Chapter Text
Arthur was only six when he last saw his father. He had gone onto a small road trip to the airport with his dad and uncle to see his father off. His father was in the Marines and was about to be deployed once more.
Arthur remembered hugging his dad, thinking he’ll be back right away. His little mind didn't know that six months was long and so he made his father promise to be safe with indifference.
After his father had bord his flight, Arthur went home with his Uncle Lance, his gardian while his dad was gone.
He remembered waking up every morning and going outside in his pajamas to sit at the front steps, thinking his dad was going to come home that day. He did this for three months, until one day, it happened.
His dad left, a flag came back.
The funeral itself was nice. They had the guns firing, the taps was played, and a solder gave Arthur his father's purple heart. Arthur had tried to trade that purple heart with the priest when he came by, to get his dad back, but it didn't work.
Lance had worried about Arthur for a while after that. Arthur would still wake up early in the mornings after the funeral and sit on the front steps, waiting for his father. He took him to a psychiatrist who tried to help Arthur with all he could. That's where he met Lewis Pepper.
Arthur was put in a small child group where kids with parent problems his age can gather and learn to cope and also make new friends. Lewis was being picked on by some kids when the counselor wasn't looking for not being born in the country and for not having any real parents. Without thinking about it, Arthur pushed a bully away.
It had started a brawl and while Arthur got in trouble for pushing a kid instead of letting an adult know, Lewis thanked him.
“But why did you help me?” Lewis asked when it was just him and Arthur, his voice thick with an unknown accent.
“My daddy always told me that we have to protect those who can't protect themselves,” Arthur said as he made sure to pinch his nose to help his nose stop bleeding.
“Your Papa sounds like a kind man,” Lewis said.
“He was,” Arthur replied back.
That was when it had hit Arthur. That his father was dead and not coming back. He started to cry then, missing his dad and wanting him back. The counselor and guardians found the boys hugging each other, Arthur finally calming down and feeling bad for getting blood and tears all over Lewis's shirt.
After that day, they started to become friends and hang out some more. The Pepper family always welcomed Arthur over with open arms when he came to visit and Uncle Lance supervised Lewis in the kitchen at sleep overs so he can cook Arthur foods his family taught him.
One day, when the boys were in high school, Lewis met Vivi. Well, it was more like he saw her in the hallways and the freshman was too shy to talk to the senior.
“Come on man, it's as plain daylight that you like her. Go talk to her,” Arthur told his friend at lunch one day.
“I don't know. I mean, I'm a freshman and she's a senior. Wouldn't that be weird?” Lewis asked as he picked his lunch he packed.
“Nah man, not at all,” Arthur said as he enjoyed the lunch that Lewis made for him. “Rumor is she's a super senior who's been held back because she keeps blowing up the home ec projects and have to get that credit to graduate. Perhaps you can offer your assistance.”
“I just...I don't know,” Lewis sighed.
Arthur felt bad for Lewis. He knew the purple giant had the biggest crush on the bluenette and it wouldn't be that long before she finally get the sexist credit and leave the school. Who knows when the next chance will come where they could talk?
“I think I have something that might help you,” Arthur said. “Meet me at school entrance before school tomorrow okay?”
Although unsure anything Arthur would do will help, Lewis agreed. The next morning, Arthur had given him a small felt box. It was slightly warn from the last ten years but the purple heart inside it looked well kept and loved.
“Your dad's purple heart,” Lewis said in shock.
“Yep. Given to me on my old man's funeral for saving his teammate,” Arthur said. “It's been my lucky charm but I think you need it more than me now. Besides, I'm a more yellow and orange kind of dude myself. You’re more purple than me.”
“Arthur, I'm not keeping it but I will borrow it for now,” Lewis said as he put the box in his pocket.
“Yes you are. Like I said, I'm yellow and orange, your purple,” Arthur huffed as he crossed his arms.
The warning bell rang then and Arthur left before Lewis could argue.
At lunch, Arthur had walked into the cafeteria and saw Lewis talking to Vivi. He smiled when he saw Lewis mouthed thank you.
For a couple of months after that, Lewis spent more time with Vivi, trying to help her get her credit. Even while he was busy, he kept trying to give the purple heart back to Arthur. Each time Arthur denied it and told Lewis to keep it.
“Just take it back already Arthur, I don't want to keep something that's your dad,” Lewis said one night over the phone as Arthur got ready for bed.
“I said don't worry about it, I have his flag and some of his other stuff,” Arthur huffed as he tried to keep his phone on his ear by pressing it onto his shoulder so he could get his pajamas pants on. “Keep the metal.”
“No,” Lewis said firmly.
With a frustrated sigh, Arthur plopped onto his bed, uncaring that he didn't get his pants on all the way. “Your going to keep bugging me until I get it back huh?”
“You got it.”
Arthur let out a small huff as an idea came to his mind. “Okay, how about this? You keep the metal until I do something to earn it? Like how my dad did.”
There was a pause on the phone and Arthur didn't think Lewis would agree, but he did.
After that, Lewis stopped bugging him to take the metal back.
It didn't take long for Vivi to pass home ec just enough and of course, she had to meet Arthur who sent her the angel who helped her. While more energetic and a horror fanatic, Arthur liked Vivi enough to start calling her a friend.