All of the confusion he felt over the strange little game evaporated into more concern when Vash doubled over again, and he reached out, leaning over him again and rubbing his back as he held the hand on his elbow with his other.
"Hey, hey, Blondie, it's alright, breathe, remember?" He couldn't help but glance up at Needle-Noggin, almost looking helpless. He didn't know what to do, he wasn't used to dealing with emotions like this, not in a way that wasn't snarling and grousing and deflecting away from how uncomfortable it made him with a facade of carelessness and irritation. And even when Blondie found his voice again, the worry didn't leave his face.
But then Vash wasn't surprised, and while Nick was for that fact alone, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of his own relief and the look on his face softened, because that was one more worry off their plate, one less person to look for and fret about, and he almost started to look happy through the worry. Finally, something good was happening to them, and if anyone deserved good things to start coming their way, it was these two!
They needed even more to find the kids, now! Nai and little Vash could finally have their family again, these two could have their family again! If there was anyone who understood how important that was, it was Nicholas, and he couldn't help the watery little smile that started to want to make itself known on the corners of his mouth. For once, things were looking up, and it had been so long since that had happened, it was frankly a bit of that weight he'd been carrying off of his shoulders.
And then Needle-Noggin asked what she'd broadcast, and he felt his blood run cold again, the hint of that smile dropping away even more quickly than it had appeared.
Did he not know the date? Or was their birthday on different days? Fuck, he kind of hoped it was the latter, at least then he wouldn't have to see both of them in pain.
He didn't know if Blondie would want him to explain for him, so he held his tongue even as he gave a worried glance up at the other, but if he needed to, he would. And all the while, he continued to rub circles against his back, hoping to ground him even as he vacillated between despair and calm.
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"Hey, hey, Blondie, it's alright, breathe, remember?" He couldn't help but glance up at Needle-Noggin, almost looking helpless. He didn't know what to do, he wasn't used to dealing with emotions like this, not in a way that wasn't snarling and grousing and deflecting away from how uncomfortable it made him with a facade of carelessness and irritation. And even when Blondie found his voice again, the worry didn't leave his face.
But then Vash wasn't surprised, and while Nick was for that fact alone, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of his own relief and the look on his face softened, because that was one more worry off their plate, one less person to look for and fret about, and he almost started to look happy through the worry. Finally, something good was happening to them, and if anyone deserved good things to start coming their way, it was these two!
They needed even more to find the kids, now! Nai and little Vash could finally have their family again, these two could have their family again! If there was anyone who understood how important that was, it was Nicholas, and he couldn't help the watery little smile that started to want to make itself known on the corners of his mouth. For once, things were looking up, and it had been so long since that had happened, it was frankly a bit of that weight he'd been carrying off of his shoulders.
And then Needle-Noggin asked what she'd broadcast, and he felt his blood run cold again, the hint of that smile dropping away even more quickly than it had appeared.
Did he not know the date? Or was their birthday on different days? Fuck, he kind of hoped it was the latter, at least then he wouldn't have to see both of them in pain.
He didn't know if Blondie would want him to explain for him, so he held his tongue even as he gave a worried glance up at the other, but if he needed to, he would. And all the while, he continued to rub circles against his back, hoping to ground him even as he vacillated between despair and calm.