A Game of Chess

Chapter 1: Tensions

A recess was called, momentarily stopping the annual G8 meeting everyone had gotten together for every couple of months. This time Francis had hosted the meeting, which wasn't too bad if you didn't account for Arthur constantly bickering with him every other minute. Though they could be harsh with each other, they've always been like that. Even if they say mean things at times, there was no real harm behind it and Alfred knew this fact well.

At the moment, Francis was excitedly showing Alfred around the break room which was heavily adorned in decorations. A large crystal chandelier covered the room with shimmering lights, ribbons of the iconic blue, white, red, hanging from every corner. The wall itself was made of white marble and the snack table they were heading towards had an elegant light golden sheet draped on top of it. The entire room was filled with the noise of laughter. There were the G8 of course, but there were also other men, either top generals or close advisors to the country leaders. *Mr. Marshall being one of them, currently conversing with Arthur. Francis himself wasn't looking bad himself either. He had a milk white suit, a black undershirt, and a tie that complimented the suit completely. He had a small navy blue ribbon that tied back most of his outgrown curly hair, although some parts of the front were left out still suffering the terrible haircut he got a long while back. He had started to ramble off on the different variations of sweets the chefs had baked, the small ponytail laying on his back softly bobbing up and down.

"It looks like you're doing really well huh?" Alfred said, a grin happily forming on his face.

"Of course I've been doing well mon ami! It's been rough these couple of years, but everything is looking upwards!" Francis said, raising his thin wine glass towards the American.

"That's great man, I'm glad you're getting better!" He hovered over an organized plate of cannolis and let out a small smirk. If anything, Francis loved getting recognized by his work. Especially in the culinary industry. "If I'm not wrong, these are all your recipes right?"

"Oui, you have a very good eye Alfred! You got that from me, of course. Old caterpillar brows can't tell style, even if it bit him in the ass." He snickered, eyeing the fashionably questionable tie that didn't at all match with his handkerchief.

They continued to move down the table, Francis giving out specific details on the embroidery of the table sheets while Alfred helplessly did his best to follow along. He described his long journey on how he got back into cooking after meeting up with chefs across his country who had also fought in the war. As he was talking about one of his encounters, the American couldn't help but notice that glimmer in the Frenchman's eyes. There was so much passion hidden behind those swirling midnight blue orbs. Something that wasn't there years ago. A part of him felt a relief to see Francis so absorbed in his hobby.

"Oh right!" Francis suddenly exclaimed as they reached the ending of the table. Hurriedly, he grabbed a small covered metal plate from one of the passing chefs and opened it in front of the american. "Tah-dah!" Inside were miniature cheeseburgers with small French flags on toothpicks stuck into the buns."

"Dude! Are those sliders?" Alfred asked, still with an amazed look.

Francis confusedly looked at him. "Ah yes? Hamburgers, the food you're oftenly eating at meetings but smaller?"

"This is so cool bro!" He exclaimed, holding the tiny platter that accompanied the slider in his hand. "But I thought you didn't like making American cuisine though?"

"You're not wrong." he scoffed. "But I do want to thank you for supplying us with weapons and backup, even if your at the time president was against it. I know that making you food that you like won't pay back the debt right now, but I want to show you my gratitude for being there." Sighing, he leaned his back onto the table with a sheepish smile. "And besides, the Red Velvet Cake you baked me back in '32 wasn't too bad."