[For Bobby] Paris, je t'aime.

[prodigalflame]

They had left London from St Pancras on the Eurostar early on the Thursday morning, one suitcase between them and just a couple of bits of hand luggage: this was a short getaway, John had said, not an exchange program. Bobby had made a list, of course, and John had groaned and kissed him anyway.

He'd made sure to get decent seats on the Eurostar too - standard premiere class so they had enough leg room and space and food that wasn't crap - although he'd spent most of his time with his nose in one of his texts, a hand absently stroking along Bobby's forearm as it rested on the seat arm between them.

Disembarking in Paris had been a bustle, with Bobby trying to remember his high school French and John popping open the phrase book and pointing to maps on his phone. Fortunately they arrived at the boutique hotel a little way off Avenue Victor Hugo without much more fuss, and John had promptly dived onto the bed for respite after they'd checked in. It was a nice room, all wood paneling and space and kind of grand, the kind of thing John had picked out (and Bobby had said 'Fine, that looks good' to), but he hadn't been allowed to flop down for too long before unpacking, and then hitting the pavement, mostly to gawk.

Paris was Paris. It wasn't New York, or San Francisco, or London or any of the places John had been to in the UK (which consisted entirely of Brighton, Oxford, Leeds and Hull); it had a air and atmosphere of its own, with seemingly insane traffic, vaguely amused Parisians, other gawking tourists (so they fit right in); the Metro, the sidewalk cafes, the history, the sense that everyone local was somehow better dressed - John's hand found Bobby's and he held it as they browsed maps and tourist guides and took photos and wandered around. For his nerves (and he had been nervous the last little while, all too conscious of the rings he had back in a suitcase in the hotel), he was gonna hold that hand and be proud and let everyone see it, fuck 'em if they had an issue.

That day was Midnight Mass (Bobby's idea), and John who'd been raised in faith and torn it down like everything else he used to believe in was moved by the sanctity of it, the sense of community. Respect must be paid. And Christmas morning they had lingered long in bed before John had reminded Bobby to get his ass in gear, promising that his present would come later. There was after all, an Eiffel Tower to visit, an ice rink to skate on, and a proposal to propose.

Comments

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby snorted and threw the blankets off of both of them, sitting up. "Hey, I was just waiting for you," he commented with a fond roll of his eyes, pausing for one last kiss before climbing out of bed to hit up his suitcase. They both knew who the ice skating on the Eiffel Tower was for, after all.

[prodigalflame]

"You know, it is a great view from the bed," John commented, hands propped behind his head. He wasn't damn well talking about the view of Paris from the window. Although it did frame his boyfriend pretty nicely. Still, he too was scrambling through his gear in a far more haphazard fashion than Bobby, chucking things here and there - he'd put them all back later, of course. Later.

"Tonight," John continued conversationally, picking out winter clothes that wouldn't make him look like a cranky elf, "you want to do anything special?" John had just planned to wander until they found anywhere that was open for dinner, but even though the trip was John's idea Bobby had probably made lists. "I was thinking dinner, then ravaging you several times over, but I can always do that back home."

[cold_blueeyes]

"I don't know, it's Christmas Day. Probably not a lot open," Bobby remarked. "But I'm sure we can find somewhere. I'm happy to just walk around, explore the city." Now, if he had planned the trip it would be different, but this was John's idea, and while he had a few sights in Paris that he would like to see someday, Christmas wasn't necessarily the right day for it. He would rather just enjoy the atmosphere of the city and the company of the man he loved. Where it happened didn't much matter to him.

[prodigalflame]

"You don't want to see anything specific?" John enquired, cocking his head. Come on. This was the guy who had lists for his lists, who would probably made an incredible social planner (oh god, please) - he had to have some ideas for things-to-do-and-go-and-see. "Eiffel Tower's open, and the Louvre is open tomorrow-" he knew because he'd checked "-so if you want selfies at famous landmarks today is probably a pretty good day. I promise I won't tag your mom when you upload them to Facebook."

[cold_blueeyes]

"Not today," Bobby said quietly, smiling. "It's Christmas. Today I just want to experience the city and relax. Although we should definitely swing by the Galeries Lafayette while we're wandering. Their windows are supposed to be pretty amazing at Christmas."

[prodigalflame]

"You are pretty amazing yourself," John said, and that was that.

