Pairing: Vash the Stampede x Reader
Summary: Something shiny catches Vash's eye while browsing the market.
Content: fluff
Word Count: .8k
Truly, it's incredible what humans have managed to create out of so little. Take the sandsteamer Vash stands on now—built piece by piece from the remnants of ships that once fell from the sky. Vibrant stalls spill out across the walkway as he browses the market, each bursting with its own personality: the warm sizzle of street food frying in wide iron pans, shelves of tools and weaponry, shimmering under the sunlight, meant to aid bounty hunters in their next pursuit (he gives that one a wide berth), tapestries and paintings and intricate sculptures, creations born of steady hands and aching hearts.
But delicate metal rings—especially ones crowned with a gleaming red gemstone, shining like a drop of sunlight caught in ore—are rare.
Vash doesn’t usually stop for jewelry. Too flashy. Too impractical. Too… hopeful, and far too expensive for someone constantly on the move, constantly scraping by. It's the sort of thing someone with roots might buy. Someone with a future.
But this one.
This one stops him cold, and he finds himself reaching for it. Not because he needs it.
But because, for one quiet, heart-stopping moment, he imagines how beautiful it would look on your finger.
“See something you like?” the vendor calls, eyes twinkling knowingly.
Vash startles a bit, fingers already curled around the little ring. He looks up like he’s been caught red-handed. “Uh. Maybe.”
The vendor leans forward on their elbows, looking at him with a practiced eye. “That one’s not cheap, y’know. Real gemstone. Came from one of the old ship wrecks. Not many of those left.”
Vash turns the ring slowly in his fingers, watching the way it catches the light. It gleams like it's always belonged to someone special.
He swallows. “How much?”
The vendor names a price, and Vash winces. That’s more than a few meals. Maybe even a few weeks’ worth. Spending it all on something so small, so impractical to a man on the run, borders on reckless.
But he doesn't put the ring down.
“Need a box?” the vendor asks, already reaching below the stall.
“…Yes, please.”
“Box is extra.”
Of course it is.
He exhales slowly, taking out his wallet and counting out the last of his double dollars before he slides the bills across the counter. “Fine.”
The vendor chuckles, already easing the ring into a small, felt-lined box—careful, deliberate, as if they know just what kind of thing this is. “Romantic type, huh?” they say lightly, snapping the box shut. “Hope they’re worth it.”
“They are,” Vash says, almost too quietly.
The vendor hands over the box with a nod and a smile that, for all its mischief, carries a kind of understanding. “Pleasure doing business.”
Vash takes it like it’s something fragile. Sacred.
You’ve seen him at his best and at his worst—and somehow, impossibly, you’re still here. Still choosing to be by his side. And he wants to keep you there. He wants that more than anything.
It’s selfish. He knows that.
But even as he tucks the little box carefully into his pocket, feeling the familiar emptiness of his wallet in the other hand, he knows he’d have paid twice as much if he had to.
“Vash!”
Your voice rings out above the noise of the crowd, light and unmistakable. His head snaps up, a little too quickly. You’re weaving your way through the stalls, smiling as you spot him.
He panics, jamming the box deeper into his coat pocket, and he forgets about the wallet still hanging limply in his hand.
“There you are!” You reach his side, slightly breathless. “I’ve been looking all over. Where’d you run off to?”
“Ah, well, y’know…” He tries to sound casual, trying to hide the guilt on his face. “Browsing.”
“Browsing, huh?” You raise an eyebrow. “Find anything good?”
He shrugs, eyes darting to the side. “A couple things. Nothing crazy.”
You glance down. “Wait—how much did you spend?”
“…A lot.”
You stare at him. Then at the sagging wallet.
“Vash, holy shit, what did you buy?!”
Crap. Think. Think.
“Uhh… food.” He winces. “Snacks.”
You blink. “Did you save any for me at least?”
“N-No.”
“You glutton! I swear, your stomach’s bottomless sometimes!” you scold, but there's laughter behind your words, amusement softening the edge.
He chuckles weakly, scratching the back of his neck. “Guess I got carried away…”
You shake your head, bumping your shoulder lightly against his. “You’re lucky I like you.”
He smiles, helpless in the face of you.
No—he won’t ask you to stay. Not yet. He won’t ask you to tie your future to his uncertain one. That would be cruel. You deserve a life of ease, of peace, not one spent dodging bullets and bounties.
