eidxiety | Sticks & Bones // IC Inbox

Y'think I know what I'm doin' either? You saw how much I fuck up.

[Ain knows, he was there.

Wolfwood finally unfolds his arms, lifting a hand to scrub at the side of his face.]

You're not bein' stupid. [He remembers vividly, Vash asking he not agree when he calls himself stupid. He's starting to see the value in that sort of thing now, even if he never even realized he was doing it before.] And I...look.

[He shifts to one side a little, nodding to the space next to him. Ain can come be beside him, if he wants. Or don't, if he's not comfortable Wolfwood isn't going to force it.]

I can't say I know what'll happen in the future. [Ominous pause, because haha...he knows Too Much about the future, actually.] But I can promise you one thing. I keep my promises, and I promise I am gonna try. If somethin' gets screwed up, we fix it. That's all.

I ain't gonna police what you do. You can be with other people if you want, and keep doin' the same thing you've been doin'. All I'm askin' for is...a chance, I guess. You've been nothin' but good to me, and I like our banter, and I think...you really deserve better than you've been gettin', so I understand you hesitatin'. I really do.

[Ain very hesitantly hops down from the desk? counter? whatever that he's sitting on and strays over.]

Right now, I... I'm not being hesitant because I want to be, I'm just nervous that this is going to backfire on me somehow. I want to be with you too. Obviously. I wouldn't have avoided you if I didn't. I know that sounds counter-productive.

[He was avoiding because it was easier to give Wolfwood space, and Ain would hate to be annoying and crowd around the man like ":) do you still like me :)" when he's barely sure he likes himself right now.]

I don't want to take back the kiss or anything like that. I meant it when I confessed by slipping that flower into your pocket. I still mean it. [He also held Livio's hands shhh don't tell the church. He's after ur other boyfriend too—] But I'm also aware that I'm kind of a mess right now and I get if you don't like messes.

[He was really confident before! And then the Affogato thing happened and then the Church Thing happened and whoops.]

...so if you want to try... I want to try, too.

…I don’t blame you. I would be nervous too. I mean, I used to not trust people period. I just looked out for me and mine.

[All that mattered was the orphanage, and staying alive against all odds to protect the children living there. The people he had to kill or betray along the way we’re just collateral.

But even with full awareness that his time was cut short, he knows his perspective has shifted. He’s met people that have changed him irrevocably, and…he hopes that’s for the better, ultimately.

Ain wanders over, and Wolfwood realizes he was too stupid to understand that flower was a confession. He knew it probably meant something, he just couldn’t remember what, exactly…he feels his face flare with shame, but it’s brief.

Instead, he focuses on Ain, looking over at him out of the corner of his eye.]

I know. But it’s a’ight. I kissed you back then ‘cause I really like you. So, yeah. I do wanna try.

[He looks at his feet again.]

And I’ll do everythin’ I can to win back your trust.

[Immediate switch flip—]

If you want me to trust you, I want a kiss. And a hug. And I want you to agree to let me sit in your lap whenever I want.

[He is a simple Ain, he is turning his negative feelings off by forcing them out the window because this is obviously a healthy coping mechanism, you know, everyone does this. Everyone just dissociates their way through their anxiety it's fine.]

After that, I think I'll be okay. [No, he will need lots of reassurance that he's not overstepping and that he's still wanted after the kiss because unfortunately Ain's angel-brain is having a hard time compartmentalizing human behaviours into "normal happenings" and "no that's not at all how that works". But it's a start.]

[Yeah sorry Ain, Wolfwood has had just enough therapy to know you’re not fucking okay, but that’s fine. The hope is that he’ll open up to talking about it in the future, and he won’t feel like he has to just push it all aside. Wolfwood is an expert in compartmentalizing, and it only works for so long until you explode on someone and end up regretting it.

He huffs, knowing this was what he’d be getting into at the jump. Yet, with a playful roll of his eyes, Wolfwood turns to Ain and very gently takes his jaw in hand, turning him to look up just as their lips meet. The kiss is tender and impossibly sweet from someone as rough as he is, his whiskers tickling Ain’s face just as he reaches out in the gap between kissing and not to gather him up in his arms.

