Chapter 6: Let's Dance The Night Away

"Oh, it has been really well! As robust as the real one!" Mr. Samuel Fleury swung up his right foot, and pulled up his pants leg to reveal his right leg, which looks just the same as a normal leg. " I never had any problems nor have people noticed it's a prosthetic. It's all thanks to you, Dr. Storitz."

"No need for thanks, you have already thanked me quite a number of times." 'Franklin' responded.

Mrs. Fleury chuckled. "But we really have to thank you as much as we can, Dr. Storitz. If not for you, my husband and I would not have lived a peaceful life together!" 

"My beloved Marie Dean is right." Samuel Fleury smiled lovingly at his wife, before facing the gentlemen once more. "We shall always remain grateful to you, Dr. Storitz. For the rest of our lives."

Stein was a little perturbed by those words. Grateful for the rest of their lives..... They seem to bear the same loyalty and admiration for his Franklin, though of course, not the same way a lover would. But to have someone else share the same level of affection for him... or any affection for that matter...

He could not help but be envious of these good cheery people.

Envy. It's a very poisonous emotion indeed. It can eat you from inside out, especially if the people you are envious of does not even deserve the dark, insipid thoughts running in your head about them.

They continued talking in English and sharing experiences with each other after all these years. After five minutes, Captain Clerval had already become bored of just being the fourth wheel to this trio and went to chitchat with other party-goers. 

Stein could only stand by the side and listen in, not knowing what to do. There were times when he wanted to say something and interject, but hesitated too long and it was too late to say it. He felt like a child just watching the adults talk.

He hates it.

The longer it was, the more he felt like bugs are crawling up on his skin. He itches to just leave and pull Franklin with him, away from this lovely couple. He shifted from foot to foot, getting more and more regretful of attending this party in the first place.

He wants Franklin to at least spare him a glance but...

It's like he had forgotten he was even there.

His eyes that sparkled behind those glasses.... He wants them too only look at him, to stay affixed in his direction. His bright smile.... He wants to be the only cause of it. His attention..... He wants all of it, he wants it to be only his. And yet.....

He's too scared to ask for it.

He would seem petty. Childish.

And he doesn't feel like he deserves Franklin either. 

Maybe he should just walk away like the captain. Franklin wouldn't even notice if he did. He turned, and with his head hanging low and eyes downcast, he disappeared into the crowd of people and escaped from this academy to sulk.

"Haha, well, it's truly been a pleasure to converse with you once more, Mr. and Mrs. Fleury. I'm sure the same could be said for my companions....." Zhe Chouhen turned, realizing he was all alone now. "Uh, where did they go?"

"I see the captain over there." Mrs. Fleury pointed. "But I can't see the big gentleman anywhere."

"Perhaps he went out for a walk." Mr. Fleury suggested. "I hope it's not because of us. We must have overstayed our welcome..."

"Ah, no! I do not think that's it. My Stein is just a reserved person." 'Franklin' scratched hid head, bid his farewell, and excused himself to find his assistant.

(Shit, why did the MC leave me alone all of a sudden!? This isn't part of the script!) He panicked, wondering what could have happened to Stein since the script branched out this way. There could be terrible consequences...

And he doesn't want anything wrong to happen to him.

(Wait, Captain Clerval shouldn't have left either and tried to talk out the couple for clues that he can use against Franklin and incriminate him. So why did Daoist Panda.... Ah, seriously!!!! What is wrong with those two nowadays!?)

They are both making his head hurt. Two adorable and lovable people that are also high maintenance and very fickle. It's making him go crazy!

His mind is scrambled with various thoughts, as he walked past the people and into the garden outside. He looked around and asked around, giving them Stein's description. If the giant artificial man even came at their peripherals, they would be sure to have taken notice, especially with the clothes he's wearing, but they did not.

He was about to lose hope when he show as a shadow dart passed behind an elephant-shaped hedge. He followed the shadow as quickly as he could.

Then, he heard the soft faint sounds of sobbing.

"Stein?" He called out softly, approaching the figure hunched over a small pond with white narcissus flowers. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

"H-Huh?" Stein did not expect 'Franklin' to find him so soon, and especially not in this pathetic state. He quickly pushed his tears away. "I just.... I... Hn...."

"Stein..." 'Franklin' squatted beside him. "I was so worried about you. You left without saying goodbye, or telling me where you were going. Did I do something that has upset you again?"

"No..... Do not mind me." Stein stood up with a strained smile. "Let's go back. Are you done speaking with the Fleurys? Or did you leave them on my behalf? Anyway, other people must be looking for you---"

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"Stein, don't be like this. Talk to me." 

