Kind of Homo: Chapter Seven

September, Age 9

Francis quickly wrapped a scarf around his neck and pulled on his winter gloves, before waving to his mother and stepping out the door.

Francis used to love the fall, the colors of the leaves, and the fashionable coats he got to wear for the weather. But this year was especially windy, and he honestly hated it. His nose was runny and he was fighting an obnoxious cough. Nonetheless, he was still on his way to Gilbert's house for Friday night.

Antonio was probably over there already, his mom working late hours into the night and his older brother off doing who knows what.

The blonde sniffled a little when a gust of wind wafted into his face and he rolled his eyes in annoyance at mother nature. Gilbert lived several blocks away, so once he turned down his desired street in the subdivision, he noticed he could see another figure down a ways. He squinted and nearly grinned when he realized who it was.

Fluffing his hair up a little, Francis sprinted down the sidewalk until he was a sidewalk square behind the familiar face. "Arthurrrrr!"

Arthur didn't even turn around. His shoulders tensed up and Francis could picture the look on his face. "Just tell me what you want and go away?"

Francis seemed to consider this but smugly shook his head. "Non." He said.

Arthur scowled. "Well, what are you even doing out here? Your pretty pants are gonna freeze to you if you don't get out of this weather soon "

Francis rolled his eyes and played along. "Yes, well, my pants are completely fabulous compared to your trash. So if I was stuck wearing them forever, that wouldn't be a problem like it would for you." He gestured to Arthur's clothing.

"And to answer your question," he continued. "I'm going to the sweet Gilbert's house."

Arthur arched a brow. "Gilbert is not sweet!"

Francis kind off half smiled. "Okay, thats true. But Toni will be there, and he is super sweet!"

Arthur crossed his arms and huffed. "Antonio is an immature, completely oblivious airhead. Being sweet is just a nice way of putting it."

The Frenchman narrowed his eyes. "Antonio is by far better than you! And if he's naive, then you're just... Butthurt! Oui, that's something Gilbert would say!"

Arthur mumbled something under his breath but Francis elected to ignore it and say, "besides I'm going to my friend's house. That's not something you ever get to say jerk."

He knew he got the British boy on that one, so the silence wasn't surprising. He smiled to himself and basked in his glory.

Yup, Arthur was usually alone. In the cold months he stayed cooped up in his house and in the summer he would just read on his front porch. Francis and the others would often pay him visits just to taunt him but they would eventually have to leave when he had enough and sat in the backyard instead.

Sure, Lukas was his friend. But that unfortunate kid's mom was family friends with Matthias' family, meaning poor Lukas was usually stuck with him. And Arthur was always alone.

And Francis knew that, so when his mind actually wrapped around how Arthur was actually off doing something in the neighborhood, his eyebrows shot up.

"Wait a minute. What are you even doing out here?" He asked, holding back an atrocious cough he wouldn't dare let this cute but enraging human being hear.

Apparently it was something Arthur needed to rant about, because he immediately stomped his foot and his hands formed fists. "My stupid brothers!"

"Brothers, huh? Oh yes, I kind of remember them. One had curly hair. How many do you have again?"

''Four. " Arthur grumbled.

Francis let out a smirk. He bathed in the glory of being an only child. He poked Arthur on the cheek. "Honhon!"

Arthur grabbed his finger and bent it backwards, only stopping five seconds after Francis began squealing in pain. The long haired blonde rubbed his sore finger and sent an accusing glare at the Brit before asking, "did they just kick you out?"

Arthur flushed and turned his head away. "They sent me to go get them some snacks from the drug store because they claimed I was being 'obnoxious .'"

Francis cocked his head to the side and grinned. "Well your brothers sound quite amazing."

Arthur scoffed. "Well when Peter's old enough to walk around the neighborhood alone, it's gonna be hell for him, I'm not taking any of this lightly. The others might be off to college at that time but I'll still be here."

Francis twirled a strand of hair. "Well, I wouldn't expect any less from you. You are the spawn of Satan at it's worse."

"Shut up Francis."

