Archive of Our Own ^beta

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In hindsight, it might have started solely because Antonio wouldn't shut up about the new kid- "God! If you seen him move Francis, you would be shocked as well!"- ignoring his own boyfriend in favor of talking about this so-called Feliciano who might not even be that big of a deal.

Francis only smiled, trying not to twitch in anger and control the burning feeling of lightning going through his veins right at the moment. "Is that so?" He says with gritted teeth, stabbing his meal a little bit too hard. His hand shakes but he quickly smooths it out by squeezing the fork. "How nice."

"And pray tell, how did you meet this person?"

Nowadays, they are having more and more kids arriving. All of them bearing the same mystical power that shouldn't really exist but they do and now, they are being rounded up like the common herd. So it's not partly Francis' fault that he doesn't know who Feliciano is or what he looks like. Their schedules are all different, due to how their abilities would function and how it would tend to affect their body and the people around them.

Francis is more of an elemental person- someone who controls lightning literally and is capable of creating it as long as he gets enough sleep and energy. It's quite simple to explain. Energy = lightning but that only sets him apart from Antonio who is more of the… mental kind instead. His darling lover, partner, boyfriend- whatever you really want to call him, is capable of enhancing the capabilities of anything that produces energy.

Even the human body.

"We're in the same classes in the morning!" Ah. So they have somewhat the same ability. Francis nods, humming for Antonio to continue on. "Though at first I thought 'ooooh this kid's new so he doesn't really know how to use his power' because normally that's how everything is right?"

Somewhat? Francis carefully nods. Most of the newcomers doesn't know how to wield the ability they were given but Francis, and a couple of others he had met before, were different. Ever… since that accident, he was sort of aware about his ability to tase people if he weren't careful of his thoughts and emotions. The Headmistress said it's because he, at that time, needed it more as a means of self-protection and self-perseverance against the people who wanted him.

"So let me guess," Francis raises an eyebrow. "He's capable of using his ability?"

"He's capable of using this ability!" Antonio cheers, pumping his free hand in the air. "Oh Francis, if you could have seen it! You would love it so so much. Especially with how everything looks so different afterwards-"

From the back of his head, he can feel someone- a particular little bunny maybe- glaring at him from another table. Sighing, Francis props himself on the table and watches as his partner animatedly continues to praise this Feliciano's ability. Feeling a bit… jealous at the way Antonio's eyes sparkled with life.

Francis holds up a hand, stopping his boyfriend right there. "What exactly is his ability to get you so…" he tries to find the right words- the right phrase to say by grabbing his water bottle and taking a swig of water from it. "Happy?" No. Not happy-

"So excited?" He nods to himself, feeling a bit proud of finding the right term. Ha- beat that Arthur.

"I am?" Antonio asks with that cute little confused expression of his.

Francis couldn't help himself. Reaching out for his cheek and pinching it softly. "You are Mon chou. Quite so excited that I can't help but feel a little bit jealous of this Feliciano fellow you keep on talking about. He better be cute or else, you and I might need to have a talk about your taste in people." He teases Antonio, smacking his cheek softly before settling there. "Can't have you falling in love with someone who isn't as beautiful as me after all."

It is easier to admit his emotions now than when he had first arrived in this strange place and he knows- or at least he likes to think that he knows Antonio really well- that whatever thing he says, the other boy would take it seriously. He's sweet and loving that way, understanding all of Francis' reasoning and actions and even being there for him when it storms right outside their window. And often times, it was Francis who thinks he's the one who's being selfish.

Far too selfish sometimes. Like that moment where he told Antonio during the first day of their relationship that he would love it if they were to see other people. Oh the pain and guilt he felt at seeing the sudden sad look Antonio had as he asks Francis if this is him breaking up with him. But of course, Francis would never want to break up with him if he could help it!

It's just that…

He takes a moment to repeat his request, explaining it to the best of his abilities. "Let's pursue other people and keep our relationship open for potential partners but it doesn't mean I'm breaking up with you mon amour!" He remembers it so well- the relief in Antonio's eyes at the knowledge they wouldn't be breaking up.

Though… still, he wasn't so sure if Antonio really understood what he was agreeing to.

At this moment however, he was proven stunned and absolutely wrong at the sight of Antonio nervously chuckling. Rubbing the back of his head and looking at anyone but him.

Oh. My. God.

"Antonio! You really like this man?" Francis can't help but exclaim, pointing rudely at his boyfriend while wiggling his eyebrows. “Oh my oh my!”

He couldn’t help himself from laughing out loud at the groan that Antonio releases, the poor blushing boy slamming his head to the table as Francis couldn’t help himself at all. Poking his partner by the whorl of their hair, he continues on but this time with a lighter tone. “Come on mon amour, what has gotten into you hmm? Is he really that breath-taking?”

