[The quickness with which Vash moves to draw his knees up to his chin and to also sink deep as he can into the water spills some over the edge, onto the bathmat. His eyes wide, the blue of them unhidden by sunglasses. His expression betrays his absolute surprise and growing mortification. He has to rip his gaze away from Wolfwood and his butt-ass naked self, his gaze fixing pointedly on a tile that is cracked from some previous impact. It's SO INTERESTING.
He has, however, made room for Wolfwood in the tub despite his refusal to look at him. He'd caught enough of a glimpse to see his hair was mussed, the remanents of something on that hadn't been covered by his clothes. For now, Vash is thankful that the water of the bath is still hot, conveniently hiding the fresh flush that's rocketing its way down his neck and over his shoulders.]
( so, first of all, vash should stop being such a baby. they're two guys! what does it really matter if they're naked together? friends do this sort of thing sometimes. it's so not a big deal!
or, if shouldn't be, so long as neither of them think about it.
on the way over, he knocks the cherry off and leaves the barely smoked cigarette on the edge of the sink. he had thought he was alone and could've gotten away with it, but he's not so he'll be nice and not while sharing a quick bath. he hops in, the water splashing even more over the edge but it hardly matters. the tub really isn't big enough for the two of them, especially with how gangly vash is. however, with him all tucked in against himself, wolfwood can stretch out more, so he does, his toes poking the side of vash's thigh beneath the water.
totally normal. )
Some jackass used their ( he wiggles his fingers; magic ) stuff and moved the damn sidewalk.
( he sinks down for a moment, just enough to dunk his head under the water. when he sits back up, he immediately slicks his wet hair off of his face. he still looks pissed but a smidgen less now that he's getting cleaned up. )
We're going out for dinner. ( nevermind. he's pissed all over again. ) Almost everything I got was ruined.
[Look, he's just a little self-conscious about himself okay. He feels that foot at his thigh and jumps a little, his flesh and bone hand darting down the water to grab Wolfwood's ankle. Watch it! He doesn't, but his grip is almost akin to shaking someone by the scruff.]
You missed a spot. [he points to what looks like a little bit of eggshell in Wolfwood's hair, then gestures for him to lean forward with a bit of a sigh.] Here.
[He leans forward as best he can in the tub without waiting, picking the white bits he sees in Wolfwood's hair free with his non-flesh hand. He even exhales a laugh, his head tilting to the side a bit as he flicks away pieces of whatever it is he's finding in those dark strands.]
( every time he thinks about being sent flying in the middle of the street, he gets pissed off all over again. it shows in the pinched expression on his face, even though the water is relaxing and calming his body, his mind is just full of rage. and the lost groceries!! that stuff isn't cheap!!
he huffs when vash points out that there's something in his hair — he's not shocked, and he scowls at a few pieces of eggshell that are floating in the water near him. both hands lift to just ruffle through his hair to knock out what he can, but before he can do it, vash is leaning in closer and picking out the trash in there. instinct tells him to slap vash's hands away, but ultimately he just lets it happen. it's probably better this way, vash can see it.
his eyes close as his head tips slightly forward so vash can have an easier time. both arms drop into the water, buoyed by it and his fingers may or may not brush against vash if some part of his body gets near enough. his lips part on a sigh; he suddenly feels very, very tired. )
I'm not picky. [He's not the one that HAS to eat, after all. He hums out a breath, picking through dark strands of hair in the utmost particular way, slowly de-egging (?) Wolfwood's hair the best he can. It's evident though that it's going to need to actually be washed, and Vash shifts forward a little to grab the shampoo sitting on the edge of the bath. If it ends up that Wolfwood's hand brushes against his leg, he doesn't say anything, his thoughts pointedly ignoring thinking about it as he wiggles the bottle in front of his friend.]
Here. Turn around.
[He pulls his fingers through wet strands of hair one last time to make sure he's gotten all the shell out. If he just thinks about helping, this is so much less embarrassing. If wolfwood has his back towards him that's even better.]