Francis clicked his tongue. This walk seemed pretty long. "Either way, will your brothers not let you in if you come back empty handed? Too bad you can't just go to a friend's house and wait it out."

This time, Arthur stopped walking and turned to face Francis. He poked him in the chest and shouted, "would you stop taunting me!?"

The Frenchman blinked innocently. "I didn't do anything of the sort! It's not my fault you are a lonely piece of poubelle—!"

BAM!

Francis couldn't even finish his thought before Arthur swung his fist in front of him, slugging him on the side of the face. He merely stumbled backwards, and held his bruising face with one hand. After a moment of stunned staring, Francis pulled back a sleeve and stomped forward. "Did you just punch me—!?"

Arthur answered him by lunging forward and knocking him on the ground in front of the house they were passing.

"I hate you so much Bonnefoy!" Arthur growled as he pushed the taller boys face into the grass.

Francis resorted to biting his hand and pushing him off before rolling on top of him and slapping him across the face. The two continued to grapple and roll around for mere seconds before the owner of the house stepped onto her porch and started screaming at them.

The boys immediately let go of each other and jumped up, running down the street in panic. Once a good distance away, the two slowed down but we're both panting, neither of them being the most athletic fourth graders.

The two remained silent for a second but Francis' throbbing face made him so mad, he turned to begin making fun of the Brit again. When he opened his mouth to speak, the words right on the tip of his tongue, he noticed something completely out of the ordinary. Arthur was...wiping tears from his eyes?

Francis almost didn't believe it. Sure, he knows he has made the other boy cry before. He sure knows how to dish out some mean insults and on more than one occasion he has left Arthur on the verge of tears, especially when they were younger.

But he never actually saw the Brit cry before, and by the way it seemed, Arthur preferred to keep it that way. He rubbed at his eyes furiously, desperate to not let his slightly older classmate catch him.

Francis clicked his tongue as he walked carefully behind the crying boy. Arthur still hadn't said a word since they were punching each other, and the Frenchman 's face hurt at the mere thought of it. Either way though, Francis hated to make someone cry— well at least when he had to be around to see it happen.

He took a breath and placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder. "Look, Arthur I—are you shivering?"

He watched as Arthur shrugged him off his shoulder and muttered an angry, "Sod off!"

Francis scowled, doing a run over with his eyes on him. "Why in the world are you not wearing a coat?!"

Arthur turned around quickly and threw his arms up, "I don't know! Why don't you mind your own business?"

Without waiting another moment Francis unwrapped the scarf from around his neck and tossed it at the bloodshot eyed boy's face. Sure, he was a bit under the weather and sharing clothes was probably a bad idea, but Arthur would be in way worse shape if he caught a chill.

Arthur frowned under the scarf and tossed it on the pavement. "I don't want your bloody scarf."

Francis gasped and swooped his scarf into his hands quickly. "Have some respect! First off, this is not bloody! And second, my great grandmother made this! She was a fashion prodigy!"

Arthur rolled his eyes and Francis could see him visibly wince. Gilbert always said his slaps were wimpy, but Arthur proved this statement to be otherwise. "You have my condolences," he said sarcastically.

Francis eyebrow irked in irritation, but he held out the plaid red and black scarf again. "Use the scarf. You're freezing!"

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "No."

Francis huffed in annoyance and stepped forward, physically pulling the scarf around Arthur's neck. If he had to be completely honest, he had to make sure he didn't subconsciously choke the stubborn boy. "Take it!"

Arthur was already pulling it off as soon as he took a step back. "I'm not a baby, I don't need it!"

"Well only babies cry, you crybaby!

"I wasn't crying!"

"Yes you were!"

"You're such a filthy liar!" Arthur's face was a blushing mess and he was holding the scarf with his two fingers like it was infected.

"And only idiots go outside without coats!"

Arthur dropped the fashion accessory and stepped on it as he charged at Francis again. "You don't know anything!"

This time, Francis was ready and caught Arthur by the shoulder and shoved him roughly backwards. "Oh my gosh Arthur why—!"

"HEY GUYS! "

The boys fight was immediately interrupted by a new neighborhood face but familiar voice. They both snapped their heads towards the owner of said voice and watched as he grinned widely. It was noted that his 'shadow' was trailing closely behind.

