Malta

[peace_inthe_violence]

This is a fairy tale of blood and bullets
It is the story of three men and three women and a small island between Italy and Africa.
This is a story about tragedy and pain, about healing and hope, but mostly it is about
love.

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[peace_inthe_violence]

His eyes narrowed in suspicion when Booker used his full name like that, but the suspicion was quickly forgotten in favor of nuzzling into that hand and chasing after Booker's lips. He'd missed being so open with the Frenchmen, free to touch him as he pleased. When Booker had put the brakes on sleeping with them, Nicky had started giving him more space everywhere else, too. For a long time, he hadn't even let himself hug the man if he hadn't seen him in a while. So to have Booker willingly in his space again?

He reached out with one hand, snagging his fingers in Booker's shirt to keep him close. The other went down to the hand on his side, keeping contact with both men. He was drunk, but he was surprisingly steady.

Until about halfway up the stairs. The world took a dive sideways for a moment and Nicky paused with one foot in the air and made a small sound of distress as he wobbled.

[nicely_tousled]

And Joe was right there, straightening on the step behind him essentially planting his feet to keep steady, and keeping the one hand splayed against Nicky's side for balance, trusting that Booker would be able to keep ahold of at least one of Nicky's hands to stabilize him between them.

"Gravity still works tesoro but let's not test it tonight, please?" He wasn't going to move until he knew Nicky was steady again.

[transfuge]

Nicky was strong but Booker had a few pounds on him. Like Joe he planted his feet and held steady while Nicky swayed. His drunk balance was much better. He caught Nicky's arm since the other man still hadn't let go of his shirt.

"Easy there. I know you want to lie down but not there. The stairs would murder my back." Booker waited until Nicky stopped swaying and then let him have another minute to make sure he was good before he started up the stairs again.

There were more than he remembered but given the size of the house Booker shouldn't be surprised it felt like forever getting up the stairs. He breathed a little easier once they were on the top floor. "I'm going to plant myself between you and Joe and sleep for a week. That good with you, ma meilleure moitié?"

He looked between the two men to be sure.

[peace_inthe_violence]

Between the two of them, Nicky managed to stay upright. It wasn't even that close of a call, but feeling both of them reach out to catch him...he was drunk, he wasn't stupid. He smiled, looking for a moment like he knew and understood that he was the luckiest man in the world.

They made it to the top of the stairs and Nicky answered that silly question by looping his arms around Booker's shoulders and stroking the small hairs at the nape of his neck.

"I would very much like that, Sebastien. Even if there is nothing but sleep- and I do believe that I am drunk enough that there will only be sleep- I will take any chance you give me to hold you.

"Habibi, do you mind tucking our wayward brother between us once more?"

[nicely_tousled]

"Of course not." He replied as easily as anything, stepping close behind Nicky once more, arm sliding more securely around his waist even as his head dipped to press a quick kiss to the crook of his neck before straightening and slipping past them, pushing the door open to verify that Andy was still asleep -or at least pretending to be- before cocking his head in invitation and indication, "Easy, careful and quiet, let her sleep."

Because being cautious for Andy's sake would also keep them at least somewhat cautious for their own sakes, no sense in anyone tripping over the floor and landing hard. For Joe's part, having Andy at his back was just as good as having the wall there, and definitely better than having it to the open room.

[transfuge]

These two men with their hearts overflowing with love were still willing to accept him. Booker was very lucky and he felt like an idiot for forgetting that.

He quietly slipped into the room. Not silently because he wanted to make sure Andy knew it was him by the sound of his footsteps. No need to worry her.

Booker shrugged out of his light button up shirt and then pulled off his t-shirt. It would get very warm wedged between Joe and Nicky. Then he got into bed and patted the spot next to him.

"Come on, Nicky. We're tired." And there was a lack of cuddling right now.

[peace_inthe_violence]

The last thing he wanted was to wake up Andy. She got so little rest, just like the rest of them. Just like he had, earlier that same night. Earlier, when he'd dreamed of...

He dug his nails into the meat of his palm, ignoring the crescents of blood that welled to the surface. He didn't want to go down that road. Not now. Not when he was about to be able to lay in bed with almost every people he loved with him.

The smell of smoke lingered in the air, but he did his best to ignore it as he peeled off his shirt. He waited for Joe to get comfortable between Andy and Booker, then waited for Booker to get comfortable against his husband, and then he finally joined them.

He sighed as he wrapped his arms around the man he'd missed so much, one hand still going to rest on Joe's side even as he pressed small kisses to Booker's collarbone. Sometime between one kiss and when another should have fallen, he was asleep.