FrancexReader

Francis sat at the bar and gave a heavy sigh; he moved his blond locks behind his ear and continued to watch the news. It was the same old regular thing as usual nothing too interesting or out of the ordinary.

“Want another or have you had enough?” The bartender asked him. Francis turned from the TV and looked to the bartender who was cleaning a shot glass with a rag. Francis smiled and nodded and pushed his glass forward.

“I think I can go a few more.”

“Alright.” The bartender took his glass and filled it up again with some scotch and sat it in front of Francis.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime and uh this one is on the house.”

Francis raised an eyebrow still smiling and shrugged, “Well thank you sir.”

“No problem you’re good company.”

“As are you.” Francis lifted his glass in honor of the bartender. The bartender bowed and went to the other side of the bar to tend to the other people sitting and drinking. Usually this was not Francis’s kind of place a bar like this one, filled with smoke, dim lighting, and pool tables. Why he was here, well he wanted a new change of scenery and a place to relax, so he thought why not?

Francis just finished up his shot when he heard someone come into the bar and a grand commotion.

“Do my eyes deceive me is that (Name)? Boys look it’s (Name)!” the Bartender said.

The girl named (Name) smiled modestly and waved to the patrons who cared about her presence, “Hello boys nice to see you all again.”

“My, my, Miss (Name)—

“That’s right it’s still ‘Miss’, I wonder why that is,” a man who was playing pool and had a cigar in his mouth.

“Roger come on, I’m 22, I got some time.”

“I don’t know honey those good looks won’t last forever,” a woman who as sitting next to (Name) said nudging her in the side.

“Sally, you’re 36 and five kids, I’m exhausted just thinking about looking for a man.”

“What do mean looking?” Sally asked.

“It means the last relationship gave me a hard time. I had to break it off.”

“Well honey I hope you find the one soon got to start making some pretty babies my kids can play with.”

“There is no way I’m letting my kids play with yours. Yo Bernie can I get the usual?”

“Sure thing kid.”
(Name) walked over to the bar and took the empty seat next to Francis, he looked at her for a few seconds then back to the news, and she was actually quite beautiful. He didn’t notice but she took notice into him and smiled.

“You new here in town?” She asked resting her head in her hand. Francis looked from the TV and to (Name); he took notice on what a charming smile she had.

“Oh no I’m not, but I’m new here at the bar,” he explained.

“Sorry but you don’t look like the kind that would hang around this kind of place much.”

Francis chuckled, “I was hoping no one would notice but the usual place where I hang out is down town.”

“Ah a fancy boy, what brings you down here in this neck of the woods,” (Name) asked. The bartender came by and gave her a Gatorade, Francis raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t drink,” she explained noticing his look. Francis shrugged and (Name) opened her Gatorade.

“I wanted a change of scenery……” Francis trailed off, he saw that (Name) wasn’t buying his white lie, he sighed and told the truth, “I wanted a change of scenery in women.”

(Name) smiled to herself knowing she hit the nail right one the head, Francis went on how he needed a change, “The women I came across are beautiful—

“Then what’s the problem?” (Name) asked with a smile still on her face, she was starting to enjoy his company.

“That, that’s the problem, they’re beautiful and that’s it. They have no appealing taste in music that matches mine, no interest in fine arts, their personality is equivalent to that of a hippo with hemorrhoids, and they need a man to do everything for them. I want a woman that’s not afraid to be herself and independent but has no problem asking for help and depending on someone and not having them wait on their every hand and foot.”

(Name) raised her eyebrows in surprise to Francis’s speech, it was quite impressive, “Well that was unexpected. I can see why you need a change, you’re not the only one, and I need a change in men or maybe just stop dating all together.”

Francis whipped his head and looked to her, “Now why would you say that?”

(Name) sighed and her smile softened, “My last relationship didn’t end well.”

“Why did you break up with that guy?” The bartender asked apparently hearing everything they’ve been saying.

“He had a temper that I couldn’t deal with,” (Name) said shrugging and taking another drink.

“You didn’t try to work it out with him, get him some classes to help him?” Francis asked.

“I tried, but once a pitch the idea to him he hit me.”

The Bartender and Francis both gasped, “He didn’t.” Francis breathed.

“Yep,” (Name) said nodding.

“Not on my watch where is the piss worm I’ll handle him. Let me get the boys and—

“Bernie, there’s no need, the minute he laid a hand on me I called the cops and got out of Dodge.” (Name) said sitting up straight.