His grin faltered for a moment when he sensed the atmosphere and caught that Francis and Arthur were standing nearly nose to nose with killer looks on their faces and hands balled in fists. "Whoah, whoah, what's going on here?"

Francis glanced at Arthur, and the two seemed to have a silent agreement that they would keep this between them. Alfred had a big mouth, if anything was said, by Monday everyone would know that the two of them attempted to physically fight and ended up losing to some old lady yelling at them to get off her front lawn.

Arthur backed up and cleared his throat. "Nothing," he narrowed his eyes at Alfred. He hated nosiness almost as much as hated Mr. and Mrs. Bonnefoy for giving birth to the specie known as Francis.

Alfred raised a brow. "Are you sure? You both look like you ran into a brick wall! Well, mostly you Francis!"

Francis frowned and cupped his cheek self consciously. "Pftt. Thanks for that."

Matthew poked his head out from behind his older brother. Alfred shrugged and his smile returned. "So what are you guys up to then?"

Arthur crossed his arms and tightened his arms around himself. He looked back and forth between the twins and relented. "I'm just going to the drugstore to get sweets for my brothers."

Alfred eyes immediately sparked and he hopped a sidewalk square closer to Arthur. He grabbed the Brit's hand and his smile took up half his face. "Can we come?!"

Arthur flushed and snatched his hand away. "No! Why are you even out here anyway? It's not like it's the best weather to play outside in!"

Alfred adjusted his crooked glasses and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well, mom said Mattie and I were being too rowdy so she made us go outside.."

Arthur raised a brow and glanced at Francis before looking back at the brothers. "Alfred I can understand—"

"Aw Matthew!" Francis chuckled, gliding over and patting Matthew on the head. "I didn't know you could be tough!"

The anxious boy smiled smally and shrugged a bit. He went to answer when Alfred threw an arm around his shoulder and immediately began giving him a noogie. "Nah Mattie's not tough!"

Under his arm, Matthew frowned but gave up on struggling. Arthur may or may not have caught that.

Nevertheless, he shivered one last time before turning on the sidewalk and continued his journey. The overcast sky was reminding him of the times he visited his family in Britain. He hated feeling nostalgic.

"Wait Arthur! We can come with you right?" Alfred called again.

"No." He answered without looking over his shoulder.

"Please? "

Francis fluffed his hair. "Of course you can go with Artie! He was just telling me about how he wishes he had more friends!"

Arthur paused and turned around to start up the useless argument all over again, but before he could even lock his eyes on the frenchmen, someone was already dragging him down the sidewalk.

"No time for that Artie! Francis said it was ok so it is, so let's go get candy!"

The smaller blonde's eyes widened to the size of saucers and he struggled to pull himself in the other direction. Alfred continued to blab on and Matthew walked silently next to them. Realizing he was no match for his ridiculously strong classmate, Arthur gave up. He stole a glance over his shoulder and watched as Francis smoothly picked up the scarf and tossed it loosely around his shoulders. He smirked and waved girlishly. Arthur furrowed his brows and turned forward.

For a few moments, Francis eyed the trio's retreating figures. Arthur was still being dragged along and he could even still hear Alfred's booming voice from way back there. Francis noted that Matthew had his hands behind his back and seemed to be doing some sort of nervous hand exercises.

He shrugged, a sly smile gracing his features, and turned the corner where he could see Gilbert's house a few spaces down. He was actually pretty satisfied with what he did, and he personally believed it was a good deed. He made fun of Arthur for being a loner and it hurt his feelings right? Well, he just gave Arthur two people to hang out with. So if Arthur was going to be so picky about every little thing, he will never be pleased about anything!

Okay. So maybe he sent Alfred with Arthur because he wanted the annoying kid to suffer a little bit. But hey, he deserved it! Nobody punches Francis Bonnefoy in the face and gets away with it!

Once hopping up the steps and wiping his shoes on the carpet outside, Francis let himself in. He cut through the kitchen and made his way into the living room where Antonio and Gilbert were burrowed in a bunch of blankets and had their eyes glued to the screen. "I'm heeeeerrree!"

