It had been almost three weeks since his run in with the mime, and so far, Arthur thought he was doing a pretty good job avoiding him and the park he busked in.

Unfortunately since the park was strictly off limits, he had no choice but to eat his lunch in his office. Not that his office wasn't nice! Quite the contrary, actually; since he was the head of the company's business in France, he had the nicest office with a gorgeous view of the park. The problem was that whenever he had lunch in his office, he would end up working and letting his food go to waste.

After three weeks of stressful, busy lunches he was unable to take it anymore. As soon as it was time for his lunch break, he informed his secretary that he wouldn't be back for at least two hours, and if she tried to contact him before then she would be promptly fired. Leaving his (now terrified) secretary to reschedule all his afternoon appointments, he stormed outside and into the fresh spring air.

There was a café nearby that he had been meaning to try for weeks, but he had not had a chance before now. Pushing open the door, he was overcome with the scents of ground coffee beans, fresh baked breads, and sugary confections. The atmosphere instantly put him at ease and he could almost feel his bad mood dissipate. For the first time in weeks he had the promise of a relaxing lunch break.

Stepping up to the counter, he smiled at the waitress as he looked over the blackboard the menu was written on; not noticing someone come in behind him. Arthur stood there for a few moments as he decided what to order; but as soon as he finally made up his mind he felt a tap on his shoulder.

He spun around, ready to deliver a lecture on patience to the other patron, but instead he was surprised to realize that he recognized the person, though he could not remember how he knew the man. Arthur was surprised; the man was incredibly attractive for a Frenchman and he could not understand how he had managed to forget him.

This line of thought was abruptly cut off; however, when the man gave him a charming smile and began waving his arms wildly; pointing at Arthur and himself giddily. Realization overcame him suddenly, and recoiled from the man. It had been difficult to recognize him without his make-up, but there was now no doubt in his mind.

It was the mime from the park.

The universe really must hate him, Arthur decided wearily. For some reason it seemed to take umbrage with the idea that he could have a nice, relaxing lunch break. But then again… then again, what were the chances that this was a coincidence? That out of the millions of people in Paris, how could he see this man a second time? What if Arthur's first impression was right and that he was being stalked by an insane stalker mime?

"Are you following me?" Arthur spluttered, never one to beat around the bush. "I'll report you to the police; I swear to god!" He yelled, even though he remembered how they would react from the last time he pursued that line of thought. The mime did not answer, though the smile fell from his face.

"How dare you accuse him of such things!" Arthur spun around to see the waitress whom had looked so sweet and kind in her little apron and purple bow, eyes blazing in fury at Arthur's accusations. He was taken aback, but she did not give him any time to recover before she spoke once more.

"Stop gawking at me!" She yelled, snatching an empty coffee urn off of the counter and holding it threateningly. "Do you normally go around yelling at the disabled, accusing them of heinous crimes?" She slammed the urn against the counter, causing everyone in the café to jump.

"I- disabled- what?" Arthur stuttered, looking back at the mime whom was waving his arms wildly in an attempt to get everyone to calm down.

"If anything," the waitress continued, not paying any mind to Arthur's confusion or the mime's agitation. "You would be the one following him! Francis has been one of my most loyal customers since I opened four years ago! He has lunch here almost every day."

She glared at him with eyes full of malice before she turned to the mime now identified as Francis. Giving Arthur one last cautionary glance, she began to move her hands with grace, forming word after word. Francis made a frustrated noise and began signing back quickly, gesturing to Arthur a few times. As Arthur watched this display, the situation finally sunk in and for the first time since he had encountered the mime, he understood.

"You're deaf." It was a statement, not a question; for now the events of their meeting in the park weeks before made perfect sense. Francis hadn't left him alone because he had not heard Arthur's request to do so. He hadn't responded to Arthur's threats because he didn't have the ability to do so.

The realization that one has been acting like an idiot is never a pleasant experience, especially when your idiocy is so painfully obvious to those around you. It had been obvious that Francis was deaf, and yet Arthur had refused to see it because he had been so predisposed to hate the man.

"Oh Christ," Arthur groaned, leaning on the counter and pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingertips in an attempt to ward of a quickly approaching migraine. After a few moments he lifted his head and turned to the waitress rather desperately. "Please tell him that I am incredibly sorry; I had no idea he was deaf."

"Tell him yourself." The waitress sighed, handing him an order pad and a pen. "I'm trying to run a business, and I don't have time to be your translator during the lunch rush. I have other customers." She signed something to Francis quickly before bustling away.

Arthur looked at Francis warily for a few moments before leaning over the counter to scribble a quick message. "Can I make it up to you by paying for your lunch?"

The smile came back to his face as he read the note and wrote out his response carefully. "Only if I can eat it with you." He flashed the pad to Arthur, whom after a few moments nodded to show his consent. Francis clapped his hands in delight before handing him another note. "I knew that I would be able to convince you to go on a date with me."