“I’m so sorry Miss, here I am complaining about my petty problems when you had it the worst,” Francis sympathized.

“It’s alright you’re a great guy there is no reason for you not to complain……sorry I never got your name.”

“Francis Bonnefoy,” Francis said taking pride in his name.

“Man you are fancy,” Bernie said shaking his head.

“Bernie, he’s French not fancy, how could you not tell by his accent? Anyway Francis, I’m (Name), (Full Name).”

Francis took (Name) hand and kissed it, “It’s a pleasure Miss (Full Name).”

(Name) blushed a bit and giggled, “How much like gentleman.” Francis let go of her hand and (Name) got up from her seat, “I should get going I’m a bit tired.”

“Want me to walk you home?” Francis asked. (Name) was surprised he even did, but shook her head.

“No I’m fine thank you anyway, I’ll be here tomorrow, same time, if you want we can talk more than.”

Francis lightened up and nodded, “I would very much like that.”

“Alright then, see you tomorrow then (Name).”

“See you tomorrow Francis.”

The next night Francis found (Name) sitting at the bar in the same spot at last night watching the news, Francis sat next to her and wasn’t sure if she noticed him or not.

“(Name)?”

She turned around and smiled, “Francis hey, how was your day.”

“It was okay,” he shrugged, she notice he wasn’t as chipper as the night before.

“Okay? Why did something happen?”

Francis sighed and tied his hair up into a pony tail with a red ribbon, “It’s just that, I work at this giant computer programming company and it gets stressful. Gilbert, one of my best friends, his grandfather owns the whole thing along with my other friend sort of a little brother of mine Feliciano’s grandfather. I work with my closest friends in the world, Alfred, Mathew, Arthur, Ivan and Yao. Sometimes when we have meetings it get a little hectic.”

“Hectic, how so?” (Name) asked intrigued.

“Well, Alfred wants to be the hero and save us from this so-called ‘crisis’ we are having, Yao just keeps complaining about how we are so immature only because he’s older, Ivan……that’s another story, Mathew he’s so quite I forget he’s there half the time, and Arthur….”

“Arthur?” She asked leaning.

“Arthur and I don’t see eye to eye 99.9% of the time. I grew up in a foster home with him, Alfred, and Mathew. He had different ideas about raising children than I did and we’ve been fighting petty arguments ever since, today was the worst one. He said that he hated me and I said I hated him right in front of Mathew and Alfred.”

(Name) sensed his pain and rubbed his back, “Francis did you mean it?”

“Of course I didn’t mean it…but I don’t know if he did. He’s like my brother they all are, just them hating me is terrifying thinking that I’ll lose my family. I was just happy for work to be over and I get to be here and see you again.” Francis covered his mouth afraid he might’ve said too much.

(Name) giggled and patted him on the shoulder, “Francis I appreciate you took a liking to my company. Listen if they are your brothers just tell them how you feel—

“Not that easy with Arthur giving me a snarky remark every chance he gets.”

“Come on, Francis, just talk to them all of them and tell them.”

Francis looked to (Name) and searched her smile for any hint that she might not care but it was impossible, she really did care about him. Francis smiled softly and nodded.

“Alright tomorrow I’ll try.”

“Good.” (Name) a sip of her water then spoke again, “Francis, why do you want a woman so much?”

Francis looked to (Name) and shrugged, “I just want someone I can love raise a family with grow old with, just have someone who I can love and they love me back, I really don’t care if they are a man or a woman, love is like the forest. I want someone to go and explore it with me and eventually get lost.”

(Name) blushed, “Wow, you’re really passionate about love.”

“As most should, aren’t you?”

(Name) shrugged and looked to the ground, “My forest hasn’t had that many trees and I don’t have anyone to share it with so I can’t really be.”

Francis smiled and put a hand on hers, “You will always have love whether it’s from the smallest of trees, you can still go out and explore it.”

“Are two Shakespeares gonna do that the whole night?” Bernie asked coming from nowhere. (Name) blushed and took her hand away from Francis’s and folded it with the other.

“What of your family, (Name) what are they like?”

(Name) held her hands out presenting the bar, “This is my home, you and I have something in common, I was a foster kid too, and Bernie was my foster parent, and a parent of 19 other kids.”

“You had no one else to help you?” Francis asked surprised.

“Nope, I have 20 kids who are smart, healthy, and can give back to society as every human should.”

