Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 4

Vlad checked to make sure that he had everything. His bookbag was filled with a notebook and stationery, along with the study guides. They still needed to get their textbooks, so he was spared from that weight, for now. He closed his bookbag and cast a spell that would allow for more space and less weight.

He didn't have a laptop, but he had a USB, and he knew that the university had public computers. If he needed to do something on a computer, then he would at least be able to take his work along. They also had a common computer in the house, so the only matter was to arrange who got to use the computer and when.

Well, it was still too early to work out a schedule, but it was nice to know that they could work out a system.

After making sure that he had everything, he went towards the kitchen. Arthur was the one with the car, so they would carpool together. They already discussed the matter and decided that they would wait for the last person to finish their classes and then go home, before going to work at the café. And on a Monday, that would be Vlad.

"So, do you think you'll manage?" Arthur asked. "Your English is good enough, so I have no doubt that you'd be able to communicate with others."

"Well, we each have a map of the campus," Lukas said. "So we shouldn't get too lost."

"I think we'll be fine," Vlad said. "If something happens, we'll text each other."

"Alright," Arthur said. He checked his watch. "Then it looks like we're going."

They'd already had breakfast earlier in the morning, and the kitchen just seemed like the best place to get together. And after Lukas and Vlad united and banned Arthur from cooking, the air was a lot more tolerable.

…

Vlad checked his watch, his stomach growling. While the class was interesting, his hunger demanded a bit more attention. He only had about ten minutes before he could get some lunch, so he only had to hold on a bit more.

The current class was Philosophy, and just looking at the curriculum made him excited. He always enjoyed philosophy. It was always interesting to see what people believed and why they believed those things.

"Alright," the lecturer said. "Your homework is to write an essay in which you say what your thoughts are about philosophy. What do you think it is, and what do you think it involves? There is no required length, and it's due on Friday. You're dismissed."

Vlad quickly jotted down the details of his assignment in his notebook before packing it all away. He had two hours to get some lunch, and he already had a good idea of where he wanted to go for it.

"Ah, so good to see you again."

Vlad froze when he heard the familiar voice, before someone threw their arm around Vlad's shoulders. There was a slight hiss, but not a jerk or a yelp, and his amulet didn't vibrate, so Vlad could at least say that it wasn't a supernatural being that meant him harm. Still, he didn't entirely trust Francis.

He turned to see the Frenchman grinning at him, and he slipped a smile on his face as well.

"Hey," Vlad greeted. "So, do you have this class too?"

"Not exactly," Francis said. "I'm a second-year, and the teaching assistant, so it's important for me to know what you first-years are doing. So, do you have any plans for lunch?"

"Um, there's a campus restaurant that I want to try out."

"Ah, très bien. You must want something other than Arthur's cooking. Well then, lead the way, and I'll tell you if it's a good choice."

Vlad felt a terrible sense of foreboding. It would seem that Francis had no intention of leaving him be for the time being. Still, he didn't have a real reason to be rude towards Francis, other than the fact that something was off about him. But until he knew what exactly it was that was off about him, it would be best not to offend him.

"Sure," Vlad said.

…

As it turned out, Francis didn't mind the campus restaurant that he chose. But Vlad couldn't help but stare as Francis gave his order to the waitress.

Where did he plan to put it all?

The waitress jotted down the order as though it was normal, before she asked Vlad for his order. He only ordered a tramezzini, which might have been seen as a footnote in comparison to Francis's order. The waitress nodded before she went off to give their order.

"So, how is your first day of classes so far?" Francis asked. "Better, now that you get to spend some time with me, I'm sure."

Vlad chuckled. One thing he could say about Francis was that he had no lack of self-confidence.

"I guess I can't complain," Vlad said. "The homework is a bit… more than I expected for a first day."

"Well, you would need to get used to it," Francis sighed. "It's only going to get worse."

Vlad winced.

"Thanks for the warning," he said.

"And how is it at your home?" Francis asked. "Arthur isn't being unbearable, is he? He isn't trying to poison you with his food?"

"Lukas and I banned him from the kitchen. The only thing he's allowed to do in there is to make tea. I have to say, he's not bad at it. But things are okay. Lukas was upset to find out that Arthur didn't have any coffee, but we already got enough that would hopefully last him a month. I swear, he drinks coffee the same way most people drink water."

Francis clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"Now, I enjoy my fair share of coffee, but I understand how unhealthy it is," Francis said. "And you, mon pauvre garçon, have to be all alone with them and their bad dietary influences. Not to worry! Your big brother Francis will guide you along the proper path!"

"No thanks," Vlad said flatly. "I'll pass."

"Oh non, I am too late! The rosbif with his caterpillar-brows has already poisoned your mind!"

"No, I just think you're being a bit too dramatic. And seeing how much you ordered, I don't think you're the best person to give me dietary advice either."

