Francis pried his eyes open and was relieved to find the room was dark. He slowly shifted to better look around but pain erupted through his body. He clenched his hands, grabbing something solid, and didn't let go until the pain ebbed away. He blinked tears away and felt something move to his right.

"Francis?"

He very carefully let his head roll to the side to see Arthur holding his hand. His eyes almost seemed to glow in the dark, and in the dim light the outline of how his hair stuck up on one side gave away the fact he had fallen asleep, sitting at his bedside and slumped on the bed.

"Are you alright?" Arthur whispered.

"Ouai," Francis reached out to gingerly brush Arthur's cheek. "You?"

"Yeah."

Francis attempted to move again, but was stopped short once more by a wave of pain. When his vision cleared Arthur was standing over him with concern on his face. Francis gave what he hoped was an encouraging smile and tried to catch his breath. Arthur hissed in frustration and rested his forehead against Francis'.

"God, Francis," Arthur's voice was low with emotion. "Don't scare me like this again."

Francis laughed dryly and threaded a hand through Arthur's hair. He pressed his lips against Arthur's nose, his cheek, his ear. He wrapped this other arm around Arthur's shoulder to pull him closer, and buried his face in his shoulder.

"Arthur,"

"Yes?"

"Why are you wearing mittens?"

A few hours earlier Arthur had collapsed into a chair in a waiting room on the other side of the hospital. Because despite Matthew's insistence that the mage sleep, their shared anxieties over Francis' condition had triumphed. Matthew had sat next to him with his wings folded neatly over the back of his chair, watching people pass by the door. The well-lit, spacious room was empty and silent except for them and occasional passer-by. Arthur rested his head against the back of his chair, but fixed his gaze on the doors leading to the surgery theater.

I know what you're thinking. Peter said seriously, sitting on his brother's opposite side.

"Oh, do you now?" Arthur replied.

"Hmm?" Matthew looked at him.

Arthur shook his head, "Nothing, sorry."

Last time, it was Mum in there, Peter continued, staring at the door. And she didn't come out.

Arthur felt his chest tighten and he gritted his teeth. He wanted to yell at his brother, make him leave. Didn't he know what a horrible time he'd had? He didn't need this. He needed peace, something that'd make him feel better not worse.

But you don't have to worry, Francis will. It's going to be okay this time.

Arthur froze and looked at his brother, with wet eyes and the tension in his torso easing. Peter beamed back with his eternally youthful smile.

I may be dead, but I do know some things, Peter kissed his brother's forehead and vanished.

"I know," Arthur mumbled, rubbing the tears away before they could fall.

Matthew eyed him sideways, and patted Arthur's shoulder sympathetically.

After only a few days Matthew and Alfred were looking good as new, and were allowed to leave, but they were constantly in and out to see their brother. Francis was sitting up straighter in bed, no bruises or scrapes to be seen expect for his injured wing that was in a splint and stuck out oddly. However, without the benefit of magical remedies Arthur was still limping and bruised almost a week later.

Despite the protests of his nurse, he managed to sneak across the hospital once or twice a day to see how Francis was doing. And it was about time, he figured, to do it again. Arthur slid out of bed, grabbed the machine he was attached to, and whipped open the curtain across the doorway open just to find Nurse Hedervary and Dr. Edelstein on the other side, looking surprised.

"Going somewhere, Mr. Kirkland?" The doctor asked.

Arthur couldn't decide if he should lie or not.

He glanced at the nurse and she gave him a knowing smile, "You can visit your friend after we get a look at those hands. We're here to take your syphon."

"Oh, yes, of course," Arthur sheepishly sat back down on the bed.

It had taken longer than expected for this to happen, they had wanted to be careful. But Arthur was relieved that he was finally going to be rid of the dancing waffles forever. When the nurse took his mittens off, his hands looked pale but the cool air felt blissful against his skin after so long in the humid gloves.

"Palms up, please." The doctor said.

Arthur complied, and his stomach sank. His hands didn't look like his own. They were scarred and looked as if a layer of him had melted and not re-formed quite the same. The medical personnel exchanged a look, and the doctor blew air out of his nose.

"Ah," the centaur folded his arms.

"Ah?" Arthur looked between the two, "What does he mean: Ah?"

Nurse Hedervary chewed on her lip of a second before sitting down on the bed next to Arthur, "Mr. Kirkland, we have good news and bad news for you."

Matthew insisted he push Francis along the hallway in a wheelchair. Francis could get around without much of a problem, but his brothers wanted to be careful while he finished healing.

Alfred walked beside them, with his hands in his pockets, "Why you gotta walk so slow, Mattie?" He complained, turning to face them and walk backwards.

"There's no reason to rush," Matthew slowed down more, just to annoy his brother. "It's not like he's going any… where…"

They stopped in front of Arthur's room. The curtain was drawn wide open and Arthur was pulling on his cloak, back in his own clothes. The hospital gown was crumpled on the bed and all the machinery had been tucked back into storage. Arthur saw them out of the corner of his eye, but didn't say anything. He just continued to fumble with his buttons.

"Hey Artie…" Alfred began.

"Where are you going?" Francis interrupted, standing.

He walked over and tugged on the hem of Arthur's cloak to straighten it before starting to do up the buttons correctly.

