Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Wolfwood rubbed his hand over his face, trying to wake himself after the last customer had just left. Rolling his shoulders back to stretch, he straightened as he heard the chime of the bell. As he looked up, Wolfwood spotted a blond man holding the leash of a Husky with bright blue eyes and a service dog vest nestled over the black and white fur. Raising an eyebrow, Wolfwood looked back to the blond who gave a sheepish smile.

The blond stepped to the counter, clicking his tongue twice, seemingly to cue the Husky to take a seat behind him, guarding his back. 

“Hi, I hate to do this, because I know what a pain Huskies can be, but would you happen to have any openings today?” The blond asked, nervously.

Suppressing a heavy sigh, Wolfwood took quick stock of the blond, noting at least one prosthetic, as well as the service dog alert on the Husky’s vest. Despite knowing this job would take at least an extra two or three hours, minimum, Wolfwood couldn’t turn him away.

“What’s the name?” He asked, grabbing his clipboard to write it.

“Oh! I’m Vash Saverem.”

Unimpressed, Wolfwood pointedly looked towards the Husky. “I meant the service dog, Blondie.” 

Turning crimson red, Vash covered his face with the cool metal of his prosthetic. “Right, of course. Oh my god. Of course that’s what you meant,” Vash said, feeling ridiculous for the faux pas. “Knives Saverem.”

Now, fully incapable of withholding any judgment, Wolfwood released the sigh he’d been holding back. “You named a service animal Knives?”

Now, Vash let out a hearty laugh, knowing, himself, how silly it sounded.

“Hey, in my defense, my brother named him for me. He thought it would make me laugh every time I called him,” Vash said, reaching down to pet Knives with his flesh hand.

“Well, at least it’s original, I’ll give you that,” Wolfwood said, writing down the name on the intake form.

“Oh, it gets better. Nai - That’s my brother - he went full out with Knives, so he actually has a pedigree name. It’s Millions Knives Saverem The Second.”

Wolfwood blinked rapidly, his face morphing between bemusement and horror. The look seemed to spark some joy in the blond, Vash, because he let out a full body laugh, swaying on his feet as he did so. Even though he felt a little like he was being made fun of, Wolfwood couldn’t help but to crack a smile at the joyous sound of Vash laughing. 

“Alright, Alright. Calm down there, Spikey, I’d hate for you to bust a lung in my shop.”

Wiping his eyes, Vash nodded. “So, you’ll be able to take him?”

“Yes, but you couldn’t pay me enough to call him Millions Knives Saverem The Second. And since he’s a fill in, this might take a lot longer than usual. Are you going to be okay with that?” While he was not going to pry into what services Knives performed for Vash, he would feel better knowing that the blond would be fine if the groom ended up taking all day.

“Oh, yeah! I’m probably going to be getting a milkshake next door and just hanging out.”

Wolfwood nodded, making a mental note to go faster where he could so his blond customer wasn’t left waiting all day, after all.

“Alright, just give me your phone number and I’ll call or text you when Knives is ready.”

Vash’s eyes lit up as he wrote his number on the form.

“Thanks so much for your help…” He paused, hoping it would be enough to prompt an introduction. 

“Nicholas. Nicholas D. Wolfwood.”

“Thank you so much, Wolfwood.”

-

Wolfwood waved as Vash seemed to let himself out, looking more than a little lost without the service dog’s leash in his hands. Sighing and rubbing the back of his neck, he removed the collar from Knives, scratching his nails along where the vest had been before Vash removed it. 

“Alright, Millions Knives,” Wolfwood said, rolling his eyes as he muttered the name of the dog, “let’s get you to the tub so I can try to work some of this undercoat loose.” 

Knives followed Wolfwood easily, heeling to his right as he prepared the bath, only making the smallest ‘roos’ under his breath as he listened to the water start. Wolfwood, impressed, opened the side of the tub, before giving a little whistle that Vash had taught him, signaling that Knives was to jump up. To more surprise than he would like to admit, Knives hopped up into the stainless steel tub, sitting down in the slightest show of defiance.  

Wolfwood turned the nozzle of the spray, testing it on his hand to be sure that it would allow for Knives’ undercoat to be washed away. Once he was certain the temperature and the pressure were suitable, Wolfwood turned the nozzle towards the Husky, soaking the outer coat, before truly getting into the thick of the undercoat. 

True to the nature of Huskies, Knives started to yowl, letting the entire groomer's salon know of his displeasure regarding his treatment. “Yeah, yeah. Cry me a river, pup. You’ll feel better after this,” Wolfwood muttered, focusing all of his effort on getting as much of the undercoat out with the water pressure as he could, knowing that it could cut his grooming time nearly in half. 

Once the coat removal was finished, the Husky theatrics seemed to simmer down. Wolfwood added soap to Knives’ fur, really working it in, much to the enjoyment of the dog. 

When Wolfwood finally considered the Husky to be clean, he realized how close the time was to his next client, so he worked as much of the water out of the Huskies fur, hands running down the legs to wring the water loose. 

Before long, he got Knives settled into a kennel, just as the next client, a yorkshire terrier, made their way into the salon. Wolfwood greeted the yorkie’s owner, before quickly doing the groom. 

It wasn’t that he enjoyed rushing other clients, but the salon’s policy had generally given priority to service dogs, knowing that any time they were away from their owner could cause an issue. 

While bathing the yorkie was an easy thing to get through, giving it the precision cut the owner was used to, happened to be another thing entirely. Wolfwood managed, the yorkie leaving with a little bow in the tuft of her bangs. 

Before long, Wolfwood was guiding Knives back to the tub, much to the Huskies dismay. “Sorry, man. You need conditioner or you’re going to have some funky hair,” he explained, as if the dog could be reasoned with. 

Whistling again, Knives jumped into the tub, making a big show over the fact that he was doing this against his will. “Yeah, yeah. Tell your owner, that cute Blondie, all about it. I’m just paid to do the job.”

Wolfwood looked to the clock, figuring that if he skipped his lunch break, he would be able to get Knives conditioned and mostly dried before the two and a half hour mark lapsed. Rolling his shoulders, Wolfwood set to accomplish his new goal, working as fast as he could. 

Knives, despite all of the attitude, gave Wolfwood no resistance in the process and managed to listen to instructions surprisingly well considering he was a newer client. Wolfwood couldn’t really tell if this was due to the training, or if the dog just happened to be well mannered for a Husky. 

Right at the end of his lunch hour, Wolfwood got Knives into the kennel with the final dryer, laughing as the dog bit at the warm air filtering in. 

Massaging his wrists, Wolfwood grabbed the paperwork for Knives, grabbing Vash’s number so he could enter it into the work phone to send a quick text.

WW - Knives is drying and will be ready for pick up in the next 45 minutes. I have to finish another client before I can clip his nails and clean his ears. Just wanted to give a heads up. 

V - *Gave a thumbs up*

Wolfwood rolled his neck, releasing some of the tension before he moved to finish up his other client as he explained to Vash. 

Within thirty minutes, Wolfwood had managed to finish his previous client, as well as clean up Knives’ ears, relieved he didn’t need to pluck any hairs from the canals. As he grabbed the clippers, he heard the bell on the door chime, again. Looking up, Wolfwood locked eyes with Vash who smiled before taking a seat in the little waiting area. 

Other than giving a slight wave, Wolfwood focused on Knives, glad that he had thought to face the dog away from the door so that he could properly clip the claws without the Husky growing antsy with his owner right there. 

Once the claws were finished, Wolfwood spritzed Knives with some doggy cologne, before wrapping a bandana around his neck along with his collar. With a final look over, he considered the dog to be properly groomed. 

Putting the leash back on the Husky, Wolfwood led the dog back towards the seating area, noting the long look on Vash’s face, as if his head were somewhere else completely. Without asking questions, Wolfwood gently knocked on the wooden gate separating the grooming section from the intake section, hoping that would be enough to pull Vash from whatever trance he was in. 

As if in a haze, Vash looked towards the sound, before a smile crossed his face. Knives pranced in place, happy to be reunited with his owner after several hours apart. 

Vash stood up as quick as he could, setting a paper bag on the counter, before opening his arms for Knives as Wolfwood opened the gate, letting the two reunite. “My handsome boy! You look great, Knives,” Vash gushed, his right hand scratching behind Knives’ ears, his left hand stroking along the dog’s back. “Were you good for Mr. Wolfwood?” 

The aforementioned man rotated his arm, working some of the tension loose from the long day, finally feeling it settle in. “For a Husky? He was pretty good,” Wolfwood answered, knowing the question couldn’t be answered by the dog. 

“Absolutely! I know they can be real pains, so we worked hard to get him to be pretty complacent at the groomers,” Vash explained, wrapping the leash around his hand. “His last groomer had to retire suddenly, carpal tunnel surgery, you know? So, if you’ll have us, I’d love to get him on a schedule?”

Wolfwood looked between the two, Knives looking completely disinterested now that his owner was present and Vash staring at the groomer with the biggest puppy eyes that he’d seen since his last group of puppies. 

Sighing, Wolfwood pulled up his schedule, deciding that he would keep Knives and Vash as his sole clients, rather than settle the duo on his partner. “Alright, I recommend every 5 weeks for my Huskies. Think you can manage that?”

“Absolutely! I’ll make it happen, no matter what!” Vash announced, rocking a little in place, seemingly happy that Knives had a full time groomer now. 

“Then I’ll see you on May 16th.” 

Vash nodded, before he remembered the paper bag on the counter. “Oh! I got you a burger and some fries at the place next door. It should still be pretty fresh. I just wanted to show my appreciation for working us in so quickly and taking care of Knives.” 

Wolfwood blinked, before moving to inspect the food, mouth watering with how good it smelled. Professionalism won out, despite a miniature war waging within himself. “I appreciate that, but I promise you don’t have to do that.” 

“I really do. I know this job should have taken at least 3 and a half hours, if not 4, between your different clients. You didn’t keep us waiting and Knives seems perfect. Please accept this small token of my gratitude,” Vash explained, smiling brightly, any gloominess that lingered upon his arrival dissipating instantly. 

Nodding, Wolfwood gratefully took the food. “Thank you.”

“No need! Thank you, Wolfwood,” Vash said, happily leading Knives back towards the door. “I’ll see you May 16th!”

“Right. May 16th,” Wolfwood muttered, watching as the duo left, the Husky seemingly prancing beside his owner, happy to show off his new groom. Watching, Wolfwood noticed Vash waving back towards the shop, despite knowing that the blond wouldn’t have been able to see him from the angle he stood. 

“This will be interesting, Vash Saverem,” Wolfwood said, surprising himself with the commentary, before taking the food to his office so he could take a moment to eat. He smiled, popping a fry in his mouth, looking forward to the next time he could see the pair.

Chapter Text

Vash made his way through the shopping mall, hand tight around the leash attached to Knives’ vest. Sensing the panic starting to rise, the Husky led Vash to a corner to decompress. Embarrassment crawled its way up Vash’s face, turning the skin red as he tried to calm the shaking in his hands. Knives nudged Vash’s left thigh with his nose, signaling that he needed to take a seat so Knives could perform the deep pressure therapy.

Tears pricked at the corner of Vash’s eyes as he let himself slide to the ground, instantly he felt the weight of the Husky as he laid in his lap, head nestled into his stomach so he could keep an eye on Vash’s breathing. Releasing the leash, Vash dug his hand into the coarse fur. Taking in deep breaths, Vash closed his eyes, hand continuing to stroke through Knives’ fur. He knew it was in his head, but he felt the eyes of the other shoppers on him, the thought nearly sent him into a renewed panic.

Suddenly, the harsh fluorescent lighting that managed to cut through his sunglasses and closed eyelids was blocked out. Vash’s eyes popped open, fearing some worker was going to tell them to leave. Instead, he instantly relaxed as he realized someone was blocking him from sight.

Wolfwood had been shopping for a birthday present for his brother, Livio, when he noticed the spiky blond hair of his newest client. He was going to do the cordial thing and say hello, before he realized something wasn’t right.

Vash seemed to be in a daze, the Husky gently leading him to a corner of the store to sit him down. 

Wolfwood followed, ready to fend off anyone that stopped the service dog from performing his task. As he approached, he noticed a worker about to talk to Vash, so Wolfwood gave her a grin and stood in front of the blond, blocking him from any by passers sight. 

“He’s fine. The dog is doing its job. Please walk away and let the dog work,” Wolfwood said, politely, but firmly. He hadn’t gotten to know much about Vash, but he knew the signs of a panic attack, having helped Livio through his fair share of them. 

After about ten minutes, Wolfwood glanced back to find that Vash was coherent and properly looking around, seemingly come back to himself. 

“You good, Blondie?” He asked, not quite moving away.

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, face still red as he processed what had happened. He managed a nod, before taking in a deep breath, realizing he’d been breathing too shallowly before.

“Thank you, Wolfwood.” His voice was quiet, his eyes now focusing on Knives’ blue eyes.

“Don’t thank me, Spikey. I was just stopping by.” He knew he hadn’t done anything to help.

“You blocked people. You might put Knives out of a job,” Vash said, smiling lightly at his own joke.

Wolfwood chuckled before kneeling down beside Vash. “Nah. I just noticed that was one of his tasks. So, I figured it couldn’t hurt. Besides, I wasn’t leaving you here in a panic attack.”

Vash finally looked up to Wolfwood, their eyes meeting for the first time during the interaction. Wolfwood noted the wetness at the corners. “Are you going to be okay now? Do you need me to call someone?”

Vash shook his head, before realizing he needed to clarify. “Ah. Sorry. I’m okay now, I think.” He flexed his right wrist and left ankle, seemingly checking their flexibility after being taut for so long.

“I figured. Just thought I would check,” Wolfwood said, making no move to leave yet. “So. What are you shopping for?”

Vash smiled, thankful for the distraction. He reached into his pocket and grabbed a few treats to reward Knives for his hard work. “It’s kind of silly. But I saw on Tiktok that other people were dyeing their service dog’s tails, you know, to deter theft and stuff. And I thought it would be something fun and different.” 

Wolfwood rolled his eyes. “Idiot. You should have just text me. I could have done that.”

Vash’s eyes widened as he put it together. “I never even thought about that! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I just thought a dog groomer might be… I don’t know. Morally opposed?”

Wolfwood chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “Nah. It’s a safety thing, like you said.”

“Oh. Well, I already got some red dye. I researched and made sure it was safe for animals. Do you think you could still help me?”

Wolfwood laughed, unable to stop himself. “Red dye for your dog whose name is Knives?”

Vash laughed out with him, thinking about the ridiculous situation. “Yeah. It’s my favorite color. But now I’m thinking I should have gone with the pink, blue and purple I originally thought of.”

Wolfwood smiled, standing up. “If you want a pride flag, I can make it happen.”

Vash grinned up at Wolfwood, before convincing Knives it was safe to let him stand. “That’d be awesome, Wolfwood!” 

Vash tucked his left leg under himself, before pushing himself up, keeping the right leg straight. Wolfwood eyed him, impressed.

“I’m still not used to standing up with the prosthetic,” Vash explained, knowing he was safe enough to do so with Wolfwood. 

Wolfwood nodded, deciding that the admission needed no comment from him. “So. Think you and Knives might want to help me find a birthday gift for my brother?”

Vash perked up, grabbing Knives’ leash and giving him another treat. “I’m really good at gifts! What’s his name? What’s his interests?” 

Wolfwood led him out of the store, staying on the opposite side of where Knives was so Vash was fully protected. “Livio. He likes animals. And cowboy movies, the weirdo.”

“No way! Nai does too! Our brothers are weird.”

“They probably think the same about us, Blondie.”

“One day you’ll call me Vash, Wolfwood. One day!”

Wolfwood rolled his eyes. “In your dreams.”

-

“I know I don’t look like it, but I can be pretty stubborn when I set my mind to something,” Vash told him, grinning as he glanced towards Wolfwood. “My friend, Meryl, also said I was somehow ‘ridiculously charming’,” he added, making quotation marks with his right hand. 

Wolfwood unwrapped a sucker, before placing it in his mouth, his usual replacement for a cigarette when he couldn’t grab one. “And you think your so-called charm could work on me, Blondie ?” he asked, smirking a little. 

“I never said that. I was simply stating a fact,” Vash pointed out, shrugging his right shoulder as an innocent smile etched across his face. 

Reaching back into his pocket, Wolfwood grabbed a watermelon flavored sucker, offering it to Vash who happily accepted the treat, seemingly happy to have something sweet after the previous episode. “A random fact if you don’t plan on trying to use that charm.” 

Vash pocketed his trash from the sucker, before stopping in his tracks, causing Knives and Wolfwood to stall beside him. “Wait, hold that thought. I just had the best idea ever for your brother, Wolfwood.” Without any further preamble, Vash pivoted to make his way towards the hobby store. Confused, but intrigued, Wolfwood hurried to follow behind. 

Once within the store, Vash wandered around, eyes wandering through the aisles as he tried to find what exactly had drawn him into the store. Wolfwood, wondering how any of this could relate to Livio, followed dutifully, letting Vash lead this expedition. 

He wasn’t usually the type to share his personal life with clients, let alone the newer clients who were practically strangers, but there had been something about Vash that made him seem familiar. Wolfwood would like to think that he would stop and share his day with any of the nicer clients, but he knew that wasn’t the case. He’d even feel better if he thought it was out of pity, but there hadn’t been an ounce of pity in him even as he saw Vash sitting on the floor in a panic. 

Wolfwood, bafflingly, appeared to just enjoy the blond man’s company and wanted to spend more time with him.

“Wolfwood, come check this out!” 

Broken from his thoughts, Wolfwood wandered towards the sound of Vash’s voice, noticing how the kits to build robots turned into an aisle of forest models and different animals. “Okay, you got me this time, Needle Noggin. These look pretty interesting.” 

 Vash stuck his tongue out at Wolfwood, before grabbing a model kit of a wagon, along with a few different horses. “I know it’s kind of a chore, so I don’t know if he’s into this sort of thing, but I remember seeing it all the time when I was in my Gundam building phase.”

“Of course you had a Gundam phase,” Wolfwood muttered, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the kit, turning it over so he could see the different parts. 

“Don’t be rude! I’m helping you, remember?”

Wolfwood set the kit down, before reaching up to pat Vash’s right shoulder. “You are. We’re on the right track, I just don’t think he’s going to have the attention span for something that requires glue and paint to dry.”

Vash’s eyes widened, as if he were having a realization. “Wait. Is he, like, really young? I didn’t even think to ask.” His concern was cut short as Wolfwood let out a laugh that had Vash’s eyes crinkling in joy. 

“No, we’re almost the same age. He just literally wouldn’t have the attention span for this,” Wolfwood explained, before fully facing Vash. “I also think he’ll have a hard time seeing the smaller details on the figures. I guess I should have mentioned he’s blind in one eye.” 

Nodding, Vash tightened his grip on Knives’ leash, feeling a little anxiety creep in over the missed detail. “No, no. You don’t have to tell me that, I made a lot of assumptions.” 

Wolfwood placed his hand back on Vash’s right shoulder, squeezing it lightly. “You’re helping, Blondie. You don’t know what I don’t tell you.” He kept his tone light, but stern enough that it would hopefully sink into Vash’s skull. 

Smiling softly,  Vash nodded, before looking from the hand on his shoulder, to the man it was attached to. “Right. Thank you.” 

Vash was almost surprised by how well Wolfwood was taking his different moods, but with each moment they spent together, he began to piece together just how the dog groomer managed to do that. Vash was trusting by virtue of his nature, nearly to a fault if you had any chance to ask Nai. But saying that he was suddenly trusting Wolfwood didn’t feel right. 

Where most people would take a quick glance at him and determine whether he was faking any of his ailments, Wolfwood simply didn’t ask questions or press too deeply into the issues. Where most people would have been run off by the way Vash’s mood could drop, Wolfwood simply redirected him without being condescending. 

In a word, Vash found the entire dynamic refreshing. 

Without realizing it, Vash found that Wolfwood had led him and Knives back out to the main shopping mall. As if he knew Vash wasn’t fully aware of his surroundings, Wolfwood appeared to be leading them to a seating area. 

“You tired of shopping with me yet, Blondie?” 

Vash recognized the question for what it was; an out. Wolfwood, without forcing Vash to admit that he was mentally strained, was offering him a way out, or a way to rest. 

Smiling gratefully, Vash took a seat on a nearby bench, Knives immediately taking his cue to lay down on his feet, grounding him. “Tired of shopping? Definitely. With you?” Vash asked, putting on a charming smile. “Not quite.” 

There it was. Without meaning to, Vash had managed to make Wolfwood’s heart stutter for a moment. The realization struck him, but he managed to keep his face cool, unsure if Vash was being friendly while flirting or flirting with the intention of more. Either way, Wolfwood had to remind himself that this was a professional client and flirting back would be overstepping a multitude of boundaries. 

“Alright. Well, why don’t I grab us something to drink from the vending machine and we can take a rest?” Wolfwood asked, wishing that he could run off for a smoke. 

Unaffected by any realization Wolfwood seemed to have, Vash smiled brightly. “Are you gonna judge me too hard if I get orange juice?”

“You want orange juice from a vending machine?” The judgment was nearly palpable. 

“See?! This is why I asked if you were going to judge me!”

Wolfwood looked away from him, refusing to meet his eyes. “Who said I was judging?”

“Wolfwood,” Vash whined, dramatically tugging on the man’s sleeve until they were both laughing at the scene they’d caused. 

“Alright, crybaby. Orange juice it is.” With that, Wolfwood sauntered off towards the vending machine, leaving a beaming Vash behind on the bench.

As he sat, Vash massaged the top of his right thigh, attempting to ease the swelling and pain where his prosthetic met the flesh. Without realizing it, he’d been out shopping nearly twice as long as he planned for. Normally, he would have been more careful about taking breaks, but he’d been so caught up shopping with Wolfwood, he’d lost track of time. 

Looking up again to check on Wolfwood’s progress back, Vash startled as he realized the other man was watching him as he walked back, drinks in hand. Sheepishly, Vash looked away, red snaking its way up his neck and face, realizing he’d been caught. 

Wolfwood made his way to the bench, sitting down beside Vash as he offered him the orange juice. Opening his own water, he took a sip, before looking at Vash, noting the blush on his cheeks. 

“If you need a break, we’ll sit here until you’re good to go,” Wolfwood explained, leaning back so his arm could drape across the back of the bench. “If you wanna leave, that’s fine, too.” 

Vash, now slightly panicked, turned to look towards Wolfwood, their eyes locking. “You still haven’t picked a gift for your brother. And you weren’t even here with me. Don’t stop just because of me, okay? I promise I’m alright, Wolfwood. You really don’t have to worry.” 

Wolfwood shook his head, trying to get Vash to calm down. “Spikey, I have to be honest. I absolutely hate shopping and I hate going to the mall.” The confession caused a look of confusion to cross Vash’s face. “I was already planning on bailing when I ran into you, okay? You needing a break or to leave does nothing for my plans.”

Vash blinked for a moment, feeling a little foolish. “Oh.” 

Chuckling, Wolfwood reached up to tug on one of the spikes of blond hair, before quickly pulling his hand back as Vash let out a sound of surprise. “Now, how were you planning on getting home? Did you drive?”

“Oh god, no. I was awful at driving before I lost my dominant leg,” Vash said, huffing out an awkward laugh as he realized that might have been inappropriate. 

Wolfwood snorted, not quite laughing. “I’d offer you a ride, but I don’t think Knives would appreciate a ride on a motorcycle.”

Vash chuckled, knowing he was right. “That’s okay. I’m going to see if Meryl is able to come get me. If not, Nai will, I just hate always depending on him.”

“That’s kind of what brothers are for,” Wolfwood pointed out, knowing that he had woken up in the middle of the night to pick Livio up from some sketchy situations. 

“You might have a point there,” Vash said, sending a text to Meryl and almost instantly receiving a response saying that she was on the way. 

“Well, Spikey. It’s been fun.” Wolfwood said, once they made their way to the entrance that Meryl had said she would pick Vash up from. 

“It was! Hey, don’t forget to tell me what you end up picking for Livio at our next appointment. Bonus if you have a picture.” 

“Sure thing, Spikey,” Wolfwood said, watching the blond load into the crappy van that pulled up, a black haired girl with silver earrings shrieking in delight as soon as she could hug Vash. 

Just as the time before, Vash continued to wave from the van, well past the time he could properly see Wolfwood in the mirror. 

The thought made Wolfwood’s heart stutter again as he headed towards his bike to go home, presentless, but happy nonetheless. 

Chapter Text

It had been nearly a week since Wolfwood had run into Vash at the mall, spending a surprising amount of time with the blond. Keeping himself busy, Wolfwood kept to his work at the grooming salon, being sure to keep his eyes away from the windows, finding that he tended to keep searching for blond spikes and a red coat.

While Wolfwood made his dinner, some easily microwavable meal after the long day, he stared at his work phone. Somehow, although he hoped a text would come through from Vash, he knew that the blond would respect any boundaries. There wasn’t really any evidence that he had to support that, but his gut seemed pretty sure of the fact. 

With every day that passed without a text, Wolfwood knew he was right; he would have to be the one to reach out to Vash, as much as he hated admitting that to himself. 

He knew that he could easily wait the remaining weeks to the next scheduled appointment, but something didn’t feel right about doing that, either. Exchanging personal numbers while at his place of business wasn’t exactly professional, but then again, neither was taking a personal number from his work phone and trading it to his own phone. 

Wolfwood threw his hands up in frustration with a groan, before grabbing the food from the microwave and placing it on the counter to rest. A small chirrup sounded from below him, pulling his eyes to look down to the black cat at his feet. 

Crouching down, Wolfwood scratched behind her ears, calming down as he did so. “It really shouldn’t be so complicated, right, Kuroneko?” He would normally feel as though he was losing his mind for talking to an animal as if it were a person, but he’d grown used to the habit while at work. 

“On the one hand, he did tell me to text him about Livio’s present, right?” Wolfwood reasoned, convincing himself. “But if I do it from the work phone, I might get reprimanded for reaching out to clients for personal matters.” 

His head slumped forward, a pulsing sensation hammering behind his eyes. “Then again, if I take his number and he ends up filing a complaint-” He paused, realizing that was never going to be an option. While Wolfwood had only known Vash for a short time, he could say with certainty that Vash would never report him for something as simple as a text from his personal number, even if it required him to take it from the work phone. 

With his mind made up, Wolfwood unlocked the work phone, then pulled up the contact information for ‘Vash Saverem.’ Gnawing on his bottom lip, he grabbed his phone and created a new contact for ‘Vash Blondie’, adding the phone number before he could change his mind. 

Taking a breath, dinner forgotten on the counter, Wolfwood typed up a quick message, inserting a picture of Livio’s present. 

WW: [insert a photo of an orange kitten with one eye] 

WW: You asked for a picture of his present here you go. Cant use the work phone for personal texts. Hope you get it

Wolfwood quickly hit send, before locking the phone and placing it face down onto the counter, feeling foolish for how his heart started hammering in his chest. He couldn’t understand why he was reacting this way, he was just being friendly to Vash, after all. Friends were all the two could be, anyway. They had to keep the relationship somewhat professional, given how they had met, he reminded himself. Besides, he continued to convince himself that he wasn’t really looking for a romantic partner anyway.

Grabbing his lukewarm dinner, Wolfwood abandoned the phone on the counter, moving to sit on the couch as he ate. He staunchly ignored any sounds that emitted from the phone, assuming they were Livio sending pictures of the kitten he had yet to name. 

As he finished the meal, he moved back to the kitchen to tidy up, glad that the microwavable dinner made everything simple. As he finished wiping his counter, he furrowed his brow as the ringer for his phone went off, signaling that he was receiving a call. 

Looking at his phone, Wolfwood paled as he realized the name was ‘Vash Blondie,’ meaning that Vash was calling him on his personal phone, meaning that he had read the texts and Wolfwood had ignored them. With no way to check the previous texts, he answered the call, bringing the phone to his ear. 

“Hello?” He hated how hesitant he sounded, but there wasn’t much he could do about that now. 

“Wolfwood! Finally! I was getting nervous you weren’t going to answer,” Vash answered, excitement clear in his voice. “Sorry about the phone call, I know a lot of people hate to talk on the phone, but I think you get to know someone a lot better over the phone than just through text.” 

Wolfwood blinked, taking a moment to process the speed of which Vash was speaking, before finally managing to pull his thoughts together. “Hey, Spikey. No problem. I was just cleaning my kitchen.” 

Wolfwood could hear soft music playing in the background, so quiet he couldn’t make out the genre, let alone the artist. “Oh! You were probably eating when I text to warn you that I’d give you a call. Sorry about that.”

“You don’t have to apologize all of the time, you know?” It slipped out before Wolfwood could stop himself. He wasn’t annoyed with the constant apologies, more that he was annoyed that anyone made Vash feel like he had to apologize so much. 

“Oops. So-” Vash paused, before laughing, realizing what he was about to say. “Kind of a force of habit. I know it can get annoying, so just remind me, or ignore me. No big deal.” 

“I’m not going to ignore you,” Wolfwood replied quickly, wanting to cut in. “And you’re not being annoying. If I thought you were annoying, I wouldn’t have given you my personal phone number.” 

Vash sat with that statement for a moment, before replying. “You’re not going to get in trouble for talking to me, right? I got a little nervous when I read your text about not making personal texts on the work number, which I get, don’t get me wrong. I should have thought about that before and given you my number at the mall. I was wondering why it was taking you so long to text.”

“Well, we’re talking on my personal cell phone, right? As long as we keep it professional, I don’t think there’s a problem.” 

“Does that mean we shouldn’t be friends? Is this weird? Am I making this weird?” 

Wolfwood rolled his eyes, before falling back onto his couch, making an ‘omph’ sound as he did. “You’re making it weird, Blondie, but not for whatever you’re thinking.” He said it with a slight smile on his face, fondness seeping into his voice. “I think weird is just your default.”

That earned a chuckle from Vash, the sound warming Wolfwood through the phone. “You still didn’t answer part of that question, Wolfwood.” His voice was lower, that charm seeping in, again. 

With a light sigh, Wolfwood stared up at his ceiling. “I think being friends is okay. As long as you do, too.”

“So… you do want to be my friend?”

“I’m hanging up.” 

Vash squealed out an elongated, “No.” 

“Alright, alright, Blondie. Let me lay it out for you,” Wolfwood said, pausing until he was sure he had Vash’s full attention. “At the salon while Knives is getting groomed, we keep it completely professional. You got it? I’m a worker doing you a service, you’re the customer.” 

Vash nodded, before remembering he was on the phone, not a face time call. “Of course! I can manage that. Do you really think so little of me?” He didn’t ask it with ire or sadness, more that he was trying to grasp what Wolfwood did think of him. 

“I didn’t say that. Don’t put words in my mouth.” Wolfwood said curtly, leaving no room for argument. “I’m laying down a boundary. I like my job and I want to keep it.”

“Hey, I want you to keep it, too. You’re the best groomer that Knives has had yet.” 

Wolfwood hummed, not sure if Vash was simply trying to butter him up. “Anyway,” he stressed, wanting to move on. “We can be friends.”

There was a sound as if the receiver had been covered, before a very muffled, ‘yes!’ resounded in the background. After several more seconds of ruffled fabric noises, presumably from Vash doing some over the top wiggle of victory, he came back to the phone, voice much more serious than before. “Okay, cool. Friends. I can do that.”

Charmed. Wolfwood had been fucking charmed by the entire interaction and he couldn’t help the wide smile on his lips, couldn’t even be annoyed with how the smile read through in his words. “Alright, keep playing it cool then, Prince Charming.” 

Vash, catching on to the new nickname, flopped down on his own bed, the smile shining. “Oh, so you’re falling victim to my charms after all, Wolfwood? Wow, I really thought you would hold out for at least three more chats.”

“Needle Noggin, I will hang up this phone.” 

“A shame you’ve given me your number. I’ll just call back.” 

“I’ll block you.”

“I think you’re all tal-” Before Vash could finish the statement, the dial tone sounded, signaling that Wolfwood had hung up the phone. Staring at the phone, the blond laughed nervously, wondering if he had actually crossed some line. 

As Wolfwood hung up the phone, he stared at the cell, wondering what the hell prompted him to follow through on the threat. He guessed it was a jerk reaction, something that he would do to Livio on face time if his brother got too rowdy, but this was not his brother. Quickly, Wolfwood dialed the number back, cursing himself mentally for acting that way towards Vash, someone that had been kind and excited to speak to him. 

Almost as soon as Vash’s phone lit up, he answered, placing the phone back to his ear. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Hey, don’t apologize,” Wolfwood reminded him, the bite gone from his tone as he spoke. “I shouldn’t have hung up on you. You’re not my brother and you were just teasing. I’m sorry, Vash.” 

Cheeks turning red, Vash shook his head, again forgetting that they were on a call. “You warned me, I should have stop-” He paused, pulling the phone back to look at it, verifying that it was actually Wolfwood on the other line. “You called me Vash.” 

Wolfwood sucked in a breath, moving the phone to press against his forehead as he processed what he’d done. Some part of him had decided that if he kept Vash at arms length with silly nicknames, then he could keep some semblance of a wall up. Bringing the phone back to his ear, he bit his lip. “I guess I did.” 

Chewing on his bottom lip, Vash replayed the sound in his head, enjoying the way it filled him with warmth. “Hey, Wolfwood?” 

Unsure of what Vash could be asking, he was nervous to reply, but he knew he couldn’t put it off for too long. “Yeah?” He asked, moving to stand up so he could move to his balcony to light a cigarette and bring it to his lips. 

“I’m really glad you called back.” Vash’s voice was quiet on the other end, almost like he didn’t want Wolfwood to hear it.

Taking a drag on the cigarette, Wolfwood held the smoke a second longer, before exhaling slowly into the night air. “I wasn’t going to leave you hanging, Blondie.”

“Why not?” 

The tone that Vash used had Wolfwood’s brows knitting together again. As he thought about it, Wolfwood realized what that tone meant; Vash always expected people to leave him. The realization nearly made him choke on the smoke. 

“I’m not like that. Get that through your thick skull now.” Wolfwood said it firmly, not wanting to chastise Vash, but rather to make it clear that he meant business. “Even if I jokingly hang up on you or block you, I’m never really upset. I will tell you to your face if you’ve pissed me off.” 

Vash took in a breath, not realizing he was holding it. He’d hated that he’d even thought for a moment that Wolfwood might treat him the same way that others had, but he was glad that Wolfwood took it in stride, much the same way he had done for a lot of things. 

“I’m glad I met you.” 

It wasn’t what Vash had meant to say, and it certainly wasn’t what Wolfwood had thought he would hear. But now that it was hanging in the air between them, they both seemed to know that the trajectory of their lives was better for it. 

“Me, too, Spikey.” 

Wolfwood finished his cigarette, stubbing it out in the ashtray he left on the balcony for that exact purpose. The silence hung between them in the air, neither feeling like they had to fill it with nonsense, but rather that they could simply coexist. 

Once he let himself back into his house, closing the balcony doors behind him, Wolfwood listened intently to the quiet breathing of the man on the phone with him. The breathing had slowed significantly, as if Vash had fallen asleep. Not wanting to wake him if he had, Wolfwood whispered quietly into the receiver, “You still there?”

The only response he received was another quiet breath, this one deeper than the last, proving that Vash had officially fallen asleep. 

Wolfwood smiled softly, his heart stuttering in his chest as he heard the telltale sign of a snore. He knew that he was getting in too deep, but at this point, he figured anything with Vash would be well worth it. 

“Have a good night, Blondie,” he whispered, before quietly disconnecting the call, leaving himself alone with his thoughts. 

Then he realized he could still check the texts that Vash had sent before deciding to call him instead. 

V: i never thought you would get someone an animal

V: very cute though!

V: gonna call you. typing with 1 hand sucks. & voice to text is no fun

Wolfwood smiled at the texts, realizing it was somehow exactly how he thought the man would type, while also filing away the thought that Vash would prefer a phone call next time. 

Because he knew there would be a next time.

Chapter Text

Vash sat on his bed, the nerves starting to take hold enough that Knives made his way over to rest his head on the blond’s knee to try and calm him down. Smiling, Vash let his right hand rest on the dog’s head, letting the feeling of the fur calm him. 

“I promise, I’m okay, Knives,” he stated, taking in a deep breath to help calm him further. “These are good nerves, I think. But I know you can’t really tell the difference.” 

Removing his hand from the dog’s head, earning a gentle lick to his wrist in the process, Vash grabbed the phone beside him, unlocking it with his face ID. He paused once he got to the phone, thumb hovering right over Wolfwood’s contact. 

He didn’t know why he was so nervous this time around, they’d spoken or even shared voice memos almost every day for the last week. Wolfwood had accepted Vash’s preference for chatting on the phone and ran with it, even initiating the first voice memo when he wanted to tell a story about a dog from work, but didn’t quite have the energy for a full conversation. 

They’d found a happy medium and it’d made Vash’s heart soar, the pace quickening more throughout the week whenever Wolfwood’s name would pop up on his phone. 

The difference, Vash guessed, was that he was initiating a potential face to face encounter. The last time they had spent time together had been completely accidental, but Vash didn’t want to count on fate helping him out one more time. He knew he had to take destiny into his own hands.

Deciding that it was foolish to waste an entire call on the question, Vash readied the voice memo, wanting to get it all out in one go. Taking a deep breath, he hit record. 

“Hey, I’m gonna try to keep this brief. But my friend, Meryl, the one that picked me up from the mall, invited me to the movies with her and her girlfriend, Milly. They’re great and I love hanging out with them, but being a third wheel sucks. Think you could make time in your busy dog grooming schedule to see a movie with us tomorrow night? Let me know!”

Without wasting a second thought on the memo, Vash sent it to Wolfwood, before throwing his head back and groaning dramatically. 

“Oh my god. That was so awkward. He’s going to think it’s a date, Knives!” Vash whined, pouting as he thought of the different ways that Wolfwood could deny the invite. Worse, he considered the fact that he really wanted it to be a date, but knew it wasn’t going to happen. 

Wolfwood had made it pretty clear that he wanted to be only friends and Vash was more than okay with respecting that; goodness knew he needed more friends in his life. However, that didn’t stop him from getting butterflies any time he had a conversation with Wolfwood, as he learned the different things that made him tick. Vash had it bad and he needed to work to keep it to himself. 

The phone chimed, letting him know that Wolfwood had likely answered the question, despite it being the middle of the work day. Heart pounding, Vash grabbed the phone, opening the message. 

WW: At work so I can’t talk, but a movie sounds good. I’m off tomorrow so we could meet up earlier if you’d like. 

WW: Either just you, or the girls, doesn’t matter. 

Vash pumped his fist in the air, happy that he got such a positive response without Wolfwood seeming to think it was a date. After calming himself down, Vash turned on his voice to text, biting the bullet for Wolfwood. 

V: I think they’re getting dinner before the movie but I plan to eat popcorn and nothing else. Movies are for popcorn. Let me know when you want to hang out. Have a good day at work. 

He scrunched his nose at the lack of pizazz in the text, but decided that it wasn’t worth the extra effort to add his own flair when the anxiety from just asking Wolfwood to hang out was taking over. Setting his phone down, Vash decided that it was time to distract himself with some more coursework.  

Before he knew it, the day was gone and the moon was rising outside. Vash stretched his right arm, wincing as he felt the sore muscles throughout his back from wearing the prosthetic on his left arm all day despite not needing it. Sighing, he removed the straps that secured the prosthesis to his arm, before setting it down on the desk. 

 Vash went through his usual night time routine, not thinking anything of the fact that Wolfwood hadn’t messaged him back since the earlier text in the day. Despite his nerves from then, he knew that Wolfwood had things to handle and would contact him when he could. Besides, while he wouldn’t admit it outloud, he’d started to consider they had a shared routine. 

The later it got, one or the other would drop a text or a memo asking if it was okay to call; it was always okay to call. He didn’t quite know how the routine started, but he knew he wouldn’t trade it for the world. Right on cue, as Vash was settling into bed, his right prosthetic leg off and to the side of his desk, he received a notification. 

WW: Call me?

Biting his lip, Vash took a chance and decided to change the routine just a little; instead of calling like normal, he sent a facetime request. Despite having not expected it, Wolfwood picked up immediately, his face looking bemused in the dim lighting of what Vash assumed was Wolfwood’s living room. 

“You look less spikey than usual, Blondie,” Wolfwood teased, clearly having looked Vash over on the phone screen. 

Vash sat up against the pillows, letting the phone rest against his raised left knee. “That happens when you shower all the gel out,” he pointed out, giving a toothy grin. 

“Gotta say, you’re kind of breaking the illusion like this.”

Snorting, Vash rolled his eyes. “What kind of illusion could I possibly have?”

Shrugging, Wolfwood set the phone on the back of his couch so he didn’t have to hold it. “I don’t know. You just look too real.” It seemed he didn’t know how to explain what he meant, or, more likely, that he was flat out refusing.

“Definitely real,” Vash admitted, waving with the stump of his left arm. 

“I don’t know. I’m feeling a little skeptical since I haven’t seen you since the mall.” Wolfwood grinned, knowing that it was going to irritate Vash. 

“Rude! Someone’s been busy doing responsible things like work. Gross.” Vash stuck his tongue out, trying to keep the charade up. It had become almost effortless over the last week to tease Wolfwood back just as much as he teased Vash. 

Laughing, Wolfwood shook his head at the antics. “My cat needs wet food, okay? I saved her from the actual dumpster by my house and the ungrateful thing has the audacity to scream at me when I bring her anything home that isn’t Tiki Cat. I work to feed my cat.” 

Vash laughed, giving up on teasing Wolfwood. “Alright, you’re a good pet parent. I get it.” He waved his hand, hoping they could move on. “So, the movie starts at 7pm. When do we want to meet up?” 

A fresh wave of nerves began to rush through Vash as he asked the question. He wanted to toe the line between being interested in hanging out with a friend, but a part of him also wanted to make it clear that he was beginning to have feelings for Wolfwood. He knew he’d never act on the feelings, but sometimes it was nice to flirt and Wolfwood, whether he knew it or not, was an excellent flirt. 

“That depends on what we actually want to do, Spikey.” Wolfwood had been wanting to find a way to spend a little more time with Vash, so he had been glad for the invitation. When the blond had mentioned not wanting to be a third wheel, part of him wondered if this was Vash’s way of setting them up on a double date, but he knew Vash wouldn’t do that intentionally. He’d almost been nervous to ask him to spend more of the day together, but he relaxed now, knowing that Vash had brought the topic up. 

Vash hummed, looking around his room as if he’d find some inspiration on the walls. Luckily, his eyes wandered over to his bookshelf, reminding him that he hadn’t been to the bookstore in a while. “How do you feel about books?”

“I’ve heard of them, yes.” The tone Wolfwood used caused Vash to laugh out loud, an almost ugly bark of a laugh. 

“Why’d you have to say it like that? If you don’t like to read, that’s fine,” Vash explained, wiping an errant tear from his eye. “I was just going to suggest going to a bookstore.”

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood got up, making his way across the room to his balcony where he turned the light on, much to Vash’s relief. “I figured you were gonna do that, but you just asked how I felt about them. How do you feel about books, Blondie?” Wolfwood asked, sparking up a cigarette and taking a drag. 

“I, for one, am rather pro-book.” Vash sat up straight, puffing his chest out and mimicking Wolfwood’s earlier tone. 

Cigarette between his fingers, Wolfwood pointed at the phone screen. “You know I’ll hang up if you get rowdy.” After the first hang up broke the ice, Wolfwood had been much more liberal with his control of the conversation. 

“And you’ll call right back because you’ll miss me.” Vash grinned as he said it, knowing that it was the truth. Even when he thought he’d royally screwed himself over and made Wolfwood hate him, the man called back almost instantly, always apologizing for actually following through on the threat. 

Narrowing his eyes, Wolfwood took a drag before blowing the smoke into the wind. “You can’t prove that.” The way a gentle smile broke through his fake, hard exterior told Vash that he was right. 

“If you say so,” Vash sang out, smiling, before getting back to the task at hand. “Now… Are you pro-bookstore, Wolfwood? Cause I’m not hearing any other suggestions in this conversation.”

“I was always pro-bookstore, Spikey. I just like giving you a hard time.”

“I knew it!” 

“You didn’t know shit.” 

Their conversation calmed down from there, the two deciding that they would meet up at the store closest to the theater at 5pm, so they would have time to chat and look, before heading directly to the theater to meet up with Meryl and Milly. 

The next day, Vash got himself ready and arrived at the store by 4:45pm, giving himself extra time in case he needed to call Nai as a backup driver. Luckily, the Uber driver didn’t outright cancel on him once they saw Knives, like many of them did. Unluckily, Vash’s upper back had been too sore for him to justify wearing the prosthetic arm, so the sleeve of his hoodie and shirt hung limply. 

After five minutes of waiting, Vash saw a man ride up on a motorcycle and park, before taking the helmet off to reveal that it was Wolfwood. Vash’s eyes widened in surprise. He’d known the man drove a bike, but he hadn’t really prepared himself to see it first hand. 

Wolfwood walked right over, giving him a smile. “What’s that face for, Blondie?”

“You looked really cool coming in just now.” It wasn’t exactly what Vash wanted to say, but it would have to do; he didn’t think it was very normal to tell platonic friends that you thought they were hot when they drove a motorcycle. 

“I think it’s about time you got your eyes checked.” Wolfwood placed a hand on Vash’s back, leading him into the bookstore so they weren’t in the way. 

Vash let himself be (gently) manhandled into the store, his mood immediately changing as he smiled brightly. “Yeah, yeah. Come on, we only have like an hour and a half of looking.” 

Wolfwood was immediately enamored by the way Vash lit up as he looked around the bookstore. “You’re like a kid in a candy store,” he pointed out, grabbing a handheld basket so he could help Vash carry the books. 

“No way. This is better than candy,” Vash announced, making his way to the nonfiction books so he could find a reference for his thesis. 

Dutifully, Wolfwood followed behind, accepting books from Vash and placing them in the basket. Normally, he would have grown bored from the aisles of books, but watching Vash move with unbridled joy made something in his heart race. He knew he could follow Vash around until the end of time and still find something interesting about the blond man. 

Today, Wolfwood noted, he was learning that Vash had a penchant for books about mechanical engineering of all different types. He also quickly gathered that one of Vash’s safe spaces happened to be a bookstore, whether that applied to only this specific store or another was still to be determined. 

It was a solid chunk of time where Vash moved from aisle to aisle, not even realizing that he was essentially ignoring Wolfwood. For his part, Wolfwood didn’t mind one bit, using the time to read the backs of some of the books Vash had chosen, while also just watching the way the blond moved. 

Once the basket grew full and it got closer to the start of the movie, however, Wolfwood knew he was going to have to intervene. “Hey, Blondie,” he said, voice soft, considering they were in a public space. 

A part of Wolfwood delighted as he noticed the slight shiver that seemed to race up Vash’s spine as he came back down to earth. Turning, Vash’s eyes widened as he looked back to Wolfwood, who just smiled and waved. 

“I’ve been ignoring you this whole time.” Vash sounded disgusted with himself, the horror clear in his voice. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry, Wolfwood.” His fingers twitched to tighten around the hold on Knives’ leash, the regret becoming palpable. 

“No apologies, remember?” Wolfwood told him, stepping closer and placing his hand on Vash’s left shoulder, taking advantage of the lack of a prosthetic. “If I was upset, I would have said something. I liked watching you work.”

Vash subconsciously stepped closer, almost leaning into the touch. “Yeah, but it’s still rude. We were supposed to spend time together and I…” He bit his lip, like he was stopping himself from saying something he knew that Wolfwood wouldn’t like. 

Setting the books down, Wolfwood settled his other hand on Vash’s right shoulder, gently squeezing so he would be sure to have the blond’s attention. Once the light blue eyes looked up, Wolfwood finally spoke. “You had fun doing something you loved. I had fun watching you. We spent time together, Spikey.” 

Taking in a breath, Vash let himself smile, even if it was tinged with a bit of sadness, he knew that Wolfwood was right and appreciated how easily the man talked him down. Choosing to be brave, Vash lifted his right hand, the leash falling down his wrist, so he could place it on Wolfwood’s elbow, glad to have a small connection. “Okay, Wolfwood.” 

The moment Vash’s hand touched his arm, Wolfwood felt goosebumps raise along his skin. He realized this was the first time Vash actively wanted to touch him and that caused him to smile, the fondness in his chest growing like ivy up a brick wall. “It’s almost time for the movie, Needles. Let’s pay for your books and go.”

Vash squeezed Wolfwood’s arm, before removing his hand and looking to the nearly overflowing basket. “You carried that this whole time?! Nick!”

Wolfwood burst out laughing, leaning down to grab the basket once again, turning to thwart Vash’s attempt to grab it. “You had Knives and you needed the hand to actually look at your books. It’s not a big deal.” 

Vash huffed indignantly, pouting as Wolfwood led the way to the registers. “You’re being too nice.”

“How? Because I like spending time with you and don’t mind offering an extra hand?”

Wolfwood stopped, realizing what he said, eyes going wide as he turned to face Vash, hoping to gauge his reaction. Vash stared back at Wolfwood, before snorting. 

“Wolfwood, did you make an amputee joke? Oh my gosh, how insensitive!” Vash joked, watching as Wolfwood spun away from him, seemingly hoping that Vash would drop it. “And so soon?” He teased, leaning forward so his chin could rest on Wolfwood’s shoulder, a grin clear on his lips. 

Wolfwood’s eyebrow twitched as he refused to glance towards Vash, eyes staying perfectly straight towards the front of the line. “You know damn well it wasn’t like that, Blondie.” He tried to keep up the wounded act, but he couldn’t help but crack a smile, especially as he felt Vash step closer, as if the blond wanted to keep touching him. 

“I know, but it was still funny. Most people try to avoid that phrase when around me.” As they neared the front of the line, Vash sighed, removing himself from Wolfwood’s back to act as if they had some sense when in public. 

“Gee, I wonder why. I’ll bet it has more to do with that reaction than any worry of hurting your feelings.” Feeling Vash move away, Wolfwood had to stop himself from frowning, he hated to admit how much he enjoyed the close contact. 

Vash hummed, thinking for a moment. “Maybe. But I think they’ve forgotten it’s been almost two years. I’m learning to be okay.” He stepped forward to stand beside Wolfwood, looking at him and smiling, the brightness nearly taking the man’s breath away. “Thanks for not treating me like I’m broken. I think that’s why I like you.”

Wolfwood took a moment to process what Vash had said, knowing their window for the conversation was coming to a close as they nearly reached the counter. “You’re not broken. And there’s no baseline for ‘okay.’ You’re Vash and that’s enough.” 

The sales clerk signaled for them to move forward and Wolfwood said a ‘thank you’ to whatever higher power granted him the escape. He set the basket of books on the counter, watching as they bagged the books. Vash, having grown suspiciously quiet, moved to the counter and paid.

Internally, Vash was screaming and jumping for joy, externally, he had inadvertently shut down as he tried to stop himself from actually reacting as he paid for the books. He watched the way Wolfwood eyed him nervously, carefully grabbing the bag of books, unsure if Vash might try to steal them again. 

Once the two had exited the store and were able to stop by a bench, Vash reached out to grab Wolfwood’s wrist. The other man paused, glancing back to look at Vash, taking in the way the blond’s brows were knit together, as if he was trying to hold back some emotion. 

“Whoa. Hey, did I upset you?” Wolfwood asked, setting the books down on the bench so he could give Vash his full attention. 

Shaking his head, Vash squeezed Wolfwood’s wrist again, before taking a shaky breath. “No,” he answered, his voice small. “I’m really happy.” He smiled despite the tears that were shining in his eyes. “It’s overwhelming.”

Wolfwood nodded, seemingly understanding what was going on now. “Okay. That’s fine. What can I do?” 

Vash’s cheeks flushed as he stepped a little closer. He worried that he might overstep some boundary, but he felt safe and comfortable enough with Wolfwood that he hoped it would be okay to express what he needed. “Hug?” 

Watching Vash move, Wolfwood breathed a sigh of relief, before moving his arms to wrap around the blond, pulling him closer. “Damn it, Blondie, you had me worried there for a second,” he explained, voice soft next to Vash’s ear. 

Vash wrapped his right arm around Wolfwood, hand digging into the back of his shirt as his nose nuzzled into the man’s shoulder. He breathed deep, finding that he quite enjoyed the scent of whatever body wash Wolfwood used and how it mixed with the faint smell of smoke. Feeling comfortable, he didn’t explain why he felt he needed the hug; he simply let himself enjoy the moment. 

Wolfwood smiled softly, letting one of his hands move up so it could scratch lightly at the buzzed hair of Vash’s undercut. He wasn’t normally the type to be so intimate with someone he was still getting to know, saving the closeness for his brother or the kids at the orphanage, but things with Vash were different. He was easily pulled into the current that was Vash Saverem, but instead of drowning, he found that he was able to relax, something he rarely let himself do. 

Every moment he spent talking with Vash or sharing space with him, Wolfwood found his defenses weakening with every little thing that he learned about the blond. His heart picked up the pace whenever he saw Vash’s name on the caller ID, whenever he took a picture of Kuroneko to share with the blond, any time he even thought of Vash. He knew he was in far too deep to pull away and he felt that Vash might have let himself fall too far, as well. 

Vash clung to Wolfwood, turning his head so that he could nuzzle into the man’s neck, embarrassment causing a blush to light his face on fire. He was nervous with every move he made, afraid that it would finally be the one to make Wolfwood back away, or worse, push him away. But Wolfwood continued to surprise him by pressing just as close, or initiating a new point of contact. 

Vash had truly tried to keep things as only friends, knowing that was what Wolfwood had requested, but there was never going to be a reality in which Vash hadn’t fallen for the man. The realization was almost startling, but Vash simply took a breath, happily taking in the scent of the man that held him simply because he asked. 

Despite how content the two seemed, Wolfwood tugged on a blond spike, before pulling back just enough that he could look at Vash’s face, trying in vain to ignore how their noses were mere inches away from each other. “We should probably head to the theater,” he explained, eyes scanning Vash’s face, taking note of the pink in his cheeks. 

Vash licked his lips, eyes falling to Wolfwood’s own lips, before he finally brought himself to his senses and he stepped back. “Yeah. We don’t want to be late, Milly loves the previews and Meryl will be upset if we make her miss them.” He shivered as he felt Wolfwood’s hand trail from the back of his head and down to his shoulder. 

“Good to know, Spikey.” Finally, reluctantly, Wolfwood pulled back from Vash so that he could grab the bag of books they’d nearly forgotten on the bench. “Let’s get going.”

Feeling a little colder, Vash nodded, stepping away from Wolfwood to give them both some space. He waited a moment, watching Wolfwood’s feet for some signal that they were about to leave, but grew puzzled as he realized they weren’t moving. In the next moment, he felt Wolfwood’s fingers brush against the back of his hand, a clear offer. 

Vash lifted his eyes, trying to meet Wolfwood’s, before he realized the other man was looking away, a blush on his cheek. Grinning, Vash curled his fingers around Wolfwood’s, before their fingers interlaced. 

It was a little awkward, mostly due to the fact that he hadn’t considered wearing pants with belt loops so he would have a way to secure Knives’ leash without his hand. But the two made do, Wolfwood walking a little ahead so that Knives could take his spot next to Vash without interference. They made their way to the theater like that, hands clasped the entire time.

Chapter Text

Meryl stood outside of the theater, her foot tapping as she checked the time on her phone once again. If Vash and the new guy didn’t get there soon, she was resolved to abandon them so that Milly didn’t miss a single moment of the movie experience. It wasn’t often that Milly let herself do things without one of her family members tagging along, not that Meryl had an issue with that, but it was nice to actually have a date night. 

When Vash had called her to ask if he could invite a new friend, she was more than a little nervous. She knew that the Wolfwood guy had been kind to Vash, which she appreciated, but it was always nerve wracking trying to fold another person into their tight-knit group; they still had enough trouble letting Nai in when he actually wanted to hang out. 

“Meryl, just relax. They’ll make it. Vash always does,” Milly pointed out, placing her hands on Meryl’s shoulders and gently massaging them. 

Meryl instantly melted, smiling as she leaned back into Milly. “I guess you’re right,” she admitted, sighing. “I should have told him we’d pick them up so we knew they’d make it in time.”

“I’m sure Vash would appreciate the ride, but you can’t control everything, right? That’s what my cousin always says and I think she’s right.” 

“I can’t control everything,” Meryl repeats, smiling brighter as she felt Milly place a kiss to the top of her head. “You always make everything better. Thank you, Milly.” 

The taller woman laughed, blushing a little at the compliment. “I’m not doing anything special!” 

Meryl opened her eyes and turned a little so she could look at Milly properly, face earnest as she spoke. “You are, though! You’re special and important. Especially to me.” 

Milly waved her hand, trying to stop Meryl from complimenting her more. “Okay. Okay. You’re special and important to me, too.” Despite the blush in her cheeks, Milly smiled down at Meryl as if she were the whole world. 

“Uh. Hey, you two. Are we interrupting?” Vash asked, slowly approaching, nerves settling in his gut. As if he could sense the nerves the same way that Knives usually does, Wolfwood squeezed Vash’s hand, reminding him that he wasn’t alone. 

Meryl swung around to face Vash, her finger pointed directly into his face. “You’re running late! You’re lucky I already bought the tickets to save us time, because I knew you were going to do this.” 

Vash stepped behind Wolfwood, using the dog groomer as a shield from his oldest friend. “Ah, Meryl, sorry. We got caught up at the bookstore and then had to walk over here. I was watching the time, though. Why don’t you and Milly go get seated and we’ll get the snacks?” He offered, hoping that the compromise would be enough to calm her. 

“Hello!” Milly said, cheerfully, as she pulled Meryl back, saving Vash and his friend. 

Vash peaked around Wolfwood, waving his stump at Milly. “Hello!” He happily replied in their usual greeting. 

As if just realizing it was occupied, Milly looked down to Vash’s right hand where it was still firmly curled in Wolfwood’s own hand. Without commenting, she looked back up to Vash and smiled sweetly. “Are you going to introduce us to your friend, Vash?” 

The mention of Wolfwood seemed to bring Meryl back to her senses as she looked the man over, her eyes instantly narrowing at the way his hand was wrapped around Vash’s own. “Hmm. Yeah, Vash, it’s kind of rude not to introduce your friends to… your friend?” She hesitated on purpose, knowing that it would get Vash flustered. 

Right on cue, Vash blushed and tugged his hand from Wolfwood’s, mostly so that he could save the other man from the sweat that began to make his hand clammy. “Oh, yeah! This is Wolfwood, sorry, Nicholas Wolfwood.” He corrected himself, realizing it was proper to give Wolfwood’s first name, even if he rarely used it himself. 

Left hand free now, Wolfwood waved at the girl’s, bemused from the antics he witnessed upon their arrival. He didn’t really have an idea of what Vash’s friends might be like, but he was starting to think he might like them. The tall girl seemed kind and like she kept the short one on a leash when needed, while the short one seemed like she would be fun to tease. 

“Hey,” he said, keeping it simple since Vash did the introduction for him. 

“Hi, there, Mr. Wolfwood!” Milly said, leaning forward to offer her hand, which he gladly shook. “I’m Milly Thompson and this is my girlfriend, Meryl Stryfe!”

Wolfwood was instantly charmed from the introduction, but more so as they shook hands and he felt her strong grip. “Nice to meet you Milly and Meryl.” 

Meryl squinted at Wolfwood, sizing him up, before offering her own hand and shaking it more aggressively, as if she had something to prove. “So. What are your intentions with Vash?” 

Wolfwood blinked, having not expected her to so bluntly ask him something like that during their first meeting. “Uh…” 

Vash stepped forward, blocking Wolfwood from her now. “Leave him alone. He’s my friend and you’re not my mom.” His tone left no room for argument, something that he usually didn’t use with Meryl, but he didn’t want to have her scaring Wolfwood away. 

Suspicious, Meryl glared at Vash, before finally handing him two tickets. “The seat numbers are on the tickets. I want a cherry slush and Milly wants a lemonade and twizzlers. I reserve the right to steal your popcorn whenever I want.” With that, she headed towards the door. 

“Sorry about that, she’s really protective of Vash,” Milly explained, smiling kindly at Wolfwood. “We’ll see you in the theater!” She quickly followed Meryl, happy to see that they still had five minutes before the previews started. 

Stunned, Wolfwood let out a little chuckle. “Your friends are-” 

He didn’t have a chance to finish the statement as Vash groaned, cutting him off. “They’re stupidly protective. I told her to be cool and just say hi!” Vash frowned, clearly agitated from the conversation. 

“Blondie, you have good friends that care about you.” Wolfwood stepped closer, gently encircling his hand around Vash’s wrist. “They’re allowed to be wary of me. We just met, right?”

Sighing, Vash seemed to calm down, the agitation in his face clearing. “It’s been almost a month,” he muttered, as if that really made much of a difference in the grand scheme of things. 

“But they don’t know me. I’m the same way with Livio’s friends.” 

Puffing his cheeks out, successfully calmed down but now annoyed that Wolfwood was right, Vash let out a long sigh. “Fine. Maybe you’re right.” 

Wolfwood gently tugged on Vash’s wrist. “Come on, you promised the girls that we were getting the snacks. Don’t want the short one to beat me up,” he half teased, having no doubt that Meryl would be willing to throw hands over the missed snacks. 

Shaking his head and chuckling, Vash let Wolfwood lead him into the lobby, Knives following dutifully so he could block anyone from getting too close to Vash. “Don’t ever let her hear you call her short. She actually might try to beat you up if Milly doesn’t have a chance to hold her back.”

“Somehow, I don’t doubt that,” he said, moving closer to the concessions. “So, we have the girls' order, and I assume you want the tub of popcorn, right? But what else do you want?”

Vash grinned, glad that Wolfwood had figured out part of his order. “Obviously we have to get peanut m&m’s right? If you hate salty and sweet, I think this friendship is going to fail.” He was teasing, he knew there wasn’t going to be much that would count as a true deal breaker at this point. 

“I actually prefer Reese's pieces, but I’m willing to settle on peanut m&m’s in the popcorn,” Wolfwood said, acting as if it were the biggest sacrifice. 

Laughing, Vash lightly knocked his shoulder into Wolfwood, enjoying the casual touches they had begun. “Thank you for the sacrifice.” 

They got to the counter and Wolfwood ordered everything, Vash only taking control when he was giving his order for a cherry coke slush. As Vash was about to pull out his wallet, Wolfwood beat him to the chase, giving the cashier his card and paying for everything. 

“Hey! I was paying,” Vash pouted, not happy that Wolfwood had managed to pay first. 

“You can pay next time,” Wolfwood told him, gathering as many of the snacks as he could, considering Vash was pretty focused on carrying the popcorn in his one hand. “Besides, shorty,” he paused, taking in the look from Vash, “ Meryl , paid for the tickets. I have to pay her back and make it even.” 

Vash sighed, rolling his eyes a little. “You get used to it. We don’t really focus on making it even. Sometimes I’ll pay, sometimes Meryl or Milly. We just help each other out.”

Wolfwood smiled, pleased that it seemed Vash was confident he’d be around enough to get used to how they do things. “Alright. No use in arguing with you,” he teased, earning a laugh from Vash. 

They made their way into the theater just as the lights dimmed, making it a little more difficult to find their seats. Luckily, Milly seemed to be looking around, waiting to see them. She waved her arm so they were able to easily make their way down the rows.

“You’re pretty handy, tall girl,” Wolfwood whispered, carefully distributing her lemonade and Meryl’s cherry slush. “And finally the twizzlers,” he said, smiling at the way Milly quietly clapped before accepting them. 

“Thank you, Mr. Wolfwood!” She happily said, before shrinking down, realizing she was a little loud. 

“You really don’t have to call me mister,” he said, chuckling at her antics. 

“But Vash always calls you Wolfwood, so I just figured you liked going by your last time.” Her face was the picture of innocence and Wolfwood could not help but to enjoy her company, almost wishing they were sitting next to each other, rather than separated by the other two. 

“Well, we’re still getting to know each other. I just figured Spikey was being respectful,” he commented, making his way down the row to sit on the right of Vash. 

Meryl snorted as he passed by her and Vash, causing him to raise an eyebrow in confusion. “Oh, nothing. Don’t mind me,” she replied, pretending to be innocent, despite Vash leaning over to pinch her arm. 

In the quick movement, Vash nearly knocked his popcorn over, though it was easily saved by Wolfwood, who took possession of the tub so he could open the peanut m&m’s and dump half of them in, shaking the tub so everything was evenly distributed. Realizing what Wolfwood had done, Vash turned to him and smiled, the edges of his eyes crinkling. 

Finally settled, Vash reclined the seat, letting Knives lay down under the seat so he would be out of the way of any other movie goer. He took the popcorn back from Wolfwood, before nestling it into his lap, his left arm stump helping to stabilize it so he could eat properly. 

Smiling, Wolfwood reclined back, occasionally stealing a handful of popcorn from Vash. He felt as if they were living some romantic comedy cliche when their fingers would occasionally brush when they both reached for popcorn at the same time. 

Unbeknownst to the two of them, Milly and Meryl would each glance towards the pair, before turning to look at each other with a grin. They had both known that Vash’s feelings for Wolfwood were growing with each conversation, the man wore his heart on his sleeve for all to see, after all. But seeing the two interact in person, they could confirm that it seemed Wolfwood was sharing the same feelings. 

Although Meryl was still feeling wary of the newcomer, she couldn’t deny the fact that Wolfwood seemed to care for Vash. Most importantly, she could tell that he respected Vash’s agency and boundaries, something that was extremely important in her eyes. Whereas Nai wanted to protect Vash from the world and everyone in it, Meryl just wanted to protect his heart from the people who might try to take advantage of his loving and kind nature. At the end of the day, Meryl knew that Vash could take care of himself and had proven that he was more than capable of learning new ways to do that after the accident. 

Milly reached over, taking Meryl’s hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it. As usual, she seemed to sense that Meryl was growing emotional and held the woman’s hand in her lap, helping to ground her. 

Seeing how Vash seemed to open up so easily in front of someone new, Meryl knew that he was truly letting himself heal finally and that made her heart sing with joy. 

Taking another glance to her right, she smiled, watching as Vash’s head seemed to lull from side to side, a telltale sign that he was drifting off fast. Wolfwood seemed to notice the same thing as he turned to smile at Vash, a fondness clear in his features. 

Wolfwood gently reached forward, guiding Vash’s head to rest against his shoulder, the spiky blond hair pressing up against his cheek as he leaned his own cheek on Vash’s head. He was sure that Vash would prefer to be woken so that he could finish the movie, but he realized the man had likely worn himself out between walking around the bookstore and then walking to the theater. He figured if Vash got upset about missing most of the movie, they could always rent it to watch later. 

With a stutter of his heart, Wolfwood realized he had already begun mentally making plans for both him and Vash in the future. It wasn’t something he was used to, accounting for a new person so quickly in his life, but he knew that there wasn’t much that would stop him from including Vash in his future plans. 

Somehow, despite the walls that he tried to keep up, Vash had nestled his way into Wolfwood’s life and made a place for himself. Wolfwood couldn’t even pretend to be upset at the thought. Instead, he figured it would be easier to give in to the impulse; he was a goner either way. 

Eventually, the movie ended, the credits playing as Vash lightly snored against Wolfwood’s shoulder. Meryl, having seen the way Vash fell asleep, turned in her seat and smiled a moment, before it turned into a concerned frown.  “Milly. We’re going to have to wake Vash up.”

Wolfwood, confused about the change in her face, furrowed his brows, hoping that she would pick up on the question. 

“Oh, dear. But he doesn’t seem to be having a nightmare,” Milly pointed out, looking Vash over as he slept against Wolfwood. 

Meryl quietly stood up, clicking her tongue once so Knives would move to stand next to her. “Wolfwood, stay still, okay? Sometimes he wakes up and it’s not a problem, sometimes his fight or flight kicks in.” 

