ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍OVERTHINKING. @SCRlPTINGS]

all i know is, i felt better when i saw someone else in pain.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

I want them all. You can do anything to me.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

Well, I am think of other things besides licking.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

. . . all right, I'll stay a few days.
Keep you company— help you around.

Thanks, Sal.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

You wouldn't.

To be honest, I kinda enjoy your company. It can get quite lonely in here.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

He shrugged, finishing his piece of pie in silence.

“I suppose you could say I have sociopathic tendencies.”

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

“Don't mention it.”

Conrad answered quietly in a hint of a smile as he chewed slowly on his piece of pie, watching the man, just observing him — and noticing the blushed cheeks, yet not mentioning it.

Truth was Travis kept a very low profile, very professional, —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

Conrad's observation provoked a slight blushing on Sal's cheeks.

It was said in a different tone. . . It wasn't a mocking one; Sal was sure of it. And the smile was kinda sweet. . .

"Thanks. Italian genes."

He mumbled, moving his eyes away from Conrad's for a bit, focusing

+

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

Before him, I've spent years in an undercover job. And before that . . .”

He sighed. It's been a long time.

“God, I can't remember having someone I actually cared. That's what I mean, I guess. I've never cared for my partners. But I know you're different. It's funny.” —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

Conrad winked at him, clicking his tongue.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

“You keep it.”

He pointed at the handkerchief and smiled briefly, giving just another gentle tap, this time on his back.

“I'm here for you, man.”

Travis spoke softly, lowering his hand, shoving both inside his pockets. —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

Sniffling, Sal listened to Travis in silence.

His mouth was half open the whole time, as if he wanted to say something; but he kept silent. Sometimes, he took Conrad's handkerchief to dry his cheek.

"Uh. . . Thank you. For listening."

+

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

“Explains a lot about your anger. I'd be pissed too. But it'll pass, you'll see.”

He winked playfully, gently touching Sal's chest with two fingers.

“Tell you what. Tomorrow's our day off, you just rest. I'll have to make some calls and pull a couple of strings, y'know ?” —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

Travis explained quietly, finally turning to look at him in a small smile.

"A bath would be great."

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

"Can you imagine ? God, I'd be gone from here."

He chuckled, following the man inside. Stopping by the door, he took off his shoes, slowly walking into the living room.

"You live with someone ? I don't wanna cause trouble." +

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Knight. . . That's quite cool, in fact. Aren't you the heir of something in England?"

Sal joked, leaving the car as well.

"You are right. It was. . . Much better."

He replied, keeping his silence for a bit, thoughtful. Sal was still like that after opening the house,
+

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

Travis raised his hands in surrender as he gave the man a playful smirk in response and let out a throaty chuckle.

"As long as there's coffee, black as a moonless night, I'm happy."

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Shut the fuck up."

He replied at his teasing - yet, with a little smile at the corner of his lips at his comment. Perhaps Travis wasn't so wrong, after all.

Giving him a last look, Sal went to the kitchen.

"Any request?", he asked in a shout, filling a kettle with water.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

You're sure about that ?
I don't want to upset you.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

You, uh. . .

You can stay here, yeah. As long as you like.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

I would love that, although I'd say their blood is poisonous. You can lick me all you want, after a good bath, tho.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

@ofthecreature

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

but one day I looked it up. So there's a piece of story for you. See ? I'm boring.”

Travis smirked, getting out of the car. Stretching his body in a grunt.

“Nah. This country existed before us. Seemed to me like a better place.”

He confessed, letting Sal guide him inside.

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐑𝐀𝐃 .ᅠ @ofthecreature]

“Mhm.”

He had a point. The way people treated him . . . Like he wasn't even American. Conrad figured that people couldn't be too different from the basics — it was a sin.

“My dad used to tell me his great grandfather or whatever was a knight. Always thought it was bullshit, —

[ᅠ‎ ᵈᵉᵗ 𝖲𝖠𝖫 𝖯𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖨𝖣𝖠. @DETPROClDA]

"Yeah."

Sal smiled in a sarcastic manner, turning the car to the left. They were almost arriving on his home.

"Italy, yeah. Two generations, but. . . I sometimes feel like I just arrived from one of those ships."

+