Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The next morning, over coffee and energy drinks, Vash takes a picture of their hands folded together and texts it to Milly, Meryl, and Nai. He then goes to Instagram.

Vash.the.stampede: big news, friendos! Looks like i’m going to be made an honest man of. <3 @.nicholas.d.wolfwood_official

Milly and Meryl both call immediately on a group call. They both scream into the phone - Vash has to hold the phone away from his ear to get through it. He excitedly chatters with them about how it happened, not leaving out any details, including their failed attempt at having sex, much to Nick’s chagrin. They both invite themselves over for the afternoon, promising drinks and snacks to celebrate.

Nick walks over to the kitchen to start breakfast, texting his own group chat the picture he’d downloaded from Vash’s instagram. Immediately, he gets a heart react from Razlo, who follows up with a text of, “Knew you could do it, bro.”

He gets a phone call from Elendira, who’s at the dress shop getting her dress fitted for the third time. She immediately offers her congratulations and insists she get to meet Vash before she gives her true blessing to him, but is happy for them all the same. She says all of this while hissing at the seamstress who sounds like she’s used to Elendira’s brand of bridezilla. Nick hangs up the phone only to be caught by Livio immediately after.

Livio offers his congratulations while also smugly telling Nick, “welcome to the world of wedding planning,” to which Nick doesn’t have the heart to tell him that he and Vash have already talked about eloping. Not in Vegas, but maybe somewhere quiet without anyone around except maybe Vash’s brother.

Problem is, Melanie and Elendira would have Nick’s ass if he did that, but something small. Maybe at the house. Nothing with fanfare or other people. Just their loved ones. Nothing too big. Even though Vash has a ton of friends he considers family, nothing like what Livio and Elendira are planning.

Nick is just finishing up breakfast when Vash comes into the kitchen and wraps his arms around Nick’s middle, kissing the back of his head. “Smells good,” he says.

“What did Nai say?” Nick asks. Vash shrugs and buries his face into the back of Nick’s neck.

“Haven’t spoken to him yet. He’s still on the plane. I’ll hear from him in about 8 hours and then he’s gonna want to come home so he can kill you.”

“I don’t know about kill me,” Nick says, scooping a spoonful of the hash he’s making, blowing on it, and offering it over his shoulder to Vash, who happily munches on it, moaning in approval. “Before he left he gave me his blessing.”

There’s silence in the kitchen other than the food sizzling in the pan. He turns and looks at Vash who’s staring at him with a funny look on his face.

“What?” Nick asks.

“You asked my brother for his blessing?” Vash asks around the spoon. Nick takes it from him and spoons himself his own spoonful of food to taste it before he seasons a bit more.

“Yeah, was I not supposed to?”

“And he said yes?” Vash continues. He still has an odd look on his face. Nick blinks at him.

“Vash, you’re scaring me.” Then he realizes Vash is tearing up. His nose grows red, as do his ears, and he looks like he’s about to start bawling second by second.

“You asked Nai for his blessing and he gave it to you because you knew how important that would’ve been to me?” Vash asks, voice cracking. Nick sets the spoon down and pulls Vash into his arms. Vash buries his face into Nick’s neck, crying. “You’re perfect!” he wails.

Nick rocks Vash back and forth, also keeping an eye on their breakfast so it doesn’t burn. He tucks the top of Vash’s head under his chin, which is difficult while standing since Vash is a little taller than he is, and whispers soothing words to him.

“Of course I asked for his blessing. I wasn’t going to survive proposing to you if I didn’t get it,” Nick says softly. Vash clings to Nick for dear life, crying silently before he shoots out of Nick’s arms in a flash, nearly knocking their heads together.

“I have to thank him,” he says, rushing to his phone sitting on the coffee table. Nick shakes his head.

“I think you being happy is thanks enough, honey.” Vash tears up again.

“We’re gonna get married,” he says in an astonished voice. Nick smiles at him and rubs their noses together.

“We are. After we eat breakfast. This is done, c’mon.”

Shelby Taylor sends several bouquets of roses by, to where Nick can’t see his countertops in his kitchen anymore. She demands Vash stop by at some point so she can get a look at the ring. She also demands to be invited to the wedding, which - there goes the idea of their wedding being small if all of Vash’s clients and friends are invited. Nick watches Vash fret over a notebook page of things they’ll need to do for a wedding, amused behind his third cup of coffee.

“Do you want kids?” Vash asks suddenly, looking up at Nick, who nearly chokes.

“Wh-what?”

“Do you want kids?” Vash repeats. He looks genuinely curious. “Figured we should talk about it since we’re planning a life together.”

Nick recovers after coughing into his elbow for a few moments before he shrugs a shoulder. “I haven’t really thought about it,” he says truthfully. “I always figured I’d be perpetually single.”

“Did you see a future with your ex?” Vash asks. Nick shrugs again.

“I thought I did. Not as well as I see a future with you.” Vash beams. Nick smiles back at him.

“Cute, but it didn’t answer my question. Do you want kids?”

“Do you?” Nick asks. Vash suddenly averts his gaze and begins petting Rhiannon on the couch next to him. The dogs are sitting between them in a rare moment of peace in the yard.

“Ye-yeah,” Vash says softly. “I just don’t know if I can have kids ‘cause of my health. But you were adopted, so you might want to adopt, right?”

“Vash, if you want kids, I want kids.”

“Nick, that’s such a cop out answer–”

“No, it isn’t. I want you. Anything you’ll give me. If you want kids, whether it be by me or adopting, I want them too.”

Vash’s smile gets a little wet. He scritches behind Rhiannon’s ear. “I always figured I’d adopt ‘cause I wouldn’t want to go off T,” he explains. “But since I had to go off it for this, I guess I’ll just not go back on it for a while after I’m in remission.”

