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"It's folded in the closet..." Guess it was a good thing they stole the thing. It was apparently going to work out very nicely for them right now. And probably in the future. He had a feeling that his husband would come up with very creative uses for it.
He nodded and went to fetch it. It was a better option than carrying Pete, even if he thought he could manage it. It wouldn't do either of them any good if he fell while trying to get Pete to the bath. Then they'd both be hurt and laid up again.
Once he got the chair unfolded and set the brake so it wouldn't roll out from under Pete, he came back to the bed to help his husband into it. And then to the bath house! When they were there, Vegas heled to loosen the obi around Pete's waist before helping him get out of the chair. That would mean undressing him a little easier.
Once he got the chair unfolded and set the brake so it wouldn't roll out from under Pete, he came back to the bed to help his husband into it. And then to the bath house! When they were there, Vegas heled to loosen the obi around Pete's waist before helping him get out of the chair. That would mean undressing him a little easier.
"I'm going to have to remember to plan for nights like this at the bar. Make sure I'm not on the schedule." He was laughing and teasing, of course. He knew that if Vegas owned the bar then he wasn't going to get mad if Pete was too fucked out to make a shift. After all, he would be the one responsible for what happened.
Letting the cloth slide off his shoulders, he found just enough energy in his shaky legs to stand for a moment. Just so he could cup the man's face and give him a lingering kiss.
"Thanks."
Letting the cloth slide off his shoulders, he found just enough energy in his shaky legs to stand for a moment. Just so he could cup the man's face and give him a lingering kiss.
"Thanks."
Vegas would absolutely be willing to cover shifts if Pete was too fucked out to walk! Proudly. Happily. Pete's well-being was his primary concern and if the needed rest, then he would get rest.
He slid his arms around Pete's waist to help keep him upright and leaned into his touch. Vegas' expression softened and his eyes fell closed before Pete's lips ever touched his.
"You don't have to thank me," he murmured when they parted. "It's my duty to take care of you. Always."
He slid his arms around Pete's waist to help keep him upright and leaned into his touch. Vegas' expression softened and his eyes fell closed before Pete's lips ever touched his.
"You don't have to thank me," he murmured when they parted. "It's my duty to take care of you. Always."
"No. I wanted to thank you for being...you. I guess."
Pete smiled and gave him another kiss. Seriously, this man had changed his life so much. No one would ever believe the positive ways his life had turned because of Vegas. They didn't need to understand though. This was all his choice now.
"Let's take that bath together now."
Pete smiled and gave him another kiss. Seriously, this man had changed his life so much. No one would ever believe the positive ways his life had turned because of Vegas. They didn't need to understand though. This was all his choice now.
"Let's take that bath together now."
No one could understand them even if they tried. What they had was a very special sort of fucked up. Maybe even a little codependent on Vegas' side of things. Pete was his everything.
Vegas shed his own robe and draped it next to Pete's on the wheelchair. He helped Pete get to the stool and washed the stale sweat and other things from his skin. Every gesture was tender and reverent, ensuring that Pete was completely clean before guiding him into the steaming bath. He made quicker work washing himself off so he could settle into the bath behind Pete. Vegas wanted to be close to him, wanted to feel the reassuring weight of Pete leaning against his chest. That sort of intimacy was just as important to him as the sex.
Vegas shed his own robe and draped it next to Pete's on the wheelchair. He helped Pete get to the stool and washed the stale sweat and other things from his skin. Every gesture was tender and reverent, ensuring that Pete was completely clean before guiding him into the steaming bath. He made quicker work washing himself off so he could settle into the bath behind Pete. Vegas wanted to be close to him, wanted to feel the reassuring weight of Pete leaning against his chest. That sort of intimacy was just as important to him as the sex.
It felt good to be clean again. More than that, it felt good when Vegas was behind him. Relaxing against him, he sighed as he let the hot water sink in to his well used body. Dropping his head back against the man's shoulder, Pete let his eyes close. This was what he'd been needing. Being close like this while he gave his body something to help it recover.
Finding the hand with the ring that was tied to his own, he threaded his fingers with Vegas and smiled. This was peaceful.
"I hope we have a really nice bath like this wherever we end up after this."
Finding the hand with the ring that was tied to his own, he threaded his fingers with Vegas and smiled. This was peaceful.
"I hope we have a really nice bath like this wherever we end up after this."
