Paris
Chapter 1: Paris
He knows Gellert senses his presence the moment he apparates into Paris the next day, because he can sense him too. Even in a city full of powerful witches and wizards they can feel each others presence immediately.
It knocks all air out of Albus‘ lungs for a whole minute. He has missed this feeling for over a decade. To feel it now, even at a mile’s distance, overwhelms him a lot more than he anticipated.
Three people bump into him on the street before he regains his composition. It’s a busy street, right in the middle of Paris. Filled with muggles hurrying to their jobs. The air is foggy, smells of car fuel and rain that has fallen a few hours prior.
He steps into a puddle as he finally gets back in motion. Ice-cold water seeps into his shoes. „It’s a good thing I always bring so many socks with me“, Albus murmurs and continues walking, unbothered by his wet feet.
~ ° ~
An hour later he has checked into a muggle hotel on this very street and puts his suitcase on the small table in his room. The interior is very simple, a queen-sized bed, a table with two wooden chairs and a small bathroom adjacent to his room.
He opens his suitcase as the air in the room thickens.
„Hello Albus.“
~ ° ~
Even though he knew this would happen, hearing Gellert’s voice shuts his body down immediately. His brain, his breath, his heart all stop working and only restart after a few seconds.
„Hello Gellert“, he manages to press out of his empty lungs. Instead of turning around, he takes a couple of deep breaths and tries to sort through his messy thoughts.
The air in the room is vibrating with Gellert’s energy. Albus notices that he hasn’t felt this much power anywhere in years. Not since 1899 to be exact.
Oh, how he has missed this feeling. Gellert’s energy matching his own power, glowing together like a beacon brighter than anyone has ever seen. It’s intoxicating. And yet ha cannot indulge it.
Still it takes him back to that fateful summer. His hand twitches as he remembers all the letters they wrote each other every day and night. His heart races the same way it raced when they first kissed, When they first landed in bed together. His body remembers it all before his brain can recall the tragedies that followed that summer.
Finally Albus braces himself and turns around. It takes every ounce of self restraint he has for him not to kiss Gellert the moment their eyes meet again.
Gellert stand merely a few inches away from him, personal space being a concept he never cared much for. Something that didn’t use to bother Albus at all, but now he wishes Gellert wouldn’t stand so temptingly close to him.
Albus wills his eyes away from Gellert’s lips, which they had lingered on. Instead he musters the rest of his appearance. In well over a decade time has left its traces.
Gellert cut his long locks off. It makes him look much more mature and serious, less the boyish and innocent way he used to look even though he never was either of these things.
He wears different clothes too. More extravagant and eccentric. Magical, extraordinary. His outfit reflects his motives. Gellert doesn’t want to hide anymore, he wants to be seen and admired by the world.
„Do you like my outfit?“, Gellert asks, smirking. He notices that Albus still avoids looking at his face, so he places two fingers under his chin and tilts his head. Albus trembles at the touch.
He gulps as he is once more faced with Gellert’s gorgeous features. The time seems to have made him look even more attractive.
No matter his racing heart Albus doesn’t break eye contact as he replies.
„You’ve always had excellent taste.“
„So have you“, Gellert answers and lets his eyes roam over Albus‘ body shamelessly. „What brought you to Paris?“
„You.“
„Obviously. Sorry, it was a stupid question. I should’ve asked you what brought you here now.“
„Yes, you should have.“
Gellert scoffs. „I’ll guess then. Maybe it was the thousands of articles about my crimes the Daily Prophet has published in the last months. Or perhaps the fact that half the world is trying to catch me and is seemingly unable to and now asking for your help.“
Albus doesn’t react to his ideas, not even the hint of a reaction on his face.
„Or maybe it is the fact that your nephew is in the city looking for his family?“
Albus freezes.
„You thought I wouldn’t know? I was there when Aberforth told you about that girl in Godric’s Hollow. And I can still put two and two together.“
Albus heart sinks. He can only hope that Newt will find Credence before his ex-lover does.
„I never doubted you would find out one day. I had only hoped it wouldn’t be so soon“, Albus admits. „But honestly I just came here to talk.“
Gellert stared at him in disbelief. „Do you truly believe you can talk me out of this mission? It was your idea, remember?“
„What else can I do? It’s not like I am able to fight you.“
Both laugh quietly, bitter, remembering the time where they still believed they would never want to hurt each other. Albus isn’t sure if he could do it today, even if without the existence of the blood troth.
„Well then, let us talk. But not in this tiny room. Care for a cup of tea?“