“Oh, are we trying right away?” Nick jokes. Vash snickers.

“No, but I’m okay with happy accidents. Besides, my doctors probably won’t let us do anything for a year or two after. I wasn’t allowed to go back on T for about a year after the first time, just in case. But you were adopted! I figured you’d want to adopt–” he repeats.

“Again,” Nick says, leaning forward and touching Vash’s knee. Sadie harrumphs next to him at his movement. “If that’s what you want to do, I’m here for it. If you want to try, I’m also here for it. I will take whatever you will give me. I’m –”

“All in,” Vash finishes with a smile. “I know.” Nick smiles back and gives Vash’s knee a squeeze before Vash’s phone chimes again. “The girls are here,” he says. “They’re going to be loud.”

“I know,” Nick says. “I’ll go let them in.”

“Perfect,” Vash whimpers. “Isn’t daddy perfect, Rhi?”

Rhiannon looks up at him with wide eyes. The lights are on, but no one is home. Vash scratches her head again. She’s a good dog, but she can be a little dumb.

Nick answers the door to find Milly and Meryl excitedly bouncing on his porch. They’re encumbered with bags full of bottles of sparkling cider, stuff to make a charcuterie board, and flowers. They offer Nick the bags of food and drinks after giving him awkward hugs, before they bound into the house with their flowers for Vash. Vash squeals when he sees his best friends, as well as their flowers, and Nick can hear him puttering around in the kitchen for more vases. The girls comment on all the roses, to which Vash replies, “Shelby,” as if that answers everything. It must, because the girls fall into giggles and demands to see the ring.

Nick carries the bags of food and drinks into the kitchen and smiles as Vash proudly holds his hand out for them to inspect. They’re huddled over his hand, inspecting expertly and look up at Nick when he walks in.

“So,” Milly says, pulling her dreadlocks back over her shoulder so they hang down her back. “After sex, huh?”

Nick splutters, as do Vash and Meryl. Milly smiles at Nick, who finds himself smiling back.

“Yeah, figured good of a time as any,” he says, setting the bags down on the floor. “Do you want me to set this charcuterie board up for y’all or are you gonna do it?”

“I’m gonna do it,” Meryl says proudly. “You won’t make it pretty.”

“Why does it have to be pretty? You’re just gonna eat it.” Nick asks. Vash and the girls roll their eyes.

“For insta, Nick!” Meryl says. Vash nods.

“Meryl makes really pretty charcuterie boards. They’re all organized by color and make a rainbow.”

“Cause we need more rainbows in here,” Nick mutters to himself. Vash and the girls giggle as Meryl gets to work. Vash hops up on the one space of counter left next to the coffee maker as they catch up while Meryl and Milly go about cutting and organizing the food on a wooden tray Nick didn’t remember he even had.

Vash can’t drink, so they have sparkling cider instead. He tried to say he’d had his energy drink, but Meryl wouldn’t hear of it. She pours them all small glasses and toasts to Vash and Nick before they all crowd around the, indeed, very pretty charcuterie board in the living room. The dogs are at the back door, whining, wanting food.

“So, let’s talk wedding logistics.” Meryl says around a mouthful of crackers and cheese. She slurps at her cider in an unladylike fashion. Nick has his arm around Vash’s shoulders, holding him close.

“Mer, he proposed less than 24-hours ago,” Vash reminds her. She shakes her hand at that and pushes it aside.

“Yeah, yeah, but you’ve gotta have an idea of who you want in your party, that sort of thing. I was thinking, you could have me as your maid of honor and Mills here can officiate, since she’s licensed in California to do it.”

“My brother wanted to get married a few years ago and his wife didn’t like their options,” Milly explains to Nick. He just nods and shoves another cracker into his mouth along with some grapes. Vash places his hand on Nick’s thigh and leans into him.

“We don’t even know if we’re getting married in California or not,” Vash says with a laugh. “We kinda joked about Vegas last night, but I think Nai would kill me.” Meryl’s glare answers that question. “And you,” Vash adds.

“Meryl’s been dying to micromanage a wedding since we were kids.”

“Mills, ssh.”

“She’d do a good job, though.”

“Meryl, do you want to be our wedding planner?” Vash asks, looking up from his hand on Nick’s knee. Meryl beams.

“Yes! I accept! You won’t regret this.”

“What’s going to happen when you two get married?” Nick asks Milly in a stage whisper. Milly shrugs.

“I’m almost too scared to find out,” she says truthfully. Meryl begins chattering about color schemes and times of year, making Nick’s head spin. He turns to Vash, who’s starting to get tired, and presses a kiss to his temple.

“Are we making a mistake?” Nick asks in Vash’s ear. Vash snorts a laugh.

“Probably. But she’s so eager, it’s endearing.”

“If you say so.”

Nai’s plane finally lands around eight o’clock that night, meaning there’s a new shrill noise assaulting Nick’s ears from Vash’s phone. Milly and Meryl have left for the day and Vash is napping on the couch beside Nick while Nick watches some home improvement show on HGTV. He slides from beneath Vash and takes his phone and answers.

“Hello?” he asks. “Vash’s phone.”

“You did it,” Nai’s voice comes through the line, tinny with a bad reception and bad feedback from the airport around him. “I take it it went well.”

“I don’t think he’d’ve posted to instagram about it if it hadn’t.”

Nai is silent for a few moments. Nick can hear the overhead intercom paging someone in French. “Nai?” Nick asks.

“I’m thinking,” Nai says. “You certainly move fast. One minute you’re asking my blessing, the next you’re proposing.”

“Why wait?” Nick asks, remembering what prompted him to propose in the first place.

“If you’re proposing simply because he’s sick and you don’t think he’s got a lot of time left –” he begins.

“I proposed because I love him and I want to spend the rest of our lives together,” Nick says. “And that includes when he’s better, because he’s going to get better, Nai.”

