The Location May Be Hellish...

[stabgremlin]

A year.

A year of treachery and of war and of megalomaniacs who really needed to cut that shit right out. A year of being the one left with the bucket and the mop, of being the one cleaning up after Jedi and Sith alike despite only being one powerless person in the middle of a mess— or more like a clusterfuck— way above his pay grade.

Nine couldn't say that he had been thinking of Hancock the entire time they had been apart.

But he could say that in the quiet moments between the insanity of it all his mind had turned to Earth. To the ghoul. To that stormy night where he had sat safe cuddled up against a man he could be confident wouldn't raise a hand to hurt him despite obviously being both dangerous and fully capable should he be given a reason to be someone's enemy. To the locket left behind that he hoped still hung around a living neck and above a beating heart.

I need a fucking vacation he had said to Marr and Lana both. He hadn't even waited for their response.

The Emperor was off licking his wounds somewhere. The work would pick back up but Nine needed the rest and the actual fucking Sith Lords could do their jobs and hold down the fort for once.

Again he had dropped his companions off where they wanted to go. Stopping by Nar Shaddaa and Alderaan and wherever else. Ignoring the way that Doctor Lokin had stared at him as though he knew that Nine was going to a place that was physically dangerous to him in ways beyond mere hostility. Barely able to ignore when Vector had given him a concerned look.

Earth was dangerous.

But Earth was good to him, too. He wasn't Cipher Nine there. Not Major Nahain, not a Spec Ops Commander. Just him. And it was good enough. Being him— messy and unsure— was good enough.

He had filled his ship with supplies. Food, clean water. Medical supplies. Medicine. Luxuries too— both to gift and to barter with. An entire crate full of those energy drinks that he had promised, that he had written down on his datapad so as to not forget. And then he had taken his droids and he had gone.

Earth was still Earth when he arrived.

Kind of messy. Kind of gross. Kind of dangerous. Kind of exactly the way he had left it.

The Phantom had been parked somewhere no one would come across it and he had his droids camouflage it so that it blended in with the surroundings more than it had the first time he visited. Supplies filled both cargo hold and the main hold and the crew's quarters as well. Ready to be moved into Goodneighbor later.

For now the Chiss moved across the quiet night and headed for where he remembered the entrance to Goodneighbor to be and suddenly he was back to someplace that felt familiar despite the fact that he hadn't spent long there really. His eyes scanned the people milling about even at such a late hour until they landed on just who he was thinking of. Who he had been missing during those quiet moments when he had had time to think. Thoughts that had come to him at an hour just like this one when he had turned in for the night and his mind laid idle.

This time it wasn't a thought though. Not a dream, not an illusion or hallucination.

Nine didn't thank the Force very often for the simple reason that he didn't really believe it had a Will capable of listening to him. Yet he wanted to thank it now.

Instead he slipped between any person in his way, skillfully ducking and weaving between people he didn't deem worth even greeting— headed straight for his reason to return in the first place.

"John," He called out, to get his attention— not that he thought it necessary with how people were laser-focusing in on him being back (and a few people who seemed to be new and looked alarmed about the blue-skinned red-eyed whatever-the-fuck suddenly in their midst.)

Using his voice to call out that name made it feel more real though. Being able to get his hands on him would be even better.

Comments

[feralnow]

"I mean, you said it was aimed at the Empire, and from what you've told me, they ain't too pleasant. It'd be like attacking the Institute, I guess." Or any number of the downright evil societies that the drifters and wanderers spoke of.

"I don't want you to go. You mean too much to me to want you to leave," He poured the last few bits of vodka into their glasses and set the now empty bottle aside. "I appreciate you telling me all that."

[stabgremlin]

Nine would argue about how it was different. How innocents had perished too. People just like him who were stuck in a system that actively worked against them. But John probably knew that and was choosing to look at the bad that had been wiped from the galaxy rather than only at the collateral damage. Even though in the aftermath that thought haunted Nine every time he looked at himself in the mirror.

Nine wasn't sure if he had wanted him to get angry with him or not. He was grateful that he hadn't been told to take a hike though.

