Dig for Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun.


How the hell did he end up like this?

Oh yes, that's right, his traitor of a brother shot him up then dragged him into this disgusting place festering with the parasites known as humans.

He rather he'd been killed.

What was worse was the fact that he couldn't even move. Vash had shot him in such a way that both of his arms and legs were immobilized, not to mention the medication those female spiders gave him made it nearly impossible to use his mental abilities.

God, he hated them.

He used every once of his strength to raise his hand, and just when he thought he had regained come control he felt unbearable pain travel up his limb causing him arm to smash it into the end table. The vase that resided on the stand crashed onto the floor. Knives screamed in both frustration and agony.

It was at that moment that Vash's beloved pet decided to saunter in. She looked at the broken vase and up at Knives, "What ever happened you probably deserved it," she said nonchalantly. "I told you not to move your arm. You didn't listen and that's what you get."

The Plant grumbled under his breath, "Execrable bitch…"

"Decadent bastard." she replied, having heard his low grouse.

Knives growled, "Injudicious human!"

"Pusillanimous Plant!" she spat.

Thus began the glaring contest, a tradition between them, of which Meryl was the current champion of. After a few moments, she maintained her title after Knives winced as his shoulder began to throb.

The woman victoriously strolled over to the Plant's bedside and began to run her fingers along his bindings. Knives felt his stomach churn as her vile fingers touched his virtuous flesh. He needed to breathe through his mouth to keep from vomiting.

"Just as I thought," She said relieving him of her touch. "You reopened the wound in your shoulder. I told you not to move it, now I have to bandage it all over again."

The platinum-blonde groaned and shut his eyes painfully as the insurance girl began to work on his shoulder.

After a few minutes Meryl interrupted Knives' comfortable silence. "Knives?" He didn't respond, but she continued anyway. "Do you care about Vash? Not like a fellow Plant, but as a brother." She continued her mending as the man looked at her peculiarly.

"What…what kind of question is that?"

Meryl finished with his shoulder and gave him her full attention, "Well? Do you?"

Knives was shocked, "I cannot believe you would even ask me something as…as…stupid as that!" His artic eyes blazed with emotion he rarely let loose. "Of course I care about him you unacquainted fool! If I didn't, do you even believe I would have allowed you and your colossal colleague live for this long?" His voice was laced with venom. "He asked me to spare you both! If he had not I would have exterminated you two vermin on sight!"

He expected her to bawl, scowl, or even cringe, but she didn't. Instead she sat there and smiled. "I'm glad," she said. "Vash cares so much about you that it would be a shame if you were simply here to betray him again."

He watched her as she reached for a packet of tablets, and poured the remains of the water from a pitcher into a glass. She assisted him as he took the painkillers.

She then stood up. "It also seems we have some common ground after all." His eyes never left her as she exited the room.

He felt anger boil inside him, for reasons other than frustration. He knew deep down he really didn't detest Vash's pet (not that he would ever admit to it). She wasn't unintelligent, disgusting, or any of the other things he had thought of humans.

Yet, she was stubborn (more so than even him at times) and demanding. She needed to realize her place in the world. That she was an inferior life form compared to him and his brother and she should value that instead of ordering them around as if it didn't matter. She never backed down though, no matter how many times he insulted her she would simply retaliate.

He just couldn't figure her out, and that was what aggravated him most.

Humans were always difficult for Knives to comprehend, but female humans were next to impossible.

He then felt the familiar drowsiness that came with taking the painkillers.

"Infuriating…human…" he mumbled before falling into a dreamless slumber.


(AN: NOBODY HIT ME! (ducks and hides underneath desk)

I admit this chapter was a bit shorter than the last one… (notices it's only two pages in Microsoft Word) Okay…maybe a lot shorter.

It's not my fault though, and as soon as I think of a better excuse I'll tell you it. But I PROMISE the next chapter will be longer!

Until then, please review! I love you all! Especially those who reviewed already!)

P.S. - A special thanks to igbogal who already has this on Alerts!