FANTASTIC REVERIE.
NOTE:Ā A Classic!Nicklijah moment. This is the first drabble Iām posting on Tumblr. Please forgive the plainness.
Elijah recalled a bit of contempt for the point of view Nickās class had for their professor the man had had when heād returned after a day of wearing one of his shirts. The archaeologist had been quite put off by their reaction and Elijah had honestly found it quite amusing if he were honest. The gesture had been a harmless one, even though he had to reassure the older male of this fact about a hundred times before he left the house that morning. It would seem he was the only one certain of the truth behind that statement. And so, heād made it a point not to be too involved with Nickās professional life if he didnāt have to. While it was amusing, Elijah could relate to the discomfort of being viewed as an item when they were not. Given the true nature of their relationship, it was all around a safer bet not to feed the hungry whims of college girls and their strange tendencies to dig a little too deep into the personal lives of the older men they were supposed to be learning from. That aside, there were still some occasions where it could not be avoided. Today had been one of them as a new development in the artifact case had popped up and demanded immediate attention. Heād only gone to pass off information, but he could feel the stares of students as he quietly wiggled his way into the classroom and seated himself in the back. The board was full of information Elijah knew nothing about and Nick had his back turned to the class as he went on about something to do with ancient Mesopotamia. A part of Elijah wondered if heād have enjoyed traditional school if heād had the chance to attend. His wonderings were cut short, however, when the professor turned to face the class again. He had a question in his mouth, but Elijah didnāt hear it. He was far to focused on the fact that he was wearing glasses. Months. Theyād been working together for literal months and Elijah hadnāt the slightest clue that Nick needed glasses at all. Was that something new? Heād be sure to ask about it later.
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Elijah had found a comfy spot between the fireplace and the coffee table (as per usual) with a couple of pillows and a cup of joe. For a man who enjoyed sweet things almost as much as Nick did, it was maybe a bit odd that he preferred his coffee black. He was sprawled out on the floor with a pillow under his stomach and a computer lit up in front of him. He was reading through an article with his glasses dropped down to the tip of his nose and a rather focused expression. One of Nickās tees hung loosely from his thin frame ā something he didnāt even consider as heād swiped it right out of the pile of clean laundry earlier. By the time Nick had gotten to the flat, the glasses were gone, but he didnāt need them to take note of Elijahās comfort level. The younger man looked like a college student himself rather than Nickās partner in a serial murder case. He looked up at Nick when he came in and frowned slightly. He didnāt address the issue right away. āBeen looking into that John Horabik guy.ā He pushed the computer out and at an angle some so that Nick might be able to see what was on it. The image of a middle-aged man in a business suit was displayed neatly beside an article titled āI Survived an Ancient Egyptian Curse!ā There was a story that followed, but Nick was a bit too far away to read it. āIs it legit then?ā The archaeologist raised both eyebrows, pinning Elijah with a curious expression. āNot a clue, but, even if it isnāt, thereās still a lot of interesting information here.ā He pulled the computer back towards himself before patting the ground next to him. āIāve already copied the piece and started highlighting things. Finally, a lead that doesnāt make me want to destroy my own liver.ā āYou donāt drink enough to justify that worry.ā Nick countered plainly as he took to Elijahās unspoken order. He flopped onto his stomach, leaning in a bit to get a better look at the screen. The action sent a bit of a chill up Elijahās spine, but he let it go for now. āDoesnāt mean I havenāt considered it. Youāve got a nice collection of temptations here.ā The younger man taunted with a smirk. One that elicited only an eyeroll from Nick. He also pushed the joke aside in favor of the article before them. āHeās a cheap, sh*t politician. Got his fingers stuck in the wrong cookie jar and made some powerful people angry. He provided a name, but all the searching Iāve done on that has led to nothing. An alias, Iām sure. But look-ā he pointed at the screen to a highlighted line. Nick squinted a little. āāI had the knife in my hand and I was terrifiedā¦. Dadadaā¦ shaking with fearā¦ blahblahblahā¦ pinched myself with my free hand and it gave me just enough of a distraction that the knife missed any vital organs.āā He read aloud, reaching up to rub at his own chin. Suddenly, his vision was cut off as something slipped over his eyes and onto his nose. āYou look ten years older when you squint like that.ā There was a playful lilt in Elijahās voice and it became clear all of a sudden what had happened. The lenses themselves did not help his vision at all. Instead, the article was a lot blurrier than it needed to be. The transparent frames that ringed the little bit of the world Nick could see answered just whoās glasses had been forced onto his face ā confirmation that Elijahās skillset, in all the random things he was good at, did not include seeing. Nick didnāt say anything for a long moment, but, even with his poor vision, Elijah could clearly see the older manās confusion. He started laughing, head bobbing onto the keyboard with amusement-induced weakness. Nick grumbled a little bit despite the clear signs that he wasnāt truly bothered by this action. āI am ten years older.ā The laughter settled into something Elijah could at least speak through. āSure, but you look damn good for ten years older. The glasses are a bonus. You should wear them more often. Would be good for eyes. And mine too.ā He bumped his shoulder to Nickās in jest and then swiped his glasses back. There was a brief moment where the honorary detective went without as he used Nickās sleeve to wipe away the smudges. āShut up.ā Nick didnāt know what else to say, but there was the slightest hint of a smile on his lips. Something that didnāt go unnoticed as Elijah slipped the frames back onto his own face. He mirrored the expression ten-fold, even showing teeth. āNot in a million years.ā
Mood music: Beyond the World of Man - KOLARS >Ā https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KQou6PT9VM
@xnevermarks
