[Wolfwood isn't wrong. Here Vash is, staring at him like he's hung the stars. Like Wolfwood had been the one laying on the affection, instead of Vash barging straight into his space. In a lot of ways, he had. It would have been one thing if the invitation to stay with him had just been that - the sharing of an empty house. But Nick had looked past his self-destructive isolation and done something to make it a home. It wasn't perfect, it was still pretty pathetic in all honesty, but it was something.
Vash has many reasons to be grateful for the man, but this is just one more. The thought that he doesn't deserve the kindness runs through his head still, but it's a voice that grows smaller and smaller by the day.
Especially when he is now presently distracted by the taste of Wolfwood on his lips, now plying into his mouth. His lips part without complaint, his own tongue dancing over the other in an attempt to steal more of a taste. He shifts his hips only enough to be truly comfortable with their now far more intimate position.
One of the hands draped around those shoulders shifts. It lifts upward, clenching almost desperately at Wolfwood's hair. The strands likely pull for a minute before Vash realizes what he's doing. It's still a tight grip, though, sorry about it.
The other, meanwhile, slides down his chest. He lets himself finally indulge in the desire to feel his skin. His fingers dance over the planes of his pecs, fanning out over the space at first, while his thumb weaves a more soothing circle against it.]
[Sorry? He could almost laugh. There's nothing at all to be sorry about here, especially not as Vash gets a little braver with reciprocating. Now it's Wolfwood's turn to feel that sudden rush of heat through his body at Vash's touch, racing underneath the skin all the way to his extremities and back. He exhales against Vash's lips a breathy moan, low and reverent, his thumbs pressing in against Vash's hipbones.
Of course, he can't just kiss Vash and keep quiet about it. They have to breathe eventually, and when they break just long enough to inhale, Wolfwood smirks against the corner of Vash's mouth.]
It's okay. You can pull harder, I won't bite.
[Vash could probably near rip his hair out and he'd thank him for it, let's be honest here. In the meantime, Wolfwood is indulging too in a different sort of way, one of his hands on Vash's hip wandering around towards his back. His fingers catch along his beltloops, tugging on them playfully, until he finds the bottom edge of his thermal and slips his fingertips underneath it, pressing them directly to the bare slip of skin just at the small of his back.]
[Only a huff makes it out of Vash in response. A huff and, of course, a quirked brow. Wolfwood may want it, but it's a hell of an ask for one Vash the Stampede to deliberately do harm, even if it is being asked for. The cognitive dissonance makes his already spinning head start to ache.
It's swallowed down, at least, in favor of pulling just a little tighter. He's sure it's nowhere near what Wolfwood could tolerate, but. Look. He's trying, see. Even if those attempts are seriously defanged by the fingers that first press hard against the jut of his hips, then trace upward over the vulnerable skin of his now exposed back. The air might be warmer inside, but there's still a chill within the air.]
Nick - [The sound he makes is both more and less embarrassing than it could have been, when he thinks about it. He wasn't the first one to let out such a deeply affected noise. However, Wolfwood wasn't the one crooning his name over a simple damn touch.]
[Wolfwood isn't out here to make Vash do something he'd rather not, of course...but he is, maybe, just a tiny little bit masochistic sooooo, if Vash DID want to yank on his hair, or claw bloody lines into the backs of his shoulders, he sure as hell wouldn't be upset about that. And while Wolfwood hasn't yet gone further with his hands than teasing along the outside, they're definitely still there. More than mere suggestion.
The way Vash sighs his name like a prayer is addictive. So much so that he's inclined to tug Vash a little closer to him again, just enough so that their foreheads rest together.]
Yeah? Tell me more.
[He's not going to pass up the opportunity to hear what's on Vash's mind, especially when he knows there has to be a lot tumbling around in that big head of his. He'll continue to rub slow circles against the small of his back in the meantime, occasionally pressing a kiss to his face here...there...being overtly distracting.]
[If you thought Vash was struggling to speak before, then what comes out next is absolute nonsense. It's little more than a squeak, half of a mumble that might have been "Wolfwood," all culminating in him burying his face in Nick's hair. That is his attempt at saying more.
Verbally at least.
He does to his best to reciprocate, however. His thighs tighten around either side of Wolfwood's, keeping his balance as he rocks his hips against the other man's. It's something of a struggle, seeing as how his whole body is arching forward beneath the touch on his back.
It's been years since anyone's touched him. It's been years since he's let himself be touched. And now it shows in the faint way he trembles over something so innocuous.]
The lack of verbal response tells Wolfwood everything he needs to know, as well as the way Vash hauls off and just rocks his hips into him with how sharply his back is arching at merely being touched there. He's almost a bit worried that Vash might just fall backwards off his lap if he isn't careful, but with Wolfwood holding his hips and Vash clamping down on his hips with his thighs...he's pretty sure he'll be fine.
Well. Relatively speaking, depending on your definition of fine-]
Oh? You like that, huh?
[Wolfwood purrs between them, suddenly stopping with three fingers flat against the very base of Vash's spine, just above his waistband. Then, from there, he slowly drags his fingertips upward, each one bumping along each individual vertebrae on its way up underneath that thermal of his.
Now...Wolfwood, of course, doesn't know what the extent of Vash's experience with other people intimately is, if there's any at all. It could genuinely go either way, he thinks. Obviously it never came up, before. The question of that may come up later, depending on how much he can get Vash to unravel here.
