Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Guided Steps ❯ Plan for the Worst ( Chapter 9 )

When Wolfwood woke up it was to the sound of light snoring. He tried to get up and failed, stopped by Vash's arm curled around his chest. Warmth spread through him and he smiled. Even though he didn't like how good little displays like that made him feel, he couldn't help it. It made it easier to believe that Vash actually did love him.

 

It was a secret dread of his that when Vash was free of his own fear that he would come to his senses and change his mind, that he would never say the words he hoped to hear. The truth was that he needed to hear Vash say it, needed it like water. He kept it hidden well, or at least he hoped he did. The last thing Vash needed right now was to deal with his little insecurities, and anyway it was completely unfair to him. Vash would never toy around with him like that.

 

Logic didn't make it hurt any less, though.

 

`But it's worth it,' he thought as he watched Vash sleeping. He was almost painfully beautiful when he slept. He brushed a lock of hair away from Vash's face and chuckled at the slight smile the movement produced on his lover's face. `He looks so innocent…' Moments like this were nicer than he ever thought possible and he desperately wanted to just lay back down and sleep until a reasonable hour, but if he was going to protect that innocence he so loved he had to get moving before the day crashed in on them.

 

He had to find a way to keep Vash from killing Legato.

 

So he pushed at Vash's arm with enough strength to move him and ended up using a little too much force. Vash went sprawling over onto his back hard. Wolfwood held his breath waiting for him to wake up, but after a quiet moment the snoring started back up, loudly this time. He laughed to himself. At least reducing him to an inarticulate pile of goo last night had required the idiot to tire himself out.

 

He got dressed and headed out into the slowly lightening world, a difficult task. A wet noodle had more coordination than he did after Vash's little experiment. He was thankful that Vash wasn't awake to see how wobbly he was or how long it had taken him to coax enough functionality into his muscles for him to walk in a straight line. The bastard would be smug and downright insufferable all day.

 

He walked into the main building and found Livio asleep on a faded old couch with three children using him for a mattress. He looked at the clock on the wall and smiled, counting down to himself. Sure enough, Melanie's voice rang out as soon as he hit `one,' shrilling out a wake-up call that woke the children and sent them scrambling to be the first ones to the breakfast table.

 

Livio sat up, scrubbing at his eyes. “It can't be morning yet. It just can't.”

 

“And good morning to you too, merry sunshine,” Wolfwood drawled with a smile.

 

Livio yawned and blinked sleepily at him for a moment before remembering all the discussion the previous night. He sobered immediately. “What's up?”

 

“Don't be in such a hurry,” Wolfwood sighed flopping himself down next to Livio. “Aren't you hungry?”

 

“No. Now spill it.” Livio crossed his arms and glared until Wolfwood finally surrendered.

 

“Fine. Here's the problem. Knives is bad enough, but Vash still has to go through his pet bodyguard to get to him.”

 

“And you have a problem with that, I take it.”

 

“Got it in one. I do not want those two meeting in a fight.”

 

“Why not?” Livio asked, perplexed. “Vash'll wipe the floor with him if he gets serious, right? It's better that way.”

 

“It's not that simple; Legato is stronger than you know. He can force Vash to use up most of whatever energy he's got left to soften him up for Knives, and he's already got a hard enough fight on his hands.”

 

“Damn. That sucks.”

 

Wolfwood nodded. “Tell me about it. Here's the deal: if I can get Legato out of the way it'll be one less major thing for Vash to have to handle. Problem is I don't think I can do it by myself. And before you volunteer, you should know that this is absolutely the most dangerous, stupid thing I ever came up with and that says a lot.”

 

“Well, if we both go, it should be fine as long as we've got it mapped out before we go in. Even with those wires of his, he's got limited mobility. That's a big weakness we could-”

 

“His mobility ain't limited, kid,” Wolfwood interrupted grimly.

 

Livio frowned. “But that coffin-”

 

“That coffin ain't shit. Don't let it fool you. He stays in there `cause Knives wants him in there. It's those damned wires. They're so thin you can't see them, but he can use them to control anything. He runs `em through his body and moves himself like a puppet. He can even use `em to sew himself back together when he's injured. And he's fast. Really fucking fast.”

