fourstrings | When the world is too dark

When the world is too dark

[ The Evergreen has a strong no-assholes policy. This is undermined somewhat by the fact that Nick basically runs it now, but it means he can use himself as a gauge. If anyone’s a bigger asshole than he is, they get kicked out.

Steve is the kind of asshole who should have been kicked out way earlier. That’s on Nick. He was over-cautious, cut the guy too much of a break, because running this bar is the only thing that has him making enough cash to keep up with his responsibilities. He’d worried that word would get around that The Evergreen wasn’t a friendly place anymore, and he’d ruin the reputation Al had carefully built up for it over the years, drive customers away. And it’s not just because Al’s basically promised him the place and it’s his future he’s gambling on, but respect for Al. He built Nick sure as he built up this bar, and the very least Nick can do in return is not tank it. And in fairness, Steve had started slow: the kind of coarse jokes that are mean instead of funny, taking sly digs at people. Way too much flirting with women beyond the point it became clear that they didn’t want to be flirted with, at least not by Steve. Nick finally found his balls the night he’d rounded the corner to check there was enough paper in the johns and seen Steve caging a girl in against the wall, face leaning in even though hers was twisted adamantly away. He’d grabbed the man by collar and belt with no regard for the fact that Steve had a good three inches and 20 pounds on him, marched him out the door, and told him not to come back, ever.

Which means that Steve is now going on the Wall of Shame, and he’d been such a dick about it Nick wants to make it a special occasion. There’s a little florist across the street that’s probably gonna close down any day now, judging by the amount of foot traffic they get, so before opening the next day Nick heads over to give them a little last bit of support. There’s a little bell that rings cutely as he pushes the door open, a blast of welcome cool, fragrant air, and… the most beautiful man he’s ever laid eyes on behind the counter. Blond hair in one of those trendy cuts that look goofy on most people that aren’t pop stars but somehow suits him just right, big eyes shaded with long lashes, a sweet little beauty mark.

Nick stops dead just inside the door, confident that if he takes one more step without preparation he’s gonna trip over his own feet. ]

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[ mm, feels like a way of steering the conversation back to safer waters, and vash does his best to respect it. stretching his long legs out onto the sectional, snuggling himself up against wolfwood's side. ]

You like 'em? Nai keeps sending me links to articles on hoarding.

[ mostly when vash is being a pain in his ass and nai is inclined to be a pain back. vash knows he likes the plants, too. ]

[ It's safer territory, much less likely to make him seem like a lech. Which he takes as an excuse to behave a little more like one instead, snuggling right back and turning his face in towards Vash ever so slightly. Not quite like he's going in for a kiss, but like he's at least thinking about it. ]

They're perfect. No offense to Nai, but the place would feel sterile without them.

S'what I told him.

[ he doesn't even have to defend nai's honor on this one, because nai didn't even decorate. gave vash free rein to do whatever he wanted with his own room, paid people to do the rest, and somehow they came up with mausoleum-chic and called it a day. blech. ]

When in doubt? Plants. [ ehehe. ] Maybe I should put that on the business cards.

That's pretty good. Short and to the point, but it's pretty on-brand for you. Upbeat, cute. Sorta cheeky.

[ All things about Vash that he really likes, and the hand he has slung over Vash's shoulder comes up to brush gentle fingertips through his hair. Maybe a ruffle would be better suited to what he's just said, but he's doing it because he's wanted to touch it since he first laid eyes on Vash, not because he's trying to poke fun. ]

If it's got the sign-off from my business-brain guru guy, I've gotta do it.

[ but! almost the second wolfwood cards his fingers into vash's hair, vash is pressing up into the touch like a pleased cat. eyes sliding half-closed, even making a pleased little hum. ]

Never call me a guru again. Makes it sound like I'm selling fake supplements to conspiracy theorists.

[ But there's laughter in his voice as he says it, nothing near offense. And if there was any doubt, he's repeating that motion. Stroking through Vash's hair as easily as if he were a cat and he's trying to coax out a purr. ]

Hey, I don't know what you're doing on the side! No judgment!

[ it's nice. even nicer that wolfwood gets the message that he should keep doing it, and vash sighs out a delighted sound in response. he shifts himself a little closer, drawn towards the other man's body heat, wondering what it would be like to press up against him properly.

