I've decided to make my amepan oneshot into a full blown story, each chapter will switch between characters but I will be including at the top of each chapter which ship or character is focused on.
Chapter 1: FrUK (spamano elements)
Francis walked through the restaurant from the break room, ready to resume his evening shift at the most popular Italian restaurant on the street (though of course Italian was a loose term).
He stretched out to loosen himself up, getting ready put on his work-face.
A small squeak left him at the sudden cough from behind him. He turned to see Lovino glaring at him.
"You're late," he frowned.
"Only by a few minutes," Francis cooed, "I know you're rushing to get back to your boyfriend, don't worry, I'm back now, off you go mon pettie."
Lovi huffed, "Don't patronise me, I'm rushing because it's time for Feli's break and there need to be two chefs in the kitchen at all times."
Francis chuckled, "The place is dead Lovi, you want 20 minutes alone with your boyfriend, there's nothing wrong with that."
"Shut up…" Francis watched as Lovi turned on his heel and left. He smiled and shook his head, taking a cloth and wiping down the bar, not that it needed it, tuesday nights were always dead, he was essentially paid to do nothing. He reached under the bar to pull out his book, opening it and beginning to read, leaning on the bar and chewing his lip.
He jumped as the bell on the door rang, shoving the book back in its place. He smiled as a couple of patrons walked in.
"Hello monsieur Honda," he said, his smile widening as a familiar face walked to the bar.
"Hello Francis," Kiku replied, "Eeto…" he mumbled to himself. "Can I have 2 beers please, the nice ones. We'll be ordering food in a moment, once my friend has had a chance to look at the menu."
Francis nodded, pouring out two large glasses for his favourite regular, he looked over at the… person who Kiku had brought in, he frowned softly, quite unable to tell if they were a man or woman. He would guess a man judging by the suit they were wearing, but still he wasn't sure. "Is your friend from work?"
Kiku nodded, "Yes," he turned his head to look over. "Arthur Kirkland, he's new but I-I quite like him."
Francis let out a small chuff, "Yes I can see why. Will you be having the usual?"
Kiku stared at him, a strange look on his face, his head flicked towards Arthur and then back to Francis, clearing his throat. "Yes, I'll have the usual…" he looked back at Arthur for a moment, lowering his voice and leaning over the bar a little, "If you do like him I could introduce you, he isn't just new to my firm he's new to the country… He has no friends here yet."
Francis smirked, glancing over at Arthur again, "Consider your beers free."
He left Kiku to find his way back to his table, walking to the door of the kitchen, he knocked softly, "Lovi, Toni. I don't want to interrupt, but we have customers."
Slowly he opened the door, smiling to see his cousin and cousin-in-law on opposite sides of the kitchen, both looking a little flustered. He knew it.
"One order of mediterranean flounder. Another order will be coming soon."
"Kiku's here?" Toni said with a dazed smile. Francis nodded. "I must say hello later."
"Sorry to cut your alone time short," Francis said as he backed out of the room, making his way back to his place at the bar. As he approached Arthur got to his feet, smiling up at him tightly.
The man cleared his throat before speaking in a soft british accent, "Um, hello, Uh…" he cleared his throat again, "I'd like a lasagne, please."
Francis nodded, a sudden lump in his throat making him unable to reply. "O-of course," he stuttered out, giving a small nod. "And if you need anything else to drink please let me know."
As Arthur turned away Francis closed his eyes, cursing himself internally, he'd never said anything so stupid before. Wait was it even stupid? Or did it just feel it? No it was stupid, he'd stuttered! He'd never stuttered in front of anyone he'd been attracted to before, he prided himself on being smooth, the typical romantic frenchman in america, everyone loved it.
What the hell had just happened?
He found himself frowning as he relayed Arthur's order to the 3 chefs in the kitchen, barely acknowledging Feliciano's return from his break.
The younger boy halted him on his way out from the kitchen. "What's wrong Francis?"
"Ah, Feli…" he patted Feli's arm, "It really doesn't matter," he forced a smile, "But if you could make sure this lasagna is uh, bellissimo I would appreciate it."
Feli let out a snorted laugh, a smile springing to his face, "Who is it?"
Francis smiled softly, "Kiku is here with a very cute work friend. He said he will introduce me."
The younger man gasped, "Oh let me see!" He jogged out the door before Francis could stop him, peering round at the only occupied table, letting out a small titter and looking back at Francis, "Oh, she's very pretty Francis."
Francis frowned, "Feliciano that is a man."
"What..?" Feliciano said, his voice slightly shrill in disbelief.
"He's as much a man as you," Francis said, giving the boy a soft slap on the arm. "Now go and make the lasagne."
"Just go Feliciano."
Francis shook his head and let out a soft huff, he stood back behind the bar and pulled out his book again, discreetly holding it under the bar, looking up every moment or so to check on Kiku and his friend, eyeing the amount of beer in their glasses and looking Arthur up and down sporadically.
"Francis?" Kiku called from his table. Francis looked up and smiled, walking round the bar and to the table.
"Yes monsieur Honda? Do you need anything," he asked softly, an intentionally sweet smile on his face.
Kiku gave a swift nod, "Yes, I was just telling Arthur about this place. How long have I been coming here, 2 years? How long has it been open?"
"Il ristorante di famiglia has been open for over 40 years, it originally had some rather seedy roots, but our current head chef's grandfather put a stop to that and now we simply serve the greatest Italian food in the city," Francis smiled as he talked, relaying the story by heart.
Arthur frowned softly, "This used to owned by the mafia? Surely telling people that can't be good for business."
Francis shook his head, "Au contraire monsieur Kirkland, the children love it, they play act being at a mafia meeting. It's adorable."
Arthur nodded, clearing his throat yet again, "So how long have you worked here?"
"I have worked here for a little over 2 years, since I left school."
"Do you mean college or highschool?" Arthur enquired.
Francis smiled softly, pulling up a stool and sitting down at the table, "College, I did a degree in hospitality."
"Hospitality? You wanted to be a bartender..?"
Francis chuckled and shook his head, "No, I wanted to manage a hotel, but," he shrugged, "This job is close to where I live and it pays quite well considering. I get paid to sit around and read my book."
"I'm sure your boss wouldn't be to happy to hear that," Arthur said with a smirk.
"He bought me the book."
Arthur let out a chuckle, a beautifully soft smile on his face.
"Do you mind if I ask some questions about yourself Arthur?" Francis almost cooed, his elbow resting on the table, his responsibilities as well as Kiku totally forgotten.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, please leave a review
