topino | (no subject)

[ Nicky still has that inclination to curl up with Joe and simply hold and be held, for hours. That is what the hotel is for, and the house after that. It is to remind themselves of what they have. ]

You are always clever. You are one of the smartest men I have ever met, habibi.

[ He digs out the keys from Joe's pocket as they move, angling them back to the car, even if it does still reek of sex. ] A wedding ring is one thing, but a possessive kiss while I dip you in my arms says 'my husband' much more clearly.

[ They will rest in each other's arms and heal. They will let their love wash away the pain and fear and grief of the last few days. It cannot happen soon enough. ]

Says the man who can calculate bullet drop and wind trajectory in his head in a split second. You are brilliant as well.

[ He raises an eyebrow as Nicky takes the keys but if he wants to drive he certainly can. ] Well, if I'm going to get kissed then we can go to the beach for you to show off every single day of this trip.

[ Nicky does not smile too broadly for the compliment, but the praise is reflected in the way his eyes shine with it, the curve of his lips upwards, proud of what he does, and that Joe notices.

Though, with almost a thousand years on them, they should pick up some things. ]

Then we will have to go to the beach every day. And the market. I would like to claim you as my husband with market kisses as well, while you pick out the food we will cook each night.

Nicky... are you going to claim me as your husband everywhere we go in Malta?

[ He's not upset by this idea, mostly amused.

Although, a part of him is worried because Nicky is not usually so publicly possessive. It might be a sign of the lingering fear from the lab. ]

Because that will leave us very little time for anything else. It's a very big place.

[ So what if he intends to? They have had a harrowing experience and Nicky needs the universe to understand that Joe is his and he should not be taken from him. The people in Malta are just a convenient by-product. ]

Twice a day, then. Once at the market, then at the beach. We are on vacation, aren't we? We can make time.

[ It's that, or he will want to stay cooped up in their house, with Nicky refusing to let Joe out of bed. ]

[ They will not be parted so easily. Joe has faith in that. If Nicky needs to show the world then Joe will let him. ]

I do like the market in the morning.

[ When they reach the car he pushes Nicky up against the side and kisses him deeply and slowly, really savoring the simple pleasure of kissing him.

He's here. They are together. Nothing will part them. That's what the kiss says. ]

We can make time.

[ It's a kiss like any other they've had, but it feels like more. Nicky lets Joe back him into the car, lets him kiss him deeply, lets his mouth part and his head tip to the side to make it more.

He wants this, another thousand years of this, and it feels selfish to demand, but he's scared that mortality or Kozak or another company will cut it short. Merrick is only one man. He has competitors.

The thought makes him kiss Joe harder, bucking up against him to claim him, prove that no one can touch him. ]

They can't have you.

[ It's a promise, a vow, and he says it out loud so Joe understands that Nicky will die a dozen times over to make sure he's safe. ]

Only you.

[ Joe trails more gentle kisses along Nicky's face, showering him in affection and reassurance. They can't spend long like this but he'll give what he can. ]

I am only yours and will only ever be yours. Even when the stars are dust and the universe nothing, I will be yours.

[ He rests his forehead against Nicky's and stares into his eyes so he can see the promise in his eyes for the same. ]

[ It soothes the restless ache, though not completely. Nicky thinks the only thing that would do that is killing Kozak and watching Copley destroy her research, but that can come later. Right now, Malta beckons, and Nicky is eager to get to their hotel.

He presses his forehead to Joe's firmly, a little harder than he would otherwise, and nods. ]

Yours. And mine. My sun. You will always be there to guide my heart.

What a lovely heart it is.

[ He untangles from Nicky and goes to settle in the passenger seat since Nicky has the keys. ]

Come on, qamri, we need to get ready to disembark.

[ They will be in the car for awhile but they should be properly buckled and ready to go. ]

[ Nicky ducks into the driver's seat of the car, needing to feel in control of something, even if it's only driving to the hotel. He can't help his snort as he climbs into the car and smells...well, them. It hasn't dissipated in their walk around the top.

He settles in and reaches across for Joe's hand to squeeze and turn over in his. ]

I don't want to worry you. I will get better. I will calm. I only need time and you.

It's been a long time since something that dreadful happened to us.

[ He laces his fingers through Nicky's. ]

You know I don't like seeing you unsettled. It's instinct to comfort you as much as I can. You're showing it more, I think.

[ Which is a very rare reversal of roles for them. Joe always wears his heart on his sleeve while Nicky is more steady. ]

But you know I feel the same... unease.

[ It is the alternative, the usual, that scares Nicky. He fears that if he buries it down and keeps it behind the facade, it will never come out and he will zone out. This time is not like the others.

He presses his lips together when Joe accuses him (or just calls it out), and his shoulders hunch forward slightly.

A nod, acknowledging that he is processing badly, and that he will calm. ] It is new, to be betrayed by someone you love.

[ He grips the steering wheel tightly, and that's all he says, vision forward. He knows Joe doesn't mean to rebuke him, means to only notice, but Nicky goes quiet anyway. ]

It is.

