Archive of Our Own

Joe entered the kitchen in only pyjama pants and messy curls.

Andy: "Are you planning on showing Nile around Rome in that attire?"

Joe: "Nah, just wanted a cup of coffee before taking a shower. Is there more warm water left?"

Andy: "What do you think?"

Joe took his coffee and disappeared again. Two minutes later, Nile entered the kitchen.

Nile: "Weird."

Andy: "What?"

Nile: "Joe went to the bathroom alone. The year I have known him, he hasn't done much alone without Nicky at his side. Have they been fighting or something?"

Andy: "If there is one thing you should never worry about in your long life, it's the relationship between Joe and Nicky."

Andy thought for a moment.

Andy: "Let me rephrase the last thing: all you need to worry about in your long life is to put some distance between you and the boys after a mission, because you don't want to be around for what they are doing. Preferably a country or two if it can be done. An ocean could work, too."

Nile: "You told me that on day four. So, everything is okay between them?"

Andy: "More than okay. As always."

It was enough to make Nile sit down and eat breakfast. When Joe entered the kitchen again, he was still wearing the pyjama pants.

Joe: "Ready for today, Nile?"

Nile: "Yes, I made a list of things I wanted to see in Rome. Is it okay with five things?"

Joe: "More than fine, but you can add more to the list if you want. We're staying in town for a while."

Andy: "Which also gives me the time to show you the best watering holes in Rome. Are you joining us for that, Joe?"

Joe took a sip of his coffee before adding more sugar to it. As usual, Andy had used more coffee beans than water.

Joe: "Not this time. Nicky and I talked about checking out one of our weapons depots outside Rome. We'll be gone for two days."

Andy: "More than fine. And please take another day to have sex if you need it. So, us with hangovers don't have to listen to it."

Nile almost choked on the cereal. She was still getting used to that the others talked so freely about sex while eating.

Joe: "Sorry, Nile."

Nile: "Everything's fine. So, the weapons depot. When can I see it?"

Joe: "You can't. You see, we have two kinds of weapons depots: those we share and those we keep for ourselves, much like how we store other things and safe houses. And money."

Andy: "It has to do with that we also do missions alone. We fund those ourselves, and for that, we use our own weapons and safe houses. Get it?"

Nile: "Yes, I do."

Joe: "When we return, we'll bring you weapons, Nile. See it as a gift."

Andy: "And when you get the weapons, you get your first mission alone. Find a place to set up your first own safe house and a weapon depot."

Nile looked at Joe and Andy.

Nile: "I don't have any money for that. How am I to do it?"

Andy: "That's up to you to figure out how. We have given you all the tools you need for it, so it's time for you to use them. Just like the rest of us did back when we were young."

Joe placed a hand on Nile's shoulder and gave her a smile. Then Joe started making tea.

Joe: "You can do this, Nile. I know it."

Nile nodded.

Joe: "But don't think more about it right now, okay? Right now, all you have to think about is a fun time in Rome."

Andy: "Shouldn't you get dressed first, Joe?"

Nile: "And what about Nicky? Is he coming with us, or is he still suffering from jetlag?"

Joe: "Give me ten minutes, and I'll have him out of bed."

Andy smirked: "Only ten minutes? Are you sure it's enough?"

Joe: "And what do you mean with that?"

Andy drank the rest of her coffee. It wasn't strong enough.

Andy: "It's really your own fault, Joe, for showing an early riser all the joys of staying in bed all day and having sex."

Nile once again almost choked on the cereal.

Joe: "As I recall it, you once said you were very happy that I kept Nicky in bed as long as possible because it meant you didn't have to get up before Kublai Khan."

Andy: "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Joe: "Yeah, right. Nile, we leave in an hour, okay?"

Nile: "More than okay. Can't wait."

Joe took the tea and left the kitchen.

Nile: "So, wanna tell me about you and Kublai Khan?"

Andy: "Not really. Enjoy your day with the boys."

Nile: "And what will you be doing today?"

Andy: "Checking up on the waterholes I'm planning to show you. It's nice to know if they are still there."

Andy left the kitchen, leaving Nile alone, who started to think about three things: what to see in Rome, where she would set up her first safe house and if she could keep up with Andy when it came to drinking.