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The news that Francis’ documents were ready came while Francis and Arthur were closing the deal to buy Arthur’s dream shop.
After the police head officer and Alistair had left them alone, they’d had the chance to talk about the details of the shop over dinner just like Arthur had daydreamed while attempting to deal with Francis’ arrest. A throughout description of his delusion was included in their little date too, and Francis had eventually approved everything his imaginary self had answered Arthur.
This led to Arthur actually adding a black cat on the sign of magic shop, but did nothing to convince Arthur to share the property with Francis. He met him halfway making him associate of the firm, though, so when Arthur had gone to sign the papers, Francis could follow him as more than a moral support. They were both extremely happy, satisfied and extremely thrilled to start their new life together… Until France received a notification on Arthur’s phone, telling him that his documents in Paris were ready.
The news immediately ruined Francis’ mood and, after the long rant following the news, Arthur lost all his enthusiasm no differently than his lover.
“Francis? I know you didn’t want to deal with your family anymore, but look at the bright side: you do have valid documents now, the visa application is not suspended anymore, and after you get rid of the formalities with your family you will be definitely a free man.”
“Free half-cat more likely.”
“A free half-cat that can stay in England.”
Francis sighed, but couldn’t avoid agreeing with him. Satisfied to have won the debate for the moment, Arthur convinced his lover that both having his documents ready and buying the shop deserved some kind of celebration, so he treated Francis to a small restaurant among the ‘approved’ list the Frenchman had made for him.
As predicted, the impromptu date had turned for the better Francis morale, who was quickly back to his sunny and cheerful self. The reminder that Arthur would be at his side no matter what had apparently done miracles, making Francis to willingly propose adding some sightseeing for Arthur to enjoy
Eventually the list became so long that they had to agree to postpone the vacation, especially because they soon realised that Arthur’s offer of support hadn’t taken into account his lack of passport. Since they were bound to meet Francis’ family because of the British police, in order to avoid troubles also with the French one they decided that avoiding public places was the better option.
Still, the days passed and Francis kept finding tons of excuses not to call his family. When a week later Arthur received a call from the police head officer asking for updates and Francis blatantly asked him to lie, the young wizard decided that he had to do something.
The day after, he presented Francis with a brand-new phone, pointing out that now that he had valid documents, he needed to re-emerge from the shadow and claim his own life back.
“Thanks to you I am pretty much alive already.”
“Francis, people outside me and you exist.” Arthur scoffed. “You have to deal with them eventually.”
“I can deal with them using your phone.”
“No objection to you using my phone, but you also need to have your own.”
“If I call my grandfather...” Francis admitted eventually, his tail tightly wrapped around his leg and ears flat against his hair. “He might keep calling me even after the meeting.”
“He can very well do that, but you can always decide not to answer. Everything needs to start before you worry, though, just like our shop.”
“Arthur~”
“C’mon, I’ll be there with you.” Arthur put a kind hand on Francis’ shoulder, trying to calm him down. “I am here with you.”
Francis nodded and grudgingly picked up the phone, fiddling with it enough to get though authentication and account recovery. When all his old life started loading back into his new phone, though, he couldn’t help but staring in terror at the device.
Arthur saw him turning rigid, his tail becoming fluffier and his ears moving even lower, so he put his hand over Francis’ one as an attempt at giving him comfort. Francis instinctively pulled it away, but when he realised that it was only Arthur, he took a deep breath and let himself lean against his side.
“I’m not sure if I want this life back.”
“You don’t need to have it back as it was. You need to have it back to close this door, in order to open a one where we live and work together in London.”
He dragged Francis on his lap and led him close to his chest, taking the chance to leave a soft kiss on his cheek and making him purr in delight. They allowed themselves to share some fleeting kisses, until it was clear that they couldn’t avoid the call anymore. Francis sighed again then, and gathered enough courage to scroll down the list of numbers he had saved until he found the one labelled Grandfather.
“Are you starting with him?”
“Starting and finishing. Aside some cousins, aunts and uncles he is the only family I have left.”
“You told me that your mother died, but what about your father?”
“No idea, my grandfather talks a lot but never about important things.”
Arthur tightened his hold on Francis, not really knowing what else to say.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry. I never needed anyone throughout my whole life.”
“You don’t even need me?”
Francis turned to stare at Arthur, offering him a big smile before grabbing his face with both his hands to get it closer to his.
“I need you as much as a kitten needs milk.”
Francis started licking playfully Arthur’s lower lips, making him chuckle.
“Does this mean that you like me a lot, but I make your stomach hurt?”
Francis groaned at the joke, and turned to straddle Arthur’s thighs and kiss him better.
“Lactose free milk.”
Arthur’s tongue met Francis’ and both took it as the sign they needed to deepen the kiss. Francis’ hands entwined into Arthur’s messy locks, as Arthur caressed his lean body all over, stopping only to scratch the sensitive spot right over Francis’s fluffy tail and caress it for some of its length. The attention made Francis purr, so Arthur took the chance to lick Francis’ sharp fangs and feel the tip of one of his ears between his fingers.
“Mwreow... Arthur~ Like this, I can’t~”
“Hurry up and call, so we can have a little celebration of our own.” Arthur whispered in his ear. “You are so sensitive these days, that I just want to keep making love to you day and night.”
“This is blackmail~” Francis protested, his voice so low and deep to sound like a grumble. “You are becoming too good exploiting my weak points.”
“I’m exploiting you being a kitty.” Arthur took once again Francis’ tail in his hand, making him purr louder. “Now be a good kitty and call your grandfather, so we can continue on our bed.”
Francis nodded and turned in his lap to sit properly at the dinner table, where his new phone laid, ending up staring at the screen in silence for a long time, trying to find enough courage to call. Finding himself nowhere near finding the right words to use and the strength to actually make the call, eventually Francis just closed his eyes and tapped the green button.
For a long time, no answer came. The rhythmical tuu tuu that signalled a call in need to be answered made Francis’ panic grow, so Arthur just held him closer and kissed the nape of his neck, in a desperate attempt to calm him down.
He was just about to grab a hold of Francis’ tail again, when someone finally answered the phone. Rather than any kind of formal greeting that Arthur would expect, though, only silence welcomed them.
“This is the Bonnefoy house.” A serious and extremely deep voice answered them in French eventually. “Who is calling?”
“Grandfather? It’s Francis.” He stuttered, so Arthur grabbed the point of his tail to massage it lightly. More silence came from the other side of the phone, making Francis feel all the more unsure despite Arthur’s attempts. “Grandfather?”
He was just about to hang up, thinking that the line had gone dead, when the stern voice on the other side of the phone resumed talking.
“Where are you?”
“Still in London, I’m fine. I was wondering if it was ok to visit one of these days-” Since he couldn’t find any real reason for asking to come home, Francis headed eventually to basic honesty. “You know, so you can see that everything is fine and call off that request for a missing person you had with the French police.”
Unsurprisingly, deep silence followed... then the call went dead.
Francis blinked at the phone in shock, not really sure if he knew what had just happened.
“Wait, did he just hang up on me?”
Arthur sighed and let his forehead rest against Francis’ back.
“Well, I can say that an adult should know better, but you hurt his feelings quite spectacularly.”
“I did nothing of the sort!” Francis’ ears and tail straightened up showing his outrage. “I just told him the truth!”
“You told him that you just care about having the police off your back.”
“Well, it’s the truth.”
“Yes, sure, but you can’t deny that from his point of view it’s rather insensitive.”
Francis sighed and stared at the darkened screen once more, wondering what to do. As he was trying to find enough courage to call back, the phone lit up with an incoming call, displaying the name ‘Grandfather’.
“He is calling back?”
“Probably worry won over annoyance sooner than expected.” Arthur sighed, and rested his chin over Francis’ shoulder. “Will you answer?’”
“I’m trying.”
