Chapter Text
Nicholas D. Wolfwood is a simple man.
Well, at least compared to some.
He was born as a bastard son to a woman he never met, since she died during birth. He was sent to live in the orphanage, the woman’s family refusing to take care of him. When he was 14, he was taken from there because apparently his father was some hot-shit business owner and died from some illness. Not only he was easily linked to the man, he was his only son.
Now, at 36 years old, he lives in a comfortable house, a bit far from the town but comfortable enough, the price for it was good since no one wants to live so far from the center. The place used to be considered a manor, but the city expanding got smaller houses built all around it. Place’s still huge, so not a big deal for him at all.
His business is not having the best of its moments, but he’s managing. If things keep going this way, he might need to reconsider his luxuries.
He’s staying up late tonight. It’s not a big deal, the night is feeling nice and there’s a storm going on that promises to flood the lower streets deep into the city. It’s a nice background noise, he thinks.
It's a nice time to be up, reading or smoking or just drinking some shots of whiskey. Candles illuminate the reading room, that at this point smells strongly of smoke. He’s been scanning over the same lines for minutes now, not able to keep focus on them. Time to sleep, he decides.
The clock Indicates it’s 11:38 pm.
And a knock is heard in the main door.
He’d sent his servant home today, knowing the storm was going to hit during the night and giving her a bit of extra time with her family, since he asked her to not come the next day too. Because of that, he’s the one to greet whoever knocks on the door.
As he goes downstairs and gets close to the door again, another wave of knocks hit it, confirming it wasn’t just the rain (despite him knowing since the first, no tree scratching or wind could have knocked so firmly on his door). He opens it and sees, with lighting making the man at his door but a scrawny silhouette.
He rushed the man in, seeing how strong the rain was hitting. This wasn’t the best choice by any means, at least not for him. Letting a stranger in your house without even seeing his face? Specially in such a big house, that people knew him for his money?
But, as far as his train of thought can go in a few seconds, the man entered and thanked him while doing so.
Now that he could see him better, he might have been wrong about thinking of him as “scrawny”. This man has a strong build, but by the way his clothes cling to his body with the rainwater he wears rather loose clothing. He has long blond hair, now stuck to his face, back and torso. Oh, and he is also using some weird round glasses. He removes his coat – a big, luxurious looking red coat, but old and battered. Suddenly this man isn’t as small as he looked at first, as he seems to be as wide as Wolfwood himself without the coat.
“Thank you, really. Mister-…?” The stranger asked, accessing the damage on his clothes then looking at Nicholas, waiting for his name.
“Wolfwood.” He replied. “Nicholas D. Wolfwood.”
“Thank you, mister Wolfwood. I wish I’d known the storm was coming, but I guess I should have checked before leaving my city, heh.” He smiled sheepishly. “My name is Vash, I’m a traveling doctor. Nice to meet you!” He extended his right hand to Wolfwood, keeping his other hand – that seemed a bit weird from what Wolfwood could see – on his hip, his smile never leaving his face.
Wolfwood accepted his hand, shaking it. “A traveling doctor, huh? What brings you here? Any specific patient?” He raises his brow, curious.
“Not really, no… I go city to city and help the locals, but I usually don’t stay for too long…”
“No place to stay?”
“You could say so.”
Nick makes a ‘hm’ and turns his focus back to the house. “I have a guest room if you want to stay until the rain stops?”
“That’s sounds great! Is there any way I can compensate for the favor, might I ask?” Vash raised a brow waiting for his reply, a dumb smile on his face.
Wolfwood considered for a while, more than one thing went through his head but he settles on the risky one.
“You said you have no place to stay, right?” Vash nodded. “Say, what do you think of having one of the rooms cleaned and emptied to be your office for a while? I’ve been looking for a business partner for a while now.”
He was lying, he never considered such a thing. The blonde didn’t need to know that, though, as it made the offer more tempting (or so Nicholas hoped).
Vash seemed taken aback by the proposition. Wolfwood knew that was no light offer and the reaction was justified so he didn’t worry too much about it.
