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Spirou got up before Fantasio, as usual. He went to make breakfast in the kitchen, still in his pajamas, two cups of well-brewed coffee and some toast.
He finally heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Fantasio appeared in the kitchen with his eyes half closed, already dressed in his usual suit. Ready to leave for work after eating.
“Good morning, sunshine!” The redhead warmly greeted his friend and placed his coffee cup in front of him when Fantasio finally sat down at the table with him.
“Good morning, Spirou, thank you.” Fantasio was not a morning person, but having Spirou prepare his breakfast and say a friendly good morning always made waking up less difficult.
After eating, Fantasio said goodbye to Spirou, Marsupilami, and Spip and left for work. Spirou stayed at home to take care of the animals, do the laundry, clean, cook, etc. It wasn't very glamorous, but everyday life never is. Someone has to be there to do it. And Fantasio comes home much too late and tired to take care of all that (even though he helps out when he's not working, of course).
That was their routine: half the time they were on the other side of the world reporting, and the other half Fantasio went to work at the newspaper while Spirou stayed at home.
Sometimes Spirou felt like he was Fantasio's wife. But instead of enjoying passionate romance and wild nights, all he had were chores to do.
Ever since he moved in with his friend, Spirou had had this irrational fear of being thrown out on the street the moment Fantasio found a woman. At first, this fear stemmed from not wanting to lose the good life he had with Fantasio, but over time, it also became a fear of seeing the man he loved love someone else. Spirou wasn't a selfish man. He had come to terms with the fact that one day it would happen and that he would just have to smile and say he was happy for his best friend. But here they were now, several years later, and still no sign of a serious romantic relationship for either of them.
The more time passes, the more he wonders why Fantasio is still single. Fantasio has a serious job, a driver's license, a house, a nice car, he loves animals, he's a little (very) hot-tempered, but he's also just as kind and passionate. Plus, he's charismatic and funny—he has more good qualities than bad, in any case. So why is he still single?
He has seen his friend flirt with many women over the years, even saying that he had fallen in love, yet it never went any further.
Spirou was starting to get impatient. He had always assumed that he would never have the chance to be in a relationship with his friend because he wanted to start a family with a wife, children, a golden retriever, and maybe even a goldfish.
But now it was becoming increasingly clear to Spirou that Fantasio no longer had the same outlook on life as he did years ago.
So Spirou allowed himself to hope.
What if he wasn't as straight as he was trying to appear? What if he had completely given up on the idea of getting married because he preferred to be with him? What if his feelings weren't as unrequited as he thought? Just thinking about all this made his head spin.
So, it was decided! No more waiting patiently for someone else to take his man without saying a word! No more crying over his fate like the main character in a dramatic soap opera!
If Fantasio wasn't ready to finally decide what to do about his romantic future, then Spirou would get involved.
Launch of Operation “Make Fantasio Fall in Love!”
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Spirou decided to start slowly, as he didn't want Fanta to realize that he was plotting behind his back. he isn't really the most knowledgeable when it comes to relationships. He has never been in a relationship himself. But he knows that cute nicknames are very common. So he'll start with that.
Fantasio was in his office thinking about the layout of his new article when Spirou appeared at his door.
"Fanfan, would you like some coffee? I was just about to make some.“ It was subtle and discreet, no ”my love“ or ”darling,“ but a new, rather cute nickname that was a change from the usual ”Fanta."
“Mmm, yes, why not, thank you.” Fantasio didn't even seem to notice, so perhaps it was a little too subtle.
When he came back with the coffees, he said, “Here you go, my Fanfan,” which should be a step up.
“Well, someone's in a very cheerful mood today. Have I forgotten it's my birthday again?” Already a better reaction, and he didn't even question the “my,” which is a good sign.
“Aren't I always nice? And no. Your birthday is in winter, and last I checked, it's the middle of summer.”
“Oh, right, I thought so. There wasn't that sweet smell of half-burnt cake in the air.” Fanta tried to hide his smile as he drank his coffee, but it was very obvious. The bastard.
