Page 131 of Pistols and Plush Toys

But if they could take care of it, then Elliot could be free soon. Safe enough to build a new future for himself. Safe enough to leave Nikolai and all this behind.

“I know will be very good,” Nikolai said. “Do I have time for shower?” He’d cleaned himself with a lead wipe when leaving the range, but he wanted to rinse off the day in its entirely.

“Oh, yeah, of course,” Elliot said, nodding. “This’ll be another fifteen minutes or so.”

“Be back soon,” Nikolai said and left the room.

Once in his walk-in closet, he pulled off his watch and emptied his pockets of his wallet and his lock picks. His thoughts drifted back to Elliot.

Since it seemed that Vitale was taking steps to return to the states…

Well. There was no need to go out on any more dates with Elliot, was there? They didn’t need to pretend anymore. They didn’t need to be seen together anymore.

Nikolai frowned and headed to his bathroom, turning the water on. But… what about the Fall Festival? It was tomorrow, and Elliot had seemed so excited to go.

The thought of canceling made Nikolai’s chest ache. He didn’t… he didn’t want to.

He’d been really looking forward to tomorrow, he realized all at once. And it was suddenly clear how much the idea of going to the festival with Elliot had been buoying him through the week.

Every time he was with Elliot, Nikolai had a good time. It took his mind off of the work, of all of the grisly business he had to handle sometimes. Elliot was a joy to be around, and it was nice to take him out, to share meals they’d both be surprised by. To learn all the little details that Elliot knew about food and its preparation and to make him laugh with Nikolai’s own stories.

Nikolai loved seeing Elliot smile.

Did hehaveto cancel the outing?

He leaned his head back into the water, reaching blindly for the bottle of shampoo.

If Elliot would be leaving soon, maybe… maybe Nikolai could let himself have this one last thing? One last outing together, before Nikolai went back to being cold and lonely, rattling around by himself in his big, empty house.

Meredith and Gerard might question him about it, but from the photos, it was unlikely Vitale would be on a flight by tomorrow. So going to the Fall Festival with Elliot would be self-indulgent certainly, but not unsafe.

He scrubbed his hair clean with a bit more force than necessary, frustrated with himself for wanting it at all. It was abad idea to give himself this one last thing. It wouldn’t help him when Elliot inevitably left.

But he didn’t want to give up the time with Elliot. Not until he had to.

Nikolai finished the rest of his shower quickly and then turned off the water, toweling himself off until his hair didn’t drip as he tried to push those more morose thoughts away.

Going to the Fall Festival was on Nikolai’s calendar and Elliot was looking forward to it. It didn’t have to be more than that. They’d go, have a good time, and Nikolai would hopefully get to see Elliot smile.

And after that…?

Back in his closet, Nikolai pulled on a fresh pair of clothes. Not quite pajamas but far less formal than what he wore during work hours. He plucked up his phone and checked in on reflex.

There was a notification of messages in the secured group chat.

His heartbeat picked up as he clicked over and then tapped the first message to reveal it and start the deletion timer.

Gerard:Got word that he’s trying to charter a plane.

Nikolai clicked the next message, then the next, reading through the string that had come in while he’d been in the shower.

Meredith:Trying?

Gerard:Apparently he got cut off from everyone but mommy and daddy, and they’re not giving him enough allowance to fly back in style.

Meredith:That’s hilarious.

Gerard:Yeah. But don’t know how long he’ll try to fly private before he slums it and books a first class ticket back.

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