In comes a very specific idea that I would write if I could, but can't so...
AU where Nicky is the one down in the bottom of the ocean instead of AU. For centuries, Joe has been searching and doing everything to get his lover back. He does nothing else and it's been so bad for him and those around him...It's essentially futile but he won't give up. When a new immortal is found, Joe’s hope is renewed since maybe Booker may provide some clues through the dreams.
But...when asked if he dream of anyone in the ocean, Booker lies and says he saw no such thing. A lie only meant to relieve Joe’s suffering. After seeing the dreams of Nicky drowning over and over again, Booker thinks logically this is an endeavor without eternal success and it will do this haggard and tired man much better to move on. Or maybe it could have also he had talked to Andy and Quynh about it and hearing the tragic story, they all collectively agree to lie to let Joe move on and finally live.
Joe is devastated, thinking the lack of dreams meant that his lover is gone forever. Anguished, having lost his other half, he's lost without purpose. Eventually Booker loses his wife and sons, and he's also broken. Maybe Joe and Booker bond over that loss. They start to have sex to compensate for their empty souls and broken hearts. Maybe it's what helps them heal and move on? Although part of Booker will forever hold that guilt about having lied about Nicky, but then he thinks it's for the best...look at how Joe is starting to smile and laugh now.
Nicky was in darkness for so long...and when the dreams start, he starts to have hope...which is promptly crushed by the dreams of Yusuf laying with another man. At first, he was in denial that he was hallucinating. No way his love would do that to him. Then, he's angry, so so angry that Joe is not even trying to find him, was their love not good enough? Eventually he spirals into depression and acceptance, that in the end, the problem was with himself that Nicky is not good enough or worth it for someone as wonderful and beautiful as Joe. Why else would Joe stopped searching for him? Besides, if he can see Joe’s laughter and smiles in the dreams, it is enough and more than what he deserves.
And Nicky fades, still alive but not really, having given up on everything.
Modern century, the team is relatively okay in that Andy/Quynh always had each other, and Booker and Joe have healed each other. Still have bumps and the gaping hole that was once Nicky's spot, but the family has grieved and come to qualms with it by now. Then Nile comes into the fold, and she wakes up haunted by a face of a man in an iron maiden. She asks if there were more immortals, but the team explains about Lykon and Nicky having died...and she doesn't think too much of it, but the dreams continue and she starts to question if Nicky really did die in the ocean...
Up to writer on the fallout of Joe finding out Nicky was still alive all this time and also how they end up rescuing him from the bottom of the ocean. But when he comes up, I want Nicky to just leave, no words or any explanation. He doesn't want to get in the way of Joe's new relationship, and he also doesn't know if he can hold himself back when so close to the man. Nor does he feel any connection to his family anymore, having felt abandoned and forgotten for centuries. No anger please! He's long passed the anger and is simply tired and weary.
How all these tangles get freed is again up to the writer, I just want a lot of angst caused especially by lack of communication or miscommunication. And maybe a scene like this too? Joe is horrified at everyone but especially himself when he realizes Nicky still lives. And if writer goes to route that everyone but Joe was in all this, Joe being absolutely furious with everyone and feeling justifiably betrayed. He leaves to find Nicky, but Nicky is not opening up to even talk to him. Joe devastated but understanding, but also not wanting to leave Nicky behind because that's what he did the last few centuries. So he sits outside the door of an old abandoned cottage that Nicky in, and waits until Nicky is ready to speak with him, to let him explain and beg for forgiveness.
Days pass, Joe is starved and dehydrated, but he doesn’t budge from his vigil. Nicky suffered worst for centuries, he tells himself. There's very little movement inside the cottage, Nicky mostly sleeping and doing nothing, but acutely aware of Joe’s presence across the door... maybe he tries to ignore him but one day sees Joe having died from dehydration (he leaves the cottage to get forage only during the time Joe is asleep), in panic, Nicky pours water for Joe to drink. Then it became foods, and then a blanket, then a paper/pencil and so on. Joe is always brought to tears when he sees these simple offerings of comfort and sustenance by Nicky, giving him hope that maybe they maybe things can be fixed... it takes some time, but eventually Nicky opens the door to let Joe in figuratively and literally.
