Chapter Text
It was cloudy- well, it was London. Obviously it was cloudy.
The fabric of your dress danced around your calves as the wind blew it a kiss, and the chill it gave you made you glad you wore a jean jacket over it. November was cool, but not too cold. It was… crisp.
You clutched the same handbag you’d worn when you first met George, pulling out your phone. It was 11 past 4- 11 minutes later than the time you’d agreed to meet. Of course, you weren’t anxious- but your hands certainly were, finding the nearest object to fiddle with.
Tree branches rustled above you, between lamp posts lining the sidewalk. You stood between a busy street and endlessly noisy cars and a barrier that came up to around your waist. It overlooked the Thames river, and although it was dark gray and lazily resting it was still a pretty sight. Despite not being able to see the bridge from your position, the buildings across and boats that dotted the water made the whole scene quite picturesque.
You bit your bottom lip, thinking through the plan to make sure you had it right. It’ll be fine , you told yourself.
But the second you saw George emerge from a black taxi, your nerves were aflutter again. You walked towards him as he shut the door, smiling as he spotted you from a few meters away.
“Hi!” you greeted, somewhat awkwardly shuffling in place next to him.
“Hi,” he responded, tugging at his navy scarf. He looked much more fashionable this time- a beige overcoat and rather stylish caramel shoes.
You smiled looking over his outfit, and more so, him. You hadn’t seen George beyond a discord call in almost a month. Even so, you’d never felt like he was any different- that is, until now. Seeing him before you, with his hair picking up soft hints of umber that you’d never quite seen before, his skin so soft that you wanted more than anything to reach out and touch it- you realized what you’d been missing.
“So, are you going to reveal the plan now?” he asked slyly, the corners of his soft lips turning upwards. His voice was softer in person, and there was a quality to it that didn’t quite come through on discord.
“Nope,” you answered, taking him by his gloved hand before you could hesitate. You led him towards the barrier that overlooked the river, and then you began walking right along it.
“Woah, alright- what’s the rush?” He asked as you dragged him along mercilessly.
“Sorry,” you loosened your grip. “I’m just excited!”
George giggled, the sparkle in his eye matching yours. “Okay, fine.” You walked at a pretty decent speed, not slow but not too fast.
Despite holding his hand, you were still quite far from each other. You wondered if you should let go, perhaps you’d been too aggressive. But George didn’t release your hand, and that was all the reassurance you needed to continue. Plus, it was warm.
“You wore gloves?” you asked, teasingly.
“Yeah, why?” George questioned.
“It’s not that cold!”
“What? Yes it is!”
“It’s not even winter,” you argued.
“Just wait until it gets later- you’ll be begging me for my jacket,” George huffed, and you both immediately blushed in embarrassment. Begging for his jacket didn’t seem like a terrible idea.
“Anyway,” you cleared your throat, “You’ve probably been here millions of times.”
“Yeah, of course- but not in a while,” he admitted, and smiled at you. “It’s… nostalgic.”
You’d tried to pick a place that’d be a conversation starter- and where better than the Thames river.
“You know, I used to come around here to see my sister,” he said. “She had a flat nearby- had a great view.”
“Ah, you have a sister?” you asked.
George dipped his head yes.
“Older, I assume?”
“Yeah, 8 years.” he answered.
“I see. Do you visit her often?”
“Occasionally, she lives up north with her husband now, she drives down here every so often.”
“That’s nice,” you cooed. “Do they have kids?”
“No, two dogs though.”
“Do you have any pets, George?” you asked. You’d seen somewhere on twitter that he had a cat, but wanted to ask him personally.
“I do, actually. Well, they’re technically my parents, I guess, but we have a dog and a kitten.”
“Aw, I’d love to meet them!” you bubbled.
George chuckled. “Sure, when you come over you can see them.” When . He’d said when, not if.
“I’ve always wanted a pet, they just seem like… a lot, ya know? To take care of.”
“Honestly, not at all. At least in my experience, I mean. My old cat, Luca, was so low maintenance that sometimes I forgot he was there,” he laughed. “He was lovely, though.”
He had a reminiscing look in his eye, that matched the sparkles in the river.
You squeezed his hand slightly, and he smiled as though just remembering you were holding it. You let out a soft sigh.
“You know, George, I like you better in person,” you said suddenly.
“Hm? Why?”
“I can hold your hand.”
George giggled, and blushed slightly. “That it?”
“I dunno…” you thought for a moment. “It’s just nice, I guess. Like, when we’re talking out loud, face to face… it feels… real.”
“Real,” George repeated, but then frowned slightly. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Something wrong?” you asked.
“Nothing, just… it’s strange, somehow, that most of my friends are only through the internet. Most of them I’ve never met, yet they still mean so much to me.”
You felt your stomach turn a bit, but then he continued.
“But when I’m with you, it feels… different. You’re right, it feels real. But also… it feels more, like…” George stopped, and you stopped with him.
You looked up at him, his eyes saying something you couldn’t quite catch. The river below you and the leaves above you swayed, and you found yourself resting in a place you couldn’t perceive.
“Like what?” you asked gently. George looked down, then back up at you. His gaze sent welcome shivers down your spine, and he gently grasped your other hand in his. Perhaps you were just imagining it, but you felt his face grow a bit closer to yours and you couldn’t stop your cheeks from heating. Everything was slow, and soft, and nice. And…
“Intimate,” George finished.