Page 93 of Pistols and Plush Toys

If Nikolai were truly trying to woo a man like Elliot, what sorts of things would he do? Elliot didn’t like grand showy gestures, that much was obvious. Though thinking of it now, maybe that had something to do with Vitale as well. Vitale was very showy, and Elliot hadn’t been allowed his own bankaccount. It stood to reason that everything hehadhad been a “gift” from Vitale.

When Elliot had been, well, kidnapped—only a few short weeks ago, fuck, it’d felt like so much longer—he’d been wearing designer clothing. But when Elliot had been allowed to choose things for himself,he’d picked comfortable and cozy and outwardly plain-looking things.

So how would Nikolai romance someone like Elliot? Shy, quiet, lovely, hurting but oh so very brave Elliot, who lit up when cooking and who laughed at Nikolai’s sense of humor and who let Nikolai see him be soft and open with his plush toys.

He should start with food, for one thing. “I’m also will take you out to lunch,” Nikolai said decisively.

“Lunch?” Elliot asked in surprise.

“Yes.” Nikolai nodded firmly. “Nice place for lunch for my nice new boyfriend.”

“Oh. I–right,” Elliot said, looking flustered now.

“Where we should go?” Nikolai asked, settling into this thought. He did very much like the idea of taking Elliot out to a nice meal. “You must pick.”

Color rose high in Elliot’s cheeks, and he looked at his plate, spearing some more potato. “Um, how… nice?”

“Maybe place I’m needing to make reservation for,” Nikolai said thoughtfully, watching the potato make its way to Elliot’s mouth. Then inspiration struck. “Pick somewhere you’d like to eat, but have never been to.”

Elliot’s eyes lit up. “Oh! Okay. Let me think.”

Elliot chewed through a bite, then two, as he thought, and Nikolai was gratified at how he’d guessed correctly. For all that Elliot struggled with eating, the way to his heart was through food.

Nikolai ate more of his own delicious breakfast while he waited, thinking that he was not unlike Elliot in that.

“How about Blue Snake?” Elliot said eventually. “It’s a steakhouse, and they serve A5 Japanese wagyu. The rest of their menu looks really good too,” he added shyly. “I’ve been wanting to go there for a long time.”

Nikolai didn’t bother asking why he hadn’t yet been. The answer to that was obvious. “Fan of wagyu?”

“I mean, anyone who’s a fan of steak would be,” Elliot said. “Someday I… I want to go to Japan and have it there.”

Nikolai realized he was tucking that bit of information away for later, then scolded himself for it. Just because they were going to be playing at being in a relationship didn’t make any of this real.

“I’m like steak.” Nikolai said. “Meredith will say steak is okay this time I think, since you are feeding me so many vegetables. I even eat spinach.”

Elliot ducked his head again, bashful. “I could pick someplace else.”

“No,” Nikolai said at once. “You want to go, so we go. I’m make reservation right now.”

Nikolai pulled out his phone to do just that, noting happily out of the corner of his eye that Elliot was well on his way to finishing his plate.

***

When Alex pulled up to the curb of Lucky Clover’s new location, Nikolai got out quickly and rounded the car to get Elliot’s door. Once Elliot had stepped out and Nikolai closed the door, he moved to put an arm around Elliot’s waist. They’d talked about it on the car ride, what touches Elliot would and wouldn’t be okay with.

He hadn’t said there was anything he wasn’t okay with, but there were certain things that got him to bite his lip, clearlyuncomfortable. Nikolai had immediately shoved those things into thenever okaysection of his brain.

Elliot was tense at first at the touch, but he settled quickly. Even giving Nikolai a small smile, nervous and trying not to be.

He really was such a brave man. Brave and beautiful.

Nikolai cleared his throat. “Ready?”

“Mmhm. Is there anything I should be doing?” Elliot asked as they walked up to the front door.

“No,” Nikolai said, pulling the keys for the new space out of his pocket. “Is my job. You are my company.”

Nikolai unlocked the doors and let them in. The inspector wasn’t there yet, though he’d likely be arriving any minute. For now, Nikolai once again surveyed the space.

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