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Vash was humming to himself, but it wasn’t audible with everything going on in the car.
Meryl and Roberto were talking about journalism stuff that went over Vash’s head, and Wolfwood was snoring next to him, head on the glass window. Vash looked at his traveling buddies? Companions? Friends? People who wanted to follow him around for his story? That last one may not be accurate for Wolfwood because he didn’t seem interested in that kind of stuff.
For Vash, it had been a while since he traveled with anyone. It was odd to see the same people for this long without them leaving Vash in some manner. Not that he could blame them. Vash had a bad reputation and worse luck. But they had all seen the worst of what could happen near him, and they still stuck around.
Vash didn't think it was safe at all, and he really should have left in the middle of the night to make sure they couldn’t get caught up with his problems, but he didn’t. Vash wanted to fool himself into thinking that it didn’t matter if no one stayed by him, but through the lies, he knew that wasn’t the case.
Vash was lonely, and this was a breath of fresh air he never thought he would experience again. It was refreshing, and it would be so bad when it would all crash and burn like everything else in his life.
Literally.
Vash knew decades ago that he shouldn’t hope for the best because they never happen. Not to him, at least. It always ends up with a new scar or scars that Vash would never forget. Vash could only smile and bare with it because he could do nothing else.
He didn’t have the right to be sad when people died because of him. So he grinned and bared with it, trying to look happy when he wasn’t.
But it wasn’t like Vash couldn’t be happy, it was just those happy moments that were brief and far between. Luckily Vash had a perfect memory, so he could always remember them when he was sad. But then he would remember why he was sad in the first place, and it became a loop.
Vash looked out the window to see rolling sand dunes, what he had seen for days now. No Man’s Land was full of sand, and there were rarely different sights than sand and lone rock formations.
Wolfwood snored next to him, and Vash let him be. They all wanted to rest more than they got, so he let the man to his slumber. But Vash knew Wolfwood would be up in arms the minute something seemed off. Vash could see it in the way his eyes moved below his eyelids, and his ears moved at a new sound, even in his sleep. He was on guard every hour of the day, and Vash noticed. In his line of work, it was a staple.
Vash was not as much as an idiot everyone made him out to be. He could recognize patterns and details people would throw away at a moment’s notice, but to Vash, they always stayed in his head.
Vash had an inkling of Wolfwood’s profession the second he showed up. And when he got up only a minute after getting struck by the trailer at almost full speed, Vash knew he was anything but normal.
Vash knew more about the human body than most doctors. A flight of interest a few decades ago made him look through anatomy and medical books. He thought it might help patch up the people he came across.
It didn’t help when no one wanted him to stay after they got hurt.
And with his knowledge, there was no way Wolfwood could walk that off and proceed to fight off a Worm without breaking something. Wolfwood wasn’t just “sturdy” as he said he was.
But Vash didn’t mention it.
He should have, but he didn’t.
Vash knew Wolfwood’s allegiance when they were in the Worm.
When they fought the controller of the Worm and Wolfwood fought them off, Vash noticed Wolfwood’s first action was to make a hole in the beast's side.
Why would he do that when he must have known it was a perfect retreat path?
It was because that was Wolfwood’s and the controller’s plan in the first place. If Wolfwood truly wanted to kill or harm the controller, Vash had no doubts he would have tried harder. Not like Vash wanted him to kill someone, but Vash knew that gun of Wolfwood’s was powerful, and his skills with it were not to be underestimated.
But Vash didn’t leave, even though he had one of Knives' hired guns at his side.
He meant what he said in the Worm. Wolfwood wouldn’t kill him with a smile on his face. No, he wouldn’t.
Vash had seen a lot of hired guns in his time on this planet, but Wolfwood was nothing like them. Wolfwood still had empathy, gruff but understanding when he wanted to be. Kind when he wanted to be. He wasn’t heartless. Vash could still see the spark of life in Wolfwood’s eyes. The will to live and to fight for it.
Wolfwood wasn’t heartless, and Vash trusted his intuition. Wolfwood might work for his brother, but Vash knew there was something behind that decision. Wolfwood had something to protect, and Vash knew his brother. He must know what that something was. And if Vash escapes Wolfwood’s range, Knives might do something to what Wolfwood protects as a punishment.
