Yay! An update! After what could be considered a long time...
Thank you for reviewing to:
JasperK- As I like to read your work, it means a lot to me that you're reading mine...
Lady Spaz- You're making me blush...Please try to add criticism too, because getting so much praise just... (blushes) Also, I did decide to lengthen each chapter to two scenes instead of just one. Sorry...
As I am the only one editing this, it's bound to be filled with typos and sentences that make no sense. Still, I hope you enjoy!
For the dozenth time in the past few days, a brunette cursed the covered pick-up truck and reason why she had not slept in days. Meryl tightened her grip on the steering wheel, clenching her teeth. If they didn't find a town soon, she was going to shoot someone. Preferably a tall, blond, concious someone.
She supposed it wouldn't have been so bad if she could trade driving off to someone else. But that was impossible; Va- Mr. Vash the Stampede couldn't drive and Milly had fallen asleep behind while driving before. The brunette had fallen asleep on a thomas before too. How her partner had done so, Meryl had no idea, but one thing was clear: she was the only one capable of driving safely.
If only Mr. Vash could stop whining.
Despite her irritation, Meryl almost laughed. It was almost like things were normal again. But she didn't laugh because, no, this was not like old times.
Caught up in her thoughts, the petite insurance agent did not notice that they had come across a town until Milly shouted, "Ma'am, look! That must be Macca City!" And she did. On the horizon, a town sprouted. They would be able to stop for the night. She could stop driving.
Meryl smiled, hands loosening their painful grip on the wheel. She looked into the rearview mirror to thank her partner, only to meet Vash's eyes from where he sat with Knives in the truck bed. They glanced away at the same time. Quietly, Meryl murmured, "Thank you, Milly."
Only an hour (read: an eternity) later, the truck stopped in front of a building whose rusted sign declared it to be an inn. The driver uncurled her fingers before removing the keys from the ignition. Stiff hands opened the driver's-side door and a slim figure hopped down. Meryl stumbled a bit as she began walking around the vehicle, but Milly and Vas- Mr. Vash didn't seem to be having any trouble. The group entered the inn, Knives slung over Vash's good shoulder.
The bar keep startled at the sight of them. But quickly he gave them keys for their rooms, wanting them out of the way before the dinner rush began. Whatever it was they were doing- he eyed Knives and concidered reporting them for kidnapping- they would scare off his regulars. The Upstairs, the twins parted ways with the girls. Milly noted her friend watching them as Vash walked away.
Perhaps she did need to ask what was going on between them. They walked into their room and she shut the door.
Meryl stripped off her outer layer and collapsed, face-down, on a bed. She groaned when she heard Milly set their typewriter on the table; she had forgotten about the report.
Milly watched her friend, a small smile on her face. "Don't worry, Ma'am, I can type up the report if you want." She folded her jacket over the back of a chair and reached for Meryl's discarded clothes.
Slowly, Meryl turned her head. "It's fine, Milly. I'm just thinking I need to take a nap before I start on it." A wary smile graced her lips. She rolled over to face her friend.
For a moment, they were silent. Then Milly began, "Ma'am, did...Did you get in a fight with Vash?" Meryl sighed, shaking her head. Milly gasped. "He didn't turn you down when you told him, did he? Oh! Vash should know better than to lead you on and then-" Meryl rolled over suddenly, face hidden as she exclaimed,
"Milly, Milly! I...I still haven't told him...And really, he's never even shown any sign that he might, well you know."
"Ma'am..." Milly shook her head. There was another pause and she realized that her first question was still unanswered. "My little big brothers always says that 'you have to -'" She broke off, sighing. "I think...I think Mr. Vash would want you to tell him, Miss Meryl."
The tall brunette moved to the door. Meryl said nothing. "I'll go find us something to eat, Ma'am."
The door closed behind Milly with a click, but Meryl only frowned and closed her eyes. She needed that nap.
When Milly reached the bar and placed her order, she was surprised to see that Vash was already eating. He shoveled the stew into his mouth at an alarming rate, but somehow managed to double his speed when he noticed her. As his eyes flitted around, looking for an escape route or distraction, she approached the back corner where he sat.
It was time to get some answers, on Meryl's behalf.
"Hiya, Mr. Vash!" The gunman fidgeted under the force of her smile.
"Hey, tall girl." He resumed filling his mouth immediately.
A waitress, wearing a uniform not unlike the one Meryl had at their last place, set a plate of spaghetti, a mug of tea and a cup of pudding in front of Milly, refilling Vash's drink without being asked.
Darn it, Vash thought. Now he had to stay. Realizing there was no longer any point in eating so quickly, Vash slowed down. He glanced at the waitress.
"Her uniform looks just like Miss Meryl's, huh? Only hers is pink and Ma'am's was black."
Suddenly, Vash recalled Meryl coming home from the bar soon after he had woken up. She had smelled like alcohol and cigarette smoke and sweat and lavendar. Meryl had complained about how lousy her tips had been that night, an adorable frown on his face. And the way the uniform fit her...Vash stopped himself, remembering what happened the last time he'd thought about M-short girl's appearance. He nodded silently, sipping at his beer.
He nearly aspirated the beverage when Milly wondered, "Did you get in a fight with her again?"
"Hah?"
Milly looked into his eyes, frowning slightly. "Neither one of you is talking to the other and Ma'am seems really upset...And both of you need to work this out."
The blond looked away first. "We aren't fighting with each other. I...Mer- short girl just..." He drained the last of his beer and stood. "I need to check on Knives."
Vash left enough double dollars on the table to cover both of their meals and headed upstairs.
Milly furrowed her brows deeper. "But then why are they ignoring each other?" The table answered with silence but she continued, "And why was Mr. Vash acting so odd?"
Word Count: 1,108