelated to the conversation as she goes.
As they near the brownstone in the last half of the journey she quiets down again, and they walk in silence for a little bit, each of them holding one of Henry’s hands. Which is why when Arturo opens his mouth for the first time since leaving school, Henry is not expecting the question that comes out of his mouth.
“What was it like living with the dinosaurs, daddy?” Arturo blinks innocently up at him as he gapes.
“I— you— I beg your pardon?” He splutters.
“The dinosaurs, daddy, the big lizards that stomp. What was it like living with them?” He huffs.
Henry raises his eyebrow. “Art…one, dinosaurs aren’t technically lizards, and two, just how old do you actually think I am?”
“I don’t know, you always say you’re young enough to not tell me when I ask,” he mimics.
Henry laughs, “You’re right, sorry. But Art, I wasn’t alive when the dinosaurs were around, you muppet. They were around many, many years ago."
“So were you,” he grumbles. Henry just laughs and pulls him closer to ruffle his hair.
“Fair enough, but not as many years ago as dinosaurs, I’m afraid.”
“Oh.”
Henry sighs. “Tell you what, my favourite dinosaur is a pterodactyl.”
Art lights up again. “Yeah, the ones with the wings! My teacher was telling me all about…”
As they walk the rest of the way to Home, Henry learns facts about dinosaurs that he never knew before. He can't wait to tell Alex all about what Art said when they’re alone later.
For now, he’ll just enjoy being with his two favourite children ever.