To his surprise, less than a minute passed before Vash spoke again.
“If it’s not asking for too much, I’d be glad to accept your offer, Mr. Wolfwood.” He offered his hand to shake again, as if sealing a deal. Wolfwood shook it with a firm hand.
“I’ll show you your room, come on.” Wolfwood smiled at the blonde, gesturing for him to follow.
Oh, how little Wolfwood knew about the confusion he was about to get himself in.
It’s been 2 years since that storm that brought a stranger to his doorstep.
Vash, as it turns out, was an amazing doctor and scientist.
His first month at Wolfwood’s house was amazing to watch: Many times, it was a patient Wolfwood knew and knew they had seen many doctors, but none that could help with their illnesses or conditions. Vash didn’t seem to consider the past diagnostics and refusal or failure to save them as a problem, he’d go all in for it and end up victorious with a, once again, healthy person.
Even when he couldn’t, he’d try everything he could. Terminal patients were the worst, for Wolfwood at least. He’d have to watch the blonde spiral into guilt for not being able to perform a miracle once again.
It's not a business issue, too.
He’d first asked the blonde to stay because of his weakened income and business, saw him as a work partner and decided to keep it that way at the start.
Still, he was only human.
He ended up befriending the doctor living under his roof, he could even say he’s his best friend now, if asked. Vash had a warm smile that not even a mindless ghoul could look at and not feel a comforting hapiness on his heart, he was kind and easy to talk to.
Well, maybe Nicholas felt something more for his house mate. He couldn’t do anything about it, though, even if he wanted. He wasn’t going to risk his friendship and the reputation the doctor built over the two years, gossip travels fast and if the townsfolk ever found out the doctor and the salesman lived together considering Nicholas’ interest in the same gender, he’d be the new joke in town.
In the two years they lived together, Nicholas discovered little by little about the blonde’s life. He had a genius mom, who taught him the science he now uses to save lives and get money to live. She died when he was old enough to travel by himself and smart enough to work with whatever she taught him. He’d also found out that the weird wood and metal piece Vash uses on his arm is because he lost it long ago in an accident with a … wood cutting Machine. Ironic. It could move, too, even if nowhere near a real arm’s range.
He did mention a brother, but every mention would be followed by a quick subject change. A sore spot, Nicholas noticed.
He’d also told his friend of his own life.
Vash almost never commented anything besides neutral about it, which surprised him a bit. Others would usually either look at him with disgust or anger, pity too. All of these from being a bastard son that stole his dead father’s money and work and couldn’t keep up. Vash looked at him as if seeing a friend telling him an old story he’d hear in a bar, something far behind them and nothing besides a fact that can’t affect them anymore. Oh, he did call his father a dick once, which he apologized while Nicholas laughed his lungs out, seeing the doctor swear and then get flustered by his own words.
They had an easy friendship, and in very rare cases, a bit of a rocky one.
They were in this spot of their friendship now.
Vash hasn’t talked much to him; he’d isolated himself in his lab often. He seemed lost in work, his door locked while at it, leaving no chance for Nick to try and approach him.
He'd actively avoid seeing him, which made his heart clench in a very bad way (that could be a heart attack that would probably suck balls, considering the only doctor in town refused to talk to him) and never slept right. Apparently, his routine was sleeping while Nick was out for work and go back to his own during the rest of the hours.
And once again, Nick decided to stay up later than usual because of anxiety.
The clock near him signaled 2:54 AM, ticking as the seconds and minutes morphed into hours. He should be asleep, but the screaming in his nightmares made him think twice before sleeping in the way he always did. So, he decided to exhaust himself and wait until he passed out from being too tired to fight his fears.
2:55AM.
2:56AM.
He heard the main door for the house slam open.
He jerks in surprise, going from his room to the stairs to check what was the noise only to find a very disheveled Vash locking it.
“Vash?”
“Excuse me.” He replied with a small voice and walked to his room, no more words or even sounds, not even looking at Nicholas face.