... and no, he has no idea what's going on in this fucking movie. ]

[ This movie is up for a plethora of awards. It's got a star-studded roster of big names cast in direct opposition to their usual type. Most importantly, it made that short guy who talks way too fast in the hopes nobody will notice that nothing he's saying makes sense absolutely furious.

And Nick couldn't care less about it, if its competition is that sound Vash just made. He wants to hear it again. He wants to hear all the other noises Vash might make for him. He keeps his fingers moving, and the way Vash is sort of slouchily leaned against him equalizes their height enough that he can lean and press his lips against Vash's temple. Has he totally forgotten about formulating any sort of witty comeback? Yup, just as much as he has about the movie. ]

[ the way wolfwood shifts against him counts as a little bit of a warning, but vash's breath still hitches at the feeling of the other man's mouth pressed against his temple. it's an innocent touch, all things considered, but his mouth is warm, and it makes vash burn to imagine what it might feel like elsewhere.

he shifts a little, trying to keep from dislodging the hand wolfwood has in his hair. and since that means the easiest place for him to reach is the line of the other man's throat, that's where vash kisses him, warm and open-mouthed. ]

[ Hell. He started it, sure, but then Vash has his mouth against Nick's throat, warm and soft and open, and it kindles heat right through him. He makes a low noise, something warm and approving that curls up from within his chest, and his fingers pause in their movement for a beat. ]

Hey, Vash.

How much do you wanna watch this movie?

[ there's a low noise when wolfwood stops petting him, almost a whine, but.

oh. yeah. the movie. that sure is a thing. ]

Depends. [ with a little wriggle. ] Got a better idea?

Maybe. Here's my pitch.

[ It's slow. By design - he's pretty sure nobody kisses you on the throat if they're not on the same page, but he wants to leave Vash space to pull away or tell him to stop. Slow when he twists his body so he can lean in properly, Slow when he brings that hand down to cup Vash's jaw, and slow when he presses his mouth against Vash's, open and soft. ]

[ there is a part of vash that wants to point out that calling it a pitch is a very guru thing to do.

but only a tiny part, because wolfwood is shifting towards him and leaning in, and most of vash is just going yes yes yes yesssss. he's already trying to lean up into him -- reaching up to wrap his arms around wolfwood's shoulders, humming a happy little sound when their mouths finally meet. ]

[ Oh, it's good. He was already close enough to know that Vash smells sweet - probably part products and part the lingering scent of his shop - but this close it's even more pronounced. His lips are warm and soft, and Nick can't help making a little sound in answer to the one Vash makes. Slips his tongue in, slow in a way that's less about waiting for permission now than it is about savouring it, the heat and the slide of it and that first-time thrill that always makes everything seem just a little like a dream, everything around them muted but for the feel of Vash, the taste of him. ]

[ wow. about two seconds into the kiss, vash was already pretty convinced that almost nothing could improve on the feeling of wolfwood's mouth against his, but. then the other man deepens the kiss, slides his tongue into vash's mouth, and the heat that rolls through him is enough to make his toes curl. the needy sound he makes is muffled by wolfwood's mouth, fingers tightening in the fabric of his shirt as he responds eagerly to that kiss, sliding their tongues together. ]

[ He was right. The other sounds Vash makes are amazing, and he's sure they're only going to get better. The want in hims flares at how enthusiastically Vash responds, gripping at his shirt, kissing him back with some heat. He licks against Vash's lower lip as he pulls back - not far. Just far enough to say - ]

I've wanted to to that since I walked into your store and saw you there behind the counter.

[ okay, breathing is still very much a thing vash has to do, but he still whines a little noise of protest when wolfwood breaks that kiss. he blinks, eyes heavy-lidded and a little dazed, but --

once those words sink in, there's a grin. ] Yeah? Took you long enough.

[ which is why, obviously, they've gotta make up for lost time! so he's leaning back up into wolfwood, tangling a hand in his hair and kissing him greedily. ]

[ It was yesterday! Which he'd protest out loud in his defense, except it turns out that maybe the only thing that gets him more fired up than kissing Vash is being kissed by Vash. He's greedy about it, and it nicely soothes any lingering concern Nick might have had that his tendency to pour drinks strong was a factor in how into him Vash seemed.

