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The fixer fidgeted in the car's seat, his leg bouncing up and down with nervousness. However, he was still excited about this surprise, though he wasn't sure why he was wearing a sleep mask in the first place. Iso attempted to pull down the mask, and a hand gently pushed it down, following a small chuckle.
“Vincent… is the mask necessary?” Iso asked, unsure what his partner’s facial expression had turned to. He guessed it was probably an amused face, considering he heard the attempt to hide the chuckles Vincent was letting out.
“Mon cher, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise early, it's quite a big deal,” Chamber said while letting out a small laugh. Iso sighed contently. His boyfriend was such a dork, always making little things feel so memorable. Especially him, going out of his way to make a man so simple like him feel so special.
Vincent had invited him on a trip to Paris, which Zhao initially declined. It was their first anniversary, yet so much was being done for him. However, Vincent insisted and convinced him with an overwhelming amount of kisses, Zhao eventually succumbed to his lover's words.
“Okay, I believe you. How much longer though? I hope the whole trip isn't just me covering my eyes the whole time.” he giggled.
It sounded like Vincent turned to face him for a bit, laughing again. “Almost there, I assure you, my love. If I can find parking…”
The ride continued for another 5 minutes until the motion of the car parking was felt. Zhao moved his head around to listen to the sounds around him. The outside chatter from people walking around them, bustling sounds of the city of cars, and doors opening and closing. He swiftly turned towards where Vincent was, as he heard him unbuckling his seatbelt. Soon after, he heard him leaning over and gently pulling off the sleeping mask, revealing a smiling Vincent.
“Hi there Vincent,” the radiant said smiling. “ How long have you been there?” pretending to give a confused look.
“Haha, hilarious Zhao. Come on mon amour, our surprise awaits us.” He closed his door and walked around to open the door for his partner, who was rolling his eyes.
“Why, thank you. Say you wouldnt to have the menu, waiter?” Zhao laughed and it was Vincent's turn to roll his eyes.
“I see you've been spending time with Clove and their shenanigans.” He said, gently taking Zhao’s hands into his, leading his partner to place a small peck on his cheek.
“Maybe…” he snickered. “Come on, I thought we were here for a surprise, Vincent.” The fixer said, leading the other towards the sidewalk. They stood there for a few minutes before Chamber took the lead. The couple walked in silence for a few more minutes until they got to a small intersection, and the weapon designer gently spoke.
“Mon beau, I hate to ask you again, but would you mind closing your eyes? I promise you it's the last time,” he said, hesitantly.
“Vincent, it’s alright I don't mind,” Zhao said, before giving him another small peck on his cheek and closing his eyes. Chamber gave a small laugh before speaking again.
“We’ll just be crossing the road and walking a few feet. I'll let you know of any bumps in the road, mon cher.” Chamber said, taking the fixer’s hands into his gloved ones, and starting to walk to what seemed like a crosswalk. Truthfully, Iso was a bit nervous crossing a busy sidewalk that was packed with pedestrians and cars in a city he was unfamiliar with. Regardless of all these factors, he trusted him.
Trust was an important part of their relationship, whether they trusted the other not to eat their snacks while on a mission. Or trusting the other enough to talk about the things that ate them up inside at night.
Suddenly they had stopped walking. Chamber could be heard giggling but Iso wasn't sure if it was how silly he looked closing his eyes or because of the excitement from the surprise right in front of them.
‘“Alright! Open up your eyes.”
Slowly but surely the fixer opened up his eyes to a little brown-colored shop in front of him, reading La Maison du Chocolat. He wasn't fluent in French but he quickly deduced that it was a chocolate shop, a very gesture of Vincent. Chamber always took note that he liked sweets, buying him the best quality of them back at Protocol. Iso wondered what the chocolates here would taste like.
As if he had read his mind, Chamber gently ushered Iso into the shop where several sweets were displayed under many rows of glass. There were many sweets, some that were unknown to Iso but they all looked delicious to him. The chocolates were stacked in rows all with different textures and macaroons were placed next to cake-like pastries freshly baked out of the oven. The fixer was quite in awe at how detailed each pastry looked and how well crafted they were. The worker had noticed both of their presence and smiled. She smiled even wider once she made eye contact with Chamber.
“Ah! Bonjour, Monsieur Fabron! Comment as-tu été? How have you been?” the worker said as Vincent approached her with a warm smile.
“J’ai été merveilleux! Hope you’ve been the same, Madame.” Vincent said, gently grabbing Iso by the hand to get closer to the sweets. She smiled at Iso and giggled lightly.
“So Monsieur Fabron, is this the mysterious partner I've heard about?” She said facing Zhao, with a teasing grin. She leaned in to whisper to the fixer, but loud enough for Vincent to hear. “Monsieur is quite fond of talking about you, even though we've only met two weeks prior.” She giggled while Vincent scoffed gently.
“Anyways, mon amour choose anything of your choice. My friend here allowed us to get the best before the shop opened.” He smiled at his partner, gently rubbing his thumb against Iso’s hand. “Hope this isn't below your expectations. ”
“I wouldn't expect any less of you, Vincent. Now help me choose.” the fixer smiled at him, the other giving a dorky smile back.
The worker showed both of them what the shop had to offer. Both were mesmerized by the sweets, from eclairs to chocolate bars to truffles.
They eventually picked several pastries, two eclairs, one chocolate for Iso, and a coffee for the other. A 24-piece of macarons, each held a chocolate gauche which was enclosed by a crisp shell of a French meringue. A pair of Tapage Noisettes, which Chamber claimed were the best out of the chocolate bars from the whole store. Iso attempted to pay the cost of the sweets, however Chamber was already a step ahead of him and paid the worker upfront. A total of 203 euros and another 100 euros to give to the worker, who tried to decline it. However, Vincent's charm and words of “ I insist” eventually led to her sighing and taking and appreciating the tip. Zhao and Vincent said their goodbyes and left the shop, both happier than before, holding each other's hands in silence.
They walked towards the car and as they neared the doors of it, the fixer swooped in and gave a small peck on the lips to his partner, who was taken by surprise. Nevertheless, he laughed and gently took the fixer's hands into his own and placed a small kiss on them.
Getting into the car, Vincent took it upon himself to lean in close and kiss his partner who was taken by surprise as well but leaned into it as they wrapped their arms around each other. Zhao let out a little giggle, while Vincent rolled his eyes. He smiled sheepishly while the other continued to giggle and place one last peck on his cheek.
“You had a bit of chocolate left.” The fixer laughed. Vincent smiled at him, looking at him lovingly. And it was in that look, in that smile were hidden words that he couldn't say. But it didn't matter. Zhao knew that those eyes were the only ones that looked at him with that tenderness. Regardless if words were exchanged or not, they knew they would understand, that nothing could describe the feeling between both of them.