One of the things he’s grateful for is that most food seems to be paid for when ordered. At the end of the meal that means one less anxiety ridden exchange and gives him the opportunity to enjoy the food leisurely.
It does, however, mean that Gabriel ends up ordering – and paying – most of the time. It also results in him paying for the both of them.
Before he leaves, James reaches for his wallet to pay Gabriel back. “How much was-”
“Absolutely not, it’s fine,” Gabriel says, shaking his head.
James can’t help but protest. “But-”
“You’ll get the next one, alright?” The smirk lingering on Gabriel’s lips shouldn’t be so attractive. It’s when his friend does things like this that James wonders why there isn’t someone in Gabriel’s life. If there’s someone James is surecould be a solid, trustworthy partner, it’s Gabriel.
He’s happy to see that Gabriel’s rougher edges are softening day by day. It’s something that James noticed on their last day in Paris. It seems getting out of London is doing him a lot of good.
But this morning the softer attitude seems to be swallowed up by something darker. “You seem distracted. What did you want to tell me?”
Something flashes in Gabriel’s eyes before his lips settle back into a straight line. “Must be the air,” he tries to joke, but the mood seems to have soured even more. “Nothing important. Go look at some old shit.”
“I didn’t mean-”
“It’s all good,” Gabriel says, standing up as well. “We’ll do dinner, alright?”
James takes it as the dismissal it’s intended to be. He also makes a mental note not to bring up the change in Gabriel’s mood again. Conveniently, and not all coincidently, the café they had breakfast at is within walking distance of the baroque church. He’s at the entrance within moments.
The noises of the outside world recede as he makes his way toward the altar. It really does seem there’s beauty everywhere, especially in ancient places like this. The interior gleams in the glow of the candles and there are different fragrances of incense and a fresh mossy scent lingering in theair. The stone walls make it colder inside the church, but the triple layers he’s wearing keep him toasty as he explores.
When he eventually makes his way outside again he’s met with bright green eyes. “Gabriel,” he says, smiling. After what happened in Paris he feels like he’ll have to start expecting Gabriel to pop up during the day one way or the other. “Done with sketching already?”
“I don’t know if you know this, James, but it’s below zero outside.” Gabriel quips, his eyes sparkling while his mouth settles into a frown. “My hands feel like they’re going to fall off.”
James hides his smile by blowing into his glove-covered hands. It does feel like it’s significantly colder than this morning. Even the fog seems to have intensified. The lights across the city make it feel dystopian in its romanticism. This whole city feels awfully romantic. With the markets lining the streets, the narrow cobblestoned streets and the lights leading the way across the pathways. Paris felt romantic in its own way, with it being the city of lights and love. Venice brings a completely different feeling with it.
It seems like a city to explore with a loved one, while you’re holding each other close and soaking up the richness of the Venetian atmosphere.
“How about you get out of the cold? Join me at Doge’s Palace?”It’s one of the places that James knows will interestGabriel, with its Gothic influences and it being the heart of the city. It’s only with mild annoyance at the fact that Gabriel only agrees to accompany him to get out of the cold that he starts making his way across town.
Gabriel settles in somewhere at the back of the palace hall, filling his notebook with what James can only guess are the ornate stairways, elegant arches and high ceiling, as James joins the guided tour he booked.
By the time the tour ends, the day has softened into late afternoon, with the sun sinking below the waterline. The twinkling lights are now even more intense in their reflections.
Both of the men find themselves wringing their hands together to keep hold of the warmth, although it feels fruitless with the temperature dropping even more the later in the day it gets. “I would say it’s almost time for dinner, don’t you?”
James brightens. Apart from the signature caramel waffles that are awaiting them in Amsterdam, the food in Venice has been high up on his list. As a big fan of pasta, he can’t wait to try some Bigoli.
They settle into a quiet little restaurant near the Rialto, where the scent of herbs, fresh fish and garlic fill the air. The Bigoli in salsa, a specialty the waiter insisted on, is a thick pasta in a rich anchovy and onion sauce. Gabriel’s eyes are distrustful as they fall on James’ meal. His own plate of the, according to him, safer option of a classic carbonara looksjust as decadent as James’ own dish.
He’s not even one bite in before he stops, admiring the way Gabriel’s twirling his pasta around his fork and delicately feeding it to himself. There’s just something about him that’s effortlessly classy. When their eyes meet, Gabriel raises an eyebrow. “What? Do I have sauce on my face?”
“No.” James laughs, pauses and murmurs, “I just wanted to say thank you. For indulging me and coming with me on this trip.”
“Anything’s better than being stuck in the city during the holidays,” Gabriel says. “Besides, who’s going to make sure that you’ll actually tick off those things in your little notebook?”
James flushes and stuffs a bite of pasta in his mouth to keep himself from saying something he’ll regret. Like mentioning the fact that Gabriel isn’t his boyfriend, so it isn’t his concern or responsibility.
They eat in silence for a little while, the sound of them twisting their forks against the porcelain and the clinking of the ice cubes against the glasses filling the silence between them. Gabriel’s the first to break the silence. “Actually, there is something I wanted to-”
“Oh god.” James’ gasp interrupts Gabriel once again. It’s followed by a groan as James ducks into himself and says, “What ishedoing here?” He isn’t talking to anyone inparticular as his wide brown eyes fixate on the person he just saw get up.
“Listen, there’s something-” Gabriel says while he turns back to James. The serious note in his voice is enough to alert him.
