1. 2:00am
Every night, while Arthur is snoring, France is on the streets searching for his lost cabaret.
2. metaphor
They were discordant puzzle pieces, fitting perfectly but from two different boxes.
3. sky
After all this time with Arthur, Francis realizes he's lucky to have eyes in his sockets.
4. lost scene
The world doesn't seem so bad until you have to face it.
5. degrees
The only things that separated them were a channel and the world.
6. seize the day
After that first night, Arthur woke in his bed alone and made scones for the one who couldn't be tied down.
7. opposite
"Mon petit lapin, haven't I told you to leave the baking to me?"
8. passions run
Thrown again by the other, he drips from the wall like a broken egg.
9. connection
Their life is restored every night and shattered every morning.
10. lull and storm
Arthur embraced the thunder as Francis looked on from the safety of an umbrella – Angleterre made even the rain beautiful.
11. animal
All the illness, all the heartache reminded him – they weren't as human as they pretended.
12. children
Every last thing about that stupid self-proclaimed hero reminded Arthur that it was Francis who had raised the good child.
13. we all float on
The current crisis always seems most important, but they knew the worst thing that could happen is "everyone dies". Everyone but them.
14. chess
When France shattered every teacup the Brit owned, he learned roses and champagne can't make everything better – no matter how much you regret it.
15. duty
The hotel walls always seemed thinnest when Matthew or Alfred was in an neighboring room.
16. rip
England bought that suit just to shut him up. Not because he cared or anything.
17. missing time
Francis absolutely hated the summer solstice.
18. circle
Arthur refused to believe the world was a circle, but if it was, England was definitely the center.
19. itch
They had needs only the other could meet and flaws only the other could see.
20. explode
Every sunrise was the first, but with more memories.
21. rise
Arthur blames the oven and the yeast and the stupid frog, but it's still inedible in the end.
22. crumble
You can rebuild bridges and you can patch a hole but trust is like a mirror – you can always see the cracks, and the razor edges cut deep.
23. range
They both missed the days when responsibilities were handled by the empires – now America thinks it's his job and they have to deal with him.
24. fight/flight
The first aeroplane scared the hell out of Francis but let the devil be.
25. acid
France was too much of a good thing.
26. color
After a night with Francis, Arthur doesn't associate fireworks with America anymore.
27. clock
Arthur counts the hours from the moment France leaves to the second he returns – even when he's been gone a millenia.
28. needle
Their mouths are always torn open again.
29. locks
Francis keeps the key to Arthur's heart so protected that even the latter can't find it.
30. slope
World Meeting – n; a sad excuse not to be having sex.
31. correspondence
After a particularly long meeting, Francis just tackled Arthur to the floor and let the rest decide whether or not to leave.
32. linger
England hates every single thing about that frog – but not as much as he loves them.
33. charm
Arthur wakes up to yet another gift-wrapped box and an empty bed.
34. road
When Francis realizes that it's really the end this time, he laughs. There is no end.
35. hunger
Should nations believe in a god – even if there is one? Because even that would never be enough to justify this place.
36. reciprocity
Arthur is muttering in his sleep again by the time the door closes. He was dreaming of something he'd never realize how much he needed.
37. kind
Angleterre, tu ne sais pas a quel point j'aimerais voler avec toi.
38. fruity
Arthur could taste the wine in France's mouth and knew it was the only reason he wanted anything. Francis had no idea why he woke to a pounding headache and England crying.
39. half-life
They proved it behind closed doors – humanity isn't necessary to love.
40. comedy
They thought they were being secretive about it – the other nations didn't.
41. tragedy
If Francis can treat their affairs as a laughing matter, so can Arthur – but he doesn't.
42. hope is the thing with feathers
France knew exactly how much England hated pets, but he bought the rabbit anyway. Arthur never made the connection.
43. empire
Arthur refused every single one of that frog's proposals – because he knew a ring wouldn't affect France's sleeping habits.
44. turpentine kisses and mistaken blows
"Ah, mon cher, that's what wine is for."
45. rings
The heated arguments coalesced into heated nights.
46. dust
Every day Arthur threatens to leave, once in a while he does, and there were three times he didn't come back - but he never once considered it.
47. every you, every me
Sometimes they didn't find each other in time. Sometimes one was faced with the task of stitching the other up... and waiting.
48. project
The entire thing – them – began as a bet. Neither knew they were wagering the rest of their life.
49. adore
Love is letting France have his way even when it's way too hot out.
50. murmur
Francis stomachs England's cooking without a word, because he's always so proud of it.
51. above
The beach harbored two nations and countless fallen angels that day - but you couldn't tell them apart.
52. below
Strange how they forget the quarrels during the periods of love – and vice versa.
53. incalculable
This is a science without equation. That's why there are so many mistakes.
54. wire
Arthur is on a tightrope sans net. Francis never left the ground.
55. landslide
The nice thing about the weather was that it didn't bother them at all.
56. the beginning is the end is the beginning
America's eyes flashed. "If you ever give him up, someone else will be waiting."
57. door
"God damn it, frog, why are there sparkles in my pants?"
58. enemy gate
England loved his queen more than anyone – and Francis couldn't have that, now could he?
59. stone
France hides himself in roses and gifts.
60. bright
Arthur finally cracked open one eyelid, recieving an immediate eyeful of YELLOW. "Ah, mon ami, is there nothing more wonderful than awakening to sunshine?" "Shut the fuck up. Git."
61. stories
The only love letter Arthur didn't keep was the one addressed to Evelyn.
63. laugh
When you're the world's whore, it's hard to stay tied down. But Francis does anyway.
64. hold
And if the literal thunder crashed, Arthur was there for him; when the figurative lightning flashes, they are more than content with each other.
A/N: I found these 64 prompts on the LJ community 64 Damn Prompts. I changed one because my creativity had run dry for the night. XD;;
They aren't really ficlets, more like prompts. But I loved doing it anyway. It took me three days because I'd start thinking too hard and have to take a break. You'll notice a lot of Cheating!Francis, Crying!Arthur and overall angst. Because I love angst. And crying Arthur. Though I fear I may have gotten a bit repetitive...?
I edited this up the wazoo, but some still didn't turn out quite right. Some, however, I am very pleased with and will try and expand into proper fanfictions - when I get the time/finally finish House of Wonders (which I really need to do orz). If anyone else feels like they'd want to attempt that, message me and we'll talk. :)
**French translations:
Mon petit lapin: My little rabbit
Mon ami: My love
Angleterre: England
Angleterre, tu ne sais pas a quel point j'aimerais voler avec toi. England, you do not know how much I want to fly with you.
So, I haven't been doing totally nothing! Reviews are appreciated but not expected - after all, it's just ficlets (read: I want to know what you think anyway).