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After some intel about a weapon deal, Joe and Nicky had made their snipper nest on a rooftop the day before. They had taken turns to sleep during the night and shared a kiss or two, but they hadn't moved from their spot. In the morning, a tabby cat had shown up. It wasn't the first time it had happened, and often animals were a welcome break in an extended stakeout. The cat had walked over Joe's back with what seemed like a clear aim in sight: Joe's curls. When the cat was sitting on Joe's head, the cat started arranging Joe's curls to its liking before laying down and falling asleep with a happy purr.
The cat moved around and dug its claw into Joe's scalp before lying down on its back with yet a happy purr.
Joe made a small noise: "Awww."
Nicky: "Got a problem with your new lodger?"
Joe: "Only the claws. That's the only complaint I have."
Nicky: "You could always remove the cat."
Joe: "I've actually grown to love my new lodger. Always nice to meet another fan of my curls."
Nicky smiled before returning to looking out of the sniper scope while Joe did the same thing with the binoculars, looking around the area in the search for the weapon smugglers. The next many hours passed by without anything happening, while the cat still slept on top of Joe's head. Then at dusk, the weapon smugglers turned up with their buyers.
Nicky: "Interesting."
Joe: "What do you see?"
Nicky: "That they are loading the rocket launcher and are going to fire in our direction. Grap the cat, Yusuf."
Joe gripped the sleeping cat, who protested over the abrupt awaking by making hissing sounds and scratching Joe's face, but Joe forced the cat under his jacket and closed it before jumping down from the rooftop seconds after Nicky. When Joe hit the ground, Nicky threw himself over Joe to shield him and the cat from the collapsing building. It took Joe a moment to be able to focus again, and it was there Joe noticed that Nicky was lying unconscious on top of him.
Joe: "Please no, Nicolò. Wake up."
Joe turned around and sat up with Nicky in his arms, caressing Nicky's face before burying his own face in the crock of Nicky's neck. Joe was trying very hard not to cry while praying to whatever God would listen to his prayer: to bring back his beloved.
Nicky: "Sono qui, Yusuf. Sono qui, Yusuf."
Nicky placed a hand on Yusuf's cheek with a smile.
Joe: "I love you so much, Nicolò."
Nicky: "I love you too, Yusuf. It's funny."
Joe: "Being blown up is funny? And almost dying."
Nicky shook his head.
Nicky: "No, not that. Your lodger isn't too happy about its new flat. It reminds me of that scene from Alien where the baby bursts out of the chest."
Joe looked down himself and saw the cat hissing and moving around like crazy under his jacket. It made them both laugh while Joe let out the cat, who sprinted away.
Joe: "Just so you know it, cat. I was the one who spared you from using one of your nine lives. So, you're welcome."
Nicky placed his hand on Joe's torn-up t-shirt.
Nicky: "How are you feeling?"
Joe placed his hand over Nicky's chest and moved it a bit to the right so Nicky's hand was over Joe's heart.
Joe: "My heart is still beating for you as always. Nothing has changed, even though I need a new T-shirt. I was actually very fond of that T-shirt. I got it at that concert back in 83. Remember that concert? We..."
Nicky smiled before kissing Joe to prevent him from rambling.
Joe: "Sorry, how are you feeling?"
Nicky: "Like I got an entire building on the head. I might need some of your special massage once we get home."
Joe lit up in a very big smile that showed his lovely dimples while his eyes lit up with mirth in them.
Joe: "I promise I'll make it good for you. As always."
Joe kissed Nicky before standing up. Then Joe offered Nicky a hand, which Nicky took and let Joe pull him up.
Joe: "Now excuse me, Ya Qamar. I need to have a word with whoever dropped that building on your head. Did you catch a glimpse of him?"
Joe kicked some of the rubbles to the side, and after some dicking he found his Scimitar.
Nicky: "Graybeard, bald, and Asian. The only one amongst the group."
Joe: "Got it. So the plan is to deal with the weapon dealers and then go home and give you the special massage?"
Nicky: "Pretty much yes. We need to buy milk on the way home, too."
Joe nodded, and they got on with their mission. After getting milk, they walked down the alleyways because it was faster. When they turned a corner, something jumped down onto Joe's head, which made Joe jump in surprise, and he let out a scream, which made Nicky laugh over the entire situation. Seconds later, Joe felt claws dig into his scalp again.
Nicky: "Looks like your lodger is back again."
Joe: "Great."
Joe placed his hand on the cat, who rubbed its face against Joe's hand palm with a happy purr.
Joe: "We need to have a talk about you staying on my head because I'm not a fan of your claws. And then we also need to find you a home because I can't take you with me."
Nicky: "It got a collar on, so it must belong to someone."
Joe tried to lift the cat off his head, but the cat dug its claws into what Joe could swear was deeper than before.
Nicky: "Let me have a look while you discuss the terms of the lease of your head with your lodger."
Nicky looked at the collar and found a phone number on it.
Joe: "Ever so funny. Ok, no claws."
Nicky dialled the phone number while Joe tried to get the cat off his head.
Nicky: "I talked with a woman. Her daughter Sarah lost her cat Blue a couple of days ago when someone broke into their house. I said we would stop by in a couple of hours. It should give us time to shower."
Joe: "After giving Sarah her cat back, you're getting my special massage."
Just past 11 AM, Nicky knocked on the front door.
Nicky: "You're so going to miss having Blue on your head."
Joe: "Yeah, maybe, but one thing I won't miss is the claws."
A woman opened the door.
Nicky: "Michelle?"
Michelle: "Yes, and I know you have found my daughter's cat because Blue loves to sleep on people's heads. Where did you find her?"
Nicky: "In an alleyway."
Michelle called for Sarah, and a little girl came running.
Sarah: "Thank you for finding Blue."
Sarah hugged Joe's leg with a big smile.
Joe: "Don't mention it. I'm glad we found your cat."
Joe kneeled, and when Sarah took Blue, Joe could feel the claws scrapping his scalp again, which made Joe make a face.
Sarah: "I told you, Blue, you can't use your claws when sleeping on people's heads."
Sarah hugged Blue.
Michelle: "What do I owe you for finding the cat?"
Nicky: "Nothing. We're glad to help."
Joe placed a hand on Blue's head.
Joe: "Take care, Blue. And look after Sarah."
Sarah hugged Blue again when she discovered something in the cat's fur.
Sarah: "Mommy? Why does Blue have rocks and dirt in her fur?"
Joe and Nicky exchanged a look between them. It didn't occur to them to wash the cat before leaving the safe house.
Michelle: "Because Blue has been on an adventure. Say goodbye, Sarah to the nice men."
Sarah said goodbye, and they left.
Nicky: "You're already missing your lodger."
Joe: "A bit yes, but I'm glad we got the cat home, and so is my sore scalp."
Joe placed his arm around Nicky's shoulders before pulling him closer.
Joe: "About your special massage. You need to be naked, obviously, and lying on your tummy. Then I'll kiss..."
Nicky kissed Joe.
Nicky: "Don't give too much away. I liked to be surprised."
Joe: "Fair enough. Let's get back in a hurry. Got big plans for your special massage."
Nicky snuggled into Joe while they walked back to the safe house.
Joe: "Oh, another thing. We need to have a talk about your definition of the word "interesting" because you and I got different views of that subject."
They both laughed as they turned another corner. It was still good to be alive and together. It was actually the best thing in the world.