Work Text:
Yusuf pulled Nicolò closer to him when he felt the room getting colder and colder as the night went on. It was a very good thing that Nicolò was warm to hold as always with a winter storm outside, and holding Nicolò in his arms was one of the best things in the world, no matter what time of the year. If you asked Yusuf,
"Yusuf?" Nicolò said. "The fire is going out."
"As I recall it," Yusuf replied. "It's your turn to put more wood on the fire."
"And as I recall it," Nicolò replied. "It's your turn to put more wood on the fire."
Nicolò turned around a bit in Yusuf's arms so they were face to face.
"Hmmm," Yusuf said. "You and I remember things differently. And I'm sure it's your turn to put more wood on the fire."
Nicolò ran a finger over Yusuf's cheek.
"Let me ask you this," Nicolò said. "What will happen the moment I leave the bed to put more wood on the fire?"
"The bed will get cold, and I'll freeze even more," Yusuf replied. "Fine, I do it. But the next time, it's your turn."
"Let's have that discussion the next time we need to put more wood on the fire," Nicolò replied. "And thanks for doing it."
Yusuf placed a kiss on Nicolò's cheek before getting out of bed.
"We have been alive for over 450 years," Yusuf said. "Do you think a person one day will invent something that will keep the room warm an entire night so we don't have to get up in the middle of the night to put more wood on the fire?"
"Don't you know that thing is already invented?" Nicolò asked. "It's called a Nicolò. And may I say it does a wonderful job of keeping you warm whenever you freeze."
Yusuf laughed as he crawled back into bed before pulling Nicolò close to him again.
"I'm still unwilling to share you with others," Yusuf said. "But for humankind's sake, I do hope for that invention. I think it will prevent many people from dying in their sleep whenever they inhale something they shouldn't and houses from burning down."
"I think it's a wonderful thought you got, Yusuf," Nicolò replied. "And as our sisters once said to us, live long enough, and you'll see things you never could imagine."
"And they are right as always," Yusuf yawned. "We better get some sleep. Dawn is close, and we got a workday ahead of us."
"But first, you got a promise to keep," Nicolò replied. "You promised to kiss me before we went to sleep."
Yusuf placed a finger under Nicolò's cheek before kissing him.
"And that's a promise I'll keep no matter what for as long as I live. Just like the other promises I have given you," Yusuf replied before he kissed Nicolò again. "Night, Nicolò. I love you."
"Night, Yusuf," Nicolò replied. "Love you too."