Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun. Life is that cruel.
A/N: I can hardly believe I'm back for a second chapter. The reviews are golden! Thank you to my beautiful reviewers! It's much appreciated! Someone emailed me (sorry I forgot who) and asked me where I thought this fic would lead. Hmmm..good question and the answer is I don't have a clue. I'm basically just making stuff up as I go along. Like you, the reader, I have no idea what's going to happen next for the characters of Trigun.
I wanted to respond to the reviews I got in the last chapter. I probably will not be doing this for every chapter but I'm in the mood.
Now on to the fic! Hope you all enjoy this next installment!
-
'What's going on?' was Vash's first thought as he opened Knives bedroom door and stumbled upon the position he and Meryl were in. He had come back to the small house promptly after realizing his mistake of leaving his brother with a human. As soon as he walked in the room and dropped his bag of donuts he watched as Meryl stood up slowly.
"Your back." She said simply.
Vash felt his heart thump hard against his chest and he bent down to pick up the boxes of donuts he had dropped. Sub consciously he hoped they weren't ruined in any way but his mind was more focused on the important matter that lay before him.
"Yea, uh did I interrupt something?" He asked eyeing both Meryl and Knives.
"Don't be a damned idiot!" Knives threw out. "The little spider was merely cleaning the wounds I wouldn't have, had you not shot me again! And the very thought that you were suggesting the idea that I and this.this inferior being, were doing any of the sort of things I see your mind whirling with, is insulting and absurd."
Hearing Knives explanation, Vash immediately perked up. 'It is absurd. Knives would never involve himself with humans.' Meryl interrupted his thoughts.
"Let's get one thing straight Knives. If you're going to be in MY house eating MY food and laying in MY bed you're going to stop addressing me as a spider. I have a name." She announced firmly.
"Humph," Knives scoffed dismissively. "I'll call you what I like, for that's what you are."
At that degrading remark Meryl couldn't help, picking up the bowl of now cold water she was using to clean Knives wounds, and dumping the entire contents onto him. He gasped at the coldness of the water and Vash widened his eyes and began to retreat out of the room. 'No point getting caught in the crossfire.' He noted to himself and left for the kitchen.
"You vermin!" Knives yelled loudly.
"If you're going to treat me as an inferior, I'll treat you as one too. And you can forget about me helping you with anything until you apologize!" She growled back just as loud and turned to leave.
"I don't need your help! I'm fine on my own!" He yelled after her and tried to lift himself up only to shudder back down in a laying position. He didn't really expect to feel remotely better; he just wanted to prove he was capable without Meryl's help. In which he failed miserably.
-
Fuming, Meryl slammed herself down on a chair across from Vash who was eating a glazed donut.
"Would you like one?" He asked kindly.
"No." She said giving him a look.
"He really isn't that bad Meryl. Knives just." Vash trailed off.
"Knives, Knives just what?" Meryl prodded him on. Vash sighed and shook his head. "I'd suggest you finish cleaning him up, because I'm not going to do it." She continued. Vash nodded and stood. He figured in the mood she was in it was best just to go along with everything she said.
-
As Knives watched Meryl leave his room he couldn't help but be intrigued. 'Strange human that one is. She ought to be afraid of what I'll do to her after that little stunt and yet, I don't smell her fear. I'll have to toy with her more, I can see that will be the best way to cause Vash true eternal pain.'
Just as soon as he finished that thought Vash walked in. "How are you doing Knives?" He asked smiling.
"Take a guess dear brother." Knives responded enraged. "Tell me, why did you bring me here to this town infested in human pests, and what exactly did you plan to do with me? I won't be in this condition forever."
Vash rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Right, well I haven't actually thought that far ahead. As for why I brought you here, you're family. Besides Rem told me to take care of you, and that's what I plan to do."
"That foolish women, it's her fault you're so pathetic." Vash only grinned at Knives insult.