( no, he might not have to eat, but he seems to like eating. so, surely he has things that he enjoys the flavor of more than others... wolfwood really isn't picky, either. and the fact he can have three square meals a day here is something else and it's taken some getting used to. sometimes he still doesn't eat because it feels too rich, like some kind of indulgence he shouldn't be having.
anyway. they can figure it out later.
the shadow of vash moving the bottle in front of him makes him slit open his eyes to see what it is and he sighs, bothered but not annoyed. he just doesn't feel like moving, but he does need to wash his hair... and the rest of himself. the last thing he wants to do is smell like spoiled egg and rotten milk. so, with a deep grunt, he turns in the bath, spilling more water out along the way.
when he's got his back to vash, he bends forward enough to wet his hair again. then, he sits up sharply so the droplets will definitely splash back on vash. deal with it. )
[Vash flinches when he's splashed with hair-water, the flat of his free hand coming to rest against Wolfwood's back.]
Did you have to do that? [It's said quietly, his attention is split between multiple places now, the bottle he's holding, the sensation of skin underneath his hand and the irritating man sitting in front of him. He sighs a little, shaking his head as he scoots forward a little.]
You're welcome, by the way. [He squirts soap into Wolfwood's hair, finally lifting his hand from his back to drag blunt nails over Wolfwood's scalp, lathering the soap through dark strands of hair. He covers each inch of hair meticulously, mostly quiet as he does so almost like if he talks he thinks he's going to wind up getting splashed or shoved again.]
( all he does is hum in response; yes, he did have to do that. does it matter? they're in a bathtub, sitting in water, they should be wet. a few water drops on his face won't kill him. not if anything else has thus far, anyway.
like a dutiful little spouse, wolfwood sits there silently while vash lathers up the shampoo. well, the intention is to sit there silently, but the feeling of nails dragging over his scalp winds up drawing a sound from wolfwood. it feels good, really good. better than he thought it would. he lets his eyes slip closed, tips his head to the side, exhales an almost content-sounding breath. so, vash is safe from more splashes.
for now.
this might be the most docile wolfwood has ever been. who knew a simple scritch behind the ears would have him silent. he relaxes a little more against vash's leg that's pressed against his back, drapes an arm over the edge of the tub. he has a passing thought to say something, but doesn't. why fill a silence that isn't tense? )
[Vash is kind enough that he doesn't comment on the sound. Instead, it makes his expression soften somewhat; it makes him redouble his efforts too. He takes his time, careful with his non-humanoid hand, using the pad of his thumb to run pressure over the muscles in Wolfwood's neck, working out a knot he's found just under where his skull starts.
He works like this for a few minutes, before he leans forward, his chest pressing to Wolfwood's back as he reaches for the showerhead in front of them. He tests the water first before he starts to rinse the soap free from now clean and eggless hair. It's warm here, a comfortable heat that cradles the rather domestic silence neatly.]
Keep your eyes closed. [He doesn't want to get soap in them.]
( the slight massage is unexpected, though not unwelcome. it's painful in that way that things feel really good; if he groans as vash's thumb presses into that knot, that's his own business. wolfwood can't say he's ever really relaxed, but this is the closest he's ever gotten to it, so vash should feel special.
in fact, he's indulgent enough in the quiet moment between them that he doesn't even flinch when he feels vash press against his back. he can feel some of the scars that litter his body and he kind of wants to ask about them, but it's likely not the right time for that. another time, maybe.
he tips his head back and dutifully keeps his eyes closed, seemingly content enough to continue this warm domesticity and let vash do as he pleases. it's the least he could do since he interrupted his bath, after all. )
[He tests the water first, but once he has the showerhead in his hand, water running, he starts to rinse the soap from Wolfwood's hair, muttering a quiet apology when a little of the water runs over closed eyes. That's why he'd wanted them to stay closed to begin with. He makes sure to check the whole of Wolfwood's now clean scalp as he sets a hand on the other man's shoulder.]