So no, Vash will not escape Wolfwood’s observations. Knives wanted him and him only. Vash didn’t want to bring in more people unrelated to the issue. He had enough blood on his hands as is.
Vash may not have pulled the trigger, but his hands were on the scene, leaving bloody hand marks.
Vash had started to hate the scent of blood before his thirtieth birthday. He had only grown to dislike it more with more years.
“Look, a town!”
Vash was pulled out of his musings, face brightening, and looked between the seats, and yup, there's a town. Wolfwood grumbled himself away, rubbing his eyes but looked forward.
Vash didn’t want to get his hopes up, but he really wanted to sleep on a bed tonight. He may have spent more time without a bed in the past, but that didn’t mean Vash had to enjoy it.
Vash walked around the town, bag on his back.
He was buying some supplies, getting it over with before anything else. He knew how fast something could come up and make him run out of town. The first few times without food and water in the sand dunes gave him enough reasons to be prepared.
Vash finished his shopping and started to walk back to the hotel. He was surprised Wolfwood didn’t tag along, but Vash pushed it out of his head. Even Wolfwood had to take a break sometime.
Vash stopped suddenly, making a person bump into him. Vash cringed but waved to the guy, smiling with an apology.
“Sorry about that!!”
The man scoffed but continued on his way. Vash scratched the back of his head, sheepish. But he looked around.
He sniffed the air, and the scent was getting stronger. Vash looked in a direction, and drool started to gather in his mouth.
God, it had been too long .
Vash inwardly debated in his head for a few seconds, thinking if it was the best way to spend the rest of his money.
Another whiff made his debates crumble.
Fuck it.
Wolfwood was smoking in front of the hotel, Punisher leaning next to him.
He was waiting for Vash to come back, inwardly cursing himself for letting Vash go out by himself. Vash was a trouble magnet of epic proportions. Wolfwood was half expecting a gunfight to break out any second now.
Roberto and Meryl were in the hotel, probably finagling the finer details for their rooms. He let them go at it, not wanting to deal with another hotel clerk who would ask too many questions to be healthy.
Wolfwood exhaled a puff of smoke, watching it drift apart in the dry air.
It was times like these that he wondered what he was doing. Peaceful times when he could imagine being anywhere but there, doing a job that would most likely get him killed.
And for what? Money? Wolfwood didn’t like it, but he knew he needed it. The kids back at the orphanage needed the said money to live, and he always knew he would do everything it took to keep them safe and fed.
So he took this job, knowing it would condemn him further. He knew it just by the job description, but he couldn’t say no. His creator would have pressured him anyway, and Wolfwood would rather take the money than deal with the shit he would dredge up if he said no.
But this wasn’t a normal job. It was a bodyguard job that protected the target until his employer could break him himself. What did they say? Vash was too human? So they have to break him down first?
It was fucked. Completely and utterly fucked.
When Wolfwood looked into those blue eyes, only kindness and care to be seen, he could feel himself sink to lower heights than he thought possible. He thought killing was the worst thing he could do, but betraying and bringing a kind man to his death was the worst thing he had ever done. And it was even worse because he knew Vash could fight. It was just that he didn’t. He rarely pulled out his gun, even in a gunfight.
It made no goddamn sense.
Vash made no goddamn sense.
This planet could break anyone with its harsh nature, but Vash was still kind, even though he was given every reason not to be. When Wolfwood realized that, he knew this job would be the death of him.
Knives and his creator wanted to break Vash the Stampede, but Vash wouldn’t break. If he hadn’t broken completely by now, he wouldn’t in the future.
Wolfwood could almost respect it if Vash wasn’t a goddamn hypocrite.
But Wolfwood could also see the cracks in Vash's soul he tried to hide.
Wolfwood looked down the street, seeing Vash’s trademarked coat that looked more like a target than a coat. Who wore brightass red when they were usually caught up in gunfights? It was like Vash wanted to be a target. Woflwood mulled that over, and he came to a conclusion that he hated. Maybe that was the reason Vash wore red, so people would shoot at him and not other people.
Wolfwood chewed on the edge of his cigarette in annoyance. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and dropped it on the ground, grinding it into the sand with a heel.
