Tactile

Vash has been feeling a certain way.

It’s not bad, he’s just never felt this way before. A growing emotion he thought he wouldn’t experience towards someone, that someone being in the shape of his travel companion.

Wolfwood is pleasant to look, always has been. Vash has seen the way people look at him, at his body, his chest that’s always peeking through, dusted with dark hair. If the audience is lucky, they may get a glimpse of strong arms from Wolfwood rolling up his sleeves. Wolfwood always brushed away suspecting partners that walked up to him at the bar, only interested in the spiky-haired man beside him.

Vash is no stranger to those same heated gazes directed at himself. He’s humoured a few courageous people who walked up to him, knows how to put on a good show of being interested in what they have to say. He also knows how to dodge touches and questions about his availability.

Vash can flirt easily—you learn a few things after being around for so long—but always shuts down advances that go too far, when someone’s too forward. He never felt connected to anyone to do something beyond kissing a few times. That lost its appeal when folks got too handsy with him, foreign touches below the waist burned too much.

Maybe it’s because of what lurks under his clothes that makes him pull away, the scars can be too much for one to witness.

Now that he’s with Wolfwood, he wants something more. Before, he never understood the looks, the urges, the lust. Now, every day he spends with Wolfwood, he gets closer to understanding that feeling, gazing at his form like a lovesick fool. Vash wants to be closer, it scares him.

Vash becomes more tactile, touching Wolfwood’s arms, back, waist, anything to lessen the distance between them. Wolfwood reciprocates just the same, and Vash can’t be any happier.

Vash ends up sending the wrong message when he goes overboard.

They’re in a tangle of limbs on the bed, having found a hotel in a small town after braving the desert for the better part of the day. Vash is pressed up against Wolfwood, purring away as he trails his flesh hand across Wolfwood’s front with little purpose besides wanting to feel life beneath his fingers. He drops a kiss on Wolfwood’s neck. The hand goes a bit lower than intended, wanting to feel the tiny hairs on Wolfwood’s skin.

Wolfwood has a hand on his back, massaging the muscles there. It moves to his waist, the other hand joins Vash’s opposite side. They slide down below his waist, wandering to his inner thighs, tingling the nerves there. Vash freezes, mind racing, unsure if he’s ready for sex—hasn’t entertained the idea long enough. The purring stops and so does Wolfwood.

Vash immediately apologizes, face burning with guilt. “Sorry, I—”

“No,” Wolfwood interrupts, “I was assuming.”

Wolfwood shifts to wrap his arms around Vash again. Vash buries his head in Wolfwood’s neck, letting out a shaky sigh.

After a beat of silence, Vash asks vaguely, “Have you done anything before?”

Wolfwood rubs Vash’s back. “I’ve humoured a lot of folks without taking any clothes off. Nothing special about it though.” He leans his head on top of Vash. “Guessed wrong on what you needed. Sorry.”

Vash shakes his head, guilt lessening. “I just need you to be my pillow for now.” Vash goes for humour.

Wolfwood snorts. “I can do that.”

Both men settle on the bed with limbs around each other. Vash thinks Wolfwood has gone to sleep, judging by his slow breathing, but he's asked a question a second later.

“Tell me if you don’t like something, okay?” Wolfwood murmurs.

Vash nods, shuffling closer to hear Wolfwood’s heartbeat.

Wolfwood doesn’t ask him the same question—and maybe it’s for the best, he doesn't want to ruin the mood further—falling asleep.

How does he tell Wolfwood that the Humanoid Typhoon hasn't been laid once? The rational part of his mind tells him Wolfwood wouldn’t care but still. For someone as long-lived as he is, one would think he has.

Before Vash falls asleep he thinks, when Wolfwood touched him, it didn't burn like all the others. It felt nice.

From then on, Wolfwood checks in on him when he touches him differently, somewhere new, ensuring Vash is okay with it. Wolfwood is too kind to him, and Vash can’t help but say yes, he’s okay. He likes Wolfwood’s hands on him, starved for physical contact.

