Chapter Text
Day One
You watched the grey clouds through the thick glass on the plane windows. Despite everything you were feeling, you still found yourself appreciating the natural beauty of the sun setting from the plane among the clouds.
You found a strange sense of peace by letting your mind go blank while watching the clouds. It felt easier to stay distant rather than let anger, resentment or insecurity take over. No matter what, you refused to cry for that man, not after everything he did to you.
Crying one more time felt unfair. He didn’t deserve any of your time. Not after what you went through for the past year. It turns out, getting over a toxic relationship comes with a lot of stressful emotions, way too much for one person to handle.
It was then and there while staring out at the blissfully peaceful white clouds that you promised yourself that the next week and a half of your life would be the best you could make it. You nodded to yourself and took a deep breath, hoping that the passengers next to you weren’t paying too much attention to you. You plastered a smile on your face and though to yourself
“Bring it on, Paris.”
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You found yourself playing with the ends of your sleeves nervously after you situated yourself comfortably in the back of the taxi cab, after having overcome the necessary awkward broken-French exchange between you and the driver in order to direct him towards the hotel you were staying in.
Your day certainly wasn’t improving itself as you eventually reached the hotel after paying the fair you were faced with checking in.
As soon as you said the reservation was under ‘His’ last name, you found yourself having to grit your teeth and smile weakly at the torrent of congratulations that was being thrown your way.
Of course when the receptionist turned to you with a smile and told you,
“We hope you and your fiancé enjoy your stay, please let us know if there is anything we can help you with.” You had to bite your tongue against saying that she could not help by mentioning your ‘fiancé’ who was clearly not with you.
By the time that you actually made it up to the expensive Honeymoon Suite all you could handle was sparing a glance around before you were dumping your bags and heading out into the night.
Although you had a few pre-planned trips and places to go while in Paris the majority of your time was free from obligation which is exactly why you found yourself wandering aimlessly through the city. You told yourself you were just trying to familiarise yourself with the ‘feeling’ of Paris only because you didn’t want to face the sad truth that you weren’t actually sure what to do with your time here.
You kept wandering close to the hotel and decided you didn’t want to end up lost in an unfamiliar city on your first night out. Eventually you found yourself wandering back to the hotel having nowhere else to go.
Not wanting to face the abject horror of your room again quite yet, you made your way over to the bar where a singular man was sitting.
You took the seat next to him as he flagged down the bartender and placed his order.
“Oh, you speak English too.”
You turned to face the purple haired man that was now smiling at you. You weren’t sure what it was about you that gave this stranger the impression that you had come down to chat but you weren’t about to turn away.
“Are you on holiday or do you live here?” the man asked as you accepted the drink from the bartender.
“Holiday,” You replied, for some reason finding yourself not annoyed at this random stranger’s curiosity.
“Same.” He smiled at you, causing a small scar you couldn’t see before become apparent on his right cheek. Your eyes focused on it and you couldn’t help but think of the way it made the man look infinitely more charming than before.
“I'm Reo, by the way.” he said.
“Y/N” you returned, lifting up your drink slightly in greeting.
“Nice to meet you,” He replied. “Are you staying here?”
“Uh,” you hesitated slightly, “Yeah I am, are you?”
“Nope,” Reo replied easily with a shrug, “just using the bar,” he grinned.
“Good a reason as any.” You smiled too, feeling yourself relax slightly, whether that was from Reo’s presence or the effect of the rather strong drink you had ordered.
Reo hummed in agreement. “It is a good bar.”
“I wouldn’t really know,” you admitted, “it’s my first night here.”
“Oh,” he nodded, “well admittedly it’s mine too.” At that you raised your eyebrow slightly but with an amused expression on your face which only caused Reo to laugh happily.
“Okay but from what I can tell so far, it’s a good bar.” He paused. “Good company.”
You felt your smile slip a little, “Not so sure about that, I’m not going to be that much fun.”
Reo frowned. “Why do you say that?”
You shrugged. “A sad woman drinking her problems away in Paris doesn’t seem like good company.”
“Don’t say that.” Reo smiled warmly, “I’m sure you’re wonderful company.”
You regarded him with a thinly raised eyebrow.
“You’re quite the optimist aren’t you?”
“I guess,” Reo conceded, “lots to be positive about.”
You snorted and downed what was left of the burning liquid before gesturing the bartender over again for a refill.
“Well I’ve managed to end up in a bar in Paris beside you so that’s definitely one thing to be thankful for.”
“Wouldn’t hold your hopes up,” You mumbled.
You found yourself clearing your throat and smiling sheepishly at Reo next to you.
“Sorry for being a Debbie-downer over here,” You laughed humorlessly to yourself, “It’s just been a rough few months.”
“You can tell me, if you want?” Reo offered, his voice so low and soft that you could tell even through his inebriated haze that the invitation was wholly genuine and not meant to be invasive. It was for these reasons that you found yourself staring into Reo’s eyes and whispering your secrets.
“I was in a toxic relationship for a year, I honestly don’t even know why I stayed.” you said quietly, “I was meant to get engaged but,” you broke eye contact with Reo to gulp at your drink hoping to find some courage. You turned again to face Reo who was listening patiently with sadness and understanding screaming from every corner of his face. “But a few months ago, he broke off the engagement.”
“With no warning. He just left.” You stared blankly at the remains of the liquid inside your glass.
“Why?”