“What if he doesn’t?” Nai asks quickly. “I’ve had a long time to get used to losing him, Nicholas. Have you considered that he might not survive? Maybe not this bout, but the next? Or the next?”

“I’ll take it as it comes,” Nick says with finality. He knows Nai means well and that deep down he’s a brother looking out for his twin, but the catastrophizing has to stop at some point. “Even if it gets worse before it gets better, I’m going to be with him every step of the way. Isn’t that what you want for him?”

Nai is silent, the airport sounds behind him deafening. Finally, he responds.

“Congratulations.” He hangs up, leaving Nick glaring at the phone and Vash waking up a little.

“Whosit?” he asks. Nick walks back around the couch and presses his phone into his hand and a kiss to his forehead.

“Your brother just landed and found out. I didn’t want to wake you up. He sends his congratulations.” Vash smiles sleepily.

“See, I told you he liked you,” he mumbles, sliding back against the cushions and falling back asleep, Donut curled up in his side.

Nick brushes hair out of Vash’s eyes and stays awake staring at him until he decides he’s being ridiculous. Vash’s doctors and their team are working hard with Vash to make sure he’s being taken care of and that he gets the proper treatment he needs. There’s no need to start catastrophizing. There simply isn’t. His doctors aren’t worried. Vash isn’t worried. He shouldn’t worry.

Nick presses another lingering kiss to Vash’s forehead while sending another prayer up.

Please God, anyone but him.

++++

Nick hardly has time to write these days, with Vash’s doctor’s appointments and Meryl’s wedding texts, and Shelby Taylor wanting to work with Vash, even though she just got back from being on tour again. He finds himself penciling in little phrases and words in the margins of medical printouts from doctors and into his notes app on his phone that don’t make any cohesive sense while he’s chauffeuring him around places and entertaining himself while Vash plays at his piano with friends or by himself.

“We should do a duet,” Vash says one morning as a greeting. He’s reaching into the fridge for an energy drink and pops the top on it before taking a slurp. “You and me.”

Nick looks up from his phone and coffee on the couch before looking back down at the texts from Melanie, who finally remembered where her phone was so she can text him about their engagement. “Hm?

“Nicooooo,” Vash says, walking around the couch and sliding into Nick’s open lap. “A duet. With me. Please?”

“I didn’t say no, I’m just surprised you want to. Our sounds are nothing alike.”

“I know, but that’s when we make a different sound altogether!”

“Are you up to working on music? You haven’t recorded anything in a couple of months. I just –”

“I’m feeling better every day, Nico,” Vash smiles, patting Nick’s cheek. He ducks his chin and slurps at his energy drink again. “So, duet! I’ll do all the work - I kinda already have an idea–”

Nick grabs at Vash’s chin and pulls him in for a lingering kiss, stopping Vash midsentence. When he pulls away, he has a kiss-drunk-dumb smile on his face. “--For what to do–”

Turns out, Elendira is a lot more endearing when you’ve been around her sisters for a few days.

There are two of them, triplets, and each one is more obnoxious than the last, making Elendira look like a perpetual sweetheart. They come into town two weeks before the wedding and insist on accompanying everyone to their final fittings to make sure everything looks perfect for their baby sister.

“Are you sure about that color?” Jade asks, not looking up from her phone but arches well manicured eyebrow anyways. She’s “watching” as Nick adjusts his suit jacket.

“Elendira picked the color,” Nick says, lifting his chin and looking in the mirror as the tailor frets with Nick’s bowtie. “She insisted on blue.”

Nick knows for a fact that it’s the same color as the bridesmaid’s dresses. He rolls his eyes as Jade hums and goes back to her phone while her sister, Nicole, demands Livio spin again and again.

“Nikki, I’m getting dizzy.”

“I have to make sure you look good from all angles, Livio,” she says, matter-of-factly. “It’s not every day my baby sister makes a huge decision like this.”

“She already agreed to marry me,” Livio protests. Nicole crosses her arms over her chest.

“She has until next Saturday to make that decision,” she says flatly. “Now, arms out, I want to make sure it fits right around your wrists.”

“The tailor already –”

“Livio–”

“Fine, fine. Fine.” Livio holds his arms out while Nicole investigates his cuffs.

“It’s doable,” she says. “You look passable. Are you sure we can’t get you a haircut?”

Livio looks scared. He looks over to Nick for guidance, who sighs.

“Girls, he’s not cutting his hair. I have it on authority from El that she likes it long.” Livio has his hair pulled back in a bun out of his face today. He definitely forgot to brush it this morning. Nick sighs, knowing that that’s a ding against Livio from the Sisters.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Jade says, typing on her phone, fake nails clacking against the screen.

Nick looks over at Livio who smiles sheepishly at him. Nick sighs again. Razlo had the right idea by skipping out on this endeavor, instead opting to go to brunch with Vash to get him out of the house.

The tailor finally relinquishes Nick to the wolves for close inspection. Nicole circles him on his podium while Jade finally puts her phone down, stands, and puts her hand to her chin in thought.

“Better than Livio,” Jade says to Nicole, who hums in agreement. Livio opens his mouth to protest, but instead closes it at Nicole’s arched brow at him. “You will shave before the ceremony,” she demands.

“Sure,” Nick says, knowing he won’t.

“And you are not to smoke with this on,” Nicole says. “I saw you earlier. Disgusting.”

“Sure,” Nick says again, rolling his eyes. He already knows the bowtie is coming off as soon as it possibly can - his neck feels itchy and starchy. The women stop circling him and stand in front of him with their arms crossed over their chests.

“Fine,” they say at the same time, which is creepy. Nick turns to look at the tailor, who nods at him.

“You can go take it off, Mr. Wolfwood.” Nick nearly whoops with glee as he steps down from the podium and heads to the dressing room.

