topino | (no subject)

[Joe had been right (of course he had, Nicky's not sure when the last time he hadn't been was), and Andy had not only agreed to their time away, but had sent them off with a look and a wave of her hand that implied that she didn't want to see them until they had sorted through their issues.

Which, Nicky had felt applied strictly to himself. He was the one with issues, he was the one too tense, too scared, too consumed with nightmares. Now it's only a matter of packing and leaving.

Joe might need to shove him out the door when they get to that.]

Joe. [Over his shoulder, while packing weapons and books and recipes.] Do you want me to pack any sweaters? [He knows they won't be wearing many clothes, but it will still get chilly at night. Not to mention, they still haven't completely found a place to stay.]

[ They really needed this time. Most days, Nicky was alright but Joe knew him. He knew the weight that Nicky put on himself because of his sensitive heart.

They need the time alone to talk and work through this together. As much as Andy cared and Nile wanted to help this was between them. ]

Hm? I guess we should pack a few. I haven't looked at the weather yet. [ They would have a place soon. Copley had the identities done. It was simply finding a place that had everything they wanted. ] Maybe four or five?

[Nicky tucks away more than that, including the fisherman's sweater that would be too warm for anywhere but the coldest of locations, taking his time to move it to the side, amused at the dichotomy between the swimsuits and aprons and the colder wear.

Maybe it will be cold at night. His favourite, because cold at night meant Joe's arms around him and curling in close.

He crosses the room to fetch Joe's books, kissing his cheek at his side.] Thank you for making me do this.

I gently encouraged you to do this. [ If Nicky didn't want to do something there was no force in heaven and earth including Joe that could make him do it. ]

You know deep down that you need this vacation. [ Joe considers their swords which would be a bitch to get through customs but it doesn't feel right to leave them behind. ] Do you think we should ship these once we have an address?

[ Otherwise, it would be carrying them around which is tricky in the modern era to say the least. ]

[Nicky does need it, but only because he's been having constant nightmares where he wakes up and Joe isn't there, or Joe is bleeding, or he's screaming in pain. Being around Andy and Nile is a reminder.

Booker's absence is one too, but at least if they go away, it won't be as much of one.] I need it very badly, so long as you are there.

[He glances to the swords, making a small needy sound. I don't want to be separated.] Do we still have that trunk with the lead lining? We could try and conceal them as we go.

[ The nightmares worry him. Joe can't stop them besides being there when Nicky wakes up and reassuring him. ] It wouldn't be much of a vacation without me.

[ He has to consider for a moment. ] I think it's in Denmark. That's where I remember it last.

[ Which means they'll have to smuggle them. That's fine. They've done it so many times all over the world they'll manage it. ] I'll get a guitar case and hide them in that. Like we did in South Africa in '74.

It would be a chore without you, habibi. [ He leans in for a kiss, absently tangling his fingers in Joe's hair now that he's here and thinking about where their luggage is. His smile only grows for the reminder of South Africa. ]

I liked the way you wore your hair in '74. And your clothes.

[ He remembers bright colours, but also, many deep necks with a few of them. ] We could always pretend we are re-enactors, historically. I think I still have some forged paperwork that shows that we are allowed to have them. [ All he knows is he's not leaving them, not after they nearly lost them when they were kidnapped. ]

If only the fashion was as good. [ Oh, do not get him started on 70's fashion. Joe is very particular about clothing. At least his curly hair had been fashionable. ]

Re-enactors or maybe, uh, museum curators moving artifacts? I bet we have something in this house with that story. [ He pets his fingers through Nicky's hair and kisses his forehead. ] We won't leave without them.

[ Even if they brought a whole arsenal of guns it wouldn't make them feel as safe as their swords which have seen them through centuries. ]

[ Nicky gives one of the curls a tug with a playful grin, ducking away to fetch the reading glasses that he doesn't need, but are also fashionable. ] If I'm going to be a museum curator, I will want to look the part. [ He says, tapping the glasses case against his palm, putting it into the bag with the others. ]

[ The swords are necessary. For one, it's what they used to kill one another, but there will never be a weapon he feels as comfortable with as that one. ]

I do prefer it when you are pretending to be a museum curator in charge of your own poetry and art, those few times it happened.

Let's see what the fake papers say before we decide on these identities. [ They have a whole collection of papers they've used over the years. Normally, Booker would check them to make sure they were still appropriate but well, he'd have to get Copley to do it. ]

Although, you are adorable in those glasses. [ Nicky looks so studious with them on. Joe adores it. ] There were certain artworks that were meant for you and me alone. I wanted them back.

[ He goes to get the big folder of forged papers and custom forms and starts to flip through it. ]

[Nicky settles back on the bed beside the bag, once he's carefully put their swords on the coverlet as well.] Maybe I want to be a teaching assistant again and wear glasses and too-big sweaters and talk lovingly about my intelligent academic husband.

[He smirks, leaning back on his elbow.] My academic, wildly smart, older husband. [Which is a tease he hasn't used in a while, but enjoys it every time.]

And I am always grateful you got that art back. I would not want to stumble on them in a gallery.

You will be too warm in sweaters all the time. [ He looks over the edge of the file with a little smirk. ] Wear the button up shirts and roll up your sleeves.

[ Joe rolls his eyes. He's three years older. It's not that much. ] You look older with the glasses on, you know. It adds years to you.

I was very excited to curate Erotic Art of the Mid 16th Century. It was a real tragedy when that art was lost under my watch and they had to fire me. [ That heist had been really fun, getting his art back from the MOMA. A shame he couldn't use that identity anymore with such a black mark . ] It was a good exhibit even without my art.

