Jackie: Thanks to Aine of Knockaine and KawaiiBabe14, my first two reviews for my second fic! I appreciate constructive criticism and good reviews! Chapter 2 turns on dramatic music
Disclaimer: checks real quick NOPE… Still don't own Trigun.
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Meryl didn't notice Vash watching her the whole time. As he watched he thought of the ways he could tell her in his feelings.
You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen… And that means a lot 'cause I'm 130 years old! No…
I know I'm technically a jobless bum with a homicidal maniac as a brother but would you consider… No…
Hey short girl, wanna get hitched? No, no no!
He shook his head with frustration and raked his good hand back through his golden hair. He glanced at his hand and dusted it off on his jeans. His hair was still slightly damp it seemed. He was there, Meryl was there, they were in the room together but not together. That had to be fixed, but how?
Meryl started humming that old familiar tune as she added meat to the vegetables and started to lightly season her creation. He loved her cooking and she was particularly good at making soups. She told him it was because it was practical to make soups. They lasted long and fed a lot of people on very little food. She was always practical, always planning, and she never missed a beat. Yet, she was also fun loving, and willing to do the 'impractical' to help, of all people, him. She was, simply put, amazing.
"I've got it!" Vash blurted out.
Meryl swung around with a slight squeak of surprise. Vash was too embarrassed about being caught to notice her eyes drop to his bare chest. Even with his scars he was magnificent. Meryl blushed and forced herself to look him in the eye. She was happy to see him blushing and staring at his feet still. He hadn't noticed her openly appraising him.
"You've got what, Vash?" Meryl forced out.
Vash blinked and looked at her. She was practical. He had to give her a practical reason to love him. He summed up him courage and looked into her lavender eyes. Meryl, there are a hundred good reasons for you to love me… Okay, that's a good start.
"Vash?" Meryl asked, "You've got what? You said you had something?"
"I," Vash started, "I… I've got it! The best doughnut recipe ever!"
Meryl glared at him and shook her cutting knife in the air toward him. She growled as she said, "THAT is what you scared me half out of my skin for??? Get out of my kitchen! I am TRYING to make dinner!"
"Wow, SCARY," Vash eeped and darted out of the room.
Aggravated was what she should have felt, and she did. She wasn't aggravated at him though, she was aggravated with herself. He had just gotten back and already she was waving weapons at him. The way to a man's heart was to NOT threaten him with bodily harm. She growled at herself and started fiercely dicing the remaining ingredients.
Smooth… Vash thought regretfully. He flopped down on the couch and stared at the ceiling. He was not even half way through his first day back with his insurance girl and he had already put his foot in it. He rubbed his head with frustration. He had spent his whole life driving people away. He had no idea how to make them want to stay.
'You're thinking of that insect again.' Knives broke in
'I thought you couldn't force open links in your sleep state.'
'I'm not asleep. I figured if you could keep your body running while it healed, I could. I can probably do it better.'
'Everything is a competition with you.'
'You're changing the subject.'
'What Subject?'
'Your pet human. The short plain girl who follows you wherever you go.'
'Her name is Meryl.'
'Her name could be mud for all I care. I would ignore her presence if you weren't projecting such disgusting feelings for her.'
Vash sighed ruefully. Knives was going to be a bigger job than he thought. Maybe it was best if he put his feelings for Meryl on hold until he was sure Knives wasn't going to be a problem. If only there was some way to… That's it!
'Knives, how weak are you?'
'Why do you want to know?'
'Never mind, I'll just probe you and find out.'
'You wouldn't dare!'
'Why not, you think nothing of invading the thoughts and bodies of others. Why should I treat you any better than you treat them'
'I'm your brother.'
'Brace yourself… This might sting.'
'Vash, no don't-'
Vash heard Knives scream upstairs. Probing a person's wounds was a lot like re-opening them with your bare fingers, but it gave a good gauge of how bad the wounds were. Knives may be able to communicate with Vash telepathically but Vash doubted he was capable of much else. Most of his energy was tied up in healing.
'Bastard!' Knives cursed.
'Now, now, you could have avoided that by simply telling me how bad your injuries are.'
'Are you satisfied now?'
'Thouroughly.'
'Then I'm going back to sleep.'
Millie peaked out of her room just as Meryl glanced out of the kitchen. They had heard Knives scream as well. Vash smiled at them brightly and said, "Oh, don't worry. It's nothing."
"How could a scream like that be nothing?" Meryl said with a glare.
"It was just a brotherly spat," Vash said, "Really, it's nothing to worry about."
"Well, try to keep your brotherly 'spats' down to a dull roar next time," Meryl lectured.
"That won't be a problem," Vash chimed, "I'm checking him into the hospital tomorrow."
"You're WHAT?" Meryl and Millie both squealed.
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Author: And the plot thickens… So R&R PLEAASSSEEE. Pretty please with sugar, and syrup, and cherries, and… and bananas, and… this 'low carb' ice cream alternative. What? Okay, okay, real ice cream