[What happens next is curious indeed. At first, that tremble turns to outright shaking as Vash lets out a gasp. In that first moment, it's a whole bout of sensitivity. It takes a turn, however, as Wolfwood's fingers drag across a rougher patch of skin, or perhaps even a strip of metal. In that second, the fingers still twined in his hair tighten once more — impulse and instinct, rather than anything.
It takes him little more than a second to recover, but then Vash is reeling back. The fluster on his face, the near rapture, has been replaced with something a little more shadowed and guarded. He holds his arms in front of his chest, not defiant but almost defensive.]
W-wait. Hang on, Nick.
[He forces himself to take a deep breath. When he's managed to get a grip on himself, he lowers his hands. They fall to the hem of his thermal, gripping it but not yet pulling up.]
We should - get this out of the way before we go any further. [He glances away, not quite willing to meet Wolfwood's gaze. He doesn't want to see the revulsion there.]
It ain't pretty under there, is all I'm saying. We're... probably better keeping it on, honestly. Not that the legs are much better but...
[To his credit, when Vash pulls back, Wolfwood stops immediately. He pulls his hand away entirely, as a matter of fact, instead letting them both settle back around his hips again, mostly to make sure he doesn't actually tumble off his legs onto the floor. It was hard to miss that sudden shift in texture, and Vash had been so quick to flinch away that he hadn't had a chance to properly process what he was feeling, exactly. Now he's left wondering what might have happened- did he go too far?- until Vash mentions "getting this out of the way".
...
Well, now. That could mean almost anything, to a bunch of weird scars to some sort of Plant anatomy he isn't prepared for. It shows in his face as his eyes shift from the bottom edge of his thermal up to look Vash in the eye, not judging so much as...questioning.
His thumbs brush along the sharp lines of his hipbones, idly. If it's bad enough that Vash is volunteering to just keep his clothes on forever...mm.]
[Wolfwood says he can, but that doesn't mean he should. There is a very real possibility that whatever attraction had sparked between them could go fizzling out. He wouldn't blame the man for being revolted by the gnarled hunk of flesh that he was. It was the price of the life he led — wandering town to town being the most reviled name on the planet, all while refusing to bare his fangs.
The only reason Vash decides to lift his shirt at all is the fact that he'd rather have it happen sooner, rather than later. It would be a terrible thing, for them to patch things up only to fall apart once more, but he wouldn't blame Wolfwood. It wasn't pretty.
The thermal comes up over his head, and is promptly set aside, still within arm's reach. He resists the urge to cover himself up, hiding the now bare skin from Wolfwood's eyes. The cold doesn't help matters, sending gooseflesh rising up over nearly every inch of him.]
[With the way Vash is acting like he's about to present Wolfwood with a wild animal or something, he's expecting it to be pretty bad, whatever is under there. Nothing could have really prepared him for how bad, though.
Wolfwood has his share of scarring on some parts of his body, which Vash will more than likely see if they get past this point. He, too, has been injured to the point of death over and over again, the only difference being that he has a serum that can heal those wounds over as if they'd never happened. Early on, when he was in the midst of the experiments, he knows damn well that the meds weren't working on him at first. Those scars never fully healed. Those are a reminder of what he's been fighting for and against this entire time. But those pale in comparison to this.
Vash...some parts of him seem almost like they're barely hanging on. Huge chunks of flesh are missing. Parts have been bolted, stapled, and stitched back together. Metal plates embedded in his skin where normal surgery must not have been possible. Scar upon scar, literally too many for him to possibly count, laid bare for Wolfwood to see. He can't hide it, he does look shocked by what he sees.
But...the shock doesn't last for long. It slowly melts into something else, as one of his hands comes up to very tentatively brush along one of those scars that cut super deep around his torso, where he'd probably been shot fatally at one point. His brows knit together with sympathy. Anger, for Vash's sake, that he'd been hurt this badly. It has nothing to do with looks. Not even remotely.
Then, brown eyes slowly shift back up to meet blue.]
You really think this is gonna scare me off? After everything we've been through?
[He knows that look, and at least he has the decency to not be surprised. Even in his kindest of fantasies, he hadn't seen this ending in adoring glances and lovestruck words. What Vash has been through isn't pleasant, or kind. Hell, some of it probably wasn't the most ethical. But when someone's bleeding to death, missing a nipple and half of your ribs are exposed, there isn't much to do than to staple metal down and hope the latent plant powers will do the rest.
His body shies away as Wolfwood touches him, but only initially. Tentatively, he allows himself to sink into the touch. It's unfamiliar — the last time he'd been with someone, more than half of these scars hadn't existed — but it's not unwanted. Judging by the way he shudders, it's actually appreciated.]
I hope not... [Vash laughs, but it sounds strained, like he's been holding his breath. Probably because he has.] But I wouldn't blame you if it did.
[Since Wolfwood hasn't sent him away yet, Vash allows himself a little comfort. He sinks back into their embrace, one arm once again draping over his shoulder. The other slides up to cradle his jaw.]
[As Vash reaches a hand up to trace his fingers along Wolfwood's scruffy jaw...he scoffs.]
Fuck off with that. [Ah-] You're plenty ~handsome~. These scars don't take away from that.
