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“Come on, Nai—”
“Sunday is family dinner. Last time I checked—”
“I just want you to meet him.”
“I have met him.”
“In different circumstances.”
“And you want him to be in my house to do that?”
“You did slam the door in his face last time.”
“I thought he was one of those Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
“You opened the door and clearly saw him standing on the porch. He even asked for me! That wasn’t very nice, by the way—”
“So, I’ll send an apology note. You have a template somewhere?”
“Nai… he’s a good guy, really.” At Nai’s skeptical huff, Vash continues, voice persuasively wheedling, “He used to be a priest—”
“You know institutionalized religion is full of corruption and harmful practices that so-called leaders perpetuate—”
Vash backpedals: “He's no longer one—”
“What, he can't commit fully to helping others?”
“He works at an orphanage and a nonprofit for sick kids!”
“Bet he skims off the funds.”
Oh, this is too much. “He does not!”
Nai shakes his head, pulling up an article on his phone with a few quick taps. “You're very naive, Vash. I just read something this morning about a local nonprofit scandal—”
Vash shoves away the screen, but a ding tells him Nai’s simply sent it to him anyway. “He cares for the kids and cares for me!”
“He doesn't if he smokes around you.”
This is so far out of left field that’s a different sport. “What??”
“Secondhand smoke is still firsthand cancer, and all the money he probably wastes on cigarettes—”
Vash sighs, rubbing his forehead. “Nai—”
“And that motorcycle? He doesn't even wear a helmet. Hell, I bet he doesn't even have insurance.”
“Angelina’s perfectly safe—"
“See, who names their vehicles? Puffed-up, macho dickbags—”
“Nai, that’s not always true—”
“Rem warned us about rough characters! Come on—he’s practically a walking stereotype, Vash! I'm just looking out for you.”
Vash sighs again; he knows very well what his boyfriend looks like—and hey, that sort of works on him—but he needs to dispel these notions before his brother gets even more worked up. “Nicholas is very sweet once you get to—"
“Nicholas??” Red flows up to Nai’s hairline.
“I’m bringing my boyfriend over for dinner, and that’s final,” Vash declares, folding his arms. Knowing his twin, it’s one of those times where he has to put his foot down and put it down hard.
Nai’s right eye twitches. “You will not!”
“He will provide dessert!”
“Like hell he will!”
“Nai, you will give him a chance for one night.”
“NO!” Nai shouts, throwing up his hands, and storms upstairs. Vash hears the office door slam behind him, vibrating throughout the house, enough to rattle the chandelier above his head.
Vash takes out his phone. …That went better than I thought. Still free Sunday?
The crunch of lettuce is the only sound in the dining room, and Vash covertly glances at his watch. A full ten minutes have passed, and no one’s said a word, besides the Doesn't he know how to button his shirt? from Nai when he opened the door. At this rate, they’d be having dessert before the hour’s up—which Vash normally wouldn’t mind, except that it isn’t the point of this evening.
Underneath the table, Nicholas squeezes his knee. Vash looks at him with a patient no in his eyes, then turns as Nai fixes Nicholas with a glare as he stabs into a cherry tomato. No, he telegraphs again, a little more firmly.
Despite the tension, though, Vash, as always, remains optimistic. “Wow,” he begins, “this salad is really good, Nai! What’d you do this time?”
“The dressing’s from a bottle,” Nai mutters. “Salad’s probably due to those fresh vegetables you brought over the other day.”
Vash beams at the opening. “I’m glad you like them! They’re from Nicholas’s community garden!”
A grimace crosses his brother’s face. “They’re all right,” Nai says, poking another lettuce leaf and lifting it to eye level. “If you ignore the holes. It’s safe to eat?”
“Nai,” Vash scolds, as Nai pushes his plate back, lips twisting. “They are! Nicholas is into organic gardening—why don’t you tell him what you and the kids are—”
“Let’s just eat dinner,” Nai interrupts, standing. “I made your favorite, Vash, spaghetti and meatballs. Nicholas isn’t vegetarian, is he?”
“No,” Wolfwood says, after Vash nudges him.
Nai sighs, as if he’s disappointed. “All right. Give me your plates.”
“Nai…” Vash begins, but Nai’s already stacking. He shoots an apologetic glance at Nicholas, who only shrugs.
