Nikola wasn't known for holding his tongue. He was quick to insult, faster to correct and fastest when he was right.
Though, there were plenty of times when Nikola said absolutely nothing.
During their time at Oxford, Nikola realized he was in love with Helen Magnus. Her brilliance blinded him, her grace amazed him and her laugh lifted a smile on his cynical face.
He never told her.
When they were The Five, he loved her even more, her determination to make the four men work together, despite being so drastically different affected them all. Only she could bring the thinker, the chemist, the physicist and the Barrister's son together.
Helen asked for his loyalty.
He pledged it without question.
She demanded his knowledge.
All his wisdom was her's.
She broke his heart.
He let his work consume him.
Helen visited a few times when he was working. She didn't mention the past, Nikola didn't bring it up.
When the wars came, she requested his service.
He gave it, both times.
Then he was gone without a good-bye. Having run from the Americans because he refused to help the "scientists" they allowed to continue working.
And now, Helen noticed the silence.
It was something she hadn't fully processed before because whenever she needed, he was always there.
Now Nikola was gone.
One year.
Two,
Three.
Then ten.
Helen grew more and more anxious at the silence.
She wanted to look, there was never time.
And then it was half a century.
And the silence was starting to scare her.
Ten years more plus a few extra and then, Nikola was suddenly back.
Even first seeing him he spoke but there were things unsaid.
And then, he broke the silence.
"and because I love you," Nikola's voice was soft, his smile himself.
Sound rushed to Helen as that sunk in, that he was really saying that. Every silent gesture since the day they met spoke volumes,
And she wondered how long she would keep quiet herself before she felt the need too great, to say something back.