[Sure, they're bad. They're ugly. It's not conventionally attractive, but who on the planet is? Wolfwood doesn't wear socks with his shoes, why does Vash LIKE this man?
Wolfwood is tracing other scars now, gently, carefully...like he's dealing with a frightened deer. Fingers brush the edge of metal. He feels a few bolts here and there.]
...I'm gonna say something really sappy, so you'd better appreciate it. But.
Bein' handsome ain't always skin deep. Attractiveness comes from inside the house, too. [Said as he pokes a finger into Vash's sternum, to make a point.] ...and you're about as hot as they come, in that regard.
[What Wolfwood says is about as far from expected. He reels back (away from that sharply jabbing finger), eyes blown wide and brows practically scraping his hairline. His lips part with a pithy comment back, only to press into a thin line just as quick. His throat bobs as he swallows down his gut reaction, breath shaking with the effort.]
Since when - [Vash cracks half of a smile.] - were you such a romantic, Nick?
[He shouldn't be surprised. There's so much they don't know about each other, things they weren't allowed to learn when they were just going fight to fight. Even here, they haven't been afforded the luxury of getting to know each other. Not until now.]
What other fancy things do you have to say, huh?
[Is he trying to distract himself from those words? From the conversation at hand? It's quite possible. But he also can't help but marvel, too. Nicholas D Wolfwood is on another level.]
[He smirks, able to tell that he really got to Vash with that one. He hopes in a good way, but if not, well...maybe Vash is just going to have to unlearn a lot of bad habits in regards to thinking negatively about himself, and if that means Wolfwood has to keep constantly reminding him of all the ways he is good...then he guesses he'll just have to, won't he?
With another slight tilt of his head, Wolfwood reaches out again. This time though, instead of touching any of those scars, he's reaching up to take his turn to cup the side of Vash's face, brushing a thumb along his cheekbone.]
I've got plenty more where that came from, if you'll let me. Point being...I don't care about any of this shit, blondie. I had a feeling you'd be all chewed up somehow. Ain't like I'm not.
[It's. Nowhere NEAR as bad, but...the similarities are there, he gets it.]
And I'm only halfway here because of your pretty face.
[He leans his head into those hands. Every bump, cut, and callus is treasured as it scrapes against the plane of his face. The sigh he exhales is bone deep, but it isn't entirely weary. With it goes at least a few of the doubts he harbors. They might sneak back with time, but for now he'll be able to savor the moment that much better.]
's probably enough bein' all caught in my head, don't you think?
[He leans forward, tracing his nose over the span of Wolfwood's jaw, before finally placing a kiss on his chin, on the corner of his mouth, and then on his lips. Each one is soft, tender despite their position. That face is kept cradled just the same as Wolfwood cradles him.]
Though maybe we should move before we get too comfortable. Beds are probably much nicer, don't you think?
Was wondering if you’d say that before you fell off my lap.
[He’s been envisioning Vash eating shit this entire time, honestly. Probably for the best though that they do take this to the bed, since it’s obvious now they want to do a bit more heavy petting, if nothing else.
With a heavy breath and a reluctant sigh, Wolfwood draws his hands back so Vash can get up, and the moment he does…Angelina comes rushing over at the sight of people standing like play??? Is it play time how???
…hm.
Okay hold on, don’t mind as he literally scoops you into his arms there, Vash, turning to carry you off to bed with the puppy hot on his heels. Just full on bridal carrying him to bed, to which he’ll toss him unceremoniously onto the mattress before scooping a very wiggly Angelina in his arms.]
Hang on for me for like, five minutes. I need to take care of this.
[Angelina BARKS at Vash. Hi Vash she loves you
And then he’s off brb he’ll be back to get his dick wet wait for him—]
just gonna slap that NSFW tag on here now since...
[What else can Vash do but laugh. First it comes in exasperation as Angelina takes notice, even if he can't fault her sweet little heart for wanting to play. Then, it's breathless and giddy as he's lifted up and whisked away. One final laugh, straight from the belly and rife with amusement, is offered as Wolfwood rushes out the door.
As the laughter fades to silence, though, unease settles in. He's certain he'll be back, he has no reason to doubt. But the longer he lays there, alone with his thoughts, Vash can't help but feel... empty. Afraid.
So he does what he can. Sensual as it might be to have Wolfwood strip him down, it'll also take too much time. So Vash focuses on pulling his boots off, then his socks, and finally his pants. He leaves his underwear on for the sake of a little romance at least.
Unfortunately, the lack of clothing leaves him rightfully chilled. He doesn't want to set the wrong impression by burrowing under the covers so he reaches for the next best thing. He pulls on Wolfwood's blazer, bundling himself up within it as best as he can. It doesn't do a lot, but at least it smells like him.
It's enough to keep his nerves at ease as he waits for Wolfwood's return.]
[Vash's worries are unfounded, at least. Wolfwood genuinely only means to be gone for a short time, though getting from his house back to the main part of the Grove proves a bit more difficult than anticipated. God, he's going to have to complain at Vash again for having it built so far out...
