Dig for Fire
Disclaimer: I do not own Trigun.
The morning had never been brighter and the town had never been quieter.
Vash slowly felt the sense of consciousness overwhelm him. He was no longer in a weightless abyss, but on something soft. Was it a bed? Most likely, it's been a while since he woken up in an ally or on the desert sands. He toyed with the idea of opening his eyes, but decided he was better off pretending to be asleep for a little while longer. It really had been a while since he last let himself sleep in. One thing was concerning him though.
It was the soft feathery sensation of someone breathing on his stomach.
His mind was still clouded, and he simply figured it was that black cat that seemed to always find its way onto his lap on cold nights. Reaching out, he attempted to brush the cat off him, only to be met by very soft hair that was far too long to be a cat's.
Vash's eyes instantly opened and his eyes painfully adjusted to the bright room he was in. His mind was cluttered with questions that he began to answer.
Where was he?
He was in a bedroom.
What happened?
He got shot.
Who was on his stomach?
Meryl.
Vash bit the inside of his cheek; Meryl must have fallen asleep on him. Did she stay up all night looking after him? The two full bowls of uneaten stew that resided on the end table confirmed that. He couldn't help but find the idea utterly adorable. It made him feel an unfamiliar fluttering in his chest.
His hand was still entwined within the small girl's hair, it was so soft. He noticed it was slightly longer than it was when he left to fight Knives. Was she growing it out again? He thought back to the memory and remembered how nice her hair looked long. He wondered what it would be like if he were to bury his face in her silky, dark locks…
Wait a minute!
Why was he suddenly so obsessed with her hair? Weren't there other things to focus on?
Like how long he was out for.
By the looks of it, it was morning. That didn't answer his question though; he could've been unconscious for one day or maybe even ten. Although he doubted Meryl would stay by his side for ten days. Then again knowing Meryl she would, just so she would be able to hit him as soon as he woke up.
He dropped his hand slowly and began to caress Meryl's cheek with his thumb. Was she always so warm?
He thought back to what Wolfwood had advised him to do.
But did he really love her?
Vash idly glanced down at the small woman who slept on him. There was no denying that he cared for her a lot, far more than he had any other woman. But love? He wasn't sure; he never really loved anyone before. There was Rem and then there was Knives, but that was more of a platonic love. He never felt love before; he had never allowed himself too. On the other hand, he never felt as strong of feelings as he felt for Meryl.
He unexpectedly felt the urge to yawn, and did his best to contain it. He knew if he were to make any sudden movements Meryl would wake up and if Meryl woke up he would lose his most comfortable source of heat. That or she would yell at him. She wasn't really a morning person.
Vash couldn't help himself and did his best to muffle the sound behind his hands. It was no use, however, and Meryl soon groaned softly as she began to awake. Vash froze, feeling like a boy caught peeking and did he best to try and act natural. This was hard considering he couldn't move. He felt her nuzzle her head into his stomach, tickling him to the point where he had to bite his lower lip to keep from laughing.
With a start, Meryl instantly shot up and stared at Vash like a deer fixed in the headlights. Her hair was muddled, and her violet eyes were glassy with sleep. Her face flushed a rosy shade of pink with embarrassment, and Vash did what he did in all awkward moments. He smiled like an idiot.
"G'morning, insurance girl!" he greeted. "Am I a good pillow?"
"I…er…um…" Her blush deepened. She hated sounding so tongue tied, so she changed the subject. "Um…how are you feeling?"
His lopsided grin never left his face, "A lot better."
"You were…unconscious for a while…I was just making sure you were alright."
"Thanks, but I think I'll be okay now."
"I…I should check your wounds," Meryl rose from her seat and gave him a questioning look. "Is that…um…alright?"
He nodded, making an attempt to sit up without causing himself too much pain.
"Easy," she warned. "You're gonna reopen them!"
Nervously, he shrugged off his already unbuttoned shirt. Meryl sat behind him and with tender hands began to unwrap the old bandages.
"Wow," she said in an attempt to break the deafening silence between them. "Those guys really did a number on you."