There. You don't have to worry about egg anymore.
[It's accidentally muttered right into Wolfwood's ear as he leans in again to replace the shower head back where he got it. If he's honest with himself, he finds the proximity comforting in a way. Maybe that's why he doesn't particularly mind doing something as simple as this for his friend.]
( the water sluicing down over his face doesn't really bother him. beats having sand constantly exfoliating the top layer of his skin off on the daily back home. and, in spite of that, it all feels really nice. wolfwood has always taken care of himself, and sometimes others ( livio, mainly, but whatever; the orphanage will always be a special place to him and he'd take care of those kids — but that's another story entirely ), but no one's ever taken care of him before. this is something entirely new to him, and as strange as it may feel, he finds he actually enjoys it.
that's something he's going to have to unpack later.
for now, he actually just ignores the way gooseflesh prickles along his skin as vash speaks so closely to his ear like that. he shifts when vash does, leans back against him as if this is something normal. this is fine, right? )
[The way they move more or less has Wolfwood against his chest, Vash's scarred legs bracketing him on either side. More water sloshes over the side, and Vash mourns the chore of cleaning the bathroom later but for now, he just lets his back rest against the tub, metal arm hanging outside the bath to keep it as dry as possible. He probably should have taken it off, but he's not quite to the point where he's ready to be that defenseless in this world.
His other hand still toys with some of Wolfwood's wet locks, and he thinks that right now somehow this is far more comfortable than he was before, alone. He lets his head tip back against the wall, a long exhaled sigh escaping through his nose as he wills his muscles to relax a little.]
Don't fall asleep.
[He says, as he already feels his eyelids drooping.]
( well, at the very least wolfwood may possibly help with cleanup. maybe. he'll have to see how he feels after they get out of the tub. he may have to go get some clothes, though. because he has no clean ones in here, but that's a future wolfwood problem.
in some way, this reminds him of being a kid, when he and livio would find some spot to just watch the sky or get up to something little kids aren't supposed to be getting up to. livio would tuck up against him as the sun crawled across the sky; wolfwood would lay there, pondering the future and how once he was old enough, he'd really protect livio, protect the orphanage, just do something worthwhile with his life.
things sure turned out differently.
he looks at vash's arm hanging over the edge, looks at the nearest knee and all the scarring on it. what a stupid idiot to be hurt this much. his drags a finger over the slope of his knee, pushing droplets off his skin then glances over his shoulder toward vash. )
[His hand moves from Wolfwood's hair to wrap loosely around him instead, submerged in the water as he dozes. He's conscious, his awareness still just over the horizon of sleep. He registers the touch to his knee just barely, the limb twitching a little but overall he doesn't move. He's comfortable where he is, the scent of shampoo and soap heavy in the air.
It's okay if they stay like this for a few minutes, Vash's guard down, the tension in his muscles easing thanks to the heat of the water and the comforting pressure of wolfwood leaning back against him.]
( a few minutes becomes ten, fifteen, maybe twenty. wolfwood doesn't really sleep, he might doze for a minute or two, but his mind is still very much aware and alert. but, there is a comfort here that he's not used to having so he's allowing himself the few precious moments to enjoy it before things return to their normal of being annoyed and annoyer.
but, when the water really begins to cool and it becomes less warm and more uncomfortable than cozy, wolfwood opens his eyes and exhales a long breath. they should get out and get dressed. )
Alright. ( he leans forward and hits the drain to start letting the water out. ) Come on, it's time to get out.
( he stands up, probably could've put a little more space between them when he does because his butt might be in vash's face for a moment ( oops ) before he steps out of the bath. he reaches for a towel to begin drying off before looking toward vash. )
[Vash stirrs the moment Wolfwood moves, which means his vision is absolutely obliterated by the sight of Wolfwood's entire ass. He claps his hands over his face immediately, wincing a little bit with the enthusiasm his prosthetic hits his face. He doesn't even bother answering for a minute until he registers that the water is receding and rapidly removing any shielding he has for his OWN body.
