Clique

By: Aubrie1234

AN: Usually I don't do these Author's Notes at the top, but there's a reason for this. This is actually a oneshot (as posted in the fourth part) but I split this into parts because one part of it is of a mature nature. so you can read all of it at once in Pt. 4 or read it by parts (Pt. 1, 2, 3).

After Christmas came and went and they spent New Years with the Saturdays, Doyle and Alex decided to take a pre-wedding honeymoon to both have time for themselves and to sort some details about the wedding out. They hadn't really had any time to themselves, as they'd shared the house with the Saturdays and didn't have their own home. Doyle was trying to find said home, but they couldn't decide on where to live or what home they wanted. This was another thing that they would be working out on their pre-wedding honeymoon, though Doc had offered to build them a house if need be. It was not off the table, but they weren't trying to think about it at the moment. With the finish up of their big journey about a month ago, they needed time to relax by themselves. This was their opportunity and they were taking it.

"Do those even exist?" asked Zak as the two men packed up. The boy was watching them pack, the only one in the room.

"It does, Miniman." Doyle ruffled Zak's hair, causing the boy to move away and fix it, "How else would we be going on one?"

"Don't ask me, I don't know this stuff!"

"Leave it be you two." Alex said, closing his suitcase, "You ready yet, Strawberry?"

"Almost." Zak stuck out his tongue at the mention of the pet name.

"Why do you call him that? It's weird!"

"Maybe to you, Zak, but it's one of the ways we show our love." Alex said.

"Then tell me where you guys are going instead?" Doyle and Alex shared a look.

"I was thinking Norway."

"Wherever you wanna go is fine with me." Doyle said, "Should we pack more?"

"No, this is fine."

"That's pretty far." Zak was frowning, "How long will you guys be gone?"

"'Bout two weeks." Doyle estimated, "You worried about us, Miniman?" Zak crossed his arms.

"No, it'll just be boring around here without you guys!"

"You seemed to have plenty of fun when we weren't around." Alex pointed out.

"That was different."

"For eleven years?" Doyle raised an eyebrow.

"Nevermind!" Alex shook his head and crouched to Zak's level.

"Look, we won't be gone forever." he said, "It's just two weeks. It's not like what happened over the past four months. We'll be back sooner than you think." Zak's face changed to worry and he looked away.

"Just...just be careful, okay?" He suddenly hugged Alex and, though the blond froze up at first, Alex soon hugged back.

"We will, Zakman." Doyle also gave the boy a hug after he was finished with Alex, "Don't worry about us." He glanced up from the hug and, at the door, saw Francis peeking in. The ex-agent was still with the Saturdays after what had happened and safe, but it seemed even he was nervous about their leaving. It was because of Alex that he was safe now and Doyle could understand his anxiety. The redhead gave him a small thumbs up to reassure him. Francis smiled and nodded before disappearing. Doyle wondered if Francis had actually taken the reassurance to heart. He hoped the boy had.

"Here we are." Alex looked around, "We're looking for the Smarthotel Oslo, it shouldn't be far from here."

"By 'far,' you mean a 45 minute drive from here." Doyle checked his phone for the hotel's location.

"Well, we did have to park at the airport, regardless of taking the Griffon or a regular airplane." Alex guided him over to a different area of the airport, "There's a train system that'll let us get to the city in half as much time."

"Gotcha." It didn't take them long to find the station and they got there just in time to board a train. Less than half an hour later they found themselves in Oslo itself and Alex quickly hailed a taxi.

"You've got a knack for grabbing taxis, you know that?" Doyle spoke, "Have I mentioned that before?"

"You learn how to do it when you've had my job as long as I did. And no, you haven't."

"Should've, I noticed how you managed to do it before." A pause formed in the conversation as Alex gave the driver directions in Norwegian. Doyle could have tried, but he doubted his Norwegian was as good as Alex's. He could understand it, but that didn't mean he could speak it. Soon enough they were making their way into the Smarthotel and checking in. Doyle looked around as they did so.

"Interesting place. Why here?"

"A few reasons. I've got our key, let's head up to our room." Doyle nodded and followed behind his fiancé as they walked to the elevator and took the lift up for several floors. Doyle glanced at Alex sometimes and found him observing everything, but not in a truly interested way. The redhead frowned.

"Hey. This isn't a job." Alex blinked and turned to Doyle.

"What?"

"This isn't a mission, Al." Doyle softened, "Just relax."

"Right, relax..." Alex gave a sigh. Before Doyle could say anything else, the elevator dinged and let them out on their floor. Alex led the way, going on, "It also has a bar and dining room around here somewhere. I'd rather not have any alcohol, though."

"You and me both." Doyle frowned at the doors they passed, "Aren't these spaced a little close together?"

"The rooms are small, but they've got a modern look and are just fine. I mean, it's only the two of us." Alex glanced at Doyle, "Do you not like this?" The bigger man shook his head.

"It's not that." he said, "It's just a little strange. It makes me feel like I'm living with Van Rook again."

