Click. Clickity click. Click. The tapping of the keys on Meryl's typewriter were a soothing sound as Milly yawned. She smiled to herself, what a strange dream that was. In fact, she'd been having a lot of strange dreams lately. Mr. Vash dating her and kissing her and all of that mess with the bounty hunters in the cave and the little blind fish… All just a crazy dream she was trying to decide in waking whether she wanted to remember it or not when she got out of bed. She rolled over under her sheets, feeling the warm blankets and cool pillows, the suns shining in from the windows marking it morning already.
Milly stretched, opened her eyes, wiping the grit from them and scratched her head, it throbbed and her hair felt like it was caked in mud. She needed to get cleaned up. With another yawn she rolled out of bed and padded from her room through the main living area. The clicking had stopped and Milly thought briefly that Meryl must have stepped out for a minute, maybe to go get more coffee from the shop around the corner. She didn't even stop as she went into the bathroom, shucked off her clothes and hopped into the shower. The water was so nice and warm… And even though her head throbbed for some reason, she realized she could stay there forever, just thinking about that weird dream she had. It was a good one, although strange and of course none of it could have really taken place. How crazy that was, especially Mr. Vash giving her that kiss… Hardly realistic, that's for sure! Milly smiled to herself, closing her eyes as the water washed away the grit and grime from her travels. She wondered if they would be taking off in the next day or two.
The sound of the bathroom door opening caused Milly to glance toward the opaque shower curtain. Meryl must have needed to use the potty, "Just don't flush, okay?" She said off-handedly, working the shampoo through her long hair now, letting it fall down her back with a wet slap. A sound of footsteps walked from one side of the bathroom to the other, the bathroom door closed and then there was a scrambling sound and a soft curse.
Milly frowned, "Meryl? Everything okay?"
"Can't get the door open…" It wasn't Meryl's voice.
Eyes wide, Milly realized that she was naked in a room with someone that was not Meryl, with only a tiny thin shower curtain between them. She swallowed, "Uh… What's going on?"
"It's just me, Milly…"
Heart pounding, the voice registered in her head and it made things suddenly very much worse… It was Vash. "What in the world are you doing in my hotel room?" She squeaked.
"You're in mine…" Vash said sounding slightly amused. Milly couldn't even pay attention to finishing her shower… This was not good… This meant that what had happened had not been a dream and here she was in Vash's hotel room and…
"What am I doing in your room? And are you sure you're not in mine?"
Vash smiled on the other side of the curtain, although he was still cursing himself for forgetting that the bathroom door stuck. It was a lucky thing that the big girl hadn't closed the door all the way, and he was only going to jump in and get his toothbrush and jump out again… But a breeze knocked the door shut and they were stuck. At least until he could get the hinges unhooked like last time… But last time he wasn't in his pajamas holding only a toothbrush. He heard the water shut off and a timid eye peered around the curtain. "You're in mine, although our rooms look identical. I brought you back here after you passed out."
"Oh well… Why in the world did you do that?" Milly felt almost hysterical, her clothes were littered all over the floor, even her unmentionables… And Vash was right there and there wasn't even a towel she could reach! "Why am I not in Meryl's room!"
Vash's eyes went dark, "They hired the bounty hunters."
"Who did?"
"Meryl and Wolfwood," Vash said as he moved and sat down on the toilet. Milly followed him with his eyes, "I couldn't let them take you after they nearly got you killed. I'm sorry…" He saw their expressions as he came to see Milly, apparently the rock that hit her had been harder than she'd let on. When Milly passed out Meryl told him the whole rotten story and he'd simply picked up the big girl and taken her to the hospital. Then, against everyone's orders he took her to his own room to keep an eye on her. Meryl had argued with him the entire time but he was disgusted that she and the priest would do something so underhanded… He sighed. "It wasn't meant to happen like that. They apologized so I really don't begrudge them…"
Milly's eyes dropped, "I guess… I guess I understand. They were only doing what they thought best right?" She kinda did, although her mind was in such a fuddle, unable to decide whether she was dreaming or not. Her heart was pounding too hard in her chest to allow her to think straight. "I… So, why are you in here, anyway?"
Vash hitched a thumb at the door. "It sticks sometimes. I need something to pull up the hinges, but all I have is this." He lifted the toothbrush, "I'm afraid it would break… in fact, I know it will," he moved his fingers from the handle to reveal that it was already broken in half. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get us stuck like this. You don't happen to have a nail file or anything do you?"
