He was startled to a stand-still when Vash stopped in front of him, pulling himself up just short of running into him. And oh, the look on his face hurt. That look had always hurt to look at, even before he'd been as lost as he was over Vash the fucking Stampede, and there he was, proving just how much like the other he was despite all the external differences and softer demeanor. He couldn't look at him, had to look away, but he was obviously listening, even as his eyes turned down to the sand just behind him.
The fact that he was right made him both angrier with himself and...well, still angry, but for multiple reasons. He wasn't doing Nico any good, letting himself spiral like this, he wasn't doing Vash any good when things may have just gone from bad to infinitely worse in the span of an hour. He shook his head, risking a glance back at him just in time to see the way that glass-brittle smile shifted, only slightly less painful than before, just in a different way.
"No, look, you're right." Even if it was hard to admit. Especially knowing how much Vash took these things personally. He was starting to go soft, himself.
Which was probably why, looking at that painful smile, knowing that Vash was hurting - because he was always hurting, and this was just adding to it - remembering what Luida had said to him when they'd come out of recovery back at Home, remembering how timidly he'd asked if he could hold Wolfwood when he'd gone and upset him the last time he'd forgotten to keep his feelings in check around this man, he couldn't help but reach up after a moment, his fingers barely touching the sleeve of his coat, and forced himself to really look at him. Despite the fact that it always hurt so much to look into those sad, hollow smiles of his.
"...Hey. Blondie, is...is it alright if...if I hold you for a minute...?" Was this alright? Was this overstepping a boundary? He...Vash looked like he needed it. He'd asked for it before, so it was fine, right?
Exactly! They'll probably be able to find him based on his shouting and ranting. lol
The fact that he was right made him both angrier with himself and...well, still angry, but for multiple reasons. He wasn't doing Nico any good, letting himself spiral like this, he wasn't doing Vash any good when things may have just gone from bad to infinitely worse in the span of an hour. He shook his head, risking a glance back at him just in time to see the way that glass-brittle smile shifted, only slightly less painful than before, just in a different way.
"No, look, you're right." Even if it was hard to admit. Especially knowing how much Vash took these things personally. He was starting to go soft, himself.
Which was probably why, looking at that painful smile, knowing that Vash was hurting - because he was always hurting, and this was just adding to it - remembering what Luida had said to him when they'd come out of recovery back at Home, remembering how timidly he'd asked if he could hold Wolfwood when he'd gone and upset him the last time he'd forgotten to keep his feelings in check around this man, he couldn't help but reach up after a moment, his fingers barely touching the sleeve of his coat, and forced himself to really look at him. Despite the fact that it always hurt so much to look into those sad, hollow smiles of his.
"...Hey. Blondie, is...is it alright if...if I hold you for a minute...?" Was this alright? Was this overstepping a boundary? He...Vash looked like he needed it. He'd asked for it before, so it was fine, right?