Chapter Text
1. Casino Royale
2006
They leave the cinema hand in hand and dressed in their most casual clothing.
"It wasn't terrible," James says, and although Julian doesn't particularly care either way, he nods in agreement. "It'll never live up to the Connery era, but it wasn't bad."
Julian nods again. "Of course not."
The movie of the night was, naturally, Casino Royale, because James had been simultaneously excited and wary about it ever since he first heard it was being made. He'd seen every other Bond film. He had to see this one.
Julian had only ever watched them when forced to by his lover. He wasn't fond of the fakeness of it all. Why watch a movie about a gentleman spy when he was the real deal?
But James loves them, and Julian loves James.
"If only I'd been a part of that game," James says wistfully. "I'm quite good at poker."
It's then that Julian makes what is either a big mistake or a great move.
"I've never played poker," he says.
James steps in front of him. "Jules."
"James."
"You've never played a hand of poker?"
"No, I don't believe so."
"That's it. I'm teaching you."
"James, I doubt I'll ever need to know how to play a card game."
"We're gentleman spies, darling. Of course you need to know how to play. What if it comes up during a mission? We can't have you and Merlin pulling a Goldfinger."
"Well, I must have missed that section of my training," Julian quips.
"And look how lucky you are -- you have a wonderful teacher right here."
(They play for kisses instead of money, and when James finally wins all of Julian's chips, they retire to the bedroom to cash them in.)
2. Coming Home
The first thing James does upon getting home is slide into bed behind Julian, oxfords and all, his arm slipping around the younger man's waist as his face finds its place in the crook of the man's neck. His latest mission was a long-term one, and even though he'd wanted to get a mission in Japan for years (perhaps he's seen You Only Live Twice a few too many times), three weeks away from his lover was much too much time.
"You do remember the blade in the shoes, don't you?" Julian says wryly, his voice tinged rough with sleep.
James can feel the vibration of his words through his neck. "Mmhm."
"The one coated with a fast-acting neurotoxin?" Julian continues.
"Mmhm." He toes off his oxfords, and they hit the floor with two dull thuds.
"Have you even removed your weapons yet? I'd rather not get stabbed in my sleep."
James groans. "Can't I just hold you a little while longer? It's been too long."
Julian pulls away and twists around to face him, a gentle smile on his face. "You can hold me all you like. After you remove your personal arsenal."
There's a pout on his older lover's face, but Julian won't budge on this. Kingsman armor and weaponry have no place in their bedroom (no matter how many times James jokingly asked if they could do some James Bond roleplay).
"Fine, Jules," James grumbles but leans in for a kiss anyway. It's soft, slow, light, and most of all, passionate.
It's his favorite part about long-term missions.