Shaking her head, Milly pushed back behind the shower curtain. She stood in thought for a minute, "The pins can't be that tight can they?"
"After I told the manager that I pulled the door off the hinges to get out he pounded them back in…" Vash sighed, "Finish your shower and I'll see what I can do." There was movement on the other side of the curtain and Milly turned the shower on again, hoping upon hopes that he wouldn't try sneaking a peak at her. She got the conditioner into her hair and washed it through and started soaping up her body when there was a sharp, ching sound and what was left of Vash's toothbrush hit the ceiling and dropped in on her over the top of the stall. She jumped.
"Sorry! I knew that wouldn't work." All that was left of Vash's toothbrush was the head. Milly felt almost sorry for it as it sat in the bottom of the tub looking like a little caterpillar. She looked around, trying to think of what she might have had in her pockets from the day before.
"I think I have keys in my pants."
"Okay, I'll try that," Vash started fishing around in her things, trying not to look at her panties and bra, they were both a cute shade of pink with little dark red ribbons… He smiled. Normally girls he met wore black underwear or some strange animal print. Milly was so sweet… Vash shook his head quelling the thought. This was not the time to be thinking with his other brain because he was just not willing to do anything like that with Milly. Innocence was so fleeting when decades passed by like minutes… He found the keys and took the sturdiest of them, trying to pry the pin from the hinge.
There was another ching, and half of the key zipped into the bathtub, and Milly dashed around it. She turned the water off and looked at what remained to her apartment key. She picked it up and sighed, "The land lord is not going to be happy about this…"
"I'm not going to try any more," Vash said. "This is getting us no where. The maid should be in within an hour or two and when she can't open the door we can tell her to get help." He put the remaining keys on the vanity and went to sit on the toilet again.
Milly was shivering now, water dripping down her back. "Uh…"
"Yes?"
"Do you… Maybe… Could you… Hand me…"
Vash smiled, he took the towel from the rack and leaned over to hand it to her. "Here's a towel."
Blue eyes peeked around the curtain again, "Closer?"
Amused, Vash moved it only a half of an inch and Milly prompted for him to move it closer, but he didn't. The big girl was turning a fearsome red color as she finally reached out one hand to grab the towel. But Vash was too fast for her, he grabbed her wrist and she squealed. "Let me go!"
Ignoring her words of protest, he looked down at her arm. Covered in scars from her forearm to what he could see of her shoulder, he was thoroughly intrigued. His own nightclothes covered up the scars that covered his entire body, and suddenly he understood why the big girl wore shirts and pants rather than her companion's skirts. "You're scarred," he said ineloquently.
"So!" Milly squealed again and desperately tried to pull away from him. "Please Mr. Vash, let me go…"
Vash's smile faded with the formal title again and he let her go. Milly disappeared into the protection of the shower curtain and tried wrapping the towel around her midsection. It was too small! Why did hotels always have such tiny little towels anyway? They didn't cover up a gosh darn thing and they were scratchy and unpleasant and she wasn't going to dare ask the gunman for another one! He'd seen her scars and her heart started to beat painfully in her chest again. He wasn't supposed to see those… Now he'd want to drop her for good… Maybe it was for the best. Milly bit her lip, hoping she was getting the towel to cover the important bits. Although the scars went up her arm, over her shoulder and down part of her right side.
"Where did you get them?" Vash inquired. Milly shivered, her hair was dripping down her back into the towel.
"I… It's kind of a long story."
"We've got a few hours," Vash said. A twinkle in his eye and he smirked, "I could think of other things we could be doing during that time if you'd rather."
"No!" Milly's blush went down her back to her kneecaps. She clutched the towel around her more fiercely and she swallowed. "I lived on a farm when I was growing up. My parents raised tomas, and used them to plow the fields. When I was four my father took me out to help him plow but one of the birds took off with me attached… I don't know how my ankle got caught in the harness but I was dragged the full length of the field. I can't remember most of what happened, but I was in bed for months after that." Milly looked down at her side and grimaced. She could still remember the painful days that followed. She didn't begrudge the toma, but she decided she never wanted to be in a hospital bed the rest of her life after that… "It's ugly, I know. No one but my family and Meryl have seen them."
