Alfred sat up straight and shoved the scheme-filled notebook into Francis' hands. After about an hour of sketching ideas onto a blank canvas of nothingness, it was a miracle that at least one of them had something to input.
He smirked, "Heroes always have a plan!"
Francis let his eyes amble through an awkward mess of chicken scratch and poorly drawn doodles. One thing in particular caught his eye.
"…Light show?"
Alfred shot him a thumbs up before explaining, "It'll be the start of winter break once we get back, and there's an annual light show that goes on during then. The way I see it, you could ask Arthur to the show, look around a bit; but act normal. Then when the timing's right, ask him if he'd actually consider you two dating."
A very shocked Matthew condescendingly ruffled Alfred's hair, "You actually have a pretty decent plan this time! I'm so proud of you!" To which Alfred pouted, "I have plenty of brilliant ideas! Remember that one time you were sick, so I had to tutor and babysit your cousin Peter?"
Francis pondered the scene before him.
"…You tried to teach him history."
"And it was great!"
"…You convinced him that I was from 'Planet Canada', located hovering over Europe; our official language was 'Canadian'; and that you 'milk' beavers to get maple syrup."
"…o-oops?"
"Yeah, exactly."
Thinking back to the moment, Francis laughed quietly to himself. If he wanted to ask Arthur out, he better do it as soon as he had the opportunity.
"…Sir, all your bags are put into the limo. Please gather your guests to the front; we will be leaving shortly."
"Thank you, I will go get them now."
Walking into the house, he found Arthur right away, sitting on the end of the spiral staircase. Francis also found that Alfred and Matthew were not with him, let alone anywhere within the foyer.
"Arthur? Where ar-"
Rubbing his temples signifying irritation, he said nothing but pointed directly to a very large empty doghouse in the eastern garden.
"Oh, I see. Should I go get them?"
"…yes. Please."
Walking outside to the garden, he noticed Pierre perched on top, half asleep, and squawking madly at the vibrations gyrating from within the doghouse.
Francis knocked lightly on the roof, "Bonjour, mes amis! We need to leave now. Also, there is a possibility that you are giving Arthur a migraine at this point."
The two crawled out, Alfred carrying an exhausted Matthew bridal style back into the house.
Before Francis could wake up Pierre, Alfred, Matthew and Arthur were already on their way, walking down the steps and into their seats. After a brief good bye to Francis' mother, and the exchange of several parting gifts, they were on their way back home.
The drive back to their dorms was a tedious one; Francis, more nervous around Arthur than ever, had a hard time with the smallest of conversations. Every time he looked at Arthur, all he could see was this overly cute boy, clouds surrounding him, golden lining, doves flying, hallelujah angel choir; the works.
"It was nice of mother to give us French baguettes; I'll be able to make us different dishes now."
"…I'm sure anything you make will be good."
"…"
"…"
Oh, merde.
Now surrounded by an awkward silence, they reached their destination without any eye contact whatsoever; something that Francis was very glad for, that made it possible for him to shade his obvious panic. Finally turning and settling into the parking lot, their chauffeur tiredly unloaded their bags and brought them up to their dorms. Before going inside, Alfred gave Francis a signaling wink that clearly said; "hurry up and ask him, or we'll have to go with plan B."
Arthur dumped his bags at the foot of his bed and sprawled himself on the mattress, breathing in an all too familiar scent.
"It's really good to be home," He nuzzled into his pillow; "…I really missed my old bed."
Eyes cautiously watched Arthur, Francis wishing he was anywhere else but here. He knew he had to do this, however, and if he missed this chance to ask him, he would surely regret it in the future.
"Don't make the same mistake I made…" Matthew's words replayed in his mind.
Gathering all the courage he had, Francis sat on his bed and faced Arthur.
"…Would you like to go to the light show with me, during winter break?" He closed his eyes tight, and braced himself for the worst.
"Sure, I'd love to g-"
"-I understand. I would have not agre- -wait, you will go?"
Arthur innocently cocked his head to the left and blinked, "Yeah, sounds like fun."
Francis excitedly jumped to his feet and clapped, "Très bien! I cannot wait!"
Arthur felt the heat rise to his face; he'd been doing that a lot lately, and strangely enough, it only occurred when Francis was around. He stuttered.
"…Y-y-yeah…me too. W-wait! Where are you going?"
Taking note of Francis hurriedly shoving his coat on, he couldn't help but be suspicious. Francis had to think of an excuse quick; if he blew his cover, his mentors would not forgive him.
"…I will go buy a cup of coffee!"
"We have coffee right here!"
He panicked.
"…I feel like spending money!"
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Then I'll go with you."
Francis grabbed Arthur's shoulders and turned him to the direction of his bed.
"Non,non. You must still be tired from our trip. Sleep. Rest. Bonsoir."
Distinguishing the fact that he could not win the situation, Arthur gave up.
"Fine, I'll sleep. You rich people; flaunting your money like it's toilet paper at a public washroom. despicable!" He said teasingly, "…go ahead, and enjoy your coffee."
When he was sure that Arthur was asleep, he hastily opened the door and knocked on Alfred and Matthew's.
Panting.
Moaning.
