Alfred opened the door politely and mock-bowed as his companion just rolled his eyes and strolled in.
"I see your taste in food has improved considerably since your obsession with all things baked and sugared," Arthur said calmly as he examined the gold patterned walls. He curved his neck slightly to glance past the greeter to see the tables that dotted the area. They had small centerpieces and neatly folded napkins, something the Englishman expected in a place of propriety.
"Well, my wallet isn't exactly thrilled for this," Alfred mumbled, knowing his friend could not hear him. Arthur locked eyes with a table pressed against the walls, leaving Alfred there to awkwardly smile at the greeter and then dart after him. "Hey, you know they were gonna give us a table," he said somewhat quietly when he caught up to the other.
"They were taking too long, and this one is fine," Arthur replied. Alfred winced in a quick remembrance at the fact that Arthur was extremely stubborn. Arthur pulled out a chair and sat down, immediately resting his chin on uprighted hands. He smirked at Alfred for a moment before reaching down with one hand and fiddling through the menu.
"Getting right down to business, aren't ya?" Alfred asked with amusement as he sat down.
"Hmm... I am surprised you would not do the same. You would always shove people out of the way at that bakery we would go to, just so you could get first pick at the buns." Alfred smiled nervously and sat down while rubbing the back of his head.
"I guess I have matured slightly?"
Arthur eyed him for a second before releasing a few soft chuckles. "I know you have, Alfred. When we were that party the other day, you did something I never thought you would ever do."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Arthur snorted as his fingers carded through the pages of the menu.
"You took a hint. God, I never thought you would gain yourself tact."
Alfred grimaced, but decided that Arthur was not trying to be cruel, so he settled into a laughing fit instead.
"Yeah, yeah, bound to happen eventually, I suppose," Alfred said cheerily. Arthur hummed in agreement before a man walked up to them.
"May I start you off something to drink?" he asked politely. Alfred furrowed his eyebrows at the kid, something about him just slightly rubbing the detective the wrong way.
"Just a cola, please," Alfred answered quickly in hopes that the adolescent would leave.
"Water," Arthur said bluntly. "And I know what I want to eat, how about you, Alfred?"
"Ah, I'll just have whatever you are ordering," he responded in a rush, wanting his conversation back. He inwardly winced at himself for the fact that he was borderline irritated with the young waiter.
Arthur chuckled under his breath as he handed his menu to the young man. Alfred pouted and gave his over as well.
"So I guess two orders of the cottage pie with a side of peas on mine," Arthur said rather resolutely, sounding as if he had rehearsed it. The young man nodded and walked off, much to Alfred's relief. Arthur began straightening parts of his jacket. "Did you know that lad?"
"Hmm? Ah, no, why do you ask?"
"You looked like he rubbed you wrong. So I thought maybe you had met," Arthur said calmly. He was still occupying himself with adjusting his clothing.
"Nah, I barely know the kid seeing as how I've only been here twice before." Alfred chuckled. "Made Francis pay both times as well..."
Arthur stiffened before forming a rather exasperated smile. "So that obnoxious son of a bitch is still around?" he muttered, trying to still sound happy.
"Yeah, didn't you see him at the party?" Alfred asked while he took their drinks from the waiter. He immediately shooed the kid off afterwards.
"No. To be honest I had never thought I would ever see his face again. I'll be damned, you two really kept on your childhood promise."
Alfred winked and raised his glass slightly. "Spit swore to work together when we got older and we did. Also, our oath of 'keep the English dragon in the realm of anger' seems to be working as well."
Arthur groaned and placed his hand on his forehead. He was grinning however.
"Well I'm glad you have had one another for company the past years... I was hoping that after the war I would never see his face again."
"Well, didn't we say we would get the whole gang back together again one day?"
"I don't even know where the other three are..."
"Daniel high-tailed it back to Australia... Ivan told me he would find me again, but I've yet to see him. And I have not a damn clue about Yao."
Arthur hummed and gently sipped on his water.
"We sure were an odd-group, weren't we?"
"Aha, odd but fun."
"We all complemented one another quite well too. I am not sure what we were good at doing, but we were probably good at it..." Arthur muttered. He glanced up at Alfred, who was staring at an old war poster hanging beside them. He was smiling as usual.
"We did complement one another now that I think about it, Arthur, didn't we?" he asked with amusement. Arthur just stared curiously at him.
"Sirs," a timid voice coughed. Arthur turned and saw their waiter, carefully holding both their meals.
