Honestly, I'm surprised I've done so well in updating this one. . . I'm sure the watchers of my other stories hate me right now . Oh, well. People seem to like this story, so it's still a good thing : )
Matthew was sitting on a stool by the greeter's stand. His arms were against the stand and his head resting on one of his hands. He was bored. Very, very bored.
It was late afternoon, and A Taste of Heaven was empty. Literally, the only people in the building were himself and his papa. He sighed, folding his arms and setting his head on them.
"What's the matter, Birdie? You're looking pretty down."
Looking up, the blonde found Gilbert standing in front of him, leaning on the other side of the stand. "Oh, b-bonjour Gilbert," he said, ducking his head shyly.
Gilbert looked around the place, "Ouch. This place is a ghost town."
Matthew sighed, "Oui. We've had five tables filled today."
Gilbert frowned, "That little? I thought people loved your dad's cooking?"
The boy shrugged. "I thought so, too, but no one's been coming."
"Hm," he hummed a bit to himself. He ruffled Matthew's hair and walked back to the kitchen to see what Francis was up to.
The French man was leaning against a kitchen counter, looking through some papers. He glanced up when Gilbert walked in and slightly smiled. He stood up straight as he closed the folder the papers were in, "Bonjour, mon ami. What brings you here today?"
"Just got off work and thought I'd drop by," Gilbert replied, coming to jump up onto the counter next to Francis. "Mattie's dying of boredom out there."
Francis sighed, "It's not a surprise. He has nothing to when no one comes here."
Gilbert frowned at him. "Everything alright?"
Francis turned his usual carefree smile to his friend, "Everything is fine, mon ami. Could I possibly ask a favor?"
"Yeah, sure man," Gilbert answered.
"Could you take Matthieu out? He hasn't eaten yet and I'm sure it'd help with the boredom."
"Uh. . ."
"It's fine, Gilbert," Francis smiled at him. "I think he'd like it as well."
The albino slowly nodded, "Yeah. . . sure."
Both men walked back into the main room. "Matthieu." Matthew turned to face them, slipping off the stool to walk over to them. "Go ahead and take your break, mon petit. I can look after the restaurant for a bit."
Matthew nodded slowly, "Okay. If you're sure."
"Gilbert has offered to treat you." Matthew blushed deeply, and his father had to refrain from laughing at his son's nervousness. He watched as Gilbert escorted his son to the door. "Amusez-vous bien, mes tourtereaux petits!"
Matthew blushed darker, "Papa!"
Francis chuckled to himself as they walked out.
"What'd he say?" Gilbert asked.
/ *_* /
Gilbert wasn't all too sure what to do to get the cute blonde next to him to relax a little. He could tell he was nervous, but he wanted him to have fun. He then got an idea. Pulling into a small strip mall, he pulled his wallet out.
"Can you go over there to get the food?" he asked Matthew, handing him some money. He told him what he wanted.
"Where are you going?" Matthew asked cutely. Gilbert nearly died.
"I'm going to get something," he said. He smirked, "Don't worry, you'll love it."
Matthew smiled a little in return, blushing at that smirk. He got out to do as Gilbert asked while Gilbert went into another store to get Mattie a treat. He was back at the car before Mattie came back. He didn't tell the blonde what he had gotten, instead he started driving again.
"Where are we going?" Matthew asked.
Gilbert glanced at him, still smirking. "You'll see."
/ *_* /
"Can I look now?" Matthew asked, gripping the back of Gilbert's shirt and trying not to stumble as he followed behind him with his eyes closed.
"Almost," Gilbert replied. He set the food down and took Matthew's hand. "Okay, you can open your eyes now."
Matthew's eyes blinked open and then widened. Gilbert had driven them to just outside of town and walked them up a hill that overlooked the entire city. Since it was close to sunset, the view was breathtaking.
"Mon Dieu," the boy breathed.
Gilbert sat on the ground, gently pulling Matthew down beside him. They ate together happily, Gilbert able to get Matthew talking with him.
After they had eaten, Gilbert grinned widely when Matthew leaned his head against his shoulder. He leaned towards the boy a bit, setting his head over his as they looked out over the city. He pulled over a small box that he had kept hidden.
"They're not as good as what your dad makes, but I remember that you liked them," he said, catching Matthew's attention.
Matthew perked up, "Maple doughnuts!"
Gilbert smiled and then was surprised when Matthew turned and hugged him. "Uh. . ."
"Thank you, Gilbert," Matthew said shyly into his shoulder. "I really like this."
Gilbert smiled and wrapped his arms around Matthew's waist. "I'm glad you like this."
Matthew blushed deeply, hiding his head in Gilbert's shoulder. He was now basically sitting in Gilbert's lap, the other's arms still around him. He continued to sit in his lap as they ate the doughnuts Gilbert had gotten them. Matthew leaned back against Gilbert's chest.
They sat like that for a long while, watching the sunset over the city. Gilbert had his arms around him again, resting his chin on his shoulder.
"Merci, Gilbert," Matthew said quietly.
Gilbert looked at him and kissed his cheek, smiling at the immediate blush that appeared. "You're welcome, Birdie."
/ *_* /
Francis had closed the restaurant early and gone home. He had run into Arthur at the door of the restaurant. "Mon cher, what are you doing here?"
"I am now asking why you're closing early," Arthur said, looking at him curiously.
Francis shrugged a bit, "No one was coming, so I decided to go home. Was mon amour coming to eat?"
Arthur looked off to the side.
Francis smiled at him, "I will cook for you at my place. Shall we?" He offered his arm to him.
"You're weird," Arthur muttered, but took the offered arm anyway.
Back at Francis's house, he cooked dinner for him and Arthur. "You let your son go out with Gilbert?" Arthur asked when he was told.
"Gilbert cares for him," Francis said.
"I know he does, but I wouldn't expect you to set them up. Though I guess I should have."
Francis shrugged. After dinner, he went into his office while Arthur sat in the living room with a book. It didn't take long for Arthur to get up and go into the office.
"What's going on?" he asked, stopping next to Francis behind the desk.
Francis had looked up when Arthur first entered. "Whatever do you mean?"
Arthur looked at him, hands on his hips. "You've been acting weird all week. What's going on?" Francis shook his head, but Arthur cut him off, "Don't lie to me!" He leaned against the desk, "Francis, what's going on?"
Francis's usual grin slowly slipped from his face and he sighed sadly. He moved his arms from the paperwork on his desk. Arthur looked at him and then at the papers. He picked one up and looked it over.
"These are files of how the restaurant has been doing the past few months," Francis explained. Arthur could see a steady decline in the numbers on the page.
"What does this mean?" He looked back at Francis when the other didn't answer and was shocked to see that the other's eyes were filling with tears. "Francis?"
"It means. . ." he said finally, looking up at Arthur. "That we're going to lose un avant-goût du ciel."
And the real plot unfolds, dun dun dun. Lol, not really. XD Drama and lemons coming up!
Amusez-vous bien, mes tourtereaux petits – Have fun my little lovebirds! (tehe w I had to have Francis said this)
un avant-goût du ciel – A Taste of Heaven