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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[ it feels like this might be some kind of out-of-body experience. he's never come this fucking hard in his entire life, and it feels like it knocked him right out of his body and left him floating somewhere just above the couch. vaguely, he's aware of the gentle way wolfwood is still working him over, and the mewling, halfway-to-overstimulated noises vash is making in response, but it barely punches through the thick, cottony haze of feels good.

his prosthetic hand is slick with his own drool when vash finally lets it drop to his chest, and that's objectively gross, but he barely pays it any attention.

wolfwood's voice is the first thing that makes him even attempt a return to earth, blinking down at him with hazy eyes before finally mustering up a: ] Hi.

[ Oh, that's cute. Vash is still sprawled out, glassy-eyed, rosy-cheeked, looking like a sleepy kitten. Much less likely to maul, though, so Nick does what's often a fatal mistake with kittens and reaches to rub a slow hand over Vash's stomach and chest. ]

Think I just discovered my new favorite hobby.

[ It's not even a line. Nick's always been cocky enough that he puts in the effort, loving to hear that he was good, but he's never had a reaction like that. If he could figure a way to make eating Vash out pay for his rent and Livio's school, he'd never do anything else. ]

[ vash hmmms a blissed-out sound in response, wriggling a little when wolfwood's fingers find a ticklish spot. all of him feels good. fingers, toes, even the roots of his hair -- he has a moment where he entertains the thought of asking wolfwood if the bar is just a front for his real job of eating pussy at an olympic level, but he mashes it right back down. ]

That was... wow. [ it's drowsy, floaty. a little bit of coordination is coming back, and he uses it to reach out and comb his fingers through wolfwood's hair, brushing his bangs back away from his face. ]

I try.

[ Terrible. He's smirking now, using the back of a hand to wipe the wetness off his chin before it dries there. ]

You're so responsive. It's good feedback. [ He laughs, quiet. ] And real fuckin' hot.

[ the sight of wolfwood wiping his mouth just makes vash realize why he has to, and that. oh. taking a second to just sit there, brain sizzling in his skull.

and then, dangerously close to whining: ]

Can you c'mere? [ he wants a kiss! ]

Yeah.

[ He's making a big assumption about Vash is making that pouty shape with his mouth, because he leans in close and kisses Vash. Slow and lingering, not deep, but only because it's pretty hard to kiss someone deeply when you're grinning. ]

[ vash sighs out a pleased sound into the kiss, reaching up to wrap his arms around wolfwood's shoulders, and that's probably all the confirmation wolfwood needs.

beaming by the time he finally pulls away again. ]

You're wow. [ bumping their foreheads together, stupidly fond. ] I can't believe you're real.

Happy to prove it to you again any time you like, Blondie.

[ Is it too soon to be giving him a suggestive grin? Too bad, because that's what's happening. But after, there's a little wriggling and shifting until they're both laying down, so he can wrap his arms around Vash, too. He's so cute like this, happy and loose, and Nick wants to soak up as much of it as he can. ]

[ ... speaking of soaked, the shifting of their positions is enough to make vash realize that he's left a wet spot on the sofa. fuck. oh, fuck.

...

... it's a problem for future-vash to deal with, he decides.

but snuggling up together is enough to make vash realize that wolfwood is still hard, and he flusters a little. ] Sorry! I didn't -- I wasn't trying to be selfish.

[ reaching down, already trying to undo the other man's jeans. ] I wanna make you feel good, too.

Don't worry about it. I was enoying the view.

[ But he's shifting his hips obediently to give Vash easier access, bringing a hand up to ruffle lightly through his hair. Honestly, if Vash did want to be selfish, it'd be worth it. Yeah, he'd probably have to ask where the bathroom is so he could go jerk off in it after how insanely hot that was, but still worth it.]

Not gonna say no, though.

[ a snort, pressed into a kiss along the corner of wolfwood's jaw. ]

Yeah, you mentioned that. Appreciating the scenery.

[ but he couldn't be happier to get the go-ahead. undoing the jeans, shoving them impatiently out of the way enough to get a hand around wolfwood's dick. purring a little pleased sound at the feeling of it, leaning back far enough to see. ]

Wow. Even your dick is super hot.

[ His mouth opens.

Then it closes.

Vash just told him his dick is hot. It should be funny - it should be ridiculous - but combined with the touch and how turned on he already is, it makes his cock twitch in Vash's grip. He makes a sound, a helpless little thing, and that's embarrassing.

Obviously, revenge is called for. ]

Appreciating you. I can still taste you. [ He runs the tip of his tongue against his lips, hums. ] It's good.

[ that's enough to make vash moan, and he's distracted away from ogling wolfwood's dick so that he can press against him for another greedy kiss, like he wants to taste himself there too. (he does.) it doesn't stop his hand from moving, though, stroking wolfwood nice and slow. ]

[ Perfect. The depth of that kiss, the slow stroke of Vash's hand. His touch is warm, firm enough to be just right, already enough that when he breaks the kiss he's panting a little. He's getting wet at the head again already, which would be mortifying with anyone else - seems natural, somehow, when it's Vash. ]

Oh, that's good. Vash-

[ wow, flattering. especially considering this is the first time he's actually gotten his hand on a real dick. maybe he's a natural? like a cock-wrangling prodigy, that'd be kinda cool.

doesn't really matter as long as he can make wolfwood feel good, honestly.

he tips his face up to press little kisses over wolfwood's skin -- his cheeks, his jaw, his temple, his forehead. even a teasing one against the tip of his nose. ]

Do you wanna -- [ a little squeeze. ] ... like this? 'cause, if you wanted to do more...