One evening finds Vash exhausted, weary from the desert, people, bounty hunters, everything. He throws his coat over a chair and sits on the bed with a heavy sigh. Wolfwood himself sets aside the Punisher and throws his blazer over the red coat. Vash closes his eyes, needing a moment before he gets ready for bed.

Vash barely pays attention to the noises Wolfwood makes as he rummages around their hotel room. He only perks up when he hears running water, coming back into full consciousness.

Wolfwood pops his head out of the bathroom, hitting him with a question. “Do you want to come take a bath?”

Vash considers it. He would very much like to lie down, sleep for an entire day, his existence weighing him down, but a bath with Wolfwood does sound tempting. So, he decides that yes, he would like a bath. It might help his mood.

Entering the bathroom, Vash hovers at the doorway just as Wolfwood turns off the faucet.

“You can get a head start, I’ll be right back.” Wolfwood stands, passing by him with a pat on the shoulder. He closes the door on his way out.

Vash stares at the water in the tub, steam beckoning him to sit in it. He starts to take off his undershirt, slipping it over his head. His pants and briefs are next, stepping out of them and leaving them on the floor for later. The prosthetic arm comes off next and is left beside the sink. He shivers without the warmth of his clothes.

The first step into the hot water has him sighing in relief, chills dissipating. He sits down, water washing away his aches, reaching his collarbones. Leaning back against the wall, Vash closes his eyes, soaking in the heat.

He jumps when the door clicks open, revealing a nearly naked Wolfwood carrying spare clean clothes. Wolfwood drops the clothes—sleepwear for him and Vash—on top of the toilet lid and steps out of his boxers. Vash flushes, glancing away.

Wolfwood climbs into the bathtub, sitting at the opposite end with legs stretching to either side of Vash. He lets out his own sigh of relief, relishing in the hot water.

Vash stares at Wolfwood slumping, head back with eyes closed and arms resting on the edges of the tub. Sensing his stare, Woflwood peeks at him.

“Relax,” Wolfwood chides.

Vash scrunches his nose, wrapping an arm around his knees. “I am relaxed.”

Wolfwood continues to squint at him unconvinced. An idea pops into his head and he sits up. “Come here.”

Vash furrows his brows at the request but crawls over anyway, sitting in front of Wolfwood expectantly, unsure exactly what he's supposed to do.

Wolfwood gestures with a wave of his hand. “Turn around.”

Vash pouts at that but does what he’s told, knees knocking against Wolfwood’s legs as he moves in the small space. Back facing Wolfwood, Vash fidgets when nothing happens.

All Vash gets is a tsk in warning when a hand comes around his forehead, pulling him backwards as Wolfwood tugs him to lean all the way back. Vash gasps when his head lands between Wolfwood’s shoulder and neck, backing sticking to the muscles of his chest. He squirms at the raw skin-to-skin contact, nerves igniting where he’s pressed to Wolfwood. Arms come around his middle, causing more nerves to prickle where they rest on his midsection. The naked contact is a lot but not unpleasant—it’s Wolfwood around him after all.

“Good?” Wolfwood whispers next to his ear. He shuffles to get comfortable, sliding down, submerging both of their bodies further under the water.

Vash nods, not trusting his voice to come out anything less than a squeak, taking deep breaths to loosen some tension. He’s not used to being this exposed and touched at the same time, the vulnerability of it. The tingling of his nerves fades after a few minutes as he unwinds under Wolfwood’s hold, the warmth of it soothing him. Tentatively, Vash leans his full weight back against Wolfwood. He hears a hum next to him.

The peacefulness of it all makes Vash sleepy, closing his eyes. He tilts his head, nose grazes Wolfwood’s jaw, tipping forward to rest his forehead there. Wolfwood responds with a cheek rub and a kiss on top of him.

Vash almost dozes off right there and then, safe and content. A humming sound starts somewhere deep within him. He begins to purr.