He checks his phone, seeing multiple texts from Vash and Razlo - their spread of brunch food, a couple of pics of each other from across the table, then finally a couple of selfies of them sitting on the couch at the house with the dogs. Vash looks tired, but happy. It makes Nick smile knowing his best friends are becoming friends with Vash.

When Nick walks out of the dressing room having changed, handing the awkwardly hung up suit to the tailor so he can bag it up, he’s bombarded with Nicole and Jade again.

“We hear you have a plus one, Nicholas,” Jade says. “We need to meet her so we know she dresses appropriately.”

“He will be dressed as appropriately as he can be,” Nick corrects, walking over to the register to pay. The girls follow him, clicking from their heels on the glossy tile floor loud in the otherwise silent suit shop.

“He knows what colors to wear, right?” Jade asks. “Let me see a picture of him so I can make sure he’ll fit in nicely for pictures.”

“Is he just a friend or what?” Nicole asks, pulling up instagram. “Oh, you’re engaged. OH! It’s Vash Savarem, I love him. When can we meet him?”

“He’s booked up until the wedding,” Nick lies, sparing Vash the headache. The girls actually look a little heartbroken. They begin to whisper to one another behind hands before Jade grabby hands at Nick.

“Give me your phone. I’ll give you my number so you can send me pictures of his outfit so we can know for sure.”

Nick hesitates before finally just sighing and handing her his phone. Jade coos over his phone wallpaper (it’s of him and Vash) before putting her number in his phone contact list. When she hands the phone back to him, she actually looks a little flustered at her out of character reaction..

“You two make a cute couple,” she says finally. He grins.

“Thank you. I know.”

When Nick gets home from the tailor’s, he finds Vash asleep on the couch and Razlo playing on his phone next to him. He grins when Nick walks in.

“How were the witches?” he asks in a quiet voice while Nick grabs a blanket off the back of the couch to drape over Vash.

“Their usual selves,” Nick says. “You missed out.”

“You know I didn’t. Besides, I was having fun here. He’s hilarious.”

“I know,” Nick smiles, brushing a hand over Vash’s cheek. Vash turns into Nick’s touch, unconsciously searching for him. Razlo watches the two of them in amused silence before he hops off the couch. “Thanks for being with him, Raz; I didn’t want to leave him alone.”

“Yeah, man, no worries. I gotta go rescue Liv from El’s sisters now. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Once Razlo leaves, Vash stirs. “Is my babysitter gone?” he asks into the cushions. Nick snorts a laugh through his nose and sits forward, petting Vash across the back of his head. He’s wearing a black beanie today.

“That obvious?” Nick asks. Vash smiles sleepily.

“You’re not subtle. Besides, I had fun so it’s hardly any hardship. How was the dressing room?”

“El’s sisters are fans of yours,” Nick says. “They want to see what you’re wearing to the wedding.”

“I gotta go shopping,” Vash says, rolling over and rubbing his eyes. “All of my dress clothes are too big.”

“Wanna do that tomorrow?” Nick asks. Vash nods sleepily.

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“I love you. Go back to sleep.”

“Love you too.”

Nick waits until Vash has fallen back asleep, snoring quietly, before he reaches for his notebook and pen. He writes until his hand starts to hurt.

The next day, Vash and Nick head to the mall to find clothes that will fit Vash’s small frame. They find a red suit with a black button down that fits Vash practically perfectly, despite him being so small. Nick tries to start something in the dressing room, which makes Vash turn as red as the suit and he bats Nick’s hands away, embarrassed.

He only gets a little tired on the way back to the car, which is progress, and they’re only recognized a couple of times by fans, which Vash always stops and takes selfies with. Nick carries him piggyback to the car, Vash laughing breathlessly in his ear.

The morning of Elendira and Livio’s wedding, Nick wakes up before Vash like usual. He presses a kiss to Vash’s temple before crawling out of bed, grabbing his phone, and heading downstairs to start the coffee.

He comes downstairs to find Livio sitting in his living room, back rod-straight, staring at the TV mindlessly, fidgeting with a fidget toy of Vash’s he’d found on the coffee table. Livio spent the night in Nick’s guest room as to not be alone the night before his wedding. (They went to Vegas a few weeks ago for the Bachelor Party, which was fun and exciting. Vash stayed with Meryl and Milly that weekend.)

“Hey Liv, did you get any sleep?” Nick asks, finding an already brewed pot of coffee. He helps himself and walks over to the couch to find Livio looking a nervous wreck.

“What if she leaves me at the altar today?” he asks in a small voice. “She jokes about it, but what if she actually does?”

Nick sets his coffee down on the coffee table and sits next to Livio on the couch and pulls him in for a side hug. Livio goes limply, resting his head on Nick’s shoulder. Nick pauses to think.

“I don’t think she will, Liv,” he says. “She loves you. You know she does. She wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to have the perfect wedding with you if she didn’t.”

“Maybe she just wanted a wedding,” Livio says dully. Nick shakes his head and flicks Livio on the forehead. Livio wrinkles his nose and rubs at the spot on his forehead.

“You can’t think like that. She’s gonna be there and she’s gonna be beautiful and you’re gonna cry and you’ll take tons of pictures and it’s gonna be one of the best days of your life and this time tomorrow you’ll be on a plane to Fiji with your wife.”

Livio looks up at Nick, glassy eyed. He sniffles a little before pulling away from Nick’s side and reaches for his coffee. “You’re great at giving pep talks, dude.”

“I’ve watched the two of you dance around each other for years until you finally bit the bullet and asked her out. I’ve been there through your ups and downs and when you decided you were going to propose. She’s in it for the long haul. She wouldn’t have said yes to you if she wasn’t. You know how she is. She’s not one to do things half-assed.” Nick claps Livio on the knee. “You’re getting married today.”