“Oh, come on! It only happened once! Next time, you can make your own Black Forest cake and eat it all by yourself, Mr. Five-Star Chef!” Spirou may have been quick to anger, but he couldn't stand Fantasio bringing up this story again. He had put so much effort into that cake. Fantasio, on the other hand, was laughing his head off. He loved seeing Spirou turn completely red with anger in less than five seconds. The only reason he wasn't strangling his friend was because he remembered that Fantasio had forced himself to eat it because he had put so much effort into it. Fanta might have been a jerk who loved to rub salt in the wound, but he was also a good guy.
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After this first successful attempt, Spirou continued to use the nickname: sometimes Fanfan, sometimes my Fanfan, depending on his mood. Fantasio had no objection to this.
Except one day.
Spirou and Fantasio were at the Moustique for work. Well, Fantasio was there to work and Spirou was there to be his emotional support.
The day went by without too many problems. Gaston only almost blew up Fanta's office twice, so all in all, it was a pretty good day.
“Here's the article you asked me for. I had to do some digging with Miss Jeanne, but we finally found it.” Fanta handed the article to the redhead, who immediately thanked him. “Great, thanks Fanfan.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Gaston raised his head. “Fanfan? Oh, that's such a cute nickname, it makes you seem nicer too.”
Fantasio already began rubbing his forehead as if Gaston's mere appearance was enough to give him an instant headache. "Gaston, I know you have a ton of work waiting for you on your desk because I'm the one who put it there. So. go. Work. "
“You're not so cute now, Mr. Fanfan.” Spirou had to restrain Fantasio before he threw a stapler at Gaston, who left to do God knows what with his usual nonchalance.
Unfortunately, things couldn't end there. In the days that followed, the entire office started calling him Fanfan.
How could he regain his credibility after that?
Fantasio came home from work in the evening and was greeted as usual by Spirou and his animals.
“How was work, my Fan—”
"HO NO! I'm stopping you right there! No more Fanfan, I can't take it anymore! If I hear one more Fanfan, I won't be responsible for my actions!" Fantasio was furious, there was no room for discussion. Too bad, Spirou really liked that nickname. It was supposed to be a little secret between them, a way to add a little affection to their relationship, and now it was all ruined.
Oh well, Spirou would have to think of something else.
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Okay, nicknames might not have been the best idea to make his Fanfan fall in love, but you can't blame a guy who's never tried to make anyone fall in love before.
This time he was going to try the next level. Couples always go on dates, don't they? So that's what he's going to plan. It will be a good way to show Fantasio that their friendly get-togethers could be mistaken for romantic dates. It's not uncommon for waiters to think they're a couple until they pay separately. But not this time!
Spirou was going to do everything right. He was going to officially invite his friend to the restaurant instead of just saying, “I can't be bothered to cook, let's go to the restaurant.” He was going to book a good, reputable restaurant and, to top it all off, he was going to pay for both of them. It would be obvious to Fanta that this was a romantic date.
Of course, Spirou could pluck up his courage and actually ask Fantasio out on a date, but the point is that he should be shocked to see Spirou pay and realize for himself that they already behave like an old married couple, so moving from friendship to love should be obvious. No, Spirou is not delusional, not at all.
As they drive to run some errands, Spirou decides that now is the right moment.
“Hey Fanta, how about going to a restaurant this weekend?”
“Oh yeah, why not, good idea. We'll go to the Italian place as usual.”
“No, actually, there's one that interests me. I'll show it to you.” At the speed the car was going, Spirou couldn't take his eyes off the road to see if Fantasio was disappointed that they weren't going to their usual restaurant.
“Oh? And you're not going to tell me which one it is?” "
“No. It's a surprise.” Spirou smiled as he said this, knowing how curious his friend could be. That's why he's a journalist.
“Oh my, a real surprise. Are you sure it's not my birthday?”
"Fantasio. "
“Just kidding, just kidding. Keep your eyes on the road, please.”
