Page 63 of Pistols and Plush Toys

She laughed, but it was sweet and not mean. “So a fun fact about plush toys; when they’re this big, you actually put in a support structure instead of just down cotton. I wanted Fezzik to be able to stand on his feet, so he’s got some metal under all that fluff.”

Elliot looked back to the bear. He could see it now that she’d mentioned it, the way Fezzik was seated on his haunches, upright and stable.

“Wow,” Elliot said. “Um, your work is amazing.” She was clearly skilled at her craft.

“Thank you!” She beamed. “I've been selling mostly online for a while, but it’s been so nice to come to fairs and actually sell to people face-to-face.”

Elliot was saved from having to come up with further conversation by another person interrupting to ask if it was possible to get a custom colorway for one of the animals. The vendor excused herself to go help the other woman, and Elliot let out a breath.

“You’re liking Fezzik?” Nikolai asked.

“Yeah, he’s—yeah,” Elliot said wistfully.

“Okay, good,” Nikolai said with a nod, pulling his wallet out of his pocket. “Be right back.”

Elliot let out a sound of surprise and snagged Nikolai’s wrist as the man turned to get the vendor’s attention. “What? No, Nikolai, you can’t—he’s expensive .”

Nikolai raised an eyebrow, looking amused. “You say like I’m not having money.” He leaned forward, tapping his finger to his lips, which were still curled into a teasing smile. “I’m big, scary mob boss, yes? I have plenty money.”

Elliot’s cheeks burned, molten heat licking down his spine. “But—”

“No but,” Nikolai said, blue eyes twinkling. “Is gift. I’m supporting local artist.”

Elliot opened his mouth then shut it, at a loss for words.

There was a fluttery, swooping feeling in the bottom of his belly.

The idea that Nikolai would just buy him this thing was almost too much to take.

It was one thing being gifted small stuffed animals in private.

Having a huge, expensive, artisan-made stuffed animal purchased for him in public was something else entirely.

“Really?” Elliot breathed, looking up at him. “Are you sure?”

“Very sure,” Nikolai said quietly, still so close.

Close enough to kiss.

Swallowing hard, Elliot made himself look away. “Then—then thank you. I’d love him.”

“Good,” Nikolai said. “Be right back.”

Elliot tried to get his breathing under control as Nikolai slipped away.

Nikolai was being so, so kind, but he was simply a kind, generous person.

Nikolai had just dropped nearly a thousand dollars on a necklace for Gerard, hadn’t he?

Elliot was just being treated because—because Nikolai liked taking care of people.

“He’s uh, he’s very expensive,” the artisan was telling Nikolai. “I wasn’t kidding. I couldn’t let him go for less than five hundred just because of what the supplies cost.”

“Five hundred, okay,” Nikolai said, before humming thoughtfully. “But he is too large for car. I’m can pay extra for delivery. Eight hundred is okay?”

The woman’s eyes widened, and she looked as shocked as Elliot felt. “Eight? Ah–yes, yeah I could deliver. Uh. Are you local?”

“Yes,” Nikolai said. “Not too far. Near Larksbrook. You know it?”

“Okay,” the woman said slowly. “Okay. Yeah, um. I could do delivery. If you’re sure?”

“Okay, good.” Nikolai offered his card. “When is good for delivery?”

“Oh! Um. I could do tomorrow,” the woman said, quickly pulling her phone out. “Let me just–okay, can you type in your information?” She asked and handed the phone to Nikolai.

Nikolai did so, then handed the phone back. “Someone is home all day,” he said. “Text or call when you will be arriving.”

“Sounds good,” the woman said cheerfully. “Wow, Fezzik is getting a new home. Never thought I’d see the day,” she beamed and then accepted Nikolai’s card to run it.

“Thank you,” Nikolai said when the transaction was done.

“No, thank you!” The woman gushed. “I’ll text you tomorrow for delivery.”

“Sounds good,” Nikolai said, before he wrapped an arm around Elliot’s waist and guided them away from the stall and back into the bustle of the fair.

“Thank you,” Elliot whispered again in awe as they walked on.

Nikolai’s expression was warm and… seemed so very fond. “Is good, to make you happy.”

Elliot’s breath caught. You make me happy.

Oh…

Oh no.

***

Fezzik looked even bigger in Elliot’s room.

Elliot’s bed was a king, but the polar bear still took up a substantial amount of space in it.

Elliot couldn’t stop beaming. Fezzik was so silly, so large, so ridiculous, and Nikolai had spent so much money on him.

It made him want to laugh at the pure un-believability of it all.

Elliot wanted to feel bad about it, but seeing Fezzik sitting there, it was hard to conjure anything other than delight.

Nikolai had brought him up after they’d finished watching Checklists and set him on the bed. Now they were both staring at the stuffed animal dominating the space.

