Heat Wave

Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun and I'm pretty sure that won't change anytime soon.

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For the next three nights, Vash had given himself the duty of waiting on the sofa until Meryl came home from work. No matter how hot it got or late she worked, he was always there waiting for her.

And Mark was always walking her home.

Milly had tried to warn him that he would just end up annoying Meryl, but he didn't listen. She ended up always going to bed before her partner came home. She claimed it was because the heat was making her sleepy, but Vash knew it was because she didn't want to be around when Meryl finally snapped.

One particular evening, Meryl and Mark had stayed on the porch far longer than usual. Vash had a good mind to run onto porch and show Mr. Lawyer how dangerous the Humanoid Typhoon could be.

Then he remembered he left his gun in the desert and decided that glaring daggers at the front door would be just as effective.

As soon as Meryl walked in he slumped back onto the couch, acting as if he had never moved in the first place. However, he couldn't resist saying, "So did you kiss your boyfriend goodnight?"

He noticed the small woman stiffen at the question, but soon went back to the task of taking off her shoes. "You're acting like a child, Vash." she said coolly.

"No! You are!" he exclaimed pointing at the door. "Staying out all night with…with…Mark!" The name felt like acid on his tongue, and Vash made a mental note to wash his mouth out before going to bed. "You're acting like some love struck teenager!"

"You have got to be kidding me!" Meryl let out humorless laugh, "'A love struck teenager', Vash? And I'm sure you would know."

Vash's eye narrowed, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't play dumb, you know exactly what I mean! Mr. Vash the Stampede, the man known for chasing every godforsaken female that prances down the street!" She practically yelled the last part, and Vash had to grasp the fabric on the sofa to keep from wincing. Was that what she thought of him? As some kind of play boy?

He was thrown from his thoughts when he heard her say, "You're acting so jealous, it's almost comical."

He heard her march up the stairs and slam the bedroom door behind her, but it didn't seem important at the time. He was too busy analyzing what she had said.

Jealous! Was that what he was feeling this entire time? What is really jealousy? He wouldn't know. He had never been jealous of anyone before…well unless it was if someone had taken the last doughnut at breakfast, he had felt that. However, jealous about a person, a girl especially, he had never felt before.

That night, Vash the Stampede fell asleep on the couch drowning in his own thoughts and emotions.

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(AN: I know it's short, but I have an excuse! Are you ready for it? Here goes.

I'm trapped in upstate New York where there is nothing but mountains, and because of this chapter had to be short. I don't really know how mountains affect the length of this chapter, but they just do.

Let's not question it and simply press the little Review button. It likes attention. :-3

P.S. Thanks to all of you who reviewed the last chapter! It means a lot and I love you all!)