Chapter Text
Wolfwood looks down at the disheveled blond-haired man. Having barely saved him from becoming walker food.
The blond looked up at him wide-eyed like a deer caught in headlights.
Meanwhile, Wolfwood's gaze is stuck on the red jacket he's wearing. It's blinding like a big target that says shoot here. Wolfwood looked at him with disdain.
Snapping out of his trance the blond shoved the zombie’s carcass off and scrambled to his feet.
” How did an idiot like you survive this long?” wolfwood puts his gun in his holster and starts to walk away.
He stops hearing a set of footsteps behind him. He scowled, turning back," Don't take this the wrong way. I don't care if you live or die. So quit following me."
“That was too close for comfort. You really saved my life,” the blond said with a sheepish smile.” Vash Saverem.” He said, offering his hand with a warm smile,” And you?”
Wolfwood stood there a moment giving him a look. Was this guy for real, he looked him up and down.
"What? No, I'm not–"
He was taken aback for a good second he almost shook the man's hand. He didn't expect gratitude let alone a friendly smile.
Wolfwood's expression hardened. "Get lost. Go on scram before I make you!"
He turned and started walking away again. Except the blond followed close behind.
“If you don't give me one. I’ll have to give you one. Like grumpy.”
He growls,” You'll call me nothing!”
Wolfwood puts a hand to his forehead, and he looks frustrated. All the thoughts coursing through his mind were filled with violence.
"Awe," Vash deflated, pretending to sulk. "Well okay," he grins mischievously, "Hello there nothing, I’m Vash."
There's a slight twitch in Wolfwood's eye. He steps towards the blond.
This man's an idiot and there's only one way of dealing with his kind.
Wolfwood presses the gun against Vash's head. His eyes are cold and ruthless.
His voice drops down to a low, intense whisper.“I could kill you right here and I wouldn't feel a damn thing!”
Vash blinked a small yelp of surprise escaping him, but there was no fear in his eyes. Wolfwood's eyes flickered with confusion and anger at the lack of response.
Is this guy suicidal?
“I will kill you if I have to!” Wolfwood said as the metal barrel of the gun dug into Vash’s skin.
He breathes in and out slowly looking down at the blond. Vash didn't move a muscle. looking into Wolfwood's eyes with his gaze calming. For a second, wolfwood's eyes softened against their will and he lowered the gun.
His breath was heavy. Wolfwood's hands were shaking.
He barely saved the man and he already feels like putting him in the grave.
He looked at the man before him confused and conflicted,” How are you still alive?”
Wolfwood's eyes catch the gun holster previously hidden under Vash's red jacket.
He could've shot me. He had opportunities yet he didn't take them.
He closes his eyes and tries to calm himself down.
"Stop following me." He speaks through gritted teeth.”Before I do something I'll regret later."
Wolfwood turned back and started walking away through the concrete rubble of what was left of the city. Through the parked abandoned cars. A walker growled, reaching out to him. He stabbed it. Yanking the knife back out with ease. The thud of the body hitting the floor.
He could feel Vash's eyes on him the entire time. It was unsettling but better than having the idiot following him.
He pulled out a crumpled cigarette and pressed it to his lips. Rummaged through his pockets for a lighter when he suddenly heard a gunshot go off behind him. It made him turn back, dropping his cigarette in the process.
“The hell are you doing!"
"A walker, it umm…" Vash looked down at the carcasses that hit the ground. He put his gun back in his holster, it was a strange-looking gun.
Wolfwood came back and smacked the back of his head."don't you know anything! Now they're going to fill the damn streets from miles away. This place is going to be crawling with the dead."
Vash rubbed the back of his head, wincing."Geez, sorry, about that."
"Your wasting bullets. How much ammo do you even have?"
Vash smiled sheepishly, " I just used my last one."
Wolfwood stood there a moment studying the idiot dumbfounded. It took everything in his willpower to not smack him.
"What's your problem!" Wolfwood asks, his voice dripping with anger. He clenches his fist. He takes a moment to calm himself. He turned to look at Vash who stood there with a nervous smile.
