Work Text:
After having spent a decade with Nicolò, Yusuf still found it astonishing how little life Nicolò actually had lived during his first 30 years compared to Yusuf's first 33 years.
"Are you sure you weren't in prison?" Yusuf often asked whenever Nicolò told him about life in the monastery.
"We could leave whenever we wanted," Nicolò replied. "Yes, it was complicated if we did but some people actually did it."
"To me, life in a monastery does sound like a prison," Yusuf said as he handed Nicolò a piece of bread. "I mean no parties, you couldn't eat what you want and always been told what to do."
"In a way, it gave me a home I first have found again next to you," Nicolò said as he took the bread.
"Trust me on this Nicolò," Yusuf said. "Our home is gonna be so different than the home you have been living in."
As they continued with their searching for the women, Yusuf kept on asking Nicolò about what he had tried and not had tried, which seemed to be the longest list. Therefore Yusuf put it on himself to make sure that Nicolò tried new stuff.
"You must be mad!" Nicolò said as he looked at Yusuf with panic in his eyes.
"You said you always wanted to ride on a camel," Yusuf said. "And now is your chance."
"I said I maybe would like to try it," Nicolò said as he looked at the animal.
"He is ready," Yusuf said before he pushed Nicolò towards the cameleer with a smile.
"If I die from this you won't get sex the rest of the year," Nicolò muttered to himself.
When they sat down to eat that evening Nicolò was sore all over his body. Yes, he had been able to hold onto the camel during the ride, but he also knew that he would not rid a camel the next 100 years if he had anything to say about it.
"Should I have bought the camel?" Yusuf joked as he sat down with their dinner. "You seemed like you bonded with the camel."
"No thanks," Nicolò replied before he took a sip of his drink. "I still prefer a horse."
"At least you can say you have tried that now," Yusuf replied with a smile as he ran a foot up Nicolò's leg. They had found out that there would be fewer questions if they used their feet to show affection towards each other whenever they ate in public than their hands.
"I thank you for the experience," Nicolò said and gave Yusuf a smile before they started to eat.
They talked a bit about whether they should stay in the inn for the night or not when a wedding party entered the inn.
"I think we should leave the inn to them," Nicolò said as he started to rotate the cup between his hands when he felt Yusuf's foot on his leg.
"Hey, one day we will also dance in an inn together," Yusuf said with a smile.
"Yeah, I know," Nicolò replied and returned the gesture from before with his own foot. "Maybe at that time I know how to dance."
"Have you never danced?" Yusuf wanted to know which made Nicolò shake his head.
"Not a skill required for the monastery," Nicolò replied. "Do you mind getting our horses while I find a place to pee?"
A couple of weeks later, they had found an old abandon hut which they decided to make into their home for a couple of days until the monsoon was over.
"How are the horses?" Nicolò wanted to know when Yusuf came running in.
"Drier than I am," Yusuf replied as he shook his head like a wet dog in the hope to get some of the water out of his curls. "But they are doing fine."
"Good to hear," Nicolò replied and placed two bowls of stew on the table. "Hope you're hungry."
"Always, when you cook," Yusuf replied and kissed Nicolò before sitting down to eat.
After eating they sat in the doorway looking out on the rain. Nicolò was leaning his back against Yusuf's chest, who was holding around Nicolò.
"Do you remember you said you never danced?" Yusuf asked which made Nicolò tilt his head so he could look at Yusuf.
"I didn't say that," Nicolò replied. "I did it once, but it wasn't a success."
"Why? If I may ask," Yusuf said.
"Because I kept on stomping on the other's feet," Nicolò replied.
"Wanna dance with me?" Yusuf wanted to know.
"Give me a couple of centuries to learn it then yes," Nicolò replied with a smile before he returned to play with Yusuf's fingers, while Yusuf caressed Nicolò's arm.
They sat a bit in silence again which didn't bother them. There were other ways to have conversations than by using words. Gentle touches were just as good as words.
"Why don't we dance now?" Yusuf wanted to know which made Nicolò tilt his head again.
"Because time doesn't fly that fast that a couple of centuries has already passed," Nicolò replied before he interlocked his fingers with Yusuf's.
"Instead of having time as your teacher would you settle with me?" Yusuf asked. "I could teach you to dance."
"I'll end up killing your feet," Nicolò replied. "Which is a violation of our accord not to kill each other ever again."
"Then we do it barefooted," Yusuf said as he placed a kiss on Nicolò's temple.
"This is just as bad an idea as the camel," Nicolò protested.
"And you survived that just as you will survive dancing with me," Yusuf said and made a pouty face.
"Why is it I find it so hard to say no to you?" Nicolò wanted to know.
"Because you love me," Yusuf replied before kissing Nicolò. "Now up with you."
"Fine," Nicolò said as he got up. "One dance that is all you get."
"More I don't need," Yusuf replied as he pulled Nicolò with him inside the hut. "Of with the boots."
Nicolò just watched as Yusuf pushed the table to the side before Yusuf took around Nicolò's waist and pulled him close to him.
"Ok, just follow my lead," Yusuf said and started to move slowly but when Nicolò stomped on Yusuf's foot Nicolò stopped looking sorry.
"I don't want to stomp on your feet," Nicolò said as he tried to pull away but Yusuf just pulled him back into his embrace and took around his waist.
"I don't mind you stomping on my feet," Yusuf said. "I just want to dance with the man I love."
"Me too, I just wish..." Nicolò started but Yusuf cut him off with a kiss.
"Rest your head on my shoulder, hold around my waist with one hand, while you holding my other hand, and just follow me," Yusuf said. "I will always be here to lead you whenever you need it."
This time Nicolò just followed Yusuf's lead and soon he had forgotten everything about his feet. They did first stop dancing when thunder could be heard in the distance.
"Did you like your first dance?" Yusuf wanted to know as he caressed Nicolò's cheek.
"Very much and thanks for showing me," Nicolò replied with a smile and kissed Yusuf before Nicolò looked out of the door where he lighting lit up the sky. "So, can we dance again once I have checked on the horses?"
"Of course, Habibi," Joe replied with a smile. "We will dance until the end of time."