But if the day ever comes when he lets himself fully surrender to the quiet, burning want that fills him every time he looks at you, to the dream of watching the years shape your smile and your laugh lines, to the longing to watch how time paints its story into the lines of your face—he’ll be ready, with a pretty ring, nestled safely in his right-hand pocket.
Then again, maybe the moment he bought it... he already gave in.
Your fics of the obey me boys protecting mc from a creep are so amazing!!
If it's okay, could you write a similar one for Barb and Sol please?<3
anon I see you’ve been sitting in my inbox for a millennia, but I feel like I’ve finally now can write this fic! Barbatos in my mind is a bit unhinged, so like TW for those undertones! This went on longer than I intended, I hope you enjoy !
Barbatos
I could see this happening in the later hours of a ball that his king decided to host, caught unawares with a human he decided to invite had inevitably gotten lost in his crowd.
Considering that your usual guard dogs were preoccupied with their official business, Barbatos took it upon himself to keep a keen eye on you as you made your introductions.
Some of the demons lingered longer than necessary, but the majority quickly moved on due to the presence of the brothers all together somewhere in the room. Despite that, one particular demon cozied up to you a bit more than he found himself caring for.
“That’s very flattering thank you, but I think I’ve had plenty this evening,” you waved your hand towards the demon, gesturing politely in refusal of his offer to a drink.
You weren’t stupid, taking drinks from strangers in the human world was hardly safe, the devildom was no exception.
The demons mouth curved down slightly on the side, but he quickly recovered as he sauntered closer to you. Your back now against the pillar, your eyes scanned the crowd for an escape.
“Those brothers must be boring such a thing like you.” An elongated finger dragged lazily along your temple as he pushed a stray hair out of your face.
“The brothers are wonderful, now if you’d excuse me—“ you grimaced as the demon side stepped your attempt to skirt around him. Now pushed farther back, your irritation was plain across your face.
“C’mon. Hear me out here—“
“I do believe the lady has kindly rejected you multiple times.”
The snarl startled you, a familiar back facing you as Barbatos stepped in between you and the demon. He held a serving tray in his arm, the other arm was across his chest as he politely angled his body towards the male in front of him.
His tail gently urged you to his left, its length curling protectively around your frame.
The formerly mentioned demon scoffed, clearly irritated about the kings servent interrupting him.
“Listen Barbatos,” the demon grabbed a wad of somthing from his lined pocket, placing it discreetly in his hand. “Look the other way with the kings pet, and keep this between us.”
The chill that descended the ballroom was near paralyzing.
You didn’t dare breathe.
“Out of respect for Diavolo,” Barbatos spat, rising to his full height, his back shifting into a lethal calm. “I will not cause a scene because of this disgusting conversation. You must be unwell, considering your intellect is so skewed that you believed I could be bought out for such an act.”
The demon tensed, his foot sliding back slightly.
You’d never seen Barbatos so eerily calm. He could be unnerving in his role, but the aura he was giving off was that of a predator.
“Lord Diavolo will see to you later,” a swish of his wrist and the demon was transported instantly.
The rush and noise of the crowd and music came back immediately, and Barbatos turned to face you, bowing deeply.
“Are you harmed?”
“Uh… no. No not at all, thank you Barbatos.” Your hand reached out to take his out and make him rise.
You were at a loss for words, the lethality you had felt from him was gone, replaced with a relaxed atmosphere.
This guy gave you whiplash.
Extending his arm, he offered, “Come. Let’s get some fresh air.”
All you could do was nod.
Solomon
Honestly, the reason that you hadn’t encountered any suspicious demons was because this wizard watched you very closely. When he determined the brothers were around, he tended to let off.
But, anytime you were without one of them and he was around, he tended to ward off many a demon (he may had cast a sort of mirage around you if any ill-intended demons looked to long).
Deciding to have a bit of fun without the brothers, you had begged him to check out a new club scene that had opened up. All the students were talking about it! I’ll go anyway even if you aren’t with me!
Leaving you unprotected wasn’t an option, but he decided to play coy and tag along.
Solomon immediately disliked the air of the nightclub. The thick haze and skewed magic surrounding it instantly made him on edge. Seeing you so excited to be there, seeking out some friends from class, made him bite his tongue.
The crowd itself made him uneasy, some demons lingering looks made him grind his teeth as he steered you towards a booth to get a break.
“This place is kind of… dense.” He ground out.
“I think this’ll be fun! Oh! Let me go to the bathroom quick, one of the girls from our sorcery course needs some help fixing her look.”
You skirted off quickly. Solomon reassured himself it was fine, you had a trace of his magic he could track. He reached out to feel the tug, only—
There was nothing there.