Wolfwood gave the slightest nod of his head, realizing why she was so concerned with having to wake Vash up. He figured there was some sort of PTSD, considering some of the tasks that Knives had, so it made sense that he might react badly to being woken up. “If he fights me, it’s okay. I just don’t want him to hurt himself.”

Meryl carefully took the leash and popcorn from Vash, making sure he had less of a trip hazard if he decided he needed to run. She hoped things would be fine, but it was always easier to err on the side of caution. She hated that she had been so caught up thinking it was sweet that Vash trusted Wolfwood enough to rest on him, that she didn’t think to keep him awake like he usually asked of her. 

“Meryl, I think Mr. Wolfwood might have it handled, why don’t we move just in case?” Milly whispered, her hands rested on Meryl’s waist as she guided her out of the aisle. 

Wolfwood carefully moved so he could take Vash’s right hand in his left, gently squeezing the fingers there. “Hey, Blondie. The movie’s over, sleeping beauty.” He kept his voice low and even, not wanting to raise any alarms, though he couldn’t know what might trigger an attack. 

Tapping his fingertips against the back of Vash’s hand, Wolfwood continued the motions as he noticed Vash’s hand start to move. “It’s time to go, Vash.” As Wolfwood whispered again, Vash tightened his grip on his hand, squeezing tightly as his eyes flew open and he looked around the emptying theater, confusion clear on his face. 

Wolfwood kept Vash’s hand in his, but made sure it was loose enough that the blond would be able to slip free safely. “Hey, sleeping beauty. How was your nap?” He smiled softly,  hoping it would be enough to get Vash’s attention. 

Confused, heart racing, Vash looked around again, before his attention was called back to Wolfwood. Blinking, Vash easily pulled his hand free from the other man’s, placing it on his chest as he took in a breath. “I fell asleep?” 

While it didn’t seem that Vash was actually asking Wolfwood a question, but rather was making a confused statement, he decided to go with it. “Yep. Barely made it through an hour. You didn’t miss much, though.” He twisted in the seat so that he could keep watching Vash, hoping that he would be a good distraction from the panic that was seeming to rise. 

“Hey, Vash. What’s going on in your head?” He didn’t know if it would help to have Vash talk things through, but he figured it was better than leaving him in a blind panic. Livio’s therapist had always explained it to him that way, at least. 

Vash took in a deep breath, before pressing his lips together, mashing them between his teeth as he thought. “I slept,” he repeated, trying to gather his thoughts. “I don’t like doing that…” He paused, brows furrowing as he tried to get the thought out. “In public.” He finished, breathing in deeply through his nose. 

Wolfwood nodded, sitting patiently. “Okay. I know that for next time,” he said, hoping that would at least help validate Vash’s fears. “Do you want to lay down and have Knives do therapy?” He knew it might be too fast to get Vash to move or think with a rational thought like that, but he figured it was worth a try. 

Closing his eyes, Vash shook his head. The panic was starting to calm down a little, he just had to focus on getting his body to move. He knew the time frame between movies ending was limited, so he just had to make himself move. 

“Okay. No therapy,” Wolfwood said, glancing back at where the girl’s had been, before realizing it was just Meryl at the end of the aisle, watching carefully. “I’m going to ask you a few yes or no questions, if you can, just move your head. If that’s too much, that’s okay, too.” 

Vash kept his eyes closed, his brain repeating Wolfwood’s words back to him as he tried to calm down. After a moment, he gave a short nod of his head. 

“Alright.” Wolfwood smiled, happy that Vash was able to still communicate a little. “Do you want Meryl to come talk to you?”

Vash shook his head. He hated that Meryl had seen him come out of panic attacks as much as she had, he didn’t want her to be part of another one. 

“Okay. You’re stuck with me then,” Wolfwood teased, keeping his tone light, making sure it was no different from earlier in the evening. “Are you okay with being touched?”

Vash thought about it, brows furrowed deeply as he did so. After weighing the pros and cons in his head, he gave a short nod. Being touched meant a hug or something that might ground him, he realized he probably should have said yes earlier to having Knives do deep pressure therapy. 

“I’m going to take your hand, okay?” Wolfwood waited until he saw another nod from Vash, before gently taking his hand, again, feeling the way the blond tightly grasped his fingers. “We don’t have to go anywhere,” Wolfwood told him, his thumb rubbing along the back of Vash’s hand. “But I’d like you to try opening your eyes again, if you can.” 

Vash shook his head, not sure how he could explain why that wasn’t going to work for him, before remembering that Wolfwood told him he didn’t have to speak. 

“Okay. I get that,” Wolfwood’s even voice came, as if he was talking about the weather, rather than bringing someone out of a panic attack. “But I think you’ll feel a little better if you know it’s just me, you, Meryl and Knives. It’s just people that care about you, right now. The strangers are gone.” 

Vash squeezed Wolfwood’s hand again, before nodding. It did help to know that there weren’t strangers staring at him, gawking with wide mouths as he panicked. 

“You’re safe, Vash,” Wolfwood whispered, leaning just a little closer, but still allowing him some space. Suddenly, as if Vash came to that conclusion as well, he opened his eyes, light blue shining with unshed tears. “Hey, there.” Wolfwood smiled, happy to see Vash back, even if he could tell the blond was still frightened, could feel the way his hand was shaking. 

Licking his lips, Vash nodded, before forcing himself to speak softly. “Hi.” His voice was raspy, the panic attack clearly taking a lot out of him. 

“You want some of my water?” Wolfwood asked, figuring Vash’s mouth had likely gone dry as the adrenaline took over. Once he received a nod, Wolfwood turned to unscrew the bottle with one hand, before offering it to Vash. 

After a moment of watching Vash glance from the water down to their hands, reluctant to pull away, Wolfwood grabbed Vash’s straw from his slush and put it in the water, making it easier for him to eagerly drink. Once Vash had his fill, he took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, before leaning back, bringing some movement back to his limbs. 

“There you go, good as new,” Wolfwood announced, smiling as relief began to fill him. He hated that Vash had to go through the panic attack at all, but he was glad the man seemed to come out of it without blind panic taking over to cause him to fight his way out of the theater. 

“Mm,” Vash hummed, noncommittally. He was frustrated with himself, annoyed that he’d gone semi-mute during the episode, more so that he even had an episode. He frowned, disappointed with how he ruined the get together, as well as Milly and Meryl’s date. 

“Alright, Blondie. Stop making that face,” Wolfwood interjected, the soft tone gone and replaced with something firmer. “We had a good time tonight. At least, I did. Can’t speak for the girl’s, but they seemed pretty lovey dovey during the movie.” 

Vash furrowed his brows, hoping the question was clear in the tilt of his head. He wanted to know what Wolfwood was going on about. 

“You’re making the same face as when we left the mall. The ‘I think I messed things up so I’m going to pout like the golden retriever I am’,” Wolfwood told him, watching as Vash’s mouth dropped. “I’m right, aren’t I?” He didn’t even give Vash a chance to nod his head. 

“You’re enough,” he repeated, knowing that was what made Vash happy to hear before. “All of you is enough, Vash. When you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you can’t talk. You’re enough.” 

Vash looked to Wolfwood, sniffling as the emotions seemed to settle in from everything that had happened. Tears welled in his eyes, before dripping down his face in heavy streams. Without asking, Wolfwood wrapped his arm around Vash, the other hand still tightly clasped in Vash’s own hand. 

Meryl, having watched the scene, rushed forward, wrapping her own arms around Vash’s back, cradling the man as he let the emotions from the aftershocks take over. 

The trio stayed that way, letting Vash get everything out as they held him tightly. 

That was how Milly found them a few minutes later, having gone to talk to the manager so that they could hold the theater for a minor medical intervention. It had taken several minutes to convince the manager that it didn’t require an ambulance, but eventually they gave in, likely to the kind, but stern way Milly put her foot down. 

As she approached, Milly made her way into the huddle, pressing a kiss to the top of Vash’s head, causing him to break out into a laugh, the sadness clearly giving way to some happiness. 

“There you are, Vash,” Milly happily announced. “Now, when you get ready, I moved the car to the emergency exit and got permission from the manager to leave that way. No rush though!”

Pulling back, Meryl gently rubbed Vash’s back, relieved that he was able to laugh now after the emotional turmoil. It had taken them a while to figure out what worked best when a meltdown combined with a panic attack left Vash unable to express what he was feeling, inevitably leaving him feeling helpless. She was actually sort of impressed with Wolfwood, though she would not admit that to his face. 

Wolfwood was the last to pull back from the hug, though he did so with a smile which he only directed to Vash. Vash, seemingly lighter after the ordeal, smiled brightly towards Wolfwood. “There you go. That’s the smile I like to see.”

Vash, not quite expecting that comment, blushed and looked away, the smile still playing on his lips. 

“If you’re up to it, I can help you to the car?” Wolfwood asked, standing up slowly and letting himself stretch out, the stiffness settling in from sitting so long. 

Nodding, Vash carefully stood up, using the seat to keep his balance as he tested the prosthetic leg. After he’d been sitting a while, it took a minute to reacclimate to walking on the leg. Wolfwood, to his credit, simply observed, making sure Vash had things handled. 

Once he was standing, Vash grabbed Knives’ leash from Meryl, the dog happily licking his hand, as if he was pleased to have Vash back as well. Vash reached into his pocket, taking some treats out to give to Knives for letting Meryl watch after him. He knew that Meryl moved Knives to make sure he didn’t become a trip hazard, it was their general plan when he had an episode after falling asleep unexpectedly. 

“Alright, Needle Noggin, let’s get out of here,” Wolfwood said, leading him down the row so they could head towards the exit that Milly held open. Not wanting to be overly helpful to the point that he was in the way, Wolfwood simply placed a hand on Vash’s back, making sure he was close in case the man lost his balance. 

Vash carefully made his way out of the theater, breathing in deeply once he was in the open air. He sighed heavily, happy to hear sounds coming from his throat. While he didn’t quite feel comfortable using his voice more yet, he was okay with that now, knowing his friends and Wolfwood understood. 

“Wolfwood, would you like us to give you a ride?” Meryl asked, feeling a little more cordial now that she knew he was a safe person for Vash to be around. Of course she had heard how well he handled things at the mall, but it was different seeing it in person. 

“Nah. I appreciate it, but I’m parked at the bookstore, so it’s not a long walk.” 

Nodding, Meryl turned to head to the van. “We’ll be ready when you are, Vash.” She patted the blond’s shoulder, before heading to the driver’s side. 

“See you next time, Mr. Wolfwood!” Milly cheerily announced, before following Meryl. 

Finally alone, Vash looked to Wolfwood, wishing he could express how grateful he was for everything and how, despite the bad parts, he still had a good time overall. Speech tended to be an issue after a meltdown, leaving him nonverbal, though. He understood that Wolfwood had picked up on that, but it hurt his heart not being able to verbalize his thoughts at that moment. 

Wolfwood, seemingly picking up on the distress, stepped forward, his left hand taking Vash’s right, again. “Text me when you get home. It can be a picture of Knives in his bed if you need it to be, okay?”

Vash smiled, nodding, glad that Wolfwood was able to find an easy compromise once again. He squeezed the hand again, sure that Wolfwood would grow tired of it, but wanting to enjoy the feeling as long as he was able to have it. 

“I’ll text you when I get home, too. If you’re up to it later, call me. Even if we don’t talk, it’s nice just having you on the phone,” Wolfwood admitted, a little blush dusting his cheeks. 

Vash bounced happily on his left leg, swinging their joined hands in an act of joy. He hoped it conveyed how happy he was that Wolfwood just liked having him nearby. 

“Have a good night, Blondie.” He smiled, enjoying the little bursts of happiness from Vash. 

The blond nodded, before tugging on Wolfwood’s hand, getting the man to pause in his exit. Gathering the courage he found, Vash leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Wolfwood’s cheek, before he let go of the man’s hand and scrambled to climb into the van, Knives jumping in after him. 

Wolfwood, stunned, raised his left hand to rest over the kiss mark, warmth flooding his senses as he watched the van pull away, Vash flailing in the back as Meryl cackled. 

He practically floated all the way back to the bookstore, glad for the cool night air to calm his senses before he made his way back home. 

Chapter Text

Wolfwood looked at his appointments, wondering why he was suddenly out of clients, his last dog having already been picked up. Scanning the day, he realized that the client that was scheduled next ended up canceling, leaving him without clients. Chewing his lip, he tapped his fingers against the counter, deciding what he should do.

Normally, he would just stick around, hoping for someone to call for a last minute appointment, or even walk in, like a certain spikey haired man did a few weeks ago. Usually, Wolfwood wouldn’t have a problem waiting around, deciding that it was better to potentially make more money, but as he glanced outside, he realized he wanted nothing more than to spend his time in the spring air. Glancing back at the appointments, Wolfwood realized Zazie was also on their last client. 

“Yo. How much trouble do you think we’ll get in if we close up after your client picks up?” He raised a brow, though he knew Zazie was more than likely going to be on his side. 

They hummed, debating for a minute if it was worth the time to call Elendira. “We’ve only got like… two hours left, right?”

Wolfwood sighed, thinking that was the end of the statement. Zazie rolled their eyes and threw a wad of cotton at him. “Stop moping and text her. I bet she’ll be fine with it because it means she won’t have to pay us hourly.”

Grinning, Wolfwood picked the used cotton up and threw it away. “Gross, Zazie.” With that minor task completed, Wolfwood walked to the back office to call Elendira. 

The line rang a few times, before she picked up. “Yes, Nicholas? What can I do for you?” She was straight to the point as usual, which he appreciated.

“Zazie is on their last client and mine canceled. Once we finish cleaning, can we go?”

Elendira sighed, before pausing, leaving Wolfwood a little nervous. “How often do you have walk-ins?”

“We’re usually overbooked so we have to schedule people for another time.” He didn’t love where this conversation seemed to be going. It wasn’t exactly that he had something to do, but he figured anything was better than hoping for a new client to walk in.

“The salon has to be spotless, but then you can leave. Tell Zazie the same so you’re both held accountable. If I make a surprise visit, I don’t want to see a thing out of place.”

“Yeah, I got it. Thanks, boss.”

“You’re welcome, Nicholas. I have to get back to this doodle now. Ciao.”

Once Elendira was off the phone, Wolfwood scrolled to his next recent call, ‘Vash Blondie.’ He didn’t know when Vash became his go-to person, but he couldn’t pretend to be upset. Even on the days that were harder for them to communicate, Wolfwood enjoyed the time they spent together. 

Checking the time, Wolfwood made sure Vash wasn’t in class, having recently found out that he was still in school. Once he was sure Vash wouldn’t be at school, he called the blond, hoping he was in a chatty mood, but knowing he would text back if not.

“Wolfwood?” Vash answered, confusion clear in his voice as he realized the man was still at work. 

“What, Spikey? I can’t just call my friend in the middle of the day?” he teased, warmth flooding his chest as he heard Vash on the other end of the line.

“You can always call me, I thought we established that.” Vash was sincere in his tone, clearly wanting to remind Wolfwood of that fact, hoping the man would follow through more often. 

“We did,” Wolfwood agreed, making his way to the laundry facility so he could start the last load of towels. “But I’m actually calling for a reason.”

“You’re at work, is this an official call? Are you canceling Knives’ appointment next week?” Vash tried to play the questions off like he was joking, but Wolfwood could hear the tinge of anxiety that quickly crept into his voice. 

“Hey,” he told him, voice stern, but kind. “Vash, if I was canceling or doing anything work related, I would use the work cell. Okay? I’m not leaving you hanging.”

Vash let out a sigh, before chuckling nervously. “Sor- I should have let you speak. I just assumed the worst.”

Wolfwood smiled, proud that Vash was communicating his thoughts without immediately apologizing. “You’re okay, Blondie. I was actually calling to see if you were going to be available in the next thirty minutes?”

“Oh? Available for what?” The curiosity was clear in his voice. 

“To hang out,” Wolfwood announced, as if this was something that happened every day. “I find myself with no clients for the rest of the day and the boss lady said we could leave.” He chuckled as he heard Zazie let out a ‘woo’ of delight, causing the terrier on their table to bark back. 

“Wait, seriously? Like you’re not messing with me?” Vash asked, excitement rising in his voice. 

“You know I’d never do that to you,” he said, voice soft and fond. 

“Yeah, I know. I trust you, Wolfwood,” Vash told him, smiling. “So. What were you wanting to do?”

Wolfwood walked back to his station, starting to clear things up. “Well, if you wanted to meet me here, we could grab some ice cream and then head to my place.”

Vash hummed, butterflies growing in his stomach. “Are you willing to pick ice cream up and bring it to me?” He asked, feeling nervous as he tried to make an amendment to the plans.

“Oh, right. It was a hard day of walking,” Wolfwood said, realizing the issue. “I’m not set on any plans, Spikey. Send me your ice cream order and your address.” 

“You’re the best, Nick,” Vash said, smiling brightly as he started cleaning up the living room now that he was expecting company. 

“I know, you’re honestly really lucky to have me.” The teasing had come easy between the two, a give and take. 

“You say that, but I really am.” Vash hadn’t intended to say it out loud, but he knew he couldn’t take it back now that it was hanging in the air.

Wolfwood hesitated, feeling a little awkward and exposed having such a heavy conversation while at work, Zazie right behind him cleaning the dog’s ears. “I’m lucky, too,” he admitted, before clearing his throat and moving on. 

“Don’t forget to send your address, Blondie. And an actual address, I’m not following any confusing directions,” he said, knowing Vash was terrible at navigating.

Vash was grateful for the quick change in subject, because his breath had caught in his throat and he was having a hard time collecting his thoughts. “Yeah. Of course. I’ll do that now. See you soon, Wolfwood.” 

“Bye, Blondie.” Wolfwood hung the phone up, before making sure the kennels were cleaned out.

“Was that your boyfriend?” Zazie asked, raising an eyebrow as they sprayed doggy cologne on the dog and walked it to its kennel.

Wolfwood hesitated, unsure how to answer. Before, he would have assured anyone that Vash was just a friend, but at some point he stopped making the distinction. He knew he had feelings for the man, but didn’t know if it would be worth messing up the friendship they’d built so far.

Zazie closed the door to the kennel, pulling their work phone out so they could text the owner. “Cat got your tongue, Nicholas?”

Exhaling sharply, Wolfwood quickly moved through the salon, cleaning as he went. “His name is Vash.” Once the words came out, Wolfwood realized what he was implying, but before he could correct himself, Zazie latched onto the information.

“Wow. Someone’s feeling open,” they teased, sweeping any residual fur around the salon. “It took me six months to even learn your brother’s name.”

“Yeah, well, I’m in a hurry.”

Zazie grinned wide, their teeth showing. “To get to your lover boy,” they sang out, using the broom handle as a microphone. 

“Pipe down and keep cleaning.” 

The two stared at each other, both realizing that Wolfwood wasn’t denying any of the claims. 

Whistling, Zazie made their way to the tub to clean it out. “You’ve got it bad, Nicholas D Wolfwood. Luckily, I’m feeling generous. You go ahead and get your ice cream for your lover boy; I’ll finish cleaning up since this is my mess anyway.”

Wolfwood regarded Zazie carefully, trying to decipher if it would be safe to take them up on the offer. Impatience winning out, Wolfwood grabbed his things. “Thanks, Zazie,” he said, before leaving, ignoring the maniacal laughter as he exited the shop. 

-

Parking in front of the apartment building that matched Vash’s pinned address, Wolfwood let out a low whistle. When he had been apartment hunting, he had seen the price of these units and had immediately abandoned all hope of being able to afford one. Deciding that it wasn’t really any of his business, Wolfwood let that thought leave his head as he grabbed the bag of ice cream from the compartment on his bike and moved towards the door.

Before he had a chance to get within 10 feet of the door, Vash was swinging the door open, grinning at Wolfwood like he was the best thing he’d seen in months. “Hey! You found it!” Vash shouted happily from the doorway. 

Taking a glance, Wolfwood noted the crutch under Vash’s arm, all prosthetics removed, presumably in favor of relaxing if the sweats and hoodie were any indication. “It wasn’t too hard to find,” he told him, walking in as Vash stepped aside for him. 

“That’s good. Wanna eat in the living room? I can find a show or something.” Vash headed towards the beige couch, slapping the back of it to show how plush it was. “It’s really comfy.” 

Wolfwood rolled his eyes affectionately, before following him, waving to Knives who was lounging in his dog bed. “Sounds good to me. I have spoons and napkins in the bag.” 

“Knives is off duty if you want to give him some love, by the way. But he will definitely beg for your ice cream.” With that comment, Vash set the crutch against the side of the couch before flopping down in his spot.

Sitting next to him, Wolfwood pulled out the two ice cream cups from the bag, taking the top off of Vash’s and adding the spoon, before handing it to him. “I almost got him a kids cup of whipped cream, but I figured it’d be soup by the time I got here.” 

“Aw, he would have loved that. I’ll let you give him a treat later to make it up to him.” Vash accepted the ice cream cup with glee, settling it between his thighs so that he could dig in. “Oh man. Mint chip is the best!” 

Wolfwood crinkled his nose, unable to hide his disgust. “You are the weirdest man I’ve ever met.” 

“I’m weird because I like mint chip?!” Vash asked, the spoon still in his mouth. 

“Well… You’re weird for a lot of reasons, but that’s definitely the icing on the cake.” 

Vash pointed the spoon at Wolfwood, accusatorily. “I invite you into my home and you insult me? Oh, jail for Wolfwood! A thousand years jail for Wolfwood!” 

Wolfwood laughed at the theatrics, enjoying the way Vash acted when he was comfortable and in his own environment. “No jail could hold me,” he said, confidently. 

“Yeah, yeah. Well, what ice cream did Mr. Tough Guy get?” Vash asked, trying to look into Wolfwood’s cup. 

Sticking his tongue out, Wolfwood pulled the cup away. “It’s actually pineapple whip, if you must know,” he said, taking a bite and smiling.

Narrowing his eyes, Vash went back to eating his ice cream in earnest. “You win this round, because that’s a solid choice and I wish I’d known they had that.” 

“Do you want a bite?” The question left his lips before he had a chance to think. 

Vash hesitated for a second, before giving him a little smirk. “Gonna feed it to me?” 

Wolfwood was thankful for the teasing question, even though he had to admit it was a charming one. “If you can say please.”

Humming, Vash closed his eyes and pretended that it was the most difficult thing in the world. Eventually, he opened his eyes and gave Wolfwood the widest puppy dog eyes he could manage. “Please, Nicholas?” 

Wolfwood hated that he had to repress a groan. Somewhere along the way he’d lost all hopes of keeping things platonic with Vash and here he was about to share ice cream with the guy like they were a couple of teens. “Fine!” He gathered up a healthy bite on his spoon, before offering it to Vash. 

The blond’s eyebrows shot up as he realized Wolfwood had given in to his ridiculous request without a second thought. “Oh,” he mumbled, before leaning in a little to take the bite from the spoon and pulling back to his own space. 

Embarrassed, Wolfwood dug the spoon back into the whip, before almost angrily shoving it into his own mouth, trying not to think about words like ‘indirect’ or ‘kiss’. He felt like such a love-smitten fool. 

Blinking, Vash retreated to his own corner, the taste of pineapple still lingering on his lips. Subconsciously, his tongue darted out to lick the flavor away, as his mind wandered to how it might taste coming from someone else’s lips. 

The two sat quietly, the thought of watching a show abandoned as they mechanically ate their ice cream, each wondering how the other would taste. 

Eventually, the ice cream ran out and they knew one of them was going to have to break the tension. 

Sighing, Wolfwood reached over to take the trash from Vash, stuffing it all in the bag. “So, want to tell me where I should throw this away?”

Turning to face him, Vash smiled, glad that Wolfwood was willing to break the silence first. “I could give you a little tour? It’s not a big place so it won’t take long.” 

“A tour sounds good, Spikey.” He stood up, trash in hand as he waited patiently for Vash to help himself up and grab the crutch.

 The blond easily made his way towards the open door on the left of the living room, showing a spacious kitchen with stone counters. “Trash can is at the end of that counter,” Vash explained, pointing with his left arm’s stump. 

Wolfwood quickly deposited the garbage into the trash, before following Vash back out into the living room. From there, they turned to the right towards a small hallway. The bathroom was easily identified down the hall, as the door was open. 

“Door on the right is my brother’s room. My room is on the left,” Vash told him, moving forward so he could push the door to his room open and walk in. 

“It’s nice,” Wolfwood said, following him so he could look around. The bed was messy but the desk was tidy and it was obvious that Vash took care to keep the walking path clear. It felt homey and very much like what he expected Vash’s room to look like. 

In the corner, next to the bed, Wolfwood’s eyes landed on the wheelchair, Vash’s backpack sitting on it. Vash followed his eyes and laughed, nervous for some reason, as he tried to step in front of Wolfwood’s gaze.

“Why are you being so cagey, Needle Noggin?” Wolfwood asked, genuinely curious. 

“Well… I don’t know.” Vash furrowed his brows, trying to think of how he could explain it. Wolfwood waited patiently, keeping his eyes on the blond. “I guess, I usually expect people to see the chair and see me differently?” It came out as a question, because he wasn’t sure if that was the right way to verbalize what he was feeling. 

“You’re not going to sleep in the prosthetics and grabbing the crutch in the middle of the night seems impractical. I don’t have to be told that,” Wolfwood replied, shrugging his shoulders. “Besides, this is the only way I’ve known you. I kind of know what to expect.” 

The wrinkles of worry on Vash’s face instantly smoothed, a golden smile lighting up his face. “Well, yeah. But some people really think that. I tried at first. Nai just about lost his shit.” 

“I’m not surprised. That even sounds painful,” he winced as he thought about it. “I’m glad you don’t feel like you have to wear them just because I’m around.” 

Vash nodded, sitting down on his bed, giving himself a break. “I almost did, but I just kind of knew you weren’t going to… I guess, judge me.” 

Wolfwood knelt in front of Vash, mostly so that he couldn’t let the blond hide from him. “Why would I judge you for being comfortable in your own house?”

The smile on Vash’s lips morphed into something sad. “I don’t know. I’m not trying to be self pitying or something, because I really do have it good. I’m lucky to be alive…” He cut himself off, teeth biting into his lower lip. 

Wolfwood waited a moment, wondering if Vash might continue his statement. When it became clear that he wasn’t going to without some prompting, he moved up to sit on the bed beside Vash, taking his hand in both of his. “You can have something happen to you and still be upset that it happened.”

Vash took in a shaky breath, his fingers intertwining with Wolfwood’s, his eyes focusing on their hands. “I guess, but… sometimes it doesn’t feel right. I’m here and Rem… My mom, isn’t.”

Nodding, Wolfwood gently squeezed his hand, hoping it would help to keep Vash a little grounded. “You don’t have to tell me what happened if you don’t want to, Vash. But I’ll listen if you ever want to tell me.” 

Vash turned to look towards Wolfwood, tears in his eyes. “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you… it’s not you.”

“But it hurts,” Wolfwood finished for him, moving the hand that wasn’t fully intertwined with Vash’s to gently cup his cheek, the blond instantly leaning into the touch. 

“Yeah,” was the soft reply, a teardrop falling onto Wolfwood’s hand.

Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to Vash’s forehead, his heart clenching at the clear pain behind his eyes. “Thanks for opening up to me.” 

The watery laugh escaped Vash’s lips, his forehead chasing Wolfwood’s lips, enjoying the soft touches. “I didn’t even say anything.” 

Wolfwood hummed, lips still pressed to his forehead. “You did. And you showed me your room. That’s a lot.” 

“You have low standards, Nick.” He chuckled a little, tilting his head down so he could hide his face in Wolfwood’s neck. 

“Brat,” Wolfwood teased, affection clear in his voice. His hand moved from Vash’s cheek so he could slide it down his back. 

Vash sighed in contentment, feeling the mental anguish ebb away under each gentle touch. “You like this brat,” he whispered, worried he might be pressing his luck. 

Wolfwood pressed a kiss to the top of his hair, before resting his chin on his head. “Yeah, I do,” he said, voice clear with confidence. 

Vash shivered, goosebumps prickling across his skin at the tone that Wolfwood used to declare he liked him. He desperately hoped that Wolfwood meant it in the way that he wanted, but he refused to ask for clarity, for fear that he would be told off. 

Wolfwood squeezed Vash’s hand and pressed another kiss to the top of his head, before pulling back a little. “You know, I’m fine with cuddling if that’s what we’re going to do, but I’m going to need us to lay down or something. If my back is hurting, I know you’re feeling bad.” 

Chuckling, Vash pulled away from Wolfwood’s chest, lamenting the loss of his scent. “We don’t have to cuddle.” 

“I didn’t say we had to, but we kind of already were,” Wolfwood pointed out, not knowing how to express that he wanted Vash back in his arms. “So, if we want to keep that up, we’ll have to lay down.” 

Vash brought their hands to his lips, not quite kissing Wolfwood’s own hand, but rather letting the skin rest against his lips. “Next time? I just feel like I’ll fall asleep and you know how that went last time.” 

Wolfwood nodded, respecting Vash’s boundary. “Next time,” he agreed, as if it was a promise, a plan for them to follow through on. 

“Come on, let's head back to the living room. I’ll bet Knives is getting lonely,” Vash joked, though his heart was lighter at the thought of Wolfwood wanting to cuddle with him.

“Poor Millions Knives Saverem the Second,” Wolfwood lamented, frowning intensely as he stood. 

Vash laughed, releasing Wolfwood’s hand so he could push the man’s back. “You said his full name! And for free!”

Wolfwood grinned back towards Vash, stepping towards the door to the room. “Maybe I knew it would make you smile.” 

Vash followed him, the crutch under his arm. “You were right,” he said, smiling fondly. “Come on. I’d hate for you to get lost on the way to the couch.” 

Wolfwood rolled his eyes but followed Vash, his lips tingling from the spots where he’d kissed the man, his light scent heavy in his nose. 

Chapter Text

Vash enters the salon, Knives following and sitting next to him at the counter. He had been nervous when Wolfwood text from the work phone that morning, asking if it would be okay to change Knives’ appointment to a later time. Vash had accepted the change, despite the nerves settling in his stomach. 

“Hey, I’ll be with you in a sec,” Wolfwood called from the back office, having heard the jingle the door gave once Vash had entered. 

Vash’s nerves calmed a little, hearing Wolfwood’s voice. “No problem!” 

Knives licked Vash’s right hand, nudging it lightly to let him know the dog was near and could feel his anxiety. 

“I know, Knives. I promise, I’m good,” Vash explained, hand petting the Husky’s head. 

Wolfwood walked back towards the front, towels in hand as he set them by the washing station, preparing for the dye job he knew was coming with Knives. “You good, Spikey?” He raised his brow, knowing that Vash wouldn’t be reassuring Knives for no reason. 

Laughing nervously, Vash scratched the back of his head. “Yeah. I was, uh, just a little nervous about the time change.” 

Wolfwood opened the counter so he could accept Knives to the grooming station. “Shit, I messed with your routine, didn’t I?”

Blushing, Vash shook his head, gesturing with both of his hands since he wore the prosthetic. “It’s fine, appointments are out of my control. I get used to it.” 

Reaching down, Vash removed Knives’ service dog vest, leaving him with just his collar and leash. He handed the leash to Wolfwood, trying to calm the nervous look on his face. 

“I should have text you from my personal cell to explain,” Wolfwood said, taking Knives behind the counter. “You’re my last client and my partner is gone for the day. I figured this would be better since Knives is getting a dye job, right?”

Vash felt the air suck from his lungs, a cold dread creeping up his spine. He knew that it wasn’t quite his fault for not asking if Wolfwood had a partner, but now, in hindsight, a lot of the things that he’d said about them only being friends made sense. He thought back to all the ways he’d embarrassed himself by flirting with Wolfwood or clung to his hand, unwilling to let go. 

Knives seemed to sense the impending spiral that Vash had begun to enter, so he started tugging on the leash, causing Wolfwood to look back to Vash. He knew it was taking a little longer than usual for the blond to answer, but he hadn’t thought he said anything to upset him.

“Vash?” He tried getting his attention, before letting Knives go so the dog could walk forward and lick Vash’s hand, bringing him out of his thoughts. 

Blinking, Vash looked up at Wolfwood, his face pale from the awkward embarrassment. “Yeah?” His voice was quiet, something Wolfwood had figured out that meant the blond was becoming overstimulated. 

“Hey. What happened?” Wolfwood asked, stepping closer, but not quite touching him. “Can I do something?”

Vash shook his head, trying to stop himself from spiraling. He felt ridiculous for letting something so minor tug him down. Wolfwood had been so clear from the beginning that they would only ever be friends, so of course he had a partner. He bit his lip trying to get out what was on his mind. 

When Vash’s cheeks started to turn red, Wolfwood wasn’t sure if this was a good sign or not. He reached out to place his hand on Vash’s right shoulder. “I can’t read your mind, Blondie. Wish I could sometimes, then maybe I could help.” 

Vash shook his head, mostly to bring himself fully back to the present and stop himself from giving in to the emotional overstimulation. Knives pawed at Vash’s thigh, trying to get him to sit down so that he could properly breathe and calm down. “You don’t!” He finally managed to get out, petting Knives’ head, hoping that would be enough to get the dog to stop requesting him to sit. 

“I do, actually,” Wolfwood said, squeezing Vash’s shoulders, trying to be mindful that he was still at work. “Then it wouldn’t matter if you had the nonverbal moments, you know?” 

“Mhm,” Vash muttered, stepping back so he was out of Wolfwood’s touch, causing the man’s hand to slowly fall. 

Pulling his hand back, Wolfwood stared at it as if he’d been stung. He tried not to take it personally, considering he realized he hadn’t asked permission to touch Vash like he usually did and that might have triggered him more. “I’m sorry. I should have asked.”

Hearing Wolfwood’s apology and the sad tinge to his voice seemed to help pull Vash back into himself. “No! You don’t have to,” he urged, suddenly feeling the anxiety shift to worry over making Wolfwood think he’d done anything wrong. 

“Hey, Vash. It’s okay. You were surprised. I should have warned you that I was going to reach out. That’s on me.” Wolfwood gave him a little smile, happy that he was at least responding. 

Vash, now more frightened of losing Wolfwood at all, stepped back forward, grabbing his hand and placing it back on his shoulder. “You can touch,” he said, adamantly. 

A little amused, but still concerned about the mood changes, Wolfwood gave him a little smile. “Okay. I can touch.” 

Taking in a deep breath, Vash leaned his head to the side so that he could rest his cheek on Wolfwood’s hand for a moment before he made himself explain what happened. Knives stopped pawing at his thigh, but moved to stand behind him, facing the door to protect him. 

Wolfwood turned his hand so he could let his thumb gently stroke along Vash’s cheek. He figured that whatever set Vash off was over now, so he just let the man calm himself, before he tried asking any other questions. 

“I was being dumb,” Vash mumbled, his lip pouting out a little as he stared past Wolfwood, not wanting to look in his eyes. 

“That’s not very nice,” Wolfwood said, not liking how Vash was calling himself names. “Why don’t you tell me what happened and I’ll decide?” 

Cheeks still red, Vash bit his lip before forcing the words out of his mouth. “I didn’t realize you had a partner and I felt stupid.” The words came out in a jumble, to the point that Wolfwood had to mentally play them back before he understood what was being said. 

The soft caress of Vash’s cheek quickly turned into a pinch as Wolfwood tugged on the flesh there, causing Vash to whine in surprise, though the dog groomer was careful not to actually hurt him. “My coworker , Blondie! Zazie is my coworker .” He made sure to stress the words so it would hopefully make it through the blond’s thick skull. 

Vash had brought his hand up to try and tug Wolfwood’s away from his cheek, but the moment the other man explained the situation, his hand smacked his own face in his embarrassment. “Ow!” He cried, prompting Wolfwood to quickly release the cheek pinch. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” Vash told him, feeling the way Wolfwood gently grasped his chin, a sharp contrast from before. 

“You smacked yourself pretty hard. Let me look.” It was less of a request and more of a demand, leaving Vash with no choice but to let Wolfwood gently hold his face as he looked the blond over. 

“I want to crawl in a hole,” Vash whined, embarrassment crawling up his belly for a different reason. “God, I’m so dumb.” 

Wolfwood, still holding his chin, made him look forward until their eyes met. “You were afraid you crossed a boundary with me, right? That’s why you freaked out when you thought I was dating someone?”

Vash’s eyes wavered, but they landed back on Wolfwood’s each time. He shifted awkwardly, still wanting to hide. “Yeah…”

Satisfied with the answer, Wolfwood let go of Vash’s chin and put his hands in his pockets. “I’m not dating anyone. Or seeing anyone.” He paused, having to stop himself from adding, ‘just you.’ 

Nodding, Vash swallowed thickly, wishing he had never brought any of it up and just had a panic attack alone in the alley. “Um. Right.”

Wolfwood tilted his head towards Vash again, a smirk on his lips. “Really? No come back, Prince Charming?”

The tension broke, Vash huffing, trying to slog through his brain to pull out a retort. “So, you’re bitchless?” He wanted to die all over again as soon as he said it. 

Wolfwood cracked up, laughing so hard Vash was almost positive he was going to bust a lung. When the tears started, Vash threw his hands up, making a frustrated sound. 

“I’m giving you a pass,” Wolfwood mumbled through the laughter, wiping at his tears. “Because that was hilarious.” 

Vash leaned down, grabbing Knives’ leash and whistling so the dog would follow, before he smacked it down into Wolfwood’s hand, the dog groomer was surprised out of his laughter by the strength there. “You said you do pride flags? Please do the bi flag. I’m getting a milkshake and I’m not bringing you one.” 

The blond turned to leave, face on fire, before Wolfwood reached out to flick the back of his head. “You made a joke, I’m not laughing at you, Needles,” Wolfwood explained, feeling sobered by the way Vash seemed upset. “I am bitchless. I don’t even own a dog.” He couldn’t help but to add the last part, hoping it would at least get a chuckle. 

Stopping in his tracks, Vash huffed a sigh, wishing he had it in him to be upset with Wolfwood for longer. His lips twisted as he tried to keep up the anger, but he couldn’t make it happen. “I’m going out and when I come back here, I’m going to have a boyfriend or something, just to rub it in your face.” 

Wolfwood knew Vash was acting out and doubted that he would even try to follow through on the threat, but his heart hurt a little at the threat. “Well, if that’s what you want, I hope you’ll be happy.” The words made his mouth go dry as he spoke them. 

Vash, feeling the consequences of his immature pettiness, turned back around, eyes blubbering up with tears. “Wait… no.” 

Sighing, Wolfwood placed a hand on Vash’s head, petting his hair. “Go sit in the back office, big baby,” he said the words with as much affection as he could manage.

“No. I can go get a milkshake on my own.” The quiver in Vash’s lips said otherwise. 

“You can,” Wolfwood agreed, knowing that Vash was fully capable of that. “But I know you’re going to cry by yourself and I’d rather you did that here.”

Vash pouted, knowing that Wolfwood was right. “You don’t let other customers sit in your office.” He was still feeling a little petulant. 

“I also don’t let other customers have my number or get away with calling me bitchless. Can we just agree you mean a lot more to me?”

The question seemed to perk the blond up a little, he wiped the wetness from his eyes and tried giving him a charming smile. “How much more?”

Wolfwood gently pushed Vash towards the office, closing the counter behind him. “You are such a brat. I’m giving Knives a rainbow tail.”

Sighing, Vash made his way to the office. “I said bi.” 

“Yeah, well, I’m gay. I like the rainbow.” With that final statement, Wolfwood walked Knives over to the tub, grabbing the different dyes he needed for the bi flag, despite his argument. 

Vash smiled a little, watching the man work for a moment, before going to sit in the office like he’d been ordered to do. 

It was several hours of hard work, but eventually Wolfwood finished up with Knives, the bright pink, purple and blue colors showing up beautifully on the white of his tail. Deciding to be bold, Wolfwood tied a rainbow bandana around Knives’ neck, before putting the collar back on and making his way back to the office where Vash had sat quietly. 

Knocking before he entered, Wolfwood smiled as he saw Vash sitting in his office chair, phone in front of him as he watched some youtube video. Once the blond heard the knock, he looked up, smiling, leaving Wolfwood to hope that the attitude from before was gone.

“Hey,” Vash said, standing up stiffly, before moving to pet Knives. “Oh my handsome boy with his cute tail!” He scratched behind Knives ears, laughing as the dog yowled and barked happily. 

“I can’t tell if you were saying hi to me or not,” Wolfwood commented, grabbing the service dog vest from Vash’s bag. “Want this back on or is he off for the rest of the day?” 

“He’s off duty.” Vash said, giving more pets to Knives, not quite ready to address everything with Wolfwood, yet.

Wolfwood, noticing the lack of acknowledgement, sighed. “Okay. I’m going to start cleaning. Let me know when you’re ready to go and I’ll check you out.” 

Frowning, Vash watched Wolfwood for a minute. “You’re not kicking me out?” 

Raising an eyebrow at the direct question, Wolfwood shrugged. “Why would I kick you out, Vash?”

The use of his name stung, something that Vash hadn’t expected. “I owe you an apology.” 

Wolfwood faced him directly, waiting. He didn’t exactly think he was owed an apology, but he figured that Vash needed to get this one out of his system. 

“I got overstimulated earlier. And I took a lot of things out on you,” Vash admitted, frowning as he thought about it. “And… you sounded really sad when I said I would go out…” He paused, not wanting to mention that he threatened to get a boyfriend, realizing after thinking about it how immature that sounded. “Anyway. It’s not your fault I was overstimulated and feeling stupid. So. I’m sorry.” 

His cheeks were burning and his hand was brushing over Knives’ coarse fur as he hoped Wolfwood understood everything he was saying. 

“Vash, I appreciate that you’re apologizing,” Wolfwood told him, giving him a little smile, even if he knew Vash wasn’t looking. “I’m sorry for upsetting you, too.” 

Vash shrugged, knowing he was in the wrong for that, too. “It was a pretty funny joke,” he admitted, a weak smile on his lips. 

“A little,” Wolfwood agreed, smiling more, before deciding that he had to say something important. “Can you sit back down for a minute? Please?”

Nervous, Vash sat back down in the chair, watching as Wolfwood grabbed the other one and pulled it closer to his. The other man offered the blond his hands, waiting patiently to see if Vash would place his hands in his. Slowly, Vash lifted the right hand and placed it in one of Wolfwood’s. 

“Both, Blondie,” Wolfwood told him, right hand still waiting for the prosthetic. 

“That’s embarrassing…” 

“You don’t have to. Just proving a point.” 

Wrinkling his nose, Vash lifted the left hand and placed it into Wolfwood’s right hand, wishing he could feel as the man touched the hand the way he did his right. 

“Thank you,” Wolfwood said, smiling, his hands holding Vash’s. “You know I like you.” 

It wasn’t a question, but Vash felt like it should be, so he nodded. 

“Do you know I care about you?” Wolfwood looked into Vash’s eyes, hoping that he could convey what he meant. 

The blond shook his head, not quite sure what the difference was, but feeling like there was one. 

“Vash. I care about you,” he squeezed his hands, despite knowing Vash wouldn’t feel the left. “You can be embarrassing with me. You can be overstimulated. I’m still going to care about you.”

Vash stared, mouth dropping in surprise. He didn’t know why it was a surprise, it wasn’t as if Wolfwood had given him any other indications throughout the month they’d known each other. But a part of him, somewhere deep inside, was sure that Wolfwood would end up leaving him. 

“So, when you try to push me away because you’re upset, it does hurt,” he explained, voice gentle, as if he were talking to one of the kids at the orphanage; not because he thought Vash needed to be talked down to, but because he figured it would help to break it down, give it a reason. 

Vash felt a wave of emotion make its way up his throat, his right hand tightening around Wolfwood’s, afraid that he would actually lose the man. He stayed silent though, waiting for some sign from Wolfwood that he should speak. 

“I’ll be your friend, no matter what you do or say. Unless you tell me directly that you don’t want me in your life, I’m going to be here. However you’ll have me.” 

Vash pulled his brows together, trying to understand what Wolfwood was saying. He was happy to hear that they’ll be friends, but he couldn’t connect the rest of the dots. 

“Angel, if you want to go find someone to date, I’ll go with you and help. Got it?” Wolfwood wasn’t really expecting an answer, he knew he’d accidentally sent Vash into being nonverbal. “But I’m asking you not to throw it in my face as a threat. You apologized and I fully accept that, but I want you to know I’m trying here.” 

Nodding slowly, Vash tried to make his brain comprehend what was being said. He felt like he was running too sluggish, his heart racing didn’t help matters. 

“Do you want me to help you find someone to date?” The question was quiet, Wolfwood not even sure why he was offering when he knew he was too far gone, having fallen head over heels for his friend. 

Vash adamantly shook his head, repulsed by the very thought of finding anyone else to date that wasn’t Wolfwood. His heart stung, wondering why he would ever joke like that. 

Nodding, Wolfwood squeezed his hands again. “Okay. I don’t want to find anyone else, either.” He paused, not quite expecting himself to confess so vaguely. Lifting his eyes, he looked to Vash, wondering if he caught what was said. 

The blond’s brows knit together, mouth opening and closing as he tried to ask what that meant. He calmed, feeling Wolfwood’s thumb rub over his wrist, helping him relax. 

Sighing, Wolfwood turned his eyes down to Vash’s wrists, tracing patterns over both skin and prosthetic. “This is not how I saw this day going,” he mumbled, lifting the prosthetic to his lips to press a kiss to the back of it. 

Vash struggled internally, telling himself not to pull the prosthetic back and to just accept the affection for once. 

“I’ll be your friend. No matter what,” Wolfwood mumbled, licking his lips since they were so dry. “But I guess I’m a fucking liar, because I don’t want to just be your friend…”

The emotions in Vash rose, the anxiety somehow doubling and dissipating all at once. Without thinking, he reached out with his right hand and pushed at Wolfwood, hoping it would convey his confusion, along with his frustration. 

The look of exasperation clearly said, ‘you confess now?! While I can’t do it back?’

“What?! I’m not happy about this either, Needle Noggin! I was going to invite you to my apartment for dinner.” The exasperation that was clear on Vash’s face read through each word Wolfwood spoke. 

Vash swiped his hands in front of himself in an ‘x’ motion, trying to convey that he wanted the conversation to stop. His brows furrowed together and his mouth twisted into a frown. 

Wolfwood stood from his chair, suddenly unable to take the conversation while sitting. “Don’t make that face at me! I’ve already said it, I can’t take it back.” 

Vash struggled to remember the bit of sign language that Rem taught him when he was younger and it became clear that he would sometimes struggle with speech. ‘Yes. Stop.’ He finger spelled, growing frustrated with each letter's slow progress. 

Wolfwood was taken aback, his brows furrowing as he discerned the halting signs. “Since when do you know sign language? What the hell?”

Vash threw his hands up again, before pointing at himself and then Wolfwood. ‘Me? You?’

He couldn’t help it. Wolfwood let out a laugh, the chaos from the failed(?) confession bubbling over. “Livio is also deaf in his left ear. Plus, we have a few kids that come into the orphanage that are nonverbal or deaf.” 

Somehow frustrated and elated, Vash gave up trying to communicate, instead choosing to grab Wolfwood’s arm and tug it around him, hoping it was clear he wanted to be held. With the laughter subsiding immediately, Wolfwood’s arms wrapped around Vash, holding him tightly. 

“God, this is the least romantic confession anyone has ever given,” Wolfwood mumbled, lips pressing against Vash’s temple, only to be swatted in the chest. “Okay, okay. I’m not confessing. I take it back.” 

Mollified, Vash wrapped his arms around Wolfwood, tightening with his right arm as his face hid in the man’s chest. When he got his voice back, he’d tell Wolfwood it was actually kind of perfect for them and he wasn’t allowed to take it back. 

Chapter Text

Wolfwood eventually disconnected from Vash, placing another kiss to the top of his head. He didn’t want to part, but he knew he was still at work and needed to finish his job duties. 

“If you’re up for it, I’d still like to invite you to my place,” he said, feeling a little shy. “It’s a five minute walk from here, but if you’re tired, I get it.”

Vash’s right hand gripped Wolfwood’s shirt, not quite wanting him to go, but knowing he had to. He nodded emphatically, wanting to make it clear that he was more than willing to make the walk. Lacking the proper signing, Vash finally pulled his hand back and pointed from himself to the chair, showing that he was going to wait there.

Smiling, Wolfwood nodded, elated that Vash was willing to spend more time with him. “Okay. I’ll finish cleaning and then come get you.” 

Vash smiled and gave him a thumbs up, feeling a lot calmer than before. Subconsciously, he was hoping he could break out of the selective mutism by the time Wolfwood came back. He knew it wouldn’t matter either way, but he enjoyed having a full conversation with the man.

Wolfwood gave him a wave, before heading back out to the salon to finish his cleaning duties. He worked quickly, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of his time with the blond in his office. He was relieved when the washer signaled the load of towels was done, meaning that he just had to switch them to the drier and he was basically done. 

Once he made it back to the office, he smiled fondly as he walked up and saw Vash watching a video of someone teaching sign language. The blond was adorable with his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth as he tried to get his right hand to move and follow the finger spelling quicker than before. 

He knocked on the door frame, earning a small squeak from the blond as he tried to hide the phone screen, a blush on his face. “Hey, don’t stop because of me, Blondie. I thought it was cute.” 

Narrowing his eyes, Vash stuck his tongue out at Wolfwood, before locking the phone and sliding it into his pocket. He stood up, quickly gathering his things and pulling his wallet out to pay for the service. Not sure how to express he was wanting to pay, Vash just showed the wallet to Wolfwood, hoping he’d understand. 

Wolfwood grabbed his own bag, before also grabbing Vash’s backpack, much to the blond’s displeasure. “Fine, I’ll give it back when you’re done paying,” he told him, leading him back towards the front and closing the office door behind them. 

Satisfied, Vash grinned, heading towards the counter and lifting it with his right hand before moving to stand in front of the credit card machine. 

“I have never seen someone so eager to pay,” Wolfwood teased, keying in the service so Vash could pay, tapping his card against the machine. Once he got to the tip portion, Wolfwood tried to turn it away to enter a $0.00. 

Vash balked, mouth dropping as he reached forward to swat at Wolfwood’s hand and turn the kiosk back to himself. “Stop!” He said firmly, before grinning because the hardest part of coming out of a nonverbal episode was past him. 

“Alright, alright. Have it your way,” he said, stepping back to let Vash tip him. “But we’re talking about this later.”

“Mm,” Vash hummed, working his way back into using his vocal cords. “‘Kay.” 

Wolfwood had to stop himself from smiling too much as he heard Vash. He reminded himself that he was still technically at work and should keep all of his gushing to himself. 

Vash signed at the end, a simple VS since he struggled with writing his name in cursive. Once finished, he turned the kiosk back to Wolfwood so he could finish the transaction out and print the receipt. 

Noting the amount of his tip, Wolfwood clicked his tongue and settled Vash with a glare. “We are definitely talking about this later, Spikey,” he grumbled, giving Vash a copy of the receipt and sliding the merchant copy in the register. 

“Mm. Maybe,” Vash said, grabbing the receipt and stuffing it into his wallet with his card. Once that was settled, he grabbed his backpack from the counter where Wolfwood had set it and slid it onto his right shoulder. 

When he was done signing out and closing the machine down, Wolfwood grabbed his own bag, before opening the main door to let Vash and Knives through. “Do you need help getting the other arm through?” He asked, locking the door behind them, tugging to make sure it was locked.

“Nah,” Vash replied, gripping the strap with his hand. 

Wolfwood hummed, accepting that Vash could do whatever he wanted. “Come on, Needle Noggin. You and Knives can meet Kuroneko face to face.”

Vash grinned, bouncing on his left leg, something Wolfwood had learned was his sign of being happy. “You’re really too cute,” Wolfwood told him, fondness clear in his voice. It was the first time he really felt comfortable being able to express what he thought of Vash and he couldn’t lie to himself, it felt good. 

The blond blushed, reaching to push Wolfwood with his left hand. “No,” he said, glowering at Wolfwood as the man chuckled and hurried ahead to get out of the range of the prosthetic. 

“You’re gonna have to get used to it, Blondie,” he called, sliding his hands in his pockets. “We have one more block to walk then we’ll be home.” 

Despite not enjoying the compliment, Vash couldn’t deny it filled his chest with warmth to hear Wolfwood talk so casually with him. He hurried his pace a little, making sure that he was caught up with Wolfwood. 

“I wasn’t going to leave you,” he assured, reaching up to gently lay his hand on the back of Vash’s neck. “This is my street.”

Looking around, Vash nodded, feeling Wolfwood’s slide down to rest on his back. “It’s nice,” he commented, turning to smile at Wolfwood. 

Wolfwood smiled back, glad that Vash was making progress on becoming vocal again. It wouldn’t have bothered him if the blond stayed mute, but he figured it was probably better for Vash to be able to speak after the emotional whirlwind and botched confession. Once they arrived at the apartment building, Wolfwood frowned, realizing he might have messed up. 

“I live on the second floor,” he explained, turning to look at Vash. 

Vash shrugged, lifting his right prosthetic leg and giving it a shake. “I’m good!” He moved forward, stepping up on the first stair to prove it. 

“Just checking. I don’t want you to overwork yourself,” he explained, before lifting his hands in defense as Vash glared at him. “Sorry, that was rude. You got it.”

Grinning, Vash made his way up the stairs, letting Knives’ leash go so he could grip the banister just to be safe. “Thank you, Nick,” he said, glad that the man realized he’d overstepped. 

“Don’t thank me. I’m glad you corrected me.” Wolfwood made his way up the stairs and turned to the right so he could start unlocking the door. 

Vash sighed in relief as he made it up the final step and walked towards Wolfwood’s apartment. He bent down to grab Knives’ leash, mostly so he could be sure the cat wasn’t going to dart to get away from him. He knew Knives would be good and patient with the cat, even if he wouldn’t want to be. 

Wolfwood unlocked the door and scooped the cat up, knowing she was going to try coming out to greet him. “Will you please act civilized for one damn day. We have company,” he said, carrying the cat into the apartment and depositing her on the bookshelf.

Vash laughed, amused by the interaction. Knives whined, but sat beside him, looking up at the cat in wonder. Kuroneko glanced at the strangers, before jumping down and walking over to sniff them. 

“She’s never been around dogs,” Wolfwood warned, hoping that she wouldn’t scratch Knives. He was ready to lunge and grab her before it happened. 

After a quick sniff, Kuroneko meowed and rubbed her face against Knives, marking him as hers. “Cute!” Vash said, leaning down to offer her his hand. Without hesitation, she licked his hand and rubbed against him, as well. 

“I wasn’t worried about you. She loves people,” Wolfwood explained, glad that the black cat was on her best behavior. “I have ingredients to make spaghetti and meat sauce or I can order something?”

Vash bit his lip, wondering if he should speak up. Luckily, Wolfwood noticed the silence and raised a brow.

“You were just getting your pretty voice back. Cat got your tongue?” Wolfwood teased, hoping it would make it easier for Vash to open up. 

“Ah,” the blond said, setting his bag on the ground and removing Knives’ leash. “I don’t eat meat.”

Chuckling, Wolfwood moved forward so he could ruffle his fingers through Vash’s hair. “Then I’ll make myself meatballs and set those aside. It’s not a big deal.” 

Vash leaned into the touch, smiling softly. “Okay. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, make yourself at home and I’ll start cooking.” With that, Wolfwood moved to the kitchen, wiping down the counters, before grabbing the ingredients. 

Deciding he wanted to be closer to Wolfwood, Vash pulled out a chair to the breakfast counter, before pushing himself up into the tall chair. “I could help?”

Wolfwood smiled, grabbing an onion and a cutting board. “You good to dice this?”

“I can try,” Vash said, making the motions with his right hand. “I don’t get to, uh, practice much.” 

Grabbing the knife, Wolfwood slid it across the counter, turning it so the handle was facing Vash. “You didn’t cook much before?”

Vash took the knife, attempting to cut the onion down the middle, while actually managing to cut it lopsided. “I tried,” he said, cutting the onion in crooked quarters next. “But I’m actually left handed.” 

Wolfwood watched, making sure that Vash wasn’t going to injure his right hand. Once he was satisfied that the man had the proper hold, he let him continue chopping. “Well, that was extra unlucky,” he said, grabbing the meat from the fridge so he could make his meatballs. 

“Pff. Yeah,” Vash agreed, continuing to cut the onion in slices. “At least I don’t have to worry about cutting my fingers.” 

He couldn’t help it, Wolfwood snorts a little laugh. “Yeah. You have that going for you.”

The blond rotated the slices, tongue sticking out as he concentrated on dicing the onions. “Nai doesn’t let me cook. Not like this.”

“That… seems like a bad plan,” Wolfwood said, focusing on adding the seasonings to the meatballs. “What’s his plan for when you eventually move out?”

Vash sniffled, the onions finally causing him to tear up. Setting the knife down, he reached for the paper towels and used one to dab at his eyes. “I don’t think he plans on me moving.” 

Wolfwood gave a noncommittal hum, rolling out the meatballs. He didn’t really have much to comment, considering he’d still yet to meet the elusive twin. Luckily, Vash seemed to be in a more chatty mood now that he’d found his voice. 

“I don’t mind living with Nai,” he said, pushing the cutting board towards Wolfwood for him to take. “But eventually… I’ll probably want to live on my own. Or with someone.”

Taking the onions, Wolfwood added them to a pan with oil to sautee. “Cooking is pretty important. But they sell vegetables pre-chopped,” he reminded him. “But you didn’t do too bad on the onion.”

“You’re just being nice because you like me.” Vash blushed as he said it, remembering the earlier conversation. 

“No. I’m being realistic. I do like you,” he said, stirring the onions. “But if I thought you were about to hurt yourself, or really mess up, I would have stepped in. I’m used to teaching kids with less motor function than you.”

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, trying to decide if he could ask for something. After the small moment of thinking, he decided the worst that could happen was Wolfwood saying no. “Nicholas?”

Hearing his full first name, Wolfwood turned quickly, making sure Vash was okay. “Yes?” The response was hesitant, unsure of what Vash could be about to ask. 

“Would you help me learn to cook?” He asked, pouting his lip out to help his cause. 

“Shit, Spikey. You had me worried,” Wolfwood chuckled, turning to put his meatballs into a smaller sauce pan. “I can do that. I’m no chef, but I can give you some basic survival skills.”

“That’s all I need!” Vash told him, a bright smile replacing the pout. “And one day I’ll make dinner for you!” 

Wolfwood smiled, adding the jarred sauce to the onions and then reaching for the spices. “That’d be nice,” he said, wishing he could properly look at Vash while cooking. “Are you wimpey when it comes to spices? Like, are you going to die if I add chili flakes?”

Vash snorted. “Go crazy. The spicier, the better!”

Wolfwood glanced back at him, skeptical. “I will not hear you whine about heartburn all evening because I gave you something too spicy.”

“Rude!” Vash said, wadding his paper towel up and throwing it at Wolfwood’s back. “I take medicine for that, thank you very much.” 

This time it was Wolfwood’s turn to snort, fully amused by the statement. “Alright, Blondie.” He opened the chili flakes, pouring some into his hand for a vague measurement, before dumping that into the sauce.

“What noodles do you have?” Vash asked, peering over the counter to see the ingredients. “Plain spaghetti? You’re boring, Wolfwood.”

“I’m sure you prefer dinosaur shaped pasta, but that lives at the orphanage.”

“Wow, this is the way you treat your guests?” Vash teased, fighting a grin. “I meant bowtie or rotini. Fun shapes!”

“Oh god, it’s like living with Livio all over again.”

“Well, Livio sounds like a delight and you’re lucky to have us in your boring life.”

Adding the pasta to the boiling water, Wolfwood turned around to fix Vash with a smile. “Right, well, one of us has to be the boring one, right?”

“Are you saying I bring all of the intrigue to the relationship?” Vash asked, his stomach doing flips as he said the word. 

“You’re definitely intriguing. I won’t deny that,” he said, smiling at how Vash was teasing him. 

Vash reached across the counter, offering it to Wolfwood who happily took his hand. “In a good way?”

Wolfwood squeezed his hand, thumb stroking over the back of his knuckles. “Vash, it’s always in the best way possible.”

Blushing, Vash laid his head against his arm, feeling a little vulnerable. “Can we… Could we maybe discuss what happened in your office? After dinner, of course.”

Chuckling, Wolfwood nodded, squeezing Vash’s hand again before pulling it back so he could check the spaghetti. “I’d like that, Angel.”

Vash pulled his prosthetic up so he could hide his face in his arms and whine. “How do you do that?!”

“What?” Wolfwood asked, laughing as he strained the pasta, before mixing it with the sauce. 

“Somehow make me feel things when you call me a new nickname but also make me feel things when you say my name?”

“Are they good things?” Wolfwood asked, piling a plate with spaghetti and sliding it towards Vash. “Big fork or little fork?”

“Big, please,” Vash told him, smiling, as Wolfwood handed him the fork. “It’s usually good.”

Nodding, Wolfwood brought his plate around so he could sit on the other side of Vash. “Okay. When is it not good?”

Vash swirled the pasta around his fork and took a bite, shimmying in his seat from how good the food tasted. “Mm. That usually depends on the context.”

“Well, Blondie, I think that’s how names work. If you say Wolfwood and you’re happy, I can tell. If you say Nicholas, but you’re mad, I know you’re not being affectionate.” 

“I’m not always good with tone,” Vash admitted, grabbing the glass of water that Wolfwood had provided at some point and taking a drink. 

Smiling, Wolfwood nodded, eating one of his meatballs. “I kind of figured that out.” 

“Damn. Autism strikes, again.” 

Wolfwood turned to stare at him a second before bursting out laughing. Vash watched a moment longer, before he started laughing, too. 

“Yeah. I wasn’t going to say that, but… I’m used to it,” Wolfwood said, shrugging. 

“You have questionable taste in people, Wolfwood.”  

Wolfwood stared at him a moment, before shaking his head. “No way. I’m not commenting on that.”

Vash grinned mischievously, elbowing Wolfwood as he did. “Oh, you think I can’t handle it?”

“Oh, I know you can. I just know you’re trying to catch me in something.”

“I would never do that to my dear, sweet friend,” Vash said, innocence seeping into his voice. 

“Eat your pasta so we can cuddle, Spikes,” he said, pointing at his half empty plate and Vash’s mostly full plate. 

To prove a point, Vash placed a large bite of pasta into his mouth until his cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunks. Sighing, Wolfwood shook his head and focused on his own food. 

Once he had swallowed the food, Vash nudged Wolfwood again. “See? Questionable tastes. You’re choosing this.”

Wolfwood gave a dramatic sigh, hanging his head. “I am. I really am.” 

Vash gasped, turning in his seat to face away from him. “You’re lucky I’m really enjoying this pasta.” 

“Whatever you say, Needles,” Wolfwood told him, grabbing his own empty plate to wash it in the sink. As he passed the blond, he pressed a kiss to his shoulder, hoping it would encourage him to finish eating. 

The kiss worked like a charm, Vash finished his food and stood so he could take it to the sink. Wolfwood accepted the plate, quickly washing it, before putting it away. 

“Bed or couch?” Wolfwood asked him, still washing the pots and pans. 

“Um…” Vash shifted nervously, his eyes flickering to the couch and back to Wolfwood.

“Vash, it’s for sitting or cuddling. That’s it.” 

A nervous laugh escaped the blond. “I knew that.”

“Right.” Wolfwood rolled his eyes, before turning the water off and drying his hands. “While you decide, do you mind if I smoke on the balcony?”

Vash wrinkled his nose at the thought, but shrugged. “They’re your lungs and it’s your house.”

“Ouch. You’re feisty,” Wolfwood said, laughing as he made his way to the balcony. Once outside, he lit up the cigarette and blew the smoke out to the city below. “I actually smoke a lot less than I used to. You should be proud.” 

“That’s good. Your lungs probably thank you,” Vash said, standing at the balcony, leaning against the door jamb. 

“Are you about to tell me you’re missing a lung? Because I’ll actually feel awful for smoking in front of you.”

Vash laughed dryly, the horror on Wolfwood’s face was palpable. “No. I surprisingly have both lungs and excellent function considering the left side of my ribs were nearly crushed.” 

Wolfwood’s mouth went dry as he felt the conversation shift. Taking one last drag, he stubbed the cigarette out in his ashtray, blowing the smoke out into the wind. 

Making his way into the apartment, Wolfwood took Vash’s hand, seeing the distant look in his eyes. “Vash?”

The blond sighed, clinging to Wolfwood’s hand. “Let’s take a seat on the couch. I think you deserve to know what you might be getting into.”

Wolfwood let himself be led to the couch, before taking a seat next to Vash, their hands still connected. “It won’t change anything,” he promised, knowing it was the truth. 

Vash took in a deep breath, nodding shortly. “That’s a lot to promise. I’m really broken.” He said the words coldly, almost like a robot who was repeating something they’d heard; it did not sound like Vash. 

Wolfwood wanted to retort, but he knew that if he wanted the full story, then he would have to be patient. Vash seemed to sense that he wasn’t going to interrupt, so the blond continued.

“One year, ten months and five days. That’s how long it’s been since the accident,” Vash said, the words heavy in the air. “I lost my mom and my arm and leg.” 

Wolfwood tightened his hold on Vash’s hand, reassuring him that he was there and listening. Vash gave the slightest smile, relief filling him at the reassurance. 

“We were in Rem’s car,” his voice hitched at the mention of his mother. “I was driving us home from Nai’s performance at the university. He stayed back to make sure the piano was properly tuned again, he always worries about the weirdest things after playing.” 

Vash took a breath, knowing that he had to get it all out before his mood dropped. “We were having a good time. Rem was dancing in her seat and she kept saying I was doing a good job driving. She was like the only one that would willingly let me drive.” 

He felt the tears stinging his eyes, the welling in his throat making it difficult to swallow. “I don’t really remember what happened. They say we were going through the intersection by our house. Some semi-truck that shouldn’t have even been on that road went barreling through the light? That’s what the police said, anyway.” 

Vash clenched the left hand, the prosthetic moving into a rudimentary fist. “I guess we were pushed into a pick up. That was on Rem’s side,” the tears came then. 

“I don’t… I don’t understand what happened. The air bags just, they didn’t deploy,” he cried, trying to calm himself down as he felt the trauma creep up. 

Knives left the spot he’d curled up with Kuroneko in and climbed onto the couch, settling his weight into Vash’s lap. The weight helped bring Vash back down as he took in a slow breath. 

Wolfwood stroked the back of Vash’s hand, refusing to let go unless the blond were to pull it away. “You don’t have to keep going,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. 

“No. No! I can. Please?” Vash practically begged, trying to regain his composure. “Please, Nick. I can do it.”

Wolfwood brought their joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to the knuckles. “Okay, Angel. Take your time.” 

Vash took in a shaky breath, smiling at the soft lips against his knuckles. After a solid minute of slowing his breath, Vash licked his lips so he could try to continue. “Rem… they said it was over almost instantly. She’d hit her head…” He shook his own head, trying to stop the sounds of the crash playing in the back of his mind. 

“We got stuck. The semi had pushed us and the pick up into a tree. I don’t remember a lot. I was in and out of consciousness.” The tears began to fall in earnest, but he didn’t try to wipe them away. 

“My arm saved my lungs, taking most of the pressure in the hit. I almost lost the whole arm. They worked for hours and I had so many surgeries to save the stump that I have and I’m really grateful, because I can wear the prosthetic.” He was feeling disjointed, his mind floating, as if he weren’t actively talking about the worst day of his life. 

“I should have died for so many reasons,” he said, voice breaking. “The fucking metal crushed my leg. They couldn’t move me until they were sure that they could replace the pressure on my femoral artery.” 

Vash took another moment, taking in slow breaths, guided by Wolfwood. Knives stayed firmly in place, occasionally licking some spot of Vash’s arm, sometimes accidentally getting Wolfwood in the process. 

