Page 82 of Pistols and Plush Toys

Nikolai nodded approvingly as he finished the muffin. “I’m say to Meredith that you’re making me eat spinach, and is even good.”

The smile that bloomed on Elliot’s face then wasbeautiful,and the second quiche that Nikolai had been reaching for was entirely forgotten. All of Elliot’s smiles were hard earned, but Nikolai wanted desperately to keep seeing them. To keep making Elliot feel safe. Safe andvalued.

“You see? This is why I’m say you’re new chef,” Nikolai said when he recovered. He was on a roll now, so he decided to press his luck. “You can talk about it with Meredith when you’re going out with her today.”

“I’m… what?” Elliot asked. “I’m going out with Meredith?”

But Nikolai couldn’t answer because he was already deep into the second quiche. His enthusiasm worked though, and Elliot picked up his own fork to start eating.

“Since you’re here and have nothing,” Nikolai said when he’d finished the next quiche. “Meredith will take you to buy what you need.”

Elliot opened his mouth, closed it, and then took a bite of quiche to buy himself some time. Nikolai was pleased to see it. Pleased that Elliot’s instinct was to put food in his mouth now, instead of leaving it on his plate.

“I’m being right back. They are very good,” Nikolai said as he stood up with his plate. He went to the counter and loaded up with three more quiches, and when he got back Elliot was through one of his own.

“I… that’s very generous,” Elliot said slowly, voice small, eyes down on Nikolai's plate like he couldn’t believe Nikolai had gone back for seconds. “But I can’t… I don’t have…”

Money. Right, of course. Elliot had been reluctant to accept gifts, but if his prior experience with gift giving was Vitale…

“You’re my chef, so you have salary now for shopping,” Nikolai said. “Is what I’m just saying. And I take care of people who work for me. I’m get you what you need to be happy here–to be good at your job. Maybe Meredith will say better than me.”

He would have to text Meredith after breakfast, catch her up on all of this. She could convince Elliot to buy a laptop too, because he’d need one for recipes and research. Meredith was good at stuff like that. She could sell water to a fish.

Elliot was looking down at his second quiche doubtfully instead of loading up another bite on his fork. Maybe Nikolai had spoken too soon.

Elliot needed to eat more. He was still far too thin.

“I take care of my people.” Nikolai said again gently, grasping for a way to steer the conversation to easier waters. A memory popped into his head. “All my people. If Meredith wants spa day, she’s get spa day. If Gerard wants goat, he’s get goat.”

That caught Elliot’s attention. “A… goat? Why does Gerard want a goat?”

Nikolai nodded seriously, keeping a straight face. “Gerard big man, scary like me, but he’s liking cute things. Shh is secret.” He held a finger to his lips and was very pleased indeed when Elliot giggled. “He thinks little goats very cute, show me many pictures. So for his birthday three years ago, I send him to baby goat farm.”

“What?” Elliot’s eyes were crinkled in amusement, and his fork was now poised over the quiche.

“Baby goat farm,” Nikolai kept going. “They also have adult goat, but baby is for activities. You pet, you feed, and you do goat yoga.”

“Goat yoga?” Elliot repeated, before popping a bite of quiche into his mouth. Inwardly, Nikolai smiled.

“Yes. You know yoga?” When Elliot nodded and took another bite, Nikolai continued, “is not for me, but Gerard, he’s try with the goats, and they climb on him. Meredith has pictures, they are very good. Many goats like him, is very funny. Maybe because Gerard is big like mountain, so he is easy to climb. Goats like climbing very much.”

Elliot covered his mouth with his hand, holding back the laughter as he finished his next bite, but Nikolai could still see his smile in the way his eyes crinkled.

Immeasurably pleased, Nikolai finished with, “it was good gift. Maybe best gift I give Gerard. So I’m say, Gerard, he gets goat if goat makes him happy. Also you should get things to be happy.”

Elliot looked away bashfully, reaching for the bowl of melon to spoon some onto his plate.

There was a moment of silence and then, “You’re not, you know,” Elliot said quietly.

“Not what?” Nikolai asked.

“Scary.” Elliot looked up, meeting Nikolai's eyes. “I… you are when you need to be. But being here with you isn’t scary anymore. You… you make me feel safe.”

Warmth spread in his chest, better than anything Nikolai could’ve gotten from his liquor cabinet. “Is good,” Nikolai said as he picked up his fork again to eat. “You should be safe.”

He watched Elliot take a bite of melon and thought that breakfast had been very much a success.

***

---