Title: The 'Stache has got to go
Author: Dixie
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Greg convinces Nick to get rid of his mustache.

~

"Nick, were you working with cars or something today?" Greg asked, innocently.

"No, why?" Nick asked, confused.

"You've got a little smudge of something right here," Greg said as he reached out to brush his fingertips over Nick's upper lip.

Nick swatted Greg's hand away, saying, "It's not a smudge, G'. I'm growing a mustache."

"Oh." Nick looked so pleased with himself that Greg wouldn't dare tell him what he really thought about the idea.

Greg endured the next few days in silence, watching Nick refuse to shave his upper lip and looking happier the more that mustache developed. And the happier Nick got, the more worried Greg got. Greg had initially thought that Nick would realize on his own that the mustache was not the fashion trend he wanted to give rebirth to. Now, he wasn't so sure.

Greg refused to say anything negative about it outright, but his subtlety was running thin. He'd randomly toss out comments like, "That's really coming in, isn't it?" Or, "So, how long are you going to keep this? A new look can only be new for so long before it's not new anymore." And even, "Where did the inspiration to start growing facial hair come from?" He was finding it increasingly difficult to find a way to change the topic whenever Nick asked him if he liked it or not. Still Nick wasn't taking the hint. And they had been too busy with work lately for him to notice that Greg was withholding any and all sexual acts with Nick until the fur was gone. Not even being teased by Warrick could make Nick consider removing it.

And then, one night, the revelation came.

It was an unusually slow night at the Las Vegas Crime Lab and everyone - save for Grissom and Sara who seemed to live at the Lab anyway - actually managed to go home at the end of shift.

Taking a moment to just relax on the couch after arriving home, Greg was settled with his head against Nick's chest. Nick drew his fingers through Greg's hair softly and, as if it had just occurred to him, said, "You know, Greg, we haven't had any time for just the two of us lately."

"I know," Greg sighed, enjoying Nick's gentle touch against his hair.

Nick stood and pulled Greg to his feet. "So, d'ya wanna.?" Nick left the question open ended but made his intention clear when he leaned down to kiss Greg.

At the first tickle of Nick's mustache against his skin, Greg pulled away.

"What's up?" Nick asked, confusion plain on his face.

Greg couldn't hold it back any longer. He had to tell Nick now. "I can't. Not with -" he traced his fingers lightly over Nick's upper lip.

"You mean, you won't," Nick said, looking hurt.

"No, I mean." Greg looked down at his feet and sighed. "I. can't," he whispered and looked up at Nick, embarrassed.

Nick's mouth turned up at one corner in an understanding smile. "Why didn't you tell me before?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know. I guess I thought maybe you'd just change your mind before it became an issue. But then you didn't."

"Why don't we go take care of this right now? I'm getting a little tired of Warrick calling me 'Mustache Boy' any way." Greg smirked. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?" Nick asked, playfully.

Greg raised his eyebrows, "Me? No. I know nothing," he laughed.

"Right." Nick took Greg by the hand and led him down the hall to the bathroom. He picked up his razor and, looking one last time in the mirror at that line of hair across his lip, handed it to Greg. "Do you want to do the honors?"

Greg took the razor in his hand while Nick prepared the shaving cream, and with the precision of a surgeon, started to make the mustache disappear. Nick noted the excitement in Greg's eyes as he rinsed the blade. "So, the mustache doesn't do it for you?"

"Nope." Greg answered simply.

"How's this working for you?" Nick smiled, shaving cream still covering half the mustache.

"It's getting better," Greg said with a smile as he turned to continue shaving Nick's face.

After the last remnants of shaving cream were washed away and his face was patted dry, Nick asked, "Now?" with a wide smile.

"Oh yeah," Greg said, his voice low, "that definitely works for me." He grabbed Nick by the front of his shirt and pulled him in close. "So, d'ya wanna?" Greg said against Nick's lips. Nick only responded by lifting Greg off the floor and carrying him quickly to the bedroom.

The End.