Work Text:
It had been a long while since Booker last saw Nicky. And when they started talking, it was like they were continuing the conversation from five years ago.
Booker: "Before we grab that burger, is it okay if I go home and change clothes? I have been working in this T-shirt the entire day."
Nicky: "Yes, that is fine. Should I wait here?"
Booker: "I live around the corner, so why don't you come with me?"
Nicky said yes to Booker's offer so he could get out of the rain.
Nicky: "How come you live downtown now?"
Booker: "I am sharing a penthouse with a friend. He is an artist, and despite his habit of running around in his underwear and his taste in football clubs, he is a very nice guy."
Nicky raised an eyebrow as they entered the elevator.
Booker: "Don't worry. You won't encounter him today because it is Thursday, and he has boxing practice."
Nicky: "Okay."
Nicky followed Booker inside.
Booker: "There is beer in the fridge if you want one, and have a look around if you want. I will be back in five minutes."
Booker left Nicky, and he decided to have a closer look at all the art there was in the penthouse. Nicky knew he couldn't look at all the art in five minutes, so he hoped that Booker would invite him over one day again. While walking down the hallway, Nicky saw an interesting painting in a room. While looking at the painting, Nicky heard a door behind him open, and he came face to face with what he suspected was Booker's roommate.
Joe had never seen a man as beautiful as Nicky before, and if Joe had been paying more attention, he would have known it was his libido that was speaking.
Joe: "I am in my underwear."
Nicky: "Yes, you are."
Joe: "And there is a beautiful man in my bedroom."
Nicky: "Yes, there is."
Joe: "Any chance of you joining me?"
Nicky: "No."
Nicky turned around and left Joe behind, who realized what he had just said to the beautiful man. Joe quickly grabbed a T-shirt, and while running in the direction Nicky had left, he pulled the T-shirt on.
Joe: "I meant dinner..."
When Joe stood in the living room, he decided to search for Nicky, but he soon realized he was all alone in the penthouse.
Joe: "Okay, libido, if he is real and we see him again, we will ask him out for dinner, and we won't mention the bedroom."
Joe decided to draw the beautiful man so he would know who he was looking for. At the same time, in the elevator, Booker looked at Nicky, who looked like he was thinking about something.
Booker: "Nicky? Are you okay?"
Nicky: "Yes, just thinking about an exquisite piece of art I saw in your penthouse."
Booker: "Well, between us, I don't get half of Joe's art, but I know enough to know why everyone calls him one of the best artists of his generation."
Nicky nodded as he smiled over something Booker didn't know what was.
Nicky: "So, this burger? Is it really as good as you claim?"
Booker: "I promise. They bake their own buns and make their own ketchup. Ask the waitress, and she will tell you everything about the burgers."
When Booker got home at 2 AM, he found Joe working on a new painting. Yes, what had started out as a small sketch of Nicky had now turned into a painting.
Joe: "Hi. Did you have a good evening with your friend?"
Booker: "It was good to see him again. He is on his way back to the Navy."
Joe: "So, he is a sailor?"
Joe smirked.
Booker: "Drop those thoughts you are having about my friend. You should know that he works as a Navy psychologist and helps sailors who struggle with adjusting to society again. So, please show him some respect."
Joe: "Sorry. If I ever meet him, I promise I will do that because it is a great thing he does."
Booker: "Good. I will keep you to that promise."
Booker took a sip of his beer.
Booker: "So, who are you painting now?"
Joe rubbed his neck sheepishly.
Joe: "A funny thing happened last afternoon. I don't know if I imagined the most beautiful man in the world or if he exists because suddenly he stood in my bedroom. And just as fast as that happened, just as fast was he gone."
Joe looked at the painting of Nicky before he looked at Booker.
Joe: "Do you know who he is?"
Booker: "Can't say that, but ask me again once the painting is done."
Joe smiled.
Joe: "That might take forever because I will never be done capturing that beautiful man I either imagined or met."
Booker could swear that Joe looked love-struck at the painting of Nicky.
Booker: "I will leave you alone with your painting. Night, Joe."
Joe: "Night. Oh, and Book. I didn't mean to disrespect your friend."
Booker: "I know. See you tomorrow."
Booker left Joe alone with his painting. When Booker lay in his bed ten minutes later, he knew precisely what Nicky had meant when he said he had seen an "exquisite piece of art" in the penthouse. And it was there that Booker reminded himself about a golden rule he had: never get involved in other people's love life.
As Booker closed his eyes, he didn't know how involved he would be in Joe and Nicky's love life, but that is a story for another time.