Work Text:
“Lets see, crayons?” Arthur squinted down at his list. The paper was a little stained with that morning's breakfast of pancakes and syrup,at Matthew’s insistence, and could he really deny the kid? This made the paper all sticky and the ink smudged to the point it was barely readable.
“Check.” Matthew beamed back at his father, lifting up the box as if to show proof. The 5- though he would always insist he was 5 and 3 quarters- year old was dressed neatly in his favorite hockey t-shirt and navy biker shorts, a calm bystander to his father’s anxiety.
“Pencils?” Arthur asked, waiting for the boy to rummage them out of his tiny polar bear themed backpack.
“You already made me check for the pencils Daddy,” Matthew sighed, sounding very much like his father when he had to mow the lawn.
“I know poppet, I know. I just wanna be safe.” Arthur mumbled before he felt a soft hand ghost over his shoulder.
“It’s ok daddy, don’t worry about it.” Matthew beamed, tiny hand patting Arthur as one might pat a cat. Matthew (adorably) pronounced about as aboot, a habit he had likely picked up from being allowed to watch one too many hockey matches- something he was absolutely upset with. That or Francis was letting him sneak in more episodes of Degrassi. Cheeky bastard.
“You're right love. Daddy is just being silly. We should probably be going now anyway. I don’t want you to be late for your first day of kindergarten.”
Matthew nodded, flinging on his backpack. “Is Alfie coming?”
‘Crap.”
Arthur was really trying to avoid him asking that. Ever since Matthew’s little brother Alfred had entered the picture the two had been inseparable. Despite their nearly 3 year age gap they were almost like twins, the two did everything together, and it had only gotten worse since Alfred had started talking and walking. This had been all fine and dandy when Matthew was in preschool since the school was conjoined with the daycare, meaning the two hardly had to leave each other's side, but this was a real primary school.
“Alfie is napping, remember?” Not technically a lie. Being a toddler, Alfred needed to sleep quite a bit more than his brother.
“Ok, so he’s coming later? Matthew blinked back innocently.
Arthur sighed, debating his options. It was sort of messed up to lie to his own kid, but also, despite Matthew’s maturity, he was still 5 and Arthur really didn’t want to have to brave a temper tantrum 10 minutes before he had to get Matthew to school.
“Listen love, you know how I told you that you’re going to a new school to make new friends?”
Matthew nodded obediently.
“Well this new school is only for big kids. Alfie is too little, he needs to stay in daycare until he’s old enough to go to your school.” Arthur explained as tactfully as he could, waiting for the tears to start flowing, but they didn’t. Instead Matthew looked up at him with big violet eyes and nodded.
“Ok,can I say goodbye to Alfie then?”
Arthur smiled and grabbed Matthew’s hand. “Of course you can, love.”
They walked to Alfred’s room where the boy was not in fact taking his nap but instead sat criss-cross applesauce on the floor making his alien plushie fight Rex from Toy Story.
“Tony get em.” Alfred babbled, giggling to himself before he saw his big brother enter his line of sight and toddled over to him, hugging his ankles. Alfred was about waist level with Matthew, but far taller than Matthew had been at his age. It made Arthur wonder how tall the little guy would get. But now the toddler just stood there, looking clueless and happy in his favorite red, white and blue overalls. The old navy one’s they’d gotten for the fourth of July and he never seemed to get out of.
“Mattie!” Alfred beamed.
Matthew ruffled his brother’s hair. “Hey Alfie, I gotta go to school now.”
Alfred frowned and tilted his head, pointing to himself. “I’m not coming?”
Matthew shook his head. “I’m sorry Alfie, but I’m going to big kid school, you can’t come.”
Matthew may have taken the news well but Alfred did not, bursting into tears and slamming his fists into the (thankfully) carpeted floor. “No, no,no. Mattie can’t leave.” Alfred bawled, big fat tears streaming down his chubby cheeks.
Arthur internally sighed but crouched down to comfort the toddler. “Mattie will be home at 2 love, then you’ll be able to spend the rest of the day together.” He soothed.
Alfred only cried harder, tugging at his older brother’s shorts with soggy hands.
“It’s ok Alfie.” Matthew spoke up suddenly, voice feather soft as he began patting his brother’s shoulder in much the same way he had patted Arthur’s a few minutes earlier. “When I get home we can play dinos, and I’ll even let you pick what show we watch.”
Arthur stood there in awe. Matthew? The kid who would do anything for a few extra minutes of hockey watching time giving up some of his precious screen time to appease his little brother. His heart almost couldn’t take how adorable that was.
Alfred started to sniffle, tears and snot littering his face as his big blue eyes still shone with tears. “Really?”
Matthew nodded and hugged his little brother. Once the two separated Alfred wiped his nose on the hem of Arthur’s shirt and he inwardly cringed but didn’t scold him, only bringing both boys into his arms. Alfred squirmed in the hug before Arthur landed a kiss on the crown of his head. “My boys, my loves.” He whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. “I love you two so much, your papa does too.” he whispered again, smiling at the thought of his husband who was likely already at work by now.
When the hug was severed Alfred’s eyes were dry but rimmed with red, and he was still sniffling. “Can me and Mattie play one round of dinos?” He asked, though his one sounded more like won.
Matthew looked up at him, eyes shiny and pleading. “Pretty please daddy, one round before we go?”
Ah to hell with it, he needed to change his now snot covered shirt and they were already late anyway. Besides could really deny these kids?