Ch. 7:

"A couple of years back I met this man from France, he was a bit flashy but he was handsome and charming and we seemed to hit it off." Arthur laughed bitterly, "For a few months we had a great time."

He sat on the bench next to Alfred, telling him something he had not even told his family. But if one person needed to know it was Alfred, who just sat there quietly, listening. If there was one person who deserved to know it, it was Alfred.

"Then what happened," Alfred asked quietly.

Arthur heaved a heavy sigh and took a few moments to answer, "… He grew bored of me. I thought we were having a great time…I was really, really happy…but I was wrong." He laughed mirthlessly and looked up at Alfred, "Now you see why I find myself so boring?"

Arthur looked back down at his lap, but then felt Alfred's warms fingers wrap around his own, "Did you really love this French guy?"

Arthur let out another sigh; he was doing that a lot lately, "I'm not completely sure. Maybe, once, when I thought he felt the same. Before I found out more about him," Arthur smirked sardonically, "Not long after he broke up with me Allistor told me some things he found out about him, the disgusting stuff he did ha! I'm lucky I didn't catch anything from him."

But Alfred didn't laugh, he just watched Arthur with that sympathetic blue gaze, "But it still hurt, didn't it." It wasn't a question.

Arthur nodded, "Yeah, it did."

"I'm sorry," Alfred mumbled quietly.

Arthur breathed, "Thanks." Then quickly shook himself of his depression, "So, that's my sad little story, pretty pathetic huh?" He laughed painfully.

But Alfred smiled, "Want to know something sadder?"

Arthur cocked an eyebrow.

Alfred stood up and slowly turned a 360 circle, "Do you see this hot mess, Arthur?"

"Yes, is something wrong with it?"

"Yes, it's still a virgin," Alfred stopped spinning. He was red-faced with embarrassment but still smiled, "Sad huh?"

At first Arthur felt a kind of…relief, a joy, to learn that no one had touched Alfred. But then he narrowed his eyes strictly, "From what I saw tonight you were trying to remedy that."

Alfred stopped smiling and looked slightly guilty, he absently kicked at the side walk, "I wasn't trying to get someone to sleep with me; I just wanted someone to buy me a drink."

"Why," Arthur asked.

Alfred looked up at the sky, looking both awkward and annoyed, "Because a few days ago my ego received a severe blow from a giant-browed Brit and I needed someone to remind me I'm pretty."

Now it was Arthur's turn to look guilty, "I-I'm sorry." He squirmed on the bench, "But as you see…I had my reasons."

"Yeah, I know," Alfred didn't sound angry, "So it's unfair of you to get all upset about me trying to get my spirits up."

"There are other ways," Arthur said, "You're nineteen that man you were kissing was around forty."

Alfred huffed, "Like you're one to talk."

"Twenty five isn't old Alfred," Arthur said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

But Alfred just laughed before walking back to Arthur; he suddenly kneeled and rested his elbows on the surprised Brit's legs. "Don't worry, you may be old but you're a much better kisser."

Arthur blushed, "Thanks…I think."

Before either could say more Arthur heard loud, obnoxious voices call his name and he groaned. "That's Allistor and Dylan; they must be ready to go home." He looked ruefully down at Alfred, "I'm sorry, I have to go."

Alfred looked incredibly disappointed but nodded and stood up, "Okay."

Arthur got up and headed toward his brothers' voices when Alfred suddenly captured his hand, he looked back with surprise.

"I want," Alfred's entire face was beet red, "I want…to see you again."

Arthur couldn't help but smile, "Yes, I want to see you again too…how about tomorrow?"

Alfred's whole body seemed to perk up, "Really?" His eyes shone like sapphire diamonds.

Arthur nodded, "Meet me here at three." Then he gently pulled his hand out of Alfred's grasp, "Goodbye."

"Bye," Alfred mumbled with a wave.

As Arthur left he thought about how tomorrow couldn't come quickly enough.

Alfred was whistling a happy tune when he opened the door to his and Matthew's hotel room. What a great night! And tomorrow would be even better.

"Mattie," he called out, "You still awake?"

His brother was suddenly in front of him, blushing and looking incredibly flustered, "Keep your voice down."

Alfred blinked in surprise, "What is it," he whispered, "Is there a robber in the room?"

