"I'm going to the bathroom."

"Mmm...hhmm." Milly stared blankly out the dark window, not really paying attention. She wished the moons were on this side of the bus. The night sky was one of the few last beautiful things they had on this world.

Meryl ignored the poor answer, not bothering to question as she walked out of sight.

It was only about one daydream later when Milly felt the seat shift again. That was an awfully quick. She turned, and where Meryl's eyes should have been was just Wolfwood's open shirt.

"Mind if I sit here?"

"Nuh uh." She could only look at him helplessly. Somehow he reminded her of a salesman. That smile...but she and Meryl had been sitting across from him and Vash for hours now. He had to know that that was Meryl's seat, right? Before she could think much else he just leaned his back against her and got situated with a smug look on his face.

Nick closed his eyes, still smirking. "You're comfy."

She blushed as he shifted a little more weight against her. The lingering smell of cigarettes and gunpowder was unmistakable in this man's dark suit and messy black hair. That had to be against his religion right?

Meryl froze at the sight before her. Exactly what had gone down in the last few minutes? Milly was out cold, snuggled with that so called priest...and the only open seat was next to Vash. She sat down grudgingly and crossed her legs. "Your friend's a real sleazeball."

Vash turned to observe what Meryl was grouching about now. He was unimpressed. "Milly doesn't look very upset to me."

She glared. "I'm sure she has higher standards than that, she's just polite."

"Unlike you."

"Fine. Would you like me to ignore you the rest of the way?"

Vash just looked at her then turned back to the window. She blinked, suddenly hurt. He was such an asshole! Her shoulders sank as she cast an angry gaze to the floor.

But after a few minutes, he spoke. His voice was soft and calm. "Why were you worried about me?"

It was so out of the blue, she could only look at him. "What?"

"That night...on the sand steamer. I've never seen you look at me that way." After a moment, he turned to look at her. Her eyes were wide and startled. That stormy gray blue...she didn't know what to say.

"I...just don't know how you can do those things. Like they aren't anything." She thought of what Milly had said. "...Like it's just natural. You're never afraid."

"I am afraid..."

She looked up at him.

"I'm afraid all the time. I don't want anyone to die. If I can save them...and I don't do anything. It'd be like killing them myself. I can't let that happen..."

"But...people die, Vash. People die all the time. You can't put that kind of responsibility on your shoulders. Nobody can save everyone...it's fate."

He cut her off with a sudden sharpness. "Don't excuse it with a simple word."

His tone stung her heart, making her feel ashamed. Had she really become so jaded? "I'm sorry, Vash..." was all she could manage.

He stretched and smiled a real smile. "Well that was a nice little convo! Jeez I'm tired! Good night, Meryl!"

"Wait, I..."

But he was already snoring. "That man...honestly." So strange.

Milly woke up to find her face buried in a man's chest. Most people tend to panic in the first dazed moments of awakening within an unfamiliar environment and she was no exception. The insurance girl went to jerk up straight, but didn't plan on his chin being right above her head. They both had a very rude awakening. The sudden clash of jaw against skull sent her quickly back down holding the back of her head with her face in his lap. In a minute she would realize that this position was much more humiliating, but for now all she could think was 'I have a concussion'.

Nick didn't know what hit him. He grabbed his jaw and scanned the dark bus quickly. Everyone was asleep. He couldn't feel the pressure in his lap because the intense stinging in his jaw. He was dazed and angry but saw no source for the sudden beating...that is until he heard the moan from his lap. He looked down, still holding his jaw. She had her head on his thigh and glints of water in the corners of her eyes. He understood now. "You...ah." Damn that hurt.
"You okay big girl?"

"Not really..." This was awkward at its finest degree. At least his thigh was warm. Ah! Where the heck did that come from? She instantly tossed that thought out. Any second now, the stunned phase would wear off and she could pull her face off his lap. Any second...she tried to lift her head up and her vertebrae made a few popping sounds. She felt strong hands on her shoulders as he gently helped her up.

Just by the light of the moon, he could see the tints of rose forming in her cheeks. He cracked his jaw back into place then smiled. "You sure are a dangerous woman."

"That's what you get for sleeping with strangers...Mr.Priestman." The sting was subsiding to a dull throbbing.

Heh, that was a new one. "You can call me Nick if you like." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled cigarette.

She watched him light it with a bit of curiosity. People had a reason for every habit. She wondered what his was.

"Well that's odd."

She cocked an eyebrow, "What is?"

"You didn't say anything. I was certain you would. People who aren't addicted always have something to say."

She looked a bit shy again. "Well normally, I guess I would. But I've already gotten brain damage tonight, so what's a little lung cancer?"

"Oh come on, I know I have chiseled good looks, but you're being a bit extreme."

She suddenly remembered she'd never seen Meryl come back. She leaned forward to peek around Wolfwood. He followed her gaze. Vash was completely slumped over onto the other insurance girl, snoring away. Even in her sleep Meryl had a slight agitated look, like any second she just might wake up and bop him. "That's an interesting sight..."

Nick took a few more puffs. "They got some thing for each other?"

Milly eyed him as if it was a trick question. Better not give a strong opinion one way or the other. "Who knows..."

He gave her a sideways glance, taking another drag. "Well you got a somebody?"

He might as well of said 'it's raining beer and pink thomases' from the look she was giving him.

He blinked. "What? Just don't stare at me like that big girl."

She looked back at the window, afraid she'd be blushing again soon. It was odd, she was usually very comfortable around boys. He just kept surprising her though. "Of course I don't! What guy would put up with me? I'm never around and most the time I'm in the company of Vash The Stampede, getting shot at, or kidnapped, or taken hostage...or saving Priests and kids from giant robots."

He smiled. "I see your point. By the way, thanks for the robot thing. I'm sure you used a lot of ammo."

"Almost all of it." She said sinking into the chair.

He smushed his half done cigarette out in the ashtray and suddenly yawned. "Shall we try this again?"

"Huh?"

She turned to look and he threw an arm around her. "Here, put your head on my shoulder."

She blinked, uncomfortably observing the strange hand now hanging down by her chest and ominously near the buttons of her shirt. "Um...Mr.Wolfwood?"

He cocked an eyebrow, faking obliviousness. Eh, bad move Nicky boy. But he'd like to see any other guy try to fair alone in the desert for more thana few months without hide nor hair of a woman. He smiled genuinely. "What? This jacket has a little padding in the shoulders. It's way more comfortable than these dinky seats. Come on. I'm tired. If you get comfortable then I can get comfortable."

After reading his eyes a moment and finding no ill intent within them, she finally gave in. He was just too easy to trust. It was definitely weird. "Fine." She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, all the while reminding herself to never think of buying a car from this man.

He waited a little, then leaned his head against hers and closed his eyes as well. She smelled good. Way better than cigarettes anyway. He got the sense she was still wide awake though. Mind reeling most likely. Clean types like her didn't mix too often with scum like him. Ah well, she still made a good pillow.