Demyx tried his best to keep busy on the long flight.
He watched movies and played games on his Switch in an effort to keep his mind from Xigbar and his infidelity.
He tapped his pocket, he could feel his engagement ring in there, he had no intention of ever wearing it again, but he couldn't bring himself to leave it behind either...
He took of the silver chain around his neck and slid it on, then refastened it around his neck and put it under his white t shirt.
The air hostess came through and handed Demyx another glass of champagne, he could feel himself getting pretty tipsy.
Maybe I should get some sleep...
He tilted his seat back and unfolded the cosy woolen blanket that had been left under his seat, he popped his headphones in, put on his sleep mask and drifted into a cosy sleep.
He dreamt of Xigbar apologising, begging for forgiveness...
He forgave him...
His trust was in need of mending but he dreamt he was willing to do it all for him.
He put his engagement ring back on, they kissed.
Xigbar told him he loved him and couldn't live without him...
Just as their lips were about to meet he was startled awake by the plane hitting the tarmac.
He looked around himself alarmed pulling off his sleep mask, to realise they'd landed.
The intercom jingle played.
"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to Charles De Gaulle Airport. The local time is 9 am and the current temperature is 11 degrees celsius.
For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.
Cellular phones may only be used once the Fasten Seat Belt sign has been turned off.
Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.
If you require assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have disembarked. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you.
On behalf of Destiny Airlines and the entire crew, I'd like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!"
"Mesdames et Messieurs, bienvenue à l'aéroport Charles De Gaulle. L'heure locale est 9h et la température actuelle est de 11 degrés celsius. Pour votre sécurité et votre confort, restez assis avec votre ceinture de sécurité attachée jusqu'à ce que le commandant de bord éteigne le panneau Attache de ceinture de sécurité. Cela indiquera que nous sommes garés à la porte et que vous pouvez vous déplacer en toute sécurité. Les téléphones cellulaires ne peuvent être utilisés que lorsque le panneau Attacher la ceinture de sécurité a été désactivé. Vérifiez autour de votre siège si vous avez apporté des effets personnels que vous avez éventuellement apportés et soyez prudent lorsque vous ouvrez les coffres à bagages supérieurs, car des objets lourds pourraient s'être déplacés pendant le vol. Si vous avez besoin d'assistance, veuillez rester à votre place jusqu'à ce que tous les autres passagers aient débarqué. Un des membres de notre équipage se fera alors un plaisir de vous aider. Au nom de Destiny Airlines et de l'ensemble de l'équipage, je voudrais vous remercier de votre participation à ce voyage et nous espérons vous revoir bientôt. Bonne journée!"
Demyx stretched his arms out and got up once the fasten seatbelt light had been turned off. An air hostess fetched his bag for him and wished him a pleasant stay.
He walked through the plane and off into the tunnel attaching the plane to the airport, stepping aside to let people pass him as he turned his phone back on.
He popped his phone into his pocket and walked towards baggage claim, he looked around himself as he went listening to conversations taking place around him in French...
The blonde sighed dreamily, he had no idea what they were saying, but damn if he didn't love the sound of it.
His phone buzzing alerted him back to reality, he pulled it from his pocket and answered it.
"Hey Axel!"
"Hey! You landed safe?"
"I did, I'm just in the airport now walking to baggage claim. I'm beat, it was a long flight, but i did manage to get a few hours sleep so that's something."
Axel nodded sleepily.
"I'm glad you're safe, have fun okay? I'm going back to sleep. It's 3 am here but I just wanted to check you were okay!"
"Thanks Axel, sleep well!"
"Bye!"
He hung up, but there a message from a weird number on his phone.
Huh?
Bonjour, bienvenue à Paris! J'attends dans les arrivées pour vous chaque fois que vous êtes prêt! Je m'appelle Zexion et je serai votre guide pour les deux prochaines semaines!
Demyx looked at his phone confused and quickly got up google translate.
Je suis désolé je ne parle pas beaucoup français.
His phone beeped again.
Sorry, force of habit, welcome to Paris. I'm Zexion, your guide for your stay here. I'm waiting in arrivals for you whenever you're ready. Take your time.