Francis’ finger hovered over the green button, but he was clearly too scared to follow through, so Arthur just took the task over himself, and clicked the starting button in his place.
More silence followed, though, and then a loud sigh.
“Grandfather?”
Francis asked dubiously, one of his ears flaring up as the other flattened down.
“When are you free?”
“Work starts next Monday, but I think we are free before then.”
“We?”
“I- I thought I could come with my boyfriend, so you can have the chance to meet him.”
Francis’ answer was met once again with more silence, making him wonder if he had used the wrong words again. Predictably, the phone call was cut short once again.
“What have I said now!?”
“I’m on your side this time.”
“What does it mean this time?” Francis turned to his lover, his tail reaching up as he tried to flick Arthur’s nose with the tip. “Weren’t you on my side before?”
The screen lighting up saved Arthur again, signalling yet another attempt of Francis’ grandfather to patch up his relationship with his grandson.
“Grandfather?”
“Do as you please.”
“Doesn’t your grandfather know that he can mute the phone if he needs to swear?” Arthur spoke in English, hoping that his jab would go unnoticed by Francis’ grandfather. “He doesn’t have to hang up each time.”
“Arthur!!!” Francis jumped alarmed, letting his phone fall on the table as he rushed to shut up Arthur’s mouth with his hands. “My grandfather speaks English!”
“Ops.” Was the only muffled comment Arthur was allowed to make, so he just nodded in the phone direction to make Francis remember that he had other priorities.
“I-” Francis stuttered. “He didn’t mean- I mean-”
“Are you free tomorrow?” Francis’ grandfather cut short the debate, sounding rather annoyed. If what annoyed him the most was the whole situation or Arthur’s comment, they couldn’t know.
“Yeah, but-”
“Then I’ll wait for you in the morning.”
Francis had no time to ask more details that his grandfather had already hang up, this time definitely.
“How the hell did it go?” Francis asked no one in particular, turning to Arthur to check if he was the only one shocked by what happened.
“Don’t ask me, he is your grandfather.” Arthur answered honestly, still he tried to make Francis more comfortable in his lap. “How do you feel it went?”
“He wants to meet us, so I guess that’s positive.”
“Yeah, we just have to check the Eurostar hours and-”
“Arthur, wait. My documents are ready, but your passport still hasn’t come.”
“Aw, crap.” Arthur thought for a moment. “Well, you can’t go alone. Let’s hope your family won’t sell me to the French police.”
“If we avoid public places, it shouldn’t be a problem. I know how to hide when you aren’t legal.” Francis smiled warmly, somehow satisfied that his experience might be useful to Arthur as well. “Moreover, the police is usually off my grandfather’s tail.”
“You still didn’t tell me what’s the deal with him. He is not some mafia guy, is he?”
“He isn’t.” Francis reassured him. “He does have control over half Europe and the Middle East, though.”
“Wait, what!?” Arthur’s shock made Francis jumping slightly on his tights. “He is a mafia guy, then.”
“It’s just finance and influence, really.” Francis scoffed, standing up to prepare dinner. “Not many people have the means to go against him.”
“Well, you played on the same level.”
“Nah. He had already won when I came to England.” Francis admitted meekly, his tail sadly swinging behind him. “He knew I would need more money.”
“That’s why you didn’t ask it?”
“Yeah... I won’t let him play me like he does with the rest of the world.”
Arthur sighed and followed Francis in the kitchen to help him as usual, trying to distract him talking about all the arrangements needed for their impromptu trip to Paris.
After dinner, they took some time for themselves, needing to feel the connection but also to take their mind off whatever was going to happen in their lives. It’s true that since they had made their relationship physical they had taken all the chance they had to be together, but with all the changes in their lives grasping to one another felt and absolute necessity.
**
The day after, Arthur disappeared in his studio while Francis was making breakfast, reappearing only when everything was already set on the table. The sudden disappearance worried Francis at first but, as they finished breakfast, Arthur explained that he had been gathering what was needed to mask Francis’ cat ears and tail.
“Oh you are right. I forgot that I couldn’t go back in Paris as I am.”
“It’s a pity masking your pretty ears and tail, but you can’t keep a hat at your father’s place. Also, everything could get you out of control, making the cat features show.”
“I wonder what my grandfather would say, if he were to see what I’ve become.”
“It’s not something we will have to worry about today.” Arthur reassured him. “C’mon, come closer.”
They stood one in front of the other, and then Arthur took Francis’ hands in his. As he started to chant, Arthur’s green magic enveloped them, turning darker around Francis’ tail and ears. It moved then down to his make his face light up and moved lower to his hands, slowly turning all his cat features transparent at first and then disappeared completely.
Francis opened back his eyes and stared confused at his lover.
“I don’t feel any different-” He stopped as soon as he noticed Arthur staring in shock at him. “Arthur?”
“Your- your eyes. They are back to normal too.” Arthur stuttered, trying to get past the mix of feelings inside his chest. “This certainly bring back memories.”
Francis went to look himself in a mirror and couldn’t help but notice that absolutely everything in his appearance had been reverted to how he looked when he was fully human. It was all appearance though, because his canines, his tail and his ears felt still very well there. He also could feel his nails turning into claws as he willed them out, they just kept the appearance of normal nails on the outside.
“Do I look better like this?” Francis asked uncertain, remembering Arthur’s stare as soon as he had seen him. “I’m sorry this illusion of the past is prettier than how I look now.”
“Francis, don’t be an idiot.” Arthur scoffed and went to hold him from behind, looking in the mirror at the normal couple they could have been, if he hadn’t just messed up trying to save Francis when they had met. “This is the face that caught my attention, but everything else... We built it when you were already half cat. I don’t have preferences, as long as it’s you.”
“Then why the shock?”
“Call it nostalgia.” He confessed, taking his chance to kiss the nape of his neck. “I never thought I would see that Francis again after you woke up from the magic cleaning process still catlike.”
Arthur held him closer for comfort and Francis relaxed in his embrace. Francis felt still rigid, though, so Arthur made him face him and kissed him deeply, hoping that the kiss would be enough to make Francis forget all about his worries. As their tongue met and danced in Francis mouth, he realised the same thing his lover had already noticed: even though they were not visible anymore, his canines were still there.
He caressed him more, both to calm him down and explore the differences… and yeah: the tail was still there, the ears were still there.
The human he had in front of him was just an illusion, a ghost from a past already gone.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah, a bit... We should go, now.”
“Yeah, we should.”
They checked one last time that they hadn’t forgotten anything, and soon they were on their way to the Switch, looking much gloomier than what they had predicted at the beginning.
Francis had his reasons to feel awkward, but also Arthur had some additional problems he will soon have to address. Nostalgia for Francis’ human appearance didn’t even make it to his top list, since he loved Francis deeply and his half cat self was all he ever desired.
His real problem, though was a bit more difficult deal with. A problem named Anika Popescu: gossip seeker extraordinaire, currently focussed on becoming acquired part of their family.
Truth was that Francis and Arthur had failed to give satisfaction to their number one fan for a long time, so each time they met him more requests kept adding up. Unfortunately, though, not even magic could quicken the bureaucracy to invite him at their wedding, nor it could give them children in less than a month. No matter his continuous requests to be invited to their wedding and to give uncle Anika some nephews to spoil, then, there was no feasible way for them to make him happy. And an unhappy Anika meant a loud and demanding Anika.
This time, however, the young wizard was easily appeased by the knowledge of Francis’ documents being ready and by the fact that they were going to see his grandfather, even if it was still difficult making him understand that this didn’t mean wedding and children as soon as they were back. Trust Anika starting with deeming them together before they even confessed to one another, and then keeping burning all the steps in their place.
Once in Paris, they went to retrieve the documents at the City Hall, and then lost themselves along streets Arthur had never crossed and metros impossible to understand. Well, to be fair it was only Arthur the lost one, because Francis knew very well where they were heading, no matter how grudgingly he was doing so.
