Chapter Text
Jean didn’t have some grandiose reason to be here. Political meetings and formal business parties just came with the job of being a nation. This event is one of many, nothing too important nor memorable. He came with delegates, representatives, businesspeople, and others of notable standing. He knew that there would be a chance to brush in with Oliver, he was no fool. After all, if he was here it would be reasonable to assume the same for his provincial counterpart.
The gala wasn’t too special. Some music, drinks and small talk. The reception was fine and the appetizer palatable but he grew to be weary. He recalled the conversation he had when he met up with Matthieu earlier…
He was engaged in an extensively boring conversation when he heard his name being called “Jean!”. Ah, an escape. He cleared his voice and wore his best amused social smile “Ah, sorry to interrupt this wonderful conversation but I must go, I am being called.”. Muttering to himself as he left the group “ugh, comme c'était ennuyeux… Je dois remercier Matt pour cette évasion.”. “Jean!”, There he was. “Matthieu.” he nodded his head in response to the blond. He looked good in his usual brown suit (Pourquoi le brun de toutes les couleur?) though you could faintly see the tiredness around his eyes.
“Jean, Comment ça va?” Matt asks ever a shy smile on his face. Jean shrugged “Comme ci comme ca et toi?” asking back. Matt ever so slightly cringed at that “Je suis fatigué mais bon.”. Matt looked around the room before looking back at Jean “Puis-Je demander une faveur?” Jean raised a brow at this “Une faveur? Qu'est-ce que c'est?”. Matt now had a slight frown “Oui.” He sighed “You see the thing is that I’m worried. Oliver’s here for this event but I haven’t seen him for a while, it’s been over 30 minutes, perhaps 40…” he trailed off before resuming again “Could you find him and check up on him? S'il vous plaît? Pour moi?” he asked. Jean looked at Matt with pursed lips before nodding “Ok, je vais le faire.”
As Jean left the hall and enter the hallway he took a breath “Welp!” he stretched and went his way.
“Il est temps de retrouver Oliver.”
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The hallways were empty save for the sound of his footsteps that echo across the hall. Where was he? Surely he couldn’t have gone far? He highly doubts that Oliver would ever leave such an event. As he pondered he suddenly heard faint murmurs coming from down the hall. He paused “C'est possible?”. As he approached his suspicions were confirmed “Oliver…” he whispered.
There he was on the floor hunched over, head down and hugging his knees. It was clear to Jean that he was in some sort of distress evident by the loud whispers of negativity directed to no other but Oliver himself. Jean hesitated in approaching closer unsure whether to give him space or call him out. Jean frowned, what had happened? Was the party too much? Surely something must have happened to cause him to act like this. When Oliver’s whispers turned to excessive ramble, he decided to step in. He needed to before Oliver would leave.
“Stop with the negative rambling.”
Oliver stopped but didn’t turn, “What are you doing here?” he spoke slowly but there was a shakiness to it.
“What do you think?” he stepped closer but stood a careful distance from the man, “You’ve been gone for almost 40 minutes-” “You didn’t answer my question.”. At this Oliver turned to face him “What are you doing here Jean?”
Brown eyes met blue (like before his mind whispered not the first time this has happened), and there he stood. His hair was slightly tossed, and his clothes creased and clung to his body. He looked… upset.
Jean rolled his eyes at the accusation ‘he didn’t know I was here?’. ‘To be fair, Matt didn’t tell me till recently.’ grumbling in response to his thoughts of Matt “You know how Matthieu is, he got worried.”. Oliver gave him a look, clearly unamused “Well clearly you’ve found me, you can go back now.”. Jean raised his brow, did Oliver think he would just like that? When Jean didn’t leave Oliver respond by rolling his eyes “That idea of hiding in the tower is starting to sound very appealing right now.” he groaned. Jean quickly cut in “We both know that we shouldn’t bother the Carillonneur.” He couldn’t let Oliver leave like this.
Why did Oliver want him to leave him alone? Sure they didn’t have the greatest record with each other but they were on relatively good terms recently, what had changed?
“Why?” Oliver blurts and Jean stares at him “Quoi?” what did he mean by ‘Why?’. “Why can’t you just Leave Me ALONE!” Oliver yelled shaking a bit. Jean took a step back at that. He watched as Oliver sat back down, gripping his hair with one hand and the other on his knee as he attempted to stabilize himself. At this, he rushed to kneel at his side. Concern washed over him as Oliver hyperventilated in front of him, he cared not for the party but he did for Oliver. He gently clasped Oliver’s hand and motioned him through the steps of deep breathing.
“In and out, in and out… You’re safe.”
“In and out, in and out… You’re fine.”
“In and out, in and out… You’re okay.”
“In and out, in and out… You’re okay.”
“In and out, in and out… Everything is going to be okay.”
“Everything is going to be okay.”
As he says that his breathing stabilizes, he relaxes and comes around. Almost instantly all he feels is relief and before he can stop himself he softly calls out,
“Oliver…”
Oliver looks up at him and the first thing he notices is his beautiful blue eyes. The second thing he notices is when he responds.
Softly, like a dove’s coo…
“Jean…”