A/N: OMG it's been forever. Please enjoy this chapter beta'd by Sora Resi.
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"So, you've heard that the new alpha is showing up today." Michelle was leaning over the half wall that separated Francis' desk from the rest of the office.
"I believe this is the fourth time someone has mentioned that fact to me today." Francis responded.
"Well, have you seen him yet? Or even heard anything?"
"Only that he was taking a tour of the building today," Francis responded noncommittally.
"Well Lili, you know the omega from the archives branch? Well anyways, she's seen him and she says he's like, totally hot." Francis resisted the urge to roll his eyes. That really told him nothing, as any omega who remained unmated for long enough would find any alpha 'totally hot' and Michelle was notorious for spinning things away from the truth.
"Really." Francis tried to keep his voice flat.
"Yeah. And apparently he's unmated." Well this was new.
"Huh. Fascinating." Francis gritted his teeth. His tone wasn't as blank as he wanted it to be.
"Oh play your poker face all you want to, I know you're interested. Anyway, Lili's exact words were 'he's not much on the eyes, but his scent is divine.' I have papers to file, unfortunately, so I can't stick around, but you might actually get to meet him since he's coming around to meet Kiku, so I expect a full report later."
Francis nodded his head slowly, trying to keep the shock of Michelle, once again, being more perceptive than he took her for. Michelle gave him a cheery smile, as if she could read his mind, and then skipped down the hallway.
As much as Francis wanted to assure himself that he was not worth any alpha's time, the brunette omega had a point. It was quite likely that, being head of the engineering branch, the new alpha would want to get to know the engineers. So, it was within reason that Francis, sitting outside of the door to Kiku's office, would get to meet the alpha.
Shit.
Or maybe not, Francis had to remind himself. This alpha was probably some other horrible gambling/drinking/racist or sexist fool that could run a business, but was a very unattractive person and therefore ignorable to Francis' inner instincts.
But, as Gilbert had so helpfully pointed out, this alpha was two years younger than him, not 20+ years older. Was that factor alone enough to change anything?
Probably not. At least, Francis' hoped.
The elevator at the end of the hall dinged, and Francis jerked to attention as five people exited the contraption.
One of the guys on the Board of Directors that Francis doesn't really know the name of and simply refered to him in his head as 'bald patch'. There was a young beta who he vaguely recognized to be Bald Patch's secretary, as well as the much more easily recognized secretary of the Head of the Board of Directors, known for her reign of tyranny and having the nickname of the 'The Dragon'. Trailing behind was a young woman who was obviously new, because she was fumbling with papers and a briefcase while trying to keep up.
And in the middle… was him. Wedged between two secretaries, looking clean-shaven and paying acute attention, was the new alpha.
Arthur Kirkland.
He had pale blonde hair, and a strong composure, blending in seamlessly with the environment around him with a well fitted suit and, Francis checked, designer shoes.
Shit.
Francis scanned the man again, looking for any kind of flaw he could use against his subconscious, his gaze landing on the man's eyebrows. How had he not seen those earlier? In any case, he could not be called handsome because of his eyebrows.
Francis turned his gaze back to his computer, resolving to speak only when spoken to.
"Shit, we're almost late for a meeting," were the first words out of Bald Patch's mouth. "Alright well, Honda's office is just over there, I'm sure his secretary can help you out if you need anything else, we'd best get going." The alpha, his secretary and the Dragon got back on the elevator without waiting for a real response.
The young girl, who was still fumbling with her briefcase, let out a small whimper of panic, as if she couldn't quite find exactly what she was looking for.
"Tina, why don't you just head back to the office?" The blonde alpha suggested to the woman, who looked up with an expression of gratitude, before rushing off down the hallway towards the stairs.
Francis looked up when approached, meeting eyes with the alpha who had a slightly sheepish expression on his face.
"So, I suppose you're the secretary I'm supposed to talk to?" Francis looked down the walkway formed by cubicles on one side, and offices similar to Kiku's on the other. The nearest occupied desk was three down, and the man there was totally absorbed in his game of Tetris.
"Of course, Mr. Kirkland."
"Oh please, call me Arthur." An alpha that liked to be referred to by his first name? Well that was something new. And something that Francis was… reasonably okay with.
"Alright." There was a pause. "I'm Francis Bonnefoy."
"Nice to meet you, Francis." Arthur reached his hand over the small barrier, and Francis met it in a formal handshake. His grip was firm, but not painful, and his scent came with it. Francis clenched his other fist under the table, trying to keep from obviously reacting.
He was unmated. And Lili was spot on. The rich musk with just a touch of pine was absolutely divine. Francis almost wanted to drool.
"So, what do you do around here besides," Arthur leaned over further to see Francis' computer monitor, "play solitaire." Francis gave a light chuckle.
"Not much really. Organize papers. File things. Send emails. Arrange meetings. Book the occasional flight. Fetch coffee." Arthur had a small smile on his face, and Francis felt his heart beat a little bit faster.
"Sounds easy enough."
"Kiku makes it easy for me," Francis responded. "He's mainly self sufficient. Some others in the same profession have to bend over backwards just to make sure their superiors show up to work on time."