And he hugs him. Squeezes him maybe a touch too tight at first before he relaxes, his head bowed over Ain’s shoulder.]

You don’t gotta be okay. I get it.

…but thanks for givin’ me a chance anyway.

[Hehehe... giggle, braid twirl, you know the song and dance by now.]

Aww, I told you already, I want to give you a chance because I have these stupid mushy feelings for you. Just because you messed it up the first time [AIN] doesn't mean the mushy feelings ended. They just got worse while we were apart.

But I didn't want to... to crowd you. And part of me was scared of the reality where you decided in the end you didn't want me, and maybe... maybe confronting that was scarier than I thought it would be.

[He flattens his face against Wolfwood's chest and squishes him in a tight embrace.]

I don't like the thought of being alone or abandoned, ha... but in that case, it was a lot easier in my mind to be alone.

Nah. It wasn't like that at all.

[Far from it, actually. If he was going to entertain another relationship, he wanted to do it correctly. He of course fumbled it in trying to do that, but at least he's made steps towards fixing it since then.

The hug helps. The way Ain hugs him back helps even more.]

I uh. I actually...got you somethin'. It was before all that happened and I didn't get a chance to give it to you...I didn't want it to be weird.

Huh...?

[He forgot entirely about their bet. Too many other things going on, and honestly, he didn't entirely take it seriously anyway. It was just a dumb little thing, like when you say "I'll give you 10 ED if you stick your hands in the toxic river". No one takes that seriously (Elsword and Chung took that seriously but that's not the point) (they're 18 what do they know).

He rests his chin on Wolfwood's collar and looks up at him. Ain is a tall boy, this means he's bent at the waist trying to be cute right now, so it's a little awkward.]

Really? What is it?

[Wolfwood will carefully free an arm from their embrace just long enough to grab the box he'd left on the table next to them, holding it out for Ain to take. It's got the three garments folded up inside: a top + skirt combo, a DRESS dress (both black), and a kigurumi fashioned to look like a Dachsologie.]

It's those outfits I promised. From that bet, remember? Ain't nothin' special, but...s'like I told you. I keep my promises.

[Ope sorry Ain is letting go of the embrace so he can dig in the box.]

Oh!! Nikolaus, they're so cute!!

[yes i am bringing that one back for Me, Ain's accent is normally quite light but that comes out in full-fledged ~~German~~ Celestial. He's pulling things out and looking over them, holding the dress up to his chest and twirling around with it like he's actually wearing it.

And then he gets to the kigu and just—]

It's Dachie!!!!

[Pyjamas!!! He will be so warm!!!]

[...oh. That...]

Nikolaus?

[He mutters to himself, too quiet to probably be heard, as he feels his heart suddenly race while he watches Ain excitedly pull out the clothing and hold it up to himself. He only really snaps out of it when he gets to the Dachie kigu, prompting him to nod and rub at the back of his neck.]

Oh, yeah...I asked if Ydalir could give me one that, yaknow. Looked like him.

I love it! It's so cute!

[Happy Ain noises! He would put this on right now if he didn't know better. There's a chance a leviathan could attack and ruin this, so... for now, it goes back in the box all neatly.

And then Wolfwood gets a hug.]

Danke schön!

[Well. He isn't sure entirely what that means, but he thinks he has an inkling, given the way Ain hugs him as he says it. He huffs on a soft laugh, bringing his hand back around to rest between his shoulder blades.]

Glad y'like it. It's prolly a little too hot for one of those, but...it gets cold as hell here. You'll need it eventually.

I'll wear it when we go back! [Ain it's the Middle Of Summer.] Haha, I don't want to wait for winter, I'll be okay.

[Good lord.]

I'll wear the other stuff when we're out of here, too. I'd hate for some stupid sea creature to attack and ruin it. I'll model for you, too!

[Gives Wolfwood a big smek on the cheek.]

Hey, s'all yours. You can do whatever you want with it.

