- Arthur's POV -
"Should I go with this tie or the other"
"Dude, you know I know nothing about fancy clothing,"
"Don't you have someone else to be bothering?"
"And don't you have to be in bed reading a book like an old man? Where are you going so late?"
I gave Alfred a glare which he responded with a smirk. That boy can be a pain at times.
"I just have to go somewhere to meet up with a coworker,"
He squinted at me for a while and then gasped, "Of course! You got a date!"
"What gave you that idea?"
"It all sums up! You're nervous and worried about what to wear! Which is obvious something you don't usually do since what you wear is atrocious,"
"At least I don't wear Spongebob sweats to sleep like a 5 - year old, Alfred!"
"I can't believe you finally went out and convinced someone to go out with you! Did you bribe them?"
"I didn't do anything!"
"Wait, someone actually asked you? And you accepted? Who is it, dude?"
"It's not a date, Alfred!"
"I can't think of anyone who would ask you. Hmm..." He paused but then his eyes, "Oh my god! It's Francis!"
"Alfred, don't get the wrong idea,"
"Yo, I thought you hated him! I guess you had the hots for him after all!"
"No! No, I don't!"
"Damn, now I have to owe Matthew 20 bucks,"
"Alfred..."
"I actually have to go right now too,"
He stood up and grabbed a jacket and headed to the door.
"And where are you going, mister?"
"Hang out,"
"With Matthew?"
"No, with Keeks,"
"Keeks?"
"I mean Kiku,"
"Ah, another date?"
"Dude, stop. I'm the one who makes the jokes,"
"I don't know, Alfred. Meeting an acquaintance two days in a row is kinda suspicious,"
"Whatever dude. At least I'm not going to a fancy dinner date,"
"For the last time, it's not a -"
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Alfred ran to get it.
"Howdy, Francis!"
"Alfred, get away from there!"
"Sorry, I'm late. They called me in to do something at work last minute,"
"Arthur was about to cry,"
"Don't listen to him! Don't you have somewhere to go, Alfred?"
"Yeah, yeah. Have fun lovebirds," Alfred said as I tried to shove him outside of the house, "By the way, Francis, don't let the old man drink. He gets all weird and sad when drunk,"
"Alfred. Go away,"
"Don't worry, Mon Ami, I'll take care of him,"
"You better, dude. I'll be back later, Artie!"
"Don't stay out too late,"
"Same for you, bro!"
Alfred waved and winked at Francis before leaving on his bike. There was a silence for a while.
"You were about to cry?"
"Shut up, git. You know Alfred likes to joke around,"
"I know. Ready to go, Mon Cheri?"
"Only if you stop talking in French cause you know I don't understand a bloody word of it,"
______________
"What did they call you in work for, anyways?"
Surprisingly, the dinner was peaceful.
"We were getting information about the ghoul we encountered in the motel from a Kol Klan ghoul,"
"Really?"
I wanted to know more but of course, this information is not supposed to be spoken too openly in public.
"Have you ever been to the Ghoul Containment cells?"
"No, actually. That was your first time, wasn't?"
"Yeah and it was not the best of experiences. We did get a lot of information though, but..."
"But?"
"The ghoul was just a 15 year old boy and he seemed so weak and sad. He was determined for his clan though, seeing that he had no family. I just couldn't help but imagining if it was my Matthew locked up in a place like that..."
"I think everyone in the GCC feels that way, Francis. I mean, I would never say it to his face, but I get worried every time Alfred gets into a mission,"
Francis gave out a warm smile and I couldn't help but to smile back. Damn his charms.
"Here are your drinks, sir," A waitress came to serve us.
"Thank you, dear," he replied. Damn his charms.
I frowned, not knowing why and took a sip of wine.
"Are you alright, Arthur?"
"Just peachy,"
Looking unconvinced, he took my hand and I rolled my eyes.
"Arthur,"
"What?"
"If you didn't want to be here, I understand,"
"But I do want to be here!" I blurted out without thinking, "I'm concerned that you're the one that doesn't want to be here with me,"
"What? Why would you think that?"
Now filled with regret, I murmured without looking at him, "There's a ton of better people who you can have easily,"
He had a confused face but then he thought about it, "Are you Jealous?"
I almost choked on my drink and paused, "Jealous of what?"
"I don't know, Arthur. You tell me. You say you want to be here but every time I had asked you before, you denied. Why?"
There was pause as I took another sip.
