Dinner was pleasant and both were glad to have a normal date as if they didn't have to keep their relationship a secret. When the bill came Alfred hadn't let Francis anywhere near it for the man's sanity and had paid quickly before leading him out as if they had done nothing more than share a meal between business partners. However, he did not lead them to the car and instead began walking down the street towards a nearby park.
It was quite late by this point and there were few people out so once the pair were safely in the cover of the large trees, Alfred reached for Francis' hand. He smiled and held it tightly in his own.
"This is nice," he said quietly.
"Yes it is," Francis agreed.
Together they walked down countless paths, whispering and kissing to their hearts content. Occasionally they would peer around to see if anyone else was visiting the park but never saw anyone to their bliss.
"I wish we could have done this sooner," Alfred murmured. "It would be nicer if we didn't have to hide and could do this whenever and without excuses."
"Someday maybe we will be able to," the younger replied wistfully. "But until then I'm going to enjoy our secret dates whenever we get to have them."
A twig snapped nearby and the pair leapt apart, looking around them nervously. They didn't see anyone but felt uneasy.
"Let's go," Alfred muttered.
Francis nodded quickly and they hurried back down the path towards the car.
Seeing them coming, Bruce was waiting with the door open. Their urgency was palpable so he ran back to his seat once they were safely inside the car and drove off.
Adrenaline still pumping through their bodies from an unknown source, the pair cuddled closer together. Alfred put his arm around Francis and held him tightly. What had been in the park? Could it have just been an animal? Or could it have been that man coming to hurt Francis? He didn't let go until the car was parked in the garage at home and Bruce came around to open the door once more.
Slipping out, he helped Francis out of the car and into the house. Waiting just inside the door as he did everyday, was his trusted butler, Wayne.
"Welcome home, Master Jones," the older man greeted politely. "Welcome once again, Monsieur Bonnefoy." A nervous smile was given in return to the butler. "I heard you had a scare during your outing in the park so I took the liberty of preparing some tea. It is waiting for you in the lounge." Alfred nodded his thanks, still too unsettled to speak. The butler showed them to the lounge, poured them each a cup of tea, and stepped out of the room. "I will be close if you need me," he explained as he closed the door.
The room was silent as they slowly drank their tea and let their nerves calm down. As the adrenaline wore off, the pair grew weary.
"Let's just go to bed," the older man suggested and Francis didn't see any reason to disagree.
They slept far later into the next day than they had planned but their bodies needed it. Around noon they had split so Francis could eat and Alfred could do a little work. He was planning on working until Francis was finished then he would stop and spend time with him once more.
A knock suddenly rang through the silent office.
"Come in."
Wayne stepped inside holding a small note.
"You have a letter."
"Thank you."
He accepted it and the butler left him alone once more.
The outside showed no address, only his name to his confusion. Opening it revealed a blank white card but when he opened it he found a short, handwritten note and a sketch of a bird. As he threw the card on the desk another picture of Francis fell out. This time the picture was from their walk the previous night.
'I've left my mark on your pretty boy. He should be more careful in that cute little bakery.'
Instantly Alfred was on his feet and tearing through the large house to get to his beloved Frenchman. When he slid into the kitchen, the man looked up and smiled.
"Did you finish early?" He didn't answer. Instead, he hurried over to his side and started to pull back his sleeve to look at his bandage. "What are you doing?"
"I want to see your arm. I want to see if it's okay."
"Dear, it's just a burn. I'm fine."
Alfred looked deep into his eyes, voice completely serious.
"Baby doll, please. I want to see it for myself. I hate when you get hurt and it would make me feel better if I saw it myself."
With a sigh, Francis stood and set his fork down.
"If you are going to take the bandages off, at least do it in the bathroom."
He agreed and together they walked to the bathroom. The younger blond sat on the chair in front of the vanity that Alfred's mother had used when she was alive. A first aid kit was set on top of the vanity in easy reach of both of them.
Kneeling in front of him, Alfred carefully unwound the bandages to see an angry, red burn covering Francis' forearm. He started to breathe a sigh of relief when he noticed something else. Near Francis' elbow was a small image of a crow.
"Francis, did you know about this?" he asked as he adjusted his arm so he could indicate the bird.
"Hmm?" the other peered down and nodded. "Oh yes. We had just gotten a new pan type with this company who has a crow on the bottom of all their pans. And I just happened to be holding it the way that the crow was over my arm when I was bumped and dropped it."
Biting his lip, Alfred rewrapped his arm to protect it from further injury.
AN: Yes, Alfred has servants named 'Bruce' and 'Wayne'. It was just a silly joke that I couldn't ignore.