Chapter Text
Nile corrected the little black dress before peeping around the corner. She could feel how nervous she was because this was a new thing, but it was a skill she was looking forward to using in the future. And Joe had been a great teacher, so it was just a matter of making this old spy trick into her own.
Nile: "So, all I have to do is to stand in front of the men and cars so you can get photos of them and the number plates?"
Joe nodded while checking if the camera transferred the photos to Nicky's laptop. Nicky was waiting in a white van nearby.
Nile: "And what do I if the men gets a bit too frisky?"
Joe: "Try not to break any fingers or kill them. We don't need that kind of attention, but else, do what you always do."
Nile: "Got it. Let's get this over so I can get to Las Vegas and drink champagne for a week."
Nicky in the earpiece: "Please promise me you plan to eat something."
Nile in the earpiece: "Of course. I'm going to take full advantage of free room service. And a big soft bed."
They all laughed, and after checking if they were ready, they put the plan in motion.
Joe: "Deep breaths, Nile. Nicky got your back, and so do I."
Nile: "I know, and I'm glad for it. Let's do it."
Nile handed Joe her mobile phone.
Joe: "You never part with this, so why are you giving it to me?"
Nile: "Just press start when I stand in front of the first car, okay? It's all part of the plan."
Joe: "Sure thing."
Nile took the white feather boa she had found in the safe house.
Joe: "Wow, I haven't seen that since Nicky danced can-can on a table during a mission back in 42."
Nile could tell by the smile on Joe's face it had been a fun day.
Nicky in the earpiece: "Don't remind me of that day. I don't think my ankles have recovered yet from dancing in those high heels."
Joe in the earpiece: "That might be, but you looked so beautiful in that white dress."
Nicky in the earpiece: "Grazie."
Nicky once told Nile that he was often the one who was chosen to dress up as a woman whenever they needed one because Andy refused to do it. Nile had seen some of the photos of Nicky in a dress, and she could understand why that was the case because of all the men in The Old Guard, Nicky was the only one who could pass as a woman.
Nile: "I would love to hear that story, but my plane leaves in less than six hours."
Joe: "Of course. Let's get going."
After a deep breath, Nile walked over to the first car, where she started posing up against it. Joe quickly pressed on the button Nile had requested, and music started playing. It was "All I Want For Christmas". Joe then started to take photos of Nile in front of the cars.
At first, the men standing outside stared at the sight in front of them, and some of them whistled or made a remark about Nile's body, but when Nile leaned up against a Lamborghini, one of the men walked over to Nile. Before the man could do anything, Nile danced her way around him in a very seductive way using the feather boa. It was enough to make the man forget all about the Lamborghini for now.
Joe: "Beautiful. Let me see that lovely face of yours."
Nile turned her face towards Joe with a smile. Nile continued dancing her way through the long line of cars until she reached the last one, where a man stopped her.
Man: "You have had your fun. Now, take your friend and leave before I forget to be nice."
The man showed Nile his weapon, but Nile didn't blink. Instead, Nile pressed her body against the man and swirled her finger around the man's tie, giving Joe the time he needed to take more photos.
Nile: "Come on. It's Christmas, and you look like you could need some fun, so why not dance with me?"
The man removed Nile's hand.
Man: "Move along now."
Nile sighed.
Nile: "Fine. Jossy with me."
Joe followed Nile with a smile. When they got around a corner, they both laughed before they hugged each other.
Joe: "Great job, Nile. A true professional."
Nile: "Thanks. You do know they will come after us and the camera."
Joe: "I know. Let's get a move on."
Joe pressed on the earpiece, where the first thing he heard was chewing noises.
Joe in the earpiece: "Nicolò, be honest with me. Are you eating Christmas cookies?"
Joe could hear Nicky had stopped chewing.
Nicky in the earpiece: "It isn't your Christmas cookies."
Joe in the earpiece: "Save some for me so I can compare them to mine. Anyway, could we get a pickup?"
Before Nicky could answer or start the van, someone tapped on the window next to him. Joe could hear it was a police officer.
Nicky: "Yes?"
Police Officer: "Driver's licence."
Nicky handed his fake driver's licence to the police officer.
Police Officer: "You can't park here because of the fire hydrant."
Nicky: "What fire hydrant?"
The police officer pointed behind him. Nicky could kick himself for not seeing it.
Nicky: "I didn't see it when I parked. Sorry."
Police Officer: "Sorry won't help you. Why did you park here?"
Nicky: "Because of the free wifi spot. I'm trying to enlist for the military."
The police officer looked at the fake driver's licence before he looked at Nicky.
Police Officer: "You're close to thirty, so why now?"
Nicky: "I got fired and decided to give something I always wanted to do a go."
The police officer looked at Nicky to determine if he was lying.
