sticksandbones | Something Wicked This Way Comes

[Is there a brief moment of hesitation? No. There are, in fact, multiple. The first comes when Angelina yelps, Vash's movements briefly staggering. He regains his composure, arm lifting into the air to strike —

only to stop short when his name is spoken aloud. Something stirs within him, a voice he'd thought long dormant. He lifts his hands to his head, clutching at skin and tearing at feathers, all while he whips his head this way and that.

It gives Wolfwood a halfway decent head start, at least. It's only after his ragged breathing turns into fervent growls that he whips around after him. He chases after Wolfwood on all fours, the guttural noise in his throat growing now into a roar as he slams into the side of the house, then scrabbles along it in an attempt to cut Wolfwood off at the pass.]

[This wouldn't be the first time he's been chased by a homicidal beast, but it would be the first he could say it's been this personally charged. He's going through so many emotions that settling on just one would be impossible, so he clutches at "will to live" with both hands like a vice. You will do, in this moment.

Thank God he had the foresight to leave his gun on the porch when taking Angelina out. If he'd left it inside, he thinks he wouldn't have it at all for this. He manages to duck past the front railing just in time for Vash to come slamming into the broadside of the house, giving him a fraction of a second to swing the cross up into his arms. Angelina bolts into the house a second later so Wolfwood can kick the door closed with his heel, safe where she'll bark at the top of her lungs from inside.

It's likely Wolfwood only has a second to jump off the porch and throw the cross up to block whatever attack Vash launches at him next, because shooting him at this range isn't happening. Even he, for as dead of a shot as he is, can't line up the shot this quickly when he's mere feet away.]

Vash, stop!!

[Vash collides with the cross-shaped amalgamation of lost tech and metal without hesitation. Instinctively he claws at it, ripping at the wrappings if they still linger, or tearing at the surface if not. He cranes his head forward, jaw snapping as he tries to get closer, close enough to kill.

At the same time, the voice in his head tries so desperately to pull him back. His fingers still for a moment, then grip, almost as if trying to find himself. There's a brief lull, a flicker of recognition in his eyes -

before he attempts to pull the whole ass gun from Wolfwood's arms and toss it away. Get out of here with that, thanks!]

[The wrappings get torn away easily, as if they were merely tissue paper. Vash's claws raking across the metal kick up sparks into the air between them, deep gouges left across the material as it just barely manages to protect Wolfwood from suffering the same fate. It isn't a boon for long, unfortunately because before Wolfwood could have hoped to take a shot, Vash gets the idea to just rip the thing from his hands.

Unfortunately, a corrupted Plant is far, FAR stronger than a human. Vash will manage to wrench it from his grasp easily, hurling it somewhere into the darkness where he can't reach. To try to dart after it would be opening himself up in a way he simply can't afford to risk right now.

Instead, Wolfwood curses under his breath and quickly pulls his pistol from his hip, lifting it up and firing a few quick shots at Vash's shoulder.

Aim for the head!, his brain screams.

But he can't. He can't.

He can't!]

Needle-noggin! Snap the fuck out of it! It's me!!

[Vash's body snaps back with each bullet he takes. A shrill noise leaves him, animalistic to its core. He reaches up with one arm, clutching at the blood as if to staunch the flow, then violently shakes his head.

The pain gives rise to that voice again. It grows louder, until his hand leaves the injured shoulder and clutches at his face once more. Claw marks are left behind in his wake, but he cares not. He shakes his head once more, before finally forcing himself to focus on -

On.]

Nick -

[It's the first word he's managed to speak in weeks, at least beyond ragged shrieks. It shows in the strain of his voice, or perhaps that's simply him fighting the corruption off. Either way, his eyes meet Wolfwood's with a newfound focus. It's a wild focus, but focus nonetheless.]

[Well. Now it's Wolfwood's turn to be caught completely off guard, because he hasn't heard Vash's voice speak his name in a full month and some change now, and it shows in the way just that alone makes his heart skip a beat. It's a painful feeling, knowing that Vash is still completely out of his mind due to the corruption...though perhaps, not completely.

He barrel of his gun wavers, tipping downwards slightly.]

You...

[Can hear me.

He grits his teeth and takes a halting step closer, still keeping his gun raised just in case Vash comes rushing forward unannounced.]

