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Nicholas is not very fond of the ship three, HOME, as Vash calls it.
Mostly because he associates coming here with some sort of emergency, dealing with an aftermath of a near death experience, lethal danger or an injury Vash is unable to deal with alone with just his PLANT biology and some sleep. Those sort of things.
And it’s no different currently either. Though it’s less dramatic and life threatening than usual. Just a routine maintenance of Vash’s prosthetic limbs and maybe some other checks on his general health.
So there's that.
But he also hates coming here because it’s just so mind numbingly boring.
He’s useless here, he has no purpose and just wanders around the ship aimlessly, smoking and pissing off the staff that shoots him dirty looks.
He could just leave or not come with Vash but they both know that's not an option. Vash wants him here for some reason but Nicholas is also reluctant to leave him alone for longer than day.
They are traveling companions but that’s just the surface level of their relationship. Nicholas doesn’t really have the tools or the emotional maturity to unpack the whole complexities of their relationship.
Neither does Vash seemingly, despite having the upper hand in years on him. He avoids naming whatever the hell is between them. It sure is not just simple friendship or whatever.
So they continue to weirdly orbit around each other like this, hoping one of them will call the other out on it and praying that it doesn’t have to be either of them.
Wolfwood kills the butt of his cigarette in some obscure corner of the ship, not really caring if gets chewed up for it and turns down the hallway that leads to Vash’s room.
Maybe he should leave. But before that he needs to pick up Punisher and he stored it in Vash’s room.
The doors are unlocked so he punches an enter command and they slide fully open.
Logically he should have realized Vash was inside but it still takes him by surprise when shocked, wide blue eyes meet his own.
Mostly because Vash is on his bed and is missing three of his limbs.
“Wolfwood!” He squeaks and grabs a blanket, draping it over his stumps haphazardly to cover them as if they were something shameful and needed to be hidden from view.
Wolfwood stares at Vash for a moment. He knows that Vash is missing limbs. This is not anything new of course.
But seeing him without the prosthetics is always so…jarring.
A heavy ball of anger and protectiveness curls in his gut and he has to breathe through his nose a few times to lessen it before he can speak.
“Chill Blondie. Not like I haven’t seen them before. One would think I walked in on you in just your undies or something.” He quips out and enters the room, letting the automatic door slide shut behind him.
That makes Vash actually blush and he sputters, thankfully distracted for a moment.
“Wolfwood!”
“Wolfwood!” Nicholas parodies him, his pitch high and his hands raised up. That gets him a surprised giggle and different kind of knot curls in his stomach.
Ugh. Enough.
“They let you out?” He asks, jerking his chin in Vash’s general direction.
“Temporarily.” Vash says as he leans against the wall. “I have to wait for them to adjust the prosthetics. Brad says it can take a few hours.”
Nicholas cringes.
“Sorry. I know you’re bored.”
He waves him off.
“It’s fine.” He says and lets his eyes wander all over Vash’s room. There are pictures and trinkets and two bookcases, a table and a small bedside table near the bed.
Vash says nothing as Wolfwood peers at the photos. He sees two blond kids with funny haircuts and the initial curl in his stomach returns but just for a second.
Nicholas moves his gaze to the bookcases but hesitates for a moment.
“You can look around, I don't mind.” Vash says and he sounds a little breathless. Almost excited.
Nicholas hums.
He sifts through the books for a moment but they don’t really tell him much nor do they hold his attention for long.
What really makes him perk up is the other bookcase filled with plastic cases with colorful images.
“Are those-”
“Movies. Yes. They’re like-”
“I know what movies are, Blondie.” Nicholas shoots him an annoyed look over his shoulder. “It’s like a play.” He clarifies.
Vash grins.
“But have you ever seen one?”
Nicholas snorts.
“Where? And when and how?” He runs his fingers over the spines.
“Then,” Vash says, that breathlessness back in his voice again. “would…would you like to?”
Nicholas looks at Vash again.
He shrugs, going for cool nonchalance. Of course he wants to.
Vash sees through him and his face splits in a blinding smile.
“Pick one. I’ve seen all of them but I don’t mind a refresh. It’s been a while.”
Nicholas snorts.
“No need to brag.” He says and returns to sifting through the spines. He pulls one out of the row and grins to himself.
“You like cowboys Blondie?”
Vash’s face falls suddenly.
“What? Did I pick the one you don’t like?”
Vash shakes his head.
“Ah, no. I do like it but.” He pauses and chews on his lip. Nicholas waits patiently.
“That was Knives, I mean Nai’s favorite.”
Nicholas grunts and puts the case away.
Duly noted.
He takes a moment to pick a different one.
He snorts at the title.
“Waterworld?”
Vash perks up.
“Yeah.” He says. “I like that one.”
Even if Wolfwood wanted to pick something different he wouldn’t be able to. Not after that reaction with the way his eyes sparkled and his face got all soft as if he was remembering a fond childhood memory.