"Mm," he hummed in agreement. Maybe there were some perks to living in old-timey fantasy Japan. Every bath he'd had since arriving here had been in an awesome bathhouse like this. Vegas could definitely get used to soaking like this with Pete.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and Kinn will find a place with a lot of space so it'll be more like we're living alone." He draped his free arm loosely around Pete's waist, letting his fingers trace meaningless patterns over his skin. "I know he's paying for everything, but do you want to get more involved with tryna to find this place?" He was asking for them, not implying Pete should be the one doing all the legwork on their behalf. "Tay thinks it's weird that I'm not offering up opinions on it."
"Maybe we'll get lucky and Kinn will find a place with a lot of space so it'll be more like we're living alone." He draped his free arm loosely around Pete's waist, letting his fingers trace meaningless patterns over his skin. "I know he's paying for everything, but do you want to get more involved with tryna to find this place?" He was asking for them, not implying Pete should be the one doing all the legwork on their behalf. "Tay thinks it's weird that I'm not offering up opinions on it."
"I don't think it's weird. I think you and I are tired of all that and as long as we have each other and a place to live then we're not in particular. But we both care about Kinn enough in our own ways to agree to be near him." Opening his eyes, he watched the steam rise from the water. It was nice to have quiet moments like this. The two of them just talking about anything that came to their minds. It reminded him a bit of what had brought them together in the safehouse. How special that had been.
"We could live in a shack just the two of us and I'd be happy." He tilted his head back to smile at Vegas. "I'm pretty easy to please."
"We could live in a shack just the two of us and I'd be happy." He tilted his head back to smile at Vegas. "I'm pretty easy to please."
Vegas snorted. "Have you met me? Do you think I could live in a shack?" They could, but Vegas would make it miserable for them both. But he chuckled softly. He understood Pete's sentiment. Where they landed wasn't nearly as important as being together.
He tilted his head to press his cheek against Pete's hair and then added, "Maybe we could have a little flat above the bar." As long as there was a place to sleep and a place to cook he could be happy like that with Pete. He thought. He might be a little too spoiled to give up all his luxuries.
He tilted his head to press his cheek against Pete's hair and then added, "Maybe we could have a little flat above the bar." As long as there was a place to sleep and a place to cook he could be happy like that with Pete. He thought. He might be a little too spoiled to give up all his luxuries.
"You could because I'd make it a really nice shack. A five star shack." He giggled a bit because he knew how ridiculous that sounded. Still it was fun to think about. Making a shack look five star on the inside.
Though he did like the idea of living above the bar. The entire upper level could be all theirs. Maybe they could even have two places. Kinn's where they would live most of the time but when they wanted to get away they'd have the bar. It would be good for slipping away for quickies too.
"We could make it really nice. Maybe even stretch it out so it could be like a loft penthouse or something."
Though he did like the idea of living above the bar. The entire upper level could be all theirs. Maybe they could even have two places. Kinn's where they would live most of the time but when they wanted to get away they'd have the bar. It would be good for slipping away for quickies too.
"We could make it really nice. Maybe even stretch it out so it could be like a loft penthouse or something."
That's not a bad idea. Vegas felt like Kinn really needed them to be around at the moment. He could understand why. If Pete weren't here to keep him grounded, he'd probably want familiar people around him, too. some part of him keenly understood and felt sorry for the loneliness he knew Kinn was feeling -- not that he'd ever admit that out loud. Feeling kinship with Kinn was weird and a little uncomfortable. Seeing him as a person and not just a two-dimensional rival was weird.
"Home is wherever you are," Vegas mused. "Even if it's a five-star shack."
"Home is wherever you are," Vegas mused. "Even if it's a five-star shack."
"Oh so now you like my five-star shack idea, huh?"
But he just grinned and cuddled in closer. Resting his hand on the one over his waist, he let himself enjoy the feeling of fingers making patterns with no meaning on his skin. It was something that Vegas always did and it was soothing. Just endless little doodles with those fingertips. Made all the better because he knew it was because his husband needed contact with him too.
"You're my home too."
But he just grinned and cuddled in closer. Resting his hand on the one over his waist, he let himself enjoy the feeling of fingers making patterns with no meaning on his skin. It was something that Vegas always did and it was soothing. Just endless little doodles with those fingertips. Made all the better because he knew it was because his husband needed contact with him too.
"You're my home too."
