Special thanks to ClassyAnimeNerd and Yuu Kirkland for reviewing; Dragonee and Iluna Sorgina Talis for favouriting and subscribing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Axis Powers: Hetalia. It rightfully belongs to Himaruya Hidekaz. I merely own the AU plot and setting. Additionally, I'm not an expert on teaching and blindness, and all information stems from observation and speculation. Please do not reference.
Enjoy!
Nihilism
"Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."
―Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Arthur had renewed his teaching contract the day Romulus had contacted him after the spring concert. It was an automatic instinct, since he would always continue teaching in the World Academy. Typically, that was an instinct many other teachers followed, and rarely would they refuse to sign the contract when it was offered to them. That was why when Arthur was planning out the next year, he had factored in Francis as well. He didn't want to be thrown another curve-ball like he had that year, especially since it was strangely messy. And this time, he was going to take Francis' blindness into account and use it to their advantage. Arthur's heart pounded; he knew that the upcoming year was going to be the most successful he was going to go through.
When he tried to email Francis to discuss the plans, however, the email bounced. Believing it was a slight typo on his part, he sent the message again. And then again. And then again. And then again. But each time the email bounced back, and the server told him that the email address didn't exist. The next logical step was to contact Romulus, asking why he couldn't seem to get in contact with Francis.
Romulus' answer was almost immediate. Francis' school email had been terminated. Francis declined the contract renewal. He didn't plan to come back to World Academy, or its fine arts department. He wasn't going to work with Arthur anymore.
Arthur froze, his eyes widening. Slowly, he looked at all his notes. He had spent so long thinking about how they could change the curriculum to their advantage, but Francis never told him that he wasn't going to stay by his side. Francis gave up, and Arthur didn't even notice. He leaned back against his chair, staring at the email message. What was he going to do? He would have to revert back to the same habits of when he worked all alone. He could finally go back to the tried and true methods he knew and loved. He didn't need to deal with Francis' strange habits.
For a few moments, Arthur wondered whether he should have been happy or not. He had hated Francis; the man was more trouble than what Arthur had thought worth. His heart jumped to his throat, and then plummeted deep into his bowels. Francis had everything, except his eyes. Then Arthur wondered what he himself would lose.
He shot up and went straight back to the computer. His elbows brushed the papers off his desk, and they fluttered to the ground. He hated himself for not knowing how to contact Francis personally, especially after often they were stuck together. The connection was only in the school building and through the school email. If he had been smarter, he would have at least gotten Francis' phone number. But no, he chose not to.
But he remembered that he had gone to Francis' flat before. Maybe, if he retraced his step after the night of the pub, he could go meet with Francis again.
The next step was to check if his budget had enough room for two plane tickets to the Vatican City.