❝ French Perfume ❞ - FrUk/UkFr Pirate Novella

Chapter 20

Mentions of passed trauma

Francis felt like he couldn't sleep, his mind kept waking up and he tossed in the bed back and forth, his mind wouldn't be quiet. Maybe it was because he was sleeping in someone else's bed that caused him to react that way. Maybe it was because his heart wanted something it couldn’t have? His mind wandered over clouds and mountains as his back arched when his head veered towards an alarm clock that had 2 am in red digits. 

The terrors had begun to inflict his mind of memories he wished he could forget. He pulled at his blond hair as streams of tears couldn't help but fall. 

Why now? Of all places does he have to be remembering such heavy emotions? He felt trapped inside a prison that his first relationship put him through. 

"I'm supposed to be over you. Edward and Sasha helped me through my demons…" whispered Francis as the clock only ticked in response. The night darkened around him until he heard a door slam rather loudly, causing the Frenchman to jump and for it to escape his dark thoughts.

 He didn't know what to do until he hurried out from the heavy comforter and stood in only a long, white shirt that dropped down to his knees and the rest of his legs exposed. He didn't have time to grab his pirate pants as he heard a loud crash come from the living room and his heart raced quickly as he remembered that the british male was out in the living room. 

"Arthur!" He shouted, he raced towards the bedroom door and sprinted out to see the blond male leaning against the table, a beer in his hand and his emerald green eyes spacey. The male had a plastic bag with milk and bread in it and didn't notice the Frenchman. 

"Uh… Arthur ?" Francis asked, his expression confused as the male wore a green sweater and light brown pants, was that something he slept in? Did he go out?

"Huh, Francis?" Arthur responded, he stumbled forward into Francis, who caught the drunk male. 

"Where? What took you so long-?" 

"I was at the bar, had a few drinks and was going to invite you but you looked so cozy in bed sleeping when I got home with the groceries..." Francis began to guide the drunken male to the bedroom and then stopped. 

"I wasn't sleeping." 

"You were when I left the house at 12 am. What time is it …?"

Francis glanced at a small clock and noticed what time it was. 2 am. 

"Can we… talk…?" Francis murmured quietly as Arthur only turned his undivided attention at the taller male. "... I'm in a dark place right now." 

"Yeah, of course." 

Francis opened the bedroom door and made Arthur sit down next to him. But instead of Arthur staying sitting up, Arthur faced away from the Frenchman and remarked, "I'm all ears." 

Francis went to move until he heard Arthur shout, "STAY ! Please… I mean, talk about … whatever. I'm here." 

Francis laid back down on the bed next to his friend and noticed that some of his back was exposed, all the scars and bruises visible to Francis’ orbs and he placed his hand lightly on the male’s back, feeling the crescent like scars and then heard the paranoid inhale of the britishmale next to him. 

The Frenchman noticed the shake in the male next to him and heard a soft murmur coming from Arthur. 

“Iggy…?“ Francis asked, he quietly gave the male a tight hug, not releasing his grip on the male’s waist as he felt the british man lightly place his hand over the frenchman’s hands. 

“It’ll be okay …“ Francis responded, burying his head into the male’s blond hair until he was shoved away by Arthur who had tears in his emerald eyes as he began saying “stop it !" each time getting weaker and weaker. Francis tried to remove his hands; however, Arthur held on tightly. 

"Iggy—?" 

Francis glanced at the drunk male in silence as his whole body shivered, warm tears falling down his face as he hugged himself, not able to look at the taller frenchman who was laying down, glancing up at the britishmale.

"Hey, it's okay." He didn't know what to say as he didn't know what the male was thinking about. 

"I'm not here to talk about myself, so please, speak." 

Francis bit his lip as he paused for what felt like forever. "I wanna help you, first. If you talk than I'll feel comfortable!" 

Arthur rolled over, only giving a soft sigh as he wiped his warm tears away. “Do you WANT to know the reason why I kept trying to talk you out of you coming with me ?“ Arthur hiccuped, his gaze wasn’t steady and veered his head towards Francis. 

Francis didn’t even respond as Arthur responded coldly, “losing you would be like a fire being extinguished.“

“Arthur…“ Seconds passed as Francis finally found the courage to ask, "could you elaborate on that…?" 

Arthur didn’t respond as he laid his head back down next to Francis. Francis did never get a response from Arthur, his heart thumping rather loudly in his chest. 

After the silence that bubbled between them, Francis responded. "That's fine if you don't wanna elaborate. I should talk about why I called you in here and caused this, right?" 

"Seems only fair…" huffed the drunk as his emerald eyes never moved off of Francis. 

"To be honest, I've never been in a good relationship before. My first girlfriend was…" Francis paused as his hands instinctively grabbed at his hair. 

"I know there's nothing I can do to ease that pain," Arthur's mind clicked into place about what the Frenchman had meant. "But, I'll forever be here for you. Whether you like it or not. That'll never happen to you again, okay? If anyone tries, I'll..." Arthur trailed off as he gave a small chuckle.

Francis couldn't help but smile at the drunk Brit, who popped the bubble that surrounded the two of them as his nose touched Francis's.

"I gotta ask, did you really get hung over the English channel by your ankles?"

"By Scottie."

Scottie. The Frenchmale remembered the letters and everything. He pulled the Brit into a tight hug and was surprised by the male nuzzling into his chest.  

"Good night. I'm bloody tired." 

"Thanks, good night to you, too." Arthur never left the bed as the darkness in the room lightened up softly with each passing moment.