Francis was out getting a few things for breakfast. He bought some croissants and some baguettes and made his way back to the little loft he shared with Arthur in the city of Paris. It was a beautiful morning and he felt quite happy. On the way he stopped by a chemist to get some medicine for England, just some painkillers, as he knew his love would probably wake up with a hangover considering the amount of cider he'd consumed the night before. He also bought some more paintbrushes and canvas as he was planning to do another painting of him, after the previous one was destroyed.
When he got home he could hear Arthur talking on the phone to someone and he couldn't help but overhear what he was saying.
"I don't know who you think you are talking to me like this…" He said indignantly "I gave you that gift because I… no.. no I was not being sarcastic. Don't swear at me… just don't… Oh… Oh you have to throw that in my face every time don't you?"
Francis crept behind the bedroom door and peaked in without disturbing him. He slammed the phone down and sat there with his head in his hands, deep sobs consuming his body.
"Francis…" he sobbed, not realising that he was behind the door. "I need you, why did you leave me here alone? "
Francis felt his heart swell as England wept, but stayed watching him just a little bit longer. England cried heartily, and more blood seeped from his mouth, all over his chin. He'd never felt so depressed but there was no way America was going to know how he was really feeling. The only person he could confide in was Francis, and where was he now?
Francis pushed open the door and came into the bedroom. Sitting beside Arthur he put his arms around him and held him.
"What happened Arthur mon Amour?" He whispered. "Was that Alfred?"
Arthur nodded. "He's acting strangely these days… I am even a little … no a lot afraid of him."
"Of Alfred? But why?"
Arthur looked at Francis wide eyed. "At the end of the Second World War, America did something to Japan that I will never forget… that none of us will ever forget…"
"The atomic bomb…" Gulped Francis. "Uhh… what about it?"
"He is threatening another country with it, I was trying to talk him out of it, and he … he… he's like a rabid animal, and you know… if he could do what he did to Japan, I shudder to think what he could do to me… to any of us if we ruffle his feathers."
"Oh… Alfred won't do that." Whispered Francis stroking England's soft blonde hair. "The rest of the world won't let him." He said kissing his head gently. England couldn't control his sickness and it came again, and Francis gently wiped his chin.
"Everyone is afraid of him these days." Arthur said "Except Ivan… and Ivan is just as dangerous as he is. If… if they release their weapons, we're all caught in the middle…"
"Oh, mon amour, he must have said these things to frighten you. He has a rebellious spirit, and he will calm down, you'll see." Said Francis gently. "I know you want those weapons to be disarmed. That is something we will put to the next world meeting okay?" He said gently. "For now I have brought something nice for breakfast, and I'll make you some tea, then I will do whatever is needed for you, so that you do not feel so bad. Arthur sighed and a smile came to his face. He could always rely on Francis, who loved him like no other, who he loved like no other. Francis wanted to mention that he had heard him cry and mention his name, but he kept that to himself as he held him. He then helped Arthur to his feet and walked with him through to the kitchen. Arthur just couldn't seem to get it together, he couldn't walk so well and needed to hold on to him.
"I don't know what's wrong with me these days…" mumbled Arthur. "I am just so… weak…"
Francis sat him down and knelt in front of him holding both his hands. "I am no doctor mon Angleterre, but I think I know why you are suffering so."
Arthur looked at him sadly, but there was a little hope in his green eyes. "You… do?"
Francis nodded and brushed a tear away from Arthur's sweet face. "Hush mon amour, don't cry, its alright." He whispered gently. "When America left you, he left a wound in you so great that it will never heal. He was a part of you Angleterre, and it broke you when he left. Just as it breaks me Angleterre, just as it breaks me when we fight, when we hurt each other."
"You?"
"Oh mon amour…" France said "I fell in love with you from the very beginning. Those wars we had were terrible, I have cried a thousand nights over you…" He continued and held him. "I still do, all the time… all the time… " He said. England hugged him, his face pressed into his chest. He could feel the emotion moving Francis, his Sacred heart beating faster.
"What would I do without you?" whispered Arthur gently. "I need you so much…" He said "I love you.. more than life itself."
Weeks passed and soon the next conference came around. England and France sat next to each other as usual. England looked strong, and well and happy, only Francis knew the truth of it, that all of this was a pretence, and what everyone else saw was the mask. America sat opposite them and he really didn't look like his usual self. It was his turn to talk so he stood up and went to the front of the room.
"Well as you know certain countries are a threat to world peace." He began "If I do not step in and do something, you will all be under the threat of being blown to hell. I get that certain nations here don't understand that fact." He said "I'm the hero here, so listen to me. Without my fucking big bomb to defend you all, you know where you'd be? Britain, you'd be the smallest province in the German Empire. No offence Germany."
Germany sat there looking really angry, he was offended by that comment. He managed however to hold his tongue for the time being and let America speak.
"Now there is a nation in the world who never comes to our meetings, doesn't want to engage in peace talks and is against the west, simply for being the west." He said "If you think I'm gonna let him threaten our freedom, you got another thing coming. If anyone goes against me I'll withdraw funding from everything… got that?"
The nations didn't dare disagree with him… that is except England who stood up even through Francis had tried to stop him.
"America, I must insist that you listen." He said as a parent would talk to a child. "If you were to disarm your fucking big bomb maybe the other nation would disarm his too, did you ever think of that?"
"If I disarm, he'll press the button and guess what England, no more you… after all you're the first one he'll go for."