The tips of his ears turned a faint shade of purple at his words. If Hancock meant them or was now only playing nice for the sake of the people of Goodneighbor relying on his supplies remained to be seen he supposed.

"The supplies wouldn't stop," He said, softly, "If your feelings have changed. If this is you sacrificing your own comfort..."

[feralnow]

Hancock held Nine close, inviting him to lean on him, reaching up to stroke his cheek. "I don't think you're a monster. If I wanted you gone, I would have tossed out outta the booth and outta the bar by now. I still like you, I still want you."

'Like' was almost too soft of a word at this point. He wanted Nine, wanted to keep seeing him, wanted to spend every second with him.

[stabgremlin]

The speed at which Nine moved back was almost comical. A second and he was back up against his side. Cuddling against him. Possessively and wanting to be possessed.

It was weird.

"... I... Think I want to go exclusive for you."

... Now that was bizarre. Nine had never felt that way about anyone before.

[feralnow]

Hancock blinked, pulling back slightly to look Nine in the face.

"You're serious?"

They hadn't exactly seriously discussed what they had going between them. Hancock knew that was as good a love confession as any with the Chiss.

[stabgremlin]

"I think I am."

The response was immediate enough that he thought he might actually mean it. It was a bizarre emotion to experience. New and sort of fluttery and oddly innocent. It wasn't lust or mere enjoyment of Hancock's company. Wasn't his usual bit of manipulation. It was genuine. It was like his very being grabbing him and shaking him and telling him to not let go of the feeling but more importantly not let go of the man he was seated next to.

His expression changed— confusion, concern, a not insignificant bit of anxiety. It was so strange. Was he sure that love was what this was? Romantic love? He thought so.

Though this was his first time feeling it.

"You don't have to answer me on it," He said then, as reassurance that he wasn't going to pressure him to give him a response. Nine's feelings were as always Nine's issue to figure out of what to do with. He didn't think they'd slot as neatly into his tangled mess of emotions as his feelings usually did, but he didn't want them to become a burden for Hancock so he would manage.

"I admit I've never felt this way about anyone before but I'll figure out of it."

It was unlikely that the ghoul felt the same way, anyway.

[feralnow]

Hancock leaned in and kissed Nine softly on the mouth. "Actually, it means a lot to me."

Out of all the people in the galaxy, Nine wanted him and only him. Wanted to sleep with just him for the rest of his life. Hancock had understood that long distance relationships could be hard, especially when that distance was in light years, and that Nine would have needs when he couldn't be on Earth. So it must have been really serious for him to offer this.

"I'd like to be exclusive too."

[stabgremlin]

It felt rather like someone had switched an entire holonet server off, but the server just happened to be his brain. He couldn't help but stare up at the ghoul. Uncertain of what his face was doing but vaguely aware that it was cycling through various expressions. He wasn't sure if they were all appropriate ones, but he could tell that more than one expression conveyed confusion.

Nine loved Hancock.

That much was clear to him now even in his maze of unclear emotions. He wanted to go exclusive for him. To strike seduction off of his list of tools despite seduction making his job so much easier. It was a strange feeling. To only want Hancock's lips on his. Only his hands touching him. Only him to sleep with and only him to cuddle up to after sex. Only his breath and his heartbeat alongside his own in the silence of a room while settling down to sleep.

It was fucking bizarre.

And to have Hancock feel something like that for him? How. Or rather why.

He certainly wasn't complaining, but Hancock could have anyone he wanted. Anyone in Goodneighbor. Anyone on Earth. That Nick guy. Why would someone like him want to go exclusive with someone like Nine? It didn't make sense.

"You—" He began, then stopped himself. He could feel his face heating up and wished they were somewhere more private than the bar. He could feel eyes on them. He didn't look but he could feel it. Patrons were probably trying to listen in on the conversation between their mayor and the outsider too.

"I—" He tried, and then gave a frustrated sigh. He'd never even gotten tongue-tied as a teenager. And now after all his experience with always being eloquent, he was struggling for the words.

"... What about Nick?" He asked, looking a bit poutier and entirely more jealous than he wanted to, "I don't want to break up something that's only just begun for you when I can't stay here the whole time."