Vash came closer and waved at Wolfwood with a grin on his dumb face. He was carrying some bags, and Wolfwood huffed. At least he did what he said he would do, Not like Wolfwood doubted it.
“Needle Noggin, did anything happen?”
Vash laughed, eyes crinkling in the way that Wolfwood hated. Another thing he hated. Vash’s smile was so hollow it hurt to look at. He was surprised no one else noticed how fake Vash’s smile was. Or maybe they did but didn’t mention it.
Vash smiled, and a spike hurtled into Wolfwood’s heart. Knives wanted Vash broken, but from what he saw, he was already broken, just keeping it together to not lose it. But that also meant that Vash had every reason to lose his humanity, but he didn’t, which spoke volumes of his morals.
Wolfwood cursed every decision that led him to this point. Why did he have to be involved with hurting this already broken man?
“Nope!! Not even a whisper of a fight. I think I did well for myself.”
Vash said that like he was proud of himself, smiling brightly at the thought. Wolfwood fought a scowl off his face and responded with a grin. He gestured for Vash to go into the hotel.
“Roberto and the girl probably have rooms ready.”
Vash grinned his thanks and went into the hotel. Wolfwood felt an itch at the back of his throat, and he reached into his jacket pocket. He took out another cigarette and lit it, using a hand to block the fire from going out. He breathed in a drag, and blew it out, watching the grey smoke flow into the air. He set his head against the wall, letting the smoke soothe his throat.
Why did Wolfwood have to be the Devil’s worker?
Wolfwood grabbed a key from Roberto and went upstairs to their room. Wolfwood found out surprising they even had a four-person room in this hell hole, but he didn’t question it.
Wolfwood readjusted his cross on his pack, putting the key in the lock and twisting. He opened the door to find Vash flinching and hiding something behind his back and a hand over his mouth, his prosthetic hand.
Wolfwood paused but then walked through the door and closed it, still staring at Vash, who had wide eyes and still had a hand over his mouth and something behind his back.
Wolfwood didn’t want to ask, but he knew he had to, sadly. Wolfwood sighed, putting his glasses on his head, not wanting to wear glasses inside.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing!!”
Vash’s voice was muffled and answered too fast to be normal.
Vash shuffled his feet and tried to look innocent, which only made Wolfwood narrow his eyes. Wolfwood stalked forward after he dropped the Punisher on the wall. He stood in front of Vash, who watched him with wide blue eyes, almost trying to look him in the eyes. Wolfwood squinted.
“Then what’s behind your back?”
Wolfwood moved suddenly, trying to get to Vash’s side so he could look behind. And to his surprise, Vash moved just as fast, dancing out of Wolfwood’s gaze, hand still behind his back holding something. Wolfwood narrowed his eyes and moved again to see what Vash was hiding. Vash widened his eyes and backtracked from Wolfwood, backing up and somehow not tripping over his damn feet like every time he ran.
Wolfwood made a blind grab behind Vash’s back, managing to touch something before Vash moved his arm. Wolfwood could finally see what Vash was guarding when Vash moved his arm. It was a brown paper bag, and Wolfwood could smell the sugar from there. Wolfwood looked at Vash, who knew the jig was up. Vash wasn’t looking Wolfwoon in the eyes.
Woflwood scoffed, pointing at the bag now cradled into Vash’s chest. Wolfwood heard Vash swallow, and Vash took his hand off his mouth, and Wolfwood could see the evidence now. Vash put his prosthetic arm around the brown bag, guarding it along with his other arm.
“Donuts, really?”
Vash pouted and turned his chest and bag away from Wolfwood, arms still around the bag. Right now, Vash looked like an unrepentant child whose hand was caught in the cookie jar. Wolfwood wanted to laugh because what the hell? This was Vash the Stampede, the Humanoid Typhoon?
“What? I can still enjoy a good dozen donuts if I want to.”
Wolfwood raised an eyebrow at the comment. Vash was more determined about this than a fight. Wolfwood reached out for the bag, mind made up.
“Okay, I don’t think eating a dozen donuts is healthy. Hand ‘em over.”
“No!”
Wolfwood raised his eyebrow higher, making a give-me gesture. Vash didn’t. Wolfwood sighed and snatched at the bag.
But what happened next surprised him.
