Desert Discord
All right, so they aren't stranded yet. But undoubtedly their volunteer work will make their trip a little more difficult. For Wolfwood, anway.
----
Vash and Wolfwood both caught their breaths as the motorcycles engine hacked and skipped breifly. Only taking a moment to exhale when Angelina II got over the brief bout of hiccups as quickly as they appeared.
"Whoa there, preacher man. Easy on the mantra."
"Hey, she didn't give out."
The blonde grinned, "Yeah, this time."
Wolfwood had endured about enough of all the teasing about his precious Angelina he could take, even if it was good natured. He turned his head slightly to level a warning look at Vash. The other gunman instantly played innocent, holding his hands up in apology.
"Whoa, scar-y! I was just jokin' though, Wolfwood. Honest."
"One of these days that tongue's gunna get you killed, " Wolfwood chuckled.
"Me? Never!" He gave a laugh, which was cut short as the bike hit a bump in the road. Vash quickly scrambled to steady himself on the bike, having let go of his light hold on Wolfwood and tightly squeezed the priest to regain balance. The priest seemed to relax gently against the sudden squeeze of Vash's arms, but quickly snapped back to attention before his companion, or, more importantly, he himself took much note of the reaction.
"Shit, are you okay, Vash?"
"Uhm, yeah," Vash loosened his grip on Wolfwood with a sheepish laugh. "Guess that's what I get for makin' fun of your bike."
Wolfwood nodded, "Good, that would be a pretty sorry way for a guy with 60 billion on his head. Of course, it could be worse. I mean, hell, at least I'd be pretty rich."
"Geez, I feel so loved."
"C'mon, you know I was joking, " Wolfwood laughed.
Vash sniffed and held his head up, "Yeah, yeah, I know where I stand!" He couldn't help but grin.
Wolfwood rolled his eyes, "Please, if I wanted to kill you I would've done it long ago. Besides," Wolfwood shrugged lightly, "you're not so bad to have around."
Vash blinked delicately and leaned forward with a smirk, "Hey, I thought priests weren't allowed to lie."
"I'm not lying, but whatever..."
Vash paused and considered for a moment, a true smile claiming his face for a moment. He felt reassured, almost to an odd degree, by Wolfwood's affirmation. But then, he had always been able to relate to Wolfwood more than the insurance girls, the were nice but he knew the priest understood more about the sort of life he lead. "Yeah, well, things wouldn't be the same without you either."
Wolfwood nodded a silent acceptance and swallowed to push down the brief flutter of butterflies that stemmed from Vash's words. Was it the guilt again? Or something else... He didn't want to think about the other 'something', it would just complicate his job even further. It was bad enough that he felt a sort of kinship with his charge, but anything else...
Well, it was better left not thought about. Vash was a guy, a very girl oriented one at that even if he lacked smoothness with the ladies. He was also mildly unnerved by Vash's thoughtful silence. Sure, Vash and him had shared moments of silence before, it was understood that chit chat was not always necessary to make for a friendly sitting. But this silence seemed different, was it possible he had let something slip through his mask? Or was he just being appropriately paranoid? That was probably it. Paranoia, it was a life saver in his field of work.
Thankfully, however, Vash finally shattered the silence as he leaned over Wolfwood's shoulder to peer ahead. "Hey, that's a pretty weird place to put a house. Clear out in the middle of nowhere."
"It would be weird, if maybe the town wasn't a few miles away."
Vash wrinkled his nose. "You know what I mean. Most people want to stay in town." He paused and clenched Wolfwood's shoulders with excitement. "Maybe it's full of gorgeous women just waiting for a trailblazing hero to sweep them off their feet!"
"... Or maybe it's message parlor, which I need now thanks to a certain someone cutting off the circulation to my arms. Ow, ow, ow!"
Vash quickly released Wolfwood's shoulders and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry about tha--" Once more the bike cut a bump and Vash found himself without anchor to the bike. He grabbed onto Wolfwood once more, a bit tighter this time. This time Wolfwood dropped a hand down to steady one of the foreign arms on his person.
"Christ, watch it before you become a street pizza, Vash," he couldn't help the slight worried tone that sneaked its way into his voice. Vash nodded and once more fell quiet for the remainder of the ride into down, so as to avoid becoming distracted to the point of falling of the bike.
Wolfwood slowed as he made his way down the main drag of the humble little town, not that there was much traffic to compete with and finally pulled to a stop in front of the saloon. He took a moment to light up a cigarette before sliding of the bike, wearing a triumphant grin. "See? My Angelina made it here in one piece."
Vash laughed and ruffled his spikes, "Yeah, now we can get some food."
"Amen to that." Wolfwood snickered and turned to head into the saloon after grabbing The Punisher, Vash following at his heels.
The run down saloon was rather vacant aside from a pair of farmers, your token drunk and the tender himself. The priest set his cross against the door frame to take a moment to slide of his sunglasses while Vash went ahead to find out what sort of edibles were available, walking with a noticeable bounce in his step.