Wolfwood takes the case with him and walks up to Vash who has his remaining hand extended. Somehow he manages to open the case and Wolfwood looks with interest at the silver disc inside.
With some maneuvering and instruction from Vash they manage to start the movie.
Vash shifts on his bed, and Nicholas’ attention returns to Vash’s stumps for a moment before Vash pats the space on the bed beside him.
“Sit, sit.” He says and presses a button somewhere on the bedside table and the lights in his room suddenly dim, engulfing them in darkness.
Nicholas rolls his eyes but his enthusiasm is, unfortunately, contagious.
He makes himself comfortable next to Vash and against the wall and the movie starts.
It is both kind of similar to watching a play and also completely different. Nicholas has no words to express it and just takes in the whole experience, soaks up in the story and narration, follows the characters, listens to music.
At times he finds himself confused by something and can’t help but comment.
Vash doesn’t mind the interruptions and answers all of his questions as best as he can. Nicholas doesn’t know why he whispers though, they are the only two in this room, but it adds to the strange sense of secrecy between them so he doesn’t point it out and spoil the intimate atmosphere.
At an hour mark into the movie and at least twenty minutes of Nicholas not asking any questions he feels a pressure against his arm.
It’s for a moment and then it’s gone and Vash is murmuring apologies.
Nicholas glances at him quickly and then grunts.
“You can.” He mumbles and sees from the corner of his eye when Vash glances at him questioningly. “Lean on me if you’re tired.” He finishes lamely and shifts a little under that inquisitive blue gaze.
Vash says nothing for a longer moment and doesn’t move either and Wolfwood kicks himself internally for making it awkward.
Then there's a small shift next to him and Vash is now sitting closer than he was before, their tights touching.
He leans against Wolfwood’s arm, gingerly and slowly as if he’s some scared or skittish animal that needs special treatment. It’s like he’s giving Nicholas time to pull away if he’s unsure or uncomfortable and changes his mind at the last moment.
It pisses him off but he doesn’t say anything.
Vash makes himself a bit more comfortable and they continue to watch the movie.
Wolfwood nearly jumps when something touches his wrist and when he looks down he sees Vash’s flesh hand hesitate before he wraps his hand loose around Wolfwood’s and then lifts it up.
Nicholas looks confused and is about to ask what the hell is Vash doing when Vash slides a bit down on the bed and slides Wolfwood’s arm around his shoulders.
“That’s more comfortable isn’t it?” He asks, peering at Nicholas.
It feels so strange to look down on Vash. They are nearly the same height, any difference leveled by Vash’s shoes or his hair or general demeanor, so whenever Vash tries to make himself small for whatever reason and Nicholas has to look down on him like this it just…it’s not exactly a wrong feeling but it’s not a right one either.
He supposes it’s okay now. Vash is in his own room and they are watching a movie and he just wants to find some comfortable position.
That’s fine.
“For you or me?” He asks gruffly and Vash’s cheeks dust a faint pink. Nicholas raises an eyebrow.
“Both?”
Wolfwood shrugs and lets him be. His arm is loosely draped over Vash, not holding or pulling him close but also not pushing away.
The movie unfolds and then reaches its climax before it ends and the credits roll.
When the screen turns black and nothing further happens Wolfwood glances at Vash, ready to nudge him and ask for further instructions.
But before he can do that, the weight at his side goes boneless and slumps against him, blond hair falling a bit into his vision, tickling his face and chin.
He’s alarmed for all of three seconds when he feels the steady rise and fall of Vash’s shoulders against him and his warm breath at his collarbone.
Nicholas releases the breath he was holding and relaxes against the wall.
He lets Vash sleep like this, only sneaking a hand to gather the blanket which had slipped from his shoulder and bundle him up.
Vash doesn’t stir, just continues to sleep, cuddled against Nicholas’ side while they sit in the dark.
The DVD player has gone into standby mode and only a red dot blinks in and out of existence.
Nicholas closes his eyes and tips his head back against the wall wondering if he can also fall asleep like this.
Not such luck. He is too hyper-aware of the warm body against his and the way Vash’s hair and breath brush against his skin is too distracting to let his mind fully relax and drift off.
It’s probably another half an hour of this strange vigil he’s keeping when the intercom in Vash’s room crackles into life and he hears a voice.
“Vash you can come into the Med-bay now.”
Vash doesn’t react to the message but he does mumble something and snuggles further into Wolfwood’s side.
“Hey.” Wolfwood says, this time actually nudging him a bit. “You heard that?”
“Bhu?” Vash mumbles as his eyes slid open a fraction, the blue of them dazed and sleepy. “Hm?”
Wolfwood resists to wipe the drool of the side of his mouth and nudges him a bit harder.
“You got a message. Something about Med-bay.”
Vash blinks a few times before his eyes snap fully open.
