I wish you would write a fic where porteng are hanging out and the bft are observing them. Bonus if tonio and gil are trying to reassure fran who's a lil jealous of their easy friendship <3
I had to do this as human AU because when France gets jealous, he gets malicious and political rather than sad. He also wouldn't really be jealous over England, they're both a bit too arrogant and comfortable in their intimacy to be worried about that, so human AU we go
This was written waiting in airports and trainstations on my phone, so bear with me for typos and other errors
.......
'Who's he supposed to be again?'
Francis looked through the crowd spread about in Alfred's packed and messy living room to where Arthur and another man were stood in a corner by the stairs, lit purple and blue by gaudy moodlights. Arthur was smiling wide enough to show the dimple in his right cheek, casually leant against the wall with one hand by his side as the man he was talking to bent his head to say something into his ear.
Francis gave a tight shrug and picked up his drink from the low coffee table he was sat in front of, 'A friend from uni.'
'Hmm,' Gilbert finished his drink and held the glass by the rim, 'Why's Arthur not mentioned him before?'
'He has, though usually offhandedly: "A friend of mine did this, a friend of mine once did that"- that sort of thing.'
'They're all the same person?'
'Usually. The one who lives in Portugal.'
'What about the guy he almost-'
'That's the guy he almost.'
Gilbert winced and tilted his head to the side consideringly, 'I don't like him. The guy, I mean but to be honest sometimes Arthur's a cunt too.'
'His name is Gabriel.'
'No, his name is Arthur.'
'Ha ha.'
'I don't care.' Gilbert rolled his shoulders carelessly, 'Looks like an arsehole.'
Francis smiled, more than aware of what Gilbert was trying to do and appreciating it wholeheartedly, 'He's not, which is the most annoying thing. He's wonderfully charming.'
'You're wonderfully charming and you're still an arsehole,' Gilbert helpfully pointed out.
Francis snorted, 'Sadly, Gabriel is very different. More wholesome.'
'Ah, so like me. A real charmer.'
A bark of laughter and then Antonio sat down heavily on the sofa next to Francis, a fresh drink in hand that he skillfully avoided spilling, 'Gilbert, you've not had the displeasure of meeting yourself.'
Gilbert frowned at him and gestured expectantly when Antonio looked at him blankly, 'Where's my drink?'
Antonio looked confused, 'I told you I wasn't getting you one.'
'I thought you were joking.'
'Why would that be a joke!'
'Oh for the love of-'
'What are we talking about?' Antonio turned to Francis almost pleadingly.
'Nothing.'
'We're talking about Mr tight trousers and Lord stick up the arse over here,' Gilbert gestured his empty glass towards Arthur and Gabriel in the corner, 'Why's he staying with you two, by the way. Aren't there any hotels free for him?'
'We invited him to stay.'
'"We"?'
'We,' Francis said firmly and took another long sip of his drink, wrinkling his nose as he caught too much of the bottom dregs of his beer, 'Arthur mentioned that he was looking to come over on holiday and I told him to extend the invitation.'
Gilbert and Antonio exchanged a look.
'Even though they almost-?'
Francis shook his head and tried to appear unbothered, 'It was a long time ago; they're just friends.'
Arthur had told him this. Francis had believed him, still did believe him but then again... Then again the two had a closeness that couldn't be hidden, an easy intimacy from many years which Francis thought that he alone managed to bring out of Arthur. His rare open smiles, his softness- things that previously he thought Arthur showed only him.
Francis had no doubts at all that Arthur loved him, nor did he fear that Arthur still loved Gabriel at all. It was over a decade ago. But to see Arthur's true, open self with another person was disarming, no matter what Francis wanted to believe, and was hard to swallow. Naively, arrogantly, a part of Francis had believed that no one else had ever been able to make Arthur as happy as he did.
That was unfair. Francis had close, intimate friends. So could Arthur. It was cruel to think he'd never had any before.
Francis swirled the dregs of his drink, feeling ashamed of himself. He was supposed to be here to celebrate Alfred's birthday, not mope on a sofa over nothing but his own mental spirals.
