((Welp time to cry))
He didn’t want to wake the other if he didn’t have to. After all, if Arien wanted to, he could just kill Rafael in seconds. And Rafael didn’t doubt that he would. So, he carefully moved off the couch, gently putting Arien down on the couch cushions before he went to get his things. If he was remembering correctly, it should still be daytime, so he had a few hours where Arien wouldn’t be able to follow him.
Arien shifted a bit when Rafael set him down. The cushions had enough residual heat, though, and smelled like Rafael, so Arien didn't suspect a thing. He curled up some eventually, though, growing colder. He didn't produce much body heat himself, so what had been left over was quickly fading.
"Rafael..?"
By that point it was too late. Arien had maybe woken up in time to hear the front door clicking shut behind Rafael. He was gone. He’d left nothing behind in the house except his scent which was already quickly fading.
Arien sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"Rafael?" He called out again. Something was wrong. Rafael couldn't have left, he was blind and there was no way Arien would be able to help him during the day. Arien stood, growing more concerned as he didn't receive a response.
"Rafael?!"
There was nothing, no note, no signs of a struggle of any kind. Rafael had indeed, left. He knew it would be difficult for him to get back home but he generally knew the way.
Arien was freaking out now. What was going on?? Where was his lover? He searched the entire house, top to bottom. Finally, he admitted defeat, picking his phone up.
Guys I'm worried, I can't find Rafael it's the middle of the day and he's blind, he's gone and he's going to end up hurt!!! He sent the text to the group chat, so worried. He knew Francis and Bruno could go out during the day, and he needed to rely on their help if they were to find Rafael.
Rafael had managed to find his way to the park where Arien had first abducted him. He scowled a bit, wishing the vampire had just killed him in the first place. It was only a few minutes walk back to his apartment.
Arien was terrified, pacing around his house. No one had answered, at all. He had no idea what was going on.
Francis looked down at his phone when it went off.
"Missing, huh?" He said softly to himself. He shrugged a bit, starting to walk again down the sidewalk. To be honest, it surprised him a bit, with how they had been acting. He was in a park, though he didn't realize just how close he was to finding Rafael. He started to hum a bit, looking around.
And of course Rafael had no idea how close he was to Francis. If he’d known he might’ve walked faster. He’d made it to where he needed to cross the street to exit the park, and was just waiting for it to be his turn to go.
Francis looked around a bit, coming to a stop at he waited for the light to turn. His gaze stopped, though, when he spotted a very familiar human. He slipped over, keeping silent for now. There were too many people around- he would have to bide his time.
Of course, Rafael was none the wiser. It was overwhelming being around this many people all at once but he wouldn’t let it show. He managed to cross the street without much trouble.
Francis followed behind. He'd wait, till it was just him at Rafael. Theses people were the only reason he hadn't approached the man yet. There was obviously something up- he wouldn't just leave like that if he wanted them to know were he was.
It’d take awhile, maybe another 10 minutes before it was just him and Francis on the street. Rafael either hadn’t noticed Francis or didn’t care. Either way, he didn’t know that it was Francis.
Francis looked around. Finally. He picked up the pace a bit, grabbing ahold of Rafael's arm.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked, voice hard.
Rafael stiffened at hearing who it was. Francis..the most dangerous one of the group. “I’m going home. What, am I not even allowed to do that?” He snapped back aggressively.
"Not if you're going to give Arien a heart attack by doing it." Francis pulled Rafael with him into a smaller street, sneering a bit.
"You have him terrified for you, don't you know? From how you were in the coffee shop I figured you actually cared."
He sighed in annoyance. “He just doesn’t like me going where he can’t control me.” Francis’ second comment made him pause a bit. The coffee shop…had that just been an act he’d put on? He wasn’t really sure..Regardless, Rafael was acting a lot different than normal.
"No, he doesn't like it when you're endangering yourself by trying to make your way around town blind." Francis narrowed his eyes a bit.
"Just what is going on…" He said this more to himself then anything.
“I’m fine. As you can see I made it the whole way here by myself. I don’t need him to constantly coddle me…” he grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Look, no one's gonna be able to deny that, but you shouldn't have gone off without at least telling Arien where you were in case something did happen." Francis sighed a bit.
"You really have terrified him, you know. Don't you even care anymore?"
He shrugged. Thinking about Arien sort of just filled him with disgust. The way Rafael had let Arien treat him was ridiculous, and highly embarrassing. Even if the other would kill him for leaving, he didn’t care, he just couldn’t stand being there anymore.
((Question I probably should’ve asked first….in what ways can they break the spell?))
(1. Cliche kiss)
(2. Rafael realized what going on)
(3. They force Elliot to lift it)
Francis pressed his lips together.
"I see." He grabbed ahold of Rafael's arm. "Then why don't we go explain this to Arien, hm?"
He let out another long sigh. “It’s not like you’re going to give me a choice anyway, so why bother asking.”
((Great. I’m already missing the fluff and I have many regrets :’) ))
(SOMEONE NEEDS TO MURDER ELLIOT Silently volunteers to do it)
(don forget this want my idea!)
(I will help)
Francis scowled some. He held onto Rafael's arm, walking side by side with him back towards Arien's place.
"You're lucky it wasn't me who took you take night. Unlike Arien, I actually would kill you for this."
((I know that’s the worst part ;-;))
((yes we don’t stan Elliot in this household))
He scowled as well. “Threatening me now, really? I’m sure Arien wouldn’t like that.” He said, his tone pretty much flat. He really just didn’t seem to care.
(Sharpens daggers and preps murdery charas for storming the fourth wall)
"Which is why he won't know about this particular conversation." Francis held together on to Rafael's arm, just barely not enough to break any bones as they walked. Something was definitely wrong here.
(Please have someone mention elliot please! Edit: If I'm bugging you feel free to tell me to shut up. I'm just wayyy too invested in this.)
He fell into an annoyed silence, letting the other drag him along. His mind was still stuck a bit on the coffee shop though. Something about it bothered him, and he felt the answer so close but he couldn’t quite figure it out.