Page 61 of Pistols and Plush Toys

The Fall Artisan Festival banner hung high above the street, decorated in leaves. It was early morning, but the street was already bustling with people. Alex had dropped them off a block away to avoid all the traffic, and now they were strolling in under the large orange banner.

Alex and Pyotr would be following at a discreet distance just in case, but Elliot… wasn’t worried.

How incredible to not be worried about going out. The thought made him giddy.

It was especially cool this morning, so Elliot was dressed in a sweater and jeans.

Nikolai at his side had also gone with a sweater, a dark maroon, and the rich color made his pale skin and dirty blond hair stand out.

He was freshly shaven, wearing several gold chain necklaces that matched simple gold earrings, and he looked so handsome .

Nikolai looked like one of those men in a fashion spread, expensive and suave. The kind of man who would never be seen at Elliot’s side.

But Nikolai was with Elliot right now. And even if it was because they were doing this fake dating thing, Elliot was still determined to have a good time. He was determined to enjoy his time with Nikolai while he still had it, even if it was all pretend.

“Maybe we start here?” Nikolai suggested when they came to a stop beneath the banner. “Then go down this side and back up other side?”

“Sure,” Elliot said, finally wrenching his gaze away from Nikolai to look around.

The festival was busy already, even though they’d gotten here early to beat the really large crowds.

A live band was playing jazz in the distance, and Elliot could smell three different kinds of food being prepared nearby.

His stomach rumbled. They’d skipped breakfast with the idea of finding food here. Which meant they should definitely track down at least some coffee soon. He didn’t want Nikolai to go without.

Elliot looked over the nearest booths, one of which appeared to be serving baked goods. That was as good a start as any.

“That one?” Nikolai asked, nodding in the direction of the stall.

“Yeah,” Elliot said, smiling at him. “Smells good.”

Nikolai’s hand landed on the small of Elliot’s back, and Elliot only just stopped himself from sighing at the touch. He was getting more comfortable with Nikolai touching him, which meant that he could enjoy touches like this one now, for all that he knew they were performative.

Nikolai made him feel protected. Safe. And Elliot was going to take everything he could get, for as long as he could get it.

The scent of baked bread wafted up as they drew nearer to the stall. Elliot could make breads and cookies and pies, and he did so happily, for Nikolai, but he much preferred the creative aspects of cooking to the exactness of baking. If given the option, he’d much rather buy from a real baker.

When they got to the booth, Nikolai stayed close, and they both peered into the plexiglass case that ran the length of the table, packed with all kinds of baked goods.

“You see something you like?” Nikolai asked.

Elliot’s gaze had landed on an egg, bacon, and pecorino danish. He pointed it out to Nikolai.

“Looks good,” Nikolai said, nodding with approval. “Anything else?”

“Maybe later?” Elliot said. “Just that for right now.”

Nikolai nodded and pulled his wallet out.

It was a small thing, the price of the danish, but Elliot still felt his stomach swoop at how easily Nikolai stepped into the line to get it for him. Like it was natural for him to do, like taking care of Elliot wasn’t a burden.

Nikolai ordered for Elliot, then himself, paid for their food, and Elliot scooped up the bag of pastries. There was no seating at the crowded festival, so they moved off from the main walkway to have their breakfast.

At the first bite of his pastry, Elliot groaned. The danish was still warm, the yoke of the egg runny when he bit into it. It was perfectly balanced with the pecorino cheese, and the chives on top were the perfect garnish. His eyes fluttered closed as he enjoyed his mouthful.

When he opened them again, he met Nikolai’s blue, blue eyes, his expression focused.

Self-consciously, Elliot touched the corner of his mouth. “Something on my face?”

But Nikolai only smiled at him. “No, nothing. Is good?”

“So good.” Elliot said emphatically. Then his gaze dropped to Nikolai's untried pastry. He’d gone the sweet route, and gotten himself a cream cheese Danish. “How’s yours?”

Nikolai glanced down at his Danish and quickly took a bite. He nodded as he chewed. “Good,” he commented after a swallow.

“We’ll have to check their bakery out,” Elliot said, looking back in the direction of the stand so he could memorize the name. “I’d like to try some of the sweet ones when I’m in the mood for sweet.”

Nikolai hummed in agreement and they both tucked in to the rest of their breakfasts as the festival sounds went on around them.

When they were finished and had thrown away their napkins, Nikolai's hand found its place again on Elliot’s back.

