topino | (no subject)

[ The love he feels fills his chest and makes him smile against Nicky's mouth. He's all and he's more. Always has been. ]

Luckily for you, qalbi, I think I see the ferry on the horizon.

[ He gestures in the direction of the ship that will take them to their favorite place. ]

[ Nicky pats his mouth with a napkin and digs out enough cash for their order and a generous tip, still not letting his gaze drift from Joe's face, as in love with him as he was in the 11th century and every one since. ]

Do you want to take any food with us? Or has your hunger been sated?

[ He asks, knowing there is a hunger they both possess that food can do nothing for. ]

No, no, it won't keep.

[ Joe finishes his glass of wine and then takes Nicky's hand, gently tugging him to his feet. ]

For now, I'm satisfied. [ He tucks arm in his for their walk back to their car so they can get ready to get on the ferry. ] What else I need, well, that has to wait for some privacy.

[ Nicky leans back to drain the wine, when he's reminded, tongue on his lips for the last droplets. He lets Joe tug him onwards to the car, desperately excited to know that within hours, they will be in their honeymoon suite. ]

Does a ferry bathroom count as private?

[ He's very innocent as he asks, genuinely wanting to know. ]

I can't imagine it's very clean. This is public transportation.

[ He's debating though. Joe really wants to get his hands all over Nicky but he's not sure that a bathroom quickie will be satisfying. ]

But we'll keep our eyes open.

[ It is a testament to how riled Nicky is that he's still staring at Joe with a considerate look in his eyes, like he is still thinking about it. There is always the car, but it is truly not private.

Maybe they can act like the teenagers they never knew one another to be. ]

What if we sat in the backseat of the car and we made out, like we are sixteen?

You propose a very good idea.

[ There's some privacy in the backseat and it's not unusual for some people to stay in their cars. ]

I think we should try it. [ He certainly wasn't making out at sixteen. ] To see what it's like.

[ Funny, because even though he barely remembers the details (certainly not what he looked like or names), Nicky definitely made out with someone else at sixteen, on the cusp of priesthood and before his vow of chastity kicked in. ]

I wonder what you were like, then.

[ He slides his fingers in Joe's, holding his hand as they approach to get back in the car. ] I don't remember what it was like, though I know I did it, in some alleys.

I kissed a few girls and found it deeply unsatisfying. I was too... shy to approach any other boys. [ He remembers wanting to. The longing he felt is still very clear but he wasn't that daring back then. ] And I was very gangly then too. I wouldn't say I looked my best then.

[ Yusuf grew into his looks, luckily for Nicky. ] It was only when I started to travel as a merchant that I found some men to experiment with so I was older.

[ Nicky had never found any girls to kiss, though there had been some who looked at him a little long. He had only had the other boys in the church, who had been curious before they signed themselves away. ]

I was very gangly too. Tallest of my friends, I think. But not a hair on my face, not for years.

[ It had scraped his cheeks fiercely when they had clumsily tried to make out. ] I am forever grateful you did experiment so one of us knew what they were doing.

[ There were many girls who thought even gangly and growing into his looks Yusuf would be a good man and a good husband. As Nicky well knew for himself now. ]

My hands still shook the first time I touched you. [ He brushed his fingers against the back of Nicky's hand. ] I was nervous. After wanting you for so long I thought I would ruin it somehow.

[ He is the best husband and Nicky is viciously possessive and protective of the fact that only he gets to know that. ]

Your nerves were sweet. They matched mine, and made me feel as if I did not have to be ashamed for my own inexperience.

[ He loves thinking about how they got together. ]

If I had met you when I was sixteen, I think you would have made me speechless.

You never had anything to be ashamed of.

[ He kisses Nicky's cheek and gets his car door for him like a true gentleman. ]

You would've gone running to some town guard screaming about Muslim invaders. [ It's a sweet thought but Joe knows better. ] I would've been terrified to be in Genoa.

[ He swings around to the driver side and gets in. They join the line of cars loading onto the ferry. ] We met exactly when we were supposed to, my love.

I had years of inexperience and a terrible amount of lust. Not to be embarrassed about, but enough to shake at.

[ He smiles gratefully at Joe's romantic nature, thanking him softly as he climbs into the car, reaching across for his hand as they wait their turn. ] Met. Killed one another. Did it again, and at least that showed me your stamina.

