Hard Choice

For the \"audience\" challenge.

Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim all ownership of these characters. I just like to play with them. No harm, no foul.

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When did it get like this? When did this stop being about release, or even friendship, and become whatever the hell it was now?

And what could he have possibly done to deserve this?

This whole fucking planet was hard, just rocks and too many suns and wind. It made people hard, made even the soft ones grow a callous to keep out the rest of the world.

But this, this here and now, between them, this wasn\'t hard at all. It was frighteningly simple. Everything else was complex as hell, sure, but...

Vash rocked forward again, moving above him and within him with his hips angled just so and...

Oh. Oh fuck. Right there.

He reached up and drew Vash down into a kiss, then gasped into his mouth as Vash slid home again, just grazing past his prostate. Smoothly. Gently. They had all night.

And when did it get like this? They still fucked, sure, hard and sometimes brutally, harder than the rocks Wolfwood braced against, harder than trying to scrub off the day. Sometimes he needed it. Sometimes Vash did. Sometimes they just got each other off, when it was all they had time for, quick and convenient and faintly wrong. But sometimes…

A room-cold hand tangled in his hair, pulling ever so slightly, and Vash nipped lightly at the hard muscle where shoulder met throat.

...sometimes, it wasn\'t just fucking. Sometimes, it was almost like...

He held Vash tightly, moving with him, and the warmth began to spread.

Sometimes he thought too damn much.

--You certainly do.--

Wolfwood inhaled sharply and curled up into Vash\'s shoulder, gripping his back tightly. Vash chuckled low in his throat and sped up his thrusts. Wolfwood moaned, and held on.

The hell... you... Legato? What\'re you...

--You missed our last appointment, Chapel.--

This isn\'t... the best time…come back tomorrow?

Vash\'s breathing was becoming erratic, hitching, and he panted hotly into Wolfwood\'s ear.

...Really not a good time...

--Remarkable. Is this only to gain his trust, or is there something more?--

...Legato...!

--Frankly, I\'m amazed that Knives-sama would permit you this level of familiarity, that he would allow you to sully his brother\'s flesh with...

Wolfwood tensed again, gritting his teeth.

...you sonuva...

...ah ah ah. Pay attention to what you\'re doing, Chapel. Don\'t let me distract you. Your orders are to escort him to Southern Cornelia before the end of the month.--

...that\'s it? That\'s fucking it? You\'re in my fucking head, now of all times, just to tell me tha...

Vash bucked hard and came shuddering, his face buried in the crook of Wolfwood\'s shoulder.

--That is why. With him so close to you, you will listen much more carefully to what I have to say. You wouldn\'t want him to realize that I was here with you, would you, Chapel?--

Weary green eyes met wide grey ones, and Vash blinked sleepily, drifting.

No. No, God no, I...

Shit-shieldshieldshieldshieldshieldshieldshield...

Fine. Orders received. Now will you just...

\"Oh! Here, let me...\" Vash pulled out with an embarrassed pop and reached down to stroke Wolfwood aching erection.

--No, Chapel. Allow me.--

The heat pooled in his groin grew, expanded, then exploded, sending liquid fire throughout Wolfwood\'s body. Mouth wide in a scream that would not come, he arched back on the mattress, clawing the sheets, writhing in pain and pleasure.

It burned. It burned badly, and he couldn\'t breathe.

Vash\'s hand moved smoothly, deliberately, but the fire continued to rage.

Five seconds. Six. Seven. Still couldn\'t breathe.

His hand moved faster now, less gently, squeezing.

Eleven. Twelve. Thirt... and Legato released his hold. Wolfwood came with a strangled cry, then fell back limply against Vash\'s arm.

Legato\'s laughter was icewater dripping down his spine.

--I\'ll see you in Southern Cornelia, then?--

...y...yeah... Southern Cornelia...

--And you won\'t be late again, will you?--

...no. God damn you, no.

Vash held Wolfwood close until the darker man\'s breathing evened out, then shifted beneath him, twining arms and legs together. He stroked a hand softly over Wolfwood\'s face, and Wolfwood was shocked to feel the cold of wetness left behind.

\"Wolfwood?\" Wonderment and love and concern. Wolfwood held two fingers to Vash\'s lips.



\"...it\'s late.\" He breathed Vash in deep, and sighed. \"Tomorrow?\"

Vash just nodded, and pulled the blanket up higher.

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