As though to prove Vlad's point, the waitress arrived with Vlad's order, and all three of Francis's orders. Francis cocked his head to the side.

"You think it's too much?" he asked.

"Just tell me where you put it all," Vlad huffed.

"I would like to know that too," the waitress said. "Honestly, it's so unfair."

Francis chuckled before turning a dazzling smile to the waitress.

"You know you're already très belle, ma cherie," Francis said. "So do not do anything to change this gorgeous view."

Vlad assumed that this must have been normal for Francis, since the waitress didn't even bat an eye. Still, he decided that it would be best to stay out of it. He calmly started to eat his tramezzini, hoping not to get sucked into whatever was happening between Francis and the waitress.

Still, he froze when she turned his attention to him, a bright smile on her face.

"Good luck with him," she said. "And make sure he pays for himself, and doesn't force you to pay for him."

"Oh my dear, you are painting a horrid picture of me," Francis exclaimed. "I would never!"

The waitress's blank look in response told Vlad all he needed to know. She only lingered for a few more seconds before she went off to serve another customer. Francis seemingly got over the 'insult' and was tucking into the first of his dishes.

"Is that really all that you are eating?" Francis asked. "I know that the English don't understand the concept of portions, but…"

"I'm sure," Vlad said.

In truth, Vlad couldn't afford much yet. He had been given a bit of money by his mother before he departed, and he could send the bill to his student account, but he didn't want to have to resort to that too much. The tips so far at the café were generous, but what he was really hoping for was their salary which they would only get within two weeks.

Francis stared at him for a moment before he placed a few carrots on Vlad's plate.

"Make sure you are eating healthy," Francis said.

"Thanks," Vlad said.

He still didn't quite know what to make of Francis, but he was sure that he could say that he wasn't a bad guy. A bit dramatic, yes, but not bad.

…

Arthur checked his watch. He was leaning against the car, and Lukas was standing next to him, working on his phone. Vlad was supposed to come after his class, but it had already been five minutes and if he didn't arrive soon, they would all be late for their shift at the café.

"Sorry!" a familiar voice called out. "I had to ask the professor about something."

The two looked over towards the rushing Romanian. Vlad's cheeks were flushed, whether due to exertion or embarrassment, Arthur didn't know and didn't care. He stepped away from the car.

"We only have about fifteen minutes to get to Little Egypt," Arthur said. "And we also need to get dressed into our uniforms and everything."

"Instead of wasting time telling him about how much we're in a hurry, let's just go," Lukas said.

Vlad shot him a grateful look. Arthur huffed, but he supposed that Lukas was correct. They needed to get to the café as soon as possible, and wasting time would benefit none of them. It didn't help that they'd only been working there a few days, which meant that they still needed to earn their boss's trust.

The drive was silent, probably because Vlad was still too tired from the run. Neither Arthur nor Lukas were as bothered by silences as Vlad was, though Arthur was still concerned about whether or not his housemates were feeling comfortable. The Englishman wondered if he should ask how the others' first days of classes went.

"So, do any of you have homework?" Lukas asked. "Anything that would need the computer?"

"I need to write an essay by the end of the week," Vlad said. "Just what my ideas about philosophy are. I worked on it a bit during my free time, so I don't think there's much more that I'll need to do…"

"I need to look up a few court cases," Arthur said. "So that might take a while."

"I don't need to use the computer tonight, but I might have to do some research about which topic I want to choose for my semester project," Lukas said.

"Arthur, you can use the computer tonight," Vlad said. "I'll see if I can work in the library tomorrow. I'll need to check out a book anyway."

"Things will get a bit more hectic, so perhaps we should try to work out a schedule," Arthur said. "Are we going to do it when we return after our shift?"

"Sure. Then we won't have to fight about who gets to use the computer."

They arrived at the café and immediately went to the locker room after apologising to Gupta for the wait. Arthur couldn't help but notice that the Egyptian seemed to be a bit tired, but when he saw him again after they got into their uniforms Gupta seemed fine again. Arthur dismissed it as his imagination.

The café wasn't too busy, so Arthur didn't feel as though they were in an endless hurry, but it was busy enough that they couldn't slack off. He smiled as he jotted down an order before he went to deliver it to the kitchen, and then he had to go deliver another order at a different table.

Things went smoothly for a while. Arthur noticed Feliciano coming into the café, and that Vlad immediately went to tend to the Italian. He noticed that Vlad and Feliciano seemed to get along fairly well with each other, and was glad that Vlad was befriending someone that was at least fairly decent, unlike some of the others in Feliciano's social group.

Arthur was retrieving an order of hot chocolate when he heard a crash. He turned around to see Vlad trembling on the ground. The tray he had been carrying was next to him, the contents scattered.

"Vlad!" Arthur exclaimed. He put his tray down and went to check on the Romanian. Lukas beat him there by two seconds. "What happened?"