This guy. He looks like he’s been living under a rock throughout this entire shit show. There's no way. It feels like
he's making a joke out of everything with that stupid goofy grin on his face.
They both walk in awkward silence.
He could feel the blond walking beside him, his eyes on him at times.
"I don't want to hear it."
"I just wanted to thank you for letting me tag along."
"If you're lucky I won't shoot you."
Wolfwood starts walking faster. He doesn't like this man walking beside him like their pals. When the blond picks up his pace and walks beside him again. Wolfwood's eyebrow twitches in annoyance.
Wolfwood glares at him, annoyed.
He turned back subtly to look at Vash. The other caught his gaze and smiled goofily in return. Wolfwood looked away with a grumble.
“Just so we're clear this doesn't make us pals so don't get all buddy-buddy with me. I said you could tag along, but your survival isn't my concern."
The blond nodded happily," understood."
Wolfwood sighed, he looked like an energetic golden retriever. "Here, use this” He handed the blond a combat knife.”You know how to use a knife right?”
He questioned growing more impatient as he saw Vash looking down at the blade with a look
“No, no it's nothing like that. Of course, I do,” he smiled.
Wolfwood didn't acknowledge him, he turned towards the growl of a nearby walker and then gestured towards it with the title of his head.
”Well go on then, kill it.”
Vash flinched at that request,” Yeah, I can do that.”
Wolfwood crossed his arms, with a look.
Vash slowly approached the walker, the rubble crunching under his feet. He pulled back slightly as its growls grew more hungry. Its hands clawing and reaching out to him. He let out a small startled sound, almost losing his fitting as the walker tried to pounce on him. For a split second Wolfwood thought he was watching the man's death playing out In Front of him.
Instead, Vash delivered the futile blow, digging the combat knife deeper. Until the walker went limp on him. His face held a look of disgust as he yanked the blade out with a bit of a struggle, and the carcass fell.
Vash let out a sigh of relief and held up a thumbs at him.
Wolfwood ignored the gesture and just started walking again.“Good to know you're not completely useless.”
The blond only smiled sheepishly at his response. Wolfwood wanted to slap that smile off his face again. Instead, he clicked his tongue and walked ahead,” Stop smiling like an idiot or I'll ditch you.”
“Sorry,” the blond said, still smiling.
Wolfwood grumbled but kept walking,” dumbass.” he whispered faintly under his breath.
They kept walking in silence except for the few growls and moans from the few walkers nearby. They had only a few encounters with them, a privilege they soon wouldn't have when nightfall hit. Wolfwood wanted to get the hell out of the open and somewhere hidden and discrete, the city wasn't the best place to be. The walkers were the least of their problems.
Wolfwood finally decided on a small store. The place looked promising for the night. the door barricaded off by a large plank of wood. He removed it and broke the door's window with a nearby brick. He reached carefully through the jagged broken glass and unlocked the door letting them in.
The building was a small antique shop, having a few glass antiques and knicks. There were shirts on racks alongside some other wear. The reception counter was filled with old moldy baked goods that had a faint stench. A few rats scurrying near their feet.
The blond tried to step out of its path with a small squeak. Wolfwood gave him an annoyed look. Before his gaze landed on the couch in the corner. He walked over to it sitting back and taking his backpack off.
He let out a content sigh that was cut off by Vash having a seat next to him…
“The couch's mine. Go somewhere else.”
“That's cold.”
Wolfwood glared at him.
“Okay okay. I don't care, take the couch,” he said, holding his hands up in surrender fashion.
Wolfwood dug out a can and popped it open with his pocket knife cutting the edges ruggedly. He drained the juices on the carpet. The blond eyeing him and the can.
“What? You thought I was going to share?" wolfwood stated coldly. He almost wanted to mess with the blond he looked so easy to walk all over that it was almost tempting. "C’mon don't tell me you've got nothing in that duffle bag you've been lugging around?”
He tilted the can of beans into his mouth. A few of them fell in. He chewed watching the Vash.
