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William checks over his uniform to make sure everything is in order. He’s already used to formal clothing, but still, he wants to make sure he makes a good first impression. He fixes his tie again, just in case.
When he is satisfied with everything, he exits his room and walks to the main entrance, where Albert is already waiting for him. By his side is Louis, who is trying (and failing) to keep a serious face. William can see his frown clear as day. He doesn’t say anything, though. He knows Louis understands why they need to go. They already had that conversation, after all.
It’s Albert who finally breaks the silence:
“Don’t worry, Louis. We’ll be back soon, I promise.”
“I know… I just wish I could come with you. I’ll miss you” he cannot hide his pout now when they can clearly hear it in his voice.
“It will be only one year, at least. You’ll enroll in the same boarding school next year; we’ll be together then.”
“We could have lied about my age…” he whines in such a soft tone that, if Albert and William were any less attentive, they would have missed it. It causes the eldest to chuckle.
“The two of you already look very similar. It would be even harder to convince everyone that you are not blood-related if you were the same age. Surely people would think you were twins” he whispers, careful so that no one beyond the three of them hears. There’s no one else in the room, but they can never be too cautious.
At this point, Louis doesn’t bother to hide his pout anymore. He knows his brothers are right, of course, but that does nothing to help him feel less bitter. It’s going to be lonely in the manor without them. He’ll find ways to keep himself busy. He’s been interested in cooking lately. But he’ll still miss them. He looks at William again.
“I won’t tell you to make the most of it because I know you will. But promise me you’ll at least try to have some fun. You like mathematics, maybe you can convince some of the teachers to give you extra lessons, or maybe give you access to more complex books.”
The serious tone Louis uses makes a warm feeling bloom in his chest, one he’s starting to feel more and more often. (There is also guilt, but William finds he’s getting used to that feeling faster than he’d like. He doesn’t need to look to Albert to know he feels the same. He ignores the feeling.) He hugs him.
“I promise. And I’ll miss you too, Louis.” His brother returns the hug enthusiastically. He doesn’t show it, but he does regret having to spend so much time separated from him after all these years. He’s not worried, not really: he can take care of himself, and Master Jack will make sure nothing unexpected happens. Even so, Louis is right when he says a year is a very long time. Especially for children such as them.
“It will be just a couple of months until winter break,” Albert reminds them, gently, “we’ll be back together soon.”
That seems to finally work in reassuring the youngest Moriarty. To William, he sounds half-convinced, as if he is comforting himself as much as them. It makes him happy, somehow. It’s a testament to how much he cares for them.
“You’re right,” he says. And more quietly, he adds: “We’ll be back in time to celebrate Christmas as a family.”