[ Joe rests his hand on Nicky's thigh and gently rubs, trying to soothe. He really hadn't meant to upset him just let Nicky know he was aware and ready to help in any way he could. ]

It's his own fault but I keep wondering if there was something I should've said or done that would've changed things. [ He sounds annoyed at himself. ] But it's not our fault, is it? He made the choices and he has to be held accountable for them. Even if... I do miss him.

[ How could he not? They were family and loved each other. Losing one of their own, being betrayed by one of their own, it hurts deeply because of that. ]

[ Nicky keeps his stare forward, through the windshield until he feels safe enough to give Joe a nod and a hint of a smile, to let him know it's fine, and that he'll be okay. He doesn't want to disappoint Joe or burden him, especially not when Nicky can sort this out with prayer and time in Malta. ]

He was bitter that we had each other. We could not have done anything, because I refuse to hide my love for you.

[ They spent long enough doing that, by the time Booker got to them, he was done with it.

Nicky misses him too, but he cannot even think about looking at him. One hundred years is enough, if only that Nicky can rebuild his trust. Nicky reaches over to take Joe's hand in his, starting up the engine when a horn blows to signal they've docked. ] We have Nile, now, to worry about.

I don't think it would've helped even if we had.

[ Not that Joe would have tried. Their love for each other was as strong and as real as any man or woman's. They should be able to show it just as freely. ]

I don't see her going down the same road as Booker. [ Though he had never thought Booker would go down the path he took so what did he know? ] She has a bright spirit, you know. And strength. A lot of it.

[ No, Nicky thinks that Joe is right.

He focuses on driving, his heart thrilling to hear the clunking of tires from ferry to road, checking his phone quickly to make sure the hotel is where he remembers it being, before he focuses on their arrival to privacy. ]

She has a good heart. I think that I will soon have backup when it comes to my opinion on our missions and what we should be doing.

[ And is he smug about that? Yes, he is a little. Now Andy can yell at two of them when they talk about doing some good for the world, since he doubts Nile will stay quiet. ]

[ As soon as they are off the ferry Joe rolls his window down and lets the fresh coastal air rush in. ]

I don't think it'll take as much convincing as it used to. Andy seems revitalized.

[ Which is a little scary given how vulnerable she is now. Joe knows he will not handle it well the first time she's hurt. ]

Once this vacation is over she'll put us right back in the field I imagine.

[ Nicky does the same, even if the cross-breeze is already wreaking havoc on his hair, which is longer, but not long enough to tie back. He breathes it in deeply, though, and he feels better.

At least, until Joe talks about missions.

On the one hand, he wants to get out there and do something. On the other, the fear of Joe being captured and taken from him is still there, at the front of his mind. Unshakeable. Terrifying. ]

So long as she knows I'm not doing any mission without you. We can take Nile with us to teach.

[ If Andy ever lets them at her. ]

I don't think we'll be doing any solo missions for awhile.

[ They are all rattled by the loss and upheaval that's hit their family.

Joe feels it too. The worry that as soon as Nicky is out of his sight someone will take him. He can't let that happen. It would ruin him. ]

We need to learn how to work as a team.

Edited 2020-08-25 15:24 (UTC)

[ Nicky adjusts his hand on the wheel so he can hold it and reach out for Joe, keeping his eyes steady and fixed forward, but he squeezes, grateful they're on the same page.

It will be just like at the start, once we got together and I was too scared to let you out of my sight, thinking you would run. ]

He knows, now, that won't happen. Nine hundred years have proven it.

[ Taking a turn, Nicky hums softly. ]

When we make it to our thousand year anniversary, will you want to return? See Jerusalem again, where it all started?

It might be fun to retrace our steps. Go to where we first met. Where we came to peace with each other. Where we first made love.

[ It would be a long anniversary trip and who knew what dangers were out there now but he likes the idea. There's a romanticism in walking the same path that led him here. ]

What do you think? Do you want to get lost in the desert with me all over again?

I could buy a tent and some camels and see if I can recreate it almost exactly.

[ Mainly because Nicky likes a lot of modern things, especially cars. Braking as he sees the hotel canopy, he lights up like a child seeing a present, eager to arrive and begin to enjoy themselves. ]

I want to get lost with you anywhere we go, my love. But for now, I am happy to bring you to this hotel and get lost with you right up to our honeymoon penthouse.

You hate camels.

[ Much to Joe's amusement. They are temperamental beasts, just like his Nicolo. ]

Ah, a little mini-anniversary before the big one. I like the way you think. If you want to check us in I'll get the bags.

[ And most importantly, the swords. No hotel concierge is going to get their hands on those. ]

I do, but I think renting dune buggies would not feel the same. It might lessen the experience.

[ He hands the keys to the valet with strict instructions that Joe is to handle their bags and only Joe, leaning over to practically clamber over the divide to kiss Joe before he gets out, grabbing his fake passport and all their cards to head to the front desk.

Within a few moments, he has their key, but has also charmed them into giving them dinner with their honeymoon package. There are also strawberries and champagne waiting for Nicky Jones and his husband.

He returns with a key card in his palm for Joe, but he withholds it with a private smile. ] You can have this, but for a kiss.

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ack, formatting! sorry!

no worries. it happens.

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