Eventually though he makes it there, and lucky for him there are plenty of people in the Grove- like one Elsword and N- who enjoy dogs and taking care of them, particularly little puppies with a penchant for getting into trouble. He only remembered to bring her little toy for her to play with, but he lets them know she's already been fed for the evening and will just need clean water overnight. Other than that and taking her outside when needed, she basically cares for herself (untrue, but you know he's in a hurry-)
By the time Wolfwood makes it back, he's thoroughly chilled to the bone and regretting the fact he didn't actually bundle up before heading out there. He has to shake off the snowflakes as he walks back in, dusting off his hair and kicking snow off his very wet shoes. Maybe one of these days he'll be smart enough to go buy some boots, but today is not that day. He heads back for the bedroom, poking his head through the crack in the door even as he's still brushing snow off himself (sorry about the floors it'll dry).]
Got somebody to watch...
[And then he stops, because he's looked up and he sees Vash sitting there atop the blankets wearing nothing but his underwear and the blazer he'd left behind. There's a good handful of seconds where he just stands there like an idiot, eyes widening a fraction as his gaze darts from point to point across Vash's body, a sudden rush of heat settling firmly in his cheeks in a way he isn't at all used to.
What the fuck, what the fuck.]
...her.
[He steps in the rest of the way and pulls the door shut behind him, turning to stare at it for a moment so he can mentally prepare himself while Vash can't look at his face and ask him what's wrong. Jesus Christ. Nothing could have prepared him to walk in to that, okay-
Swallowing thickly, Wolfwood turns back around and blinks a few times, shuffling his way closer to the edge of the bed.]
[Relieved as he is, Vash is all but grinning the moment Wolfwood steps through. There might even be a flush of elation that spreads over his cheeks, the sort of adoration that he can't hide even if he tries. All that is to say is that it probably does little to help the effect on Wolfwood.
That smile does start to fade the moment he turns his back. And it's outright disappeared by the time Wolfwood turns back. Naturally, he can't help but wonder if he's gone too far. Perhaps the blazer was special. Or maybe the scars on Vash's legs were enough to change his mind. Both are equally as unreasonable, but that doesn't keep him from worrying -
- at least until he spots the color on Wolfwood's own cheeks. Maybe it's too much to hope for, but he latches onto it all the same. He wouldn't look so affected if this was somehow the wrong thing to do.
He forces himself to sit up as Wolfwood draws closer. His hands extend, hoping to snag at least one of his partner's own within his grasp.]
Sorry. I got a little cold. [He does his best to coax Wolfwood into sitting, so he can rest his cheek against the man's shoulder.] It's not too much, right?
[Yeah, no, Vash has, uh. Nothing to worry about. Wolfwood is 500% into this. He hasn't even envisioned what it might look like for Vash to wear his blazer before, but now?
Now, he kindof wants to see him wear it more often.
He shakes his head a little, moving to sink into a sit at the foot of the bed.]
Nah...not at all. Makin' me feel a little too dressed, though.
[...you know what. He's just going to start unbuttoning his shirt as he says this, which isn't going to take much. It's already half unbuttoned as it is so. Enjoy that slow reveal of Wolfwood's abs, Vash!!]
...was gonna ask though. Have you, uh...done this before?
[Given Vash's hesitance with getting undressed...he isn't sure.]
[Someone is a bit too distracted by the show going on to respond right away. Wolfwood doesn't leave a lot to the imagination when it comes to his attire, at least not on the upper half. This is one of the few mysteries left to be revealed, and Vash is absolutely not letting anything get in the way of the show.
And yes, part of enjoying the show is seeing with his hands. It's hesitant, starting just below the pecs and dragging downward. The touch is gentle, treating Wolfwood like fragile glass rather than the killing machine he was made to be. Vash doesn't know if that's the right call, or if it might offend, but right now he wants to err on the side of caution.
Oh, right. He should say something - actually respond other than the awkward breath of a laugh he offers up. His gaze slides away, cheeks tinging with the faintest inkling of humiliation.]
It's been a few years. [He waits a moment, then adds -] Or maybe decades. And it only happened the once.
[He doubts Wolfwood would ever mock him outright for it, but he can't help but feel ashamed all the same.]
[No, it doesn't offend him. Honestly...it's nice to be treated like this for a change. Like he isn't the killing machine he was made to be, because that wasn't something he ever wanted, nor asked for. He was forced into it. Forced to mold his life and very existence around it, making it all he knows. So, to be shown a sort of softness of this caliber is to be given something Wolfwood had torn away from him at a very young age. Something he could never fully reclaim, not on his own.
His features soften a little as Vash explores the planes of his body. He is very well built- unsurprising, given the heavy gun he carries constantly- and unlike Vash, he seems to have plenty more dark body hair across his chest and beyond that he doesn't bother upkeeping. There are also parts where hair doesn't grow, parts where scarring discolors the normally soft brown skin. An inward shudder passes through him at the sensation of Vash's touch, his gaze following his fingers until Vash deigns to speak up, prompting him to look back at him now that he's taken his top off entirely. He'll get to his slacks in a moment.]
I have. S'been a while for me, too. They weren't really times I particularly cared to remember.
[One night stands, all of them. Wolfwood can't be expected to upkeep proper relationships, not with the kind of person he is. He never saw those people again, and he doubts they even remember him. Transactional, nothing more. There...just wasn't anything there beyond a means to an end.
So, perhaps in that regard, he's out of his element too.]