Francis applauded Bernie, Bernie gave a hearty laugh and bowed, “Well thank you.”

“My foster parents were wonderful sadly they died about five years ago, but they still live here,” Francis pointed to his heart. (Name) smiled and begun to take a liking to this Frenchman, and that’s what scared her.

“I-I should get going.” (Name) said hopping off her seat she took on last sip of her water and made hast for the door.

“Wait I—do you want to come to my house….I can cook for you,” Francis called to her. (Name) turned around and tried to smile.

“I’m sorry Francis, but no. Um I’ll see you here tomorrow right?”

Francis tried not to be so disappointed and put a smile on for her, “Of course.”

“Great, see you tomorrow, and good luck with your brothers.”

“See you tomorrow and I will.” Francis waved to her and she waved back heading out. Once she was gone Francis slumped in his seat.

“Don’t be so discourage, she’s always been like that. She just got out of something bad and she’s probably ‘fraid of going back,” Bernie said trying to help Francis.

“Maybe I can help her.” Francis said trying to sound optimistic.

“She’s a tough nut to crack, but she isn’t hard. Don’t worry she’ll come around hopefully.”

Francis smiled at the thought of becoming something more with (Name), “I sure hope so.”

At work Francis had saved the last bit of his work and was glad he had the weekend free, he sighed and leaned back in his chair, he pushed his back behind his ears and sat up again, he took out his schedule seeing if he had anything planned for that night he was glad it was empty. He stood up and started to pack things into his briefcase ready to go home. As he did he saw Arthur at the copy machine, Francis huffed and held up to his promise to (Name).

He walked over to Arthur; Arthur made no acknowledgement that Francis was coming but he knew he was and tried to give him the cold shoulder.

“Arthur can I talk to you?” He asked trying to sound as sincere as her could.

Arthur said nothing but he furrowed his eyebrows, Francis knew he was mad about yesterday. Francis run his fingers through his hair and turned Arthur to face him.

“Arthur can I talk to you?” Francis repeated, Arthur stopped the copy machine and crossed his arms.

“I’m listening.”

Francis gulped, this was the first time he actually confronted Arthur like this, “About yesterday, what I said, I didn’t mean a word of it. I was angry and I don’t hate you, I can’t hate you no matter how many times you disagree with me, insult me, or even hit me I can never hate you because your my brother.”

Arthur’s expression softened and he looked away for a bit like he was thinking things over, “I’m sorry for saying what I said. It was rude and not very professional of me; I should understand that you and I have different views and should respect that. I don’t hate you, I never could even if I tried, and trust me I had but I couldn’t stand the thought of losing a brother like you.”

“Aw~, look Al Mom and Dad are together again.”
“Sweet I was afraid were going to be with Arthur due to custody rights.”

Francis and Arthur blushed seeing Mathew and Alfred spying on them in a cubical, “These two,” they both hissed.

When Francis walked  up to the bar he had noticed it looked like rain, but didn’t mind it too much, he walked in and didn’t see (Name), he thought he had beat her hear and waited at the bar. He waited for about ten minutes then he heard the bar get riled up at the sight of her.

He turned around and smiled to (Name) she smiled back and went to sat next to him as she began to sit down she began the conversation, “So how’d it go with Arthur?”

“I told him how I felt….”

“And……?” She asked nudging him in the arm.

“He apologized and told me how he felt. That never happened before…ever! We usually don’t talk to each other for days on end then we just act like the fight had never happened. This time we actually talked it out and I feel great about it, it’s all thanks to you.”

“Me I didn’t do anything, you looked him dead in the eye, you told him how you felt, you did all that Francis I just gave you a little nudge that’s all.”

“You don’t know how much it helped though and my offer still stands.” He inquired.

“Offer?” She asked.

“Yes the one yesterday, you come to my house and I cook for you, like a date.”

(Name) smiled grew smaller and she began to look very timid, “Oh well Francis I—

“Please, it’s the least I can do. You’ve been such a good friend and I want to return the favor.”

“Smooth,” Bernie whispered behind him.

(Name) raised an eyebrow to Bernie then went back to a timid face with Francis; she didn’t want to be rude to him, “A-alright.”

“Really oh that’s wonderful, though we should probably get going, it’s getting late.”

(Name) looked the clock and agreed; she followed him out and was met with a gust of cold wet wind, “Oh man.”