'Franklin' took his hand, and covered it with the other. "You used to tell me everything you feel. You used to tell me what you want from me. What changed? You know that if you need anything, you can just ask---"

"You never gave it to me!" Stein took his hand away, then his eyes widened, like he was even surprised that he raised his own voice on Franklin. "I..... I'm fine. I'm really fine. Let us return inside, we should be enjoying the exhibition for the scientific inventions... Not loafing around in this garden. You would be called on stage too."

He turned around, sniffling, but 'Franklin' still grabbed on to him. "You're not fine! Stein, don't lie to me, and most especially, don't lie to yourself! If you are not fine, admit it! If you feel sad or angry, accept it, because I will also accept whatever your feelings are!"

Stein went quiet, feeling that if he opened his mouth, the tears would burst forth like a broken dam again.

'Franklin' cannot make him turn around to face him because he's too heavy, but he instead walked around over to face him. "Stein. You said I never gave 'it' to you. What is it? What do you want, and why aren't you asking me for it?"

Stein did not answer for a long while. The jazz music from inside the academy continued playing, filling in the awkward silence. The soft dallying breeze brought along with it the smell of roses and daisies and all the other flowers in the garden, bringing a mismatched yet beautiful scent to the air. 

It does not fit their current situation at all, adding up to the chaos in their hearts.

"Frank.... I have already told you. I'm not daft. Well, I am all daft about you." He said with a sad smile. "But..... I may have been drunk at the time, yet I still have my wits with me. I remember what I said, what you said, and what I feel. I let a whole week pass pretending I have forgotten them, but I can't."

Stein wiped a tear that slipped out on his cheek. "There's something wrong with me, Frank. I can't stop feeling like you don't love me."

He looked at the stars above to stop the tears from flowing, but they continued to well up. The moment he raised his head, he recognized the constellation Orion, the Hunter. He was a giant that had been killed by his closest friend, or to some, lover: the Goddess of Hunting Artemis. But for a good reason as well, as he has brought destruction due to a fit of madness.

Will their relationship also reach a point of destruction as well?

'Franklin' was frowning, seeming to ruminate over something. He then reached out to place a hand on Stein's cheek...

Stein's eyes trembled a little, like he was afraid of the touch. But still he let 'Franklin's hand caress his face, the feeling of the lines on his palm, and the shared wetness due to his tears........

"Stein, I......" He began, but closed his mouth again.

Then, the joyous, jazzy music changed into something slower, and more delicate. There was a romantic feel to it, but tragic as well, like watching a play that you already know the ending of. You tried to enjoy it as much as you could, but the knowledge of the end keeps bugging your mind, giving you a sinking feeling at the pit of your stomach that you can't quite place.

Zhe Chouhen breathed deeply. He doesn't like feeling this way at all.

"Do you......" He placed another hand on Stein's waist. "Do you want to dance with me?"

Stein blinked, and blanked out for a bit, because it was too sudden. He then asked, with a slight croak to his voice. "Here? Why?"

"I just... Want to dance with you, right now." Zhe Chouhen admitted, no script to follow at all, not even keeping in mind Franklin Storitz' characterization. "Do you?"

"I...... I'm too tall......." Stein looked away. "And my hands might be too heavy when placed on your shoulders---"

'Franklin' took both of his hands and kissed them, then wrapped those arms over his neck. One is lighter than the other, but he did not mind. "Your hands are perfect. So....."

"Shall we dance?"

They slowly swayed to the music, both of his hands on Stein's waist, and Stein's wrapped around his shoulder and neck. He led him to take small 4/4 steps, and they continued to just waltz around the garden alone. No one is watching them. This moment is all on their own.

The height difference is a bit of a crutch, but Zhe Chouhen found a solution by standing over a stone hedge for the plots of small plants. Now they're almost even, and he was slightly taller than Stein even.

He motioned for Stein to turn, and his dance partner did so. With his eyes glistening due to the sad, sad tears he had earlier, with that bright, solemn smile he now wears in his pretty little face. He was a true Belle, and true beauty to behold, no matter what people say or think about his mismatched body parts. This person is not a monster in Franklin's eyes......

And to Zhe Chouhen as well.

When the music is closing to its end, he dipped Stein a little. Stein stared at him with those big blue eyes. Their faces were really close, just a few inches away.

Zhe Chouhen did not hesitate this time.

He really was too beautiful to resist.

Stein got what he finally waited for. A kiss, both gentle and passionate, both soothing and burning. Freeing him from all his doubts and fears.

A dream come true. A perfect fairytale.

Someone watched the fairytale-like dance from behind the hedges and quickly ran from the shock of betrayal.

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