He rubbed the back of his neck, and averted his eyes, "I can't ask you to sit around waiting for me when you've probably got people lining up to get with you."

[feralnow]

"Nick's a big boy, he'll understand." What they had wasn't exactly love, more like friends with benefits. Purely sexual. Nick could go back to being regular friends, Hancock was sure.

"They can just wait in line with another handsome ghoul. You're the only one for me now. I can also find ways to get my rocks off without goin' behind your back."

[stabgremlin]

Nine wasn't quite sure how to explain that Hancock was signing up to be with someone who had at least a few lifetimes worth of baggage. That he deserved better than some spy who hadn't had a pure uncomplicated emotion since he was sixteen.

He wanted to tell him that he didn't have to stay exclusive for him, even though Nine intended to stay exclusive for Hancock. Looking at someone else and knowing they deserved better was a new feeling too. He did want to tell him that and yet the thought of the ghoul hooking up with other people made him feel an insane amount of jealousy that bordered on murderous. The thought of him hooking up with Nick should be better since it was just one person, and yet it was almost worse.

"... If you're sure. I just... You do know you're signing up for me?"

He couldn't be there all the time. Work would always call. He wasn't nice. He scared most of the people of Goodneighbor whenever he wasn't handing out supplies. He'd never fit in. There were honestly more complications than there were upsides to getting serious with him.

"I... Love you. I want you to be happy. And I'd love to be the one making you happy it's just... Work is always going to be calling. I'll never be able to just stay."

[feralnow]

"And I'll keep waiting for you, however long it takes for you to return. I love you too, and want to be with you. You make a freak like me feel like the luckiest ghoul in this wasteland."

He meant it when he said he loved Nine. Nine had become special to him, special enough to make Hancock swear off other partners, even just on a casual basis. He wanted Nine to stay with him, live in the old State House together, go on adventures all the time. But he couldn't tie Nine down, for Nine had obligations to his Empire, and the last thing Earth needed was for Nine's bosses to come along looking for their missing spy, or at least his corpse.

[stabgremlin]

"... This time I'll try tying up any unfinished business."

If he could. After what had happened on Yavin, he wasn't sure that was the sort of business he even could tie up. But he could try.

"I'll find blackmail material on my bosses and then I'll come back here and I'll stay."

He'd still have his ship or at least a ship if something happened. He loved the Phantom and loved flying her, but if switching his starship made for an easier time disappearing, then that was fine.

"Or fake my death or something."

He should still be able to keep a supply line open, even if he'd officially be dead. Could still be as useful to the community here without having to keep coming and going. He had contacts who could meet him halfway, without him having to step foot anywhere he might be recognized.

"Whatever it takes."

[feralnow]

"Don't let me clip your wings," Hancock stroked Nine's hair, twirling a bit around his finger. It was so soft and pretty, it almost made Hancock jealous and wish that he still had hair of his own.

"Last thing I want is to make your bosses suspicious, and have them come looking for you."

[stabgremlin]

Nine gave a soft hum in response to how he was stroking his hair. He could still feel eyes on them, but many of them had stopped lingering by now. Affection between the two of them was less interesting than the face journey Nine had been on, apparently.

He liked the way Hancock's hand felt stroking his hair, that gentle and affectionate touch and he closed his eyes to enjoy it fully.

"You're not. I'd still have my ship, I just... Wouldn't get pulled away by work."

His brother could work harder. Marr could get his shit together. Jadus could come back. A million Sith and a million agents could do their fucking jobs. Nine would leave and he would become someone else. Someone loved. Someone with a life.

"If I fake my death they'll have their corpse and no reason to come looking."

His friends would be sad. As would his brother. But life would go on. And Nine would be happier here than he was in the Empire.

[feralnow]

"Still, surely you have friends and family. Like your crew, or that wife of yours." The wife who didn't count towards their exclusivity, whom Nine only married as part of his spy gig. "Would you really want them to think you're dead?"

[stabgremlin]

"I do. They'll be upset but life will go on. I'm a spy— death is the expected outcome in that line of work."

The preferable one, some would say.

