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Tattooist AU : Italian Vacation
They landed in Paris for a brief stop with Booker's mother who still lived there. Then they were off to Italy on a train. There was plenty of time to rest and recover from the jetlag. It had been awhile since Booker had been in Europe. There was a lot of sleep until he felt adjusted. By then, they had made it to Italy and Genoa.
Nicky's family had all come out for this. Well, most of them had. They were still a bigger family than Booker's family. So many siblings, cousins, and nephews/nieces. There were lots of people to meet, shake hands with, and get to know. It was a bit overwhelming honestly. The dinner was excellent but Booker was glad to disappear up to Nicky's old room and get a break.
He flopped onto the bed and threw an arm over his eyes. "There are too many of you," he said and followed it up with a little chuckle. "How can you have so many relatives?"
So many relatives all quietly judging him for his tattoos and his job and his divorce. They weren't all harsh judges. All the little ones had been fascinated by his tattoos. Some weren't even bothered by his divorce. There were a few though that Booker could tell didn't exactly approve of him.
He let his arm fall away and looked at Nicky. "I can't believe you survived all this chaos."
Nicky's family had all come out for this. Well, most of them had. They were still a bigger family than Booker's family. So many siblings, cousins, and nephews/nieces. There were lots of people to meet, shake hands with, and get to know. It was a bit overwhelming honestly. The dinner was excellent but Booker was glad to disappear up to Nicky's old room and get a break.
He flopped onto the bed and threw an arm over his eyes. "There are too many of you," he said and followed it up with a little chuckle. "How can you have so many relatives?"
So many relatives all quietly judging him for his tattoos and his job and his divorce. They weren't all harsh judges. All the little ones had been fascinated by his tattoos. Some weren't even bothered by his divorce. There were a few though that Booker could tell didn't exactly approve of him.
He let his arm fall away and looked at Nicky. "I can't believe you survived all this chaos."
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Their first day at Nicky’s Mum’s house was a lot. All his sisters and in-laws had come out with all their kids and it was a boisterous, noisy affair full of love and excitement.
Booker had handled the whole thing amazingly; he’d entertained the kids amusement over his tattoos, had been kind to all his siblings and his Nonna had adored Booker, though her face had scrunched when he’d mentioned his ex-wife. Nicky hadn’t been surprised by how little she’d been bothered by Booker’s tattoos, but as a devout Catholic, he’d expected the divorce to be an issue.
“Perks of being the oldest and the only boy for so long, I guess. They like you, but I’m sorry about Nonna’s reaction to your divorce. I should have prepared you for that.” Nicky joins Booker on the bed, dropping his chin to the man’s sternum. “You did great, handling the chaos.”
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It was just a simple judgement. Booker was used to people making all sorts of snap judgements with his tattoos and career choice.
"Well, raising three boys probably helped." He sat up a little bit and pressed a kiss to Nicky's forehead. "I like the kids though."
He would probably spend most of his vacation with them whenever possible. He knew how to handle kids. Nicky's family was a little more complicated but he would try.
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The fact that Booker got along so well with Nicky's nieces and nephews hadn't been surprising at all; he'd seen the man with his sons and that had made Nicky fall even harder. "Rocco adores you. I think you're going to have a little shadow for the rest of your visit. Also, Isabella has a crush. I might have some competition."
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Nicky had a supportive family though. It wasn't hard to see that the whole family loved each other immensely. It explained why Nicky was such a good man. How couldn't he be in such a good family?
It still took him a moment to put faces with the names. By the end of the trip he'd have everyone in this horde of people memorized. He reached out and ruffled Nicky's hair a little roughly, messing it up. "You know, I think she's a little too young for me. I wouldn't worry so much about competition if I were you."
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Chuckling softly, Nicky shifts up to press his lips against Booker's in a soft kiss. "Good to know. I'd be willing to fight for you but that might be a bit too far."
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He sighed and shifted onto his side so that he could better see Nicky. "So, what do you want to do while we're here? It's been a long time since I've been to Italy at all."
Occasionally they went around Europe for tattoo conventions and for vacations but Booker usually just wandered around and read a lot of books. He didn't think there would be much time to read with all of Nicky's family around. "That is if we can escape your family."
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“I have a few places I want to take you. Mostly restaurants and cafes. There’s also a lovely museum that Gianna said has a new exhibit worth seeing. And a bookstore that’s very out of the way. It’s small and family owned but they always have the most interesting finds.” Nicky chuckles softly, mostly a huff of air out of his nose at the mention of escaping my family. “Don’t worry. They’ll let us have time alone.
“I may have also booked us a hotel for the last night before we go home.”
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In fact, he had to leave some clothes behind because he needed more room for books to read while on vacation. Booker would definitely waste an entire day in the bookstore no matter how small it was.
Booker finally sat up and went to get his suitcase. They might as well unpack now that all the socializing was over. "That would certainly give us plenty of alone time."
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Nicky continued to lounge a while longer, watching Booker sort his things into the drawers that had been Nicky’s growing up and that his Mama had kept specifically for his visits. “I thought it would be nice for us to have a proper date night and an evening alone before we go home.”
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He supposed that was a fair worry. Nicky's family was huge and they would probably pull them in different directions each time they were around. Still, Booker thought they might be respectful and give them time alone.
No one had come to bother them right now. And if he absolutely needed time alone he would make it. Booker was not an extroverted as many of their friends. "I was also thinking I might visit some local tattoo parlors, talk business with people if you wouldn't mind that?"
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“Of course I don’t mind. I can come with you, if you’d like. Or if you’d rather go talk business without me, I’m sure I can find something to do here.” The last bit is a tease; as if staying home while Booker did his thing was a hardship.
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Right now, he walked over to him and kissed him slowly. "I will make sure they give us space." Because Booker would not stop being affection and sweet with Nicky. They would be the same couple they were back home.
After running his fingers through Nicky's hair he went back to unpacking. "I don't know how much business we'll talk but I like seeing what other artists are doing. What trends might be out there."
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“Well, you let me know if you want me there or not. I can be busy if you’re wanting to just spend time with them.” Climbing off the bed, Nicky presses a kiss to the back or Booker’s head, leaning over him to grab their toiletries and take them into the en-suite. His Mumma has already left them out good towels and he pokes his head back through to the bedroom. “Wanna take a shower with me?”
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Booker leaned back briefly against Nicky before he was gone to the bathroom. He finished with unpacking in the meantime and put their suitcases off to the side. His stack of books ended up on the nightstand. He'd probably get through all of them before the trip was over given the way he read.
"I could be convinced." Booker braced a hand on the doorway to the bathroom and smiled at Nicky.
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He chuckles softly at the site of his books and leans more heavily against the door frame, hip against the wood and lips curling into a subtle smirk. "Oh could you? The idea of me naked isn't enough?"
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He hadn't figured out the right tattoo yet but maybe he would on this trip when they were away from everything familiar. It would give him a lot of time to sit and sketch too instead of just day dreaming about it.
"I think about you naked about five or six times a day," Booker admitted with a shrug. "It's a good thought. Very entertaining when I'm bored."
They both knew he was going to get into the shower with Nicky.
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Smirking again, Nicky starts to unbutton his shirt. "Then stop thinking about it and come and see it in person." He disappeared into the bathroom, stripping down before starting the shower.