There was something about Pete that always seemed to invite touch. Vegas needed that. And that Pete accepted it so readily, long before they were intimate... That was something that stuck with Vegas. Even in the safehouse, Pete never shrank from his touch (and that wince after being belted didn't count!). It's the collection of small and big things that made Vegas fall for him. Though, if he told the story, Pete ripped his still-beating heart from his chest and ran off with it. Sometimes it felt like that was true.
But he wouldn't want anyone else handling that most vital organ. No one else could handle it with the right balance of care and toughness. There would never be anyone else for Vegas. It was Pete or nothing.
Just listening to Pete's voice, the simple cadence of those few words made him shiver from the sheer intensity of what he felt. He tightened his fingers twined with Pete's and pressed a soft kiss to his hair.
"I love you, Pete."
But he wouldn't want anyone else handling that most vital organ. No one else could handle it with the right balance of care and toughness. There would never be anyone else for Vegas. It was Pete or nothing.
Just listening to Pete's voice, the simple cadence of those few words made him shiver from the sheer intensity of what he felt. He tightened his fingers twined with Pete's and pressed a soft kiss to his hair.
"I love you, Pete."
He felt so cared for in this moment. Loved and adored. No one had ever felt for him the way that Vegas had. Maybe because no one had ever wanted to look past the silly smiles. They didn't want to know what was under it all. How much pain and darkness existed there. It was like that saying that comedy was born from a place of pain. People didn't want to think about that and just wanted to laugh.
Vegas wanted all of him though. The worst and best of him. Just like he wanted the worst and best of Vegas. The complete package. He wouldn't fear this man. He hadn't before and he didn't now.
His eyes closed at the kiss to his hair. The warmth and gratitude in it was so potent he could feel it even without the words for it.
"I love you too, Vegas."
Vegas wanted all of him though. The worst and best of him. Just like he wanted the worst and best of Vegas. The complete package. He wouldn't fear this man. He hadn't before and he didn't now.
His eyes closed at the kiss to his hair. The warmth and gratitude in it was so potent he could feel it even without the words for it.
"I love you too, Vegas."
He probably said that too much. It was going to lose its impact if he kept doing that. And yet, every time he uttered those words, they came from his very soul. They were everything and nothing. There were no better words to express how much he needed Pete. How much he wanted him, adored him, worshiped him.
Vegas ran his hand up Pete's torso to lay over his chest, just above his heart. Feeling that steady rhythm set him at ease when his mind began to race, which was frequently since he'd been laid up until recently. Yes, the bath was nice, but sharing it with Pete was better. Everything was better with Pete. Vegas exhaled slowly and nuzzled his cheek against Pete's hair.
"Still can't believe we got married," he murmured, the awe evident in his voice. But so was the smile. Vegas truly expected to wake up at any time and realize it was all a dream. But he could feel the ring on Pete's finger that matched his own. How could it not be real?
Vegas ran his hand up Pete's torso to lay over his chest, just above his heart. Feeling that steady rhythm set him at ease when his mind began to race, which was frequently since he'd been laid up until recently. Yes, the bath was nice, but sharing it with Pete was better. Everything was better with Pete. Vegas exhaled slowly and nuzzled his cheek against Pete's hair.
"Still can't believe we got married," he murmured, the awe evident in his voice. But so was the smile. Vegas truly expected to wake up at any time and realize it was all a dream. But he could feel the ring on Pete's finger that matched his own. How could it not be real?
His hand moved to where he knew that bracelet was. Lightly, he traced the edges of the cuff, feeling the line of diamonds as it rested on the man's wrist. A cuff that so perfectly matched the collar around his neck. A sign of how they belonged to each other and always would. He smiled some more as he nodded to agree.
He couldn't believe it either. But the way they'd done it just felt so right. So perfect.
"When the hell in the Western Kingdom is over lets make sure that we throw a party. People will want to celebrate us. And Tay wasn't able to be here for what happened too. And I know he's really been wanting all of us to go out together." He laughed a bit. "Maybe we could have him plan it. I bet he'd love that."
He couldn't believe it either. But the way they'd done it just felt so right. So perfect.
"When the hell in the Western Kingdom is over lets make sure that we throw a party. People will want to celebrate us. And Tay wasn't able to be here for what happened too. And I know he's really been wanting all of us to go out together." He laughed a bit. "Maybe we could have him plan it. I bet he'd love that."
"I told Kinn he should throw us a party and he basically told me to kiss his ass." He had just loaned Vegas 1.5 million yen so... he might be justified. Though Vegas did nod at the suggestion of letting Tay plan a celebration. He's definitely a good choice for that.
