Page 126 of Pistols and Plush Toys

The one time Elliot had asked about it, Mattia had gestured to his TV, to the dozen streaming services he already paid for, and asked Elliot why he’d ever need to keep dusty clutter?

If Elliot thought about it now, it had all been about getting rid of all ofElliot’sthings. Leaving him with nothing except for what Mattia provided.

He sifted idly through the movies. He’d liked owning things once. Books and movies and CDs. The physicality of them. Though… he supposed he had money now. He could buy things for himself again.

He was surprised to find a copy of Lone Winter Trail on the shelves and he paused, staring down at it. It was his favorite movie, but he hadn’t watched it in years and years. It was so tempting to buy it. To take it back to Nikolai's place.

Would Nikolai watch it with him?

His eyes flickered up, back to where Xander and Gerard were. Gerard had a pair of headphones on and Elliot could just hear Xander talking a mile a minute about song composition. His hands were fiddling with his necklace, which drew Gerard’s eyes.

“We match,” Gerard said, and turned his head, pulling one of the headphone muffs off his ear. Elliot couldn’t see from where he was, but he gestured at his ear.

“Oh hey, is that from your collection?” Xander asked excitedly. “Elliot was telling me about your stores.”

“Yeah,” Gerard said with a smile. “It’s actually my collection.” He gestured to his ear again. “And I picked out all the diamonds personally.”

Elliot couldn’t see Xander’s face from this angle, but he could see his entire body perk up in excitement.

“Oh, really! Wow, that’s so cool. Man, I even went into one of your stores to look at the necklaces a few years ago! Wait—” Xander gasped. “Do you meanyoupicked the diamonds onallof those pieces?”

“Yeah,” Gerard said, smile warm and pleased. “I’m a gemologist.”

“Well that’s about the coolest thing I’ve heard today,” Xander said, bouncing up on his toes. “Did you design the jewelry yourself too?”

Elliot would leave them to it.

His eyes tracked further through the store, to the cashier who was seated behind the counter clicking idly on his phone. Xander had paid for lunch, but maybe Elliot could pay for something else instead…

He took his copy of Lone Winter Trail and went up to the cashier.

It was a quick exchange to get Xander’s preorder and pay for both items with his brand-new credit card. They both went into the same bag, and Elliot felt a rush of pride at having bought something all on his own. Technically some of the things he’d bought with Meredith were bought with his own money, but this was the first time he’d gotten to actually use his own card. It felt good. Really good.

Bag in hand, Elliot wandered back over to his two… friends.

“Hey Elliot!” Xander said, turning to him excitedly. “Did you know it was Gerard’s collection, that music necklace I’d been interested in a few years ago?”

“Oh really?” Elliot asked with a smile.

“I mean, like I said, Rina Farvemadeeverything,” Gerard said, “I, selfishly, just wanted some music themed jewelry and couldn’t find any I liked. So why not make it with the business I already own?”

“I haven’t been able to find anything as high-quality but simple since,” Xander sighed. Then he shook his head. “Not that I could afford it anyway. I’m on a strict no-buy. Except, of course, for a new record.” He grinned at them both. “I get one a month if the tips have been good at work.”

“I’m guessing the tips have been good?” Gerard asked.

“Yeah!” Xander beamed at him. “Actually, let me go get–”

“Already done,” Elliot said just as Xander went to turn for the counter. He offered the bag.

“What?” But Xander was already peering into the bag and pulling out the record, then looking back up at Elliot, face writ with scandalized affection. “Elliot!”

“Since you got lunch I wanted to get your record for you,” Elliot said, grinning.

“Wow, you really, really didn’t have to do that but thank you! Wow.” Xander glanced at the record in his hands again, then back to Elliot. “Okay so, can I hug you? Do you do hugging? You totally don’t have to do hugging.”

Just a few weeks ago the answer to that would’ve been a no, but now Elliot nodded. Xander handed the record to Gerard and then wrapped his arms around him.

“Thank you, I mean it,” Xander said, giving Elliot a good squeeze.

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