“...” He mutters something underneath his breath, muffled by his arms that hides his face.

“What again darling?” Francis leans closer, moving and pressing his front to the table to hear what Antonio said. “Care to repeat that for me?”

“I said-” Antonio looks up, face so red that he resembles a tomato “-that I’m not looking at him for myself. I was looking at him for you.”

Oh? The blonde laughs, before smiling softly, brushing back his partner’s hair back to reveal his whole face. From the red tips of his ears to the pouting lips of his and Francis leans forward, pressing a kiss on his eyelid. “Please mon amour, I’ll handle my love affairs myself-” He boops Antonio’s nose. “I managed to have you afterall.”

Though with that out of the way, Francis can’t help but wonder what is it about Feliciano that made Antonio think they would get along- and if they do, what about it that would make it seem like they’re a good match in the first place? But he appreciates the sentiment of his partner trying to find him another person to love and to hold hands with.

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“Hello!” Francis has always been the type of person to just do whatever he wants, regardless of how people would think of him or how society would view him. It was only sooner or later that he and this mysterious Feliciano would end up meeting and Francis- though he wouldn’t really call himself impatient- decided that he would rather have it soon than later.

And by soon, he meant the next time he knows they all have a free-day.

“You must be Feliciano!” He peers down at the other male, his hands holding his shoulders down as he leans against the bench from behind. “I heard so much about you really! Hope you don’t mind me suddenly approaching you. I simply cannot help myself but want to meet your acquaintance.”

It wasn’t only Antonio who kept on talking about this small brunette in front of him. Arthur, that stinky bastard of a best friend he has, alongside a couple of their fellow classmates and housemates spoke fondly of him. Each telling Francis on how sweet and bubbly he is and how he seems to talk far too much for his own good. And with each new story, Francis couldn’t help his curiosity at all!

“Hi there! My name is Francis and you might have already heard of me-” He didn’t even pay attention that much to how the other male reacts, taking his seat beside him on the garden bench. “I’m Antonio’s boyfriend but sometimes, he would call me his wife or he’s my wife!” One might say he’s rather proud of his relationship with the other person and who wouldn’t be?

He quickly puts a hand in between them. “Nice to meet you!”

Except he finds himself staring at rather… clear eyes? It’s hard to explain- for someone like Francis who tends to look at people directly in their eyes, the doorway to the souls as his mother would have said once upon a time, he can’t help but stare directly into the warm hues of Feliciano’s (or at least who he can presume to be Feliciano) eyes. “You have rather beautiful eyes.” He gently praised, watching as the flustered teen tried to shake his hand.

“Thank you!” Feliciano chirps, pushing what seems to be art materials to the side to grab his hand with both of his own. “Uhm- yes? My name is Feliciano! And and- I have heard a lot about you too! Antonio said a lot of things about you while we were in class-”

How cute. Now he can see the appeal.

“We almost got in trouble with Professor Foster because we should have been focusing on the activity and not on each other-” he babbles a lot but Francis finds that he doesn’t seem to care about it at all. “I was really really scared that they might punish me for talking but so far! They all just said it’s normal since whoever sits with Antonio might end up talking far too loudly since he’s quite a…”

“Talkative and friendly.” Francis laughs, leaning against the bench and angling himself so that most of his body was facing this boy. He noticed that Feliciano hadn't let go of his hand once, the seemingly younger student tracing the lines in his hands and staring at it far too much. “Anything of interest about my hand?” He can’t help but inquire.

Feliciano looks up at him- a familiar haunting stare and glowing eyes meets him before it fades away, leaving a frazzled looking Feliciano who immediately lets go. “Oh gosh! I’m so so sorry! I didn’t noticed because I was cataloging your information and I didn’t mean to hold your hand far too long-”

“No please.” Francis offers it back. “My hand is yours to hold if you want. I have been told I have beautiful hands after all~”

“You do!” was the reply. The other boy did not respond to the flirt but instead he ignored it by nodding like a pecking chicken. “You have the type of hands a model would have- like those hand models for rings and wrists. You should try it out sometimes? But I don’t know if this place would let people out…”

What a silly person. He laughs, patting Feliciano’s shoulder. “My- this is the first time someone told me I should model! Though I have always known about my dashingly good looks more than people would tell me but to hear it up front is quite refreshing you know?”

It’s a boost to his ego.

Feliciano gives him a bright smile before asking in a rather confident voice. “Do you… do you mind me sketching you sometimes? I heard that Antonio you are a good model for drawing!”

Him? A good model? Well, Francis isn’t quite sure about that. He never tried modeling for people but he has a small inkling that Antonio was up to something with him saying that. So just like any other good partner, Francis nods and smiles. “He speaks the truth! I modeled for him once!” Somewhat the truth, he modeled for Antonio but not the type of modeling people would think about often.

“So… I can draw you? Can I?” who would ever have the heart to say no to such an adorable face.