“I don’t remember a lot. But I remember being cold. I hate being that cold. Nai says it was the shock and blood loss,” he frowned, as if he didn’t believe that. “I also remember people. So many people. And I couldn’t talk, I wanted to scream at them to save my mom. But they couldn’t.”

Wolfwood carefully moved closer to Vash, Knives having to crawl partially into his lap, as well. He wrapped his free arm around the man, letting Vash bury his face in his chest. There was no right thing to say in the situation, he’d learned that from dealing with kid’s traumas, Livio’s, his own. He knew the only thing was to listen and let Vash get everything out. 

“Rem’s dead and it’s all my fault,” Vash croaked into Wolfwood’s chest, his hand clinging to the other man’s like a vice. Wolfwood gently smoothed his hand along Vash’s back, hoping to calm him down. The blond had done a good job so far keeping himself present, but Wolfwood could tell he was slowly spiraling. 

“You couldn’t control the other cars, Vash,” Wolfwood whispered, his lips right by Vash’s ear so the man wouldn’t have to strain to hear. “It’s not your fault.” 

Vash pulled back so he could look back at Wolfwood with wide, sad eyes. “What if it is? I should have let her drive.” 

Wolfwood pressed his forehead against Vash’s, the weight of the prosthetic pressing into his back as Vash gripped him tighter, pulled him closer. “Then you wouldn’t be here, Angel.” Saying it out loud left a cold chill that settled over him. He realized how close he was to never meeting this man and his heart ached. 

“But Rem…”

“Would have lost a child,” Wolfwood said, voice soft as he cut Vash off. “Don’t you think that would have been worse for her?”

Vash startled, having never considered that in his scenario of switching places. Rem couldn’t lose another person. She wouldn’t have survived either way. She had always told Vash and Nai that they were her reason for going on at the end of the day. Losing Alex had almost ruined her; losing one of her children would have been the end. 

“Yeah,” Vash finally admitted, voice creaking with how much he’d cried. 

“Angel, losing a parent is awful. I know,” Wolfwood told him, leaning up so he could press a kiss between Vash’s eyes. “But I can only imagine how awful it would be to lose a child.” 

While Vash didn’t have a lot of interactions with kids, he loved them and knew he wanted some of his own one day. He couldn’t even fathom the idea of raising a child to adulthood and then losing them. The thought was sobering. 

“Do you think…” Vash paused, not really sure if it was an appropriate thing to ask Wolfwood. 

“It’s okay, Vash.” Wolfwood’s voice stayed soft, afraid that if he spoke too loudly it would scare Vash off. He breathed in slowly, prompting Vash to follow his lead. 

“Do you think my mom forgives me?” Vash had barely whispered, voice so quiet. 

Wolfwood gave him a gentle smile, hand moving up to run through Vash’s hair. “I don’t think there was ever anything to forgive you for. It wasn’t your fault.” 

Vash closed his eyes, letting himself enjoy the gentle touches. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he could remember Rem’s voice as she would play with his hair, calling him her ‘perfect boy.’ It hurt to remember her voice, stung to see her pictures, nearly killed to see videos with her in it. But somehow, a part of him wanted to do those things. He hadn’t allowed himself those comforts, hadn’t allowed himself to celebrate her life.

“Thank you, Nicholas,” Vash said, feeling emotionally worn but relieved to get it off of his chest. 

“For what, Angel?” Another kiss was placed on Vash’s forehead, Wolfwood’s lips staying close.

“You listened.” Vash said it as if it was the most simple answer, as if he never expected Wolfwood to give him the time of day with his past. It was as if he expected Wolfwood to leave and that shattered the man’s heart. 

“I care about you,” Wolfwood said, voice nearing a normal tone finally. “Vash, I care about you,” he repeated, hoping it would help sink in. “You’re not scaring me off. Not now, not ever.” 

Vash gave the smallest, watery smile as he looked to Wolfwood, blue eyes searching gray. “Even if I manage to ruin another chance at confessing?”

Wolfwood gave him a small laugh, lips pressing to the beauty mark under his left eye. “Vash, you really might be an idiot if you think we need to have actual confessions at this point.” 

Vash giggled, surprised he was able to make such a sound after the emotional turmoil. “So… you know?”

“I thought you were going to beat me up at the salon when I started to tell you how I feel. Yeah, Vash, I think I know.” 

Vash breathed in, shrugging his right shoulder up so he could wipe some of the tear stains on it. “Not friends?”

Wolfwood removed his hand from Vash’s hair so he could gently wipe the rest of the stains. “I don’t think we ever were just friends.” 

Leaning into the touch, Vash sighed softly, the exhaustion of the day finally setting in. “I don’t think so, either.” 

Wolfwood gently held Vash’s face, a soft smile on his lips as he saw how the blond trusted him to nearly fall asleep there. “Vash… you can sleep over if you want. Just to sleep.” He added the clarification, wanting to make it clear that he would not be taking advantage of him while so vulnerable. 

Vash hummed, turning his head so he could press a kiss to the palm of Wolfwood’s hand, allowing himself a small pleasure. “Next time?” He asked, hating that he had to decline the invitation. “I have to get Knives home. And all of my medicine is at home.” 

Feeling the soft kiss to his palm, Wolfwood smiled. “Next time.” 

Vash nodded, reluctantly removing his right hand from Wolfwood’s own so that he could pull up his brother’s contact information. As if the twin telepathy powers had activated, Nai’s display showed up as he called Vash. “Hey Nai. I was about to call you.” 

“You should have called already! It’s nearly 9:30,” Nai said, the tone sounding severe even through what little escaped the speakers. 

“I was with a friend,” Vash explained, pulling his prosthetic back and scratching at his face. 

“You didn’t tell me where you were! I thought you were dead on the street!” 

The words left a lump in Vash’s throat that he had to work to swallow down. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” 

Seeing the reaction to Vash’s conversation with his brother, Wolfwood frowned. He was not impressed with the way that Nai seemed to be bossing Vash around. He understood the concern, especially now that he had the backstory of the accident, but there were different ways to go about things. 

“Don’t be sorry. Do better, Vash,” Nai said, sounding more like a parent than a brother. “Send me the address of where you are. It better not be too far.” 

“I will,” Vash promised, lip wobbling. “It’s near the new dog grooming salon.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. You better be ready. And I don’t want to hear any complaining about the prosthetics when you get in the car. You’ve been told multiple times not to wear them this long. I’m not dealing with it.” With that, Nai hung up, presumably on his way. 

Vash sat there a second, lip quivering as he tried to collect himself before he put on a fake smile to talk to Wolfwood. “Good news. My brother’s on the way.”

Wolfwood stared at Vash in horror, hating the fake smile that was on his lips. “Does he always talk to you like that?”

Vash laughed, hiding a hiccup in it. “He’s just worried. He has a right to be, you know.” He lifted the prosthetic and waved. 

“Blondie, people can worry about you and not be cruel about it.” 

Turning away, Vash fully removed himself from Wolfwood’s side. “Don’t say that.” He bit his lip, not wanting to be upset at Wolfwood, but part of him knew the man was right. 

Realizing he overstepped again, Wolfwood put his hands up. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Vash.” 

Vash frowned at the use of his name. “Not that.” 

Wolfwood’s brows furrowed as he tried to figure out what Vash meant. After a solid thirty second, he remembered what Vash had said about not always liking how Wolfwood said his name. “I’m sorry, Angel,” he tried again, voice soft. 

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, before he turned back to Wolfwood. “Thank you.” He reached back over, wrapping his arms around the man and breathing in his scent. 

“You’re welcome,” Wolfwood whispered, hugging him tightly. For whatever reason, he felt like it would be a minute before he was going to be able to see Vash again. “Call later? Only if you want.” 

Vash closed his eyes, knowing the time was ticking by quickly.  “I’ll try, Nick.” 

Wolfwood pulled away, pressing a quick kiss to Vash’s temple. “Let’s get your stuff together?” 

Vash nodded before clicking his tongue twice, urging Knives to jump onto the ground, so the man could stand up slowly. “Your couch is really low.” 

“Right. Maybe we should plan to sleep over at your place then?” It was meant to be a little joke, a way to acknowledge Vash’s need for certain items, while also reaffirming their future plans. But the look of horror on Vash’s face proved it had the opposite effect. 

“You can not stay the night at my house,” came the harsh response, stunning both of them. 

“Oh,” Wolfwood said, the single syllable cutting through the tension. 

Vash closed his eyes and smacked his forehead with the prosthetic. “I didn’t mean it like that! It’s because of Nai! He wouldn’t even like if he knew you had already come over.”

Wolfwood reached up, gently stopping Vash from hitting himself more. “Okay, Angel. I get it. Please don’t hurt yourself.” 

“Sorry. Sorry. I’m stressed,” Vash explained, pulling his hand back so he could put the leash on Knives. “I have to get downstairs so I’m ready.” 

Wolfwood nearly reached for the backpack to help, but then realized he might accidentally upset Vash again. “Can I help you get downstairs?”

Vash bit his lip, checking the time. “Do you still like me enough to give me a hug if I let you?”

“Hey. I like you the same amount. You’re my guy, no matter what.” 

Vash gave a little smile. “Please, help?” 

Wolfwood nodded, grabbing the backpack and Knives’ leash so Vash only had to worry about making it down the stairs. “Ready, Spikey?”

Nodding, Vash made his way down the stairs, considerably slower than when he’d made his way up earlier in the evening. Eventually he made it to the first floor, the strain of the day clear on his face. 

“Hug?” He asked, still shifting his weight from the right leg. 

“Of course,” Wolfwood said, wrapping his arms around Vash, feeling the blond wrap his arms around as well. 

The hug was far too short, Vash pulling back after a few seconds, worried that Nai would pull up. “I’ll text or call when I get home,” Vash said, taking the leash and backpack. 

“Okay. Be safe.” 

Vash gave a small wave and smile, before he exited the building, just in time for a silver car to pull up and swing the door open. Wolfwood waited downstairs until he was sure Vash was safely in the car, before making his way back up to his apartment, a heavy feeling settling in his stomach. 

Chapter Text

When Wolfwood didn’t hear from Vash that night, he didn’t think anything of it. He knew that the day had been exhausting and the last conversations they’d had were beyond taxing. He sent a text wishing him a good night and called it even. 

By the next night, Wolfwood was getting worried. Since they had officially been talking, it was beyond unusual for Vash to go more than twelve hours without sending a text or picture to Wolfwood. But to also miss a second nightly call, Wolfwood was past being a little worried. 

He replayed everything that Vash had ever said in passing about his brother, Nai, along with everything he had heard for himself from the phone conversation. The two portraits didn’t relate. When Vash spoke of Nai, it was of a caring brother who wanted the best for him. But what Wolfwood had heard was an overbearing sibling that seemed to force himself into the parental role. 

Wolfwood was no stranger to being placed in the parental role, he knew there were certain pressures that came with that, but he could never imagine speaking to Livio the way Nai had. He hated to even think of it, but he would almost call the behavior abusive. The thought was chilling, making him start to panic. 

By the third day of not hearing from Vash and not receiving any texts back, Wolfwood said enough was enough. He knew this was a day that Vash would be going to his college campus in the morning, but would be home by 2pm. Just to be sure he wasn’t jumping to any conclusions, Wolfwood sent another text to Vash, almost to test the water. 

WW: Vash, I’m serious. Please text me back by 2

The text had sat unanswered in the inbox for nearly four hours. Once 1:30pm rolled around, Wolfwood grabbed his helmet and headed over to the apartment complex that Vash and Nai lived in. 

He felt as if he was going crazy, like he was acting like some jealous jerk of a boyfriend. He knew how it could look to outsiders, maybe even to Vash, but at the end of the day, Wolfwood just wanted to make sure that Vash was alive and well. If Vash had decided that everything they discussed was worthless, well, he knew it would sting but he’d let Vash go his separate way. 

It was 1:50pm when Wolfwood pulled into the apartment complex, his bike pulling into a spot near Vash’s building. At 1:58pm, approximately one and a half cigarettes later, Meryl’s van pulled up, stopping right outside the same building. Wolfwood stubbed out his cigarette, storing the used filters in the box. 

Both Meryl and Vash seemed to lay eyes on Wolfwood at the exact same time, separate expressions crossing their faces. Meryl looked relieved and confused, while Vash looked like a kicked puppy. Wolfwood was not feeling optimistic about the interaction that was about to occur. 

Luckily, Meryl seemed to just let Vash and Knives out, before pulling away, giving a nervous little wave to Wolfwood as he went. The blond and his service dog slowly trudged towards the apartment, not quite glancing at Wolfwood. 

“Is that how it’s going to be?” Wolfwood asked, sliding his hands into his pockets, not even able to find a spark of anger.

“Hey, Wolfwood,” Vash answered, looking as if he wanted to be anywhere else rather than having this particular conversation. 

Wolfwood stayed where he was, worried he would startle Vash if he moved closer. As he looked the blond over, he noticed the dark circles under his eyes, hidden by the orange tinted glasses. 

“I’ll leave if you want. And I won’t ever reach out again,” Wolfwood started, hating how the words tasted as they came out of his mouth. “I just needed to make sure you were okay.” 

Vash frowned, brows furrowing as tears pricked behind his eyes. “When did you reach out?!” He yelled, the confusion so clear on his face that Wolfwood couldn’t doubt it was real. 

“I’ve been texting you for days, Vash.” 

Anger burned behind the blue eyes as he pulled out his phone and showed it to Wolfwood. “Look! Nothing. Don’t fuck with me, Wolfwood.” 

The hatred in his voice had Wolfwood stepping back, worried that Vash might actually lash out and end up hurting himself in the process. “Angel, I never got those texts. And you didn’t get mine,” he hurried to explain, pulling out his own phone to show Vash.

The blond let out a scream of frustration, refusing to look at the phone. “Don’t call me that!”

Wolfwood pressed his lips together, before nodding, realizing he had made a mistake. “Okay. I’m sorry,” he said, truly feeling apologetic for setting Vash off this bad. 

The sincerity in Wolfwood’s tone seemed to confuse Vash as he wiped at his eyes behind the sunglasses. “Why are you sorry?”

Holding the phone out still in the hopes that Vash would take a moment to see the texts he had sent, Wolfwood took a breath. “You’re confused and frustrated. I’m also confused. I shouldn’t have called you by that name while you’re upset.” 

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, his right hand shaking as he felt the anger run its course through him. It wasn’t often that he let his emotions build up so long that he found himself near a true meltdown of epic proportions, but the lack of sleep and hurt were building. “Why are you confused?”

“I don’t know what happened. But we’re not receiving each other's texts.” Wolfwood was almost certain that was the problem. He wanted to ask for access to Vash’s phone, but figured that would be crossing a boundary. 

Vash started to walk towards the apartment again, before turning quickly to walk back towards Wolfwood; he looked as if he was pacing like a caged animal. When Vash took his phone and slammed it into Wolfwood’s chest, the man fumbled to catch it. “The only answer is that you blocked me.” 

Wolfwood frowned, offended. “I would never do that. If I wanted to… break this off, I would just tell you.” He looked through Vash’s phone, his frown intensifying as he noticed how desperate the please were with each text. “Vash, I promise I never received any of these.” 

The wobbling in his lower lip started again, so Vash sucked it into his mouth, chewing. He couldn’t deny that it was definitely more Wolfwood’s style to admit directly that he wasn’t interested. And he couldn’t help but to think he was telling the truth about not receiving the texts. 

“You don’t hate me?” His voice was quiet, but sounded sure that Wolfwood had hated his guts. 

Wolfwood stared at him, appalled that Vash would ever think that about him. “Vash, I could never hate you. Even when I thought you were ghosting me .” He clicked on the info button for his contact details, scrolling to the bottom. “Fuck.” 

Vash moved closer, mostly so he could see what Wolfwood was doing. He wanted to believe everything that Wolfwood had been telling him, but lately his brain was screaming at him that everyone hated him, especially Wolfwood. As he peeked at the phone, Vash’s jaw dropped. 

“I would never block you. I didn’t do that.”

Sighing, Wolfwood unblocked himself, offering the phone back to Vash. He grabbed his phone again and sent a ‘hi’, watching as the new text suddenly appeared. 

Vash looked back at Wolfwood, the kicked puppy look was back on his face, but now it looked like he had been kicking himself. “I didn’t know,” he whispered, voice shaking. He felt like an idiot for ever doubting Wolfwood. He told himself that he should have known better. 

“I know, Blondie,” Wolfwood said, nearly reaching up to rub Vash’s shoulder, before he pulled his hand back. “Can we talk in your apartment for a minute?”

Vash frowned at the way Wolfwood pulled away, but he couldn’t blame the man. While Vash knew it was a huge misunderstanding on his part, he also knew he had a lot to make up for from the past three days. “Yeah. Sorry.”

They both walked towards the apartment, Vash grabbing his keys from his pocket. Wolfwood kept some distance between them, letting Vash get settled inside before he entered the apartment. His heart ached as he thought of the last time they were here together, eating ice cream on the couch. 

Vash gave Knives a treat after he took his vest off, before moving to settle into his same spot on the couch. “Um… Wolfwood?” He called, inviting the man to join him if he wanted. 

Wolfwood slowly made his way towards the couch, sitting down as far as he could on his side. It hurt him to be so far from Vash, but until things were resolved, he didn’t trust himself to be too close. 

Turning to face the other man, Vash felt his anxiety spiking, but he worked to keep it down as long as he could. He knew he wasn’t going to help anything by freaking out and not being able to discuss what happened. He was almost grateful when Wolfwood spoke first. 

“What happened when you left my place?” The confusion and hurt was palpable, but it was also clear that Wolfwood had been seriously worried.

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, eyes looking over Wolfwood’s face, refamiliarizing himself with it. “We came home. Nai was upset that I didn’t call, which I get, I should have let him know where I was,” Vash admitted, the phrase coming out almost robotic again. 

“And nothing happened?” Wolfwood pressed, trying to understand how they got to a point where he was blocked. 

“Well… He asked who I was with and your name,” Vash said, feeling foolish now that it was out. 

“And you sleep like the dead, that’s why Meryl is always afraid of waking you and triggering an episode,” Wolfwood supplied, rubbing his hand over his face. 

The betrayal on Vash’s face was enough to make Wolfwood scoot closer. “Whoa. Hey, let’s think a minute,” Wolfwood tried, hand still reaching out, but not quite touching Vash. 

To his credit, Vash immediately grabbed the hand, pulling it to his chest. “I’m so stupid. I’m sorry, Nick,” Vash said, gripping his hand tight. “Oh god, I was so mean to you!” 

The tears started, but Wolfwood reached up with his other hand and wiped them away. “Nope, hey, Vash, let’s calm down. Breathe with me.” He took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly, getting Vash to follow through. 

“You called me Angel and I yelled at you,” Vash whined, dismay clear on his face. “You said you’d break it off!” 

Wolfwood sighed, moving his hands out of Vash’s grasp, so he could gently hold the blond’s face. “I said I would do that if you wanted to. And that I would tell you to your face,” Wolfwood reminded him, bringing him back down. “Three days of miscommunication is not making me leave you.” 

Vash reached up with his right hand, fingers wrapping around Wolfwood’s wrist to help him calm down. “I’m sorry I was mean,” his voice was quiet, but his breathing had calmed down. 

“Thank you, Vash,” Wolfwood told him, knowing that Vash needed to hear he accepted the apology. “I don’t think you were mean, really. I think you were overwhelmed and me showing up triggered you.”

Vash frowned, hating that Wolfwood was excusing it away. “But I was still mean. And you didn’t deserve it.” 

Leaning forward, Wolfwood pressed a kiss to Vash’s forehead. “We were both confused and upset,” he repeated, trying to make Vash understand he wouldn’t hold it against him for lashing out. “I’m just glad I came and we fixed it.” 

“I thought you hated me,” Vash whispered, upset with himself for even thinking that of Wolfwood. “And now I feel so stupid because you would never do this to me.”

Shaking his head, Wolfwood moved to press his forehead against Vash’s own. “I don’t hate you, Angel. And I would never hurt you like this. But I need you to know that I’m not upset that you thought that.”

“You should be. Why would I ever think you would just leave me like that. God, the only reason you took so long texting me in the beginning was because I didn’t give you my number,” Vash said, closing his eyes as he leaned against Wolfwood. “You’re always so good about my boundaries.”

“It’s in the past now, Angel,” Wolfwood assured him, gently untangling their arms so he could wrap his arms around the blond. 

Vash moved to wrap his arms around Wolfwood, resting his head on the man’s shoulder. “I can’t believe Nai would do that.” His voice was tiny, hurt and anger building again in equal measure.

Wolfwood let his chin rest on Vash’s right shoulder. He didn’t really know what to say that would help keep Vash leveled; besides, he was also pretty angry at the brother. 

“We fought, but I promised to be better about telling him where I was,” Vash said, replaying the conversation in his head. “He made it seem like that was all he wanted.” 

Wolfwood rubbed his hand up and down Vash’s back as he spoke, trying to help keep him calm. “I know he’s worried about you.” He left the statement there, afraid to say much more because he was finding it harder to keep a neutral opinion. 

“He’s worried, yeah. But he can’t control me,” Vash said, pulling back so he could look Wolfwood in the eyes. “I’m almost 25. If I hadn’t had the accident he wouldn’t be acting like this.” The anger was growing, bubbling up to a point where it was ready to spill over.

“Hey, Vash,” Wolfwood said calmly, putting as much affection into the name as he could. “You’re allowed to be angry and upset, I don’t blame you. But let’s calm down a little, because I’m worried you’ll say something you’ll regret.”

The blond shook his head, though he knew Wolfwood was right. “I’m calm. I’m thinking rationally, but Nick, he’s never been this controlling and it’s weird.”

Wolfwood sighed, realizing he was going to have to put himself in Nai’s shoes. “I hate doing this, but think of it from his perspective,” he said, ignoring the unimpressed frown. “Your only family member was out later than he usually is. You don’t know where he is and haven’t heard from him.”

Vash’s lips pursed, as if he was trying to think of something to counter that statement, but was unable to do so. 

“He’s suddenly hanging out with someone new that you’ve never met,” Wolfwood gestured to himself. “I hate to say it, because I love this about you, but you’re really trusting, Vash. To a fault.”

“Oh my god,” Vash exclaimed, crossing his arms. “Nai said the same thing! But we’ve barely spent time together alone! That night was the first time we were alone for so long.”

“Right, but he didn’t know that. He doesn’t know that we spent so long talking on the phone or only seeing each other in public,” Wolfwood reminded him.

“I told him I had feelings for you and his answer was to block your number while I was asleep.” Vash frowned, realizing just how frustrated and hurt he was with the disrespect Nai showed him. 

Wolfwood grimaced, knowing that made everything worse. “Okay, that’s definitely not great,” he agreed, rubbing his hand over his own face. 

Vash grabbed his phone, unlocking it so he could call Nai. Wolfwood grabbed the phone, shocking Vash at the quick move. The two stared at each other, both surprised. 

“Nicholas, let go.” He didn’t say it in an angry tone, but rather a stern one, upset that Wolfwood was intervening. 

“Blondie, you’re going to say something you regret. He’s your brother and you love each other. Don’t do this right now.”

Vash frowned at him, knowing he was mostly right. “I have to stand up for myself now, or I won’t later. I just let him walk all over me. You saw how it was on the phone.” 

Lips pressed together, Wolfwood nodded, knowing that Vash was right. “Okay. I trust your judgment,” he said, releasing his grip on the phone. 

Blinking, Vash looked at the phone and then Wolfwood, surprised he gave in. “Thank you,” he told him, standing up so that he could actually call Nai.

“Do you want me to go? Or wait outside?” Wolfwood offered, knowing that this was a private conversation. 

Vash shook his head, pressing the call button. “No. Please stay,” he whispered it, worried Nai would pick up quickly. 

“Vash? Are you hurt?” Nai asked as he answered the phone. It was highly unusual for Vash to call him in the middle of the day.

“Kinda, yeah,” Vash said, the irritation rising. “You blocked Wolfwood!”

Nai groaned, his own irritation rising. “Are we back on that vermin? Vash, I told you he wasn’t good for you. You should just stick with the girls, they at least remind you to call me.”

“Don’t call him names!” His voice raised, something that never happened. “You don’t get to decide who I spend my time with, Nai. You don’t get to decide who I date. You’re my brother, not my parent!”

Nai felt his mouth twist into a frown at the way Vash spoke to him. “Well, we don’t have any more parents, do we?” The response was cold, something he knew would throw Vash off, but he said it quickly as if he had been waiting to throw that in Vash’s face. 

The quiver in Vash’s lip almost made Wolfwood stand to take the phone from him, but the blond trudged forward. “No, we don’t. You can’t control me, Nai. I’m your brother. I’m an adult.”

“Then maybe you should act like one, not like a spoiled brat who was grounded.” Nai was dismissive, sure that Vash wouldn’t do anything. 

“You violated my trust!” Vash yelled, nearly shocking Nai at the volume, something that never happened. “You came into my room and unlocked my phone and blocked my friend. Why did you do it, Nai? How did this make sense?”

“You need me to protect you. That man is going to break your heart and leave you more broken than you already are. So if I have to be the bad guy to stop that from happening, then so be it. I’ll be the bad guy.” 

The voice that Nai used was matter-of-fact, proving to Vash that he really thought this was the best action. His mouth dropped, feeling shocked and flummoxed that Nai would treat him like that. 

“Who are you?” Vash asked, the hurt he felt bleeding into the question. 

“I’m your brother. I’m the only one who really loves you, Vash.” 

Vash pulled the phone away so he could stare at it for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. “That’s not… You’re not supposed to act like this. It would break Rem’s heart if she heard you acting like this.” 

He wasn’t trying to hurt Nai, even though he knew it wasn’t a kind thing to say. Rem loved them and wanted the best for them, but she was never overbearing even when she was feeling the most protective of the twins. 

“Rem is dead, Vash.” Nai’s response was nearly robotic, an automatic reply he used for when she was mentioned. 

Vash stood there a moment, feeling his hand shake, the rage and disappointment filling him. “Yeah. You keep reminding me,” his voice dropped, not able to even scream. 

“And you’re all I have left. I won’t let anything happen to you.” A bit of emotion bled into Nai’s voice, as if he suddenly realized he was talking to his only living relative. “We have to stick together, Vash.”

“We’ll stick together when you treat me like I’m a person. Until you start acting like I’m a person with feelings and free will, I’m staying with Meryl.” 

“What?!” Nai yelled, shocked that Vash would defy him like that. 

“I’m staying with Meryl. I’m alive and I’m going to be fine.” With that, Vash hung up the phone, before blocking Nai, knowing that his brother would continue to call if he didn’t block him. 

Wolfwood moved to him, hands reaching, but letting Vash make the first move. The emotions welling up from the conversation seemed to crash into him at once, so the blond dropped his phone and wrapped his arms around Wolfwood, the tears finally falling. 

“Hey, it’s okay,” Wolfwood soothed, rubbing a hand down Vash’s back. His heart hurt as he listened to the helpless cries. 

Vash buried his face in Wolfwood’s neck, tears wetting the skin there. He took in hiccuping breaths as he tried to calm himself. It was out of the ordinary for him to argue with Nai, let alone leave to stay somewhere else; it was a whole new thing to completely block Nai. 

After a few minutes, Vash pulled back so he could wipe his eyes, feeling embarrassed he’d cried and left a wet spot against Wolfwood’s shirt. “Sorry,” he whispered, stepping back to collect himself. 

“You’re okay. I can hold you as long as you need,” Wolfwood promised him. 

Vash nodded, giving him a slight smile. “I need to pack. And call Meryl.”

“Of course. Want some help?” Wolfwood didn’t want to snoop or seem pushy, but he wanted to make sure that Vash got everything he needed.

“Please?” Vash was nervous, his stomach in knots as he realized what he’d signed himself up for. He also knew he needed to act quickly in order to get everything he needed out before Nai made his way home. 

“Tell me your immediate needs and I’ll grab them while you call Meryl. If you have a lot, I’ll call Livio and tell him to meet us so we can stack his car up.” 

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, gathering his thoughts. The stress was setting in, somehow helping him to make the choices that he needed, but also making his body sluggish to react. “Oh, god. My shower chair. My crutch. I can live without the wheelchair,” he paused, thinking about if he really needed any other items. “Um. Can you get my suitcases down from the top of my closet, please?”

Wolfwood mentally took note of the things that he’d need to get. He was sure that it would all fit in Meryl’s van, but he decided to text Livio anyway. “I got it. Go call shorty,” he said, pulling his phone out to send the text and address to his brother. 

Vash rolled his shoulders back, wincing at the knots growing in his shoulders. “Okay. Thank you,” he said, calling his best friend. He’d stayed with Meryl and Milly for fun sleepovers, so he was sure they would be okay with him crashing for a bit. 

“Hey Vash! How’d it go? Do we still like him or am I coming to beat him up?” Meryl asked, though she sort of knew the answer already. 

Vash took in a deep breath, trying to keep himself together. “It was Nai,” he managed to choke out. 

“Wait. What do you mean it was Nai? Did he, like, pay Wolfwood to ignore you? Kind of extreme but I don’t put it past him.” 

“What? You wouldn’t?” Vash asked, confused about how everyone seemed to have seen the betrayals coming except for him. “Forget that I said that. No, he blocked him on my phone.” 

Meryl was quiet for a minute, confused about how he even managed to get away with that. “Oh, god. I’m actually really glad Wolfwood showed up today then. So you have it all settled?”

Vash sniffed, working harder to keep his composure. “Can I stay with you and Milly for a bit?”

“Oh, Vash… Honey, Milly’s sister and brother-in-law are here with their kids. They’re taking up the whole guest room. I’m so sorry. You know I would always say yes, but with the kids and the baby playpen and everything… I hate saying it, but we don’t have room.” 

Vash nodded, feeling himself shut down, unable to figure out what he would do. “Okay. Thank you, Mer. Have fun with the kids.” 

“Vash, I love you. I’ll come help you figure everything out. I can help you talk it through with Nai.” 

“Nick’s here. It’s okay. Love you,” he said, before hanging up, feeling his heart rate pick up along with his breathing. 

Wolfwood came back in, carrying the shower chair and crutch to sit next to the door. “Vash?” 

“Sorry. Um. Thank you for helping,” Vash said, feeling the dissociation set in. “I have to stay.” 

Once the items were sat down, Wolfwood walked over to Vash, taking the phone out of his hand and setting it on the table, before holding his hand. “What happened?”

The blond’s fingers twitched, wrapping around Wolfwood’s hand. “I forgot they had company. But… it’s okay.”

“Do you feel safe here?” 

Vash frowned, not liking the question. “Nai would never hurt me.”

“That’s not what I asked and you know it.” 

Looking down, Vash shook his head. “I know I’m probably overreacting and I’ll regret this tomorrow, but… I’m hurt and he broke my trust.” He hated saying the words, hated ever saying anything against his brother, because he knew how much he cared for him, even if he showed it in strange ways. 

“You can stay with me.” The words were out before Wolfwood really considered everything behind them, everything that it would entail. But even as the potential reasons not to invite Vash to stay at his place piled up, they didn’t outweigh the pain that was clear in Vash’s eyes. “Even if it’s just tonight so you can clear your head, you and Knives can stay with me.” 

Vash’s eyes shot up quickly at the invitation, confusion showing on his face as he tried to make sense of it. “Why?”

“You’re upset and I care about you. Besides, you owe me a sleepover, Needles,” he tried to tease, hoping that it would sway Vash into accepting. 

As luck would have it, Vash gave out a weak chuckle, something small but it showed that he was still present. “Okay.” 

Wolfwood nodded, before leaning in to press a kiss to his temple. “Okay. Let’s get your stuff. Livio is on his way with his car.” 

Vash nodded, squeezing Wolfwood’s hand, before letting it go so that he could walk to his room and fill his suitcases. He didn’t bother folding anything, instead just focused on grabbing the clothes from the hangers and stuffing them into the suitcase, before moving to the dresser to do the same with his underwear and sleep clothes. When he was done, he looked around the room, making sure he had everything important since he didn’t know when he would be back. By his bedside table sat the picture of him, Nai and Rem, taken on the day of their official adoption. He stepped closer, grabbing the picture and hugging it to his chest before placing it in a pocket of the suitcase. 

Wolfwood stood back, letting Vash work since only he knew what he would need for a night or a few days, the invitation would remain open. Once Vash appeared done with packing, he moved forward to carry the suitcases, figuring it was going to be easier for him than Vash; it was a testament to Vash’s mental state that he didn’t argue.

“Alright, Angel. Anything else?” Wolfwood asked, setting the suitcases by the door with the rest of the items. 

“Oh. My medicine,” Vash said, glad that Wolfwood had asked because he was about to forget. He opened a cabinet, grabbing a vial before putting it into a safe travel case where the rest of his medicine bottles and pill organizer resided. Opening a drawer nearby, he grabbed a few syringes and needles, adding them to the case. 

He carried the case to the living room and placed it carefully in his backpack, glad that his laptop and its charger were still packed. Finally, he went back to the laundry area in the kitchen to grab Knives’ food and bowls, knowing he had to make sure the service dog was taken care of. By the time he was done grabbing everything, Wolfwood received a call. 

“Yo,” he greeted, answering the call, before opening the door to wave. “Yeah, we have some stuff to carry. Thanks.” He hung the phone up, before turning to Vash. 

“Livio’s here. Are you sure you want to do this?” 

Vash bit his lip and rubbed his brow, feeling a migraine start from the stress. “Yes, please. Just for a bit.” 

Wolfwood nodded, before a man with an eye patch and silver hair came in. “Livio, meet Vash,” he said, signing the name to make sure he understood it.

“Hi! Nice to meet you,” Livio called, giving a little wave. “I mean, maybe not like this. But still. I’ve heard a lot about you.” 

Wolfwood grabbed a suitcase, before shoving it into Livio’s stomach. “Thanks for being so helpful! Actually, I bet you can get the second one, too.” Before Wolfwood could shove the other suitcase at him, Livio ran towards the car, laughing. 

Vash watched the antics, chuckling a little. “You two seem fun.” He was happy for a little break from the stress, glad to have a moment to laugh. 

“That’s one way to put it,” Wolfwood said, grabbing the shower seat and the other suitcase. “If you’ll grab your backpack and get Knives ready, I think we’ll have everything.” 

Vash nodded, zipping the backpack and pulling it over his right shoulder, before grabbing the leash and whistling for Knives to walk forward so he could put it on him. “Just for a bit,” he told the dog, feeling the words slip away as they walked out. 

Livio came back before Wolfwood, grabbing the crutch and a few last bits. “Is that everything for now?” He asked, wanting to be sure. 

“Yeah. Thank you,” Vash mumbled, before remembering that Livio also had a hearing impairment, so he signed ‘thank you.’ 

Once Livio was headed back to his car, Vash pulled the door shut and locked it. He felt numb as he did it, wondering if this was the best choice. If Rem were there, she’d probably make them sit down and talk it over. But if Rem were there, he also knows Nai would have never done something so bad. 

Wolfwood came back to check on Vash, seeing the blond stare at the door. “We can unpack everything, Angel.” It would kill Wolfwood to leave Vash behind while he was hurting, but if it was what the blond wanted, he would do it. 

Turning, Vash walked closer to Wolfwood, pressing his forehead against the man’s shoulder. “No. Not right now.” 

Lifting his hand, Wolfwood rubbed Vash’s back, offering some amount of comfort while he could. “Okay. Let’s head to my place. Livio’s going to drive the bike home so we can get you and Knives there in one piece.” 

The numb dissociation finally settled in as Vash felt the pressing need to beat a deadline close. He nodded, hating that he would have to move from Wolfwood’s embrace, but knowing that it would get him closer to a couch or a bed. “Okay.” 

Sensing that Vash’s battery had drained, Wolfwood guided him to the car, before helping him climb into the passenger seat. Once he knew Vash was settled, Wolfwood got Knives set up in the back seat. 

Sighing, Wolfwood glanced back to the apartment. He knew that when he came over something would happen, but he never thought he’d indirectly be the catalyst for Vash leaving his home, even if for a night. 

Climbing into the driver's seat, Wolfwood started the car. “Homeward bound.” He was met with silence as Vash stared off into the distance. 

Chapter Text

The rest of the afternoon moved quickly, even blurring for Wolfwood. When they arrived at the apartment, Wolfwood made sure to get Vash and Knives into the apartment first. Vash walked as if he wasn’t seeing or feeling, he had reached a complete shut down, much to Wolfwood’s dismay. 

He sat Vash down on the couch, pressing a kiss to his head. “Livio and I will get your things, okay?” Wolfwood knew better than to expect an answer, but he decided that it was worth a try anyway; better to treat him like everything was normal. 

Knives for his part, pawed at Vash’s thigh, seemingly trying to bring the man out of his state. After deciding it wasn’t working, he crawled into Vash’s lap, nosing his way under the man’s arms. He let out a soft whine, expecting a hand to cling to his fur, but instead he received no response. 

Livio had taken it upon himself to grab the shower chair and a suitcase, easily carrying it up the stairs and setting it down by the couch. “Is he going to be okay?” He looked over to the blond with concern, seeing the glazed over stare. 

Sighing, Wolfwood gave a little shrug. “I’m sure he will be. He doesn’t fight with his brother, usually, I guess. But this one was pretty major.” He decided against telling Livio the full back story, lest his own brother decide to gang up on Nai, as well. 

“Well, we can get his stuff and make him comfortable until everything settles, right?” Livio smiled, heading back out, knowing that Wolfwood would follow him after closing the door behind them. 

“Thanks for helping,” Wolfwood said, grabbing things from the backseat of the car. He handed some to Livio, before grabbing his own armful. “If it’s alright, can I borrow your car while he’s here?”

“Yeah, sure.” Livio moved to go back into the apartment building before stopping and laughing. “Imagine if you got a little sidecar for the dog, though.” 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood nudged the back of Livio’s leg to get him to keep walking. “Livio, I swear to god.” 

The silver haired man kept laughing, undeterred by the vague threat. “I’m hilarious, you’re just a man without humor.” 

“Your only redemption is the fact that I think Vash would think it was hilarious.” Wolfwood moved to walk up the stairs, ignoring the way Livio stopped at the foot of them, staring up at him. 

“I knew you liked him, but you have it bad , Nico.” 

“I’m locking you out,” was the only response Wolfwood decided to dignify that comment with. He hurried up the steps, trying to beat Livio, only to have the other man take the stairs two at a time. 

“Can’t lock me out if I beat you, Nico Nico!” 

Huffing to keep up, Wolfwood chased after him, entering the apartment seconds after Livio. “Jesus,” he breathed heavily, setting the last of Vash’s things down. 

“Ha. Sore loser,” Livio told him, setting his armful down and stretching back. “Well, glad your boyfriend got settled, but I have to get to work.”

Wolfwood flicked Livio’s nose, making sure he was reaching towards the right side so he would see it coming. “Now is not the time for relationship terms.” 

Blinking his right eye, Livio just leaned back to try and get away from the flick. “You’re so sensitive sometimes. Fine. Bye, Nico,” he said, grinning at his brother. “Bye, Vash!” He called back to the blond, not expecting a response and not receiving one. 

Wolfwood closed the door behind Livio, before moving to check on Vash. He knelt down in front of the blond until he was sure he was in Vash’s eyeline. “Hey, Angel. How are you doing?”

Knives licked Vash’s hand, trying to grab his attention. Vash breathed slowly, eyes downcast, staring at Wolfwood but looking through him. Mentally, he knew he had to do something, say something, but the course of the day had taken its toll leaving him exhausted. 

He wanted to thank Wolfwood for taking him in, wanted to get to know Livio, call Meryl and apologize for being short with her, but he couldn’t bring himself to do anything. He couldn’t even make himself think of Nai and what he would like to say to his brother. The only thing Vash could focus on at the moment was sitting and existing. 

A sad smile on his lips, Wolfwood placed a gentle hand on Vash’s knee. “I’m going to clear some space for your things, okay, Blondie?” He didn’t expect an answer and knew how hard everything had to be on Vash for him to fully shut down. 

Standing up, Wolfwood moved his hand to gently card through Vash’s hair, noticing the smallest movement, as if the blond leaned into the touch. Pausing, Wolfwood let his hand rest on top of Vash’s head, fingers lightly massaging his scalp. The small movement became more pronounced as Vash closed his eyes and fully leaned into the palm of his hand. 

“There’s my guy.” The sad smile on his lips turned fond as he continued running his fingers through the blond hair. He studied Vash’s face, the furrow of his brows behind the orange sunglasses, the gentle parting of his lips as he let himself relax. 

Vash felt horribly guilty for allowing himself to enjoy the soft touches, sure that he deserved nothing as good and kind as Wolfwood’s touch after everything he’d done. But he couldn’t deny how nice it felt, soothing the pulsing headache that grew in his skull after the emotional turmoil. Leaning forward, Vash felt his forehead press against the fabric of Wolfwood’s shirt, his fingers twitched as they curled around Knives’ fur. 

Wolfwood gently laid his other hand on the back of Vash’s neck, his fingers lightly massaging the muscles there. He could only imagine how much pain the man was in, mentally and physically. Looking down, he frowned as he looked at the back of Vash’s neck, noticing the way there seemed to be pale, raised scars against the skin. 

“Do you want to lay down?” He whispered, feeling like it was only appropriate given how quiet the apartment was at the moment. His fingertips traced gently along the scar that peeked out the most from Vash’s hoodie.

Vash shivered involuntarily, the light touches causing him to sigh softly. Usually, he hated to be touched so lightly, his skin feeling as if it burned with each graze, sometimes even the fabric of his clothes causing him pain. But the touches from Wolfwood were different, practically causing him to fall asleep. 

Realizing he was asked a question and that some movement had been regained, Vash slightly tipped his head forehead, hoping it would suffice as a nod. Luckily for him, Wolfwood understood and moved so he could sit on the couch, hands not fully moving from Vash’s head until he was sitting beside him. 

Grabbing a throw pillow, Wolfwood settled it in his lap. “Can you lay down? I have a pillow in my lap for you. I can keep playing with your hair.” He knew it was a big move to ask Vash to do in the state that he was currently in, but he saw how well the man responded to his touch and figured it was worth trying. 

Whining at the loss of Wolfwood’s touch and the pain flaring up again, Vash patted the couch, signaling for Knives to move so he could flop back into Wolfwood’s lap. The movement was more than he thought he would be able to manage, but after a minute, Vash found himself lying back on the couch, Knives settled on his stomach and his own head resting in Wolfwood’s lap. 

“Good job, Angel,” Wolfwood told him, proud of the progress that Vash was making, despite knowing how difficult it had to be. “We’ll just stay here until you feel better.” His hands moved through Vash’s hair again, nails lightly scratching at the scalp. 

Vash wanted to say so much, wanted to quip that they would be stuck like that a while if they were really staying until he felt better, but he stayed silent. He felt Wolfwood carefully remove the sunglasses, heard him fold them and place them on the end table. He breathed deeply as he felt the man tracing along his hairline, fingers grazing the scar that was mostly hidden by the regrown hair, from where his head smacked against the side of the car in the crash. 

Normally, Vash would shy away from the touches, even going so far as to push Meryl away at first when he was still in the hospital. He only ever let Nai see them and even that was more out of necessity than because he felt comfortable. But feeling the reverent way that Wolfwood traced the few scars that he could see, Vash almost felt like he would be safe enough to share the rest. 

Head still pounding, Vash realized that he wouldn’t have much choice but to show some scars with the temporary living situation. For the most part, he’d been able to get away with wearing sweats and hoodies, but he couldn’t sleep in those without risking overheating. He frowned, knowing that this would end with Wolfwood seeing more scars than he was willing to show so soon. 

Noticing the frown, Wolfwood lightly traced down Vash’s face, from the slope of his nose to the arch of his top lip. He trailed his fingertip to the corner of Vash’s lip and along the bottom of his lip. The movement had the effect he was hoping for, causing the lips to twitch into a small smile. 

“Pretty boy,” Wolfwood whispered, his fingers tracing along the curve of Vash’s jaw now. He was so absorbed with the movements, he almost didn’t notice how Vash’s eyes flew open, blue staring up at him in surprise. “What?” Wolfwood asked, confused about Vash’s sudden motion. 

Vash licked his lip and swallowed as if he wanted to speak, but found it difficult. His frown was back, irritated that he couldn’t just speak to Wolfwood. His own fingers were still focused on running through the Husky’s fur, working himself back into more movements. 

“Sorry, do you not like being called pretty?” Wolfwood was just trying to figure out if what he said was allowed or if it had upset Vash; he knew there were plenty of men out there that didn’t like to be called cutesy names. “I could use handsome?” 

Shaking his head, Vash looked back up at Wolfwood. While his vocal cords refused to work, Vash managed to mouth the word, ‘me?’ He looked genuinely surprised that Wolfwood would use either word to describe him. 

“Vash, you’re gorgeous,” Wolfwood told him, thumbs gently caressing the curve of his cheeks. “Can I call you that?” He kept the question simple, wanting to allow Vash to answer. 

Lips pressed together as Vash thought about how the words made him feel. Once upon a time, he was used to the occasional compliment, mostly from people that just wanted him to give them something. But hearing it from Wolfwood? His stomach flipped and his cheeks turned pink. 

Chuckling, Wolfwood leaned down to press a kiss to Vash’s forehead. “Am I safe in assuming the blush means you like it?” Lips still pressed to the blond’s forehead, Wolfwood felt him nod slightly. 

As if Vash just realized how close the two were, he sat up, headbutting Wolfwood and nearly scaring Knives in the process. The dog gave a bark, before jumping off of the couch but sitting within range, waiting to be dismissed. Fingers now free for movement, Vash reached into his pocket and tossed a few treats to Knives; a thank you for taking care of him. 

“Ouch. Fuck,” Wolfwood muttered, rubbing his head. “Guess that was my fault. I shouldn’t have been that close while you were coming out of it.” 

Vash rubbed his own forehead, regretting the quick movement before shaking his head. He pointed to himself, hoping to make it clear it was his fault. He reached up then, fingers carefully taking Wolfwood’s head in his hands so he could gently pull him closer until Vash could press a kiss to his forehead. 

Smiling, Wolfwood closed his eyes and enjoyed the kiss. “I’m okay. I have a hard head.” Wolfwood pulled back once Vash released his hold on him. “How’s your headache?”

Frowning, Vash shrugged. While he felt more like himself, he could feel the migraine still creeping in, the tension riding up his spine as he moved. He started to stand up, feeling himself wobble in the process, he fell back onto the couch, giving in to his fate. 

Wearing a matching frown, Wolfwood stood up. “I can help you stand or I can get your medicine bag for you. Which do you want?” He was offering a choice between helping, but hoped he made it clear that Vash was going to be accepting some help. 

Sighing, Vash mimed the bag, deciding that was easier than using the fine motor skills required for sign language in the moment. He turned to watch Wolfwood as the man rifled through the backpack, handing the bag to Vash, before moving to the kitchen, presumably to grab him a glass of water. In the meantime, Vash unzipped the bag, grabbing the medicine bottle that held his migraine medication and groaning at the child safety lock.

Wolfwood returned, setting the water on the end table, before holding his hand out for Vash to offer the medicine bottle to him. With a reluctant sigh, the blond handed the bottle over, looking up at Wolfwood with a pout. “Why does your medicine not have an easy open top?” He asked, clearly confused as he opened the medicine and tipped one of the pills into Vash’s hand. 

Shrugging, Vash swallowed the pill, before accepting the glass of water that Wolfwood offered him to wash it down. He never thought it was that strange, because Nai usually put the medicine in the different organizers which were easier to pop open. He guessed they both just grew used to the habit of Nai taking care of him. 

“I just think it would make your life easier if you could open the medicine with one hand,” Wolfwood commented, hoping that Vash wouldn’t take the statement the wrong way. Luckily, the blond nodded, seemingly agreeing with his idea. 

Wolfwood handed the medicine bottle back to Vash, letting him put it back in the bag himself. “Ah.” Vash let out a little sound as he pulled the vial of testosterone out of the bag and handed it to Wolfwood. 

“Oh,” Wolfwood said, the surprise clear on his face as he read the medication’s label. Vash stared up at him, a nervous look on his own face. “What? I was just surprised. I’ll put this in the cabinet.” His voice was gentle, exactly what Vash was used to hearing, but the words still made him nervous.

The nerves creeping up, Vash hated that he was worried about what Wolfwood would think or say. Seeing the man come back to the couch, Vash’s brows pulled together, showing his concern. It had been a long time since he had to come out to a partner, but he’d never had to do it when living with the person by accident. 

“Hey, don’t give me that face, Angel,” Wolfwood said, kneeling down in front of him again. “I like you, no matter what.” He took Vash’s hand in his, pressing a kiss to the knuckles. “Is that okay with you?”

The crease in his brows smoothed as Vash watched Wolfwood, a smile making its way to his face instead. He nodded, moving his hand up so that he could run it through Wolfwood’s hair this time. The other man closed his eyes, leaning into the touch the way Vash had before. 

Feeling a little lighter, Vash allowed himself to lean forward, pressing a kiss to the top of Wolfwood’s head. He realized with a start that the other man had spent a lot more time taking care of Vash and he decided that wasn’t fair. The blond pressed more kisses to Wolfwood’s head, smiling as he did so. 

“Vash, I have to change the bedsheets and make room for your things,” Wolfwood whined, although he wanted nothing more than to stay exactly where he was. The blond seemed to dislike the words so he nuzzled into Wolfwood’s hair, breathing in the scent. 

Giving in, Wolfwood leaned forward so he could wrap his arms around Vash. The blond seemed to like that as he breathed out a laugh, before running an affectionate hand through Wolfwood’s hair again. “Stay?” Vash managed to say after mouthing the phrase for a moment to practice. 

“Aren’t you the one with the migraine? I should be holding you again.” Wolfwood’s actions seemed to contradict his words as he rested against Vash. He’d finally been given a moment to appreciate the man in his arms and be thankful that he was back in his life. Somewhere in the back of his mind he wanted to remind himself that they were only separated for three days, but he wasn’t in the mood to deal with logic. 

Vash seemed to think for a moment, wanting to find the words, before he tried to say them. Wolfwood waited patiently, letting Vash mouth the word to himself, hand playing with the black strands of his hair. Eventually, he heard the way Vash cleared his throat and glanced up. 

“Cuddle?” The word was stilted, but Vash grinned as he said it, proud that he managed to get it out. He knew that they had a lot to discuss and he had a lot to do to make things up with Nai, but for a moment he wanted to allow himself to be selfish. Maybe he was always selfish, Vash thought to himself, but he tried to be kind and selfless where he could, so sometimes he would allow himself to be selfish in the moment, allow himself to enjoy Wolfwood’s company. 

Smiling, Wolfwood sat back on his knees so that he could properly look at Vash. “Couch or bed?” He asked, remembering the conversation from just three days ago. 

Vash thought for a moment, before making his decision. He pointed towards the bedroom, realizing he hadn’t seen it, but knowing that they would be more comfortable there. Wolfwood stood up, stretching for a moment before offering Vash his hand. 

Taking Wolfwood’s hand, Vash accepted the man’s help to finally pull himself off of the couch. Once standing, he felt how wobbly he was and found himself grateful for the assistance. “Crutch?” Wolfwood asked, wanting to let Vash feel free to move around. 

Shaking his head, Vash let himself lean on Wolfwood. “Not now,” he mumbled, the stiffness in his body working its way out. Although he knew he could walk without the assistance now, Vash continued to hold onto Wolfwood, happy to be close. 

Once they were in the bedroom, Vash sat on the bed, Wolfwood staying where he was so the blond could get comfortable. Chewing on his bottom lip, Vash rolled the left shoulder before stretching it up, deciding what he wanted to do. “Turn?” He asked Wolfwood, hoping he would understand. 

Nodding, Wolfwood turned around so that he wasn’t facing Vash. The blond blushed, but worked to remove his prosthetics. He knew it would be impractical to do this every time he wanted to wear them, but for the day he allowed himself a little privacy. He knew that if he had told Wolfwood to go into the other room, he would have done that, as well. 

There was a large level of trust that Vash was showing Wolfwood as he took his shirt off, sure that the man wouldn’t glance back. He worked quickly to undo the harness that kept the prosthesis on and allowed it to do the small movements. Once the arm was off, he pulled the shirt back on, before moving to take the leg off. 

Artificial limbs set aside, Vash pushed himself back further onto the bed, glad for the extra arm strength in his right arm. Once he was settled, Vash turned his eyes back to Wolfwood, smiling as he realized the man was in the exact same spot as before, clearly unmoving. “Nick?” He asked, hoping to gain the man’s attention. 

At the sound of his name, Wolfwood glanced back quickly, taking stock of the way Vash was settled on the bed and his limbs were successfully removed. “Hey, you ready?” He asked, stepping closer to the bed. He laughed as the blond reached his right hand out and made a grabby motion. 

Climbing onto the bed, Wolfwood wrapped his arms around Vash, marveling at the way the man immediately curled into his chest. Sighing in contentment, he pressed a kiss to the blond hair as he felt the way Vash’s right hand gripped to the back of his shirt. “Nap time?” Wolfwood whispered, lips still grazing Vash’s hair. 

A sleepy nod was all that came from the blond before he started to quickly drift to sleep. Smiling, Wolfwood rubbed Vash’s back as he held him close, happy that the man was allowing himself to be comforted after the week he’d had. Before he knew it, he found himself drifting off with the scent of Vash’s shampoo filling his nose. 

Chapter Text

Waking, Vash would have usually expected himself to jerk awake, pushing away whoever was near him. Instead, his eyes popped open, but instead of dread, he was filled with warmth and comfort. At some point in the evening, Wolfwood had moved to lay on his back, Vash wrapping around him, head on his chest and his right leg stump slung over Wolfwood’s own legs.

The position was new, but not unpleasant. Vash tilted his head up, nuzzling into Wolfwood’s neck. Behind him, he felt Knives stretch out along his body. On Wolfwood’s other side, he saw Kuroneko curled up into a little ball. 

Smiling, Vash let himself enjoy the quiet moments, the stillness in the room filling him with joy, rather than dread. He wasn’t alone and he was overjoyed with that thought. Some part of him knew that he could get used to this comfort. 

Feeling bold, Vash leaned up to press a soft kiss to Wolfwood’s jaw, delighting in the feeling of the scruff against his lips. Unable to stop himself, Vash continued pressing little kisses to his jaw, giggling to himself during the times the scruff tickled him. He couldn’t place why he felt so giddy when waking up in Wolfwood’s arms, but he couldn’t get enough of the feeling. 

Upon feeling the soft kisses to his skin, Wolfwood slowly felt himself crawl back to consciousness, the reluctance fought off by the thought of waking up to Vash. As his eyes opened, he turned his head towards Vash, who he assumed was the source of the kisses. He smiled, his eyes meeting Vash’s in the evening light that filtered in through the curtains. 

“Hi,” Vash whispered, a little worried that Wolfwood might be upset that he was woken up.

Wolfwood’s smile softened at the tone. “Hey,” his voice was hoarse from sleep. “You’re feeling affectionate.” 

Burying his nose against Wolfwood’s jaw, Vash sighed softly. “I’m comfortable.” He said it like it was the most obvious answer in the world and Wolfwood couldn’t even argue with him. 

“Then we’ll be taking more naps, I think.” Wolfwood’s hand moved up to trail up and down Vash’s right arm, the movement gentle and light.

Vash hummed, moving his hand to cup Wolfwood’s jaw. “I could nap anywhere if I felt safe enough.”  He hoped that Wolfwood could hear the implied, ‘as long as you’re there, I’m safe.’ 

“Yeah?” He murmured, lips grazing Vash’s forehead as he spoke. Wolfwood hated to admit it, but he could feel himself falling back to sleep. He hadn’t realized how the lack of sleep had affected him over the past few days. 

“Yeah,” came the quiet reply, as Vash tried to calm his own heart rate. His thumb gently traced along Wolfwood’s jaw line, his fingers lightly curving around to the back of his neck. 

Vash laid there, hyper focused on how close he and Wolfwood were pressed together, their animals forcing them to be closer. He’d woken up in partner’s beds before, laid awake next to them as he tried to decide if it was an appropriate time to escape. As he laid with Wolfwood, though, he didn’t want to escape. 

If Vash had his way, they’d melt into the bed and never leave again. The thought terrified and thrilled him at the same time. They hadn’t even managed to define their relationship, but somehow, that didn’t matter to Vash. He knew what he wanted from Wolfwood, all of his tomorrows; he just hoped the other man thought the same. 

Wolfwood hummed, feeling himself wake again after dozing. He smiled softly, feeling Vash shift so their noses would brush against each other. “Yeah, Blondie?” He mumbled, eyes still closed. 

Vash sighed quietly, the breath dusting against Wolfwood’s lips, making the other man open his eyes to stare back into light blue. “I want to kiss you.” Vash whispered the request, unsure if Wolfwood would want to fulfill it. 

Sleep drunk and pressed together, Wolfwood couldn’t think of a better time or place to kiss Vash. “You sure?” He asked, wanting to be sure that Vash wasn’t forcing anything. 

“Please?” The plea was quiet, but Vash’s fingers pulled Wolfwood closer, their heads having to tilt to avoid their noses pressing together. 

“Anything for you, Angel,” Wolfwood told him, before closing the distance so their lips pressed together in an innocent, but sweet kiss.

Vash parted his lips slightly, allowing Wolfwood’s to slot between his, molding them together. He breathed in slowly, his fingers sliding into the other man’s hair, twining the strands through his fingers. 

Wolfwood let Vash take the lead on the kiss, only parting them when he felt the blond starting to pull away first. The smile on Vash’s face made him want to kiss him senseless, but instead, he looked back with his own fond smile on his face. 

Leaning back in, Vash pressed another quick kiss to Wolfwood’s lips, unable to hold back from giving him one more kiss. “Nick?” He asked, letting their foreheads gently press together. 

“Yeah?” He whispered, feeling like if he spoke any louder, Vash would disappear and he’d wake up from whatever dream he was enjoying. 

“I have feelings for you,” Vash whispered, matching the quiet. He knew they’d gone over everything, but there were things he felt but couldn’t express before, so he let himself again. 

Wolfwood smiled softly, his fingers encircling Vash’s wrist, before he turned his head to kiss the palm of his hand. “I have feelings for you, too.” 

Matching his smile, Vash pressed a kiss to Wolfwood’s nose. “Is it childish to ask you to be my boyfriend?” 

Snorting a laugh, Wolfwood shook his head. “Livio already called you mine.” 

“Hmm. I thought I remembered that, but things were hazy.” Vash admitted, unable to stop how wide his smile had become. “Did you like that?” 

“Vash, Zazie, my business partner, assumed you were my boyfriend weeks ago,” he admitted, remembering that detail and how he’d felt hearing it. “So, yeah, Blondie. I liked it.” 

Chuckling, Vash let his chin rest on Wolfwood’s chest. “So, you’ve been acting like we’ve been dating for weeks?” 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood tugged on a small clump of hair. “Not on purpose. I think you just bring that out in me.” 

“Oo. Are you saying I make you romantic?” Vash teased, playfully sticking his tongue out. 

“Yeah. Maybe I am, Spikey. What do you have to say to that?” Wolfwood challenged, raising an eyebrow. He was happy to see Vash in a playful mood and wanted to ride that wave while he could. 

“I think you only know how to be romantic.” Vash leaned in to press another soft kiss to his lips. “And I really like that about you… baby?” He said the last part as a question, wrinkling his nose as he tried to figure out if he liked the endearment. 

“Sorry, Darling, I think we know which one of us is better at the nicknames,” Wolfwood teased, even though his heart raced at the endearment. 

Vash pouted, his lip sticking out dramatically. “But that’s not fair. You can’t have all of the nicknames… sweetheart.” He couldn’t help but to smile a little at that one, though. 

“I think you’re lacking practice, babe.” Wolfwood grinned, knowing it was going to drive Vash up the wall. 

“Well, love, I never really got to the nickname part of dating people.” He paused, taking in how it felt to use the endearment, before he smiled brightly. 

“You would find the sappiest one.” Wolfwood leaned forward, pressing a line of kisses along the side of Vash’s face, from his jaw up to his temple. “But it’s nice.” 

“You call me Angel. I can call you Love.” He scrunched his eyes closed, laughing at each kiss that Wolfwood pressed to his face. 

“You can call me whatever you want.” He pressed one final kiss to Vash’s temple. 

Vash stretched around Wolfwood, his left arm working its way under the pillow, while his right leg locked the man in place. Wolfwood’s hand lightly traced down Vash’s arm and side, moving to rest on his thigh, keeping him in place. He paused, ready to pull his hand back if Vash decided it was too close to the amputation point. 

Closing his eyes, Vash considered for a moment if he was okay with the touch. It was the first time he’d let someone that wasn’t family or a medical professional near the stump of his leg. After taking into consideration the fact that he was still fully clothed, Vash nodded, deciding it was okay that Wolfwood was so close. 

For Vash’s bravery, Wolfwood leaned back in, pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of his nose, chuckling as he scrunched it. Vash’s right hand stayed in Wolfwood’s hair, fingers twirling the strands. 

Wolfwood tilted his head down to press a soft kiss back to Vash’s lips. Even though the man was in his arms, practically on top of him, Wolfwood wasn’t so convinced it wasn’t all just an elaborate dream. He feared he’d wake up all alone, still unable to contact the man. 

Vash, unaware of Wolfwood’s own inner turmoil, smiled softly, happy to be receiving any kisses. As he opened his eyes though, he noticed the lines between Wolfwood’s eyes. Untangling his fingers from the man’s hair, he gently moved his thumb to smooth out the crease. 

“Nick?” He asked, wondering what was troubling the man. He breathed slowly, waiting for Wolfwood’s answer before he allowed himself to worry. 

“It’s nothing,” Wolfwood promised, smiling softly and looking into Vash’s eyes. The blond seemed unimpressed by the answer, however, so he sighed, gently squeezing Vash’s thigh. “This just sort of feels like a dream. That’s all.” 

Unable to stop himself, Vash grinned, moving his hand to cup Wolfwood’s cheek. “Are you saying you’ve dreamt of me before?” 

Groaning, Wolfwood hid his face in the pillow, hoping that Vash would give up. Unfortunately for him, Vash was now intrigued and decided that wiggling his left arm under the pillow was the only way to get Wolfwood to pay attention to him. “Come on, love. Talk to me.” 

Wolfwood sighed, extracting his right arm out from under Vash so that he could gently grasp Vash’s left arm as close as he could manage to the the shoulder. “I will, Angel. Stop wiggling so much.” 

Vash stopped, letting the remainder of his left arm settle in Wolfwood’s grasp. He blinked, surprised that Wolfwood was so comfortable touching him, while also managing to respect his boundaries. Seeming to realize what he was doing, Wolfwood released his grasp, but kept his hand there, letting Vash decide to move it or not. 

“Okay?” Wolfwood asked, thumb gently rubbing cicles on the inside of Vash’s bicep. The blond hummed, before nodding, having decided it was more than okay for Wolfwood to touch him if it meant more gentle touches. 

“I think I like it,” Vash told him, surprising himself in the process. He smiled softly as he felt Wolfwood properly hold his arm. “You don’t act weird about touching my residual limbs.” 

Now, feeling as if he were fully awake for the first time since their nap, Wolfwood stared at Vash. “It’s your body. The only reason I’ll act weird is if I think you don’t like it,” he explained, pressing a kiss to Vash’s left shoulder. “I trust you to tell me if you don’t like something.” 

Vash smiled, a blush dusting on his cheeks at the kiss. “I just trust you.” It was a statement that he never really thought he’d be comfortable admitting to someone, especially someone so new to his life, but Wolfwood had done nothing but prove time and time again that he only cared for Vash and his boundaries. Something about that made him feel soft and mushy. 

It was Wolfwood’s turn to smile softly, the statement making his heart race. “I’m really glad to hear that, Vash.” 

Vash grinned, before putting on a mock pouty face. “You’re supposed to say it back,” he whined. 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood moved down to press a kiss to Vash’s left bicep, moving his own fingers to allow himself room. “I trust you. Completely.” 

The blond felt his heart stutter at the gentle kiss, even if it was still through the fabric of his sweatshirt. He knew he shouldn’t be surprised by such motions anymore, given the fact that Wolfwood was already proving to be very comfortable with showing affection to Vash in any way he could, but he hadn’t anticipated how it would make him feel. With each gentle touch or kiss, Vash could feel different cracks in his heart begin to patch together. 

For almost two years he’d told himself that he didn’t deserve love, that no one would ever be able to love them once they knew what he had done. But here Wolfwood was, opening his home and heart to Vash without any worries. The man knew Vash’s past, but still wanted him, was still falling for him. 

Hearing the silence, Wolfwood glanced to Vash, his head still turned towards his arm. “Angel?” His voice was soft, as if he was afraid to scare Vash off. Instead, the blond just shook his head, looking to Wolfwood with so much affection, it almost hurt to see. 

“You really care about me.” It was as if everything Wolfwood had been telling him all night was finally settling in, making sense in Vash’s head. All of the other kisses and touches paled to the last kiss Wolfwood gave him, all of it through the thick fabric of a sweatshirt. 

“I’ve been trying to tell you that, Needle Noggin,” Wolfwood teased, turning more on his side so he could properly face Vash and rest his head on the blond’s residual limb. 

“Fuck. I’m really falling for you.” He’d meant to think it, to keep the statement to himself, because, in his mind, everything was still so new and tenuous. As the statement left his lips, Vash saw the way Wolfwood softened, saw the way the man stared at him as if he hung the stars, and he figured the slip of the lips might have been worth it. 

“If that’s the case, I’ll just have to work even harder so I can keep you right here.” Wolfwood normally wasn’t the type to speak about his emotions, but saying the words as the evening turned to a darker night sky, resting his head on his new partner’s arm, he felt it come easier than ever before. 

Nearly overwhelmed with the positive emotions, Vash surged forward, molding his lips to Wolfwood’s once more. They both deepened the kiss, letting their emotions pour into the act so that neither would end up saying things too soon that the other might regret hearing. Lips finally parting, their foreheads rest together so their breaths could linger, practically becoming one. 

The silence of the room was only interrupted by a growl of Vash’s stomach, the sound nearly startling the both of them. Pulling apart, the two looked at each other before cracking up, Vash rolling to the side, his right hand covering his stomach as he tried to control himself. Wolfwood, to his credit, managed to compose himself and stand up, stretching with his arms above him. 

“Want me to hand you the prosthetics or grab you crutch?” He asked, turning back to face Vash who was sitting him. The blond seemed to be running his hand through his hair, trying to tame the unruly spikes. 

“Wow. No breakfast in bed? The service here is terrible,” Vash teased, scooting himself to the edge of the bed. “Could you grab the crutch, please?” 

“On it,” Wolfwood said, turning to grab it from the living room. As he returned, he noted Vash was trying to tie back the longer sleeve of his sweatshirt. “Here you go,” he said, setting the crutch against the bed so Vash could grab it. While he wanted to ask if Vash needed help, he figured the blond would ask if he did. 

After a moment longer that ended with a heavy sigh, Vash looked up to Wolfwood, as if he was expecting the man to offer to help. Wolfwood raised a brow, making it clear he wouldn’t do anything without being asked, not because he didn’t want to help, but more that he didn’t want to keep assuming Vash needed the help. Unfortunately, for the blond, he did seem to need help. 

Another moment of thinking, Vash sighed. “It’s time for me to change for bed anyway. I’m just going to try to find some pajamas,” he said, giving in. 

“I would have helped,” Wolfwood promised, hoping that Vash didn’t think he was watching him struggle for fun. 

The blond laughed, using the crutch to stand and walk out towards the living room. “I know. But it seems like a waste of time when I have to change for bed anyway, you know?” 

“Just making sure.” Wolfwood headed towards the kitchen, opening the fridge to find a quick meal for them. “Quesadilla or Grilled Cheese? Wait, do you eat cheese?” 

Vash laughed, fumbling his way through the suitcase, trying to find appropriate sleep options. “I eat cheese and I like both. Quesadilla will be better if you get it extra crispy.” 