Eventually they stopped in an area away from the centre, in front of the golden gate of an enormous mansion.
“Is your grandfather’s house nearby?”
“We arrived.” Francis pointed nonchalantly to the big villa in front of them. “This is the house.”
“What!?” Arthur’s mouth gaped open in surprise. “You’re joking aren’t you?”
“Told you he had most Europe and Middle East under his influence. The house is apparently meant to show that power off.”
Arthur muttered a silent ‘Mafia guy’ and swallowed, eventually feeling on himself the same pressure that had made Francis escape his grandfather all this time.
Unaware of Arthur’s panic, Francis activated the buzzer and waited until a young female voice answered back, asking who was there.
“I’m Francis, I’m back. Grandfather is waiting for me.”
The girl inside the mansion squealed in surprise, hastily sharing the news with the rest of the personnel. Immediately the gate opened and they could continue their way to the mansion, crossing the immense garden in front of them.
“That’s impressive.” Arthur noted, his hand instinctively searching for Francis’ one. “I feel like the life I can offer you would never be enough since this is the starting point.”
“My starting point were the streets.” Francis pointed out, annoyed by Arthur putting a price on his happiness. “Arthur, a house is nothing if you don’t have something valuable to put inside it. Your house is more than enough, especially because you are inside.”
“Us.” Arthur corrected. “Our shop as well.”
“Ooh, it has finally become our shop?” Francis took the chance to tease him, tightening his grip on his hand. “Not just yours?”
“I wouldn’t have the shop without a licence, and I wouldn’t have my licence without you.”
Arthur turned to stare and smile gratefully at Francis and Francis immediately returned the gesture. They searched for one another’s eyes, their nose almost touching, and leaned closer, so that their shoulders would touch.
“I’m a pretty decent familiar, am I?”
“The best familiar and the best boyfriend.” Francis smiled gratefully at him, so Arthur took his chance to steal a brief kiss. “Keep this in mind today. I love you.”
“Je t’aime aussi.”
As they reached the door of the mansion, two maids were ready to open the main door for them and welcome them inside. Arthur had just enough time to look around at the luxury surrounding him, though, that two loud voices attracted his attention.
“Francis!! Francis, it’s really you??”
“Antonio?? Gilbert??”
From the big room to the side a brown-haired and a white haired boy run towards Francis, ignoring completely Arthur and literally jumping over the Frenchman to hug him tight.
Francis couldn’t do much to avoid the hit, but he hadn’t still decided if he was happy to see them or not. He had met both Antonio, the brown haired one, and Gilbert, the white haired one, when he was still at school and back in the days they’d been a trio always together and always up to some mischief. None of them had taken well his plan to move to England, though, and despite Francis’ attempts to keep the friendship alive they had immediately stopped answering to his messages.
Where they back only because they thought that he would be back in Paris? Still, no matter his fears, he couldn’t deny that he had missed his friends terribly these latest years. Arthur had been right, he had to take the chance to retake a hold of his own life.
“We couldn’t believe your grandfather, when he told us that you called and would be back in Paris today!!”
Antonio tightened his hug around Francis, making him terrified that his friends might accidentally brush against his tail and ear and discover that something was off.
“Guys, I’m glad to see you too, but you are crushing me!” He yelled eventually, trying and failing to free himself. “Leave me some room to breathe!”
“You will have time to breathe later! You need to tell us where the hell you’ve been until now, first!”
“Yeah, and where does this guy come from?” Gilbert eyed Arthur for the first time, pouncing playfully Francis’ shoulder. “Looks rather plain to be honest, thought you had more refined tastes.”
Arthur snorted and let his eyes rest on the room where Francis’ friends had come out from, wondering if the infamous grandfather was there. As focussed on the entry hall, however, something seemed not all right.
With the corner of his eyes, he checked that Francis was still distracting his friends and then he put his hand in his pocket to get his wand. Luckily the spell he had in mind required very little wrist-work, so he managed to cast it without even taking his wand outside.
Unfortunately, it became soon clear to his eyes that he was completely right.
“Bloody hell-”
“C’mon, you’ve been missing for so much time that I bet you have some hell of great stories to tell!”
Antonio’s words brought Arthur’s attention back on Francis’ current predicament, but he had no idea how to warn him of the danger. Damn, it was all his fault! Why the hell did he convince Francis to come back in France!?
“Francis, wait!!”
Arthur’s voice stopped successfully Francis, but Antonio and Gilbert looked completely unwilling to stop only because Arthur had requested it.
“Don’t make a fuss, man! We’ll give him back to you in no time, if we deem you worthy.” Gilbert dismissed Arthur’s concern quickly, and then pushed Francis inside the room, helped by Antonio.
“Arthur?” Francis stared questioningly at Arthur, but he could do little to stop his friends from dragging him inside the room.
“Ah, jealousy!” Antonio stated dramatically. “We should be the jealous ones here, you didn’t even see fit to text us after you hooked up with him! What are friends for if not to brag about getting a boyfriend?”
Francis blinked at Arthur, silently asking whether Antonio was right, but their eye contact broke easily as his friends insisted on him taking a sit inside. Seeing the situation becoming dire, Arthur decided that he could only run and stop them physically.
“No wait, you can’t go in there! There’s a-” Unfortunately, before Arthur could reach Francis and drag him back to safety, Gilbert had tugged him with so much strength, that Francis had fallen right inside the infamous room. “Fuck.”
Everything happened so quickly that no one of the people involved could realize what had happened before it was too late.
“Fra-Francis?” Antonio stuttered in horror, taking some steps away from his friend.
“What the-” Francis looked down at his hands and focussed to let his claws out: much to his shock, he could see them perfectly. “Bloody hell.”
His peripheral vision noticed something moving behind him, and he realised very quickly that it was his tail, moving nervously back and forth in answer to his panic. His pitch black, very visible tail.
Francis looked up at his friends, who only huddled one against the other as soon as they met his eyes and noticed the very different cat-like pupils.
“I- I can explain-” He offered, but those few words were apparently enough to let them see his sharp canines too, a sight that drained visibly all the blood from their faces. “Guys-”
He made a weak attempt to reach for them with his hand, but that was enough to set them running outside the room for their life, calling him a demon in their way out.
Francis could just look at the scene disheartened, feeling the heart sinking in his chest.
“Why are you leaving again...”
Francis stared down at his feet and Arthur sighed, walking slowly towards him to hold him tight in his arms and reassure him that everything was going to be all right.
“You’re not a demon.”
Francis turned in his embrace to return the hug, but they had very little time to enjoy the comfort they brought to one another, as they heard the sound of someone else in the room clearing his voice.
“Of all the things I expected to see today, that’s absolutely not what I had in mind.”
They both turned towards the voice, only to see a big man with curly brown hair and eyes of the same colour, staring at them nonchalantly. He was dressed elegantly and an enigmatic smirk was plastered on his lips, as he slipped a brownish liquid from his glass.
“Grandfather...” Francis froze in Arthur’s arms, unsure if he wanted to confront the older man or if he preferred escape back to a safer place following his friends’ lead. “Why did you do this?”
“You did this to yourself.” He pointed out coldly. “They are your friends, not mine.”
Arthur snorted at the answer Francis’ grandfather had given him, and faced him to confront him.
“Mr. Bonnefoy, could you then explain why there is a spell deactivation barrier around this room, and why you look so completely unsurprised to see Francis like this? Did someone already tell you about him?”
“Vargas.”
“What?”
“My surname. I’m Caius Vargas,” Francis’ grandfather quietly explained. “Bonnefoy was the surname of my wife.”
The information surprised quite a lot Arthur: if Francis’s grandfather was so powerful, why didn’t he name his offspring?