Elliot leaned into it as he was guided back into the crowd to walk the main throughway.

It really was a beautiful morning to be out, the air crisp, the trees lining the street in orange and red.

With a pastry in his belly and Nikolai at his side, Elliot was excited to see the rest of what the fair had to offer.

It was so nice to just be out in the world again.

Shopping with Meredith, going out with Nikolai, spending time with Xander…

it struck Elliot again how small and painfully boring his life had become with Mattia.

They strolled past plant stands and clothing stalls, vendors selling honey and tea and vegetables.

Elliot stopped here and there when something caught his eye, but he made sure not to take up anyone’s time.

It was fun to look, and Nikolai was incredibly patient, stopping every time Elliot wanted to browse, but Elliot had no plans of really buying anything today.

Then they walked past a stall selling vintage jewelry, and Nikolai was the one who paused. Elliot followed Nikolai's gaze back to the jewelry stall they had just passed.

“You want to look?” Elliot asked.

“We can keep going,” Nikolai said slowly, but his attention was still on the stall.

“No, let’s look,” Elliot said, turning back toward the booth. Nikolai followed.

As they walked up to the stall, Nikolai couldn’t hide his interest, and Elliot looked around curiously himself, to give Nikolai time to browse.

Almost everything at the stall was in display cases, neatly laid out and labeled, and the jewelry was cool enough, but it didn’t hold Elliot’s interest the way it did Nikolai.

Nikolai was slowly walking up to each case, peering inside with a sharp, focused expression, and muttering to himself in Russian.

He finally stopped in front of a case full of necklaces, scrutinizing them long enough that Elliot came over to see what Nikolai was so taken with.

“The necklaces?” Elliot asked him.

“Sometimes I buy antique pieces,” Nikolai explained to him.

“For yourself?” Elliot asked. Nikolai certainly wore a lot of jewelry, and he did often change up what he wore. “Or for your stores?”

“Maybe for me, maybe we sell them,” Nikolai said, waving a hand from side to side. “Depends on price I buy it for.”

“What do you look for in something to buy?” Elliot asked, considering the necklaces himself now. They all looked very old and were all in different styles. The price tags on some of them were significant.

“Interesting pieces. Different designs. You see this one?” Nikolai pointed out an intricate gold chain that widened at the bottom into loops with a filigree detail.

The tag in the case beside it dated it as an early 1900s piece.

“Is Art Nouveau. Is not something people wear now, but the details are very good. Different.”

“That’s cool,” Elliot said, peering closer at the necklace. “Wow, you know so much.”

Nikolai laughed softly. “Is maybe something I learn for twenty years, yes?” But he was grinning, to show he was teasing. Not poking fun at Elliot to make him feel stupid. Then he looked up and caught the attention of the man attending the booth.

“Sir, I can see?” Nikolai asked, indicating the case.

The man who’d been sitting at the cashier station polishing a pair of rings, grabbed a set of keys and came over.

“See something you like?” The man asked.

Nikolai pointed out the one he was interested in. “That chain please.”

“Ah, yes! It’s a beauty,” the man said, unlocking the case and pulling out the necklace. “Found it at an estate sale! Such a treasure.”

“Is beautiful,” Nikolai said when the man handed him the necklace. He held it up, turning it this way and that. “It has eagle’s head hallmark?”

“It sure does,” The man reached into his apron and pulled out a small object that he unfolded into what looked like a magnifier. He handed it over to Nikolai who turned over the clasp on the necklace and put the magnifier to it.

“Is in excellent condition,” Nikolai said. He turned to Elliot. “Maybe you want to see?”

“Thank you,” Elliot said, and leaned in, curious. Through the lens he saw a small eagle picture pressed into the gold on the clasp. It was cool to see a detail so small, though he had no idea what it meant.

“I have big interest in Art Nouveau,” Nikolai said to the man, inspecting the rest of the necklace carefully.

“I have a few Art Nouveau rings as well,” the man said, and Elliot saw how Nikolai perked up. Of course—Nikolai always wore several rings on each hand. If he bought jewelry for himself and he liked Art Nouveau pieces…

“I’m would like to see,” Nikolai said to the man, before offering the necklace back. “And this I will take.”

“Wonderful,” the man said happily. “Let me bring you the rings and I’ll pack up your necklace while you take a look at them.”

“Why that one specifically?” Elliot asked. There had been several other intricate-looking pieces in the necklace case.