Groaning after hearing someone at the door; indication of bad timing.
He'd have to apologize for the inconvenience later.
Alfred swung the door open, "WHAT THE FU- -oh, hey. What's up?"
Francis smirked, "He said yes."
Returning the gesture, Alfred opened the door and pointed to an empty seat in their dining area.
"Get in."
"So he actually agreed?" Matthew walked in and placed three cups of coffee on the table.
"Oui. We will be going together during the break."
"Hot damn, you play pretty good match…" Alfred took a gulp, "…But, you'll have to step up your game; this is, after all, Arthur you're trying to date. And with his short temper and hard headed attitude, I'm surprised you'd even want him in the first place."
"Al! That's rude!" Matthew hissed, and punched him lightly on the arm.
He held both hands up in defense, "But it's true!"
Scrunching his face in annoyance, Matthew changed the subject, "Let's go over some ground rules so you don't end up scaring him by the end of the day."
"Shall I take notes?" Francis jokingly flipped a pen on the table with his fingers.
His advisors on the contrary, did not find this to be a laughing matter.
"Yes, you should." They echoed in accord.
Immediately, Francis pulled out a small loose scrap of paper from his jacket pocket and waited for either Alfred or Matthew to dictate important points.
"Alright," Alfred commenced, "treat this as a casual hang out; to test the waters a bit; see if he's even the smallest bit interested in you."
"Yes," Matthew continued, "make sure you don't push it over the edge by asking him right away."
"Oui. I understand." There would be many things to remember on the day of.
A few more rules and regulations later, Francis had almost no more room on his note. He also confused himself, taking different advice; switching between Alfred and Matthew. He'd been spending so much time with them that they began to look vaguely similar; almost like twins.
"…okay, any questions? Concerns? Praises of admiration and undying gracious thanks to the hero?"
Francis sighed and chewed nervously on the back of the pen, "…If we are going during winter break, and the location is far, we may have to stay in a hotel. But I cannot bring Pierre with me. That is a problem."
"We can look after him!" Matthew volunteered happily, "Kumajiro usually guards the dorm while we're out; Pierre will be safe!"
"Ah! Merci! If it is not too much trouble for the both of you. I am very grateful."
"It's what I do!" Matthew rolled his eyes; Alfred stretched and yawned, "…Hey dude, you've been here for over three hours. I think you should be getting back unless you want him breaking down our door and revealing our master plan."
"I have not been minding the time! I will catch up with you both later! Thank you for all the help! Au revoir!"
And with that, Francis swished out of the room and into his own dorm.
"Well that was nice." Matthew finished the last of his coffee, "I hope everything works out between them."
"Yeah, me too."
Matthew looked at Alfred suspiciously. "…Really, now?" it wasn't so common that his boyfriend showed much or any interest in their best friend's antics, let alone his love life. Obviously, he had way too much caffeine today.
"Think about it. Arthur's only light on us when Francis is around. If they start dating, that could score us major location points."
"…you don't mea-"
"yep. We could time share the desk, sweetheart."
"…that actually sounds…good…" Matthew contemplated.
"Also, you've always wanted us to double date, right? We could go with them; and we could split the bill! Saving us loads of money for our other expenses…"
Matthew felt a hand trail up his inner thigh as he shivered.
"…you've been spending way too much time paying attention in math class for once."
"Well, Mr. Zwingli always taught us…" His hand now raised and resting on Matthew's crotch, "…saving money is fabulous."
Back in his own dorm, he noticed Arthur at the table, cup of tea in hand, glaring at him.
"…It takes you three hours to buy and drink a cup of coffee…?"
Francis laughed awkwardly, "…T-there was a long line, I had to wait."
As Arthur finished his tea, he decided that pushing further for any more information would not get them anywhere, and prove meaningless. He instead, refilled two teacups and offered one to Francis.
"Try it."
He looked warily into the mixture, a swirl of orange liquid and grey-ish black herbs floating on top.
"…Is this even…edible?"
Arthur choked on his tea.
"O-of course it is! Just drink it. Now."
Cautiously bringing the beverage to his lips, he allowed savoured its unique taste. A tart, tangy flavour touched his senses, coupled with a hinted mix of orange and lemon; not too sweet, not too strong either.
Before he knew it, he had finished it. Setting the cup back down on the table, he let the new taste linger for a few moments before dying down.
"…It is pretty good."
That compliment appeared to make Arthur especially happy; Francis indistinctly remembering something Matthew and Alfred had strictly emphasized for him to commit to memory about any of Arthur's "culinary disasters".
Francis supposed that these tiny quirks he noticed here and there upon meeting Arthur were things he could get used to and learn to adore more. The way he stuttered when he tried to cover up an obvious mistake, the way he would curse and swear yet call himself a perfect gentleman, and the mysterious way he made Francis fall, head over heels and back again. The question he knows still stays behind; could he be "the one"?
Absolutely.
He concluded; it was at that time; when they were simultaneously on the verge of wiping out their identities, for the way soul met soul; falling. Eyes met eyes; blue met green, making them almost, if not fully, perfect.
"An hour before the worshipp'd sun
Peered forth the golden window of the east."