Work Text:
Joe arrived first at their safe house in Milan. Nicky was supposed to come two hours after Joe, but Nicky would be delayed by over two days because of a strike. Nicky told Joe to go to bed, but Joe refused because he couldn't sleep without Nicky in his arms.
To pass the time, Joe cleaned the safe house twice, bought new books for Nicky and new paper to draw on. That only lasted five hours in total. So, Joe called Nicky, who once again said that Joe should go to bed and once again Joe refused.
Then Joe walked from one end to the other end of Milan. That only took him six hours in total. When Joe came home, he called Nicky, who once again said that Joe should go to bed and once again Joe refused.
Joe then decided to paint one of the walls in the safe house. He found an old sketch of Nicky lying on a meadow in all his naked glory on his tummy enjoying the sun. As he painted the sketch on the wall, he didn't care what the rest of their family would say when they used the safe house. He got a beautiful man in his life and he wanted to show the entire world it. Without noticing it, the hours went by and he forgot everything around him as it always was when he was engulfed when he painted.
"Another masterpiece," Nicky said with a smile as he leaned up against the doorframe. "But maybe you should cover my naked ass. Not everyone is a big fan of my ass as you're."
Joe turned around and smiled for the first time in days, when he saw the love of his life.
"It's their own fault they can't appreciate a true wonder," Joe replied, almost running over to Nicky to hug him. "Hi, Ya Qamar. How I missed you."
"Not as much as I have missed you," Nicky replied, removing a curl from Joe's face. "You look tired. When did you last sleep?"
"Lost count after 72 hours but it isn't the longest I have gone without sleep," Joe replied. "And there is something romantic over being sleepless in Milan."
Nicky shook his head. His man was an incurable romantic.
"Come to bed with me," Nicky said as he took Joe's hand. "It has also been over 72 hours since I last slept."
Joe looked over at the painting on the wall. It made Nicky cup Joe's cheek and caressed it gently.
"It will still be there when you wake," Nicky said. "I promise."
It was enough to get Joe going and he followed Nicky into their bedroom. They quickly got out of their clothes and lay down in their favourite position, Joe behind Nicky. After more kissing, Joe pulled Nicky even closer to his chest and it only took a couple of seconds, then Nicky knew Joe had fallen asleep when Joe nuzzled his face into Nicky's face. Nicky ran his fingers up and down Joe's arm before he closed his own eyes letting sleep also claim him.