secret

Written for August Fic Challenge 2023, Prompt: Wanderlust. Established Relationship. Comments and kudos would be awesome. Enjoy!


"Tell me a secret," Miguel whispers, fingers trailing lazily down Tulio's side. They're curled up in a commandeered bed, well-fed and warm, for once, both of them on the edges of a much-needed sleep after a week-long run of crazy schemes and near misses. Now, though, Miguel has no desire to run, no urge for adventure, no longing to explore the far reaches of the world – he is perfectly content to stay just like this for as long as he possibly can, with Tulio wrapped up with him.

"You already know all of my secrets," Tulio counters, without a thought.

"All of them?" Miguel protests, incredulous, "Surely, that's not true. There must be something. You never told me what happened with that girl, the one from Madrid."

Tulio rolls, meets Miguel's gaze in the darkness of the room, and Miguel can feel the honest intensity in his eyes more than he can see it. "I told you nothing happened because nothing did," he answers easily. "What about you? Do you have any secrets left?"

"Can't think of any, no," Miguel considers, shakes his head. He is well out of them where Tulio is concerned.

"Not a one?" Tulio challenges, "Let's see. I know your past, I know your crimes - mostly because they're my crimes, too - I know the things you love, the things you hate. I know you're ticklish right here," he laughs, fingers brushing lightly over Miguel's ribs. Miguel is not amused, and makes an effort to squirm away, only to promptly return when Tulio adds, "I know you like it when I do this," and presses his lips against Miguel's collarbone, drags his teeth over the smooth skin, gets a shiver in response. "I know we're partners to the end, what more could I possibly need to know?"

"... That I love you?" Miguel offers. He tilts Tulio's chin up so that he can steal a kiss, lips lingering for a long moment.

"Odd, I knew that, too."