Ways Of Reality - The Untouched Scenes

We Always Have Tomorrow (Royal!AU)

I literally wrote all of this before I'd fall asleep the past couple weeks so please forgive me if anything is wrong, yada yada. I'm not revising this. I die like a man.
Rhoux_

"And what shall we do when we grow older?" John questioned, lazily watching as his hand skimmed over the tall grass.

Francis pondered that question for a second. They were only children. But perhaps that meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. Suppose there was no 'older'? The world loved to play cruel tricks... Especially on the innocent- wasn't that right?

"Francis?"

"I thought you said you wanted to join the military- the revolution?"

They stopped their walking, now pausing on their path. It was nothing special- beaten into use from long walks in the late afternoon. No one else walked it but them, but they made good use of its existence anyway.

John frowned and pulled away, now moving off their path in a direction away from Francis. He did not rush, he was not running from him, just wandered out amongst the trees carelessly- an open invitation to join him.

Taking the opportunity, the younger boy caught up to his friend. "Did I upset you?"

"No,"

"Then why did you leave?"

John let out a puff of air, seeking refuge under a red maple tree for the time being. He sat down by its lean trunk, scooping up a fallen leaf and holding it out for Francis to take. "I have been thinking."

"Interesting choice." Francis laughed as he took the leaf, sitting down beside his friend.

"Hush,"

"What do you think about?"

"About the revolution- joining it and all, I'm not sure I want to."

This struck Francis a little off guard, he did not think John would say such a thing. He was always one to imagine himself with great glory- jokingly, mainly. Usually after battling him with a stick he found on their walks. After all the enthusiasm, what happened?

"You wanted to join last week."

"I was lying last week."

"Well, why is that?"

"I do not think I am ready for the... aggression of war. To fight so courageously like all the others do."

Francis only nodded, taking a moment to pull his friend down some more so John's head rested in his lap. It made him feel better to do that- he did not know why. It was just true.

Resting his hand on John's chest, he waited for him to continue.

"I heard father say once that everybody has their own spark, their own flame, but that they should stick to it. And I do not feel like being a soldier is something I would be good at!" 

"Perhaps you don't know cause you haven't actually experienced it yet. Maybe you still have to find out what you would like to do."

John sighed and reached up a little bit to put his hand on Francis' arm. "Truly, do you think I would do well? I could not imagine so. Do you think I would do well in a place where to categorize how the day went- it would be based on how much blood you saw?"

The younger of the two opened his mouth to speak, but John cut him off again with a softer tone.

"Look around us, we wander and walk and carelessly enjoy all the days here that nature will provide us, so how could anyone expect of us to join such a thing? A bloody debate on who belongs to who, or how much money someone owes the other. We are nothing but children, who have admired the world around us. I could not see myself surrounded by the color red, not in blood or colored coats. The only red I will enjoy will be the brightly colored leaves that this red maple tree drops."