Vash shook his head, "I don't think they're ugly. They're a part of you." He pulled up his sleeve looking at his own scars and sighed. Although he understood completely why Milly didn't want to show them to anyone. He wasn't even sure he would be willing to show his own off in return… In fact, he couldn't. Vash pulled his sleeve down and stood up, "Do you want your clothes?"
"Uh…" Milly thought about the fact that he'd have to touch her underwear which had to be dirty and it was just disgusting to even think about it and so embarrassing to boot… "I guess so, I'm sorry." A moment later a towel was handed in and Milly unwrapped it in the bottom of the tub to find all of her clothing neatly wrapped within to keep them from getting wet. She pulled on her undergarments, pants and shirt and finally felt relaxed. With a deep breath she opened the shower curtain and looked at Vash.
He avoided looking at her, his eyes thoughtful. "I'm so sorry about all this," she said slowly, sitting down on the edge of the tub.
The gunman glanced at her, "It's not your fault. The door just got stuck on its own."
"No… I mean, about all of this. If I hadn't made that stupid suggestion a few days… How long has it been since the cave in anyway?"
"Yesterday, you slept straight through."
Milly's stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten since breakfast… "Oh…" She shook her head before continuing, "Anyway, it's my fault you got into this whole mess and I'm sorry. As soon as I get out of here I think I'm going to go tell Meryl I'm sorry and…"
Vash reached out and put his hand on her knee and he was looking at her with a disappointed expression. "I'm as much to blame as you are. If it weren't for that stupid bounty those hunters wouldn't have taken them up on the offer…" He shook his head and let it sink to his chest. His hand fell from her knee and he looked wilted. Milly felt sorry for him all over again. Maybe that's all this was, just pity? She hated to think that her feelings for him were rooted in such an emotion, maybe empathy rather? They were really in the same boat together, forced to be together in dangerous circumstances while everyone was telling them that they couldn't have normal lives and couldn't be happy like all the rest.
This was the first time she realized she'd ever seen him without his red coat and it made him seem vulnerable. Vash's normally spiked hair was soft and falling over his face and around his ears, he probably took a shower the night before and hadn't fixed it. He was today, a completely different person. Milly wondered if this was closer to the man he really was, not the man everyone thought he was, or the man he made himself out to be. His face was scruffy and needed a shave, and he was wearing an old pair of sweatpants and an old long-sleeved t-shirt, both of which had seen better days.
Reaching out, she put her hand on Vash's head and he jumped slightly, looking up at her. Milly smiled, "I guess we're even then," she said finally. Letting her hand fall to his cheek, then to his shoulder, she leaned forward, moving herself off the rim of the bathtub and onto the floor and set her head against his chest. Vash didn't move at first, watching her with the loneliest expression she'd ever seen. Milly closed her eyes, unable to look at him again, listening to his heart pounding in his chest, although something below his shirt didn't feel quite right. She didn't ask what he was hiding, it was probably for a good reason.
Slowly, Vash put his arms around her and Milly opened her eyes, a smile on her lips. She felt good in his arms, and he enjoyed being able to look into her blue eyes. It was a pity things were the way they were, that he couldn't tell her what he really was, how he had to continue the search for his brother he wasn't even entirely sure still lived. But he had a feeling as twins do that the other part of his soul was out there somewhere wandering. Would someone like Milly understand? Some people knew, those that lived with him in his home, but he hadn't been there in so long… And most people on the planet knew nothing of plants, knew nothing of ancient technologies, and he didn't want anything spread around either. Vash's heart ached, how hard it was to want to tell someone who he was and to be accepted! But there was an underlying fear that Milly would tell Meryl and Meryl would tell Bernadelli and then…
He knew he would never be able to tell her. Vash regretted not being able to trust her. Maybe in another universe they could have been friends, confidants, maybe even lovers. But in this reality, he could fool himself by pretending, perhaps even enjoying a few warm kisses, but it would all end, because that is the way it was with immortality. Only he would go on. These three days were mere blinks of an eye to him, and even though he tried his hardest to enjoy every moment, they were nearly over now.
Milly moved in his arms and he looked down at her. "Are you okay?"
"My knees are falling asleep," Milly said sheepishly. She pulled away from him and sat down with her legs crossed on the floor. "That's better."
