The Blue Danube [OLD]

- 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔯𝔱𝔶 𝔣𝔬𝔲𝔯. ﾐ

"'scuse me, how much fer this?" He gestured to the particular bracelet.

The woman looked up from her task momentarily, spotting the boy there, before turning back to it indifferently.

"50 pounds."

Wow. That's pretty cheap, John thought to himself, but he just handed over the amount of money to the woman's outstretched hand, picking up the bracelet and examining it in the light, watching the way it bounced off the crystals. Perfect. Smiling wider now, he thanked the owner before walking off, pocketing the bracelet for later.

"What'd ye buy?" Paul asked curiously, eyes searching for whatever John bought. But, he just discreetly entwined their hands and kept walking, smiling at him secretively.

"Later."

"Oi guys! Let's go down to the beach, eh?" George piped up, expression lighting up with his idea.

"Yeah! Race ye guys to the docks, whoever's last has ta pay fer chips!" Ringo belted the words out before tearing off, giving himself a head-start as the rest of the group struggled to catch up.

"Fucker! Thanks for warnin' us!" Paul yelled at him with an incredulous laugh.

So, off they went - thundering footsteps through the streets, darting between crowds, George accidentally knocking a man's beer out of his hands to smash on the ground as he bounded past, causing the man to yell after them angrily. Their raucous laughter echoed through the drab suburbs, almost making the place seem warmer to hear such a joyous sound in such a dull area. John couldn't stop grinning the entire time.

So this is what it felt like to be free. No expectations. Just you and the people you love, wind whipping against their elated skin, sun beating down on their faces; free. He didn't have to please anyone, he didn't have to pretend to be someone he wasn't. He didn't have to pretend to love someone whom he didn't love.

John could definitely get used to this. In fact, when he heard Mimi's nagging voice in the corner of his mind - "don't be a disgrace to the family" - it made him crave more. His friends were opening his eyes to this life of freedom, and real people. He couldn't get enough.

"Oi, John! Ye okay? Yer driftin' off again." He was brought back to reality by Paul's voice, and he blinked away the thoughts. They had already made it to the beach which expanded on for miles and miles, Ringo and George jumping up and down in joyous triumph a few metres away, yelling;

"John ye loser! Ye gotta pay now!"

He didn't notice them whatsoever, though - Paul was all he could see.

Not thinking twice, he grabbed onto Paul's shirt and pulled him into a fervent kiss, sucking in a breath through his nose. Paul quickly melted into it, hands coming up to John's back, head tilting to deepen it before they pulled away, short of breath and giggling slightly.

"Get a fuckin' room, would ya? Someone coulda seen that!" Ringo laughed.

"I don't think I could bring meself to care right now." Paul bit his lip again, pecking John's lips one last time before letting go of him.

"C'mon, 'm hungryyyy! Let's get chips!" George whined, coming up to the two and shaking the prince's arm incessantly, causing him to shove his persistent hands away and glare at him.