Arthur was crying. He was trying to be quiet to not wake his 'husband' who was sleeping next to him but it was hard. He wanted to go home. He didn't want to be here a second longer. He wanted to drink his favorite tea again and eat foods he actually liked. Most of all he wanted Francis to scoop him into his arms and coo to him in French like he always did when he was upset. He missed Francis terribly and just wanted to be with him. He wanted Francis to rescue him from where he was trapped and to keep Alfred from ever touching him again. Francis would be absolutely furious when he found out what happened. He would never leave his side again and would be so protective of him and Noel. He missed how possessive the Frenchman could be with the two of them and wondered why he ever found it to be annoying.
Unfortunately a sniffle woke up the man in the bed with him.
"Are you honestly crying?" he demanded. "Only wussies cry." The man sat up and grabbed his hands, trying to pull them away from his face. "I don't know why you're crying anyway. I gave you more pleasure last night than old Frenchy ever did." Arthur gasped in shock. Did Alfred honestly believe that last night had been anything other than a nightmare for him? Continuing to pull, Alfred said, "I mean how could you even compare us? There's no way he was anywhere as good as me. Country of 'love' or not."
"Francis is so much better than you! He doesn't hurt me! He doesn't force himself on me! He loves me! I want to go home! Let Noel and I go!"
The larger man pinned him down to the bed, glaring harshly at the other.
"I love you too! Why should I have to share you with someone who doesn't even appreciate you!"
"Francis does appreciate me! Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not true! I don't like public displays of affection and prefer to keep it to ourselves! I love him, Alfred! Not you!"
The look in the American's face scared Arthur.
"We'll just have to change that then…"
Arthur's eyes widened as his torture began once more.
Francis was sitting in his seat at the world meeting, staring forlornly at the empty seat next to him. It was ten to eight so there was still time for Arthur to turn up. He honestly hoped that he would, that he had just run off on him, because that meant that he was safe and well. It meant they could talk and attempt to fix things. Him not coming to the meeting was what he had been dreading for the last month.
Checking the clock on the wall again he saw that it was nearly time for the meeting to start and the chair was still vacant.
Antonio sat down on the other side of him and pat his hand.
"We'll find them. Someone must know something and they'll tell us today."
"I doubt anyone cares enough to say anything."
The Spaniard was surprised.
"Qué? People love Inglaterra. When they find out that he's been missing, they'll be eager to help find him."
Francis lowered his gaze.
"It was not him I was talking about…"
It took Antonio a few moments before he realized what he was saying.
"No, amigo, no! People love you too! They wouldn't want you to suffer like this."
"You don't know that for sure."
"Si. I do."
Ludwig stood up and made his way to the front of the table.
"Are you not going to sit in your usual seat next to Romano?"
"No. He's sitting with his brother today."
Francis started to say something but was cut off by Ludwig starting the meeting.
"Hallo everyone. Welcome to the last World Summit meetings of the year. Before we begin it has been brought to my attention that one of our members has gone missing. Arthur Kirkland-Bonnefoy and Noel Kirkland-Bonnefoy has not been seen in a little over a month. If you have any information to share about him you may share it now, or if you want to be more discreet you can tell me or Antonio after we finish."
Almost everyone in the room turned to give Francis a sad look but he wasn't paying attention to them.
The meeting dragged on for several excruciating hours. Francis hadn't said anything during and no one had blamed him.
Now he was walking down the hall, lost in his own thoughts and staring without seeing at the ground.
"F-Francis?" a timid voice said, pulling on his sleeve. "C-Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Snapping out of his daze, he turned around to see Matthew looking at him nervously.
"What is it, cher?"
Matthew looked around quickly before dragging him into a nearby room.
"I want to talk to you about Dad and Noel…"
"Do you know something about where they are?"
Biting his lip Matthew replied, "I'm not sure…b-but Alfred has been acting really strange and it's making me wonder…"
Francis put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Go on," he urged gently, desperate to hear anything that might lead him to Arthur and Noel.
"W-Well…he's been acting really weird…he's always saying he's busy or cancelling on me. He won't let me come over anymore and when I tried to go see him and see what was going on but he wasn't at home…not only that but it looked like he hadn't been there for a long time…and he's always so jumpy, like he's worried someone will find out what he's doing…I couldn't think what would be causing it until I heard Papa and Noel were gone but I didn't want to say anything in case he stopped…"
"Thank you, mon petit," Francis whispered as he hugged the boy. "I will try and figure out where he is and see if Dad and Noel are with him."
"Can I do anything to help..?"
"I don't think so…I am just going to have to follow him home tomorrow once the meeting ends."
"U-Umm…I could do that…he never notices me and if he knows where Dad or Noel are then he'll be looking out for you…please let me help…"
Sighing, the older man nodded.
"Fine. Please tell me what you find out and be careful."
Matthew nodded as well.
"I promise, Papa."
He hugged his father figure tightly and left the room.