[Like apparently model? For him??? He definitely feels like maybe he hasn't earned that yet, but hey. They're making progress. He managed to salvage their relationship, which can't be said for others in Ain's past.

He huffs, and if Ain looks real hard, he'll see Mr. Priest is blushing.]

...thanks for hearin' me out, Ain.

[It's hard to see in the gloom, but that sure is a blushing Mr. Priest. Aaa... he's so cute.]

Aww, I was always going to. [Even if he sort of shredded Wolfwood like lettuce in the beginning.] I still really like you... even though I was upset, that didn't change my feelings for you.

[Bonks their foreheads together.]

I want a kiss. [Of course you do.]

[He gives another soft huff, though now that his hands are again free, he can lift a hand to rest against the side of Ain's cheek, a calloused thumb brushing over his jawbone.]

Another one already, huh?

[It's teasing, of course, because he's happy to lean in and give Ain that kiss he wants, tilting his head just enough so his big nose doesn't bash into Ain's.]

Well. I won't pass up the offer for more sugar.

[Yes, another one. It's Ain, his love language is touch, you must kiss him constantly. He loves to be smooched. ...which is going to be abundantly clear, if it's not already, when their lips lock and Ain literally giggles into it and tilts his head to deepen it just a fraction. No tongue, but he's not being cute about it either.]

I like kissing, sue me. If Nikolaus doesn't like kissing, he can deal.

[Get kissed again idiot]

Nikolaus...

[He repeats the way Ain just said his name against his lips. Thoughtful, as they share a few more gentle kisses. Smooch smooch.]

I've never heard anyone say my name like that. ...it's pretty.

It's how your name would be said if my accent was thicker. But I like how it sounds in my head.

[Therefore he is choosing to purposely Heavily Accent that name. You know, to be cute.]

I'll teach you words in Celestial. [Kiss, kiss.] You know a few from the church. Your brain works, so I'm sure you can memorize others.

["your brain works" clearly Ain thinks no one else's brains work like hello—]

[WELL HE'S GLAD HIS BRAIN WORKS...he has one, it just isn't firing on all cylinders all the time.

Also, hold on-]

Mmm...hang on. Killin' my back bendin' forward-

[Sorry Ain, did you want to get lifted? Because Wolfwood is lifting you, taking you by the waist and hefting you up like a piece of styrofoam to sit down on the table so he's more comfortably at eye-ish level, with Wolfwood leaning in from there to keep the kiss going.]

There. Anyway...I wouldn't mind learnin', sometime.

[Yes he super did want to get lifted hello hi hello—

Immediate giggling immediate kicky feets while he wraps his legs around Wolfwood's hips.]

Ohh... Haha, wow, you're strong! [Homosexual internal wheeze] I know you're all muscular and stuff, but still, I'm not light in this form.

[Kicky feets.

Kisses Wolfwood's jaw.]

Haha, ain't you seen me carryin' the Punisher before?

[That thing is not light. No matter how heavy or not Ain is, he'd have to weigh over double what he does now to compete with a solid hunk of metal like that.

Nevertheless, Ain's kisses are met with low hums of approval as Wolfwood loops his arms loosely around his waist now that he's supported atop the table, bonking into his forehead like a cat.]

Maaaaybe~. [He has. But still.] You should princess carry me sometime. I've always wanted to try that.

[He is gay-gay. You know how it is. That said, he's also being enabled, which means — sorry Wolfwood — he is honking your biceps.]

Wait, wait. Flex for me. [oh my god] Pleaaaaase?

Tch. You serious?

[God, this guy...

Wolfwood, again, rolls his eyes with all the exaggerated flair he can muster as he leans back on his heels, pushing away from the table just enough so he can flex his arms as Ain requests. Now, Wolfwood is no competition for some of the men in the Grove like Livio or Sesa. He's a lot thinner of build, yet despite that, you have to be strong to be able to throw the weapon around that he does.

So suffice it to say, his muscles are there. They do bulge when he flexes. As do his titties, of course. They're bouncin' for Ain's viewing pleasure because Wolfwood never learned how to fucking wear a shirt.]

How's that?

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