The blond smiled nervously showing his empty duffle bag, making Wolfwood almost spit out the food.
“You're joking!”
“I wish I was.”
“You're telling me that hunk of metal and an empty bag is all you have? I should've just left you for dead…” he muttered, taking another mouthful of the beans and chewing.
The only other partial reason he took the blonde is now gone, he was starting to regret this decision more and more.
“Hey, I can take the night watch," the blond said as if sensing wolfwood growing more hostile. "I can be a real help, " Vash begged, clapping his hands together in a pleading fashion.
"What gave you the idea I trust you? Because I don’t.”
What if he kills me in my sleep or runs off with what I have? Then again looking at the blond he looked harmless. It was pathetic, but it could be a ruse.
“Your name's Vash right?”
The blond beamed, "Yes, and you?”
“You're from a sanctuary aren't you?”
The blond was a bit taken aback by the question.
“Don't play dumb. Just look at you look sheltered. Did you get separated from them?”
Vash looked down at his hands, his hair tipping down into his eyes.” I was. Just my luck, huh? We were out on a simple supply gathering and we got ambushed by another group. We underestimated what we could handle."
Wolfwood plucked out a cigarette stuck it between his teeth and lit it. Taking a deep drag and exhaling through his nose,” So you got scared and hid while your comrades were killed?”
He could feel the couch shift slightly next to him.
Wolfwood didn't say it in accusation but merely stated it as fact. He was traveling with a coward. One that wouldn't break a sweat ditching him in a similar circumstance. At least he had some survival instincts.
Wolfwood fidgeted with the cigarette in his mouth, "Not like it's my business. I'd do the same… If I were you I would've killed the guy eating good next to me and taken all his supplies."
Vash’s eyes darted toward him,” what!? no, I would never?" Vash exasperated, thrown off by the accusation. "It's not my nature."
“Then you're an idiot.” He gazed at Vash's side profile. Seeing the faint smile tracing on his lips as his head was still tilted down examining the stains on the carpet…
He could see through the smile, that this man was carrying weight. It was heavy in the blond's blue eyes for a second before fading. A survivor who still had a heart?
”I’ll take the night watch.” Wolfwood said getting off the couch and walking to the front of the store, he took a seat in a chair where the moonlight pooled in from a crack in the blinds. He put his feet up on the desk and leaned back.
“But the couch–”
“Take it. I'll kick you off when it's your turn.”
He turned away, still feeling the blond's gaze. He could feel the smile forming on Vash's face as he settled down on the couch and stretched. So that his back was now facing him.”Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet… You trust too easily. I could kill you if I wanted to.”
The blond turned over and chuckled lightly,” You could but I just got to trust the guy that saved my life.”
Wolfwood clicked his tongue,” Spared . I spared your life. Even then I'm just prolonging your inevitable death.”
Vash laughed a look of glee coming over him. Wolfwood raised an eyebrow,” what's so funny, huh? He almost sat up in his confusion and frustration. He hated how the blond seemed to find his rude and cold nature amusing.
“True but I'm still going to thank you. I might die tomorrow or a week from now. You still gave me today. That's enough.”
” Don’t paint me as some kind of saint. If anything I see you as a wall of meat between me and a walker.”
The blond only smiled and curled back into his sleeping position letting Wolfwood linger with the exchanged words in silence.
The cigarette he was smoking was now a stub between his teeth he cursed and spat it out pulling out his package but stopping when he only counted two left. He sighed and repocketed them. Imagine when he’d be lucky enough to find another pack.
He sits there and the night goes on alone with his thoughts and the sounds of the few walkers that pass by outside, the sounds of their feet scraping against the ground, their low growls, and absent moans. Followed by the faint sounds of Vash sleeping on the couch, he watched him curiously. Only catching a glimpse of his red jacket hugging him. Vash's messy hair covered his sleeping face.
Hours pass and Wolfwood doesn't feel tired and doubts there will be any trouble tonight.
He yawns, stretching as he gets up from the chair and makes his way to the sleeping blond until he’s standing over him. He’s out cold. He’s breathing steady and even. Doesn’t look even the slightest bit restless.