He peeks from between his fingers, his cheeks rosy from either the bath or his nerves and he sort of just sits there as the water drains, more scars and patches of rough skin and implants being exposed by the moment. He laughs and in a comically funny scramble he pulls himself up out of the water in the same baby gazelle like motion as him reaching out to grab a towel.]
Okay, okay! I'm out... it was getting cold anyway.
not that it's not already, but the less they think about things, the easier this is. wolfwood is pretending everything is fine and normal and not a big deal. there's no reason for vash to freak out like he is. this is fine. it's
all
fine.
but, to save vash from tripping over the tub and crashing to the floor in a heap of limbs, wolfwood secures the towel around his waist before he leans down to collect the clothes he kicked off on the way in. though this bath was more or less an accident for them to enjoy together, wolfwood kind of feels like he wouldn't mind if it happened again. but, he knows he'll have to barge in again and not ask vash about it. )
Out? [He's busy ruffling a tower through damp hair, which, when he stops, has it standing more on end than it normally would, pieces of hair falling into his face at odd angles.
If he looks wolfwood over, it's quick and furtive, his gaze falling to his feet and the tile floor again. Wait.]
Oh. Haha, right! Because of the groceries... We can get more after if you want. But we should probably avoid the route you took.
[He says this as he very elegantly toes around where Wolfwood is standing and then ducks out of the bathroom and hopefully out of swatting reach.]
( when vash moves the towel and his hair is sticking out all akimbo, wolfwood just stares at it for a moment, another. then he exhales, ready to read vash the riot act for not remembering what they just talked about like twenty minutes ago, or however long they were in the bath. but, vash remembers all his own and wolfwood just shakes his head.
dummy.
he waits until vash leaves the bathroom and follows down the hall a bit until he gets to his room. he walks in, hand lifted to wave over his shoulder as he tosses his clothes to the side to a gathering pile there — he should do some laundry soon. )
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[The quickness with which Vash moves to draw his knees up to his chin and to also sink deep as he can into the water spills some over the edge, onto the bathmat. His eyes wide, the blue of them unhidden by sunglasses. His expression betrays his absolute surprise and growing mortification. He has to rip his gaze away from Wolfwood and his butt-ass naked self, his gaze fixing pointedly on a tile that is cracked from some previous impact. It's SO INTERESTING.
He has, however, made room for Wolfwood in the tub despite his refusal to look at him. He'd caught enough of a glimpse to see his hair was mussed, the remanents of something on that hadn't been covered by his clothes. For now, Vash is thankful that the water of the bath is still hot, conveniently hiding the fresh flush that's rocketing its way down his neck and over his shoulders.]
Geez. Fine. What happened to you anyway?
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or, if shouldn't be, so long as neither of them think about it.
on the way over, he knocks the cherry off and leaves the barely smoked cigarette on the edge of the sink. he had thought he was alone and could've gotten away with it, but he's not so he'll be nice and not while sharing a quick bath. he hops in, the water splashing even more over the edge but it hardly matters. the tub really isn't big enough for the two of them, especially with how gangly vash is. however, with him all tucked in against himself, wolfwood can stretch out more, so he does, his toes poking the side of vash's thigh beneath the water.
totally normal. )
Some jackass used their ( he wiggles his fingers; magic ) stuff and moved the damn sidewalk.
( he sinks down for a moment, just enough to dunk his head under the water. when he sits back up, he immediately slicks his wet hair off of his face. he still looks pissed but a smidgen less now that he's getting cleaned up. )
We're going out for dinner. ( nevermind. he's pissed all over again. ) Almost everything I got was ruined.
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You missed a spot. [he points to what looks like a little bit of eggshell in Wolfwood's hair, then gestures for him to lean forward with a bit of a sigh.] Here.