“Yeah,” Livio says with a shy smile. “I am.”

Nick sips at his coffee and settles back into the couch, watching whatever HGTV show Livio had on. Livio is quiet for a moment before he smiles at Nick.

“And soon you’ll be having your own freak out the day before your wedding,” he says. Nick smiles back.

“I don’t think I’ll be freaking out,” he says as he hears the sounds of Vash’s alarms going off within the house.

“Maybe a little?” Livio asks. Nick wrinkles his nose in doubt.

“Maybe a little. But probably mostly from nerves. I’ll be marrying my best friend.”

“Aw, Nico. I hate to be the one to tell you, but I’m actually getting married to someone else today,” Livio says cheekily.

“Jackass,” Nick says as the dogs excitedly greet Vash at the foot of the stairs with wagging tails and little chuffs. Vash comes walking into the room in a pair of pj pants and a tank top, waving sleepily at the two of them.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Livio says as Vash beelines to the fridge for his morning Monster. Vash flips him off as he pops the top and takes a long slurp.

“Shut up,” he says. He’s not wearing a beanie and you can kind of see how thin his hair is. He’s really self conscious these days.

Nick flicks Livio on the forehead again before he gets up from the couch and walks into the kitchen to press a kiss to Vash’s forehead while he checks his socials. “Good morning, baby.”

“Mmm,” Vash hums sleepily, rubbing at his eyes that never leave his phone screen. “Raz is already on his way and wants to know what time they start selling liquor on Saturdays.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Nick rubs at his stubbly chin. “Tell him we’ve got a stocked liquor cabinet and to just get his ass over here.”

“Okiedoke. I’m gonna go facecall Meryl - she’s freaking out about venues. I told her not today, but she’s worried the good ones will be taken by the time we move on things.” Nick rolls his eyes and presses another kiss to Vash’s forehead.

“Godspeed, babe.”

The wedding is in the evening, so the guys have all day to sit around and shoot the shit before they get ready. Nick makes them brunch while they have a bit of a jam session in Nick’s living room and around three, they all separate to different bathrooms to get ready. Nick is in the process of tying his bowtie when Vash appears behind him and begins to fix it for him.

“I’m surprised they got you to wear this,” he says, tying it expertly. Nick lifts his chin for Vash to work, looking up at the ceiling for something to look at instead of watching the way Vash sticks his tongue out of the corner of his mouth in concentration.

“Ceremony fine, but pictures and afterparty, no,” Nick says. “I got special permission from Elendira that I can take it off for pictures.”

“Oh, good, we can’t have her have a meltdown today,” Vash smiles. He’s yet to put his suit on, is still walking around in a pair of boxers, hair still wet from the shower. “Do you think she’ll be okay if I wear a hat?” he asks quietly. Nick finally looks down at Vash, then back up at his thinning hair. He leans in and presses a kiss to Vash’s forehead.

“I think she’ll have to just get over it if you do,” he says softly. Vash smiles a small smile before he brushes lint off Nick’s shoulders and cups his face.

“You didn’t shave,” he comments.

“Nope,” Nick grins, showing his teeth. Vash rolls his eyes and walks over towards what’s become his side of the room and begins to unearth his suit from the garment bag. He starts to get dressed. Nick heads downstairs to find Livio and Razlo arguing over whether or not Razlo has to wear a bowtie. He’s refusing, naturally.

“See, Nick’s wearing one!” Livio says, pointing. Razlo shrugs.

“That’s ‘cause Nick cares what Elendira thinks. I don’t.”

Nick snorts a laugh and heads to the kitchen where he pulls a beer from the fridge. He’s in the process of taking a sip and walking back towards the living room to maybe break up the fight when Vash comes down the stairs.

He’s a vision in red and black. The red suit and black shirt really look good on him. He’s carrying a pair of barely used dress shoes into the living room to put them on when he sees Nick staring at him.

“You look gorgeous,” Nick says. Vash blushes.

“Liar,” he says with a laugh. Livio and Razlo have stopped their arguing to watch the scene in front of them. Razlo wolf-whistles. Vash gives him the finger before he walks around the couch and sits, putting on his shoes.

“Save it for later, guys,” Livio says. “Vash, help me convince Raz he has to wear his bowtie.”

Vash finishes putting his shoes on and stands up, shoving a black beanie on his head from the coffee table. He looks at Razlo for a moment before grinning at the two of them.

“I think he looks great without it,” he says with a shrug. Razlo cheers. Livio huffs.

“I’m not dealing with her if you suffer her wrath,” he says, hands up, walking towards the kitchen to grab himself his own beer. Razlo follows.

Nick walks over to Vash and gives him a kiss. Vash melts and wraps his arms around Nick’s neck, deepening the kiss. They pull apart a moment later with Vash brushing their noses together.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” Vash says quietly. Nick grins.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly, Livio’s phone starts going off, pulling them out of their own little world. They both look over at him in the kitchen doorway, assessing his appearance. He looks like a deer caught in headlights, holding his phone up.

“It’s time to go,” he says in a shaky voice. “I’m getting married in an hour.”

Razlo walks over to his brother and wraps an arm around his neck, shaking him a little. “You sure fucking are,” he says proudly. “Let’s fucking go, guys.”

Nick and Vash pull apart, Nick leading the way to the front door, grabbing his keys and wallet and phone on the way, pulling Vash by the hand.

In the car, Vash takes a selfie of himself, Nick, and Livio, who still looks slightly stunned and extremely nervous. He then takes a selfie of just him and Nick in the front seats, a big smile on his face.

