Authors Note: *hides in corner crying* I know! Don't hate me! I felt really bad for saying I wouldn't take forever and then taking even longer, but I made it up to you! I made an extra long chapter! And it's the date! Yea, that's how bad I felt lol. But anyways, this time I had a real excuse (not that my other one wasn't). My brother, (who I haven't seen, talked to, or heard from) moved in with us permanently! Yea, so I've been spending quality time with my family, but that's still no excuse. I'll try to be better.

Warning: yaoi/slash, minor language

Disclaimer: I think I've talked enough. I don't own this.


Francis nervously tapped his fingers on the edge of the greasy looking table he was sitting at. He'd been waiting for a certain generous blond to make his appearance for the past ten minutes; of course the redhead did come ten minutes early. He just wanted everything to be perfect. This was the first time he ever hung out with anyone, let alone Richie. He had to somehow manage a way to gain the other boy's trust. Saying Francis was nervous was definitely an understatement.

The redhead was distracted from his thoughts as he heard the chime of the bell signaling someone was entering the fast food restaurant. He snapped his head up for what seemed like the millionth time, but dropped it back down in disappointment as he saw it was just some blond chick. Unnoticed by Francis, the girl approached his table and stopped right in front of him. She rubbed his arm seductively as she tried to get his attention.

"Hey there. Who you waiting on for handsome?" she huskily asked. Francis blinked his eyes and looked at the delicate hand stroking his bicep. He gently lifted the hand off him and looked up at the girl. She was wearing a tight hot pink top and a short light pink skirt. He raised an eyebrow at the obvious flirting and refocused his attention at the door.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your problem," he said dismissively as he waved her off. The girl blinked in surprise and tried again.

"What's wrong? Don't like blondes?" she asked him. Francis almost laughed at the question. Of course she had to ask that. He sighed and looked up at her with a stern face.

"Actually, I do, but you're not exactly my type. Now scram before my friend gets here," he said harshly. He was really starting to get angry. The blonde's mouth dropped at what the muscular redhead had said. She was everyone's type. She stomped her foot childishly and left in a hurry. Francis ignored her and gave a sigh of relief. However, his relief was cut short by another gentle tap on his shoulder. He snapped his head up angrily, ready to tell the blonde off.

"I told you to fucking leave alre-," Francis stopped his yelling as he saw Richie retract his hand and step back flinching. Francis' eyes widened and he stood up immediately. Richie took another step back in fear and prepared himself for the beating that was undoubtedly coming. This made the redhead feel even worse.

"Wait! No Richie! I'm sorry! I thought you were someone else!" he pleaded as he rose and reached for the blond. Richie shut his eyes forcefully as he saw the other reaching for him. What he expected to be a brutal impact to his face ended up being a gentle touch to his shoulder. The blond opened his eyes slowly and saw regret planted all over Francis' face. He exhaled the breath didn't notice he was holding and nodded his head. Francis let his hand trail down the clothed arm faintly as he let go. He sat back down and motioned for the blond to join him. Richie complied as he took a seat across from the ex-convict.

They both looked down at the table as an awkward silence washed over them. Francis still felt guilty for what he did to the younger teen and Richie was still a little scared of muscular man in front of him. Francis was the first to break the silence by clearing his throat. The bespectacled teen looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"So…uhh…want me to uh...order for us?" Francis asked. He really wanted this to go right and so far he had a lot to make up for.

"Y-yea, sure. Can you get me a number four?" he asked timidly as he reached for his pocket to get out some money. Francis saw this and quickly denied the blond.

"No don't worry about it. I'll pay. It's the least I could do for scaring you earlier," he said sheepishly.

"Ok thanks!" Richie said happily. Francis nodded and left to make their orders. It seemed like his offer to pay was appreciated. Maybe he could still gain Richie's trust.

'God I hope so. I need him to trust me," the redhead thought.


Richie patiently waited for Francis to come for his food. They still hadn't eaten and already the day was looking bad. When Richie walked in, he almost gasped at the sight of the man wearing a very revealing shirt and baggy, ripped blue jeans. Richie shifted his seating position from casually leaning back to sitting upright as he tried to conceal the tightness that suddenly made itself present in his jeans. The blond jumped a little when the subject of his thoughts sat down in front of him with a tray filled with food.

"This thing is huge man! There's no way you can eat all this," Francis said as he handed Richie a super supreme royal bacon burger. Richie immediately grabbed the burger and his large coke that the redhead offered him. He expertly unwrapped it and took a huge bite from it.

"Of course I can, although I don't doubt you for doubting my eating ability. Most people do the first time they see me eat," Richie said behind a mouthful of burger. Francis stifled a chuckle at the cuteness that was Richie Foley and took his own, much smaller, bite of his cheeseburger. He chewed and swallowed before replying to the blond.

