Patron Saint of Strays

Elias made no movement as the man moved his fingers to brush the mud off of his cheek. He smiled softly at the man when he saw that he appeared slightly nervous. He nodded his head in an attempt to show the man that it was alright. He had no problem with the casual touch. “I suppose he is– I am sorry that I made you lose your dog.” He smiled sadly. He wondered if the dog would come back, by the man’s lack of concern– it appeared he would. “Yes. I am a mess.” He laughed and nodded. “I wonder if they well give me a spare outfit.”

At least the other was doing much better with being touched by stranger, Francis couldn’t help but to notice this. If it had been him, he would be freaked out on the spot. The blond blinked and gave a little shrug. “Ah that..don’t worry. I’m sure Starky could find his own way home. He always do.” Francis looked up briefly at the man’s laugh, brows arching a bit at his words. ”They..?” It didn’t took his mind long enough to work it out. This man is an asset. “Oh..I’m truly sorry then. I thought you’re..” He shook his head a bit, chewing on his lower lips as he seemed to be contemplating something. “I..well, you can drop by at my place to clean yourself up. I’m sure I have uh-..something that could fit you. Temporarily.” 

Elias had been walking– trying to tame his thoughts and keep from asking a client if they would get sloshed with him. Then a dog came running through– and before he had time to react, he was being pushed over and into a puddle of mud. He groaned, his eyes turning to watch the dog before turning to the man. He would not have been mad if the man had continued on his chase after the dog. He cleared his throat though when the man stopped and reached out to take his hand in his own. “Oh no– it’s fine… Those creatures can get rather excited.” He stood and tried to shake excess mud from his clothes. “Though we might want to go get Starky, huh?”

The man was slightly taller than Francis was when he stood up once again and the blond found that he had to glance up slightly as the other spoke. There was a smudge of mud on his cheek and subconsciously Francis had reached out to wipe it off with his fingers. “I..-uhh.” He felt his own cheeks heating up a bit when he realised what he just literally done and chose to avoid the other’s gaze that time, looking over at the direction where his dog had ran off. “Well he’s sort of out of our sights already.” he gave a little sigh and looked back at the other, albeit avoiding direct eye contact. “Y-you’re a mess though.” he pointed out awkwardly.

Hayden lightly squeezed back, glad for the contact. He shrugged a little at the suggestion. “It’s alright, I think. I’m not doing too bad, yet. Just still hopeful he’ll be back like William says. I do like seeing you, though.”

Francis nodded lightly, letting his hand remained in contact with Hayden’s. “I’m sure he will. Maybe he just got into a little trouble or something..” he drawled before giving a slight shrug and offering a soft smile at the asset. “But Erik would be back for both of you.” Francis gave a little content hum at the other’s last sentence. “The feeling’s mutual. I do enjoy seeing you too, Hayden.”

Coffee? Seriously? Isaac had just snapped at him and he was leaving a beverage to try and cheer him up. He huffed, looking at it and then looking at Francis, wondering what on earth he’d done the nice gesture for. “Um… thanks.” He muttered, taking the coffee. “You didn’t have to.”

Francis glanced over at the other upon hearing him spoke before giving a little shrug. “Just thought that it would make you feel better a bit..well hopefully.” One hand moved to push back few strands of hair from his eye (damn he needed a haircut). “It’s just that I can technically feel you fuming from where I was..and it’s kinda distracting me too..so yeah.” he mumbled awkwardly.

Hayden gratefully accepted the pen and paper from Francis, before shrugging. “Erik left. William says he’ll be back soon.” Hayden didn’t allow himself to be that hopeful, however, since Erik leaving had hurt him enough in and of itself.

“Oh...” Francis chewed on his lower lips, contemplating whether ‘are you okay?” would be something appropriate to say; because Hayden must definitely be upset over being thrown into such situation. So he merely settled on reaching out to take the younger man’s hand and giving it a gentle brief squeeze. “Well..if you want, you can drop by the store or even my place y’know? If uh..well.. the cells is making you uncomfortable.”

Isaac had decided to leave the cells, not wanting to watch assets being returned there. It angered him, more than he was sure why, and he was pacing back and forth. “Whatever you want I’m not interested.” He barked, not even looking at who was approaching him.

Being Francis, it could be rather overwhelming sometimes in public places. It was also even harder to ignore the angry waves pouring out from the other male nearby that Francis couldn’t help but to glance up at him occasionally. He eventually felt that he had enough of the other pacing around and stood up from where his sat and moved towards one of the cafes. He came out later with a freshly made drink and approached the man earlier. Francis tensed a bit at the barked words yet still proceed to place the drink atop a small table few feets away from the other. “Just thought that you might be needing this.” he mumbled with an awkward shrug before turning to move away.

“Can you give me a pen and paper? I forgot to bring some when I had to go back to the cells.”

“Hayden?” Francis’ brows furrowed a bit, yet his hand moved to grab some paper and a pen from the small sling bag that was always by his side. “But why are you back in the cells?” The blond can’t help but to blurt out slightly.

“Fuck this entire island and the masters in it.”

Francis merely blinked at the other’s words. It was clear that the man was distressed so he rather not making him even more upset by asking whether he was alright. The blond chewed on his lower lips before letting out a soft sigh. “You look like you would be needing a few drinks.” He couldn’t help but to murmur out suggestively.

“Figured that much.” he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s better than the cramped cells.” 

Francis chewed on his lower lips momentarily at the other’s reply before giving a light shrug. “You could do so in a proper bed. You could come to my place.” he offered. “Think it’s way much better than both the cells or this bench.”

The man smirked and shook his head. Did he really just hear that, or was it a misunderstanding from the murmur. “Huh? I don’t think I quite caught that last bit?”

Francis’ cheeks heated up slightly at the question. “Uhh-..no.” He gave a sheepish smile and shrugged awkwardly. “I mean..I was just saying that you’re rather uhm..good looking that’s all.”