Then you will have to strip me out of the sweaters so I do not get heat stroke. [As if he could.] Button-ups, though, a good idea. Maybe I can even purchase a nice waistcoat to go on top of them. [He's on his feet, trading out clothing, and smirking over his shoulder.]

It may add years, but I will never have those three years of experience that you do. Forever the younger man.

[He hides his smirk as he repacks, leaving in one cardigan to use at night, and adding the supplies from the bedside table so they don't have to go to a pharmacy.]

Very tragic, yes. Though, the private showing that you gave me was very much appreciated. It's always nice for the subject to feel special like this, I think.

Oh, if you want me to undress you then by all means wear all the sweaters you want. [ He does enjoy unwrapping Nicky like a gift, one layer at a time. ] Do not tease me with the idea of you in finely tailored clothes. I will not be held responsible for my actions.

[ Nicky in clothes that hugged his body and were highly fashionable? Joe would be on his knees in seconds ready to worship him. ]

You had forgotten some of those drawings. It was very nice to share them with you again. [ He chuckles to himself while he pulls out the appropriate fake papers for their swords. He lays them on top of his suitcase so they're easy to find. ] Those should be what we need.

I think it will be better in the button-down and waistcoat then. [ He even thinks he still has some, and he bends to fetch them, adding them in (and giving Joe a nice view of his ass while he does). Once he's righted, he pushes the messy strands of hair off his forehead with both hands. ]

[ He leans over to check the papers, and starts adding other things he might need to play the role well. ]

Anything else, we can always buy once we get there. I assume we are thinking Malta?

You are going to torture me. [ Joe comes up behind Nicky and wraps his arms around him, rocking back and forth for a moment before nuzzling against his neck. ] And I will ravish you for it.

[ Which is always the point when Nicky dresses up. He does it to rile Joe up and Joe falls for it all the time even after centuries. ]

Of course we're going to Malta. I've been thinking about it since the lab. [ He rests his chin on Nicky's shoulder focusing very hard on not getting caught up in the memory. They're safe now. Free of the lab. ]

I really did not think that my body in nice clothing is torture, but ah, the more I know.

[ He lets out a soft huff of laughter as Joe nuzzles him, pressing back into his hold and bowing his head to lean in. Then, Joe has to mention the lab. His lips purse and a line is between his brows, because he doesn't like to think about the lab.

Even if it is getting them to Malta. ]

When I talked about it then, it was a dream. A pinprick of light at the end of a tunnel I did not think we would escape. I thought it would be a lifetime before we had a chance.

Of course we were going to escape. [ The whole time they were there Joe had watched while conscious trying to figure out an escape. He refused to believe they would end up trapped there forever. ] They would have let down their guard after a few days and we would had gotten out.

[ But, that was the past. Nile had come for them instead. ] They were too arrogant not to make mistakes.

We've seen their type before. We knew how it would end.

[Joe is more hopeful than Nicky. In Nicky's mind, they had their shot of escaping when they were first in the lab. They should have fought back, jumped a window, done anything once they knew who was behind Copley's betrayal.

Instead, they were taken.]

We could have lost so much, Joe. What if you'd stopped healing? What if I had?

Then we would spend our last days together. But you have to stop getting caught up in the past, my love.

[ He squeezes Nicky tighter like he can somehow force the guilt out of him. ]

We cannot change it. We can only go forward. We will make sure nothing like that happens again. If it does, we will have a plan. Look forward, not back.

[ The trouble is that too many things happened at once. Andy's mortality, Booker's betrayal, Nile's revelation that Quynh is alive and at the bottom of an ocean. It's all too much, and Nicky barely knows how to cope with that.

Add onto that a fear of losing Joe or seeing him hurt and he doesn't know how to cope. ]

Forward. With us together. [ Because it's the only way he knows how to be. Kissing Joe desperately, it helps, but he's not sure it does everything he wants. The fear doesn't go away. ] I want to keep doing good, but not if it means losing you in any way.

I know. I have the same fears. [ Tenderly he pushes Nicky's bangs back, gazing into the eyes he's known for a thousand years. ] Losing you would end me but the way we help is not an easy path.

I will remind you ever day that I am with you and will have to be forcefully removed from your side. [ He makes that promise with a kiss. ] Until your fear is calmed and you've found peace again.

[ Nicky's sigh is a heavy thing as he lets the air out, but with it goes some of his tension. Joe's hand on his forehead helps, so does the reminder that what they are doing is for a good cause. ]

Six weeks of no danger and you will help. I think also, reminding myself that good can be done without the edge of a blade involved. Sometimes, it will be the smallest things, like the kindness of helping strangers.

I'm dragging down our packing. This was supposed to be fun. [ And with a flash of eyes, Nicky thinks there's a way he can still ensure they're preparing for fun. ] Do you still have that sinfully small swimsuit?

[ They will heal in little bits and pieces. It will take time but Joe knows they'll recover. ]

It's true. We are more than our blades. [ Those are still coming with them though. ] I see you're going to make friends with the neighbors while we're on vacation.

[ He laughs. ] Probably. You might pout if I threw it away. Let me look. [ Just a small kiss before he moves away from Nicky to root through their clothes. ]

I will become every old woman's favourite.

[Never mind that Nicky is older than all of them combined, but he does have a way with the elderly. Probably because he basically is an old man himself and sometimes going at a slower pace is all he wants.]

I would very much pout, but it was so small, if the moths got to it, it would be gone. [While he looks, Nicky adds toiletries to the bag, on top of the lube, double-checking that he's put Joe's sketchbook safely in a compartment.]

Packing - Continuation for thattime

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