note: Wow. That response was... overwhelming. And, apparently, you guys want me to continue this. Word of warning, it can't be happiness and rainbows all the time; this is something big and difficult and I want to focus on how these two will deal with it over their happy little haven. Which is why I'm getting them out of their current location as soon as I can, in case you're still interested.
I wanted to update quickly so you all knew that yes, I'm gonna continue this one, but I've got exams coming up and things like that, so I can't promise updates like this all the time. Either way, I hope you enjoy this bundle of angst.
disclaimer: You know you're obsessed with NCIS when your main reservation about going abroad for a week is that you'll miss the latest episode of the show.
listening to: Stay, by Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko.
His hand slips into hers as they walk down the street. They return home in two days and she knows, though neither of them have said anything, they're both desperate to make as much of their time together as they can. When she turns to him with a raised eyebrow he merely sends her a charming grin and tugs her alongside him whilst she takes in their surroundings.
The Spanish street is warm and tinged a deep yellow from the sun and constant warmth; cobbled stones line the ground beneath their feet and she falters in her step every now and then. Chattering gaggles of tourists stumble past them every now and then, going to lunch or to a church or wherever their folded-over guidebooks and maps tell them to.
They don't have a guidebook. No, they only need each other and the sun and a vague knowledge of where their hotel is, and they'll be fine.
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"Can we stop here? The shade's kinda nice and I want to get some pictures of that fountain." Tony asks, a child-like earnest on his face. She smiles and nods and he flops down onto the grass, patting the space by his side.
"There's plenty of room."
She kneels down almost tentatively, but the cool ground is quite a comfort and she lays right next to him, head on his shoulder and one arm resting over his waist. She smiles when he pulls her closer.
"Well, this is nice." she says into his shirt whilst she hears a camera shutter.
"Yeah. Yeah, it is." He pauses, and she closes her eyes and rests a little. "Hey, open your eyes."
She does, and as soon as his face is in-focus for her, the camera's shoved into her line of vision and he's caught yet another candid snap of her.
"Delete that. Now."
She reaches over to try and snatch the camera off him, once he shakes his head. "Are you making it your aim to get a picture of me in every country in Europe?"
"I hadn't thought about it. But thanks for the idea."
He brings up the photo on the screen, and though she can see it, and loathes her almost sleepy eyes and frizzy hair, he smiles at the shot like it's something of wonder.
"God, you're beautiful."
Her cheeks feel hot all of a sudden and she knows he's noticed, but instead of saying anything he merely leans down and presses a kiss to her lips before reminding her he loves her.
"I love you, too."
He's leaning in again when they hear a high-pitched laugh and pull apart to see what the commotion's about. Ziva grins as she sees a little girl run past them, babbling nonsense in Spanish as she chases after a little dog.
Her mother trails behind her and apologizes, and Ziva quickly says it's no bother.
"I have no idea how you know what language to speak when you wake up in the morning." Tony says, with a tone of incredulity at her sudden Spanish.
She laughs and sends him a look.
"It is more difficult when I'm drunk."
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He buries his face in her neck when they're drifting off to sleep. She noticed he did that last night, too, and she wonders if he'll do it every time. All the time. For the rest of their lives.
"Ziva. I can hear you thinking."
She frowns, about to feign ignorance as to what he means, but his hand sweeps up and down her hip and the words she says are not those she intended.
"We didn't think this through."
He coughs, arm tightening round her waist.
"...what?"
"I... I did not mean it, like that."
"Well how did you mean it, then?" his voice is harsh and it hurts her ears.
"We rushed into this, Tony, we haven't talked about the future, we- we haven't discussed anything like... living arrangements, we just jumped, head... head first."
Her eyes fly open when his grip tightens even more and she gasps upon finding his face right above hers, eyes burning.
"I thought I made it clear, Ziva. I love you. That's why we've done this, that's why we're here. I'm not here because of where we're gonna live, as much as, you know, we should talk about that when we get back, maybe. Just... you never stop thinking. You're always thinking and analyzing and, maybe, this is something you can't look at too deeply. It is what it is and that's all that matters."
His breath fans across her face as his eyes move shut, as if his little speech has worn him out.
"I can't stop thinking, Tony."
She leans up and kisses him, chastely, before rolling out of his still-tight grasp and trying to force sleep to claim her.
Sometime later, his hand dances round her waist and he pulls her tightly against him again; his head rests in her neck like always.
But this time, his breath is ragged and she thinks something warm drops onto her skin and is quickly swiped away, just before sleep pulls her under.
She has no idea what to do.
I hope that wasn't too angsty for you, heh.