"Do you remember when you started to ask me? I didn't know you all that well but what I did know was that you would always 'get along well' with others. And I have seen you flirt so you can't deny it,"
"Oh, that... Arthur, I know there are rumors and such about me. I am just a very lovable person,"
"You're so full of yourself,"
"What can I say? I have a lot of love to give around. But I would never say one thing to a person and not mean it. Yes, I was a major flirt with others and I admit that but I am loyal, Arthur. I don't really know what you have heard but I know how it feels like to think someone love you and to have that someone throw you away like you were no one to them. I would never dare to make anyone feel that way,"
There was another awkward silence. I never see Francis as a serious person.
"Someone did that to you?"
"Matthew's mother. One day, she just said, 'I don't feel anything' and left. Then she comes back with a child she doesn't want and leaves it with me. I got to say, even if it hurts, at least I got an incredible person in my life with it,"
"Well now I feel like an asshole... Francis, I'm sorry of accusing you of such things,"
"It's alright. That's why I want to show you that I can be a gentleman too," he said, finally smiling again.
"I still don't understand. Why me?"
"Funny thing is that I don't fully understand that either. What I do know is that I want to know you more,"
Embarrassed, I serve myself some more wine as Francis watched, concerned, "Arthur, I think a glass is enough,"
"Come on. You know Alfred likes to joke around. I can handle alcohol very well,"
Francis shrugged and chuckled, "If you say so,"
____________
- Francis' POV -
"Francissssss... Where we going?..."
"I taking you home,"
"But I want to stay in your carrrr,"
"Arthur, you're drunk,"
"Did we get takeout?..."
"No, you got us kicked out because you started yelling about the food and stood on a table. Plus, they don't have takeout,"
"That is rubbish! An outrage! How dare they kick us out! At least we didn't pay, right Francis?"
"I had to pay the table you broke,"
"WHat? That is bULLCRAP. It's their fault for having weak ugly tables!"
"Arthur, you stood and jumped on them,"
"BeCAUSE they tried to kick us OUT"
Alfred wasn't joking about drunk Arthur. It was a struggle to get him in the car. I couldn't help but laugh everytime Arthur didn't make any sense. I turned to see him slouching on the car seat and looked back at me while squinting, "How the fuck are you so pretty and blurry, frog?"
"Pretty?"
"GORgeOUS. Like, you can win a Pretty Contest. Do they have Pretty Contests for frogs?"
"Not that I'm aware,"
"Well you win for the prettiest and ugliest frog,"
"How can I win for both prettiest and ugliest frog?"
"I DON'T KNOW? I DIDN'T MAKE UP THE RULES, WANKER,"
"OK, we're here,"
"Why did the spaceship stop?"
"Because we're at your house,"
"I live in a CASTLE. BIG CASTLE. And I am the KING. NO! No. I am a princess. And you're my pretty frog prince,"
"Whatever you say, princess,"
"Why do you have that phone thingy?"
"Just keeping this memory," I said trying not to make it visible that I have been recording the whole time.
"Francis, I forgot how to use my legs. Do I even have legs? Carry meeeeee,"
I sighed as I went to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. I unbuckled the seat and lifted him carefully, "WOAH WHY ARE WE SO UP HIGH?? YOu're tall for a frog"
I finally let go when we reached the door, "Arthur, are you crying?"
"You're so beautiful and I don't understand it??? Like how is it possible to be so handsome?"
"It is quite a mystery,"
I carefully lead him inside and made him lie down on the couch.
"Alfred is not here yet?"
"I'm tired..."
"Go to sleep, Arthur. I'll called Alfred and then I'll leave,"
"NO! You can't leave yet..."
"Why?"
"Sleeping Beauty needs a kiss to go to sleep!"
"I don't think that's how the story goes,"
"Shut up and kiss me,"
"Arthur, you're drunk. You know that I wouldn't do anything you wouldn't want sober,"
"But I always wanted to kiss you but you were always busy kissing up somebody else," he pouted.
"Fine, but only a kiss on the cheek,"
I leaned in while he was still laying down but he suddenly grabbed my neck and pushed me into an actual kiss. I was rather shock by his actions when he's drunk. No wonder they don't let him drink. When he let go, I noticed he was knocked out in sleep.
"I have no idea why I like you, Arthur," I quietly said and smiled at the drunk mess on the couch. I kissed his forehead just to make sure he was actually asleep, "Goodnight, Mon cheri,"
I was about to head out when I heard Arthur's phone ring. Before it could wake him, I found it in his coat and saw the caller was Alfred. I slide the phone to answer,
"Hello?"
"ARTHUR, I NEED YOUR HELP!"
_______
Woah some actual romantic advancement ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° + cliffhanger
Fun fact: I love writing drunk England.
Thank you for reading so far and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I appreciate all your comments and votes. See ya next Monday!