Vash.the.stampede: heading to a wedding with my favorites @.nicholas.d.wolfwood_official @.official_liviooooo

The wedding is beautiful. It’s in a barn full of hanging chandeliers, with mismatched chairs for the wedding guests to give it a more rustic look. It looks like something out of a fairytale, with Elendira gliding down the stairs in a sleek, white satin silhouette cut dress and a short net veil over her face. She makes a face when she sees Razlo without his bowtie, but recovers quickly as she remembers she’s being photographed.

The ceremony is lovely. They recite their own vows, which Nick kept in his inner pocket for Livio’s convenience. Nick is happy to see Elendira crying a little as Livio promises to love and cherish her forever, while Livio shakes as Elendira promises the same to him. They slide rings on their fingers and Livio dips her as they kiss, pronouncing themselves husband and wife.

Once pictures are done, Nick runs a hand through his hair, messing it up, looking for Vash amongst the partygoers. He finds him chatting with Melanie, who is dressed in a mother-of-the-groom dress in dark blue. She hugs Nick and presses a kiss to his cheek. “Next time we do this, it’ll be your turn, Nico.”

Nick wraps his arm around Vash’s waist and smiles at her. “Yeah,” he says. “Unless we elope.”

“Nicholas D. Wolfwood,” Melanie warns. Vash laughs as a waiter walks by with flutes of champagne. He grabs one for Nick and hands it to him, opting for his own bottle of water. Melanie takes her own champagne and takes a sip. “When can you drink again, Vash?” she asks. “They won’t let you because of the medicine, right?”

“Yeah, they don’t allow you to drink when you’re on chemo,” Vash says. “I dunno, I think I’m done drinking. I don’t miss it at all.”

“Yeah, Vash would rather get stoned,” Nick says nonchalantly. Vash smacks him in the chest.

“Nico!” he says. “You make me sound like a stoner.”

“Honey, you are.”

“Shut up. Not in front of your mom.”

Melanie laughs and offers Vash a hug, which he takes. She pats him on the arm. “Vash, sweetie, I think you have the best excuse.” Vash actually blushes.

“Yeah?” he asks. She nods. The bride and groom finally make their entrance into the after party, with music and cheers and applause. Melanie presses a kiss to both their cheeks.

“Of course. Now I’m going to go find Livio and tease him endlessly now that they’re here.” She walks away, a spring in her step.

“What now?” Vash asks. Nick takes another sip of his champagne.

“We could go fuck in the bathroom for old time’s sake.”

“Okay.”

Nick chokes on his spit. “I was joking!”

“I’m not. I told you,” Vash crowds Nick a little, somehow looking at Nick through his lashes despite his couple of inches on him. “This kinda suit does it for me.”

Nick shoots back his champagne and sets the flute on a nearby empty table where people have gotten up to dance. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and flashes Vash a winning smile. “Lead the way, blondie.”

Vash pushes Nick back against the door in the bathroom, pausing to take a moment to make a show of locking the door. Nick grins at him as Vash crowds Nick against the door, pressing their mouths together.

“How stoned are you?” Nick asks, lifting his chin for Vash to suck down his neck. Vash pants against his throat.

“Edible hit once they announced them husband and wife,” Vash says. “I’ve been trying so hard to stay in the moment instead of just letting it make me feel all swimmy.”

“You almost fooled me talking to Melanie,” Nick says. “But you kept swaying a little until I walked up and caught you.”

“Maybe,” Vash says. “Now, less talking, more fucking.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vash presses kisses to Nick’s mouth again and again while his hands reach for Nick’s belt. He unbuckles it expertly, untucking his shirt and, sliding his hand into his pants and groping him through his boxers. “This is like the night we met, do you remember?” he asks breathlessly.

“You know I don’t,” Nick says. Vash laughs a little breathy laugh.

“We were at that party,” he says, sliding his hand up towards the waistband of Nick’s boxer briefs. “And you looked so fucking bored. And I was bored out of my mind,” he continues. “I hate parties like that. And our eyes met across the room. And you took a huge gulp of whiskey, eyes never leaving mine,” he pulls at Nick’s waistband and teases his fingertips inside. “And you came across the room,” He presses a lingering kiss to the corner of Nick’s mouth, breath dancing across Nick’s face. “And you told me, ‘What’s a pretty thing like you doing looking as bored as you do?’” His voice drops into Nick’s accent, impression almost spot on.

Nick snorts a laugh. “And that worked?” he asks. Vash finally slides his hand into Nick’s boxers, wrapping a hand around his cock. Nick gasps.

“I said, ‘You’re looking too pretty to be bored too,’ and you threw back your head and laughed. And I knew I had to know who you were by your laugh alone. So, we found a quiet corner, kinda got to talking and you mentioned getting baked, and, yeah, maybe I am a stoner, cause I pulled a joint out of my pocket and offered it to you and we smoked a little before you asked me if I’d ever shotgunned before.” Vash’s hand slides up and down torturously slow. Nick bites at his lip as Vash plays with the head of his cock. “And I, of course, played dumb because I wanted you to like me,” Vash says, pressing another kiss to the other corner of Nick’s mouth. “So, I asked you to teach me.”

“You’re a tease,” Nick mumbles. Vash brushes his thumb over his slit, making Nick bite back another moan as Vash continues to jack him.

“Yeah, but it got you to put your lips on mine,” Vash says. “And before long we were making out. And I begged you to let me suck you.” He slides to his knees slowly, sensually, sliding his hands down Nick’s sides and legs. Nick watches in the mirror as Vash settles on his knees in his nice red suit and begins to pull Nick’s boxers down, revealing more and more skin with each passing inch, until his cock springs free.

“So, we went up to my room,” Vash says, pressing kisses along Nick’s cock from the base to the head. “And we didn’t even make it past the bathroom before I shoved you against the wall, like this, and promised you a good time, like this. And you called me beautiful,” Vash presses another kiss to the leaking head of Nick’s cock. “And I knew I was so far gone.”

