topino | (no subject)

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. ]

That sounds like a dare, Yusuf.

[And any time someone tells Nicky that he can't do something results in Nicky then proving that yes he can, and you should never have told him anything otherwise. It flashes in his eyes.]

Five minutes.

[He'll practically die inside to do it, but his sniper's patience might come in handy.]

Perhaps it is, Nicolo. You won't make it three minutes.

[ Whether Nicky actually resists for five minutes or not Joe will win in the end when the other man pounces on him. Nicky holding back will only result in some very energetic sex. ]

Do you want to make one last check or do we have everything? [ He would like to start this vacation and get to the wonderful things he's imagining in his mind. ]

Five minutes and a half.

[It's a very steady warning, and the more he thinks about it, the more he thinks that sure, he can do it. Of course, he's not really imagining Joe in the swimsuit, which is probably going to be his downfall.

He watches Joe put the clothes around the swords, nodding as he stands.]Anything else, we will buy. Airport?

Airport will be quicker but it'll take longer in customs to get the swords through. We could drive and take a ferry over to Malta. It might be more custom stops but less likelihood they'll search us.

[ Joe goes through a mental list of contacts to see if anyone could fly them in without all the trouble of customs. ]

You don't think Copley can get us a private jet, do you? [ The CIA agent is less and less intimidated by them every day. Joe isn't happy about that. ]

It would be nice to take a ferry ride with you, too. [ Nicky is already picturing the breeze through their hair, Joe's arms around him. He reaches for the guitar case, nodding. ] Ferry it is. [ He's made up his mind on that alone.

Nicky snorts at the idea of a private jet. ]

Unless he has some new evil benefactor, I don't think so, hayati.

[ In which case, Nicky would not like to find out via a private jet. ]

Alright, we'll drive. [ Luckily, neither of them get sea sick. ] Let's make sure we say goodbye to the others.

[ He grabs their bags and the passports with their fake identities. There's shouldn't be any problems.

He walks out of the room with their things and calls for Andy and Nile. Everything gets set on the kitchen table and then everyone gets big Joe hugs. ] We'll call you when we get there. And check in. Go have fun while we're gone.

[ Because they should relax as well, not just him and Nicky. ]

[ Nicky waits until Joe has had their turn with them before giving bone-crushing hugs of his own, keeping Andy as close as possible and whispering words of advice to Nile. When he's done, he picks up the bags and finds Joe.

He can always pick him out in a room, always, and right now, he needs him desperately. ]

Do you want to drive? [ He jangles the keys for him, wondering if Joe will want to go as fast as possible on the way to the port. ]

Yes. [ He snatches the keys from Nicky's hand and takes one of the suitcases as well. He's going to help whether his love likes it or not.

They load the car and he gets in the driver seat. It should only take them an hour or maybe an hour and a half to get to the ferry. How long they'd have to wait for the ferry, though, was up in the air. ]

Check the ferry schedule for me, taw'am ruwhi? [ He slides on a pair of sunglasses and then drives, eager to get away from the weight of everything. ]

[ Nicky grins as he watches Joe take charge, ambling after him and loading up the car with no real rush now that they've said their goodbyes and are heading off. He waves to Nile and Andy in the window, stretching out his legs before he digs out his little burner phone to start looking up schedules.

The minute they are far enough away, with his sunglasses on, Nicky puts down the windows. ]

I think we can make it for noon! [ The wind is a little loud, but he likes the way it feels in his hair. ] We can have some lunch and wait for the boat to come in.