[vash is silent as Wolfwood explains his background. It isn't an awkward sort, not one filled with resentment or doubt. He simply listens, perhaps even clinging to each word as it's spoken. The truth is that Vash has had the chance to learn precious little about where Nick has come from. He can make guesses, as well as generally assume that around 75% of what he'd been through wasn't pleasant. But the little details like these are nice. They tell him what he wants to know about the man he's come to care for.
In the time that he speaks, those fingers work to map out each scar. They're thumbed over with an almost reverent delicacy. These are the fragile parts of the invulnerable Nicholas D. Wolfwood. They're a reminder that despite his resilience, he can be hurt. And for Vash, it helps him remember not to cause the harm he had before again.
When he does turn the subject back to Vash, he glances up. A small smile takes his lips, far from offended or conflicted.]
I know. [Vash was often plagued with self-doubt, that was true. But there were certain things that he couldn't deny. Wolfwood moving all of his stuff into what was now their home is one of those things.
Shifting once more, the hands exploring Wolfwood's body rise up. He cups the man's face, drawing him forward until their lips can meet. It's a fleeting, but reassuring kiss.]
[He can't help it. The way Vash kisses him, all genuine and sincere, after saying he can trust Wolfwood...
Well, they already had this conversation. There's no room for doubt between the two of them anymore. Worries and insecurities, yes, but if there's one thing that Wolfwood's been fighting for, it's Vash's continued trust. He doesn't intend to lose that.]
Alright, alright...I should probably lose the rest of this, then.
["This" being his pants, which he unbuttons, zips, and pulls off with little fanfare. His legs aren't much different than the rest of him: nowhere near as battle damaged as Vash's, but plenty enough to tell a story. Very hairy. He's also a boxers man, unsurprisingly-
Now it's just the two of them sitting mostly-naked on top of Vash's mattress, in a house that's thankfully kept warm by a fireplace. It's not exactly the most...romantic start, considering the position they were in earlier, but they still need to go about this carefully. They're both damaged in different ways, after all.
Wolfwood leans back a little on his haunches, taking a moment to really look Vash over.]
I'll be honest with you. I don't even really know where to start. ...but I think I got some ideas, if you'll let me.
[Naturally, Vash scrapes his gaze over the span of Wolfwood's body, taking his mostly nude form in from shoulder to ankles. There's never been any question that he's handsome, but the fact that it's reaffirmed is nice.
It should say something about Vash's rapidly improving comfort levels, that he isn't at all unnerved by that scrutinizing gaze. He shifts a little, but it's more for the coy effect than actually being uncomfortable.
That question does give him pause, though. It's been long enough that he hasn't exactly thought about the differences in his body, or at least how they compared to a human. He draws his own fingers down to his waistband, thumbing over the waistband of the boxers he himself wore.]
You can do whatever you want, but... [His smile is just a little awkward.] It might not be quite what you're expecting.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Vash has many reasons to be grateful for the man, but this is just one more. The thought that he doesn't deserve the kindness runs through his head still, but it's a voice that grows smaller and smaller by the day.
Especially when he is now presently distracted by the taste of Wolfwood on his lips, now plying into his mouth. His lips part without complaint, his own tongue dancing over the other in an attempt to steal more of a taste. He shifts his hips only enough to be truly comfortable with their now far more intimate position.
One of the hands draped around those shoulders shifts. It lifts upward, clenching almost desperately at Wolfwood's hair. The strands likely pull for a minute before Vash realizes what he's doing. It's still a tight grip, though, sorry about it.
The other, meanwhile, slides down his chest. He lets himself finally indulge in the desire to feel his skin. His fingers dance over the planes of his pecs, fanning out over the space at first, while his thumb weaves a more soothing circle against it.]
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Of course, he can't just kiss Vash and keep quiet about it. They have to breathe eventually, and when they break just long enough to inhale, Wolfwood smirks against the corner of Vash's mouth.]
It's okay. You can pull harder, I won't bite.
[Vash could probably near rip his hair out and he'd thank him for it, let's be honest here. In the meantime, Wolfwood is indulging too in a different sort of way, one of his hands on Vash's hip wandering around towards his back. His fingers catch along his beltloops, tugging on them playfully, until he finds the bottom edge of his thermal and slips his fingertips underneath it, pressing them directly to the bare slip of skin just at the small of his back.]
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It's swallowed down, at least, in favor of pulling just a little tighter. He's sure it's nowhere near what Wolfwood could tolerate, but. Look. He's trying, see. Even if those attempts are seriously defanged by the fingers that first press hard against the jut of his hips, then trace upward over the vulnerable skin of his now exposed back. The air might be warmer inside, but there's still a chill within the air.]
Nick - [The sound he makes is both more and less embarrassing than it could have been, when he thinks about it. He wasn't the first one to let out such a deeply affected noise. However, Wolfwood wasn't the one crooning his name over a simple damn touch.]
Y'feel... Y'feel good, y'know that?
[God help him, he's going to ramble.]
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The way Vash sighs his name like a prayer is addictive. So much so that he's inclined to tug Vash a little closer to him again, just enough so that their foreheads rest together.]
Yeah? Tell me more.
[He's not going to pass up the opportunity to hear what's on Vash's mind, especially when he knows there has to be a lot tumbling around in that big head of his. He'll continue to rub slow circles against the small of his back in the meantime, occasionally pressing a kiss to his face here...there...being overtly distracting.]