————-
Having fixed up your friends hair, you made your way back to Solomon. Unfortunately you were intercepted, a large demon glancing down at you with wide eyes.
“So you’re the human they’ve been talking about.”
You attempted to move around him, huffing when the press of bodies halted you from doing so.
This demon was clearly intoxicated, his uneven gate and slight sway told you that much.
A grip on your arm made you flinch, moving quickly to detach the large hand from your bicep.
“Let me go, man.”
The demon flung his arms up in surrender. “Are you here by yourself? You know, this place is full of creatures that would—“
“I’m with my friends, now if you’ll excuse me.” You shouldered your way past him, ignoring his intimidating height. You looked around for the booth that Solomon and you were at previously.
Your heart thundered, where the hell was it?
“Are you a bit lost?” A grin split across his face as he leaned down, the smell of demonous reaching your nostrils. “I could help you find your friends…”
The look in his eyes told you something entirely different. Panic began to work its way up your chest and the noise and flickering lights made it hard to see against the crowd.
Suddenly, a heavy arm wrapped around your shoulders. Jolting from the contact, you looked up to see Solomon, staring down the demon in front of you.
“I do hope that you weren’t giving my human any trouble here.”
Realizing who was in front of him, the demon blanched, leaning back into a few others that were crowded behind him.
“N-not at all man, just trying to help them out is all.” He waved his claws in front of his face, eager to turn and part the crowd as he made his exit.
Satisfied, Solomon looked to you.
“What happened to that bracelet you always wear?”
Furrowing your brows you spoke. “What are you talking about? It’s right here—“
You grabbed your empty wrist in alarm. Shit! You must’ve undone it when you were helping your friend.
“It’s probably in the bathroom, here, let me go grab it quick!”
Solomon grabbed your shoulder and spun you in close to him.
“Forget the bracelet.”
“But that was a gift! I’m sure it was expensive.”
You saw his jaw tick. “I’ll get you another, you’re not leaving my sight after that.”
Clasping your hand in his, he made his way to the exit.
“How do you feel about takeout?”
A smile burst across your face.
“As long as you’re the one paying.”
Solomon laughed, grasping your hand a bit tighter.
Fae! Gojo who’s initially indebted to you (much to his dismay) after he stumbles across your home, bloodied and weak after combating lesser fae and their human companions who accompany them, hoping for a shot at his capture. You, not recognizing him as fae due to his blindfold, usher him in and insist on caring for his injuries.
Fae! Gojo who waits around for you to shrink back in fear once you discover what he really is (you knew almost immediately after you welcomed him in). Deciding to leave it be, you allow him to rest in your small home until he’s well enough to be on his way.
Fae! Gojo who insists you make a bargain with him once he discovers you knew about his identity all along. What do you want, human? Gold? Riches? You shrug in response, saying you prefer to just have his company around, since he’s endlessly entertaining. He refuses to believe you don’t have an ulterior motive (he sticks around anyway).
Fae! Gojo who places wards around your neck of the woods and scopes out any evil beings that dare tread too close. Fully recovered, he will slink back towards the house at sunset, like a cat coming back for its dinner each night. You don’t mind though; you enjoy having something to look forward to each day.
Fae! Gojo who learns to look at humans a little differently. He watches you go about your day with mundane tasks, and despite his ability to use his powers to pull up the vegetables from the garden, he finds himself pushing you out of the way on a particularly hot day and insists he will do it. Then, his debt will be repaid. (He comes back that same night).
Fae! Gojo who finds his heart beating a little faster when you’re in close proximity to him. He leaves that night, citing he won’t be back.
Fae! Gojo who wanders deep into the forest, playing his tricks and determined that he will not return to your home.
Fae! Gojo who feels an ache in his chest anytime he settles down to sleep, the chill of the woods settling deep into his bones as he dips off into a fitful sleep.
Fae! Gojo who ends up back at your door, eyes sunken and footfalls heavy. He isn’t sure why he can’t stay away, it vexes him entirely. Of course, he tells you that he needs to lay low for a while. You smile up at him, nodding and turning to hide your smile as he walks back in.
Fae! Gojo who opens up bit by bit, your encounters becoming playfully flirtatious with every witty comment and open-ended question. That ache he carried for so long subsides, bit by bit, each day he stays just a little bit longer.
Fae! Gojo who decides that he will stick around, for your sake of course, there are dangerous creatures out there, you know. He knows he will have to move on eventually, and despite his hatred towards humans, he refuses to bring his trials to your doorstep.
