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The end of a normal day of world meetings hosted by Francis in Paris. Normal meeting being code for BORING as fuck, Arthur thinks, as he shoves his notepad and pen back into his briefcase and gets up.
The nations shuffle out of the conference hall and Arthur finds himself having a chat with Ludwig about the economy. Of course, Francis just had to join in to piss Arthur off.
“Arthur,” Francis's voice teases. “It’s 2024, you’ve got to get out of recession. Even Greece and Spain aren't in there and you haven't even got the EU to help you out anymore.”
Antonio sniggers from somewhere behind.
Arthur grits his teeth, ignoring the Frenchman and deciding to continue his not-very-private conversation with Ludwig. Francis had hit a nerve but Arthur refused to bite.
But hours later, away from the noise of the conference hall, away from the busy work of world meetings where the nations endlessly drone on about politics and economics; it was a different story between Francis and Arthur. As both men, one in his Parisian apartment and the other in his hotel room, were putting on their nicest dry-cleaned suits to go on a date. It was scheduled for 7pm in a gourmet Parisian restaurant of Francis's impeccable choosing. They had a tradition that whenever a world meeting was set on their home soil, they would take each other out for a fancy date as lovers, and sometimes stay over each other's places for a few weeks when all the other nations went home.
Francis stands up from the table when Arthur comes into the restaurant. He had been waiting at a table, passing the time by flicking through the menu and sipping a glass of wine.
“Mon amor!” he says happily and kisses Arthur on both cheeks.
Arthur smiles, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Francis's lips before sitting down opposite him.
“I got you these,” Arthur says holding out a bouquet of red roses that he had been hiding behind his back. “As a gift, even though you’ve been a massive twat to me today.”
Francis's face lit up with a shimmering smile as he took the bouquet. Arthur’s heart melted watching Francis's smile and blond hair glow under the restaurant's light. Arthur knows how much Francis loves roses, so he had bought the nicest one he could find in the market.
“They’re beautiful,” Francis said sniffing the roses. “I love it when you’re romantic.”
Francis pauses then chuckles coyly, “I got you flowers too!”
Francis brings out a beautiful pink and white flower bouquet wrapped up large white ribbon that had been hidden on a chair.
“Oh!” Arthur says happily then his face falls.
"What's wrong?" Francis says a little hurt.
I picked these colours out just for him! Francis thinks. And they were expensive!
“Where are we going to put all these flowers” Arthur asks.
Francis cocks his head in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"Well, if I'm staying at your place, where are they both going to go?" Arthur queries.
“In my apartment,” Francis says in confusion. He thinks to himself, what strange things Arthur worries about, does he not think I have two vases?!
“But there are too many bouquets and you usually only have flowers in your dining room."
“Then I’ll put one in the dining room, and one can go in a vase in the bedroom or the living room."
"Oh," Arthur says and then takes the bouquet from Francis.
“Mon Coeur,” Francis continues softly. “The more flowers in the house the better! The more beauty and nature around you, the more lovely you feel. So we can stay together in my apartment and feel lovely together with all these flowers surrounding us.”