Wolfwood huffs, grazing his fingers across Vash’s abdomen that tickle him. They sit there like that for a couple of moments until Wolfwood decides it’s time to start bathing. He removes his arms around Vash, causing him to whine, and shifts to grab a shampoo bottle, squeezing soap into his palm. Leaving the bottle off to the side, Wolfwood reaches for Vash’s hair, lathering his locks with shampoo. Vash shivers as fingers card through his hair, massaging his scalp.

Treated with such care while being naked and exposed, Vash could cry.

Done with lathering, Wolfwood taps Vash on the shoulder. “Lean forward for me?” he murmurs.

Vash sits up slowly, slouching from drowsiness. Wolfwood tilts his head back with a hand on his jaw and uses the other to wash the soap out of his hair. Hair cleaned of sweat and sand, Wolfwood pulls Vash back to rest against him but Vash resists, turning around to face him. Wolfwood raises a brow at him in question.

Vash grabs the shampoo bottle. “Your turn.”

Wolfwood lets out a small smile, hanging his head for him. Vash lathers Wolfwood’s hair albeit with more effort with one hand available, reaching to catch the hairs on his nape. Kneading the shampoo into him, Wolfwood shivers under his touch just like he did a moment earlier. Vash washes out the soap with a little help from him.

Finished with bathing, both go back to their previous positions, Vash purring while Wolfwood grazes fingers across his skin. They stay in the tub until the water cools down to room temperature, reluctantly getting out and changing into their sleepwear. Later in bed on their sides, they sleep the same way.

If Vash wasn’t starved for more he is now. Always cozying up next to Wolfwood whenever they get a moment of peace.

Like right now.

At the bar, they huddle in the corner for privacy after all in a day’s work of saving some folks from petty hunters.

Vash has no interest in observing the townsfolks, too absorbed with the man beside him. He’s leaning against Wolfwood's side who’s been savouring one glass of whiskey the past half hour. Vash can’t resist pressing his face into Wolfwood’s neck, kissing his skin. Wolfwood twitches under him, scrunching his nose in faux disdain—his smile tells him he’s enjoying the attention—when Vash kisses his cheek.

“What’s gotten into you?” Wolfwood chuckles when a kiss behind his ear tickles him.

Vash rests his forehead on Wolfwood’s temple. “Nothing,” he hums. He just wants Wolfwood.

Wolfwood tsks at the white lie, wrapping an arm around Vash’s shoulders, bringing him closer. Vash goes along happily, wrapping his arms around Wolfwood.

Vash hasn’t had anything to drink but he feels the high of alcohol.

Another half hour of this passes before they saunter off to their room with Vash still latching onto Wolfwood. In the room, Vash detaches from him, removing his coat and laying it over a chair. Wolfwood sits on the bed, sighing, taking out a lighter and a cigarette. Vash walks over to Wolfwood, standing over him before the cigarette is lit.

Wolfwood looks up at him in question, putting away the items in his hands back into his jacket. He rests his hands on Vash's sides. “What’s up?”

Vash doesn’t answer immediately, fixated on staring at Wolfwood’s eyes, his nose, lips. His gaze moves downwards, sliding down to Wolfwood’s neck and chest, seeing tufts of dark hair there, making Vash want to touch—all of him.

Wolfwood raises a brow in concern at the silence. Vash answers him by holding the hands at his sides, dragging them down below his waist to rest on his thighs. He squeezes the hands under him. Wolfwood raises both brows, eyes widening in understanding.

Anxious, Vash’s heart races.

“Are you sure?” Wolfwood questions.

Vash nods. “I want to if you want to, if you still…” Vash trails off as Wolfwood slides his hands up to cup his face.

“I’m okay with it as long as you're okay,” Wolfwood affirms, brushing a thumb along Vash’s cheekbone.

Vash smiles wobbly, leaning down to rest his forehead on Wolfwood. He cups his own hands under Wolfwood’s jaw. “Yeah, I want to, it’s just—” How should he say it? “I haven’t…”

Wolfwood hums. “Never?”

“It’s easy to flirt and sweet talk. Touching, not so much,” Vash laughs humourlessly. “Never been attached to someone to want anything more than just kissing.”