He mumbled something incoherent in response. He had his eyes closed and was enjoying the feel of her soft hands on his battered flesh.
"I'm…sorry." he mumbled.
She was in the middle of cleaning off the dried blood with an alcohol swab. "For what?"
"It's just…it must be hard to look at…"
Meryl realized he was talking about his body and smiled sadly, "Don't worry about it. It doesn't bother me."
They sat in silence until, to Vash's dismay, her warm hands were gone. "All done," She said while looking over her handiwork. She was very proud of herself; it seemed that Knives was giving her a lot of practice. Her observations were cut short by Vash deciding it was a good idea to stretch his back.
"Don't do that!" she snapped. He instantly stopped and looked at her with a pout.
"But I'm stiff!" he whined.
"I don't care, you're gonna reopen your wounds!"
"But all I've been doing is lying in bed!"
"Because you were shot!" she huffed as he pulled his shirt back on with a satisfied smirk. He loved teasing her; she was so amusing when she got mad.
"You're bossy, insurance girl." He said making the universal sign for "scoot over" and rested back down on the bed while she sat next to him. She curled her legs into her chest, not wanting to take up more room than she had too.
She felt so weird sitting on the bed and just being so close to him. He was so warm, like a human radiator.
"Are you…um…in any pain?" she asked softly. "I could give you some of Knives' painkillers if you want."
Vash shook his head and closed his eyes, "Speaking of the saint…Knives isn't giving you any trouble, is he?"
"No," she said softly as she began to pick the lint off the blanket. "It's just the normal glaring routine. Maybe a few fowl words if he's feeling risky."
He smiled, "You still the winner?"
"Of course I am." she said rolling her eyes.
Vash chuckled, "That's my girl."
The compliment made a blush rise in Meryl's cheeks; she instantly looked down in an attempt to hide it. She focused on Vash's bandages and remembered something she was meaning to ask him.
"You're a much faster healer than your brother," she said. "He's been bedridden for at least a month and his wounds are just staring to heal. Meanwhile, you were shot yesterday and you're nearly healed. Why is that?"
He knew he had to tell her sooner or later. With a sigh, Vash opened his eyes. "I think we need to talk," He ignored Meryl's warning and sat up, resting on his elbows. "Remember that time in New Oregon, when I left during the sandstorm?"
She nodded, how could she forget? She and Millie were only thrown around the entire town by that stupid storm trying to find him. She gulped when she remembered how he looked when they finally caught up to him and Wolfwood. He had looked so old and broken down.
"Well, I went to my old home…an old Project SEEDs ship. They know a lot about Plants."
"But Vash," she asked softly. "What does that have to do with Knives?"
"Because I think I may have injured Knives more than I meant to…and they're the only ones who can help him. I was planning on leaving today, but since I'm all shot-up I guess I'll have to wait, huh?" He let out a nervous laugh and noticed Meryl's head was resting on her knees.
"Meryl?" he asked. She didn't respond.
"I was going to tell you at the convenience store, but I-"
He felt the tiny woman climb over him and make her way to the bedroom door. He reached out to stop her, but she moved away.
"Wait! Meryl!"
Her hand was on the doorknob when she turned around and gave him the fakest smile he had ever witness. Wolfwood was right, those did hurt.
"Wow Vash, you must be starving! I'm going to go downstairs and make some breakfast while I'm up."
"No wait, you don't under-"
She ignored him and the smile still stayed, "How about some Pancakes? You're going to need all the energy you can get for your journey."
"Meryl!"
She walked out and closed the door behind her.
Meryl hurried through the hallway and down the stairs. She had to keep her mind clear; she couldn't fly off the handle and cry. If she did that, she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to stop.
The cabinets were so old it took her a couple of tries to open them. When she did, she saw they enough mix left for one more batch. She frantically grabbed milk, eggs and a mixing bowl. She was careless when cracking the eggs and almost got shells in the batter, and she was sure she put in a bit too much milk. It didn't matter though; she just needed to focus on the task. If she focused on mixing the batter she wouldn't have to think about Vash.