"I just don't see where it all fits, or why it doesn't show. You work out or something?" he asked. Richie swallowed and took a drink of his coke as he listened to the redhead. He choked a little on the drink when Francis asked him if he worked out.

'Yea, you lose a lot of calories fighting bang babies. Actually, I think I've shaved off a few pounds fighting you,' the blond thought.

"Uhh…yea sort of," he replied. Francis gave the blond a huge smile. The smile grew even bigger when he saw it was returned. The two sat there just staring at each other's eyes with goofy grins on their faces for what seemed like minutes until Francis cleared his throat and looked away blushing.

"Maybe we could work out together or something," said the redhead as he sheepishly rubbed his neck, still looking away. Richie didn't seem to notice the other's apprehensiveness and just chuckled. Francis heard the laugh and looked down ashamed, thinking the blond was laughing at him. This time Richie did notice his past bully's expression and he instantly felt guilty for laughing.

"No no. I wasn't laughing at you. I was laughing because I never thought me, Richie Foley, would ever be invited to work out with Francis Stone, the bad boy pyro of Dakota," he explained while smiling. Francis sighed in relief and laughed himself.

"If you're worried, don't be. I'll go easy on you," Francis teased as he took another sip of his drink and a bite of his burger. The super genius stuck his tongue out at the other good naturedly and laughed. The two laughed and talked as they found that a friendship was slowly forming between them. They both surprisingly had more in common than they thought. Richie was surprised to find out that Francis was just a big video game geek as he was, and Francis was stunned to discover that Richie hated school, loved basketball, and finished his burger and coke in ten minutes.

As the two finished their meals, they both stood up as Francis threw away both of their trash. They walked out of the fast food restaurant and walked down the sidewalk together in a comfortable silence. Richie walked with his hands in the pocket of his baggy blue hoodie and Francis walked with both his hands in his pants pockets. There had been one question that had been rattling in the blond's head all day however, and he was killing to ask already.

"Hey man, can I ask you a question?" Richie asked. Hotstreak stopped walking and smiled at him.

"Shoot," he replied.

"Why are doing this? You use to bully me all the time. Ever since I can remember you've been there to hurt me when I'm most vulnerable. You've called me names, beat me up, and threatened me constantly. I can't accept whatever kind of apology you're trying to give me unless I know why," Richie said. He had to know. There had to be a reason the other was doing all this.

The pyro knew this part was coming sooner or later. Richie was smart; of course he'd catch on sooner or later. Francis looked up at bright blue eyes as he tried to keep his emotions in check. His throat suddenly became dry as he searched for the right words to say. He opened his mouth but the words wouldn't come out. He sighed and stared down at his fee with sad eyes as he finally found his voice.

"I'm sorry. I know I've been an asshole to you and everyone I know, but…I just want to start over. I'm tired of all the shit I made people put up with just because I couldn't handle my own. I've always been the worse towards you. Don't ask why kuz I don't know," he forced. Francis now had a hard look on his face as his fists shook and his shoulders trembled. Richie was speechless. He didn't expect such an honest answer from the redhead.

"Francis, I-,"

"Wait. Let me finish. People always think I'm this dumb, tough, gangster who goes around stealing and hurting people, but I'm not. That's just who I have to be. The truth is…I'm scared. I'm scared of everything. I'm scared of hospitals, I'm scared of getting close of anyone, I'm scared of showing how I feel, shit I'm even scared of dying alone. Most of all though…I'm scared of you," the words barely left the redhead's mouth as tears started dropping from his face and landing on his worn out sneakers. He felt so stupid. How could he ever think that the blond would forgive him? After everything he's done to him, why should he deserve forgiveness? Francis turned away as he readied to walk away. Richie probably thought he was an idiot.

"I forgive you," Francis heard just as he was going to leave. He slowly raised his head to look at the blond. Richie looked saddened by what the pyro had just told him. It was obvious Francis wasn't who he believed to be. The genius felt a sting to his chest when he looked into the teary eyes of the ex-criminal in front of him. He placed his hand on Francis' shoulder and nodded to show his understanding. He then slowly pulled the other into a tight hug. Francis' eyes were wide as saucers as he was embraced by the blond, but he soon gave in as he leaned his head on the others shoulder and inched his arms up slowly so that he was holding Richie just as tightly as he was being held. He gently snuggled into the warm embrace and wished they could stay like this.


See! Long chapters rule! Well anyways, the "date" will be continued in the next chapter. Also, I'm so glad you guys are loving on Francis' personality. I was aiming for a slightly OOC Francis, but he's also not a simple character (as you can tell from this chapter). Thanks for sticking with me and PLZZZZ REVIEW!

-GohanRules out!