But as soon as Nai steps into the kitchen, Nicholas immediately says, “This wasn’t a good idea.”
“Nicholas—”
“I get why you’re trying to do this, but your brother already hates me.”
“No…”
“Blondie. I basically threw a middle finger in his face and lit a trash can on fire when I quit his company. I took Zazie and Livio and almost half the clients with me. He’s not going to forgive that, especially since I’m dating his baby brother.”
Vash sighs. “We’re only a few minutes apart—but that’s not the point. Nai is just… overprotective, and I don’t doubt he was a harsh boss, but he took care of me after Rem died, before we got to Brad and Luida. He’s a big softie at heart, like you.”
Nicholas wrinkles his nose. “I object to that notion.”
Vash pats his arm. “Nicholas, you can ride around town with that motorcycle and scowl and chain-smoke as much as you want, but I recall when you asked me to move in, you got all dressed up nice and bought me a big bouquet of geraniums and—”
“Can it, spikey,” Nicholas mutters, but he’s smiling, just a little, at the corner of his mouth.
“I mean, a big softie. You and Nai both get too into movies and end up crying and clutching the screen when the credits roll.”
“Only when an animal dies! You tear up at every death scene!”
“And you both name and talk to your plants.”
“I didn’t do that until I met you!”
“All the same…” Vash leans in to kiss the pout off Nicholas’s face—only to jump when Nai practically throws a full plate in front of him, marinara splattering on the front of his turtleneck.
“Dinner’s served,” Nai announces sharply, slamming down another plate, and Nicholas sullenly slinks back to his place.
Vash immediately digs in. “Delicious!” he declares. “Isn’t it, Nicholas?”
“It is,” Nicholas grunts, then, at another nudge, “who taught you how to cook?”
“I taught myself,” Nai says coldly, slicing his noodles with what Vash is sure is a steak knife. “I had to learn to take care of Vash. Are you still ordering takeout? Too much grease, but I assume you’re used to it, Wolfwood.”
Nicholas is chewing furiously on his bottom lip, a clear sign he’s wishing for a smoke. “We go to that Thai place near Meryl’s workplace, and it’s perfectly—”
Nai shakes his head in mock-concern. “Oh, didn’t they shut down recently? Something about the employees finding cockroaches in the walk-in? That’s not the healthiest option, is it?”
“That was long before we moved here, Nai,” Vash interrupts, giving his brother a slight kick underneath the table. To his disgruntlement, Nai doesn’t even flinch. “And Nicholas cooks plenty; he made this delicious udon yesterday! But it’s nice to have an occasional break, right?”
In response, Nai jabs his knife into a meatball.
Vash tries again: “Especially when we’re both so busy! It’s been a struggle trying to get our schedules in order, me at the community center and Nicholas working double time. You know how it is with multiple jobs, huh, Nai?”
Nai grunts, “Not if you time manage.”
“Even with that!” Vash continues desperately. “And especially with a cat—”
“A cat?” Nai narrows his eyes, putting down his fork. “You got a cat? Together?”
“Nicholas found her on the street while taking out the garbage—”
“So he stole it?”
“He took her to the vet and she wasn’t chipped—”
“That doesn’t always mean anything—”
“And after searching for the owner and no dice, we adopted her!” Vash pulls out his phone and thrusts it in front of Nai’s face. “Kuroneko—isn’t she cute?”
Nai’s eyes go to the latest photo, where Kuroneko’s nestled in Nicholas’s lap, eyes closed in contentment; Vash is next to him on the couch, arm thrown around Nicholas’s shoulder, grinning widely at the camera. “Hmph. I hope you remember to vacuum at least twice a week, Wolfwood. You know Vash has allergies.”
Nicholas’s grip tightens on his fork, and Vash sighs. Maybe it would have been better if they’d gone hiking or drinking together. He’d thought Nai would be less edgy on his home turf, but it’s only causing his protectiveness to go into overdrive.
Dejected, his eyes focus on his now-empty plate, traces of marinara sauce still around the edges. “Can someone please pass the garlic bread?”
Both his brother and Nicholas reach for the basket at the same time. Nai’s eyes flash dangerously as Nicholas tightens his grip, then tugs violently, sending his fork clattering to the floor.