And with that, his body deemed itself too tired to worry. Nicholas couldn’t help but swallow the anger forming in his chest and go to sleep, he could try and talk about this with the blonde tomorrow.
By the morning, he’d gotten up to get his breakfast and found Vash by the table, finishing a coffee but not rushing it as he saw the dark-haired man.
“Hey.” He tried.
“Wolfwood! Good morning, did you manage to sleep well?” Vash replied, his usual tone for this kind of conversation.
“Not as well as I’d wish to, but my back doesn’t hurt. What about you? You seem to be in a good mood today.” He smirked at his friend.
“Ah, do I?” Vash chuckled those little, forced out laughs. “I slept well, yes. Woke up a few times during the night, but nothing out for the usual.”
Nicholas nodded, his eyes focusing on the blond hair. He might have paid very little attention to Vash’s appearance recently or missed some major style change on the blonde, because he seemed to have some new darkened locks hiding beneath the blond ones.
“I’ll be on my lab today, door’s gonna be unlocked but please knock if you need anything.” Vash announces before getting up and nodding a ‘bye’ with his head to Wolfwood.
“I’ll be out today,” Wolfwood says before Vash leaves. “Buyin’ groceries, anything you need?” And he watches as the blonde returns to his vision, clear interested in his face, even with the thoughtful expression.
With his hand on his chin, Vash makes a long ‘hmmm’ as if considering many options, until he finally settles in one, pointing the same finger on his chin to Wolfwood, a ‘gotcha’ smile on his face.
“Donuts!”
Wolfwood chuckles at the request. All that show for the usual, huh.
“…And eggs.” Vash says after a long pause and with a serious face, as if remembering he needs something besides sweets.
“Eggs?” Wolfwood widens his eyes in surprise. “Since when do you eat like a normal person?” He jokes with a surprised expression and voice.
“Now, don’t get me wrong buddy! Who told you I’m gonna be normal about it?” Vash grins at him. “What if I want to be the weirdest ever? Raise them like a mother hen?”
“Then I’d be less surprised!” Wolfwood replied before both bursting in laughter.
After his first happy breakfast in a while, Nicholas goes for his daily tasks.
He’s supposed to get groceries, talk the lady on the local inn into accepting his business offer and lastly check how things are around town.
His first stop is the open market, at this hour there’s still some good fruits and foods for sale but way less crowded.
Even with his expectations, the streets were… very silent.
There were multiple stalls without a seller and without products, completely empty and blank, as if the person didn’t show up today, which no one ever did because it was the weekly open market and people had to use the opportunity to make money. The few stalls with a vendor and products had an anxious feeling to it, every seller with worry in their features.
Not satisfied, but happy enough with his purchases, Nicholas made his way to the inn.
When he entered, the lady at the counter eyed him silently, expression closed as if to look tough.
“Rosa.” He tips his head as if he had a hat.
“Nicholas.” She nods back.
“So, about the deal...?”
“Not the best day to ask. I might give your response when the townspeople feel less scared, no use starting a business I can’t keep up.” She replied, voice not changing from her initial tone.
“Less scared?” He asks her in confusion.
“You don’t know?” Nicholas shakes his head. “There’s been a murder. A young lady, no one knows who exactly, but she seemed to have a ring on her finger. Her whole body was covered in wounds, so she wasn’t exactly recognizable. A man’s lost his wife today, and people are afraid that this might be just the start.”
“Just the start?” Nicholas scoffs. “We get a peaceful place for some years and at the first slip people are already thinking it’s over?”
“People are scared, Nicholas. They have something to protect, and many saw the body this morning. Now, we aren’t doing any business so do you mind leaving my inn?” She frowned as she spoke.
“I’ll come ask again next week, then. Goodbye.” He waved his hand before leaving, not waiting for a response as a sour taste poured into his mouth while closed the door behind him.
A murder.
Vash came home late and there’s been a murder on the same night. Vash’s been avoiding him and exactly when a corpse appears mangled in the town for everyone to see, Vash goes back to normal.