[He leans forward as best he can in the tub without waiting, picking the white bits he sees in Wolfwood's hair free with his non-flesh hand. He even exhales a laugh, his head tilting to the side a bit as he flicks away pieces of whatever it is he's finding in those dark strands.]
What do you want to eat?
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he huffs when vash points out that there's something in his hair — he's not shocked, and he scowls at a few pieces of eggshell that are floating in the water near him. both hands lift to just ruffle through his hair to knock out what he can, but before he can do it, vash is leaning in closer and picking out the trash in there. instinct tells him to slap vash's hands away, but ultimately he just lets it happen. it's probably better this way, vash can see it.
his eyes close as his head tips slightly forward so vash can have an easier time. both arms drop into the water, buoyed by it and his fingers may or may not brush against vash if some part of his body gets near enough. his lips part on a sigh; he suddenly feels very, very tired. )
I don't know. What do you feel like having?
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Here. Turn around.
[He pulls his fingers through wet strands of hair one last time to make sure he's gotten all the shell out. If he just thinks about helping, this is so much less embarrassing. If wolfwood has his back towards him that's even better.]
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anyway. they can figure it out later.
the shadow of vash moving the bottle in front of him makes him slit open his eyes to see what it is and he sighs, bothered but not annoyed. he just doesn't feel like moving, but he does need to wash his hair... and the rest of himself. the last thing he wants to do is smell like spoiled egg and rotten milk. so, with a deep grunt, he turns in the bath, spilling more water out along the way.
when he's got his back to vash, he bends forward enough to wet his hair again. then, he sits up sharply so the droplets will definitely splash back on vash. deal with it. )
Thanks.
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Did you have to do that? [It's said quietly, his attention is split between multiple places now, the bottle he's holding, the sensation of skin underneath his hand and the irritating man sitting in front of him. He sighs a little, shaking his head as he scoots forward a little.]
You're welcome, by the way. [He squirts soap into Wolfwood's hair, finally lifting his hand from his back to drag blunt nails over Wolfwood's scalp, lathering the soap through dark strands of hair. He covers each inch of hair meticulously, mostly quiet as he does so almost like if he talks he thinks he's going to wind up getting splashed or shoved again.]
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like a dutiful little spouse, wolfwood sits there silently while vash lathers up the shampoo. well, the intention is to sit there silently, but the feeling of nails dragging over his scalp winds up drawing a sound from wolfwood. it feels good, really good. better than he thought it would. he lets his eyes slip closed, tips his head to the side, exhales an almost content-sounding breath. so, vash is safe from more splashes.
for now.
this might be the most docile wolfwood has ever been. who knew a simple scritch behind the ears would have him silent. he relaxes a little more against vash's leg that's pressed against his back, drapes an arm over the edge of the tub. he has a passing thought to say something, but doesn't. why fill a silence that isn't tense? )
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He works like this for a few minutes, before he leans forward, his chest pressing to Wolfwood's back as he reaches for the showerhead in front of them. He tests the water first before he starts to rinse the soap free from now clean and eggless hair. It's warm here, a comfortable heat that cradles the rather domestic silence neatly.]
Keep your eyes closed. [He doesn't want to get soap in them.]
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in fact, he's indulgent enough in the quiet moment between them that he doesn't even flinch when he feels vash press against his back. he can feel some of the scars that litter his body and he kind of wants to ask about them, but it's likely not the right time for that. another time, maybe.
he tips his head back and dutifully keeps his eyes closed, seemingly content enough to continue this warm domesticity and let vash do as he pleases. it's the least he could do since he interrupted his bath, after all. )
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There. You don't have to worry about egg anymore.
[It's accidentally muttered right into Wolfwood's ear as he leans in again to replace the shower head back where he got it. If he's honest with himself, he finds the proximity comforting in a way. Maybe that's why he doesn't particularly mind doing something as simple as this for his friend.]
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that's something he's going to have to unpack later.
for now, he actually just ignores the way gooseflesh prickles along his skin as vash speaks so closely to his ear like that. he shifts when vash does, leans back against him as if this is something normal. this is fine, right? )
Thanks. Not so bad, Blondie.