“Guys—” Vash begins.
“I’m perfectly capable of providing for Vash,” Nicholas suddenly says, pulling the basket towards him.
“Oh, are you? Because last time I checked, you were collecting unemployment—”
“You know that I’m working now—”
“Even so. Vash is accustomed to a certain standard of living—”
“Nai, stop it,” Vash breaks in, reaching for a slice himself, but both Nicholas and Nai yank it from his reach. “I know you prefer your comforts, but I like Nicholas’s apartment; it’s pretty cozy—”
“Why not move back here?” Nai asks, still not letting go of the basket. “I kept your room empty, and you can have a full garden in the backyard, not some just measly potted plants on the windowsill.”
Nicholas grits his teeth. “Vash is perfectly capable of making his own decisions as an adult—”
“Sometimes he doesn’t make the best ones. Clearly.” Nai jabs a finger at Nicholas, still holding onto the basket in a death grip. “Vash may be too kind-hearted to say this, but you can grow all the organic shit and hug all the orphans you want, but you’ll never be good enough for him.”
With a screech from his chair, Nicholas stands up, letting go of the basket, slices rolling across the table. “I fully know—” he begins, then wordlessly clenches his fists at his sides.
Nai laughs, standing, too. “Resorting to physical violence now? Vash, do you really want to be with someone with a hair-trigger temper like that?”
“Nai, you’re the one needling him!” Vash exclaims, getting to his feet and shoving both men back down into their chairs. “Nicholas has been polite all evening—”
“A record, I assume?”
“And you’re not giving him a chance like you promised you would.”
“I don’t remember promising anything!”
“Nai.” Vash looks at his twin directly in the eyes, throwing his last card on the table. “I love him.”
It’s like Nai’s been punched in the stomach, chest heaving with every breath, as he looks at Vash’s open, earnest face. “You what?”
“I know you’re scared, after everything we’ve been through. But Nicholas is a good man. He’s so compassionate and funny and sweet and… every morning, I wake up and I know that he’ll be there beside me. I love him, Nai, really.” He glances towards Nicholas for support, and to his surprise, sees his eyes shining.
“You love me?” Nicholas breathes, and Vash remembers this is a man who loves with his whole heart yet doesn’t seem to think he deserves that emotion aimed at himself. Why would you bother? he’d demanded when Vash first asked him out, and Vash replied, You’re no bother at all.
“I do,” Vash repeats, taking his hand, feeling Nicholas sink into his touch, “and I think I must be doing something wrong if you don’t know that already.”
“No, tongari,” Nicholas murmurs, rubbing his thumb against Vash’s knuckles, “you can never do anything wrong.”
There’s a harsh cough, and Vash finds Nai staring at them, a range of emotions flitting through his eyes. “That’s something we both can agree on, at least.”
Vash waits.
After an agonizingly long pause, Nai looks directly at Nicholas, taking a visible long, slow breath. “Vash told me you were bringing brought dessert. What is it?”
“Doughnuts from Milly’s bakery,” Nicholas says, clearly startled.
“Those are good. I think we should have some now.”
Nicholas slowly lets go of Vash’s hand, accepting the olive branch with a nod. “I’ll get them, then.” He presses a kiss to Vash’s forehead before he goes; Vash notes that this time, his brother doesn’t seem to want to lunge for his boyfriend’s throat.
Nai then turns to Vash, slumping back into his chair. “So. You love him.”
Vash nods firmly. “I do.”
“And there’s nothing I can do to change that?”
“Nai.”
“Fine.” There’s a long pause, then, as Nai replaces the tipped-over bread basket, “I still don’t like him, but I’ll… attempt it. For you.”
Vash reaches across the table and gives his brother a quick hug. “That’s all I ask. Get to know him, and you’ll love him as much as a do.”
“Hopefully not as much,” Nai says, with the faintest smirk, and Vash rolls his eyes, just as Nicholas comes bearing a full assortment of doughnuts. Before setting them down in the middle of the table, he automatically hands Vash his favorite, cinnamon-sugar, as Nai gives the slightest nod of approval.
“So, Wolfwood,” Nai begins, reaching for a custard-cream doughnut, tone perfectly conciliatory, “is there any particular reason why you wear sunglasses indoors?”
“Nai.”