Must be nice, he thinks as he slowly grabs the gun out of his holster.
He points the gun at the sleeping man, clicking the safety off. His eyes narrowed as he slowly applied pressure to the trigger. His eyes studied the way his chest rose and fell with each breath.
" I can make it quick," he says in a low voice.
Quick and painless. Just one bullet. He wouldn't feel it.
This is mercy… This is kindness.
Wolfwood flinched. The blond shifted. His sleeping face now faces him. Making his hair brush faintly against the butt of the gun.
Wolfwood's eyes softened and his grip flattered. He lowered the gun, a faint curse leaving his lips as he stared down at the sleeping man.
“Did you sleep?”
Vash’s voice jolted him into a sitting position. He blinked looking back toward the couch, where Vash was sitting up looking at him sleepily. Wolfwwod glanced outside through the small tear in the blinds. The sun peaking in made him squint his eyes and rub them.
“Some.”
“You didn't wake me up.” Vash suddenly caught the can of food wolfwood threw at him.
“If we're going to be traveling together I don't want you fainting on me.”
Vash looked down at the can of beans, his eyes shimmered and he smiled giddily. Like a kid that got to open a Christmas present early.”Thanks this is–”
“Shut up and eat.”
Vash quickly opened the can with the pocket knife and started eating.
“Mhm, it tastes like heaven.” The blond mumbled through bites of food, he chewed and made happy noises like a starving animal.
“Are you always this annoying?”
Vash took his final bite savoring it.”Are you always this antisocial?”
Wolfwood took his feet off the table and sat up.” It's called not being a dumbass. You don't survive by being friendly-go-lucky all the time. Would it kill you to act like a normal person?”
“Define normal in a time like this?”
“Normal as in… As in like every other cynical piece of shit survivor that exists.” He exasperated, glaring at the childish man. “You're too happy for a guy that got separated from his group.”
“I guess you've got a point but what can I do?” the blond smiled sadly looking down at his empty can of food.
Wolfwood grumbled, he didn't want that either. He groaned internally at a standstill, everything this idiot did bothered him regardless. Like a stomach ache, any sound he made, every look or movement agitated him relentlessly. Still, this is the longest time he’s talked to another person without them trying to kill or steal from him.
“Another thing, if we're walking together you're ditching that stupid red coat.”
The blond flinched,” Huh! What's wrong with it?”
“You know exactly what’s wrong with it, you're a damn walking bullseye. Put on something normal.” Wolfwood pointed at a rack of clothes.
“I don't need another jacket, this one’s fine.”
Wolfwood went through the clothes on the rack and pulled out a jacket with normal bland color, throwing it to the blond, who caught it.” There try that one… better camouflage.”
“But I–”
“Take the damn coat off!” Wolfwood snapped, annoyed that the blond couldn't handle the simple request, let alone listen to the man who saved and spared him some food. If anything it was the least he could do.
Vash sighed, taking off his red jacket and revealing the black long-sleeved shirt underneath. He put on the brown jacket and looked at wolfwood slightly annoyed. Wolfwood didn't think it was physically possible to see that expression on the blond until now. He liked it. It was a change from that stupid smile.
“Better,” wolfwood went over and grabbed his backpack and put it on. Watching as Vash stuffed the red jacket into his duffle bag. As long as he wasn't making them any more noticeable he didn't give a damn whether he carried it around or not.
"Do you know if that group of yours is still around? Anyone still alive?"
Vash shook his head, "I doubt it."
Wolfwwod sighed, "Well, let's do this. As long as you don't slow me down you can keep tagging along. If you become a burden I'm leaving your ass.."
Wolfwood walked out of the shop, the blonde following close behind him. The morning sun was still barely rising over the collapsed city and rubble.
"Can I at least know your name?" Vash asked walking alongside him once more, wolfwood scowled, moving to create more space between them.
"Wolfwood," he looked ahead,” Nicholas D Wolfwood. Happy?”
He could still feel the blond's smile forming," that's a strange name."
