“ Hmm, yeah, and you haven’t indulged that in a while, eh? “ He does so enjoy watching Thorin flirt his way through life – it’s a concept that is less foreign to him than his elder counterpart, but which they have adapted to so readily that Beckett cannot help but be thrilled by it. No one ever gets to see this side of Thorin Oakes – not unless they’re looking closely and he remains in proximity, but he does so adore getting to keep such knowledge to himself otherwise. Learning about his lover and his quirks had always been one of his favorite pastimes. “ Are you sure you don’t want me to help with the expenses? We’re going to be here a while yet. “
Three weeks, if he recalls correctly. Three weeks of uninhibited time together to enjoy each other’s presence and truly explore Paris in the way they had always wanted to. Beck is grateful for the thought; he was always begging to go on longer or more frequent trips just to balance out their workload and keep away the stress, but he loved spoiling Thorin too. After all, it wasn’t as if either of them hurt for the funds, and he would hate to think how much this entire trip would cost him. Hell, the hotel room alone had likely put a dent in their monthly budget.
But rather than voice these thoughts, the younger man bites into his cheek and focuses on the tart. He had asked because he didn’t want Thorin to think he would simply be complacent about it, but if that was the way that his lover wanted to treat him, then he would simply have to come up with a way to reciprocate in other ways. Instead the blond smiles, glancing around their table while he nibbles on the rest of his treats. The prospect of trying something new every day very tellingly excited him, enough for that spark to return readily to his eyes. “ Yeah! I’d love that. I did like this spot, but I’m sure there are other gems around the area too, right? We’ll just have to keep looking. But if we ever came back, I definitely want to order more crepes. “
“You can help with things you want to buy, if that pleases you. But food and lodging.. any tours or events we end up going to, let me treat. This whole trip was my gift to you, remember? We’ve been together for a year now. A wonderful, perfect year I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.”
Feeling sentimental, Thorin reaches to clasp his lover’s hand once more. Under the table he keeps his ankle locked with the other, humming with a sort of content emotion only found in these seconds shared. “There’s bound to be plenty of places to visit. If we come to one we dislike, there is always the option of more crepes here. Or we could order in. Room service, so we can lounge in bed and entertain the morning there instead.” Grin surfaces, pearl whites showing in a terrific brilliance in the morning light. Staying in bed for a good part of the morning was another thing he wanted to explore while here - being so busy with their work, it was always stolen too quickly for his tastes.