Wolfwood nodded, grabbing the ingredients. “Got it.” He grabbed a skillet, letting it warm on the stove before he added butter. 

“I’m getting naked in your bedroom,” Vash called, having found the shorts and shirt he wanted to sleep in. He laughed as he heard Wolfwood drop something. 

“That is not a normal way to tell someone you’re changing and not to come in!” Wolfwood wasn’t upset, but he was certainly surprised by the joke. 

“But it’s technically correct,” Vash pointed out, closing the door behind him so he could properly change while sitting on the bed. 

Wolfwood shook his head as he focused on making the quesadilla, rather than the growing blush on his cheeks. He felt foolish for letting a small joke get him so flustered, but he assumed things were just different because it was Vash. The blond seemed to have that sort of effect on him. 

By the time both quesadillas were finished, Vash finally made his way out of the bedroom. While it hadn’t taken him long to change, it had taken him a little longer to mentally prepare to be so open to Wolfwood. The shirt and shorts were comfortable but defintely left his stumps on display, the scars around them showing the trauma he’d gone through. 

Quietly, Vash moved to the breakfast bar to pull himself onto a bar stool. Wolfwood, having noticed how quiet Vash was being, decided not to mention anything. He slid a plate towards Vash, before grabbing sour cream and salsa. “You want some of these? Or hot sauce?” 

Vash picked up a triangle and took a bite, deciding. “Um. Salsa, please,” he decided, chewing thoughtfully. 

“Wow. Another please,” Wolfwood teased, putting some salsa into a container for Vash and sliding it to him. He added sour cream and salsa to his own quesadilla, before moving to sit next to him at the counter. 

“Hey. I say please and thank you to you!” Vash pointed out indignantly. Rem had taught him to always use manners, so he worked very hard to do just that. 

“You do. But you don’t have to with me.” Wolfwood shrugged, picking up his quesadilla and taking a bite. He smiled over to Vash, glad that the man was opening up again. 

Sighing, Vash dunked his quesadilla into the salsa. “I can still be nice even if you’re my boyfriend.” He smiled to himself as he said the phrase, butterflies rising in his stomach again. 

“I know. Just needed to get you smiling.” Wolfwood grinned, before focusing on his food, the hunger setting in as he realized how late it had become. 

“I’m still happy,” Vash explained, between bites. “Just nervous.” 

“Well, I won’t look if you don’t want me to,” he compromised, hoping that would be one thing to help. “Besides, I was planning on giving you the bed since it’s easier for you to get out of. So, you don’t have to worry about me accidentally touching you where you don’t want.” 

Vash frowned, turning quickly to stare at Wolfwood. “We’re not sleeping together?” 

Wolfwood blinked, turning to face Vash so he could see the sincerity on his face and realize he wasn’t trying to hurt his feelings. “Do you want to?”

“We already did! And it was the best sleep,” he explained, frowning more as he realized it might not have been the same for Wolfwood. “I thought I was going to wake up scared, but you were there and you made me feel safe.” 

“Whoa. Vash, I liked sleeping with you,” Wolfwood told him, trying to cut off any of the bad thoughts that he could see playing out behind his eyes. “This was just my plan before we took a nap together. If you want to share the bed, we’ll share the bed.” 

“You’re not just doing it because I said that? I don’t want to make you do something you don’t like.” 

Sensing that there was something bigger in that statement, Wolfwood leaned forward so he could press a kiss to Vash’s head. “Angel, if I can wake up with you in my arms, then I’ll be the happiest man. Okay?” 

A small smile grew as Wolfwood kissed his head again. “Okay,” Vash said, pulling back so he could finish the last bites of his quesadilla. “And you can still touch me. Even if it’s not an accident.” He blushed as he said the words, but knew that it needed to be clear. 

Wolfwood nodded, finishing his last bite, before getting up so he could wash the dishes. “Okay. Glad we have that settled.” He looked back to Vash, smiling. 

The blond pushed the plate across the counter, before he looked back up to Wolfwood, unable to stop the smile on his own lips. “I’ll go get ready for bed then.” 

“Are you going to be grossed out if I smoke, before coming to bed?” Wolfwood knew he’d need a little nicotine, considering he hadn’t actually had any since he was at Vash’s apartment, the hours feeling like days now. But he didn’t want to make Vash uncomfortable. 

Vash smiled as he ducked down to the suitcase to grab the tiny toiletry bag that held his toothbrush. “Honestly? I kind of like it.” 

Wolfwood snorted, remembering the conversation the last time Vash was over. “So you just like giving me shit.” 

“Again. You’re choosing this.” 

“Yeah, I am,” he admitted, refusing to back down. “Go brush your teeth.” 

“I’m working on it,” Vash told him, heading to the bathroom so he could take care of business. 

Wolfwood finished the dishes and headed out to the balcony, taking a seat on one of the chairs he kept out there. He lit a cigarette and relished in the slight burn that filled his lungs, before he slowly exhaled. He nearly started laughing as he considered the fact that he might end up fully quitting one day if Vash ever decided he hated the smell. He almost couldn’t fathom the idea of letting someone move in with him and potentially dictate parts of his life, but here he was after knowing Vash for just over a month and a half, allowing him to do all of that without question. 

This wasn’t exactly how he wanted to start dating Vash and having him sleep over, but he was surprised to find that he wasn’t upset by any part of it. He’d dated in the past, but never found anyone that he deemed worthy of disrupting his own routine and moving into his space for longer than a night. But Vash had settled into his heart and made a space for himself in Wolfwood’s life. 

Stubbing out the end of his cigarette, Wolfwood closed the balcony doors and made his way to the bathroom to start his own night time routine. Passing the bedroom, he couldn’t help but to smile as Vash seemed to make himself comfortable on his side of the bed. The smile turned to a laugh as Vash seemed to notice him and he waved enthusiastically. 

“I’ll be right there,” Wolfwood promised, before going into the bathroom and closing the door, where he brushed his teeth and changed into his own pajamas. After he was done, he turned the lights off around the apartment before going back to the bedroom and crawling into bed. 

Before Wolfwood was even properly settled, Vash opened his arms, excited to cuddle once again. “I’m creating a monster,” Wolfwood teased, moving to wrap his own arms around Vash, pulling the man into him. 

The blond laughed, right hand curling around Wolfwood’s back as he found himself pressed into Wolfwood’s chest. “A cuddle monster,” Vash told him, moving his right leg back over Wolfwood, assuming the same position they’d had during the nap. 

“How awful for me,” came the sarcastic reply. Wolfwood held him close, pressing a kiss to Vash’s head. He wasn’t really sleepy after the nap, but he wasn’t going to complain about being able to take advantage of more cuddles from Vash. 

The man in his arms seemed to settle, resting his chin on Wolfwood’s chest so he could somewhat look up at him. “Don’t tell Meryl, but I think you’re my best friend.” Vash practically whispered the statement. 

Wolfwood smiled, bringing a hand up to card through blond hair. “I think you’re mine, too,” he admitted, voice soft. “Just don’t tell Livio.” 

Vash chuckled, settling his head back over Wolfwood’s chest so he could listen to the man’s heart as he tried to drift off. “You’ve got a deal.” Beforelong, despite the prolonged nap, the heaviness of the day seemed to catch up to Vash again and he fell asleep. 

Wolfwood watched him in the dark, fingers running through blond hair. He knew he was in love and the realization somehow brought him peace, rather than terror. With the final admission to himself, Wolfwood felt himself drift off to sleep as well. 

Chapter Text

The next morning, Vash and Wolfwood seem to develop a routine for themselves. When they wake up, Wolfwood takes his shower first, before placing the shower chair back into the shower so it’s ready for Vash. While Vash gets himself ready for the day, Wolfwood brews the coffee and makes them breakfast. 

Vash feeds Knives once he’s out of his shower and once Wolfwood shows him where Kuroneko’s food is, he takes on the responsibility of making sure her dry kibble is available as well. When he’s done feeding the animals, he moves to sit at the counter with Wolfwood, the breakfast and a cup of coffee waiting for him. 

“I don’t have coffee creamer, but I set some sugar and milk aside,” Wolfwood told him, pointing to the containers sitting towards Vash’s side. He would have made the coffee exactly how Vash preferred it, but he had to learn first. 

Still half asleep, Vash yawned, reaching for the sugar and dumping several healthy teaspoons into the coffee cup. “I have to get some oat milk or something today. And coffee creamer,” he mumbled, making a mental grocery list. 

Wolfwood chuckled, sipping his black cup of coffee. “Or you can wait until I get off of work today and we can go together?” 

Vash narrowed his eyes at his boyfriend, already knowing how that grocery trip would end. “You’d just pay for everything and claim it’s your apartment.” 

“I resent that, actually,” Wolfwood quipped, taking a bite of his eggs. “I would at least say that you were my guest.” 

“Yeah, well, I’m not letting you pay for things you’re never going to use. That’s silly,” Vash told him, grabbing the hot sauce and dousing his eggs.

“Hey. I’ll eat some of your food. Especially if we make a meal for both of us.” He shrugged his shoulders, knowing that it would be a hard sell to Vash. “I can eat vegetarian meals easier than you could eat a meat based meal.” 

Vash whined, setting his head on the counter. “I don’t want to be that annoying boyfriend that makes you change stuff.” 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood gently poked Vash’s ribs. “You’re not making me do anything. You’re being a little self important over there.” He said it in a teasing tone, hoping that Vash wouldn’t take offense. 

“I can compromise. I can eat meat. Well, I can eat chicken and fish. Cows have really kind faces so I can’t make myself do it. And pigs are just way too smart, it’s too hard for me to stomach,” Vash explained, shrugging his shoulders. 

Wolfwood grimaced, but continued with the motion of taking a bite of his bacon. “Vash, I don’t care if you can technically do something, if it doesn’t make you happy, I’m not feeding you an animal.”

Before Vash could interrupt with some other ridiculous comment that would keep the argument going, Wolfwood continued. “Besides, it makes a lot more sense to make one big meal that we can both eat, instead of making you a meal and then myself.” 

Hearing no flaws in the argument, Vash sighed dramatically. “Oh, fine! Conform to my needs. God, you’re practically a saint.” 

Snorting, Wolfwood finished off his bacon. “Is it a bad time to mention I almost graduated seminary school?”

Vash’s jaw dropped, coffee nearly dribbling out of the sides of his mouth before he caught himself. “You were almost a priest?!” 

Laughing, Wolfwood grabbed the napkin he’d set aside for Vash and thrust it into his face, forcing the blond to grab it and clean his face. “Yeah. I was almost a priest.” 

Blinking, jaw still moving as if he was trying to decide what to say, Vash processed the information. “I have so many questions. And I don’t even know where to start.” 

“It wasn’t any singular reason. Not even the fact that I’m gay, even if I can’t convince my foster mom of that,” Wolfwood explained, rolling his eyes fondly. “I just decided it wasn’t the right path for me.” 

Vash’s eyes were still wide, still seemingly trying to understand. “Okay. But how do you end up as a dog groomer ?”

“I didn’t have the time to put in for an apprenticeship as a mechanic. And I definitely didn’t have more money for schooling to get an associates degree.  Plus, I was already washing the dogs as a part time employee. I just had to go through the certification process and apprentice more with Elendira.” 

Full understanding seemed to take place as Vash nodded. “Okay. Well, that makes sense now,” he said, before resting his chin in his hand. “Babe, you’re fascinating.” 

Wolfwood laughed, grabbing his plate to take to the sink. “You’re learning on the endearments, I see.” 

“Learning from the best,” Vash said, grinning widely as he finished off his eggs and toast. “Thanks for making breakfast.” 

Turning back around, Wolfwood fixed him with a stare. “You really don’t have to keep thanking me.” 

“Mm. I kind of do. You took me in and you’re taking care of me.” 

“Vash, I’m doing things for you because I like you, not because I expect you to thank me at every turn.” Wolfwood could only assume that this was a learned pattern of behavior, so he didn’t want to say anything too negative. 

Frowning, Vash couldn’t help but to realize there was a stark difference from how things were working at Wolfwood’s as opposed to his own apartment. “Okay. I’ll try to remember.” 

Wolfwood made his way from the kitchen, moving back to stand in front of Vash so he could press a kiss to his cheek. “I like you. And I like taking care of my loved ones. I don’t expect anything back,” he reiterated. 

The kiss softened the blow and painted a smile on Vash’s lips. “I like you, too.” He blushed as he thought about how Wolfwood counted him as a loved one. 

“I don’t have too many clients today, so I’ll probably be home a little early. Maybe 4pm if I really rush,” Wolfwood told him, grabbing his things. “What are your plans?” 

Vash shrugged, before remembering he hadn’t even touched his coursework once he got home yesterday. “Probably just some school work.” 

Pulling the house key off the ring, Wolfwood handed it to Vash. “I probably should have made Livio turn his key in yesterday, but take this in case you want to go out today.” 

“I probably won’t if I’m being forced to go grocery shopping with you later,” Vash teased. “I’m also kind of sore from yesterday. I’m avoiding the prosthetics until I need them.” 

Wolfwood shrugged, pressing a kiss to Vash’s temple. “Either way, until Livio gives me his key back, hold onto this.” 

Blushing, Vash nodded, taking the key and holding it. “Okay. Have a good day. Kiss some doggies for me.” 

Tying his shoes, Wolfwood shook his head. “Blondie, I can’t just kiss every dog that comes into the salon.” 

“You can kiss Knives. He loves kisses.” 

“I really hope you get how that’s different because you’re my boyfriend,” Wolfwood pointed out. “But also I really can’t do that at work because he’s in our paper work as a service dog so we have to treat him like the adorable medical equipment he is.” 

“Aw, Knives, he thinks you’re adorable,” Vash told the dog who had been trying to get Kuroneko to play with him. 

“I’m not blind,” Wolfwood said, opening the door. “See you later. Text me if you need me.” 

“Will do!” Vash called, smiling as Wolfwood left. 

Throughout the day, Vash kept himself busy. He figured that if he was busy doing his coursework, then he wouldn’t have time to think about his problems. It was a solid plan that was working really well up until 3pm when it began to spiral. 

At 3pm, his phone began to ring with Milly’s ringtone. Surprised, but not upset at the midday call, Vash answered. “Hullo!” 

“Hi, Vash?” Milly asked, unusual for her when he greeted her in their usual way. 

“Mills, are you okay?” Vash asked, feeling concerned already. 

“Oh, I’m fine,” she answered, though her tone seemed off. “Sorry. My sister called me and was upset because Nai showed up at the house while she was alone.” 

Vash felt himself go pale as he realized what the issue was. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry, Milly. Is she okay?” 

“She’s fine,” the answer was still off. “She thought he was confused and had the wrong house, because he kept insisting to send you out. She knows you, but obviously doesn’t know you, you know?” 

Vash frowned, hating how this was sounding. “I know. Milly, did he leave? Is he still there?” 

“Oh, that was nice of you to ask. Yes, he’s still there,” she told him. “Meryl’s on her way home right now, though.” 

“God, I’m so sorry for causing you problems and I’m not even there,” Vash tapped his left foot, trying to calm himself. “When we argued, I told him I’d stay with you two by default.”

“Wait, Vash, where are you staying then if you aren’t at home?” The concern in her voice hurt his heart. 

“I’m at Wolfwood’s. His brother helped us move my important things.” 

“Oh, well that’s lovely! Mr. Wolfwood seems like such a good man.” 

Sighing, Vash wished he’d put the phone on speaker so he would have his hand to move around and get some nervous energy out. 

“Vash, why is Nai actually showing up at the house? Are you really ignoring his calls?” She almost sounded impressed if that were the case. 

“Oh… I blocked him after hanging up on him.” The silence on Milly’s side made Vash twitch. 

“What did he do? I know it has to be something pretty bad to make you this upset.” 

Vash knew he could always count on Milly to understand that his calm nature had its limits, because she was the same in a lot of ways. “When Wolfwood didn’t talk to me for three days, it was because Nai came into my room while I was asleep and blocked him.” 

Silence on Milly’s part once again made Vash’s nerves flare up. “Don’t even worry about him, Vash. As long as you’re safe, we won’t tell him where you are.” 

Releasing a sigh, Vash thanked his lucky stars for knowing great people like Milly and Meryl. “You’re the best. I’m sorry for causing you problems, though.” 

“No problems at all! Now that I know what happened and that you’re safe, Nai can just go… he can go mind his business and cool off for a few days!” The comment was about as angry as Milly really ever allowed herself to show, so Vash was impressed and nervous for Nai. 

“Thank you, Milly. I love you.” 

“I love you, too! I’ll text you after I get Nai to leave.” 

Once the conversation was over, Vash opened his contacts to stare at Nai’s name. It would be easy to unblock him, to take the verbal berating if it meant that he could get Nai to leave his friends alone. But, for whatever reason, Vash couldn’t make himself unblock the number. 

As he set the phone down, Vash noticed his hand was shaking. Taking in a breath, he realized how shallow and short his breaths were. As if to confirm his fears, Knives walked to the counter and pawed at Vash’s left thigh, whining. 

“I know, I know.” Because he was with his medicine, Vash slid his way down the chair at the counter where he’d set up his work station, to grab the bag of medicine. He knew he had something for a panic attack, but even as he found the medicine, he whined in frustration as he realized the child safety lock would make it harder to get. 

“Nope. No,” he muttered, taking in a deep breath as he tried to get the lock off. He knew that if he was in his right mind, he’d be able to think of some solution, but he couldn’t get his brain to calm down enough. 

In a last ditch effort, he checked the organizers of his daily pills, mostly vitamins and the daily antianxiety. But it didn’t have the xanax, which was an as needed basis. Throwing the bag in frustration, Vash laid down, hating that he wasn’t able to calm himself down. 

Knives immediately moved to him, laying his head on Vash’s chest. The dog’s head was meant to serve as a distraction, not quite a committed deep therapy session. Trying to think logically, Vash knew this was a good thing, because it meant that Knives knew he was okay enough to just need his head on his chest. 

Breathing slowly, Vash tried to focus on his toes and fingers, figuring that if they could move then that meant he hadn’t sunk too deep. Knives stayed with me, occasionally moving up to lick his face, a distraction that helped Vash to take in deeper, slower breaths. To his surprise, he felt a second ball of fur curl next to his left arm, glancing down he saw Kuroneko decide to lie with them. 

It was nearly 4pm by the time that Vash had calmed himself enough that Knives got up, allowing him to pull himself into a seated position. He wiped at the tear tracks on his face, unsure of when he started crying. Once he was finally sure the panic attack was over, Vash moved to get up, using the nearby couch arm as leverage. He finally flopped back onto the couch, the effort of the last hour clear on his face.

When Wolfwood came in just after 4pm as he promised, the smile on his face fell. He moved across the apartment to kneel in front of Vash. “Hey, you okay?” While he wanted to immediately jump to conclusions, he figured it was best to let Vash explain. 

Taking in a long breath, Vash slowly exhaled. “Yes?” His voice was weak, but came without too much struggle so he knew he would keep it. “Panic attack.” He shrugged his shoulders, knowing that it was pretty normal for him. 

“Okay,” Wolfwood commented, keeping his tone even. “Do you know what set it off?” 

Vash let out a confused, nearly hysterical sounding laugh. “My brother,” he said, before realizing that didn’t cover it. “He went to Meryl’s, so Milly called. I was going to unblock him so I could call and tell him to leave them alone. But I just immediately started to panic.” He giggled his way through the statement, though they both knew nothing about it was funny. 

Wolfwood nodded, moving his hand so he could take Vash’s own hand. “Oh, my pretty boy,” Wolfwood said, reaching his other hand up to gently stroke Vash’s hair. “Has this ever happened before?”

Vash knew he wasn’t in a good place, because the gentle endearment barely made the butterflies dance in his stomach. “Um. I don’t think so?”

“Okay. Something for us to be aware of, I guess.” Wolfwood’s fingers scratched at Vash’s scalp, knowing that was one of the things the blond loved. “I think I’m going to order our groceries.” 

Whining, Vash sat up. “No. I can go,” he promised, swinging his legs around to the edge of the couch. “I just have to put on my leg. Then I’ll be good to go, I promise.” 

Hands pulled back, Wolfwood sighed softly. He didn’t want Vash to push himself, but he always promised that he would follow Vash’s lead on his needs. “Compromise. I will get you some water and a snack. We can leave after you’ve had those.” 

Vash smiled, eyes wide, the panic nearly forgotten. “You’ll really let me? Like, we can go?”

“I don’t love it, but yeah, if you feel like you can after the snack and water, then we’ll go.” Wolfwood stood up, leaning to press a kiss to Vash’s head. “You just need your leg? No arm?” 

Vash shook his head. “Just the leg. As long as you’re okay doing most of the carrying.” 

Walking to the kitchen to grab some crackers and water, Wolfwood laughed. “I probably wasn’t going to let you carry that much anyway.” 

Vash took in another deep breath, glad that he could again. “Hey, I forgot to ask. How far is the nearest store?” He trusted Wolfwood to use his judgment wisely, but he liked to be prepared for the walk ahead. 

“I mean. Several blocks, but it doesn’t matter,” Wolfwood told him, offering the crackers and ignoring his questioning look. “I borrowed Livio’s car.”

“I could walk a few blocks,” Vash explained, not upset, but also not wanting to make Wolfwood give up his bike. 

“Yeah, but what about if we need to go somewhere and take Knives? I was just thinking ahead.” Shrugging, Wolfwood pointed to the crackers, prompting Vash to roll his eyes but eat one. 

Reaching for the water, Vash guzzled it, not realizing how dry his mouth had actually gotten. “Help me remember applesauce or something. Please?”

Wolfwood shook his head, accepting that Vash was going to be overly polite for a bit while he got comfortable asking for things. “Why don’t I just start a list? And we can plan some meals you might like.” 

Vash ate another cracker, chewing as he thought. “I’m going to be here longer than a couple days, huh?” He was surprised to find that he didn’t really mind that, but then the guilt ate at him as he thought of Nai alone in the apartment they had shared. 

“You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. And you’re free to move back whenever you want,” Wolfwood told him, grabbing a pad of paper and a pen. “But I would feel better about taking you home when I knew you felt safe and right now, whether you realize it or not, your brain doesn’t think you’re safe.” 

Nodding, Vash felt Wolfwood sit down next to him on the couch. He scooted closer and laid his head against Wolfwood’s shoulder. “This is the first time I really knew what was triggering me. My therapist will be both proud and horrified,” he said, trying to joke. 

Wolfwood turned his head to press a kiss to the top of Vash’s hair. “Progress is progress, right?” Although they both seemed to realize it was not a good thing for Vash to panic at the mere thought of calling his brother. 

“I guess,” Vash said, looking at the grocery list and smiling when he realized Wolfwood had remembered the things that he requested earlier. “I like the mini cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, too.” He prompted, watching as Wolfwood wrote them down without argument. 

“So you like snacks?” Wolfwood teased, writing down cheese since he knew it was something Vash liked. “What actual meals do you eat?” 

Sticking his tongue between his lips and letting it rest there in a mlem, Vash thought for a minute. “Broccoli and rice casserole? Soups are good, too.” 

Wolfwood wrote down the ingredients for some of the meals. “You don’t get to make your own meal plans, do you?” He asked, realizing this was going to be a harder task than he anticipated. 

“Am I spoiled?” Vash thought aloud, the question ringing in his own ears. 

“I don’t think spoiled is really the way to describe it,” Wolfwood said, trying to think of a polite way to say it. Vash looked up at him, eyes wide and innocent, making it harder to be blunt like he might usually do. 

“Just say it, Nick. You’ve got me thinking you’re disappointed in me or something.” 

Wolfwood shook his head, wanting to assuage any of Vash’s fears. “I’m not disappointed and you’re not spoiled. I think you’re really sheltered. And I don’t mean that in a bad way, I just think your mom probably did a lot for you and your brother, right?” 

Vash nodded, realizing that Rem had always put them first. He wouldn’t have called her a helicopter mom like some others might have, but he understood why she did what she did. She’d lost her husband and then had to raise two twins alone when they fell into her lap, one that was a musical prodigy and probably way too smart for his own good, then there was Vash who was needy and naive. 

“So, she took care of all of your meal plans. You never had a chance to learn,” Wolfwood explained, knowing that his experience was much different from Vash’s own. “Then you had your accident and Nai took over as your caretaker, except you physically couldn’t do a lot of things. You’re willing to learn and that’s the first step.” 

Vash hummed, sitting up properly. “You said that in a really nice way. Thank you.” Something still nagged at the back of his mind, making him wonder why he was feeling upset with the nice way Wolfwood had put things. “I feel like there’s another word. And it’s bothering me.” 

Sighing, Wolfwood moved his hand to Vash’s back, rubbing it lightly. “You don’t want me to sugar coat it, do you?” Vash shook his head, looking over at him. “I think your mom sheltered you because you had different needs but she had the best intentions. I think Nai likes you being codependent on him, because it means he can control you. Maybe he doesn’t realize that, but he’s treating you like a child that can’t make their own decisions.” 

Mouth dropping, Vash stared at Wolfwood, his brain processing what had been said. His whole life had been laid out and in that moment, Vash was starting to understand why Wolfwood or Meryl or Milly would make a face when he explained something Nai said or did. “I’m almost 25. I can make my own choices. Right?” 

Lips pressed together, Wolfwood nodded, knowing that Vash was finally connecting some dots. “I’m 26. I live on my own. But, I’m also from a group home and I aged out. I didn’t really have much choice,” he explained, shrugging his shoulders. “Not everyone has the same experiences growing up.” 

“Oh my god. The closest I’ve come to living alone was when I shared a dorm room with Nai. But Rem would bring us our meals usually.” Vash was both horrified and also elated that he had come to these conclusions. 

“If you want to find your own place, I can help you. But I think moving out would be a little… preemptive.” 

“Because I know nothing about life?” Vash asked, not angry, but wanting to confirm his suspicions. 

“Why don’t we start with making accommodations in your current life. What’s something you want to be able to do but Nai usually does because he thinks he knows better?” Wolfwood hated how he had to speak delicately around the subject; if it was anyone else, he’d probably keep calling Nai controlling. 

Vash huffed, knowing Wolfwood was still being nice about what he was saying. “I guess it would be nice to be able to take my xanax when I’m in the middle of a panic attack,” he grumbled, hand gesturing towards the orange bottle on the floor. 

“Wait. You need that when you’re in an active panic attack but he left it at home with a child safety lock on it?” Wolfwood’s expression and tone made it clear to Vash that the man thought that was ridiculous. 

“Right?!” Vash asked, getting excited as he realized someone else thought it was weird. “He kept saying that he was worried I would take more than necessary because I was in a panic. But I know I can only take one. Especially, because I know taking two will send me into a new panic attack.” 

“Okay. I think you need to call your pharmacy and see if they can get you some of the twist off tops.” He noted the disgusted look on Vash’s face and chuckled. “With your permission, I’ll call your pharmacy and get that changed.” 

Nodding, Vash smiled as he realized Wolfwood was okay with doing that for him. “Should I start making my own appointments?” 

Wolfwood scoffed. “Livio still doesn’t make his own appointments. And his hearing is fine in the right ear. He’s just a crybaby.” He said the insult with fondness. 

“I like talking on the phone with friends, but I get panicky when I think about having to talk to someone else on the phone.” 

“That’s fine. Like I said, Livio is 25, too, and he hates making appointments.” 

Breathing in deeply, Vash relaxed, having just realized how keyed up he had become during the conversation. “You don’t have to sugar coat things with me. Just so you know.” 

Wolfwood smiled, leaning over to press a kiss to Vash’s cheeks. “I’m not doing it because I think you can’t handle the truth, I just don’t want to hurt your feelings.” 

“There’s a difference?” Vash asked, genuinely curious. 

“There are nicer ways to say things that make it easier to take. Sometimes people say things just to be cruel. There’s a way to help someone learn and a way to cut them down.” 

Vash nodded, sort of understanding what he was getting at. “Like telling me that it’s not a great plan to never teach me how to cook because then I can’t live on my own?” 

Chuckling, Wolfwood nodded. “Yeah. Now I know you’d prefer the blunt version in that case, so I won’t hold back as much.” 

“But you’re still going to?”

“Do you want me to talk about how I think your brother uses his overprotectiveness to control you and isolate you?” Wolfwood kept the statement as neutral as he could, not letting his own anger at the brother he’d still yet to meet bleed through. 

Vash winced, now understanding why Wolfwood had been pulling his punches. “Ouch,” he said, not upset, but feeling the sting of the comment. “I kind of figured that out, but hearing it out loud… That’s really not good, right?” The naivete was still clear in the question, Vash genuinely didn’t know if it was bad. 

Wolfwood moved his hand up to Vash’s neck, gently massaging. “No. It’s really not good.” 

Lips pressed together, Vash looked up at Wolfwood. “Maybe we wait to go grocery shopping after all?” While he physically felt fine and knew that he would be able to walk around the store, the thought of sharing space with that many people exhausted him. 

“Hey, I’m not going to argue about a reason for me to get into my pajamas early,” Wolfwood told him, smiling softly. “What’s your favorite food for take out? I’ll order delivery.”

Vash smiled back at Wolfwood, glad the man was open to working with his changing moods. “Pineapple and mushroom pizza?” 

Wolfwood mimed getting stabbed in the heart, twisting the fake knife. “Angel, you are killing me with your taste in food.” He sighed dramatically, pulling the phone out of his pocket. “You’re getting a small pizza to yourself, you little weirdo.” 

Vash grinned, moving to wrap his arm around Wolfwood so he could hug his chest. “Yeah, but I’m your little weirdo.” 

Laughing, Wolfwood pressed another kiss to Vash’s head. “Yeah. You are.” 

Chapter Text

Vash had so far stayed through the weekend at Wolfwood’s, delighting in the new routine they had created. In the mornings, Wolfwood would make breakfast, mostly because Vash was always too sleepy to bother learning anything. In the evenings, they would work on a meal they could both eat, but specifically something that Vash would be able to make on his own when their little peace ended. 

At nights, the two would get ready for bed together and immediately curl into each other. Neither would admit, but it was always some of the best sleep that they’d had in a long while. Vash would wake up each morning to Wolfwood kissing his head, just before he left the bed to go shower. 

By the time Monday rolled around, neither really wanted to go back to their weekly schedules, since that meant Wolfwood would be going to work. Vash pouted up at the man as he rinsed the dishes, as if pouting would help to keep him at home. Wolfwood finished the dishes and walked around the counter so he could wrap his arms around Vash. 

“Don’t make that face at me, Angel. You know I have to go to work.” He pressed a kiss to the top of Vash’s head, hoping it would help soothe the ache. 

Resting his head against Wolfwood’s chest, Vash sighed. “I know. But I don’t have to like it.” 

“I hate to be the logical one, but you remember there was a time that we didn’t spend all day together, right?” Wolfwood teased, tilting Vash’s head up so he could look into the ocean blue eyes. 

“Darkest days of my life. Never want to go back,” Vash told him, only half joking with a lopsided smile. “You could at least leave me with a little kiss. A little treat.” 

“You know what? You actually are spoiled, but it’s all my fault,” Wolfwood told him, leaning down to press a soft kiss to his lips. 

“Your worst crime, yet.” Vash smiled into the kiss, before pulling back since he understood that Wolfwood did have to leave. “Aside from abandoning me today.” 

Wolfwood let out a sound of disgust, before purposely messing up Vash’s wet hair. “Brat.” 

A mischievous smirk crossed Vash’s lips. “Oh, we’re name calling now? If I’m a brat, what does that make you then?” 

Shaking his head, Wolfwood moved to pull his shoes on. “No way. I’m not getting caught in that game with you.” 

Vash let out a laugh filled with mirth, his head falling back. “Party pooper.” After composing himself, Vash rotated in the chair so he could properly look at Wolfwood. “What time do you think you’ll be done today?” 

Raising an eyebrow, Wolfwood finished putting on his watch and looked at Vash. “Should be around 5pm as long as I don’t have any cute blond’s stop in to give me some mopey face so I’ll de-shed their Husky.” 

Rolling his eyes, Vash let out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, you’re so funny. I brought you dinner and you got a boyfriend out of it. You’re welcome.” 

Chuckling, Wolfwood walked closer to him so he could press another kiss to his lips; something they had both grown accustomed to over the weekend. “Thank you. Now why did you ask?” 

Vash gave him a dopey smile, before shaking his head so he could regain focus. “Oh. I have a therapy session at 4,” he explained, chewing his bottom lip as he tried to get to the point of his question. “Could you pick me up after?” 

Wolfwood smiled, proud of Vash for asking him to do something. “I can do that. How are you getting there?” 

“Meryl. She has work today, but gets off at 3. So, we’re going to hang out for a little bit and chat, before she takes me.” Vash thought for a moment and realized he hadn’t asked Wolfwood if she could come over. “Wait, is that okay? For her to come over?” 

“Blondie, do you live here?” 

Vash pressed his lips together, not sure how to answer that question. “I mean… Right now? Yes. Technically?” 

Wolfwood chuckled again, before heading back to the door. “You know what? That’s my bad. Yes, you live here, and yes, you can have whoever you want over.” 

Sighing in relief, Vash smiled at Wolfwood. “Okay. Cool. I’ll send you the address of the therapist’s building when I get there.” 

Waving, Wolfwood opened the door. “Bye, Angel.” 

“See you later, Love.” 

As Wolfwood closed the door, Vash couldn’t help but to do a little shimmy in his seat, squeaking in delight at the interaction. He was genuinely surprised by how relaxed he’d been over the weekend. Usually, he couldn’t wait for the week to start again so he could find ways to stay busy. 

Vash didn’t quite understand how he managed to fall so easily into a new routine with Wolfwood, but he certainly wasn’t going to question it. If he could have his way, Vash figured they could hide themselves away in the apartment forever. But unfortunately, he knew the real world still existed and they had to participate in society. 

Part of Vash felt like things had been going almost too well over the last couple of days. Since Nai showed up at Meryl and Milly’s, he hadn’t really heard anything from his brother. If his brother were more like other people their age, he might have had to worry about Nai stalking his social media, but he hadn’t seen anything unusual there, either. 

Guilt started to crawl up Vash’s throat as he thought of his brother. They had been inseparable from birth, barely even having friends outside of each other. When Rem died, Vash had wanted so desperately to die along with her, but Nai was the one who talked him back and made him realize that they were all the other had. But here Vash was, happily living it up in his boyfriend’s apartment, playing like an adult. 

Taking a deep breath, Vash filed the thoughts away for a later time, realizing that he would be better off discussing those with his therapist. Thinking back to past sessions, Vash had begun to realize that Sheryl was making some of the same connections about Nai that Wolfwood had made within a few weeks. The thought was sobering, but made Vash more ready than ever to get down to the bottom of things. 

He’d gone to therapy on and off for years, mostly so they could identify that he was autistic, but also to make sure that Rem was taking good care of him and Nai. So, after the accident, it had just made sense for Vash to go into therapy full time. At first, it was once a week, but slowly, with the introduction of Knives and better coping mechanisms, they were able to move to every two weeks. 

Vash had been hoping that they would be able to discuss going down to once a month, but he had a feeling this session was going to put a change to those plans. He couldn’t really find it in himself to be too upset though, because he was finally feeling like he understood what the root of the problem happened to be. He was even hoping that he would be able to contact Nai and set up a joint appointment so they could really talk things through. 

At 3:15pm, Meryl showed up at the door, instantly pushing her way through once Vash had opened it so that she could wrap her arms around him. “I’m so sorry, Vash,” she gushed, squeezing him tightly. “Are you still doing okay? How are you liking it here?”

Vash laughed, happily pulling her close to him and burying his face in her hair. “It’s okay, Meryl,” he told her, kissing her head. “I’m sorry for not really explaining everything better.” 

Meryl pulled back to fix him with a stern look. “Absolutely not. You had a reaction and you handled it the best you could. I’m just glad Wolfwood was able to take you in,” she admitted, albeit with a displeased look on her face. “But I’m serious. Tell me how you are, Vash.”

Laughing harder, Vash pulled her towards the couch so they could get comfortable for a bit. “I’m okay. It’s been… peaceful,” he said, after taking a moment to struggle for the proper word. 

“Really?” She asked, surprise bleeding through, before she realized that might have been rude. “Sorry. I just mean, you hate staying somewhere for too long. I’m just surprised you’re saying it’s peaceful.” It wasn’t that she wanted to be rude or to hurt his feelings, but she could remember the few times he’d had sleepovers at her and Milly’s house and how it would sometimes end with a meltdown. 

“I know. Sorry. It’s a little weird,” he admitted, having thought to himself how strange it seemed things were playing out. “We sleep together, too.” He blushed saying the phrase, happy that he had a chance to gush to someone that wasn’t just Wolfwood. 

Meryl scrunched her face up, sticking her tongue out in disgust. “Vash, sometimes we can keep things to ourselves,” she told him, hoping that it wouldn’t hurt his feelings.

“Whoa! You definitely misunderstood that!” Vash said, waving his hands to dispel the thought from her mind. “We literally sleep in the same bed together. We haven’t… yet.” 

Blinking, Meryl took in the information, before her mouth fell into a little ‘o’. “Wait. You, Vash Saverem, are sharing a bed with someone again?” She tried to clarify the information, wanting to make sure she was hearing him right since it seemed like something that would be so far out of the realm of possibility. 

“Right?!” He cheered, feeling the excitement fill him as someone else understood how heavy that was. “And from the first day! I had a migraine, so we took a nap in the bed together and then we’ve just been sleeping together ever since! Oh my god, Meryl. I’m sleeping so well, too. Like you thought I slept like a rock before? I’m dead to the world.” 

Meryl’s eyes went wide, realizing just how deep the trust ran in Vash for him to sleep in the same bed with Wolfwood from the get go. “And he’s fine with everything? I mean, like everything ?” It wasn’t that she was doubting Wolfwood’s integrity, but she certainly wasn’t used to someone accepting Vash so fast, and that was before the crash. 

“Everything!” Vash sighed the word, a smile on his lips. “He knows I’m autistic. He touches my left arm and lays his head on it! He found out I was trans and he literally just said ‘okay, good to know.’” Vash flapped his hand and shook his head, glad that he could stim and happily talk to Meryl. 

She tried to school her expression, but a small look of jealousy crossed Meryl’s face. “You let him touch your residual limbs?” She asked, shock on her face. 

Vash stopped stimming, looking to her with wide eyes. “Wait. I’m sorry. It just sort of happened. Are you upset?” He asked, worried that he had upset her. 

Meryl reached forward, gently taking his face in her hands. “No, no, not at all, honey. I was just surprised. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it like that,” she explained, gently caressing his face to get him to calm down. “I’m really happy for you, Vash. You deserve to be comfortable with someone.” 

Melting into her hands, Vash relaxed a little more. “I think I’m a little in love with him,” he whispered, smiling fondly at the thought. 

Giggling, Meryl shifted his face so she could press a kiss to his cheek. “You’re kind of acting a little bit in love,” she told him, finally releasing his face. “It’s a good look on you, Vash.” 

“Thank you,” he said, blushing at the sincere compliment she gave him. “Anyway. How are you? What really happened with Nai?” 

Meryl’s face shifted to annoyance at the mention of Vash’s twin. “He kept trying to force his way into the house. Luckily, Elizabeth realized it was him and didn’t just call the cops on him for breaking and entering. It helped that he just kept calling your name.” 

“I’m really sorry. I blocked him after telling him that I was staying at your place. I didn’t think he would try going to your place.” 

Meryl waved his apology off. “No way. He deserves to sit for a minute and think about everything that he’s done to you,” she explained, not holding back her comments like she usually would. “I’ve thought for a while now that he was too overprotective of you, but violating your trust like that is a new low.” 

Nodding, Vash couldn’t help but to agree now that he had more context. “Wolfwood helped me realize that he does things to control me,” he said, letting the words linger for a moment. “And I know that he means well and he really does love me, but… I’m doing a lot better, right? That part isn’t just in my mind?” 

She nodded, agreeing emphatically with him. “Vash, I mean this in the best way, honey. You’re not the same person you were even a year ago,” she told him, thinking back to how he barely wanted to use his prosthetics or even go out at all. “I think getting Knives was the best thing that Nai has ever done for you. But I also think that’s when he really started getting overbearing.” 

Thinking back, Vash really was just a shell back then. He didn’t want to exist, he didn’t want to do anything, but Knives helped to open a lot of possibilities for him. Now that he thought about it though, that was also when Nai started freaking out when Vash left the house, even if it was just to walk Knives. “Oh… I didn’t need him as much,” he said, surprised as he came to the epiphany. 

“Yeah,” was all Meryl could really say to that. It was something that she and Milly had discussed, but didn’t want to bring up lest it hurt Vash’s feelings. “Wolfwood actually helped you realize all of that?” 

Swallowing, Vash nodded. “Yeah. He’s been really good about just talking things through with me,” he explained, hoping that made sense. “He always lets me come to my own conclusions, but he doesn’t shy away from having conversations with me. It’s kind of nice.” 

Meryl smiled softly as she watched Vash talk about his boyfriend. “I hate to admit it, but I think Wolfwood might actually be a really good influence on you.” 

Vash laughed. “I kind of think so, too,” he told her, before looking at the time on his phone. “I hate that we don’t have more time to just talk. We should get together one night.” 

“You and Wolfwood could come over for dinner tomorrow!”

“Uh,” Vash pressed his lips together, trying to find a polite way to decline. Luckily, Meryl seemed to realize the mistake and smacked her forehead. 

“New people. Right. Ignore that,” she said, smiling at him as she stood. 

Vash followed her, happy that she understood. “I want to meet her sister and the kids. But that just sounds like… a lot.” 

“Oh, no. It’s definitely a lot,” she admitted, making her way to the door. “But they’re family and it’s kind of nice.” 

Putting Knives’ harness on and grabbing some treats to place in his pocket, Vash went to the door, locking it with his very own key that Wolfwood had made for him. “I’m sure it is. Maybe next time they visit?” 

“Well, I’m hoping the next time they visit will be after Milly and I have a kid.” She said it so casually, but Vash nearly fell down the first step. 

“Wait. Did you two start IVF?” He asked, knowing that was something they had been discussing. 

Meryl grinned, giving him a peace sign. “Hormones first, then everything else! First baby will be Milly’s, next will be mine!” 

Vash hurried down the steps so he could wrap Meryl in his arms and kiss her head. “You’re both going to make me an uncle! I’m so happy for you!”

Meryl hugged him tightly, trying to fend off the happy tears. “Thanks, Vash. You’ll be the best uncle.” 

Once the two managed to calm themselves down, Meryl loaded Vash and Knives into the van so they could make the drive to his therapist’s building. As they drove, they spoke about potential baby names and how long it could actually be for a baby to arrive. Arriving at Sheryl’s office, Vash felt lighter for the first time in a long time when going into his appointment. 

Things, unfortunately, changed as the appointment went on. Everything was normal as Vash gushed about Wolfwood and how they were finally dating. Sheryl had smiled and told him that she was happy he was finding comfort in someone and opening up to someone that was not in his immediate circle. 

However, it all changed when Vash let it slip that he was currently living with Wolfwood. A look of concern crossed Sheryl’s face and the older woman leaned forward a little. 

“Vash, while I’m happy that you’re very obviously happy, I’m concerned you would make such a brash decision and move in with this person.” 

Mouth opening and closing, Vash realized he forgot to mention a very important detail. “Oh. It’s not like that,” he explained, his hand nervously gripping Knives’ leash. “I… Well, Nai and I got into a fight. And Meryl didn’t have room.” 

Sheryl’s brows furrowed at that information. “What was your fight about?” 

Vash bit his lip, hating that he had to rehash everything again. But he learned over time that Sheryl was safe and genuinely only had his best interest in heart. “Wolfwood…” 

“Could you be more specific?”

Sighing, Vash nodded, knowing that he had to just rip the bandage off. “I went to Wolfwood’s house one night for dinner, but I forgot to let Nai know. He called me and told me to get my things and to send my address so that he could come get me.” 

“And that upset you?” She asked, tilting her a little as she wrote the information down. 

“Well, not really. I should have called him and told him I would be out, so I get why he was upset.” That was the truth as far as Vash was concerned, he genuinely hadn’t seen any issue with Nai being upset. “But he said some things that started making me feel… little?”

“Belittled?” She supplied, knowing they were reaching the part where Vash might not be able to communicate as well. 

“Yeah,” he said, leaning down to pet Knives. “I thought we reached a compromise where I would call or text him about my plans and he wouldn’t act like that again… But he did something bad and violated my trust.” 

“We’ll revisit that part. Can you explain to me how he was acting the night he picked you up from Wolfwood’s?”

“Uh. He just kept saying that I needed him and that he had to protect me. And he really didn’t like that I told him I had feelings for Wolfwood.” 

Sheryl nodded, feeling like there was more that Vash wasn’t explaining, but decided it would do better to move on. “Okay. Noted. What was the bad thing he did, Vash?”

Taking in a breath, he prepared himself to explain it, hoping that it would continue to make sense. “So. Wolfwood didn’t contact me for three days after we basically confessed to each other and I was really upset. I kept trying to text and send pictures and voice memos but nothing was going through.” 

Vash licked his lips, hating having to talk about it. “Nick came by the apartment to check on me and we started to fight, I said some mean things and he just looked worried about me,” he frowned as he remembered the day. “Anyway… Nick asked to see my phone and when he pulled up his contact, it showed that he was blocked.” 

“And I assume you didn’t block Wolfwood?” 

Vash shook his head. “Nick and I talked and then we were fine. But I realized that Nai had to come into my room while I was sleeping and do it.” 

“And you feel vulnerable already when you’re sleeping, so that upset you.” 

“Yeah,” he agreed, focusing his eyes on Knives. “I called him to try and get some explanation. Nai just… he kept saying I was broken and that I needed him. He said Wolfwood was going to leave me more broken. He said so much awful stuff. He never even tried to deny that he went into my room. He said he was protecting me.” 

Sheryl pressed her lips together again, trying to stay neutral. “Vash, why do you think Nai said all of those things?” 

“I think,” he started, licking his lips to buy time. “I’m starting to think that Nai… needs to control me. Not… because he wants to,” he furrows his brows, trying to get the words to come out properly. “I think losing Rem and almost losing me… changed him.” 

“That’s a very good way of thinking about it,” Sheryl told him, knowing he was reaching the end of his ability to communicate. “Vash, do you feel like you need someone to control you?” 

Vash squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “I don’t like it,” he said, taking in a slow breath. 

“Another question, you don’t have to use words,” she told him, getting a nod. “Do you want to make up with Nai?” 

Thinking, Vash knew he wanted to, but didn’t know if it was something that was feasible at the moment. He gave her a shrug, before deciding it would be easier to make himself explain. “I want to,” he managed, taking another slow breath. “I don’t think he can.” 

“You’re doing really well, Vash,” Sheryl told him, impressed that he was still communicating. “If you’re able to, can you tell me what your ideal outcome is when making up with Nai? Do you want to move back in with him and have things go back to how they were?” 

Immediately, Vash started shaking his head as he opened his eyes to look at Sheryl with panic. “No. I like how I am,” he paused, wanting to correct himself. “ Where I am.” He chewed his bottom lip as he tried to think of a best case scenario. “I want my brother. Not a… protector.” 

Smiling, Sheryl nodded. “I think that’s a really good start, Vash,” she told him, writing a few notes. “Do you think Nai would be open to coming to your next session?” 

Vash shrugged, trying to stop the shaking that started in his hand. “Haven’t talked to him.” 

“When you do, make sure you’re in a safe place. I’m not saying you need to have Meryl or Wolfwood or Milly in the room with you, but have someone close by,” she advised him. “Your reaction right now is a little concerning.” 

Vash nodded. “Had a panic attack last time I thought about it.” 

She frowned. “Well, that’s important knowledge to have. I’m proud you identified a trigger, Vash. But I’m sorry it seemed to be your brother.” 

Vash huffed out a humorless laugh, before nodding. “Yeah. Sucks.” 

“We’re nearing the end of our session, but I know you’re struggling right now. What’s something that’s happened recently that made you really happy?” 

Taking in a slow breath, Vash looked to Sheryl and gave her a little smile. “Meryl just told me that she and Milly are going to try for a baby.” 

“Well, that’s wonderful news, Vash.” 

He nodded, smiling a little more as he thought about it. “I just kind of assumed I would be an uncle, but Meryl agreed. So I’ll have a niece or nephew. That’ll be really nice. You know I like kids. They’re just so cute.” 

“They’re very cute. I think you’ll be a good uncle, Vash,” she told him, smiling now that Vash was speaking more animatedly, similar to how he was when he came into the session. 

“Yeah? Thank you! I’ve always been worried about that. I mean, I guess not. Nai doesn’t really think he’ll want kids, so I guess I never thought I would be an uncle at all.” 

“Everyone has their own choices, right?” She prompted, knowing that Vash wasn’t actually upset. 

“No, I know! It’s just nice that I’ll be able to be the cool uncle after all.” 

She laughed, feeling proud of the progress he made and how he was able to fend off another panic attack. “I think you will be, Vash.” Sheryl stood up, signaling that the session was over. “Are you feeling safe? Who’s picking you up?”

Vash took a moment to stand and nodded. “I think I’m okay. Wolfwood is meeting me in the lobby.” 

“I’m glad to hear that. Call me if you have any issues, Vash. I mean it.” 

He laughed, waving off the same statement as she always gives him. “You know me.” 

“Yes. Which is why I keep insisting.” 

Vash laughed and waved goodbye to her, heading out to the lobby where he found Wolfwood sitting in a chair. As the man noticed Vash, he stood up, smiling brightly. Vash hurried towards him, causing Knives to hurry to keep up. 

Wolfwood opened his arms and Vash immediately pressed against him, his face nuzzling into Wolfwood’s neck. “Hey, Spikey,” he said, arms tightening around Vash’s back. 

“Hi, Love,” Vash mumbled into Wolfwood’s skin, happy to be back in his safe space. 

“You two ready to go?” Wolfwood asked, starting to break the hug, before Vash curled his fingers into Wolfwood’s shirt. “Vash?” 

“Just… another minute?” Vash’s voice was small, as if the therapy session just caught up with him. He breathed deeply, enjoying the scent that was earthy and smoky, pure Wolfwood. 

“Yeah. Of course, Angel.” Wolfwood dropped his voice, his hands smoothing up and down Vash’s spine. He turned his head to press a kiss to Vash’s temple. 

Vash stayed curled in Wolfwood’s arms, taking the time to let the racing in his heart calm down. Once he started to feel calmer, he pulled back just enough so he could properly look at Wolfwood. “Can we go home now?” 

Wolfwood nearly asked if Vash meant he wanted to go back to the apartment with Nai, but as he processed the question, he realized Vash meant for both of them to go home, as in the apartment they were sharing. Leaning forward, he pressed a soft kiss on Vash's lips. “Yeah, Angel. Let’s go home.”

Chapter Text

On Thursday, Vash chewed on his bottom lip, feeling some anxiety flare up. It had been a week without hearing anything from Nai and he was finding himself growing concerned. The selfish part of his mind was screaming to let it be and simply enjoy the time with Wolfwood, but the guilty part was screaming louder to be a good brother. 

Phone in hand, Vash tried to calm the shaking so that he could do what he needed. Taking in a deep breath, Vash pulled up Nai’s contact information, before scrolling to the unblock. He remembered Sheryl telling him to do this with someone, but he knew he had to handle things while he was thinking about it. 

Finally gaining the nerve, Vash unblocked Nai’s number, pausing as he awaited some call, as if Nai was calling him nonstop. When nothing came through, Vash sighed in relief. He scrolled back to the contact information, thumb hovering between the message or call button. 

Waiting to regain his courage, Vash stared at the phone, as if it was a dangerous creature that might bite him if he were to look away. Unfortunately for him, his intense stare down with the phone meant that he wasn’t paying attention, so when Kuroneko decided to jump up into his lap, her head butted against the phone, causing him to press the “call” button.

“Oh god. Fuck,” Vash said, wildly shaking his hand, only managing to keep the phone in place due to the pop socket ring. 

Accepting his fate, Vash hit the speaker button and flopped his head back against the couch as the traitorous Kuroneko made herself comfortable on his lap. Nearly deciding to end the call, Vash jumped as he heard the other line pick up. 

“Vash? Vash, is that you?” Nai’s voice came through the speaker, worry palpable through the tinny speakers.

Biting his lip, Vash tried to take a breath to calm himself. He had meant to work up to sending a message and then blocking Nai, again, the coward's way out, but now he had to deal with the universe’s cruel choices. “Yeah. It’s me.” His voice sounded dull even to his own ears. 

“Where the hell are you? What have you been doing for the last week? Why did you block me?!” Nai’s worry seemed to morph immediately into anger, the words growing in intensity as he spoke, pulling something out of Vash that hadn’t shown itself in years. 

“Oh, is it not nice being able to contact someone you care about?” Vash asked, his anxiety turning into venomous anger. “I’m safe and I’m happy, Nai. That’s all you need to know about me.”

Nai practically growled into the phone, clearly annoyed by Vash’s righteous anger. “Oh, please. You’ve known him for a month. I was doing you a favor ,” Nai explained to him, enunciating each word as if Vash would not understand the words. 

“It doesn’t matter if I’ve known him for a month or twenty years. People aren’t your play things, Nai,” Vash said, wishing he had worn his leg so he could pace. “ I am not you play thing ! I’m a person and I have feelings!”

Nai scoffed, clearly dismissing Vash’s statement. “You don’t even know what your feelings are. You wouldn’t actually survive out there without me, Vash. I’m the only thing keeping you alive.” 

Vash’s jaw dropped at the way Nai was speaking. “What is wrong with you? How could you even think that’s an okay thing to say to me?!”

“Am I wrong? I got you that stupid dog. I take care of your medicine. I cook for you. I helped you get your prosthetics! Could you have done any of that? No. You would have shut down and stayed in that worthless shell of yours. I made you, Vash.”

Anger turned into burning rage as Vash shook, his breathing becoming uneven because, for once, he was seeing red. “You didn’t make me, you control freak! I had doctors and nurses to help me with those things. You took those tasks on! I didn’t ask you for anything because I don’t ask anyone for anything. You taught me to stay quiet and not be trouble because you thought I was going to be the reason we were taken from Rem! You’re just mad that you can’t control me like everything else in your life!” Vash was breathing hard, his voice having raised more than it did in years. 

For once, Nai seemed to be at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected Vash to fight back, hadn’t expected Vash to be able string a sentence together. “How do you sleep at night, Vash? Knowing you’re the reason this family has fallen apart?” 

The final question struck an arrow directly into Vash’s heart, the words piercing his very soul. “Is that what you really think of me, Nai?” His voice was small, the fire doused as soon as Nai struck the final blow. 

“What does it matter? You’re ungrateful for anything anyone does for you.” With that final comment, Nai hung up, leaving Vash to stop and contemplate what he had heard.

The grief crashed into Vash all at once, his hand shaking uncontrollably to the point he lost grip on his phone, dropping it on Kuroneko causing her to run away. Tears immediately welled in his eyes, his breathing uneven. The panic tore at his throat, leaving it raw with the effort of forcing himself not to scream. 

The sobs started next, his arm curling around so his hand could grip his shoulder, hoping that the pressure on his chest would stop the pain. He rocked silently, the sobs racking his body and causing him to gasp for breath. 

Finding that the pressure wasn’t helping, Vash reached up, digging his hand into his hair and tugging on the blond strands. It was something he used to do a lot as a child, but had since been taught not to do. Knives, seeing that Vash was in distress, walked over and started gently pawing at his arm. 

Vash ignored the dog’s whining, pulling on the hair until a few clumps were coming out. Knives whined louder, licking at Vash’s hand and trying to work his way in between his arm and chest so that Vash would stop hurting himself. The anguished crying grew louder, though he was actively trying not to hurt himself or scare Knives. 

Wolfwood, having heard the sobs as he approached the apartment, hurried in and slammed the door shut as he slid his way to the living room. “Vash? Are you hurt?” He asked, trying to figure out what happened. “Vash, hey, it’s Nick. I’m right here, Angel.”

Vash didn’t answer, his hand still pulling at his hair to the point that another clump came out in his fist. Knives had pushed his way into Vash’s lap, trying to calm the meltdown but the blond kept rocking, making it difficult for the Husky. Wolfwood reached forward, hand clasping around Vash’s to stop him from harming himself. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Wolfwood mumbled, tightly gripping the hand to his chest, feeling the strength in Vash as he tried to pull it back. “I’m not letting you hurt yourself, baby.” 

Embarrassment rose in Vash’s chest as the words registered in his mind and the feeling of his hand in Wolfwood’s own. He hated showing this part of himself, had worked so hard to avoid having this type of meltdown around anyone that wasn’t family. “Go!” he screamed, not knowing how to verbalize the fact that he just didn’t want Wolfwood to see him like this. 

The scream nearly broke Wolfwood’s heart as he realized how hurt Vash was in that moment. He tried to remind himself that it wasn’t really Vash screaming at him. “I’ll let your hand go if you stop pulling on your hair. I’m sorry, but I can’t just let you hurt yourself, Vash.” 

Vash tugged on his hand, before changing tactics and using it to push Wolfwood away. “Stop!” He yelled again, glaring at Wolfwood through tears, which caused the man to drop his grip on Vash’s hand. Satisfied, Vash redirected his hand to gently bury itself in Knives’ fur to calm himself. 

Realizing he’d overstepped, Wolfwood raised his hands and stared at Vash with wide eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” His heart was pounding, not sure what to do to help or what caused the meltdown. 

Knives settled against Vash as the man rocked to calm himself. Vash held the dog close, before burying his face in the dog’s fur, breathing in deeply as he tried to calm down. He wanted so badly to explain to Wolfwood that he just needed space, but he couldn’t get the words out. He let out a hiccuping breath as he tried to contain the sobbing. 

Wolfwood scooted himself back, giving Vash some more space. He didn’t know what he should do, he didn’t want to leave Vash, but the blond was making it pretty clear that he didn’t want Wolfwood there. “I’m… I’ll be out on the balcony if you need me. I’m sorry.” 

He felt like a coward, standing up and making his way to the balcony, opening the door and leaving it cracked behind him. Once the door was closed, he heard another sob from the living room that made his heart clench. Scrubbing a hand over his face, Wolfwood flopped down into his patio chair. He could only assume that Nai had somehow contacted Vash and that set off the meltdown. 

Wolfwood lost track of the time and how many cigarettes he went through while waiting for Vash to come out of it. He knew that there was a possibility of a meltdown of this proportion, but he realized he was severely unprepared for how to handle it. He knew he had a lot to apologize for with Vash. He touched Vash while the blond was in a vulnerable state and he knew that wasn’t okay. 

Eventually, Wolfwood stubbed out his final cigarette before letting himself back into the apartment. Cautiously, he closed the door, before turning around to see Vash had slumped to the side and cried himself to sleep, arm still clinging to Knives. Heart hammering in his chest, Wolfwood grabbed a throw blanket and gently covered the man and his dog. 

Feeling too raw and emotional to leave him alone again, Wolfwood sat down on the floor with his back against the couch. He wanted to reach out and play with Vash’s hair, but he was afraid of upsetting him again. He sighed, leaning his head back against the cushion, closest to Vash’s head. 

Time passed again, Wolfwood didn’t know how much, but from the darkening of the room, he assumed it was quite a while. He was nearly asleep when he felt eyes on him, staring. Unsure if it was the dog or cat, Wolfwood lolled his head to the side, only to be met with swollen, blue eyes.

Turning to face Vash properly, Wolfwood stared back, unsure of what to say. He wanted to launch into apology after apology, but he also didn’t want to overwhelm Vash and cause him to have another meltdown. Finally, he settled on giving him a nervous smile. “Hey?”

Vash sniffled, everything that happened before came flooding back. He regretted the way he acted towards Wolfwood. Now, he knew the man was only trying to help, but at the time he felt caged, which wasn’t helped by the fact that he was literally stuck on the couch unless he crawled away. 

“Hi,” Vash whispered, his voice hoarse and ragged from the screaming earlier. He wanted to turn and hide, wanted to be invisible. He never wanted Wolfwood to witness a meltdown like that, where he was ugly and out of control. 

“You don’t have to speak if you don’t want,” Wolfwood told him, moving to sit on his knees. “Do you want some water?”

Vash knew he should accept the water, could feel how dehydrated he was, but instead he shook his head. He released his grip on Knives, letting the Husky jump down and stretch after his long nap. “Hold me?” He asked, feeling raw, like he’d touched a live wire. 

“Of course, Angel.” Wolfwood scooped the man up, pulling him down into his lap. “I’m so sorry for touching you, Vash. I shouldn’t have done that.” 

Vash wrapped his arm around Wolfwood and buried his nose in the man’s collar bone. “You didn’t know,” he whispered, hand gripping Wolfwood’s shirt tightly. 

“No. But I do now,” he told him, pressing a kiss to his temple. “I’m still sorry for making it worse in the moment.”

Humming, Vash kept his face buried in Wolfwood’s collar bone, breathing in deeply. He was exhausted, but knew he was going to have to explain what exactly happened. “I called Nai.”

Rubbing Vash’s back, Wolfwood nodded, having guessed as much. While he wanted to ask why the blond would do that alone, he knew this wasn’t the right time. “Are you okay right now?” He hoped Vash understood the implicit, ‘to talk about this.’ 

Shaking his head, Vash finally turned his head so he could properly rest against Wolfwood’s chest. “No, but I owe you an explanation.” 

“You don’t owe me anything,” he said, kissing the top of Vash’s head. Honestly, he would have loved an explanation, but he genuinely didn’t think Vash owed him anything. He just wanted Vash to be safe.

Vash pulled back enough so he could properly look at Wolfwood, his heart hurt as he looked at the kind and loving eyes. “I think… I do,” he admitted, tears in his eyes, again. “I’m going to be here longer…” 

Wolfwood moved a hand up to gently cup Vash’s cheek, thumb swiping away any errant tears. “I know it’s not what you wanted, but that’s okay. You don’t have a time limit on being here.” 

Leaning into the touch, Vash closed his eyes and tried to compose himself. “You chose a bad guy for your boyfriend.”

Frowning, Wolfwood leaned forward to press a kiss to Vash’s forehead. “Hey, don’t say that. You’re not bad and I’m really happy you’re my boyfriend.” 

“Even when I push you away?” His voice was distant, a frown on his face even though he relaxed under the kiss. 

“Yes, Angel, even then.” Wolfwood moved his other hand to curl into Vash’s hair, gently massaging the scalp where he’d been pulling. “I care so much about you, Vash. One little meltdown isn’t going to change that.”

Vash sighed as he leaned back into the touch, feeling it soothe the physical pain. “All I do is panic. I’m worthless…

Wolfwood felt his blood go cold and his movements still as he heard what Vash said about himself. “Is that what your brother said?” He asked, working extra hard to keep his tone even, although he was seething inside. 

Opening his eyes, Vash could see the anger on Wolfwood’s face and knew he had messed up. He pressed his lips together, not wanting to admit that he was right, but also not wanting to lie. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders. 

“Vash Saverem. You are not worthless,” Wolfwood said, staring directly into Vash’s eyes, hoping that he could make him understand. “Your brother is a dick. I don’t know what all he said to you, but don’t listen to a word of it. If he has the fucking nerve to call you worthless, then I know he didn’t say anything important.” 

Vash turned his eyes away, looking to the corner of Wolfwood’s jaw since he found the eye contact too intense. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping he could disappear. Instead, he felt another soft kiss to his forehead. 

“You’re not worthless,” Wolfwood repeated, pressing a kiss in between his eyes. “You’re not bad,” he said, pressing another kiss to the tip of Vash’s nose. “You deserve to be happy and loved.” He pressed a kiss to each of Vash’s cheeks. 

The soft kisses were almost too much for him to take, but Vash sat in Wolfwood’s lap, allowing himself to be kissed. “I am happy,” he whispered, guilt still eating away at him for admitting it. 

“What about loved?” Wolfwood asked, pressing a kiss to Vash’s temple. He felt like he was pressing too close, too soon, to each of their own boundaries, but he didn’t care at the moment; he just needed to know that Vash was cared for.

Chewing his bottom lip, Vash tried to calm his heart down as it raced in his chest. Deciding that words were too hard, Vash nodded, eyes still closed so he wouldn’t have to look at Wolfwood directly. If he had, he would have seen how Wolfwood stared down at him as if he was the only light in the universe and he was a man that had grown up in the dark. 

“You deserve it,” Wolfwood repeated, pressing a kiss to the scar that was hidden in Vash’s hairline but had grown to be his favorite spot to kiss. 

“Why?” Vash asked before realizing the question didn’t really make sense. “Why do I get that from you?”

Wolfwood smiled, as he thought of an answer. “Because you’re charming and you won me over.” 

Vash looked at him, saw the gentle smile on his lips and let himself laugh. “Am I still charming with snot running down my nose?” 

Wolfwood laughed with him, before making a face. “I mean, I wouldn’t be willing to kiss just anyone with a snotty upper lip, but I’d make an exception for you.”

Making a face, Vash pushed Wolfwood away as he ducked in like he was about to kiss him. “Gross, you have the lowest standards of any man that I have ever met.” 

“You chose this,” Wolfwood reminded him, grinning. 

Sighing, Vash rested his head on Wolfwood’s shoulder again. “Yeah, well, I’m told I have bad taste.”  

“If that means I get to keep you, then I can handle keeping mint chip ice cream in the freezer and ordering pineapple and mushroom pizza.” 

Vash rubbed his hand over his face, wishing he could properly wash it without moving. “I want to kiss you so bad right now.” 

“Why don’t you shower and I’ll heat something up for dinner? Then we can kiss as much as you’d like?” 

Biting his bottom lip, Vash considered the offer before nodding. “That sounds like a deal,” he said, hugging Wolfwood one more time. “Um… Could you help me to the bathroom?” 

Wolfwood understood the question for what it was: an acceptance. Vash was asking for help with something they both knew he could handle alone, but he was reaching out and asking for assistance. Smiling, he nodded, before standing up and helping Vash up. “Of course.” 

Vash wrapped his arm around Wolfwood’s shoulder, leaning most of his weight on him. They walked slowly to the bathroom where Wolfwood helped him sit on the toilet. When the other man got ready to go, Vash grabbed his hand. 

Surprised, Wolfwood turned back to face Vash, eyes scanning his face. “What’s up, Angel?”

To his surprise, Vash tugged him back. “Can you just… I don’t want to be alone,” he admitted, looking up hopefully at Wolfwood. 

“Vash, what are you wanting me to do?” He asked, feeling a little wary. He knew Vash was back in his right mind and was able to make his own decisions, but he needed some clarity. 

Lips set in a thin, determined line, Vash looked back up to meet Wolfwood’s eyes. “Nothing… sexual.” He blushed as he said it, knowing that’s how the conversation had sounded. “I just want to take a bath. I think. And maybe hold your hand.” 

Smiling softly, Wolfwood leaned down and pressed a kiss to Vash’s head. “I think that sounds like a good idea.” He leaned over to pull the shower seat out of the tub and maneuver it around the small bathroom. “I’ll fill the tub and then let you undress. Just tell me when to come back.” 

Shaking his head, Vash looked back at him. “You don’t have to leave. You’d see eventually,” his voice was brave,  but he looked nervous. 

“Angel, are you sure? We don’t have to do this today.” Wolfwood was concerned, but he trusted Vash’s judgment above all else. 

Nodding, Vash pulled his shirt off, taking the first step. “You’ve seen me at my ugliest. And it’s just skin, right?” He gave a nervous smile, his eyes crinkling as he said it. 

“Nothing about you is ugly,” Wolfwood told him, making a point not to look away. “Not a single thing.” His eyes carefully scanned over Vash’s chest, noting the different scars and where they must have come from; he could tell the top surgery scars from any of the scars that were made by the accident.

Vash twitched a little under Wolfwood’s gaze, feeling the affection that seemed to break through all of his insecurities and doubts. “You know, I didn’t just mean the scars.” He trailed off, still feeling awkward and exposed. 

