Chapter Text
The sound of children laughing and playing was always something that brought joy to parents with their own kids. Seeing them run around and make new friends was fun. Small events in the park were always the best. Seeing so many of them all bundle up together and watch a puppet show was anything but fascinating for the Czernin family. Watching as the kids applauded and asked for more shows from the famous puppeteer in their small area was beyond incredible.
This was the case for many, for parents to sorely leave their kids at the park where they could watch them and not feel so worried. The kids paid more attention to the puppets than anything else, so the parents never even thought of the possibility of them running away or getting lost. A short blonde-haired woman came into the park with a child next to her. They both shared the same hair color and the same dull green eyes. The woman wore a simple yet modest red dress and the boy in a white button up with overalls. Together, they linked their hands and observed as parents spoke with each other and kids ran around. Of course, there was the particular area in the park where most kids surrounded a small stage. The gleeful laughs and excitement of the children brought the mother at ease. She crouched down carefully to her son who paid more attention to the scenery of the playground.
“ Florian, my dear? “ She said in a calm and gentle voice. The boy turned his attention to his mother and smiled. “ Yes mama? “ He replied. “ Why don’t you go check out what’s over there? There’s kids watching a puppet show. I’m sure you’ve never seen one of those before. “ The woman added.
In return, the little boy nodded his head and made his way over to the crowd of kids who all sat down and watched the puppets flail around and speak to each other. He took a seat next to a red-haired girl who kept her older brother to her side. This was most likely taken by the fact that she probably forced him to watch with her. It was typical of siblings to do that sort of thing. Of course, Florian wouldn’t have known about that.
Florian and the girl locked eyes for a second and waved to each other; sharing a smile at the same time. The boy opened his mouth to speak. “ What’s going on? “ The little boy questioned. The red-haired pigtailed girl looked at the show while answering his question. “ The princess is about to fight off the evil dragon! She was locked away in a castle but then she found a way outside. She met a witch and… and um. The witch didn't like the princess at all so she turned evil! “ She explained, stuttering slightly with her words. It was hard to remember certain things when you’re too excited and entertained by such a thrilling story.
Florian looked up at the older boy who accompanied the girl and saw how intrigued he was in the story. Safe to say that he didn’t even realize that his sister was talking to someone. “ Well that sounds like fun. I hope she wins! “ Florian took another good look at the girl before excusing himself without saying anything. As much as he enjoyed watching puppets and seeing how the story unfolded; It just didn’t seem like his type of thing at the moment. Florian got up from his seat and looked around. He spotted a tent nearby where the stage was. The boy looked around to see where his mom was.
Meanwhile, the woman found herself talking to a woman her age and her husband. Florian took this as an opportunity to make his way over to the tent where no one else could see him. His small footsteps wouldn’t have been heard anyways from all the commotion going on. Plus, who could blame the kid? He was adventurous from the start and seeing something new like this only made him want to know more. Every time he went into the park there were the same usual slides and swings. Surely snooping around wouldn’t hurt just a little bit? There was no harm being done anyways.
The blonde haired boy peeked around the corner of the tent, watching as a boy his age sat down on the floor by himself. He had dark brown hair that stopped at his shoulders and wore a dark gray button up. Surrounded by puppets in which he moved by himself. He struggled to get his hands around the wooden cross bar and make the puppet move. Surely he would never be able to move such a puppet in his state. Let alone be a famous puppeteer like his father.
Watching as he failed countless times, Florian moved closer to the boy and offered his hand to him. “ Hi! I’m Florian! “ A smile was plastered across his face. The boy on the ground slowly backed away from him, startled by the sudden encounter. No one had ever gotten near him or known that he was behind the tent the entire time. Let alone to find that he was caught trying to be a puppeteer like his father was embarrassing! Poor boy didn’t even know the basics in puppetry at the time. Now this was surely going to ruin any of the chances he had as a future puppeteer. The dark brown-haired boy stared at the hand in front of him and glanced back up at the boy with a smile that could scare him if he ever saw it in his sleep. The boy took his hand and was taken back by the sudden handshake given to him by the little boy. “ What’s your name? What are you doing here? Do you like puppets too? “ The overbearing amount of questions was enough to make anyone want to plug their ears and go on about their day. It was typical behavior from a curious kid like Florian so to most who knew him, it was no surprise at all. Florian sat down in front of the little boy and noticed the struggle in him trying to speak to the other.
