Chapter Text
Vincent is a history nerd.
Well, sort of.He sure was before joining the Chicago Police Dep. to become a detective.His time in the marines fueled that interest and his service in Vietnam ignited it.He tried to convince himself that it was just an interest.
A harmless hobby. He called it.
Even though he knew it was a way to cope after the war,at least a healthy way to cope.
Currently he has graphic books with depictions of Renaissance Italy and Ancient Greece laying around his apartment.Historical depictions of the Hagia Sophia in all of it’s golden glory and sketches of ancient Mesopotamian temples but they serve no purpose anymore than to simply paint his already full bookshelves full of color and collect dust, especially now that he's so dedicated to his job.
Neil struggles a lot with expressing the right facial expressions.
After his time in prison the transition back into society and her confusing rules was difficult and he still believes that he hasn't truly adapted yet even after being out for so long.Old habits being hard to kill off.
He’ll give a death glare to the cashier at the supermarket on accident or scare off possible one night stands at the bar,without meaning to.
Neil is a great mechanic.
Not only does his experience from the Marines give him the aid but it's also something his current occupation requires in order for him to be successful.Overall he's a pretty good handyman, you can trust him with fixing wires, adaptors and even engines when needed.Not to mention how great he can manage a vehicle on the road.
He’s not the most reliable when something requires more than the basic knowledge of coding and computing.Even though he hates to admit it.
Vincent's really messy, especially in his house.
Not a dirty type of mess but more of an everything is everywhere type of mess.
He isn't one to hang his coats on their designated hangers but rather leave them on an armchair, a couch or anywhere that’s close enough as soon as he steps back into his place.He has case files and documents scattered all over his dining table, a mess to the naked eye but to him everything is where it should be.
Neil on the other hand is neat,even with the slightest things.
Every hotel room he visits looks untouched even if he had spent days in there.Leaving not even a single hair on the pillows nor a lingering scent of himself.Every move is calculated, how he will sit,drink, stand and act around people.Every outfit of his is neatly picked out either the night before or when he’s too exhausted the following day, all the way down to his socks and underwear.It’s almost as if he's following a pre-written script in his head that has been based off of his life experiences. Even during intimate moments he sticks to that script.
Where to place his hands, where to kiss and pay more attention to.Having learned the body’s sensitive spots.As if it’s a safe waiting to be cracked.
Until Vincent came along and made him forget his lines and cues.His predetermined movements and pleasures.
Vincent is a physical person.
That's one of his main love languages.He’s used to being very somatic in his day to day life.His physicality manifests during working hours aswell:
Arresting someone?
He has to grab onto their bicep to ensure they won't escape.
Giving directions or advice to one of his colleagues?
His hands are on their shoulders patting them with encouragement.
When it comes to Neil nothing changes.Even when sitting next to Neil he has to be in contact with him in some way, were it gently laying his pinky finger on top of the others hand or putting his foot on the others lap during peaceful moments in the afternoons when they’re both coming back down to earth from whatever errand they were running that day.When asleep he'll tangle his legs with Neil's, letting him feel the bigger man’s pulse and how his breath slightly hitches while Neil is in deep slumber.
And in the moments where they’re both bare and vulnerable, grabbing at each other as if their life depends on it Neil makes sure to hold Vincent’s hand.To feel the radiating heat his breathtaking body has to offer and let it merge with his own already overflowing one.To reassure the other.
Neil is materialistic.
But not in that sense.In the sense that he will remember someone’s favorite food and surprise them with it during tiresome hours.In the sense that he’ll embed a place a person has mentioned which is dearly significant to them and depending on the circumstances will make sure to take a longer route just so they don’t pass by it or navigate his way around just so they see it as many times as possible.
He has surprised Vincent with his favorite bottle of preferred alcohol (which is usually an aged bourbon) a handful of times.Taken him to his favorite dining spots and even laid out sheets in Vincent’s favorite color just so Neil could see that small smirk which appears on Vincent’s glossy lips whenever a small detail he thought someone wouldn’t notice or remember about him gets mentioned.