“ Nothing about you is ugly,” he repeated, lifting his eyes back up to meet Vash’s own, making sure he understood that Wolfwood genuinely believed that statement. “You can get undressed, I’m just going to fill the tub up for you so it’s warm.” 

A smile crossed Vash’s lips as he watched Wolfwood start the bath water and make sure it was warm enough. “You’re still being a gentleman.” Vash found that he was appreciative of the break from Wolfwood’s eyes, though; it gave him a chance to sit on the toilet and prepare for the next part. 

Though Wolfwood had the water filling, he kept his eyes on the tub. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to look at Vash, it wasn’t that he didn’t think he would love every single part of the blond, but he wanted Vash to be sure this was something he was willing to share. The afternoon had been rough, leaving them both a little raw. He could kind of understand why Vash would want to willingly share something personal as a way to take back some of his agency. 

With a little struggling, as usual, Vash managed to remove his pants and underwear, leaving him shivering a little in the tiny bathroom. With a reach of his hand, Vash grabbed Wolfwood’s hand and tugged. “I kind of need you to move if I’m going to get into the tub,” he explained with a smile and nod of his head towards the tub. 

Nervously chuckling, Wolfwood squeezed Vash’s hand before moving to the side so that he could let Vash work. He was more impressed than he should have been with how Vash managed to transfer himself to the side of the tub, fingers of his right hand gripping the edge as he turned his legs towards the tub. Carefully, Vash slid off of the edge into the tub and sat back, before making a little ‘ta-da’ motion. 

Still feeling exposed, especially now that Wolfwood could see most of his body, Vash tried to duck more of his body under the water that was still filling the tub. “See? I can still manage a lot of things.” 

“I never doubted that. You shower and get ready by yourself every day,” Wolfwood reminded him, lowering himself down to the ground by the tub, facing Vash so his right hand could take Vash’s right hand. 

“Yeah. But still,” he mumbled, pulling his left leg up a bit so he wouldn’t feel as exposed. “This is embarrassing.” Pink dusted his cheeks as he let his head fall towards his shoulder. 

“I can still leave,” Wolfwood offered, keeping his eyes on Vash’s face and nowhere else. “Or close my eyes.” 

Vash shook his head, before remembering he still had to wash his face. “No. You’ve already seen me. The bandage is off,” he tried joking, before gently extracting his fingers from Wolfwood’s hand. He splashed water on his face, wishing he’d thought to do this before getting in the tub water. 

“Okay. Clearly you need me anyway,” Wolfwood teased, standing up to grab a wash cloth before wetting it in the sink to hand to Vash. “The bandaid never had to come off if you didn’t want it to, by the way.” 

Vash accepted the wash cloth, resting it on his face for a moment, before gently wiping the tears and dried snot away. He didn’t have a clue how Wolfwood still managed to look at him with all the love in the world. Once done with the cloth, Vash set it to the side. 

“That sex was going to be really awkward then,” he tried teasing, his tone still sounding off from the hoarseness in his voice. 

Wolfwood sat back down, taking Vash’s hand again and pressing a kiss to the knuckles. “Who said we had to have sex?” 

Jaw dropped, Vash stared at Wolfwood as if he’d kicked a puppy. “I mean, not tonight! But eventually! Right?” Vash asked, sounding offended at the mere suggestion. “Wait, wait. Are you asexual? I mean, it’s fine if you are. But I’m not. But it wouldn’t matter if you were, because I can sort of handle things.” 

Wolfwood groaned, hating everything about the conversation. “Vash, I’m not ace.” He rolled his shoulders back and stared up at the ceiling. “But I wasn’t going to try and initiate something when you still act funny about me seeing you in a t-shirt.” 

Vash pressed his lips together and squinted his eyes. “Well, at least one good thing came out of this meltdown.” 

Wolfwood’s head snapped forward and glared at Vash. “Really, Spikey?” 

Shrugging his shoulders, Vash let his left leg settle under the water. “I have to find something positive somewhere in this shitty day. I thought it was going to be gaining some autonomy again, but now sex is on the table sooner rather than later.” 

Taking in a deep breath, Wolfwood shook his head. “Well, I guess I know you’re really feeling better.” 

“You know what would make me feel a lot better?” As Wolfwood settled another glare at him, Vash pulled his hand back so he could splash him. “Get your head out of the gutter, horndog. I was going to say if you’d wash my hair for me.” 

Surprised, Wolfwood just let the water splash him. “You sure?” 

“Washing my hair is the bane of my existence. I might have to recruit you every time.” 

“I am not washing your hair every single day. You’ve made it this long on your own, I know you can do it,” Wolfwood said, grabbing the shampoo. 

Settling back again, Vash grinned. “Jokes on you. I don’t wash my hair every day.” 

“I’m not doing it that often either,” he said, kissing Vash’s head before getting up to grab a cup he could use to wet his hair. 

Vash leaned against the side of the tub, watching Wolfwood walk away. “What about once a week? On the days you really, really love me?” He teased, resting his chin on his arm. 

From the kitchen, Vash could hear the plastic cup fall and Wolfwood let out a curse. As the man came back in, Vash grinned up at him. “Did we have a deal?” He asked, as Wolfwood sat back down. 

“You’re a menace to society,” Wolfwood grumbled, dunking the cup into the water, before gently moving Vash to sitting with his head back so he could wet his hair. 

“That wasn’t a no,” Vash pointed out, relaxing as Wolfwood added the shampoo and tenderly massaged it into his scalp, careful of the spots he’d pulled hair out. “To either.” 

Wolfwood hummed, focusing his energy on washing Vash’s hair. “It’s been a week.” 

Vash smiled, eyes closed as he leaned into the touch. “I feel nothing or everything. I’m kind of the definition of all or nothing.” 

“Keep your eyes closed,” Wolfwood told him, grabbing the cup so he could wash the soap from Vash’s hair. “You say it first, then. Since you’re so smart.” 

Vash’s smile turned into a full grin. “Not a chance. I want to be wined and dined.” 

“Can you even drink with the medicine you’re on?” He meant it both as a tease, but also a serious question. 

“Um. Technically no. But only because it could make me extra anxious and depressed,” Vash explained, opening his eyes once the water was done pouring over his head. “But, I haven’t actually drank since my accident.” 

“Why don’t I get you some nice sparkling grape juice, then?”

“So you want to wine and dine me?” Vash asked, staring back at Wolfwood who was depositing conditioner in his hand. 

Running his fingers through the blond hair, Wolfwood thought for a moment about what he would say. It wasn’t like he hadn’t alluded to wanting to fall in love with Vash, or even about the fact that he was already halfway there. “I think I would like to avoid my boyfriend being anymore depressed or anxious.” 

Vash pouted at the non-answer. “You’re being mean. I showed you my butt, answer the question.” 

Wolfwood couldn’t help but to laugh at the cavalier way Vash was speaking about his body. “And it’s a cute butt. Thank you for sharing.” 

“Nicholas. Please?” The vulnerability that Vash had been showing was now clear on his face as he searched Wolfwood’s own face for an answer. 

“Do you feel loved, Angel?” Wolfwood asked him again, hoping that Vash could still remember the conversation from earlier when everything was so fresh and new. 

Conditioner sitting in his hair and his body on full display for the first time, Vash realized that he hadn’t felt more loved in a long time. “Yeah,” he answered, blushing. 

“There’s your answer,” Wolfwood told him, filling the cup with more water. “Now let me rinse this conditioner out.” 

Feeling happy tears fill his eyes, Vash closed his eyes and smiled as he tilted his head back. The water running over his scalp and down his back made him feel like he was brand new. “I feel like you just baptized me.” 

Wolfwood nearly slipped and fell into the tub with Vash. “Blondie, you have five more seconds to shut the hell up or I’m turning the cold water on.” 

“Oh my god. You make one christianity joke to your boyfriend who’s an ex-seminary student.” 

Lips pressed together, Wolfwood reached for the faucet, turning the cold water on and splashing it at Vash. “Oh my god! How could you be so cruel?! I’m helpless and naked!” 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood turned the faucet off. “Wash your body on your own. I’m making dinner.” 

Grabbing the washcloth, Vash huffed. “I didn’t want your help with that anyway. We’re not there yet.” 

“Vash, I swear to god,” Wolfwood warned from the kitchen. 

“Okay! Jeez. A guy can’t even joke about his own trauma anymore. Sheryl would be proud of how well I’ve coped. Just so you know,” Vash called out, before properly focusing on cleaning his body.

Although everything about the day had definitely sucked, Vash couldn’t help but to smile to himself as he thought about how they were able to turn the night around. While he was sure he might have pressed some boundaries, he definitely felt more secure in his relationship with Wolfwood. He had seen parts of Vash that he’d never dreamed of letting another partner see and he listened to Vash when he’d been told to leave or stop. 

Everything around Vash seemed to be ready to snap in an instant or open his world to new possibilities. He knew not to trust every good feeling, but he found himself finding it much more likely that something good would be born from all the bad. 

Chapter Text

Once he was finally calmed and clean, Vash explained everything to Wolfwood, everything Nai said that caused the meltdown. Wolfwood wrapped his arms around Vash and held him tight, as if he could ward off any of the pain that came from remembering what his brother said. Vash hid his face in Wolfwood’s neck, realizing the man had quickly become his safest space. 

With everything finally aired out and Nai’s true feelings revealed, Vash called Sheryl the next day, something he was very unaccustomed to doing. He wanted so desperately to be healed and past everything from the crash, but he knew now that it was really only just beginning. Every one step forward felt like three steps back, it was exhausting, but, for once, he could see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

They set an appointment for later that day, after hours so that she could properly dedicate the time to him as she knew they would probably need. Vash had cried again when he got off the phone, but this time it was because he was so grateful she was willing to work with him on such short notice. 

V: have an appointment at 6 today. can you take me? please? 

He hesitated sending the text to Wolfwood, his heart pounding for asking on such short notice. After a moment of thinking though, Vash realized that it was exactly what Wolfwood had been asking him to do, to reach out and ask for help. Finally, he pressed send, taking in a deep breath. 

Within a few moments, as if Wolfwood had been waiting for a text or call, the man responded.

WW: I’ll be there at 5:30. You’re doing a great job, Angel. 

The text filled Vash with happiness as he read it. Now that they were living together, it was rare for them to have to send texts or voice memos, but it was nice looking back at the ones from when they were just getting to know each other. This new text with the praise would help get Vash through the next few hours. 

Vash moved through the apartment, giving lots of attention to Knives and Kuroneko so he could keep himself distracted. He wanted to be fresh and ready when he went into Sheryl’s office, not tired out from anxiously thinking of all the worst possibilities, again. She was taking extra time out of her day to hear him out, he owed her the respect of giving it his all. 

At 5:30, Vash made his way down the stairs, Knives in tow, so he could meet Wolfwood outside. As soon as he exited the building, Wolfwood was there, smiling. “How’s my pretty boy?” He asked, opening his arms for Vash immediately. 

Smiling, Vash wrapped his arms around Wolfwood and nuzzled into his neck. “Knives is doing great,” he teased, knowing that wasn’t what Wolfwood meant. 

Poking Vash’s ribs, Wolfwood pulled back from the hug. “While I love Knives, you know I’m not talking about him.”

“Oh! Knives gets the L word but not me?” Vash grinned at him, moving away as Wolfwood tried to reach up and pinch his cheek.

“Vash Saverem, you are such a brat,” Wolfwood said, giving up in his pursuit so that he could put his hands in his pockets. “Now come on, let’s get to your appointment.”

“Ouch. You full named me, that wasn’t very sexy, mysterious boyfriend of you,” Vash said, fake pouting as he followed him to the car.

“When have I ever been mysterious with you?” He asked, opening the passenger door for Vash. The blond perked up, climbing in and handing the leash to Wolfwood, knowing he’d secure Knives. 

“Oh, Vash, we can only be friends. Oh, Blondie, I can’t give in to your charms!” Vash mocked, mimicking Wolfwood’s tone and dramatically leaning back. 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood grabbed Knives’ leash and opened the back door, whistling so the dog would jump up and lay down. “You are feisty today, Spikey,” he said, closing the door once Knives was secured with his harness. 

“I’m enjoying the good mood before the bass drop.” Vash shrugged, settling into the seat. 

Wolfwood moved to the driver's side and got himself settled, before leaning over to kiss Vash’s cheek. “I’ll be in the waiting room whenever you’re ready. If you need me to come to her office, I’ll do that. It’ll be okay.” 

Vash nodded, smiling softly at Wolfwood. “Okay. Thank you.” 

“Of course,” Wolfwood told him, starting the car and heading to the office building. 

The drive was both too long and too short, both sides leaving Vash’s stomach tying in knots. At one point, Wolfwood offered his hand, before realizing holding the prosthetic wasn’t the most comforting option, giving both of them a good laugh. Instead, he turned his hand to settle on Vash’s knee, offering a little comfort. 

Arriving at the office, they unloaded from the car, Wolfwood taking on the job of getting Knives before handing him over to Vash. The blond took Wolfwood’s hand, squeezing it lightly as he took in a breath. Everything was starting to feel too real, but he kept reminding himself that it was for the best in the long run. 

“Are you okay with me walking you all the way up?” Wolfwood asked once they arrived at the elevator. 

“Honestly, you’re lucky I’m not dragging you into the appointment with me.” Vash tried to joke, though the seriousness bled through. 

“I mean it when I say I’m just a text away, Vash. Or ask her to open the door and yell for me. I’ll be in the waiting area.” 

Affection burned through Vash’s chest as he squeezed Wolfwood’s hand. “I trust you, Love.” 

Once they arrived at Sheryl's office, Vash reluctantly released Wolfwood’s hand. “I’ll see you soon, Angel,” Wolfwood told him, smiling. 

Nodding, Vash knocked on Sheryl’s door, taking in slow, deep breaths. As she opened the door, she offered him a small smile. 

“I’m proud of you for reaching out, Vash. Come in, let’s talk about what happened,” she told him, opening the door wider so the man and his service dog could walk in, immediately heading to their favorite chair to get comfy. 

As soon as Sheryl closed the door, Vash started speaking. “I know we usually have a routine. And I really like that. But can I just… like, can I just speak today?”

Surprised by Vash immediately opening up, Sheryl grabbed her notebook and sat down opposite from him. “Would you like me to not interrupt with any questions?”

Chewing his bottom lip, Vash thought for a moment. “You know me. If I start losing track, could you help guide me?”

“Of course, Vash,” she gestured between them. “I’m listening whenever you’re ready.”

Vash nodded, trying to gain more of the gumption he had when he first entered the office. “I don’t think I can live with Nai anymore. Ever.” Saying the words out loud felt like a punch to the guts. 

“As great as he was at the beginning with helping me heal… he’s forgotten that I’ve healed. And I know a lot of that is his own trauma, but he’s treating me like a child.” He pressed his lips together, considering the statement for a moment. 

“No. That’s putting it too simply. He acts like I can’t do anything without him. He told me so yesterday,” Vash paused, realizing he was getting ahead of himself. 

“Sorry, I should have written things down.” Sheryl simply smiled at him and let him regain his thoughts. “I called him. While I was alone. It was an accident, our- Wolfwood’s cat knocked the phone into my hand while I was trying to send a text to let him know I was safe. It called him.” 

Feeling like he had more control over the story, Vash trudged along. “He started out concerned. It was nice to hear from my brother again. But then it turned into a fight,” he explained, red making its way up his neck. “I think I started it. By calling him out for blocking Wolfwood, but it set him off.” 

Closing his eyes, Vash remembered the awful things that Nai had said. “He said I was worthless. That he made me,” his mouth twisted in disgust. “He said I was the reason we no longer had a family.” 

Taking in a slow, deep breath, Vash released it slowly, grounding himself. “He didn’t even try to pretend to listen to me when I… I tried to freaking defend myself. And I never do that.” Explaining that, saying the words out loud, struck another cord within Vash. 

“I have always let him lead the way. I thought it was better that way. I just knew that he would know better than me.” He roughly ran his fingers through his hair, grimacing at the tender scalp. “I know we’re twins, but he’s just always been ‘my older brother Nai.’” 

Dropping his hand back to his lap, Vash breathed in deep and sighed, as if he kept forgetting to properly breathe and had to remind his body how to do it. “How do I… How do we fix this? I need help. I never thought I’d need help because of Nai. He always was the help.” 

Vash looked up to Sheryl, a broken look on his face as he tried to stop the tears in his eyes from falling. This was really the first time he’d spoken uninterrupted in one of their sessions; it was both liberating and exhausting. 

Sheryl gave him a kind smile, before offering him the box of tissues. “I think if you say words like ‘fix’, you automatically assume they’re broken. Do you feel like your relationship with Nai is completely broken? Do you think it’s irreparable?”

Gladly accepting a tissue, Vash dabbed at his eyes, hoping that if he stopped the first tears, he could avoid another waterfall. “I don’t know.” Admitting that out loud was terrifying. 

“Let me rephrase,” she told him, realizing those questions were a little vague for the state that he was in. “Can you forgive Nai?”

Vash couldn’t help it but he scoffed at the question. “Sorry,” he told her, frowning. “That was rude. I just can’t imagine Nai ever apologizing. I can’t remember a single time he ever has.” 

Sheryl’s lips thinned, pressing together. “I wasn’t really talking about accepting an apology. Forgiveness is not conditional. Yes, an apology is helpful and can show that a person has attempted atonement, but, Vash, could you forgive Nai for everything that he has said, even if he never apologizes?” 

The question sat heavy in the air as Vash thought about it, then thought about it some more. Chewing on his bottom lip, Vash tried to envision a world where he so easily forgave Nai. Realistically, that world wasn’t too far behind him. There was a time when Nai could do no wrong, even when it was something that hurt him. 

Thinking back now, Vash was suddenly forced to face some uncomfortable truths from their past. Nai was cruel and he had been a little cruel since they were placed with Rem. He realized that Nai had known earlier than even Vash that the blond was different and he treated him like an other, like something that needed to be handled. 

For a while, Vash thought it was all borne out of survival, a way to ensure that they stayed with Rem, someone who clearly loved them unconditionally. Now, Vash was wondering if Nai had simply wanted to mold him into something that was more like Nai, someone that was capable of cutting off their feelings and looking at the world with an analytical stare. Nai had always been the twin that tried to excel in school, claiming that they couldn’t be taken if they were thriving the way that the adults liked to see children thrive. 

“Nai’s always been in survival mode.” Vash’s mouth fell open as he said it out loud, piecing the puzzle together until he could see the perfect picture. “Sorry. That wasn’t the question. I just… realized something.” 

Sheryl waved her hand at the apology. “And do you think that survival mode is kicking in again?”

Shaking his head, Vash frowned. “No. I think he’s literally always been in survival mode.” The statement was final, something that Vash was certain of now that he had put it into words. “Since we were fosters, even when we were adopted. Nai has always been terrified that someone or something would separate us.” 

“And something has. At least that’s how it must seem in Nai’s mind, if you’re right.” Seeing as Nai was not her patient, Sheryl didn’t feel comfortable confirming or denying Vash’s suspicions. 

“Oh.” Vash’s eyes watered, sadness crawling into his chest and trying to claw its way out. He desperately wanted to hug his brother and promise him that nothing was going to take him away, but even the thought of hugging his brother was making his chest ache. He loved his brother, but he knew he still couldn’t be around him at the moment. 

“Am I a bad person if I still don’t know if I would forgive him?” His voice was small, genuinely curious, while also showing that he wholeheartedly believed he might be a bad person. 

“I think good and bad is best kept out of therapy when it comes to what type of person you are,” she explained, trying to find another way to answer his question. “But I can tell you, it’s okay to do whatever is best for you, Vash. Forgiveness can be earned, but you can also decide to forgive if that’s what you need to heal. Does that make sense?” 

Nodding, Vash gave her a small smile. “I think waiting on someone else to give an apology and show that they want to be forgiven is putting a lot on the other person.” Leaning down to pet Knives, Vash considered how he wanted to phrase his next statement. “I want to forgive Nai, but right now I can’t. And that’s okay. Right?” 

Sheryl smiled, writing the information down. “I think you said it perfectly, Vash.” 

Looking at the clock to the side, Vash realized it was almost time to end the session. “I liked how we ended things last time. Can I say one thing I’m happy about?”

“I would love to hear something you’re happy about.”

“I’ve done a lot of scary things recently that I normally wouldn’t have done. And I didn’t have a panic attack. I even… I mean I came in here and said everything I needed to with shutting down,” he paused, allowing himself a little smile. “That makes me happy.” 

“You should be very proud of that progress, Vash. I’m proud of you.” 

Vash’s smile grew a little more and he stood up slowly, Knives following suit. “Thank you for today. I really appreciate it.” 

“I’m really happy you reached out, Vash. I’ll see you at your next appointment. Unless you need me before, okay?” 

Nodding, Vash opened the door to head to the waiting room. “Thank you, Sheryl.” He waved goodbye to her and turned to find Wolfwood standing near the door, clearly having stood up as soon as the door opened. 

“You good, Spikey?” Wolfwood asked as Vash walked closer, his eyes clearly wandering over Vash’s face as he tried to determine how bad the session had been. 

Laughing, Vash turned away from the scrutiny. “I’m good. I think I figured some stuff out.” 

Hearing Vash’s laugh, Wolfwood smiled softly. “That’s good to hear,” he said, having no desire to press Vash for more information. “Are we hungry?” 

Vash lifted his hand and grabbed Wolfwood’s cheek so he could stare into his eyes intensely, the tears having faded already. “I am starving .” 

“Are you eating while you’re at home? If you’re not, I’m kicking your ass.” 

“So aggressive! I was nervous! I had some cucumbers and crackers.” Vash explained, heading back down towards the lobby. 

“I was going to ask if we wanted to go out to eat, but clearly you need a proper meal that isn’t just mac and cheese.” Wolfwood said, hurrying ahead of Vash so he could open the door to the exit.

Rolling his eyes, Vash offered Wolfwood his hand, who happily took it. “What if I get broccoli with the mac and cheese?” 

Sighing, Wolfwood led the way to the car, hand squeezing Vash’s in the process. “I guess that would be fine.” 

“So… we’re going on a date?” Vash asked, bouncing on his left leg and swinging their hands. 

“You feel like a date?” When Vash said he had a therapy appointment, Wolfwood hadn’t really anticipated doing much afterwards. The last time, they had picked up asian food and eaten it on the couch while watching reruns of some sitcom that Vash knew all the jokes to. It had been a great date, he had to admit. 

“I’m stimming! You tell me,” Vash said, still bouncing, occasionally tripping as they walked, much to Wolfwood’s dismay. “I need dopamine that I can only get from going out with a handsome man and kissing him senseless when we get home.” 

Arriving at the car, Wolfwood opened the passenger seat for Vash, much like he had done at the apartment. “Well, if that’s the only cure, I guess we’ll just have to find you some handsome man. It’ll break my heart, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice for you.” 

Glaring, Vash grabbed Wolfwood’s collar and pulled him down to eye level. “You’re the handsome man I want to be kissing senseless. The only one.” 

Wolfwood’s lips curled in a smile. “I know, Angel. I think we established that a while ago.” 

“So kiss me,” he whined, until he was cut off by Wolfwood pressing their lips together. The angle was awkward given the fact that Vash had already sat down in the car and Wolfwood had to stoop to fit his head down to properly kiss him, but it was worth it. 

Finally, Wolfwood tried to pull back, though Vash’s fingers were firmly curled into his collar. “You can have food out or we can go home and kiss, but we can’t just kiss in this parking lot.” 

Licking his lips, Vash glanced from Wolfwood’s eyes to his lips. “Date tomorrow?” 

“Date tomorrow,” Wolfwood agreed, smiling as he managed to untangle Vash’s hands from his shirt. “Now let me get Knives put up so we can go.” 

“Okay,” Vash pouted, settling into his seat with his arms crossed in front of his chest. 

Wolfwood finished getting the service dog set up in the back seat, before he moved back to the driver's seat. “Are you pouting because I’m not making out with you in a parking lot?” 

“I just want to make out, period. It’s been two years , Nick.” 

Chuckling, Wolfwood started the car, before settling his hand on Vash’s knee. “You still have to eat something before we can make out.” 

Vash threw his head back and groaned. “Why can’t you just be horny and ignore my basic needs for survival?” 

“Because I’m not a college kid and I assume that was the last kind of person you hooked up with?”

“I kind of resent that, actually. What if I had a long term partner?” Vash raised his eyebrow as he looked over at Wolfwood. 

Wolfwood blinked as he processed the question, trying to determine if Vash was joking or not. “Wait. Did you? At the time of the crash?” 

“Oh, shit. That would have been really depressing if I did, huh?” Vash seemed to just realize what he had been implying. “Okay, sorry. No. I’ve never had a long term partner. I just wanted to tease you.” 

“Thank god. I was about to go find them and beat them up for leaving you.” Wolfwood had genuinely thought Vash had been abandoned during his hardest times. 

“That’s weirdly sweet of you. Now I feel bad for teasing you.” Although it was a little awkward, Vash reached his right hand down to cover Wolfwood’s with his own. 

Wolfwood smiled crookedly. “You don’t have to. I like learning things about you.” 

“Well, I’d like to learn things, too,” Vash pointed out. “Have you ever been in love?” At Wolfwood’s annoyed side-eye, Vash laughed. “ Before me ?” He helpfully amended, giving him an innocent smile. 

“You’re kind of the worst,” he said, hoping that the teasing would read through. Once Vash laughed, he calmed down. “But no. I haven’t been in love before.” 

“Me, either,” Vash admitted, shrugging his shoulders. “I guess I didn’t really think it was a thing. I thought… people just found someone they liked a little more than everyone else.” 

“Really? I thought you were all or nothing?” 

Vash grinned. “Well, turns out I hadn’t found anyone to be worth giving my all.” He squeezed Wolfwood’s hand, but kept his face forward as he said it. 

“You’re going to be the end of me.” Wolfwood smiled, though, knowing exactly what Vash was implying. “But I feel the same.”

“It’s been a week,” Vash mimicked Wolfwood’s voice, grinning as they pulled into the parking lot of the apartment. 

Parking the car, Wolfwood rolled his eyes. “You literally started this conversation.” 

“Okay. Let’s just never say it. Then it doesn’t matter how long we dated before we knew. Since you want to be a stickler about time.” 

Turning to face Vash, Wolfwood shook his head. “So you would be willing to never hear or say it? That’ll be a weird wedding.” 

Vash turned and pointed at Wolfwood, finger tapping his nose. “Who said anything about marriage?” 

Wolfwood pressed his lips together, before pursing them as he thought about why he would have said that. “It was a generalization. People that say I love you sometimes get married.” 

“Oh, we can’t date, Spikey,” Vash mimicked him, again. “You’re so full of shit. You wanna kiss me so bad it makes you look stupid.” 

“We are literally dating, you shit.” Wolfwood gently took hold of Vash’s chin, before pulling him in to kiss him. 

Vash smiled into the kiss, getting exactly what he wanted. “Where’s the altar?”

Wolfwood pushed him away, getting out of the car, leaving a laughing Vash in the car as he released Knives. “I’m going home and I’m stealing the service dog.” 

“Ouch. That’s a new level of low, Nick. Abandoning your disabled husband and stealing his service dog? Cruel!” Vash called as soon as he opened the door to climb out. 

Without looking back, Wolfwood made his way to the door of the apartment building. He opened the door and waited for Vash, knowing he wasn’t far behind. Once Vash arrived, he offered Knives’ leash back to him. 

“We’re still playing, right?” Vash asked, feeling a little worried he might have taken it too far. 

Wolfwood smiled and pressed a kiss to the corner of Vash’s lips. “I’m a rotten husband. What can I say?” 

Vash grinned, glad he was able to tell when Wolfwood was still playing around with him. “You’d probably make the best husband.” He blushed saying it, knowing that wasn’t quite the playful vibe they’d be going with. 

“Maybe you’ll get lucky and find out,” Wolfwood told him, heading up the steps, stopping half way just to make sure Vash was okay. “But it’ll be a year or two, minimum.” 

“You’re playing the long game, I see. That’s fine. I’m patient.” Vash smiled at him, slowly making his way up the steps. 

Wolfwood headed towards the apartment, unlocking it and letting Kuroneko out to meet Knives in their new greeting. “Come on, I have a pretty boy to make out with,” he said, holding the door open for Vash and the animals to file in.  

“Wow, this is just really sudden. How could I have prepared for this?” Vash teased, moving to sit on the couch. 

Wolfwood followed, sitting next to him. “Are you going to wear your arm and leg? I don’t care either way, but that doesn’t seem super comfortable.”

Vash blushed, looking back to Wolfwood with wide eyes. “Right now?!” 

“Oh my god, you’re the one that made such a big fuss!” 

“How mad are you going to be if I tell you I’m actually really hungry now?” 

Wolfwood stared at him, before taking a breath and closing his eyes, chuckling and shaking his head in disbelief. “You know what? Sometimes, I’m not trusting your judgment. This one’s on me.” He laughed, standing up. “Mac and cheese with broccoli stirred in?” 

Vash laughed with him, fumbling to take his shirt off and then the arm harnesses. “This is why you’re my husband. You know me so well.” 

“Yeah, yeah.” Nick called, getting the water in the pot ready to boil. “You’re lucky I have feelings for you.” 

“There’s definitely a shorter phrase for that.” 

“Vash?”

The blond’s heart stopped as he stood up, on his way to change into comfy clothes. “Yeah?” 

“Do you feel loved?” 

Vash smiled, feeling his heart rate increase immediately. “You know I do.” 

“Okay,” Wolfwood peered out of the kitchen and smiled at him. “Your dinner will be done soon.” 

“Wait. This is important,” he said, moving closer to the entrance of the kitchen. “I don’t think I really ever asked it back. I mean, do you feel loved?” 

Wolfwood’s smile turned fond. “Yeah, Angel, I do.” 

Relief washed over Vash and he smiled sweetly, before walking into the kitchen and pressing a kiss to Wolfwood’s lips. “Okay. Good.”

Chapter Text

Waking up the next day, Vash was practically vibrating in his skin as he awaited the evening. Wolfwood, seeming to realize this, decided to torture the blond by ignoring any possible references to a date that he could. Vash found it infuriating. 

“Nick! What are we doing?” Vash asked, turning to him at the counter while they ate their breakfast. 

Wolfwood glanced to the side, lifting his coffee mug to his lips to take a sip. “Drinking coffee?” Vash had woken up in a rare form that morning and he was quite enjoying the show. 

The blond let out a sound of disgust, rolling his eyes. “You know exactly what I mean.” 

“Do I? I’m pretty impressed with myself then.” He grinned, setting the coffee mug down and turning to face the blond. 

Vash glared at him before stabbing a few bites of egg onto his fork and stuffing it into his mouth. “The date!” He said, mouth full. 

“Oh yeah. That thing,” Wolfwood mumbled, trying to keep it casual. “What would you like to do, Angel?” 

Letting the fork fall to his plate, Vash raised his arms in annoyance. “I don’t know. What do people do on dates when they’re trying to get wined and dined?” 

“Well, drink, I assume. But that’s not on the table.” He shrugged his shoulders, not sure what Vash was expecting the answer to be. 

“Alright, we’re going to have one date night in someday so I can have a glass of wine, at least. Don’t look at me like that, one glass of wine is not going to kill me.” 

Wolfwood settled his face back into something neutral, knowing that Vash was right. “Is that your option for tonight? You want a date night so you can drink a glass of wine?”

“Aren’t you getting bored of staying in all the time? We’ve barely done anything since I’ve been here.” Vash wasn’t upset, but he was worried that Wolfwood might get bored and lose interest, that thought made him sad. 

“It’s been a weird and rough two weeks,” Wolfwood explained, shrugging nonchalantly. “And I hate pointing it out, but you’re not great in crowds. I’m not saying that’s bad, it’s just something worth taking into consideration.” 

“That’s what Knives is for! Crowd control and to keep me calm. Please? Nick, I just want one normal date with you. No brothers interrupting and no friends meddling.” Vash batted his eyelashes, begging. 

Leaning his head back, already knowing that he had been bested, Wolfwood sighed. “Okay. We’re going out tonight.” 

Pumping his fist, Vash whooped in joy. “Yes!” He yelled, smiling brightly at Wolfwood. “So. What would you normally do before you met me?” 

“Do you really want that answer?” Wolfwood asked, resting his elbow on the counter and then resting his chin on his hand. 

“Ah. So not a fun potential couple activity?” Vash guessed, putting the clues together. 

Grinning, Wolfwood sized him up. “I mean, sometimes.” 

Staring at him, Vash thought for a moment while he considered the statement, before it finally clicked and his jaw dropped. “Oh. Okay,” he said, processing the statement, a blush creeping up his cheeks. 

“You did ask,” Wolfwood reminded him, the smile dropping as he worried Vash disliked the answer. 

“Wait. You’re frowning. Why are you making that face?” Vash reached over, gently poking the corner of Wolfwood’s mouth. 

“You didn’t seem to like my answer, so I’m kind of wishing I had said bowling or something.” Wolfwood reached up to gently wrap his hand around Vash’s wrist to stop him from poking his face. 

Vash frowned, wiggling his wrist until he could slide his fingers into Wolfwood’s hand. “Sorry, that wasn’t nice of me. I just had a lot of thoughts enter my head at once.”

Intertwining their fingers together, Wolfwood pressed a kiss to the back of Vash’s knuckles. “Wanna fill a guy in?” 

Sighing, Vash tapped his fingers against the back of Wolfwood’s hand. “I don’t know. I was kind of wondering if you wanted to keep doing that? And then I realized we didn’t say we were going to be exclusive.” 

“Vash, we’re exclusive,” Wolfwood told him, shutting down the thoughts immediately. “Romantically, sexually, we’re exclusive.”

The blond broke out into a grin. “That’s good. Wish I was sorry you have to give up on your days of finding cute men to take home.” 

Wolfwood rolled his eyes. “I’m not. I have more fun with you when we’re just cuddling in bed with all of our clothes on than I did with any of them.” 

Vash stared at Wolfwood with the largest puppy dog eyes. “That is really sweet. But now I feel some pressure for when we get it on,” he joked. 

Groaning, Wolfwood shook his head. “Why you? Is the universe punishing me for something?”

Laughing, Vash pulled Wolfwood’s hand closer so he could nip the flesh. “You’re in too deep to give me up now.”  

“I think it’s somehow worse when you’re self aware like this.” Despite his words, Wolfwood leaned in to press a soft kiss to Vash’s lips. 

“So you are in too deep?” Vash grinned, knowing that he was testing Wolfwood’s patience. 

“My head is 6 feet under water, Spikey.”

Vash pressed his lips together, trying to keep himself from saying something, but it seemed he let the devil on his shoulder win as he spoke. “So. Think you’ll need mouth to mouth?” 

Wolfwood immediately pushed away from the counter, releasing his hold on Vash’s hand. “If we were married, that would be the final reason. We would be getting divorced.” 

Leaning back, Vash laughed raucously, nearly falling out of his chair. “Okay, so I’m the one with the dad jokes then? Glad we’ve chosen our roles in our marriage.” 

“I’m getting in the shower now. Decide what you want to do tonight.” 

“I almost died and you didn’t even show concern! Cruel, Wolfwood!” Vash called, still laughing. 

Eventually, the two managed to get themselves ready and agree on a place for them to go on a date. The negotiations were hard fought, but Vash was victorious in the end with his suggestion of sandwiches in the park. 

“It’s romantic, Nicholas. A picnic in the park! They write books about this stuff,” Vash told him, walking with their hands entwined while he occasionally swung them. 

“I’ll be honest, I kind of thought you would end up picking an arcade or something.” It wasn’t that Wolfwood disliked the idea of a picnic, but it definitely hadn’t been his first choice. He just reminded himself that this was making Vash happy. 

Vash shrugged, smiling at him. “I wanted to do something relaxing that had less people around,” he admitted, knowing that the other options could have led to overstimulation. “Plus, I never really dated people. It’s nice to do sappy things.” 

Explanations given, Wolfwood couldn’t really argue against any of them. “You’re such a sap. How did you exist without corny dates?” 

“Are you sure you want the answer to that?” 

Raising an eyebrow, Wolfwood nodded. “I think I do.” 

Humming, Vash thought for a moment on how to explain it. “Feelings were scary for a long time. I mean, they still are, but it was easier to leave things as just sex or just friends.” 

“You got overstimulated from feeling things?” 

Smiling, Vash nodded. “I’m pretty sure that’s what happened, yeah.” 

“Can I ask what changed?” It wasn’t like Wolfwood was upset that Vash had feelings for him, but he was curious.

Thinking for a moment, Vash kept stride with Wolfwood. “I know you’ll say it’s corny, but I met you,” he said, blushing. “I wasn’t trying to fall in love or anything. I wasn’t even trying to date. But you were really handsome and you treated me so well.” 

“You’re right. It is corny,” Wolfwood said, stopping them in the middle of the sidewalk. “I guess I’m starting to like corny.” He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Vash’s lips, making the blond melt against him. 

Pulling back from the kiss, Vash grinned. “Well, yeah. I sure hope so,” he joked, squeezing his hand. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Come on, let’s get our food,” Wolfwood said, steering him into the sandwich shop so they could order. 

As they entered, the cashier glanced down to Knives and frowned. “Sir, I’m sorry. There’s no pets.” 

“Oh. Um. He’s a service dog,” Vash said, chuckling nervously; this was his least favorite thing to deal with when going in to food places. 

“Um. But he’s a dog. And we sell food.” The cashier wasn’t being rude, but it was clear they were confused. 

“Service dogs have to be allowed in,” Wolfwood said, ready to take over. “They’re medical equipment. You wouldn’t stop someone from coming in with a heart monitor, would you?” 

Deciding they were outmatched, the cashier shrugged. “Okay. I guess I’ll take your order when you’re ready.”

Vash smiled at Wolfwood, thankful that he spoke when he did, otherwise he was about to tell the man his order and stand outside with Knives. Although he knew he had every right to be in the shop, he still wasn’t great with speaking up for himself and usually found it easier to just wait outside. 

“I’ll take the steak sandwich, add cheddar and jalapenos, please,” Wolfwood said, giving his order, before turning to Vash. The blond blinked at Wolfwood, lip pouting as he tried to convey that he didn’t want to order. “Fine. Blondie will take the veggie, add jalapenos. Thank you.” 

The cashier rang them up and gave the total, while Wolfwood was grabbing his wallet, Vash hip checked him and inserted his card into the reader. With a grin, he glanced back at Wolfwood as the cashier gave him the receipt. “Your order will be out in a minute. Have a good day.” 

“You can’t order for yourself, but you can boot me out of the way to pay?” Wolfwood asked, raising a brow. 

“I’m baby,” Vash said, tone even as he spoke. 

“You’re something alright.” Wolfwood shook his head. 

Vash rolled his eyes, moving to lean against the wall. “That’s not a very nice way to speak to someone who paid for your lunch,” Vash teased, closing his eyes from the fluorescent lights. His sunglasses helped a bit, but not enough. 

Wolfwood stood in front of him, hoping that it would help block some of the light. As they settled in, ready to wait for their food, the bell chimed as a woman came in with a standard poodle. 

The cashier sighed, not ready to repeat the same conversation. “Ma’am, your dog can’t be in here. No pets are allowed.” 

The woman rolled her eyes, stopping right in front of the register. “They have a dog. Are you just making exceptions for…  that type of person?” She asked, eyeing Vash up and down, clearly wanting to say something else. 

“He says it’s a service dog,” the cashier explained, shrugging their shoulders. 

“Okay. Then who says my dog isn’t a service dog? Are you going to discriminate against me?”

Wolfwood started to open his mouth, but Vash grabbed his sleeve, shaking his head. “We’re almost done. It’s okay, Love.” 

Knives stood up, moving to stand directly in front of Vash, sensing that something was making the man nervous. As Knives moved, it was like the poodle suddenly became aware of the other dog in the shop and it started barking. Undeterred, Knives turned his back, staring up at Vash to make sure he didn’t miss any cues. 

“Lady, look at the difference between your dog and this one. This dog is medical equipment. You’re distracting him from doing his job. Take the mutt and scram,” Wolfwood said, unable to hold his tongue any longer. 

“That’s incredibly rude! You don’t know what medical conditions I have,” she screamed across the restaurant. “I have anxiety . My dog goes wherever I do!”

Pursing his lips, Wolfwood decided to fight fire with fire. “What tasks does he perform then?” 

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” She asked, tugging the retractable leash. 

“Wolfwood, leave it. I’ll just wait outside,” Vash whispered, eyes wary at the poodle as he moved. 

“You shouldn’t have to,” Wolfwood told him, stepping in between Knives and the other woman as she moved closer. “Vash, walk faster.” 

“You have no right. Who are you? The police? What proves your service dog is real? I heard you can just buy those vests online. You’re a disgrace!” She screamed, letting go of the leash in her fury. 

The dog lunged towards Knives, but Wolfwood ducked down with his forearm out to prevent the dog from attacking Knives or Vash. The poodle latched on, growling as it refused to release. 

“Oh, god. Nick!” Vash yelled, realizing how bad the bite was getting from the blood that spilled onto the floor. “Recall your dog! Get the leash!” He screamed at the woman who stared in shock. 

“What are you doing to my baby?!” She screamed when she finally came to. She ducked down, grabbing the retractable leash and tugging on the poodle’s collar. 

“Are you stupid?!” The cashier yelled out, figuring out how bad the bite was getting from the motions. “Stop pulling!” 

“Will everyone shut the hell up?!” Wolfwood yelled, between grit teeth as he looked the poodle over. He pressed his arm further into the poodle’s mouth, applying more pressure until the dog let go with a hacking gag. 

“I’m calling 911,” the cashier called out, dialing the number quickly. “Yeah, hi. We just had a dog attack a patron…” 

“No! He stuck his arm into his mouth! You’re lying!” The woman screamed, tugging the leash back as she tried to head towards the door. 

“Is your dog even up to date on vaccines?” Wolfwood yelled back, exhaling angrily as she ran out of the shop. “Great.”

“Why would you do that?!” Vash asked, shock finally wearing off as he tried to shrug out of the hoodie. Once he had it off, he pressed it to Wolfwood’s arm. “Wrap that. Wrap it!” 

Deciding it was safer to listen to directions, Wolfwood wrapped the hoodie around his arm, applying pressure. Vash’s hand shook as he reached forward, helping to apply more pressure than just Wolfwood’s left hand. 

“I wasn’t letting anything happen to Knives or you.” That was all the explanation that Wolfwood felt he needed. 

“I have a metal arm and leg, you masochist!” Vash said, angry tears welling in his eyes. 

Wolfwood shrugged, falling down on his butt so he could focus on applying the pressure to the bite wound. “I’m not putting you through more trauma. I’m worried enough about Knives being okay after all that.” 

“You don’t think it’s traumatic watching my boyfriend get his arm mauled by a stupid poodle?” Vash asked, sitting on his butt like Wolfwood. 

“I’m sorry. I acted first, then thought about it after,” Wolfwood explained, grimacing at the pain. “Guess we’ll be taking a rain check on that picnic.” 

“I don’t care about a stupid picnic,” Vash said, turning his eyes towards the door at any distant siren he heard. “You got hurt and it’s all my fault. Stupid. Stupid.” 

Wolfwood shook his head. “Vash, I’m fine. A couple of stitches and some vaccines? I’ll be great.”

“Why are you acting like this isn’t a big deal! You have to go to the hospital.”

“Angel, I’m a dog groomer. It’s not usually this bad, and I had access to vaccine records at work. But I get bit. Not like this usually, but I do.” Wolfwood explained, shrugging his shoulders. 

“I hate it. It’s stupid,” Vash pouted, frowning at the blood on the tile. 

“Hey. I promise, I’m okay,” he told Vash, gently butting his forehead against the blond’s. “Don’t look at the blood. Just look at me. Or Knives. This could have been Knives. That’s a whole lot worse than little old me.” 

Still frowning, Vash sniffled, fighting back the tears. They didn’t have long before the paramedics arrived, removing the hoodie to assess the bite. 

“Definitely gonna need stitches. You didn’t know the dog owner?” The paramedic asked, pressing gauze to the top and bottom of Wolfwood’s forearm. 

Sighing, he shook his head. “No. I know, I have to get my rabies shots.” 

“Alright, do you want us to transport you? Or do you want your… friend to take you?” They asked, looking between Wolfwood and Vash. 

“My boyfriend doesn’t drive. Can he travel with me?” Wolfwood asked, immediately thinking of the worst case scenarios and potential solutions. 

“Uh. We can try,” they said, looking at Vash and Knives. “I don’t know if we have room for both of them and you, though.” 

“Well, if he isn’t going with me, I’m not going. I’ll have my brother come pick us up, then.” Wolfwood pressed his lips together, not willing to take any other compromise. 

Vash frowned, shaking his head. “I can have Meryl get me.”

“Great, she can get us both, then.” Wolfwood told him, not accepting any option short of them going together. “I’m not leaving you and Knives half traumatized.”

Another paramedic popped their head into the conversation. “Is the dog trained for deep pressure therapy?” 

Vash nodded, half listening. He hated that Wolfwood was right, he could feel himself slipping.

“Have the dog lay on the patient. Boyfriend sits in the bench seat. Everyone’s happy and this wound gets properly cleaned out sooner rather than later,” they said, filling out Wolfwood’s information on their tablet. 

“Angel, are you okay with that?” Wolfwood grew a little nervous as he asked, feeling Vash drift away. 

The blond nodded, brows furrowed as he tried to keep a check on reality. He knew he needed to pull it together so that he could stop making Wolfwood worry when he was the one that was injured. “I’m fine.” His voice was quiet, but he answered and that was a big step. 

The paramedics got everything prepared, setting Wolfwood on the gurney, much to his displeasure. “If you’re still okay with it you can call the dog.” 

Sighing, Wolfwood leaned back against the pillow before whistling to get Knives to jump up and lay down. Everything about it felt wrong, considering Vash was the one that needed Knives for the moment.

“He listens to you,” Vash mumbled, standing next to the gurney, before they lifted it into the ambulance. He wasn’t really surprised by Knives' listening in general, but from the beginning the dog seemed to trust Wolfwood. 

“He’s a good boy,” Wolfwood said, smiling at Vash, before reaching down with his left hand to pet Knives’ head. Usually he wouldn’t have done that given the fact the dog was still technically on duty, but he figured there were circumstances outside of their control that would allow the petting. 

Vash chewed on his bottom lip, before climbing into the back of the ambulance, his hand shaking. As if at once, both Vash and Wolfwood made a serious realization, their eyes snapping towards the other. 

“You haven’t been in an ambulance since your accident.” It wasn’t a question, there was no need, Wolfwood already knew the answer. He wished he would have realized it sooner.

“I’m fine,” Vash replied, voice hollow as he spoke. He wanted to believe it was true, but he figured faking it was just as good. If he thought for a moment, things really weren’t that scary after all, but he still couldn’t get his hand to stop shaking. 

Reaching over with his left hand, Wolfwood grabbed Vash’s hand. “I’m right here. I’m happy you’re here with me, but I’m sorry I got us in this mess.” 

Vash squeezed Wolfwood’s hand, relieved that it helped quell the tremors. “You were helping.”

“Glad you think so, Blondie.” He gave him a crooked smile, hand squeezing his as they applied pressure again to the wound. 

Looking at the endearing smile on Wolfwood’s face, he couldn’t help but to smile. “I’m just glad it wasn’t worse.” He knew there were still a lot of possibilities of things that could go wrong, but on the surface, it seemed like everything was going to be okay. 

“Yeah, me too.” Wolfwood said, squeezing Vash’s hand one more time before letting go so that the paramedics could work. They spent the rest of the ride in silence, Vash continuing to move his eyes over Wolfwood, making sure that he was really okay. 

Arriving at the hospital, they had to be separated, much to Wolfwood’s displeasure. Vash smiled and kissed his temple, squeezing Knives’ leash in his hand to calm himself. “I know we joke about being married, Love, but we’re not actually married,” Vash pointed out, earning himself a glare from Wolfwood. 

“Fine. I’ll see you in a bit,” Wolfwood said, feeling humiliated at being on a stretcher when he knew he could walk. 

Vash waved, before making his way to the waiting room, biting his lip as he found a spot in the corner to sit. Knives licked at his hand, reminding him that he was safe. “I guess I should call Meryl.” 

“Vash?” A familiar voice came from a few feet away. 

Looking up, Vash grinned as he spotted Milly. “Hullo!” He called, waving at her. 

“Hullo,” she said, smiling as she walked over to him to give him a hug. “Why are you waiting in the ER?” 

“Ah,” Vash leaned into the hug further, grateful that they ended up at the hospital Milly worked at. “Um. Nick and I were going on a date. And a dog tried to attack Knives so he got in the way. It tore his arm up pretty good.” 

Milly frowned as she heard the story. “That’s just awful. Mister Wolfwood is so kind, too. How did you get here, though?” 

“Nick was pretty insistent that they bring me. So, Knives sat with him while I sat to the side. We’re not related though, so I can’t go back with him right now.”

“Nicholas D. Wolfwood, right?” She asked, wanting to make sure that she had his name right. 

Nodding, Vash looked up to her, before tilting his head to the side. “Yeah, why?” 

Smiling, Milly rubbed his back. “I’m going to get an update for you.” 

Vash smiled brightly up at her. “You’re the best, Milly.” 

“It’s no problem, Vash. I know you’re worried,” she explained, patting his head gently. “I get off work in an hour so Meryl will be here to pick me up. We’ll just wait until he’s released and we’ll get you two home!” 

He released a sigh of relief, glad that he didn’t have to explain things all over, again. “You’re a lifesaver.” 

“Oh, no. I’m just helping my friend out.” She gave him one more smile before walking towards the check in desk so she could look over Wolfwood’s intake information. 

Vash reached down, petting Knives to keep himself distracted for a while. He was nearly so lost in the motion that he didn’t notice a young boy watching him. Once he realized he had an audience, Vash waved with his prosthetic, wanting to keep his hand firmly in Knives’ fur. 

The boy gasped, before jumping up and down. “Mama. Mama! He’s like me!” The boy yelled, excited.

“Tonis, don’t stare,” she told him, before turning her eyes to Vash, immediately noticing the prosthetic that he still had up. “Oh. I’m sorry. He’s been waiting to get his first prosthetic and he’s not used to seeing other people with them.” 

Smiling wider, Vash waved the apology off. “That’s okay. I’m not upset,” he explained, finally moving his hand from Knives’ fur so he could lift the sleeve of his t-shirt enough to show where the prosthetic met his residual limb. “I’m Vash. And this is Knives.” 

Tonis ran over, despite his mother trying to stop him. “Wow!” He exclaimed, looking over the prosthetic. “Can I touch?” 

“Tonis! That is really rude,” she said, standing up to retrieve him, her hand resting on her back to help support the weight distribution caused by her pregnant belly. 

Vash shook his head. “I’m okay with it,” he explained, not wanting the mom to stress out. While his heart was racing, he wanted to prove to the little boy that there was nothing wrong with needing a prosthetic. “If you’re okay with it, ma’am?” 

Sighing, the mom moved to settle into the seat next to Vash. “I’m Rosa. And I’m sure you’ve figured out that this little hellion is Tonis.” 

“It’s nice to meet you, Rosa,” Vash said, offering her his prosthetic to shake, hoping to prove to her that he was fine with either of them touching it. “I promise he’s okay and I’m not offended.” 

She shook his hand, smiling. “Well, okay, Vash. Thank you for being so kind to him.” 

Vash shook his head, a soft smile on his lips. “He’s curious.” He turned back to Tonis and offered his right hand for him to shake as he realized that Tonis’ left arm was missing, as well. 

The little boy gripped his hand and shook as furiously as he could. Vash wiggled his body, acting like the boy was causing it. “Whoa! That’s quite a grip you’ve got, Tonis!” 

Tonis giggled and finally released Vash’s hand. “So I can touch?” He asked, looking between Vash and his mother, Rosa.

“Go for it, bud.” Vash leaned down making sure that he was low enough for Tonis to reach. The little boy reached up, hand touching the prosthetic and then moving up to the arm, being extra careful once he realized there were still scars peeking out from under the socket of the prosthetic. 

“How does it work?” He asked, touching the part of the prosthetic that was attached to the harness behind his back. 

“Well, these straps go around my back,” Vash explained, before sliding his t-shirt sleeve up on the right arm to show they wrapped around that shoulder. “So it helps me keep this arm steady and move how I want.” He released the shirt sleeve and moved his right shoulder with his left arm to lift the prosthetic above his head. “It’s called ‘body powered’.” 

Tonis’ eyes brightened as he watched Vash move the prosthetic up, then lower it back down, gently placing it atop the boy’s head. “It’s so cool! Mama, when can I get one?” 

Rosa smiled at the interaction, tears in her eyes as she saw her baby opening up. “We have to check with the doctor and make sure you’re healing well first, baby.” 

Tonis started to pout, but Vash jumped back in. “Hey, being healed is really important, Tonis. I had to wait a while for both of mine,” he explained, hoping it would calm the boy. 

“You have another one?!” He exclaimed, looking Vash over to figure out where it was. 

Chuckling, Vash pulled his right pant leg, revealing the prosthetic. “Check it out. Buy one, get one, free,” he joked, knowing it would put a big smile on the boy’s face. 

Rosa watched, smiling softly at how Tonis spoke so freely with Vash. Her heart hurt though as she seemed to realize the man had been through something terrible, but found the time to smile at a curious little boy. “You’re a really nice person, Vash,” she concluded, causing the blond to blush. 

“Oh. Haha. I’m just being polite,” he explained, having been happy for the distraction. 

Tonis, having lost interest in learning about the prosthetics, turned his eyes to Knives. “Mama, can I pet the puppy?” 

Rosa sighed, shaking her head. “He’s a service dog, Tonis. We’re not supposed to distract him,” she explained, wanting to teach him how to handle things. 

Vash looked around, making sure there weren’t other kids that might flock over to pet the dog. “He’s sort of just in waiting mode right now. If you’re okay with it, I’m okay with him petting Knives.” 

She looked Vash over, deciding if he was still being polite or if it was really okay for Tonis to pet the Husky. Coming to a conclusion, Rosa sighed. “Okay, Tonis. Vash says you can pet Knives.” 

Tonis smiled brightly, leaning down to let Knives sniff him first, before gently petting the Huskies head. “He’s so soft.” 

Laughing, Vash nodded. “That’s because my boyfriend is his dog groomer,” he explained, feeling pride well up in his chest as he spoke about Wolfwood. “He’s been sitting on the floor every other day brushing him.” 

“Why’s his tail like that?” Tonis asked, gently reaching forward to pet the purple part of the tail. 

“Well, service dogs are really important. And sometimes bad people take them,” Vash explained, trying to keep it simple for a child. “But the bad people don’t like when they’re really flashy, because it makes them really recognizable.” 

Tonis nodded seriously, as if he understood everything that Vash was saying. “Knives is a good dog.” 

“He’s the best dog,” Vash agreed, leaning down to pet Knives head. 

“Our appointment is coming up,” Rosa announced, knowing it would get Tonis ready to go. “Thank you for humoring us, Vash.” 

Vash smiled back at her, before deciding to take a chance. “So. I’m still pretty new to all of this, too. But if you want to talk or need help with anything about prosthetics, I’d be happy to give you my number.” 

Rosa smiled brightly as she turned towards Vash. “That is really kind of you, Vash. Let me get my phone out,” she said, rummaging through her purse to grab the phone. Once she retrieved it, she typed his name into the contact information and offered it to him. 

Vash held the phone in his left hand, tongue poking out of his mouth as he typed with his right hand. “I sent a text to myself so I would have your number, too.” 

“Thank you very much, Vash.” She smiled at him as she accepted the phone and placed it back into her purse. “Tonis, say goodbye to Vash for now.” 

Tonis surged forward, hugging Vash’s torso suddenly, causing the blond to grin. “Bye bye, Vash!” He released Vash then gently pet the top of Knives’ head, again. “Bye Bye, Knives!” 

“Bye, Tonis!” Vash said, waving at the boy. “Bye, Rosa.” He said, waving to the woman as their name was called to head towards imaging.

“Oh, man. Nico would have lost his shit if he was out here to witness that scene,” Livio said, leaning against the wall next to Vash, causing the blond to jump. 

“Ah!” He yelled, before slapping his right hand over his lips. “Livio, right?” Vash asked once he turned to really look at the man next to him. 

“My bad. I should have said something while I was walking up,” the silver haired man said, shrugging his shoulders. 

“I guess Nick called to let you know what happened?” Vash asked, before scooting over so Livio could sit on his left side. 

“You got it,” he said, grinning at the gesture as he sat down. “He was kind of worried that you’d be out here all alone and stressed.” 

“Is he always like this? I mean, he’s the one getting stitches and shots. Why’s he worried about me?”

Rolling his eye, Livio turned to properly face Vash. “Probably because he’s head over heels for you.” 

Blushing, Vash tried to wave off the comment. “Well, glad I’m really meeting you. I wasn’t… thinking the best last time.” 

“It’s cool. I’m glad I’m really meeting you, too,” Livio said, grinning. “Personally, I think we could align to make Nico’s life a hellscape if we really wanted to.” 

Pressing his lips together to stop from smiling, Vash raised an eyebrow. “Why would I want to do such a thing to my boyfriend?” 

“Cause I kinda get the feeling that you’re a gremlin underneath all that sugary sweet ‘I let kids pet my service dog’ vibes.” 

Throwing his head back, Vash let out an obnoxious laugh, before he realized how loud he was being and where he was sitting. “I kind of think I get why Nick didn’t want us to spend much time together.” 

“I can be your angle or your debil,” Livio joked, wiggling his eyebrows. 

“I have to be a little nice, though. I mean, he is letting me live with him,” Vash reminded him, making sure to speak clearly. 

“That idiot has been in love with you since he started texting you. You could throw paint on his favorite jacket and he’d still love you.” 

Vash turned red as Livio said Wolfwood had been in love with him that long. “You’re exaggerating. Stop!” 

“Am not!” Livio argued, enjoying how easily they fell into conversation. “Nico values his space and barely likes it when I crash on his couch. Probably left over from having to share a bed with me at the group home,” he explained, shrugging his shoulders. 

“What?!” Vash whisper-yelled, genuinely confused. 

“Oops.” Livio pursed his lips, realizing he’d let out a secret that Vash clearly was not aware of. 

“Oh my god. I’m in his bed and I’m all over his apartment.” Vash’s eyes widened in horror as he realized how much he had been imposing. 

“Yo. Don’t freak out. I just meant that he really loves you to have you in his space,” Livio tried to explain, hoping he could salvage the situation so Wolfwood didn’t kick his ass. “All I’ve been hearing is how happy he is that you’re there. I mean. Scouts honor! He’s so fucking thrilled to be living with you.” 

“Are you just saying that so I don’t have a panic attack?”

Livio chuckled but shook his head. “Not really. I mean, I would prefer that you didn’t have one, but process your emotions however you need.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just saying, I’ve never seen him this happy before.” 

“Why the hell is my boyfriend making that face?” Wolfwood asked, walking up to them with his right forearm wrapped in a bandage. “Livio, you little shit.” 

“Oh my god! I was just telling him how happy you’ve been since he’s been living with you!” Livio put his hands up to try and defend himself, ready for Wolfwood to smack at him. 

“Nick!” Vash called, hopping up to wrap his arms around the man, careful of his right forearm. 

Smiling softly, Wolfwood wrapped his left arm around Vash and kissed his temple. “Hey, I’m okay. I told you I would be. It was just some stitches.” 

“Did it actually look like a dog bite? Are you gonna get a cool scar?” Livio asked, standing up so he could join the duo. 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood smiled at his brother. “I mean, it was pretty messy so I couldn’t really tell. But maybe?” 

“Damn. What if you turn into a werewolf,” Livio teased. “Wolfwood the werewolf.” 

“I shouldn’t have bothered calling you,” Wolfwood said, rubbing his hand up and down Vash’s back. “You okay, Angel?”

Vash smiled at him, nodding. “Happy.” 

“That’s a relief,” Wolfwood told him, sighing. “So, what’s our plan for getting home?” 

“We are,” Meryl said, walking up to them with Milly in tow. “Milly told me you came in by ambulance and that we’d probably have to give you two a ride home.” 

“Oh, thank god. I didn’t think to pick up the car on my way here, so I just have the bike,” Livio said, breathing out a sigh of relief. 

“Hi, Mister Wolfwood. Glad you’re feeling okay,” Milly said, smiling at him. “Thank you for saving Vash and Knives.” 

“Hi, Milly. Thanks for calling your wife,” he said, smiling at the tall woman. 

Vash stepped aside so he could hug Meryl in greeting. “Thanks for coming to pick us both up.” 

“Vash, you know I’d do anything for you. You just happened to luck out since Milly was getting off of her shift now anyway,” she teased, hugging him tightly. 

“Well, this is heartwarming, but it’s getting a little crowded,” Livio said, stepping over to Wolfwood to hug him for a second. “Talk to you later, Nico. Don’t get rabies.” 

“You’re the worst,” Wolfwood said, even as he hugged him back. “Thanks for coming,” he told Livio, before his brother grinned at him and left.  

“Well, let’s get going so we can clear out of the hospital. They’re very busy right now,” Milly said, clapping her hands together. The remaining three adults looked to her immediately and followed as she led the way out to the parking lot. 

Vash moved back to Wolfwood’s side, slipping his hand into his. “Are you really okay?” He asked, looking over to his boyfriend as they made their way to Meryl’s van.

“A few stitches that I have to keep covered. Some antibiotics I have to take to avoid any infections. And a few more rounds of rabies vaccines. I’m fine, Angel.” 

“That’s still a lot, though,” Vash said, frowning. 

“All I want to do right now is crawl into bed with you and sleep for a few hours. I promise, Angel, I’m okay.” 

Vash nodded, finally accepting what Wolfwood said. “Okay. Thank you,” he said, voice quiet. “I think I feel too loved.”

Chuckling, Wolfwood squeezed his hand. “So? What’s wrong with that?”

“I can’t keep up. I can’t match this.” Vash genuinely looked perplexed, as if he thought love was a one-to-one ratio.

“Vash, there’s nothing to match. That’s not how relationships are supposed to work,” Wolfwood explained, realizing what the problem was. “We do what we can to show each other we care. That’s all that we have to do.” 

Brows furrowed, Vash slowly nodded as he processed what was said. “Oh. Thank you.” 

“I feel loved, Angel. That’s all that matters.” 

As they opened the back of the van for the duo, Meryl and Milly looked at each other, smiling. They could see that Vash was expressing himself in ways that he hadn’t done before, they were proud of him. Meryl had to admit, Wolfwood had been a great influence on Vash.   

Chapter Text

Deciding that Saturday was a complete wash, the two got home and settled into their pajamas, before ordering some food. Vash had settled on the couch once his prosthetics were taken off and opened his arms for Wolfwood, inviting the man to lay against him. Exhausted, Wolfwood settled between Vash’s legs, laying his head on his chest as the blond smiled and rubbed his back. 

They stayed on the couch for the rest of the evening, dozing on and off. Vash would occasionally run his fingers through Wolfwood’s hair, scratching his scalp much the same way the other man would do for him. While he couldn’t stop thinking about what Livio said about Wolfwood preferring his own space, he couldn’t deny that the man seemed comfortable in Vash’s arms. 

As they were finally getting ready for bed, Vash’s phone buzzed with a text from Meryl. 

MS: Hope Wolfwood is doing well. If you’re both up for it, would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow? Milly’s family is leaving tomorrow morning. 

“We can see how we feel tomorrow, Love, but Meryl just invited us over for dinner,” Vash explained, sitting himself up against the pillow. 

Wolfwood hummed, still half asleep despite going through with his evening routine. “Should be okay. Ask her what we need to bring.” 

V: sounds good. Nick wants to know what he should bring. Lol. he has no idea

Squinting an eye, Wolfwood looked over to Vash. “What the hell does that mean?” He asked, having heard the response since Vash was using voice-to-text. 

“Oh, you’ll find out tomorrow,” Vash told him, turning the phone face down on the end table, before opening his arms for Wolfwood. “Come here, baby. I’m the pillow tonight.” 

Wolfwood snuggled into Vash’s chest, letting his right arm rest on the side as he settled onto his stomach. “I hate sleeping like this.”

Chuckling, Vash rubbed Wolfwood’s back, sighing contentedly as he felt the smooth skin under his hand, the man having felt more comfortable with sleeping without a shirt. “It’s just for a little bit, Love.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Wolfwood mumbled, already half asleep in Vash’s arms. 

The blond smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Wolfwood’s head. Despite all of the dozing the two did throughout the evening, they were both out within minutes.

The next morning, Wolfwood woke before Vash, turning his head to press a kiss to the blond’s left bicep. The blond giggled in his sleep, the kiss feeling ticklish against his skin. Chuckling, Wolfwood leaned up so he could press a kiss to Vash’s lips, before sitting up. 

“No, don’t go,” Vash mumbled, half asleep. “Stay and love on me.”   

Stretching, Wolfwood sighed, before settling back down against Vash. “You are really spoiled, Blondie,” he said, leaning on his left arm so he could press a kiss to the blond’s waiting lips. 

“Yeah? And whose fault is that,” he asked, lips dusting Wolfwood’s as he spoke, a smile still showing. 

Wolfwood smiled down at Vash, eyes shifting over his features. “Probably mine for falling in love with you.” 

Vash’s blue eyes widened, before he grinned wide, teeth showing. “Ha! You cracked first! I’m the strong one!” He cheered, kicking his legs under the covers. 

“Oh, shut up,” Wolfwood teased, leaning down to press another kiss to his lips, silencing him. Vash’s joyful cheering was cut off and he reached up to cup Wolfwood’s cheek as he deepened the kiss, their lips moving together in a practiced motion. 

After a moment, they separated, Vash’s hand still cupping Wolfwood’s cheek as he smiled up at him. “I love you, too. You know, if it wasn’t clear.” 

“I got the idea,” Wolfwood told him, turning his head so he could press soft kisses to the palm of Vash’s hand. 

“Hey! You should be saving those kisses for your boyfriend that you love,” Vash teased, pulling him back down for another kiss, unable to stop himself from smiling into it. He hummed as he felt Wolfwood settle between his legs again. 

“Yeah, I really do love him,” Wolfwood mumbled against his lip, unwilling to pull away. He captured Vash’s lower lip between his, sucking lightly, receiving a quiet gasp from Vash in response. As he gasped, Wolfwood took the opportunity to dart his tongue between Vash’s lips.

Surprised, but not at all upset by the turn of events, Vash pulled his left leg up, until he could hook it over Wolfwood’s hip. The blond let out a quiet moan that was quickly muffled by Wolfwood’s mouth. His hand slid into Wolfwood’s hair, tangling in the dark strands as his breathing quickened. 

As if the god’s themselves were wanting to cockblock the two, Kuroneko wandered around the room, suddenly meowing loudly as she decided it was time to be fed. The two tried to ignore her, Wolfwood’s left hand wandering down Vash’s side to slip under his shirt and trace patterns along the sensitive skin. But that all stopped when the black cat yowled wildly, jumping onto Wolfwood’s butt and kneading. 

“Oh my god! Okay, you spoiled little cat!” Wolfwood said, pulling back from Vash, who had started laughing to the point of tears. “You know what? Feeding them is your responsibility, right? I’m going to take a shower.” 

Vash wiped at his eyes, watching Wolfwood grab his clothes. “I mean, if it’s a cold shower, at least I’ll have all of the hot water,” he teased, sitting up to straighten his clothes. 

“Just for that, I’m taking the hottest shower I can, Spikey.” 

Vash waited until Wolfwood walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him, before cracking up, again. Kuroneko, pleased with breaking them apart, started purring and rubbing against Vash’s head to get his attention. “Oh, you just got us both in so much trouble, Kuro,” he teased, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. 