C'mon. Shake it off, it's me. Since when were you gotta let this bullshit control you, hah?!

[The gun lowers, and Vash — the real one, full of love and compassion and so much fear panics.]

Don't. [He lunges forward, gripping Wolfwood's arms with strength that he normally wouldn't use. His hands squeeze a little tighter still, claws digging in, as the Corruption roils within him and fights for control once more. Teeth grit, and his eyes seem to come in and out of focus.]

Shoot me. Do it!

[There is no other option. He's hurt so many people. Killed them. Livio was gone because of him, and he knows there are others. He remembers faces, but not the end results. Kiera. Passenger. It can't keep happening.]

Nick, please!

[Wolfwood feels his own knee-jerk reaction of self-preservation kick in when Vash suddenly lunges at him like that, reaching up to grab him by the arms. His arms are practically pulled up to where Vash probably wants them to be, though honestly the gun was always going to get pressed against him either way. It presses in against his chest as Vash's claws tear at his arms, pulling at the fabric of his blazer and digging into his skin. It hurts, but he isn't thinking about that at all right now. He's too transfixed by the terror and blind panic in Vash's eyes, the desperation for Wolfwood to just end it.

If Vash were to trust anyone to do this...it would be Wolfwood. Right? Undoubtedly. He was the only one who could, for Rollo. For countless others, it can be inferred. Better to put someone out of their misery than to see them rampage like a monster, he's the one who championed that very notion.

He sucks in a sharp, pained breath through his teeth as the cold steel presses in against him through the feathers even harder, Wolfwood's knuckles white from how hard he's gripping the handle. His finger depresses towards the trigger, squeezing-

...

But as they stand there in a deadlock with a shot Wolfwood could not possibly miss, he...doesn't fire. He looks back at Vash with his complexion pale, his eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears. All of the trauma, all of the stress of the past month and a half is coming to a head, now, and he can't.

He can't.

In this moment, arguably THE one moment he needs to be strong enough to do this...his heart wins the war it's waging against his mind as he chokes on a sob in the back of his throat, his expression somehow a mix of rage and despair all at the same time.]

God- G-God Damn it, Vash! Why-!!?

[Vash's body tenses, waiting for the bullet to come. Being something of a professional at getting shot, he knows it'll hurt. Maybe he welcomes it. Pain would at least signal a reprieve, freedom from the madness and monstrosity that he's become.

When it doesn't, desperation fills him. He squeezes that much tighter, willed on by the worming corruption that presses itself firmer against the back of his mind. Squeeze him until he breaks and pops and -]

I'm s-s- [His mouth snaps shut, hard enough for the feeling to echo within his skull. He thrashes his head this way and that.] S-sorry, I -

[And then his head arcs backward. What starts as a pained shout develops into a guttural scream. What clarity existed in Vash's eyes leaves, and when he turns his head back to Wolfwood, there is nothing left but that same hunger that started everything off.

Using his position, he pushes hard against Wolfwood, doing his best to knock him to the ground. Once he's prone, it's just a matter of sinking his teeth in. He can probably do it before those weak, pathetic fingers can grab the trigger.]

[It's too late. He's too late. The one time he needed to do this, really do this, he just...

Wolfwood doesn't even find himself scrambling to shoot as Vash clearly starts to turn. He's losing his grip on himself, despite everything, and no amount of crying his name is going to bring him back this time and he knows it. He feels his weight carry him backwards hard as Vash throws him down to the ground as easily as if he were swatting a fly, and he swears to god he feels a rib crack. It knocks the wind completely out of him as his shoulders hit the ground, and honestly being able to shoot or not doesn't matter. His fingers had been painfully locked on the gun, so when he's knocked off balance, they finally release to find relief, resulting in the gun getting lost in the dark grass in their scuffle.

It's over. Yet again, he replays the vision of Livio being torn to shreds in his mind as he throws his arms up, grabbing fistfulls of Vash's feathery body up above him. He's not sure if he's grabbing his shoulders or his neck, he's just trying to hold him back. Whether this lands him teeth in his arms or shoulders, it doesn't matter anymore.

If he's dying here, he's not dying without a fight.]

[And teeth he will get. Vash goes for the kill, only to end up with his teeth firmly planted within Wolfwood's arm. He rears back, hissing out blood. It splatters the area, flecks against Wolfwood's face, the wood beneath them, perhaps even the grass nearby.