Wolfwood slides a hand on Vash’s nape and the other around his waist, drawing him closer. Vash climbs on Wolfwood’s lap, burying his face in Wolfwood’s neck.

Wolfwood kisses his head. “That’s okay.”

He lifts Vash, turning around. Vash clings to him with arms and legs around his body. His head lands on the pillow as he’s laid down.

Wolfwood gazes down at him, face serious. “Stop me if you don’t like something.”

“I will,” Vash murmurs. He will like it if it’s Wolfwood. Only Wolfwood.

Wolfwood smiles before he leans down, capturing Vash’s lips in his own. It’s innocent in the way they brush their lips together, taking their time before things start heating up. Vash wraps his arms around Wolfwood’s neck, dragging him closer. He ends up opening his mouth to deepen the kiss, letting Wolfwood’s tongue slip inside. Wolfwood places a hand under his jaw to hold him still as he licks into his mouth. Vash huffs through his nose, whining at the lack of air, mouth preoccupied with tasting Wolfwood.

Wolfwood slides his hands down Vash’s front down to the hem of his shirt. He taps his side in question.

“Yes,” Vash rasps against his lips.

Their lips disconnect as the shirt is taken off. Settling back, Vash watches Wolfwood's eyes scan his chest, fidgeting under the attention. It’s not exactly pretty to look at, scars and all. Wolfwood catches his gaze, also his thought, and leans down to rest his forehead against his.

“Pretty,” Wolfwood whispers, hands grasping Vash’s waist. “So pretty for me.”

Vash’s breath stutters, flushing at the compliment.

Pulling away slightly, Wolfwood glances down at the prosthetic arm. “Do you want it off?”

Vash shakes his head. “Wanna hold you.”

Wolfwood’s eyes sparkle at that. He leans back down. This time, he leaves kisses down Vash’s neck. Sighing, Vash bares his neck, giving Wolfwood room to work a bruise on his skin. He wraps his arms around Wolfwood, one hand scratching his scalp.

Wolfwood moves further down, mouthing along Vash’s collarbones and down to his chest. He drops a kiss on the grate over his heart, then moves to the other side. Vash lets out a gasp when teeth graze his right nipple. Wolfwood puffs hot air over the bud before taking it into his mouth. Vash grips the fabric of Wolfwood’s shirt, panting as Wolfwood flicks his tongue over the sensitive area.

“Off,” Vash whines, tugging at the offending piece of clothing.

Wolfwood detaches from him to peel off his shirt, displaying familiar muscles and hair on his chest. Vash doesn’t get a chance to stare long enough before Wolfwood is back on him, pressing his lips down his stomach. Instead, Vash runs his hands across Wolfwood’s back, feeling the muscles move under his fingers. His breath hitches when Wolfwood bites a tender piece of skin on his stomach.

Satisfied with the mark on Vash’s stomach, Wolfwood touches the seam of Vash’s briefs.

“I’m—” It’s silly that Vash wants to remind Wolfwood that he doesn’t have a dick as if they haven’t seen each other naked before.

“I know,” Wolfwood whispers against his skin.

Cool air touches Vash’s cunt as his briefs are taken off, making him shiver. He’s wet from being worked up by Wolfwood’s hands and lips all over him. Hovering above, Wolfwood smoothes his hands up and down Vash’s flanks and thighs, giving him a moment to catch his breath.

Vash wiggles his legs wider. “You can continue.”

Wolfwood smiles, looming over him as his hand trails below Vash’s stomach, down between his thighs. Vash jumps when Wolfwood’s thumb rubs his clit, prosthetic hand grabbing Wolfwood’s forearm as heat pools in his abdomen. Wolfwood stops, glancing at him.

“Sorry, startled me is all,” Vash croaks, already feeling winded.

The thumb massages his clit, igniting the nerves there that have Vash panting, flexing the hand holding Wolfwood that will leave marks later. He opens his legs wider, wanting more. Fingers wander lower, rubbing against his slit. Vash bites his lips at how good it feels, how Wolfwood’s rough fingers brush his entrance.

Wolfwood kisses his swollen lips. “Good?”