"I-I don't know!" Feliciano said. "He was fine just a second ago! O-oh no, is he sick?!"

Vlad didn't seem to be aware of what was going on around him. Arthur placed his hand on Vlad's forehead and winced.

"He's burning up," Arthur said.

"You two, get him to the back," Gupta ordered. "I'll take care of the customers."

Arthur and Lukas nodded. Arthur hooked his arms under Vlad's armpits while Lukas grabbed Vlad's feet. Arthur was surprised by how light Vlad actually was, but he decided to focus on that later. There was a bench at the back for the employees, and it would be best to get him to rest on the bench. And when they were out of the public eye, they would need to use magic to see what was bothering Vlad.

Something about this just didn't seem right. Vlad was fine earlier.

…

Feliciano watched as they took Vlad to the back. He could feel Gupta's eyes on him, but thankfully the Egyptian was focused on serving the customers. Perhaps, if Feliciano could slip out, he could avoid a confrontation.

"What happened?" Gupta asked lowly.

Feliciano jumped in alarm. Gupta had slipped behind him, making escape impossible.

"I-I don't know," Feliciano said. "One moment he was fine, and the next he was on the ground. I-I didn't do anything!"

"Quiet," Gupta hissed. "You don't want to attract any attention."

Feliciano clamped his mouth shut. He waited for Gupta to say anything else.

"We will see what their explanation is," Gupta said. "But if he avoids you, then you have no one to blame but yourself, and you will have to explain your failure to Romulus."

Feliciano shuddered. The thought of having to explain to his sire why he could no longer get close to the human that he was interested in didn't seem pleasant.

…

"What do you think happened?" Lukas asked.

"I have no idea," Arthur said, placing his hand on Vlad's forehead again.

He reached out with his magic, trying to see if he could somehow soothe Vlad, as well as find out what the cause of this attack could be. He frowned when he pulled his hand away.

"There's definitely a faint magical interference," Arthur announced. "However, it seems to be internally created, but it's not Vlad's."

"How is that possible?" Lukas asked.

"I don't know. But I think it's safe to say that this isn't a curse or anything. I think all we can do for now is make sure that Vlad is comfortable. We don't want to interfere with magic that we don't understand."

Lukas was silent as he stared at Vlad.

"Do you think we should ask your family for advice?" Lukas asked.

Arthur was silent. He wanted to prove to his family that he could survive on his own, but he didn't want to put his housemates in any danger. And he didn't think anyone would be impressed with him if he allowed Vlad to suffer for his pride.

"I think we should let Vlad rest for a few minutes," Arthur said. "There's a possibility that whatever is happening is only for a short period. If Vlad's still like this, or worse, in five minutes, then I'll try calling one of my brothers."

Lukas pursed his lips before he nodded. After making sure that Vlad was comfortable, the two of them returned to the main area, informing Gupta that they would be checking on Vlad again in five minutes.

…

Vlad was disoriented. He found himself in an unfamiliar place, with no idea how he ended up there. And he could do nothing but watch.

He appeared to be in some sort of camp. He was almost sure that it was a Romani camp, based on the appearance of the people and the clothes. The clothes also appeared to be old-fashioned, and he suspected that he was seeing far into the past.

He turned, along with everyone else, when he heard the sound of horses. People cried out in alarm, and when the riders came into view, Vlad knew that something was wrong. People in armour didn't come in the middle of the night for casual visits.

The one in the centre dismounted from his horse. Vlad's eyes focused on him. Not only was his armour more opulent, but Vlad couldn't help but feel that he looked familiar somehow.

He watched as the man spoke to someone, before they led him towards a tent. Vlad followed after them. He watched as they brought an infant out to the man, who seemed relieved to see the child.

"My son might be dead," the man said, "but my grandson lives."

Vlad smiled. It was a surprisingly tender scene. He watched the man as he handed his grandson back to the child's mother.

"He will be safer here, until I can return," he said. "Do not allow anything else to get close to the child. There are those that would try to use him."

Vlad stared at the child as he opened his red eyes.

The official reason why Francis is such a big eater in this story is because of his dhampir metabolism. However, I also have personal experience with French lunches. When I worked at a French school, the teachers told me that the English assistants tended to avoid eating at the cafeteria as much as possible because it was too much food for them, and they were usually very sleepy afterwards. In South Africa, we actually have a saying that translates to 'stomach full, eyes closed'. I also avoided eating at the cafeteria as much as possible for similar reasons. One time, some of the students had a field trip to England, and two of them told me that they were warned beforehand to take some food with them on their daily sessions because the food that was provided wouldn't be enough for them, and the two agreed wholeheartedly with their teacher, as they had still been hungry after their lunches. They even said that the lunch they received at their school wasn't enough. The two were skinny teenage girls. But France in general seems to consider lunch to be the most important meal of the day.