“Ok, then, Mr. Vargas.” He amused him. “Why the anti-spell barrier and why you are not surprised to see Francis as a half cat?”
For the first time since they had entered the room, Mr. Vargas’ cold and indifferent mask cracked and he just sighed in resignation.
“Have a seat you two.” He showed them the other sofa to his right and waited for Arthur and Francis to sit before continuing. “Bonnefoy is a lineage of Frenchfelis. Francis’ grandmother and mother looked exactly the same, they just had white fur rather than black.”
“What!?” Both boyfriends yelled at the same time, making Arthur feel even more confused.
“Francis? I thought you told me that you met your mother? Ears and tail are rather impossible to miss!”
“I did! I- why I can’t remember anything like that?” Francis furrowed his eyebrows, as he tried to search in his memory something that wasn’t there. “I was six when my mother died and eight when I lost my grandmother. I wasn’t all that young.”
“There are several reasons for that.” Mr. Vargas decided to pitch in to explain. “You didn’t know anything different at the time. No one ever pointed out to you that the majority of people looked different.”
He took another sip from his glass, and then continued, his voice feeling still resolute but also much warmer than before.
“Those were your mother and grandmother, and they looked like that. By the time you became adolescent and society made you question your memories, those were already far enough to be rewritten.”
“Moreover,” He felt the need to add as a conclusion. “Your mother’s cat features appeared little before you were born, when she met your father and accidentally interacted with other magic related people. We have plenty of photos in the house showing her looking like a full human.”
“Wait, what about his grandmother’s photos?” Arthur couldn’t help but ask.
“She asked to hide them as her dying wish.” Francis’ grandfather revealed. “Francis looked human, we thought that shielding him from anything magical would have spared him.”
“Spared me from what?” Francis spit back at his grandfather. “Freedom? You basically kept me captive and tried to force me only in places where you could control me.”
“It’s because you don’t remember, Francis.”
Mr. Vargas’ for the first time looked at his grandson with actual love and care, even if the hint of sadness and nostalgia made Arthur wonder whether he was actually looking at Francis or at the phantom of his lost daughter.
“What I don’t remember?”
“Your parents’ death.” His voice was so cold that it froze the blood inside both boyfriends’ veins. “And what happened next.”
Arthur stared at Francis, but the young Frenchman just kept staring at his hands, grasping tightly his trousers, his eyes empty as he apparently tried to focus on something he couldn’t visualise. Also his tail and ears were unusually still, something that worried him a lot.
He grabbed Francis’ hand with his then, and that helpfully snapped him back alert as he faced him instinctively, his ears up and sharp, as his tail moved calmly behind him before settling around him for comfort.
“Is everything alright?”
Francis nodded, but he also gave him a sad look.
“It’s true that I can’t remember anything about that, though.”
Arthur tightened his grip on Francis’ hand and both turned to his grandfather.
“What happened?” Arthur dared to ask, but Mr. Vargas just shook his head. “Even you don’t know?”
“Francis’ father was a half Frenchfelis too, from a different lineage. After getting married the whole family had moved to his magical community close to the German border, even though they came back quite often to visit, especially after Francis was born.”
Mr. Vargas started explaining as he refilled his glass of alcohol, sighed and swallowed down the whole content of his glass.
“One evening, though, we heard noises outside and then the maids came in yelling. Before we could understand what they were saying, the gardener came in with Francis in his arms, covered in blood and dirt and crying loudly.”
Some moments of silence followed, before he could find enough strength to resume his story.
“We tried to call his parents but no one answer, so we alerted the police, who could just confirm that they had been found slaughtered in their home.”
“Oh gods...”
Arthur felt Francis turning rigid close to him and heard the sound of his tail swinging nervously against the sofa, so he used the leverage he had on him to drag him in his arms and hold him tight. Francis opposed no resistance at all, curling against his chest as soon as he felt his reassuring smell and warmth around him.
“What had happened?”
Mr. Vargas stared at them with an unreadable expression on his face, apparently conflicted about what to think at all about the relationship they were showing.
“It’s unclear. Probably jealousy and hate against my daughter’s lineage, probably the community couldn’t accept a Parisian so easily, probably some internal rivalries that had nothing to do with her precisely. Only Francis’ mind has the answer, but when he woke up after we managed to make him fall asleep he couldn’t even remember how he’d managed to come here.”
His eyes moved once again on Francis, but this time there was no doubt that it was actually him the one he was seeing.
“According to the police, Francis managed to run away only because his mother fell over him while trying to shield him, so the culprits thought he was dead along with her. Luckily he had memorised the way here, though, so he somehow managed to get all the help he could think of.”
“A six years old child managed to travel from the German border to Paris?” Arthur rose an enquiring eyebrow. “It sounds unbelievable, even though even I can testify how stubborn Francis is.”
“Yeah. He is stubborn, and luckily his parents always came here with trains and metros.” Mr. Vargas sighed, both wanting to do something to comfort Francis too and unaware of how to do it. “I’m sorry I had to bring this up. It’s not easy for me too.”
Arthur held Francis closer and let a small kiss on the top of his head. His ears flattened in answer, but, aside that, he just made himself more comfortable in his lover’s hold and sighed.
“I think that this is all good information to have. At least now we know why we couldn’t get rid of the cat features unless we completely undid the charm.”
“What charm?” Mr. Vargas asked and, considering Francis’ mood, Arthur took upon himself answering.
“When we met, Francis was being beaten to death by some thugs. I did a spell to try saving him and it worked well, even if it was rushed... But he woke up with the cat features and the ability to charm himself into an actual cat. We cleaned the magic after that, but he didn’t change back.”
“I must thank you for saving my grandson, then.” His face was unreadable, making Arthur feel uncomfortable despite the words of praise. “It’s now clear that you didn’t give him ears and tail, though, so you have no reason to feel obliged to take care of him. You own him nothing. You can let him get back to France.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you are talking about.”
“You are dating him because you feel guilty about turning him into a half cat, aren’t you?” Hearing his grandfather’s words, Francis sat back straight abruptly, his ears up alert and his tail rigid and double in volume. “You have no obligation to keep him, he does have another family who can take care of him.”
“Arthur??” Francis’ eyes flared on Arthur, wide and scared as he had never seen them. “I-”
“Don’t worry, you are not going to be given away like a kitten after being weaned.” Arthur reassured him, and since he knew that it was hard dealing with Francis when he was like this, he started to scratch him behind his ear, giving his attention back on his grandfather only when he felt his lover purr slightly. “Mr. Vargas, I appreciate your offer to welcome back Francis in your family, but I’m not his owner, even if he is indeed my familiar. I’m dating him because I love him, and it’s his choice to stay in England with me.”
“Your familiar?” Mr. Vargas' voice felt colder and angrier all of sudden. “You made him your pet and you still tell me you are not his owner?”
“I don’t make his choices for him, we treat the familiar thing as a work relation.” Arthur explained. “Point is that he will be legally employed at my shop and get his pay, so he will be free to make his own choices whenever he likes.”
His words apparently reassured both Francis and his grandfather, even if the last one couldn't help but still rising a curious eyebrow at him.
“You are a shop owner? Somehow I didn’t expect Francis to swing that way.”
Francis snorted at his grandfather, whist Arthur didn’t really know what he meant at all.
“What would that mean!?” Francis protested. “Only you can make differences between people according to their jobs.”
“You are a blasted Parisian Frenchfelis, Francis!” Mr. Vargas reprimanded him. “You are meant to do naturally well everything you set your mind to, and rather than doing something useful for your future like economy and finance you specialised in cooking and escaped in a foreign land!”
“It’s what I wanted to do!”
“It’s useless and dangerous!”
“Wait a second, the two of you!” Arthur interrupted the banter between Francis and his grandfather, as soon as he’d recovered from the shock of hearing the specific lineage his lover belonged to. “Parisian Frenchfelis? Parisian what-the-fuck-is-genderfelis?”
