If Paris, Venice and Rothenburg are nostalgic and festive in their holiday spirit, Prague has something haunting andalmost dark to it. In the gloom of the morning, fog hanging low over the street and lanterns providing the way into the city, James feels content and at ease. It’s almost a relief that there’s nothing on the schedule today, other than the Town Hall and its surrounding areas.
Navigating the cobblestone streets proves a little more challenging than anticipated. His sneakers cause him to slip more often than not. Every time it happens Gabriel huffs a little from beside him, like an annoyed parent watching a clumsy child, but every time there’s fingertips grazing his elbows until James rights himself and can continue on his way.
The city is busy, even in the early hours of the morning. It feels subdued and less crowded with the snow and the lingering darkness hanging over this captivating, ancient city. The closer they get to the Astronomical Clock, the more it feels as if the buildings are looming over him. The high gavels and weathered stones give the city a gothic, ancient atmosphere.
While it doesn’t give him the traditional Christmas feeling the other cities had, he enjoys the uniqueness of the city. The square feels open and welcoming as they step onto it. The tower, with its beautiful Clock, taking shape above their heads. Gabriel’s steps falter for just a moment before he falls back into step with James.
They’re both shivering at this point, soaked through even in their weatherproof jackets. James can already tell that Gabriel will be taking a seat on one of the steps on the bottom of the beautiful statue that’s in front of them.
Out of the corner of his eye he spots a café, seemingly calling his name to step inside and buy two coffees for them. With a soft explanation of his intention, he leaves Gabriel at the statue and grabs them something to warm up. Through some stuttering he manages to complete their order.
He finds Gabriel where he left him, trying to shield his notebook from the onslaught of falling snow. James figures he’s not as successful as he hopes to be, even from a few steps away he can already see some of the droplets melting into the paper.
Gabriel’s annoyed huffing is another clue that it’s not exactly going as he intended. As James comes to a stop next to him, offering him the coffee, Gabriel’s big green eyes find his. He looks like a sad kitten; locks of black hair stuck against his forehead and wrapped in his scarf up to his ears. “Of all days, it had to snow today.”
James smiles down at him apologetically. He tries to hide the softness of it behind the take-away cup. “I think it gives it a very gothic kind of holiday feeling.”
Gabriel huffs. “That’s because you enjoy the snow.”
“And you don’t?” James raises his eyebrow, taking apointed sip of the cup.
Another huff, a sip of his coffee and another wipe-down of his notebook. “Only when I’m inside, where it’s warm.”
James can see that Gabriel’s only making it worse, if he continues like that the book won’t be usable in its entirety after today.
James glances at his watch before he says, “Come on. I’ve got something to show you.”
“But-” Despite his protest, Gabriel does get up slowly and flips the notebook closed.
James says, “Trust me, yeah?” And without much else they’re making their way to the entrance of the Old Town Hall. After Gabriel made his interest in the Astronomical Clock and his intent to sketch it known, James spent some time researching things about the city and how to make the trip even more memorable.
A tour through the Town Hall, into the inner workings of the clock seemed like the perfect opportunity to give Gabriel a little bit of both worlds. It gives him the chance to learn more and see more details up close, but it also gets them out of the cold for an hour or two.
If James got the timing of it correct, the clock should chime at the full hour and they will be able to see the moving parts up close. Only now, staring up at the painted ceilings and the beautifully crafted stained-glass windows, does herealize that seeing the clock up close means actually going up into the tower.
The idea of it brings out the cold sweats almost immediately. Gabriel’s wandered a little further into the hall, taking photos with his camera and admiring the architecture of one of the oldest buildings in Europe. All James seems to think about is how high the tower had looked from outside. And how high up they will be going in just a few moments.
As the tour group gets called together and he sees Gabriel waiting on the edge of the crowd, James knows he’ll have to bite his tongue and make it happen. Secretly, he wants to be able to see Gabriel’s face when he realizes that the tour goes into the tower.
The sight of the walled off elevator makes it a little easier. Only because he won’t be able to watch the ground getting further and further away from them.
Maybe if he closes his eyes he can pretend that they’re on street level, just enjoying the view. He was fine on the walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, so why would this be any different? Sarcastically, he reminds himself that the town walls were accessible by stairs and easily left behind if he got overwhelmed.
With a big, final sigh he steps toward Gabriel, only to feel the hair at the back of his neck stand up. “James, howgreatto run into you here.” The cadence of Paul’s voice echoesthrough the open space. James can see Gabriel tense up.
“Is it?” James can’t help but ask. A little taken aback by his own forwardness. From where he’s turned around to face Paul, he hears Gabriel snort a little in amusement.
Paul’s eyes darken, before his lips take on an amused tilt. “Not joining the group? Still too afraid?”
He straightens his back a little, giving himself a few extra inches of height. Even if his insides are churning in discomfort. “Iamjoining, actually. Gabriel wanted to experience this.” There’s a wall of warmth falling over his back when he says it, Gabriel stepping up behind him. Hesitant fingers reach out for his own, ghosting over his fingertips before they slot between them. The grip is firm, but gentle. A reminder that Gabriel’s there and that Paul actually can’t touch him anymore.
If he’s honest, the whole fake dating scheme slipped his mind the last couple of days. Only now is he reminded of the act they decided upon. The fingers in his feel steady and like something he could let himself get used to. Even if he knows that it’s nothing more than a way to piss off Paul and to keep him away from James.
Gabriel’s touch doesn’t wane for a second when they’re walking along the hall, following the tour guide around. When it’s their turn to step into the elevator, coincidently with Riley and Paul in tow, Gabriel stays close and tries to distract himfrom what’s going on. The thought is nice, but the only thing that’s swirling in his mind is the elevator going up. In the tight space the badly concealed taunts coming from their company seem to reach his ears more easily. The flush in his cheeks stopped being from his fear minutes ago, when the embarrassment took over.
In the end, he can almost say that it’s all worth it, when Gabriel’s face lights up as his gaze flitters across the inside of the clock and the historic craftmanship. James lets his own hold on Gabriel’s hand loosen, giving him the opportunity to step further into the room. He himself stays stuck to the wall next to where they got off the elevator.
To his amusement, Riley seems to be in the same predicament. As James watches Paul quietly reprimands his partner about being too scared to walk further into the room.
