[But before Booker could get up to leave him at the shelf alone, Nicky reached out to snag his wrist.]
No...stay? Show me? I want to know.
[And he did want to know. He wanted to know Booker's organization and exactly how Joe organized his paints. How much milk Joe put in his coffee and the exact way Booker liked to get ready for bed at night. He wanted to know all of it.
And right now, putting his books in alongside Booker's made him feel more grounded than he'd been feeling all week.]
[He loved it. The specific nature of it, the fact that you could immediately find what you were looking for as long as you knew the book you wanted. He learned quickly, and while he wasn't quite as good as his boyfriend at figuring out style, he could piece it out quickly enough once he had parameters.
And then his books were all in place, slotted in next to Booker's like they belonged there...and he had to look away or risk crying all over again. Damn his inability to function.]
Thank you. For showing me. I know it seems silly to you, but it is important to me to know these things.
[He was about to say something that would be horribly embarrassing. Something like 'I want them to stay like that forever' or some other ridiculous, sappy thing.
Fortunately, the kiss to his cheek startled him out of it.]
Really? I figured it was just a play of your name. This makes sense, though.
[He smirked, leaning into his boyfriend before glancing back over at the bed.]
That is most of it. What is left are things that can go anywhere. I can find places to plug in their cords tomorrow. Right now, I think getting ready for bed is a good idea.
I feel like all I've done is sleep, yet sleep is all I want...
[Considering how little he seemed bothered by the whole thing, the therapy talk was probably a very good talk to have. He had a pretty low opinion of himself. Honestly, the fact that he'd believed that Booker and Joe actually wanted him around was kind of a huge thing for him.
He kissed his temple again, chuckling softly.]
Between the two of you, I'm going to be wrapped in bubble wrap. I'm not a doll made of porcelain. I promise, I'm not going to shatter.
[Tell that to his eyes that can't seem to stop springing leaks.]
[He couldn't answer. Not really. He would just argue and that seemed to be bothering his boyfriend just as much as the bruises had. He didn't understand, but he could understand that he might be too close to the situation to see it properly.
He let Booker help him out of his shirt, hiding his wince as he raised his arms up over his head. He started to pull on the tank top, then stopped and glanced back up at Booker.]
Is it going to bother you if you can see them?
[If he slept in the tank top, the bruises on his upper arms and a couple on his back would be clearly visible. A t-shirt would solve that.
He should have probably grabbed one of those instead. Though, the fact that he hadn't said just how much he trusted this man.]
[ It made his heart ache and he wished he could have done more before now to protect Nicky but it didn't bother him. Exactly. ]
I'll make sure to be careful when holding you.
[ They would heal with time. Booker and Joe would make sure to help heal Nicky's heart.
He grabbed a soft shirt to sleep in and stripped down to boxers to sleep in. It would be warm holding Nicky all night so he wanted to be as comfortable as possible.
When Joe got here and they were all sandwiched together it would be really warm but so worth it. He imagined they'd have to make like a blanket fort on the floor to fit comfortably which would be great. ]
[A giant blanket fort would be the best thing ever.
Pulling on the tank top, Nicky eyed the shorts for a moment before he returned them to 'his' drawer. He always slept in short...but he always slept in shorts because he'd never known when he was going to have to wake up quickly to avoid his dad.
But there was no danger here, right?
After a moment he lost his nerve and pulled them on anyway before going to retrieve his toiletry bag from where he'd tossed it on the bed while he'd been unpacking.]
I'll be right back.
[Then he was ducking out into the hall to silently make his way down to the bathroom so he could brush his teeth.]
[ It would take time for Nicky to really let his guard down. Booker would do everything he could to make it happen.
He let him have his space to get ready for bed. They didn’t need to be on top of each other all the time.
Booker did debate with himself about telling the others that Nicky was staying with him. He decided not to. Nicky could decide if he wanted that. It was enough Joe knew.
When Nicky got back Booker went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. After he went straight to bed arms open for Nicky to snuggle. ]
[By the time that Booker came back, Nicky was already in bed. Against the wall.
Maybe it wouldn't take as long for those walls to come down as he feared.
Booker got into bed and Nicky sighed as he scooted over to snuggle against his boyfriend, his arms around his waist and his head pillowed on his shoulder. He wouldn't stay like that because he knew how fast one could lose feeling in a limb being laid on, but he could enjoy it for a few moments.]