They got ready quickly, despite some very clear longing in John's gaze to delay things perhaps with a long, shared, shower - John had insisted on showering separately as a result because he didn't trust himself, and still slapped Bobby's ass gently as they dressed, because he couldn't help himself, and then John basically fumbled his way out onto the streets of Paris, with phone, wallet, passport and boyfriend all safely in hand.

Photos were taken - selfies, and the architecture itself, and John insisted on a lot with Bobby in them 'because you're the most gorgeous thing in the frame, sweetheart' - and John at least logged in on Facebook everywhere, mostly just to see how his family reacted. They walked down the Champs-Elysses, sight-seeing at the Grand Palais and the Place de la Concorde, caught the Metro to see Notre Dame and back to the Arc de Triomphe. They stomped, wandered, giggled and gawped their way around most of the major gardens and landmarks - anything that you didn't need to go inside to appreciate basically - before ending up at the Eiffel as the sun started to set.

John got his breath back in the first floor cafe with a coffee and a croissant and a battered paperback, able to cast his eye over Bobby on the nearby ice rink. Two rings lay nestled in a jacket pocket: he'd take Bobby up to the top floor in the lift and propose there. At least, that was the plan.

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby was more than okay with skating alone, because it was really his thing and not John's. Hell, he was just happy that John was content to lounge at the cafe and let him do his thing, really.

And it really was something to experience, ice skating on a rink that was not only 200 feet off the ground, but was actually contained within the famous tower. It was exhilarating, and he made himself leave the ice before he was really ready, because he didn't want John to get bored.

"Okay, that was awesome," he declared as he took the seat across from John after returning his skates, his face flushed and happy. "The rink is small, but totally worth it."

[prodigalflame]

"You should have taken more time!" John exclaimed when Bobby was done, because if he knew anything, it was that Bobby probably cut his skating short because he thought John was getting bored or something. "I had my book," he said, picking it up to wave about.

"...But I guess we could come back next week," John remarked, after a moment or two to reflect. Advantages of living in London. "Or maybe next month we could do the rest of France..."

Finishing off his coffee with a gulp, John tucked the book into a backpack and hefted it on his shoulder. "You ready to go up top?" He didn't think his sensitivity to motion would be triggered by heights, exactly, but, he was still a little apprehensive on top of all the other reasons to be apprehensive.

"If I barf in the lift, you can tell people you don't know me," he teased, leading the way.

[cold_blueeyes]

"It's Christmas. I wasn't going to leave you over here all alone while I skated for hours," Bobby said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. Because to him, it was. To do such a thing would be thoughtless and selfish, and that was simply antithesis to who he was.

"Sure, let's do it." He was excited for the view, but less so for the lift ride up, after that comment. "I just might," he murmured with a grin, following him to the line for the lift and slipping an arm around his waist. "Although they may find it a little hard to believe after watching me kiss you," he added, doing that very thing. It was a quick kiss, but not exactly what most would consider 'chaste.'

[prodigalflame]

Of course he wasn't. Just another reason to love the big dork. Not that John would have left Bobby all alone to do stuff he wanted for hours, but he would have definitely taken more time. Leisurely, and all that crap.

Snorting a little as they found their place in the assorteds that stuffed themselves into the lift, John comfortably leaning into Bobby's arm. "You don't know, they might think I'm very attractive to strangers," he teased, murmuring low and fond in Bobby's ear. The lift doors closed shut, and John's stomach gave a little anticipatory jump, which just caused him to curl closer against Bobby as if that man and that warmth and that comfort could stop his motion sickness.

But after that one moment of anxiety, nothing else happened. A few people sniffed a little at the rather obvious young couple, the lift went up smoothly, and got to the top in around eight minutes.

"Hey, you want to grab some champagne first, or take a look?" John nodded to the view - they had timed it just right, to see Paris bathed in the last rays of the winter sun, on Christmas Day.

[cold_blueeyes]

"Let's look first. The champagne isn't going anywhere," Bobby answered. It was beautiful up here, and if they stopped for champagne they might miss the last of the daylight. They could enjoy the sunset, get some champagne, and then get another look at nighttime Paris from up here before heading back to the hotel.

[prodigalflame]

"You can show me what you got me for Christmas over champagne," John replied, but inside his heart was racing. He definitely wanted Bobby to go first in the gift-giving because John doubted very much his boyfriend had gotten him anything as significant as an engagement ring. Curling an arm loosely around Bobby's waist, he steered them both over to the railing to look out at the city spread below them, the last rays of the sun streaming across the landscape.