He was about to make the offer to Gilbert when Arthur's laughter rang out above the music and general chatter, causing Francis to once again look his way. He was shaking his head at Gabriel, bent over and weakly slapping at his arm. He staggered, a shift of his weight too clumsy, and Gabriel immediately caught him before he fell, an arm slipped around his waist to right him.
Francis turned away, forcing away the unreasonable bitter feeling in his chest.
'Hey,' Antonio nudged him in the side, 'Want a drink?'
'Oh! Oh I see how it is,' Gilbert scowled and gave an exaggerated huff, 'You offer him a drink.'
'Yes, but-'
'No no, don't bother to explain yourself. Don't retroactively defend your favouritism.'
'Gilbert, it's not-'
'Woe is me!' Gilbert's lamenting only grew louder. A cluster of people sat on the window seat nearby looked their way, 'Friendless and alone! Better I learn the lesson sooner rather than later.'
'Gilbert stop-'
Francis laughed and stood, patting Antonio on the shoulder, 'Come on, we'll all go.'
'I shouldn't have to go, he should get me one!'
'Stop fussing and get up,' Francis nudged him.
'Ugh.' Gilbert allowed Francis to pull him up and carefully manoeuvred his way around the table. 'This is a piece of shit,' he said, bopping it with his knee, 'Have you told Alfred that?'
'Yes, several times.'
'Where is the bastard anyway?'
'I saw him out by the pool,' Antonio said with a glint in his eye, 'He was quite tucked away though, I only saw him by accident. Looked to be having fun.'
Gilbert narrowed his eyes, 'What did you see?'
Antonio averted his eyes quickly and got to his feet, 'Nothing.'
'Bullshit; you saw something. Come on, gimme the tea.'
'No! I didn’t see anything.'
'You can't just say that Alfred "looked to be having a good time" and not elaborate. Who with?'
'It's not my business.'
'Oh sure, you just want to keep it to yourself until you need to use it to blackmail or get something from him, you sly bastard.'
'I don't do that-'
'You're not leaving already, are you?'
A hand grabbed at Francis' arm, familiar cool fingers insistent for his attention. He stopped.
Arthur had pushed his way across the room, Gabriel fast in tow. His shirt was loose about the neck, collar too wide so that his collarbone slipped free on one side and his hair was ruffled and wild from the heat of the summer night. Francis wanted to brush it back from his face, smooth the day from him, but held back. He knew Arthur far too well- it wouldn't be appreciated in public.
'Just getting another drink,' he said, then leaning closer so that only Arthur could hear him, 'It's far too early to leave; you're not drunk enough for the night to be late'
Arthur gave him a flat look and moved to show Gabriel over this shoulder, opening him into the conversation, 'Gilbert, Antonio, I want to introduce you to someone. This is my friend, Gabriel.'
'It's so lovely to meet you.' Before Gilbert could move, Gabriel had moved in to kiss him warmly on the cheeks, before catching hold of his hands to give them a firm, slow shake, 'I've heard so many things about you. Gilbert, isn't it?'
'Yeah,' disarmed, Gilbert floundered, 'Though whatever Artie-Pants has told you about me is probably a lie.'
'Don't call me that.'
'So far, you're living up to expectation.' Gabriel laughed and clapped him in the back, moving to greet Antonio a similar way.
As Francis watched, Arthur's hand quietly threaded into his. He gave it a small squeeze.
Are you alright?
Francis squeezed back, rubbing his thumb over Arthur's knuckle. I'm fine.
One final squeeze, the slightest increase of pressure, and Arthur let go, 'Come on idiot, let's get you shitfaced on the good wine Alfred hides from Matthew.'
João yawned and curled up further into his blanket to avoid the frigid air. It was winter outside, and currently snowing as well, although he didn't know that just yet. He moved to cuddle up to Arthur, only to find that he wasn't there. He huffed and turned to his clock just to make sure that he didn't sleep in too late and sighed in relief when he didn't.
He heard someone walking up the stairs and smiled when moments later the door opened to see Arthur carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. He handed one of them to João and made a comment about the snow outside. Arthur chuckled when his face immediately lit up and agreed to go outside with him.