Matthew gave his brother the 'you're crazy' look before quickly shaking his head, "No-it's just-" he blushed even more; "We have a guest."

Alfred followed Matthew's gaze to the couch and before his brother could stop him, walked over.

Lying sprawled across the couch was a man, he looked to be in his early twenties like Arthur, with long soft-looking blond hair and light stubble on his chin; he wore a fancy shirt and pants and was snoring softly.

Alfred looked back at his brother, "Who the hell is this?"

Matthew shrugged with a small smile, "This is my friend I told you about, Francis Bonnefoy."

So this was the guy Matthew was spending all his time with, Alfred looked at the sleeping stranger with newfound interest, "What's he doing here?"

"Oh, well we were supposed to go hang out tonight but what with your depression and attempts at being an alcohol prostitute I kind of forgot. So Francis came to check on me and we just stayed here."

Alfred turned to his brother with slight alarm, looked down at Francis, then back at his brother.

"What's that look for," Matthew demanded, almost offensively.

Alfred walked over to his brother and whispered frantically, "Are you still a flower?"

Matthew looked at him with confusion, "Am I still a what?"

"Is my little baby brother still a maiden," Alfred rephrased, starting to get a little panicked. Alfred couldn't let his younger, slightly less attractive brother lose his virginity before him!

Matthew gasped in anger, his cheeks flaming, "YES, I AM!"

The shout made Francis mumble and slowly sit up, making Matthew's eyes widened and his red cheeks going darker.

Francis stretched languidly before turning around, he smiled warmly at Matthew for a moment before noticing Alfred and he blinked in surprise. "Am I seeing double?" His French accent was thick and Alfred remembered that a man who was probably similar to Francis broke Arthur's heart. Alfred was suddenly afraid for his brother.

"Francis," Matthew spoke up, "This is the brother I told you about, Alfred. Alfred, this is Francis."

Francis smiled cheerfully up at Alfred before extending a hand, "Bonjour."

"You too," Alfred replied, allowing a slight smile as he took Francis's hand, he seemed friendly enough.

"You're brother was frightfully worried for you," Francis said, resting his elbows on the back of the couch and putting his head in his hands, "Did you end up selling your body for wine like he feared you would?"

Now it was Alfred who blushed, "No! Actually Mattie, remember that problem I had before I left?" Alfred couldn't help but smile at his next words, "It's solved."

Matthew looked up at him with surprised delight, "Really, how?"

"What are we talking about," Francis asked, looking a little upset to be left out of the conversation.

"Alfred had a falling out with a new friend of his," Matthew explained before turning back to his brother, "But you said it's resolved?"

"I said it's solved," Alfred replied, then couldn't help a proud lift of his head, "Arthur and I are going to hang out tomorrow at three."

Neither noticed Francis's eyes widen when Matthew spoke next. "So you're going on a date?'

Alfred looked away in embarrassment, "I wouldn't call it a date. Just two friends hanging out, that's all."

"Well that's good," Matthew smirked but Alfred knew his brother didn't believe him. And to be honest Alfred didn't mind calling it a date, it actually had a nice ring to it. But he didn't know if Arthur would feel the same way.

"Well then, considering it's like two in the morning you need to get some sleep," Matthew replied, nudging his brother to his room.

"What about him," Alfred stopped and looked pointedly at Francis, he didn't know if he wanted the French man to spend the night under the same roof as Matthew. Matthew looked from one to the other, looking unsure but then Francis spoke: "I need to head back to my friends anyway, don't worry. Sorry for falling asleep on your couch," he laughed breezily, "But I'm glad I got to meet the famous Alfred." He stood up and gave a flashy bow, "Au revoir."

Then with a smile and wink at Matthew he departed.

"I don't know if I trust that guy," Alfred said quietly, thinking about Arthur.

"Oh, you just met him," Matthew scoffed, "And you've never liked any of my friends."
"Hey, it's not my fault you had weird friends," Alfred defended himself, "But no, I mean, he doesn't look at you like your friends, you know."

Matthew just shook his head impatiently, "Go to bed, Alfred."

Alfred obeyed; he was worried about his brother getting too close to that Frenchman; however his worries quickly vanished when he thought about what tomorrow would bring.