"Hey, old man!" Vash called. "Er, I mean, Mister. You wouldn't happen to have any donuts would you?" Vash made sure to put on his most charming grin, coming off as as much a momma's boy as ever. However the bartender's confused silence answered Vash's own query. "Oh alright, I'll just have a sandwich and a beer. You can put it on that guy's tab." The blonde pointed at Wolfwood and flashed another grin as he sat.
"Hey! Give me a break, Vash, I'm doing all the driving," Wolfwood sat and gave a sigh.
"If you mind driving so much, why don't you just let me handle it? Any way, relax, preacher, have a drink."
"Are you insane?! There is no way in hell I'd let you drive my baby!" Wolfwood sulked a moment before nodding to the bartender, "All right, guess I'll have the same as this moochin' goofball here."
"Hey! I can drive." Vash scooped up his sandwich as the bartender dropped their orders in front of them.
"Yeah, but knowing you it'd be right into a tree, despite there not being any for a good hundred iles." Wolfwood tossed Vash a grin and started in on his food. The bartender contemplated the two for a moment, then shifted his eyes to the huge cross propped against the bar.
"What's a skinny guy like you doin' carryin' a big thing like that, huh?"
Wolfwood instantly flashed the tender his best innocent smile, "Why, because it's my trade my good man. I'm a man of cloth, you see. If there's anything I can do for you I'd be happy to oblige." He considered a moment, then whipped out his portable confessional and set it before the bartender. "Need to be absolved? All transgressions or otherwise sinful acts can be wiped clean from your tab above with one simple donation."
Vash struggled to keep a straight face as the bartender studied the mini confessional breifly. "So, your a preacher, huh?" The tender shook his head and chuckled bitterly, "You couldn't have showed up at a better time." Wolfwood and Vash both leaned in curiously as the tender continued, "There've been a lot of problems in the town. But you know how it is, these are godless times."
Wolfwood frowned, "What's the problem?"
"Well ever since this so called 'new age' Order of the Suns came into town all our young women folk have been up and disappearing to that mansion outside of town. That's where they hold their secret meetings or whatever the hell goes on there. It's crazy."
The tender shook his head ruefully, "Wives, daughters, mothers, all packin' up everything they own to head out to that creepy old place. And their ain't a damn thing we can do about it, they only let women in and the men that went out to retrieve their gals never came back."
Vash bit his lip and paused before standing, thumping his fist upon his chest, "That truly is a tragedy, sir! Think of all those frightened and -lonely- young ladies, that is something no creature as delicate a beautiful girl should have to face, I swear to you I will make it my duty to save them!"
Wolfwood dropped his forehead in his hand and groaned inwardly. Great, now not only had Vash volunteered them, but Wolfwood wasn't even sure if they could take the risk to help. Sometimes you had to accept that you just can't stop all the bad shit, plus he had to keep Vash as low key as possible. Then again, children were involved.
"I wasn't asking you goofball," the tender rolled his eyes at Vash.
"Don't worry, sir," Wolfwood sighed and stood. That damn better half had gotten him to cave, he couldn't help but assume Vash was to blame. One of these days, he thought, that airhead is gunna get me killed. "I'll look into it. Vash, you stay here."
The bartender looked at the air headed gentleman and blinked rapidly. "V-V-V-Vash," he stammered, "you mean the Human Typhoon is here?!"
"Ah, no," Wolfwood began, trying to think of some sort of quick cover for his slip, "he's just Vash. It's short for Vashua. Kinda accidental naming, see, his mother was a bit off if you know what I mean. That's why I haveta look out for him." He flashed the bartender a disarming smile.
Vash implored Wolfwood with puppy eyes, "You can't leave me here alone with someone as dangerous as Vash the Stampede around! Who knows when he might start shooting at random, bang bang bang!" Vash pointed his index finger out like a gun and pantomimed said random shooting.
Wolfwood held up his hands in defeat and nodded, "Fine!" Under his breath he couldn't help but add, "Tongari."
In his excitement, of not only getting to save a flock of pretty town girls but of also being allowed to play the idiot, he flung a crushing hug on Woflwood. "Why thank you, Mr. Preacher Man, to allow me to be the valiant rescuer of those damsels in distress!"
"You're truly a kind soul for taking him in, preacher," the tender nodded.
Wolfwood clenched his teeth against the hug and gave an easy smile. "Well, he had no where else to go, someone had to do it." Now, he wasn't even going to touch on the subject of whether he enjoyed the hug or not. He'd already been down this road once before and it was nothing but trouble, not to mention that regardless of whichever way it went, it was not the time or the place. He hissed a command for Vash to release him under his breath and the blonde politely obliged.
"Never fear, mister, with us on the case you can be rest assured we'll bring those girls home safely. For we are champions of... LOVE AND PEACE!"
"Are you sure it's safe to take him with you, preacher?"
"No," Wolfwood shook his head. "In fact, I'm sure it isn't. It's just safer than letting him interfere, at least this way I can keep an eye on him."
"Yeah, anyway. We better be off to check out that mansion. I told you it was full of beautiful women, Wolfwood! I told you!" Vash cackled like a madman and tromped on out of the saloon, calling back, "C'mon, Wolfwood!"
Wolfwood shook his head and stood, unable to help the small smile which tugged at his features. There was never a dull moment with Vash. Never.
"Yeah, Yeah, I'm coming!"