Fae! Gojo who watches you sleep. Nocturnal as he tends to be, he watches over you and the small home you accompany. He decides that night you are his first human friend… so why does his mouth go dry when you look up at him like that?
Bonus
Fae! Gojo who uses a hollow purple on an arachnid one day when he comes back to hear your screams from inside the house. The hole is rebuilt promptly. The spider however… is not.
all fanfiction is funnier and sexier and vastly better-written when you read it at three in the morning, in the dark, lying on your side, tucked into bed, with screen rotate turned off. that’s just how it works. that’s just facts.
Request/question of the century: would Wolfwood be down for platonic cuddling, and, if so, headcanons for that?
A/N: A very, very good question, Anon. *Pulls out an entire PowerPoint presentation on the subject.* Let us discuss (aka headcanon time!).
Listen, this man? Touch-starved.
Seriously, both him and Vash are touch-starved as HELL.
Unlike Vash, though, Wolfwood strikes me as somebody who'd initially be very, VERY uncomfortable with touch that he himself didn't initiate
Cause we see him touch other people (ex: when he grabs Meryl and tries to shove food in her face), but it's on his terms
So, when you try to initiate any sort of touch, even platonic touches, this man freezes.
You'd immediately apologize for making him uncomfortable, and he'd just try to brush off your concerns while trying not to implode on himself a bit
Because even just hearing you wanting to do stuff as simple as hug him or hold his hand makes him feel... good.
It takes time for Wolfwood to get comfortable, especially if you're a person who's cuddly by nature, but if you're patient with him and allow him to initiate cuddles and other platonic touches, he'll gradually open up to you being the one to initiate
It takes time, but soon, you notice Wolfwood doesn't freeze up or tense when you play with his hand or hold it
You'll see him accept your hugs or you cuddling up to him, even if he doesn't quite reciprocate the gestures juuuust yet
Then, one day, Wolfwood is the one coming up behind you, wrapping his arms around you and resting his head on top of yours
"Hey, sweetheart."
After that point, Wolfwood becomes borderline insatiable, constantly wanting to be touched or touch you in some way, whether it's holding your hand, or playing with your hair, or hugging you - is this what he's been missing all this time?
The comfort of another person's touch becomes a source of peace for Wolfwood, especially if he's particularly troubled or upset
He really, really, really likes it if you hug him and play with his hair when he's upset - he finds it calms him down, for some reason
I feel like he'd have difficulty voicing what he wants, though, cause he'd feel embarrassed, so you'd have to learn to read his cues with time
None of these touches have to have romantic attachment to them - Wolfwood would be exceptionally happy just to have the comfort of somebody else who's there with him, regardless of your relationship status with him
If you're his friend? He's cuddling you.
If you're his romantic partner? He's cuddling you.
Overall, Wolfwood would need some time to get used to the concept of skinship and human touch, but once he becomes comfortable? It's over for him and it's all he wants
Just a lil meet cute where Choso sees you enter a cafe and decides to use some of his new skills to impress you...
work count: 1.2k
“I see you layered your guyliner on extra thick today, Choso.”
Rolling said eyes, Choso dug through the counter and grabbed a bag of decaf beans to hand over to his pink-haired coworker.
He caught his reflection in the metallic of the espresso machine. It wasn’t that his eyeliner was layered extra thick, it was more a matter that he had never removed it from the night before.
And that he might’ve fell asleep while studying.
On his desk.
In the library.
“I never took it off.”
Yuji blinked at him, taking the coffee and getting to work on another customer’s order. Choso had made it a habit to watch over the semi-new hire when he was assigned to the latte art and more complex orders. He had a tendency to overfill the cups.
A chime sounded, indicating someone had stepped into the café.
Brows furrowed, he glanced at the clock. It was fairly late in the evening, not so close to closing as he’d hoped which meant they’d hit the “students getting shit done before midnight” crowd of the Sunday evening.
Rolling his neck, Choso adjusted his apron and walked over to the front counter.
His eyes raked over you for a split second before speaking. “What can I get for you?”
You beamed brightly up at him, and he quickly glanced down at the screen in front of him as he waited for your order. You were a student, that was apparent by your bookbag and sort of worn out exterior. He hadn’t seen you around here last semester, and suddenly he was glad that the rotation of classes made you wander into the shop.
“Oh! And could I also get it with a cup of soup?” He nodded along, brushing a stray hair out of his face as he finished typing up the order.
“For here or to go?” His eyes flicked up to yours, examining your features.
