Work Text:
Knov threw down his cards (a shitty hand if he ever saw one) and drank the last watered down dregs of his bourbon.
“Gentlemen, it seems my luck has run dry. I bid you all good night.” He gave a stiff, slight bow to the table and made his way out of the casino. He passed other tables full of high rollers and suckers in equal measure. Felt the watchful eyes of the pit bosses following him to the door.
The wind bit through his suit the instant he stepped outside, cold and full of needles. Knov considered withdrawing more money and returning to the tables simply to delay the inevitable cold trudge back to his hotel. He hadn't thought to make a door back to his suite.
What an oversight. Though, to be fair to me, I wasn't counting on losing so early in the evening.
Oh well. Best to just accept my losses and come back another day.
Knov shoved his hands in his suit pockets and wove through the throngs of drunks and other gamblers abandoned by Lady Luck. They were nothing more than annoyances in his current mood. Certainly not sympathetic compatriots and therefore not worth talking to.
He put off a flare of hostile aura, not enough to injure. Just enough to intimidate and clear his path.
He strode through the hotel lobby to a private elevator and took it all the way to the top floor penthouse.
For the first time in a while, the splendor of the room failed to comfort Knov. A pang of longing like a live wire touched his heart.
Perhaps I don't want to be alone after all.
Knov laid back on the plush, velvet comforter and checked his watch.
Just shy of one a.m. So about ten p.m. where Morel is out at sea. So he's likely still awake.
Knov picked up his phone and frowned. Sure, he could likely get Morel on the phone, but the more he thought about it, the more a simple conversation didn't satisfy him.
I suppose that settles it then. Knov summoned his master key and sunk down into his nen space.
From there, he passed through multiple rooms to the most important door in his collection, inserted his key, and opened it.
—
The Vesper sat anchored in calm waters, the waves barely rocking the ship. Knov heard the sound of raucous merriment from the galley down the hall (including a booming laugh he knew well.) While the rest of the crew were lovely people, Knov didn’t feel up to interacting with them, so he made his way to Morel’s cabin.
He’ll be in eventually, Knov thought as he walked over to the large bed, removing his shoes and burrowing into the sheets. The blankets smelled like Morel, like tobacco, his aftershave, and the light scent of laundry detergent.
Almost perfect.
About forty-five minutes later, Morel walked through the door, still laughing at some comment or joke as he made his way inside. Knov sat up and gave him a sleepy wave.
Morel’s face lit up. “Babe! If I’d known you were gonna pay me a visit, I wouldn’t have gotten so fucking crossfaded!”
Knov laughed. “No need to lie to me, dear. Something to celebrate or just one of your usual soirees?”
He flopped on the bed next to Knov. The faint smell of hash and the strong smell of alcohol hit Knov, but he soon got used to it. They leaned in towards each other.
“A few hundred feet below the ship is the lost city of Qrondon. We fucking found it!”
“Certainly worth celebrating,” Knov replied. “I’m thrilled for you. I know how long you’ve searched.” He traced the edge of Morel’s jaw, tucked a bit of gray hair behind Morel’s ear. “But I also never doubted your ability to find it.”
Morel grinned, bright but relaxed. “Not that I’m unhappy to see you, but what brings you all the way out to my part of the world?”
“The odds were not in my favor tonight, and the thought of sleeping alone…did not appeal to me,” Knov said with a shrug.
“Might be my fault. I kept thinking about how much I wanted to see you.”
Knov snorted. “Could also be that Lady Luck is simply a fickle bitch tonight. But it doesn't matter. It seems we both got what we wanted.”
They laid together and kissed without urgency, slow and languid, until Knov pulled away to take a breath.
“Hope you’re not in the mood for anything more than this,” Morel said. “Between all the work today and the party tonight, I couldn’t get it up even if I tried.”
“A massive losing streak on my part put an end to any thought of libidinal pleasures. Just being here with you is enough for me.”
“You got cold, didn’t you?”
“Perhaps,” Knov replied. “You know me. I’m quite cold-natured.”
“Then come here and let me warm you up, darling.” Morel pulled him close, and Knov settled in with a sigh of contentment.
Yes, he thought as he drifted off to sleep. This was the right decision after all.
—