“Oh!” he sits up, pulling away from Wolfwood’s side. He looks at him for a moment, all confused and sleep-mussed.
“Sorry. I fell asleep on you.”
Nicholas shrugs and takes this opportunity to stand up from the bed and stretch his limbs.
The lights flicker on and he has to squint for a moment to get his eyes used to the brightness once more.
Vash has pulled the blankets away and looks around himself for a moment before his eyes land on Wolfwood.
“Can you-” He starts and Nicholas nods. Without a word he bends down and scoops Vash into his arms.
“What!?” Vash makes an undignified squawk as his only limb flail.
Nicholas frowns at him, his hands flexing against the remains of his legs.
“What? Did you plan on flying there or something?” He adjusts Vash in his arms, making him squeak again.
“Hold on to me. I got you.” He gruffs and Vash grabs a fistful of his shirt and clutches as if his life depended on it.
The door slides open and they make their way to the corridor, Vash clutching at Wolfwood as if he’s afraid he’s going to get dropped any moment now.
Nicholas adjusts him again as he walks and can’t help but notice how light Vash is without his prosthetics.
“Do you skip meals again Blondie?”
Vash jerks in his hold and looks at him.
“What?”
“Do you even weigh anything?”
Vash’s eyes go wide and Nicholas has the sudden urge to flick his forehead.
He ignores it and continues to carry Vash to the wing with the Med-bay.
Once the doors open Nicholas flinches when almost a dozen pairs of eyes turn their way and stare.
Vash squeaks and hides his face in his shirt as Nicholas carries him inside.
He gets the stares and the whispers; he’s not really someone who they wanna see around here or around Vash at all.
But sudden, flustered giggles perplex him.
Brad is standing near the operating table with a few other people around, eyebrows raised and giving him such an unsubtle look of judgment that Nicholas cannot miss even if he tried.
He figures this is his cue so he sets Vash down as gently as possible.
“There you go.” He says and steps away a bit from the table.
Vash is covering his face with his hand, trying as he might to conceal the furious blush on his face.
There's another giggle from someone in the room.
“A thank you would be nice, Blondie.” Nicholas rolls his eyes and finally addresses the rest of the room. “Okay, what’s so funny huh?”
“I’m sorry!” Vash erupts suddenly.
“Hah?” Nicholas turns back to stare at him. “For what?”
“There was a wheelchair in my room!” Vash blurts out. “You didn’t let me-uh I-! You didn’t have to…do...that…”
Nicholas is silent.
Someone giggles again.
He scratches at his chin and then shrugs.
“This was quicker.”
Vash peeks at him from behind his fingers.
“Okay. That’s enough.” Brad sighs and gestures to Wolfwood.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be outside.” He says and leaves the medical room. The stares and giggles haven’t subsided so he allows himself to glare at a random nurse that yelps and hides behind the clipboard she is holding.
Once he’s outside and the door has closed behind him he sighs and thunks his head against the nearest wall.
Attaching all three prosthetics to Vash takes another few hours and Nicholas wanders aimlessly around the ship again.
“Wolfwood. Hey, Wolfwood.”
He jerks awake when someone shakes him. The chairs in the waiting room are not a proper place to sleep but it is where Vash, again all four limbed, finds him sprawled and napping.
“Did they finally put you back together spikey?” He asks, rubbing at his eye.
“Yeah.” Vash laughs. “Good as new.” He says, flexing his fixed arm.
Nicholas grunts and stands up, fixing his rumpled jacket and patting himself, looking for smokes.
“Ah no smoking here, remember?” Vash stops him and he sighs and puts the box back into his pocket. Wolfwood groans.
“I’m bored out of my mind Blondie and now I can’t even smoke.”
“Sorry.” Vash says. “And um, thank you for taking me to the Med-bay.” He trails off and flushes when. Nicholas gives him a look.
“Stop that.” Nicholas groans. “Stop making it weirder than it is.” He feels the embarrassment settle under his own skin too.
“Sorry.” Vash says again and Nicholas wants to deck him.
“So now what? Are we leaving?” Wolfwood changes the subject.
Vash shakes his head.
“They need some more tests.”
“Great.” Nicholas sighs. Vash looks apologetic but he perks up suddenly.
“I have more movies.” He offers hopefully.
Nicholas raises an eyebrow.
“Fine.” He waves Vash off. “I’ll stay and watch your movies.” He says with an obvious fake nonchalance.
“Thank you.” Vash doesn’t call him out on it though and Nicholas has to look away to not get blinded by No Man’s Land’s third sun.
“Oh, by the way! Have you ever had popcorn?”
Nicholas shakes his head.
Vash’s smile grows.
“Come with me.” He grabs Wolfwood’s wrist and tugs.
“To where?”
“Kitchen.” Wolfwood raises an eyebrow in alert. “It will be worth your while I promise.”
“Really.”
“Yep!” Vash chirps. “Can’t have movie night without popcorn!”