Life From Your Lips (Ruby Rose fanfic)

TWENTY-FIVE (Iselen POV)

We plunge into chaos the moment we walk under the big stone arch... but it's an ordered chaos. There're tourists wandering around aimlessly, sellers yelling and trying to catch their attention from every shop, young boys carrying heavy packages on their shoulders, women that cover their heads with colourful scarfs going grocery shopping, children that smile trying to look innocent while keeping their eyes fixed on the bags and watches worn by unsuspecting foreigners, men sitting on small terraces around coffee shops talking about football... A fascinating microcosm in action.

And a burst of colour that contrasts with the grey cobblestones on the floor and golden sandstone on the walls: crystal lamps, vases made of golden brass that reflect the light, carpets that look like gemstones in ruby and emerald shades, cotton and silk scarfs displayed in shop windows, leather slippers, dresses made of shiny fabrics and covered with sequins to dance belly dance, faces of pharaohs staring at me from evert stall... Thousands of cheap souvenirs that tourists buy nonstop, the Sphynx, the pyramids, minarets that are actually fridge magnets, a present for family and friends... A small object that's proof that they've been here, in Kemet millennial kingdom.

"I love the souk, it's so vibrant..." I whisper excited turning my head so I don't miss anything.

"Come on, Meri, this is not the right time to go shopping," Ruby answers impatiently, taking my hand and making her way through the crowd elbowing tourists away while shotting a furious glance at the kid that was getting too closer to my backpack, trying to sneak his nimble fingers inside. The boy nods and steps back, he understands this woman is aware of what happens around her and she's not like those stupid tourists that stare at the shop windows entranced while someone steals their watches.

"I think the souk is the only place in this country where two lesbians cand hold their hands and no one bats an eye," I whisper amused and Ruby stares at me surprised, looking down at our entwined fingers for a second, before laughing.

"I guess you're right, it's easy to get lost on these narrow streets packed with tourists and sellers, it's not uncommon for women to grab their companions' arms to make sure they leave this place with them and all their bags full of souvenirs."

The more we venture into the souk, the more subtle changes I'm able to notice around us. It doesn't smell of the strong incense that the owners of some shops burn to create a mystical atmosphere some tourists associate with Orient, it doesn't smell of tanned leather from handmade bags and slippers, it doesn't smell of sweat and sunscreen from foreign women, of scented oils that locals try to sell like it's some kind of traditional craft although we can find similar bottles all over the Middle East... It's cooler here because there're less people in this area and we walk across the cobblestones in a straight line finally, but Ruby doesn't let my hand go. It smells of spices like pepper and cinnamon here, of fruits and veggies, of date paste, of tobacco men are smoking in coffee shops, freshly baked bread and almond pastries...

"There're no tourists here," I whisper looking around and feeling a little intimidated.

"Welcome to the real Cairo," my beautiful princess smiles. A woman sticks her head through the window and screams a name, startling us, a boy answers and crosses the street running before climbing up narrow stairs. "We better move, they don't usually see foreigners in this area, unless they're lost, and we'd be an easy prey for thieves. I need to find an address in the middle of this labyrinth."

Ruby pulls my hand and we walk into a small and dark shop, there's a dark-haired man behind an old wooden counter surrounded by bags full of dry herbs, coffee beans, roots and all kinds of spices, prunes and dried figs and bottles of syrup. The smell is so pungent that I almost feel dizzy. The seller looks at us confused but smiles kindly like everybody in this country, even if he believes we're gullible and we got lost in the souk so it'll be easy to put his hands on our money, he'll still be polite and show us his best manners.