Making Sure

The phone call came a little past 3am. Arthur groped blindly for the phone, if only to silence the bloody ringing. "Hello?" He grunted, flopping onto his stomach. He only slightly registered the sounds of sniffles on the other end.

"Petit lapin." Came the soft whisper, the words almost colored with relief. "Thank goodness." Francis didn't say anything more than that.

Arthur frowned. "What the hell did you call me for in the middle of the night?! I want my bloody sleep." Francis let out a small strained laugh, but didn't reply. Arthur lay his head down on his pillow, breathing deeply to push away the anger that only drained him of energy.

"I just wanted to hear your voice, petit lapin." Francis whispered. His voice lacked the deep husky tone he used when seducing, lacked the lust that was usually palpable. Arthur didn't notice.

"This is the wrong time to be romancing me, frog! Did you think I was more likely to accept while half asleep?! Even you aren't that stupid!" He paused for a moment, and heard no irritating chuckle. He sighed. "Now what did you want to hear my voice for?"

"Just making sure." He answered vaguely. Arthur's frown deepened.

"Making sure of what?" He bit his tongue to avoid asking what was wrong. Francis was being too quiet, too serious. He couldn't remember a time when Francis wasn't laughing and teasing him. It was too odd.

"It was nothing, petit lapin. Just a bad dream." Francis took a small shuddering breath, voice cracking. "And you were there. There was so much blood, but I couldn't do anything." He paused a moment to regain himself. Arthur heard a rustle on the other end, another discreet sniffle. "In any case, I had to call. To make sure...." That you were okay was left out, swallowed by the apprehensive silence. They would never admit that there was worry. There was some sort of affection.

Arthur smiled gently. "Stupid frog." He whispered. "Of course I'm going to be okay. I'm just fine, right?" He couldn't remember a time that Francis was ever scared. Even when he had been, he had faced down that fear with blazing eyes and an easy smile. A simple nightmare had reduced him to tears though. A nightmare about him. Arthur shook his head to stop his thoughts from progressing any farther than that.

"Yes, I know. I just had to hear your voice..." There was another moment of silence. "Now petit lapin, verbally abuse me like you always do." He could almost hear the grin, watery and weak.

Arthur snorted. "Masochist."

Owari