A/N: CHAPTER 2~~~! can you contain your excitment? well, i can't, not right away, anyway! well, we FINALLY learn who are vilan is! YAY!


Chapter 2

"So am I to understand that with all the powers of the Hand, the Treasure continues to elude us?"

Gilbert felt a knife go through his heart, metaphorically speaking. His father had giving him the job of finding the Treasure, and yet here they are, three years later, and nothing still. Now, his brother was also in on the plan.

"Yes," Ludwig said, standing at the end of the table, across from his father and brother. "Perhaps if we had pursued it sooner, and more aggressively…"

"You dare to blame Father, Ludwig?" Gilbert asked, trying to stay calm.

"It seems our methods are… too mild for Ludwig, eh?" their father asked, a smirk on his usually stoic face.

"Not at all, father," Ludwig said, keeping his face expressionless. "But, if we cannot have the weapon ourselves, allow me to make sure that it does not fall into the hands of those who could use it against us."

"Father, allow me," Gilbert said, determined not to be upstaged by his little brother. "Things like this must be handled smoothly, quietly."

"Then work smoothly, Gilbert, but quickly," their father said, fingering his Teutonic Cross.

Gilbert nodded and stood, a smirk of victory on his face. He looked back to shoot one last glare at Ludwig before leaving the room. Ludwig glared back, just as icily. The blonde turned to go when a call from his father stopped him.

"Ludwig," his father said, making the blonde stop halfway to the door. Ludwig turned, only enough so that he could glance over his shoulder at his father. "Patience."

Ludwig simply huffed and stormed out of the room.

Arthur pushed another tuft of hair back as he scrubbed the floor, his hands and knees in the dirty water. He stopped for a second and leaned back on his haunches as he felt something pulsing in his mind.

Someone was coming.

Arthur sighed and went back to his cleaning as he heard his front door open and then close.

"Mon amour, is it safe to keep your door unlocked like that?"

Arthur sighed again and wiped his brow as Francis walked over to him, his blonde hair slightly matted from the rain. Though, his blue eyes still sparkled with a fire that Arthur was quite used to by now.

"Hello, Francis," Arthur said, dipping his scrub brush back into the bucket before going back to scrubbing the floor.

"What, no hello kiss for me, mon amour?" Francis asked with a pout. He set down the two bags that he was carrying and opened his arms for his lover. "Come now, don't be so cruel."

"Alright, alright, bloody frog," Arthur said as he unceremoniously dropped the brush into the bucket and stood up. He walked over to Francis and placed a quick peck on his cheek before walking back over to his work.

"Mon amour that hurt!" Francis said dramatically, clutching the fabric about his heart. "After everything I do for you! I find your work, I get the money for you, I even care for you when you're injured! How can you be so cruel to your own boyfriend?"

"No need to guilt trip me, you frog," Arthur said, watching as the Frenchman slid down the wall to a sitting position and turned over onto his side. Arthur sighed and then smiled, wondering how in the world he was so lucky to have a boyfriend like Francis.

"Then can I have a proper kiss, s'il vous plait?" Francis asked, a smile on his face.

"Alright, fine, I don't see why not…" Arthur said, shaking his head with a small laugh.

Arthur crawled over to where Francis was laying and sat down next to him. He gently laces his hands through Francis's impossible soft blonde hair and kissed him tenderly on the lips. It was like two pieces of a puzzle fitting neatly together, Arthur mussed as Francis flipped them over so that the Frenchie was on top. Francis gently teased Arthur's lips apart and darted his tongue inside, drinking in the hoarse moan as their tongues brushed each other. Their mouths danced together in an intricate dance that they two knew so well, and loved every second of it.

The two pulled away about a minute later, both needing to breath properly. Francis got up and held out a hand for Arthur with a smile. Arthur took the hand and stood, then eyed the bags that Francis brought.

"Is that it?" Arthur asked, looking from the bag to Francis.

"Oui, minus my 10%, of course," Francis said with a smile.

"Of course," Arthur said with a smirk.

"Look, um, I don't want to tell you how to do your job or anything but…" Francis started, stopping Arthur's advance to the bag halfway through. "Quiet a body count on this one, mon amour." Arthur just sighed and looked away from Francis. "I mean, we only got paid for Jones. Was it necessary?"

Arthur just shot Francis a glare and turned around, gathering up his cleaning supplies. "It had to be done."

"Did it?" Francis asked, watching as Arthur started to walk down the stairs. "Arthur, did it?" Arthur stopped and shot Francis one of the dirtiest looks the Frenchie had ever seen. Francis put his hands up in defeat. "Okay, I get it…"

"Anyway, it spreads the legend…" Arthur said as he started to walk back down the stairs. "Besides, they were going to kill me."

"Of course they were. Absolutely," Francis said, slightly sarcastic. He followed Arthur, picking up both bags on the way down the stairs. "And, speaking of which, as your agent, I am obligated to tell you that we just got a fantastic new offer, but this last job—"

"Let's skip this one," Arthur said, cutting off Francis mid sentence. "I need a breather."

"Great idea," Francis said with a smile. "I'm just saying, it's a lot of coin…"

"I'm tired," Arthur said, dumping the water out of the bucket and into the sink.

"You're tired?" Francis asked, depositing his bags onto the counter and going to stand behind Arthur. He started to give the Brit a nice neck massage as he continued. "Well, then you better get some rest because you are going to crash, mon amour, you know that." A sly smirk came to Francis's face but Arthur beat him to the punch.

"Resting does not include you, my bed, and no clothing," Arthur said, making the Frenchie swear under his breath.

There was a small silence in the room while Francis continued his little massage.

"Are you doing anything tonight?" Francis asked casually.

"There's nothing out there of interest for me at the moment," Arthur said, leaning back against Francis's warm chest.

"So then you're free?"

"Of course."

"Dinner?"

"Wonderful."

"The Royal?"

"My favorite."

"Good, I'll be back around 8 then."

"Splendid," Arthur said with a smile. All their planning went like this, off the cuff, Francis asking and Arthur responding with simply, one word answers. It was almost like a game they played. "By the way… how much are they paying?"

"Two," Francis said with a smirk, holding up two fingers to emphasize his point. He sighed dramatically and put them down. "Ah, they'll give it to somebody else."

"They wouldn't pay that to somebody else," Arthur mussed, looking down at the ground.

"You got that right," Francis said, smirking triumphantly. He leaned over and whispered in Arthur's ear, "They specifically asked for you." Francis pointed to the second bag that he brought with him and said, "Locations in there, I'll call you when they get the target."

"Alright," Arthur said, standing upright and going over to the bag.

"I'll see you at 8, rest up," Francis said, patting Arthur on the shoulder and giving him a quick goodbye kiss before leaving.


again, love it? hate it? want to rip my heart out and feed it to wolves? tell me what you think! the next chapter will be out either today or tomorrow! R&R PLZKTHNX!