 

Livio blew out an aggravated grunt. “So he can heal himself too. How the hell do you know all this?”

 

Wolfwood grimaced. “I've seen him move. And I know how he heals `cause I snapped his neck like a twig and watched him glue his own head back on.” He skipped the part about breaking through heavy chains to do it while a distracted Legato was coming inside him. Legato had collapsed onto him and a vigilant Knives had stopped him from any further action. He'd had to watch, screaming in frustration and horror while Legato pulled himself up, his lolling head flowing back onto his shoulders with a sick grin. Of all the nightmares he had, those were the worst.

 

He gave his head a little shake to clear his thoughts. “Fatal injuries seem to take longer to fix. I'd say it took him a good twelve seconds for him to be able to move again after that.”

 

Livio watched him carefully, just as he'd been watching him carefully earlier when they were listening to Legato's tape. His reaction to it had been startling to say the least; he'd never seen Nicholas so angry before. “You aren't telling me everything.”

 

“No, I'm not,” Wolfwood sighed. “That's all I can tell you, but I'm not lying to you either. Tongari is gonna need all the energy he's got to go up against Knives, and this is the last thing I can do to help him. That's the truth.” He tried to leave it there, but couldn't do it in good conscience. “Look, if you do this you're gonna be deep into my own personal shit-storm, so I'll say this. I'm angry. I'm pissed off and I can't keep going like this forever. I gotta leave it somewhere. And since I can't touch Knives, I plan to leave it with Legato. To do that, there's something I need from him. I'm going to get it, and then I'm going to kill him. I stand a hell of a lot better chance with you than without you, but decide for yourself. You don't owe me anything. I'll understand if you tell me no. Hell,” he smiled bitterly. “I'm kinda hoping you do.”

 

But Livio wasn't about to turn him down. “Sorry, no such luck. I'm in.”

 

“What? That's it? No bugging me for more info or running off to brood about it? Gotta admit, I'm a little disappointed.”

 

“It's not really a hard choice. You want to help Vash, but I want to help you.”

 

“Why? Am I your charity case for the month?”

 

“No,” Livio laughed. “Nothing like that.” He tried to think of what to say but couldn't quite figure it out. His reasons were just too many. He finally picked the safest one and ran with it. “I know you. You've got everybody so focused on Vash and Knives, it leaves you plenty of room to go off and get yourself killed while everyone else is distracted. Somebody's got to make sure that doesn't happen.”

 

“Heh. You get smarter every time my back is turned. It's fucking annoying.”

 

Wolfwood rose and walked a few paces to the window. He stretched his long frame and frowned, puzzled. He wasn't sore. He should be after last night, but he wasn't. In fact, no matter how rough he and Vash got, he couldn't remember ever being sore. For the first time, he wondered why that was. Accelerated healing didn't account for it. His brain ticked over all of the beautifully, wonderfully odd things that went along with sex and Vash. `What are you doing to me, Tongari?' Whatever it was it was amazing. Even if he did end up pregnant he wouldn't complain, not after last night anyway.

 

Livio interrupted his reverie in a way that very nearly made him jump. “Sooo… You and Vash huh?” Wolfwood blinked at him for a moment. `What is he, a mind-reader?!' He managed to recover admirably though.

 

“Apparently,” he joked. “You got a problem with that?”

 

Wolfwood didn't say anything when Livio joined him at the window, looking out thoughtfully and not speaking for a long moment.

 

“You used to say you wouldn't know happy if it walked up and took a dump on your shoe. So are you happy now? With him, I mean?”

 

Wolfwood would have laughed it off, but one glance at Livio's face told him the kid was serious. “Yeah,” he sighed. “I'm happy with him. Well, as happy as I can be with all this shit going on.”

 

“I guess that's good enough for me, then.” Livio started backing toward the door, doing his best to keep a straight face. “So, um… He know how old you are?”

