Chapter 13

Francis awoke to the door of their room closing. Yawning widely, he glanced blearily around the room, noting idly that Arthur was not in his bed. Suspecting that he had just gotten up to go use the washroom, Francis rolled out of his bed, glancing outside. Clouds were gathering, but he wasn't bothered at all. He had finally done it, Arthur was his and he could not be happier. After weeks of waiting, his dream had finally been met. What had only started out as a crush was now a full-blown romance.

That is until he spotted something that wasn't quite right about the room and the realization made his blood run cold. All of Arthur's things were gone; the drawers he had used lay empty, the clothes that were spread haphazard around the room were gone and the leather suitcase Francis had thrown at his chest not two weeks ago had vanished.

"Merde." Francis ran to the door and wrenched it open and he ran down the stairs - the fourth one protesting loudly. Lovino was sitting at the front desk, eyes closed as he idly bopped his head along to the music issuing from his huge headphones. It took Francis a moment to figure out they were not some weird alien trying to eat the Italian's head.

He slammed his hand on the desk, making Lovino jump, opening his eyes to glare at the Frenchman. "Did Arthur just come through here?" Francis demanded, and when the Italian only frowned, pointing at his headphone, he growled, reaching over and lifting one of the headphones off. "Did Arthur just pass?" He shouted, releasing the earphone, watching it snap back against Lovino's head.

The Italian yelped, tears coming to his eyes as he slide the headphones off, holding a hand to his bright red ear. "What do I look like? A receptionist?" He snapped, delicately prodding the side of his head and wincing horribly. Francis didn't care.

"That's exactly what you look like!" He said, hitting the desk with his hand again, "Where is Arthur?" Scowling, Lovino jerks his head at the door and put his headphones back on and turning away from the Frenchman, staring intently at the wall.

Hurrying over, Francis pulled the door open. Outside was a small black car and in the passenger's seat was Berwald, while near the trunk Arthur and Tino were loading their suitcases. The small Finnish man reached up and closed the back of the car, sliding around the side and climbing into the drivers seat. Arthur stepped onto the curb moving towards the door of the backseat, but froze when he saw Francis.

They stared at each other, Francis breathing hard, Arthur's face wary. "Where are you going?" Francis asked, unable to keep an accusatory tone out of his voice. He tucked his arms against his chest.

"Tino and Berwald have offered to pay for my flight." Arthur said quietly, straightening slightly, trying to appear taller than he really was, "Roderich got my papers from the embassy last night. I can finally go home." His voice caught slightly and he shifted awkwardly. Inside the car, Berwald and Tino were glancing at each other worriedly.

"What? You're leaving?" Francis asked. Thunder suddenly rumbled low in the sky, the clouds now hanging directly over them. Rain began to splatter down on them and lightning lanced across the sky.

"I can't stay here forever." Arthur said, looking up at the brooding sky, avoiding Francis hard gaze, "I have a job, a house, and a life back in London!" His voice jumped up in volume trying to speak over another long roll of thunder.

Francis shook his head, laughing. His blond hair flopped around his shoulders -he had neglected to put it into a ponytail. "You're just going to Alfred. I get it." He said, grinning at Arthur. He knew it was too good to be true. He knew getting Arthur drunk and kissing him was a bad idea. He knew Arthur was bad news and he hated himself for still feeling for him.

Arthur's hand tightened on the car's handle. "Don't bring him into this."

"The only reason you're leaving is because he called." He said, still smiling, trying to hide his hurt, "Tell me the truth Arthur; you would've stayed if he hadn't called. But the minute he asks for you, you crawl back to him!" Francis finished, yelling the last five words.

Overhead, the storm intensified, the rain now hammering down on the pair. Tino was honking the horn but the dull blare was drowned out as the clouds exploded with sound and lighting tore across the sky.

"Don't fucking talk about him like that!" Arthur let go of the handle and stalked over to Francis, glaring at him, blond hair soaking, water streaming down his face. "Alfred needs me right now!"

Francis unfolded his arms, leaning forward so that he was eye-to-eye with the Englishman. He sneered at Arthur, doing his best to not pull the Englishman into a embrace and never let go. "He doesn't need you!"

Arthur pulled back, and lifting his hand, jabbing Francis' chest with his finger. "Yes he does!"

Francis stared down at the green eyes, his sneer faltering slightly. He couldn't play anymore. The hurt, the pain and feeling of hatred that Arthur had cause for playing with his heart made his face fall. "Well then he never would've let you go in the first place." He said quietly, reaching out a hand and touching Arthur's cheek.

For a moment, Arthur seemed to lean into the hand - but Francis was sure he was just imagining it. "I am going." He said, taking a step backwards, running a trembling hand through his hair, slicking it back, "Alfred needs me."

Francis left his hand hanging. "But what about you Arthur?" He asked, staring intently at Arthur, trying to communicate silently everything he was feeling at the moment. Everything he had felt. Everything he wanted to fell. "What do you need?"

Rain pounded down on them, Francis still reached for the Englishman and Arthur still looking lost. Neither of them noticed Antonio and Feliciano pressed up against the window of the hostel, their breath fogging the glass. The passenger's side window slowly rolled down and Tino poked his head out, leaning across Berwald. "Ready to go Arthur?"

Lightening flashed, illuminating Arthur's green eyes, making them impossible for Francis to read. He took one last look at Francis and grabbed the car handle. "Yeah, let's go." He opened the door and was half-inside before Francis' words stopped him.

"You're making a mistake Arthur!" Francis arm fell and balled into a fist.

Arthur paused, slowly pulling out of the car and fixing Francis with a cold glare. Behind him, lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled, but the storm's rage could not muffle Arthur's words. "No. I made a mistake when I agreed to come to Rome." The door slammed shut and the car pulled away. Francis stared at it until it disappeared around a corner.

Shuddering, Francis crumpled to his knees, covering his face with his hands.

Author's Note

Sorry for the short chapter.