Wolfwood found himself tumbling through the air and landed on his back on the ground. Wolfwood blinked, surprised by the view change. Wolfwood looked at Vash with open eyes because what the hell?
Vash threw him. With one hand.
He grabbed Wolfwood’s wrist, stepped behind his ankle, and used Wolfwood’s own movements and momentum to throw him on the floor.
Wolfwood kind of just wanted to lay there in his surprise. He didn’t know Vash had it in him. Vash smiled sheepishly but didn’t apologize above him. Wolfwood blinked again, a smile growing on his face.
Oh, this was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
It turned out there was one way to get Vash to fight. Just threaten to take his donuts.
Wolfwood sat up and grinned at Vash, who looked like he was regretting his actions by the smile on Wolfwood’s face. Vash was waving a hand in a way that tried to make him look unthreatening.
“Hey, Woflwood. Do you mind not doing whatever you’re planning?”
Wolfwood heaved himself up, and Vash smiled a little less sure now. Wolfwood didn’t say anything, but the smile on his face was answer enough.
Vash’s face transformed into one personifying “oh shit” when Wolfwood dived for the bag. Vash contorted his body to dodge the hand, stepping back quickly. Wolfwood chased Vash, who made weird dodge techniques, a mix of dance moves and martial skills. He always found Vash’s movements odd, but he didn’t have time to study them now.
Wolfwood didn’t let up, and Vash had to raise the bag in the air to keep the bag out of Wolfwood’s reach. God, he hated Vash’s height at that moment.
Vash made a mistake because he backed up into the bed, causing him to fall on the bed, an oof out of his mouth at the contact to his back. Wolfwood took the chance and jumped on him, reaching for the bag.
That was the scene when Roberto and Meryl entered the room. Vash and Wolfwood’s heads snapped to them, both freezing.
Meryl and gapped, and Roberto chuckled, a cigarette in his mouth. He smirked at them and patted Meryl on the shoulder.
“Let’s leave the kids to it, huh?”
Wolfwood suddenly realized what it looked like. He was straddling Vash and almost chest-to-chest with the man.
Wolfwood fought down the embarrassment, but Vash was doing no such thing. He was cherry red, blushing to his neck and probably going down further.
Wolfwood pushed the thought of how much further out of his mind. Not the time.
When Wolfwood was inwardly panicking because nothing of his training could have prepared him for this, the door closed, and they were alone again.
Wolfwood looked down at the outlaw, who was still blushing red, and blue eyes tinted yellow were looking up at him. Wolfwood coughed into a fist, retracting his arm and getting off Vash.
Wolfwood didn’t give up, though, and grabbed the bag of donuts out of Vash’s normal arm. Vash made a squawk, sounding immensely wronged. Wolfwood opened it and grabbed a donut, and bit into it.
Wolfwood licked his lips. It was good. There was still some warmth to it, and the taste was fresh. They must have been recently made. Wolfwood savored the sugar, something he doesn’t usually eat. The suckers were a luxury he didn’t waste, so even when he wanted to eat them, he didn’t. But this he could eat.
Wolfwood set the bag of donuts back on Vash’s lap, who looked shell-shocked at Wolfwood’s actions.
The undertaker raised an eyebrow at Vash, who only blinked and grabbed a donut for himself. He looked at it, then back at Wolfwood. Wolfwood said nothing, but Vash took a bite out of his donut. Wolfwood saw his eyes soften, a spark in his eyes that wasn’t there, to begin with.
He looked happy eating the donut.
Wolfwood’s heart hurt more. He didn’t think Vash could still look like that.
Wolfwood looked at his own donut and ate some more of it.
It was delicious.
That was the moment Wolfwood knew he was fucked. He should have never taken this job, even under the threat of death.
Wolfwood ate the last of the donut and glanced at Vash, who was eating yet another donut, not slowing down at all. Vash was smiling, and his eyes were so blue even behind the glasses. Wolfwood grabbed another donut, and Vash didn’t even stop him.
They sat there in silence, only the sounds of chewing breaking the silence.
Wolfwood glanced out of the corner of his eye at Vash, who caught the look. Vash met his gaze and then beamed, and Wolfwood’s breath caught in his throat.
Oh, he was so fucked. And not in the fun way.