darker_london | He tries so hard (Anna, Peter)

Anna had her hands wrapped around the cold chains of the swing she was sitting dejectedly on. She had the toe of one of her shoes dug into the dirt beneath the swing and she was using that foot to push her slowly back and forth, back and forth. The wind had come up slightly and the sky was darkening, but Anna didn't want to go inside. Not yet.

She heard a door open and close and then footsteps approached her, swishing through the grass until they reached the dirt which had been worn through by years of children dragging their feet under the swing set. The chains of the swing next to her rattled a little and then the voice of her father spoke, quiet and deep, "it's cold out here, Annachen."

"Yeah," Anna said, kicking at the ground. Then she lapsed into German, her native tongue, because sometimes she really resented living in a country where she had to speak English most of the time. "I don't mind."

Peter, who had spoken German for most of his childhood anyway, thanks to his oppressive, German father, switched easily from English to German, as he knew she liked it. "I like your hair," he said, referring to the fact that she had dyed it black a little while ago.

"Really?" Anna asked, finally looking up at him. He was idly swinging back and forth slightly, watching her like a hawk. She kind of liked it, even if she wouldn't dare admit it.

"Really. Though I do wonder what brought on the sudden urge to change what you look like without telling anyone. You know your mother and I don't mind how you express yourself as long as it doesn't hurt anyone, Annachen. We would have taken you to a salon so you could get it done professionally. Or if you wanted to do it yourself, we could have helped you make sure you didn't make a mess of Lydia's bathroom."

"You really wouldn't have minded?" Anna asked, looking shocked. Peter shook her head again and Anna bit her lip. "What if I wanted to pierce my nose?"

"It's your nose," Peter said seriously. "You would have to pay for it with your own money, and I would probably advise you to wait until you were a little older so you could b sure it was what you really wanted, but I wouldn't forbid it. Especially since I'd rather go with you to a piercing parlour so it could be done professionally instead of you trying to do it yourself and ending up sick or something."

"Cool!" Anna said, her eyes flashing excitedly. "I don't really want a nose piercing. But maybe another ear piercing? Up here?" she said, pointing to her upper ear. "I have wanted a cartilage piercing for a while."

"Sure," Peter said easily. "Anna, I know you think that we're punishing you for self-expression, but your mother and I are only upset that you made such a mess of Lydia's bathroom and then lashed out and dyed her clothes."

"They were stupid clothes," Anna mumbled.

"You know it isn't about the clothes themselves," Peter said firmly. "And if you are allowed to dress how you want, so is Lydia." The moment he said that, Anna felt slightly ashamed. "Your life is your own, Anna. You get to choose who to be, and you're at an age now when you start to work that out. Your mother and I aren't the enemy. Even if we seem old-fashioned and uncool and we don't understand your kid lingo."

Anna raised her eyebrows at him and then she rolled her eyes. "We don't have lingo, oh my god."

Peter chuckled and then he raised his hands off the chains slightly in defeat. "Fine! I know we're old and that sucks. But we love you and we're proud of who you are. You don't have to sneak around, alright?"

Anna wasn't so sure, but she nodded anyway.

"Do you want to come inside? Mum made tacos for dinner."

"I might just sit for awhile," Anna said, kicking at the ground again. "You know, I didn't even really want my hair black, I just wanted it to be anything but blonde?"

"Why?" Peter asked, gently.

"Lydia's hair is blonde and I don't want to be like her." Anna said it harshly, her eyes fixed on the ground beneath her feet.

"You two still aren't seeing eye-to-eye are you?" Anna scoffed and Peter added, "I can talk to her if you want."

"Whatever."

"Anna, do you want me to sit with you until you want to go inside?"

There was silence and then Anna said, "fine." And he did, and despite not saying anything, Anna was glad for the fact that he hadn't left her alone. He had shown her someone still cared. That mattered.