"...This looks amazing," John murmured. "Doesn't it?" He moved his hand to gently ruffle Bobby's hair.

[cold_blueeyes]

"Sounds good." He leaned against the rail as they made their way to the edge of the platform, just soaking in the view and smiling slightly as John's hand moved over his hair. "It really does. It's almost unreal, you know? One of those sights you see on a postcard but just can't believe is a real place." He looked around for a moment more and murmured, "But here it is."

[cold_blueeyes]

After a couple of glasses of champagne, a belated delivery of John's Christmas present, (which paled in comparison to the one John had given him, but was still very well received) and some more admiration of the view from the top of the tower as night fell and the city lit up, Bobby had reluctantly agreed that it was probably time to head back to their hotel. He never wanted the day to end, but it was inevitable.

They stopped and grabbed a bite to eat before returning to their room, where Bobby flopped back on the bed that had been made while they were out, holding his hand up above his head so he could admire his new ring. "Did you have these custom made?" he asked, toeing his shoes off without sitting back up.

[prodigalflame]

John had eased himself out of his jacket and then pulled the long-sleeved t-shirt over his head, thinking not for the first time that longer hair made undressing goddamn annoying sometimes. It was all messy in the aftermath, and he had to run fingers through it to tuck it loosely back away from his face. He pulled phone, keys and wallet out of his pants to chuck them on the bedside table. "No. Well - I found yours at this little jewellers that still made all their own stuff, and asked if they could make a matching one with garnets," he explained, before clambering onto his bed with a predatory look.

He moved up the covers on hands and knees to flop down next to Bobby, one arm curling around the other man to tug him in close. "I think tonight I should at least show you how your fiancé fucks," he murmured, clearly both very happy and rather aroused, lips already close enough to Bobby's ear to brush against him.

Which was when John's cell went off, and he rolled over with a curse to grab his phone and put it to his ear. "Oh, hi Katie! Yeah, Happy Christmas. Don't tell me - Mom is right next to you." Hearing the affirmation from his sister, John rolled his eyes. "You can tell her I'm not actually scared of my own mom. She doesn't have to talk through you." Some more chatter from the other end. "Yeah, yeah, sounds like you all had a great family Christmas and I will check all those photos on Facebook. Now, I just proposed to my boyfriend this evening, so if you don't mind-" There was some delighted squealing from Katie, at which point John pulled the phone from his ear and made a face at Bobby - it was still clearly audible.

And then there was a new voice, older, but still feminine, and unused to being dismissed. "Sinjin? I've just heard your news."

Fuck, John mouthed. Maybe he was a bit scared after all. "...Hi Mom," he said, and managed a tight, nervous smile at Bobby as he placed the cell gingerly back against his ear, like it might bite. He scooted down the bed a little, sliding to sit over the side of the bed, back turned to Bobby. It wasn't so much privacy as a wish to avoid embarrassment in front of his loved.

[cold_blueeyes]

"Wow. They're just so perfect," Bobby marveled, then shifted closer as John joined him on the bed.

"Mmm..." his breath hitched at the light brush of lips, and his hand moved between them--and was arrested by John's ringtone. He let his hand drop to the bed with a frustrated sigh as John rolled away to grab his phone, but it made sense that they would hear from their families. It was Christmas, after all.

He folded his arms behind his head and watched John while he talked to his sister, grinning at the excited shrieks that were shared with him in order to preserve his fiancé's eardrums.

And then John's mom came on the line, and John moved away. Bobby made a face at his back as he watched and listened, a little nervous himself about what would come next.

[prodigalflame]

Excitement was to be expected from Katie - even at seventeen, she wasn't quite jaded beyond her 'teenage girl' years. But John's mom was something else. There was no excitement there, just an amused condescendion that made John feel all about of five years old.

"Hey, how are you-" Okay, that gambit didn't work. "No, Mom, you don't need to apologise, Katie didn't disturb-" And that didn't either. "Thanks for sharing how you spent the evening after Dad proposed, that was....kind of you." Oh, with the oversharing. He'd definitely got it from his mom. "But yeah, I am engaged now. Yes, to Bobby." He turned around a bit and rolled his eyes at the person they were currently talking about. "Yes, this was probably a long time coming. Yes, I know exactly what you think about it." John's voice got a little more steely as his mom tried to impart her usual wisdom about first loves. "But I'm still - what, you want to talk to him?"