“When you have time. I heard that you landed yourself private lessons from Professor Ainsley.” Francis would say yes but he wasn’t so sure yet. He’ll think about it over the week- or after a few more conversations maybe.

At the mention of the cold-hearted professor, the newcomer immediately deflated like a balloon. “Veee… Si… I didn’t know what I do but she said I need to come to her every day during the afternoon to hone my ability more.”

Ah- yes the ability.

“Mind me asking what’s your ability? Mine is this-” Francis brings up his hand, snapping it once to create a small line of lightning between his index finger and thumb. The purple lightning dancing across his digits and he waves it away just like that. A mastery he had since childhood, honed by days of using it to run and pushing his body to its limit so that he would be able to survive the next hour.

He can’t help but preen slightly at the sight of awe in Feliciano’s eyes. Huffing his chest as he brushes his hair back. “So what about yours mmm?” It might have been the wrong question to ask because Feliciano then looks away, a bit troubled judging from how his eyebrows furrowed and the edge of his lips curled downwards.

“It’s not really that impressive…?” Feliciano mutters, rubbing his hands together. “I don’t know what’s the big deal that everyone seems to make about it- Savino says it’s normal for anyone in our family to have it and it’s just something I should see as something ordinary?” He wasn’t making a lot of sense but overtime, it might make sense the more he talks to the man.

“Savino?” Oh? That’s the first I heard of him? Someone who came with you?” He’s not one who loves to gossip- okay. That’s a little bit of a lie. He absolutely loves gossip, that’s the reason why the newspaper club currently has him on their blacklist when it comes to their office and room.

“My brother!” Feliciano brightens up. “Well not really? He’s here with us! But he’s not a student like us! He’s sorta… Well… Something? Promise not to call me crazy please? I swear he exists- it just takes a moment to call him and sometimes he doesn't even answer me well unless I promise him to just let him retain his form and go around the place-”

Francis watches in interest, keeping his silence to see Feliciano put his sketchbook on his lap. The book itself looked so filled with artwork and even more paper, looking like it would burst with one wrong movement and Feliciano simply flips it open- an abundance of colors and lines going far too quickly for Francis to see what was drawn inside of it.

It was until Feliciano paused at one particular page where a man was sketched so beautifully on it- like a real person was pasted straight into paper and Francis gasps, watching as the man moved in the paper itself, looking at him with a stink eye.

“Promise not to scream?” Feliciano tells him and Francis really did try his best- especially when the wind picked up and his whole vision was dyed gold. “He’s friendly and he doesn’t bite usually unless you try something and then I’ll try my best to stop him.”

“I’m not a fucking dog Feliciano.”

Then he finds himself staring at two people- both of them sharing the same face and if not for the soft school sweater that Felciano wore and the business suit his somewhat-exact copy wears, he would have thought Feliciano’s ability was to clone himself.

“So! I can bring people or anything to life as long as I draw them!”

What an ability indeed.

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Arriving in their dorm room, Francis immediately throws himself on the napping Antonio’s back- sighing rather dramatically when his back hits his lovely partner. Startling him awake barely. “Francis?” Antonio yawns, turning around to be able to wrap one arm around Francis’ chest tightly. “Hmm- you smell yummy… Did you bring me oranges?”

“Mon amour, did you dream of something weird again?” Francis laughs, letting him munch mindlessly on his arm. “Well- I might have been just right near the cafeteria. I brought Feliciano around to the kitchens to help him create some food for his…” Well, he heard Felciano call the man he summoned brother. “For his brother who demanded a lot of food.”

At the mention of Feliciano, Antonio pauses. The fabric of Francis’ uniform caught between his teeth and he lets go to put his chin on the somewhat wet shoulder now. “How is he? Cute right! I knew he was absolutely your type-”

“His ability is terrifying.” Francis confesses but at the remembrance of Feliciano’s smile and how he excitedly compliments Francis, his words so… honest and the way his eyes sparkled with excitement while remaining so clear. “But he is cute and you seem to know me more than I know myself ha?” He laughs, leaning back comfortably. Curling inside the hug, letting his partner spoon him for that moment.

“He’s cute. Extremely cute but I’m a bit worried about his brother more. Looks like he would eat me if I even come close to Feliciano.”

“Ah- you met Savino? He’s… something? I personally like the others that Feliciano can summon.”

Francis sighs. “It would be quite hard to be able to talk to him with them around.”

“Well-” Antonio nuzzles his neck, kissing the spot right there. “You managed to talk me into a relationship and make me fall for you. You’ll do well. I know you will.”

In the future, there would be three people in the same very bed, curled together as one babbles about the stories the things he summoned told him when he was younger and one would add tidbits, recognizing the tales from the things his mother used to read to him while the last one would be happily dozing off. Surrounded in warmth and happiness.