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[The way they move more or less has Wolfwood against his chest, Vash's scarred legs bracketing him on either side. More water sloshes over the side, and Vash mourns the chore of cleaning the bathroom later but for now, he just lets his back rest against the tub, metal arm hanging outside the bath to keep it as dry as possible. He probably should have taken it off, but he's not quite to the point where he's ready to be that defenseless in this world.
His other hand still toys with some of Wolfwood's wet locks, and he thinks that right now somehow this is far more comfortable than he was before, alone. He lets his head tip back against the wall, a long exhaled sigh escaping through his nose as he wills his muscles to relax a little.]
Don't fall asleep.
[He says, as he already feels his eyelids drooping.]
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in some way, this reminds him of being a kid, when he and livio would find some spot to just watch the sky or get up to something little kids aren't supposed to be getting up to. livio would tuck up against him as the sun crawled across the sky; wolfwood would lay there, pondering the future and how once he was old enough, he'd really protect livio, protect the orphanage, just do something worthwhile with his life.
things sure turned out differently.
he looks at vash's arm hanging over the edge, looks at the nearest knee and all the scarring on it. what a stupid idiot to be hurt this much. his drags a finger over the slope of his knee, pushing droplets off his skin then glances over his shoulder toward vash. )
Don't you, dummy.
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[His hand moves from Wolfwood's hair to wrap loosely around him instead, submerged in the water as he dozes. He's conscious, his awareness still just over the horizon of sleep. He registers the touch to his knee just barely, the limb twitching a little but overall he doesn't move. He's comfortable where he is, the scent of shampoo and soap heavy in the air.
It's okay if they stay like this for a few minutes, Vash's guard down, the tension in his muscles easing thanks to the heat of the water and the comforting pressure of wolfwood leaning back against him.]
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but, when the water really begins to cool and it becomes less warm and more uncomfortable than cozy, wolfwood opens his eyes and exhales a long breath. they should get out and get dressed. )
Alright. ( he leans forward and hits the drain to start letting the water out. ) Come on, it's time to get out.
( he stands up, probably could've put a little more space between them when he does because his butt might be in vash's face for a moment ( oops ) before he steps out of the bath. he reaches for a towel to begin drying off before looking toward vash. )
I'll throw you out if you take too long.
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He peeks from between his fingers, his cheeks rosy from either the bath or his nerves and he sort of just sits there as the water drains, more scars and patches of rough skin and implants being exposed by the moment. He laughs and in a comically funny scramble he pulls himself up out of the water in the same baby gazelle like motion as him reaching out to grab a towel.]
Okay, okay! I'm out... it was getting cold anyway.
no subject
not that it's not already, but the less they think about things, the easier this is. wolfwood is pretending everything is fine and normal and not a big deal. there's no reason for vash to freak out like he is. this is fine. it's
all
fine.
but, to save vash from tripping over the tub and crashing to the floor in a heap of limbs, wolfwood secures the towel around his waist before he leans down to collect the clothes he kicked off on the way in. though this bath was more or less an accident for them to enjoy together, wolfwood kind of feels like he wouldn't mind if it happened again. but, he knows he'll have to barge in again and not ask vash about it. )
Once we're dressed, we'll head out.
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If he looks wolfwood over, it's quick and furtive, his gaze falling to his feet and the tile floor again. Wait.]
Oh. Haha, right! Because of the groceries... We can get more after if you want. But we should probably avoid the route you took.
[He says this as he very elegantly toes around where Wolfwood is standing and then ducks out of the bathroom and hopefully out of swatting reach.]
no subject
dummy.
he waits until vash leaves the bathroom and follows down the hall a bit until he gets to his room. he walks in, hand lifted to wave over his shoulder as he tosses his clothes to the side to a gathering pile there — he should do some laundry soon. )
Yeah, yeah, smartass. Ten minutes.
( and he'll leave with or without him, too. )