His partner’s presence by his side brings warmth and comfort. The lingering kisses they share in between sips of hot chocolate and coffee simmer low in his belly. Every touch burns in his spine. He finds that it’s easier to not care about what is going on around them when he’s this close to Gabriel. Knows that no matter what happens he has him to stick by his side.
It’s easy for James to lose some hours at the market, shuffling along the booths and procuring some mementos of their stay here.
As the sky above them darkens the lights across the city flicker to life, bathing the streets in a warm white glow.
“We should probably head back toThe Evergreensoon.”
“Huh?” James says, distracted by the intricate design of the reindeer ornament he’s studying.
There’s no hint of annoyance or impatience in Gabriel’s tone when he repeats, “Should be heading back. We’ve got dinner in an hour.”
If that doesn’t prove how much things have changed, nothing else will. James has been having such a relaxed day, just browsing without hurry or expectation, that he forgot to keep track of the time. He blinks at Gabriel, slowly and unseeing. His boyfriend’s smile is soft, understanding with an underlying current of pride.
James blinks again. Bordering on the line of being frightened about how easily this happened and stunned by the fact that it has. He only realizes then that the buzzing of his watch hasn’t alerted him either. A glance downward shows a black screen, indicating a dead battery. Another surprise he’s not sure how to feel about. Not once has he left the house without a fully charged phone and watch before. “Huh,” he repeats, dumbstruck.
Gabriel reaches out for him, sliding his arm around James’ waist. Their bodies meet in a warm press, even if they’re still bundled up in their coats. Gabriel’s smile is warm and happy. “I’m sure you’ll be overthinking this soon. But I’m proud of you.”
“Yeah?” James mumbles softly.
“Always,” is muttered almost inaudibly as Gabriel leans in to close the last of the distance between them. Their lips meet in a soft touch of skin, lingering and chaste. All too soon Gabriel pulls back, a grimace on his face. “Have you been eating those marzipans Connor gave you?”
James nods and laughs as Gabriel makes a show of wiping his lips clean, all the while cursing out Connor for giving them those ‘bloody awful treats.’
41 [Gabriel] From Ghent to Inverness
December 29th
The train starts the journey to Inverness while breakfast is being served and Gabriel has got a sleepy, soft James sitting opposite of him. A quick internet search yesterday showed him that the journey today is one of the most scenic routes of the trip. And now that they’re travelling during the day again he can actually enjoy it.
“I still can’t believe we’re actually starting the final stretch of the trip,” James mentions, buttering up the croissant on his plate. The jam soon follows and he licks his finger where some of it lingers. Gabriel can’t help but be mesmerized by the motion, following the hand all the way up to James’ lips. Once settled on James’ face, he locks eyes with a fond look and tired smile. “It feels like yesterday we got off the train in Paris.”
Gabriel ducks his head, fondly recalling those first fewdays. How scared he was, about how to act, how to be and what he was going to say during the prolonged period of time they were sure to be spending together. And look at them now, locking ankles underneath the breakfast table on one of the most beautiful trains, heading back home. Sharing smiles, inside jokes and memories to last them for years.
How terrified he was, that night in Paris while they shared a room for the first time. And again, when he found out that they would have to share not just a room, but a queen-sized bed for the entirety of the journey.
Full of doubt when he suggested the dating farce, knowing that in the end he wouldn’t really be helping anyone but himself into a bigger mess. His mind recalls the first time James reached out, thinking how much he wanted it to be true and not just a façade.
How things changed when the both of them opened up to each other, more and more with each passing night in the warm, cozy cabin.
He looks back and sees two completely different people returning to London. Something he’ll be forever grateful for. It might be the lingering Christmas spirit talking, or the being away from London, but for once he can say that he knows himself, is at peace with what he found and looking forward to what the future will bring.
“It does,” he says eventually, meeting James’ gaze again. “We’ll have to do something like this again, if you’re up for it.”
Now it’s James who ducks his head, a bashful blush spreading across his cheeks. “Only if you’ll join me.”
“Fine,” Gabriel sighs, teasing. “But only if there won’t be as many museums.”
“Hey! You liked them,” James protests. Gabriel levels him with a look. “Alright, you liked some of them,” he relents. They smile at each other, lost in each other’s eyes and the warm atmosphere of the restaurant.
In his peripheral Gabriel sees blurs of mountains and melting snow. Any other moment, earlier on in the trip even, he would’ve been sat faced toward the window, taking in the views and changes in scenery. Now, he finds all he wants to look at right in front of him. As he watches the man on the other side of the table stick out his tongue, just a bit, to catch a stray smidge of jam in the corner of his mouth, he smiles and thinks there’s really no other view he’d rather be getting lost in.
Before long the table clears, their plates growing emptier and emptier. The teapot is nearing room temperature, even with the candle burning underneath it, and both of them have had at least two cups. With a satisfied hum James places his empty mug on the table, leaning back into the seat.
Just as the train hurtles into the tunnel, leading them backto the mainland of the United Kingdom, James offers to retire to their room. To get ready for their day, even if they won’t be in Inverness for another couple hours.
For a moment they stumble,TheEvergreengaining even more speed and they fall against each other in the hallway. Gabriel’s got James pinned against one of the wooden panels, darkness engulfing them through the windows on either side of them. They laugh, leaning against each other, and Gabriel admires the way the Christmas lights bring sparkles to James’ eyes. It’s amazing to see how much calmer James looks, just by looking into his eyes.
He leans in, pressing his chest against James’ and putting his hands against the wall behind James’ head. He’s got him caged in, but the happiness and ease don’t diminish in James’ stare. They hold eye contact up until the moment Gabriel gets too close and he finds himself closing his eyes. James sighs, the soft exhale fawning over Gabriel’s face. His hands trail up over Gabriel’s back to bury themselves into his hair.
