You panicked, Wolfwood, says the other Vash, and the relief that washes through him is a real and solid thing. Wolfwood wasn't dying? He was just stressed and scared? That's horrible, that's so horrible... but not as horrible as dying. They can work with stressed and scared! Who isn't stressed and scared, these days?
Nai sure is. The other Vash seems certain that Nai would be forgiving if given the chance, and while Vash agrees that it'd be good for Nai to learn about human fallability and forgiveness... he's not sure that making a child have to confront the man that threatened him is the right way to do it. Would it be fair to Nai, to ask that of him?
Would Nai lie, and accept Wolfwood's presence to make Vash happy, even if he was still frightened of the man? He'd already refused to talk about whatever had happened between him and Wolfwood once Vash had admitted to his feelings for the man. How can he ask Nai to put his own fears and feelings aside, for Vash's sake?
But then Wolfwood drops the bomb that his premature aging is still ongoing, that he has only, maybe, twenty more years left, and even the confession that he's got feelings for the other Vash too isn't enough to stop the tears that at this point Vash is certain he's just going to cry forever. Not even the thought of Tessla – and here Vash reached out mentally to the other Vash, a ray of light in all this grief, tessla, joy and good news, do you know? – was enough to stop him from worrying. Only twenty years. Human lives are already unfairly short, but twenty years? That's nothing! That's no time at all!
He shakes his head when Wolfwood brings up Bill Conrad – no, please, a few days of examination of his gate's powers was nothing compared to what had been done to Tessla! To Wolfwood! It wasn't the same at all! ...But maybe it felt that way to Wolfwood? And if it had really been Conrad who'd been responsible for what was done to Wolfwood, then forcing the memory on him of those days before July was destroyed, making him see Conrad again... it was simply unacceptable.
Wolfwood might be trustworthy around Nai, but could Vash be trusted with Wolfwood's safety? He'd been overwhelmed, that's what the other Vash had said. He hadn't been able to control himself, and he'd overwhelmed Wolfwood to the point where Nai had been in danger.
Really, the one who should stay away from everybody was Vash.
“You should go find Nico.” It's the best course of action for them all, he thinks, forcing down the knot in his throat and willing his voice even. He takes Wolfwood's hand in one of his, and reaches for the other Vash's with the other. They'd been traveling together for years at this point, haven't they? Much longer than the handful of months that he and Wolfwood had. It's only right that they stay together, and find the one who's missing. “Together.”
Wolfwood shouldn't be around Nai, and Vash shouldn't be around Wolfwood. This was the best solution, wasn't it? This way nobody would be alone. He turns to the other Vash, determined – yes, he would love it if Wolfwood could come back with him, if he could introduce Wolfwood to Rem, if they could make a life for themselves here... but his happy ending doesn't get to come at the cost of the other Vash's. Nico needs to be found first – he needs to be the priority. “Find Nico first, then....”
His smile, when he turns back to Wolfwood, is radiant. "Then I want you to come meet Rem."
no subject
Nai sure is. The other Vash seems certain that Nai would be forgiving if given the chance, and while Vash agrees that it'd be good for Nai to learn about human fallability and forgiveness... he's not sure that making a child have to confront the man that threatened him is the right way to do it. Would it be fair to Nai, to ask that of him?
Would Nai lie, and accept Wolfwood's presence to make Vash happy, even if he was still frightened of the man? He'd already refused to talk about whatever had happened between him and Wolfwood once Vash had admitted to his feelings for the man. How can he ask Nai to put his own fears and feelings aside, for Vash's sake?
But then Wolfwood drops the bomb that his premature aging is still ongoing, that he has only, maybe, twenty more years left, and even the confession that he's got feelings for the other Vash too isn't enough to stop the tears that at this point Vash is certain he's just going to cry forever. Not even the thought of Tessla – and here Vash reached out mentally to the other Vash, a ray of light in all this grief, tessla, joy and good news, do you know? – was enough to stop him from worrying. Only twenty years. Human lives are already unfairly short, but twenty years? That's nothing! That's no time at all!
He shakes his head when Wolfwood brings up Bill Conrad – no, please, a few days of examination of his gate's powers was nothing compared to what had been done to Tessla! To Wolfwood! It wasn't the same at all! ...But maybe it felt that way to Wolfwood? And if it had really been Conrad who'd been responsible for what was done to Wolfwood, then forcing the memory on him of those days before July was destroyed, making him see Conrad again... it was simply unacceptable.
Wolfwood might be trustworthy around Nai, but could Vash be trusted with Wolfwood's safety? He'd been overwhelmed, that's what the other Vash had said. He hadn't been able to control himself, and he'd overwhelmed Wolfwood to the point where Nai had been in danger.
Really, the one who should stay away from everybody was Vash.
“You should go find Nico.” It's the best course of action for them all, he thinks, forcing down the knot in his throat and willing his voice even. He takes Wolfwood's hand in one of his, and reaches for the other Vash's with the other. They'd been traveling together for years at this point, haven't they? Much longer than the handful of months that he and Wolfwood had. It's only right that they stay together, and find the one who's missing. “Together.”
Wolfwood shouldn't be around Nai, and Vash shouldn't be around Wolfwood. This was the best solution, wasn't it? This way nobody would be alone. He turns to the other Vash, determined – yes, he would love it if Wolfwood could come back with him, if he could introduce Wolfwood to Rem, if they could make a life for themselves here... but his happy ending doesn't get to come at the cost of the other Vash's. Nico needs to be found first – he needs to be the priority. “Find Nico first, then....”
His smile, when he turns back to Wolfwood, is radiant. "Then I want you to come meet Rem."