“I mean,” You hesitated briefly, hoping that your trust in the purple eyed man ýou met half an hour ago was not misplaced. “He cheated on me,” you took a sip from your drink, “had been for a year apparently.”
“That pig!” Reo exclaimed quietly and ardently, the fine pink liquid of his drink spilling over the edges of his glass as he gestured a little too emphatically.
A few eyes were cast in your direction but you couldn’t find it within you to care, not when you had found yourself in the unexpected position of being too busy chuckling at the antics of a man in front of you.
“What?” Reo blinked innocently at you even as a smile was stretched on his own face.
“Nothing,” You giggled, alcohol loosening your defences, “you’re just cute when you’re angry is all.”
Reo raised his eyebrow which caused you to giggle profusely. It was only then when Reo had a confused look on his face.
“Wait, aren’t you too young to be getting married.”
“I’m not,” You told him a little bluntly.
“You know what I mean,” Reo continued on undeterred, “You’re only what like twenty-“
You cut him off with a stern look, “I’d think carefully before finishing that sentence, Reo.”
Instead of letting the subject drop Reo only squinted his eyes in concentration and tried his hardest to assess you in front of him. “Twenty four?” he said, nervously.
You narrowed your eyes before slightly smiling again, “Twenty three actually, but I’ll take that.”
“Twenty three!” Reo exclaimed in satisfaction. “Exactly! See I’m just a year older and I couldn’t imagine getting hitched next year but, shit, you were maybe even engaged at my age.” Reo let out a huff of air. “What’s the story behind that then?”
“You know,” you frown. “Just college love.”
“So tell me, why did you think getting married was a good idea?”
You let out a long sigh and shrugged nonchalantly.
“I don’t know. I thought we were in love.” You raised your eyebrows at Reo, “Are you telling me you wouldn’t want to get married as soon as possible if you had thought you’d found your soulmate?”
“In a heartbeat.” Reo conceded his face was more serious than it had been all evening. “But,” Reo raised his eyebrow slightly and squished his mouth to one side, “this man turned out not to be your soulmate.”
“Most definitely not,” You emphasised, an edge of steel entering your voice.
“Well,” Reo offered, “at least you didn’t marry him then.
At that stark comment from Reo, you found yourself laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.
“This was meant to be my honeymoon, you know?”
“Shit,” Reo whispered, face etched in consolation.
“Still have the honeymoon suite and everything, not sure if I can stomach sleeping there though.” You laugh.
“Why’s that? Because you’ll be alone?”
“Yeah I guess so,” You found yourself admitting before you found yourself chuckling into your empty glass. “And because it’s ugly and red and lovey dovey in there.”
Reo lets out a burst of laughter. “How’s that?”
“It’s all red and gold and glittery everywhere.” You complain.
“No, Reo you don’t understand,” you stare at him intensely in order to prove your point. “It's really, really over the top ghastly kind of bad.”
“It can’t be that bad.” He argues.
“It is.”
“Prove it,” Reo challenged, not considering what he just said.
“Alright.” You reply, easily. You stand up and grab your purse
“What?” Reo questions, following behind you.
“I’m gonna show you my obnoxious hotel room.”
Reo paused and then smiled. “Alright then.”
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You unlocked the room and let Reo enter first before you follow him.
“Wow,” Reo whispered into the quiet air, “it really is quite nauseating isn’t it?”
“Yep,” You said as you popped the ‘p’ as you replied with a slight smile, closing the door behind you.
Reo had moved to stand in the center of the lounge and spread his arms out to gesture around him.
You watched him flop onto the couch. You laughed and started to take off your shoes.
“Woah!” Reo emerges from the couch with wide, sparkling eyes and the most amazed grin on his face. “These cushions smell amazing!”
With that you found yourself lurching forward and face planting into the same pillow as him, only narrowly avoiding your heads colliding together.
You both lay on the couch in silence.
“Y’know after the interrogation you gave me in the bar I just realised that I don’t know all that much about you.” You mumble into the pleasant smelling pillow
“There’s honestly not much to know.” he smiles.
“Try me.” You challenge
“Uh, I’m 24. I’m a football player, I just got accepted into a team like- this month I think? And yeah, that’s all for now at least. I’m hoping I can get into the EU cup this year.” he smiles, content with his answer.
“Wow, am I in the midst of a famous football player?” You giggle.
He laughs, a bit too hard and you both fall off the couch.
“Ow.” You laugh.
You yawn.
“I should probably go back to my hotel.” He says, noting your tiredness.
“You can sleep here if you want? Just stay on the sofa.”
Reo’s eyes light up, “Really? You’ll let me stay in your fancy pants suite?”
“Yeah, sure. Rather that than you getting hurt trying to make your way back where you’re staying.”
“Ok, yeah, thank you,” Reo smiles at you. You stand up from the floor and help him get up from the floor.
“I think it’s best if we go to sleep.” You say.
Reo takes the blanket off of the sofa and settles down into the soft material.
“Well, goodnight I guess.” You smile.
“Goodnight to you too.” He says yawning.
You walk to the bathroom to get ready for bed and get into your pajamas.
After downing a glass of water, splashing some of it on your face and a quick swirl of mouthwash, you push the ridiculous petals off the bed and crawl under the duvet. Surrounded by the soft clean sheets and the undeniable heaven that was the beds mattress, it didn’t take long until you were falling fast asleep