Approximately Two Years Ago
(3/01)
395 Days After Being Kidnapped
Bam. Bam. Bam.
"Good. Your accuracy is improving." Francis tried not to flinch as Arthur put one of his hands on his shoulder. "Two hit the bull's eye. I'm impressed at how quickly you are getting the hang of it."
"Thank you." Francis said as he reloaded the gun. Arthur didn't seem at all alarmed that Francis was holding a loaded weapon in his hand or at how close they were standing. He seemed more interest in telling Francis how to improve his accuracy.
"Something on your mind?" Arthur asked as he noticed that Francis was absentmindedly reloading.
"Um... Why me? You have a lot of other people to choose from."
"Kiku would prefer someone he knows and trusts over a complete stranger. Both of you have become friends and I'm very confident that you won't turn against him. I want someone who will always be there to protect him and that won't betray him."
"You seem to have high opinions on me."
"You learn fast. You are loyal, and you are not capable of doing anything that will hurt Kiku in anyway."
"What makes you think that?"
"For starters you have the chance to kill me right now but you aren't taking it because of the anguish you'll cause Kiku. I've also been watching how both of you interact with each other and you tend to make sure he comes to no harm."
"You told me to not do anything to hurt him." Francis mumbled as he lifted the gun at the target again.
"Glad to know I managed to engrave that into your very being."
Francis sighed before firing at the target again.
APH
"Wow." Arthur said with a whistle as he looked Francis up and down. "The disguise is perfect! I can't even tell it's you."
Francis gave a sigh of relief. He was wearing a curly light brown wig. He had put on green contacts and had slightly darkened his skin with makeup. He wore black heels and a black dress that reached his knees. Plus he had put on eyeshadow and lipstick to complete the look.
"Are you able to properly walk in those?"
"I can run in heels now." Francis said as he walked around the room a bit to show him the heels didn't bother him.
"Good. The disguises will come in handy if you ever need to do something without anyone recognising you. Go change back. The rest of your training is still waiting you know."
"Can I practice some of that stuff in the disguises?"
"I guess, but you better not slack off."
APH
"Eek!" Francis went as Arthur easily pinned him down.
"Guess you do need the practice in your disguises." Arthur said as he helped Francis up. They were currently training in hand-to-hand combat and Francis was still wearing the dress and heels.
"Who knew heels could be so troublesome." Francis grumbled as he checked his foot.
"You can use those as a weapon you know."
"I can?"
"Yes. You can stab people with those things. Those with the thin heels will have an easier time penetrating the skin. And if you are able to take them off in the middle of a scuffle a well aimed blow to the head will work. But I'll suggest the eye, especially if your intention is to break free."
"Who knew women carried weapons everywhere they go." Francis sighed as he positioned himself. "Are we going to try that?"
"Of course. I want to see if you are capable, but you aren't allowed to actually stab me."
"Understood."
It took Francis ten times before he had one of the heels carefully pressed to Arthur's closed eye.
"Good job Francis, but now you have to work on removing the heel fast enough. Accuracy will help but speed is more important right now."
"Alright." Francis said as they both got into position again.
By the time the training was over both of them had new bruises and a couple of cuts.
APH
"I'm so tired." Francis grumbled as he collapsed on his bed. Arthur had been as merciless as always. One thing Francis always wondered was how he never seemed to tire easily. Something that was quite remarkable especially when he was training several people at once.
And defeating several people at once. He remembered their sparring session in which some of the others joined in and he easily knocked them all to the ground.
Arthur's only reply to that was that his mother had been the one to train him. And he trained them with the same strictness as she once did to him.
Before he fell asleep Francis wondered if any of them would ever reach him level.
Author's Note:
This chapter was fun to write.
Francis can fight while wearing heels and he knows how to implement them as a weapon as well. He is a master at disguises, gun use, hand-to-hand combat, knife and sword usage.
Pretty much Arthur forced him to be a Jack of all Trades.
Happy Readings!