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On the big day, Spirou tried to dress up. It was a little complicated because, apart from his groom uniform, he didn't have much else to wear. But he decided on a simple red shirt and jeans, which should do the trick.
Fantasio, as usual, was already dressed in a suit, so he didn't have to make any special effort to meet the dress code of a high-end restaurant. That was a good thing because Spirou, to keep the surprise, still hadn't told him what kind of restaurant they were going to.
“So, shall we go?” Fantasio was already at the door looking at his watch.
“Yes, yes, I'm ready.”
Fantasio addressed the animals before leaving. “Be good, kids, understand? Don't destroy the house while we're away.” Spip just continued sleeping on the sofa. As long as he had his nuts to eat, his owners could leave for as long as they wanted. Marsupilami let out an enthusiastic “houba.”
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When they arrived at the restaurant, Fantasio looked surprised at his friend's choice. He surely hadn't expected anything so classy from Spirou, who was such a simple man. This made Spirou smile. He had had to use his title and reputation as a great adventurer to get a table at such short notice. But the surprise effect he wanted to create for his friend was definitely there. It already hinted at the fact that this was not a date like any they had had before.
Inside, the atmosphere was subdued and rather romantic. There were only tables for two with couples. There were even candles on the tables and roses. Spirou was almost afraid that Fantsio would be uncomfortable with the romantic atmosphere, but on the contrary, he seemed to be in his element. Fanta is a slightly eccentric man who has his quirks, but he still appreciates classy and distinguished things. So he seemed delighted with the high standard of the place.
When they sat down at their table, Fantasio spoke first, “Wow, I wasn't expecting this, to be perfectly honest.”
“Do you like it?” Spirou couldn't help asking; he really wanted him to enjoy it.
“I haven't even looked at the menu yet, and I already like it.” " The redhead was reassured by his friend's enthusiasm. He really had to stop stressing so much. But ever since they had entered the establishment, Spirou's heart had been racing. Being in such a romantic place with Fantasio, knowing that everyone must think they were a couple. It wasn't good for his heart.
The redhead was snapped out of his reverie when he saw Fanta grimace as he opened the menu. It was a little expensive, but that was the price to pay for such a beautiful place. Spirou had already figured that it would cost them around 200€, the high price to pay for the illusion of a romantic date with his Fanfan.
Luckily, Fantasio didn't comment on the prices. Spirou was grateful for that.
Spirou spent the evening looking at his friend with half-closed eyes overflowing with love. It would have been obvious to anyone how much he was in love with the man. Obvious to anyone, but not Fantasio.
The calm and intimate atmosphere of the place forced them to lean forward to hear each other when they spoke softly. Spirou wanted so badly to put his hand on Fantasio's, forcing himself not to do so hurt his heart. But he would take what he could get and close his eyes to what he couldn't have. For now, at least, he had to take it slowly so as not to scare his friend.
At the end of the meal, the waiter brought them the bill. Spirou took it before Fantasio could see it. They hadn't spent more than 200€, so it was perfect for him. But he saw Fanta take out his wallet. “What are you doing? I'm paying.” Spirou spoke firmly, that was what he had planned to do.
“You're joking, right? It's about 200€. You're not going to pay for all that.” The bastard had counted up the prices of everything they had ordered. Of course. He should have known.
“Do I look like I'm joking? I invited you, so I'm paying.”
“You went to the trouble of finding this place and making a reservation. The least I can do is pay my share.” Fantasio was ruining everything. There was no way he was going to pay his share as if it were just a friendly get-together. It wasn't for Spirou, anyway.
“I. Said. I'm. paying. So put your wallet away.” The redhead was really starting to get angry, and the romantic atmosphere of the evening was definitely lost.
Fantasio looked at him as if he were crazy. “And I said I'd pay my share. I don't work my ass off from morning to night to not paying for my food.” He was clearly starting to get annoyed by Spirou's attitude.
“Oh, you can be so stubborn!” The tone between them began to rise.
“Me, stubborn?! You're the one insisting on nothing, we always split it 50/50!”