"So is yours Spikey, but you don't hear me complaining."
"Spikey?" The blond made a sheepish face.” That's a nickname? Did you just give me a nickname?"
Wolfwood scowled at the joyful undertone in the blond's voice.”No. A better nickname for you would be dumbass or walker meat.”
"That's not very nice."
"Why not? It's not like you're going to live long enough for it to be a problem," Wolfwood stated nonchalantly.
Vash made an annoyed expression, "You keep saying that like you've got some kind of grudge against me?"
"It's nothing personal. I just can't stand idiots that natural selection hasn't snuffed out yet."
"That's just beautiful."
The two walked slowly, easing themselves away from the city and making it onto an abandoned country road. The sun beat down on them making them sweat. The sound of birds chirping could be heard in the distance.
Vash wiped the sweat off his brow, "do you have any water?"
"No, suck it up, we've only been walking for four hours."
"I'll pass out. I will, I'm dying here," Vash whined, dragging his feet as he walked behind him. His arms hanging losslessly to his sides, a slight slouch to his walk.
"What did I say about slowing me down?" Wolfwood grumbled, he could feel his temper rising with the blond's whines and the heat." you're such a damn baby!" Wolfwood kept walking ahead, quickening his footsteps, mumbling under his breath." I swear I should've just–"
Suddenly he heard a thud behind him that stopped his rant. He paused, almost afraid to look back but he did. There Vash lay on the ground looking moments near death.
"I told you… I'm leaving you for dead, you'll be a good meal for the vultures if you're lucky.
Wolfwood wanted to scream, his anger rising. He turned back around and angrily stomped over to him. Grabbing the blonde by his collar and shaking him, "Get your ass up, now!"
Vash Head flopped around as he shook him, dead to the world. Making unintelligent noises. Wolfwood took out a bottle of water and pressed it against the blond's lips, "dammit here."
Vash came to life weakly gripping the bottle and taking small sips. He took a few breaths sitting on the ground still looking faint. Wolfwood focused on the water slowly diminishing from the bottle but he couldn't bring himself to tug it away.
"Can you walk now?"
"I'm good, just need a minute."
They managed a few more miles before stopping under the safe of a tree. Hoping for a cool breeze to pass their way, the heat was killing them, it wasn't something wolfwood planned out. He took a sip from his bottle, taking in the lukewarm water. He only had three more containers of water in his bag and a few more canned goods. They've emptied about two and a half already.
If wolfwood hadn't stopped, Spikey would've diminished them completely out of water.
This guy.
Wolfwood made a face at the blond lying on the grass next to him. He's more trouble than what he's worth. Vash smiled sheepishly back at him, "Sorry… I did warn you."
"What the hell are you smiling about? Is everything a joke to you!" Wolfwood raised his voice, he was getting pissed off. He can't handle this stupid man's goofy attitude.
He grabbed him by his collar and got in his face. He's about to tear him a new one but he realizes there's no point. Some people just aren't built for this world, and Spikey's one of them. Why waste any more energy on him?
Wolfwood shoved Vash back on the ground. He got up and started walking again. No caring to look back and see if the blond would follow. He's wasted too much time and supplies on this idiot as it is.
It didn't take long to hear Vash's footsteps starting to follow him a few feet behind. Wolfwood didn't slow down, he didn't falter. He kept his eyes forward, his goal set on getting enough Miles in away from the city and close to the countryside.
Time passed, and wolfwood took a few more sips of water. Trying to keep it small.
He sighed, "Here," he stopped waiting for the blond to catch up. He handed him the water.
"Small sips or you don't get any."
The blond complied and Wolfwood watched. After a moment Vash offered it back to him with a nod of gratitude.
He noticed the blond holding up his hand to cover his eyes from the sun's gaze.
Wolfwood took off his black shades and put them on Vash. The sudden gesture surprised the blond.
He looked a little ridiculous and for a second it almost brought a smile to Wolfwood's face.
"What's this for?" He said gripping the lenses.
"You're eyes, idiot there red. You're giving them back later."