"Valentine's day is coming up," Francis said one evening when he was at Arthur's, playing cards. "And?" the Brit asked, cocking an eyebrow and collecting his winnings, colorful chips, from his friend. "Ah, you know - doing something romantic with your loved one, well, I mean, you can do that every day, but to do something more special that day," the Frenchman rambled, keeping an eye on his friend. Lately he had been curious about Arthur's behavior: the man's been going out at strange times and he has seemed somewhat absentminded. Well, that's what it seemed to Francis, at least. Thinking his friend was in love with someone, being his nosy self in romance, he wanted to know who his lover was. Arthur had put his cards down and was looking at Francis, dead-serious. "And your point is?" he only asked and continued to stare at him. Francis was struck back from his friend's evasive actions. "N-nothing, I was just wondering if-" "If I have a girlfriend? Or rather, a boyfriend, as Antonio and Gilbert like to tease?" Arthur interrupted and smirked sourly. "No, no I don't have one of those. It has been years since I've dated someone and my bed doesn't see so many visitors as yours probably does. Boy, am I thankful that during the renovation they thickened the walls too," he added laughingly when he went for the fridge to get them another beer. "Ahh, Arthùr, you know that if you wish to hook up with someone all you have to do is ask! I'm sure I could find you a fine-looking woman," Francis said with a grin, taking the bottle Arthur was offering. The Brit shook his head. "No thanks," he said, "I don't think I want to at the moment." He decked the cards and they began to play blackjack again. "So what do you do on Valentine's?" Francis asked after a while, still not satisfied. Arthur sighed and answered. "Well, usually I call my mum to talk to her and tell her I love her... And I usually spend the night at the bar, ridding people of their money," he took more coins from Francis, "and drinking the night away." Francis smiled to his friend. He thought the plan was simple and may seem lonely to others, but he thought it was exactly like Arthur to do so. He liked hearing his friend say he talked to his mother; it meant everything was continuing to be alright. "And let me guess... You're going to pick up a girl or three and give them the day and/or night of their lives. Am I right?" Arthur interrupted his train of thought. "Oh, Arthùr, you can read me like an open book," Francis answered, smiling. "I wish," his friend gruffed and ended the game, because Bosey wanted to go out. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he said before putting on his coat and leaving the flat.
Absentmindedly, Francis wondered around Arthur's apartment. He liked all the little things about it, everything just seemed to tell him how good of a friend he was to him. He went to the Brit's office to see whether new photos had been added to the wall he remembered well. He was glad to see photos of them both and their friends in Rio hang proudly on the wall. Francis smiled when he found the picture he had been hoping to see there. It was a photo of him and Arthur on top of the Sugar Loaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro, shoulder to shoulder, smiling widely in front of the beautiful scenery. Lately something had been pulling him more and more towards Arthur. Through spending a lot of time together with him he had learned to know all the little things about the Brit which made him the man he was. Francis thought he had a good grasp on Arthur, but he still wasn't quite sure what he really thought about him. Neither was he sure about his feelings towards the Brit. "We're good friends, that's for sure," he thought when he was looking at different photos of Arthur. "But there's this... interrupting factor, that something isn't quite right." He just couldn't put his finger on whatever was bothering his friend. He knew him too well to tell that everything was alright. Hoping it was nothing serious, he left the office, closing the door behind him. A few minutes later Arthur returned with Bosey, both completely soaked. "It started to rain, stupid weather indeed," he said when grabbing a towel to dry his hair. "Ready to continue?" Francis nodded and they both sat behind the table again. "Everything's alright, mon petit lapin?" he asked after a few playthroughs. Arthur snorted a laugh. "Of course, why would you-" he said, but his answer was interrupted by a loud sneeze. "Bless you," Francis said, laughing.