Summary: Alfred had left. Matthew had always been there. And Arthur finally learned to tell the difference. Drabble. No pairings. Human AU.
SkyGem: A sad(ish) little drabble I came up with after an evening of reading about the FACE family. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own APH.
"Alfred, lad, can you come help me with this?"
Matthew looked up from the computer screen upon hearing his father's voice.
"Coming!" he called.
It hadn't taken long for him to get used to answering to his brother's name.
When the arguments between his older twin and their father had escalated to the point that Alfred had 'moved out', Arthur had been devastated.
And Matthew, the ever dutiful son, had stepped up to the plate.
He knew his brother.
It wouldn't be long until the other blond came back.
And until then, it was Matthew's duty to look after Arthur.
"Your hero has finally returned to you!"
Arthur blinked at the rather…loud boy that had just turned up on his doorstep.
"…Alfred?" he asked after a few moments' silence, sounding slightly unsure.
The boy smirked.
"What, have you missed me that much, eyebrows?" demanded the boy haughtily.
"I suppose since you seem to have been suffering so much while I've been away, I will forgive you and move back in," continued Alfred, cerulean eyes sparkling with mirth.
And without another word, the boy brushed past Arthur, pushing his way into his home.
But there was no way this could be his Alfred, thought Arthur.
His Alfred was quiet and unassuming.
His Alfred was sweet and obedient.
His Alfred was polite and respectful…
…But no.
That had been true for the last few months.
This new Alfred held true with all his previous memories of the boy, and he still loved him.
But what had happened to his other Alfred?
The sweet, kind one that was always willing to lend his father a hand?
There was the sound of the door opening.
A soft voice called out, "I'm home!"
Alfred's face lit up like a Christmas tree when he heard the voice and he immediately attacked the other boy in a fierce hug, calling his name out with joy.
"MATTIE!"
Arthur watched the scene with rapt attention as Alfred was scolded for having missed so much school.
Arthur watched the loud, cheerful Alfred of his memories, and the sweet, respectful one of the past few months, and a name came to him.
"Matthew…" he whispered.
It was his Matthew.
Once Alfred had let go of his brother and decided to go get something to eat, the remaining boy looked back at Arthur with a resigned expression, his face one of an ancient kind of grief.
As the boy walked past Arthur with his head bowed low, Arthur reached out and grabbed his arm.
The other blond looked at him with wide eyes, a question forming on his lips but his voice not making it out of his throat.
'Why…?' he seemed to want to ask.
Pulling his younger son into a fierce hug, Arthur buried his face in the younger boy's silky blond hair, trying to hold back tears.
"Thank you," he whispered.
"Thank you so much…"
His son relaxed slightly, returning the hug and rubbing his back comfortingly.
"I don't know what I would have done without you, Matthew.
"My Matthew…thank you."
"You're welcome."
SkyGem: So, what did you think? Like it? Hate it? Please review!