 

Wolfwood glared at him. “I can't tell him what I don't know Crybaby.”

 

“Really? `Cause you aren't that much older than me and I know how old I am. Oh, I know! I could tell him for you!”

 

“You don't tell him shit!” Wolfwood roared. Melanie's voice drifted in from the dining room. “Wherever we end up you're pulling kitchen duty for a week for cursing, Nicholas!”

 

“Now look what you did! You don't say word one to Tongari, you got it?!”

 

“Jeez, calm down! I was just joking.” Wolfwood growled at him while he laughed. “I'd never tell Vash; it's obvious he doesn't mind being a dirty old man who corrupts innocent young boys for his own perverted pleasure. No, I'll just report him to the sheriff next time I'm in town. I hear they're cracking down on underage sex, and being a concerned citizen I have a duty to-”

 

Livio dodged the thrown lamp and fled into the hallway, laughing uncontrollably. The lamp shattered on the wall with a mighty crash and Melanie yelled at him again. “That's two weeks, Nicholas! Now clean it up!”

 

He sighed heavily and bent to the task up picking up the remaining pieces of lamp, grumbling to himself. “I can't win. I just can't win…”

 

***************************************************************** *******

Only the caretakers and some of the older children felt the sadness of leaving the orphanage behind. The rest of the children were too caught up in the excitement of getting to fly on a real airship. Their enthusiasm couldn't even be dampened by being crammed onto Brad's small ship like sardines. They yelled, pointed, and demanded explanations for things until a fuming Brad finally set an age requirement for being in the control center. He kicked everyone out who didn't qualify and locked the door behind them.

 

The decision had caused an unexpected scuffle that left Brad and Luida mystified. Livio had only looked puzzled and - for some strange reason - asked Wolfwood what he was still doing in the room. Neither of them had ever seen someone laugh hysterically while being soundly beaten before.

 

Very strange, those two.

 

The danger warranted the uncomfortable and chaotic ride though, because something had changed for the worse during the night.

 

Luida's people had made contact late in the morning to inform her of a change in Knives' movements. His ship had just disappeared off the grid and had reappeared hours later in a completely unpredictable location. Vash was the only one who hadn't been surprised by the news, saying that he hadn't expected it so soon.

 

He wouldn't explain until they reached Luida's ship and its passengers were safely offloaded. Luida wanted her best scientists and researchers in on the discussion and he didn't want to have to repeat himself. As he expected, she pulled him and the others into meetings right away. They were necessary, but long and frustrating. This latest one was no exception. The insurance girls didn't seem to mind, but Wolfwood kept finding ways to duck out.

 

“Knives can do whatever he wants now,” Vash said, interrupting a technician loaded with overly optimistic projections of Knives' capabilities. “The power he has at his command is staggering. The Ark doesn't need to be guided or steered anymore; he only has to think about where he wants to go and he can will himself there. Not even I can touch him now, not while he's so well protected. What we have to do is find a way to break up the co-integration and separate Knives from the other plants.”

 

Brad and Luida jumped on the topic and Vash glanced over at Wolfwood and couldn't quite stifle a smile. His eyes had already taken on that glazed-over quality they did whenever anyone started throwing lost technology terms around.

 

Sure enough he excused himself during all the conversation, gliding casually toward the exit. Vash was waiting for it and intercepted him at the door. “Going somewhere?”

 

“Yeah. This is boring. I'm gonna go check on the kids. Call me when you get to the part about shooting people. That I can do.”

 

Vash watched him go with a rueful smile. He wasn't stupid. He'd been trying to keep Wolfwood close by as much as he could, but he always managed to get away. He probably would check up on the kids, but after that he would go right to where Vash didn't want him. To Livio.

 

The two of them were planning it, he knew, working on some dangerous scheme to take out Legato. And there was nothing he could do to stop it, short of breaking his promise to Meryl not to run off on his own. A small part of him was happy that his guide had at least brought someone else in on his plans, but the larger part was fucking furious about being left out.