"Besides, things are getting worse out there. If I keep leaving I... Can't guarantee that I'll make it back here. My friends and family will be left with definitive answers. They'll get to grieve and have a funeral and move on knowing how Cipher Nine's story ended."

Even if the answer was a charred corpse and enough proof that it was him. Words left behind for them. Lives left to live.

"You wouldn't get that."

[feralnow]

"Look, just promise me that you ain't gonna do anything rash that you can't take back," Hancock said, squeezing Nine's fingers. "I love you, and want to spend every second I can with you, but you've got a life outside of me. Just give it some thought before you commit."

[stabgremlin]

I love you. Nine had never thought much about those words before. They were pretty little lies to wrap people around his pinky. They'd never meant anything to him. But to say them to Hancock. To have Hancock say them to him. He hadn't thought it possible for so few words to ever mean so much.

"I will."

He would. He'd think on it when he went back. After the month was up. But he had more or less already decided that this was where he wanted to be. Goodneighbor meant a lot to Hancock so he could never ask the ghoul to leave and follow him out into the galaxy. So he would just have to build a life here with him.

"... People just aren't going to stop staring, are they?" He asked then, to change the subject.

"I suppose they're not used to seeing you behave like this."

[feralnow]

Hancock looked up at the other patrons. "I guess not. I'm not usually this happy. I mean, really happy. Or maybe they just can't take their eyes off you because you're so sexy." He leaned in for another peck on the lips.

[stabgremlin]

Nine hummed, tilting into that gentle peck. He moved a hand up to hook behind Hancock's neck to tug him in for a deeper kiss and licked his lips as he pulled back as if chasing the taste of him. It wasn't making a show of it so much as it was affection he wanted.

"Please. I'm in uniform right now. Hardly one of my sexier looks."

The uniform was fancy. Still a uniform though. Meant for utility more than appearance.

"Guess they'll have time to get used to you looking like this. I intend to keep making you happy every moment we're together."

[feralnow]

"I think you could wear wasteland fashion and still be the sexiest thing on Earth," Hancock purred into his ear, before he kissed the tip of said ear. "Some ragged jeans and a flannel shirt, or even some greasy overalls couldn't diminish how hot you are."

[stabgremlin]

He couldn't help but blush slightly which was also rather new. Reacting so innocently to actions and words that would have bounced right off of his skull had it been anyone else saying them. He didn't suppress the shudder that ran down his spine from having that voice right at his ear, his breath hitching slightly at the kiss.

"Sounds like you've given it some thought," He hummed, voice dropping into a flirtatious lilt.

Given that he was mentioning specifics, he wondered if Hancock had thought about just how he wanted to see him. What local fashions he wanted to see him in.

"... Bet I'd look good wearing just your coat. That's for your eyes only though."

He wasn't sure if what John wore could be described as wasteland fashion, but it was local. And definitely something that was reserved for just him. Nine didn't think it was a sight John would like to share with anyone else.

[feralnow]

"I know you would. Maybe later in private..." He whispered into Nine's ear. He gently nipped at Nine's neck, unashamed of a little PDA. "I also have a dress I think you'd look good in. I bought it for a lady friend years back, but before I could give it to her, she left me high and dry with a note saying she was headed to Appalachia. She was about your size, so it should fit."

Cost him quite a few caps too, and he just hadn't had the heart to sell it. The seller also refused to take refunds.

[stabgremlin]

His coat. A dress.

"You really have been thinking of me, haven't you?" He giggled as he tilted his head back to bare his neck to him. He couldn't help but ponder just letting Hancock rail him right there in public. Really give the locals something to look at. He held himself back from crawling into his lap though.

But John did have to live and work with the people here. And so would Nine, eventually. Perhaps any public fucking ought to be kept to darkened corners or alleys where there was a risk of discovery but no one actively watching.

"Which do you think I'd look better in? The dress or your coat?"

He would prioritize the one he was horniest for.

[feralnow]

"Definitely my coat, especially if that's all you're wearin'. The dress we can save for when you wanna be all sparkly." The dress was downright modest compared to a lot of the outfits he'd seen Nine wearing, but it was low cut with a short skirt.