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Verbally at least.
He does to his best to reciprocate, however. His thighs tighten around either side of Wolfwood's, keeping his balance as he rocks his hips against the other man's. It's something of a struggle, seeing as how his whole body is arching forward beneath the touch on his back.
It's been years since anyone's touched him. It's been years since he's let himself be touched. And now it shows in the faint way he trembles over something so innocuous.]
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The lack of verbal response tells Wolfwood everything he needs to know, as well as the way Vash hauls off and just rocks his hips into him with how sharply his back is arching at merely being touched there. He's almost a bit worried that Vash might just fall backwards off his lap if he isn't careful, but with Wolfwood holding his hips and Vash clamping down on his hips with his thighs...he's pretty sure he'll be fine.
Well. Relatively speaking, depending on your definition of fine-]
Oh? You like that, huh?
[Wolfwood purrs between them, suddenly stopping with three fingers flat against the very base of Vash's spine, just above his waistband. Then, from there, he slowly drags his fingertips upward, each one bumping along each individual vertebrae on its way up underneath that thermal of his.
Now...Wolfwood, of course, doesn't know what the extent of Vash's experience with other people intimately is, if there's any at all. It could genuinely go either way, he thinks. Obviously it never came up, before. The question of that may come up later, depending on how much he can get Vash to unravel here.
He's curious.]
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It takes him little more than a second to recover, but then Vash is reeling back. The fluster on his face, the near rapture, has been replaced with something a little more shadowed and guarded. He holds his arms in front of his chest, not defiant but almost defensive.]
W-wait. Hang on, Nick.
[He forces himself to take a deep breath. When he's managed to get a grip on himself, he lowers his hands. They fall to the hem of his thermal, gripping it but not yet pulling up.]
We should - get this out of the way before we go any further. [He glances away, not quite willing to meet Wolfwood's gaze. He doesn't want to see the revulsion there.]
It ain't pretty under there, is all I'm saying. We're... probably better keeping it on, honestly. Not that the legs are much better but...
[He heaves a shrug.]
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...
Well, now. That could mean almost anything, to a bunch of weird scars to some sort of Plant anatomy he isn't prepared for. It shows in his face as his eyes shift from the bottom edge of his thermal up to look Vash in the eye, not judging so much as...questioning.
His thumbs brush along the sharp lines of his hipbones, idly. If it's bad enough that Vash is volunteering to just keep his clothes on forever...mm.]
You can show me.
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The only reason Vash decides to lift his shirt at all is the fact that he'd rather have it happen sooner, rather than later. It would be a terrible thing, for them to patch things up only to fall apart once more, but he wouldn't blame Wolfwood. It wasn't pretty.
The thermal comes up over his head, and is promptly set aside, still within arm's reach. He resists the urge to cover himself up, hiding the now bare skin from Wolfwood's eyes. The cold doesn't help matters, sending gooseflesh rising up over nearly every inch of him.]
If you want me to put it back on, just say so.
cw: child experimentation
Wolfwood has his share of scarring on some parts of his body, which Vash will more than likely see if they get past this point. He, too, has been injured to the point of death over and over again, the only difference being that he has a serum that can heal those wounds over as if they'd never happened. Early on, when he was in the midst of the experiments, he knows damn well that the meds weren't working on him at first. Those scars never fully healed. Those are a reminder of what he's been fighting for and against this entire time. But those pale in comparison to this.
Vash...some parts of him seem almost like they're barely hanging on. Huge chunks of flesh are missing. Parts have been bolted, stapled, and stitched back together. Metal plates embedded in his skin where normal surgery must not have been possible. Scar upon scar, literally too many for him to possibly count, laid bare for Wolfwood to see. He can't hide it, he does look shocked by what he sees.
But...the shock doesn't last for long. It slowly melts into something else, as one of his hands comes up to very tentatively brush along one of those scars that cut super deep around his torso, where he'd probably been shot fatally at one point. His brows knit together with sympathy. Anger, for Vash's sake, that he'd been hurt this badly. It has nothing to do with looks. Not even remotely.
Then, brown eyes slowly shift back up to meet blue.]
You really think this is gonna scare me off? After everything we've been through?
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His body shies away as Wolfwood touches him, but only initially. Tentatively, he allows himself to sink into the touch. It's unfamiliar — the last time he'd been with someone, more than half of these scars hadn't existed — but it's not unwanted. Judging by the way he shudders, it's actually appreciated.]
I hope not... [Vash laughs, but it sounds strained, like he's been holding his breath. Probably because he has.] But I wouldn't blame you if it did.
[Since Wolfwood hasn't sent him away yet, Vash allows himself a little comfort. He sinks back into their embrace, one arm once again draping over his shoulder. The other slides up to cradle his jaw.]
We can't all be as handsome as you, Nick.
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Fuck off with that. [Ah-] You're plenty ~handsome~. These scars don't take away from that.
[Sure, they're bad. They're ugly. It's not conventionally attractive, but who on the planet is? Wolfwood doesn't wear socks with his shoes, why does Vash LIKE this man?
Wolfwood is tracing other scars now, gently, carefully...like he's dealing with a frightened deer. Fingers brush the edge of metal. He feels a few bolts here and there.]
...I'm gonna say something really sappy, so you'd better appreciate it. But.