“I don’t think I understand...?” Francis questioned. “What’s the problem with my lineage?”
“We’re not touching one another until I find a spell that works on you or a packet of condom.”
“WHA-!?”
Francis shocked voice echoed in the room, whilst his grandfather only grinned satisfied.
“What’s up now? Not ready to accept the risk of parenthood?” Mr. Vargas looked sincerely smug, as if he had finally found what he was searching for. “No worries, we can take care also of the eventual child if needed. I’m sure it would be a good enough reason-”
“I have savings, and I’m willing to feed only on water and bread to provide for Francis and the eventual child.” Arthur interrupted him brusquely, for the first time actually glaring at him in challenge. “I never asked anyone’s help, I certainly won’t start now.”
“I take what I said back, you are as stubborn as him. I can only be scared thinking about how your offspring would come out.”
Mr. Vargas scoffed, leaving only Francis to feel each time more confused about the whole debate.
“May I point out that I’m not pregnant!?” He yelled annoyed. “And why is that even an option now?”
“Parisian Frenchfelis don’t have a biological sex orientated reproduction system.” Arthur explained, sounding slightly as a documentary. “Since they have always been very scarce and high valued, they evolved allowing both born males and females to impregnate and get pregnant.”
“Any particular reason why you are so knowledgeable about a race that doesn’t belong to your country?”
Mr. Vargas rose a suspicious eyebrow at Arthur, who however didn’t budge.
“I’m a full fledged wizard and this is basic science at our magic schools.” Arthur sighed, and lowered his eyes. “Mostly because their aptitude makes them the perfect familiar. During the course of history there have been several wars between France and England in which wizards fought only to get their hands on some Parisian Frenchfelis.”
“And you had one literally falling in your lap.” Francis’ grandfather mocked him. “No wonder you don’t want to give him up.”
“I would give him up, if he wanted it, but he obviously doesn’t want that.” Arthur scoffed and crossed his arms on his chest. “I had no idea that he was so good because of his race.”
“Trying to escape my destiny, I ended up in the role that my lineage was built for.” Francis muttered under his breath, looking completely beaten by all the news he had to endure. “I’m not so sure what I’m supposed to want anymore.”
Francis’ words broke Arthur’s heart, but he knew better than dumping his own fears on him.
“Francis, love, you are as white as your shirt.”
“I’m not really sure I feel well at all-”
Francis couldn’t even finish the words he wanted to say that he fainted, falling in Arthur’s ready arms.
“Francis!!” Arthur dragged him into a more comfortable position in his lap and immediately took out his wand. Under Mr. Vargas’ curious stare he hovered it over his whole body, trying to reassure himself that he was fine. “Should be only shock and fatigue, my wand doesn’t detect any major danger.”
“I had his room cleaned.” Francis’ grandfather stood up from his sofa and approached them. “I can bring him there.”
Arthur wanted to protest and say that he could do it by himself, but he had to admit that Francis’s grandfather was certainly built bigger than he was.
“Thanks.”
He nodded at the older man, who carefully took Francis’ from his embrace and started walking outside the room and up the stairs to the upper floor. They stopped in front of one of the many rooms there, so Arthur opened the door to allow them in. As soon as he set foot inside, his mouth gaped open as he noticed how Francis-like the whole place appeared.
Cookbooks and English manuals occupied the best part of his library, but there was also stuff about botany and zoology, popular culture, video games... Everything he would associate with a young man who dreamt to escape away from that very same room.
As Arthur stared in awe at that piece of his lover’s life unknown to him, Francis’ grandfather let him rest on his bed. Believing that Arthur was still distracted, he took a moment to caress his hair and ears, allowing himself the chance to remember a time when Francis was much younger and not just a guest of the house.
“I can stay with him until he wakes up.” Arthur offered with the best intentions, but he only received a glare by the other man. “What?”
“I won’t lose him again.”
“If I may, if you try to make his choices for him, he will disappear again. We both know that.” Arthur sighed. “I understand your worries, but Francis and I met rather recently. I was not the one cutting ties, he was.”
Mr. Vargas’ eyes softened and he lowered his gaze.
“I imagined that much. He is so incredibly stubborn.”
“He is, but I love that about him.” Mr. Vargas’ rose a dubious eyebrow at him, so Arthur felt the need to continue. “I’m not just a random wizard with a cat kink.”
“Hopefully you realise you have one.”
“You would know, you married a half cat too.” Arthur’s jab caught Francis’ grandfather by surprise. “Still, if something like love at first sight exists, I would say that I was love struck the moment I saw him in that dirty alley of London. And it was his human blue eyes I crossed that day.”
“And yet the change didn’t bother you?” Mr. Vargas asked doubtful. “Even Francis’ friends run for their life.”
“Not at all. I might have been love struck then, but it’s everything he is what he did after that I love. That’s why I won’t choose for him.”
They stared for some long minutes in silence, Francis’ grandfather knelt close to his grandson’s bed and Arthur standing in front of him. Eventually ,Mr. Vargas left the room without a word, leaving the door slightly open, so Arthur took the chance to sit on his lover’s bed to kindly caress his hair away from his forehead.
He looked so pale to appear white, but he was sure that he would have felt just as drained after all the revelations he’d had that morning.
Francis’ grandfather returned after a while, bringing with him a wooden box richly decorated with him. Arthur sitting next to Francis surprised him, still he offered him the wooden box to take.
“What is it?”
“It belonged to my daughter.” Mr. Vargas explained, as Arthur surprised at the memento. “The police found it, but it’s apparently sealed with magic.”
“I didn’t know that Frenchfelis could actually do spells without specific training.”
“She wasn’t a witch, but in their community there were shops selling potions, charms and spells. I guess that she bought something there, in case she would need it.”
“I get it, a shop like mine.” Arthur took the wooden box and stared at it, trying to understand what the hidden trick of the chest was. “Why didn’t you ask their community to open it? Usually you can uncharm whatever you sell.”
“We weren’t sure we wanted to know.”
“Why?”
“What if they had been killed because their killers wanted Francis?” Mr. Vargas pointed out. “How could he live with this weight?”
“Hiding the truth didn’t bring you anything good, though, didn’t it?” Arthur stared up at Francis’ grandfather resolutely. “He ended up as an illegal immigrant, he was almost killed in London and now he fainted because he was revealed who he was and what happened to his parents all in less than one hour.”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m giving it to you. I’m sure that you will manage to open it... if he wants to take the risk.”
“The content might be completely different from what you think.”
“Probably, but taking risks is not something I like to do. I prefer a well concocted plan.”
“I absolutely agree with that.” Arthur admitted, taking Francis’ grandfather by surprise. “Francis makes do all the same, though, despite doing the opposite.”
Francis’ grandfather didn’t seem completely convinced, regardless he just nodded and turned on his heels.
“I’ll leave you two alone. When he wakes up come downstairs, so we can have lunch together.”
As soon as the door closed behind him, Arthur felt Francis rolling on his side, the tip of his tail tapping on the mattress on his bed in sign of distress.
“How much have you been awake?”
“Enough to hear that you liked me better as a human.”
“I said that I love you regardless of you satisfying my cat kink.” Arthur huffed, and poked Francis’ nose with the tip of his finger. “Are you feeling any better?”
“Knowing that I might have killed my parents? Not really.”
“Francis, you didn’t kill anyone. Your grandfather is over-worrying.”
“What if I did? I surely showed that I’m good putting myself in trouble. I’m not living up to expectations neither as a human or a French cat.”
“Why is that, now.” Arthur reprimanded him. “You were six and crossed half France alone, you helped me getting my licence and you even manage to escape the custody of the British police.”
“British police finding me again is the reason I’m here now.”
