Gabriel smiles, and freely admits, “I don’t think it’s ever been fake in the first place.”
“For me neither,” James says, giggling. Gabriel can’t help but lean in and press a soft kiss to the cheek he isn’t holding. The skin is soft and warm underneath his lips.
“And your dad? Sounds like he’s worrying about the wrong thing.” Gabriel keeps James close, since this does seem to be an even more sensitive issue than Paul.
James huffs again, clearly unhappy. “Society and their place in it. Whoever said money brings happiness clearly lied.”
“Amen to that,” Gabriel tries to joke. And while the lines next to James’ eyes crinkle a little, it’s clear to see that it falls flat. “Sorry.”
“No, no. You’re right.” James shrugs. “The whole thing has felt like something out of a bad romance. Especially now that he’s here with Riley as his fiancé.”
Gabriel’s eyes darken, his features falling into a moreserious expression. “Next time I see him, I’m punching him in that ugly nose of his.”
It makes James giggle, the tightness around his eyes and mouth fading. He shakes with the forces of the soft sounds and that’s all Gabriel wanted in the first place. James doesn’t need to know quite how serious he was. For now he pulls him close and tries to sooth some of the pain that he knows James is carrying in his heart.
30 [James] Copenhagen, Denmark
December 21st
Somehow it’s refreshing to wake up from his alarm clock. The noises from outside indicate that they’ve arrived safely in Copenhagen sometime during the night and the alarm tells him that it’s time to get ready for the day.
Leaving the bed brings another set of challenges, leaving him to wiggle around a bit to get out from underneath Gabriel’s hold. It’s with great difficulty and reluctance that he doesn’t get back under the warm covers after he’s wiggled himself free and finds his companion still snuggled up. Alas, his morning shower and breakfast await. As does this new city.
James is fairly certain that he’ll find Gabriel up and ready to go when he gets back from his shower. If the soft noises and his stirring are any indication, he’s close to waking up already. James quietly makes his way to the bathroom,wanting Gabriel to have at least a few more minutes of rest.
He’s pleased to note that Gabriel is indeed already dressed when he returns from the shower. There’s even a steaming cup of tea waiting for James on the table.
Gabriel’s sitting against the headboard, a book open on his lap. James wonders how many he managed to hide away in his suitcase. Without looking up from the pages, he says, “Did you have breakfast plans somewhere? Or did you want to have breakfast here?”
James pulls his sweater over his head, making sure it’s in place before he answers, “I planned on visiting a little bakery in town.”
“Would you mind if I tagged along? Or is this a solo kind of day?” The thought to ask, to make sure that James is comfortable with Gabriel joining in on his plans, means more than he’ll ever be able to express into words. “Of course I wouldn’t mind. Only planned them solo because you made fun of all the ‘boring, old people’ things I kept suggesting.”
“Ah, so that’s why there’s always a reservation for two miraculously set in place,” Gabriel teases.
James’ face heats up. He clears his throat, looking away. He picks up his mug to give himself something to do. He hears Gabriel put the book down on his nightstand and move around. Seconds later there’s a hand gliding through his still slightly damp curls. “Hey, didn’t say that I’m not grateful. Wasjust an observation.”
James shrugs, bashful in his embarrassment. He hates how he just knows that his cheeks are flaming. “Just wanted to be prepared. Would’ve hated for you to not be able to join because of something as mundane as a reservation.”
“You did that for everything then?”
James nods, taking another sip as he avoids eye contact.
“Even at the beginning of the trip? Paris, Venice?” Gabriel wonders, his hand resting on the base of James’ neck as he nudges him to look up. “It’s why we were able to get into the clock, in Prague, right? I saw the ‘sold-out’ sign outside but it didn’t dawn on me that we would need a reservation.”
“That’s why I’m the planner between the two of us.” James smiles, looking up at Gabriel from underneath his lashes. They share a laugh as Gabriel leans down and presses a soft kiss to James’ lips. The teasing tone and cheeky smile reassure him that Gabriel has taken the remark as the joke that it is. “Yeah, yeah.”
Gabriel sits down on the edge of the bed, starting to put on his shoes. James can see his satchel, with his gloves and beanie, on the bed behind him. He already got everything ready, knowing that James would want to leave as soon as he could after the shower. The thoughtfulness ignites something fierce inside of James, filling him to the brim with appreciation.
For Copenhagen James marked down the bus as the easiest mode of transportation. It will take them to both the Tivoli Garden and the Rosenborg Castle quickly and without too much of a hassle. The temperature is still brisk here, even if it’s significantly warmer than Tromsø was. Gabriel’s wearing the gloves, even put the heating on, and James keeps tugging his scarf into the collar of his jacket as they brave the cold wind.
His phone pinged with the alert of incoming snow this morning. He just hopes that it will stay out until tomorrow. Strolling along a Christmas market while it snows just brings it to a whole other level, even if the soaking wet clothes and the lingering chill are a dreadful side-effect.
The Tivoli Garden is charming at first glance. Even if the grounds are barren, lacking their usual flowers and bright atmosphere, there’s a certain flair to it, nonetheless. It does remind James of the Chinese Garden in Zurich. With the structure and easy walkable paths it’s a nice escape from the busy city center.
Twinkling lights guide the way around the garden, providing a lovely contrast to the otherwise empty park. It being this early on in the day means that most people are likely still in bed, especially since most are enjoying time off for the holiday season.
Gabriel suggested going to the café after their walk aroundthe grounds. That way they could do a bit of a brunch; order a little more and make their way to the castle on a full stomach. James secretly thinks he just wanted the walk in the cold to be over with.