"Ah thank you," Arthur said quickly as he helped the boy. The boy once again disappeared with a nod, Alfred looking up immediately after he left.
Alfred looked down at the food, then up at Arthur, then down at the food again. He burst into loud laughter. Arthur raised an eyebrow with a bite already in his mouth.
"You are so damn English, you know that?"
"What else would I be?" Arthur asked coolly as he stabbed another piece.
"I just thought I might have rubbed off on ya some."
Arthur just rolled his eyes and continued eating. Out of awkwardness, Alfred began prodding his as well.
After a few moments, Arthur set his fork down and cleared his throat.
"So tell me, Alfred. You said your job was demanding. What happens if you are needed in the middle of something like this?"
"Usually Francis knows where I am and finds me. In fact... he always knows where I am going to considering we share a rent together."
"Ah, save money and whatnot?"
"Yeah... Anyway, I suppose that if they needed me and couldn't find me, that would be just too damn bad."
"Would it be that difficult for your coworkers to find you if they had no idea where you are?"
"Probably. This city can get kinda exciting at night as I am sure you have seen."
"Well thank you for taking time out of your schedule to spend on me," Arthur said as he looked at the fork in his fingers.
"No big deal. You have no idea how happy it makes me to be around ya again."
"Is that so?"
"Most definitely. I had forgotten just how fun your sharp tongue is," Alfred said with a grin.
"And I of how wide and empty your eyes are when you are trying to comprehend something."
"I assume we just traded compliments?"
"Flirtations more like it. Best not tell the wife," Arthur said as he dabbed at his mouth with a napkin.
Alfred grinned, snickered a few times, and shook his head in defeat.
Arthur was still the same.
Alfred carefully walked into the warm townhouse and tried to silently hang up his hat and tan coat. After knocking over some umbrellas, he knew he had failed at any attempted stealth and just threw the items back into the coat rack. He did, however, step more lightly afterwards as he aimed for the staircase. When he reached the entrance to the main room though, he froze and looked in.
"Ah, you 'ave finally returned,' Francis said with calm surprise. He was sitting on the sofa nearest the hearth, where a small silent flame was burning. Alfred raised an eyebrow but walked over and sat beside his companion. It was then he saw that there was another guest.
"Jesus, I didn't even see ya there, pal," he offered lamely, his heart still beating rather rapidly. It was the Baltic man from earlier.
"Ah, sorry, I came here with Francis after Ludwig released us. We've been discussing evidence and whatnot," Eduard said almost embarrassedly. Alfred slumped into the back of the couch and sighed.
"I am so sorry I didn't help you two..."
"It is fine, my friend. We did not come to any big conclusion or huge impossible problem anyway. Just more questions..." Francis muttered.
"Hmm? Did you find more evidence?"
Eduard stood up with a small piece of paper in his hands.
"This was on one of the old receipts taken from the drive-by victims. I had it copied over, so don't worry about harming evidence," Eduard explained, Alfred not listening. Alfred took the slip of paper and squinted at it in the rather poor lighting.
"Is this Greek?" he asked after a moment.
"Not quite. It's Cyrillic."
"So Russian basically?"
Eduard nodded and took the paper back. "I can actually read what it says, but it is nothing interesting. Just a reminder for them, then it goes on to mock them since they can't read it anyway, and then it gives permission for anyone that can read it to take their belongings if they found them."
"And that's not interesting?" Alfred asked in disbelief.
"Not really... It only makes me more confused."
Francis sighed and shifted.
"Get to bed, my obnoxious friend." Both Eduard and Alfred looked at him. "I mean Alfred... Ludwig is going to want you in the department at the crack of dawn tomorrow."
"Ludwig knows damn well I was taking a break today. He shouldn't always punish me for actually wanting to do shi-"
"I just think... you should listen to what he wants you to investigate, okay?"
Alfred exhaled through his nose and stood up.
"All right then. Good night both of you," he said as he walked out. Francis waved from his spot and Eduard gave an awkward 'good night'. Francis crossed his arms once he made it upstairs.
"What did the captain want with him?" Eduard asked after a moment.
Francis yawned and lay across the couch. "Just for him to meet another old friend of his. If friend is even the proper term."
Eduard stared blankly at the Frenchman. After a moment, Francis flashed a glance at him and then flung forward onto his feet.
"Come my friend. We can drink the rest of this headache-inducing day out."
AN: Nothing much in this chapter really. Just Daniel is my headcanon name for Australia. You can take it or leave it though, he's not going to be making an appearance in here.