Francis isn't used to waking up alone. Even if his lovers just wanted the night with him, he always made sure to make them breakfast or drive them home or a to a safe place or something, but rarely does he open his eyes and find only him in his bed. He nearly starts to cry at Francois being gone from beside him. He curls up in on himself and covers his face, wondering if he truly is stupid for believing.
He knows Francois doesn't believe in love, he knows how much his other hates all of the stigma around Francis's favorite emotion. He also knows how much Francois would rather see the good in love. Though he may not express it often or very openly, Francis can see it. See when Francois doesn't put up as much a fight when Francis tells him about a new love plan. That's why it hurts so much.
Even though Francis is a full advocator of love, he does see the bad side, and it kills him. Heartbreak is everywhere and Francis wishes he didn't notice. He sees Francois's dark disposition and sometimes wonders if love is all for naught. Now he's experienced first hand what Francois feels everyday once more. He had been left behind the last time too. This kind of cold morning is miserable.
Francis inhales sharply when a soft hand is placed on his head. He twists in his blanket to look up at Francois looking all for the world uncomfortable. There are two steaming mugs of what Francis hopes is coffee on the small table next to the bed. He can't help the smile on his face. He wiggles out from under the blankets and wraps Francois in a tight hug.
His heart jumps when Francois, doesn't fully hug him back, but does wrap an arm loosely around him. Any sort of positive touch from his other makes him happier than anything. It took him forever to come up with a plan to get Francois alone, knowing his other would never willingly go with him if asked. Then Francois left his lighter behind and the plan came to him like a wildfire.
It's the truth that he does love Francois. Being the prideful nation of love that he is, it didn't take him long to figure out exactly what his feelings amounted to. It also helped he saw all the other nations falling more and more for their other's as time went on. Francis hoped so badly that Francois would feel the same, or at least dislike him less than the others.
He wants to see him smile, wants to see him be happy. His other is always so sad. He even started crying more if it would mean Francois could find happiness somehow. Maybe that plan worked, maybe it didn't, but he still tries it sometimes. There's just something about the way Francois is that makes Francis want to be there for him. It would be wonderful if his other could come to love him to, but Francis would just be relieved to have Francois be okay.
"I thought you left," He laughs a little awkwardly, trying to brush off the small amount of tears that welled up in his eyes. The 'again' is left off, but it's felt between them both. Francois just grunts and ever so slightly pulls him closer. Francis's heart jumps again and he snuggles deeper into his other's arms. Maybe Francois doesn't like the contact, but he's not rejecting it and that is more than Francis has gotten in years. Not to mention, Francois actually stayed. That is proof enough there is something.
"I don't usually wake up next to people.." Francois admits quietly. Francis hums at the confession, nuzzling maybe a little more than he should. He's pushed away but not unkindly and handed a cup of coffee. He does situate himself to be pressed up next to Francois though.
"It's far better than being alone," Francis tells him. He smiles into his mug as Francois rolls his eyes.
"You don't have to wake up alone anymore," He whispers. This time there is no response. They both sip their coffee silently, taking in each other's company. An alarm goes off and Francis nearly spills his drink. He lets out a small whine at having to actually get out of bed and out of his warm covers. Francois snorts at him as he taps the machine to get it to shut up and taking their now mostly empty mugs to place them on the side table. Francis is about to get up when he's pulled forward.
This kiss is a little more rough than he's used to admittedly, but not bad at all. It calms down when he reciprocates. Francois is the one to pull back but still keeping his face close. Francis can't help the smile on his face. He leans forward and places a few more gentle easy kisses on Francois's lips though the other seems to pout at the attention.
"Why are you so nice to me?" Francis leans back at the question. If the disgusted look on Francois's face is anything to go by, his other didn't entirely mean to voice his thoughts. Francis runs a hand through Francois's hair, getting out a few minor tangles in the process.