Antonio paused the game for a second causing Gilbert to scowl. "Yay! Francypants! What took so long?"

Francis stripped off his coat, gloves, and scarf before shrugging. "Just some minor delays."

Gilbert rolled his shoulders and raised a brow. "Looks like you ran into a brick wall!"

Recalling what Alfred said, Francis scoffed. "No I—" then remembering what he and Arthur agreed, he said, "um yes. Brick wall."

Gilbert cackled and grabbed the bowl of snacks off the coffee table. "Loser!"

Francis crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Well, I also got a bit distracted."

Antonio walked back to Francis from where his backpack was laying next to the front door. He had retrieved a few bandaids for his friend. His mother always made him carry around a small first aid kit, considering how often he got hurt. (Especially after he got punched last week, his mom was about ready to go loco on the school.)

"What did you get distracted by?"

Francis accepted the bandaid and sat down on the floor as Antonio helped him apply them. "Well, I ran into the Burnt Crumpet."

Antonio drew his face back a bit and visibly cringed. "Boy, that's unlucky."

Gilbert produced a sound that they assumed was agreement, but his mouth was full of pretzels, so that gave him an excuse for such an ungodly sound.

Francis chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, he sucks. But I also saw Alfred."

The albino stood up from his spot in his blankets and stretched his arms. "We need to invite him over one of the days. Alfred is pretty awesome — and that's coming from me!"

Antonio patted a bandage over the French boys cheek, after wasting three good ones because it kept getting stuck to his finger. "Yeah, I think Alfred is cool. He's pretty loud. So he must be happy! Anyways, we're lucky we got him in our class."

Francis winced as his cheek throbbed from the pressure and then he let out an irritated breath. "Sure, yeah, he's whatever. I kinda like him because whenever he's around I feel like Arthur is even more annoyed than when he's stuck with us."

Gilberts jaw dropped. "No way."

Francis smirked and nodded. "Yes way." He went to stand up but then remembered, "Oh yeah. Matthew was there too."

Gilbert cocked his head to the side. "The dorky marshmallow huh?"

Antonio clasped his hands together and held them behind his head as support. "I haven't seen Matthew a lot at recess lately."

Francis waved his hand. "That's because he got a bloody nose last week. Matthew is a squishy boy. He doesn't wanna get hurt probably."

Gilbert nodded and walked over. "Yeah, you can't just punch him like this!" He promptly punched his Spanish friend in the arm with about half his strength .

"HEY that hurt Gil!" Antonio whined before punching Gilbert back. Gilbert cackled and punched him again! And before they knew it, the two were in a heated game of punchies.

"Toni you punch like a girl!"

"Girls are cool! " Antonio huffed out as he socked Gil's reddening arm again. When Antonio got hit again, and Francis had to listen to a whole new round of ridiculous insane laughter, he noticed Ludwig sitting at the dining table. He could see from here that he was struggling to keep his marbles.

Persing his smirking lips, Francis stepped forward and stopped Gilbert from taking his next turn. "You both suck, now go finish your round in Mario Kart so I can beat you on Peach Beach!"

Antonio rubbed his sore arm and stuck out his bottom lip. "My arm hurts really bad now Francy!"

Francis held out a hand. "Lemme see. I'll give it a get better kiss."

Antonio smiled and placed his arm in Francis' grip. He proceeded to give his friend a quick kiss on the arm. Antonio beamed and stared at his arm as if it were brand new. "Wow! It feels better already!"

Francis blew Antonio a kiss and fluttered his eyelashes. Antonio played along and caught the kiss. "Well, my kisses are magic!" Francis held his pointer finger to his lip like it was a secret.

"Gross! " They both turned to Gilbert who had his tongue hanging out of his mouth. "You guys are such girly boys!"

Francis walked over slowly. "What do you have against girls..." He drew out before lunging at Gilbert and wrapping his arms around him. "Your turn!" he sang, then pecked the boy's arm.

After a moment of shock, Gilbert threw Francis off himself rather easily, but despite the whole situation all three of them were laughing.

