Chapter Text
In the end, Vash listened to Meryl and questionably audited some classes- he mostly stuck to the computer science and engineering area of the university, if only because he’d be recognized very easily if he tried to infiltrate a fine arts or theater course this late in the semester. He couldn’t help that he stood out.
He hadn’t seen Nick at any more parties, hadn’t seen him at all since they’d passed out in the early hours of the morning and woken to Meryl kicking in doors looking for him so they could go home. They’d slumped together in a heap against the foot of Nick’s bed, controllers still in hand, and laughingly, sleepily untangled while Meryl ranted and Milly soothed, Vash pulling his shoes back on as Nick introduced himself. They’d said goodnight, Nick ruffling his hair on the way out and Meryl riding the cooler into the night.
“Just ask one of the art house girls for his number.” They were back in their apartment for lunch; it was a rare day when they all had the spare hour it took to come home and catch up before heading back out to finish their days. Milly was changing into her work clothes, poking her head out of the room she and Meryl shared. “I’m sure they have it.”
“He asked if Meryl was single,” he sighed, pushing the last of his oatmeal around with the spoon. Across from him Meryl scoffed.
“You deck one guy and suddenly everyone wants you.”
“I don’t think that’s why, Meryl, it’s because you’re cute to look at. It’s not until they get within biting range that they realize the mistake.”
“Anyway,” Milly said diplomatically, eating the rest of Vash’s offered oatmeal. “Just ask.”
Vash sighed, knowing a losing battle when he was in one. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Which class are you sneaking into next?” Meryl was packing her bag for her next class. “Can I hitch a ride on the back of your bike if you’re still sticking to the CS building?”
He sighed again. “Something in computer graphics. Class is small but Roberto teaches it, so he won’t say shit if I’m just…there.” The old man had taught two of their introductory coding courses and knew Vash and Meryl well- Vash, because he showed up to all office and TA hours, and Meryl because she’d threatened to stab a classmate with her ballpoint pen and it caused a whole scene with a disciplinary hearing.
“Oh cool, that’ll be fun.”
“I sure hope so.”
xxx
Vash dropped Meryl off on the side of the building closest to her next class before circling back around to the bike racks, more coasting than pedaling, as he let his mind wander. If he was going to drop out, or take a leave, he’d have to do it soon before there were penalties. There were scholarships to consider, financial aid, finding work to hold him over…he locked up his bike and shook his head.
That could all wait, at least for a little longer.
He took the central staircase up to the top floor of the building, legs burning slightly after pedaling he and Meryl up the hills to the far side of campus, but he had at least 2 hours of a lecture to sit through. Hopefully it would be more fun than this morning’s software engineering lecture. Vash had crossed that option off within twenty minutes of the lecture starting.
There were a handful of people already in the room, but the class did not seem like it would be packed. He dropped his things into a seat in the corner closest to the door, ready to escape if needed- the professor would understand, Roberto was incredibly laid back about things like that. It took him a few minutes of margin doodling and staring into space before he recognized the head two rows in front of him.
“Nick?” He fumbled his pen, sending it skittering across the table. “What are you doing here?”
He turned around, face scrunched in mild confusion. “I’m in this class, blondie. What are you doing here?”
“But- but you live in the art house! You paint!”
Vash’s brain wasn’t computing because Nick was gathering his stuff and getting up- it must be some kind of joke or- he tossed his backpack over the rows of tables to land next to Vash before following it and sprawling next to him. “Painting is a hobby I happen to be really good at, but I’m in computer graphics. So I ask again, interloper, what are you doing here?”
He had his pen between his teeth, and Vash noticed the cap was chewed to hell, likely because this was Nick’s alternative to smoking, but his brain was still playing catch-up, unable to focus on the question. “Have you tried gum?”
“What- blondie,” Nick snapped his fingers in front of Vash’s face. “Is this part of a whole ‘do what makes you happy’ quest? Is that what this is?”
Vash nodded. “I’m already in computer science, so it’s easier to transfer between internal programs. If nothing inspires…well.” He shrugged. “I’ll probably have to drop out, honestly. I came in with all my ”
The other man sighed, the release of breath whistling through the pen cap.
“What do you wanna do?” Vash propped his head on his laced fingers, looking curiously over at Nick. “If you enjoy art and are interested in computer graphics, what do you want to do?”
Another sigh. “Tech art.”
Vash gave one of his winning smiles, the kind that made Meryl roll her eyes and Milly giggle bashfully. “Well, Nick, you should tell me all about it after class. I’ll buy you coffee from the good place in the library.”
“Why don’t you just shadow me the rest of the day and buy me dinner?”
It felt like the pieces of his life were falling into place, like everything had suddenly clicked; he’d felt this way when he first held Meryl back from stabbing the other kid in their Python 101 course, when he’d introduced her to Milly, it was a gut feeling that this was the start of something right, and he was a believer in following his gut.
“Anything you want,” Vash said, and he meant it. “Anything at all.”