Perseverance (Hetalia [FrUK])

Chapter 3 - The Mistake

"What the hell are you doing here, Frog?!" Arthur hissed.

A few of the nearby diners looked their way, curious as to what the source of disturbance was. 

"Don't look at me," said Francis. "I'm just as confused as you are."

"This is a mistake, it has to be," Arthur continued to seethe. "There is little possibility you could have chosen to vacation here, let alone have your reservation held at the same time as mine."

"Yes, I agree." Francis leaned into his hand and mumbled, "The evening was going most splendidly until you showed up."

"But it is clear you two know each other," said the waiter. "There's no problem, is there?"

"Oh, there is every problem," Arthur stated. "Because it's him."

"See, it's always me, but you never explain just what the problem with me is," Francis said.

"Oh, I can go on and on about the various different reasons why you suck utter bollocks, but I'll narrow down the reasons to just one: because whenever you're here, it's only to make my life miserable!"

"Oh, boo-hoo, rosbif. You think your evening has been the only one ruined. Besides, I had no idea you were going to be here, so I hadn't had the time to prepare a plan to annoy you."

Arthur grinded his teeth. "You . . . !"

The waiter felt like he had been dragged into an argument with two atomic bombs. Why did he ever agree to take the evening shift?

"Well, if you two do know each other, can't you just put aside your differences for one night and enjoy a good meal together?"

"Excuse you," said Arthur.

"I would never be caught dead with this Englishman," Francis stated indignantly. 

"Well, if you aren't going to order anything, then I'll have to kick the both of you out and give this table to someone else."

"Now, look, monsieur, I'm sure we can sort this out without the need of throwing anyone out. If we must, however, I volunteer Arthur. Keep me here, s'il vous plait. The food is the only reason why I agreed to vacation in Hawaii."

The waiter didn't look too pleased with his stalling. "No, it's either both of you or none of you."

"Arthur, sit down," Francis hissed at him.

"What?" said the Brit. "No way. I am not having dinner with you."

"Sit down or I'll take away everything you love. All the tea, all the Doctor Who merchandise you have—"

"You would never!"

"I would, believe me," Francis said gravely.

Arthur grumbled and crossed his arms. "If this is someone's idea of a joke, I'm not buying it. And I'm serious—" He jerked at the table with his chin. "I'm not paying for the food."

"Oh, stop being such a child."

"Excuse me?"

"You think I'm enjoying this?" Francis said. "I dislike this just as much as you do, but the fact is the dinner's paid for and it's difficult to get another reservation in—could you please just sit down and eat your dinner?"

Arthur huffed indignantly, determined to put up as much of a fight as he could before he complied. He slowly sank into his seat, as far away from the Frog as physically possible.

The waiter clicked his pen and poised it over his pad of paper, looking thoroughly satisfied. He'd better get a raise for this. "Your orders, then?"