Bein' handsome ain't always skin deep. Attractiveness comes from inside the house, too. [Said as he pokes a finger into Vash's sternum, to make a point.] ...and you're about as hot as they come, in that regard.
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Since when - [Vash cracks half of a smile.] - were you such a romantic, Nick?
[He shouldn't be surprised. There's so much they don't know about each other, things they weren't allowed to learn when they were just going fight to fight. Even here, they haven't been afforded the luxury of getting to know each other. Not until now.]
What other fancy things do you have to say, huh?
[Is he trying to distract himself from those words? From the conversation at hand? It's quite possible. But he also can't help but marvel, too. Nicholas D Wolfwood is on another level.]
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[He smirks, able to tell that he really got to Vash with that one. He hopes in a good way, but if not, well...maybe Vash is just going to have to unlearn a lot of bad habits in regards to thinking negatively about himself, and if that means Wolfwood has to keep constantly reminding him of all the ways he is good...then he guesses he'll just have to, won't he?
With another slight tilt of his head, Wolfwood reaches out again. This time though, instead of touching any of those scars, he's reaching up to take his turn to cup the side of Vash's face, brushing a thumb along his cheekbone.]
I've got plenty more where that came from, if you'll let me. Point being...I don't care about any of this shit, blondie. I had a feeling you'd be all chewed up somehow. Ain't like I'm not.
[It's. Nowhere NEAR as bad, but...the similarities are there, he gets it.]
And I'm only halfway here because of your pretty face.
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[He leans his head into those hands. Every bump, cut, and callus is treasured as it scrapes against the plane of his face. The sigh he exhales is bone deep, but it isn't entirely weary. With it goes at least a few of the doubts he harbors. They might sneak back with time, but for now he'll be able to savor the moment that much better.]
's probably enough bein' all caught in my head, don't you think?
[He leans forward, tracing his nose over the span of Wolfwood's jaw, before finally placing a kiss on his chin, on the corner of his mouth, and then on his lips. Each one is soft, tender despite their position. That face is kept cradled just the same as Wolfwood cradles him.]
Though maybe we should move before we get too comfortable. Beds are probably much nicer, don't you think?
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Was wondering if you’d say that before you fell off my lap.
[He’s been envisioning Vash eating shit this entire time, honestly. Probably for the best though that they do take this to the bed, since it’s obvious now they want to do a bit more heavy petting, if nothing else.
With a heavy breath and a reluctant sigh, Wolfwood draws his hands back so Vash can get up, and the moment he does…Angelina comes rushing over at the sight of people standing like play??? Is it play time how???
…hm.
Okay hold on, don’t mind as he literally scoops you into his arms there, Vash, turning to carry you off to bed with the puppy hot on his heels. Just full on bridal carrying him to bed, to which he’ll toss him unceremoniously onto the mattress before scooping a very wiggly Angelina in his arms.]
Hang on for me for like, five minutes. I need to take care of this.
[Angelina BARKS at Vash. Hi Vash she loves you
And then he’s off brb he’ll be back to get his dick wet wait for him—]
just gonna slap that NSFW tag on here now since...
As the laughter fades to silence, though, unease settles in. He's certain he'll be back, he has no reason to doubt. But the longer he lays there, alone with his thoughts, Vash can't help but feel... empty. Afraid.
So he does what he can. Sensual as it might be to have Wolfwood strip him down, it'll also take too much time. So Vash focuses on pulling his boots off, then his socks, and finally his pants. He leaves his underwear on for the sake of a little romance at least.
Unfortunately, the lack of clothing leaves him rightfully chilled. He doesn't want to set the wrong impression by burrowing under the covers so he reaches for the next best thing. He pulls on Wolfwood's blazer, bundling himself up within it as best as he can. It doesn't do a lot, but at least it smells like him.
It's enough to keep his nerves at ease as he waits for Wolfwood's return.]
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Eventually though he makes it there, and lucky for him there are plenty of people in the Grove- like one Elsword and N- who enjoy dogs and taking care of them, particularly little puppies with a penchant for getting into trouble. He only remembered to bring her little toy for her to play with, but he lets them know she's already been fed for the evening and will just need clean water overnight. Other than that and taking her outside when needed, she basically cares for herself (untrue, but you know he's in a hurry-)
By the time Wolfwood makes it back, he's thoroughly chilled to the bone and regretting the fact he didn't actually bundle up before heading out there. He has to shake off the snowflakes as he walks back in, dusting off his hair and kicking snow off his very wet shoes. Maybe one of these days he'll be smart enough to go buy some boots, but today is not that day. He heads back for the bedroom, poking his head through the crack in the door even as he's still brushing snow off himself (sorry about the floors it'll dry).]
Got somebody to watch...
[And then he stops, because he's looked up and he sees Vash sitting there atop the blankets wearing nothing but his underwear and the blazer he'd left behind. There's a good handful of seconds where he just stands there like an idiot, eyes widening a fraction as his gaze darts from point to point across Vash's body, a sudden rush of heat settling firmly in his cheeks in a way he isn't at all used to.
What the fuck, what the fuck.]
...her.
[He steps in the rest of the way and pulls the door shut behind him, turning to stare at it for a moment so he can mentally prepare himself while Vash can't look at his face and ask him what's wrong. Jesus Christ. Nothing could have prepared him to walk in to that, okay-
Swallowing thickly, Wolfwood turns back around and blinks a few times, shuffling his way closer to the edge of the bed.]