“You are good as you are.” Francis just kept sulking, and hid his face against Arthur’s tight. “Are we joining your grandfather for lunch or you want us to talk about the box first?”
“I thought you were going to talk about us.”
“Is there something to talk about?” Arthur asked unsure. “For me nothing changed, except discovering that we actually need protections while having sex.”
“Wasn’t that unsettling to you?”
“The prospect of using condoms?”
Francis groaned and rolled his eyes.
“The prospect that I could give you children, the fact that I never was a full human to begin with, that I’m something like an endangered species-”
“It’s all good to know, don’t get me wrong, but it changes nothing about my feelings for you.”
“Arthur...”
“Did it change something for you?” Arthur decided to ask, grasping tightly Francis’ hand to comfort them both. “ You want to stay in Paris?”
Francis took a moment to think about that and then just shook his head.
“I want the life we were planning before coming here.”
Arthur let out the breath he didn’t even realise he was holding, and bent over him to hold Francis tight.
“I love you.”
“Je t’aime aussi.”
Arthur freed Francis enough so that he could face him properly. Colour was starting to get back to his cheeks, and he took a moment to caress him with affection. Francis smiled back and close his eyes to offer him his lips, an offer that Arthur was ready to take.
The chaste kiss became immediately less chaste and more desperate, since both of them needed the silent reassurance from the other. Francis let his arms around Arthur’s neck, trying to pull him down over him, as he asked to deepen the kiss.
Arthur complied immediately, taking his time to enjoy Francis’ hot cavern as he caressed his flanks down his hips. He’d hoped to only reassure and comfort Francis like this, but as a mewl escaped Francis’ mouth morphing into a moan, his eyes snapped open and he tried to put more distance between them. In order not to shock Francis with the unexpected loss, he left chaste kisses all over his cheeks and then a last one on his forehead before sitting up completely.
“Better now?”
“Why are you stopping?”
“Francis, even if I might be talked into having sex at your grandfather’s place, I already told you that I need to get contraceptives first.”
“We already did it so many times.” Francis scoffed, caressing teasingly Arthur’s neck. “What’s one more?”
“A series of risks I’m unwilling to take.”
“A series of risks?” Francis sulked. “Like having kids when the shop just started?”
“I meant like your grandfather cutting my balls for taking advantage of you right now, when you still don’t fully grasp what you are.” Arthur made clear. “I have books at home you can read while I get contraceptives. Then, when we are both on the same page, we can also decide to just take the risk.”
Francis at first pouted, his ears flattened in defeat, but then he just sighed, resigning himself to sit up next to Arthur.
“I might be in heat and you are denying me, I’ll let you know.” He still bit back, making Arthur roll his eyes. “Be aware that you refused sex to your lover in need.”
“Francis you are not a cat, you are just always horny.”
“Like you are any different! You’re even worse than me.”
“Of course I am, I have a cat kink. This doesn’t mean that I’ll have sex with you now.” Arthur admitted plainly, stealing a quick peck from his lover’s lips before changing topic of the debate. “What about this box, then ?”
“Could you open it?”
“It’s an older kind of magic, but I guess that I can find a way around the problem.”
“Then we can try.” Francis accepted eventually. “Might give all of us the closure we need.”
“Ok, then.” Arthur took Francis’ jaw in his hands to bring their lips one last time together, feeling shivers of pleasure down his back at the feeling of Francis’ very short beard against his hands. Damn, this forced chastity was going to be the real curse to break. “Let’s go eating. I’ll make a list of what I’m going to need later.”
Somehow they found the will to part and grudgingly moved back downstairs, ready to meet with Francis’ grandfather.
When they arrived, a maid promptly welcomed them, ready to lead them to the dining room and reassure herself that the menu would be of their liking.
Mr. Vargas was already sitting there, reading a newspaper, apparently more interested in keeping an eye on them rather than eating on time. He looked visibly surprised to see them arriving so soon, but also quite relieved that Francis was now in a much better shape than before.
In order to avoid any other attempt of the man to snatch back Francis from him, after the customary greetings and reassurances that Francis felt fine, Arthur decided to take control of the small talk, explaining with unnecessary details what he would need to open the box.
Both Francis and his grandfather listened carefully and questioned him a lot, the first to understand how to help him properly and the latter sincerely amused by his professionalism.
As soon as they finished eating, Mr. Vargas called one of the maids to check with her if they had everything needed for the potion, taking the chance to test Arthur on how good the food had been. Arthur was saved by a test he wasn’t sure how to pass thanks to the very same maid, who dismissed her master’s question pointing out that there was no way they would put themselves at Francis’ level in matters of cooking.
Arthur sighed in relief as soon as the maid left with the list of ingredients, whilst Francis and his grandfather exchanged challenging glares at one another.
“I am so good at cooking.” Francis pointed out, looking sincerely way too smug for his own good.
“So good that even the British didn’t see fit to renovate your visa to keep you there?”
“What would that mean!?”
“One should understand when he is unwanted!”
“That’s not true at all!!”
“This is not the right moment to fight.” Arthur walked between them to interrupt the quarrel. “Francis is sincerely good at cooking, and he has also become an irreplaceable assistant.”
Francis crossed his arms on his chest and looked away from his grandfather, nose up in the air in sign of defiance. Mr. Vargas just growled and did the same, making Arthur sigh at the both of them.
Luckily the maid came back soon, ready to lead them outside where she had asked to arrange a structure with a small pot over some dry wood.
“This is the best we could come up with unfortunately.”
“Looks pretty good.” Arthur reassured her, and checked the ingredients that the mansion’s personnel had arranged on the table. “We are still missing something, but I’m sure that I can work out substitutes.”
Arthur looked around in enormous garden, checking its every angle for something that could be used for what he had in mine.
“Do you need my help?” Francis asked eventually. “I played a lot here, so I know the place pretty well.”
“I was hoping to find some lovestone or bindwood.”
“The gardener keeps the place clean, but I’m quite sure I know where to get some ivy.” Francis got closer to Arthur and took a firm hold of his arm. “Do you need anything else?”
“Bird feathers and shells of bird eggs.” Francis nodded, gave a quick look around himself and then morphed into a black cat, using Arthur’s forearm as the support he needed to quickly jump on his shoulder. “Please, don’t bring everything together this time, or you will fall again.”
Francis snorted and studied the garden from his new point of view to search for the best way to the roof. His eyes laid on a big tree, close enough to the house to allow him to jump there easily. He grinned, then, and swiftly jumped down Arthur’s shoulder to run across the garden and up the tree, disappearing before everyone else’s eyes.
“Was that a collar on him?”
Mr. Vargas eyed suspiciously Arthur, who just turned to him, trying to show him his best deadpan expression.
“He really likes it.”
“Do you really find normal that your boyfriend wears a collar??”
“It’s not even the weirdest thing I need to put up with on daily basis.” Arthur admitted candidly, making the maid chuckle. “It keeps my life amusing.”
Some noises of birds flying away followed, and then some others of things falling and crows protesting in annoyance. Then everything became quiet again. Not much time passed, and Francis reappeared jumping down the roof with a bird nest in his mouth.
“Francis, I told you not to risk it.” Arthur’s weak reprimand became even weaker as he retrieved the bird nest -filled with feathers, ivy and eggshells- and thanked him with a kind caress and an appreciative scratch behind his ear. “You did a great job though.”
Francis purred happily at the pets, taking his chance to jump again on Arthur’s shoulder only after he had stood back straight up to bring the new ingredients on the table.
“Are we set now?”
“Do you have roses and lilies by any chance?”
“We had them.” Francis turned towards his grandfather. “Are they still in the greenhouse?”
“Yes, but the gardener is on a break.” He confirmed, looking completely at ease talking to a cat. “He will come back only this evening.”
“That’s not a problem.”