Giving in to his fate, Vash pulled his leg over the side of the bed, before grabbing the crutch so he could make his way to the kitchen to get the animal’s food. Still chuckling, Vash fed them the wet food, before distributing the kibble in their separate bowls. Since he was out of bed first, and to atone for his behavior, he moved to the coffee pot, starting to brew a fresh pot. 

Wolfwood finally emerged from the bathroom, hair damp and removing the saran wrap he’d used to keep the bandage dry. “You know what? I have to give you a lot of credit,” he said, stepping closer to Vash to press a kiss to his cheek. “Why is it so damn hard to do things with your non-dominant hand?” 

Grinning, Vash pulled him in for another kiss. “Did you do it one handed, too?” He asked, genuinely curious. 

“Yeah. I was so afraid the saran wrap wouldn’t hold that I mostly just left my arm out of the shower.” 

“Next time, do it while sitting down. It helps but the angle of the shower head is sometimes tricky since it’s not removable.” Vash told him, smiling. 

Wolfwood blinked at him, before sighing. “Vash, shower heads are so inexpensive. Why wouldn’t you tell me to change that?” 

Shrugging, Vash grabbed his favorite mug from the dish strainer so he could pour his own cup of coffee. “I didn’t think I was going to be here longer than a day or two.” 

“Okay. Fair,” Wolfwood admitted, still a little perturbed that Vash had been dealing with subpar conditions. “But even if you do decide to move somewhere else, I want you to feel comfortable when you’re staying the night here,” he reminded him, opening the refrigerator to offer Vash his creamer. 

“Yeah, but that seems like a waste of time and money just for a few sleepovers. I could just take baths,” Vash admitted, feeling something coil in his belly at the thought of living anywhere else. “Besides, I’d still need a shower chair to shower. So it’s a moot point.” 

“This is kind of a moot conversation,” Wolfwood reminded them both, pouring his own cup of coffee. “You live here. And even if you did move out, I’d probably just stay wherever you are.” 

Vash forced a nervous laugh. “Guess it’s a good thing I’m not moving?”

“Whoa,” Wolfwood said, gently cupping Vash’s jaw. “You don’t have to go anywhere, ever , if you don’t want,” he said, pressing a kiss between Vash’s eyes. “I mean that. If you want to live here forever, okay.”

Chewing on his bottom lip, Vash felt his nerves releasing a little. “Livio told me you liked your space.” 

Sighing, Wolfwood roughly pressed his forehead to Vash’s own. “I do. But you know what I like more than having my own space?” 

Vash stared into Wolfwood’s eyes, blushing. “What?” 

“I like being with you. I love you, Vash.”

Calmed, Vash gave him a little smile. “Okay. I love you, too.”

Wolfwood pressed a soft kiss to the blond’s lips. “Now, you go shower. And later we’ll pick a new shower head that works for you.” 

“Okay,” Vash said, sipping some of his coffee as they moved apart. “You’re so never getting rid of me.” 

“That’s kind of the point, Needle Noggin.” 

The two went about their day as they had the past few weekends, together in peace. Wolfwood took a few minutes to send a text to Elendira stating that he would not be at work for the next day or two so he could avoid potentially tearing any stitches while they were so fresh. While she was disappointed he wouldn’t be in, she understood that it was out of his control and just asked him to spend a few minutes rescheduling his clients. 

Vash had sat, wrapped around Wolfwood as he sent the texts, occasionally pressing a soft kiss to the nape of his neck. “You’re grounded from brushing Knives, too,” he told him, grinning at the way Wolfwood rolled his eyes. 

“I’m just trying to make my life easier when we get to his appointment. You brush him well, but you can’t get in there as aggressively as he needs.” 

“Good thing my evil plan of making the dog groomer fall in love with me worked out, then,” Vash teased, playing with Wolfwood’s hair. 

“Oh yeah, that reminds me,” he said, turning in Vash’s hold to look at him. “You’re not allowed to tip me anymore.” 

“What?! Like at all?” Vash asked, jaw dropping in shock.

“You tipped me 50% last time, Vash.” Wolfwood stared at him as if it was obvious why he wasn’t allowed to  tip anymore. 

“You did a great job!” 

“Angel, don’t you think it’s just a little strange to pay money to your boyfriend?” 

Vash glared at him. “You weren’t my boyfriend then,” he pointed out pedantically. 

“Fair enough. But I had already confessed,” Wolfwood argued, knowing that he was right. 

“What if your boss looks at the receipts and sees that I don’t tip and decides to ban me?” He asked, clearly overthinking the scenario.

“You would not be the first person to not tip. Or the last.” 

Sighing, Vash shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, I won’t tip my dog’s groomer for doing an excellent job.” 

“That’s not the issue and you know it,” Wolfwood said, leaning in to kiss him. “Besides, I accept kisses as tips.” 

“Oh, sexual favors are allowed, but money isn’t. I see how it is.” 

Wolfwood nipped his lip, before leaning back. “You know what? Yeah. Sexual favors are on the table as long as money isn’t exchanged. Do you see how that sounds?”

Vash’s lips twisted to the side as he really heard how it sounded. “Okay. No money.” 

“Thank you,” Wolfwood said, grinning. “Now, should we start getting ready to go to Meryl and Milly’s?”

 Smiling, Vash nodded. “Yeah. Meryl hates when I’m late.” 

Wolfwood snorted, standing up so he could pass Vash his crutch. “Yeah, I kinda figured that out.” 

The two got dressed, Vash even letting Wolfwood button a shirt for him, rather than the blond spending the next five minutes struggling to do it one handed. “Want the sleeve tied so it’s not floppy?” Wolfwood asked, tugging lightly on the left sleeve. 

“Yes, please,” Vash told him, smiling brightly. Normally, he wouldn’t have wanted anyone to help, even getting frustrated when Nai forced his help, but Wolfwood always made it Vash’s choice and that made him want to ask for help more. 

Wolfwood gently felt where his stump was, before tying the sleeve in a knot just below it. “There you go. You wearing slip-ons or something you want tied?” 

Vash had tried to dress a little more formal with a button down shirt and some slacks, but he could not deny the idea of wearing dress shoes made him want to crawl outside of his skin. “I’m just wearing slip-ons.”  

“Gotcha,” Wolfwood said, putting a belt on. 

“I think it’s really cute that you’re dressing nicely to have dinner at my friend’s house.” Vash grinned, feeling his heart flutter as he looked at Wolfwood, taking in the casually unkempt style. 

“I just kinda figured that’s what was expected when you grabbed the button down.” 

“Cute,” Vash decided, heading towards the door so he could slip the shoes on. 

“No Knives?” Wolfwood asked, noting the dog was still sleeping in his bed, Kuroneko curled up on top of him. 

Smiling, Vash shook his head. “He looks really comfy. I think I’ll be okay.” It was a little scary, the thought of leaving Knives behind, but Vash figured if there was ever a time to do it, that was probably going to be a trip to Meryl and Milly’s with Wolfwood. 

“Fair enough,” Wolfwood said, following Vash’s lead and slipping his own shoes on. “Let’s go.” 

The two made it to Meryl and Milly’s within fifteen minutes. Wolfwood found that they weren’t that far away, but they were still technically just outside of the city in a little wooded area that hadn’t yet been destroyed to build more city space. Getting out of the car, Wolfwood whistled as he looked at the house. It wasn’t large, by any means, but the garden outside was extensive and clearly well-loved. 

Having heard the car pull up, Meryl came out onto the porch, waving. “Welcome!” She called, standing barefoot on the wood. “Come on in.”

Vash quickly made his way up the two steps, immediately scooping Meryl into a hug. “Hi!” 

Laughing, Meryl pat his back. “Wait. No Knives?” She asked, unable to hide the surprise from her tone. For the past year, Vash had been inseparable from the dog, taking him wherever he went. 

Blushing, Vash nodded. “I’m trying something different,” he said, smiling. “Besides, if I don’t feel safe here, then I’m never going to feel safe,” he pointed out. 

“Besides, if he gets that bad off, we can either go home or I’ll go pick Knives up,” Wolfwood pointed out, coming up the porch. “Thanks for having us.” 

Meryl blinked again as she heard Wolfwood refer to his apartment as their shared home. “Of course,” she said, quickly recovering. “We can actually talk without having to be quiet from a movie or a hospital.” 

Vash opened the storm door, letting himself in, before heading straight to the kitchen where Milly was finishing up their dinner. “Hullo! Honey, I’m home,” he joked, opening his arms, knowing that Milly would immediately rush over to squeeze him.

“Hullo!” She cried, lifting him briefly, before setting him down. “It’s so nice to have you back in our house, Vash!”

Wolfwood’s eyes widened as he watched the display. “You are one strong woman.” 

“Milly! You have to get out of the habit of lifting me around,” Vash joked, kissing her cheek. “What will you do when you’re actually pregnant?”

“Pregnant people can lift and work just the same. It’s just about knowing your limits,” she said, although she grinned, knowing she would baby any life within her. 

“Not this pregnant person,” Meryl said, shaking her head. “But that’s not going to be for a bit. So go wild, baby.” 

“Mister Wolfwood, would you like a hug, too?” Milly asked, smiling. 

“She gives the best hugs,” Vash said, vouching for her. 

Wolfwood smiled, before raising a finger to tell her to wait a moment. “If you can call me Nick instead of Mister Wolfwood, you can hug me.” 

Milly grinned, walking over to him. “I can do that, Nick!” She hugged him tightly, picking him up just as easily. 

Laughing, Wolfwood hugged her back. “Holy shit. You really are strong,” he said, as she sat him down. 

“Thank you! Now everyone go sit down and I’ll start bringing dinner out,” she said, shooing them out of the kitchen. 

Vash grabbed Wolfwood’s hand, guiding him to the cozy dining room table and settling him in front of the chair that would be designated for guests. “You sit there, I’ll be right next to you,” he said, before pointing across the table. “Then Meryl and Milly will be next to you.” 

“Well, you’ve got it down to a science, don’t you?” Wolfwood teased, kissing the back of his hand. 

Blushing, Vash shrugged. “It’s just how it always is.” 

“Milly and Vash are both autistic. We kind of stick to a routine without realizing it,” Meryl explained, sitting in her own designated seat. 

“That actually explains a lot,” Wolfwood commented, before pulling Vash’s chair out for him, making the blond grin. Finally, he sat in his own seat, looking around the dining area. “This house is really homey.” 

“Thank you! Meryl and I try our hardest,” Milly said, bringing out a homemade lasagna. “Vash, yours is coming.” 

“Thank you, Milly!” He called, watching as the woman hurried back to the kitchen to grab his mini-lasagna and the salad bowl. 

“So, your friends can make separate meals for you, but if I try to do it, it’s putting too much on me?” Wolfwood asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Okay, but I don’t live with them,” Vash pointed out. “This isn’t every single night.” 

Milly set the food down, suddenly quiet as she glanced at Meryl, hoping she would speak up. “We actually wanted to ask you something about that, Vash,” Meryl said, smiling softly as she looked from Milly to Vash. 

“About what?” He asked, genuinely confused. Wolfwood, seemingly picking up the cues, grabbed his hand, leaving Vash more confused. 

“Well, Milly’s sister and her family are gone now, so our guest room is open,” she stated, watching his face. When she didn’t see things click into place, she nervously smiled. “So, we were offering you the guest room. Since you’re so used to the house and it has less stairs for your longer days out, we figured it might be a good place for you to stay.” 

Frowning, Vash looked at Meryl with furrowed brows. “But… why?”

“Vash, we love you. And we love having you over,” she explained, hoping that would be enough. 

“And I’m here now? Why can’t we have more dinners, again? Like before the accident?” He asked, eyes scanning from Meryl to Milly and finally landing on Wolfwood’s eyes. “Do you want me to go?”

Wolfwood squeezed Vash’s hand. “I don’t want you to go,” he told Vash, keeping his eyes on Vash’s as he spoke. “They aren’t making you move anywhere, Angel. They’re offering, meaning it’s your choice.” 

“Vash, we would never make you leave somewhere if you didn’t want to,” Milly said, finally speaking up. “It’s why we only ever offered you a night or two away from Nai, instead of insisting you move.” 

“But I don’t have to?” Vash asked, feeling trapped and like he couldn’t breathe. 

“Honey, you don’t have to. We just thought it would be nice,” Meryl told him, feeling guilty for bringing it up when he’d looked so happy. 

Gently taking Vash’s face in his hands, Wolfwood guided the blond to look only at him. “You can live with me as long as you want, Vash. But right now, I want you to breathe with me, okay?” He asked, carefully sliding his hands down to Vash’s biceps where he gently squeezed. 

Breathing in deeply, Vash held the breath for a moment before exhaling. “Okay,” he said, calmer now. “Sorry,” he told the girls. “I’m really happy where I am.” 

“Vash, I see that, I promise,” Meryl told him, getting up so she could gently hug him. “I shouldn’t have pressed the issue. I know you’re really happy and I can see it on your face.” She pressed a kiss to his hair. 

“It’s okay. Thank you, though,” he said, smiling up at her. “Can we eat now?” He asked, turning the question more to Milly than anyone else. 

Tears in her eyes, Milly nodded. “Yes! Salad first! Make sure you get your veggies in,” she said, dishing out her own healthy serving of salad, before serving some to Meryl. 

Wolfwood moved his left hand to Vash’s back, gently rubbing. “You good, Angel?” 

Nodding, Vash gave him a little smile. “You really don’t want me to go?” He asked, chewing on his bottom lip. 

“I love you,” Wolfwood reminded him quietly, catching the way the girls stared at him. “I like living with you.” 

Smiling brighter, Vash turned his attention to dishing out some salad for himself. “I like it, too,” he said, laughing at the way Wolfwood glared at him. “And I love you.” 

“Well… that escalated quickly,” Meryl said, looking between Wolfwood and Vash, surprise, once again, clear on her face. 

Unimpressed, Vash glared at her. “Don’t judge me. You said you were in love with Milly while on your first date.” 

“You are so rude! This wasn’t about me!” She said, ready to jump across the table except Milly kept a firm grip on her shoulder. 

“It’s true,” Milly explained to Wolfwood, who looked surprised. “It was love at first sight and it was so romantic.” 

“You spilled your milkshake down her shirt,” Vash pointed out. 

“Because we were so in love, I lost my grip. Nothing else mattered,” Milly said, finally releasing her hold on Meryl. 

Vash laughed and it’s like everyone at the table breathed a sigh of relief. From there, everyone seemed to relax as they ate their food, only pausing to pay Milly a compliment. At the end of the meal, Wolfwood offered to do the dishes, knowing how much energy was used on making such a meal. 

“I can help!” Vash offered, before chuckling. “I can hand you different dishes to scrub?”

“Why don’t you go cuddle up to Milly, I’ll help him,” Meryl offered, giving him an innocent smile. 

“Oh my god, don’t embarrass me,” he told her, before patting Wolfwood on the back. “Good luck.” 

“This is the part where you threaten me?” Wolfwood asked, smiling at her, before turning his attention to the dishes to get to work. 

“Actually, this is the part where I thank you,” Meryl told him, rinsing the dishes, before plugging the drain and filling the basin with hot, soapy water.

“Why?” He asked, curious as to what she would have to thank him for. 

“You’re doing really well with Vash,” she started, turning to face him while the dishes soaked for a moment. “It’s like nothing phases you and I appreciate that.” 

Wolfwood shrugged his shoulders. “What should phase me?”

“Hmm,” she thought for a moment. “Really? Probably a lot,” she admitted, knowing it wasn’t the kindest thing, but it was the truth. 

“I’m not saying there aren’t plenty of times where I’m caught off guard,” he told her, dunking his hands into the water to grab a dish to scrub, giving himself something to do. “But at the end of the day, it’s Vash and I love him.”

Meryl smiled softly at the words. “I guess that’s why I’m thanking you,” she said, leaning against the counter. “He’s dated, if you would call it that, but he never really let himself be who he is with those people. I haven’t seen him try to hide around you. Not once.” 

Wolfwood paused, looking at her, trying to decipher if she was telling the truth. “Really? I just thought he was like this all the time.” 

“Not really,” she said, shrugging. “You’ll catch glimpses of him masking, especially when he’s talking to Nai. But he’s been really open with you. It kind of hurts to see, because sometimes he still hides with me. But… you have to be something special, is my point.” 

Nodding, Wolfwood went back to the dishes, smiling softly to himself. “That’s nice to know and I hope I can keep his trust. But you don’t have to thank me for doing nothing.” 

She grinned. “Now, that’s a good answer. Maybe you’ll survive in this family after all, Nick.” 

“Oo. You called me Nick. Careful, shorty, I might think I’m growing on you,” he teased, quickly ducking away from her attempt at a kick to his shin. 

“I open up to you and this is how you repay me?!” She asked, grabbing a handful of soap suds and tossing it at him. “You are the worst!” 

Laughing, Wolfwood ran away from her. “Fine, do the dishes all on your own.” 

“No! Get back here,” she yelled, practically jumping on his back. 

“Please do not break my boyfriend. He’s my ride home,” Vash called out, happily snuggled up to Milly who was playing with his hair. 

“That’s your only concern? Stone cold, Needle Noggin.” 

“Meryl, please don’t rough house, it’s bad for the baby,” Milly said, smiling serenely. 

Dropping from Wolfwood’s back, Meryl crossed her arms. “Are you about to say Vash is the baby?” 

Vash grinned, sticking his tongue out at her. “I am .”

“Alright, the men in this house are about to be kicked out. Besides, I haven’t been alone with my wife in almost a month.” 

Laughing, Vash kissed Milly’s cheek, before getting up. “I think we’re being kicked out so you can have sex.” 

“Oh my god. Vash, the rest of us understood that,” Wolfwood said, grabbing his arm to lead him to the door. 

“What? This is not the first time I’ve been kicked out for this reason. And sometimes Milly needs to be reminded that’s an option.” 

“Okay, well, first rule for our house. We don’t tell our friends we’re kicking them out for sex,” Wolfwood said, opening the door. 

“Honesty is important, Love,” Vash said with a straight face, before cracking up. “I’m just kidding. It’s just fun giving you a hard time.” 

“Bye!” Meryl said, hurrying to give Vash a hug. 

“If I lived here, you wouldn’t be able to just kick me out,” he told her, earning himself a poke to the stomach. “Ouch! Okay!” 

“Your pent up energy makes a lot more sense now, shorty,” Wolfwood said, before darting down into the grass. 

“Bye, Nick! Bye, Vash,” Milly called, grabbing Meryl and carrying her into the house as if she weighed nothing. 

Wolfwood and Vash stared at each other a moment before cracking up. 

“Your friends are weird.” 

“Yeah. But I love them,” Vash said, heading to the car with a wide smile on his lips. 

“I can see why,” Wolfwood said, opening the passenger side door for him. 

Once he was in the car, Wolfwood settled his hand on Vash’s knee, ready for the drive home. 

“Hey, Nick?” Vash asked, reaching over with his right hand to gently trace along Wolfwood’s fingers.

“Yeah, Angel?” 

Taking a moment to prepare himself, cheeks turning pink, Vash finally spoke. “Do you think we could continue what we started this morning? When we get home?” 

Turning his hand over so Vash could settle his hand in his, Wolfwood squeezed his hand, smiling softly. “I would like that, Angel.” 

Sighing in relief, as if Wolfwood rejecting Vash was ever an option, Vash settled back against the seat. “Me, too,” he whispered, feeling the butterflies fill his stomach the closer they got to the apartment. 

“I’m closing the bedroom door, though. Kuroneko can just scream in the hall,” Wolfwood said, causing them both to laugh as they remembered how the morning's antics ended. 

Chapter Text

Wolfwood found himself off of work until Wednesday, which turned out to be both a blessing and a curse. Things were quiet, suspiciously quiet if you had asked his opinion. Vash hadn’t heard anything else from his brother since the blow up that caused the mega meltdown, but somehow Wolfwood knew trouble was just around the corner. 

Vash seemed to be enjoying the quiet time, however, so Wolfwood couldn’t find too many reasons to complain. Staying at home with the blond opened up Wolfwood’s perception of him even more than he had thought it could. Vash was an extremely interesting person, he’d decided by Monday afternoon alone. 

Most times, the blond could be found with his attention in a book or the different tabs on his computer, going over the material he needed for his thesis; once, Vash tried to explain it to Wolfwood and he found himself dizzy from the information overload. There were times when Vash seemed to have trouble understanding what he was reading, so he would read it outloud to Knives, as if the Husky was able to provide an intellectual response. Those were always the times that Wolfwood smiled fondly at the blond, wanting to keep him by his side forever.

Vash also hummed while at home. A lot. At first, Wolfwood had thought it was something Vash was doing because he was still excited about everything that had happened over the weekend. As Monday ran into Tuesday, it became clear that Vash seemed to hum or sing at all hours of the day. Wolfwood had no idea how he managed to miss this part of Vash’s personality, at least until he remembered Meryl mentioned something about ‘masking’, which left the man deciding he needed to do some research. 

It seemed the longer the two of them were together during the weekdays, Vash seemed to grow even more comfortable, much to Wolfwood’s delight. Wolfwood knew a few of Vash’s stims, but he was quickly learning more. When the blond was at the computer, he would rock back and forth when he found new information that he enjoyed, but he would pop his lips when he found it frustrating to read. There were times, for seemingly no reason that Wolfwood could discern, that Vash got a full body shiver and squeaked loudly; the first time it had happened, Wolfwood had worried he’d been hurt. 

As Wolfwood came back into the living room from the bathroom, having cleaned the stitches on his arm, Vash made a trill in Kuroneko’s face, as if he was trying to communicate with her. Chuckling, Wolfwood settled on the couch next to the blond, the black cat settled happily on Vash’s chest as he leaned back. Realizing that Wolfwood was there, Vash blushed. 

“What?” Wolfwood asked, knowing that something was embarrassing him. 

“Mm,” the blond thought for a moment, piecing the words together. “I keep forgetting we’re here at the same time.” 

Raising an eyebrow, Wolfwood turned to face him. “So?” He prompted, hoping that would get Vash to open up more. 

“So… I’m being weird,” he said, shrugging as if it was obvious. 

“Whoa. Who said you were being weird?” Now Wolfwood was earnestly looking at him, brows furrowed together as he tried to understand. 

Vash shrugged, focusing his efforts on scratching Kuroneko’s head. “I just know it can be a lot… the stims.” 

Leaning closer to Vash, Wolfwood gently turned the blond’s head until they were eye to eye. “I think it’s cute. In the endearing, ‘damn my partner is cute as hell’ way.” 

Blushing darker, Vash smiled a little. “You think so?” 

“Obviously, you know I don’t say things I don’t mean,’’ Wolfwood reminded him, fingers running through blond strands. “I’m mostly wondering why you hid all of this the past few weekends?” 

Tilting his head back against the couch again, Vash shrugged. “I’m kind of used to not doing it when I share space with people. Weekdays I’m usually alone, though. So, I kept forgetting.” 

“Angel, it’s sharing space, right?” Wolfwood repeated the phrase, still playing with the blond’s hair. “So, you can live how you would any other day. You don’t have to mask around me if you don’t want to.” 

Vash seemed to sit on the information a moment, before nodding. “Okay. But you can tell me when it’s annoying or whatever. I won’t be upset.” 

“I promise, it’s not going to get annoying. Besides, these are your happy sounds, right?” Wolfwood wasn’t going to pretend that he had magically figured everything out about Vash, but he liked to think he was perceptive enough to pick up most things. 

Grinning up at his boyfriend, Vash nodded. “Usually, yeah,” he said, before sticking his tongue out for a second, then trilling at Kuroneko again, causing the cat to headbutt his lips. 

“See? That shits adorable.” Wolfwood pulled his phone out and took a picture of the two, setting it as his lock screen. As he finished, he received a text from Livio. 

“Huh. Livio wants to know if he can come hang out with us ‘freeloaders,’ that little shit,” Wolfwood read the text off to Vash, rolling his eyes with affection. 

“Well… he’s technically not wrong about me,” Vash said, laughing a little awkwardly. 

Wolfwood sighed, before leaning over to kiss Vash’s cheek. “It was a joke towards me because I haven’t been to work this week,” he explained, knowing Vash was overthinking things. “And you’re not freeloading. You live here. This is your apartment.” 

“Which I have not yet paid rent for,” Vash reminded him.

“Well, rent’s due tomorrow if you wanted to pay for the two weeks you stayed?” While Wolfwood didn’t like the idea of accepting Vash’s money, he knew this would be one of the things the blond would fight him on. 

“We can write a check right now. I’m not joking.” Vash stared him down, daring him to deny the payment. 

Focusing his energy on texting Livio that it was okay to come over, Wolfwood ignored the staring contest that Vash was trying to start. “I never said you were joking, Angel. Would you like me to actually tally it up?” 

Sitting up a little more properly, Vash nodded. “Yeah, actually. But do the math where I can see it so I know you’re not going easy on me.” 

“I resent that,” he teased, gently flicking Vash’s nose. “You’re an adult, if you want to pay rent, I’m not going to stop you,” he explained, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m a little confused about your money situation, but that’s not my business.”

“It’s my money. Nai technically has access to my account, but he rarely uses it, and almost always it’s when I request that he does,” Vash explained, knowing it was a little strange. “We were the beneficiaries of Rem’s life insurance policy, so I got half and so did Nai. Then, um, I was still pretty out of it mentally, but apparently the company that owned the semi… Anyway, they did a whole settlement.” 

Wolfwood nodded, leaning in to press a kiss to Vash’s forehead. “That makes sense. Thank you for telling me.” 

Waving it off, Vash smiled at him. “So, yeah. Do the math, Mister Landlord,” he said, pointing at Wolfwood’s phone, before smirking. “Unless you wanted to work out some other way for me to pay you back?” He teased, winking. 

Wolfwood rolled his eyes, putting his hand in Vash’s face to push him back. “You’re going to be so obnoxious now. I’ve unleashed a monster.” 

Laughing, Vash settled back against the couch, again. “A guy has to do what he has to do. That’s all I’m saying.” 

“Well, keep it in your pants. Livio is on the way.” Wolfwood said, figuring out the math on his phone. “Alright, my rent here is $1025, you’ve been here, what? 12 days?” He divided the rent by 30 and multiplied that number by 12. “Your part of the rent is $410.” 

Nodding, Vash grabbed his phone. “Okay, I know I said a check, but surely you have Venmo or something?” 

“Why do you say it like that? Yes, I have Venmo, Vash.” Wolfwood pulled the app up, giving him the username. 

“Want me to pay my half for the upcoming month, too?” Vash asked, though he was already adding the figures up in his mind. 

Reaching over, Wolfwood lightly massaged Vash’s neck, hoping the touch would soften what he was about to say. “Angel, don’t you want to wait and see if you make up with your brother?”

“I mean… not really,” the blond said, sending the full amount that he owed for the next month, too. “I think I’ll be happy if I’m not there.”

“Okay,” Wolfwood said, accepting Vash’s judgment for what it was. “Well, then we probably want to look into finding somewhere else to rent in the next few months.” 

“Why? This place is so close to your job.” 

“I saw your apartment with Nai. I know it had a lot of features that made your life easier.” 

“I’m not making you move just because it might make my life easier. That’s dumb. You probably wouldn’t have moved if I wasn’t living here,” Vash pointed out, frowning as he realized he was making Wolfwood’s life harder. 

Sighing, Wolfwood continued to gently massage Vash’s neck. “Would I? Probably not, but it’s not just me. It’s both of us and Knives,” he tried pointing out. “We could move somewhere for him to have outdoor space, right?” 

Narrowing his eyes, Vash looked over at Wolfwood. “You think you’re so smart, using my own dog against me.” 

Fighting off a smile, Wolfwood met his gaze. “You’re mad because it worked a little, huh?”

Throwing his hand up dramatically, Vash let out a sigh. “Yes!” 

“Well, when he’s not on duty, he’s our dog. And I always said I wouldn’t get a dog unless I could give it a good outdoor space, even a dog park.” 

“You’re actually kinda the worst, you know that?” 

Wolfwood laughed, moving his hand into Vash’s hair. “But you fell in love with me anyway. Sucker.” 

“I would kiss you, but my cat is quite comfortable on my chest.” 

“Oh, so she’s all yours? I’ll remember this, Kuroneko, when you run out of wet food.” The cat stayed tightly coiled into a ball on Vash’s chest, unperturbed. 

Vash was about to retort on her behalf, when there was a knock at the apartment door. “Guess Livio’s here,” Wolfwood said, getting up so he could open the door. On the other side, he found his brother carrying a large box, as well as a gift bag. 

“Take the box, it’s heavy,” Livio said, pressing it into Wolfwood’s arms. “Vash, the box is actually for you. I ran into some blue haired dude in the lobby that was trying to find the apartment.” 

Vash glanced over from the couch to spot the large box, sighing as he realized what it was. “Sorry. That was probably Legato,” he said, reluctantly waking the black cat so she would jump down. 

Wolfwood set the box down on the ground, before opening it, revealing a large bag of dog food, as well as heartworm preventative medicine. “Forget to change your address?” 

“Yeah,” Vash said, grabbing the crutch and walking over to them. “I was about to just order more, but I guess Nai sent his… I actually have no idea what Legato is to him. Lackey seems mean since I know he’s in love with Nai and would do anything for him.” 

“Well, he wasn’t very nice. Didn’t seem too happy that he was being used as a delivery person,” Livio said, setting the gift bag on the counter. 

Laughing, Vash shook his head. “That’s not the problem. I’m actually the problem,” he said, shrugging. “We don’t get along.”

“You and your brother have a weird family dynamic,” Livio commented, moving to the living room to scoop Kuroneko up. “Hi, princess. I’m bringing Cyclops over to play with you one day.” 

“Not arguing with you there,” Vash said, knowing it was true. “It was actually sort of my fault, though. I kinda told Nai that Legato liked him and apparently they were supposed to stay casual. Oops.”

“Ouch,” Wolfwood said, lifting the kibble up so he could put it away. 

“Yeah. He’s hated my guts ever since,” the blond said, leaning against the crutch. “I was trying to help, though. I figured Nai would stop using him if he knew. But, obviously, I was wrong.” 

“Yeesh. Heavy,” Livio commented, flopping down on the couch. “In lighter news, Blondie, I got you a present! Open it.” 

Turning to look at the gift bag on the counter, Vash raised an eyebrow. “Why would you get me a present?”

“Fine. Blondie, I got you a housewarming gift. Is that better?” 

“Still confusing,” Vash said, but moved to lean against the counter so he could open the bag. Inside, there was what seemed to be a square skateboard with handles. “What is it?” 

“Okay, let me explain the thought process,” Livio said, putting his hands up since he knew that Wolfwood was likely to go off. “You had to leave your wheelchair behind and this apartment is a little small for a wheelchair. Boom. Roller board.” 

“What is wrong with you?” Wolfwood asked, shaking his head. 

Vash looked from the board to Wolfwood and then to Livio before setting it down on the ground. He carefully lowered himself to the ground and transferred himself to the board, before scooting along, using his left foot to push. “Wait, no, he’s onto something,” Vash said, eyes widening. 

“See, Nico?” Livio smugly looked over to his brother with a grin. “I’m a fucking genius.” 

“He’s a fucking genius,” Vash reiterated, guiding himself with his right hand until he was in front of Livio, offering him a fist where Livio met him with his own fist so they could bump. “Thanks, Livio!”

“You’re both gremlins,” Wolfwood told them, plopping down on the couch next to Livio so he could watch Vash scoot around. 

The commotion seemed to wake Knives, so the Husky stretched, before moving to stand in front of Vash. After a moment of analysis, the dog hunched down, playfully growling as he started playing with his owner. Vash laughed, pushing away so the Husky would pounce next to him. 

“Alright. Maybe the gremlins have some rights,” Wolfwood admitted, smiling as he watched the two. 

“You’re so smitten,” Livio told him, grinning. 

“So what if I am?” Wolfwood challenged, raising an eyebrow. 

Shrugging, Livio put his arms behind his head so he could relax. “It’s just new. You look happy.” 

Smiling, Wolfwood nodded. “Yeah. I’m pretty happy.” 

“So,” Livio started, dragging the ‘o’ out. “What’s the long term plan?” 

“I mean, we don’t really have one,” Wolfwood admitted. “I just started convincing him it’d be a good idea to find a new place for when this lease is up.” 

“Oh, damn,” Livio said, realizing what that meant. “So, you’re both, like, living together for real?” 

“To be fair,” Vash spoke up, a lap full of Husky as he patted the dog. “That’s sort of my fault.”

“I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it. Just didn’t see Nico as the type to settle down so quickly.”

“Livio, if you don’t shut up,” Wolfwood threatened, worrying that Vash might take it personally.

“Well, neither did I,” Vash said, shrugging. “I’m only a little worried about how awkward it might be if we broke up.” 

“We’re not breaking up, Needle Noggin.” Groaning, Wolfwood rubbed his temple.

“Yeah, I know,” Vash said, grinning, knowing that he was pressing some buttons. “I guess we'd stay friends anyway. Meryl and I still are.” 

Livio’s eyebrows raised and his mouth dropped open, realizing what Vash had said. He turned to Wolfwood, watching as the man seemed to go through the five stages of grief as he processed it.

“You and shorty dated?” He asked, voice coming out gruffer than he intended. 

Vash tilted his head back, laughing obnoxiously. “Okay, well, dated is giving it more credit than what it actually was,” he explained. “It was high school and we’d been friends since middle school. We thought we’d give it a try. I still thought I was a girl, okay? But we both realized after one experimental kiss that she was a lesbian and I was very much a boy.” 

Livio pointed at Vash and then himself. “Hey! Trans!” He yelled, whooping in excitement. 

“Trans pride!” Vash yelled back, fist pumping. 

“Oh my god, you’re both so annoying together.” Wolfwood sighed, still processing the information that Vash and Meryl had kissed. 

“Now I know why you were so calm when you found out I was trans,” Vash said, laughing. “And I get why you didn’t want to just say your brother was also trans.” 

“Aw, Nico, you didn’t out me? That’s so cute,” Livio said, slinging his right arm around Wolfwood's shoulder. “But you know I don’t care, especially if it’s another trans person.” 

“I’m in so much trouble. You two are going to make my life hell,” Wolfwood said, allowing his body to wobble around as Livio hugged him. 

Shaking his head, Livio laughed. “You’re so dramatic sometimes, Nico!” 

“That’s so cute. You call him Nico!” Vash, somehow beyond Wolfwood’s understanding, managed to make actual heart eyes. 

“Called him that when we first met and it just stuck!” 

“So, you two grew up together but were never adopted?” Vash asked, curious. 

“Pretty much. Well,” Livio paused, not sure if he should say anything, considering it was Wolfwood’s story. 

Picking up on Livio’s hesitation, Wolfwood sighed. “Someone tried to adopt me once. But I threw a fit because they wouldn’t take Livio, too,” he explained, shrugging. “So, I ran away. And I kept running until they just gave up on me.” 

Livio smiled softly, feeling affection bubble in his chest. “He kept me safe.”

Vash sniffled, staring up at Wolfwood with shining eyes. “You’re such a good brother.” 

“Anyway,” Wolfwood said, trying to steer the conversation away from any waterworks. “What made you decide to come over today, Livio?” 

Releasing his hold on Wolfwood, Livio shrugged. “Just wanted to drop off the housewarming present to Vash and see my big brother. Since someone doesn’t facetime me every day like before.” 

“Is that my fault?” Vash asked, eyes going wide. “Nick! Facetime your brother!”

“Okay, hypocrite,” Wolfwood said, before realizing what he was saying and to whom he was saying it. 

“Ah,” Vash said, biting his lip.

“Fuck,” Wolfwood sighed, moving off the couch so he could kneel in front of Vash. “Hey, I’m sorry, Angel. I shouldn’t have said that.” 

Nodding, Vash kept his eyes down, not wanting to show Wolfwood the tears welling in his eyes. He didn’t want to cry in front of company, and he knew that Wolfwood hadn’t meant it, but the feeling sat heavy in his chest. 

“I said something mean and I apologize for hurting you,” Wolfwood told him, hands hovering around Vash, but not quite touching. “You don’t have to forgive me, but I hope I can make it up to you.”  

Vash swallowed thickly, before reaching up to take Wolfwood’s hand and placing it over his shoulder, letting the other man know he was allowed to touch. Taking the hint, Wolfwood immediately wrapped his arms around Vash, hugging him tightly. 

“Oh, Angel. I’m sorry,” Wolfwood told him, pressing a kiss to his head. “You don’t have to reach out to your brother anytime soon. It’s very different for you right now,” he admitted, owning up to his mistake. 

Shaking his head, Vash sighed, before reaching up to wipe his eyes. “Thank you,” he said, voice soft. “I know you didn’t mean it like that. I just feel guilty.” 

“I know, Angel,” he said, pressing another kiss to the blond hair. “But your situation is different, so don’t feel guilty about not reaching out to Nai.” 

Livio, feeling awkward just sitting on the couch, moved himself down to the ground, sitting to the side of Wolfwood and Vash. “You know, if it’s any consolation, if Nico had done even a little bit of what I hear your brother did, I probably wouldn’t want to talk to him for a bit, either.” 

Vash nodded, knowing that he was right to be upset, but it didn’t stop the guilt that occasionally clawed at his throat. “Thank you, both of you,” he said, pulling back from Wolfwood’s arms so that he could give them both a sad smile. “Sorry for ruining the vibes.”

“Man, forget about all that,” Livio said, moving his hand so it could rub Vash’s back. “Besides, if anyone ruined the vibes, it was Nico. The buzzkill,” he teased, grinning. 

Vash laughed, turning to properly look at Livio. “Thanks, Livio. Oh, also, don’t leave without giving me your number! I think Nick would gatekeep it at this point since he’s already kind of annoyed by how well we get along,” Vash told him, sticking his tongue out at Wolfwood before winking. 

“You’re both cut throats. I didn’t even get a chance to apologize for ‘ruining the vibes’,” Wolfwood said, adding air quotes over the phrase. 

“You gotta be quick to deal with the combined efforts of our AuDHD,” Livio said, grinning at his brother.

“Damn, no wonder we get along. We even each other out,” Vash said, pulling his phone out so Livio could put his contact info in and text himself. 

“I am never going to know peace,” Wolfwood said, sighing dramatically as he leaned back. 

“You haven’t known peace since you met me,” Livio countered, grinning at his brother. 

“Well, I’m heading back to work tomorrow, so I’ll know a little peace.” 

Vash rolled his eyes. “Weren’t you just telling me how much you enjoyed spending this week with me because you got to know me more?” 

“Oh, damn. Called out by your own boyfriend.” Livio laughed, knowing that it would egg Wolfwood on. 

“This house is a fucking nightmare,” Wolfwood mumbled, tone flat as he stood up. 

“You had so many chances to get rid of me, babe. You’re stuck now,” Vash called as Wolfwood moved to the balcony to go for a smoke. 

“Yeah, yeah. It’s like I love you or something,” Wolfwood told him, petting the blond hair as he passed. 

Smiling up at him, Vash danced in his seat, nearly losing his balance as he forgot it had wheels. “I feel very loved,” he told him, sincerely. 

Livio watched, before scooting closer to Vash to whisper. “You already got him to say the L word?” 

Blushing, Vash nodded. “He said it first, too.” 

“Well, welcome to the family,” Livio teased, wrapping an arm around Vash in a half hug. 

Livio stayed through dinner, helping Vash to heckle Wolfwood during the time. While Wolfwood pretended he was getting annoyed, he always found himself smiling fondly as he watched the two seemingly growing closer as the night wore on. Before it started getting too dark, Livio hugged them both, promising he’d stay in touch with Vash and set up a time for them both to hang out. 

Once Livio left, Vash settled on his and Wolfwood’s bed, reaching out to take the man’s hand. Wolfwood moved closer, happily accepting Vash’s hand and kissing the back of it. 

“I really like your brother,” Vash said, his heart feeling full from the afternoon. Even the part that had made him sad didn’t last long enough to ruin the entire evening and that made him realize he was healing. 

Wolfwood wrapped his other arm around Vash’s back, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “Yeah, I think he likes you, too,” he teased, knowing that it was clear the two had made fast friends. 

Vash looked up at Wolfwood, smiling sweetly. “He welcomed me to your family,” he teased, though something in his tone made Wolfwood think he was testing the waters, seeing if it was something he could really say. 

“It’s not a big one, but we’re lucky to have you.” With that statement, Wolfwood leaned down to kiss him, hoping that his lips would show whatever emotions he couldn’t quite say. 

Once they parted, Vash smiled dopily, a blush in his cheeks. “So… After I get home from school tomorrow, I think I’ll write down the accommodations that will make life easier for me, well, both of us, really. That way we both know what to look for in an apartment.” 

Wolfwood nodded his head, understanding that Vash was meeting him halfway, accepting that he just wanted to help make the blond’s life easier. “Okay. We can start looking when we have that figured out.”

Chapter Text

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]  

Subj: An Explanation

Dear Nai, 

I miss you. I know you probably don’t think that’s true, but it is. You’re my brother and I love you. 

I know you’re probably confused about why I left the way I did. I know to you, it seems like I’m picking some random guy over my own brother, but I promise that isn’t the case. I hope that you’ll read this email and it’ll make sense. 

It wasn’t that you blocked Wolfwood. It was the fact that you know I have problems trusting that I’m safe while I sleep, but you came into my room anyway. I still have nightmares of being half conscious in the hospital, not understanding that the nurses were there to help me and not cut off more pieces of my body. You knew that, but you came into my room and betrayed my trust while I was asleep. I don’t think I really explained that to you, but I wanted you to know. 

If that had been the only thing, I could have calmed down and come back after a few days. But the things you said to me on the phone? I’m still horrified to think of them. 

I don’t know if you even remember, but I’ll remind you of the big ones. 

You claimed you made me. That you are the only reason I’m still alive. 

You’ve done a lot for me, Nai, I know that. You’ve done more for me than a lot of family members would in the situation we were in. But families don't do things for one another and expect the other to grovel at their feet. 

You basically said that I was worthless without you. 

I have a lot of shortcomings, I know that. But I’m your brother. I’m a person. I have feelings, Nai. I don’t always show them the same way that you or Rem did. Sometimes they’re too big, I know that. But do you really think that all makes me worthless? Am I more worthless now that I’m physically disabled? Or was I always worthless? Were you just angry or is this what you’ve always thought?

You said that I was the reason we no longer had a family. 

I know you blame me for Rem’s death. That doesn’t upset me. Most days, I blame myself for her death. Most days I wish it had been me that died. But saying that to you is counterproductive, so I apologize for saying that. 

What happened was a freak accident. I was careful. I was watching the road. I had a green light. I know I did. I swear I did. If there was ever a doubt in my mind, I would have given up. But the truck driver was at fault. Not me. The result would have been the same if Rem had been driving. Or even you.

I don’t blame you for being angry, Nai. I’m sorry that you’re hurting and haven’t been able to process it, because you’ve been too focused on taking care of me. 

Sheryl has offered to have a counseling session with us both, if it’s something that you’re interested in. I think it would be good and maybe we could fix things. 

I spoke to her about you, which I know you hate, but I needed to tell someone that was impartial. I told her that I think you’ve been in survival mode since we were young, since before Rem. 

What I didn’t tell her was that I think it was because of me. You’ve always been so focused on caring for me and I’m really thankful that you’re my big brother. I think you never got to sit back and be a child. I’m sorry that I’ve been troubling you for so long. 

My main point of this email, I want to fix our relationship. I want to be able to watch your silly western movies. I want to be able to see you play the piano, hear you dedicate another song to our mom. I really want my brother back. 

But I won’t be moving back to the apartment. I won’t be moving back in with you. 

I just think we spent so long being Vash and Nai, the twins, that we never got to be Vash or Nai, separately. If that makes sense? 

I promise I’m not trying to punish you. I’m just trying to figure out who I am. I hope that you can use this time to do that, too. 

If it helps, I’m happy. Not because I’m away from you, that part sucks. But I’m still managing to find happiness. I hope that you can find it too. 

Also, thank you for sending Legato over with Knives’ food and heartworm prevention. I’m glad you still have him, whatever he is to you. You need someone, Nai. Try letting him in? 

I love you. 

Your little brother,  

Vash

-

Vash hadn’t set out with the intention of writing an email of that length to Nai, but he found that once he started typing, he couldn’t stop. As per usual, Vash found it so much easier to communicate through writing than he did through speaking when it came to delicate matters. But the more he wrote, the more his heart hurt. 

He found that he tried to keep the language neutral, not wanting to show Nai what really stung or come off manipulative in the ways that he found his brother had been prone to exploiting. He tried to keep the apologies to a minimum, finding that he didn’t have much to apologize for in the end. He knew he had hurt his brother, but he was making all of the right choices for himself and he couldn’t be sorry for doing that. 

Sniffling, Vash hit send on the email, finding himself relieved and nervous all at once. He felt relief for getting things off of his chest that he’d held in for too long, but nervous because he had no idea what Nai’s reaction was going to be in the end. He could assume there would be two options: cold acceptance or a ticking time bomb; he genuinely couldn’t decide which was the worst option.

When Wolfwood came home that night, Vash was still sitting at the counter, staring at the laptop screen that had dimmed long ago. Without asking what happened, the dark haired man walked over to Vash, laying his hand gently on his shoulder, just to let him know he was there, before wrapping his arms around him and holding him close. When Vash started to cry silently into his shoulder, Wolfwood rubbed his back, letting the blond get it out. 

Eventually, as always, the tears ran themselves out, so Wolfwood pulled back just enough so that he could gently wipe at Vash’s cheeks, clearing the tear stains. Reaching over to the side, he pulled off a paper towel, offering it to Vash so he could blow his own nose. When the blond finally looked up, giving him a little smile, he knew that it was time to discuss what happened. 

“Want to tell me?” Wolfwood asked, pressing a kiss to Vash’s forehead, feeling the blond relax instantly under the touch. 

Sighing, Vash gave a slight nod of his head, not quite wanting to move. “I sent an email to Nai,” he explained, voice soft. “It was… good for closure. But I also feel like it’s going to open a can of worms.” 

“Do you want to tell me what was in it?” Wolfwood liked to give the options to Vash, while he was desperate to know the contents of the email, he knew it really wasn’t his place. 

“It’ll be easier to let you read it,” Vash said, moving the track pad on the laptop, before clicking on his sent folder. “It’s pretty much everything you know, but I just… I had to get it out.” 

Keeping his right hand on Vash’s back, Wolfwood turned so that he could read through the email, scrolling when he had to. It was a well thought out email, considering how emotional Vash was now; he assumed that the emotions hit once the blond had hit send. “It’s good. You should show Sheryl at your next appointment.” 

Vash leaned his head against Wolfwood, sighing. “Yeah, I was gonna,” he said, closing his eyes for a moment and letting himself relax. “Well, I guess at some point we’ll have to make a plan to get the rest of my things from the apartment.” 

“We can do that whenever you want. Maybe we can ask the girls when would work for them, too.” While Wolfwood wanted Vash to have all of his items, knowing there were probably some comfort items that the blond had foregone in the initial move, he knew that this was going to make everything seem more permanent. 

“Well, probably a day that I know Nai wouldn’t be home,” Vash said, pinching the bridge of his nose as he felt a migraine coming on. “I think he has an out of town performance in a few weekends. I’ll have to check the website.” 

Wolfwood moved his hand into Vash’s hair, gently massaging his scalp. “Take a breath, Angel,” he told him. “We don’t have to plan everything right this second.”

Yawning, Vash nodded, letting his head loll back a little. “Okay, Love.” 

“Want to take a nap before dinner?” Wolfwood asked, kissing the scar at the edge of Vash’s hair line. 

“It’s like 5pm. We won’t sleep tonight,” Vash whined, though he knew the nap was going to win. 

“Baby, it’s Friday. What do we have to do tomorrow morning?” 

Vash hummed, trying to think of a reason they shouldn’t nap. “Plan a date where you don’t get mauled by a dog?”

“Ha, ha,” Wolfwood sarcastically laughed. “Come on, I’m making an executive decision,” he said, sliding his left arm under Vash’s legs to scoop him up. 

“Oh my god!” Vash said, wrapping his right arm around Wolfwood’s neck and holding onto the man’s shirt. “The disrespect!” 

“I want to sleep and I want to cuddle with my boyfriend.” It was the only explanation that Wolfwood provided, before promptly depositing the blond onto the bed. 

“You’re actually lucky I think that was pretty sexy of you. Otherwise I would be annoyed.” Vash huffed, before crawling under the blankets with his arms open, waiting for Wolfwood. 

“Hey. I get once or twice a month where I can just haul you around. I’m not going to abuse the privilege, but every now and then you need to be thrown over my shoulder.” 

Vash smirked. “Oh, Nick. Are you wanting to throw me around the bedroom and have your wicked way with me?” 

“And what if I do?” Wolfwood challenged, crawling into bed with the blond and wrapping himself around Vash, laying his head on his chest. 

“Oh. I will not be complaining. No sir. Not gonna hear a complaint out of me,” Vash said, wrapping his arm around his boyfriend. 

“Noted. Now go to sleep.” 

The two drifted off for what only felt like a few moments, before there was a knock on the door. Vash whined, having really started to have a good sleep. Wolfwood sat up, grabbing his phone to check if he was missing any calls. 

With another knock on the door, this one more insistent, Wolfwood sighed, sitting up. “I’m gonna get that,” he said, before walking out to the front door and opening it. 

“Is Vash here?” Nai asked, arms crossed in front of him, not quite looking at Wolfwood. 

It took a moment for the face to register, but once it did, Wolfwood’s eyes widened. “Right. Nai, I guess?” He asked, despite knowing the answer. “He was taking a nap. Let me take his crutch to him.” 

As Wolfwood started to close the door, Nai caught it. “Or you can show me to his room?” 

Wolfwood pressed his lips together, taking in a slow breath. “Well, Nai. He’s in our bed,” he said, hoping that would help spell things out for the man. “And he doesn’t really have his leg on, so no, I’ll give him his crutch.” 

Nai’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “Fine. Tell him his brother is here to discuss his email.” 

“I can hear you!” Vash called, irritated as he slid to the edge of the bed.

“Small apartment,” Wolfwood pointed out, smiling kindly as he grabbed the crutch and carried it to the bedroom. “Shut the door behind you. I don’t want the cat getting out.” 

Sighing, Nai entered the apartment, shutting the door. As Knives approached, sniffing the man, he leaned down to pet the dog, not having actually felt any ill-will towards the animal. “Being a good boy, Knives?” 

Vash sat on the bed, taking a few deep breaths as Wolfwood entered to hand him the crutch. “I’ve got this. I started this,” he mumbled, half to him, half to Wolfwood. 

“I’ll be right there,” Wolfwood promised him, letting Vash stand on his own and find his footing. 

“Thanks, Love,” Vash told him, heading to the entryway so that he could avoid Nai getting too comfortable. “Hi, Nai.”

“Vash,” was the response that Nai provided, but the blond didn’t find anything too out of the ordinary for it. “I read your email.” 

Nodding, Vash waved to the seats at the breakfast bar. “Want to sit so we can talk about it?”

Frowning, Nai shook his head. “I don’t think it will take that long,” he said, before taking a breath. “I hurt you. I acknowledge that. You are an adult and you’re free to do whatever you would like.” 

Vash couldn’t help the look of surprise that crossed his face. “Oh?” He hated that he sounded skeptical, but he had never known Nai to actually reach out and essentially apologize before. 

“I won’t be repeating that,” Nai told him, knowing that Vash had understood what he said. 

“Right,” Vash said, brows furrowing. “Why did you actually come, Nai?” 

“I can’t just miss my little brother?” Nai asked, offering a sharp toothed smile. 

“You could. But you waited until I reached out with the email,” Vash pointed out, knowing that there was something he was missing. 

“I had to see for myself what your living conditions were,” Nai explained, looking around the apartment. “I know it’s one bedroom. How’s the bathroom?” 

“Why the hell do you need to know about the bathroom?” Vash asked, growing more confused by the moment. 

“I’m making sure it’s acceptable. You’re disabled. Anyone could take advantage of you,” Nai said, the words exiting his lips like venom. 

Wolfwood sighed, rolling his eyes. “Well, come on. I’ll just give you a tour,” he said, waving Nai over so that he could get it over with. 

“No. Don’t give in to him,” Vash said, shaking his head. “He’s not taking advantage of me. He offered me a place. I’m happy here. So, I’m staying. That’s all you need to know.” He moved to step in front of Nai, blocking him from entering more. 

“Vash, how do I know he’s not manipulating you? How can I really be sure that you’re doing this of your own free will?” Nai asked, a syrupy sweet tone covering the venom laced words. 

“Because you’re the one that manipulates!” 

Sighing, Nai shook his head. “This is why I have to protect you. You’re not thinking straight.”

Wolfwood gently placed a hand over Vash’s shoulder, hoping to calm the blond. “He’s pressing your buttons on purpose, Vash. Try not to give in.” He kept his voice calm, though inside he was ready to throw Nai out in a rage. 

“I’m just concerned for my brother. He’s making quite a few concerning life choices lately,” Nai said, smiling at Wolfwood. 

Taking a deep breath, Vash sighed. “You wouldn’t be acting like this if I was with Meryl and Milly.”

“Well,” Wolfwood interrupted. “He did show up there unannounced.”

“Only to make sure Vash was safe. Imagine my surprise when he wasn’t there. I lost track of my brother for nearly a week. Can you imagine how terrifying that must have been?” Part of Nai’s voice sounded genuinely concerned, while the other part reeked of manipulation. 

“I’ve been there, actually,” Wolfwood told him, his hand gently massaging Vash’s shoulder. “But I never hunted him down and pulled him back so that I would be the only person in his life. That’s fucked up.” 

“I don’t think you actually understand,” Nai explained. “I almost lost him once. So, I won’t be losing him again.” 

“Vash, what do you want to do?” Wolfwood asked, realizing that they  had been discussing the blond as if he wasn’t there. 

“What I’m doing is staying here in my apartment with my boyfriend,” Vash said, making a point to stare Nai down. 

Nai raised his hands, trying to make himself appear innocent. “Like I said, you’re an adult. I just wanted to make sure you were safe.” 

“He’s safe and he can make his own choices,” Wolfwood said, shaking his head. “Have a great night, Nai. It was not nice to meet you.” 

“Tell Sheryl I said hello, Vash.” With that, Nai left, slamming the door behind him. 

Wolfwood moved forward to lock the door, as if Nai might turn around and start another fight. As he turned to face Vash, he saw the way the blond went pale and started shaking. Surging forward, Wolfwood wrapped an arm around Vash, helping to hold him up so he didn’t have to focus his energy on doing that himself. 

“Okay. It’s okay, Angel,” Wolfwood reassured him, helping the blond to sit on the floor. 

Tears weren’t coming, instead, Vash seemed to be shaking with his pent up rage, hand clutching tightly to Wolfwood’s shirt, as if he wasn’t sure what he would do if he let go. Inside, Vash was screaming, cursing at Nai. His brother only ever came around to hurt him. 

“I opened up! And this is what I get?!” He yelled, feeling the urge to scream and break things in a way he hadn’t felt since he was a child, freshly moved into Rem’s house. “What the fuck? WHAT THE FUCK?!” 

Wolfwood kept his hands on Vash, running a soothing hand down the man’s back. “Can I do something? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Vash shook his head, hand gripping tightly to Wolfwood’s shirt still. “I’m trying really hard not to scream or hurt myself,” he said through gritted teeth. “Just sit here and hold me.” The words were harsher than Vash had ever used towards Wolfwood and he knew he would regret it later, but he was trying so hard not to go into a meltdown. 

“Alright, Angel,” Wolfwood said, moving to sit on his knees so he could pull Vash into a tight hug. He didn’t know any other options, so he decided it would be better to just listen to what Vash needed. 

They sat together, quiet as Vash tried to calm the shaking in his body. Wolfwood held him, occasionally rubbing his back. Eventually, Vash felt himself slowly relaxing as the anger gave way to sadness, the ache in his chest from sending the email growing larger, leaving him feeling hollow. 

“Fuck. I don’t even know what’s real anymore,” Vash mumbled, resting his head against Wolfwood’s shoulder. “I don’t think he was always like this. But maybe he was? I’m so confused.”

Wolfwood started to gently rock as he held Vash, knowing the action would likely help his brain shut off. “I think people change. You’re not the same, right? So, maybe you just changed in a different way than Nai.” 

“But he’s my brother. We’re twins,” Vash said, tears finally spilling. “I just want my brother in my life.” 

Rocking him still, Wolfwood pressed kisses to the top of his head. “I love you. I’m so sorry this is happening, Angel.” Guilt ate at Wolfwood’s gut, the thought that he was the reason for all of this hadn’t escaped him. Things with Vash and Nai seemed to be fine until Vash started speaking to him, he wondered if he was doing more harm than good by being in Vash’s life. 

Vash shook his head, letting himself continue to be rocked, enjoying the motion while being held. “Not your fault,” he mumbled, tears falling silently, the anger having drained him. “Um… could you get my Xanax, please?” 

Pulling back a little, Wolfwood nodded. “Of course,” he said, kissing Vash’s head, before moving to the kitchen to grab some water and the medicine. “A whole or a half?” He asked, kneeling down in front of Vash again. 

Biting his lip, Vash considered the options. “Half, I think,” he said, sipping the water already. “Thank you.” His words felt flat even to his ears, but he hoped that Wolfwood understood he meant them.

“You don’t have to thank me,” Wolfwood insisted, grabbing a pill and breaking it in half, before offering it to Vash. “Do you want to stay on the ground in case you need Knives? Or do you want me to move you back to the bed?” 

Taking the pill and drinking more water, grimacing at the texture as he usually did, Vash shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not sleeping any time soon.” 

“You don’t have to sleep, or talk, or think,” Wolfwood told him, cap back on the bottle. “I can hold you or let you sit alone.” 

Vash’s lip wobbled as he looked up at Wolfwood. “I don’t want to be alone.” 

“You don’t have to be, Angel,” he said, sitting down properly and gently pulling Vash into his arms. “I love you. I just want to help.” 

The blond buried his face in Wolfwood’s neck, breathing in deeply. “Just hold me,” he mumbled, eyes wet against the man’s skin. “Love you.” 

Wolfwood held Vash, occasionally rocking with him or pressing kisses into his hair. He didn’t know what other kind of help to offer, but it seemed, for the moment, what he was doing was enough and gave Vash time to calm down. Eventually, the blond fell asleep, clearly wearing himself out. 

Once he realized Vash was asleep, Wolfwood carefully maneuvered them so he could stand up and pick the sleeping blond up to carry him to the bed. He settled Vash under the covers, before crawling in himself. He gently pulled the blond over to have Vash lay his head on his chest. 

Wolfwood laid there for hours, hands occasionally rubbing Vash’s back or playing with the blond hair. He couldn’t sleep, thoughts of potentially ruining Vash’s relationship with his brother haunting the back of his mind. 

Once again, Wolfwood had only just drifted off to sleep when he was awoken, but this time it was to a frantic scream. Popping up, Wolfwood blearily looked at Vash, seeing that he had sat up, screaming. “Vash?” He asked, confused. 

The blond, still half asleep, didn’t respond, except to scream, again, tears falling down his eyes as he tried to untangle from the covers in a panic, before scooting to the side of the bed. Realizing what was about to happen, Wolfwood rushed forward, arms wrapping around the blond’s chest to pull him back, hoping to avoid him crashing onto the ground. What Wolfwood didn’t count on was Vash’s fight or flight kicking in more, causing him to ram his elbow back into Wolfwood’s face, knocking him square in the right eye. 

“Ow. Fuck,” Wolfwood said, still trying to stop Vash from getting up. “Vash, please!” He yelled, before receiving another smack in the chest, right as the blond stood up. 

Vash stood quickly on one leg, his arm flailing behind him to stop the person from grabbing him again. Standing on one leg was fine, but the moment he tried taking a step forward, Vash fell directly onto the floor, in between the bedframe and the wall. “Ow,” he moaned, having woken up from the impact. 

Wolfwood, realizing that Vash was awake, scrambled to the side of the bed, peering down at him. “Are you hurt? You didn’t break anything, right?” He asked, slowly standing up, still a little wary that Vash might fight again. 

“Ah. No,” Vash said, turning around so he could properly sit up and assess that his limbs were actually all intact. “I think I’m fine,” he said, wiping his face, before looking up at Wolfwood and staring in horror. “Oh my god. Are you okay?!”

“Yeah, why?” Wolfwood asked, closing his right eye as it was getting blurry. 

“Did I fucking punch you?” Vash asked, horrified as he tried to sit up on his left leg to pull himself up. 

Feeling something warm slide down his cheek, Wolfwood wiped at his face, assuming he had teared up from the swelling in his eye. Looking down, he understood why Vash was looking at him in horror; blood covered the palm of his hand. “Well, fuck,” he said, carefully stepping around Vash, not wanting to push him down by accident. 

“What did I do?” Vash asked, the adrenaline from the nightmare running into the adrenaline of seeing Wolfwood bleeding down his face. “Nick!” 

“Calm down,” Wolfwood barked back, harsher than he meant. Sighing, he reached into the linen closet, grabbing a washcloth to press against his eye. He walked back into the bedroom, sitting on the bed next to Vash. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled.” 

“Oh my god, yell as much as you want. Hit me back. Do something,” Vash said, freaking out as he turned to fully face Wolfwood, reaching up to take the cloth so he could apply the pressure. 

Releasing his hold, Wolfwood shook his head. “I am not hitting you,” he said firmly, wanting to make it clear to Vash that he would never do that. “It was an accident. You were having a nightmare.” 

“You should have just let me fall. I’m fine. Probably have some bruises, but I’m fine,” Vash told him, guilt eating at him. “I should sleep on the couch.” 

Sighing, Wolfwood reached up to touch Vash’s arm. “I was worried you were going to break something,” Wolfwood explained, thumb rubbing across his wrist. “You’re not sleeping on the couch because of an accident.” 

“I elbowed you hard enough to cut your brow!” Vash said, pulling his hand back away from Wolfwood’s touch, before throwing the rag at the man, not feeling like he was worthy of touching Wolfwood. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I just keep fucking up.” 

“Vash, I love you and this isn’t what you want to hear, but I need you to calm down,” Wolfwood told him, accepting the washcloth again to press to his eyebrow, hoping to stop the bleeding. “Head wounds always look worse than what they are. You’re not fucking anything up.” 

“Nai said he’s worried about you hurting me, but I keep getting you hurt!” 

Sighing, Wolfwood reached forward with his left hand to grab Vash’s right hand and hold it steady. “It was an accident. Angel, I need you to breathe and think clearly for a minute.” 

Pressing his lips together, Vash breathed in, trying to follow Wolfwood’s directions. “Why?”

“If I had a nightmare and I accidentally smacked your face, what would you do?” 

Vash refused to look at Wolfwood, knowing the answer. 

“Blondie, tell me.” 

Chewing the inside of his cheek, Vash sighed. “I wouldn’t be upset.” 

“There’s my good boy,” Wolfwood said, laughing at the pointed glare the blond gave him. “What? I can’t be proud of my boy?”

“I’m sitting here trying to decide if you need to go get stitches and you’re flirting with me?” Vash asked, annoyance clear in his voice. 

“The quicker you smile or give me a kiss, the quicker we’ll be over this.” Wolfwood shrugged, knowing that he had Vash between a rock and a hard place. He settled Vash with a smile, feeling only a little foolish at the way the cloth obscured half of his features. 

Looking at the boyish smile that Wolfwood gave him, Vash couldn’t help but to smile back, even if it was just a little. “You’re so understanding and loving. It’s kind of infuriating.” 

“How awful for you,” Wolfwood mocked. “I love my boyfriend.” 

Vash smiled again, letting go of some of the guilt. “I love you, too. Ass.” 

“Oo. You’re calling me names, too? Careful, Blondie, I might start to like that.” 

“You’re really lucky I still feel guilty about your eye, or else I’d be throwing a pillow at you,” Vash said, finally reaching up with his hand to get Wolfwood to move the cloth. “Do you have butterfly bandages? I think you’ll live with just some of those. Skin glue would be good, too, but it’s close to your eye.” 

“Yeah, I got a few. I’ll go clean this up and put them on,” Wolfwood said, standing up.

Vash gently grabbed Wolfwood’s hand, squeezing it for a minute. “I’m still sorry, Love.” 

“Are you hurt, Angel?” 

Vash shook his head, not understanding what that had to do with anything. 

“Then I don’t care about one little cut,” he said, holding the blond’s hand. “It was an accident,” Wolfwood reminded him, before leaning down to press a kiss to the man’s cheek. 

As Wolfwood walked away, Vash took in a deep breath, before sighing slowly. “An accident…” He frowned, hating that the accident even happened, but knowing there wasn’t much that he could have done to prevent it. 

He could only assume that the encounter with Nai set everything off. He hadn’t had a dream that vivid in ages, where all he needed to do was run. If he had been at home, Vash would have climbed out of the bed and flopped down directly into the floor, Nai only coming to check if he was awoken or worried the blond might do something unsafe. 

It was a small realization, but Vash was starting to understand the differences now. As he came to the conclusion, Wolfwood entered the bedroom again, butterfly bandages covering the small slit right under his right eyebrow. 

As soon as he saw Wolfwood, Vash reached for his hand. “Come here, please?” He asked, watching as Wolfwood said next to him again. Gently, Vash leaned up, pressing a light kiss next to the cut, before moving down to press a soft kiss to his lips. 

Relaxing into the kiss, Wolfwood smiled once it ended. “What was that for?”

“For loving me,” Vash whispered. “You deserve a lot, but that’s all I can really give you right now.”

Wolfwood reached up to gently cup Vash’s cheek. “Good thing that’s all I ever wanted from you.” 

Vash leaned in again, pressing another kiss to his lips. “I’m drowning you in kisses when we’re not so banged up.” 

Wolfwood laughed, closing his eyes and relaxing. “I’ll die a happy man.” 

Chapter Text

By Monday, things were closer to normal, leaving Vash and Wolfwood on their usual, comfortable terms. The swelling in Wolfwood’s eye had gone down, leaving just the small cut and the bruise around his eye. Any time Vash seemed to get upset about it, Wolfwood would wrap his arms around the man, kissing him softly, proving that he wasn’t angry or hurt.

Walking into work Monday, Wolfwood was met with a raised eyebrow and a low whistle from Zazie. “First a dog bite and now this? Are you in a fight club?” They asked, laughing at their own joke. 

“Go ahead. Laugh it up,” Wolfwood said with a roll of his eyes. “That’s why you’re closing alone today.”

Zazie let out a dramatic gasp. “You’re abandoning me?! Cruel, Nicholas!” 

“Yeah, yeah. I gotta go get these stitches out, so I actually don’t have a choice,” Wolfwood explained, shrugging. “Then you’re stuck with me for the rest of the week.” 

“Awful. That’s my worst nightmare,” they replied, tone flat to soak in the sarcasm. 

“Whatever,” Wolfwood said, moving to his station to get everything ready. “My boyfriend’s coming around 4 to meet me. I want you to be on your best behavior.” 

Zazie placed their hand over their heart. “I’m hurt that you would ever think that I would say anything mean or even incriminating to your boyfriend.” 

“You got nothing on me, you beast.” Wolfwood told them, before turning at the sound of the bell to greet their first customer. 

The day started passing relatively quickly with Wolfwood only having to check the clock a few times before noon finally arrived, signaling that the first half of the day was done. As he was in the backroom, throwing in a load of towels to wash, he heard the bell over the door chime and Zazie greet someone. Knowing that he didn’t have another client for a half hour, Wolfwood continued his cleaning duties. 

Zazie moved to the backroom, furrowing their brow as they stood in the doorway. “You have someone here to see you,” they said, glancing over their shoulder. “I’m getting some weird vibes though, so if you wanna leave out the back, I’ll cover.” 

Confused, Wolfwood ducked his head out of the door, eyes landing on Nai. With a sigh, Wolfwood shook his head. “No, it’s fine,” he said, rolling his shoulders back to prepare to head out. “Thanks for the concern, though. That was weirdly nice of you.” 