Police Officer: "Get going before you get a fine."
Nicky: "Thanks. And I promise to look out for fire hydrants in the future. Merry Christmas."
Nicky got the van going before he pressed on the earpiece.
Nicky in the earpiece: "Yusuf, Nile, are you there?"
Nile in the earpiece: "Yes, we're trying to shake our persecutors. Joe says the parking garage."
Nicky in the earpiece: "I'll be there in less than two minutes."
It took five minutes in total to find Joe and Nile, who jumped into the back seconds before their persecutors found them.
Nicky: "Sorry, I hadn't counted on the police officer. It was so much easier back in the days when you didn't have to worry about fire hydrants when you parked your horse."
When Nicky stopped at a traffic light, he handed the laptop to Joe so he could look through the photos.
Nicky: "Did you get what you needed?"
Joe: "Yes, all we need is to identify the people and hack their phones, plus some other things."
Joe looked at Nile.
Joe: "Thanks, Little Sister. For all your help today."
Nile: "Glad I could help. And thanks for teaching me a new skill."
Joe: "Don't mention it. Let me get up on the front seat so you can change clothes."
Nile: "Thanks."
It took some manoeuvring, but in the end, Joe dumped down on the front seat next to Nicky.
Joe: "Hi, Babe. Did you miss me?"
Nicky: "So much. And did you miss me?"
Joe: "Always whenever you aren't by my side."
Joe kissed Nicky on the cheek. They drove in silence until they had left Turin, where Nicky pulled over at the first empty parking lot he found.
Nicky: "When is your plane leaving, Nile?"
Nile looked at the clock.
Nile: "In less than three hours. Is that a problem?"
Nicky: "Not at all. Since you did all the hard work today, do you want to set the van on fire?"
It was something they always did whenever they used a vehicle as a way to cover their tracks.
Nile: "Yes, please. I think I have figured it out now."
While Nicky and Nile delved with the van and its contents, Joe got their getaway car.
Nicky: "Nile, could I have the white feather boa back?"
Nile: "Of course. I placed it in it's box. Sorry for not asking before I took it."
Nicky: "I'm just glad you found it for me. I thought I had lost it ages ago."
Nicky took the box and opened it. He still remembered that Christmas in 1921 when Joe gave him the feather boa and all the fun he had with it - both on missions and in private with Joe.
Joe: "Once we have delved with the drug lord..."
Joe kissed Nicky on his temple.
Joe: "I'll get you a new dress and everything you wish for."
Nicky: "Thanks, but I was thinking if you bring a couple of bottles of good champagne, then I'll dance for you, only wearing the feather boa."
Joe smiled before kissing Nicky.
Joe: "You got yourself a date, Babe. Let's go to Malta once this is over and have some fun."
Nicky: "That's a deal."
They watched Nile set fire to the van, and after ensuring a firetruck was on the way to extinguish the burning van, they left the parking lot and drove towards the airport, where Joe and Nicky insisted on hugging Nile at the gate before she boarded her plane.
Nile: "See you at New Year."
Joe: "You can count on that. Could I ask you to bring those snacks I love from Las Vegas?"
Nile: "Of course. Okay, one last hug before I leave."
After hugging Nile until the last minute, she boarded the plane. Joe and Nicky didn't leave until they couldn't see the plane anymore.
Nicky: "So, about your Christmas cookies..."
Joe: "Yes?"
Nicky: "Where are they?"
Joe: "You aren't getting anyone."
Nicky: "But you promised me Christmas cookies after we were done today."
Joe: "I said after the mission was over, which hasn't happened yet."
Nicky pouted.
Nicky: "Come on, Yusuf. I would do anything for you."
Joe, smirking: "That is a dangerous thing to say around me, and you know it because that is how you have ended up naked more than once."
Nicky smiled, and so did Joe. They kissed.
Joe: "And besides, you need to be punished for eating Christmas cookies during the mission."
Nicky: "That was just regular cookies, so I didn't do anything wrong."
Joe could tell Nicky was speaking the truth.
Joe: "True, I did see the bag, but I need to confess something."
Joe rubbed his neck sheepishly.
Joe: "Your Christmas cookies are on the way to Las Vegas because I thought Nile needed another reward for a job well done."
Nicky stopped walking.
Nicky: "You're right about that, but why did it have to be the Christmas cookies?"
Joe: "It was what I had on my hand. I promise to bake you some Christmas cookies as soon as possible."
Nicky crossed his arms with a grumble.
Joe: "I'm so sorry, Nico."
Nicky: "Oh, you'll be sorry once I'm done with you, so you better start running. I'm giving you two seconds head start."
Joe laughed as he started to run. Joe knew he couldn't outrun Nicky, and he knew what would happen once Nicky caught him, but right now, they needed to be silly because the last leg of the mission would be a hard one.