Francis jumped once again down Arthur’s shoulder, and run to a big white structure in the back of the garden. Unsure about what Francis’ plan was, both Arthur and his grandfather followed him this time, staring at him surprised when they saw him quickly digging a hole with his paws, deep enough to allow him to slip underneath the greenhouse wall.
As soon as the hole was ready, Francis slipped on the other side and after a bit re-emerged with a beautiful red rose. He gave it to Arthur and then slipped back inside to get the lilies.
He found easily a white one, but as he was trying to bring it back, he ran close to another plant and another couple of lilies fell. Francis snorted and decided that he didn’t want to be reprimanded by the gardener. He rushed to leave the white one inside the hole, then, and proceeded to retrieve the others too.
Arthur stared at Francis’ figure still running in the greenhouse, and slipped his hand in the hole to take out the white lily. Then a red lily appeared at the bottom of the hole, and then a purple one. Arthur took them as well, and then a black nose peeked out to check that the road was clear, soon followed by the whole of Francis’ slim body.
“Why the other lilies?” Arthur asked, as Francis turned his back to him as he worked hard on filling back the hole he’d dug.
“They fell. Since they were pretty seemed a waste not to bring them back.”
Arthur smiled and nodded, then gestured him to come close as soon as he had finished. Francis followed the instructions and sat diligently on the ingredients table in front of him, blinking surprised as Arthur took the purple lily to fix it to the side of his collar.
“Here you are, looking even prettier than before.”
Francis blinked in surprise at first, but then he started to purr loudly and brush against Arthur’s arms and hands in sign of gratitude. Arthur chuckled and petted him in answer, until he decided that it was time to get back to the potion.
Francis’ grandfather observed the whole scene thoroughly amused, appreciating the loving relationship they seemed to have. Also the whole potion making process made him reconsider his initial attempts at bringing back Francis at home, as it was clear how well they could work together.
Arthur showed a perfectly clean technique, and Francis proved to actually be more useful than just staying there and looking pretty. He offered Arthur the ingredients he needed, he checked them before he put them in the pot, he took a close eye on the surroundings, warning Arthur if the wind was becoming harsher or calmer, so that he could regulate the flame underneath.
It was impossible to deny that Francis had apparently found his place.
Eventually the mixture became dark red in colour and Arthur put out the fire to let it cool down.
“What now?” Francis grandfather asked, his voice sensibly unsure. “Will it really work?”
“Arthur is an extremely skilled wizard.” Francis reassured him, as he took back his human form next to him. “If someone can open it, he is the guy.”
“You trust him a lot.”
“I trust him with my life.” Francis admitted plainly, turning to Arthur to wink at him. “Despite our differences.”
Arthur smiled back at Francis, and there Mr. Vargas understood that he had undoubtedly lost the battle to get back home his grandson. He sighed then, and moved in front of him to fix his shirt so that the purple lily latched to the collar wouldn’t get crushed against it.
“It won’t take much for the potion to cool down.” Arthur decided to explain. “Then Francis should be able to let the box soak inside, and after it dries up it should open.”
“I’m no wizard, but it sounds like a strange proceeding.”
Arthur was about to start explaining the logic behind it, but he stopped immediately as an idea came to his mind.
“It’s rather logical, to be honest. I’m sure Francis already guessed what we are doing.”
Francis was caught by surprise by the impromptu test, but he knew that if his lover had put him up to this, then there was a reason behind it. When he looked back at Arthur, he saw him smiling at him, confirming his assumption.
He revised quickly the ingredients, the procedure, the colour of the potion... Wait, Arthur had said that he was the one meant to make the box soak in the potion, hadn’t he?
“The potion is meant to wash away the magical signature of the ancient spell. Rather than open it, you basically rewrite the code.” Francis explained dutifully, in front of his grandfather’s shocked stare. “If my parents were the one setting the magical passcode, then I’m the only one the spell would grant access for rewriting.”
Both Francis and Mr. Vargas stared at Arthur for confirmation, and all Arthur could do was opening dramatically his arms, showing that Francis had just proven the obvious.
“He is meant to do naturally well everything he set his mind to.” He quoted from their previous conversation. “It had never been how good he is the problem, but the eyes of who judged him wrong.”
“Arthur...” Francis whispered softly, and Arthur was ready to welcome him in his arms. “Thank you~”
“I am the one thankful.” Arthur put some space between them to grin mischievously at him. “Thankful to all those people who overlooked you, as a lover and as an employee.”
Both Francis and Arthur busted in peals of laughter, and from there on the topic of the discussion moved to much lighter arguments.
When the potion had cooled down, Francis followed Arthur’s instructions and, as predicted, as soon as the box had soaked fully, it had turned into a bright red colour. They waited some more for any changes, and then all of sudden it started to light up intermittently, each time quicker, until it turned all blue with a blinding flash.
After the colour went back to the usual wooden one, Arthur deemed it ready and he asked Francis to leave the box on the table as they cleaned up the garden of the impromptu magical workshop. Luckily the garden was enormous, or a pot with strange things boiling inside and a half cat jumping around would have caught the attention of the neighbours.
Arthur and the maid got rid of the pot and the leftovers, Mr. Vargas cleared the burnt wood and Francis transformed back into a cat to bring back the bird nest to the crows. The crows, on their hand, at first weren’t all that happy to see the back thief again, but showed themselves pleased nonetheless by the courtesy, tuning their screeching protests down of several notches.
Despite their joined efforts, a dark patch of ashes still marred the previously perfectly green garden, making everyone well aware that the gardener wouldn’t at all be pleased by the news. Luckily, Francis and Arthur would have been already back in London by the time, leaving Mr. Vargas alone dealing with the angry Frenchman.
After a few more chatters, the box seemed to have completely dried up. The definitive sign that the magic had succeeded was the clear click that echoed in the garden, a click that made everyone turn and stare shocked at the wooden box. As they stared at it better, they could see that it wasn’t indeed sealed shut anymore.
Arthur put a comforting hand on his lover’s shoulder, and motioned for him to go. Francis took a deep breath and went opening the box, careful not to risk breaking it or damaging whatever content it had.
Much to his surprise, the box was full of papers and photos, all topped by a torn piece of letter clearly meant for Francis.
Francis scanned quickly the content of the letter and felt unable to say a single word more, his tail wrapping around his leg for comfort. Seeing him like this, Arthur reached him and held him tight from behind, leaving a quick kiss on the nape of his neck.
“What does it say?”
“You will be hated a lot for who you are, but you will also be loved a lot.” Francis started to read. “This is the price of freedom, but also what makes life worth living. Despite the risks, always be true to yourself. We love you, and this means that you will always have at least two people always at your side.”
Mr. Vargas snorted, even when his eyes turned just as sad and nostalgic as Francis’.
“Stubborn to the very end.” He muttered under his breath, as he started to look through the rest of the box contents, hoping to find only mementos there. “Like mother, like son.”
“I wonder why they put all of this in a sealed box though.”
Francis made himself more comfortable in Arthur’s embrace, and they lazily started looking at the other contents of the box.
Family photos, some letters, pages of diaries-
“Wait, why would they put some pages and not the whole diary?” Arthur asked uncertainly, as he took a page and attempted to read. “This is just the description of a place.”
“What if it’s a code to crack?” Francis wondered earning all the others’ stares on him. “I would do that. Pretend that those are just some memories for my son, so no one would get suspicious when he finds it.”
“It can’t be!” Mr. Vargas took the box and emptied the contents on the grass trying to make sense of them. Seeing them all spread out, Francis’ intuition seemed way less farfetched than it sounded. “It’s a fucking puzzle...!”
“Francis, you are a genius!”
Arthur pressed his lips hard against Francis’, and then both of them went to help Mr. Vargas making sense of the scraps.
“Does it mean that when we will be back in London we could-”
“Still no condoms.”
Arthur cut short Francis’ hopeful remark, focussing on the scraps and not on his depressed boyfriend at his side.