"So you've told me in many different ways. Anyway it's about time I clean the rest of you up from where Meryl left off. I'll get some more water and a towel so you can dry off from Meryl's rage. I suppose we'll need to change your sheets too." Laughing Vash stood up to get what he would need to clean the rest of his brother and change the bedding.
Knives sniffed the air. "What's that smell?"
"Huh?" Vash asked only half listening. "Oh, probably something Meryl is making."
"It does not smell like food. Can you not smell that? Its faint but its there."
"I don't smell anything." Vash dipped a cloth in the bowl of water and pressed it against Knives wounds. The moment the cloth hit Knives body he screamed in pain and clutched his side with his arm, which only caused more pain.
"Idiot! Get the hell way from me! What are you trying to do to? Burn me?!"
Vash cocked his head to the side. "What are you talking about? Was it this painful when Meryl did it?"
"No!"
"That's weird." He picked up a brown bottle from the floor where he had put it. "She did get it from this bottle right?"
"Bottle?! No fool, she used ordinary tap water!"
"Oh. Oops, I didn't read the label, its peroxide." Vash watched as his brother's face went from pain to solemn anger. "I guess the faint aroma of the peroxide is what you sniffed in the air."
"The human." Knives spat out. "Get her. Now."
"But I thought you didn't like Meryl."
"GET HER!"
"Alright, jeez." Vash stood and left Knives to go retrieve Meryl. "I think my brother prefers you than I."
"Not possible." Meryl said distractedly. Now that Vash was back she had begun writing a letter to her boss to inform him that she and Millie's job would commence once more. "He doesn't care much for me."
"That may be true but when it comes to nursing him back to health, I'd say he hates me more. I kind of started to clean him with peroxide. He didn't like that much."
Meryl looked up from her typing with an amused look. "How funny." Her smile dropped to a frown. "Is he going to apologize?" Vash shrugged. Meryl heaved a sigh a leaned back in her chair. "I hide it, but he scares me Vash. He's too confident for someone in that condition."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry." Vash said as he grabbed another donut and started munching on it.
"Didn't you tell me earlier today, I shouldn't worry of him waking up? You were wrong about that so you're probably wrong about this."
That hurt him a bit and right away she could tell. "Vash, I didn't mean for it to sound like." her sentence went uncompleted as she started to fall from leaning too far in her chair. Luckily with Vash's quick reflexes he caught a hold of the chair and Meryl before they both hit the ground.
He carefully placed her and the chair back on the level ground. From the quick scare of nearly falling her heart raced a little.
"Are you okay Meryl?" He asked concerned.
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just glad you caught me." She replied. 'Did I hear a hint of concern?' Her heart asked. 'Of course you did. That's who he is.' Her brain told her.
"I wouldn't have let you fall Meryl. I wouldn't want you to get hurt." He said quietly.
Meryl looked up at his blushing face as she felt her own face burning. It had been a long time since she was able to gaze into the aqua whirl pools that were Vash's eyes. Secretly, they had always left her speechless and this time was no exception.
"Meryl?" He questioned quietly. Looking at her he saw that her beautiful light grey eyes were glazed over.
She didn't know what was coming over her. Maybe it was his eyes, maybe it was the fact that he was so close but she found herself standing up to embrace him. Without hesitation he embraced her back. It felt good to be holding her. 'This is how is should be.' He realized. 'This is how it ought to be forever.'
With a sudden jolt Vash sensed Knives invading his personal thoughts with a chuckle. 'Don't get too attached to her brother. Humans are weak, you should know this. They eventually die, she will be no exception. I'll make sure of that personally.'
Vash clutched Meryl with extra force. 'Don't you hurt her Knives.'
'I can't move a muscle so I don't plan to.at the moment.'
"Vash?" Meryl asked worriedly. She noticed he was hugging her harder in a more protective way.
Vash loosened his grip around the small framed woman and gave her a smile. "It's nothing Meryl. You know, I think I'll just take care of Knives." Meryl slid herself out of Vash's hold.
"If you truly want him to get better, you'll let me take care of him. Moreover he may want to apologize."