No, he thinks. He’s letting Rosa’s overreacting get to him. There’s no way Vash would do something like that, he knows the man. Even if it feels like too much of a coincidence, he needs to trust his friend.
…Or maybe try and see if he can get any information out of him in a casual way.
Deciding his “Checking what’s going on in town" was pretty much done, he made his way back home, mind racing with a hundred questions and more.
As he opened the main door, he saw Vash sitting by the old piano on the living room, talking to the housemaid.
“Hey Nick!” Vash notices him first, beaming at him as he approaches. “Did you get the donuts?”
“You’re lucky they like you” He says as he hands Vash the donut bag he was basically gifted by the bakery Lady. ‘it’s for Vash! I can’t thank him enough for helping my son.’ She’d said.
Vash accepted the sweet pastry bag with a wide smile on his face. “Thanks! Do thank her for me next time you go in to town!”
“Will do, that’s gonna take a while though.”
The housemaid bowed her head before leaving silently, not a word said to avoid interrupting the two.
“So, how’s the …science?” Wolfwood asks.
“Hm? Oh, uhm, going?” Vash seemed confused, Wolfwood knew it was because he never asked for these things, but Vash also never isolated himself so badly to the point of him getting curious. “I don’t think you’d like to hear from my experimentation, it was very boring. Do tell me about your day?” Vash suggested.
“Hmmm, let’s see…” Wolfwood scratched at his chin, thoughtful. “The open market had way less people today, which was weird. Both sellers and buyers.” He watched Vash’s curious face while he spoke. “I managed to get the good stuff, too. Less people means less costumers to compete with.”
“Was there really such a difference?” Vash asked with a mouth full of dough.
“More than half the stalls were empty and most of the people passing by didn’t seem to care for the goods, so yeah, big difference.” Wolfwood replied, pulling a smoke from his pocket.
“Again?!” Vash reacted to the smoke, surprise and annoyance in his voice. “You’re smoking too much! I know you like it but calm down!”
He wasn’t, first of all. He used to smoke a lot more, but held himself back and slowly made his vice less and less of a thing. Now, with his worries (specially the ones for today) he’d felt the need again, despite having one the same morning.
“I got you donuts, let me enjoy my shit too.” He looked at Vash with annoyance. “It’s not bad, come on. Not THAT bad, at least.”
“It is! It feels heavy on the lungs!”
“Now you’re just being dramatic.” Nicholas chuckled.
“I’m not!” Vash squeaked, and Wolfwood leaned in closer and blew smoke to his face, earning him an offended gasp. “Why are you so mean to me!?!” Vash waved the smoke away from his face, Nicholas smiling at the blonde.
Oh, he was close.
Vash noticed too.
He pulled away before he could think of anything or let his body try to, covering his mouth and forcing a fake cough.
“See?! Your lungs are going bad!” Vash said, voice a bit too squeaky.
“I’m going to, ahem” Nick let out another loud cough to clean his throat. “ I’m going to take these to the kitchen.”
“Want help?”
“No need, you’re going to complain about the smoke anyways.” He smirked, finally managing to look Vash on the face.
He did as he said, putting each thing on it’s designated place while humming to a song he remembers from somewhere he can’t pinpoint.
“Hey, Niiick...” Vash called from behind him, making him jump.
“Hey! Warn a guy next time, or at least make some noise?!” He replied, turning to his friend, slightly irritated by the scare.
“Sorry! But I was wondering if you got the eggs I asked?” Vash's smile was making him want to look away.
“…Yes? They’re on the basket near the sink.”
“Ok, Thank you! I’m going to my lab, knock on the door if you need anything!” Vash said before rushing to grab an egg and then go to the lab. Weirdo.
Nicholas decides the sudden change is good, he’s happy to see his friend again.
For the next week, Vash was back to his communicative self. He’d tease Nicholas, talk to him at every opportunity.
But on the second week, 4 days in, he isolated himself again.
At first Nicholas was worried he did something wrong to the doctor, questioning himself if he’d earned that silence for a reason.
As it turns out, exactly 2 weeks after the first, another murder is registered.
Vash’s silence continues.