Chapter Text
“Henry? It’s time to go, son.” Gold glanced down at his watch. They had a few minutes, at least, since he didn’t have to worry about getting to school today. He’d promised Henry pancakes before they went to the shop, and if he opened a few minutes late no one would complain; not to his face at least.
“Coming.” Henry’s footsteps sounded strange, though, and far slower than usual. His son had a tendency to race around. A moment later when Henry reached the top of the stairs Gold could see the reason for the strange footfall; his son was dressed in one of his own shirts and suitcoat, the one he’d left out to take to the cleaner’s later in the week. He was wearing his own pants but a pair of wingtip shoes, and had a tie knotted around his neck.
“Wait.” Gold held up his hand, worried that Henry would try to walk down the stairs in the shoes that didn’t fit at all; it seemed a potential disaster. “Is there a reason you’re wearing my clothes, son?”
“I’m helping at the store, ‘member? You said since there was no school I could help today. You always wear a suit to work, and I don’t have one so I borrowed one.” Henry looked like he was about to take a step; Gold hurried his pace up the stairs.
“I don’t think you’ll be very comfortable in that today, love. Why don’t we find something that fits you better.” Henry, at six years old, didn’t have a reason to own a suit; they weren’t close enough to anyone to be in a wedding, and they didn’t go to Christmas mass. He had a shirt with a collar, though. After a little work Gold was able to persuade him into his own clothes, as long as he got to wear one of dad’s ties. When he knotted the tie carefully to make it was short as possible Gold felt something caught in his throat. His boy was already growing up too fast.
“Just like you,” Henry said with a grin.
“Just like,” Gold agreed.