Travelling in Circles: Chapter 3
By Blue Roses
Warnings and Disclaimers in Chapter 1
***
The journey out was less uncomfortable than the journey in had been, mainly because this time Duo had someone to share the experience with. Even so, he had a feeling of anti-climax somehow, heading away from the sun. What was worse was the sinking feeling he got whenever he thought about what Quatre was expecting him to do.
"How did you get yourself into this mess, Maxwell?" he thought to himself. He couldn't imagine what Heero would say to him, but his brain kept conjuring up pictures of Heero's trademark frown, and he knew it was going to be bad whatever happened.
They were heading to Paris because Heero had mentioned it in passing to Quatre, and they'd decided it was as good a place as any to start their search. The city had once belonged in the country of France, and although national borders were meant to be a thing of the past, French was still spoken by almost everyone there.
Standing in the airport, trying to reach the centre of the city, Duo was glad he'd taken a few French courses during his training. He'd done it at the time, because he'd seen an old film and he was convinced that France was the best place to pick up girls on Earth.
That reasoning didn't stop the little he had learnt from being helpful now. He might even be able to use some of the expressions he'd been saving for the girls on Heero, although he couldn't see Heero as the romantic type. He sighed half in amusement and half in despair. 'Je t'aime Heero' he thought 'Je t'aime'
***
Once they arrived at their hotel, Duo went to his room, complaining of not feeling well, and Quatre set up his computer and began to start the search for Heero and Trowa.
After a few hours, Quatre decided to have a rest from searching for Trowa and Heero. He need more information before he went any further, not being as good a hacker as Heero he needed help from other contacts. Unfortunately, they all seemed to be out, so he took the time to explore Paris.
He had been here once before, on a flying visit, but he had been touched by the spirit of the place. Even during the war it had kept its charm, and luckily it hadn't been badly damaged. The few buildings that had been wrecked were replaced with others that continued the Parisian style so well it didn't matter that they were new. Paris had always been a place that was modern, but that didn't stop it looking back to its past with pride.
Quatre wandered past the Louvre, the greatest art gallery in the city, and one of the best in the world, but was put off by the crowds of tourists trying to get in. He decided to leave seeing the Mona Lisa for another time, and sat down at a nearby cafe to have an ice cream. The weather was warm, and he sat outside, enjoying it, and the sound of people chattering around him.
The ice cream, when it came, reminded him of Trowa. It was chocolate chip, Quatre's favourite flavour, as Trowa had found out. Whenever he was having a particularly bad day, he would usually find a bowl of it, with chocolate wafers in it of course, which Trowa had put out for him.
The thought made him more determined to tell Trowa how he felt. How could he not love someone like that? He might be quiet, but he was incredibly thoughtful.
***
When he returned to their hotel, Quatre found Duo sitting in his room. Since there were no messages for him, he decided to try and cheer the other boy up. He wasn't convinced by the other boy's tale of a stomach ache, he was sure that it was nerves and worry that were troubling him.
"Come on Duo, we're in Paris! This is one of the loveliest cities on Earth. You can't just sit there, you have to see at least some of it."
"Yeah, the most romantic city in the world, and I'm sitting here worrying what I'm going to say to the guy I'm in love with. Sometime I wish I'd never got into this in the first place. Living in denial and despair seems so much easier."
"Duo! You don't think that really do you? Acknowledging your feelings sets you free. You'll feel much better when you've seen Heero."
"I know, I know, I was just moaning. It's fun to do that once in a while, you should try it! I do love him, and I know it's a good thing. I just wish life didn't have to be so hard. Life sucks. Even when it's going well it kinda sucks. Anyway, I'll try and get rid of the doom and gloom, it's getting old. So, what did you want to do in Paris then?"
"Well, there's this great art gallery I'd like to visit."
"Wonderful. A museum. Just what I'd like to do" said Duo sarcastically. "Anyway, it's quite late, why don't we go get something to eat?"
"Good idea, we can go and have a traditional French meal. No hamburgers tonight Duo."
Duo looked worried. "Isn't a traditional French meal frog's legs and snails and stuff? I'm sorry, I'm not eating that stuff. I think I saw a McDonalds near here, they must have some proper food, I think I'll eat there. You go and enjoy yourself."
"No Duo, you don't have to eat frog's legs. Give it a try, I think you'll like it."
Duo reluctantly agreed, and the two of them wandered out into the darkening Paris streets. By the time they found a restaurant they both agreed on (one without frog's legs or snails on the menu), Duo was complaining that he was starving. Used to the concept of 'fast food' he was not impressed with Quatre's explanation that people here liked to take time over their dinner to enjoy it, and by the time the food arrived, he had eaten both his and Quatre's bread rolls as well as a tube of mints and some chocolate that Quatre had found in a pocket.
Once the food did arrive, Duo cheered up considerably. It was as good as Quatre had said, and he managed to find room for two deserts as well. Quatre looked on with amazement at the amount of food he managed to eat, and wondered where he put it all.
After they had finished, they got up, feeling completely full but not too sleepy thanks to the large cups of coffee they had drunk at the end of their meal. The sky above them was a deep blue, and they wandered together along the banks of the river Seine that ran right throughout the city, watching the people around them and occasionally pointing things out to each other.
The lights of the city sparkled on the dark water, and the paved waterfront was occupied with many groups of people, often couples, strolling and talking animatedly, enjoying the might. Duo tried to listen in to some of the conversations, but with little success.
"They talk even more than me!" he complained to Quatre. "I can't understand what they're saying when they talk so fast."
"You really shouldn't listen to what other people are saying, Duo, it's not polite."
"I'm just trying to improve my French. I've got to listen to people to do that, and they're saying more interesting things now. You see that couple over there" he indicated with a nod of his head and a flick of his braid to where an older man was bending over a leggy blond woman and saying something to her in an undertone which was just audible from where Duo and Quatre had stopped to look at the city. "They're having an extremely interesting conversation."
"No Duo, I'd rather not know what they're saying if you don't mind."
"It's your loss. I must remember some of these phrases." Quatre looked at him, surprised. "Oh no, I'm not going to use them Quatre, but it might be useful"
After a moment's thought Quatre decided not to ask what Duo thought he might find it useful for, as he wasn't sure he wanted to know.
They walked back to the hotel, having to stop several times for Duo to buy things he saw in the shops they passed. Why he needed sunglasses at night, and how he had room for the chocolate he bought Quatre wasn't sure, but they seemed to make him happy all the same.
Arriving back at the hotel, an old place, with undeniable charm, they went to reception to collect their keys. The receptionist, whom Duo and Quatre had both agreed earlier looked rather like Relena, came back with the keys and a message for Quatre.
"A lady dropped this off this afternoon, while you were out. She said you'd contacted her about finding a friend and she thought she could help."
Quatre thanked the receptionist, and Duo watched as he eagerly unfolded the smooth white piece of paper. He was almost holding his breath. Duo couldn't wait to find out who it was from and whether they knew where Heero, or even Trowa was.
He felt like tearing the note out of Quatre's hand as he was reading it, he was so impatient.
He didn't have long to wait. Quatre looked up, a wondering but joyful smile on his face.
"It's Sally Po" he said "She says she knows where Trowa is."