"That sounds exhausting."
"It is. I'm lucky."
"Soooo…"
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"He what?" Gilbert said, sitting on the sofa in Francis' living room.
"He asked me to show him around." Francis responded from the kitchen doorway.
"And you're sure he doesn't like you?"
"It wasn't like that."
"And what was it like?" Gilbert retorted.
"It was," Francis paused to consider his words, "as if he was genuinely interested in getting to know everyone he was going to be working with."
"Isn't that normal?"
"Not at Ahren it isn't."
"Oh. Well clearly my boss is doing everything wrong."
"Either that, or whoever hires people at Ahren likes assholes." Gilbert let out a bark of laughter and Francis smirked into his wine.
"That I would not doubt at all," Gilbert responded. Their conversation was interrupted when Antonio walked through Francis' front door.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late." His hair was mussed by the wind, and he had a smile so big Francis could have sworn he was glowing.
"No you're not," Gilbert shot back.
"No I'm really not." Antonio grinned for a moment, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "So, guess what happened today?"
"Given the enthusiasm, I'm assuming that it's got something to with Lovino," Gilbert commented.
"Oh you have no idea. He's just so cute!" Antonio's dreamy face met Gilbert's soft smile, and Francis just had to grin too. It was always nice seeing Antonio's enthusiasm, and for once Gilbert had a smile on his face. As Antonio recited the comings and goings of the day highlighted by a conversation with Lovino and Gilbert added sarcastic comments, Francis allowed the normality of the moment to flow over him and soothe any worries he might have had about the whole alpha-work thing. Whatever happened, he would always have his two loyal friends, and that would be enough for a lifetime.
"Do you guys want chicken or pasta?"
"What?" Gilbert asked.
"Well if you actually wanted to watch Hot Fuzz before going on your shift Gilbert, then I should start on the food now, so chicken or pasta?"
"Oh. Uhh, chicken."
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Francis arrived at work the next day determined to get some actual work done and not just sit at his desk hoping to see Arthur walk by.
Which was rather difficult, given that Francis didn't really have anything he was supposed to do.
Still, there was a report from the Board of Directors sitting on his desk which he should read over, and even though it was the most boring thing in the world, Francis was determined to glean all the necessary information he possibly could.
Ten minutes later Francis threw down the report in frustration.
Twelve pages of technical jargon saying nothing but 'we really aren't changing anything' wasn't worth reading.
Three spam emails and two abandoned games of solitaire later, Francis got up to get a cup of coffee.
Francis had his back turned, working on getting the correct ratio of instant coffee mix to slightly warmer than tepid water so that the beverage would be drinkable when the footsteps approached.
"Francis?" The man in question turned to see Arthur in the doorway to the coffee room. "It is Francis, right?" Francis nodded and smiled, not sure what else to say.
"Oh thank god. I was worried that I called you by the wrong name and that things would be unbelievably awkward."
Francis was struck by the casual tone of that statement. Was this guy seriously not going to use his position of power as an excuse to act like an asshole to everyone? Arthur wandered into the room, grabbing the almost unused box of tea from the back of the cupboard. Francis noted that the alpha had a copy of hamlet under his arm.
"Do you like Shakespeare?" Francis asked, gesturing to the book under Arthur's arm. Arthur smiled.
"It's an old favourite of mine. I found it unpacking some of the boxes from London and thought it worth a re-read."
"I always preferred his sonnets to his plays." Francis commented idly.
"I thought the same until I actually saw one of his plays on stage." There was a moment of silence and then the kettle dinged signalling that even though the water was nowhere near boiled, the machine was not getting any warmer. Arthur poured some into his mug with teabag before handing it to Francis who poured it into coffee machine.
"Are you almost moved in then?" Francis asked, to break the silence.
"Ph, not at all. I don't even know where the nearest grocery store is." Francis bit his lip. What was the correct response to this? The alpha grabbed his tea and headed to the door.
"Arthur?" Francis' voice was faint but Arthur stalled in the doorway anyway.
"Where do you live? I mean, what neighbourhood do you live in."
"Newcastle. Over by the movie theatre. Why?" Francis wracked his brains for his internal map of the city.
"The nearest grocery store is about four block away on the corner of Westborough and Seventh. But there is a farmers' market that sells fresh and local stuff about twelve blocks further, if you're up for a hike." Arthur got a strange look in his eyes, then broke into a smile that made Francis' heart beat just a little bit faster.
"Thanks," he said. And then he was gone.
Francis stayed in the coffee room for several minutes, making sure his breathing was under control, before heading back out into the busy world of the office and reality.
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A/N: I know it's been forever, but I finally have a new chapter. For once I didn't open my word documents and stare at them in horror because I didn't know what to write.
If you are waiting for the next chapter of The Demon Who Lives Upstairs... you'll have to wait a bit longer. My muse is absolutely dead. I'm not giving up on it, but it will be a while.
I'm also working on an Avengers/Hetalia crossover fic called Tri Alliance, that I'm really proud of. Go check it out if it sounds interesting, it's on my profile.
So... people who review get cookies. And encourage me to write more.
~RosemaryBagels