John held the phone to his chest and mimed 'Do you mind?' to Bobby, a bit bewildered himself by the idea his mom wanted to talk to his new fiancé.

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby shook his head a little at the snippets of conversation he could hear on this end, but then it took a turn that was utterly unexpected.

He looked at John wide-eyed, his mouth working a few times before he sat up and gave a helpless little shrug before holding his hand out for the phone. He held it up to his ear as if it was perhaps a bomb and managed a nervous, "...Hello?"

[prodigalflame]

The voice on the other end of the call was poised, confident and utterly self-collected. "Bobby," was the greeting, sounding so keen to talk to him that it rang false. "Do you mind if I call you Bobby? I wouldn't want to stand on formality, now you're joining the family!" She had a laugh like chiming glasses. "I first heard about you when Sinjin was fifteen. It's lovely to finally talk to someone who's always been so important to my son."

She allowed that to sink in for a few moments, then continued. "So, you're in Paris, aren't you? That sounds very romantic."

[cold_blueeyes]

"No, Bobby's fine," he said politely, still staring at John like what do I do? What do I say? The rest of it didn't really call for a comment, or at least he couldn't think of an appropriate one, which was all right because she didn't leave him much time to give one anyway.

"Yes, it's a beautiful city, Mrs. Allerdyce. Very romantic," he agreed, shifting to 'dinner party' manners automatically, all formal, polite, respectful. "I...hope you've had a good Christmas so far."

[prodigalflame]

John stared back, before finally shrugging. It wasn't like he knew how to talk to his mother after twenty-odd years, so what advice could he give Bobby? At least he was being polite and well, being himself in a sense.

"Oh, it's been fine, although not nearly as eventful as yours. Still, it's nice you appreciate all the effort Sinjin went to. When you get older, you find romance loses some of its appeal." In other words, boys, you're being adorably immature.

"And you're studying as well, from what I've been told? Accounting? Sinjin's father always had a wonderful mind for figures - he was a bank manager - but my son never took after him that way. I can remember Sinjin writing home about you, and the fact you could actually use numbers. We're all very grateful you've always looked out for him, Bobby, very thankful."

[cold_blueeyes]

It was just a painfully awkward conversation with a woman who was basically a stranger, was all. Bobby suppressed a sigh as he got no help from John and focused on being as polite as he could, filtering the 'um's and 'uh's out of his conversation automatically.

"Oh, yes, he did a great job planning it. I was completely surprised," he said, although he could think of no good response to her other comment about romance.

"Yes, ma'am, accounting." And the last sentence had him glancing at John again and shifting uncomfortably in his space on the bed. "Oh...of course. I've always cared for your son, from the moment I met him." He wondered what she would think if she knew the reason he'd ended up in prison was because of the decision he'd made. Of course, he was also the reason John had been alive to serve his sentence.

[prodigalflame]

"Oh, and where are my manners? It's Ellen, please." While she was polite and garrulous and perhaps charming in a way there was still something false about the way she talked, the patter a little rote, like the sort of thing that could be expected from the hostesses at a dinner party. "Well, I'm sure we'll have lots of time to get to know each other better, but I should leave you two to enjoy the afterglow. I'm glad you're keeping him out of trouble. Can you put Sinjin back on, please?"

[cold_blueeyes]

Bobby wanted to collapse onto the bed in relief as she wrapped up the conversation. "Of course. It was lovely to finally speak to you, Ellen," he said dutifully. "Here he is." He resisted the urge to literally throw the phone back to John, but as soon as it was out of his hand he actually did flop back onto the bed with a sigh, then shifted closer to John, reaching out a hand to lightly caress the backs of his fingers up and down John's side while he waited for him to finish the call.

[prodigalflame]

John took the phone back, and put it to his ear, responding on autopilot as he eyed Bobby. His fiancé looked fraught from the conversation, and John couldn't help but being amused and concerned at the same time. Amused, because thank God it wasn't just him who was vaguely terrified by his mom, and concerned, because well - Bobby was gonna have to learn how to deal better in future.

"Yeah, thanks mom. Maybe Katie can talk to him another night? We've just had a really long day." Hearing the response he got, John replied with a deadpan: "Yes, mom, I would like to have sex with my fiancé. Night." He'd never felt so satisfied to end a damn call in his life, almost jabbing at his cell with his thumb.

Flopping down next to Bobby, he shifted closer, one hand under his head, the other snaking down to entwine fingers with Bobby's. "...So that's my mom. You know, it sounded like she was in a good mood."