topino | (no subject)

[ 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.]

You're going to join another sewing circle, aren't you?

[ Which is an endlessly amusing idea. Every grandmother takes one look at Nicky and adopts him. Joe understands the urge. ]

I don't think months are a problem for clothes anymore. [ It is very small so it takes him awhile but he does fine the little black swimsuit tucked in a corner of a drawer. ] Would this be the swimsuit you're interested in?

[ He lets it dangle from his finger. It really is barely decent when he wears it. ]

You have never complained about any of the sewing I bring home before, so why would I not join another one?

[Yes. Yes, he is. And he will drink tea with them and talk about the good old days. It's inevitable, because he always likes to reminisce. Nicky glances up from his packing and his face lights up.]

That's it, that's the one.

[He lets his fingers gently lift the fabric, eyes bright as he remembers how little of Joe it covers.] This will make it a very good vacation.

You can make something nice for Nile.

[ Joe lets him take it with a fond smile. ]

You are going to make friends with the neighbors and I am going to shock them with my hedonistic ways. [ Which is fine. They asked Copley to find them somewhere with some privacy but there will always be nosey neighbors. ] How long will you let me wear it? If I remember it was off in two minutes last time.

I could sew her an embroidered handkerchief.

[He knows that she doesn't need it for sickness or tears, but it does well to clean off the scope of rifles, which is why Nicky likes it so much. Nicky smirks as he finishes with the last of his things on top of the suitcase, prying the documents out to keep with the passports.]

They will just be glad that Nicolo has such a devoted and handsome husband, I'm sure. [His eyes scan Joe's body, and even talking about it has him wanting.] Two minutes, fifteen seconds.

That would be very sweet.

[ Joe imagines she might also use it in her hair but it's the thought behind the gift that matters most. It shows Nicky cares. ]

I can't argue with that. [ He is very handsome and very devoted. ] Do you think you'll make it two minutes and sixteen seconds this time? I don't.

[ Flirting with his husband never gets old. Joe adores it but he does move away to pack their swords away in an old guitar case with some clothes thrown in to pad them. ]