He opens his mouth and slides Nick’s cock into it, taking as much as he can without it going into his throat. He jerks at what he can’t fit with a hand expertly, sucking and bobbing his head up and down, eyes closed, moaning around Nick’s cock like he was the one being sucked off. And Nick, watching both in the mirror and through his own eyes, feels overwhelmed.

He tips his head up towards the ceiling, hands sliding to Vash’s head. He pulls off the beanie on Vash’s head and cards his fingers through Vash’s hair softly, careful with each and every blonde strand, cradling him as if he weren’t giving him head, as if he were something precious.

Vash moans again, eyes sliding open, meeting Nick’s.

And Nick cums with a jolt.

He comes back to himself after, watching as Vash wipes at his mouth and swallows. He smiles up at Nick and stands, knees popping, before he nuzzles into Nick’s neck and presses kisses to his warm, slightly damp skin.

“Now, you - “ Nick stutters out, desperately wanting a cigarette. “Your turn, blondie.” Vash shakes his head.

“Mmm-mm. We’ve been in here long enough. People are probably looking for us.”

“I’ll get you back,” Nick promises. Vash helps tuck him back into his boxers and right his suit.

“I know you will,” he says with a crinkly nosed smile.

He slides the beanie back on his head before they leave the bathroom. The party is still in full swing by the time they rejoin it. Nick grabs Vash by the right hand and brings it up to his lips and presses a kiss to the ring on Vash’s finger.

“We can get out of here,” he says. “If you want.”

“Only if you want to,” Vash smiles tiredly. Nick presses another kiss to his ring.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says, leaning into Vash’s ear. “I owe you after all.”

Vash shivers and catches him in a kiss before he leads him through the crowd of people to the bride and groom’s table.

When they get home, let the dogs out, and get comfortable, Vash is pooped. Nick can tell how tired he is by looking at him as he curls on his side in bed, watching the TV they brought in on days Vash is too sick to get out of bed. Nick still finds himself curling up behind Vash, wrapping his arm around him, spooning him tight, a hand lingering on his hip. The room reeks of stale weed smoke from Vash lighting up while Nick was taking the dogs out.

Vash seems to catch on to Nick and turns his head towards him and smiles sadly. “You don’t have to Nico, I know it takes too long for me to get off these days.”

Nick buries his face into Vash’s neck, making Vash laugh breathlessly as Nick slides his hand up and down Vash’s hip. Some of the antidepressants Vash is on make it almost impossible for him to cum, so he’s been abstaining from sex for the past few months.

“It’s not a chore,” he says. “I like making you feel good, baby.”

Vash’s breath catches as Nick slides his hand from Vash’s hip to his clothed mound. He cups him through his shorts, running his fingertips between Vash’s clothed folds. Vash tosses his head back, breathing heavy.

“Is that a yes?” Nick asks. Vash nods.

“Please,” he whispers, rolling over onto his back. Nick catches his mouth in a kiss as he slides his fingers up to the waistband of Vash’s shorts and slides his hand inside, cupping his naked mound with a big hand.

“Still got wet,” Nick says with a small smug smile. Vash rolls his eyes and spreads his legs.

“Sucking you off makes me hot,” he says.

“I could’ve done this at the wedding, you know,” Nick says. “But I’m glad we waited. I love having you all to myself.”

He traces his fingernails and fingertips between Vash’s folds, teasing back to front, hesitating before he reaches Vash’s little cock. He presses a kiss to Vash’s mouth, sliding his tongue inside Vash’s mouth at the same time he brushes his fingers against Vash’s cock, making him moan and jump.

“Oh, Nico,” he mumbles as he pulls away, throwing his head back on the pillow, thrusting his hips up into Nick’s hand, head muzzy from the weed. Nick sucks a mark to Vash’s jaw and throat as he speeds his hand up in little circles, rubbing Vash’s cock with his fingers.

Vash wiggles, hand sliding to Nick’s wrist, urging him on. “Inside,” he whispers. Nick nods and presses another kiss to Vash’s mouth as he slides his fingers between his folds and towards his cunt.

Vash keens as Nick slides two fingers inside his soaking wet pussy. He flexes his legs, spreading them wider, giving Nick more room as he thrusts up onto Nick’s fingers. “Oh Nick,” he whimpers. “God, it feels so good.”

“I’m glad, baby,” Nick whispers, nuzzling his nose into Vash’s cheek, looking down his body at his hand hidden and moving in the confines of Vash’s sleep shorts. “Just use me, baby. Take all the time you need.”

Vash moans at this, grabbing Nick’s face with a hand and pulling their mouths together. He hiccups into Nick’s mouth, crying softly as he fucks himself on Nick’s thrusting fingers.

“Am I hurting you?” Nick pauses his ministrations. Vash shakes his head, flush covering his cheeks.

“No, I - you make me feel so loved,” he says, embarrassed. “So, so special and loved, Nico.” Nick presses another kiss to Vash’s mouth, licking past his lips and tangling their tongues together as he begins to thrust his fingers again.

“Good.”

Vash finally cums after a while, but immediately falls into overstimulation. He closes his legs as Nick slides his hand from his shorts and wipes his fingers on the bedsheets. Vash looks boneless and sleepy. He brings a hand to Nick’s cheek and brushes his thumb across stubbly skin.

“What did I do to deserve you?” he asks, sleepily. Nick presses a kiss to Vash’s palm.

“You didn’t have to do anything, baby. You deserve to be loved.”

Vash sniffles and rolls his glassy eyes. He wipes at his face before he finally settles down on his pillow.

“Wanna watch a movie?” he asks, changing the subject. Nick smiles and settles in behind Vash, wrapping his arm around him.

“Of course. What do you wanna watch?”

“Something cute. Like Legally Blonde or Pride & Prejudice.”