“Wow,” Zazie said, rolling their eyes. “That’s the last time I show concern for you, Nick.” 

Laughing, Wolfwood headed out to the counter, placing his hands on the countertop as he regarded Nai. He wanted to show the man that he could not be intimidated. “Hello, welcome to our store. How can I help you, Nai?” 

Nai stood back, his arms crossed over his chest after having to wait for Wolfwood to come forward. “Is there somewhere we could go that’s more private?” Nai asked, looking around the open concept salon, where Zazie was still at their station. 

“Oo. Sorry, I’m actually expecting a client in a few minutes,” Wolfwood told him, giving him a toothy smile. “And we’re really not supposed to allow non-employees in the back.” 

Uncrossing his arms, Nai shrugged. “So be it. We’ll have this conversation here,” Nai told him, pausing as if to give Wolfwood a chance to change his mind. 

Gesturing with his hand, Wolfwood urged him to go on. “No problem. Whenever you’re ready?” He ignored the confused look from Zazie at how upbeat, but rude he was being. 

“How much money?” 

Wolfwood blinked, pretending he didn’t understand what Nai was talking about, though his jaw clenched ever so slightly. “I’m sorry, sir. You don’t have a dog with you, so I couldn’t possibly give you an estimate. What kind of dog are you wanting an estimate for?” He forced himself to smile in the same way he used to do when he was working retail and wanted nothing more than for the customer to get out of his face. 

“Cut the crap, Wolfwood. You know what I’m talking about,” Nai said, pulling out an actual checkbook, as if he was 44, not 24. 

“You see, I couldn’t possibly know what you’re talking about, Saverem,” Wolfwood responded, hitting him back with the last name courtesy. “Because it almost sounds like you want to pay me for services that were not rendered. Which is strange. Considering I don’t remember you having a dog.” 

Sucking on his teeth, Nai decided to be more direct. “You can either give me a number and take the check, then move on with your pathetic little life, or I can ruin you.” 

Wolfwood pretended to shiver, wanting to rile Nai up further. “Oo. I feel like I was just threatened. Zazie, did that sound like a threat?” He called back, knowing that Zazie had been listening.

“Sure did, Nick,” they cheerfully called, grinning over their shoulder. “I really hope the cameras had good enough sound to catch that, since I wasn’t using my clippers.”

Nai narrowed his eyes at the white haired person, before snapping the check book closed. “Is that your answer, then?” 

“Your money is no good here, Nai.” Wolfwood told him, staring directly into his cold, blue eyes, so different from Vash’s own. “And please remember, our security cameras are always recording. So, if you want to retaliate against me for consensually dating your twin brother, I’ll have proof that you threatened me.” 

“There are a lot of ways to ruin a person that don’t involve physical violence, Nicholas.” Nai said, stepping back and placing his hands up, as if he were nonthreatening. 

“Harassment would also follow under retaliation. Just so we’re clear,” Wolfwood said, smiling and waving. “But I hope you have a great day. Again, it was really not nice speaking to you.” 

“I gave you a choice. Remember that,” Nai said before turning and leaving the store. 

As soon as Nai left, the tension in the salon dissipated. Wolfwood hadn’t even realized how tense he had become, anticipating the worst, but the relief was palpable.

“Holy crap!” Zazie said, shivering to release some of their own pent up tension. “Who the hell was that?” 

Wolfwood sighed, rubbing the back of his neck to alleviate the tension headache that was starting. “My boyfriend’s brother.” 

“Jeez! What’d you do to him?” They asked, finally going back to clipping their dog’s claws. 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood moved to stand by Zazie’s station. “Dated his brother.” 

“Ew. What, did he want to date him?” They asked, wrinkling their nose in disgust. 

“Zazie, gross,” he said, shutting them down. “No, he’s just been overly protective of Vash because of some stuff that happened.” 

“Your boyfriend’s name is Vash ?” They asked, clearly concerned. 

“Your name is Zazie ,” Wolfwood reminded them. 

“Okay? And?” Zazie challenged him, kicking out with their foot towards his shin. “I chose my name. I can do what I want.” 

Wolfwood cleared the judgment from his face as he realized it was definitely possible that Vash had chosen his own name, after all, though he didn’t mention that. “And so can Vash. You haven’t even met him.”

“I’m still judging his name,” they concluded, finishing the pomeranian and picking it up to carry it back to its kennel. 

The tense interaction stayed in the back of Wolfwood’s mind as he went through his day. As it got closer to 4pm, he decided it would be smart to send a heads up to Elendira to keep the security footage from today. 

WW: Don’t question it too hard, please. But could you do me a favor and save today’s security footage from around 12pm. Had a run in with my boyfriend’s brother and he’s been kind of weird.

The response was almost instant. 

E: Oh Nicholas. You’ve been causing so much trouble lately. 

E: The footage is saved to the harddrive 

Smiling, Wolfwood liked the text, deeming it appropriate enough of a response. It was almost exactly how he imagined she would respond to the question, so he was pleased she didn’t disappoint him. 

By 4pm, Zazie was calling back to Wolfwood as he cleaned out the tub. “Yo! Nick, I think that guy is back?” They had only briefly glanced up from the poodle that they were shaping. 

“That’s Vash ,” Wolfwood called, without looking up from what he was doing. 

“Wait, Nai was here?” Vash asked, before clicking his tongue so Knives would settle in behind him. 

Zazie whistled, still not quite looking up. “Your brother is bad news bears, boy.” 

“Nick?” Vash called, feeling a little anxious. He just wanted some explanation of what happened and why Nai would have shown up to Wolfwood’s place of business. 

Wolfwood wandered back to the front, wiping his hands down. “Honestly, it was nothing,” he explained, grabbing his things from his station. 

“Dude, he tried to buy you off,” Zazie said, rolling their eyes. 

“Fuck,” Wolfwood mumbled, letting his head fall back. 

“What?!” Vash yelled.

“Oops. Trouble in paradise,” Zazie sang, before laughing. 

“You’re such a little shit. I thought we bonded when you had my back,” Wolfwood said, pushing the counter up so he could exit. 

Zazie glanced over, getting a look at Vash’s prosthetics and the service dog. “Oh. Crazy bro vibes makes more sense,” they said, before quickly leaning over the counter to offer their hand to Vash. “I’m Zazie.” 

Confused, but catching up, Vash shook their hand. “Right. The business partner,” he said, more to himself and Wolfwood. “Nice to meet you. I’m Vash.” 

Hurrying back to their dog, Zazie closed an eye to check the cut. “Nice to meet you, too, loverboy. Your brother sucks.” 

Twisting his lips into a frown, Vash nodded. “Yeah. I’m starting to figure that out.” 

“Anyway,” Wolfwood interrupted. “We have to go to the hospital so I can get these stitches out. Time to go, Vash. Bye, Z.” 

“Bye, don’t get mauled by any other dogs… or brothers,” they called out, barely glancing over their shoulder to wave as the two exited. 

As soon as the door closed, Vash turned quickly on Wolfwood. “What the hell happened, Nick?” 

Sighing, Wolfwood rubbed his face. “Nai came in to talk to me. He offered me money to break up with you and leave you alone.” 

“What the fuck?!” Vash yelled, before immediately realizing they were out on the street. “Sorry,” he muttered to the city in general. 

“Hey. It’s not a big deal. I turned him down, obviously.” Wolfwood said, trying to smooth over the incident. 

“But he still tried to get you to break up with me! That’s so fucked up,” Vash said, whispering the last part. “Why is he being so weird ?” 

Wolfwood gently took Vash’s hand. “I don’t know. But I didn’t let it bother me, so let’s please just go?” 

“Well, I’m letting it bother me!” Vash pulled his hand back, making his way to the car that Wolfwood had driven to work. 

Frowning, Wolfwood followed him. “But now you’re mad at me…” It was a statement, but he wanted to leave it open, hoping that Vash would explain why. 

“You didn’t tell me!” Vash said, angrily tugging on the backdoor so he could put Knives up. 

Wolfwood pressed his lips together, letting Vash get his energy out, he climbed into the drivers side of the car. Once Vash was in the car, Wolfwood turned to him. “I’m going to speak, okay? And I would appreciate it if you listened to me.” He kept his tone even, but wanted to make it clear that he was serious. 

Settling into the seat, cheeks burning, Vash looked forward, but nodded, his lips pressed together to stop himself from interrupting. 

“You can be upset with me, that’s fine,” Wolfwood told him, still facing him. “Should I have called you when it happened? Sure. I’ll own that,” he explained. “But I think you’re actually pissed at Nai. And I don’t appreciate when you take your anger with him out on me. Whether you mean to do it or not, I don’t know, but it’s happening and that’s not fair.” 

A look of guilt swept over Vash’s face as the words sank in. “I’m not… that’s…” He stumbled over words, as if he could disprove what Wolfwood was saying. After a solid minute, he slumped further into the seat, frowning. 

“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings or say that you can’t be angry at me or Nai or the situation,” Wolfwood told him, finally looking away so he could put his seatbelt on. “And maybe I’m wrong. Okay? Maybe you really are just that angry with me. If so, I’d like to know what I can do to fix it.” 

Vash stared at him for another minute, collecting his thoughts. “I’m not angry with you,” he finally admitted, voice quiet. “I am a little upset you didn’t tell me about Nai,” he agreed, knowing that Wolfwood was right about that. 

Nodding, Wolfwood turned the car on, but made no move to drive so they could finish their conversation. “So, in the future, I know to text you or call immediately. I’m sorry for not doing that today.” 

Vash sat quietly, cheeks burning, before he nodded. “I shouldn’t have taken my anger out on you,” he said, looking over at Wolfwood sadly. “It’s not your fault Nai acted like that. And you handled it better than I would have.” 

Wolfwood gave him a little smile, reaching over to offer his hand. “Thank you for listening.” 

Vash moved his hand into Wolfwood’s, feeling upset that he’d pulled away earlier when it had never been Wolfwood’s fault to begin with. “I’m sorry,” he said, realizing he hadn’t said the words. 

“Thank you for apologizing,” Wolfwood told him, squeezing his hand for a moment. 

Vash watched him a moment, hating how awkward he felt and how the guilt was eating away at his insides. As the car started, he turned to look outside the window, not wanting to face Wolfwood as he spoke. “I still love you…” He paused, not sure what he was waiting for. 

Nervous, Wolfwood glanced to the side. “Is there a but in there?” 

Vash shook his head quickly, realizing how it sounded. “No!” He answered, trying to fix it. “I mean. I love you. Period.” 

“Oh my god. I love you, too, Angel,” Wolfwood said in relief, squeezing Vash’s hand softly. “We’re okay, Vash. We’re allowed to miscommunicate or fight.” 

Resting his head against the window, Vash frowned. “But I don’t like it.” 

“Well, no one does, babe. That’s why I wanted to fix it before we did other things. I don’t like arguing with you or trying to correct you, because you’re allowed to be mad at me. Hell, I’m mad at myself most of the time. But if you’re going to be mad, I want you to have a reason.” 

Nodding, Vash took a breath in, before giving him a small smile. “Okay. That makes sense.” 

Wolfwood pulled into the parking lot at the hospital. “Now, do I still get to have my moral support back there to hold my hand while I get these stitches out?” 

“I was still going to hold your hand,” Vash mumbled, rolling his eyes. “I’m not a total dick.” 

“Aw. I’ll keep that in mind next time a dog mauls me.” 

Vash pushed Wolfwood’s hand away again, rolling his eyes. “There’s not going to be another time!” 

“I work with dogs for a living, Vash,” Wolfwood reminded him, getting out of his side and moving to open the door to Vash’s side. “We’re here for my stitches but the passenger princess still wants his door opened for him?” 

“Rude! I’m disabled ,” Vash countered, climbing out of the car. He grinned at Wolfwood, letting the man open the door to let Knives out. 

“You’re lucky I’m such a gentleman,” he teased, handing Knives’ leash off to Vash, who grabbed it, as well as his hand. 

“You’re lucky I’m in love with you,” Vash quipped back, squeezing his hand as they walked into the hospital.

Wolfwood smiled, glancing over to him. “Yeah. I am.” 

“When we’re done with my therapy appointment later, I’m gonna kiss you so much.” 

“You said that kind of like a threat,” Wolfwood pointed out, laughing. 

“It’s a warning ,” Vash said, tugging him along to where they’re supposed to be. 

“Good to know. Thanks for the warning,” Wolfwood teased, letting him lead the way. 

The afternoon was already stressful, given they had their appointments back to back. By the time they arrived home after Vash’s therapy appointment, the two settled onto the couch, Vash wrapped up in Wolfwood’s arms as they tried to relax. 

“I think I have to go no contact with Nai,” Vash said after a while, fingertips gently tracing the pink scar tissue on Wolfwood’s arm. 

“Is that what you want?” While Wolfwood thought it would be a good idea, he wasn’t going to tell Vash that. Everything had to be Vash’s decision, or else it wouldn’t feel right. 

Sighing, Vash shrugged. “No. But he’s never going to go along with what I want,” he said, gently covering the scar with his hand. “I want to work on things and fix whatever’s broken. The problem is that Nai doesn’t think anything is broken… except for me. “

“You’re not broken,” Wolfwood promised, pressing a kiss to the back of his head. 

Vash nodded, closing his eyes. “I know.” His voice was quiet, as if he was only just now accepting this fact himself. “The fact that he went to your work to bribe you and then threaten you to stay away from me… I can’t fix that.” 

“It’s your choice,” Wolfwood told him, tightening his hold. “I’ll support you either way.” 

Vash leaned his head back so he could smile at Wolfwood. “I know. I trust you.” 

“We’ll figure it all out.”

“Together?” Vash asked, glad that he didn’t have to do it alone. 

“Of course,” Wolfwood told him, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. 

Chapter Text

Despite the strange start to the week, everything else went by surprisingly smooth. Vash kept checking his email or phone messages, but there was nothing else from Nai. There were no more surprise visits. There was nothing. 

A large part of Vash relaxed, feeling like he could finally take in a breath of air. Another part of Vash kept waiting for something to go wrong, kept waiting for Nai to make another appearance. That was, after all, his brother’s M.O., let things quiet and wait for the dust to settle, before rushing in to cause a problem, while also acting like the only solution. 

Now that Vash’s eyes had been opened to the way that Nai did things, he couldn’t really understand how he ignored it for so long. He started to wonder if it was something that Rem had noticed, he wondered if it was why, even though it terrified her, she always stayed patient and encouraged Vash to drive or do things for himself. 

By Saturday, Vash kept looking towards the front door any time he heard a sound in the hallway. By the third time, Wolfwood sighed, wrapping his arms around Vash to help distract him. 

“I was going to suggest that we have that date night inside so you could have a glass of wine and relax, but I think you actually need to get out of this apartment.” 

Vash turned his head to look back at Wolfwood, confused at the comment. “What? I’m relaxed.” He furrowed his brows, genuinely confused about what Wolfwood meant. 

“Angel, you’re not relaxed,” Wolfwood started, hoping to ease him into what he was about to say. “If you have to look at the door from every sound you hear, you’re not relaxing.” 

The blond’s mouth formed a perfect ‘o’, as if it never occurred to him that he wasn’t actually relaxing. “But we’re here, on the couch. And now you’re cuddling me. It’s great,” he tried, forcing a smile. 

“You wanted a date, right?” Wolfwood tried again, hoping that he wouldn’t have to actually call Vash out. “Let’s get out and do something. We’ll pick a spot where there are no dogs, no brothers, just us having a nice time.” 

Pouting, Vash played with a string on his sleep shorts. “I’m having a nice time,” he muttered. 

Wolfwood suppressed a sigh, deciding that he would have to try a new tactic. “Fine. Maybe I’m bored? I think it would be nice to try something fun and different.” 

“Well, what do you want to do? And the bookstore is out. So is the movie theater. Cause we’ve already done those,” Vash challenged, figuring the planning could fall on Wolfwood’s shoulders. 

Thinking for a moment, Wolfwood closed his eyes, trying to come up with something different enough that it would pull Vash out of whatever funk he was in. “We… can go do karaoke,” he said, the words nearly dying in his mouth as he said them. 

Vash stared at the man for a moment, before cracking up and laughing. “You, Nicholas D. Wolfwood, want to do karaoke?” Vash asked, grinning. 

“Yes,” Wolfwood said, the word coming out between grit teeth. “I would love to go do karaoke with you.” 

“You’re so full of shit,” Vash told him, wiping at the tears that started to fall from laughing so hard. “And we’re not doing karaoke. But I’m saving that for a day with the girls and Livio.” 

Wolfwood exhaled a sigh of relief. “I don’t know why I said that, I hate singing along to things.”

“That’s why I knew you were so full of shit,” the blond said, laughing still. “You only sometimes hum to stuff on the radio. Oh, but we’re doing that one day. You’ve dug your grave, you gotta deal with it.” 

“You know, you could at least help plan this date, Blondie.” Wolfwood rolled his eyes, releasing his hold on the blond. 

“Oo. A nickname that isn’t Angel or babe. Now I know I’m in trouble,” Vash teased, turning around so he could properly look at Wolfwood. 

Wolfwood leaned in to press a kiss to Vash’s lips, before pulling back to flick his nose. “You know I’m just doing this to help. And I want to spend time with you.” 

Waving off Wolfwood’s hand again so his nose wasn’t flicked anymore, Vash smiled at him. “Yeah. I know,” he said, looking at Wolfwood with fondness in his eyes. “Why don’t we just get ready and get coffee to start. I know a shop that won’t immediately try to kick us out for having Knives.” 

“And then we’ll figure it out from there?” Wolfwood asked, smiling. 

“You got it!” Vash said, giving him a thumbs up. “Thank god I’m here to make all of the important plans.” 

“Alright, now you’re just testing your luck.” Despite his words, Wolfwood smiled softly, leaning in to kiss Vash again.

Vash smiled into the kiss, relaxing a little more. “We should probably start getting ready,” he mumbled, lips brushing against Wolfwood’s own. “Or I’ll just want to move to the bed.” 

Wolfwood hummed, considering. “I mean, there’s no rule that we can’t mess around before going on our date?”

Vash considered it a moment, before sighing. “Another day?” He asked, smiling brightly. 

Chuckling, Wolfwood carefully moved Vash so he could stand up. “It’s a date,” he teased, giving the blond a wink. 

“Oh! My heart!” Vash said, covering his heart with his hand and falling back on the couch. 

“Nerd,” Wolfwood called, heading to the bathroom so he could shower, leaving a laughing Vash on the couch. 

The two got ready in tandem, Vash showering while Wolfwood shaved, much to Vash’s displeasure. Once they were both ready, Wolfwood put the vest on Knives for Vash, before handing him the leash. 

“Such a gentleman,” Vash teased, standing up once he had his shoes on. 

“It happens sometimes,” Wolfwood told him, opening the door to the apartment. “I assume we’re driving to the cafe?” 

Vash closed the door behind him, locking it with his own key. “Probably a good idea. I could walk it, no problem, but if we’re planning other things along with coming home? I’d rather be safe.”

“That’s what I thought. But I was going to leave it up to you.” 

“And that’s why I love you,” Vash said, grinning at him as they both made their way down the stairs. 

“We probably want to look into getting our own car soon. But I doubt Livio is going to complain about borrowing Angelina longer.”

“Gosh, renting an apartment together and now financing a car? This is all really sudden,” Vash joked to avoid the feelings of guilt that had begun crawling up the back of his throat. 

Wolfwood paused at the door leading out from the lobby onto the street. “I mean. I guess, technically, it kind of is,” Wolfwood said, realizing exactly what he’d said. “Holy shit. Am I the one moving too fast?”

Vash moved closer to him, placing his hand on Wolfwood’s arm. “No! I like it!” He promised, crowding into Wolfwood’s space. “I just feel like I’m taking up too much space?” The words came out before he really had a chance to give them any thought, though he figured that was a better option. 

“So?” It wasn’t that Wolfwood genuinely thought Vash was taking up too much space, but even if the blond was, he didn’t understand why that would be such a bad thing. “I like having you around. I really like waking up next to you.” 

Biting his bottom lip, Vash took in a steadying breath, realizing he had opened a can of worms. “You didn’t even want a boyfriend. Now you have a live-in boyfriend. Within a month. That’s insane, right?” 

“Vash, I get your concerns, but I really think you’re overthinking things right now,” Wolfwood said, gently guiding him to the side so they weren’t blocking the entrance. “But if you really think that, I’ll help you find your own space or help you move to Meryl and Milly’s.” 

Vash frowned, deeply disliking the options that Wolfwood provided to him. “But I’m happy…” 

Sighing, Wolfwood butted his forehead against Vash’s not quite as soft as he meant to, but not as rough as he could have done. “Then be happy, Needle Noggin. And just know that if you change your mind tonight, I’ll help you go somewhere you feel comfortable.” 

“Ow,” Vash mumbled, but made no move to pull away. “I am comfortable. I’m just thinking about you.” 

“I love you, but you’re so dense,” Wolfwood said, exhaling slowly. “If I didn’t like you here, I would have talked you into staying with the girls. I would have sent you apartment listings the weekend you moved in. Have I done any of that?” 

Shaking his head, Vash looked into Wolfwood’s eyes. “You just keep trying to make me comfortable.” 

“I do things for the people I love. If Livio called right now saying he needed something, we’d be going there. Hell, if Meryl or Milly called you to say the same thing, we’d be going right over there.” 

Vash smiled softly, realizing he knew that was right, it was everything that he had seen from Wolfwood, as far back as the first time they met at the mall again. “But… I don’t know how to do the same for you.” 

“Angel, you do every day. You text or voice memo, you send pictures. Or you save them and show me when I get home from work. You tell me and show me all the time.” 

“Oh,” Vash said, realizing that Wolfwood had been right. 

“Do you still want to live with me?” While Wolfwood figured he knew the answer, he wanted to hear it directly from Vash. 

Vash nodded almost immediately. “Yes.” 

“Would it make our life easier if we had a car of our own?” He seemed to realize that his mistake was assuming that they definitely needed a four door vehicle without including Vash in the decision. 

The blond stood there a moment, considering the pros and cons. While he wanted to say that they could do without a car, he knew that there were too many factors that leaned towards it. “Yes…” 

Wolfwood pressed a kiss to Vash’s cheek. “Do you feel loved?” He asked, smiling at the blond as he waited for the answer. 

As if by magic, Vash could feel some of his worries melting away. It wasn’t that Wolfwood had actually solved every problem, but he discussed it with Vash and that was the first step. “I do.” 

Smiling, Wolfwood stepped out of Vash’s space, but offered him a hand to hold. “Good.” 

“You didn’t even let me ask it back!” Vash slapped his hand into Wolfwood’s, grinning at the sting in both of their hands.

Laughing at the move, Wolfwood tightened his hold on Vash’s hand. “Oops. Sorry.” He smiled at the blond, waiting. 

“Do you feel loved?” Vash smiled back at him, eyes wide and glittering with renewed energy. 

“I do.” Wolfwood stared back into Vash’s eyes for a moment, soaking in the happiness that was clear on his face.

“Good. Now let’s go!” Vash cheered, pulling Wolfwood out of their building to head to the car park. 

The ride to the cafe was filled with a comfortable silence, only broken by the sounds of the radio playing, or Vash giving Wolfwood directions. The short trip made Wolfwood consider what it might be like to take a road trip with Vash, somewhere far enough that they would be able to chat, between bouts of naps that he was sure Vash would end up taking. He’d never much been the type to romanticize his future, but suddenly he was finding more and more reasons to do so. 

Vash spent most of the ride smiling to himself, looking down in his lap where their fingers had intertwined. He was glad that Wolfwood had known exactly what to do and say to talk him down from the spiral that he had started at the apartment complex. There truly was no other place he could imagine himself living. 

Pulling up to the cafe, Wolfwood looked around for parking. “I’m not seeing anything close by, do you want me to drop you two off so you can get a table?” 

Vash shook his head, refusing to let go of Wolfwood’s hand. “We’re on a date, we have to go together,” he said, resolutely. 

Chuckling, Wolfwood kept driving. “Alright, Angel.” He circled around the surrounding blocks, finding a spot a couple streets over. 

“See? This is fine,” Vash told him, kissing the back of his hand before climbing out of the car to get Knives. 

“Wow. We’re on a date, but my passenger princess let himself out?” 

Vash pushed Wolfwood, no heat behind the action. “I’m excited! I had to get Knives.” 

“Right. The service dog that I was definitely planning on abandoning.” Wolfwood rolled his eyes but offered Vash his hand. 

“Oh, you think you’re so smart,” Vash teased, hooking Knives’ leash to a clip on his belt so he could take Wolfwood’s hand without any obstruction. 

“Only sometimes,” Wolfwood admitted, smiling as Vash swung their joined hands, a sign that the man was excited. 

The walk to the cafe was short and the weather was nice, the sun occasionally peeking out from behind the clouds. Vash smiled brightly as he looked towards the sky, sunglasses blocking most of the bright rays. “I’m glad you made me get out of the house.” 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood nudged him. “Again, I’m here being the smart one.” 

Vash gasped, before nudging Wolfwood back. “You’re so mean to me, Nick.” 

“I know, it really keeps me up at night.” 

Snorting, Vash held back a laugh. “No it doesn’t. I literally sleep on top of you.” 

“It was a joke, Angel,” Wolfwood told him, opening the cafe door for him and Knives. 

“Oh my god.” Vash rolled his eyes, walking into the cafe and standing in line. “I know that! I’m not totally oblivious.”

“I didn’t say that. I was just making sure.” Wolfwood looked up to the cafe menu, deciding on what he wanted. 

“I’m getting a lavender latte with oat milk,” Vash said, looking to Wolfwood to make sure he was paying attention to his order. “And a cronut.” 

“What the hell is a cronut?” 

Laughing, Vash pointed to a picture hanging on the wall. “It's a croissant made into a donut. It’s definitely not as good as a regular donut, but I’m willing to make a sacrifice here since this is where you brought us.” 

“You’re such a little shit,” Wolfwood said, wrapping his arm around Vash’s neck to put him in a soft headlock. The blond laughed, easily pushing his way out of Wolfwood’s hold. 

“We’re in public. Behave,” Vash told him, grinning at the way Wolfwood huffed. 

As they got up to the register, Wolfwood ordered his usual black coffee, with an almond croissant to eat. When the cashier went to ask for Vash’s order, Wolfwood stepped in again, ordering the lavender latte and cronut, much to Vash’s relief. 

“Did you really think I was going to leave you hanging?” Wolfwood settled him with a stare, raising his eyebrow. 

“I mean… No.” Vash smiled, taking Wolfwood’s hand again to pull him towards a table near the window. 

“Don’t you think I should stand at the pick up counter so I know when the order comes out?” 

“I have full trust in your ability to hear from here,” Vash announced, knowing that Wolfwood would be doing the hearing since he was likely to become overstimulated if he thought too hard about being in a cafe with others. 

“Your faith in me is misguided,” Wolfwood told him, pulling Vash’s chair out, but standing vigilant so he could decipher the different names. 

“Nah. You’d never let me down.” Vash settled into the chair, resting his chin in his hand, grinning up at Wolfwood. 

Wolfwood heard their name and shook his head. He ducked down, pressing a kiss to the top of Vash’s head, before hurrying to the pick up counter to take the tray that the person behind the counter helpfully provided. On his walk back, he had a perfect view of the pink in Vash’s cheeks. 

“What, Blondie?” He asked, setting the latte and croissant/donut abomination in front of Vash. 

“You’re just being so…” Vash gestured wildly, not sure what he was trying to verbalize. 

“Loving? How awful for you,” Wolfwood teased, sipping on his coffee. 

Vash lightly kicked at Wolfwood’s shin. “You are so mean to me.”

“Right, whatever you say, Sunshine.” Wolfwood pinched off an edge of his croissant and popped it into his mouth.

“Mean,” Vash concluded, picking his cronut up and taking a bite, before shimmying in his seat. “Wanna try?” He asked around a mouth full.

Laughing, Wolfwood shook his head. “I’m okay, Angel.” He knew that Vash was enjoying the food, but appreciated the offer. “Want to try the almond croissant?”

“Mm,” he considered it, taking a sip of his latte. “No, thanks.”

“Your loss,” Wolfwood teased, sipping on his coffee. 

“I think you should try my drink,” Vash said, pushing it towards Wolfwood. “I know you don’t like sweet coffee, but it’s different.”

Wolfwood hummed, looking at the drink. “I will take one small sip,” he said, smiling as Vash danced in his seat. “I hope you understand the sacrifice I’m making.”

Vash lifted his hand to his forehead in a salute. “It’s much appreciated,” he said, voice comically serious. 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood picked up the drink, lifting it to his lips, not quite sipping yet. Vash watched, eyes alight with joy. Smirking, Wolfwood kept the drink level with his lips, but never actually sipped. 

“Nick! You’re being so rude!” Vash crumpled up a napkin and threw it at him. 

“Okay, okay,” Wolfwood said, snickering behind the cup, before he finally took a sip. Instantly, his nose scrunched up at the floral taste combined with the espresso. 

Vash leaned back in his seat, hands over his stomach as he laughed. “Oh my god! I thought you were going to spit it out,” he cried between bouts of laughter. 

“Why the hell do you even like this?” Wolfwood gruffly asked, angrily sliding the cup towards Vash again. “You’re so weird.”

“Well, this weirdo sleeps in your bed at night. So, who’s the real weirdo?” Vash asked, cheeks hurting from how hard he was smiling. 

“Oh, that doesn’t make me a weirdo. That makes me an idiot.”

“Fools fall in love, baby!” Vash made a finger gun with his right hand and winked. 

“Well,” Wolfwood said, leaning over the table so he could get closer to Vash. “I guess I can’t help falling in love with you,” he said, reaching forward to cup Vash’s cheek with a smirk.

The blond flailed, cheeks heating up again. “Holy crap! That was so smooth.”

“Look at how nice I am even though you tried to poison me. I’m a fucking saint,” Wolfwood teased, leaning back again so he could cross his arms. 

“Truly the saintliest of saints.” Vash chuckled, reaching his left leg out to hook his ankle with Wolfwood’s under the table. 

“Are you trying to play footsie?” Wolfwood asked, looking under the table.

Grinning, Vash ran his foot up the calf of Wolfwood’s leg. “I think I’m successfully playing footsie.” 

Now it was Wolfwood’s turn to blush as he turned his face towards the window, looking out. Giggling, Vash slid his foot back down to tap the top of Wolfwood’s foot. 

“I can’t believe playing footsie is what made you blush,” Vash teased, finally pulling his foot back. “We’ve definitely done more scandalous things.”

“Needle Noggin, if you don’t shut the hell up,” Wolfwood warned, grabbing his coffee to distract himself.

“Oo. This should be good,” Vash teased, settling his chin on his hand as he waited for a response. “Whatcha gonna do to me?”

Glancing over out of the side of his eye, Wolfwood smirked. “Take you home and shut you up myself.” 

Vash flushed, his full body heating up at the words, all bravado from before dying on his tongue. “Oh?” He asked, grasping for his drink to take a sip, hoping to quench the dryness in his mouth. 

“Oh?” Wolfwood mocked, turning to face Vash with a grin. “Now I have your attention?”

Puffing out his cheeks, Vash tried to bring his energy back to match Wolfwood’s. “Never said you lost it, Love.” 

“So that’s a no on going home to do more scandalous things?” Wolfwood raised an eyebrow. 

Pressing his lips together, Vash turned to look away, eyes focused on the menu. “I never said no.” 

Smiling, Wolfwood nodded. “Whenever you’re ready, Angel.” 

Vash stood up quickly, gathering their plates and drinking the last of his latte. “Ready.” 

Wolfwood pushed back from the table, laughing. “Eager, I see,” he teased, picking the plates up so he could return them to the dirty dish pile. 

“Yeah. So what if I am?” Vash challenged him, taking his hand as they headed out of the cafe into the sun. 

“Nothing. Just happy to see you like this.” Wolfwood brought their hands up to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of Vash’s knuckles. 

“What can I say? You make me happy or something.” 

Wolfwood scoffed, unable to stop himself. “Or something,” he teased.

“Oh my god! Just take me home already,” Vash demanded, tugging him along faster towards the car. 

Wolfwood chuckled, letting the blond lead the way back to the car. He had meant to move their date along to another location, but when the teasing ended up with both of them flustered, he couldn’t really find a reason not to take Vash back home. They were getting their minds off of things either way, which had always been the goal after all.

Chapter Text

The next week seemed to pass in silence, more quiet filling the apartment as they appeared to go about their days without any more news from Nai. But every day felt like Vash was waiting for the other shoe to drop, as if one day Nai was going to pop out of the woodwork to hurt him, again. So, he decided to beat him to the chase, despite knowing that it wouldn’t end well. 

Nervously, Vash ran his fingers through his hair. He knew that he was about to do something stupid, but it was his choice to make. The blond paced on the street, Knives following him, occasionally trying to paw at his leg to get him to stop. 

He had called three Ubers. Each one drove up, saw Knives and left as soon as they could. All of his nervous energy was bubbling into overstimulation which was coming out as anger. By the time he tried another ride share service that promptly canceled the ride, he was done. 

“Knives, I’m sorry, buddy,” Vash explained, heading back into the apartment building. “Today is not our day. I’m going to have to leave you at home.” 

The service dog turned in front of Vash, sitting down in his path, as if to stop him. The blond whistled, knowing Knives’ training would kick in, causing the dog to go back up the stairs with him to the apartment. 

“I’m sorry. You have Kuro, she’ll keep you company,” Vash promised, taking off the service dog vest and rubbing the dog's fur. “I’ll see you in a little bit.” 

With the final goodbye, Vash closed the door, locking it again, before making his way back downstairs. He breathed in slowly, trying to catch his breath from how fast his nerves were making him move. As he caught his breath, Vash pulled the ride share app out again, calling for a new ride. 

Within a few minutes, a gray sedan pulled to the curb, waving at Vash. Already feeling antsy, Vash climbed into the back and simply said his name and the address of where he was heading. Picking up on the vibe, the driver turned the music up, before heading out to the address. 

Vash hated being potentially rude to drivers, but his day had not been going the way he needed it to, which was just typical. So many problems had occurred, he was sure that the day was cursed. He supposed that would have been fitting considering what he was about to do. 

In too short of a time, the driver pulled into the parking lot that Vash was all too familiar with by now. Reluctantly, Vash spoke to direct the driver around the lot to which building he needed to be dropped off at.  Climbing out of the car, Vash managed a weak smile and a ‘thank you’, before closing the door and making his way to his destination. 

Standing in front of the apartment door, Vash shifted his weight to his left leg, wondering if he should knock or just let himself in. After a moment of thinking, Vash raised his right hand to knock on the door. However, as if his twin could sense his presence, Nai swung the door open, a look of confusion combined with satisfaction on his face. 

“Vash,” Nai greeted, giving him a little smile that was only ever shared with Vash. 

Vash changed the fist of his right hand into an open wave. “Hey, Nai. Could we talk?” 

Nai stepped aside, allowing room for Vash to enter, his eyes cast down as if to greet Knives, before realizing the dog wasn’t there. “You came alone?” He asked, brows furrowed with concern. 

Stepping into the apartment, Vash inhaled deeply, realizing just how much he missed the scents of home. “Ableism,” was all Vash said, offering him a shrug. His fingers itched to trace over the different objects, to feel their familiar surfaces, but he closed his hand into a fist; he wasn’t here for nostalgia. 

“You should have called. I would have come to get you,” Nai reminded him, only an edge of admonishment lingering in his voice. “Would you like to sit?” He felt strange offering his own brother a seat in the apartment that they had once shared, but he knew that Vash would never make the move himself. 

Taking one more breath, Vash sighed slowly. “It’s probably better if I stand,” he said, eyes not quite meeting Nai’s, settling instead on the beauty mark under his right eye. “I figured it was better to do this in person.” He could feel the nerves beginning to take over, the anxiety clawing his heart to shreds. 

“Do what?” Nai asked, arms crossing over his chest. “You traveled here for a reason. Just tell me. We’re too old for games, Vash.” 

Forcing himself to raise his eyes to meet Nai’s, Vash steeled himself for whatever response he might receive. Taking another breath, Vash spoke, “Until you seek some sort of counseling or actually consider what you’ve done, I can’t see you again.” Once the words were out, Vash snapped his mouth shut with an audible click, nearly biting his tongue in the process. 

Nai stared at the blond for a moment, several emotions clearly crossing his face: passiveness morphed to devastation morphed to fury morphed back to a cold exterior, the mask. “Is that so?” He asked, voice like ice formed over the river, thin and deadly. 

Giving one sharp nod, Vash settled his own face into something that looked more like determination, but felt as cold as anything Nai had given. “Yes,” he said, enunciating the word. “I’ve done a lot on my part. You never saw anyone after the accident, after Rem… You’re hurting, whether you know it or not.” 

“You don’t even know what you’re feeling most days, Vash,” Nai goaded, laughing humorlessly. “What makes you so qualified to speak on how I feel?”

Clenching his fist, Vash tried not to let Nai get to him the way that he had dozens of times before. “Because I think it through in therapy. Maybe I’m bad at showing my emotions in the moment, but I do know what I’m feeling, or I at least figure it out.” 

“Well, congratulations to you, baby brother.” Smiling, sharp like shattered glass, Nai unfurled his arms, allowing his chest to be open. “But that doesn’t mean you know anything about my feelings. If you had even an ounce of care for me, you wouldn’t have left the way you did. Did you consider that when you thought of your little speech?” 

Lips pressed together, Vash nodded. “We hurt each other. You hurt me, so I hurt you back,” he explained, having figured it out already. “I’m still hurting you, I know that. And I’m sorry. But I have to do what’s best for me. At least for now.” 

Nai stood quietly, letting Vash get his words out. “What’s best for you? So, let me understand, then. You think that leaving your only living family member behind is ‘what’s best for you’?” He let out a sharp bark of a laugh. “Please, all you’ve done for years is what’s best for you.” 

Breathing slowly, Vash tried to ignore what Nai said, knowing that he was doing what he could to rile him up, make him seem insane. “I was healing. Literally,” Vash said, knowing that was the truth. “Are you angry that I’m better? Or are you angry that I’m better without you?” 

Vash hadn’t meant to press at Nai’s buttons more than he had been, he hadn’t even said it in an upset tone. Vash was genuinely curious about what Nai was thinking and meaning. Unfortunately, Nai did not agree with the curious tone.

“I sacrificed everything for you, Vash! I had job offers across the country, across oceans ,” Nai snarled, the calm exterior shattered to reveal the anger. “All because my pathetic baby brother couldn’t even drive himself home right. God, do you know how pathetic this is? You still can’t even manage one simple thing! And now you’re going to have a ridiculous panic attack about it and you didn’t even bring the service dog that I worked so hard to get you.” 

Vash hadn’t realized just how close to a panic attack he was until Nai started pointing it out. Somewhere in the argument, the fight or flight had been turned on, but instead the freeze option had him frozen in front of Nai, heart beating right out of his chest. 

Rolling his eyes, Nai stalked his way past Vash, going to a kitchen drawer where he had a backup stash of Vash’s Xanax. “Here you are, coming to hurt me by leaving me alone, but I have to save you once again. This is pathetic, Vash.” He took hold of Vash’s cheeks, parting them like one would a stubborn dog, before popping the pill into the back of his mouth. 

Without meaning to, Vash gagged on the pill as it went down his throat dry. His body was put back into motion as he hurried to the kitchen to fill a glass of water, swallowing it down in quick gulps. Tears streamed down his face, some mixture of the pain from the dry pill combined with the ache in his chest. 

“Dramatic,” Nai said, shaking his head. “Do you understand why you need me? You can’t even think to keep your medicine on you. I have to keep spares on hand.” 

Vash threw the glass into the sink, not even flinching as he heard the glass shatter. He spun to face Nai, anxiety and overstimulation quickly regaining their steam and turning into fury. “You mean the medicine that you never let me take by myself?!” The scream nearly hurt his own ears, so he could only imagine what it sounded like to Nai or the neighbors. 

“Because you can’t be trusted ,” Nai said, shrugging his shoulders as if all of this was obvious. “God, you don’t even remember what it was like right after you came home.” He shook his head, a haunted look crossing his face as he thought back to the first few months. “You weren’t even my brother.” Emotions bled through for the first time, something that Nai had kept locked away seemingly showing itself. 

“What the hell does that mean?” Vash knew things were difficult when he first came home, but he genuinely had no idea what Nai was trying to say. 

“I couldn’t leave you alone. As in, I physically couldn’t leave you by yourself,” Nai said, pain bleeding into his expression. “You wouldn’t even let me take a break to shower, even if Meryl sat with you. You weren’t even thinking straight. It’s why I had to make you go to therapy.” 

Vash shook his head, not understanding what Nai was saying. The first few months had been blurry, he knew that, but he couldn’t fathom being some shell that cried when his brother left him; though, a small part of him could. “Why are you saying that? What are you saying?” 

Nai stepped closer to him, leaning into his space. “I’m saying that you would have withered away like a useless husk if I had abandoned you the way that you’re leaving me. But some of us are stronger. So don’t worry, Vash, little brother, I’ll live.” The cold exterior seemed to instantly reform around the pain and heartache that had shown itself for a single moment. 

“I can’t even trust what you say!” Vash screamed, pushing Nai away from him, his hands landing on a solid chest that refused to budge. 

“You always hated facing the truth,” Nai said, almost sympathetic. “That’s why you hide behind this childish facade, it just makes your life easier. But fine. Go live your charming life with your little boyfriend, up until he tires of your little tantrums. I’ll still be here when you return.” 

Hand trembling, head swimming in confusion, Vash turned, marching towards the front door as he swung it open. He left the apartment in a daze, not even bothering to close the door behind him. He walked around the parking lot, exited the complex entirely, walked until he was so exhausted he had to sit. 

Once Vash sat, however, his body seemed to catch up to the emotions that were warring in his mind. Tears fell in earnest as he gasped deep, hiccuping breaths, trying to compose himself, but not being able to. He didn’t know how long he sat on the ground, but nothing mattered in the moment. 

Eventually, Meryl pulled up in her van, sighing as she saw him. “Oh, Vash,” she whispered, looking him over before getting out and crouching in front of him. “Hi, honey.” 

Vash didn’t respond, exhaustion making it too difficult to question how Meryl found him or why she was crouched in front of him. He didn’t really hear her words from there, simply followed the motions of her getting him off of the ground and into the van. He didn’t notice as she grabbed her phone to send a text. 

MS: I got him. Thanks for calling, Nai.

She didn’t bother waiting for a return text, knowing that Nai wouldn’t bother acknowledging a text like that since it served him no further purpose. Meryl had just been settling in for dinner when Nai called her to let her know that Vash had come on his own and then wandered away. While she wasn’t a fan of his, she knew that he would always do whatever it took to make sure Vash was safe in the end, so he called the only person that Vash would easily move for. 

As they drove, Meryl offered him water bottles, knowing that he was bound to be dehydrated. Vash accepted them without question, guzzling the first bottle in record time. The closer they were to the apartment, Vash seemed to come back to himself. 

“Thank you for finding me,” Vash whispered, wiping at his face with the condensation that was left over from the latest bottle of water. 

Meryl bit her lip, knowing that Vash would distrust her if she mentioned that Nai had told her where to find him, that she assumed the other twin had followed Vash to be sure he was safe. “Yeah. It’s no problem. We just got lucky.” She forced out a weak laugh. 

Vash nodded, not thinking too much into what she said. It wasn’t the first time she had found him, it probably wouldn’t be the last time either. “Wolfwood’s going to be so mad.” He said it with such a monotone voice, Meryl nearly had to do a double take. 

“No. I’m sure he’ll understand,” she encouraged him, not really sure if Wolfwood even knew where Vash had gone. “Do you need me to go in?” She asked as they pulled up to the apartment building. 

Looking up, Vash sighed, before shaking his head. “I started this. I have to finish it,” he mumbled, with lower energy than he anticipated. 

“It’s going to be fine! And if you do need me, just call me,” she told him, smiling brightly. “I’ll be back in a flash!” 

He turned to her, giving her a weak smile. “Thank you, Meryl. Love you.” 

“Love you, too,” Meryl told him, watching as he slowly hopped out of the van and limped his way into the apartment building. 

Earlier in the evening, when Wolfwood had arrived home from work, he knew something wasn’t right. As he entered the apartment, Kuroneko and Knives had both come to greet him. This wouldn’t have been that out of the ordinary, except that when he called out a hello to Vash, he didn’t receive any answer in return. 

Concerned, Wolfwood had slowly made his way throughout the apartment, checking behind the couch and the bed, anywhere that he thought Vash might have fallen behind and might be lying unconscious. To his disappointment, Vash was nowhere to be seen. Wolfwood didn’t know where the man had gone, but he knew that it wasn’t anywhere good if he left Knives and went alone. 

Worry had grown as an hour turned into two. Wolfwood sat on the balcony, the door wide open so he’d be ready to greet Vash at any moment. He ran through the rest of a pack of cigarettes, before he even realized it. 

As Wolfwood was stubbing out the last of the filters, he heard the key in the apartment door. He stood, quickly crossing the living room to meet Vash at the door. “Where have you-” The question died on his lips as he took in the disheveled appearance of Vash, as well as the tear stained cheeks. “Are you okay?” 

Sighing, Vash rolled his shoulders back, wishing he hadn’t worn the prosthetic arm, the extra weight causing more pain to his body. “I don’t want to talk about it.” His voice was dull, more so than when he came out of any of his meltdowns. 

Wolfwood was always willing to respect Vash’s boundaries, but he felt like he deserved at least the bare minimum explanation. “Vash, I came home and you were gone. But Knives was here. I know you weren’t with Meryl because otherwise you would have told me. So what were you doing?” 

The dull edge to Vash’s voice seemed to sharpen. “I thought I was an adult? I thought I could do what I wanted?” He asked, daring Wolfwood to fight him. It wasn’t really that he wanted to fight with Wolfwood, but his mouth seemed to move faster than his brain could at the moment. 

Wolfwood’s brows knit together as he physically took a step back, not understanding why Vash was hitting so hard out of the gate. “You are an adult,” he reiterated, feeling cautious. “And you can do what you want. But I was concerned.” 

Vash threw his right arm up, too tired to bother with the prosthetic. “Everyone is just so concerned about me all of a sudden. I’m fine .” He fiddled with his outfit, trying to get the shirt off so he could also remove the prosthetic, before quickly giving up. 

Pressing his lips together, Wolfwood nodded to himself. He hadn’t been looking for a fight, but if that was what Vash was angling for, he wasn’t going to take it lying down. “You can do whatever you want, Vash. But that does not mean you’re free of all consequences. And right now, the consequence is that your boyfriend was worried like hell over where you were.”

“Well, I was with Nai, okay. But you knew that. I know you did!” 

Wolfwood threw his hands up, confused but feeling the flames grow. “How could I have known that, Vash? I had no note, no clue about where you could have gone! Just Knives here.” 

“So, do I have to call you when I go out with a friend, too?” Vash asked, storming his way past Wolfwood so he could go to the bedroom. 

Wolfwood followed him, unperturbed as the blond yanked his own shirt off, seemingly trying to get the prosthetic off his arm. “You know damn well this isn’t the same. You get like this when you see your brother. So, yeah, I kind of would have appreciated some sort of heads up.” 

“Am I not allowed to have emotions now? I can’t be happy and Sunshine and Angelic all the time, Wolfwood.” Vash struggled to unhook the prosthetic arm, growing more and more impatient as the time went on. 

“That’s not fair, and you know it. Those nicknames are for fun. I don’t expect you to be any of those,” Wolfwood said, moving closer. “Will you just let me help?”

“I can do it!” Vash yelled, eventually undoing the arm and tossing it onto the bed. “I don’t need you! I can do things on my own.” 

Wolfwood put his hands up and backed away, nodding solemnly. “Okay,” he said, voice quiet as he stood in the doorway. “I was just worried.” 

“Well, you don’t have to be. I was with my brother ,” Vash said, not meeting Wolfwood’s eyes. “No different than when you saw him.” 

Shaking his head slowly, Wolfwood let out a humorless chuckle. “Except I didn’t have a choice and you still got upset with me. This was all your choice, Vash. You went to see Nai alone . Which is fine. You can do that. But now you’re mad at me for asking what happened.” He kept his tone even, not wanting to yell back at Vash. 

“Because you don’t have to ask. Not everyone has to worry about me all the damn time.” Vash slumped onto the edge of the bed, chest heaving. 

“I don’t want to fight. I never wanted to,” Wolfwood told him, his own chest aching in a way that it felt like it may crack open. “But I hope you can learn that there’s a difference between someone genuinely caring about you and being concerned for your well being, compared to someone that just wants you under their thumb.”

Vash didn’t say anything, his eyes staring focused on the ground in front of him, fresh tears welling in his eyes. He didn’t even understand why he started the fight with Wolfwood, it was pointless and just hurt them both. 

“I’m not punishing you, but I am sleeping on the couch tonight,” Wolfwood explained, feeling something catch in his throat. “I think we just need to cool down.” Without waiting for a response, Wolfwood turned and made his way back to the living room where he slumped onto the couch with a heavy sigh. 

As if all of his emotions from the fight caught up with him, Vash took in a stuttering breath. He brought his hand up to his chest, pressing hard over where his heart resided. He hated himself for starting any fight with Wolfwood, especially when the man wasn’t doing anything to earn it. 

He didn’t understand why he spoke so cruelly. With a startling thought, Vash realized he had more in common with Nai than he ever had before. The thought was sobering, killing off the last of the anger and hatred that he might have been harboring. 

He didn’t like who he was being, he didn’t want to hurt the people around him. He didn’t want to end up alone and bitter, the way that Nai seemed to be. 

Leaning over until his chest could press against his knees, Vash cried silently, letting everything hit him at once. 

Wolfwood, hearing Vash start to cry, had to lean back on the couch with his eyes closed to stop himself from going to comfort the other man. He genuinely wasn’t trying to punish him, but he knew that they needed to process their emotions more before they said something they would really end up regretting. 

He tried desperately not to think back too deeply, to catch onto the most hurtful words that were said, but he was only human. Forgiveness was never really a question, because he already forgave Vash, knowing that the blond was just stressed, but forgetting was harder. 

Leaning back against the couch, Wolfwood felt the tears stream out of the side of his eyes, silent. 

Chapter Text

Neither Vash nor Wolfwood was able to sleep after the night that they had endured. Vash sat up on the bed, unable to find the energy to fully undress or take off his prosthetic leg. Wolfwood eventually moved to lie down on the couch, but his eyes stayed open, staring at the ceiling. 

Vash had felt the tears dry up long ago, his eyes no longer able to produce them. He knew he was wrong. He knew he shouldn’t have taken it out on Wolfwood. He didn’t understand why he lashed out like that when he knew Wolfwood was only concerned and trying to help. 

He wanted to blame it all on Nai, say that his brother had pressed too many buttons and left him raw, skin buzzing like a livewire. But in the end, he knew it was all on him. He went to Nai’s alone. He came home and started the fight. It was all his fault. 

He knew it would be on him to make things right with Wolfwood, to apologize, to explain why he went to see Nai. But knowing what he had to do and actually following through were two very different beasts. Vash fell back onto the bed, trying to think of the best way to talk to Wolfwood. 

For his part, Wolfwood stayed on the couch, barely moving once he had lain down. A large part of him wanted to go back to the bedroom, sit down next to Vash and make the blond talk about everything. But he knew that wasn’t the way to go about things with Vash, he knew it would likely only end up with the blond either shutting down completely or firing him up again. 

Sighing, Wolfwood tucked his arm behind his head as he tried to find a way to get comfortable; the throw pillow that lived on the couch wasn’t really meant for sleeping. Deciding that the pillow was a lost cause, Wolfwood grabbed it and threw it at the end of the couch. He was reaching the part of the night where he was so tired, but also so keyed up that he was restless, legs constantly moving as his body tried to get comfortable. 

Looking at the digital clock that Wolfwood had on his bedside table, Vash sighed as he realized it was 2am. There was no hope of sleep for him, especially while he was alone. He didn’t know when it happened, but he had grown so accustomed to sleeping next to Wolfwood that even naps to fight off oncoming migraines were nearly useless. 

Sitting back up on the side of the bed, Vash chewed on his lip. He couldn’t tell from the sounds of the apartment if Wolfwood was awake or not, but he decided in that moment he didn’t really care, he just needed to be close to the man. Standing up, Vash slowly made his way to the living room. 

Hearing the movement from the bedroom, Wolfwood closed his eyes quickly, unsure of what Vash was doing. It was possible he was making a quick bathroom trip or going to the kitchen so he could take one of his pills. What he didn’t anticipate was Vash gently lifting his head and settling it in his lap as he sat down on the couch. 

Vash still had no idea how he could make things up to Wolfwood, but they had always done well with showing their feelings through touch, so he figured it couldn’t hurt to try. As he settled Wolfwood into his lap, he could tell the man was awake from how he settled in. Softly, Vash traced along the bridge of Wolfwood’s nose, noting the crooked spot where he was sure the man had broken it once. Next, he lightly traced his way up to Wolfwood’s brow bone, fingers gently resting over the fresh scar from when his elbow connected with the skin. 

Realizing how much harm he had done to Wolfwood, something in Vash’s chest seemed to break. More silent tears seemed to stream down his face, a few dripping onto Wolfwood’s forehead, causing the man to open his eyes. Frowning, Wolfwood lifted his hand up to cup Vash’s cheek. 

Vash leaned into the touch, moving his hand to capture Wolfwood’s wrist so he could keep it there, while also feeling the pulse rush under the man’s skin. Sniffling, Vash swallowed back any more tears, knowing that he didn’t have a right to cry over things that he had caused. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his hoarse voice sounding like a bomb in the silent night. 

Wolfwood started to answer, but was cut off by Vash shaking his head. “Don’t say it back. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Vash told him, turning his head to press a gentle kiss to the palm of Wolfwood’s hand. “I said awful things. And you didn’t deserve any of it, Nicholas. I’m really sorry for hurting you.” 

Nodding, Wolfwood looked up into cerulean eyes that still threatened to spill more tears. “I forgave you hours ago, Vash.” He didn’t know what else to say, but he knew the blond needed to hear that his apology was accepted. 

Pressing more kisses to Wolfwood’s palm, Vash nodded. “You mean the world to me,” he whispered, thumb gently rubbing over Wolfwood’s pulse point. “And I do need you. I should have never said that.” 

“Angel, I don’t want you to need me,” Wolfwood told him, voice gentle. “It’s not about need. We’re partners , that means we do things together .” He didn’t necessarily want to spell everything out like that, but he figured it couldn’t hurt to help Vash understand. 

Vash’s lower lip started to tremble, so he sucked it between his teeth, chewing as he thought. “I should have told you what I was doing. I know you wouldn’t have stopped me. I don’t… I don’t know why I do things alone.” 

“Can I give you my opinion?” Wolfwood asked, moving his hand so he could clasp their hands together. After a moment of consideration, Vash nodded, giving him permission. “I think you’re so caught up trying to prove that you can do things on your own, that you forget you don’t always have to. You’re allowed to ask for help and you’re allowed to make your own choices. I wouldn’t have stopped you from seeing Nai, but I would have preferred to be in the loop. Not because I’m trying to control you, but because I worry. I’m always going to worry. I love you, Vash, so worrying about you is going to come naturally to me.” 

He closed his eyes while Wolfwood spoke, knowing that the man was right about everything he said. There had been too long a time where Vash couldn’t do anything on his own, then he was given a short leash by his brother, but now he was out, able to do whatever he wantedl and somewhere along the way he forgot that he didn’t have to do things alone. “I’ve gotten better about asking for help with physical things, but I think it might take a little more time when emotional things are involved.” 

“And that’s okay, Vash,” Wolfwood told him, moving to sit up so he could wrap his arms around the blond. “Do you think it would be helpful if we had some sort of safeword for when you’re trying to process your emotions?” 

Vash furrowed his brows, confused by the question. “Like with sex?” He asked, genuinely unsure of how that would work.

Wolfwood took in a breath, gathering his own thoughts. “I guess, red means you can’t talk about things because you’re ready to explode and you don’t want to take it out on me?” 

Understanding coming to him, Vash nodded slowly. “So… yellow could mean, give me a second to process?” 

Wolfwood gave him a soft smile, pressing a kiss to his head. “Yeah. And green can be that everything is fine, you’re just having feelings that are overwhelming.” 

Sitting quietly in Wolfwood’s arms, Vash hummed to himself, trying to commit the system to his memory. It made sense for them, because oftentimes he just needed to think for a moment, but Wolfwood was so loving and he just wanted to fix everything, now they would both know what was needed. “That’s really smart.” 

Moving his hand up, Wolfwood ruffled the blond hair. “It happens sometimes,” he said, smiling softly. 

Vash moved his head so that he could properly look at Wolfwood, eyes scanning over the man’s face, committing it to his memory. “I really love you, Nick,” he said, feeling himself choke up a little. “I don’t want to push you away.”

“Hey,” Wolfwood said, gently cupping Vash’s face in his hands so he could press a soft kiss to his lips. “I’m not going anywhere. I love you, Vash, and you can’t get rid of me that easily.” 

Wrapping his arm around Wolfwood, Vash pulled him close, practically into his lap. “Are we okay?” He asked, wanting to be sure that Wolfwood thought they were. “Should I add anything to my apology?” 

Kissing Vash’s temple, Wolfwood smiled. “We’re okay, Angel,” he promised, rubbing Vash’s back. “No, but I have a question for you?”

Feeling a little nervous, Vash tightened his grip on Wolfwood’s shirt. “What is it?”

“Do you not like my nicknames for you? Because I can stop if you don’t.” Calling Vash by a pet name had been nearly ingrained in him, but Wolfwood would make the effort if the blond hated it. 

Pulling back so he could settle a serious look at Wolfwood, Vash spoke sternly. “I am Angel and baby and Sunshine. I was being mean and I don’t know why I said it. I love your pet names.” 

Chuckling, Wolfwood leaned in to press another kiss to Vash’s lips. “You can be my Angel Sunshine Baby.” 

Vash’s lips cracked into a smile, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “That might be a little overkill, my Love.” 

Wolfwood raised an eyebrow. “That was new.” 

“I always call you Love,” Vash told him, a little confused. 

“You said ‘my Love’,” Wolfwood explained, grinning. 

Blushing, Vash shrugged his shoulders. “Well… It’s accurate.” He leaned forward to press his forehead against Wolfwood’s shoulder. “You’re the only person that I’ve loved like this.” 

Tracing his fingertips along Vash’s spine, Wolfwood smiled. “I think you might be the only person I will love like this,” he admitted, knowing that it wasn’t something they really said; though they implied it multiple times. 

“Oh, jeez. You made it really heavy,” Vash teased, pressing a kiss to Wolfwood’s fabric covered shoulder. 

“Just proving I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me, Saverem.” Wolfwood laughed as Vash sat up so he could lightly punch the man’s bicep. 

“Don’t call me by my last name,” Vash told him, laughing as he said it. 

Wolfwood leaned back in to press a kiss to Vash’s beauty mark. “You’d be fine if it was Wolfwood,” he teased, knowing that it would rile Vash up. 

“Oh my god! You joke about being married a few times,” the blond said, blushing. “And who says I’d take your name?”

“Well, no one has to take either name,” Wolfwood pointed out, shrugging lightly. 

“No, I’m taking your name,” Vash decided, knowing that he always had this option in mind. “I’ll move Saverem to my middle name.”

“So, you’ve thought about it a little,” Wolfwood teased, reaching up to run his fingers through blond strands. “We could both hyphenate.”

Vash wrinkled his nose. “Saverm-Wolfwood is a mouthful.” 

Wolfwood shrugged his shoulders, before pressing a kiss to Vash’s nose. “We still have a few years to decide.” 

Looking at him shyly, Vash smiled. “You know, if we keep joking about one day getting married, a guy might get the wrong idea.” 

“We can stop for now,” Wolfwood said, before grinning. “But who said I was joking?” 

“Oh my god,” Vash said, trying to stop the blush from overtaking his face. “We’re exhausted and delirious. Let’s go to bed.” 

Laughing, Wolfwood stood up, stretching his arms over his head. “Probably a good idea,” he said, offering his hand to Vash to help him up. 

The blond smiled, happily accepting the steady hand as he stood up on wobbly legs. “Thank you.” 

“It’s been a long day. Let me help you get ready?” Wolfwood asked, keeping his hand in Vash’s as he walked to the bedroom. 

“I feel like I should be doing this for you,” Vash said, finally letting go of Wolfwood’s hand so he could grab some shorts. 

Wolfwood walked over to him, smiling. “You apologized and showed me that you loved me. Let me return the favor, Needle Noggin,” his voice full of fondness as he hands moved to Vash’s pants, helping the blond remove them. 

“But you don’t have to,” Vash stressed, putting his hand on Wolfwood’s shoulder to balance himself as he stepped out of the bottoms. “But the help is nice,” he admitted, swaying in place, before Wolfwood gently set him on the side of the bed. 

“Then accept the help,” Wolfwood told him, hoping that Vash would understand this was also for him. The blond nodded, accepting the assistance. Leaning down, Wolfwood pressed the button on the prosthetic limb to help it disengage from the pin attached to the silicone sleeve that Vash wore. Once the limb and sleeves were removed, Wolfwood set them to the side, before coming back to gently massage Vash’s thigh. 

“You’re lucky I’m too tired to get frisky.” Vash smiled at Wolfwood, shivering occasionally at how nice it felt to have the man’s hands on him. 

“We’re going to sleep,” Wolfwood told him, placing the boundary for both of them. “We have plenty of time to be frisky,” he teased, rolling his eyes at the word. 

Reaching over, Wolfwood grabbed the sleep shorts from Vash, before leaning down to help the blond feed his left leg through them. As he reached the blond’s hips, Vash leaned back on the bed so he could lift them so the shorts were properly on his hips. “It’s still sexy when you dress me.” 

Leaning over Vash, Wolfwood pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “Get to your side of the bed while I get ready,” he ordered, chuckling as Vash sluggishly moved his way up the bed to rest on their pillows. Wolfwood took no time in changing into his own pajama pants, before crawling into bed. 

Before he could even properly settle into his spot, Vash was crowding into his space, resting his cheek against his shoulder. “You take too long,” the blond mumbled, a whiny edge to his tone. Wolfwood wrapped his arm around Vash, holding him close as he laid his head down. 

“Get some sleep, Angel,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the crown of blond hair just tickling his chin. No reply came as Vash almost instantly drifted to sleep once he was finally in Wolfwood’s arms; the dark haired man followed shortly. 

Chapter Text

When Monday rolled around, Vash sat nervously at the counter as Wolfwood slid a plate of eggs and toast to him. Giving a tight smile, Vash picked up his fork, pushing his eggs around the plate. Wolfwood brought his own plate around to sit next to the blond. 

“Nervous about therapy today?” He asked, reaching over to rub Vash’s back. 

Chuckling, Vash nodded, a blush along his cheeks. “Yeah…” He hesitated, trying to think of how to explain it. “And to see Meryl since she’s picking me up.”

Wolfwood furrowed his brow, confused by the statement. “Why Meryl?” He asked, giving Vash his full attention. 

Chewing on his bottom lip, Vash turned to look at Wolfwood. “Well, she brought me home Friday. After I saw Nai,” he explained, guilt curling in his gut as he thought of the aftermath of the night. 

“Makes sense,” Wolfwood told him, realizing he had never asked how Vash made it back home. He figured it was either Meryl or Uber.

“Yeah,” Vash said, chewing on his lip. “But, I don’t really know how she found me. I guess she could have been driving by…” He hated doubting his friend, but knew that the timing was too coincidental.  

“Just ask her.” Wolfwood figured that Vash knew that was the easiest option, but he also understood that wouldn’t seem like the easiest option to the blond. To prove his point, Vash pouted dramatically. 

“I know,” he whined, reaching for the ketchup to douse his eggs. “I was planning on it today. I just hate that I’m even questioning her.” Meryl had stayed his closest friend, aside from Nai, so the thought of thinking she might be doing anything underhanded made him frown. 

“Can I ask what you think the answer is?” Wolfwood knew that Vash wouldn’t be questioning things if he didn’t already have a theory in place. 

“I don’t know,” the blond told him, shrugging his shoulders. “I mean, we do have our ‘Find My Friends’ turned on.” It was as good an explanation as any, considering the many times that Vash would shut down or dissociate without realizing. 

Wolfwood opened his mouth to say something, before shutting it slowly. He was almost positive he figured out the mystery of how Meryl knew to find Vash, but he wasn’t sure of what the man’s response would be. If he saw it as a betrayal, then he might cut the woman out for a while, and Wolfwood didn’t want to cause that. 

“What?” Vash asked, chewing on the toast, so the medicine in his stomach didn’t make him feel sick. “Why are you making that face?” 

Sighing, Wolfwood took a swig of his coffee, mostly to buy himself a little more time. “Who else is on your ‘Find My Friends’?” He prompted, hoping that Vash would put it together himself. 

Furrowing his brows, Vash lifted his hand so he could count off the list. “Meryl, Milly, now you, and…” He paused, dropping his hand into his lap. “I never removed Nai.”

Vash grabbed his phone, unlocking it and pulling up the app. The first name on the list read: Nai Saverem. Releasing a heavy sigh, he set the phone down on the counter again. “Nai told her we had a fight,” he concluded, frowning as he tried to decipher how that made him feel.  

“Okay,” Wolfwood said, trying to keep Vash in talking mode. “Shorty came to get you after Nai told her you had left the apartment. What do you want to do with that information?”

Food forgotten, Vash chewed on his bottom lip. He wanted to be upset at Meryl, the same way he had been with Nai for the lie by omission, but something about that didn’t sit right with him. “Is it hypocritical to say I’m not mad?” 

Wolfwood sat with that for a moment, before shrugging. “I guess it depends on why you wouldn’t be mad at her.” 

“She isn’t the one that fought with me,” he started, trying to organize his thoughts. “And Nai probably reached out to her knowing that, other than you, she was the only one I’d respond to.” 

Nodding, Wolfwood moved his hand up to the nape of Vash’s neck, lightly massaging it. “So, does that make you angry with Nai?” He wasn’t trying to goad Vash into being upset with his brother, but he figured it was better for Vash to have the feelings half worked out before he saw Meryl. 

Pressing his lips together, Vash sat in silence, before slowly shaking his head. “I was being reckless,” he said, voice soft as he realized he hadn’t told Wolfwood everything. “I walked until I couldn’t breathe and went into a panic attack.” 

Sucking in a breath, Wolfwood tried to calm his expression. He had to remind himself that this was in the past and Vash was right next to him, safe. “And so Nai called Meryl to get you to safety.”

“Mm,” Vash hummed, closing his eyes to concentrate for a moment. “I’m angry with Nai for a lot of things, but this isn’t one,” he finally said, deciding that it was actually the best option, all things considered. There was no telling how long Vash would have been out there, sat on the pavement. 

“So, when you see shorty, you can ask her to confirm, or you can just act like you don’t know anything.” 

“I think I’m going to ask,” Vash said, leaning his head back so Wolfwood could massage his scalp a little. “And later tonight, if you’ll help me, I might email Nai a thank you for that part,” he added, voice shy. 

“I’ll help you with whatever you need, Angel,” Wolfwood told him, leaning forward to press a kiss to his temple. “I trust your judgment.” 

“I mean… He still said and did some awful things that night.” Vash didn’t want to relive it again before rehashing it all in therapy later, after having already gone over everything with Wolfwood over the weekend. “But maybe if I show him how our relationship could be, he’ll want to work to fix things?”

Standing up, Wolfwood wrapped his arms around Vash, pressing another kiss to his temple. “You could be right.” He decided that supporting Vash was the most important thing at the moment, so Wolfwood set aside all of his personal opinions. 

“It feels weird,” Vash mumbled, leaning into the hug. “I was sure Friday that I wouldn’t want anything to do with Nai for a long time.”

