Found this old fic. Thought I'd post it.
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He knew this was a bad idea. Right from the start, he knew he wasn’t going to enjoy this.
Ant looked around the room and saw that everyone else in his class seemed to be enjoying their time with their younger partners. His classmates’ Year 1 partners were chatting with their Year 8 partners.
Ant, on the other hand, did not get a good pick for a kid. HIS WON’T STOP TALKING! It’s like his kid had 3 bowls of sugar for breakfast and is running on a high. Words flew out of his mouth as he chattered on something about his older brothers taking him with them to go pumpkin smashing on Halloween.
They were supposed to be spending the last class of the day making a painting to enter the Halloween Art show in their school, but Ant and his partner, Dec, had no progress on theirs. Most of the paint they were supposed to be using on their painting has ended up on Dec’s hands and face rather than their canvas.
"Look kid, that sounds nice and all, but can you shut up, so we can get this done." Ant interrupted Dec.
"Right... I'll work more faster."
The five year old half-heartedly did his part in the painting. He randomly splashed paint on the canvas, not really caring if their artwork looked nice.
Ant didn't mind the boy's lackluster participation. He only cares that there's more painting and less yapping going on.
They finished their project in silence and turned it in to their teacher.
Ant did not spend a second longer with Dec, quickly rushing over to his friends at another part of the room. He has no intentions sticking around the infuriating boy.
So for the remainder of the day, Ant mingled with his mates, chatting about their plans for Halloween. Soon the bell rang and everyone went home to get ready for a night of trick-or-treating.
Ant zoomed home and changed into his Batman costume. This year is his first time going off on his own to trick-or-treat. No Mam or little sister tagging along. Now, he can go to as many houses as he can and haul the most candy he can.
But before his little adventure can commence, Ant had to eat dinner with his family. He practically scoffed all his food down in his excitement.
"Oi, slow down." Christine put a hand on his shoulder. "You might choke."
Ant gulped down the food in his mouth. "Sorry, Mam. I just wanna get out already and hit as many houses as I can."
"The houses won't move, Anthony. They'll still be there even if you eat slowly."
"Yeah, but the good candy won't be, so I gotta get out there quickly." With that, he inhaled the last of his food and put his plate on the sink.
He grabbed his black sack gave his mother and sister a peck. "I'm off!"
"You have your phone?"
"Yes, Mam." He taps the mobile clipped onto his Batman utility belt.
"Okay, have fun, pet! And remember," Christine yelled after her son, "be home before midnight!"
"Alreet, Mam!" Ant shouted back before running out of the house.
With his black cape billowing behind him, Ant dashed from one house to another. He managed to fill half his black sack with candy within his first hour.
He wasn't ready to stop yet though. He's aiming to fill his bag all the way.
As he finished collecting his latest sweet treasure, Ant spotted the little kid he was partnered with earlier that day.
The little boy was in some superhero costume as well, walking with a band of boys carrying huge sticks.
They're probably off to go pumpkin smashing, Ant thinks. Good thing we didn't put a pumpkin out this year.
Ant watched as the little boy jogged a little bit to catch up with his brothers. As usual, the boy was talking.
As Ant walked on the sidewalk, just a few feet behind them, he couldn't help but overhear what the kid was saying.
"But guys, you promised Mam you'll take me around the neighborhood to get candy!" He shouts after his older brothers.
"Decky, we already took you to some houses. You're just taking up our time now. You're gonna ruin our plans!" One of them replies. "Just go around by yourself!"
"But-"
"Bye, Dec!" And with that, the older Donnelly boys leave Dec by himself.
The five year abruplty stopped walking on the sidewalk. If Ant didn't react quickly, he would have ran into him.
Ant then observed the little boy walk out of the other kids' way and sit on the curb of the sidewalk.
He really didn't have to see Dec's face to know that the little kid was hurting. Ant can already tell from his sagging shoulders and the little sniffles that Dec is crying.
As annoying as he found him earlier that day, Ant felt sorry for the little guy. His big brothers -who Dec seem to really look up to- just abandoned him.
Ant is angry at them for dismissing their loving little brother like that. Even he doesn't do that to his little sister.
The anger he felt towards the boys then turned to anger towards himself.
He had done the same thing to the little boy. He shut down Dec, making him feel unwanted as well.
Ant has to correct that wrong now. He can't just leave the kid like this, so he approached him.
He tapped Dec's shoulder to get his attention.
The boy looked up at him with sad blue eyes.
"Hey, do you remember me?" Ant asks as he takes off his Batman mask.
"Yeah, you were my partner a while ago," Dec responds.
The little boy continued. "Did you hear me talking a lot again? Is that why you came up to me? Because I can shut up again, if you want."
Ant felt even more bad for how he treated him earlier. "No, no! That's not why I came up to you!
"I actually wanted to ask you if you wanted to go trick-or-treat with me. I thought it'd be a great idea since I see that you're dressed up as Robin," Ant says as he sat down next to Dec.
"Um, I don't know. I might just annoy you."
"No, you won't! I promise." Ant smiles warmly at Dec to ensure him. "We'll have fun and we'll be a great team!"
A light seem to switch on in Dec because the boy was quickly on his feet. "Okay, let's go then, Batman!"
Ant laughed. He jumped to his feet and put his mask back on. With a raspy voice, Ant said, "Let's go, Robin. We've got candy to take."
Much like the superheroes they dressed up as, Ant and Dec dashed from one house to another, getting candy.
By the end of their trick-or-treating, Ant helped Dec triple of what he had before. He even had to take over carrying it for Dec because it got too heavy for the small boy to carry on his own.
He only handed it back to Dec when they were at his front door. "Here you go, mate."
Dec put the bag down by his feet. "Thanks, Ant," he hugged the older boy around the waist. "Tonight was awesome!"
Ant returned the hug. "You're welcome, bud. It was my way of saying sorry for being so mean to you at school."
"Oh, well, I forgive you, Ant!" Dec said as he continued hugging his new friend. "Tonight was really fun because of you! This was the best Halloween ever!"
Ant couldn't help but think the same as his new friend.
