Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.
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Ever since that day when Arthur spoke for the first time to Francis (and fought for the first time, too), they had always seen each other. Arthur would arrive before Francis, and when they met at four o'clock, both of them would sit on the front bench and talk (sometimes bicker). It went like that for three weeks. Sometimes Arthur would arrive late because of group work or a long lecture, and he would run towards Francis who had already sat on the bench and waited. It was as if they had been best friends for a long time even though they had only known each other for three weeks, as much as Arthur hated to admit.
From their chatting and arguing, Arthur learned that Francis lived alone in his apartment, both of his parents died in a car accident when he was still in high school. After graduating from his high school, Francis moved here, leaving his uncle and aunt in France and preferred to live alone. He rented an apartment and, thanks to his brilliant talent of sketching and sewing, was accepted as an assistant of a notorious designer in the town.
Arthur learned more from their bickering that Francis was a cat-person, and owned an angora cat in his apartment. Arthur thought pets were not allowed in apartments, but the landlady had been too kind towards Francis, taking care of him like her own son when she learned his parents were both dead. He learned that Francis also loved flowers, and he often came to a florist in the town, so often even the florist remembered Francis and every of his request. His favorite flower was white lily, because it reminded him of fleur-de-lis, the majestic emblem of France (Arthur rolled his eyes at that). That, and because it reminded him of someone Francis cherished so much, but died in a truck accident.
Arthur had ever wondered why everyone around Francis died in accidents. He had ever thought if Francis was cursed or something, but he dismissed the idea.
Francis' friends were Antonio and Gilbert. At least that was what Arthur heard whenever Francis mentioned them. He learned that Antonio lived in Spain and Gilbert lived in Germany. Francis never mentioned their families, only saying that they were good friends and hoped that they would still be together.
"Aaah, I should really introduce you to my friends," Francis muttered with a smile one day after a fight. "Who knows, maybe you three can be best friends."
"Yes, without you, maybe we can be friends," Arthur snapped.
Francis snickered. "You're so mean to me," he replied.
"Well, you're annoying."
"But you still went to meet me, anyway."
"Shut up."
"And you said I'm annoying."
"I said shut the bloody hell up, frog."
"Even if you call me frog, you still went meeting me. Am I that attractive?" he winked.
"What part of 'shut the bloody hell up' do you not understand?"
"The 'bloody hell' part, maybe?"
"I thought you can speak English."
"I am now, aren't I?"
"Then I guess you've already known it's a British slang."
"I know."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Because I want to annoy the hell out of you."
Arthur grabbed Francis' collar with a death grip. "You annoy the hell out of me and I'll beat the shit out of you," he hissed, three ticks of veins popped out on his temple.
Francis laughed. "Hon~ you're angry."
"Good observation, Sherlock. Who do you think is the cause?"
"Now, now. Calm down, mon cher. We don't want any bloodshed here."
Arthur then released Francis with a growl. "I still don't understand why I always arrive here early to meet you. You're a pain in the arse, and such a bloody git. I don't understand why I approached you in the first place! I don't even know why we're friends at all!"
"Hon~ maybe because I'm attractive?" Francis winked.
Arthur sent him a disgusted look. Francis chuckled at the look the Brit gave him, before turning away. Silence then followed. Both the Brit and the Frenchman were drowned in their own thoughts. The train passengers walked past them, never giving them a glance.
"But I'm grateful you talked to me that day."
Arthur blinked and turned at Francis.
The Frenchman smiled longingly at the railway. He closed his dark blue eyes. "No one has ever paid any attention to me, if you want to know," he said, opening his eyes. "They're just walking past me, not even acknowledging that I'm here. At first I was scared if no one would ever notice me, but then you came." Francis turned to Arthur with a smile. "You noticed that I'm here, even daring to sit beside me and talk to me."
The Brit stared at the Frenchman. Then he huffed. "That's because you were acting so odd, and people kept on ignoring you," he replied. Then he paused. "But why does no one ever notice you?" he asked slowly.
Francis shrugged. "Je ne sais pas. It's as if I'm invisible," he replied. "I thought I was starting to look like my Canadian cousin. No one ever noticed him back then, even his twin brother, pouvre garçon."
"Oh, so you have a cousin?"
"Oui. He has a twin brother, and people often mistakes him for his brother."
Arthur hummed.
"But it happens not too often now, though some people still doesn't acknowledge him," Francis continued. "He now works in the HPD, along with his twin brother. People still often mistakes him as his brother, though, and he gets in too much trouble because of it."
The Brit chuckled. "Poor lad," he muttered.
Time flew by as they both chatting and sometimes bickering, until Arthur's train arrived at five thirty in the afternoon. Arthur noticed the female voice in the intercom, before standing up. "Well, it looks like I have to go now," he said. "You're still waiting for you friends?"
"Oui," Francis replied, standing up.
Arthur sighed as he picked up his bag. "Well, then. Should they ever come, maybe you could tell them I said hello."
"Bien sûr," Francis nodded. "Be careful on your way home."
"Of course," Arthur replied, smiling. "So, tomorrow, at the usual time?"
"Oui!"
Arthur got on the train and sat by the window on his usual seat. He looked out the window, where he could see Francis waving his hand with a big smile. Arthur waved his hand back at him. And the train moved.
It was one of few rare times Arthur and Francis bid their goodbyes that did not involve violence, yellings, arguments, and profanities.
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"Arthur-san, when will we work on our project? We need to finish it before the test starts," Kiku asked through the cellphone.
"Yes, yes, I'm sorry. I just can't come over to your flat this week," Arthur apologized as he paced around his bedroom. "There's someone that I just have to meet in the station. I really am sorry. Maybe we can work on it on Saturday? I should be free of lecture by then."
"You've gone to the station early despite the fact that your train arrives at five thirty? Is someone you meet that important?" Kiku asked again.
"Well, you do remember when I told you I've made a friend outside of college, don't you?" Arthur said. "He's a Frenchman, quite annoying, and a sodding git."
He heard a faint chuckle from the other line. "If you feel he's annoying, then why did you befriend him?"
"Well, he said no one had ever paid him any attention, and he was practically invisible until I approached him."
"Aah, so you took pity on him?"
"Hmm, well, you can put it that way, I guess. But I didn't know that he was invisible the first time I met him."
"He goes to the station every day?"
"Yes, just to pick up his friends who, to this day, never arrive. Weird, isn't it?"
"I think so."
"Art," Allistair called from the doorway. Arthur turned at him, covering his phone. "Dinner's ready," the redhead said, before turning around and leaving.
"Kiku, I have to go. The dinner's ready," Arthur whispered to the phone.
"Hai. Then we should get started on the project on Saturday, as you said. Where do you want to start?"
"Your place, if you don't mind."
"No, I don't mind. See you tomorrow, then, Arthur-san." And the line went off.
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A/N:
Sorry for the OCCness.
But sometimes I'm fond of peaceful conversation between Arthur and Francis. Sure, writing their bickering and argument is really hilarious, but a peaceful and casual conversation between them is way too rare.
And Kiku is here, too! XD
Please review and comment, give me concrits and let me know your thoughts about this chap. No flames. Have a question? Just PM me. Stay tune for the next chap!