[It wasn't long before he was fast asleep, all intentions of moving off of Booker's arm forgotten. Fortunately, he did eventually roll onto his other side so his head slipped off on it's own.]
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flatlanders
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:05 am (UTC)[ Which is super nerdy and makes Booker kind of blush a little. Who organizes their books by period and style?
He gets up from the bed and goes over to Nicky. ]
I can make room so you've got a shelf for your own. You don't have to throw them in with mine.
[ And his weird organizing system.
He'll have to rearrange his books a bit but that was fine to let Nicky have some space. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:12 am (UTC)But won't they end up together anyway, mio amore? Unless you plan on each of us having separate shelves for all of our books?
[In their house that they were going to get together. Because at least the three of them were going to live together, if not all six. Right?]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:18 am (UTC)[ He rubbed the back of his neck with a hand as he smiled sheepishly at Nicky. ]
But yeah, they'll all get mixed up anyway. So, you're probably right. I'm just being weird. Do you need help with them?
[ If he's going to fit them in Booker's system he should probably help with that.
Not that Nicky didn't know what type of books he had but he might not understand Booker's system right away. ]
I'm being a dork about this. I'm just going to sit on the bed and let you do whatever.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:30 am (UTC)No...stay? Show me? I want to know.
[And he did want to know. He wanted to know Booker's organization and exactly how Joe organized his paints. How much milk Joe put in his coffee and the exact way Booker liked to get ready for bed at night. He wanted to know all of it.
And right now, putting his books in alongside Booker's made him feel more grounded than he'd been feeling all week.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:36 am (UTC)[ Booker went back to Nicky's side and talked him through it.
It was pretty simple. He had them organized by style which was usually divided by the year the books were written.
He loved books and his passion for them came through very clearly as he talked about where to put each of Nicky's book and why they should be there.
He probably should be studying literature but he liked computers just as much. ]
And there you go. That's the really stupid and overly complex way I organize my books.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:44 am (UTC)And then his books were all in place, slotted in next to Booker's like they belonged there...and he had to look away or risk crying all over again. Damn his inability to function.]
Thank you. For showing me. I know it seems silly to you, but it is important to me to know these things.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:47 am (UTC)[ He was still slightly embarrassed by it all. It was more of himself than he had shared with anyone else.
It was a weird mix of vulnerability and excitement. Nicky knew this weird part of him and didn't make fun of him for it. He liked it even. ]
You can keep them there as long as you like.
[ He leaned over and kissed Nicky's cheek. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:49 am (UTC)Fortunately, the kiss to his cheek startled him out of it.]
I love you. Book kink and all.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:54 am (UTC)[ Before Andy he just went by Sebastien pronounced wrong by everyone he knew because they couldn't be bothered to use the proper French.
He puts his arm around Nicky's shoulder and hugs him. ]
Anything else you want to unpack right now or do you want to get ready for bed?
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 01:57 am (UTC)[He smirked, leaning into his boyfriend before glancing back over at the bed.]
That is most of it. What is left are things that can go anywhere. I can find places to plug in their cords tomorrow. Right now, I think getting ready for bed is a good idea.
I feel like all I've done is sleep, yet sleep is all I want...
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:02 am (UTC)[ He kissed Nicky's temple. ]
You went through something really emotionally taxing. It's exhausting. You need the sleep while you feel safe.
[ Booker left behind the bookshelf and went to get a shirt to sleep in. ]
Do you want me to hold you again?
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:08 am (UTC)[Was that it? Was that why he was so tired? He had no idea.
Getting up from the floor, he followed Booker over to the dresser to pull out a pair of shorts and his faded, stretched out Pride shirt.]
I always want you to hold me, mio cuore. If you don't mind me clinging, of course.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:13 am (UTC)[ Booker seemed stunned for a second. Nicky's dad had hit him before? Had Nicky been abused this whole time and none of them noticed?
Had he just assumed it was only emotional abuse like he suffered and ignored other signs? ]
Nicky... fuck I'm so sorry we didn't see it sooner.
[ He had to go hug him tight like his love could protect Nicky from his past.
