From London To Madrid (EngSpa Week 2k17)

The Word Of Your Body

The first time Arthur meets Antonio Fernández Carriedo, his immediate thought is that he's the most idiotic, second most obnoxious, and most ridiculously handsome person that Arthur has ever met in his life. He's all tan skin and dark hair and blinding smiles and Arthur can't look away from brilliant, green eyes and dark, long lashes until Francis clears his throat and Arthur realizes that the first most obnoxious person he knows - the aforementioned Frenchman - is smirking wickedly.

Arthur already knows he's screwed.

--

"Antonio's a dancer, you know," Francis tells him, later, stirring the whipped cream into his coffee.

Arthur chokes on his tea.

"I never asked."

Francis smirks. "Just thought you'd like to know he's really flexible."

Suffice to say, Francis ends up footing the bill.

--

"Arthur, right? Francis' friend?"

Arthur starts at the voice and nearly drops his phone in his haste to whirl around, coming face to face with startling green eyes. Of course it's Antonio, the one time Arthur looks like trash.

It's been a long day and the blond is heading to his last class, wearing his pajamas - he'd been too exhausted to bother with changing when he woke up this afternoon, but now he's regretting it. Antonio looks flawless, if not stylishly disheveled. He's smiling that damn smile again and Arthur wants to put his hands on both of Antonio's cheeks, lean in really close, and demand to know if Antonio realizes how cute he is.

The thought itself leaves the tips of his ears burning and he coughs behind his hand in order to hide his embarrassment.

"Yes, that's me," he replies, gaze darting, "Antonio, correct?"

If at all possible, Antonio's smile brightens. "You remembered!"

Arthur cracks a smile. "I did."

--

He finds out Antonio is a Botany major.

Arthur himself is majoring in Criminal Psychology and the workload is killing him; Antonio always seems so carefree. Arthur finds him, often, in the school greenhouse on the roof. He looks at home in the warmth, dazzling with the sun at his back. He's not so terrible when he isn't with Gilbert and Francis - certainly more tolerable. Arthur won't admit it, but he enjoys the moments they spend on the roof.

He listens more than he speaks, but Antonio always has lots to talk about.

He talks about everything from plants to his friends to his family to random facts that Arthur never would've known if he hadn't heard it straight from Antonio.

The more they talk, the deeper Arthur sinks, the more his chest aches. There's no way a guy like this isn't already claimed.

--

"So," says Francis, sliding into step alongside Arthur with that same obnoxious smirk, "I've noticed you and Antonio have been spending an awful lot of time together."

"So?" Arthur glowers.

He's not in the mood for Francis' attitude today; the blond is like a brother to him; an irritable one, but a brother, nonetheless - but Arthur is liable to punch him today. His mood is sour and he isn't entirely sure why. Francis just rolls his eyes and tucks a strand of hair behind his ear.

"So," Francis drawls, ignoring Arthur's very clear hint, "it's a shame he doesn't have a boyfriend yet."

Arthur's gaze darts up. "...You have my attention."