“FOR ONCE, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO INVITE MY BEST FRIEND TO A RESTAURANT AND PAY BECAUSE IT MAKES ME HAPPY.” Spirou was bright red and out of breath. Fantasio stared at him wide-eyed, surprised by his outburst. The waiter was very uncomfortable and tried to pretend he was invisible.
“Okay, if it really makes you happy, pay for both of us. Thank you.” Fantasio tried to defuse the situation and gave in.
“That's what I'm going to do.” He handed the money to the waiter, not forgetting to add a generous tip. Now that the dust had settled, he realized how ridiculous the situation was.
It was now certain that the waiter and the rest of the restaurant knew they weren't a couple.
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Well, the nickname and the restaurant didn't have the desired effect. But that's because Spirou did things in the wrong order. Before even trying to make Fantasio fall in love, he should have checked whether he was attracted to men in the first place!
It's a beautiful summer day. Fantasio is reading the newspaper in a deckchair in the garden in front of the house with Marsu napping on his legs. Spirou decided it was the perfect moment to put his new plan into action. First, he had to get ready.
He finally came out of the house wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and enough buttons undone to give a good view of his entire chest. With that, he had put on his little red shorts, which he rarely wore.
He had planned to wash the car, which was a good way to strut around in front of Fantasio without looking too suspicious. It was the only plan he had to see if Fanta might be interested in men, or more specifically, in him. He took out the garden hose, a bucket, cleaning products, and a sponge and set to work.
“Oh, you're cleaning the car. Do you want some help?” Fantasio turned his attention to Spirou when he saw him coming.
“No, don't worry, I'll take care of it.” " Spirou tried to pay attention to his friend's expression when he saw him arrive dressed like that, and he saw that Fantasio stared at him intensely for at least five seconds before forcing himself to return to his newspaper. It may have just been the surprise effect, since Spirou never wore shorts, so he'll really have to see if his friend is giving him furtive glances or not.
So he set to work. The heat was pleasant without being stifling, and he was cooled by the water he used to clean. He quickly found himself soaked, his white shirt becoming almost transparent. He swore it wasn't intentional, but it was a good thing. His shorts also began to stick to his skin. At that moment, he was bent over cleaning the hood of the car with a sponge. His back was turned to Fantasio, so he couldn't see if he was watching him, but he had no doubt that it was a beautiful sight. Without wanting to brag too much, Spirou knows he's a handsome man. He may not be the epitome of masculinity due to his small stature, but he's been hit on quite a few times in his life.
He continued working, moving to the other side of the car. If Fantasio had looked over at his friend he would have seen Spirou, leaning forward slightly, the deep neckline of his shirt revealing his entire chest dripping with alluring water droplets on that hot summer day.
Just as he could see the muscles in his arms flexing under the strain of the work, Spirou knew that rolling up his sleeves would show off his biceps. But every time he discreetly glanced up at the blond man, he never met his gaze. All he could see was that his friend was getting redder and redder, even though it was he who was working in the sun. He was probably getting sunburned. Fantasio had such sensitive skin that summers were always difficult for him.
Spirou was going to have to face the facts: Fantasio didn't seem attracted to him at all. At least he had cleaned the car...
He walked over to the hose to rinse the car one last time when suddenly the hose flew off in all directions under the force of the jet that came out all at once. Spirou heard the Marsupilami laughing and saw him near the tap. He seemed extremely amused by his joke.
Spirou ran towards the tap to stop the crazy hose that was flooding the entrance to their house. But “HAAAAA MARSUPILAMIIIII!!!!” it was a little too late.
Fantasio was soaked from head to toe. He had got out of his deckchair, looking furious and holding in his hand some soggy paper that had once been a newspaper. “Mille milliard de millions de pétard !”
Spirou finally turned off the tap. “Fantasio, calm down, it's only water.”
“Only water? It's freezing! I'm going to be the only idiot to catch a cold in summer!”