Vash joined her on the floor a moment later, putting his head on his hand, elbow on kneecap, and just stared at her. Humans were just so precious. Didn't matter what size, shape or color they were, they were all just such wonders. He loved them all, was inspired by them, thrived to be like them, and he wished that one day he could be accepted by them. How could a species be so diverse? Animals weren't like that, they could have different personalities like cats or dogs, but they were still all in essence, the same. They all ate to live, lived to reproduce, and then died. Humans had goals, aspirations, formed alliances and broke friendships, had children, worked and some thrived, others gave up, but they all had a purpose, a flame that burned within them. He enjoyed every moment with them, and loved the days he could spend with them.
Meryl didn't realize the reason he could spend weeks playing with children and goofing off. They were only children for such a short time. He had seen children born and die of old age within his own lifespan. A few weeks were nothing. His memories of these people were so much more precious when he was able to spend more time with them. Vash was even, in his own way, happy that the insurance girls were following him. For once he had someone there beside him in his journeys. Even though they were a bit annoying at times, he was already starting to count on them to be there. Just as Milly was here with him now, watching him with those innocent eyes of someone who could see good in everyone.
"I'd give you a c-cent for your thoughts…" Milly started, causing Vash to blink into now again. "But I don't have any money apparently." She had her hands in her pockets which were completely empty.
"Sorry," Vash said after a moment, "The hospital was really hurting for funds so I kinda helped myself to your…" He looked abashed and Milly frowned.
"What are you saying?"
Biting his lip, Vash said, "I took your wallet and gave them everything in it. Not that there was much, and I'll pay you back for it… But they didn't have any money for supplies and between both of us we had enough to help them out…" He looked up at her, his aqua eyes so sweetly pleading, Milly started to giggle.
"It's… It's okay. I understand. I'll just have to hold out sending money home until next month."
Vash's eyes went wide, "You… Oh, I'm sorry…" He started to fumble on the floor, glancing back over his shoulder and remembered the door was still sealed shut and he couldn't do anything to open it, at least not without breaking the door down… He didn't really have the money to repay the hotel manager for a broken door. As it was he'd only paid for one more day and he would have to be on his way again very soon. But what about Milly? "I didn't mean to give away your…"
Milly lifted her hands, "It's okay, really. I'm just trying to pay my parents back for helping me get my job, that's all. They really didn't say I had to, but I just thought it was something I should do." Her hands dropped to her ankles and she shrugged. "It was sweet of you to help out the hospital, and I'm glad I got to help, but what will you do? I get paid once a month…"
"I'll just find a job as a bodyguard," Vash said after a moment. "Or maybe some other job. My reputation proceeds me. People hire me for all sorts of things, well, you saw at the mansion…"
"Oh yes!" Milly nodded, "I see. You work for what you need and then go on to the next town right?"
Vash nodded, "Kinda like that. I don't need much. Food and a roof over my head once in awhile."
"It's very noble of you." She stretched her legs and let them fall on either side of Vash's hips. Milly looked up at the ceiling. "You know, it's kinda nice being stuck in here with you. Kinda normal."
"You're right, it is," he agreed. He shrugged and leaned back against the door. It wasn't a very big bathroom all in all, there was just barely enough room between the tub, the toilet and vanity for the two of them to sit on the floor without touching. He reached out his hand and placed it on her ankle. Milly didn't flinch as he started rub her foot. "We did make it to the third day."
"Yup, we sure did."
"Think we could finish it out?"
Milly lowered her head and smiled. "Sure, why not? We should find a way to get Meryl and Mr. Wolfwood back for hiring those bounty hunters, don't you think?"
Vash felt his lips pull back in a grin. "That's a brilliant idea. I have just the thing too…"
"Oooh," Milly said, she leaned forward, hands on Vash's knees. "This should be fun!"
Author's note: This chapter was actually part of another Vash/Milly story I worked on about a year ago. It went up for a very short time on but was taken down after about a week since no one seemed interested in it! However, I couldn't just allow the shower scene to go the way of the dinosaur, so I found a way to fit it back in. The original version got kinda "steamy" in more ways than one! I like this version however because really, as a few people have pointed out to me, Vash and Milly seem so perfect together as friends, they're too much alike! Such goofballs who love everyone.
Thanks to everyone for their reviews! I'm so happy that a few other people like to see the hijinks that ensue when Vash and Milly get together! And I love the remarks about Wolfwood and Meryl too… Wait and see what they're up to next!