Sorry it took me so long. School, work, and crazy things have happened. This is more or less a little more of an info chapter because I felt like it and I felt bad for leaving everyone for so long.
The sun was shining with a cloud here and there floating across the sky. The grass and tree leaves rustled and waved in a light breeze that swept through the park, cooling things with its' gentle movement. It was a beautiful day outside and perfect for people to be walking along the path around a small pond in the center of the park.
Arthur was sitting on a bench right next to the pond watching the ducks swim around in front of him, hoping to get some food. He had a deep frown with his brows together in an angry glare at the cute little ducks. He wasn't mad at the ducks, but he was sure as hell pissed at a certain Frenchman.
Francis hadn't shown up for their meet and now Arthur was feeling stupid for ever trusting that stupid pervert of a man. Tears were threatening to spill over and he felt hurt and played. He slowly looked around making sure nobody was close before he looked down and he closed his eyes biting his lip letting tears slowly fall.
"I should have known...He was just a flirtatious idiot...He was only using me for entertainment…"
"Who...was?...Sorry I'm...late. I slept in…"
A rose gently tapped Arthur on the shoulder making him jump in surprise. He turned and looked back wide eyed. Francis had a rose in his hand and he was out of breath from running. Arthur quickly hid his teary eyes and cleared his throat.
"You bloody frog! I thought you had forgotten me!..."
"I didn't forget you. Why were you crying? Don't cry…" Francis sat next to Arthur in shock. He held out the rose to him and he slowly he wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Arthur slowly glanced at him and he looked at the rose that was being held out. He got a dusting of a blush before he quickly straightened up and he cleared his throat.
"I wasn't crying. I just have allergies!" He snapped out quickly and he took the rose and he put it in his coat pocket with a small pout before shrugging Francis off him.
"Whatever you say. I'm here now so what would you like to do?" Francis couldn't help but get a cocky grin. "Had I realized you loved me already I would have set a more romantic place to meet." He snickered out
"I don't love you! I just don't like being forgotten and ignored after I thought that I had possibly made a good friend! Anybody would be upset and I would be just as upset if it were some one else." He spat out angrily then calmed down to a simmer. "I'm not sure. How about we just sit and talk. Maybe get to know each other a little better? You told me a little about yourself so maybe we can just talk and learn more?" He seemed to calm down now that he knew Francis hadn't lied to him and left him alone in a park like an idiot.
"Well, what would you like to know about me?" Francis raised a brow slightly resting back into the bench.
"Where would you like to start? I would like to know anything you want to tell me I suppose." Arthur relaxed and crossed his legs with his hands placed neatly in his lap.
"You already know a little...perhaps I should start in the beginning. As you are aware I am an orphan. When I was small, about three, my mother died, a violent murder. She had been shot through the heart by a silver bullet with a cross etched into it and they took her head... The police believed it was work of a madman, but they never caught whoever killed her in cold-blood.
She was beautiful...I have a painted photo of her. She had beautiful blue eyes, like the purest stream of water, and she was thin, skin as pale as the moon itself, hair black as night…" Francis closed his eyes and Arthur stared at him in fascination.
"She sounds like she was very beautiful."
"The most…" Francis let out a breath. "My father on the other hand…" Francis suddenly looked enraged. "My mother had the majestic soul of a lion or wolf...my father...was a rat…" He spat on the dirt.
"What do you mean?"
"He was nothing more than trash! He beat me every single day after my mother died. He blamed me for her death...He had disgusting dirt covered, greasy, blonde hair...his teeth were always yellow and black from tobacco, I swear his skin was made of slime and newspaper…" Francis shivered with a look of absolute disgust on his face. "Luckily, he drank himself to death not long after she died. I was an orphan around five or six."
"That sounds awful…" Arthur gently set a hand on his shoulder. Francis gave half a smile to him.
"I went from home to home. I actually stayed with a very close friend of my mother's. She and my mother were almost inseparable, she got pregnant and died giving birth to two baby boys. I couldn't stay there and the boys were sent to go live with their grandfather. I went from home to home after that for a while until the old lady took me in. She treated me like true kin, I loved her with all my heart and I protected her from everything I could, everything except the call of time." Francis let out a pitiful laugh. "She had known my mother apparently and she said that she saw bravery in me, something that very few had and a strength, power, and will that I should always be proud of."
"I...I don't know what to say…" Arthur bit his lip slightly. "That's very sad, yet sweet." He gave a pat to Francis' back. "I can see what she meant though."
"Thank you…" The Frenchman smiled charmingly at him. "What about you? I don't really know anything about you."
"Ah, yes. How rude of me." Arthur cleared his throat slightly. Francis waited patiently on him.
"I never knew my parents. From what my brothers said they were insane and my mother died soon after having me from a mysterious case of blood loss. My father was burned at the stake I believe when I was around one? I don't remember him all that much because he stayed out of the house or in his office all the time. When he died my brothers took care of me. I was the youngest and treated the worst, beating and slim pickings on the food that they got. I had to go out and somehow find my own food. It wasn't too bad. It was life, I got used to it…" Arthur shrugged and looked at the sunset. "I was the only one of my brothers to go to school, I got my nursing classes done and I started working at The Happy Place."
"I see. Do you see your brothers often?"
"No, we don't talk anymore. We got in a fight over who got the most out of father's will and apparently he had left most of his things to me. They kicked me out and refuse to talk to me."
"That's a real shame. They are missing out on something great." Francis smiled softly at Arthur. Arthur couldn't help but get a shy blush and feel slightly flattered.
The sky was starting to darken as the sun set farther down below the buildings of the city. Francis and Arthur sat and talked about twenty minutes longer before they got off the bench. Arthur had learned that Francis spent his time reading, cooking, and even dabbled in art, while Francis had learned that Arthur knew wild ways to make and drink tea, couldn't cook to save his life, and enjoyed poetry and large novels.
"I had fun today. You were very interesting to speak to, Bonnefoy. If you ever feel the need you could stop by my place for a quick cup of tea."
"I prefer fine wines, but that sounds nice." Francis smiled and he looked to the stars coming out. "It is getting really late. Would you like me to walk you home?"
"No. I only live a few blocks from here and I can handle myself just fine." Arthur's ego immediately blocked that option 110%.
"Are you sure? It would be dangerous to walk alone at this time of night." Francis looked worried for him.
"Of course I'm sure. Don't worry. Maybe stop by after my work sometime and we could have a meet like this again." He waved to him and started walking home. Francis gave a weak wave back as he walked away.
I hope you all enjoyed the more info and some major hint drops that lead into later chapters. Review if you feel like it. I was really tired while I was editing, so I am sorry for any crap grammar or things that make no sense.