"I don't think you should go near him any longer."
"Why not? I'm a little scared, yes, but he can't do anything to me." She told him confidently.
'Want to speed up the process; I'm still resting in a soaking wet bed thanks to you!" Knives mentally told her.
"Stay out of my thoughts Knives!" She yelled in the direction of his room. She turned back to face Vash. "Why don't you go to the hotel to check on Millie? She works as the front receptionist. And here" She walked over to the fridge and pulled out a paper bag. "She'll be working late into the night and she left her dinner so there's an excuse to swing by."
Vash regrettably took the bag from Meryl. "I don't want to leave you alone with him." He firmly told her.
"I'll be FINE Vash. Honestly. If he tries anything." She held up one of her small derringers. "But he won't because he's incapable for the time being."
Against his better judgment Vash nodded and took the paper bag from Meryl and walked towards the front door.
"Oh and Vash?" Meryl asked and he turned around to face her. She shifted uncomfortably. "I just want you to know that.I did miss you, and I'm glad your back."
He grinned. "Thanks Meryl, I missed you too.and Millie." Having said that he turned and left through the front door.
Meryl leaned against the wall and sighed. 'Me AND Millie. Of course.'
Meryl could hardly lie to herself anymore. She really did care for Vash. 'Maybe, just maybe I even.' She stopped herself in mid thought. 'No Meryl.' She told herself. 'For one its not good to mix work with pleasure and two the 'L' word is not meant to be thrown around casually.Well I'd better get back to Knives before he throws a fit.'
-
"Knives?!" She exclaimed with a great shock upon seeing him as she entered his room. "How were you able to sit yourself up?" He smirked.
"I am a superior being. A few bullet holes won't stop me for long. I imagine I am nearly healed."
"Oh yeah?" She asked walking towards him with a sly smile on her face.
"What is that look for?"
Meryl reached out and poked his side. She watched as he double over breathing hard in pain but not allowing himself to make a sound.
"You treacherous beast!"
"You're not fooling anyone Knives. I apologize for poking your side, but it proved a point that no one not even a "superior being" can heal instantly from the extensive deep injuries that you have."
He muttered something she couldn't hear, but instead of pushing him to speak up she let it slid.
"What are you standing there for?! Are you going to help me or not?" He asked menacingly.
"Depends, are you going to apologize for your earlier comment directed towards me?"
"I wouldn't count on it." He said
"That's fine Knives. I'm sure Vash won't mind helping you get better."
Knives cringed at the thought. 'I don't care. I will not apologize to someone who is beneath me.' He thought to himself. "I'm sure my idiot brother will do fine given a second chance." He told her a loud.
Meryl sighed. "Unbelievable, all you would have to do is say you're sorry. But suit yourself. Vash and Millie will care for you."
"Millie? Don't tell me there is another piece of human trash here and that you expect me to let her get near me? I can barely stand your presence."
"I'm sorry you feel that way Knives, but I wouldn't put the burden of taking care of you on Vash or Millie alone." Now waiting to hear a response Meryl left the room.
-
Two weeks had past since Vash had retuned with Knives and still Knives refused to apologize to Meryl and because of his stubbornness he was forced to endure Vash's painful healing methods and Millie's constant cheerfulness. Something he loathed.
"Don't you ever shut up woman?!" He barked at her one day while she was replacing his bandage around his leg and talking about her family at the same time. "I could care less about your pathetic human family!"
"Gee, Mr. Knives, I guess I do talk about my family a lot, but they all mean so much to me. My big, big sister always said." Knives groaned as he tried to tune her out.
'This girl is as annoying as my own half wit brother.' He thought.
-
Between Millie and Vash, Meryl had assumed that he'd be restored to health in no time, but he wasn't. The fact was the two of them were delaying his healing. Not on purpose but because Vash occasionally dropped things on Knives, and without thinking he still put peroxide on all his open wounds.
Millie usually got caught up in talking to Knives, though it was one- sided because he never talked back, that she would normally bandage his whole body together so he resembled something close to a mummy.