“ Matthias… I don’t like a lot of people.. “ His voice was down to almost a whisper. Social interaction never truly happened with Matthias. The only times he had to have so many people watching him was when he would get on stage with his father and help him perform his puppet shows.
Florian tilted his head and smiled. “ That’s okay! Do you wanna play puppets together? Or! We can look around and see what we can find! “ He exclaimed, fine with whatever the boy wanted to do. The boy took a while to reply, unsure of how to answer. There was nothing that the timid young boy did aside from sit around and accompany his mother to get groceries from time to time. “ Um– “ Yet, before the boy could finish his words, the blonde haired boy cut off his words, grabbing his hand and pulling him up in the process. “ C’mon! Let’s go to the slides! “ There was a cheerful tone in his voice as the boy was pulled up from the ground and practically dragged over to where the playground was. Once they arrived, Florian made sure to be careful on the steps that lead to the very top of the slide while still holding onto Matthias’ hand. Once they reached the top, Florian sat down immediately while encouraging Matthias to sit down next to him so they would both slide down together.
Overwhelmed with such excitement to finally have someone to play with him, Florian called out for his mother. The blonde woman turned around, trying to find where he was before finally moving her attention to the rapidly waving hand that was from her own son. She noticed the boy next to him, his nervous expression seen from where she stood. Then as she kept her attention on her son, Florian took Matthias’ hand once more and scooted himself forward as they both went down the slide on opposite ends. A laugh escaped from the blonde boy’s mouth as he turned over to Matthias who could only feel shaken up from the down motion of the slide. He never exactly used the playground equipment despite how many times he’s been here. It was safe to say that it was his first time going down a slide as well.
The boy rushed over to his mom while still holding the other’s hand as he began to introduce him to her. “ Mom! This is Matthias! I found him playing puppets behind the stage over there! “ Florian pointed over to where the tent was only slightly visible. It wasn’t hard to get the context clues and find out that the boy that stood next to her son was the child of the puppeteer. “ Hello there, Matthias! Are you guys having fun at the park? “ She questioned. The boy nodded his head and gave her a small yet genuine smile. “ We’re gonna go play on the swings mom! We’ll be back! “ His mother laughed to herself before watching them scurry over to the swings, her attention was focused back on the parents that she was speaking to.
Matthias struggled to keep up with the more energetic boy, his feet stumbling from time to time. It was honestly a miracle that he didn’t end up tripping over himself. “ Here! You go on and I’ll push you! “
The nervous boy nodded his head, holding on the chains that connected the seat to the post. He sat down and watched as Florian went behind him. The smaller boy placed his hands on his back and slowly began to push. Matthias felt startled from the way the swing began to slowly rock back and forth with his grip tightening around the chain the best he could. Florian continued to push him for a good minute, the boy getting higher in the air from time to time. Yet it was nothing that he couldn’t manage. “ Matty! What kind of games do you like? “ The blonde moved away from being behind him and sat down on the swing next to his friend, kicking his feet back and forth in order to move himself.
Matthias thought to himself for a second. Not realizing that a nickname was used for him. He wasn’t sure what games he liked. There weren't many that he played at all. “ I like playing hide and seek… um.. Hopscotch. “ replied the boy, a small smile forming on his face. Maybe having someone nearby wasn’t as bad as he thought. It definitely beat staying behind a tent all by himself the entire time.
