"Mother?" Young Arthur asked stepping into the wooden floored kitchen. His mother was at the moment preparing lunch - Arthur's favorite, fish and chips- and writing in a small, leather book at the with her free hand. The book wasn't for her, it was for Arthur to read and study magic. She put down her quill and looked over at her son giving him a loving smile.
"What is it my dear?" She asked
"Where is father?"
His Mother's smiling face switched into a look of absolute horror. Her eyes looked alert and terrified, and her hands began to shake a bit. Her gaze was now on the ground as she tried to find a way to tell Arthur about the capture of his father. She knew she had to tell him today; who knew how long his father will survive? The burnings usually happened two days prior being captured. She took a deep breath and walked over to her son and scooped him up in her huge and caring arms.
They sat down at the kitchen table letting the silence in the room absorb them for a moment.
"Father...won't be coming back." She finally broke the silence. Arthur's young face twisted with confusion as he tried to grasp at this. What did she mean by not coming back? Before he could ask, the room was suddenly engulfed with water. It was like a mini tsunami that drowned the house entirely with water. Arthur's eyes widen in surprised as he looked around wildly for an exit. He was losing oxygen rather fast and had to get out. Arthur's mother had seem to vanish completely from the room and was replaced with a tall man. He had blond hair that Arthur would compare to a rotten squash. The man had it tied into a ponytail that hung at his back. The man was floating gracefully in the water as if he actually part of it. He opened his mouth and let out a very familiar laugh that the older Arthur grew up to HATE.
Arthur shot up in his bed and let out a rather high pitched scream. From the small window that was next to his bed, there was the same French man that appeared in his dreams. He laughed wildly at Arthur as if he had told him the funniest joke in the world. It took Arthur a moment to notice that not only his clothes were wet, but his entire bed was soaked.
"YOU BLOODY FROG!" Arthur yelled at the French man in rage as anger quickly boiled his body making the freezing driblets of water that clung to his skin dry up almost completely.
The French man just laughed harder.
His name was Francis Bonnefoy. He was also a magic user and a very irritating one at that. His skill in magic was hydrokinesis. Whenever he was around water-may it be a pond or a glass of water-he was able to manipulate the liquid's properties and perform with dazzling illusions. Francis was the first magic user-outside of his family-that he met when he started the circus. Despite Francis abusing his incredible power to play dirty tricks on unsuspecting people, Arthur still allowed him to join. Sometimes he regretted it.
This was one of those times.
"Oh you should have seen your face mon cher!" Francis rolled with laughter, holding his sides. Arthur swept the now soggy blankets off of his body and shot daggers at the French man.
"I've told you many times not to do that!" snapped Arthur.
"Do what?" Francis smiled innocently.
"I'M TIRED OF YOU USING YOUR MAGIC TO WAKE ME UP! STOP DOING IT!" said Arthur. Arthur believed that Francis would be bored of this by now! He's done the same trick 18 times now! Arthur figured that Francis would have at least tried something new.
Francis loved creating a gigantic bubble made of water, and dropping it on the poor, unsuspecting Arthur. Francis made sure to ask Ludwig to dig a hole for a pond near Arthur's window, he couldn't create the bubble without it. Arthur growled under his breath as he got out of his wet bed, went over to his dresser, and rummaged through it for some new clothes.
He didn't even notice the apple until Francis mentioned it.
"Can I have that?" He asked, pointing at the apple that rested on the dresser.
Arthur's eyes averted to the apple trying to remember where he got it. That's when memories of his encounter with Alfred blasted out throughout his mind. Why was that bloody American still on his mind? They only had one chat! Still, images of Alfred's sandy blond hair, bright sapphire eyes, and his brown tattered bomber jacket still floated in Arthur's mind. He was so engaged in his thoughts that he didn't even hear Francis's question.
"I'm not hearing a no." Francis shrugged and raised a finger slightly up in the air, making the apple follow.
Without hesitation, Arthur caught hold of the levitating apple and brought it close to his chest. "No you can't have it!"
Francis looked momentarily shocked by this, but then turned back into his grinning self. "The black sheep of Europe really cares about his apples hm?"
"Sod off." Arthur grouched feeling his cheeks heat up at his small outburst. He should be giving Francis the apple since he had no intention on eating it but he felt like he couldn't. As if taking the apple away from him would cause a wound on Arthur. He didn't understand it.
