Work Text:
Mumbo thought he’d be all grown by now, he was fifteen and he had grown taller than both his parents more than a year before. His voice had dropped, and he had a job, that was grown up wasn’t it? But the one thing he’d wanted out of puberty, he couldn’t get. He wanted a nice, full mustache, like the one his dad wore. Luxurious and fancy, to make him look like a rich man, like those Capitol folks that sometimes came around to inspect his parent’s work.
His family was well off, especially compared to the rest of District 3, but they had nothing in comparison to the Capitol. Mumbo didn’t much care for their money, he didn’t crave opulence, actually believed they already had too much as it were.
What he wanted was to look like someone rich and elegant, not to garner respect or fear, he really just liked looking fancy.
Knowing that desire, his fathers had gifted him a well tailored suit for his last birthday, meant for a tall boy like him. It had come with elegant loafers, shiny black, which he never wore for fear of ruining them.
He’d been so grateful that he had worn it as often as he could, whenever the situation allowed it, and sometimes when it didn’t.
Mumbo was staring at the mirror, trying to will a mustache to come in just by looking as hard as he could, when his dad knocked on the door.
“Sorry to bother you, I’m sure it was just about to appear out of nowhere, but your father and I have got something for you.”
“I- uh, wasn’t doing anything, I’m coming!”
He followed his dad into the living room, where his parents sat on the couch and gestured for him to sit across from them. His father began to speak, while pulling a small wrapped present from behind him.
“Since you started working, we've been told you have been doing such a great job. Everyone is impressed by what you’ve been up to, we thought it’d be a great time to get you something to complete that one suit you just so occasionally wear.”
He chuckled, as Mumbo was indeed wearing the suit right that moment. Like he had all week, since he’d started working in one of the bigger labs of the district.
He stretched his hand out, offering the gift to his son.
Mumbo took it and opened it slowly, and inside, rolled up nicely, was a shiny red tie. He took it out, thanked his parents, and attempted to put it on, but he couldn’t figure out how to properly tie it, so they spent the next hour trying to teach him how to.
When he finally managed he looked properly grown, maybe it wasn’t quite a mustache just yet, but it looked great!