 

He made the decision to start muscling his way into their little strategy sessions pretty soon. Wolfwood was only trying to protect him, but not knowing what they were up to was driving him completely batty. The priest had made no promises not to up and disappear. `If I know what they're doing, I can concentrate better on-'

 

“Vash? Care to chime in here?” Brad's annoyed voice broke into his woolgathering and proved his point for him. “Sorry,” he apologized. “I was just thinking that we're going to have to find some way to contact the ships from earth as soon as they get into orbit. We're going to need their help to neutralize the Ark.”

 

Luida's people picked up this new bit of information and began running it into the ground. As they chattered about possible scenarios, Vash resolved to find Wolfwood as soon as he could.

 

***************************************************************** *******

“I'm telling you, there's not enough firepower, and even if we had it he's still too damned fast.” Wolfwood leaned back in his chair while Livio glared back at him. His hand brushed across the slick metal of the table at his side and he pulled it back as if stung. It was a great effort to keep his breathing under control, and he hoped that Livio didn't see it.

 

`I can't take this much longer. Something's gonna give pretty soon.'

 

“Fine,” Livio huffed. “If you're saying we can't just nuke the bastard there's only one other thing we can do here. One of us is going to have to distract him while the other takes him on up close and personal. There's no way around it.”

 

“Shit.” To get anywhere near Legato again was the last thing he wanted. His mind raced trying to think of something he missed, but nothing clicked. “You're right, but I was hoping we could come up with something else. All right,” he said, taking a deep breath. “I'll do it.”

 

“Like hell you will! Have you completely lost your mind?!” Vash came storming in and Wolfwood wanted to find the nearest wall and bash his head against it in frustration. His meeting must have actually let out on time for once. Either that or Vash had snuck out early just to spy on him. Yeah, that was probably it.

 

“I don't recall asking for your opinion, Tongari.”

 

“Well tough. You're getting it anyway. You're not getting anywhere near Legato, so think of something else.”

 

“Why not?” Livio piped in. If looks could kill Vash would have had him dead several times over, but he didn't back down. “Nicholas is faster than me and you can believe he's a holy fucking terror in a close-in fight. I'm the better shot. It's dangerous yeah, but,” he shrugged. “It gives us the greatest chance of success. Makes sense to me.”

 

Livio's words brought all the memories roaring back. “It… makes sense?” Unable to think past his own temper Vash turned his wrath on Livio who stared at him in wide-eyed shock. “If you lose this fight, do you have any idea what Legato is going to do to-”

 

Vash stopped when Wolfwood shoved himself up from the table to stand between him and Livio. “No,” he said quietly, simply. Vash was about to continue the argument but Wolfwood's eyes caught him and held him. They glared at each other fiercely until Livio finally cleared his throat. “I think… maybe I should go now,” he said with a shaky smile.

 

“Nah, there's some stuff I gotta do. I'll talk to you later.” Wolfwood brushed past Vash and left with a wave over his shoulder.

 

Vash seethed inwardly but realized he'd almost made a huge mistake. He also realized he was taking his own anger out on somebody who really didn't deserve it. Livio was still seated at the table, looking very uncomfortable.

 

“Livio, I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blow up at you like that.”

 

“It's okay. There's more to this than he's telling me, and I don't guess you'll let me in on it either…?” Vash flinched a little and he sighed. “That's what I figured. Look, if it's me you're worried about, don't. He saved me more than once, you know. And he never gave up on me.”

 

“I know what that's like,” Vash answered. They had that in common, at least. Having someone willing to risk their life for you after a lifetime of getting the finger from the universe was humbling, and frightening in a way. It was only natural to regard such a person as precious. “He's spent a fair amount of time pulling my ass out of the fire.”

 

“Then you have to know I'll die before I let him down. I'll put my life on the line to protect him, Vash. You have my word.”

 

He was so sincere that Vash's respect for the man grew by bounds. He couldn't help smiling. “I don't doubt that.” He turned to leave but paused at the door. “You'll survive this, you know. Even if things go wrong he'll protect you. If it comes down to you or him… He won't let you die.”

 

Vash walked out of the room and Livio was left alone to puzzle over that odd statement.