Oh, fuck.

[ Dazed, because an offer like that from someone like Vash is like something from the most pornographic depths of his imagination. He presses forward to catch Vash's mouth in another of those little kisses - not that the other ones weren't great, but still! ]

Gorgeous, I'll take whatever you're offering. Can't think of a damn thing I don't want with you.

[ awesome. score like a million for vash.

tipping up happily into that kiss, regretting it when he has to break away because: ]

We should, ah... maybe relocate? [ and then, like they're stupid teenagers: ] I can show you my room.

[ +1 to the stupid teenagers count, because Nick's eyes light up as he says: ]

Lead the way.

[ REAL SMOOTH. Well, he had his mouth on Vash's junk a minute ago, and he likes to think he's earned some brownie points that'll balance out eager dumbassery. But even with more on offer, it feels unfair that he has to move away from Vash in order to do it. He does, though, squares himself away in preparation for relocating. Even if he ducks in for a couple of kisses as he does. ]

[ it kind of feels like a great hardship to let wolfwood put his pants back on. but! they don't have to stay on for long, which is great motivation for hustling them both off to his room.

the sweater he's wearing is long enough to brush the top of vash's thighs once he's standing, so he doesn't bother shimmying back into his sweats. just scoops them up off the floor, and then... after a moment of consideration, flipping the couch cushion with the conspicuous wet spot. brilliant! flawless! genius!

then he grabs wolfwood's hand and drags him right down the hall.

the rest of the apartment mostly looks like it stepped off the pages of an interior design magazine, but vash likes to keep his room looking... lived-in. there are still plants crammed into what looks like every inch vash could find, complete with a scatter of grow lights and humidifiers. the walls are mostly covered with movie posters (westerns, obviously!) tacked up without bothering with frames, but there are a scatter of other pictures, too. mostly he and nai, sometimes vash with a random assortment of college friends, a precious few with he and nai and rem. there's a desk shoved into one corner, cluttered with papers and knick-knacks and, yes, more plants. and hanging off one corner of the headboard is a clearly love-worn plush of a little black cat, oversized green eyes almost seeming to judge wolfwood as vash drags him in.

there's also an oversized and very squishy plush of a frog with a cowboy hat that was enjoying primo real estate on the center of the bed, but vash makes quick work of bopping him off and to the floor. (he's a very cool and mature adult who definitely doesn't sleep with stuffed animals!!!) ]

Ta-da! [ spreading his arms a little, like a magician showing off a trick, then letting go of wolfwood's hand to plop down on the bed. ] Welcome to my secret lair.

[ Okay, it'd be polite to walk at Vash's side, but the sight of those long, long legs glorious and bare below that sweater that barely covers the essentials has him lagging just a little behind. And then they get to his room, and Nick can't help the warm smile that breaks over his face. It's still clearly a room from a very fancy apartment - Nick and Livio's rooms both would probably just about fit snugly inside it - but it practically resonates with Vash. Plants everywhere, obviously well loved, with their glossy leaves and bright blooms. Confirmation that Westerns are kind of a thing for Vash, plush toys peeking out from foliage in prime spots around the room - and pictures. He can't help his curiosity, eyes scanning over them, and... huh. ]

You and your brother are twins?

[ It's pretty obvious. The brother's hair is a lighter blond, and the more recent pictures suggest that he might be built just a little like a brick shithouse, but the resemblance is striking. ]

Mm? Oh! Yeah, didn't I tell you?

[ he absolutely did not.

he's sitting just far enough back on the bed to achieve kicky-feet. but he hops back up once he sees what wolfwood is looking at, coming up behind him to hook his chin over the older man's shoulder. (he's just now noticing that wolfwood is just short enough for him to do it, and it's... cute.)

reaching out, fingers lightly brushing over the picture of rem with both of them. ] That's me, that's Nai, and that's our foster mom, Rem.

Cute.

[ But it does set alarm bells jangling faintly in the distance. It's not like they've known each other long enough for him to draw any conclusions from the fact that Vash has never mentioned Rem, but...

He decides to offer something in exchange instead, something Vash can choose to use as an out or an opening. Pulls his phone out, swipes through pictures. He and Livio, both grinning, sweaty and flushed after a game of basketball with the kids. One grownup per team, and Livio - being both taller than Nick and more naturally inclined to sports - had led his team to a brutal victory. ]

My little brother, Livio. He came to St Michael's when I was... eleven, maybe? Decided I was gonna take care of the new kid and just never grew out of it.

[ vash lights up at the sight of the pictures, and now he is standing up on tippy-toes just to see a little better. ]

I knew it! [ visibly proud of himself. ] I knew you definitely had a younger sibling.

You've got the... [ how to describe it. ] ... vibes.

[ vash clocked them from the second wolfwood wanted to fuss about his pricked finger. ]

I get that a lot.

[ Probably not helping dispel the notion by realizing that Vash is on tiptoes now and angling his phone so Vash can see better - and lean his chin on him again if he wants, because that was nice. A little more quick scrolling, and - there. It's not great quality - scanned from an old actual photograph - but it's him and Livio when they were little. Heads bowed together, Livio's eyes wide with wonder as he looks at the (big, freaky-looking) bug in the cup of Nick's hands, Nick's eyes on Livio, with a grin splitting his face. ]

There we are. Pair of little shitheads.

[ vash is leaning back up against him. not just his chin, but his whole front, arms wrapping loosely around wolfwood's waist. smiling at that picture of the two of them with an expression that's gone stupidly, hopelessly soft, looking for all the world like someone already in love. ]

Can I meet him, someday?

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