He turned his back away from the laughing French man and pulled out a clean white shirt from his dresser. Halfway of pulling up his wet shirt with one hand and holding the clean one with another, he noticed that Francis was still there.
"You got anything better to do perv?"
Francis faked a gasp and put a hand on his chest. A look of mock hurt spread across his face.
"A pervert? Moi? Impossible!" Francis declared before allowing a grin to grace his lips. "Well maybe I'm only a pervert for you mon cher~."
Arthur's face turned into billions shades of red. His emerald orbs twitched in annoyance and he shook his head. "Why don't you go recite your flirting to Ludwig? I'm pretty sure he could use the fire practice."
Francis poured childishly.
Arthur then finished changing out his wet shirt into a clean one. He smoothed out the wrinkles on it as he stood in front of the tall, wooden framed mirror that stood next to his dresser. Satisfied with the look, he exited out of his room without Francis.
"HEY! Don't leave me here!" Francis called out to him but Arthur tuned him out.
Arthur passed through the small rooms that belonged to his coworkers. Kiku and Yao shared a room as did Ludwig and Feliciano. Both Francis and Arthur had their own separate rooms. The rooms were located in the back room behind, where the main acts where held. It was cozy actually. Like a little house, like a little family. Even though a family is always broken.
The only other person with a room all to themselves was Yao. His "room" per say, was actually a garden located in the back part of the circus. It was nestled into the woods, close by and protected from intruders. Yao spent most of his days here to practice his powers with his garden.
He had all sorts of delicious plants and beautiful floral living in his garden. Tomatoes, potatoes, peaches. Sunflowers, Tudor roses, and peony to name a few.
Arthur carefully made his way through the branches that guarded the garden and would occasionally stab Arthur's face. Wether it's just the branches, or Yao controlling them, he'll never know. When he entered the garden he found Yao nestled in a bundle of sunflowers, sunbathing with the golden flowers. He had something in his hands that he kept close to his face, obviously reading whatever he was holding. Perhaps it was that letter from yesterday.
A few joyful giggles came from the small Chinese man from time to time.
"Yao?" Arthur cleared his throat.
In an instant, a nearby tree branch smacked the English man in the face in turn to Yao's surprised reaction. He shot up into a sitting position and whipped his head over to where Arthur was at. He hid the note in the folds of his pockets and attempted a sheepish smile.
"S-Sorry Arthur, you just surprised me that's all."
"I could tell.." Arthur said rubbing his cheek where the branch struck. His emerald eyes glared at Yao trying his best not to be angry with him. Instead he felt a huge wave of guilt.
Yao got up from the flowers and brushed off the dirt on his pants. His eyes averted away from Arthur trying to not look him in the eye. "So...can I help you with anything?" His voice strained with false cheerfulness.
Arthur's mind drew a blank. He had completely forgotten what he was going to ask of Yao. Was he going to invite him to go over to town with him? Was that it? Even if it was, Yao was surely to say no. He always said no whenever Arthur wanted to spend time with him.
"What's that letter about?" Arthur decided to ask.
Yao's face shifted into a slight expression of horror and then into a defensive one. "Why do you want to know? It doesn't concern you."
"I'm just asking." Arthur raised his hands up in defense. He let out a heavy sigh. He didn't blame Yao for being aggressive towards him. It was Arthur's fault.
Arthur cleared his throat. "...Yao...would you like to come with me into town? We could get some of those cookies you like. I think I have enough money to afford 2 boxes."
Yao snorted. "Me? Go into town with you? So I can catch you with a lady again?" His eyes showing hurt when he finished the sentence. As if someone had flicked a switch, the nearby flowers started to sag. Both of Yao's hands tightened up into fists.
Arthur took in a sharp breath. The guilt in his chest had risen up. It would be a lie to say that Arthur and Yao had nothing more than a friendship. They had together for as long as Arthur could remember. He was actually happy. Who knew that one drink could forever change his relationship with Yao?
Arthur's gaze was now on the ground. "I..I'm sorry." The sounds of departing footsteps made Arthur look up again. Yao had run off deeper into the forest, his ebony pony-tail swishing back and forth.
A little family...
Arthur swallowed hard but didn't budge to follow.
Even a little one is broken...