Nicholas holds onto him tight, the arm he’d snaked around his back latched as if welded there eternities ago. His brown eyes were careful. Watchful. Observant. To him, the fear that if he let go the man would sink down into the sand and become one with it was very real. Metaphorically speaking, it felt like that could happen. Vash could be one bad day, one bad night, one bad hour away from anything. And, maybe selfishly, he was cherishing this rare closeness between them. It wasn’t often they talked about emotions. And for that matter, he’d like to be more physically close too.
As wise as he was—or whatever Vash may see him to be, it didn’t stop his humanity. The qualities of living creatures that never could be shaken off unless you became cruel and inhuman. Often in moments like these he found himself at an overpass. One of the kinds with two sides and a middle. He didn’t want to be in any of them. Giving into his fears, comforting his friend in the face of something awful, or both. He didn’t want to do either. Because, ideally, neither should be happening. The most happy middle ground was often contending with both, though. Because Vash needed care. And he often couldn’t fight his fear. And that’s what he was silently doing in his mind as he looked at Vash. Hopefully it didn’t show.
“Not if ya drink some water. Which yer gonna do when we get back. I’ll get you some electrolytes too…bought some a bit ago. Lucky you, they’re apple flavored.” With how much Vash had drank though, nothing was promised. It didn’t matter. He’d take care of him if that became the case, gladly so. Lord knows he needed it right about now. Two men, so broken. So needing of that. And he’d do it, fighting Vash’s accusations of him being soft the entire time as he did whatever he needed of him.
Yet deep down that’s all he wanted to hear from someone.
They didn’t have any reason to be rushing out of the town other than bounty hunters, and even then those were just a regular part of their life regardless of their whereabouts. Staying another day to let Vash recover from his stupid decisions wouldn’t hurt.
When the two successfully get to their inn, he falls quiet as he works them both up the stairs, grip tightening on Vash’s back in preparation for any stumble he may make while climbing the stairs. He acknowledges Vash’s comment with a small hum, not quite sure how to contend with his care being so…openly seen. It was both uncomfortable for his lack of it ever being seen, but at the same time…nice. Especially out of Vash’s mouth. It felt right.
With a click of some keys and and shove of the subsequent door, they were in. And he quickly aids Vash over to the bed, hesitating to loosen his grip until he’s sure Vash made contact with it. After that, he doesn’t take long to help Vash strip of his armor. It seemed they both were undressing each other at the same time, taking turns. The intimacy of it all makes his skin burn. When he’s done with that, he tosses Vash’s things on a nearby chair, silently promising himself to clean them for the man come the morning. Maybe he’ll even go out and get a donut, too.
“Sure. But who says I wouldn’t mind makin’ out?” he says, not quite sure if he’s joking or not. He was too tired to think about that now. Maybe he was just saying what he thought. That, or the admission of love on his part was in fact very real to him.
Nonetheless, with a smile and a final kick of his pants to get them off, he continues, teasing hinting in his voice while he sits beside him. “Just don’t use it as an escape next time, then we’ll see. I like a man who communicates, that’ll really woo me.”
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