“Your face was starting to turn red. You should thank the Marsupilami for cooling you down before you got sunstroke.” Spirou decided to take a humorous approach to calm his friend down, but as soon as the words left his mouth, Fantasio turned even redder than before and suddenly stormed off home, grumbling.
“Houba ?” Marsupilami looked at Spirou with curious eyes.
“Don't worry Marsu, there are just some days when it would have been better to stay in bed.” Spirou looked at himself and remembered that he was soaked too, but above all, he felt ridiculous. All he wanted to do was change, throw those shorts in the trash, and sleep.
He just hoped that the drops of water sliding down his face came from the hose.
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Spirou decided to give up. Nothing he had tried had worked. Worse still, it had backfired on him. If he continued like this, he would end up losing Fantasio's friendship. He was just tired and, above all, he wanted an honest answer from his friend. “Did he still want to marry a woman and start a family one day?” That was all Spirou wanted to know.
So he finally decided to do what he should have done from the start: he confronted his best friend.
One evening, the two men were sitting on the sofa, Spirou reading and Fantasio listening to the radio. The redhead put down his book and turned to the blond man. “Fantasio, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.”
Sensing Spirou's serious tone, Fanta turned off the radio and turned to face the other man. “What do you want to talk about?”
Spirou looked him in the eyes for a few seconds before calmly saying, “Are you ever going to marry a woman and start a family?”
“W-what? Why are you asking me this all of a sudden?” " Fanta looked away, clearly embarrassed by this sudden question.
“Please answer.” Spirou continued to stare at his friend. He was determined not to leave the room without an honest answer.
Seeing that he wasn't joking, Fantasio recovered. "I... don't know, we don't know what the future holds. " His answer was anything but honest.
“I'm asking you if that's what you want, if you want, right now, at this moment, to marry a woman and start a family?”
“...” He continued to stare at the floor.
“Fantasio. Please, I need you to answer me. Please.” Spirou suddenly lost his cool demeanor and almost begged him. He felt his eyes begin to well up. He needed this answer; he couldn't go on living with this ridiculous little hope deep inside him that one day his feelings would be reciprocated. Having his heart broken would never hurt as much as having hope.
He finally looked up at Spirou's pleas. “...No. That's not what I want anymore.” He spoke calmly, looking him in the eyes. He was finally being honest, with his best friend, but also with himself.
“So what do you want?”
Fantasio looked at him for a long time, seeming to calculate hundreds of possibilities. Then, once he seemed to have made up his mind, he took a breath and gently reached his right hand out toward Spirou's cheek.
When he felt the cold touch on his burning cheek, he had to open his mouth slightly in surprise. It felt so good. To be touched, to be recognized.
Fantasio caressed his cheek with his thumb, then let it brush his lips. “That's what I want,” he said so softly and shyly. But it sent an electric shock through Spirou's spine, his eyes widened, and he could no longer contain his feelings.
Spirou immediately moved toward Fantasio to join their lips. Under the intense pressure of his lover, Fanta found himself lying on his back on the sofa. Spirou didn't give him a second to understand the situation before showering him with kisses.
After a particularly long kiss, Fantasio finally managed to break free to catch his breath. They were both disheveled and out of breath. “My God, Spirou. Calm down, you're going to kill me.”
“You deserve to be killed for all the effort I put into making this moment happen.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind.”
“...”
“So... do you love me or...” Spirou became shy again, he really wanted Fantasio to officially tell him how he felt about him.
“Yes, I love you, Spirou.” He didn't hesitate for a second when he said it. Spirou felt like he was in heaven. He couldn't have been happier.
“I love you too, my Fanfan.” He laughed when he saw him grimace at the nickname.
“Okay, you can keep using that silly nickname, BUT only at home, never outside.”
“Okay, that's fine with me.” "
They ended up sitting up on the sofa so they could continue talking.
“And, um... I wanted to tell you too...” Fanta's ears started to turn red.
“Mm?”
“Don't hesitate to wear shorts, they suit you.”
“Oh shit, I threw away the only pair I had.”