"It can be a combo: celebrating us and the end of whatever the hell is going on in the Western Kingdom." Maybe Kinn will have found a place by then and they could celebrate that, too. "It'll be nice to have some fun." Which isn't to say he hasn't been having fun with Pete, but Vegas was still a bit of a social creature. A night of music and dancing and drinks with the people closest to him sounds like a nice way to feel normal again.
"Promise to wear something sexy for me."
"It can be a combo: celebrating us and the end of whatever the hell is going on in the Western Kingdom." Maybe Kinn will have found a place by then and they could celebrate that, too. "It'll be nice to have some fun." Which isn't to say he hasn't been having fun with Pete, but Vegas was still a bit of a social creature. A night of music and dancing and drinks with the people closest to him sounds like a nice way to feel normal again.
"Promise to wear something sexy for me."
"You think everything I have is sexy because you're a fucking pervert."
But he would definitely go out of his way to find something that looked really nice and showed some skin. Just for Vegas. And also because he wanted to have a collar low enough that he got to show off the new collar that he had. He was really proud of it and wanted to show everyone that it, like the rings, meant that he belonged to Vegas and only him.
But he would definitely go out of his way to find something that looked really nice and showed some skin. Just for Vegas. And also because he wanted to have a collar low enough that he got to show off the new collar that he had. He was really proud of it and wanted to show everyone that it, like the rings, meant that he belonged to Vegas and only him.
"Wrong!" Vegas quipped. "I think you are sexy. What you wear just enhances that." Maybe other people didn't see Pete that way, but Vegas couldn't see him any other way. And that was perfectly fine by him. Vegas didn't necessarily want other people to be attracted to Pete. He might have to hurt them.
His hand lifted higher, fingers brushing over the collar around Pete's throat. Then he traced them down over his chest in a sort of v-shape. "Something cut low." Or just barely buttoned up. He wanted to show off their new jewelry, as well. Not just because it marked them as belonging to each other, but because he was proud to have Pete as his lover, his husband, his partner. And he was honored to be Pete's.
His hand lifted higher, fingers brushing over the collar around Pete's throat. Then he traced them down over his chest in a sort of v-shape. "Something cut low." Or just barely buttoned up. He wanted to show off their new jewelry, as well. Not just because it marked them as belonging to each other, but because he was proud to have Pete as his lover, his husband, his partner. And he was honored to be Pete's.
"You're still a fucking pervert." But he was his fucking pervert and that was what mattered here. Smiling, he tilted his head back to feel the fingers trace along his skin, grinning when he realized they were marking the path of what he'd had in mind to begin with. It was perfect that their minds had come together so perfectly.
"Maybe I could wear one of the yukata but have it loose. Or maybe some slacks with a patterned shirt but leave some buttons open." He ran his fingers over the edge of the cuff Vegas wore again.
"You should have sleeves rolled up."
"Maybe I could wear one of the yukata but have it loose. Or maybe some slacks with a patterned shirt but leave some buttons open." He ran his fingers over the edge of the cuff Vegas wore again.
"You should have sleeves rolled up."
"Alright." It wasn't like he wasn't going to be shoving that cuff in everyone's face. He already sent pictures to Tay and made sure Kinn saw it. What's the point of having it if people don't see? Even if people didn't get the full meaning, it was important that it be seen. At least, it was important to Vegas that people should see it. Even better if people noticed that the cuff on Vegas' wrist matched the collar around Pete's neck.
Okay, maybe he's a little vain and he wants people to notice.
"I wouldn't want to cover it up, anyway," he added with an audible smile.
Okay, maybe he's a little vain and he wants people to notice.
"I wouldn't want to cover it up, anyway," he added with an audible smile.
Pete could hear that smile. It made him smile more too and he turned his head to nuzzle it against his husband's. The fact that this man wanted to show the world that he was taken by him meant everything. Just like Vegas wanting to claim him for himself. They belonged to each other and they both wanted the world to know that.
"It's going to be so good telling everyone you're my husband now instead of my boyfriend."
"It's going to be so good telling everyone you're my husband now instead of my boyfriend."
Vegas nodded and his grin only broadened. "I love the way that sounds. 'My husband.'" He practically sighed the words. His arm tightened to pull Pete close and he craned his neck a little to press a soft kiss to Pete's temple. "You should have seen the look on Kinn's face. I shoulda snapped a picture."
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