Demyx looked at his phone blankly.
I got myself a guide for the two weeks?
He laughed to himself looking over the message again.
Drunk Demyx doesn't half ass things...
He strolled towards baggage collection, looking at the signs in French and English trying to pick up a few basic words.
So bathroom is toilette or salle de bains, exit is sortie, I know hello is bonjour or salut and thank you is merci.
He approached the conveyor belt and waited for his bag to appear.
His mind was drifting and his hand gripped the ring on his necklace absent mindedly.
I wonder what... No. Stop thinking of him... You are done. He cheated on you, he decided through his actions that you are over... There is no going back...
He nodded in agreement with this thought as his bright blue bag rounded the corner of the conveyor belt.
Demyx pulled it off and walked out the automatic doors to arrivals.
He scanned the crowd for his name and his eyes came to a stop on a man not much shorter than himself.
His hair was a mixed grey blue colour, it was cut into an intricate style with a side fringe that covered one eye.
Wow... I hope all the guys here are THAT hot...
He looked back and forth looking for someone, Demyx looked down to his sign out of curiosity and realised with excitement and horror that this was his guide.
Oh my God...
Zexion's eyes met his gaze and a feeling like lightning shot through him.
He smiled and pointed playfully at his sign cocking his head.
Demyx nodded feeling stupid and dumbfounded as Zexion walked forward and grabbed his hand in a handshake then pulled him forward and kissed both of his cheeks.
"Bienvenue à paris mon ami!"
The blonde flushed and pulled his hand free quickly looking down at his shoes wide eyed, Zexion balked at his reaction.
"Uhm... Are you ok?"
He looked up still red faced.
"Are... Are you that friendly with everyone?"
Zexion was straight faced for a moment.
"Well... Yeah actually... I mean it's Paris... That's how we say hello around here..."
Demyx paled wondering if he was ready to be that physically friendly with complete strangers, when Zexion started laughing.
"Je blague! Je blague! I'm joking!"
The blondes shoulders sagged in relief.
"You Americans are so... cute."
Zexion caught his eyes for a moment too long before grabbing his case.
"Okay, you have everything?"
The blonde nodded.
"Great, let's get going!"
They walked towards the car with Zexion wheeling Demyx's case.
"So we're not too far from Paris... You should be at your hotel in roughly an hour."
He pulled the case to his car and popped open the car boot, Demyx ran to help him get the heavy case into the trunk, but he lifted it in with ease and closed it.
He's stronger than he looks...
He found his eyes tracing Zexion's frame wondering what might lie under those...
"Hop in!"
Demyx popped out of his daydream like he'd been caught doing something bad.
"What?!"
The blue haired man eyed him oddly for a moment.
"Hop in?"
The blonde shook his head feeling stupid desperately trying to grasp at his memories of French class in high school.
"Sorry, uhm... Je suis derriere l'avion..."
Zexion looked at him funny.
"You're behind the plane...? What... Oh you're jet lagged."
He nodded.
"Sorry my French is, basically non existent."
The grey haired man pushed his hair back from his face giving Demyx his first full view, he grinned across at him.
"Good thing I'm here then!"
He revved the car to life and screeched the car out of their space shouting unknown obscenities at the driver behind them.
"So what brings you to Paris?"
Demyx shrugged nonchalantly keeping himself carefully in check with each word he said.
"I've always wanted to come here. I decided seeing as I'd been working so much overtime lately that I'd come and see the place."
Zexion weighed up his words carefully.
"So just a leisure holiday... Solo... To the most romantic city in the world?"
The blonde gulped.
He's onto me...
"Admirable... Braver than a lot of other people who come here... You have no idea how many people come here all romantic, like cannot bear to be alone here... I love my job and I love this city, but some people love to make you feel like a third wheel you know?"
Demyx nodded his thoughts creeping back to Xigbar.
"Yeah... Nothing worse."
He looked over at Demyx smiling.
"Right? So if you look straight ahead you'll see we're about to drive around the 'Arc De Triomphe'." Demyx sat up and looked straight ahead.
"Wow..."
Zexion smiled.
"Welcome to Paris my friend..."