Booker promised himself he'd never let anyone hurt Nicky ever again. Anyone tried and he'd teach them a lesson. ]
I sleep a lot better when we're cuddling. It's how I'd like to sleep all the time if I got a choice.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:25 am (UTC)It's okay. It only happened a couple of times and this was the worst. I'm fine. It's fine, mio cuore.
[He shifted enough to be able to sneak a kiss in against Booker's forehead, murmuring softly to reassure him.]
It's how I'd like to always sleep, too. Your arms around me and listening to you and Joe breathing as my lullaby.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:31 am (UTC)[ Well, there was Booker's anger finally coming to the surface. ]
He abused you Nicky. Nothing justifies that. And he should be punished for it. You never have to go anywhere near him ever again.
[ The soft reassurance does cool his temper a little but Booker won't let Nicky say it's fine. It wasn't. It was awful.
They might have that therapy talk sooner rather than later. ]
He'll agree with me when he gets here. You are going to be constantly cuddled.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:43 am (UTC)He kissed his temple again, chuckling softly.]
Between the two of you, I'm going to be wrapped in bubble wrap. I'm not a doll made of porcelain. I promise, I'm not going to shatter.
[Tell that to his eyes that can't seem to stop springing leaks.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 02:49 am (UTC)[ Booker was pretty sure nothing would stop him from loving Nicky or Joe. It was part of him down to his marrow. ]
We'll talk about this with Joe tomorrow.
[ He slid his hands under Nicky's shirt, no seduction in mind. Booker wanted to care for him a little and help him undress. ]
Because we love you and we're going to look after you.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 04:35 am (UTC)He let Booker help him out of his shirt, hiding his wince as he raised his arms up over his head. He started to pull on the tank top, then stopped and glanced back up at Booker.]
Is it going to bother you if you can see them?
[If he slept in the tank top, the bruises on his upper arms and a couple on his back would be clearly visible. A t-shirt would solve that.
He should have probably grabbed one of those instead. Though, the fact that he hadn't said just how much he trusted this man.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 11:43 am (UTC)[ It made his heart ache and he wished he could have done more before now to protect Nicky but it didn't bother him. Exactly. ]
I'll make sure to be careful when holding you.
[ They would heal with time. Booker and Joe would make sure to help heal Nicky's heart.
He grabbed a soft shirt to sleep in and stripped down to boxers to sleep in. It would be warm holding Nicky all night so he wanted to be as comfortable as possible.
When Joe got here and they were all sandwiched together it would be really warm but so worth it. He imagined they'd have to make like a blanket fort on the floor to fit comfortably which would be great. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 03:58 pm (UTC)Pulling on the tank top, Nicky eyed the shorts for a moment before he returned them to 'his' drawer. He always slept in short...but he always slept in shorts because he'd never known when he was going to have to wake up quickly to avoid his dad.
But there was no danger here, right?
After a moment he lost his nerve and pulled them on anyway before going to retrieve his toiletry bag from where he'd tossed it on the bed while he'd been unpacking.]
I'll be right back.
[Then he was ducking out into the hall to silently make his way down to the bathroom so he could brush his teeth.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-04 05:56 pm (UTC)He let him have his space to get ready for bed. They didn’t need to be on top of each other all the time.
Booker did debate with himself about telling the others that Nicky was staying with him. He decided not to. Nicky could decide if he wanted that. It was enough Joe knew.
When Nicky got back Booker went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. After he went straight to bed arms open for Nicky to snuggle. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-05 04:36 pm (UTC)Maybe it wouldn't take as long for those walls to come down as he feared.
Booker got into bed and Nicky sighed as he scooted over to snuggle against his boyfriend, his arms around his waist and his head pillowed on his shoulder. He wouldn't stay like that because he knew how fast one could lose feeling in a limb being laid on, but he could enjoy it for a few moments.]
I love you. Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2020-09-05 05:32 pm (UTC)[ And Booker thought he always would. He couldn’t imagine how the love he felt right now would ever fade.
Feelings like this just got stronger over time, right?
He laid his hand over Nicky’s and squeezed it hard. ]
Goodnight. Make sure you don’t let me oversleep because we gotta get Joe.
[ And he hated getting up early. ]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-05 05:42 pm (UTC)[It wasn't long before he was fast asleep, all intentions of moving off of Booker's arm forgotten. Fortunately, he did eventually roll onto his other side so his head slipped off on it's own.]