“Oh, c’mon, Arthur!!”
“You will get your prize, I promise. Just not now.”
Francis stared dubiously at his lover, but eventually he just went back to work, sulking the whole time.
It took to the three of them about one hour to put everything together, but eventually they had three big pieces of paper looking essentially complete. Unfortunately, though, they still lacked any appearance of sense.
“What the hell wanted to say that wrecked child?” Mr. Vargas couldn’t help but sighing in despair, wishing with all himself that his daughter would still be there to give him answers. “Why did they do all this and for what reason...”
“Makes sense to me, trying to cover up important information is the first instinct of a cat.” Francis pointed out, hoping he could have another burst of genius. “I wonder what information it was though.”
“Cat instinct...” Arthur reasoned aloud. “Well Anglofelis just like Frenchfelis live usually in the wizard community because we balance our needs out...”
“What do you mean?” France asked, moving closer to his lover. “Any idea?”
“We can bet on them befriending some local wizard.” Arthur took out his wand and hovered it over the papers several times, trying to focus as much as he could on them. Eventually, something actually happened. “Bloody hell, it’s working!”
In a short while the pages rewrote themselves and some a detailed description of the events that had brought their family being attacked arose from the mix of photos, letters and diary pages.
Mr. Vargas was quick reaching for them, needing to see them before Francis could. His grandson was taken aback by his reaction, but he couldn’t deny that he kind of appreciated it.
“What do they say?” He asked eventually. “Are they of any use?”
“They are.” Mr. Vargas offered him, relief seeping through his voice. “Don’t worry, you are fine. It was some neighbours, who apparently didn’t think that your family was meant to live there.”
“Wait, does this mean-”
“We have enough proofs to throw them in jail.” Mr. Vargas reassured his grandson. “But you are fine. You were just lucky enough to escape.”
Francis took a deep breath and let himself fall in his lover’s arms, Arthur being ready there to support him.
“Thanks god.”
“We can go back home with fewer problems in our hearts.”
Arthur’s words alarmed Francis’ grandfather, who quickly stood up to face his grandson.
“Francis, I need to bring this to the police.” Mr. Vargas told him, his voice sounding clear but still shaken by the events. “Are you really sure that you want to go back already?”
“I’d like to rest at my place, grandfather. Today was... Well, it was a lot.”
Mr. Vargas nodded, and put his hands on Francis’ shoulders.
“Swear to me that you will be back to visit.” He literally pleaded. “And that you won’t cut off your phone anymore.”
“That wasn’t on purpose, my phone was stolen and had no money to buy a new one.” Francis admitted, much to his grandfather’s relief. “We can get back to visit, though, if you accept that my life is there now.”
Mr. Vargas nodded, and hold him tight to his chest in a crushing hug. After a first moment of shock, Francis reciprocated it, feeling for the first time like their relationship had finally gone back to the time when he still lived with his parents on the other side of France.
“I’ll wait for your news then.” Francis’ grandfather eventually let him go to stare at Arthur. “Please take care of him.”
“Will do.”
Arthur nodded to him and Francis’ grandfather nodded back in acknowledgement, just before running out of his mansion with the papers they had retrieved.
Francis and Arthur on their end decided to go saying their goodbyes to the personnel of the mansion, pleaded them to ask forgiveness to the gardener in their place for the damages to the grass, and then prepared to get back to the Switch.
It didn’t take much for Arthur to redo the spell that would make Francis look full human again, but still they asked to borrow a hat for avoid other unpredicted traps.
They didn’t even make it outside the mansion’s garden, though, that they saw two people meekly waiting for them.
“Antonio? Gilbert?” Francis asked, recognising his friends. “Why are you here.”
“Because we were idiots, Fran.” Antonio admitted. “Sorry if we escaped like that, you must have felt horrible.”
Francis let out a guttural sound of approval, unwilling to concede anything until his friends had told him what they wanted.
“We got scared like idiots.” Gilbert added, still failing to watch him in the eyes. “Point is... Point is that-”
“Point is that?”
“That you are still our Fran.” Antonio came to Gilbert’s rescue. “We ruined the chance to meet again like the old times because we are idiots but... Can we have a second chance?”
“You mean a second chance to be friends again?”
“Yeah.” Gilbert tried to grin at Francis, desperately searching for that complicity they had let die when Francis had moved to London. “We still need to bully your British boyfriend after all.”
Francis scoffed and Arthur laughed.
“What would you like to do?” Arthur asked his lover quietly. “The shop opens Monday, but we won’t be open twenty-four/seven, we can get a few weekends in Paris.”
Francis stared at Arthur at first, and then at his friends.
“I would like to give our friendship another chance, but you need to promise that you won’t disappear again for a third time.”
“We were honestly only caught by surprise because of the cat ears this time.” Antonio tried to defend themselves. “We really wanted to be supportive today, and not just egoist bitches annoyed because you had your own projects.”
“What if you get shocked again?” Francis crossed his arms on his chest and stared at them dubiously. “I’m getting married to a wizard and apparently I’m from a lineage of half cats. Tons of shocking things might happen.”
“Well, now we know.” Gilbert pointed out and Francis sighed. “Pretty please, Franny. Our duo is much more boring without you.”
“Yeah, we are willing to sing to you the song from the Lion King if it helps!” Antonio offered out of despair. “Keep being our Simba despite dating your Nala!”
“What!?” Francis gasped and Arthur just busted in peals of laughter. “Ok, ok, I’ll get you back, just stop!”
Antonio and Gilbert cheered on their victory, making Francis regret his promise already.
Eventually they agreed to meet again in Paris as soon as Arthur got his passport, in order to avoid risks with the French police since they had just now fixed their relationship with the English one.
As they resumed their walk towards the Switch though, they were accompanied by a weirdly sung version of Can you feel the love tonight, featuring Timon and Pumbaa crying the loss of their friend because of love.
“Gods, I can’t wait to be back home...”
Francis sighed, and Arthur just laughed, before dragging him closed to his side.
“I think they have good intentions.”
“They definitely have good intentions, but I’m not sure I can survive those good intentions.”
“We’ll see. At least they seemed to have accepted me.”
“Yeah, that’s something I wasn’t at all sure they would do. Apparently they really grew up.”
“They might have found someone too while you were in London.”
“Probably.” They walked in silence for a while, until they finally saw the hidden door that would lead them to the Switch in the magical side of London. “Any idea of what we can do back home?”
“Dinner and then sleep?”
“It had been an extremely stressful day.” Francis said nonchalantly, his tail wrapping around Arthur’s waist despite being still invisible. “Couldn’t we... You know-”
“No way.”
“Why not!?”
“I’ll get condoms tomorrow.”
“But I want you tonight!!”
“I won’t take the risk to get you pregnant.”
“Arthur please, I’m willing-”
“To sex. Not to take the risk.”
Arthur touched twice the door with his wand, and they both crossed it while still fighting over how to deal with their new knowledge about Francis’ biology.
“I could already be pregnant, what difference does one evening more makes!?”
“That’s one more reason to-”
Arthur was cut short by Anika, who as soon as he heard their voices had quickly rushed to feed from the new information his friends might have.
“Did I hear the word pregnant?” He asked enthusiastically. “Uncle Anika is ready for support!! Just tell me how and when!”
Hearing Anika’s nonsense, Francis let himself falling on the floor of the Switch feeling as if he had lost every bit of rationality he had left. He had discovered that he wasn’t a botched experiment, helped to solve a murder case and his family situation, he had regretfully given another chance to his two dumb idiots of friends... It was eventually too much for him.
It was too much: too much anxiety, too much sadness, too much fatigue. Too much pressure that was meant to have only one feasible solution.
Eventually, a desperate cry escaped his lips coming from the bottom of his heart.
“Arthur, I just want to get laid!!!!”
The end