“I had a feeling it would rain,” Francis said over the sound of the wind, “Here get close to me.”

(Name) went up to Francis and he took of his coat and put it over her head, “Please tell me you have a car.” (Name) pleaded.

“Of course I couldn’t park close because of the parking laws it’s just across the street though, let’s hurry.” Francis held onto (Name) and she kept his coat over her head, they crossed the street but as they were in the middle a speeding car came by, Francis managed to pull (Name) and himself to safety, but not without getting splashed.

Francis and (Name) made it to his car, he unlocked it and they both got in dripping wet and covered in mud, (Name) was shivering and she covered her shirt.

“D-don’t look my shirt’s wet,” she said embarrassed, Francis averted his eyes and started the car.

“Don’t worry I can fix that when we get to my house,” he said driving.

“Thank you,” she whispered still shivering in his coat.

“I’m sorry,” he said with eyes on the road.

“It’s not your fault.”

(Name) felt a bit better in dry clothes though earlier she did feel awkward that before while she was waiting for her clothes to dry she was just in a men’s t-shirt. She came down stairs and found Francis setting up the table; he seemed so into it trying to make everything perfect, (Name) found it very sweet.

“This is beautiful,” she breathed. He looked up from his work and smiled.

“I try, now come and sit and let me get the food.” Francis went into the kitchen and (Name) giggled a bit. She sat down at the table and waited for Francis to come back.

He came back carrying two bowls of soup, “I thought we could start up with some Tomato Bisque, then go the roast with a side of cheese and a glass of red wine 1947, a great year for me and I made some nice lemon-aid for you. Then finish off with small crêpes.” Francis sat the soup in front of (Name) and unfolded the napkin over her lap for her. He sat down in front of her and unfolded his napkin over his lap.

They began to eat and talk to each other about life, more about their jobs, what bugged them, the little things that made them smile, their favorite seasons, and each other, by now they were at the crepes era of their meal and (Name)’s taste buds melted with flavor.

“I have never seen a man cook as well as you do,” she complimented finishing off her desert. Francis was lost in her eyes, he never thought he would fall for her this fast, everything about her was beautiful, her eyes, her hair, her face, her laugh, smile, ideas, personality, it just made Francis’s heart fly, but something about her broke his heart, the way she frowned. She sighed and pushed her plate away.

“What’s wrong was it too sweet, not fluffy enough, too fluffy?” Francis asked.

“No, no the food was great and you’re great but….,” she sighed and looked straight into his eyes, “Francis my time with you has been great and I feel well a string feeling for you and I’m afraid of that. I just got out of a bad relationship, I went to my favorite bar in the world to actually have a drink for the first time, and then I saw you. Your blond hair, broad shoulders, that little stubble that makes you look so mature, I guess I took a great interest in you. Then you spoke to me, the way you talked it was like an actual person and I guess I fell for you.”

Francis stayed quiet unable to say anything (Name) sighed and continued, “I guess what I’m saying is that what I’m feeling isn’t real just because I was in a weak state and then you showed up. I don’t think there can be anything really between us….I’m sorry for letting you believe something different.”

Francis was shot he didn’t know what to say but he knew he should’ve seen this coming, yet the fool was still optimistic, “I see,” was the only thing he could say.

(Name) rubbed her arm knowing she probably had hurt him, “The rain stopped,” she said looking out the window, “I think I should go home.”

“I’ll drive you,” he said. (Name) stood and held up her hand.

“It’s alright; I’ll walk my home isn’t that far but thank you.”

Francis rubbed the back of his head and showed a saddened smile, “C-can I at least walk you to the door?”

(Name) smiled and nodded, they walked to his door and Francis tried to think of something to make her stay to show that it’s okay to have a superman to sweep her off her feet from being a distressed damsel, only one thing came to mind. (Name) stopped before going out the door and turned to Francis.

“I hope we stay friends,” she shrugged. Francis nodded and did the only thing he thought would help, he cupped her face he leaned in and kissed her on the lips it took her by surprise, she tried to resist but she just couldn’t. She felt every ounce of passion he felt towards her. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him closer and stood up on her toes to depend the kiss, unfortunately she had to break away, they both were breathing heavily.

She had goose bumps all over her breath was shaky and her knees were wobbly, “That was the best kiss in my life.”

“I had to do one last thing to prove to you it’s okay to feel what your feeling, because you never felt it before.”

(Name) smiled and hugged him, “Thank you.”