Chapter 5: Traveling

The boat rocked dangerously from side to side, sailing across the onslaught of waves. Dark clouds loomed overhead, the passengers huddling close together for safety from the ocean's biting winds.

"Ah! All ye' kids are 'fraid of a good storm, huh?," the boat's captain mocks, "Pfft! We'll be to shore before the full brunt of it hits. Just don't stand too close to the edge, ya hear? Ahahaha!" Lucille gives Francoeur's hand a reassuring squeeze after the captain's words elicit an alarmed chirp from him. He gives her a weary smile, but still can't quell the fear growing inside him. Since that day that the ex-comissioner whats-his-name had tried to hunt him down by the water, he's had trouble traveling by boat. Raoul also feels uneasy. He could still picture his sweet Catherine sinking down below, air bubbles escaping her interior as if she were calling out to him for help. He whimpers quietly, Maud lightly touching his arm to calm him down and he returns a grateful smile. She then leaves to join the two performers singing a soothing song to distract those suffering with them on the rickety boat. Raoul takes the opportunity to drag Emile to the side.

"Wha-"

"So how are you gonna do it?"

"Uh…I already told you I can't say."

"Is that because you think I'd ruin it or because you don't know yet?"

"It's one of those."

"Uh huh?"

"The second one."

"Emiiile! You're running out of time! We are literally half way through the plan and you don't have an ending for it!"

"I know, I know! But everything I come up with is impractical or I don't have the confidence for it. This has got to be perfect, way better than writing her a letter."

"Hey…that was a good idea."

"Not for this."

"Just let the love expert give you a hand. You know when Raoul is on the prowl—"

"yeah, I know, the cats purr or something like that. But-"

"They meow."

"FOCUS."

"Always am."

"I appreciate your offer for suggestions, but this has to be all me. It's not the same if someone tells me what I should do. It has to speak from the heart."

"You old sap… Ow!" Raoul rubs at his side where the small man punched him. His lips frown then curl back up as he catches Emile's gaze set on his beloved. They both wave at the rest of the group, Raoul leaning down to whisper one last thing to his friend.

"You two are perfect together. Whatever you decide to do, just trust me when I say she'll love it."

"Thanks. And good luck with Lucille. Remind her to relax a bit." Raoul lets out a small chuckle, heading over to sit next to said woman. She turns to give him a peck on the cheek before finishing up the impromptu song. Then, she busies herself with recording the lyrics into her journal while everyone else sits in peace.

The sky seems to have lighten up, spots of blue peaking out ever so slightly. Maud and Emile engage themselves in conversation about the places they already visited and what they want to see. The mechanic scribbles new inventions for his delivery truck in his manual, calculating the cost of parts needed for them. Not that he would really keep that in mind when reconstructing his baby.

Francoeur just flips through his scrap book filled with clippings from newspapers, magazine pictures, posters, family photos, and the occasional film paper with scenes from his favorite movies, provided by Emile. He stops on a page about Charles, laughing inwardly at one with the monkey chasing after Raoul for drenching him in paint. It's not like he meant to, his clumsiness was to blame, but the man asked for it after he had made a joke about 'adding some color' to the bland primate's character. The next one was of the lanky man with a hand-shaped blue mark slapped across his face. The flea sighs, missing his companion greatly. It was always helpful to have someone else that couldn't speak, he always understood him and could explain things precisely when others could not. He knows he could always write down what he's trying to say like Charles, but it was difficult and he just wasn't as fast.

He wonders what it would be like to meet someone like him, not a giant flea per say, but a person that isn't quite up to speed with the humans. Who is curious, always trying something new, and not weighed down by many thoughts. He sings his heart out in every song because it frees him in his mind. Lucille also relishes the moments on stage, but he can't help but feel that it's different. She's more refined and lively in a controlled sense. Raoul may have more of that unweighted joy, but he is closed off in his interests, the only thing intriguing him is the scientific and technological world. And women. Emile is very open-minded and understanding, the only thing bothering him is the man's devotion to Maud who is too calm at times for his liking, leaving him little time to spend with the big guy.

The two are incredibly sweet together, but the sight of them always leaves a deep pang in his heart. He learned a long time ago that he could never have what those two do. Not unless the professor decides to make another giant, singing flea. Although, even then, there could be a chance that they wouldn't be compatible. He's still not sure which parts about him are truly his own or if they derive from the colorful beakers. It would be best not to take such a risk.

But poor Francoeur, the universe has already decided against him to take that risk. Even if she's not exactly what he imagined.