“Your wish is my command, babe,” Nick says, grabbing the remote and pulling up their streaming service. He knows Vash will be asleep before the movie even starts, but he still puts on one of Vash’s favorite movies anyways.

Nick has nightmares. So does Vash. They’re only human after all.

Vash doesn’t talk about his nightmares. He simply curls into Nick tighter if he’s managed to wake from one without waking Nick. On the occasion he wakes Nick up, Nick holds him tight and talks him through it, even though he doesn’t share.

Nick has nightmares of Vash dying. Of being left behind. He’s been having them off and on since Vash told him of his diagnosis so many months ago. He usually wakes up in a cold sweat and finds Vash asleep next to him. Then depending on whether or not he thinks he can go back to sleep, Nick curls in towards Vash and tries, or he leaves the comfort of bed to find his office and start writing.

He’s filled up one notebook since he met Vash. Now he’s about halfway through his second one.

Vash’s knee surgery creeps up on them til one night it’s the night before and Vash isn’t allowed to eat anything after midnight. He’s grumpy and hungry and his surgery is at 9AM the next morning and he’s miserable.

Nick pulls him in for a hug and promises him all the foods he’ll make him for dinner the next few days, which Vash shoots down because he’ll literally ba having surgery and that means hes’s gotta eat easily digested foods so he’s not getting up and down to the toilet on his bum knee. Nick declares him a spoilsport and then goes into his own google search spiral about what he can or cannot make for dinners following a knee surgery. It keeps him up well into the night, making him hungry but he decides to fast with Vash so he doesn’t feel so alone, which makes him grumpy too. So they both end up grumpily going to bed on their own sides of the bed that night, both on their phones, facing away from each other.

Nick sets up a cot in the living room for Vash while he recovers from his knee replacement surgery. He carries him up and down the main stairs and the basement stairs when he wants to work on the album, but mostly, Vash sleeps. Nick writes.

They continue on.

On a clear, December morning, Vash and Nick are at the hospital meeting with Vash’s oncologist. He’s been post-op for about five weeks, still using a cane to get around if not completely on crutches or Nick carrying him around. His oncologist looks up from some scans on his laptop in front of him and smiles a genuine, wide smile.

“Mr. Savarem, we have great news. You most recent biopsies have come back negative. You’re officially in remission.”

Silence fills the doctor’s office. Nick’s hand is sweaty against Vash’s. He leans forward in his seat.

“What?” he asks. The doctor turns the screen around.

“This is the scan we did six months ago, and this is the scan we did after the total knee replacement a month and a half ago. It looks like the surgery got all of the cancerous cells out of your knee. You’re officially in remission.”

Vash bursts into happy tears, as does Nick. They both cling to each other in the doctor’s office while the doctor looks on happily. “I do love giving good news,” he murmurs to no one in particular.

Vash walks out of the doctor’s office and rings the bell on the ward signalling that he’s cancer free. The nurse staff applaud happily as he and Nick share a kiss in front of all of them, happy tears streaming down their faces.

Nick’s new album, aptly titled “Unplugged” comes out three months later. Vash is officially off crutches by then and is actively helping Meryl plan the wedding. They’re planning something small for the backyard, where they decided they were going to go through everything together for the first time. Nick is glad they’re doing something small, because he can’t imagine doing anything grandiose when all he wants to do is marry Vash.

It’s almost all he’s wanted to do since the day they re-met.

EPILOGUE

“Katydid, don’t pick that up, it has germs on it.”

The door to the green room opens to find Nick standing in the doorway, smiling down at a brunette little girl playing with a stray piece of popcorn. She holds it out for Nick, who takes it and throws it away. Vash, from the chair across the room, smiles a tired smile, and goes back to burping the infant on his shoulder.

Nick is all sweaty. He picks the toddler up, she shrieks in laughter, as he balances her on his hip. He pulls one of his earpieces out and leans down to smother her face with kisses.

“Daddy!!!” she shrieks, clapping him on his scruffy cheeks as he blows a raspberry against her own cheek. He walks over and presses a kiss to the top of Vash’s head and then their son’s.

“Can I borrow her for a little bit?” he asks. Vash finally gets the baby boy to burp, making the three of them giggle.

“Of course. Headphones on, though,” Vash says.

“Do you wanna come out?” Nick asks. Vash shakes his head.

“He’s still too awake for me to leave him back here with Livio.”

“Are you sure?” Livio asks, poking his head into the green room. “I don’t mind. You can go see everyone.”

Vash looks so tired, but a good tired. He’s not been sleeping well since their son was born. And keeping up with a three year old on top of that has him running ragged. But he’s happy for the life he has and happy about being on tour with his husband.

“C’mon. Come play with me,” Nick says, offering a hand. Vash looks over at Livio, who holds his arms out. Vash hands him their baby boy, who amazingly doesn’t cry at all at the handoff. Vash takes Nick’s hand and hops off the couch, offering to take the little girl in his arms instead.

“It’s time for the acoustic set,” Nick says, walking from the room to find the industrial duty headgear they put on their daughter when they bring her out at shows. Vash presses kisses to her cheeks, making her giggle.

The crowd is loud and relentless, screaming encore, encore while Vash and Nick put the headphones on their daughter and Nick leans in for a lingering kiss to Vash’s mouth.

“See you out there,” Nick says, walking back out, grabbing his acoustic guitar from one of the roadies. Vash hikes their daughter back up on his hip and smiles at his husband from off stage.

“You ready, Katydid?” Vash asks. The little girl yells something that sounds like “yeah!” while Vash waits for Nick to finish introducing them to the crowd before he and the little girl on his hip walk out to the crowd of screaming fans.

“This is my daughter, Katherine. We call her Katydid,” Nick introduces. “And y’all know Vash, right?”

The crowd screams.

“And I wrote this song for them.”