Work Text:
Nile watched as Joe placed the camera on a camera foot and took a photo of himself. Copley had asked them to provide him with new names and passport photos for their next mission.
Joe: "Should I take a photo of you?"
Nile: "No thanks. Copley said my existing passport photo is good enough, but I could use some help with a new name. It's my first time with a new identity."
Joe: "I'll help you with that in a moment. First, I need to deal with Nicky."
Both Nile and Joe saw that Nicky was trying to make a quick exit out of the living room after he saw Joe with the camera.
Joe: "Young man, it's this way, and you know the drill."
Nicky: "Can't it wait? I need to get a book."
Joe: "The book will still be there when we're done. So, the quicker you do this, the quicker you can leave."
Nicky reluctantly walked over to the wall, where he crossed his arms.
Nile whispering: "Why does he look like he would rather jump out of an aeroplane without a parachute than have his photo taken?"
Joe: "Because he would rather be jumping out of the aeroplane than have his photo taken. A bad experience in Berlin 1942."
Joe looked at Nicky.
Joe: "Put some effort into it, Nicolò. "
Nicky: "Just get it done. I'm not in the mood to be your model tonight."
Nile: "If you don't want Joe to take your photo, you could let Copley take the photos. He said he would help us if needed."
Joe looked at Nile with a look on his face she had only seen her Mother make. It meant she was in trouble.
Joe: "I might tolerate the cameras on the streets, but no one else knows how to capture his beauty in a picture or a photo better than I. I have, after all, been doing it for over 900 years."
Nile: "Sorry I asked."
Nicky: "Don't be. He is just a big child who doesn't know how to share. Joe, say sorry to Nile for scaring her, or else you can sleep on the sofa tonight- alone."
Nicky kissed Joe before he left.
Joe: "Sorry about before."
Nile: "You're forgiven if you help me with my new name."
Joe took the SD card from the camera and gave it to Nile, who uploaded the photos.
Joe: "When creating a new name, make sure it's as close to your real name as possible. That way, you always have a piece of yourself with you. It gives you something to hold onto when things are tough."
Joe sat down next to Nile.
Joe: "One time, a very long time ago, Nicky and I had to be separated for eight years because of a mission that took longer than planned. We went through so many names that we both lost ourselves along the way. When we finally met up again, we showed each other our last fake names, which weren't really fake names. It turned out that Nicky's name was Nicolò Yusuf Ibrahim Muhammad Al-Kaysani, and mine was Yusuf Nicolò di Genova. We just wanted a piece of the other with us because we missed each other so badly. That's why we use the other's name whenever we can."
Joe handed Nile a piece of paper with their new names, Nico Y. Poliziano and José N. Fuzuli, written on it.
Joe: "It makes the parting a bit more tolerable if it happens again."
Nile: "That's sweet, but I'm no way nearer to coming up with a new name for me."
Joe: "Well, Nicky had an idea. I think it's a brilliant one, so wanna hear it?"
Nile: "Since it was Nicky's idea, then yes."
Joe: "Very funny."
Joe winked at Nile, who giggled. Then Joe stood up and walked over to the bookcase, where he took a book.
Joe: "Nicky said that since you're named after a river, maybe you can use that as inspiration for a new name for you because many rivers are named after women."
Joe handed Nile a book about European rivers.
Nile: "That's a brilliant idea. Tell Nicky I'll buy him a new book as thanks for helping me."
Joe: "I'll do that."
Joe yawned.
Joe: "When you have found a name, send everything to Copley."
Nile: "Promise."
Joe: "Since I'm an old man, I'm going to bed now."
Nile: "If you want to sleep, I recommend the sofa; otherwise, Nicky will just distract you."
Joe: "Maybe I want to be distracted by the most..."
Nile: "Okay, that is called oversharing. Please remember I'm way younger than you, and the last thing you want is to give me nightmares. If that happens, I have to sleep between you and Nicky tonight."
They both laughed.
Joe: "Night, Nile. Sleep well."
Nile: "Night, Joe. And say thanks to Nicky from me."
They hugged before Joe left. After making a pot of coffee, Nile sat down on the sofa, where she took her headphones to listen to music while she read the book in search of a new name.