[ He strokes his thumb along Joe's hand. ]

We will only have to pretend, then, to be love-drunk teenagers.

I'm fairly certain Andy has accused us of being that before. [ He brings Nicky's hand to his lips and kisses it gently. ] Do you need a little inspiration?

[ He trails a few kisses down Nicky's arm. It's slow going. He doesn't have to give his full attention to driving right now. ]

Our first kiss will always be precious to me. I knew I would always be yours after that. I would do anything for another of your kisses.

[ She will accuse it again. He's grinning now, sly and secretive, as he leans in and cups Joe's cheek to kiss him, flush on the lips. ] You need do nothing to earn this kiss.

[ And then another. ]

Or this one.

[ Letting out a happy sigh, he longs for the car to be parked on the ferry, glancing to the backseat for what awaits. ] I try and remember our first kiss, but it was so very long ago, but it is the most important memory. That, and the vision of you in firelight, claiming me.

It was around a fire as well. Most of our first moments were. [ It can't be much longer now. It will just seem like it as the tension builds between them. ] We were very gentle with each other. I know I was scared you would push me away or kill me for it.

[ It would be a few more weeks before they made love for the first time. ] And you didn't. You blushed. I remember it very well.

[ He can feel it crackling as if there is a fire here. Nicky is going to burst with it soon, and he leans in to cup Joe's cheek, his fingers a little firmer in their possessive touch, unblinking and unflinching. ]

I had left my sword so far away so I would not think of it. And it was very clumsy, the first time, but still inspiring.

[ It had been heavenly, enough to make him recant all vows to God. ]

You were the only thing that I wanted to put my faith in, after that.

Hopefully, I will always be worthy of that faith.

[ He would very much like to kiss Nicky but he has to pull away to hand over the tickets and show their passports. He does gush about how excited they both are for their honeymoon and how beautiful the countryside is.

It makes the man checking their passports completely bored. Just more tourists. They get through without any trouble. Then it's simply a matter of following the signs into the belly of the ferry and parking. ]

Once these people are mostly gone I am going to drag you into the backseat and spend the entire time driving you mad with kisses.

I cannot imagine a reason I would lose it.

[ He sits back and relaxes as Joe talks to the customs person, comfortable in the knowledge that Joe's charisma can charm anyone, and the way Nicky keeps kissing his hand, they keep up the lovers on their honeymoon pretense.

Never mind they know more about Malta and the countryside than anyone around them. ]

I am half-tipsy with wine and all ideas sound good to me, but that one sounds excellent.

[ Never mind how cramped their limbs will be. ]

[ When their immortality ends Joe hopes Malta still has the charm that brings them here again and again. He wants to live out their last days here. ]

Tipsy from one glass of wine? What are you going to do when we drink a whole bottle of champagne tonight?

[ European cars are not made for men of their height but to Joe that means he'll just have more of Nicky all over him. ]

Tipsy on love and good wine. It is more the former than the latter.

[ He grins, given that a bottle of champagne should do all manner of things to his willpower, not that Joe needs that lowered by any means. He's still giddy at the thought of arriving at their five-star hotel, even if he's digging into his savings to do it.

He squirms a little to check to see how many cars before they can park. ]

You are my favourite thing to be drunk on, you know.

[ They will never hurt for money. If Nicky needs anything Joe will give him all the money he has and more.

He reaches over and rubs his hand against Nicky's thigh, his growing impatience clear in the strength of his grip. ]

I would like to be drunk on you right now. Have we come at the height of tourist season?

[ There are six cars ahead of them. They should be parked in only a few minutes but it feels like eternity. ]

Che cazzo, it must be.

[ He is annoyed because Joe's hand is giving him all kinds of ideas about being completely grappled and mauled by his hands, in a way so different from when they first met. He lets out an annoyed sound, but decides to prepare.

He moves, unbuckling and taking off his denim jacket to leave only the blue t-shirt beneath (a size too big). He also toes off his boots, given that he's about to be rolling around and he would very much not like to accidentally kick Joe. ]

[ He glances over as Nicky starts to take off his layers and licks his lips. ]

Careful, you'll give me ideas.

[ They're just supposed to make out but the backseat of a car is not the most awkward place they've had sex before.

Joe's fairly confident they could make it work and probably not get caught. ]