By The Way, Ludwig Was Right About One Person
While last year Maddox and he had availed themselves of most of his wine collection, Vash found himself at a loss as to what Maddox would possibly want to do for his birthday this year. Maddox had effectively made him feel guilty about not getting him anything last year, but Vash had not been comfortable with it.
The only birthday he ever celebrated was Heidi's. Then again, Maddox had broken into his house to get away from the party that Alfred had been trying to throw him.
"I don't like attention" he said with a perfectly straight face. Vash had not believed it. Now he did. Maddox did not like attention. He simply liked his actions to get attention while people wondered where or who they came from. A subtle difference, but different enough.
Still, this year was not too different. Vash had planned on getting him a manual of the laws in Hearth because he had been certain Maddox would have gotten his own certain kick out of that. Then iMarcus had to say that now that they were an item Vash was going to have to try harder then that. It was his boyfriend's birthday!
Vash had never had a boyfriend before. Or anything like this. So what if (God forbid) iMarcus was right and he actually needed to do something more?
He did not want to use Hearth as an example of the normal, so it was not as if he could look around or ask someone else. What would Maddox like? To escape from the party Alfred was going to throw from him. But that was a given. If he sneaked into iMarcus like he did last year... then what? Was Vash supposed to have something ready?
He almost found himself going to Ludwig and asking if he had a manual on the matter, but that was not only embarrassing, but completely stupid. Hell, he had arrested Ludwig once for something he had tried from one of those goddamn manuals.
Nearing the end of his day's rounds he passed Ivan as the man was checking the dumpster.
"Vash."
"Ivan," he returned the acknowledgment with his own.
"How is your sister?"
Every time Ivan talked to him now that was the question. Vash knew better than to immediately think it was for some untoward reason, but as it was about Heidi he could not help but try and fill in what he did not know with anything so that he could have all of the bases covered so as to keep her safe. Just in case.
"She is doing well. What of yours?"
"Natalia is happy." And it was always Natalia he spoke of first. Vash knew there was something weird about that. Just as weird as the fact he had not had to come in and separate her from him lately. He had the right to be curious and worried. "And Kat... ecstatic. Von't say vhy." Ivan looked confused as he thought about it.
Vash knew why, Angus was being teased by Roy and Brian about it. Still, the last thing Ivan needed to know was anything about that. "Good. Good day."
"Good day!" Ivan called after him as Vash walked off. He would really have to figure out why Ivan kept trying to talk to him.
With nothing seeming too out of place (for Hearth), Vash returned home just in time to say a quick hello and goodbye to Natalia as she left.
"Lighten up~!" iMarcus sung. Vash did his best not to glare at the wall, because that simply looked stupid.
"Brother... Natalia and I are having a picnic tomorrow!" Heidi said exuberantly, hands clasped in front of her. "Can I take the big quilt from the guest room?"
Vash hesitated, then cleared his throat. "I... I do not see why not. Yes, go ahead."
"Thank you!" She smiled, already rushing off to prepare it because of her excitement.
Was it unfair that Vash did not like the fact she was going off with Natalia where iMarcus could not watch them?
Vash had too many problems and it was giving him a headache.
Notes:
Ha ha. Vash arresting Ludwig! Sorry, but this one I am keeping to myself. Anything your collective minds imagine would probably be better than anything I could write. Just like that incident with fire, Raivis, Ivan, and Natalia. You just get to think about it.
They have a guest room, but never any guests. Well, never guests that stay the night. Well... sometimes, but those guests are often in jail. So no guest room for them.
It is August! Stepping up updates to every other day~
