Yao Wang sighed, sitting on the front steps of his porch, legs crossed under neath him, small green tea cup warming his hands as he closed his eyes softly. The leaves rustled as a cold breeze whooshed by, cold winds nipping at Yao's cheeks. There was a faint ringing noise, and Yao sighed, getting up. Gently sliding the doors, he slowly walked into the kitchen, picking up the phone that was ringing on his countertop.
"Ni hao, aru." He leaned back, elbows stuck out behind him on the counter, ankles crossed. He expected Ivan to creepily laugh, in which he would automatically hand up, not wanting to do anything with that creep; or ImYong Soo to yell out "Aniki~", which would lead to another receiver slamming; possibly even for Leon to politely go "Ni hao" back, as Yao had properly taught him.
"God, you can't say 'Hello' properly?" The voice growled from the other end.
"A-Arthur, aru?" He blinked in surprised, stepping away from the counter.
"Who else would it be? Stupid Asian." That last part was said under his breath, but Yao still heard. He just bit his tongue; the last war hadn't been easy, and he was glad to have Hong Kong back, and we was partially interested as to hear what Arthur had to say.
"What do you want aru?" He asked calmly, after clearing his throat.
"I have a favor to ask of you." Yao paused.
"No." Arthur started to say something about how he didn't bloody know what he was going to ask, when the Chinese man interrupted him. "You can't have Hong Kong back, aru."
"I wasn't going to ask that, you git!" He replied angrily. "Though it would be nice if he came to visit... nevertheless, are you free this Friday night?" Yao pondered as to hang up now, or actually go check if he was available, twirling a strand of loose hair as he did so.
"You hung up, didn't you?" The Englishman presumed at the silence. "Of course, I should've expected as much..." That was followed by some words I wish not to repeat, and words Yao was sick of hearing.
"I am still here, aru, and I'd appreciate an apology." He stated, releasing his hair and letting it fall lifelessly down onto his shoulder, blending in with the rest of his dark hair.
"Ah, my bad." He was awfully monotone. He most likely wasn't sorry at all.
"Anyway, aru, why, may I ask, are you wanting to know if I am free this Friday?" There was a pause on the other end of the receiver, and for a second he assumed Arthur had hung up.
"Answer my question first."
"I don't have time for these childish games, aru!" He snapped.
"The thing is..." He sighed, and there was a slurping noise as the Brit calmly took a sip of his tea. "My boss decided to throw a little party- he's getting married, you see- and I was invited. It's rude to say no, and it seemed very ungentlemanly to come without a guest. Francis is just a perverted frog who'll most likely hit on the bride-to-be; Alfred's way too immature and will most likely screw things over somehow; and I don't dare ask Ivan." Another sigh, followed by another sip. "You're my last resort." Yao cleared his throat softly, before awkwardly shifting, thought Arthur couldn't seem him.
"I'm partially flattered, aru, and a little offended." With a smooth motion, the slender man slid himself up onto the granite counter top, folding his legs underneath his for a more comfortable position. "You would like me to be your... date, aru?"
"N-Not like that!" Instead of the normal boring monotone voice his usually used, Arthur sounded genuinely embarrassed, as well as flustered. He so wanted to point that out and make fun of the other man, but Yao was more mature than that, and he was too old for fights. He bit his tongue once more. "I just meant..." On the other line, Arthur tried to thing of another word to use instead of 'date', but that's all he could come up with.
"Companion!" He blurted as it crossed his mind. "Y-Yes, I just need a companion to accompany me to this ball."
"Won't that seem a little odd, aru? For a man to come to an engagement party with another man, both of which are straight? Unless you've finally come out of the closet of your stupid magic tricks and make-believe friends, aru..." Screw holding his tongue, Yao just let this one slip, regretting nothing. In fact, he smirked rather devilishly, awaiting for the younger man's reply.
A long, awkward pause filled the air, and Yao was almost certain he had hung up. With a light shrug, he removed the phone from the spot it was gently cradled between his jaw bone and his shoulder, about to lock it back into the phone holder, when...
"Sh-Shut up, will you?" A light chuckled escaped the Chinese man's mouth at the pathetic come back.
"Where's this gala, aru?"
"You mean you'll come?"
"I never said that, I just asked you where it's taking place, aru."
Arthur told him the address, and once again Yao pondered actually going.
"I'll pick you up at 7 pm sharp Friday night. Wear something nice." Arthur shifted, as if standing up to hang up and end their conversation.
"I never said yes, aru!" Yao remarked, a little flustered.
"And you never said no." Another shuffle, and a click, followed by dead silence.
Yao Wang set the phone back, sliding off the counter top and making his way out of the kitchen, through his living room and up with winding stairs, green tea cup forgotten.
"It's a date, aru." He muttered under his breath, a slight blush reddening his cheeks and he made his way up the stairs to prepare for Friday's event.
