Klavier wasn't quite sure who Kristoph was talking to, but it didn't sound too good.
"Klavier can be a difficult child sometimes..." Those were the words that broke his little heart and made him want to cry.
His own brother thought he was 'difficult'. Granted, at times, he could be a bit stubborn. He wouldn't leave his room much unless Kristoph physically lifted him up and carried him out. He refused to get out of bed for school and kept insisting he wanted to be home schooled. He refused to do his homework, meaning Kristoph would receive phone calls and got a mouthful from Klavier's teacher about his lack of work. So yes, the boy could be stubborn.
But Kristoph had to sympathise. It wasn't easy for a child. Klavier came home crying sometimes over the other kids making fun of him for not having his parents around.
Klavier had become quite secretive since then as well. He didn't open up to Kristoph much anymore. Whenever something was clearly bothering him and Kristoph asked what, he would just say; "nothing".
"...But I would really rather not be separated from him. He... doesn't do well on his own."
"Well, he wouldn't be alone, Mr Gavin. He would have a new family."
Klavier curled up under the blanket on the couch and silently sobbed. These people wanted to take him away from his brother.
"I appreciate the concern, but please, he's my little brother. He needs me."
"If it's okay with you, may I speak to him about your parents?"
"Of course." The two entered the living room and Kristoph crouched down in front of his brother. "Klavier, this nice lady wishes to speak with you about Mother and Father. Is that okay?"
Klavier shrugged. "Okay."
The woman was quite young, she looked to be in her twenties. She had long brunette hair and a caring smile.
She also crouched down in front of the child and smiled at him. "Hello, Klavier. My name is Ms. Smith. How are you feeling today?"
"Um... I'm okay." He hesitated.
"Would you mind telling me what your father was like?"
"I didn't see him that much. He was at work a lot."
"What did he do for his work?"
Klavier looked at his brother.
"He was a detective." Kristoph answered.
"When you did see him, did you have an alright relationship with him?"
"Yes. He told me a lot about his work."
"Did you find it interesting?"
Klavier nodded. "He told us loads of really cool stories. I miss him a lot."
"You're very brave. He'd be very proud of you."
Klavier smiled. "That's what Kristoph said too."
Klavier enjoyed speaking to this woman, she really did want what was best for him.
"And your mother? What was she like?"
"She was very upset about dad. She lost her job and it made her get very angry, but then she got better and loved us again."
"And you... found her, that day, didn't you? Did you know what happened at first?"
"No. I didn't know until I heard Kristoph on the phone."
She turned to face Kristoph. "Apologies, Mr. Gavin, but would it be alright if Klavier and I speak alone for a minute?" She asked politely.
"That's fine. I'll wait in the kitchen."
He smiled at his brother before leaving the room. She took out a notebook and a pen.
"Right. Would you mind describing your relationship with your older brother?"
"He cares about me a lot. He always looks after me, even if he finds me annoying or difficult. He looked after me when I was being bullied and when I broke my leg."
"Do you still get bullied?"
"Not really. The kids still make fun of me sometimes, but not as much."
Klavier observed as she wrote it all down in her notebook.
"You're not going to move me to a new family are you? I don't want to leave Kristoph."
She looked up from her writing and placed her hands in her lap.
"I'm a reasonable woman, I'm willing to make a deal." She called Kristoph to come back into the room. "Klavier and I have been speaking and it seems that the two of you have a caring relationship. About what I said earlier, I'm willing to make a deal with you. If you can prove yourself to be a good parental figure towards Klavier, I'll let him stay with you. Does that sound fair?"
"Yes. Thank you." He smiled.
"I'll come back next week. However, from what I've seen and heard, I'm sure you'll be fine. I shall be taking my leave now. It was a pleasure speaking to you both. Take care." And with that, she left.
"She was really nice."
"Yes. She was." Kristoph looked at his watch. "You should go to bed."
"But I'm not tired."
"If I want to prove I'm a good parental figure, I need to send you send you to bed at reasonable times. Come on." Kristoph held the small boy, who was still wrapped up in his blankets, and carried him upstairs.
Klavier, usually, would've protested, but he desperately wanted to be able to stay with Kristoph, so he knew he just had to obey.
After brushing his teeth and climbing into bed, Kristoph tucked him and kissed his forehead.
"You were brave today."
"I thought you would get rid of me."
"Why would you think that?"
"Because I am a difficult child."
Kristoph froze. 'He wasn't supposed to hear that...' Klavier took Kristoph's silence as a bad sign.
"You... think I'm too annoying."
"N-No Klavier, I didn't..."
"Think I would hear you? I heard everything. You don't want me to stay because you love me, you want me to stay because you think I'm too weak to be by myself!"
"No no no! No! I do want you to stay Klavier! Please-"
"If I ran away and never came back, you would probably be happy."
There he goes again, being a drama queen.
"That's not true!"
"Say it."
"Say what?"
"I want you to say that you love me." Klavier crossed his arms across his chest and had a stern look on his face.
"I... I love you."
Klavier nodded, then rolled over in his bed facing the other way. Kristoph went to leave the room, but stopped at the door, he wasn't satisfied.
"You're not weak..."
Klavier faced his brother, but Kristoph still stood in the doorway with his back to the younger boy.
"I do want you to stay. I didn't want to seem weak... I'm sorry, Klavier. I didn't mean what I said."
Klavier smiled at his brother's words. It was rare for Kristoph to admit feelings of weakness, or to apologise for something he had said.
"It's okay, Kristoph. I know you care about me."
"I do. I really do."
"Appropriate sleeping schedule. No school related problems, overall improvement in happiness. This is a real improvement. You've done well. Klavier," Ms. Smith crouched down to his height, "are you happy with this?" She asked sweetly.
Klavier smiled up at Kristoph. "Yes I am."
"Well, you've certainly proved yourself. I wish the two of you the best, any problems, you know how to contact me."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
Klavier felt a great sense of relief and jumped into his brother's arms once she had left.
"I told you that you'd always have me. I'd never give you up. We have to stick together now."
"Yeah!" Although not quite matching his brother's enthusiasm, Kristoph also felt relieved. He didn't know what could be happened if they took his little brother away from.
After all, they needed each other.
Hope you enjoyed small and upset mourning Klav plus a brother argument then cute little make up
Thanks for all of the support!