Florian gasped in excitement and quickly jumped out of his seat on the swing. “ We should play hide and seek! “ he exclaimed. Yet before the boy on the swing could reply, he saw his own mother move behind the blonde-haired boy that shared such jovial emotions.
“ Matthias, dear. Your father is calling you. It’s time to go home. “ Matthias stopped swinging and hopped off. His then smile went back to one of a neutral one. “ Bye, Florian… “ he waved goodbye to the boy before walking with his mother back to the tent. Florian couldn't help but feel bummed out about it but surely they would meet again! Maybe from then they could play Hide and Seek together.
–-
This just happened to be the case.
Every time the puppet show came into the park, Florian always found his way to Matthias as the both of them shared the amusement of playing with the puppets that Matthias had with him. They occasionally played hide and seek, and Florian remembered to always bring chalk with him so they would be able to play hopscotch. Despite it being horribly drawn by the boy; it was no issue at all to still have fun. But, from everything that the two did together… It was the swings that always brought them closer. Something about having a relaxing yet joyful thing to do always brought a small smile to Matthias.
Florian came into the park with two bracelets in hand as he found Matthias once again behind the tent. “ Matty! My mom made us friendship bracelets. “ He exclaimed with such excitement in his voice. The boy took his friend’s hand and placed the bracelet on his wrist, making sure to tighten it the best he could. Matthias’ bracelet shared the colors of blue, green, and yellow. On the other one that was tightened around Florian’s wrist were the colors of brown, white, and gray. Matthias smiled at the bracelet and thanked him for it before Florian could say anything else. “ Matty! Can we be best friends forever? “ Asked the boy. Matthias looked up at him and nodded his head. “ Best friends forever. “ They both shared a laugh and went on with their usual playground routine.
–
It was then on this fateful day that the puppeteer’s son found Florian once again. He seemed more... Despondent than usual. They both got on the swings as it was like a routine to them. Florian noticed how the other boy refused to say anything for a while. “ Are you okay? “ He asked. Matthias looked down at his feet, not moving whatsoever. It took him a while to gather up the courage to reply back without giving him the impression that he was ready to burst into tears.
“ I’m moving… “ He said, feeling as though there was nothing else that he could do. The blonde tilted his head as his smile went away for a brief second.
“ Moving? Where? “ He questioned.
“ I don’t know. But I won't be here tomorrow... I’m sorry. “
The boy laughed it off and turned his head to Matthias, not noticing the fact that the other boy on the swing was already sad enough to deliver the news and really was serious about it. “ You’re funny Matty! C’mon, I know you’re joking. “
Before Matthias could reply, his mother called him over. The boy got off of the swing as Florian did the same. He turned his body to the boy and looked up at him.
“ I’ll see you tomorrow, Matty! “
Without any words, Matthias rushed in and gave Florian a hug. The hug lasted for what seemed like forever as he finally pulled away. “ I’ll miss you… “ With that, Matthias took his mother’s hand and continued to walk off, looking back at Florian.
–
The next day, Florian begged his mom to take him to the park in which she finally gave in. Overwhelmed with excitement and wondering what the duo could do next, Florian ran into the park with his mother trying to catch up behind him. He saw the typical scenery of kids running around having fun but that’s not what he was looking for. He took a good look around the park before noticing that there was no stage.
No group of kids all in one area. No shared laughter. No tent. No sign of a dark brown-haired boy… not even a single puppet in sight. Was Matthias actually serious? He really did move away. Florian turned to his mother, his smile dying down as he looked up at her.
“ Mommy… Where’s my friend? Where’s the puppets… “ The mother crouched down to her son to reach his height and gave him a shared frown. “ I’m sorry, my dear. Yesterday was their last show… They moved away somewhere else. “ Florian tried to understand what she was saying. Once it finally clicked with him, the waterworks began, and tears ran down his face. He hugged his mom and asked for them to go home. His mother nodded and picked him up.
As they exited the park, Florian looked behind him and to the swings before finally leaving.