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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Jun 13, 2012 16:27:52 GMT -5
Arthur rubs his back, gently soothing him.
"Please, just cry. You're hurting yourself more than if you did cry by holding it back." He murmurs, kissing him gently atop the head again.
"Good people always get hurt. It's just a fact of life. People get hurt and injured even though they're innocent, good, all those sorts of things. I just... look, you're hurt now. There's an example right there."
He holds onto him, tighter, trying to bundle up into his arms safe and warm so he could never go.
"But it's okay to be upset by it, too. Good people shouldn't get hurt."
He buries against Francis.
"Especially you..."
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 13, 2012 16:44:47 GMT -5
Arthur was so achingly tender that Francis finally allowed himself to let go. His grief was nothing like the obnoxious tantrums and blubbering he staged for others; this was quieter and infinitely more difficult. He lost himself in Arthur, wrapping the pirate's presence around him for comfort and protection.
When he finally spent himself, he remained curled against Arthur, staring at the pirate's bandages blankly. His thoughts were still whirling and he still didn't know how to feel. But there was a certain relief that settled in him.
"Since when are you so wise - about emotions, of all things?" Francis found himself asking. It was a poor attempt at levity. "Not that I'm complaining."
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Jun 13, 2012 16:53:53 GMT -5
Arthur snorts, dozing off a little.
"Because I'm not putting up with any of your bullshit when I feel I've just fought a war for you. Having your arm snapped like mine did hurts, you know... but I get the slight inclination that I only got beat up like I did is because he got fed up of me talking so much."
He strokes Francis' cheek, fondly.
"Just because I can give good advice when I can doesn't mean I'm any good at following it myself. It's probably why I get so frustrated with myself."
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 13, 2012 17:01:09 GMT -5
Ah, there was a glimpse of the pirate captain. But Francis more than appreciated how gentle Arthur was being. In that moment, Francis felt a powerful rush of affection for him.
Reaching up, he gave Arthur a quick peck and brushed his hair from his face. "That is where I come in, isn't it?" He found Arthur's hand and kissed it before pressing it to his heart.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Jun 13, 2012 17:10:25 GMT -5
Arthur laughs, watching him.
"Yes, Mr Ego, coming in and saving the day over and over." He rolls his eyes, but keeps his hand over the chest. He smiles.
"Yeah. That's where you come in."
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 14, 2012 11:44:54 GMT -5
Francis couldn't help but smile at that, and this time, it was genuine. He squeezed Arthur's hand, just slightly, pressing it over his chest. Every beat, Francis mused, was all for the pirate now.
"Thank you." Francis' voice was quiet but firm. "I know you were hurt because of this. And it was you who saved me this time. Thank you."
Francis hesitated over his next words; he was sure that though his request was simple, it would be even more difficult once in motion. But he couldn't back down now, and he hoped that Arthur would indulge him one more time.
"I...I want to tell you." He lifted his face and met Arthur's eyes squarely. "About her. Do - do you mind?"
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Jun 14, 2012 16:12:04 GMT -5
Arthur chuckled to himself, softly.
"Idiot, only returning the favour."
Looking at him fondly, he can't help it. He leans in and kisses the other softly, eyes fluttering closed. As he parts, their foreheads touch and he relaxes against and into Francis' hold a little more. He returns the gaze, tender.
"Tell me all about her."
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 15, 2012 12:06:58 GMT -5
Now that Arthur gave Francis his attention, Francis had no idea how to start. It was the most difficult part, starting; Francis could only hope he would ease into it once he did. He supposed that he would have to go back to the very beginning.
"She...she was the ugliest baby I had ever seen." The sound he made was between a chuckle and a sigh. "I would know; I had seen portraits of myself as a baby and everyone thought I was lovely. She came into the world wrinkled, red-faced, and tiny. So very fragile. But my mother loved her, my father loved her. So I did too. They made me promise to protect her."
His voice hitched, but he continued. "We were the best of friends, growing up. And who knew she would grow up to be pretty like me? She was our darling fairy princess."
Now that he was talking, he was able to let the memories flood in, and reminiscing became much easier. He told Arthur about their mischievous exploits, the silly games they played, the way they fell asleep together after an exciting day... He told Arthur about the other children at court who had snubbed her, how he protected her, how bravely she had dealt with it... He remembered their parents, who were loving, generous people ...
When he had reached the events after their parents' death, he nearly stopped. That was when he was forced into military service, when she was under house arrest at the Palace, when he and his sister were separated for the first time. But he kept talking, plowing through the worst parts without giving himself time to slow down.
"I had never, never in my life thought they would kill her," he said quietly. "Never. Not even after her sentence was passed. I had thought - hoped - that she would granted a pardon at the last minute. Fool that I am," he added viciously.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Jun 15, 2012 15:54:13 GMT -5
Throughout all this, Arthur can only watch and listen, with wide, tender eyes. He did know quite a bit about Francis, but the Noble had never sat him down and told him everything about his past and such until now. At the moment, he can only blink and watch the other's expressions.
Arthur genuinely has no words in response to France's account. His green eyes rest of the other's, soft, blue ones, and the only response he does is to reach up his spare hand, gently cupping the other's cheek. Arthur runs his thumb gently along it, before leaning up to kiss the other, eyes fluttering closed.
He spends the next few moments lingering in that kiss, before gently parting from the other, his eyes still that wide, soft look. He leans in again, but pauses to kiss him gently on the forehead instead.
He has no words, just kisses.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Jun 15, 2012 16:07:39 GMT -5
The way Arthur was looking at Francis, the way he was treating him...it was too much for Francis to bear. Fresh tears slid down his cheeks but he didn't want to wipe them away. He didn't want to move. His heart was bursting with so much love for the man.
For the first time, Francis felt a little shy. This was Arthur, and Francis just laid all of himself bare to Arthur, made himself vulnerable, and the pirate responded with tenderness.
Francis was silent for a long time, just listening to Arthur's breathing, letting his thoughts and memories ebb and flow.
"She would have loved you," he finally said in a whisper. He wasn't sure if Arthur was still awake; he needed to say it. "And you would have loved her too."
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