Vash bobs his head. “Yeah, just—” He cants his hips towards the fingers.

Wolfwood huffs in amusement. “Sure thing.”

A finger dips inside his cunt, making Vash groan. The finger strokes his walls that have him bucking, encouraging the finger to find his sweet spot. Slick drips out of him, making the slide easy as Wolfwood thrusts the digit inside him.

“Another,” Vash pants.

Wolfwood does what he’s told, probing his entrance with another finger. Vash heaves when the second finger sinks into him, joining the other, clenching down on the stretch of both digits. He wraps his flesh arm around Wolfwood, clawing at his back. Fingers inside him curl, hitting the spot that has him writhing. Tiny feathers break through his skin, littering across his body.

Wolfwood bends down, pecking Vash’s cheek over the feathers. “Angel.”

Vash whines at the nickname, thinking Wolfwood is the angel between the two of them, making him melt between his fingers, always too good for him, perfect—

Vash gapes when Wolfwood shuffles down his body to suck on his clit. Hands grip tuffs of Wolfwood’s hair, holding him there. Vash hooks his legs around Wolfwood’s shoulders for leverage, chasing the pleasure with shallow thrusts as his cunt spasms around the fingers, suddenly close to the edge. Wolfwood grinds his fingers one last time, and Vash comes with a low moan, rutting against Wolfwood’s mouth and fingers. Slick gushes onto Wolfwood’s hand and the bed.

Coming down from the high, Vash lies boneless on the bed, a content rumbling sound emits from his body. Wolfwood carefully removes his fingers and unwraps the legs around him. Vash whimpers at the loss, arms outstretched towards him. Wolfwood gladly accepts the hug, settling on top of Vash who wraps his limbs around him, planting messy kisses on his jaw.

It doesn’t take long for Vash to notice Wolfwood’s cock poking his thigh. He grinds against it, causing Wolfwood to grunt. “Take them off,” Vash pleads.

Wolfwood leans back. “Are you sure?”

Vash almost gets frustrated with Wolfwood ensuring he’s okay with it. He decides to grab his face, drawing him closer. “Yes—” He pulls Wolfwood into a bruising kiss. “Want you.”

He wants Wolfwood to feel good too.

Wolfwood blinks at him for a second, stunned. Then, he beams, kissing the corner of Vash’s mouth. “You have me.” He removes his pants and boxers in one go, cock springing up out of its confines, and settles between Vash's legs.

Gazing down between them, Vash eyes Wolfwood’s hard cock. Before Wolfwood decides on what to do, Vash takes him into his hand, feeling the weight of his length as smears precome down the shaft. He looks up to watch Wolfwood’s reaction when he pumps his cock. Wolfwood shudders above him, dropping his head next to Vash, panting in his ear. Placing a kiss on his head, Vash scratches Wolfwood’s nape with his prosthetic while his other hand moves further down, cupping Wolfwood’s ball. Vash gets a moan in response, hips jerking as he slides up to palm the tip which encourages more sounds from Wolfwood.

Vash lets go to roll his hips up, brushing his cunt against Wolfwood’s length, coating it with slick. A choked sound comes from Wolfwood.

“Do you—” Vash keens when the head of Wolfwood’s cock catches on his entrance. He wants to know how Wolfwood feels inside. “Do you want to?”

Wolfwood leans back to gaze into Vash’s eyes. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”

Holding Vash’s thighs, Wolfwood lines up, hips shifting forward to push the tip of his cock between Vash’s folds. The intrusion makes Vash clench down, causing Wolfwood to curse. Vash grips the bedsheets, squirming at the stretch. God, Wolfwood feels big.

Wolfwood is not faring much better, struggling to not move. He smooths a hand on Vash’s stomach. “Relax.”

Vash recalls the exchange they had in the bathroom, though this time it has a different meaning. “I’m perfectly relaxed,” he groans.

With a heavy exhale, Vash loosens up a bit after adjusting to the stretch, cueing Wolfwood to move. He breathes hard when Wolfwood bottoms out, cunt fluttering around his cock.

