Till there was you (Fruk)

24

I sat at one of the docks alone. I didn't plan to go home, even though I knew I could. I only wanted to be alone. I had suffered a constant bombardment of thinking I wanted to eliminate. I remember the spot I was sitting at. I met Arthur here a long time ago. Right when Jeanne was sentenced to death.

Jeez...

We are the worst. How do I expect us to be happy when we have constantly done terrible things to each other? Ridiculous if you ask me. I am too pretty to be stressing out about this. I will get wrinkles on my face.  "Hey...I hope you don't mind, but I...told the boys I'd come to talk to you," HE spoke. I inhaled deeply, hearing his voice, and turned to look at him. "What is it?" I asked.

I turned away from him, looking out to the water. "Isn't it obvious? I swear you can be so dense. I have come to cheer you up!"

"Pass, I don't feel like hearing your sarcasm!"

"Oi, I can be nice when it counts!"

"Whatever..."

Arthur took a seat beside me, and he stared off at the water. The docks had this wooden fence structure that could be leaned against, but I sat down near it, sticking my feet out over the ledge. "You know, when I first ran away, I snuck onto a boat at this dock," he laughed.

I looked at him with a lifted brow, and he smiled. "Yeah, it's why I can't swim very well; promise not to tell anyone?" He chuckled. I smiled at what he said, shaking my head. The only way for my mood to improve is to laugh at him trying to help.

"Your secret is safe with me..."

"Yes...now that I've told you a secret, it is your turn!" He demanded. Eh? I did not agree with that. "Hmm? Like what?" I asked. He smiled at me again and shrugged. "Why did you punch him? We both know how he is, and what he says doesn't bother me. You know I don't get offended by things like that. I only deal with them...we all do...so...why did you punch him?" He smirked.

Great! Was he trying to get me to confess?

I would rather die than confess to him first. Especially when he has that stupid look on his face.

"Because...It was long overdue. He needed to calm down. He makes it seem that he doesn't find men attractive when he obviously has feelings for you!" I pointed out. Arthur shrugged his shoulders, trying to think. "As I mentioned, it is a bit more complicated than that. I believe he might be in denial that he feels that way toward men...he has said in the past how he feels toward me but always follows it with, 'but as a friend'...however, friendliness can only go so far."

I couldn't help but laugh at the point he brought up. It wouldn't be surprising if he were in denial. Portugal took his religion seriously. I did, too, at one point, but I never ignored that I liked men. "And what of you? Are you in denial too? That is why you say it is complicated. Even though I think it is very simple. Either you do, or you don't!"

Arthur breathed out tiredly, nodding. "I'm not in denial; I only choose not to speak about it. Portugal and I sleep together, but he is in denial and says it is what friends do...which is a stupid answer every time. Then me...it's more complicated. I have a reason...but it's something you'd look down on me for," he spoke. He bit his lip slightly and began to twiddle his thumbs.

"Look at me! I doubt I'd be the person to judge. I'm sure everyone can agree that I show my interest in men the most. However, I'm lucky enough for it to be excused as a "French" thing. We both know it isn't..." I laughed. I nudged him a bit, trying to lighten the mood, and he smiled.

"Well, in that case, I suppose I could finally tell you!"

"Oh, please do!"

"Pfft..."

He gave me a side eye, and I couldn't help but smile. He was so darling to me. "Well, it is mostly to distract me from someone else," he spoke. He said the 'else' part quietly and nervously as if he didn't want to get caught.

Could he have feelings for me and was trying to ignore them or cover them up? "Do I even need to ask? Or would you prefer not to say..." I spoke. He breathed out deeply, nodding. Arthur was different from all the nations I knew. We both had endured so much pain over the years and sometimes, we chose to ignore it. When the war happened, I took a long time to ignore many of the things that happened.

Arthur smiled at me, looking up. "No...I don't think I am ready," he whispered. I nodded in acceptance and knew he wasn't ready because it was most likely me. I had seen different versions of him through time, and this version was hard for me to accept because of how modern he became.

His new look was a reminder of how modern we both become. It was as if our past was erased, and we were forced to start over. That is what has been the hardest of all of this. His pop culture was booming, and it was hard to accept, but I think now, honestly, I have accepted he was different. Maybe it was for the best that who we once were was erased, and we could create this new persona we wanted.

"Well, don't feel like you have to resort to any of that stuff; I will always be here for you to talk to. I know we always argue, but I promise not to say snarky remarks...for you," I laughed. Arthur playfully rolled his eyes, nodding.  "Yeah, I will maybe possibly consider, toying with the idea of maybe coming to you...I doubt it would be an easy decision," he laughed.

I grabbed his hand that rested on his lap, and all he could do was tilt his head and smile at me. "I will take those chances," I spoke. He shrugged his shoulders, pulling his hand away from me. "Well, figure as much," he laughed.

He suddenly began to stand up, and I got a good look at him. He was wearing more normal clothes today. We were both still really beaten up from the fight, but I knew we didn't care about it much. He wore the latest fad from his place. "Well, don't just sit there, you haven't seen my place in a while, and it is time for me to show you around! Come on!" He smiled. My eyes widened; he was right. I had never seen any of the popular hot spots. He held his hand out for me, and I grabbed him eagerly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outfit check!

This is what I see England wearing

The main guy to the left I see for France!