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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Hey, no disrespect. [ with a playful flick to wolfwood’s ear. ] In this house, we respect a girl on her grind.

[ although… he knows wolfwood was joking about the lunch break thing. probably! but it does… kinda bring up another question? and vash goes a little pink before he works up the nerve to ask it, bumping his forehead gently into wolfwood’s. ] But, um. Are you saying you don’t mind if this is kinda… a thing? Like, not just a one time deal?

[ A good time for another reminder that Vash cannot, in fact, read his thoughts. Vash has no way of knowing that if he'd wanted it to be a one-off, he'd have made his excuses when he found out it was Vash's first time. He shakes his head, ducks down to kiss Vash again. Just a soft little thing, quick and sweet. ]

This better be the leadup to you saying you want it to be a thing, 'cause I was already planning on trying to lock you in for plans after the visit tomorrow. And if you shoot me down now I know how you good you feel inside, there's a good chance I'm gonna ruin that cool outlaw image you have of me by crying.

[ okay, he laughs, but. being relieved and turned on is kind of a brand new experience, and it leaves him a little breathless. still! ]

I definitely want it to be a thing! I mean, you’re hot and you’re funny and you’re nice! [ capping that off by stealing another kiss, then adding: ] And you made me come so hard I kinda wanna kidnap you and chain you up in my sex dungeon. Which I don’t even have!

Really? 'cause this does seem like the kind of neighbourhood you get sex dungeons in.

[ It's a testament to how good said sex was that it's only now that Nick realizes he's still just kind of rudely draped over Vash, so he rolls - but he's taking the tone of the conversation to mean it's a-okay if he pulls Vash with him, so they're on their sides but still pressed close. ]

I just wanna... make sure I know where I stand. If all you're talking about is this, the sex, I can be up for that. You're hot as hell. But when I say I want it to be a thing, I mean the whole thing. I wanna take you out, spend time together. When I introduce you to my brother, I wanna tell him we're dating. The kind of thing where my workmates give me shit for it and tell me I'm getting soft.

I know that's fast, but I got a good feeling about you.

[ if anything, there’s a little noise of complaint when wolfwood moves them. sometimes it’s nice to be a little squished! but the protest is soothed once vash figures out he can snuggle right back up as close as he wants.

and the rest? it makes his heart do a stupid little thing in his chest, and there’s no fighting the stupid smile. ] Yeah. That’s what I want, too.

Besides, [ ehehe. ] I already listed you as my boyfriend on the visitor form.

[ mostly because there was no way he was putting “potential booty call”, but still. ]

[ This is what he's signing up for

Nicholas D. Wolfwood, whose clothes escape the clutches of fashion because he refuses to replace a piece of clothing until it's too busted to wear, who rides a motorcycle that cost him $500 and had to be assembled, who tans so dark in summer that rich people ask him if he habla ingles, willingly getting entangled with someone who lives somewhere so ritzy it's got visitor forms. No way in hell could this go bad.

Still worth it. ]

Might as well keep it that way for next time. I'd put you down as boyfriend on the visitor forms for my apartment, but we don't have those. We have a service elevator that's been stuck since 1998 and a pigeon issue.

Edited 2023-03-06 09:33 (UTC)

[ leaning in a little, enough for him to be able to nuzzle up against wolfwood’s cheek. ] You can totally tell the pigeons I’m your boyfriend. I’ll bring breadcrumbs so I can make a good impression.

[ but! if they’re gonna settle down for some snuggling… ] Oh! Hey, um… would it creep you out if I took my arm off? [ giving the prosthetic’s fingers a little wiggle. ] I usually let it charge at night.

Nah, go for it.

[ It charges! He lifts a hand to press his fingertips against the ones on the prosthetic, making a little steeple of them. It really is cool. The kids are gonna go nuts. ]

That's gotta be handy for cuddling. No waking up with your arm numb 'cause someone slept on it all night.

[ it’s the answer vash was expecting, but it’s still nice to hear! and he takes a second to drum the fingers of the prosthetic playfully against wolfwood’s before he pushes himself up into a sitting position. reaching over, finding the little button at the base underneath his arm, then… a twist and a tug, and it’s off. and! because vash is smart, he already keeps the charging set up for the arm on the bedside table, so all he has to do is lean over wolfwood long enough to plug it in.

then! he can flop himself back down and snuggle right back up into wolfwood’s body heat, tangling their legs up together. ]

Kinda nice for you, too. Means I can’t roll over in the middle of the night and clobber you with my roboarm. [ nuzzling up under wolfwood’s jaw, trailing a lazy line of kisses there. ]

It'd definitely be the coolest black eye I ever got.

[ Buts Vash tucks back in and Nick twines against him easily, slipping his own sadly non-detachable arm under Vash and curling it up to stroke at his hair. Vash is absolutely worth a numb arm. ]

Probably for the best, though. I can't wait to introduce you to the kids. It's gonna go smoother without having to explain that.

It’d definitely help the cool outlaw vibe.

[ not that wolfwood needs it! vash thinks he’s plenty cool already.

he puffs out a contented little sound as that arm wraps back around him, leaning into the hand in his hair. this is… nice. maybe almost as good as the sex? just being able to lay here with someone, not worrying that he has to scramble to cover some part of himself up. just… comfy. ] I can’t wait to meet ‘em! Best place to get all the dirt on you, ehehe.

And they'll dish it.

[ Actually...]

Hey. I know you already okayed it with the pigeons, but the kids are definitely gonna ask if you're my boyfriend. And they're gonna ask like little shits, too, like "ooooooh, is he your boooooyfrieeeend?" Best way I can think of to shut that right down is say yes.

That cool with you?

[ 'cause Nick doesn't do a whole lot of relationships, but he knows enough to know there's a difference between "we're dating" and "he's my boyfriend". And this? This feels like the second thing. ]

Yeah, obviously! [ vash doesn't even have to think about it. ... although, after a beat, he does add: ] I mean, as long as that doesn't make you uncomfortable.

After a performance like that, I'd be stupid if I didn't try to lock you down.

Mm. Consider me locked.

[ He's a little sleepy, but not so much that he can't duck in for one more good, slow kiss. It's... refreshing. Vash is more open than anyone he's ever been with, and it's a great feeling to come into something about this and be honest right off the bat - not just about physical attraction, but emotional too. It makes all the games he used to play seem stupid. ]

[ the pleased sound is just as much about the idea of the commitment as it is about the kiss. not that he doesn't appreciate the kiss! it's a great kiss. enough to make his toes curl, enough to have him smiling by the time wolfwood pulls away.

but. oh! a heavy-lidded blink, sleepy. ]

Nai might be around in the morning. [ friday nights are kind of hit-and-miss! sometimes he ends up texting vash late -- around 2 or 3 AM -- to tell him there's a problem at the office that'll keep him out all night. ] S'that okay?

Sure. Any twin of yours has gotta be good people. And after hearing how he looked out for you I like him already.

[ There's a tiny, niggling flash like he's forgotten something, but... eh. Nothing's more important than this: Vash warm against him, the sweet tangle of their limbs, the cosy feeling of sleepy vulnerability with someone you care about. ]

Mmmhmm.

[ tucking himself closer, heavy eyes already closing. if he was a little more awake, maybe he'd realize it was probably fair to... warn wolfwood about nai. not that there's anything wrong with him! nai is awesome, obviously. just... intense? and a little protective.

but vash is sure they'll get along! ]

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When the world is too dark

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