KnT AU: Aiden the Babysitter

Chapter 1, New home, New Life

[As stated in the description, this is a total rewrite. I will repost the original if that's what everyone wants, but for my sanity, I'm making this version whether I really need to or not]

Aiden ground his teeth together. This... wasn't going to be easy.

"Chris! You have to actually pack clothes, not just every single cat stuffy you own!" Aiden shook Chris's backpack upside down and watched as a bunch of stuffed animals fell out. Chris came running into the living room with another handful of cat stuffed animals and was shocked by what he saw. "B-but why??"

"Because we're going to miss the plane! I told you that we would come back for them later! They will be in storage so no one will touch them." Aiden walked over and knelt down beside his sniffling little brother. "When is mama coming home?" Chris whimpered, wiping his nose on his arm. Aiden froze up for a moment, eyes getting glassy. He pulled his little brother into a hug, but only to hide his face as he silently wept. "I already told you... she's..."

----------------

The airport was busy, of course. Chris had his child harness on as a precaution but Aiden didn't plan on letting go of his brother's hand. Sure he was a pain most times, but now... he was all he had left.

"Now boarding plane xxx..."

Chris was being as chatty as ever while everyone loaded onto the plane. Aiden watched him and sighed. 'Must be nice to live in blissful ignorance.' He thought. Chris had the window seat to which his face was pressed, fogging it up with his breathing.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his leg. He looked back to the aisle to see a kid with a gloomy expression staring at him. The kid annoyingly slurped a watermelon juice box that was clearly empty from the sound.

"Did you need something?" Aiden asked in the friendliest voice he could muster at the time. The boy kicked him in the leg again before crawling onto the seat next to him. "Uh, this isn't your seat.." the kid shot a glare up at him, which really started to piss him off. His morning already wasn't going great, and to maybe top it all off, some brat was here annoying him.

"Alright listen here you little-"

"HELLO!!" Chris flopped over into Aiden's lap, staring at the boy who instantly stood up and left down the aisle. Aiden hugged Chris with a smile. "Did I ever tell you I love you?" Aiden sighed happily as he smothered his face into his little brother's hair.

"Sometimes," Chris said as he tried to peek down the aisle for the boy.

The plane soon started to head down the runway. Chris had already been buckled in and was looking out the window again. The lift-off startled Chris, and he didn't like that, making numerous attempts to get out of his seat, whining. Aiden did his best to calm his squirming brother, for his sake as well as the rest of the passengers.

Once Chris had settled, he resumed looking out the window as the buildings and trees shrank before his eyes. Aiden massaged his temples, sighing. How was he going to get a part-time job if he had to deal with Chris and keep him out of trouble?

Then there's also high school. Would he even have time to go? Aiden bit his nails as he ran some numbers. They already had a place to stay, but a part-time job wouldn't cover all the costs. If he wanted Chris to have a good start for his future he would have to give it his all. He glanced back at his brother, who hadn't moved an inch. He was... quieter than usual. Aiden took note, his brow furrowed in worry.

"Is mommy going to meet us when we land?" The child asked softly, his voice almost washed out by the whirr of the plane.

Aiden felt his heart sink again. He softly stroked the back of Chris's head, soon looking forward and grabbing his headphones. Chris looked back, expecting an answer to his question, but his brother already had his music going.