"Wait I got it!" Antonio giggled as he wiped the kiss he "caught" earlier all over the maroon eyed boy's shoulder.

"No! You're so unawesome!"

After a few more minutes of pointless ridiculousness, the boys sat down to finish their level, and Francis found himself wandering toward Ludwig. The younger blonde was hunched over the table with a few worksheets spread around.

"Are you doing homework? It's Friday!"

Ludwig raised an eyebrow and looked up from his work. "Yeah. It's just some science and math. I didn't start as soon as I got home from school, so I'm doing it now."

Francis blinked like it was the most outrageous things he's heard, but decided not to comment. His eyes scanned the sheets, wondering if he would remember any of the stuff he learned in third grade. Deciding that he in fact could not remember anything, he let his eyes drift off to a page of notes Ludwig had sitting out about the five senses. At the top was something he never thought he would see on a Beilschmidt brother's notebook.

Okay, so maybe Gilbert would do something as juvenile as that, but definitely not Ludwig.

"Did you doodle all over your notes?"

Ludwig looked confused when he looked up, "What—?!" But then his eyes fell on the page and he let out a sigh of annoyance. "Right. No, that is from that new kid—Feliciano— he won't stop following me around."

Francis hummed to show he was listening. His grin grew wider as he leaned over the table for a closer look. His fingers traced over the sloppy hearts and cat heads decorating Ludwig's name. "Feliciano, wasn't he cute?"

Ludwig narrowed his eyes. "He's so annoying. I can't get rid of him! But Kiku actually likes having him around so I really can't do anything. I've made him cry twice, but he always comes back."

"Awww, cute lil' Luddy is making friends~!" The older blonde cooed as he grabbed the German boy's cheek.

Ludwig flushed and pushed him away. "Don't ever do that again." He said stoically. But Francis just laughed again and patted his head. He finally noted that Ludwig's hair wasn't slicked back like normal and was damp.

"Can't believe that ray of sunshine is Lovino's brother."

"Did you say Lovino?" Antonio asked, taking his eyes off the screen for a second. Gilbert took advantage of that and dropped a banana peel in front of him, resulting in his doom.

Antonio noticed he had no chance of winning so he dropped his controller much to Gilbert's excitment, and skipped over to the table.

"You quitter! I WON BECAUSE I'M AWESOME!"

Antonio ignored the cheers going off behind him and glanced at the table. "Do you know Lovino?" He widened his eyes at the third grader expectantly.

Ludwig frowned. "No. But I've heard enough stories about him to last a lifetime.." He groaned and put a hand to his forehead. Just thinking of the pasta faced-quick speaking Italian gave him a migraine.

"Then what were you guys talking about?"

Francis picked up the notebook and pointed at the doodles. "His brother is friends with Ludwig here! He drew these."

Antonio scanned the page. "That's cute!"

Gilbert peeked over their shoulders. "There should be skulls and birds!"

Antonio held the notes to his chest protectivly. "But when I met Feliciano he was so cute! Hearts are perfect for him!"

Gilbert's face froze for a second and the gears began turning on his head. "Oh yeah, I've seen that little noodle before, running around the halls. He is like a little puppy I just wanna hug him!"

The three boys began talking over each other, sharing opinions or comparisons on the younger Vargas child. Ludwig sat there for about another minute before deciding he couldn't handle it anymore. He had a whole weekend away from that kid and he was still being haunted! He piled up his papers and neatly stuck them in his bag before plucking the notes out of Antonio's hand and walking toward the stairs.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" The brunette cried.

"I can't concentrate with you three idiots here!" He said in an annoyed tone as he walked up the stairs.

"Luddy no! " Gilbert shouted, but his little brother was already gone. After a moment of realization, the albino silently thanked God that his grandfather didn't come rioting down the stairs, demanding them to be quieter.

He turned to his friends and shrugged like, 'whadaya gonna do?'

Antonio stroked his chin. "I wonder if Lovi can draw too.."