"Me? Why would he go for me?"
"To get to me of course." America said with anger in his voice. "He wouldn't dare attack the U.S but he'd blow you to kingdom come to provoke me. Why do you never think of these things?"
"Why don't you let me talk to him, maybe if I talk to him he'll see that you're just a stupid kid with an ego problem and…"
"ENGLAND, I AM NOT A CHILD!" Yelled Alfred "I AM TIRED OF YOU TALKING TO ME LIKE YOU KNOW IT ALL!"
"I… I didn't say you were a child…" Said England. France noticed his hand shaking, but England hid it by putting his hand behind his back. America approached him and he was in the foulest of moods, nobody stood up to stop him.
"If you treat me like a child again I will slap your stupid English face to hell." He screamed "I'm sick of it, every single freaking year of my freaking life you make me feel guilty on my freaking birthday because you are so cut up about it. Do you even realise?" He yelled "I hate you England, I hate everything about you! You are a cruel, hard hearted bastard, and if you think disarming my weapon is a good idea, then look around you. You might as well be the enemy of every single one of us. I'm the fucking hero and the sooner you realise that the better."
"He's got a point you know." Poland piped up. "If we didn't have his protection we could be killed…All of us."
"I… I'm not trying to be your enemy… please listen…." Began England but the disapproving looks of everyone made him sit down. He just looked completely defeated at that point. Germany called a break and everyone left, but Alfred finished what he had to say to England. He grabbed him by the throat much to England's shock. "You can't reason with someone who is unreasonable." Growled America "Now you fall into line you fuck… or I'll be the one that blows your fucking head off. Got that?"
"America!" Yelled Francis pushing him off England. "I think you should leave… now…" He said in a warning tone.
"What the fuck do you know, Frog?" America said pushing him back.
America left the room, and France was left alone in there with England. Once America had gone England began to breathe again, he'd been purposely holding his breath all this time so that he wouldn't be sick. He coughed hard and blood went everywhere.
"Come on Angleterre, we are going home… I cannot see you like this here."
"Why is he doing this?" He wept "I saw it in him you know… like a rabid animal when he was only a child. I think America is the most dangerous country in the world."
Francis helped him to his feet, and walked with him out of the conference. The other nations were stunned to see that England was covered in blood and it looked like he'd thrown up, it wasn't right, nothing about that was right.
"Ignore them Angleterre… " Francis whispered. England hid his face as he went by them all, being helped by Francis. He didn't like this, it was humiliating.
The other nations however weren't judging him for that, they were more over awed that he actually stood up to the mighty America when they couldn't, when they agreed with every word he said.
Arthur collapsed to the ground as soon as they were out of there, and in the street. Francis could do nothing so he picked him up and carried him towards their hotel, as quickly as he could.
It must have been some hours before England awoke, to beautiful music being played in the room, French music, Michel Berber, Seras tu La? , being played far too loud, but such a beautiful tune, and the feel of a gentle touch, of Francis stroking his hair softly.
"Angleterre… you are awake… "
"Francis…" He whispered. "I am finished, you saw their faces, they think I'm as bad as their enemy…" He said.
"Non… non, mon amour. You were the only one to stand up to America… they don't hate you, they admire you."
"America hates me…" He gulped. "How many times I have told him to disarm… and how many times has he refused…" he continued "Once I stood shoulder to shoulder with him and we invaded a country Francis…"
"I know mon amour, I was there, remember, I also did what he wanted." He said "And he was wrong and we were wrong. And its not going to happen again…" Francis replied. "It never will."
"He'll strip everyone else of the weaponry till he's the only one who has them… then what?"
"America is afraid of being attacked again…" Francis replied "That's why he's like this."
"I know." England replied "But trust you to see it from that point of view… you have such a sacred heart Francis.. you are so beautiful."
"Non… non… Angleterre… "
"You are… and I have never known any nation as beautiful as you." Arthur said "I love you."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door and Francis went to answer it. Standing there was Germany, and Poland, and Sweden, Austria, everyone who had been at the conference.
"Francis…" Ludwig began. "How is he?"
"I don't think now is a very good time Ludwig… " Francis replied.
"Tell him… tell him we understand and…." Ludwig said handing him a rolled-up piece of paper. "Give him this, it's something we are going to try to get America to sign… its about disarmament. We…also hope he is well."
"England is fine… its…he ate something he shouldn't have that's all."
Ludwig nodded as if he understood the situation. The other nations looked concerned, but they seemed to understand too.
Francis took the rolled up document to show England but when he got back to him, England was crying, really crying, there was blood on his pillow. Francis held him so close till he stopped crying so hard.
"Look my love, they did listen to you, everyone loves you…. Everyone loves you… " He whispered. "They are going to try to get America to disarm… okay? You did good… you did really good."
(Listen to Seras to la? by Michel Berger)
/en/seras-tu-l%C3% #ixzz55idm5L3f
And when our regrets will come dance
around us make us crazy
Will you be there?
For our memories and love
unforgettable inconsolable
Will you be there?
Will you follow where I'm going?
Will you be able to live the worst?
Loneliness as time passes
And usually watch them
Our enemies tell me yes
Tell me yes
When our secrets will no longer current
And when the days have passed
Will you be there?
For, our sighs the past
We wanted we dreamed
Will you be there?
The worst
Loneliness as time passes
And used them reqardes
Our enemies tell me yes
Tell me yes?
There?
Will you be there?
Will you be there?
Seras tu la - Michel Berger English Translation