You...you sure got comfy, huh.
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That smile does start to fade the moment he turns his back. And it's outright disappeared by the time Wolfwood turns back. Naturally, he can't help but wonder if he's gone too far. Perhaps the blazer was special. Or maybe the scars on Vash's legs were enough to change his mind. Both are equally as unreasonable, but that doesn't keep him from worrying -
- at least until he spots the color on Wolfwood's own cheeks. Maybe it's too much to hope for, but he latches onto it all the same. He wouldn't look so affected if this was somehow the wrong thing to do.
He forces himself to sit up as Wolfwood draws closer. His hands extend, hoping to snag at least one of his partner's own within his grasp.]
Sorry. I got a little cold. [He does his best to coax Wolfwood into sitting, so he can rest his cheek against the man's shoulder.] It's not too much, right?
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Now, he kindof wants to see him wear it more often.
He shakes his head a little, moving to sink into a sit at the foot of the bed.]
Nah...not at all. Makin' me feel a little too dressed, though.
[...you know what. He's just going to start unbuttoning his shirt as he says this, which isn't going to take much. It's already half unbuttoned as it is so. Enjoy that slow reveal of Wolfwood's abs, Vash!!]
...was gonna ask though. Have you, uh...done this before?
[Given Vash's hesitance with getting undressed...he isn't sure.]
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And yes, part of enjoying the show is seeing with his hands. It's hesitant, starting just below the pecs and dragging downward. The touch is gentle, treating Wolfwood like fragile glass rather than the killing machine he was made to be. Vash doesn't know if that's the right call, or if it might offend, but right now he wants to err on the side of caution.
Oh, right. He should say something - actually respond other than the awkward breath of a laugh he offers up. His gaze slides away, cheeks tinging with the faintest inkling of humiliation.]
It's been a few years. [He waits a moment, then adds -] Or maybe decades. And it only happened the once.
[He doubts Wolfwood would ever mock him outright for it, but he can't help but feel ashamed all the same.]
What about you?
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His features soften a little as Vash explores the planes of his body. He is very well built- unsurprising, given the heavy gun he carries constantly- and unlike Vash, he seems to have plenty more dark body hair across his chest and beyond that he doesn't bother upkeeping. There are also parts where hair doesn't grow, parts where scarring discolors the normally soft brown skin. An inward shudder passes through him at the sensation of Vash's touch, his gaze following his fingers until Vash deigns to speak up, prompting him to look back at him now that he's taken his top off entirely. He'll get to his slacks in a moment.]
I have. S'been a while for me, too. They weren't really times I particularly cared to remember.
[One night stands, all of them. Wolfwood can't be expected to upkeep proper relationships, not with the kind of person he is. He never saw those people again, and he doubts they even remember him. Transactional, nothing more. There...just wasn't anything there beyond a means to an end.
So, perhaps in that regard, he's out of his element too.]
...but this is different. I mean it.
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In the time that he speaks, those fingers work to map out each scar. They're thumbed over with an almost reverent delicacy. These are the fragile parts of the invulnerable Nicholas D. Wolfwood. They're a reminder that despite his resilience, he can be hurt. And for Vash, it helps him remember not to cause the harm he had before again.
When he does turn the subject back to Vash, he glances up. A small smile takes his lips, far from offended or conflicted.]
I know. [Vash was often plagued with self-doubt, that was true. But there were certain things that he couldn't deny. Wolfwood moving all of his stuff into what was now their home is one of those things.
Shifting once more, the hands exploring Wolfwood's body rise up. He cups the man's face, drawing him forward until their lips can meet. It's a fleeting, but reassuring kiss.]
I trust you.
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[He can't help it. The way Vash kisses him, all genuine and sincere, after saying he can trust Wolfwood...
Well, they already had this conversation. There's no room for doubt between the two of them anymore. Worries and insecurities, yes, but if there's one thing that Wolfwood's been fighting for, it's Vash's continued trust. He doesn't intend to lose that.]
Alright, alright...I should probably lose the rest of this, then.
["This" being his pants, which he unbuttons, zips, and pulls off with little fanfare. His legs aren't much different than the rest of him: nowhere near as battle damaged as Vash's, but plenty enough to tell a story. Very hairy. He's also a boxers man, unsurprisingly-
Now it's just the two of them sitting mostly-naked on top of Vash's mattress, in a house that's thankfully kept warm by a fireplace. It's not exactly the most...romantic start, considering the position they were in earlier, but they still need to go about this carefully. They're both damaged in different ways, after all.
Wolfwood leans back a little on his haunches, taking a moment to really look Vash over.]
I'll be honest with you. I don't even really know where to start. ...but I think I got some ideas, if you'll let me.
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It should say something about Vash's rapidly improving comfort levels, that he isn't at all unnerved by that scrutinizing gaze. He shifts a little, but it's more for the coy effect than actually being uncomfortable.
That question does give him pause, though. It's been long enough that he hasn't exactly thought about the differences in his body, or at least how they compared to a human. He draws his own fingers down to his waistband, thumbing over the waistband of the boxers he himself wore.]
You can do whatever you want, but... [His smile is just a little awkward.] It might not be quite what you're expecting.
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