He dives down again, to similar affect. Annoyance creeps through him, then outright fury. He lifts his head to shriek his frustration toward the sky, before his hands lift in an attempt to try and pin the damn priest down.

It's precious seconds bought for Wolfwood, gun or not.]

[He leaves you guys alone for THREE HOURS to go kill the straggling monsters in the woods. "Moder, watch them!" He said, "Make sure nothing happens!" He said, and then Moder undoubtedly found herself preoccupied with further monsters and will regret this for the rest of her life.

It's when Sesa passes by him carrying the dissolving body of Passenger that Zahliya knows something dire has happened in his absence yet again. Instead of getting absorbed in his guilt, he charges forward, erupting out of the woods just in time in a flurry of fire. It's easy to tell who the Problem Child is with just a single glance.

Zahliya may be small, but he's the child of deities, and he fights like it. Beiwe's strength and Ourania's finesse make him hit fast and hard, and he spares not a single second, launching himself into the air and bringing his hooves down heavily upon Vash's back. Unfortunately for Wolfwood, he's going to feel the bone-crushing stomp because of his positioning, but Zahliya has his priorities in order now.

The very tip of Daybreak presses into Vash's shoulder, and from the green inferno that forms its blade comes further fire, licking across feathers and skin alike, only burning out the Corrupted and not the man underneath.

Remind him never to leave the Grove again.]

[Caught up as Vash is in trying to absolutely wreck Wolfwood's shit, he doesn't notice what's happening until it's too late. In one second, he swears he sees an opening and dives in. In the next, he's pinned down, his back aching and -

And his body burning.

The scream that erupts is far more desperate and feral than any before. He flails and writhes beneath the flames. Though the fire may not hurt Wolfwood, Vash's claws, now desperate to try and find any sort of grip to get away, tear into him all the same.

He kicks. He swats. He snarls. But there isn't much he can do against the flame as it burns through the Corruption within him.]

[Oh my god his body-

So much happens all in the span of just a few seconds. Wolfwood feels Vash's entire weight bearing down on him, his teeth sinking deep into his right forearm as he tries in vain to shove him off. The pain, though very much there, scarcely registers in the face of an assured death, because at this point it's more of a "when" than an "if". So when Vash suddenly collapses on top of him, he doesn't realize at first that it's due to an outside force. If anything he struggles all the harder, his fingers pulling at the feathers along his shoulders to try and get him off-

And that's when it occurs to him something is wrong. Vash is thrashing around like a caged animal in a way that's not being caused by him at all, but something else entirely. He just barely manages to look up past his massive frame to see Zahliya perched on his shoulderblades with his sword buried deep into his back and all he can think is, thank god. Just...thank god.

Of course, he's not out of the fire yet. Another couple ribs crack under Vash's weight, and the front of his blazer is nearly entirely shredded by his claws at this point, rent open all the way down to the undershirt. One of his sleeves is hanging off his shoulder, exposing his neck and collarbone as he just tries to hold on. Pinned though he is, he can't actually escape this, nor is he able to catch his breath to say anything.

He can't even cry out.]

[He will be dragging both of your asses to the clinic afterwards so the healers can scream. He's probably going to go grab Sesa by the collar if he finds the guy again to get him checked out, too. (Unknowing that Sesa is Murderous right now, but.)

Zahliya honestly doesn't enjoy his job. He needs to do it, he's newly-proficient at it, but that doesn't mean he likes pressing his blade into Vash to keep him pinned nor breaking ribs, nor having to fry people he considers family like a turkey. There's fury in his eyes that Wolfwood will probably see through the inferno, but echoing underneath it is a profound sadness.

God, how did he get this bad?]

You'll be fine soon. Grin and bear it like you did when It sunk Its claws into you. It'll make the process easier.

[For a mercy, Vash stops struggling before long. He isn't exactly himself, but the primal urge of the corruption abates. Instead, his hulking form collapses forward, twitching here and there but ultimately giving up the fight. His breaths come slightly slower and far less frantic, albeit still pained through the flames.

Wolfwood will also be relieved that at least some of that weight seems to ease. Though he's still a mess of bloodstained feathers, the more bestial nature of his form seems to fade away. Whether or not the rest would go away remained to be seen, of course.