So what's he to do but pour all of that into the kiss? The attraction he felt, the joy that it's mutual, the want simmering in him. He curls an arm around Vash's waist, threads the other one up to rub at the buzzed velvet of his undercut, and hums pleased into Vash's mouth. ]

[ it's officially one hell of a kiss.

vash has kissed people before! not a ton of them, but enough to have a sliding scale of greatness, and wolfwood is officially breaking the meter. he kisses vash like he wants him and knows exactly how to do about it, and it makes vash's blood heat to boiling in his veins. barely even aware of the way he moans, arching up like he's trying to find more to press against, forgetting it's impossible in their current positions.

it's official. wolfwood should kiss him more. all the time, preferably. ]

[ Nick is having similar thoughts about the inconvenience of their positions. So obviously, he breaks the kiss just long enough to swing around and straddle Vash, and then gets right back to kissing. It's a shame he doesn't follow trends more closely - if these were the currently fashionable ultra-baggy jeans, he'd be able to press down against Vash a lot more effectively. Still, he makes to best of it, threads his arms over Vash's shoulders and licks hungrily into his mouth.

It's a little forward, but he's pretty confident Vash could punt him out of his lap if he wants, so it's a risk worth taking. ]

[ oh. oh!

wolfwood shifts above him all at once, and suddenly he's in vash's lap, and that's enough to make vash dizzy. he makes a sound that's halfway between appreciation and desire, hands coming up automatically to slide up along wolfwood's sides. even through the fabric of the henley, the feel of him makes vash's mouth water, dangerously lean with enough definition to frame all the right things. ]

[ The feel of Vash's hands on him makes him crazy. Even through his shirt, he's instantly hungry for more. So much for his assumption that this was going to be a casual, friendly occasion - he should have known that just a hint of desire from Vash would set him off. He licks into Vash's mouth, runs a hand down over his chest. That sweater feels expensive, but even through the soft fabric the feel of Vash is warm and inviting and makes him want to tear it right off. ]

You're so hot. Can't believe you've been right across the road from me for half a year and I never even knew.

[ It comes out in little staccato bursts, because he keeps interrupting himself to press his lips to Vash's mouth. Ducks his head to kiss over Vash's neck at the end of it, savoring the warmth of him, the scent of his skin. ]

[ it's an assault that feels tailor-made to hit vash in the weak points. just the idea that this guy thinks vash is the hot one is enough to make him dizzy; he almost wants to protest, but he also absolutely never wants wolfwood to change his mind. and the way wolfwood keeps breaking those kisses to murmur things to him just makes it worse -- vash keeps trying to chase him, stops himself because he's stupidly greedy to hear about how hot wolfwood thinks he is, and then ends up with wolfwood's mouth back on him while the other's bit is still sinking it.

if it's an official strategy, the guy should trademark it.

he whines a little sound at the feeling of wolfwood's mouth on his neck, arching up underneath him again and tipping his head back in a silent plea for more. it's so good that he's forgotten what's right around the corner; for a moment, it's hard to remember why he doesn't want wolfwood to touch him everywhere. ]

Yeah. [ breathless, clearly oxygen deprived enough to have gone a little stupid. ] Can't believe you've been hiding from me. S'not fair.

[ Nick laughs low, and drags his tongue across Vash's neck where his pulse beats heavy. ]

Didn't know what I was hiding from. You make me wanna be real easy to find.

[ And the way Vash arches his neck feels like an invitation, so the next kiss has him sucking there. Gently! It wouldn't do to take him to the orphanage with a fresh hickey, after all. One hand at the other side of his neck, the other slipping down his side to rest on his hip, and one bold thumb brushing up under the hem of his sweater. He's warm there too, and it makes Nick hum against him. ]

[ wolfwood drags the flat of his tongue over vash's throat, and vash's head spins. he's scarcely even aware of the little sound he makes, needy and shameless, lashes fluttering. fuck, is he drooling?

that was --

but then wolfwood's thumb goes sliding up underneath the hem of vash's sweater, and panic spikes in his head. he grabs at the other man's wrist before he gets the chance to creep it any higher -- and then he processes the kneejerk response, and flusters just a little. ] Sorry! Sorry, I --

[ fuuuuuck. he never knows how to do this part! ] ... shit, I think I've gotta tell you something.

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