World Tour

Paris

As they drove in the taxi from Charles de Gaulle to the hotel, Eddy finally had a moment to reflect on the last week. He felt like his head was going to burst. So much had happened in so little time. 
He suddenly had a boyfriend, who he was more in love with than ever before. He was in a gay relationship now, that had been spotted by a friend, and he had casually joined the mile high club with said boyfriend. 
That alone would have been enough to send his head reeling, but they had also managed to play two very successful concerts, had been swooned over by fans. He still had no idea what to make of people seeing him as someone to try to get close to, someone to idolise. What was there to idolise about an Asian classical nerd from Brisbane? How real was any of that? 
Flattering, absolutely. But they didn't know him, not really. It was confusing.
He thought of Australia and the people who had called this world tour a 'suicide mission'.
He smiled a small smile to himself. Suicide mission, my arse. They were rocking it. 
Did this mean success? Did this mean recognition? Enough recognition for Asian families? As much as if he would have been 'doctor'? And... he hadn't allowed himself to think this thought before, but now it pressed itself up against him inexorably: what would his family make of him, being gay? He didn't think that would go down very well. 
He'd always been close with his mum, but even more so since his father died. 
He really didn't want to lose her. 

He didn't feel the tear coming, until it was already rolling down his cheek. He swiped angrily at it. Fuck, mate, crying in the back of a taxi? 
He choked it back, but he knew it would only be a temporary reprieve. He had to get himself into that hotel room a.s.a.p. 
Brett had taken his hand, and was looking at him with concern evident on his beautiful face. 
¨I'm okay, don't worry¨, Eddy whispered. ¨Just need some space to process everything.¨

Brett nodded. He knew Eddy well. 

The taxi arrived and Brett lead Eddy into the hotel. He calmly set him down with the luggage and the violin cases on a bench, while he got them checked in. 
With yet another key card in his hands, he soon picked Eddy back up and lead them into the elevator. Eddy followed him like he was a labrador. In the elevator Brett took Eddy's hand, and Eddy let his head relax into Brett's shoulder. 

On their floor Brett opened the hotel room door and ushered him in. He dropped down on the bed like a stone, and the tears started to flow in earnest now, soon erupting into full blown helpless sobs. Brett lay down beside him and hugged him tight, stroking his back, whispering:
¨It'll be okay. It'll be okay¨ over and over again. 
It took a good while for Eddy to cry himself out. He was a little bit annoyed with himself for being this weak, but he knew full well he would be the only one to see it that way. 
He felt so very safe in Brett's hands. His sweet Brett, who had known exactly what he needed. Who had always known exactly what he needed. 

He opened his eyes, the sobbing behind him now, and smiled coyly at Brett. 
¨You okay now?¨ Brett said softly. 

¨Thank you, Brett. I love you so much. I'm so grateful you always know just what to do and what to say. I'm so grateful for you. Yes, I'm okay. We just crammed a lot of experiences into a few days. Good  experiences, though.¨
Brett nodded. ¨Will you tell me about the things that worry you?¨

¨Yes. Later. Not you, for the record. But right now,  I want to go and discover this city of love, with the boy that I love.¨  

Brett beamed, nodded and kissed him sweetly on his lips, before getting up and putting his jacket on.