Chapter Text
They decided to spend the evening in the museum, where an exhibition with rare stones and gems was being shown for museum sponsors. Nicky had gotten one of the invitations because his late "great-great-grandfather" had helped founding the museum with a large sum of money. It was a gala, meaning they wore tuxedos and Nile a nice red dress. Before leaving, Nicky got Joe to swear on his beloved Rembrandt drawing that he would keep his hands in his pockets no matter what he saw.
For hours, they drank champagne and ate canapes while Joe struggled with the promise he had given Nicky because he found it harder and harder not to touch anything. Less than an hour before the evening was over, Joe couldn't resist it any longer; he had to touch the big shiny green gem, resulting in an alarm going off. Joe looked sorry at Nicky and Nile.
"Joe, you..." Nile said as she facepalmed herself. "Why do you feel the need to touch everything?"
"It's an old habit he has never kicked," Nicky replied with a hopeless smile. "If you ever want a story, let me know."
"Thanks," Nile replied. "What are we going to do?"
Nicky looked at Joe, who looked even more sorry than before.
"You owe me a Rembrandt drawing," Nicky said before looking at Joe. "And Nile a new handbag."
"I know," Joe replied. "I'm so sorry, guys. I didn't mean to ruin your evening."
Nicky placed his hand on Joe's cheek.
"An evening that was starting to get boring," Nicky replied. "Thanks for making it a bit more interesting."
"That's one way to put it," Nile replied. "Nicky, there's a hysterical lady pointing at us."
The hysterical lady was the hostess this evening and was talking with the police.
"Go home, and let me deal with the hysterical lady," Nicky said. "My family is about to make another big donation to the museum."
When Nicky got back to the flat, Joe gave Nicky the Rembrandt drawing and promised Nile to buy her a new handbag when they reached Milan. Nicky then told the others what he had told the police, that his friend didn't mean to touch anything, but because the room had been cramped with people, someone gave his friend a push, and it was trying not to fall, which resulted in the alarm going off. It also helped with a check to the museum at 100.000 Euros. Joe thanked Nicky for saving his bacon once again.
After showering, Nicky sat down with his book on the sofa before Joe buried his face in Nicky's lap and fell asleep with a happy sigh.
"Is sleeping with his ass in the air like that," Nile asked. "Also an old habit he has never kicked?"
"Yeah," Nicky replied. "Andy likes to joke with that it's a perfect excuse to practice precision shooting whenever Joe sleeps like that."
Nicky ran his fingers through Joe's curls before turning a page in the book.
"I can imagine," Nile replied. "And you have also done that. Shooting after Joe's ass while sleeping."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Nicky replied. "I have respect for my husband's ass because.."
"Please stop talking about Joe's ass. I need to sleep tonight and for the rest of my life," Nile replied. "So, do you have a funny story about Joe and him touching stuff? Preferably one where karma hit him hard but didn't kill him?"
Nicky smiled as he closed his book.
"There are so many," Nicky replied. "But what about the one that took place in the Andes Mountains the first time we visited that place?"
Nile pulled her legs up under her in the big armchair before Nicky started to tell the story.