(no subject)
Title: [untitled]
Author: Kahlan Aisling
Claim: Romania/Norway
Character(s): Norway, Romania
Table/Prompt: Random/6-- Right
Word Count: 383
Rating: G
Summary: Traian is not the most observant person in the world, but even this isn't his fault.
They have come full circle, Traian realizes as they're seated at a table in a coffee shop. This is where they met, where they went on their first date, where they went for their anniversary and where they'll go for Valentine's Day -- if they make it that far.
Lukas likes the coffee shop because the coffee is strong and full of flavor; expensive stuff. Traian likes it because there's always something going on -- between the Greek owner and the Turkish manager, someone will be fighting or someone else will be cooking or there will be policemen or reporters or small children causing chaos, much to the other customers' chagrin. It's a friendly shop though, where the staff knows every customer by name because the only people who put up with it are regulars.
Right now, there's the distinct scent of pastries and drinks paired with the quiet clinking of glass and silverware; somewhere, water is running and there's a phone vibrating in someone's pocket. The person answers the phone with a cheerful, "Bonjour!" and begins to chatter rapidly in French.
Lukas clears his throat, but says nothing. Traian continues to gaze at him over his folded hands.
More French. More clinking. The manager says something and the owner replies sleepily. And yet, in the middle of all this noise, the silence is louder than ever.
Traian breaks it by saying, "I'm sorry." This is how it usually works, after all.
"You don't even know why you're apologizing," Lukas replies.
"This is true," Traian says.
Lukas stirs his coffee for no reason. "You remember my brother."
"Emil?"
"Mathias."
Mathias was not technically Lukas's brother, but Lukas has always addressed him as such and Traian has stopped asking questions. "Yes," he says.
"Mathias liked the color red," Lukas goes on. "Much like you do. He gave the girl he loved a ring with rubies when he proposed."
Traian watches Lukas stir his coffee. It's getting a little ridiculous, actually.
"This is stupid," Lukas says after a few moments, standing up and shoving the mug across the table. He's gone within a few a minutes.
Traian doesn't try to stop him because everything has clicked into place, makes sense all of a sudden.
And anyway, dead relatives don't make for cheerful conversation.
Previous | Beginning | Next