Archive of Our Own

Mickey watched the ocean from the balcony of his villa in Hawaii, a slight wind blowing around him.

A month had passed since the incident with Una Casita. A month without him.

Mickey sighed. He knew his feelings for Oliver couldn’t be easy to forget, but he didn’t expect it to take so long. He was a secret agent. He worked for the CIA. He was trying to find items that could destroy the world.

In the distance, the water looked crystal clear. Mickey tried not to think about the ocean he had seen a month ago, in another part of the world, where Oliver’s body had sunk.

He closed his eyes. Getting emotionally attached to a colleague was a risk. Since the first day they had become partners, the two of them had spent a lot of time together, during and after work. They were friends… with some benefits, especially when they had a few drinks. Flirting with Oliver had always felt natural for Mickey, but trying to have a deeper relationship would have been dangerous, for both his profession and his own heart. Not that it mattered now, his heart had been shattered regardless.

“Mickey?”

He started. Someone was calling him from behind.

He would have known that voice anywhere, and not just because of his skills as a spy.

“Oliver…” His former partner was standing in front of the door of the balcony, the wind moving his red hair. “How did you get inside?”

What a stupid question.

Oliver showed a slight smile, his hand raising a key. “I never got the chance to give it back to you.”

Mickey knew. He didn’t want to admit it, but it was the reason he was spending his week off in Hawaii. He knew that if Oliver had been alive, he would have showed up in Mickey’s villa. “Ha!” Mickey grinned, spreading his arms in a theatrical way. “Oh, my friend, I believe you really are a ressuscité . Maybe you need to relax and eat some tagliatelle al ragù.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Mickey felt tears at the corner of his eyes. He had missed those few words, so much that he kept hearing them in his dreams. “Don’t lie, Oliver.” He sniffled, moving closer to him. “I know you didn’t get anything.”

“Perhaps.” Oliver was still smiling. “But I missed it, Mickey. I missed you.”

Mickey pulled him in a hug. “Why did it take you so long?” he murmured close to his ear.

Oliver placed his arms around his friend’s back. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be.” Mickey embraced him more tightly. “You’ll tell me everything later, maybe in a pub after a couple of drinks. What do you think?”

“Sounds great.” Oliver leaned back a little. Their faces were close; Mickey could see Oliver’s cute freckles on his cheeks. “But not now. Before we do anything else, there’s something you should tell me.”

Mickey looked away. “Um… Right.”

He could still hear their last conversation in his head.

“You know, Oliver, I’m actually pretty yada yada.”

“Yada yada what?”

“You’re curious, right? Then you’re going to have to come get the answer.”

Oliver pushed his glasses up, staring at him with deep, blue eyes. “So? What were you going to tell me last time we talked?”

Mickey forced a chuckle. “Hey, now, do you really think you can just show up after a month and pretend to know my secret? What kind of man do you think I am?” He caressed Oliver’s cheek. “At least give me a kiss first.”

“You’re so strange.” Oliver’s voice was quiet. “Did you forget that last time we met, I tried to kill you?”

“Well, I’m still alive.”

“Because you stopped me.”

“You said you couldn’t kill me.”

Oliver blinked. “I ordered someone else to kill you, so does it really make a difference?”

“Yes.” Mickey smiled. “To me, it does.”

He leaned closer to kiss Oliver.

His lips were warm. It felt good and nostalgic.

“Mickey…”

“Hm?”

Oliver wasn’t looking at him. “There are a lot of things I need time to figure out. Things about myself, and about you. I don’t know what I can do in this world anymore. Do you understand?”

“Yeah…”

“But…” Oliver paused for a moment, his eyes unfocused. “I wasn’t lying when I told you I had the most fun of my life with you. Even now, when I try to think about the place where I belong, I see your face.”

Mickey felt his heart fluttering. “Oliver… If you need help with anything, or just someone to talk to, remember: I’m by your side.”

“No, you aren’t. I’m a wanted man, and you’re a CIA agent.”

“On vacation.” Mickey smirked. “It’s fine if I don’t realize who the man I’m spending my time off with is.” It really wasn’t, but nobody was going to find out. He walked inside the villa, reaching the stairs. “Come on, Oliver, let’s go. Dinner is on you.”

Oliver followed him. “You have a big heart, Mickey. I’m sorry I toyed with it.”

Mickey stopped. “Aw, don’t worry about the past now.” He tried to sound convincing. “I know it’s because of the way you were raised. You’ll get better.”

“You’re right,” Oliver said, in the same tone he always used. “I’ll do my best.”

Mickey smiled as he watched his former partner reaching him and going downstairs. There was a good time for everything; even for the words he wasn’t ready to say.

“You know, Oliver… I’m actually pretty sure I’m in love with you.”