Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Ted," Paul started as he walked into Ted's office, "I think I accidentally sent my reports to your printer."

Ted jumped, minimising his browser so quickly that Paul only managed to catch the word 'trans'. He frowned.

"Please don't tell me you were looking at porn again. I don't want to fill out anymore HR forms."

Ted scoffed, spinning around in his chair to face him. "If you stopped telling HR every time, you wouldn't have to fill out so many."

"I'm hoping that one day they'll manage to get you to stop watching porn in the office."

"Whatever. I wasn't even watching porn, so don't bother with HR this time."

"What were you doing, then? I've never seen you close a tab so fast."

Ted glanced at his computer. "I was... doing something for my brother."

Paul frowned. He knew Ted had a younger sibling– he'd never met them, but Ted mentioned them occasionally. However, he'd been pretty sure he had a sister, not a brother.

"I didn't know you had a brother." Paul said slowly.

"It's– It's new. Our parents aren't– I'm just making sure he knows I'm in his corner." As if he suddenly remembered himself, a sleazy smile spread across Ted's face. "Gotta make sure he knows how to get the ladies, am I right?"

"Yeah, sure." Paul hesitated. It wasn't his place to say anything but– Ted clearly had been looking for advice. "Let him keep his clothes at your place. Make sure he knows he can come over whenever he wants. Maybe take him shopping. Offer to get him a– a binder."

Ted blinked. "Right. I'll do that. How did you know he would want one of those?"

"It's, um. It's what I wanted someone to get me when I was younger."

Ted frowned, before realisation dawned on him. "Oh, you–" he cut himself off. "Thanks, Paul. Now, what did you want again?"

"Oh! Right! I think my reports went to your printer."

—

A couple of days later, Ted appeared at Paul's desk.

"My brother wanted to thank you for telling me what to do." Ted said, refusing to meet his eyes.

"It was nothing. You're the one who was doing the research. You're a good brother, Ted." Paul replied, continuing to type up his report.

"Right. Yeah. Thanks." And as Ted walked off in the direction of Charlotte's desk, Paul caught sight of a small smile on his face.

Chapter Text

Pete woke to his jacket landing directly on his face. He jerked in surprise, grasping blindly at the offending piece of clothing.

“Get up, dorkus. We’re going to the mall.” Ted said, sounding bored. Pete sat up, letting the jacket fall to his lap, and blinked at him. Ted was leaning against the doorframe, inspecting his nails disinterestedly.

“What?” Pete asked, stifling a yawn.

“We’re going to the mall. We leave in twenty minutes.” And with that, Ted walked off.

Pete stared after him for a minute as his words sunk in. Once they did, he scrambled to his feet and straight to the dresser. Twenty minutes wasn't nearly enough time to get ready.

—

Pete managed to get himself ready and waiting by the door in just less than twenty minutes. Of course, this meant he had to wait another ten minutes for Ted, who had neglected getting himself ready in favour of watching Pete run around.

Pete ended up dragging Ted out the door before he could make himself another cup of coffee, as if he wasn't the one who wanted to go to the mall in the first place. Pete complained about it as they got in the car, but Ted only turned up the radio.

A few minutes later, they pulled into the mall’s car park.

“What are we doing?” Pete asked as he followed Ted into a menswear store.

“I need some new work clothes. Just look around, or something.” Ted said, waving his hand dismissively. He walked off down a nearby aisle, pausing to inspect a tie every now and then. Pete trailed after him, but quickly found himself distracted by the bow ties.

He found himself particularly drawn to a green plaid one. He ran his hand over it, appreciating the feel of the material.

“What’re you looking at?” Ted asked, appearing behind him.

Pete jumped, wheeling around to face Ted. “Nothing!” He squeaked.

Ted ignored him, instead inspecting the bow tie he’d been looking at. “If you're going to wear something like that, you’d need a new outfit. Come on.”

Ted grabbed the bow tie from the shelf and began to walk straight down the aisle. Pete followed him as quickly as he could.

“Where are we going?”

“To get you a new outfit. I’m not going to let my dork brother wear a bow tie without a proper outfit. It’s not only your reputation at stake, you know.”

Pete felt a flutter of warmth in his chest at being referred to as Ted’s brother, but protested anyway. Ted ignored him once again, marching straight into the shirt section.

Ten minutes later, Pete’s arms were ladened with a few shirts and two new pairs of pants. Ted directed him to the register, continuing to ignore his– admittedly weak– protests.

Pete watched as Ted paid, vibrating with excitement as the cashier bagged the clothes. These would be the most masculine clothes he owned and he actually liked the way his body looked in them. Despite his protests, he did really, really want them.

Ted accepted the bags and receipts without so much as a second glance toward the cashier.

“You didn't flirt with the cashier.” Pete pointed out as they left.

“Not my type.” Ted replied as he pulled out his phone.

“Everyone's your type.”

Ted glared at him. “I don’t flirt with everyone I see, kid. Now are you going to keep insulting me or did you want a hot chocolate?”

—

After getting drinks from the mall’s coffee shop, they headed home. As Pete set down the bags inside, it suddenly hit him how little of what they purchased was for Ted. In fact, Ted had only ended up getting a new tie. He watched Ted rifle through the fridge, contemplating what to say.

“Thank you.” He eventually settled on.

Ted looked over, raising an eyebrow. “For what?”

Pete gestured to the bags. “For this. Thanks.”

Ted scoffed. “It's just some clothes.”

“Yeah. But you paid for them.”

Ted rolled his eyes, but didn't respond.

—

A few hours later, the two of them were sitting on the couch watching the TV. Pete was on the verge of falling asleep when Ted spoke.

“It was Paul’s idea.” He said quietly, not looking away from the movie playing.

Pete smiled. “Tell him thank you for me.”

They fell into silence again, continuing to watch the movie. Neither of them acknowledged each other. But as Pete began to fall asleep again, he felt a blanket being put over him and heard the TV click off.

“Goodnight, kid.” Ted whispered before leaving the room.

And as Pete drifted off, he thought that maybe it would all be ok.

(That night, Ted ordered a binder online. The kid’s birthday was coming up anyway. He needed to get him something.)