“Here please!” you exclaimed enthusiastically. “I need a change of scenery that isn’t in the library,” you gestured to your backpack.
He nodded, gesturing to the card reader in front of you as you waited to pay.
Having paid, you found a quaint spot by the window to set your bag down and pull out your ecosystem of electronics, he noticed.
How much could you fit in that bag?
“Hey, Choso. How do I make this again? Don’t I pour the creamer—”
The formerly mentioned male took the label out Yuji’s hands, realizing it was yours.
“I got it,” he grumbled. “Watch the register.”
Yuji sticks his tongue out at him but walked obediently over towards the front, working on the next person’s, much simpler, coffee.
He couldn’t help but glance over at where you were sitting, entirely engrossed in whatever you were doing. He watched as you shuffled through papers, brows furrowed in concentration.
A sudden burning shocked him out of his staring. With a hiss, he reflexively took his hand back that had been in the way of the espresso machine, causing the coffee to pour onto him, rather than into the cup.
He sighed. He’d have to do it again.
Reaching into the cupboard with his now throbbing hand, he grabbed a new cup and slapped your label on it. Now waiting for the drip (from a safe distance), he leaned back against the counter, debating what sort of art he should do in the coffee…
You seemed like the type to appreciate it.
Now determined, he grabbed the creamer, glancing in your direction as he did so. His eyebrows raised as he met your gaze, watching as you shyly glanced back down to your laptop.
Ok, now he had to make this perfect. Not the usual run of the mill that the regulars looked forward to from the other employees.
No fuck ups, Choso.
Squaring his shoulders, he rolled up his sleeves, adjusted his frame, and began to pour.
Carefully holding it in his hands, he swung open the miniature gate that separated the customer and employees sections of the front.
“Hey, what are you—” Yujis eyes snapped to the direction Choso was headed towards. “Ah, oh uh, never mind then.”
Moving into your field of view, Choso gracefully plated the mug in front of you, careful of your papers strewn about the small benchtop.
You gratefully looked up towards him and smiled.
Gahh…
He clenched his jaw subconsciously. He really liked the way the sides of your mouth quirked up when it was directed at him.
“Oh my gosh!” you gasped, cooing over the arguably very adorable cat’s face that was plastered in the middle of your cup. “I literally cannot drink this.”
He nodded silently in approval, his chest lightening a bit that you reacted positively towards it.
Glancing down at his name tag you blurted, “Choso this is the cutest thing that’s ever been added to my coffee order.”
Deciding against the rapid beating that was thundering inside his chest, he replied in kind. “If you’re around again, I’ll give you another one. The older folks don’t care much for that.”
Bullshit, he never did this sort of art on the coffee except for a select group of his employees and friends. He doesn’t know why he even did it for you in the first place, something just drove him to it.
“I hadn’t realized this café did it, I would’ve been in here last semester if I’d known about it” you laughed lightly, hand swishing in the air as you rolled your eyes.
“Why don’t you advertise it? I’m sure people from all over the campus would flock to get it done by you.”
He scrunched his nose. No, he hated making something personal to him so commercialized, the idea of having to do it over and over killed his enjoyment of it.
Shifting his weight, he admitted, “I don’t care much for it to be… marketed. I like the challenge to make new ones out of enjoyment.”
Had he come off as harsh? He admitted he hadn’t talked to a customer like this in well… ever. He didn’t want to come off as a creep, oh no, did he seem like a creep?
“Alright,” your voice cut through his thoughts. “I don’t think you’d know how to do a rose, would you?”
Your smile was enticing, and he licked his bottom lip absentmindedly. Folding his arms, he replied. “You’ll just have to come back and see.”
Eyes narrowing, you stuck your chin out in challenge. “Alright, you’re on then.”
Smirking, he walked back to the counter and shut the swinging door behind him. Yuji quirked an eyebrow at him, “What did you give her?”
“A cat.”
“Holy shit!” He stopped drying a mug, giving Choso his full attention. “Didn’t you just learn that one?”
He shoved his coworker playfully, nodding as he did so. “I’m taking my break.”
Staring blankly after him, yuji’s face broke out into a smile, looking from him to your table.
Tossing the apron onto the stool beside him in the back room, Choso eagerly pulled out his phone and typed into the search bar.
Megumi, who was now clocking in to take over for his pink-haired classmate, secretly peeked over his shoulder.
germansingergirl
discoholicmusic
2087
jimmyeatworldofficial
prguitarman
theartofmadeline
dailybridgerton
amandla