Arthur sighed, "…thank you."

Francis hummed and straightened his collar, smoothed his shoulders down, waiting for a response.

"They said I'm free to go," Arthur finally replied. "They were able to treat me and I should heal up in a few hours."

"Oh, but this is fantastic!" Francis enthused, "So why do you look so glum? Or is that just your face?" He teased, pinching Arthur's cheek.

Arthur swatted his hand away, and Francis laughed. The Avian was more relieved that Arthur had already begun to look better than worried about him leaving again. The University was close enough. But the smile slid from his face at what his companion said next.

"I see you're feeling better as well," Arthur said, looking away. "I'm going home."

Francis' forehead crinkled, "W-why? You came all the way out here for school and now you want to go back? Did you lose your spot?"

Arthur didn't reply, but Francis noticed he tucked his hands up into the ends of his sleeves.

"…I guess it doesn't matter," Francis continued in a gentler tone. "I'm coming with you, regardless."

"No, no, Francis," Arthur took a deep, weary breath before continuing. "Truthfully, I don't know where I'm going anymore. Dr. Edelstein said that I can't… I can't use magic like I used to anymore. I damaged my hands. If I use magic at all I could hurt myself, or someone else…"

"Arthur, that doesn't matter to me."

"Well it matters to me!" Arthur shot back, "I did everything I could to get accepted to that University! And now I'm-" He shook his head and rubbed a hand over his face, "I'm sorry…. I need to figure out what I should do next, and you're not ready to leave here yet."

"Could you wait for me, then? S'il vous plait, Arthur," Francis pleaded softly, reaching out to take Arthur's hand.

It felt strange and uneven against his own, like a completely different hand. Francis kissed his palm and threaded his fingers through Arthur's.

"Let me stay by your side, I want to help how I can… Arthur, I love you."

"Oh shit," Alfred whispered excitedly, looking back and forth between them.

Arthur's face flushed red. Francis shifted sideways, blushing himself, and drew his good wing up to give them some privacy, shooting his brothers a look over his shoulder. Matthew took the cue and pulled Alfred out of the room by the arm, yanking the curtain shut over the door behind them. Once his loud protests had faded away Francis turned back.

Arthur wouldn't look him in the eye, "How can you say that?" He mumbled, "We've only known each other a few days. We barely know anything about each other, you can't just… say that."

"D'accord, I know you're stubborn and grumpy all this time," Francis began teasingly, but went back to being serious, "And I know you're smart and talented, with or without your magic. And I know you're alone… I know you're sad…"

Francis went down on one knee. He looked into Arthur's face, and he finally looked back. Arthur was trying and failing to mask his emotions, in his confused, messy state. Francis held Arthur's hand between both of his own. He squared his shoulders and straightened his wings as much as he could, aiming to look more confident than he was.

But when he spoke again, the hesitancy in his voice betrayed him, "…I know that I don't want you to feel that way anymore. And I should have told you before that," Francis took a deep breath and tried to organize his thoughts. "When Avian find their soulmates, we become bonded to them. As time goes on, it grows stronger. Some can even feel what the other does, and it's not unusual for one to die of heartbreak if the other leaves this world for whatever reason. I-I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that we would do anything for them. I would do anything for you."

Arthur's eyes widened, his mind racing.

"I know that this-" Francis trailed off for a moment, cleared his voice and continued. "It's not the same for humans. B-but even if you do not feel the same way-"

"You're a fool," Arthur interrupted, "I could hurt you."

"Do you want to hurt me?"

"No, I'd never-" Arthur caught himself and looked at his feet.

This is too much responsibility, he thought. How could he expected to care for Francis' heart that way? They'd only just met. Arthur did care for him deeply, but this seemed much more serious somehow. Of course, he-

"Of course, I feel the same way," Arthur spat out, as if saying it fast would lessen his discomfort. "I don't know if this will work, but maybe we could," His heart was beating so fast, Arthur was worried Francis might see it through his shirt, "…try?"

Francis' eyes were loving, tender, so full of warmth. He regarded Arthur as if he were a beautiful painting, a masterpiece. Arthur didn't think it was right when Francis looked so much like an angel, the color creeping back into his cheeks and life animating every graceful movement. He felt tired, as if he hadn't been home in years. Francis was here now and he didn't have to be lonely anymore. His knees felt weak, so he fell to them and pulled Francis into a tight hug.

Don't look at me like that, Arthur wanted to say. I don't deserve this, it's unreal. But instead he said, "I'll wait."

Arthur could feel Francis smile against his shoulder, his fingers gently combing through Arthur's hair.

"And I love you, too," he added softly, leaning back enough to carefully guide his lips to Francis'.

Francis blinked, surprised, and then closed his eyes, letting himself melt into the kiss. For a moment the uncertainty of the future didn't matter. It was going to be okay.

Hello again! So… that's that! This seems to be as finished as it's going to get at this point. (I keep finding mistakes and typos in old chapters, but I can't really fix them right now, I'm so sorry. No time, no time.)

This was really fun! I've started to work on another one, but it will definitely go up much more slowly than this one. Thank you so so much for reading and THANK YOU to everybody who followed and favorited! Again, I really appreciate it! Best Wishes! oxox