#lucinaryart

Particularly, a shabby bar on the bend caught John’s eye, luring him in like food to an angler. Slow steps carried the gruff captain inside, his eyes darting around the dim space. Along the island was particularly empty. He carried himself over, plopping down upon the worn, leather barstool. His finger rapped on the counter, garnering a worn bartender’s gaze, “what do ye want to drink?” The bartender questioned,  making his way toward Price along the inside of the bar.”

“Jus’ a double shot of scotch, will ye?”  His request was a simple drink, no mix, just straight alcohol. 

The bartender gave John a nod whilst pouring up his drink and serving it, “On tab?” John shook his head, “No.”

He slid a bill across the counter, he chose to carry cash after a few incidents with cards. It was quickly scooped up before the change came, John returning it to a wallet in his jacket pocket. The captain started to nurse on his drink, despite it all, the alcohol only put a temporary seal on the missing piece of John’s heart. Something John chose not to acknowledge. 

Sound swirled in the air, carried by the laughter of other patrons playing darts or pool in the background. Yet, the noise was dulled by John’s longing for something more, the inexplicable need to let himself do what he wanted for once, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to. Training had nullified the willingness to follow wants over needs, so he’d settled with alcohol to drown it out.

John didn’t perk up until a barstool beside him raked across the floor in a painfully loud screech, as he went to open his mouth he glanced to his right. Where right beside him, sat Nikolai. The bartender brought the Russian his favorite drink, indicating that he’d been a regular here for a while. Something swirled in John’s stomach, drawing taut like the strings of a drawbag.

“Nik?” John’s words rang out, the name falling back onto him, and before he had a chance to fully process it, Nikolai began to talk.

“Da, dear, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Nikolai queried rhetorically. He managed to get John to glance away, a faint blush dusting his cheeks beneath the hairs of his mutton chops. 

“Ye can say that again,” John returned his focus to Nikolai, giving the man a wry smile. 

Nikolai extended arms in which John took the hug with grace. Their arms wrapped around one another’s torsos, pulling their bodies firmly together as they settled in each others’ arms for a moment that bordered on a bit too long for the eyes around them. 

John was firm to ease off, then followed by Nikolai they released their grasp on one another and returned to facing the bar where their drinks sat, waiting to be downed by the couple.

Nikolai finally took up his glass, putting the rim to his lips before nursing on the drink while sidelong glancing at John.

“It’s.. Been a bit lonely without ye here, luv.” John confessed while staring down into his glass.

The words felt good to get out, the taut twist of his gut easing in pressure. Another swift gulp of scotch burnt down John’s throat as he shot it down. Nikolai couldn’t help but find himself a tinge concerned with John’s behavior. 

“Beloved, are you okay?” The words came out soft, but they hit John like a humvee hauling through a warzone

“I’m fine.” He attempted to shut Nikolai down, to deflect, to avoid acknowledging the loneliness they both knew he felt. 

“No, you are not, please, John,” Nikolai was swift to retort, his words cutting through John’s mask, leaving it in pieces on the floor.

A small grumble escaped Price as he diverted his gaze to the TV. “Nik…”

Firmly, Nikolai placed his hand on John’s shoulder, the intent to ground John and get him to talk. 

“Please, Darling, talk with me.” Nikolai asked, his words a subtle plea for John to open up, or at least acknowledge a part of the emptiness within. 

Silence sat between the two for several minutes before John finally said something, more than a small acknowledgement of Nikolai’s absence.

“I missed you, Nikolai.” The words were foreign to John’s tongue, but they felt right, like it’s what he should’ve said from the start.

Finally the weight started to life as Nikolai’s hands came up to hold John’s face. The enigmatic Russian’s endless brown eyes falling to the ocean of John’s gaze. The two, not yet even tipsy men leaned closer to one another. John’s hands drifted to brace Nikolai’s shoulders. One of those hands slid further back, ghosting over the curve of Nikolai’s neck before resting on its nape. Price leaned closer, giving Nikolai the chance to pull away if this situation was all a big mistake in their relationship. Nikolai slid closer, their lips grazing for a mere second before both men decided to lock lips, a firm kiss held together by longing and tenderness. They stayed there, eyes firmly closed, the world stilling around them as the two were enveloped by a longstanding passion between one another. 

Pulling away, Nikolai took in a few short breaths, his thumb brushing over John’s cheek before his hands fell away. 

“Wonderful.” It was a single word, murmured in Nikolai’s heavy Russian accent, but it held weight, the same thought they both were thinking. John pulled up his scotch glass, taking another sip, swallowing down the taste of Nikolai on his tongue.