 

***************************************************************** *******

Vash stormed out after Wolfwood, using his long legs to make up distance. Thankfully the hallways were mostly empty this time of night and he didn't have to disguise his ill temper.

 

He slowed down when he caught up to his guide, falling into step beside him. “I don't know what the hell you're thinking. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Again?” he added bitterly. “If that's what this is about there are much cleaner ways of doing it.”

 

Wolfwood sighed blandly and shoved his hands in his pockets. “This is a big ship. Don't you have somewhere else to be right now?”

 

“Until you can make me understand this I'm not letting you out of my sight.”

 

“There's nothing for you to understand. Just take care of your business and stay out of my way.”

 

“You haven't given me a reason to! I've seen you treat your life like it's… Like it's just currency to be used to buy redemption for what you think you've done wrong. Do you have any idea what it was like for me to find you just in time to watch you give yourself up to Elendira? To see that look in your eyes, and know that you wanted to die?”

 

Wolfwood recognized the haunted look in the sparkling blue eyes and realized that Vash couldn't just let this go. They had to have it out.

 

“I didn't have any other choice back then, and you know it,” Wolfwood growled. “Things are different now.” They got to their room and he smacked the panel next to the door. It slid smoothly open and he suppressed his distaste of the mechanical efficiency of it all. Everything about the ship was so clean and sterile, so rarefied. Life in the air was just as dangerous as life on the ground at the moment, but it still didn't feel right. He belonged with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Dealing with the gritty, dirty aspects of life wasn't pretty, but at least there he felt he could do some good.

 

Vash walked into the dimly-lit room close on his heels. It was one of the bigger cabins on the ship with a small washroom and a bedroom separate from the living area, but it was still too small to contain the palpable aura of Vash's anger. He waited for the sound of the door swishing shut before speaking again. “I won't apologize for the way I live, and until this mess is settled for good I'll keep doing whatever I have to.”

 

Wolfwood turned only to stumble when the blow cracked sharply across his jaw. “I am serious, Nick. If something goes wrong… If anything goes wrong you will lose to Legato. He will kill Livio. Then he will rape you again. But this time Knives won't be around to control him and if you have your way, I won't be there to help. He won't stop until you are dead.”

 

A tremor ran through Wolfwood's muscles. “I know that,” he breathed. “And fuck you very much for the reminder.”

 

“Make me understand why. What could you possibly want so badly that you're willing to risk that?”

 

“You really don't know?” Stupid. Shaking with anger and desperation as he was, Vash was in no frame of mind to hear anything he had to say, so Wolfwood came to a quick decision.

 

Vash braced himself when Wolfwood came at him, well aware that the priest tended to return violence with violence. When the priest's weight hit him though, it only propelled him backward and forced him up against the closed door.

 

Wolfwood didn't give him a chance to think. His tongue, hot and insistent swallowed Vash's arguments. Deft fingers undid the button and fly on his jeans and slid inside to knead his soft flesh. He moaned around Wolfwood's tongue and bucked his hips, unable to keep that talented hand from quickly getting him hard.

 

He ripped his mouth away and tried to shove Wolfwood off him, but his guide just caught his hands and pinned them above his head. He occupied his mouth with Vash's neck and Vash could feel the fight draining out of him. In its wake was a cold dread, the fear that Wolfwood was trying to tell him goodbye and this was the last time they would ever touch like this. Tears started to fall from his eyes even as he felt his climax nearing.

 

“Stop,” he sobbed, trying to end this exquisite torture. “Answer me, Nick!”

 

“I am,” Wolfwood growled into his neck. “You're just not paying attention.” With a sharp nip and a well-timed twist of his wrist Vash was shouting his name, pressing into his hand in his orgasm.

 

Wolfwood released his hands and he slumped, forcing Wolfwood to take his weight while he buried his head in his shoulder, breathing deeply and inhaling his scent. He smelled good, and Vash could feel his arousal pressing against his hip. Perversely Vash wanted more even though he was protesting moments before. He shifted to let his jeans slide down to the floor before hooking one leg around Wolfwood's hip in invitation. After only a little hesitation long fingers slipped into him with the help of his own still-warm seed.

