Work Text:
Joe was sitting on the couch reading when Nicky hissed out a curse. The book was dropped instantly as he hurried to the kitchenette.
Nicky had already turned to the sink and washed the cut. He showed Joe his finger. “It’s already gone, love,” he assured him.
Joe exhaled heavily, as he took Nicky’s hand in his. He kissed the pads of each of Nicky’s fingers, and then his palm, before pressing Nicky’s hand to his cheek.
They’ve been in this AirBnB for two weeks, Nicky having insisted that they needed time together to process the Merrick ordeal, (Booker’s betrayal, and Andy’s mortality) and Andy had agreed so that she could spend time teaching Nile some of their habits. Nicky and Joe had talked about Andy’s mortality, but not at all about Booker. That was alright, though; it would come around eventually.
Joe had always been protective of Nicky (and vice versa), but since getting away from the lab, he had been more so. Nicky knew he worried, was worried, would always worry (it was mutual, of course). He pulled Joe into a hug.
---
Three months had passed since Merrick’s, but Joe was still having nightmares. He would awaken in the night, and cry into the back of Nicky’s neck, curling around him even more. Nicky would roll over, and hold him, crying, too, until they both fell asleep again.
Copley had yet to set them up with a new mission, so they were all lying low in one of their nicer safehouses. One evening, as Joe and Nicky were walking along the beach at sunset, Joe had confessed that he was afraid.
“We could go somewhere, just the two of us, just for awhile,” Nicky had replied easily. He had wanted to bring up the idea for a few days now.
Joe smiled at him. “I do recall a promise of returning to Malta.”
Nicky smiled back, and slipped his arm around Joe’s waist. “I meant it. I was worried you would want to stay with Andy now, though.”
Joe’s smile slipped for a moment, then returned, as he nodded. “Nile can look after her. And they wouldn’t go on a mission without us.”
“We wouldn’t let them.”
Joe had kissed Nicky’s temple.
The next morning, Nicky had spoken to Andy about them leaving. She had been supportive, especially when he told her where they wanted to go.
“Take care of each other for as long as you need,” she had insisted with a wink.
---
“I love you,” Nicky whispered in Joe’s ear, as Joe’s fingers threaded their way through his hair, to rub at the spot on the back of his head where Keane’s bullet had exited. Nicky wished he wouldn’t dwell, wouldn’t remind them, but he knew Joe needed time to let it go, and Nicky was patient.
“I love you,” Joe echoed, giving Nicky a squeeze.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Neither am I,” Joe promised.
Nicky pulled back enough to kiss Joe soundly. Joe smiled against his lips. Nicky slowly withdrew from Joe’s arms, giving him a chance to pull him back in if he wanted to, but Joe let him go.
“Can I help?” Joe asked, eying the vegetables spread out on the counter.
“Of course,” Nicky replied, smiling and sliding a knife over to him. “What was your book about?”
Joe recapped the novel, as they made dinner together.