He always protested, but she was forever too involved in telling him her tales about her family that she didn't pay any attention to his protest. Walking by his room, Meryl would see once in awhile the damage Millie was doing to him but she only covered her mouth to keep from laughing and continued on her way.
One day when Vash was looking over Knives lack of progression he dropped a half eaten donut in his face. This, for Knives, was the very last straw.
'You! Get in here!' He mentally yelled to Meryl, who at that moment was writing a small report to send to her boss. Vash accidentally set the town's library on fire. How that happened she still didn't understand and Vash wasn't open to talking about it.
Meryl walked into Knives rooms arms folded with a displeased look on her face. "That's NOT how you ask people to come in a room." She told him.
Knives ignored her comment and looked at his brother. "Vash get out, I want to talk to her, and take this damn thing with you!" He yelled tossing the donut out the door.
"Hey!" Vash protested. "That was a powdered one, and I said I was sorry for dropping it on your face."
"Just get out!" Knives continued to yell his anger starting to boil.
Vash gave Knives and Meryl a queer look but he left the room, leaving the door open.
"What did you want Knives?" She asked annoyed.
'Do I, a superior being, want to apologize to such a creature?' He thought and suddenly flashes of Millie's and Vash's attempts to care for him ran threw his mind. 'Yes, I do.' He confirmed to himself.
He took a deep breath and exhaled. "I wanted to apologize." He said calmly looking away from her and out his window. He wanted to say it in a way that would show her he was still in control.
"Apology accepted." He heard her say. He turned to look back at her and saw a smile on her face. "Let me clean off your face, you have powered donut all over you."
"Wait, that's it? You're not going to gloat about me apologizing?"
"Not today."
-
Vash looked and watched silently as Meryl took care of his brother.
'Now that Meryl's gone back to taking care of Knives she'll probably be spending a lot of time by his side.' He thought miserably.
'Could you not think so loud? Your whiny complaints give me a headache.' Knives mentally told him. 'And as for the woman, I see you're rather attached to her Vash. Don't worry brother; I'll take good care of her for you. Jealousy over a human isn't fitting for you.'
'Why would I be jealous of you Knives? She doesn't even like you, and I know you don't like her.'
'How do you know I don't like her? I wouldn't make such assumptions. As for her not liking me, she is choosing to take care of me over spending time with you isn't she?' He smirked.
"What are you smirking about?" Meryl asked wrapping his shoulder.
"Oh nothing." He said looking behind her at Vash. "I just had the most interesting thoughts."
-
A/N: Not the best way to end a chapter but at least chap. 2 of Fate of Awakening Love is over! That was really hard. I didn't know how to start off from the cliff hanger I left myself to deal with in the last chapter. I'm never leaving off in a cliff hanger again.
Knives: She says this now.
Author: ::causally hits him on the head and knocks him unconscious:: Anyway I kind of think this is one of those chapters that stories could do without but.I already wrote it so oh well! I guarantee there was a small reason for writing such a long chapter about all that though.
For those of you who are into the V/M fluff whatever's, the next chapter will have lots, okay maybe not lots, but enough of it!
Please read and review. And remember CONSTRUCTIVE criticism is always appreciated. If you just say 'this sucks' you're not helping me!
Yours truly,
F. Goddyss
Tempest Strife- I will defiantly be using Knives ability of telekinesis more but not too often, and Vash will eventually tell Meryl how he feels but I never did like pouncing love so it'll probably be a slow process. Sorry.
AnonymousTrigunOtaku- Thank you for pointing out the errors, unfortunately because I'm bad at grammar and punctuation it can't be fixed! ( But I will try harder to look for the mistakes.
SilverGunz- Thanks for the super positive feedback! So here's another chapter!
JustaTrigunfan- Did you really think it was cliff hanger? I suppose it was a little, any who I'm glad you liked the first chapter.
Arika- Don't unleash the flames! I thank you very much for being my first reviewer! Power to ya!