Fic: Worth The Journey 51
Previous bits are here.
Every street Giles walked down felt like another homecoming and he knew that he was going to have to do something very nice for Ethan, indeed. The other man had been right: Cordoba was where he wanted to be. The sun shone brightly and the entire city smelled of exotic spices and foreign perfumes. He had heard a dozen languages being spoken since he'd left Ethan's home and knew he would hear many more as he continued his travels through the city.
There were people everywhere - some selling food from rickety booths, tempting passersby with their words and the aromas both. Shopkeepers kept one eye on the street and the other on their customers as they spoke to their neighbors, hands moving in enthusiastic gestures that almost looked like a dance. Travelers, merchants, scholars, mercenaries, churchmen and mysterious veiled women all passed him. It was so different from London that it might have been another world entirely.
He felt himself begin to truly relax. He'd always loved this city. From his first visit as little more than a boy to his last nearly two years ago, it had felt more like home than London. It had been stupid to deny himself the pleasure of coming here. There were libraries to browse and old friendships to renew. And books. No doubt there would be new books here, fresh treasures that he would eagerly gather. He wasn't sure where he would fit them into Ethan's overflowing library but he knew that he wouldn't be able to resist their call.
Thinking of Ethan's library made him smile. Ethan was no doubt still there, searching through careless stacked shelves for the book he had wanted to show him. He had been a man with a mission and Giles hadn't been able to entice him out onto the streets. Hopefully he would have either found the book or given up on it entirely by tomorrow. Giles loved Cordoba, but he loved it best when he was able to share it with someone. That was why he had intended to share it with Wesley.
Wesley. Stupid, but Giles found himself glancing down the busy streets like he might catch a glimpse of him walking into a bookseller's stall. He kept forgetting that everything Wesley had told him, everything Wesley had been, was a lie. Perhaps he really did want to come to Cordoba. Perhaps he had no interest in ever visiting the city. Giles was never going to know and he needed to learn not to care.
It had been a lovely dream, though. He and Wesley walking together through the crowds of people. He could have taught Wesley to speak Arabic and watch him try to haggle with a bookseller. He smiled at the thought. Wesley would be terrible. He loved books and learning too much to try to bring down the price. Instead, he'd probably end up giving everything he had for…no!
Giles started walking again, heading back toward Ethan's home. This was ridiculous. He'd just finished telling himself that Wesley was an accomplished liar and immediately after he'd found himself falling back into believing in him. He'd been so convincing with those wide eyes and the way he'd close them like he was trying to better visualize the things Giles described.
He was starting to feel sorry for himself and that would never do. It was time to get back to Ethan and let the other man's bracing manner shock him right out of that mood. Maybe he'd help him look for the book that was eluding him.
Giles set off at a brisk pace, eager to be back in Ethan's company. As he moved through streets that felt like home, he did his best to keep his eyes on his path. Despite his good intentions though, he still found himself looking down the side streets, looking for a slim frame and delighted smile that he knew wouldn't be there.
**