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timeasmymeasure
Joe/Nicky, Joe/Booker, Iron Maiden Nicky AU
Date: 2021-01-17 03:15 am (UTC)AU where Nicky is the one down in the bottom of the ocean instead of AU. For centuries, Joe has been searching and doing everything to get his lover back. He does nothing else and it's been so bad for him and those around him...It's essentially futile but he won't give up. When a new immortal is found, Joe’s hope is renewed since maybe Booker may provide some clues through the dreams.
But...when asked if he dream of anyone in the ocean, Booker lies and says he saw no such thing. A lie only meant to relieve Joe’s suffering. After seeing the dreams of Nicky drowning over and over again, Booker thinks logically this is an endeavor without eternal success and it will do this haggard and tired man much better to move on. Or maybe it could have also he had talked to Andy and Quynh about it and hearing the tragic story, they all collectively agree to lie to let Joe move on and finally live.
Joe is devastated, thinking the lack of dreams meant that his lover is gone forever. Anguished, having lost his other half, he's lost without purpose. Eventually Booker loses his wife and sons, and he's also broken. Maybe Joe and Booker bond over that loss. They start to have sex to compensate for their empty souls and broken hearts. Maybe it's what helps them heal and move on? Although part of Booker will forever hold that guilt about having lied about Nicky, but then he thinks it's for the best...look at how Joe is starting to smile and laugh now.
Nicky was in darkness for so long...and when the dreams start, he starts to have hope...which is promptly crushed by the dreams of Yusuf laying with another man. At first, he was in denial that he was hallucinating. No way his love would do that to him. Then, he's angry, so so angry that Joe is not even trying to find him, was their love not good enough? Eventually he spirals into depression and acceptance, that in the end, the problem was with himself that Nicky is not good enough or worth it for someone as wonderful and beautiful as Joe. Why else would Joe stopped searching for him? Besides, if he can see Joe’s laughter and smiles in the dreams, it is enough and more than what he deserves.
And Nicky fades, still alive but not really, having given up on everything.
Modern century, the team is relatively okay in that Andy/Quynh always had each other, and Booker and Joe have healed each other. Still have bumps and the gaping hole that was once Nicky's spot, but the family has grieved and come to qualms with it by now. Then Nile comes into the fold, and she wakes up haunted by a face of a man in an iron maiden. She asks if there were more immortals, but the team explains about Lykon and Nicky having died...and she doesn't think too much of it, but the dreams continue and she starts to question if Nicky really did die in the ocean...
Up to writer on the fallout of Joe finding out Nicky was still alive all this time and also how they end up rescuing him from the bottom of the ocean. But when he comes up, I want Nicky to just leave, no words or any explanation. He doesn't want to get in the way of Joe's new relationship, and he also doesn't know if he can hold himself back when so close to the man. Nor does he feel any connection to his family anymore, having felt abandoned and forgotten for centuries. No anger please! He's long passed the anger and is simply tired and weary.
How all these tangles get freed is again up to the writer, I just want a lot of angst caused especially by lack of communication or miscommunication. And maybe a scene like this too?
Joe is horrified at everyone but especially himself when he realizes Nicky still lives. And if writer goes to route that everyone but Joe was in all this, Joe being absolutely furious with everyone and feeling justifiably betrayed. He leaves to find Nicky, but Nicky is not opening up to even talk to him. Joe devastated but understanding, but also not wanting to leave Nicky behind because that's what he did the last few centuries. So he sits outside the door of an old abandoned cottage that Nicky in, and waits until Nicky is ready to speak with him, to let him explain and beg for forgiveness.
Days pass, Joe is starved and dehydrated, but he doesn’t budge from his vigil. Nicky suffered worst for centuries, he tells himself. There's very little movement inside the cottage, Nicky mostly sleeping and doing nothing, but acutely aware of Joe’s presence across the door... maybe he tries to ignore him but one day sees Joe having died from dehydration (he leaves the cottage to get forage only during the time Joe is asleep), in panic, Nicky pours water for Joe to drink. Then it became foods, and then a blanket, then a paper/pencil and so on. Joe is always brought to tears when he sees these simple offerings of comfort and sustenance by Nicky, giving him hope that maybe they maybe things can be fixed... it takes some time, but eventually Nicky opens the door to let Joe in figuratively and literally.