“I’m thinking he maybe hog blankets,” Nikolai said after a minute.

Elliot snorted, and Nikolai glanced his way, wearing a smile and clearly pleased with himself.

“That’s okay,” Elliot said. “He looks pretty warm.”

“You should check,” Nikolai said, giving him a wave of encouragement toward the bear.

That was all Elliot needed. He climbed onto the bed and threw his arms around the polar bear. Fezzik was just as soft as he remembered, and so big it was like hugging an actual animal. The big bow around his neck was cool against his cheek.

“I can’t believe you got him for me,” Elliot said when he pulled back. Seated in the bed, Fezzik dwarfed him, and it made him laugh again.

“I’m supporting local artist,” Nikolai said solemnly.

“Right,” Elliot said with a smile so big it made his cheeks hurt.

“So,” Nikolai said. “How we will tuck you in with Frezznik?”

“Fezzik,” Elliot corrected. “You know, like the giant?”

A line appeared between Nikolai's brows. “What giant?”

“From The Princess Bride.” There was no change in Nikolai's face. “Have… you not seen The Princess Bride?” Elliot asked.

Nikolai shook his head. “Is movie?”

“Yeah,” Elliot said with a laugh, still hugging Fezzik. “It’s kind of an American cult classic? We’ll have to watch it sometime. You can’t go your whole life having never seen The Princess Bride.”

Nikolai edged up to the bed, reaching out to lay his hand on Fezzik’s head. “Then we should watch. I was thinking what strange name he had.”

Elliot grinned. “Yeah, you’re missing the reference.”

“I see,” Nikolai said, smiling at him. His eyes drifted from the bear back to Elliot. “So, you are teaspoon tonight?”

“Um, teaspoon?” Elliot asked.

Nikolai frowned and said something in Russian, cupping one hand inside the other. “Is saying about spoons. They go together?”

It took Elliot a second but then he realized. “Oh! Um, like big spoon, little spoon?”

“Yes,” Nikolai said. “You are little spoon, Fezzik, he is big spoon.”

“I–I guess,” Elliot said, face heating.

Nikolai nodded as if that settled it.

“Thank you again,” Elliot said softly, meeting Nikolai’s eyes. “Really. This is the nicest gift someone’s ever gotten me.”

Nikolai smiled back and held a finger to his lips. “Shhh. Don’t make Max and Sheep jealous.”

Is good, to make you happy.

Elliot’s heart beat harder, in the face of Nikolai’s playful smile, the memory of those words. The clear proof that Nikolai meant them, with what he kept giving Elliot. Not just with gifts, but with actions. Safety. Freedom.

Nikolai didn’t notice, continuing, “now I think maybe, you want time with Fezzik?”

Elliot blinked back to reality and nearly choked. “Time with—?” Nikolai… Nikolai couldn’t know what Elliot had done with Sheep, could he? There was no way that was what he meant—

But now Elliot was thinking about it. About how big Fezzik was. How… how good it would feel, to cuddle up against him and—

“Yes,” Nikolai said. “Is bedtime?”

“Right, yeah,” Elliot stammered. “Yeah, um, I guess I’ll—I’ll just go get ready for bed?”

“Me too,” Nikolai said. At least he didn’t seem to notice that Elliot was as red as a tomato. Instead, he gave Elliot a soft smile. “Good night.”

“Night,” Elliot mananaged. “And—I had a really nice time today, with you.”

Were Nikolai’s eyes always this warm? This expressive? “Is good you have nice time. I also am having very nice time. Good day with good company.”

Elliot’s lips parted.

Nikolai cleared his throat. “Good night, Elliot.” He turned, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

Trying to distract himself from the thought of spending time with Fezzik, Elliot’s thoughts instead drifted to Nikolai as he got changed and brushed his teeth.

He kept thinking about all Nikolai had done for him.

All the big and little ways the man had showed that he cared.

Elliot—Elliot wanted to do something for Nikolai in return.

He wanted some way to show his gratitude for all that Nikolai had done.

Sure, he cooked for Nikolai, but he wished there was more he could do. A way to show Nikolai how much he appreciated everything. Something as special as him buying Elliot a sweet stuffed animal.

All Elliot really could do was cook though. At least Nikolai always seemed to appreciate what Elliot made.

Although, actually…

The day he’d made the borscht was probably the best reaction he’d ever gotten from Nikolai. He’d just been so happy to eat something at least similar to his grandmother’s food.

If Elliot could just get his hands on her recipes. If there were any that existed…

Was there really no way to check the boxes of his grandmother’s things without causing trouble? Elliot didn’t want to cause any more trouble, but he wondered.

He finished brushing his teeth and then grabbed up his phone off the counter, opening up the text messages that he’d been exchanging with Meredith. It was worth asking, he figured. Just to see. If Meredith also said it was impossible, then it was impossible and he’d let it go.