Chapter Text
When Nile and Booker returned to the living room, they found Joe and Nicky sitting on the sofa with their legs tangled together, feeding each other eclairs. They had whipped cream all over their faces, and when Nicky licked Joe's face, Booker quickly covered Nile's eyes.
Booker: "What have I told you about doing that kind of stuff in front of me?"
Joe: "You weren't here, so why are you complaining?"
Booker took his laptop and pressed on something before showing Joe a video.
Joe: "I thought your days with making porn was over."
Booker: "Very funny. And for the last time, it wasn't porn but art I made. As a "so-called" artist, you should know the difference."
Booker looked at Nile, who was bursting with questions.
Booker: "No, you can't ask any questions."
Booker then looked at Joe.
Booker: "And if you tell her anything about Nice 1924, Joe, I'll strand you in Greenland again - without Nicky."
Booker closed his laptop before leaving. It didn't take long before a door was slammed somewhere in the safe house.
Nile: "Has he really done that? I mean, strand Joe in Greenland."
Nicky: "One time back in 1997. Joe was on a mission with Booker alone, and during a wet night out, Joe accidentally told someone one of Booker's secrets. Five days later, Joe stood in Greenland amid winter while I stood in Malta. It taught Joe two important things: don't tell Booker's secrets, and don't let Booker be in charge of your travel arrangement."
Joe: "It wasn't funny standing in Nuuk in the snow, only wearing shorts and a tank top."
Nile couldn't help but laugh over that image of Joe.
Joe: "Yes, you're laughing, but it's still not funny. It took Nicky over a month to thaw me up."
Nicky: "He is being dramatic. A very nice lady in Nuuk took Joe home and gave him warm clothes and a bed to sleep in until he could fly to Malta a couple of days later."
Joe: "She was very nice, but I can still taste the seal stew she served..."
Nile was holding her ribs while still laughing.
Joe: "And Nile isn't listing anymore."
Nicky: "Instead of sulking, do you want to lick my fingers clean?"
Joe smiled while nodding and took Nicky's hand before he started to lick the whipped cream off.
Nile: "That's gross, and could you please stop making noise."
Nile took a pillow and hid her face behind it.
Nicky: "When you're ready, Nile, there's a gift for you on the table from us."
When Nile heard the word "gift ", she looked up but regretted it immediately when Joe took one of Nicky's fingers into his mouth and made a semi-pornographic noise, which Nile knew would haunt her forever.
Nicky: "Joe."
Joe didn't hear anything until Nicky pulled his hand to him.
Joe: "Hi, I wasn't done yet."
Nicky: "We aren't alone, and we don't want to give Nile nightmares."
Joe: "Oh, yeah, sorry, Nile."
Nile: "If you end up in Greenland again, it's because I had nightmares."
Joe looked horrified for a moment before he smiled. Then Joe handed Nile her gift: a small badge with a labrys on it and words she couldn't read. And it was clear that the badge was handcrafted.
Joe: "It was Nicky's idea that we should have a badge like in the army because we're a small army. It gives you a feeling of belonging."
Nicky: "The labrys is a double-sided axe, like our main mission in life: to serve and protect humanity. It's written in a language the world has long forgotten but not us. The reason why I chose a labrys is because of Andy. It's a way of honouring her long life and as a way to never forget her."
Joe: "You decide if you want to wear it or not. We just wanted to give you your badge."
Nile ran a finger over the badge.
Nile: "Thanks, guys. I love it. I'll hug you when you're no longer covered in whipped cream."
Nicky: "Can't wait. I see Andy gave you the gauntlets Joe made a long time ago."
Nicky got up, but because he still had his legs tangled up with Joe's legs, Joe ended up on the floor with face first. Nile was trying very hard not to laugh again.
Nicky: "Oh, Joe. I'm so sorry."
Joe: "Once I have found my dignity, my revenge will be swift and brutal."
Nicky helped Joe up and kissed him on the forehead before he walked over to Nile and checked the gauntlets.
Nicky: "How do they feel?"
Nile: "My fingers are getting numb, but otherwise, they're very comfortable to wear. Andy said I had to wear them all the time until they felt like a natural part of me."
Nicky: "That was how I learned to lift my sword as a child by carrying it around. At first, I couldn't because it was too heavy to lift for a ten-year-old boy, but my teacher said every time I complained that I had to do it again. The same thing happened to Joe and Andy when they were children and had to learn to use their weapons."
Nicky got a finger under the gauntlets and checked Nile's pulse.
Nicky: "Tomorrow at dawn, your training begins. And you're going to hate us for a long time because we won't show you any lenience, but I need you to remember we do it out of love and that we want you to die as few times as possible in battle."
Nile: "I survived my drill sergeant, and it made me a better soldier. And I'll survive this training of yours and become a warrior like you all are."
Joe: "That's a good goal to have. Now go to bed. Tomorrow awaits a marathon for you, and you have to do it in under three hours and with only one bottle of water. If you can't, you won't get breakfast."'
Nicky: "And to make it fair, Joe will play by the same rules."
Nile: "Yeah, can't wait. See you tomorrow. Night."
Joe and Nicky said night to Nile, who left. Then Joe and Nicky looked at each other.
Nicky: "What is that look for?"
Joe: "I'm thinking about my revenge. It will be..."
Before Joe could finish talking, Nicky got a hold of Joe's t-shirt and threw Joe over his shoulder, so Joe landed on his back again before Nicky quickly straddled Joe to keep him in place.
Joe: "This is not a good night for my dignity."
Nicky: "Instead of complaining, you should use these last hours left to make love to me. We both know how grumpy you get during missions if you don't do it."
Joe: "As usual, you're right."
Joe pulled Nicky down for a kiss while Nicky grinded his ass over Joe's cock. When Nile saw it from the kitchen, she decided to eat her midnight snack somewhere else, so she went into the room she was sharing with Andy.
Nile: "Joe and Nicky are back."
Andy: "Good. I see they gave you a badge. I think it's a stupid-ass beautiful idea."
Nile knew that was a compliment.
Nile: "Do you still have your badge?"
Andy: "Yes, in a cave somewhere. Remember what I told you about caves."
Nile nodded. She had started to wonder if Andy owned any mountains so she could have her stuff in peace. Ten seconds later, a noise coming from the living room could be heard throughout the safe house.
Andy: "Are Joe and Nicky in the living room?"
Nile: "Yes, and covered in whipped cream. Why are you asking?"
Nile got her answer when Andy stood up with an irritated look on her face and took her labrys before leaving the room. It didn't take long before Andy returned again and threw herself down on the bed.
Andy: "Here's another mission for you, Nile - find a way to control Joe and Nicky's horny hormones. I have failed miserably in that task."
Nile: "I'll try. I can't promise you anything but that."
Andy nodded and saw Nile taking out the throwing knives.
Andy: "No, Nile, keep the throwing knives in their holsters in case someone attacks you during your sleep. And it isn't up for debate."
Andy rolled over to the side, and it didn't take long before she was sleeping. Nile, on the other hand, didn't sleep much that night because of the gauntlets. After failing to sleep for the fifth time, Nile sat up and took the badge, and while looking at it, she felt like she belonged even more to The Old Guard than ever before