Chapter Text
Events of the next days were in a big blur. Quickly, too quickly to even recognise what was going on around you, you found yourself standing in the doorway of your aunt’s house and hugging her while your dad was putting the luggage into the car. Unwittingly, you glanced at the place, where not even a day ago a huge mansion-like house with so many rooms you couldn’t count and secrets only you and Francis shared was standing and making pleasant shadow in the afternoon. Now, you saw only a big black area with ashy beams and what was left of the walls and the chimney. Even the apple trees around were looking miserable, their usual greenness had turned into an ugly shade of brown. A wave of unspeakable desperation rushed into you, making your eyes burn with unshed tears. You inhaled shakily in attempt to stop crying and looked elsewhere. Your eyes met with your aunt’s and you saw tears as well. She wiped them with the back of her hand swiftly, gave you a small smile and waved goodbye as you sat into the car. You forced yourself to wave back, but refused to look back anymore. Couldn’t. You tried to deny that anything happened at all, but the pain from what happened was too raw and strong to fight. You curled on the passenger seat and let the tears fall down quietly, not caring that dad was right next to you. He didn’t try to approach you and you were thankful for that, but put his hand onto your shoulder and caressed you softly instead.
Slowly, you pushed the thoughts of Francis away completely, pretending that nothing happened. It was hard and the effort cost you a lot of power, but after a couple of weeks you pushed him out of your head and heart almost completely. It left you sore and there was a big wound inside you that could not be healed by anything but Francis’s touch, but you learned to live that way. Having a new home with dad made things at least a bit easier. You were living in a new town and finding your way around kept you occupied most of the time. You were outside a lot, wondering through the streets and discovering interesting cafés and shops. The anonymity of a big town you lived in was, in your opinion, great, no one was staring at you while crossing the road; nobody cared about what you were doing or was curious and nosy. That was good. You didn’t have to have long debates with anybody as there was none to have them with, you hardly knew anyone except a few shop assistants, you didn’t even have a neighbour. The owner of the apartment house was a nice lady in her mid seventies, always with a kind smile and a word or two about the weather, but you thought she saw your lack of interest in talking, so she kept that to minimum. You started your life again, this time however, it was a bit gloomy and silent, but you got used to it.
“I’ve got big news, honey,” dad smiled brightly while walking up the stairs with you behind his back.
“Good or bad?” you peeked from over the two grocery bags you were holding.
“Don’t know, it depends on you,” he gave you a brief look, mischievous twinkles in his eyes.
“So what is it then?” you always hated that look, it reminded you of all those pranks you were often victim of, but forced yourself not to think of it now.
“We have a new neighbour,” dad responded happily. You, however, had to force a smile as you were not as fond of this news as your father clearly was, “I have already met him yesterday, seems like a good guy. Not really talkative and a bit intimidating, but once you get to know him... interesting fellow.”
“Alright then,” you didn’t know how to react to that, but the new neighbour might not be such a threat if he was really not as talkative as dad said. Quietly, you proceeded up to the apartment and while waiting for dad to fish for the keys in his pocket, you wondered what this new neighbour might be like.
“Speaking of the devil...” dad grinned widely as he saw a muscular figure walking up the stairs just like you two did a moment ago. You looked that way and when the man approached his own apartment and put down the bags he was holding to unlock the door, you froze.
“Y/N, this is Mr. Armitage,” dad pointed towards you and you did your best to act normally.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Y/N,” Mr. Armitage stretched his arm towards you for a handshake.
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Armitage,” you accepted his hand and chills of pleasure waved over your body as you felt his touch again. It wasn’t Mr. Armitage. It was Francis. He didn’t have that neat army cut anymore, but longer and stylish, the stubble you saw him last time with has turned into a nice beard and his scar was hardly visible. It was a completely different man on the outside, but it was still your Francis. And he knew you knew it. He pulled away sooner than the handshake could turn awkward and exchanged a few polite phrases with your dad.
“See? Not that scary, right?” dad nudged to your shoulder when you finally went inside and you did your best not to freak out totally. He was dead. He was dead and now he was here. You didn’t understand.
After dad went to work and you were left alone you flounced to the kitchen and didn’t leave it until a sweet smell could be felt in the whole apartment.
Your hands were shaking a bit when you placed a plate of cookies onto the mat in front of Mr. Armitage’s front door. After you checked that everything was looking absolutely perfect, you rang the doorbell and rushed to your own apartment. Through the peephole you watched Mr. Armitage opened the door slowly and noticed the cookies after he checked that no one was on the hall. His eyes fell onto the door you were hiding behind and even though he couldn’t see you, you knew he knew you were watching. With a small smile he returned back home, only to come out after several minutes, the empty plate in hand, and heading towards you. He didn’t even bother with ringing, just knocked quietly. You opened the door too quickly, without caring that Mr. Armitage knew you were ready to do so.
“Hello,” you smiled politely, pretending that everything was normal; even though you were afraid your heart would make its way out of your chest as it was beating so fast.
“Hi,” Mr. Armitage responded while clutching the plate in both hands strongly, “thank you for the cookies, they were really good... kind of familiar.”
Nor you and neither Francis could hold it any longer. The last thing you heard was a crushing sound of the plate falling down when Francis’s arms embraced your body strongly, his mouth sealing yours in a kiss full of passion, love and a sweet aftertaste of one of your cookies. Your hand made its way up to his hair, pulling gently and enjoying the new sensation of the length. Francis’s beard was a bit prickly and tingly, but you didn’t care. You pulled him inside by his shoulders and closed the door behind you two.
“Missed you so much,” Francis mumbled against your neck while peppering kisses and inhaling your fragrance.
“Francis,” you pulled him away to look him in the eyes, your voice starting to get shaky and eyes watering again, “do you have any idea what-”
“I’m sorry, I really am” Francis said seriously and cupped your face, “but please, promise me one thing.”
You could promise him anything he’d ask for now without caring what it’d be. You kept quiet, so he continued, wiping the tears that fell to your cheeks, “it’s Richard Armitage now, not Francis Dolarhyde. And The Dragon is gone, everything is new now... Please remember it.”
“I will,” you chuckled slightly and hugged him once more.
“But you owe me an explanation,” you muttered to his chest and felt a rumbling chuckle you missed so much escaping his throat.
“It can wait, we have plenty of time,” Richard wrapped his arms around you and pulled you closer to his body. He was right, it could wait. Anything could wait. Now you had all the time in the world.