 

Wolfwood's breathing was fast and labored, but none of that urgency transmitted itself to those fingers moving in him. Wolfwood stretched him and built his arousal back up slowly, and finally lowered him to the floor when he was sure that Vash would enjoy this with no pain.

 

He pressed in and it occurred to Vash that he'd never been treated with more love and tenderness than when this man took him. Wolfwood started moving in him and he began to cry again, fearing the inevitable loss of this person that he needed more than anything.

 

“No,” he cried, grabbing Wolfwood's hips only hard enough to stop their gentle thrusts into his body. “If you're going to leave me and go get yourself tortured and killed I at least deserve to know why!”

 

The alarm in Wolfwood's eyes faded into a strange mix love, arousal and complete exasperation. “You need me to say it, fine. But,” he shifted his weight to his knees long enough to grab Vash's hands off his hips and pin them again as he had earlier. “If I have to say it I'm gonna make it stick.”

 

He pulled back and drove deeply into Vash, telling him each time exactly what he wanted. Vash cried out and shook with each driving thrust Wolfwood made, but somehow he found the strength to listen to what Wolfwood was telling him.

 

“I want this. I want you. No interference. No saving the world. Just… us!”

 

Wolfwood's hips jerked wildly and Vash bucked up to meet him. They came together and Vash's tears finally stopped, their flow stemmed by a growing sense of joy in his new understanding. That his guide was willing to walk through hell yet again after everything he'd already survived was still terrifying. But that he was willing to do it just to have the slightest chance to live a normal life with him was overwhelming.

 

When they had both caught their breath Vash slipped his hands free to circle his lover's back. “You're facing your demon. If I do any less just to keep myself safe then I don't deserve to be with you. I might die,” Wolfwood murmured softly, brushing away the wet tracks along Vash's face with a light touch. “But if I do you'd better damn well know I did everything I could to get back to you. I love you. If that's not enough for you then we got a problem `cause that's all I can promise without lying.”

 

“It's enough. Thank you.”

 

“Huh,” Wolfwood huffed. “Didn't expect that. I more expected you to throw me off a balcony for fucking you on the cold hard floor.”

 

“Well, now that you mention it… It's your turn to be the mattress!” Vash rolled them over playfully and chuckled. It wasn't long before he noticed that Wolfwood hadn't retaliated, and he was shivering from more than just the chilliness of the floor. After a few seconds the `why' of it clicked in and Vash shot up and pulled Wolfwood with him, cursing inwardly. Sure enough Wolfwood clung to him and didn't let go. The last person to be on top of him on the floor of an airship had been Legato.

 

Vash knew Wolfwood never had liked being on board the ship, but now he wondered just how hard it was for him to be on it now, and how many of these little panic attacks he hadn't been around to see. He wanted to ask but knew he wouldn't get a straight answer. `You hide things too well, my guide. I've got to get you out of here, and soon.'

 

When Wolfwood finally pulled away, he was no longer shivering but still obviously shaken. “It's late,” he said standing and pulling Vash up with him by the hand. He either wouldn't or couldn't look Vash in the eye. “You should get some sleep while you can. There's some things I have to go look in on, so um… Yeah.” He bent to pick up his pants and shoes but Vash didn't let him.

 

“I'm sure it can wait,” he murmured, tugging up on Wolfwood's shirt. After a moment of hesitation Wolfwood allowed him to pull it off. He shifted uncertainly while Vash got rid of his own shirt. They hadn't had the chance to sleep together since they'd gotten here. It had been hell sleeping alone here, but at least their conflicting schedules kept Vash from discovering how badly he was taking the ship and the constant talk about Legato. His nightmares hadn't been this bad in a long time.

