His little brother glanced up at him, sitting on his lap like the child he was.
"Big brother?" He paused his stroking of his twin's hair, his smirk melting as he put on a more thoughtful look as he continued.
"Yes, my sweet little brother?" His little brother beamed from the compliment, but he could catch tendrils of worry drifting from him. The man's head tilted curiously, wondering what could be worrying his little brother like this.
"Can I go play outside?" He stopped his petting again, hand leaving his younger brother's head as he took his sibling's chin and turned it towards him.
"Ah..." He could see tears building up in the purple eyes. So, he had already known the answer. He knew, so why would he bother asking? "You already know what I'm going to say; why would you ask again?"
His brother shook his head. "Please big brother? The other children always look like they're having so much fun. I want to have fun with them too..." Anger started permeating his body as he subconsciously tightened his hand into a fist - he would kill these little brats by himself. Anyone that was an obstacle between his brother's utter devotion to him would be eliminated. In the meantime, though...
"So, you just want to play with other kids then?" His brother nodded, and the hope gleaming in the adorable face annoyed him. Matthew didn't need anyone else but him. His presence alone should please him. And yet... I knew this day would happen. No time like the present to start, I guess.
"Alright. How about I bring in some of the kids from the Imper- the town for you to play with. Would you like that?" Hurried nods followed the question, and if his brother noticed his slip-up, he didn't mention it. And even if he did, what would he make of it? All he knew was what Alfred had told him.
"Wait here, I need to make some phone calls." He stood up, holding his brother in his hands so he wouldn't fall. He would never let him do it himself. Heaven forbid he started becoming self-reliant.
"Okay!" his little brother replied. With a smile that threatened to take the sun's place in their solar system, he set his little brother back on the throne. One thing he loved about his brother was that he never asked unanswerable questions anymore. Why he wasn't allowed to go outside? Why he wasn't allowed to do anything other than what he was told he was allowed to do. Why didn't he grow taller like his brother did? But then again, what type of person would he be if he didn't condition his brother this way? The answer was clear in his mind, despite the methods he had to use. A good one.
"Sarah? How many of them have you done?" A decent number was spoken on the phone. "Mmk, send them all in and warn them about the consequences of making a mistake near Mattie." He cut the phone before she could reply; he didn't want to leave his brother for too long.
"They'll be here tomorrow, but if you feel too cooped up now though we could go to the gardens." The young-looking child stretched his arms upwards so his Brother could carry him, thank-yous spilling rapidly from the small form.
"You're welcome, little brother. Remember that I'm here for you - the only one you can truly count on, right?"
"Of course, big brother. You could never, ever, ever be replaced. You're the best!"
"That's right Mattie; I'm your one and only hero, and anyone that tells you otherwise isn't going to live long enough to repeat it."
Matthew only met his gaze with a small, trusting smile.