Francis cocked his head to the side before coughing into his arm. Dang it! And he was doing so good at managing it! He cleared his throat and smiled, before throwing an arm around Toni's shoulder. He didn't seem to care about the germs. "You seem like you got a crush on this Lovi~"

Toni looked up and laughed. "Haha! I don't know about that! He's kind of hit me a lot in the last week!" Francis didn't add that Antonio still is trying to befriend him for whatever reason.

"You let Gilbert punch you though?"

Gilbert poured the rest of the bowl of pretzels in his mouth and talked in the middle of chewing, "but that means I have a 'crush' on him, because I CRUSHED HIM! HAHAHA! I'm so awesome!" He nearly started choking on one of the salty snacks while laughing at his word play.

Francis face palmed and Antonio narrowed his eyes, still not getting it completely. "Ohhh you have a crush on me!?"

Gilbert stopped laughing and widened his eyes. "Heck no! I was just kidding. In fact, I'm already married!"

Francis raised a brow. Knowing there was no way Gilbert was referring to all the times they played wedding as kids he plainly said, "really? Who in the right mind would marry you?"

Gilbert smiled triumphantly. "Me!"

"What? "

"I married myself! I'm the only on awesome enough to do it, so it happened! Luddy was there, so it's for realz. Suck it losers!"

Antonio broke into a wider smile and began giggling uncontrollably. "You're so weird Gil!"

Francis grinned and skidded into the kitchen with a questioning Gilbert behind him. He picked up the home phone hanging on the wall and Gilbert continued nagging him as Antonio entered the room.

Holding the phone to his ear, Francis' eyes scanned the list of names and phone numbers tapped to the wall. Grandpa Beilschmidt really was old school. Coming to the name he needed, he plugged in the numbers and listened as the other line rang.

"I swear Francy I will cut off all your hair and feed it to Gilbird! Answer me!"

Francis gasped and turned away. But he was hiding a cheeky smile. "I'm just calling Roderich to tell him that you know you'll be lonely for the rest of your life, so you married yourself!"

Gilbert's jaw dropped and his face flushed. "No it's because I'm AWESOME! NOT LONELY YOU STALE BAGUETTE!" He reached for it but Francis swiftly stepped a away.

"Hello?"

"Bonjour Mrs. Edelstein! Can I please speak to Roderich?"

Francis ran into the living room but when Gilbert caught up he went flying forward and landed in a pile of blankets. Gilbert pinned him down and sat on top of him.

"Toni! "

Antonio caught the phone when it was lamely tossed to him. He held it to his ear.

"Hello? Helllloooo? I swear Gilbert your jokes aren't funny." He heard Roderichs voice say.

"No! It's Toni! "

"What do you want?"

"I wanna tell you that Gilbert—OOFF!" the home phone was knocked out of his hand as his whole body flew backwards from getting smacked upside the head with a pillow by the grinning albino.

He retrieved the phone like a trophy and yelled into it, " YOU JUST GOT PRANKED SON! " He then hung up and chucked it across the room, sending the batteries sprawling out.

Francis sat up before promptly flopping over again. "Toni! You dumb head!"

Antonio rubbed his head awkwardly. "Lo siento!"

Gilbert flopped down on the blankets and rolled over so he was facing Francis. They locked eyes and Gilbert grinned. "I told you, no one can match up to my AWESOME!"

This took far too long to write... I had half done for awhile but man I'm lazy... Anyways!

I feel like this chapter was a bit off? But idk. It was the Francis chapter lol and he's a bit weird so it's all good ^—^

I'm gonna start adding months along with the ages i think, because so many chapters takes place when they're at the same age and I feel like if I don't mention it in the chapter, it's hard for you guys to know how much later one chapter is taking place from the previous one.

Note** I know I make certain comments in the chapters about the characters personal lives (ex: how Arthur says Francis doesn't "get anything" when he calls him dumb for not wearing a coat, or even last chapter when Lovi says his gramps forgets about him) but in the way the story is written, I have no clue if I can include all the reasons and backstories for them. I will try, but I can't promise.

^^Though if you do have any questions feel free to ask (i may not be able to answer cause i never actually know what i will end up including and no one likes spoilers

~Iwilldrinkthiscoffee

7/26/17