“You’re allowed to change your mind, it’s part of having free will, right?” Wolfwood pointed out, giving him a charming smile. “Besides, sending one email doesn’t mean you have to leave the door wide open.” 

Vash nodded, feeling better with Wolfwood standing behind his choices. “Just leaving it unlocked,” he agreed, before looking at the time. “You better leave. Thanks for talking to me about it, Love.” 

“Of course,” Wolfwood said, leaning in to press a kiss to Vash’s lips. “I’ll see you tonight at Sheryl’s office?” 

“Please?” Vash asked, grinning at him. 

Wolfwood headed off to work and Vash mentally prepared himself for the day ahead. Talking to Meryl was the first point to conquer. He knew that things weren’t likely to go wrong or turn into an argument, but he was still nervous. They were both pretty hard headed if they set their minds to something, so that steered him more towards the worry. 

As the day wore on, Vash kept checking the time on his watch, waiting for when Meryl would be arriving. Normally, they would try to spend a little time together chatting, but it seemed they were pressing the time a little close to his appointment. He’d told her before that he could always Uber, but she had insisted that she could manage. 

Deciding that it would be easier on Meryl, Vash and Knives headed downstairs to wait at the curb. Knives seemed to remember the way Vash acted the last time they were waiting for a ride, so the service dog sat himself squarely on Vash’s feet, stopping the man from pacing. Chuckling, Vash pet the top of Knives’ head. 

“You’re really too smart for your own good,” he told him, laughing as the dog’s tongue lolled out of his mouth.

After just a few moments, Meryl pulled up, waving at him. Vash smiled and waved back, before opening the back door to let Knives in, then climbing into the passenger seat beside Meryl. His nerves seemed to dissipate as he looked over to his oldest friend. 

“Hey, Vash,” Meryl said, giving him a warm smile. “How are you doing now?” 

Vash returned the smile. “Better,” he admitted, before pausing for a moment. “Thanks to you… and Nai.” He watched as Meryl halted, her fingers hovering over the steering wheel. 

“Uh… You’re welcome?” Slowly, she turned towards Vash, her hands starting to shake now. “So. Um. You knew?” Her eyes kept searching over Vash’s face, trying to make out some sign of betrayal or anger, but she could only find him giving her a soft smile. 

“I sort of figured it out,” he admitted, shrugging lightly. “Nick helped a little.” 

“I see.” She gave him a shaky smile, hoping that would help smooth things over. “You don’t seem upset?” She hadn’t meant for it to come out as a question, but she supposed her subconscious took some liberties.

Vash shook his head. “I’m not. I thought I was going to be, but I know I wasn’t thinking clearly.” He hated having to admit when his meltdowns affected him so drastically, but that night had definitely been a rough one. “I made a lot of bad choices that night.”

Meryl didn’t really want to press her luck, but she couldn’t stop herself from asking. “But aren’t you upset that I had spoken with Nai?” 

“I mean… No,” he finally said, nose scrunched up. “I’m not even mad at him for that. I was in a bad place,” he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. 

Meryl nodded, understanding what he meant. “I was really worried you would hate me,” she whispered, looking at him with teary eyes.

“No,” he cried out, reaching over to hug her. “I could never hate you, Meryl.”

She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “Oh my god, I feel so relieved.”

“I wish you would have told me though.” He rubbed her back with his right hand. “But I know why you didn’t. I’m working on it.”

Meryl pulled back, looking at him with amazement. “You’ve really changed, Vash,” she said, before shaking her head as she realized that might have been rude. “I just mean you really seem better.”

Blushing, Vash nodded. “I’m trying. It’s not perfect,” he told her, feeling shame fill his gut. “I fought with Nick. But I also apologized. I don’t… want to hurt the ones I love.” 

“Then that’s what’s important. You’re trying,” she told him, taking a breath before starting the van. “I’m really proud of you, Vash.” 

“That means a lot, Meryl. I love you,” he told her, smiling sweetly as they started towards Sheryl’s office. 

“I love you, too,” Meryl responded, smiling brightly. 

As always, the trip to Sheryl’s office was almost too short. Meryl pulled off to the side to help Vash get Knives out and make sure he was settled. She even took hold of his hoodie and straightened it. 

“Gee, Meryl. Gonna lick your thumb and wipe dirt off of my cheek?” Vash teased, though he wouldn’t put it past her to do that. 

“If you had dirt on your face, I absolutely would,” she said, before grinning. “You’re lucky I don’t spit into my hand and fix that mess of your undercut growing out. You need a haircut.” 

Self-consciously, Vash lifted his right hand to smooth down the shaved underside of his hair. “Okay. You might be right about that.” 

“Of course, I am,” she joked, giving him a wink. “Now hug me before you head in.” Meryl opened her arms wide, laughing as Vash immediately leaned in to hug her tightly. 

“Thanks for bringing me,” he said, pressing a kiss to her head, before stepping back. “Nick is picking me up after.” 

“Oh. Young love,” she mocked, clasping her hands in front of her as she pretended to sigh dreamily. 

“You’re so mean. I’m telling Sheryl you were bullying me,” Vash said, huffing as he led Knives towards the building. 

“Love you, too,” Meryl called out, waving at him as he entered the lobby, heading up to his appointment. 

Arriving in the waiting room, Vash suddenly felt the nerves start to take hold again. Taking a steadying breath, Vash checked the time on his watch, before sitting down to wait for Sheryl to call him. He had been sure that they were going to be late, but he now found that he had five minutes to spare. 

Five minutes seemed like an eternity to someone that was riddled with anxiety. Vash sat, his left leg bouncing up and down the longer he waited. This was the exact reason he tried to time all of his appointments exactly; anxiety couldn’t build if it didn’t have time. 

Soon enough, Sheryl was saying goodbye to her previous client, before welcoming Vash into her office. Leading him towards the chair she knew he preferred, Sheryl furrowed her brows as she looked him over. 

“It’s good to see you, Vash. How have you been?” She asked, not wanting to press too quickly into why he looked as if he was shaking. 

Vash took his seat, making sure he was as comfortable as he could get, before he looked up at Sheryl and gave her a tight lipped smile. “Good and bad,” he said, figuring it was easier to summarize his feelings. 

“Would you like to start with the good or the bad?” Sheryl had found it was always easier to give him a choice on where to start, but made it clear that both options would be explored if they could manage it. 

Thinking for a moment, Vash bit his bottom lip, his left leg tapping again, before Knives laid down on his feet, applying pressure to help calm him. “I guess the bad would be easiest.”

Nodding, Sheryl gave him a gentle smile. “You can start whenever you’re ready, Vash. But I would like to ask, do you want to talk without interruptions like last time?” 

Shaking his head, Vash knew the answer immediately. “I think I’d like your thoughts faster,” he said, wincing as he spoke. 

“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.” She sat patiently in her own chair, waiting for Vash to lead the way. 

Licking his lips, Vash opened his mouth to start. “I decided to go no contact with Nai,” he said, the words rushing out quickly. “But I wanted to go see him and explain why. Because… I don’t know. It was stupid.” 

Sheryl schooled her expression, making sure that it was as neutral as possible. “It’s not stupid, Vash. You’ve been with Nai for 24 years of your life,” she pointed out, hoping that would help to calm him. 

“No, I know. I messed up,” he explained, realizing he left out the important part. “I, um, I went alone.”

Blinking, Sheryl looked Vash over again, making sure he was physically okay. “What led to you making that decision?” She asked, hoping that she could understand. 

He sat quietly for a moment, knowing the answer, but hating to admit it. “I made my mind up and I didn’t want Nick to talk me out of it.” 

“And why would he have talked you out of seeing your brother?

Vash shook his head, brows knit together. “He wouldn’t have. But he wouldn’t let me go alone. And… I didn’t want him to see me like that.” 

Humming, Sheryl wrote down the answer. “See you like what exactly?”

“Angry.” He looked down towards Knives who was looking up at him; it helped to calm him. “But that backfired anyway.” 

“I feel like you’re skipping ahead, which is fine. But I’ll want to hear about how things went with your brother,” she guided him.

“It was a screaming match. Like it has been,” Vash said, frowning as he thought about it. “And then I left. I don’t even remember what he said that made me so upset,” he told her, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I just knew I had to get out of there.” 

“Where did you go, Vash?” Sheryl asked, unable to hide her alarm at the thought of him walking away while in such a vulnerable state. 

Avoiding her gaze, Vash shrugged his shoulders. “I really don't know. I just walked and then broke down.” The embarrassment was creeping in, causing his face to turn red. 

“But you made it home safe.” She knew it was a fact, or else Vash would have told her that immediately. 

“Meryl came to get me,” he told her, before sighing, realizing he had to explain that. “I guess Nai was watching me on ‘Find My Friends’ and he called Meryl to come get me.” 

Sheryl nodded. “Does that upset you?” 

Vash shook his head. “I thought it would when I found out, but I know I was… I wasn’t able to get help myself. Nai knows I wouldn’t have gotten in a car with him. He didn’t have Nick’s number. Meryl made the most sense.” 

She took the information in, nodding slowly. “I’m proud of you for that thought process, Vash.” She gave him a soft smile, before waving a hand to urge him on. 

“Right. Um,” Vash paused, guilt seizing him as he thought of what happened when he got home. He didn’t want to talk about it, especially since he knew it was resolved, but it was part of the story and he knew it was important. “I started a fight with Nick when I got home.”

“Do you know why?” 

Sighing, Vash nodded his head. “I was exhausted and overstimulated. He was worried and my brain made it out to be bigger than what it was, so I picked a fight,” he said, shame clear on his face. “I said really mean things to him.” 

“Did he fight back?” 

“No, not really,” Vash told her. “He just… gave me space when he realized how upset I was. And he told me,” he tried to remember the way Wolfwood had worded it. “‘There’s a difference between someone worrying about you because they love you over someone that wants to control you’, I think,” he paraphrased, knowing that it was hard to remember the exact words from the heat of the moment. 

“That’s a decent point,” Sheryl agreed. “Do you agree?” 

Vash nodded, taking in a deep breath. “I kept thinking about it all night,” he explained, nearly tearing up as he thought about the hours they spent separated. “I went to apologize to him. Because I know I did a lot of things wrong. He didn’t deserve me lashing out at him.” 

“That’s a lot of really good progress for you, Vash,” Sheryl told him, smiling. “I feel like I’ve finally seen you coming out of your shell.”

He laughed wetly, a few tears finally breaking free. “Really? Because I feel like I’ve been a wreck.” 

“But you’re communicating, Vash,” she said, a note of excitement in her voice. “Any other time you came in here with an emotion that wasn’t happiness, you would become nonverbal. But I can see where you’re willing to open yourself up and express what’s upsetting you. That’s huge.” 

Wiping at the tears in his eyes, Vash smiled at her. “I feel different. In a good way, if that makes sense?” 

“That makes perfect sense, Vash,” she said, offering him a tissue with a maternal smile that made his heart clench as it reminded him of Rem. “Now, would you like to tell me something good?” 

Vash laughed, again, having forgotten about the good part. “There’s a couple of things,” he told her, wanting to share a little more good than bad. “I’m really happy. In, like, a new way that I’ve never known before.” 

“And why do you think that is?” 

Looking up, Vash tried to put it into words. “I feel like myself,” he decided. “I get to make mistakes and learn from them. And I get to be in love. I get to be loud and sing and stim however I want and,” he paused, smiling. “And no one tells me it’s too much. Nick likes it. And that really makes me feel like I belong.” 

“That sounds really lovely, Vash,” she told him, sincerity in her voice. 

“And I’m really in love. I didn’t think I would get to have that, but I do. And I’m really lucky.” 

“You seem very happy, Vash.”

“I really am,” he admitted, shyly. “Even when I mess up, he listens to me and talks with me, not at me. Even when he has every right to curse me or kick me out, he doesn’t. He’s just… Nick.” Vash wanted to say he was gentle and kind and loving, but those words didn’t encapsulate everything that made him love Wolfwood quite the same way as saying his name did. 

“This sounds like a good start to a relationship for you two,” Sheryl told him, hoping that she could gently remind him that they were still new. She wasn’t especially worried about Vash rushing into this relationship, considering she’d heard a bit about the dog groomer before Vash ever moved in with the man. 

“I know, I know,” Vash said, picking up the hint. “But I also know what I feel,” he told her, standing up and giving her a smile. 

“I have no doubts about that, Vash,” she told him, smiling as she stood to walk him out. “I assume Nick will be picking you up?” 

“You guessed right,” he told her, grinning at the idea of seeing Wolfwood soon. 

“Remember, you can call me when you have issues like the other night,” she reminded him, voice gentle yet firm. 

“I know, Sheryl. I’m a work in progress?” 

“Aren’t we all?” She asked him, smiling as she opened the door for him, revealing Wolfwood who was sitting in the waiting area near the exit. “Have a good night, Vash.” 

“Night, Sheryl,” he told her, before heading straight to Wolfwood who stood up to wrap his arms around Vash. 

“Hey, Angel,” he whispered, pressing his lips against Vash’s temple as he held him close. 

“Hi, Love,” Vash whispered, smiling brightly as he squeezed him. “Missed you.” 

“Missed you, too,” Wolfwood told him, moving back so he could properly look Vash’s face over. “Everything okay?” He asked, seeing the tell-tale signs of puffy eyes which indicated Vash cried recently. 

“Yeah. It’s good,” he promised, moving away so he could take Wolfwood’s hand in his own. “It’s been an emotional day.” 

“Let’s have a movie night, then. We’ll pop some popcorn and eat some non-dairy frozen desserts,” Wolfwood proposed, teasing about the type of ‘ice cream’ Vash preferred. 

“Rude. No one said you had to eat the oat milk ice cream,” Vash said, nudging him as they made their way to the elevator. “And it’s good , because some of us get upset tummies.” 

“My poor pretty baby, he’s so delicate,” Wolfwood teased, pulling his hand back from Vash’s as the blond brought their hands to his lips as if to bite. 

“I said really nice things about you to Sheryl and you’re making me regret them,” Vash pouted, crossing his arms in the elevator. 

The snickering from Wolfwood cut off as he heard that. “Wait, what did you say about me?” 

“You’ll never know,” Vash said, sticking his tongue out at the man. 

“Fine. Keep your secrets,” Wolfwood said, turning away from him so he could exit the elevator as soon as it opened. 

“Hey,” Vash said, reaching out to grab Wolfwood’s sleeve. “I’m sensitive. I just came out of therapy. You have to be a little nice.” 

Wolfwood turned so he could press a kiss to Vash’s cheek. “That’s why I’m not treating you any different from normal. You’d be irritated if I started babying you now.” 

Vash hummed, feeling Wolfwood press more kisses to the side of his face. “Okay. You’re right. You know me too well.” 

“I’m still learning,” Wolfwood argued, knowing that it could be years before they confidently meant that. 

Turning his head, Vash stole a quick kiss, before grinning. “Learning is part of the process, right?” 

“One of the best parts,” Wolfwood told him, smiling softly. “Let’s get home.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Chapter Text

From: [email protected]  

To: [email protected]

Subj: Thank You

I know you sent Meryl to get me after I ran away from our fight. Thank you for caring. 

I still think we need some space. Please don’t show up like last time. 

I love you. 

Your little brother, 

Vash

P.S. If you need resources for therapists, Sheryl said to give her a call and she’ll send you some referrals. 

Nai sighed as he read the email again, making sure there wasn’t something else that he had missed. It was as cut and dry as it appeared, much to his dismay. He didn’t know exactly what he was expecting when he saw the email arrive from Vash, but it wasn’t something so short. 

In Nai’s mind, Vash had always been the more verbose twin, even when he was mute, Vash could somehow manage to show so much emotion that it didn’t matter whether or not he was verbally speaking. Nai had always been the one to keep his words and thoughts close to his chest, as if someone could use his words to harm him. Frowning, the irony of that fear and the way that he used the same thing against Vash was not lost on him. 

Closing the email, Nai took in a deep breath before placing the phone face down on the dinner table. Picking up his fork again, Nai pushed the sauteed zucchini around the plate, finding that he didn’t have much of an appetite anymore. He’d never admit it, but he’d found it harder lately to find the energy to properly cook for himself. 

“Nai, are you okay?” Came the voice from the blue haired man that sat across from Nai. Legato had been forcing his company on Nai more often than usual since Vash had left. 

Spearing a few of the slices of zucchini, Nai popped them into his mouth, chewing so he wouldn’t have to answer just yet. Legato sighed across from him, before taking a sip of his water. The silence was starting to eat Nai alive, however, so he set his fork back down and looked back up to Legato’s yellow eyes. 

“Why did you come over?” Nai asked, genuine curiosity ringing in his tone as he furrowed his brows. “Why do you cook for me?” He gestured to the meal in front of them that Legato had prepared when he arrived, bag of groceries in tow. 

Pressing his lips together, Legato stared at Nai head on, hands facing up incredulously. “You really have to ask?” His eyes searched Nai’s, wondering if the man really didn’t understand why he would do everything that he had for the past few months. 

Embarrassment burned through Nai as he looked at Legato, seeing how open the man was, the emotions clear on his face. It was as if Nai had just woken up, suddenly coming to the realization that Legato really did feel things for him. Mouth parting, Nai tried to think of something to say, but felt his mouth go dry at the honesty so clear on Legato’s face. 

Legato waited patiently, clasping his hands together before resting them in his lap. The red on Nai’s cheeks was new, as was the expression on his face, so the man wanted to give him as much time as he could to gather his thoughts. He refused to make Nai feel bad for actually communicating, a rarity for him. 

“I rejected you,” Nai mumbled, brows knit together as he spoke. It was something they had never spoken of after Vash brought up the fact that Legato had feelings for Nai outside of their usual friends with benefits situation. Legato had sworn to Nai that his feelings could be pushed aside as long as they continued what they had and Nai had been foolish enough to believe him. 

Licking his lips, Legato took a moment to gather his thoughts, before sighing. “You did,” he agreed, knowing that Nai had never pretended their arrangement was anything else. “And I respect that.” He turned his head away, not wanting to see Nai’s expression once he spoke again. “But it doesn’t mean I don’t still care, Nai.” 

The admission hit Nai like a wave of ice cold water, dousing him to the bone. He looked back at Legato, horror clear on his face, though the man still refused to face him. “You deserve someone that will love you back.” Nai snapped his jaw shut, not expecting that to come out of his mouth. 

As Nai spoke, Legato’s head turned towards the man, eyes wide at what Nai had said. The horror was clear on his face, Legato could tell that Nai genuinely meant what he said. Nai truly thought that Legato deserved someone to love him back. 

Something in Legato’s chest ached as he thought of the mere possibility of meeting someone else that might love him the way that he loved Nai. While the thought was nice, it wasn’t at all what he wanted. “I would rather have whatever it is you’re willing to give me, than to ever accept someone else’s love,” he said, sincerity and earnestness clear in his tone as he kept his eyes locked with Nai’s again. 

Nai shook his head in disbelief, not understanding why Legato was so devoted to him. “I’ll just hurt you,” he told him, a hysterical laugh making its way out of his lips. “ All I do is hurt you.” Admitting that was harder than he would have thought, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. 

Frustration rising, Legato raised his hands. “So stop.” He knew it wasn’t as simple as that, but he figured it was a start. “You’re making this about me, but I know it’s about your brother. I can make my own choices, Nai Saverem. I just happen to be choosing you,” Legato told him, words sharp. “If you’re tired of hurting Vash or me, then just stop.”

Shaking his head again, Nai felt the burn of tears in his eyes, though he refused to let them fall. “You just make it sound so easy,” he said, a lump rising in his throat. “You’re choosing me, even though I hurt you. My own brother wouldn’t even do that.” 

Scooting his seat back, Legato stood, causing Nai to look up at him, the tears threatening to fall. “Because we’re in love, you fool!” It was out of character for Legato to raise his voice towards Nai, but even more so to admit such heavy feelings. “Your brother is in love with that Wolf man. I love you. Love makes people do stupid things. I don’t know what else you want to hear.” 

Nai stared at Legato, shock setting in as he processed the words the man had said. The lump in his throat grew, making it hard for him to swallow back the tears that were threatening to leak from the side of his eyes. “I don’t either,” he mumbled, words coming out hoarse. 

Looking at the man he loved, seeing the way he was fighting off tears, any anger that Legato had felt dissipated. Moving to Nai’s side of the table, Legato wrapped his arms around the man, sighing as he felt Nai push his face into his chest, his own arms going around his waist and clinging to his frame. “Just cry, Nai. Nothing bad will happen if you let yourself feel.” 

Hands clinging to Legato’s pressed shirt, wrinkling it instantly, Nai shook his head as he hid it in the man’s chest. He hated crying, hated the way it stung his eyes, hated the way it showed a moment of weakness to all who witnessed it. He hadn’t cried since the day he found out that Rem had passed, even then it was just a few tears, before he had to pull himself together to take care of Vash. 

“You are so stubborn,” he whispered, voice full of fondness as he rubbed Nai’s back. Allowing himself a moment of weakness, Legato leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of Nai’s head. There were rules for everything that they did, kissing of any kind outside of sex was strictly prohibited. 

Feeling the gentle press of lips to the top of his head, Nai felt something in his chest crack. Before he realized it, the tears were streaming down his cheeks, soaking into Legato’s shirt. He hiccuped, trying to catch his breath to stop the sobs that he could feel building up to wrack his body. 

Legato froze as he heard the sobs from Nai, before moving to tighten his hold on the man, as if he could somehow stop him from falling apart. “It’s okay, Nai,” he reassured, cheek pressing to the top of Nai’s hair. “You’re okay.” 

Hearing the comforting words from Legato, something in Nai’s subconscious seemed to break further, allowing the man to loosen his restraint so he could cling to the blue haired man. He should have been mortified from allowing his emotions to take hold of him the way that he did, but Legato just held him and that made him feel safe. Nai couldn’t remember the last time he felt truly safe and whole, but he was finding it in this man’s arms. 

Eventually, the tears dried up, but Nai kept his face pressed into Legato’s shirt, afraid that if he moved, he might break again. Legato gently carded his fingers through Nai’s hair, allowing himself all of the soft touches that he was sure would be taken away from him soon. “You should drink your water,” he whispered, pulling back just a little to look at Nai properly. 

Reluctantly, Nai sat back, pulling his arms from Legato’s waist and staring at his hands as if he didn’t recognize them. His heart ached, desperately wanting to be held again, but Nai clenched his fist, before moving to grab his water, drinking it. He wanted to settle back into the cold exterior that he had worn for most of his life, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t manage. His eyes kept darting up to glance at Legato, as if the man would disappear if Nai let him out of his sight. 

Fingers twitching, Legato reached out hesitantly to place his hand on Nai’s head again. He wasn’t sure what made him think the action would be permitted, but he couldn’t stop himself. Slowly, he started to lower his hand to Nai’s hair, before the man in question reached up to grab Legato’s wrist. “I’m sorry,” Legato spoke quickly, realizing he had been crossing a boundary. 

Staring up at him, Nai shook his head, before moving the man’s hand to rest on his head. “You were taking too long,” he muttered, eyes closing as he felt the pressure against his scalp.

Surprised, but delighted by the development, Legato ran his fingers through the short hair. These casual touches were things he could only dream about, so he soaked them in as much as he could. “I could… We could hug again. If you wanted.” 

Leaning into the touch, Nai sighed softly. He hated to admit to anyone being right, but as he sat there, Legato gently petting his hair, Nai couldn’t help but think that the man was right about him. He could just stop pushing people away. He could stop expecting them to leave just because that was what he had always known. 

Nai had never allowed himself to open up to the possibility of love or anyone that wasn’t Vash or Rem caring for him. Even his family, he mostly assumed they loved him out of obligation, rather than any actual feelings they held. He was starting to think that Vash had been right in his earlier email, Nai had a lot of trauma to unpack that he hadn’t even realized. 

Opening his eyes, Nai caught the fond way that Legato was looking at him, causing the man to flush. “I want you to stay the night.” His voice was a mess and he was sure his face looked ridiculous and puffy from the tears, but he watched Legato with hopeful eyes. 

“Oh,” the man said, before nodding. “Of course.” Legato fought a frown as he realized that he would once again be relegated to the bed warmer he had signed himself up to be. Heart aching, he steeled himself to accept whatever Nai was willing to give him. 

Blinking slowly, Nai frowned at the face that Legato was making. Heart pounding, he tried to decipher what he had said wrong. “I thought…” He paused, confusion clear on his face. “You offered to hug.”

Unable to stop himself, Legato let out a snort, before guilt ate at his gut from the confused look on Nai’s face. “And you asked me to sleep with you instead.” 

Realization dawned on Nai and he twisted his face into disgust. “I wanted you to stay the night,” he explained, before realizing that didn’t help clarify anything. “I don’t want sex tonight, Legato.” 

“Oh,” Legato said, staring into Nai’s eyes. “We never sleep over without sex.” He wasn’t upset by the development, but he was confused. 

Pressing his lips together, Nai collected his thoughts. “I’m choosing to stop hurting you,” he explained, looking up at Legato seriously. “So, maybe we can try something different tonight. No sex.” 

Legato furrowed his brows, still a little confused, but open to whatever Nai was proposing. “Do you think the sex is the part that hurts me?” 

Sighing, Nai leaned his head back into Legato’s limp hand, realizing the man had stopped petting him. “A little, probably,” he admitted, frowning. “I’m not promising anything, Legato. But I’m thinking, maybe, I should be more open to new things.” 

Sucking in a breath, Legato held it for a moment, before slowly exhaling. He didn’t want to assume what Nai meant by that, but he couldn’t deny his heart began to race at the possibilities. “What new things?” He whispered, voice too shaky to speak normally. 

Hearing the emotion in Legato’s voice, Nai felt his heart skip a beat. “Just… feeling,” he said, realizing it was heavier than just opening up to a potential relationship. As he spoke, Nai realized that he was opening up to the idea of feeling anything at all. He’d spent a long time pushing all of his own feelings down and hiding them from the world, afraid they would be used against him. 

Nodding slowly, Legato leaned down, hesitating a moment before pressing another kiss to the top of Nai’s head. The man reached up immediately, wrapping his arms around Legato’s waist again, holding him tightly. “Feeling is a good start,” he told him, arms curling around Nai again, holding him close. 

Face buried in Legato’s shirt again, Nai breathed in deeply, feeling himself relax again. There was a lot that he still had to do to fix himself before he could fix any relationships, but for once Nai understood why Vash was the way he was most of the time. Vash had always cared and loved so freely, Nai had seen it as weakness, but now he was thinking his twin had the right idea. 

“I think I should go to therapy.” His voice was muffled by Legato’s body, but they both froze as Nai spoke the words. Legato knew Nai’s thoughts on therapy for himself, had been reacquainted with them the last time Vash had suggested it. But hearing the certainty in Nai’s voice, Legato nodded. 

“That’s probably a good start,” Legato told him, not wanting to press too firmly lest Nai turned and ran for the hills. Squeezing the man again, Legato finally pulled away. “Should we get ready for bed?” 

Nodding, Nai released his hold on Legato, so he could stand up. “Well, you know where everything is,” he said, before turning to grab the plates from the dining table so he could clean up while Legato got ready. 

Legato stood for a moment, watching silently with a smile on his face, before he moved to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face. By the time he was done, Nai was making his way to the bathroom to do the same thing. They passed each other and shared a small smile as their hands brushed in the hallway. 

Standing in Nai’s bedroom, Legato felt his heart begin to pound again. He’d been in the room countless times, in countless positions, but somehow he felt the most vulnerable as he stood near the doorway, unsure of whether he should grab pajamas or sleep in his boxers. His indecision backfired, however, as Nai made his way into the room and stood behind Legato for a moment. 

“Do you want pajamas?” Nai asked, realizing he hadn’t offered and Legato had never been one to help himself. The blue haired man nodded as he stepped aside for Nai to make his way to the dresser to offer him some clothes. 

Legato accepted the pajamas, before setting them on the bed so he could change. “Thank you,” he told Nai, taking off his clothes. He blushed, feeling Nai’s eyes watching his every move. “Are you sure sex is off the table?”

Realizing what he was doing, Nai turned away from Legato, allowing the man to pull the pajamas on in peace. To keep himself busy, he changed into his own set of pajamas so they would be equally clothed. “It is. Just for tonight?”

Legato folded his clothes, before turning towards Nai. “I get a choice?” He asked curiously, moving to climb into the side of the bed he usually slept on. 

“If you did, what would it be?” Nai asked him, climbing in next to Legato. He settled himself down so that he could face the man beside him. 

Settling his head on the pillow, Legato hummed as he thought. “Sex with you is amazing, no matter what our feelings are,” he said bluntly, deciding that there was no point in beating around the bush. “We can still have sex, whether feelings make it in or not.” 

Nodding, Nai accepted the decision. “Okay. Good to know,” he said, closing his eyes as he tried to fall asleep. 

Smiling softly, Legato watched him for a moment. “Didn’t you want to hug while you slept?” He asked, tone just on the side of teasing. 

Feeling his ears turn red, Nai was grateful that the lights were off. “Isn’t that just spooning?” He grumbled, trying not to sound amused. 

Legato felt a smug smirk cross his lips. “You want me to spoon you, don’t you?” 

“I want you to shut up,” Nai said, turning over to face away from the other man who laughed quietly. Legato settled into his side of the bed, waiting for Nai to speak up. Eventually, as predicted, Nai sighed and reached over for Legato’s hand to tug it over his waist, forcing the man to be the bigger spoon. 

“Nai, just tell me what you want next time,” Legato said, burying his nose between Nai’s shoulder blades. “I’m not going to make fun of you,” he promised.

Nai breathed in slowly, settling into the hold. “Okay,” he whispered, liking the way he was able to relax into Legato’s hold. Before either man was aware, they both drifted off to sleep, their hold never fully parting through the night. 

Chapter Text

Nai sat nervously in his chair, leg shaking as he tried to keep himself under control. He was entering new territory and that left him feeling vulnerable in ways that he hadn’t felt since he was younger. Staring ahead, Nai thought carefully of what he would say to this therapist. He knew that people weren’t supposed to necessarily rehearse what they would say going into a therapy session, but the process brought him a little comfort. 

As he waited for the minute hand to tick, bringing him closer to his appointment, Nai was starting to understand all the times that Vash got extra fidgety waiting for his time to start. For the longest time, Nai had just assumed it was Vash’s anxiety, but he was starting to think this was part of the process. He felt on edge in a way that made him want to scream out all of his problems and get it over with; maybe there was something to this waiting period. 

“Nai Saverem?” A voice called from a newly opened door to his left. Looking over, Nai saw a woman that was about thirty years his senior. His first thought was, she looks motherly . 

Standing up, Nai made his way over to the woman and extended his hand. “Hello. I am Nai Saverem.” 

The woman smiled gently, accepting his hand in a short shake, before stepping aside to invite him into the office. “It’s nice to meet you, Nai. I’m Dr. Leitner, but you may call me Luida.”

Nai nodded, entering the office, eyes scanning the cozy interior that was decorated with earthy colors. He stood in front of the chairs, not sure of where she wanted to conduct the visit. While it wasn’t technically his first time being in a therapist’s office, this was the first time he had willingly made the steps to speak to one, so he wasn’t completely sure of the etiquette. 

“You can sit wherever you think you’ll be comfortable,” Luida told him, gesturing to the chairs. “Or if you’re more comfortable on the floor, we could sit on a couple of cushions by the window.” 

Nai scrunched his nose in distaste at the thought of sitting on the floor of some stranger's office. “I think a chair is fine,” he said, before stiffly sitting in the chair that was closest to him. 

“Very well,” she told him, a kind smile on her face as she sat opposite of him. “How are you doing today, Nai?” 

The question surprised him, his brows knitting in confusion. “I’m… fine?” Nai was unsure if this was a question of pleasantry or if Luida was actually beginning the session. 

“I’m sorry. You seem confused,” she said, looking his face over. “Can I help clear up some of the confusion?” 

Shaking his head, Nai looked back at her. “I just figured we would immediately get to work.” 

“An understandable miscommunication,” Luida said, clasping her hands in her lap. “I like to try and get to know my clients first before we delve into anything too deep. I find it’s easier for people to open up when they know me first.” 

Taking in the information, Nai slowly nodded as it seemed to make perfect sense to him. “My name is Nai Saverem and I’m 24 years old. I have one sibling, my brother, Vash.” 

“I’m Luida Leitner, I just turned 53 in May,” she told him, smiling gently. “I have one child and she’s graduating from high school this year.” 

Nai gave a short nod, acknowledging the information that he was given. “Sheryl is my brother’s therapist and she referred me to you. She spoke very highly of you.” 

“Your brother is in excellent hands,” Luida said, hoping that Nai felt the same way. “And that’s very kind of Sheryl. I hope that you’ll come to agree with her, Nai.” 

Shaking his leg, Nai nodded, before taking a breath. “I’m here because it has come to my attention that I have some issues with something my brother has called ‘survival mode.’ Vash seems to think that I haven’t turned it off since we were adopted.” 

Luida sat quietly, letting Nai speak without interruption. She kept her face in a neutral smile, hoping that there was no surprise showing from the sudden information Nai provided. “Survival mode is a real thing. It’s especially common in people who have been through traumatic events.” 

Pressing his lips together, Nai dropped his gaze to Luida’s forearm. “Our parents died when we were young. I don’t even remember them. It took a little while for them to find Rem, because she was our mother’s only living relative.”

“Remember or not, that must have been very difficult for children so young,” she offered, letting Nai lead on his own time.

“It was harder on Vash. He’s always been really sensitive,” Nai explained, thinking of how hard everything had been on his brother. “He went mute for a little while.”

Nodding, Luida furrowed her brow in concern. “How did you handle that?”

“I spoke for him,” Nai said, as if it was the clearest option. “We’re twins. We used to know each other like the back of our hands.” 

“Used to?” She prompted. 

“I think I need to work up to that,” Nai said, realizing it wouldn’t make sense out of context. 

“Of course. I apologize,” Luida told him, gesturing for him to continue when he was ready. 

“Um. Right,” he faltered, trying to lay out a timeline of what was relevant. “Rem eventually adopted us. It was right after her husband, Alex, passed away. They hadn’t had any kids so she always called us her little miracles.” He smiled softly, thinking of her voice. 

“That’s very sweet.”

“It was,” he agreed, feeling an ache in his chest as he spoke about Rem. “She was really great. She loved us so much. And not in a way that a parent is forced to, it really felt like she chose us and couldn’t imagine her life without us.” 

Nai looked to the window, watching the sun filter in through the blinds. “Vash is autistic, so we definitely didn’t make her life any easier by coming into it. And I… Well, I was protective of him.”

“Parents don’t usually love based on how easy their children are to care for,” Luida offered, hoping that it would bring him some comfort. 

“Yeah. But she was so good at it,” Nai said, smiling a little at a memory. “She would call Vash her little sunflower and I was her little buttercup.” He didn’t notice as tears started to fall down his cheeks. 

Luida watched him stare out the window, tears streaming down his face. “Those are beautiful nicknames.” 

Nodding, Nai crossed his arm in front of his chest. “Rem died,” he explained, knowing that it was obvious at this point. “And Vash lost his arm and leg.” 

A crease formed between Luida’s eyebrows as she listened. “May I ask what happened, Nai?” 

“A car wreck. Vash was driving and Rem was in the passenger seat,” he explained, sniffling before raising his hand to his cheek, finally realizing he was crying. “And I was safe at school.” 

“That must have been very difficult. I’m sorry to hear you had to go through that, Nai.” 

A flip switched, Nai turned towards Luida and glared at her. “Did you not even listen? I was at school. They were in a car wreck and I was at school.” 

Luida brought her gaze up to meet Nai’s, being sure to keep a passive look on her face. “But you had to hear the news alone, correct?” Her tone was gentle and guiding. 

The anger seemed to drain out of Nai’s face as he wiped at the tears. “They just told me there was a wreck. I didn’t know Rem was dead until I went to the hospital and asked where their rooms were.” 

“Oh, dear. That must have been very scary.”

“My mom was dead. My brother was in the ICU and they didn’t know if he was going to make it.” Nai pressed his lips together for a moment, fighting off another round of tears. “I just wanted to shut the world out.” 

“But Vash is alive?” She asked, trying to clarify and hopefully bring Nai back out of the dark thoughts for a moment. 

He nodded, taking in a deep breath to calm himself. “He has prosthetics and a lot more anxiety, but he’s alive.” 

“So, you have each other.” She smiled softly at the thought. 

Nai opened his mouth before shutting it slowly. “Not really…” He knew he only had himself to blame for Vash leaving, but he didn’t know how to explain that to this woman who sat across from him, so kind and so much like Rem. 

“Is that something you would like to discuss?” She asked, making sure that he knew he had the option to move on. 

Shaking his leg, Nai considered skipping over the separation and leaving it until the next session, but he knew his time of openness was running out. “I pushed him away. So many times. So he moved in with his boyfriend.”

“Can I ask how you pushed him away?”

“I did things that crossed his boundaries.” Admitting that felt like a shot through the heart. “I also said a lot of hateful things.” Thinking of the things that he said, Nai felt like a jagged knife had been pressed into his gut and twisted. 

“Have you apologized for these actions?” She wasn’t trying to be condescending, but she did wonder if he’d apologized or if he had simply let guilt rot in his gut. 

Once again, Nai found his jaw hanging open a little as he realized he had not apologized once. “His stipulation was that I get therapy. It didn’t occur to me to actually say the words.” 

“Well, I think we found some homework for you, Nai. If your brother is amenable, I would like it if you apologized. This could be over the phone, an email, heck send him a carrier pigeon,” she said, chuckling at her little joke. “Even if you aren’t ready to have the conversation, I think writing it out would provide some excellent closure for you.” 

“He does like birds,” Nai said, considering the logistics of actually sending a carrier pigeon to Vash. 

Luida hummed to herself for a moment, before debating briefly with herself if she should mention what she was thinking. After looking at the clock and realizing they only had a few minutes, she figured it was best saved for later. “Well, Nai. How do you feel after our first session?”

“Awful,” he told her, speaking truthfully. “But I’ve been feeling like that for a while now.” 

“Well, it can only go up from here, right?” 

Nai considered that question for a moment, before slowly nodding. “I think so?” 

“That’s a step,” she told him, smiling. “If you agreed, I would like to see you again next week. I’m not saying we’ll have to see each other every week, but we are still getting to know each other, after all.” 

“I think that would be a good idea,” Nai said, standing up

“That’s perfect. We’ll get that set up,” she said, going over the options for dates and times, before writing down the appointment in her schedules. “And Nai?”

The man eyed her warily, wondering what else she could be adding. “Yes?” 

“You did very well today. I didn’t expect you to talk so freely, but I’m glad you did. I’m honored to be working with you.” 

Nai felt a blush rush to his cheeks, but he ignored it, instead he offered Luida a nod. “Thank you for working with me, Luida. I will see you next week.” 

“Have a wonderful week, Nai.” 

Appointment finished, Nai made his exit swiftly. He breathed a sigh of relief as he exited the clinic into a sun filled afternoon. As the hour passed, his Do Not Disturb limit ran out, allowing a text through. 

LB: How was it?

Nai considered the question, wondering what the appropriate response would be. He didn’t enjoy the session, so that would be a lie. It was fine, but that didn’t really encompass how emotional and raw he felt at the moment. But then he was left to wonder if Legato really wanted an answer or not.  

Shaking his head, Nai felt foolish for questioning Legato’s motives. The blue haired man had made it abundantly clear that he was highly interested in all things that made Nai tick; even if it was something as small as an explanation on why he preferred a certain brand of laundry detergent. 

NS: Emotional. I don’t like it. But I will continue to go.

LB: I apologize if this oversteps, but I think Rem would be proud of you. 

Nai wanted to respond with his knee-jerk reaction, which was that Legato had definitely overstepped. But as he thought about it, he realized Legato was right, Rem would be proud of him for doing anything to better himself, especially if it meant taking care of himself. And it wasn’t as if Legato had never met his mother, so the man had some grounds to stand on. 

NS: I thought you had overstepped. But I think you’re right. Thank you. 

LB: You’re welcome. 

LB: Do you want company tonight? 

NS: Yes. I would love your company tonight, Legato.

Chapter Text

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subj: Apologies

Dear Vash, 

I must start this email off with an apology. “I’m sorry” does not seem large enough to express the regrets I feel for the way I have acted towards you, both in words and treatment. 

I realize now that I have done awful things to you, in the name of your safety. 

I have said things that were so reprehensible that if anyone else dared to say them about you, I would have beaten them to a pulp. 

And yet, somehow, you still manage to find kindness in your heart for me. 

I would like to attempt making amends with you for the things that I have done and said that caused you pain or humiliation. But I understand you would like to keep your space. That being said, I will be here when you are ready. 

For what it’s worth, you were right about me needing to see a therapist. Sheryl recommended me to Dr. Leitner, Luida, and she suggested that I write an apology to you, because I realized that I had never actually said the words to you. 

I hope that this email will find you well and at a time when your boyfriend is there so you aren’t alone. I tried to time it as well as I could, but I fear I no longer know your schedule. 

If you would like to schedule a time to come get the rest of your things, please let me know so I can be out of the apartment. 

Yours, 

Nai. 

-

Vash stared at his phone, reading the email again, hands shaking as he did so. The words began to blur together as tears welled up in his eyes, making it harder to read. He felt the phone being gently taken out of his grip, before strong arms pulled him close. 

“What’s wrong?” Wolfwood asked him, pressing a kiss into his temple. He could have read the email himself, but he didn’t want to invade Vash’s privacy without express permission from the blond. 

Turning to bury his face in Wolfwood’s shoulder, Vash sniffled. “Nai,” he mumbled into the man’s shoulder, causing Wolfwood to tense up. 

“What did he do now?” Wolfwood fought the urge to grab the phone again and read the email. He tried to keep his anger in check, knowing that Vash didn’t need to see that at the moment. 

Shaking his head, Vash pulled back so he could look at Wolfwood and explain properly. “He apologized,” he said, bewilderment clear on his face, as if he never expected such a thing from his own brother. 

“What?” Wolfwood asked, fully giving in to his desire to read the email. He pulled the phone back up to his eyeline, entering Vash’s passcode since he didn’t want to shove the Face ID into his face. His eyes scanned the email, Vash reading it along with him. 

“See?” Vash was still astonished as he read the words. Then he felt bad for feeling so surprised that Nai would possibly apologize to him. “I’m not misreading it, right? Like, he’s actually apologizing?” 

Blinking, Wolfwood handed Vash his phone again. “I think he genuinely apologized to you.” Part of him felt like this was another trick that Nai was using to get to Vash, but it had been almost a month since the major blow out where Vash had shown up at the apartment he used to share with Nai. 

“Oh my god. Do you think he’s been abducted?” Vash asked, genuinely looking over at Wolfwood with concern in his eyes. “Like, it’s been a month. He could have been abducted and maybe this is him trying to let me know that he’s been taken?” 

Wolfwood bit his lip, trying to fight back the smile at the overactive imagination Vash had sometimes. “Angel, I feel like if he was kidnapped, he would have just said, ‘Vash, I have been kidnapped, pay the ransom’,” Wolfwood said, trying to mimic Nai’s voice. 

Vash’s lips trembled with the effort of trying not to smile at Wolfwood’s impression. “This is serious, Nicholas,” he said, lightly hitting Wolfwood’s chest. “Nai apologized. Nai apologized,” he repeated, feeling it necessary to name his brother again. 

“He did,” Wolfwood agreed, sobering up so as to avoid upsetting Vash. “And he’s willing to give you the space that you asked for.” 

“Well, I wasn’t really giving him a choice anyway.” Vash shrugged, no longer feeling apologetic about taking the space and time that he needed. 

“True. But I meant that it seems like he isn’t planning to interrupt your life anymore.” The phrasing didn’t sit well with him, but it was the best way that he could describe it. “He even said that he would clear the apartment when you wanted to get your things.” 

Sighing, Vash ran his fingers through his hair, causing it to spike up every which way. “I know. But we don’t have the space for anything until we get a lease on a new house.” 

“First we have to actually find a new house, Vash,” Wolfwood reminded him, knowing that the blond had been putting it off despite the deadline growing closer. 

Huffing, Vash turned to lean all of his weight on Wolfwood, causing the other man to lay back on the couch, leaving him with a lap full of blond. “Change is scary,” he groaned, turning to lay his head on Wolfwood’s chest. 

Moving his hands up, Wolfwood smoothed Vash’s hair down, smiling sardonically at him. “Change or commitment, Needle Noggin?” 

The question promptly earned Wolfwood a bite to his left wrist, causing the man to hiss. “I tell you every other day that we’re married. You think a lease agreement is going to cause me commitment issues, Nicholas?”

“Ow, you demon,” Wolfwood said, shaking his wrist out to get some of the pain to ebb. “And stop full naming me, will you?”

“I’ll marry you right now. Let’s go to the courthouse!” Vash told him, puffing his cheeks out. 

Wolfwood settled him with a stare, before snorting. “A new lease and house is a scary change but changing your name isn’t?” 

“Vash Wolfwood has a great ring to it!” He argued, angrily pressing his chin into Wolfwood’s chest. “Or Vash Saverem-Wolfwood.” 

“You’re being such a brat,” Wolfwood said, wiggling under him to avoid the pointy chin. “And you can’t even choose which name you want.” 

“Well, either way I’m a Wolfwood!”

Wolfwood pressed his lips together again, trying to avoid grinning. “You wanna marry me so bad it makes you look stupid.” 

“I’ve been saying that! For months!” 

“We’ve only been dating for two months!” 

Vash pursed his lips, before glaring. “I hate when you use logic.” 

“Well, one of us clearly has to,” Wolfwood said, leaning down to press a kiss to Vash’s pursed lips. 

“You’re still the one that wants to rent a house together. And you bought a car because your boyfriend needs transportation,” Vash pointed out, rolling his eyes. 

“Yeah, rent a house, Spikey. We’re not getting a mortgage together,” Wolfwood reminded him. “And the car was a practicality. For Knives. Like the house is.”

“You wanna put a ring on it so bad it makes you look stupid,” Vash teased, before laughing loudly as Wolfwood began tickling him relentlessly. “I give! I give!”

Leaning back in, Wolfwood pressed another kiss to Vash’s lips. “I love you. I’ll put a ring on it when we’re actually ready. Give it,” he paused, thinking of an appropriate time. “Four more months to a year.” 

“Ugh. That’s forever! And you’re going to want a long engagement, I just know it,” Vash whined, curling up on top of the man. “I love you, too, though.” 

“Now. Can we please get back to the topic of your brother?” Wolfwood asked, before wincing. “I can’t believe I just asked that.”

Vash let out a long, drawn out sigh. “Yeah, we probably should,” he said, settling his head under Wolfwood’s chin so he could press his ear to the man’s chest and hear his heartbeat. 

“How do you feel about renting a storage unit temporarily?” Wolfwood asked him, running his hand up and down Vash’s spine to calm the man resting on his chest. 

“Well. That would solve one problem,” he agreed, reaching his own hand up to play with Wolfwood’s hair. 

“And what’s the next problem, pumpkin?” 

Laughing, Vash teasingly pulled on a strand of Wolfwood’s hair. “You think you’re so cute,” he teased, leaning up to press a kiss to Wolfwood’s cheek. 

“Next problem, Vash,” he guided, smiling softly at the kiss. 

“No fun,” Vash pouted, settling back down. “Another problem is the house situation. I think, maybe, we should tour a few.” 

Kissing the top of the blond hair, Wolfwood hummed his agreement. “I’ll pick a few places and you pick a few. I’m sure we can figure something out.” 

“We sound like a ridiculous intro to House Hunters,” Vash pointed out, chuckling. “He’s a dog groomer. His partner is a disabled college student. Their budget is… Nick, what’s our budget?” 

Wolfwood’s laughter cut off as he tried to consider a budget. “Well, a house will be a bit more expensive.” 

“I have the money,” Vash reminded him, leaning up so he could look at him. “And I graduate next year so I’ll have a job where I can make more money.” 

Grimacing at the mental math, Wolfwood sighed. “Fine. We keep it within reason, but if it’s the perfect place, whatever.” 

“I think your list is lengthier than mine. You just want me to have all of the accommodations. I don’t need all of them.”

“I’m not saying you need all of the accommodations, I’m just saying that if we’re moving to make our life easier, as a couple, then we might as well shoot for the sky.” 

Vash snorted. “And land among the stars?”

Smirking, Wolfwood leaned in to kiss him. “Something like that.” 

“You’re so cheesy,” Vash mumbled against his lips, not quite wanting to pull away. 

“And you’re still avoiding talking about Nai.” Wolfwood said it quietly, not wanting to cause Vash to jerk back quickly or be upset.

The blond sighed. “I’m worried.” 

“Then talk to me, Angel. What are you worried about?” Wolfwood asked, bringing his hand up to gently card through Vash’s hair. 

Biting his bottom lip, Vash looked into Wolfwood’s eyes, feeling himself calm a little. “What if he’s trying to manipulate me, again?”

“You know your brother better than me,” Wolfwood started, “but does this really feel like something he would do to manipulate you? Because everything that I’ve seen was more out in the open.” 

“I don’t know. I’m still new to seeing the signs,” Vash admitted, feeling his cheeks turn red. “But he’s in therapy. And I did tell him that was something I thought he needed.” 

“True. At least he listened to that.” Wolfwood sat for a moment, fingers still playing with Vash’s hair. “I think that someone who isn’t actually sorry wouldn’t waste their time going to see a therapist.” 

Nodding, Vash closed his eyes for a moment so he could think. “I feel like… maybe he was actually being sincere.”

“Well, then what do you want to do?” Wolfwood asked, leaning in to press a kiss to Vash’s forehead. 

“It’s still early for me to just… forgive everything,” Vash admitted, hating that he was saying that outloud. 

“You don’t have to forgive anything,” Wolfwood reminded him, massaging his scalp. “Do you want to email him back?” 

Vash took in a deep breath before slowly exhaling. “Yeah. I’m gonna do it tomorrow, though. I’m way too comfy.” 

Wolfwood couldn’t help but to chuckle. “Do you want to wait until I’m at home or will you be okay?” 

“Um,” Vash considered for a moment. “I think I should be okay. Reading the email didn’t upset me, so I don’t think replying will be any different.” 

Moving his hand to cup Vash’s jaw, Wolfwood tilted the blond’s face up so he could softly kiss him. “You really are something else.” 

Giggling against Wolfwood’s lips, Vash looked at him curiously. “Is that actually a good thing?” 

“I think so. You’ve grown a lot in a short amount of time,” Wolfwood explained, fondness gushing in his tone. “I’m really proud of you.” 

Vash’s gaze turned watery as he leaned into Wolfwood’s hand, nuzzling the palm. “You can’t just say stuff like that, Nick!” He whined, feeling himself get emotional. 

“Can and did,” he teased, before pressing kisses over Vash’s eyes to stop the tears. “No more crying.” 

“But I’m happy!” Vash insisted, curling his arm behind Wolfwood’s neck so he could hug him. “I love you so much!” He cried, pressing his face against Wolfwood’s cheek. 

“Oh my god,” Wolfwood said, hugging him tightly to help calm him down. “I love you, too, crybaby.” 

“Mean,” Vash mumbled against his cheek. 

“If I call you Angel, you’ll just cry more,” Wolfwood teased, rolling them to the side so they could lay next to each other, Vash pressed into the back of the couch. He knew he was in danger of falling off at any point, but he didn’t let that deter him. 

“Will not,” Vash told him, settling him with a serious glare now that he didn’t have to keep looking up and craning his neck to properly look at Wolfwood. 

Feeling inspired, Wolfwood gently caressed the apple of Vash’s cheek, before pressing a light kiss to the skin. “If you insist,” he pressed an even lighter kiss to Vash’s cupid bow, not quite committing to capturing his top lip. “Angel.”

Vash felt his skin light up as if he had been set on fire, cheeks burning pink. “Well, I’m not crying!” He said, slapping his hand into the center of Wolfwood’s chest, causing the man to laugh maniacally until he fell off of the couch. Landing on the carpet, Wolfwood stared up at the couch in surprise for a moment, before cracking up again, tears nearly leaking out of the corners of his eyes.

Huffing, Vash peered over the edge of the couch, locking eyes with Wolfwood for a moment. Despite trying to fight off a fit of laughter, the longer he stared at the man on the ground, the harder it became for Vash to avoid laughing. The nail in the coffin was when Wolfwood stuck his tongue out at Vash, causing the blond to roll back onto the couch, heaving with laughter. 

It took several more minutes for the two men to contain their laughter, before Wolfwood could find the energy to sit up so he could properly look Vash over. “You alive there, Needles?” 

Vash stuck his tongue out at Wolfwood, before giggling again. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good,” he said, pulling himself to a sitting position. Wiping at his eyes, Vash grinned at Wolfwood. “I needed that.” 

“Figured you might,” Wolfwood told him, moving to stand up, before he stretched his arms above his head. “I’m grabbing your laptop. We’re house hunting,” he announced, moving to the counter where Vash had set up the laptop. 

“Meryl and Milly found their house by driving around,” Vash offered, moving to lay back against the arm of the couch, before patting the spot between his legs. 

Rolling his eyes, Wolfwood settled in front of Vash, feeling the blond rest his chin on his shoulder. “How you went so long without any partner is beyond me. You are the clingiest and most physically affectionate person I know. And I grew up with Livio.” 

Vash smacked a wet kiss to Wolfwood’s neck in retaliation. “You love how clingy I am,” he responded confidently, grinning as Wolfwood lightly patted his arm, showing that he agreed. “Now pull up some houses.” 

“Bossy,” Wolfwood teased, immediately pulling up a few different websites that they could overview. “At least two bedrooms? So you can have an office space?”

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Vash told him, grinning. “And a walk-in-shower is preferred. But I wouldn’t argue if we found a nice tub.” 

Tutting his tongue against the back of his teeth, Wolfwood shook his head. “You wash a guy's hair one time and he decides he needs it every week for the rest of his life.” 

“You came into this relationship knowing I was high maintenance.”

“Anyways,” Wolfwood said, dragging the last syllable out for a moment. “We prefer one story, right?”

“I mean, it’s nice, but I’m good with stairs.” 

“Except the time we went out with Livio and I had to carry you up to the apartment.” 

“Livio has a lot of infectious energy! I wanted to keep up! And I’m doing a lot better with my stamina, thank you very much.” 

“We’ll leave two stories as a maybe.” 

“We won’t count a house out if it has two stories. I’m getting really good about hopping up the stairs on my left leg,” Vash said proudly. 

“Alright, alright,” Wolfwood conceded, smiling as he scrolled through the options. “The prices seem pretty reasonable.” 

After looking through the different options for an hour or so, they had a few front runners that Wolfwood decided he would call to set up viewings for that week. At some point towards the end, however, Vash had drifted off to sleep, cheek resting on Wolfwood’s shoulder. 

Chuckling softly, Wolfwood shut the laptop down, before setting it at the end of the couch. He then gently traced his fingers up and down Vash’s arm, hoping to rouse the man from his sleep. “Come on, Sunshine. You have to actually get ready for bed,” he whispered, gently nudging his temple against Vash’s head. 

“No,” came the whiny reply as Vash tightened his arm around Wolfwood’s waist. 

“Hmm.” Wolfwood applied more pressure to Vash’s arm, before wrapping his hand around the blond’s wrist. “I can always leave you here on the couch. And I’ll go sleep in our large, comfy bed… all alone.” 

Vash bit Wolfwood’s shoulder through the man’s shirt, causing him to twitch and pull away. “Don’t threaten me with things you can’t follow through on,” Vash mumbled, sitting up finally to rub his eyes. 

“I should leave you here on principle,” Wolfwood muttered, knowing that Vash was right and he would never do that. 

“Carry me to bed.” 

“Demanding,” Wolfwood said, before disentangling himself from Vash so that he could stand and properly pick the man up. “You are so spoiled,” he teased, carrying him to the room and depositing him on the bed. 

“All your own fault,” Vash announced, feeling unapologetic. “I was so timid and unsure, but you spoiled me.” 

“You’ve always been a bit of a brat,” Wolfwood teased, leaning over to press a kiss to his lips. “My spoiling just didn’t help.” 

Vash cupped Wolfwood’s jaw, gently running his thumb along the man’s stubble. “But do you feel loved?” He asked, pressing a gentle kiss to the man’s lips through his own smile. 

Eyes softening at the question, Wolfwood moved his hand to cover Vash’s, keeping it in place. “I feel very loved, Angel.” He turned his head to kiss the palm of Vash’s hand. “What about you, beautiful? Do you feel loved?” 

Melting at the soft kiss, Vash slowly nodded his head. “So much more than I ever thought I would,” he whispered, smiling sweetly as his eyes met Wolfwood’s own. 

“Then that’s all that matters.” Wolfwood leaned in to press another kiss to Vash’s lips, which turned into several more not-so-gentle kisses. 

Chapter Text

Vash sighed and tilted his head from side to side as he tried to stretch a little on the car ride over to the next house. They had already viewed two houses that had turned out to be complete duds, so he wasn’t feeling hopeful. Wolfwood chuckled as he glanced over to Vash for a moment, not letting his eyes leave the road for too long. 

“Come on, Spikey, we still have two more appointments to get through,” Wolfwood teased, reaching over with his free hand to gently pat Vash’s knee. 

“I know,” Vash told him, giving him a smile. “I’m just feeling a little let down.” 

Wolfwood kept his hand on Vash’s knee, lightly squeezing it. “People always lie and put the best options on the listing to make it as appealing as possible. We still have plenty of houses to check out.” 

Groaning, Vash leaned back in the seat, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. “Then this migraine is only going to get worse.” 

Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Wolfwood assessed the way Vash leaned back and closed his eyes. “Let’s just do this next one and if you start to feel worse, we can head home. How does that sound?” 

“I should be okay. I can function fine,” Vash said, keeping his eyes closed. 

Humming, Wolfwood patted Vash’s knee again, before deciding to speak his mind. “If you feel bad, I don’t think you’ll really give the last house the benefit of the doubt. I feel like you’ll be in pain and that’ll make you rush.” 

Pouting, Vash crossed his arms. “I can rush and still give it the benefit of the doubt.” 

Chuckling, Wolfwood pulled to a stop at the third house. “Whatever you say, babe,” he teased, turning off the engine, before turning his attention to the ‘Open House’ sign. “Huh…” 

Hearing confusion from Wolfwood, Vash opened his eyes and slowly turned his head in the direction that Wolfwood was looking. “We have the right address, right?” 

Wolfwood pulled his phone out of his pocket, double-checking the address on the listing. “Yep. Think we should just leave?”

Vash turned his gaze to the house, looking up the paved pathway that met the sidewalk and had an offshoot that led to the driveway. The front porch was wide and inviting, practically begging them to come knock on the door. “I mean, it couldn’t hurt to look, right?” He asked, smiling at Wolfwood as he felt his energy renewing. 

“Unless you fall in love,” Wolfwood warned, knowing the look that was crossing Vash’s face. “We don’t know anything about this house’s cost or maintenance. We don’t even know if it’s for rent or actually for sale.” 

“Then we just go find out,” Vash said, already opening his door and exiting the car. He moved to the back door to let Knives out, clicking his tongue to get the dog to follow him to Wolfwood’s side of the car without his leash.

Sighing heavily as he exited the car, Wolfwood reached up to gently massage the back of Vash’s neck as they looked the house over. He couldn’t deny that there was some sort of charm in the home, the way a worn picket fence wrapped around the property helped to distract from the weeds growing around a few fruit trees in the front yard. “Looks like it needs some landscaping.” 

“Well, I happen to love plants,” Vash announced, easily making his way to the gate and opening it for Knives to walk in behind him. “This gate looks new, at least.” 

“That just means they’re hoping whoever buys this place will look past the fence posts that have rotted out,” Wolfwood told him, following right behind him up the, admittedly, clean sidewalk. 

“Who’s the Debbie Downer now?” Vash teased, stepping up the few stairs onto the porch, before bouncing gently. “This porch is really solid.” 

“And would you believe it’s original to the home?” A real estate agent asked, opening the front door to invite them in. “Only needed maintenance boards replaced over its lifespan.” 

“That’s kind of impressive,” Wolfwood commented, stepping closer to Vash so the blond didn’t fall back on the stairs if the real estate agent startled him. 

“How old is the home?” Vash asked, surprising Wolfwood with his forwardness. The blond threw a grin back at his boyfriend, before entering the home into the front living room. Looking around, he could tell the home was out of fashion, but something about the dated fashion made it come off cozy, instead of corny. 

“The house was built in the 70s, but had a full remodel sometime in the 90s,” the agent said, pointing to a few of the fixtures that showed the house's age. “But the bones are good. A bit of paint and a few fixture changes, this place would be easy to modernize.” 

“So, this house is for sale, right?” Wolfwood asked, cutting to the chase. “The listing said it was for rent.” 

“A terrible miscommunication between departments,” they said, frowning, clearly having dealt with this question multiple times already. “But this house really is affordable. The owner is an older woman whose husband passed away and so she just can’t take care of the house herself.” 

“That’s awful,” Vash said, frowning at the thought of losing your loved one and then having to say goodbye to her home.

“It is,” the agent agreed. “They had no children, so she’s having to move in with her niece’s family. But she’s happy to be spending time with family, she just wants to make sure her husband’s legacy is taken care of.” 

Wolfwood wanted to be annoyed at the fantastical story that the agent was using, something that was clearly swaying Vash and something that he was sure likely swayed many buyers. But as they moved into the dining room, he could see the marks on the walls from where the picture frames had hung. The house had obviously been well loved.

“How many rooms?” Vash asked, looking over the older, but still usable appliances in the kitchen. 

Putting on a smile, the agent led them down a hallway. “Would you believe there’s four bedrooms?” They flipped on the light of the first room, showcasing a small desk and bed, clearly a child’s room. 

“Did you stage these rooms?” Wolfwood asked, looking over the modern finishes of the bed and desk, clearly something from IKEA. 

“That’s standard practice, usually,” the agent explained, smiling at him. “We try to show some of the potential. This could be an office, too.” 

“Yeah, but it’s a really good size for a kid’s room,” Vash said, turning to Wolfwood with a small, hopeful smile. They hadn’t really discussed their future regarding children, but he knew that he had always wanted to be a dad. 

Wolfwood opened his mouth to speak, before slowly closing it. It wasn’t that he was opposed to having children, but the discussion had yet to come up and he hadn’t considered Vash’s views on the subject. Taking in the hopeful smile on the blond’s face, Wolfwood smiled back. “Well, with four rooms, that could be three kids, or two kids and an office. Or a guest bedroom. Lots of options.” 

The agent, picking up on the kids angle, turned to head in the opposite direction, back towards the kitchen. “I didn’t even get a chance to mention the bonus room,” they said, opening a door on the right hand side of the kitchen, revealing a set of stairs to the well-lit basement. 

“It’s a completely finished basement with a laundry room and a half bathroom,” the agent said, leading the way down the stairs to reveal the large room. “The owners knew they were going to end up selling eventually, so they added some selling features down here. Who doesn’t love a bonus room?”

Vash grinned, nudging Wolfwood with his elbow. “Could be a playroom for the kids.” 

Wolfwood moved his hand up to gently ruffle Vash’s hair. “Or a large guest suite. Livio would lose his mind.” 

“I can tell you two are able to see the potential here,” the agent said, grinning at them. “Would you like to take a look at the master bedroom and ensuite?” 

“Up to it, Blondie?” Wolfwood teased, resting his hands on Vash’s shoulders and gently squeezing them. 

“What’s one more room?” Vash asked, laughing. 

“That’s the spirit!” The agent said, making their way back upstairs. 

Vash and Wolfwood followed, albeit a little slower as the blond had already been up and down a few staircases that day. As they arrived upstairs, the agent smiled at them apologetically, having realized that Vash was disabled. Rather than mentioning it, however, the agent slowed their walk to the master bedroom suite. 

“If you’d like to take a seat, please feel free,” they said, walking through the room and opening the closet bedroom, as well as the bathroom.  

“I’m okay,” Vash promised, walking to the bathroom to see a shower and garden tub. “I’ll guess the shower was an addition?” He asked, noting the built-in seat. 

“You guessed right,” the agent said, opening the door so it was easier for them to see. “The owners found that it was easier to have a built-in seat so they could rest.” 

Vash settled a stare at Wolfwood before grinning. “Smart people.” 

“Alright,” Wolfwood said, knowing that Vash was sold on the house. “What price are we talking? Because I remember what the rent was listed as.” 

“Would you like to see the screened-in back porch and privacy fenced backyard first?” The agent asked, grinning as they waved the couple to head back towards the kitchen. 

“I would!” Vash said, grabbing Wolfwood’s hand to lead him back out so that he couldn’t hassle the real estate agent too hard. Pointing towards a set of french doors, Vash asked, “Out here?” 

“That’s it!” The agent said, watching as Vash opened the doors and pulled Wolfwood out onto the large, screened-in porch that had a short set of stairs leading out towards the back of the property.

“Damn,” Wolfwood said, looking out through the screens at the large backyard where he knew Knives would love to run around. 

“Kuro would love this porch,” Vash helpfully told him, grinning as he walked the area. 

“This house is $$250,000,” the agent finally spoke up, knowing they were hooked. 

“You’re shitting me,” Wolfwood said, not believing the price. 

Shrugging, the agent smiled. “The owner has it priced to sell. She knows that it still needs a little work, so she wanted to make sure that the next owner would be able to have a cushion to add those updates.” 

Vash sucked in a breath at the price, doing the mental math of the cost and what a down payment they would likely have to do, though he knew they could afford it. “That mortgage is only a little more than our current rent.” 

“Well, we have a lot to discuss still, Vash,” Wolfwood cautioned him, not wanting to immediately crush his dreams. 

“Why don’t you two take my card and sleep on it?” The agent told him, sliding his card into Vash’s hand, knowing the blond was ultimately the one to make the final call. “You’re the first one’s to actually show interest after the whole listing snafu, so I don’t foresee anyone stealing this place out from under you.” 

“We’ll talk this over and be in touch,” Vash told them, smiling as he slid the card into his pocket, before opening the door back into the house. “Nick, let’s go talk.” 

“Thanks for the tour,” Wolfwood said, following behind Vash as they made their way back through the house. He didn’t want to admit it, but as he closed the front door behind him, part of him felt homesick, as if he was leaving his childhood home. 

Vash practically skipped to the car, Knives happily prancing behind him. Wolfwood chuckled as he followed behind, latching the gate behind him. Once at the car, Vash immediately spun to look at Wolfwood. 

“That’s the one!” 

Wolfwood stepped closer to the blond, placing his hands on Vash’s hips. “What happened to not signing a mortgage?” He teased, pressing a kiss to Vash’s cheek. 

“That was before I saw the house of my dreams!” Vash said, looking at him seriously. “It has everything we want!” 

“Except we’re going to be home owners , Angel,” Wolfwood reminded him. “We’ll be responsible for all of the updates. We’ll be responsible for anything that goes wrong.” 

“The updates are cosmetic at most, Nick! We’ll get the best inspector to make sure the roof and foundation are good. We’ll make sure the electric and plumbing are all up to code before we actually put money down.”

“That’s a lot of money, Vash,” he told him, sighing softly as he pressed his forehead to his boyfriend’s. “And we just started dating. This is insane.” 

“You hate people sharing your space, but you love having me live with you,” Vash reminded him. “I want to marry you, Nico.” 

Wolfwood cracked a smile at the nickname. “You want to have kids with me, too, apparently?”

Blushing, Vash nodded. “We could adopt. Or foster. But I’m not against pregnancy…” He looked away, feeling vulnerable as he admitted it, realizing he’d never actually said the words out loud. 

“All of that will actually come much later,” Wolfwood told him, seriously. 

“Of course. I’m not completely crazy,” Vash told him, smiling softly. “Plus we’ll have to be married for the adoption or fostering, probably. And there’s a few steps to get through for me to conceive, usually.” 

Wolfwood exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as he resolved within himself what his final decision would be. “We have to actually speak to a bank and see if anyone would even approve us. My credit is pretty shit right now because of the car loan.”