Eventually, though, whatever residual will that seemed to linger in Vash gives out as well. He collapses entirely onto Wolfwood (sorry buddy). Thankfully, their close proximity would quickly show that his pulse yet carried on. Someone's just exhausted from his forest running. Thanks.]

[Thank god, repeats like a mantra in his mind. Thank you Zahliya, for coming in at the last second to save both their asses, and to do what he couldn't. Then again, it's hard to say if killing Vash would have done anything. He may very well have just revived ready to wreck more havoc. This is the preferred alternative. Maybe, like this, the corruption will be gone.

In the meantime though...Wolfwood is still pinned under Vash, wheezing with each pained breath he takes. He's so relieved that Vash is still alive and breathing that he's not sure he cares, though it is making moving pretty much impossible. It takes a bit of shifting- and a lot of pushing with his good knee- to work Vash over just enough so he can wrench his right arm free, reaching into the pouch at his side to pull out one of the vials.

He promised himself he wouldn't use these so soon, but...he finds himself breaking off the glass with his teeth regardless, the blue liquid drawing into his mouth via gravity as he just.

Lays there, prone.]

[When the fire stops (because Vash is no longer Corrupted, hooray!), Zahliya hops down from Vash's back and sheaths his blades.]

By the Stars. There you go, chugging your murder fluid gain.

[He, 5ft tall and lean, is going to Hoist Vash onto his shoulders.]

Need me to pick you up, too? You're coming to the clinic whether you like it or not.

...

I saw Passenger pass by me. You didn't breathe in the dust, did you?

M'fine...

[Wolfwood huffs, finally moving to sit up now that Zahliya has pulled his weight off of him. It's going to take a few minutes for the serum to kick in, but at the very least he can feel his fatigue abating pretty much immediately, trying to ignore the familiar feeling of his heartrate kicking up.

But then Zahliya says something weird, prompting Wolfwood to look back over.]

...Passenger? No, I ain't seen 'im. What happened?

[Flatly stated as he's scraping Wolfwood off the ground too, get over his shoulder gay boy.]

He's dead. Sesa passed me by with him when I was in the woods.

[Again: He left you guys alone for a few hours, he's never leaving again tf.]

[......

He doesn't want to ask. He doesn't. But.

He knows he has to, even as he grumbles about Zahliya lifting him because hey-]

...was it Vash?

[Zahliya is frustrated... more with himself than anything else, but also the bitch in the woods, but also his sibling on the barn who is most definitely pretending she's not horrifically entertained by this. He's frustrated with Vash, but it doubles back onto him, because he's known; if he were strong enough to fix it at the time, he would have.

It's neither of their faults he's frustrated, technically. Zahliya won't take his anger out on them.

He grits his teeth, slings both boys over either shoulder (how, you're so small), and marches toward the clinic. You are going to go see the healers now. He doesn't care how many of those blue death-vials you chug, Wolfwood. You will be checked over. He doesn't trust those things after last time.]

I wasn't there. Probably. Unless you know of another Corrupted who went insane and started wreaking havoc? I didn't talk to Sesa, because I knew I had to get back here. I... ["shouldn't have left", but that's beside the point. He shakes his head and continues.]

You're under my orders to rest. If you won't rest by my orders, I'm going to have Callie sit on your chest until you have no choice but to. And I'll tell Ydalir.

[Scary.]

[Wolfwood doesn't need to even ask more. Like, what else could have done it? Nothing but Vash, he's certain. And...honestly, thinking about it just makes the feeling of guilt and exhaustion more deeply mired into his bones, making it feel like he isn't even going to be able to move for a while after this. To that end, he just sortof allows it as Zahliya carries both him and Vash to the clinic, staring sidelong at the ground as they go.]

Yeah, yeah...I ain't goin' anywhere.

[...]

But if you really want blondie to rest, you'd better deadbolt his door and keep him in a room without windows. Trust me.

Ha.

[Zahliya... is exhausted. He's going to go bean the False God personally for all the shit they've been put through, but for now: He kicks the door to the clinic open and click-clacks his way into the room where the beds are, puts Wolfwood down on one, puts Vash down on another.]

I will be back with handcuffs and belts, then.

[...please stop him—]

Okay maybe you ain't gotta be that prepared.

[ZAHLIYA-

Also ugh, he's so sore. He is going to become flat now bye.]

Something Wicked This Way Comes

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