"I see." The blond stopped, "We're here." He slid the keycard in and out and soon they were able to enter the room. As Alex had said, the room was small with a window on the other side, but it did have a modern look to it that made it feel comfy (definitely comfier than anything Van Rook found, at least). The door was also kinda thick, as well as the walls, causing Doyle to raise an eyebrow but not question it. As they brought their stuff inside, he walked over to the window and looked out. They were on the 3rd floor and the city still looked nice, even if you couldn't see a good scope of it from that floor.

"So, why here?" Doyle looked back at him. Alex shrugged.

"Oslo seemed like a nice place to spend some time together. I know you've traveled a lot yourself, I didn't know if you've been here before, but both of us should have a place where we don't have to worry about being hunted down or have something to do." Doyle blinked, then looked back out the window.

"I've never been here. I've actually not been in Norway before, if you can believe it. I've only been in Denmark and Sweden." Doyle's fingers tapped out a beat on the glass, "Everything's so pretty."

"Snow always does that." Alex noted, "You wanna go explore for a while?" Doyle shrugged.

"Dunno. I mean, we've got two weeks to stay here."

"It can go by fast."

"True. Doesn't mean I like the cold, though." Alex laughed.

"It's not that bad."

"Coming from the guy whose country spends half the year in fog and cold." Alex snorted.

"England's not always like that."

"Not from my experience." Doyle turned back with a smile, "Can't we just cuddle a while before we go out?" Alex smiled back.

"I suppose we could." They sat on the bed together, Doyle wrapping his arms around the smaller man, and Alex turned on the TV opposite the bed, making sure subtitles were on. Alex listened to Doyle's heartbeat thrum behind him and it made him feel nice. It could always put him to sleep and he didn't mind, but he made himself stay awake so that he could remind Doyle of his promise later. Alex had been in Norway's capital, but he never had a chance to look around. He wasn't going to lose that while he had this chance.

Somehow, they'd found themselves at a gay bar later that week. Doyle was not comfortable at this revelation for some reason and wanted to leave, but because it was so crowded at the moment, they had to stay there. They didn't drink and just watched everything around them, watching how people interacted and trying to catch a few phrases here and there. Alex sat beside Doyle in one of the booths there and noticed how many looks they were getting. He glared them away.

"I can see how this place makes you uncomfortable." Alex glared off another person, "I wish they'd get that we're together and not bother us."

"It's not that." Doyle sighed. He stared into the glass of water he'd ordered, then said, "You remember how I mentioned that I worked at a strip club, once upon a time?" Alex nodded, not taking his eyes away from the people around them, "It was a gay strip club. This isn't the first time I've had people ogling me, but that doesn't mean I like it."

"But that isn't the only thing, is it?" Alex asked. Doyle shook his head, even though Alex didn't see it.

"No, it's not. After the shows, sometimes even during them, I'd get harassed." He shook his head again, "You have no idea how many times I wanted to have them arrested for sexual assault." Alex frowned and turned to him.

"Why didn't you? Don't tell me that you thought you couldn't because you were gay." Doyle nodded, "Sexual assault on any person should be reported, no matter their orientation. Doyle-"

"Don't tell me how to live the past, Alex." The redhead gave him a dark look, "It happened, it can't be changed. You know that better than anyone." Alex watched as Doyle looked back at his drink, a saddened look on his face.

"Hey there." Alex turned to see that a man had come over, a kind look on his face. Blond hair, blue eyes. Alex glared. He didn't trust him. The man held his hands up in a placating gesture, "I'm not here to cause trouble. Just wondering if things were okay."

"Things are fine." said Alex, voice cold.

"You sure?" This guy was persistent, unaffected by Alex's glare or just not caring. The ex-spy opened his mouth to speak when Doyle suddenly did so.

"He's my fiancé." He raised his head to stare the stranger in the eyes, "We were just arguing. He's not trying to hurt me or anything, I promise." The guy raised an eyebrow, a little disbelieving. Doyle grinned, "You're really afraid for someone like me? Someone who could throw him," Doyle jerked his thumb at Alex, "across the room with one hand? Trust me, I can hold my own if something happens. You don't have to worry."

"...You have a point." The man nodded and moved away, disappearing into the crowd. Doyle dropped his grin and head. Alex put an arm around his waist.

"Thanks."

"No prob." The ex-mercenary turned and kissed the top of Alex's head, "And he was an honest guy. Don't get so jealous."

"I wasn't jealous." Alex protested, "Or protective, if that's what you were thinking." Doyle chuckled.

"You're the best, Babe." Doyle leaned into his side, leaning on him, and Alex smiled. He looked around and, seeing that it was now clearer, nudged Doyle and said, "We can get out now." Doyle didn't need any more prodding and they ran out after paying their tab. They held hands as they walked the nighttime streets, Doyle glancing back every so often for anyone who might follow. Old habits die hard, and this wasn't one from his time with Van Rook. Alex noticed this and said nothing. He knew what Doyle was doing and understood the habit. He only tightened his grip on the redhead's hand.