 

His jumpiness only increased when Vash pulled him over to the bed and stopped beside it. “Vash, I'm fine. I really need to go…” Unfortunately the strain in his voice didn't make him sound very convincing and he knew it. He was about to just try a bolt for the door when Vash pulled them together, fitting himself to his guide and pressing their lips together in a gentle kiss. He ran his hands over Wolfwood's chest, down his back, over every bit of skin he could. He kept his movements slow and comforting until Wolfwood finally started to kiss him back. The brush of his lips was hesitant and almost shy, and Vash wondered if he would ever stop being embarrassed about needing comfort.

 

Under Vash's ministrations he found himself relaxing in spite of his worries, and this time when Vash drew him down to the bed he didn't fight it. The blond curled around him and pulled him close. Something in him just melted into the embrace and suddenly being on the ship didn't feel quite so frightening anymore.

 

`How the hell does he do that…?'

 

“I hear they're having some trouble keeping things under control down on the surface. I'm sure you and Livio could do a lot of good down there until things get settled up here,” Vash offered.

 

“I'll leave when you leave.”

 

“Nick… You can't stay here. This place is bad for you, isn't it?”

 

Wolfwood cursed under his breath. This was exactly why he hadn't said anything to Vash. “You have enough to deal with. Don't worry about it.”

 

“I am going to worry. In fact, I'm going to get downright obsessed if you don't start talking to me. Don't you think meetings would be a lot more interesting if I make you sit in my lap while they're going on?”

 

Wolfwood stiffened in horror. Vash definitely had the muscle and the borderline insanity to turn that threat a very real possibility. “You wouldn't.”

 

“Try me.”

 

“Okay, you win. Yeah. I hate being here,” he finally admitted. “It's fucking hard and making me miserable. I think the same person designed all these stupid ships. They all pretty much look the same inside. The walls, the floors, even the damned tables, it's all the same metal and I know it too well.”

 

Vash pressed his forehead into Wolfwood's shoulder and tried reign in his rampaging emotions. `The metal. God, how can he stand being here? It's everywhere.' Wolfwood had spent more than enough time sandwiched between it and Legato. “Okay,” he finally managed. “I'm getting you out of here tomorrow whether you like it or not.”

 

“Won't work. I'm staying with you.” He moved his hand to lace his fingers with Vash's draped over his hip before bringing them up to his chest. “But I think I can handle it better now. So try not to think about it too much.”

 

“We both know that's not possible,” Vash replied. “But get some rest. You need it.” Wolfwood spared a thought for all the terrible things he might have to face in his dreams. Vash tightened his arm around him, following the course of his thoughts. “You won't let me kill him, but I can at least protect you from him in your dreams.”

 

He needed no further reassurance. Mere seconds passed before Wolfwood was out like a light. Vash followed with a small smile and a whispered, “Goodnight, my Nick.”

 

***************************************************************** *******

Despite the lack of sunlight in the ship's interior, Wolfwood awoke just before dawn as he usually did. He was surprised to find that he'd managed to sleep through the night. They'd shifted a bit in their sleep but Vash remained snugly fitted to him even now. He slipped out of Vash's arms and slid out of bed and immediately Vash started to stir in alarm, his arm flailing out for his lost guide.

 

Wolfwood couldn't help smiling. It was just so cute. He knelt and brushed his lips across Vash's cheek. “I'm just going for breakfast. I'll be right back.”

 

Satisfied, Vash sighed sleepily and dozed calmly off again. It was almost an hour before he felt Wolfwood slide back into bed, and he resumed his cuddling even before the priest was settled again. A chuckle ghosted through his hair and he ignored it in favor of drifting off again.

 

At least, that was the plan before the deliciously tempting smell of bread wafted across his nose. Bread with a hint of… cinnamon. Definitely cinnamon. His sleepy brain took exactly 3.7 seconds to process the familiar scent peculiar to his favorite recipe. After that, he shot out of bed so fast that covers, pillows, and Wolfwood all went sprawling onto the floor. “You made me donuts!” Vash screeched at the top of his lungs.

 

From his place - face down in a tangle of sheets - Wolfwood could hear the simultaneous sounds of weeping, grateful praise, and of course, gorging.

 

`It's my own fault,' he thought ruefully. `This is what I get for being nice.'