everybody knows it sucks to grow up, and everybody does

[discretion]

Who: Franz (discretion), Blaine (mediumdrip) to be joined by Kurt (showbizpanache
When: 8/23/12, noonish
Where: Frandalus apartment + lunch restaurant
Summary: Catching up after they've been separated by death.
Warnings: Possibly some angst.

[Franz has spent way too long picking out his outfit. It's a warm day, the last hurrah of summer. His stomach is clenched with ice-cold anxiety. He hadn't realized when he made plans that it was Albert's birthday. The anniversary of Franz's first death.

He ought to have something in his sizeable wardrobe to encapsulate everything: his anxiety, his fear, his relief, his sorrow. This ends with neutral grays and whites, mostly, and a green summer scarf to cover up his considerably bruised and scarred neck. It took some assurance to Daedalus that he would be alright, that he wouldn't take any stupid risks and wouldn't be alone a single moment of his little outing.

Adjusting his scarf in the mirror near the door for the fiftieth time, he remembers the strange date he had last year around his time with Daedalus, a huge argument and the breakdown he had after darkness had broken into the underground malls. It feels like a lifetime ago. Technically, now, perhaps it was.

He's cheered up by the sounds of Mr. Muggles yapping in announcement of his visitor, and he answers the door making sure to look perfectly happy and collected for Blaine.]

Hey!

Comments

[discretion]

I'm glad to be back. [And not letting go of Blaine any time soon. He's speaking more to Blaine's shoulder than to his face at the moment.]

And thank you for looking after Daedalus for me. He... needed that. [Oh the guilt.]

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine is fine not letting go.] You just have to return the favor. With Kurt. If anything ever happened to me...

[discretion]

[Franz doesn't let him finish his sentence.] Of course.

I didn't think about how unprepared we were for this. If one of us ever dies for good, we'll probably never see each other again. I can't bear the thought of it. [He swallows hard, keeping back tears.]

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine rubs Franz's back lightly.] We don't have to worry about that right this second.

[discretion]

Well, maybe not right this second in my doorway.

[Franz finally breaks from the embrace, stepping further inside and picking up the dog so he doesn't fuss all over Blaine.]

We're all grown-ups, after all. I didn't realize... they didn't contact Daedalus when they found my body. But as newcomers, most of us don't have next-of-kin. That's something to chew on.

[Because there's that one big word that he and Daedalus aren't up to discussing. And there's the political implications, too, an entirely different beast.]

I'm being a terrible host, sorry. I'm still sort of out of it. Please sit down, what would you like to drink? I have wine, I suppose it's a bit early for an apéritif... or tea and coffee, of course.

[mediumdrip]

No wine. [No alcohol, ever.] But coffee is always a welcome drink.


You know, Kurt and I do have it set up that way. If something happens to him, they'll alert him. It's important to have that. Are you and Daedalus going to do it now?

[discretion]

You don't have to be married? I guess we just overlooked it. I never thought about it, the last time we talked about our future... [Daedalus had refused his proposal of a proposal. There's a big question mark there, one that still doesn't have a discernable answer. This disaster has blown things wide open - all the things they haven't allowed themselves to discuss, let alone face, and Franz isn't sure if they've properly stitched stitched things up. It will take time. And it might not work to just be silent any longer.]

Well, come inside, I'll put coffee on!

[mediumdrip]

There's lots of ways you can make sure they notify him, and this city is actually pretty progressive about that kind of thing.

[He follows Franz inside.]

[discretion]

I guess neither of us really thought about it. [Even after the Joker abducted Daedalus and buried him in the ground to die, they pretended that something like this wasn't inevitable. Because they might have to accept that death would definitely be the end for them. Staying the course seemed like the only thing they could do. The truth is terrifying.] Well, lesson learned.

[Franz bids Mr. Muggles to keep Blaine company, muttering a little to himself about what a bad host he's been, not having coffee pot already going. He returns with the appropriate accouterments, making himself a cup of tea rather than coffee, and setting out creamer and sugar cubes.]

We've been in this place for over a year now, but we're both kind of... worried about settling down. I almost left him when we talked about actually buying property together, you know.

[mediumdrip]

I know you two have a problem talking about the long term... [Blaine admitted as he took the coffee with thanks.] That's not an uncommon thing.

[discretion]

We have a problem talking, sometimes. Last night was so awkward. [Franz sits back, covering his eyes with his hand for a moment.] I don't know how to fix this. All I could think about was how desperately I wanted to see him again, and now that I'm back he's so distant and careful with me. I never meant to do this to our relationship.

[mediumdrip]

You haven't done anything. What happened wasn't your fault.