"Because I love you," He says easily. His heart hurts at the way Francois openly flinches at his words. He bites his tongue from saying it more. It would only scare his other to overload him with such a thing. Instead, Francis makes them completely late to the meeting by pulling Francois close and kissing him silly. Not until Francois is no longer scowling, his typical apathetic expression on his face, does Francis let him up. They get ready together, Francis fixing his tie when he sees it off, even using it as leverage to place another kiss to his other's lips.
"Keep doing that and we are never going to make it out of the hotel," Francois growls at him when he pulls back. Francis laughs at the soft threat, being tempted to do just that, but they host meetings for a reason. He respects Francois's public affection boundary on the walk over about an hour later than they should but he does make sure they are close together. Even though it's small, Francis can't help the bubble of happiness when Francois opens the door for him. The gesture of doing something for someone else at all, means a lot.
It's almost easy for them to ignore the odd looks they get at walking in together. Mostly because they are late. Francis doesn't entirely mind not acknowledging Francois during the meetings, he doesn't mind being slightly ignored either. That's normal for them, to almost actually pay attention during a meeting unlike some other nations. He is very aware though, of the slight closeness in their spots than normal and smiling at the fact he had nothing to do with it.
Francois follows him willing back into his hotel room, not saying much, but opening doors once more. Francis will not deny he's a sucker for small things like that. Francois gave him full permission to try and change his mind about love. Though he doesn't really want to change anything about Francois, he loves him exactly as he is. There is love in him and all he wants to do is bring that part that already exists out.
He's been patient with all of Francois's moods and bitter moments, and he's not about to go messing with that. He made up his mind a long time ago to be everything that Francois would ever need in a romantic relationship, being slightly grateful that whatever Francois needed is exactly who he is naturally, so it works out for them in his opinion.
In his little room he makes food for them both, smiling softly at Francois shifting in his seat every so often, uncomfortable with just being with someone. Francis starts singing softly to give the wordless atmosphere a less tense feel. He takes a little pride in noticing Francois fidgeting less, even relaxing enough to lean on the table in front of him lazily.
"What did that night mean for you?" The question catches Francis by surprise. He glances over his shoulder at his other, still looking relaxed even though he just asked a question that would open up a somewhat personal conversation. Francis hums in thought before answering.
"More than you probably wish it did," He answers with a small smirk on his face now bringing over crepes to his other. Francois rolls his eyes at the sassy answer then settling a half hearted glare on him to get him to say the real answer. Francis sighs.
"For a second I thought you might actually be able to love me too," He confesses softly, cutting his crepe carefully with his fork. It takes him a second to realize Francois is staring at him like a deer in the headlights. He smiles gently up at his other, smirking to himself when Francois begins to fumble for a cigarette. Catching him off guard before he can complain, Francis flicks the lighter Francois forgot yet again for him to light the stick of death.
Just as it's lit, Francis plucks it out of his other's lips and replaces it with his own. He smiles down at his other as Francois growls out something mean to him. He doesn't get to sit back down, being tugged from his spot by Francois's hand around his wrist.
"I told you what would happen if you kept doing that," Francois growls against his neck when he pushes them both down to the bed. Francis giggles to himself. He did wonder if his other meant that threat.
"On one condition," He whispers breathlessly. Francois blinks down at him, an odd semblance of seriousness in his features. Francis finds himself falling in love once more. He places a gentle hand on his other's cheek, happiness bubbling inside when he doesn't flinch as bad.
"Don't leave me again," It's a soft plea. Francois clenches his teeth and closes his eyes. For one second of utter panic, Francis thinks he might say he'll leave, but Francois leans down and kisses him sweetly, something different for him.
"I'll stay," He confirms. Francis release a breath and holds his other tight. He doesn't want to let him go. Francois has been slipping through his fingers for so long and he's not bound to let this opportunity of love leave. Not when it's for the both of them.
AN: They both need love. Hope you enjoyed~