“Fuck.” Vash throws an arm over his eyes. If Wolfwood moves too soon he might come again.

Wolfwood slides his hands up and down Vash’s flanks, being good and staying still for him. Gently, he moves the arm away to leave kisses all over Vash's face while he lies there, cooling down and focusing on breathing—it’s hard when there's a dick inside him.

Successfully willing away his orgasm for now, Vash wraps his arms around Wolfwood, dragging him down. He scrapes his nails at the back of Wolfwood’s head, kissing him on the nose. “I think I’m good.”

Wolfwood noses his cheek. “Yeah?” With hands on Vash’s hips, he pulls out with just the tip of his length inside, then thrusts all the way in.

Vash exhales loudly when Wolfwood’s cock punches the air out of him, gripping the hair under his hand. He shudders when Wolfwood grinds into him, familiar heat building up in his groin—he’s not going to last long. Wolfwood's head drops to his neck, pressing his lips to the skin there as he sets the pace, rolling his hips against Vash.

Vash digs his nails when a thrust makes him writhe. He rocks his hips to meet Wolfwood, all but twitching while doing so. While his legs feel jelly, he makes use of his hands, caressing Wolfwood’s head and back, making it known how good he feels. A harsh snap of Wolfwood’s hips has him whimpering, cunt squeezing around Wolfwood's length that has him groaning into his skin. The hot pleasure has Vash gasping for air, and suddenly, he wants Wolfwood’s attention.

“Wolfwood,” Vash pants, nails scraping across skin.

Wolfwood raises his head, gazing with dilated pupils.

“So good to me.” Vash starts to ramble, hands roaming every part of Wolfwood he's able to reach—his arms, back, chest. “Feels good. Please don’t stop.”

Wolfwood looks at him with heat in his eyes, obscured by his sweaty fringe. Spreading Vash’s legs wider, Wolfwood thrusts harder, cock hitting deep inside his cunt, making him cry out. Wolfwood doesn’t slow down, aiming for that spot that has Vash arching.

More feathers appear on his skin as his orgasm approaches. Wolfwood mouths the feathers on his neck, sneaking a hand down between Vash’s thighs to play with his clit. With a keen, Vash comes, spilling slick between their bodies, holding onto Wolfwood while riding out the waves. Wolfwood thrusts a few more times before spilling inside him with a moan. Vash lets out his own moan at the added warmth filling him up.

Spent, Wolfwood lies on top of him. Vash holds him close while both of them catch their breaths. Blissed out, Vash begins to purr again, running his hands up and down Wolfwood’s back. He hears Wolfwood hum in response, arms around Vash.

“Thank you,” Vash rumbles, feeling sappy.

Wolfwood huffs, pulling back to look at him and pinches his cheek. “Silly. Nothing to thank me for.”

Vash thinks there’s a lot to thank him for. Instead, he holds Wolfwood’s face in his hands, pecking over his eyelids, nose, cheeks, turning his head this way and that. Wolfwood chuckles at his attics, letting him do as he pleases and Vash will, showering him with the affection he deserves. Satisfied with leaving kisses all over, Vash releases him.

Wolfwood carefully pulls out. Vash grimaces when come and slick drip onto the sheets. Wolfwood heads to the bathroom for a moment, coming back with a towel. He wipes Vash clean of fluids, tossing the towel to the ground to be dealt with sometime later. The soiled bedsheet is ripped off, replaced with a new one Wolfwood found in a closet. Draping the sheet over their bodies, Wolfwood climbs back on the bed where Vash lies waiting for him with outstretched arms. Vash clings to him, nuzzling into his neck.

Sleepiness overcomes Vash then, comfortable with Wolfwood wrapped around him.

Wolfwood noses the top of his head, tapping his prosthetic. “Gonna take this off.”

Vash lets out a warble sound, giving Wolfwood the go-ahead. The arm comes off with a click and is placed on the nightstand. Wolfwood settles back down next to him, resting an arm around his waist, making Vash purr in content.

They doze off, tangled in each other’s limbs.

Always within arms reach