She wouldn't have to think about how he was leaving again. She wouldn't have to think about how stupid she was to actually think that something would happen between them. She wouldn't have to think at all, but the pressure behind her eyes told her it was in vain.
"Sempai?"
Meryl's head shot up and her tear filled eyes met Millie's.
"Sempai...what are you doing?" She asked softly.
"I'm...I'm..." The small woman looked around the kitchen to see pancake mixture everywhere, egg shells on the floor and an empty carton of milk at her side.
What was she doing, anyway?
"I'm…I'm…" The warm tears began to cascade down her face. "I'm making pancakes!" She threw the wooden spoon into the sink with a crash and fell to her knees and sobbed.
Millie hurried to her best friend's side. Never had Millie seen Meryl fall apart like this, something terrible must have happened. She gathered her up in a warm embrace and rocked her back and forth, "Shh...it's alright Sempai...I'll be alright."
"No Millie," she hiccupped. "It won't...it won't..."
"What won't? What happened?"
"Again...he's leaving...again..."
Millie bit her bottom lip. She was so sure that Vash and Meryl would sort things out, but maybe Vash did think they were just nuisances.
But it was their job to follow him! Didn't Meryl always say that? Why was she acting like this? Why was she suddenly so hopeless?
"Millie...I'm sorry...so sorry..."
"Don't be sorry, Sempai. You-"
"I've ruined it...I've gotten too close to an assignment...if the chief ever found out...oh god, Millie..." This brought a whole new round of hysterics from Meryl. She was so far gone; Millie had to bring her back.
Millie reached onto the counter and grabbed the nearest thing she could, which happened to be a roll of paper towels.
"Meryl!" she said sternly and hit her partner over the head with the roll. "Get a hold of yourself!" With every word she softly bonked the woman until the sobs subsided and she looked up at her with watery, violent eyes.
"Listen," she said pointing the roll at her for emphasis. "You have work today right?"
Meryl nodded stupidly.
"Then I want you to march upstairs, take a nice long shower, and get yourself together!"
"But the wa-"
Millie hit her over the head again, "Don't worry about the water supply! We hit a water main, remember? Anyway, after that you're going to get dressed and go to work."
"Millie I-"
"And then," Millie interrupted only this time she gave her friend a warm smile. "You're going to come home, and we'll figure this whole thing out." She frowned and held the paper towel roll threateningly. "Do I make myself, clear?"
Meryl nodded slowly.
"Good," Millie ripped off a sheet from the roll and handed it to Meryl so she could blow her nose. She watched the tiny woman stand up and slowly make her way up the stairs.
She picked herself off the floor, dusted herself off, and made her way to the sink to grab the spoon Meryl had thrown. The tall woman then began to finish the breakfast her partner had started, all while planning what she was going to do next.
First things first, she had to find out what was going on with Vash. He obviously had a reason for wanting leave. Perhaps it was Knives' doing. Maybe he wasn't so helpless after all. Whatever the reason was, Millie was sure when she found what it was she would be able to straighten this whole mess out.
She was just finishing up the last pancake when Meryl had shyly come down the stairs and stared at her, as if waiting for approval. Millie gave a smile she hoped was reassuring, "Have a nice day at work, Sempai!" Meryl nodded robotically before walking out of the house.
Millie placed the last pancake on the plate with the others. She washed the pan and bowl and returned them to their respective places. She made the boys their plates and wondered if Knives ever had pancakes before. After taking both plates, she made her way to Vash's bedroom.
"Mr. Vash," she called. "I have breakfast for you."
When he didn't respond, she balanced the second plate on the crook of her arm and opened the door herself.
Vash was laying on the bed with his back to her. He didn't seem to notice she had come in.
"Mr. Vash?" she asked. He was awake, she knew that. "I've brought you some breakfast."
When he still remained silent she placed it on his end table. "Well, if you change you're min-"
"Is Meryl…" he said softly. "Is Meryl…alright?"
"No," she said just as delicately. "She's not."
As he laid there on his bed, refusing to eat or even look at her, he reminded her of a child.
"And neither are you." With that she left his bedroom, making sure to close the door behind her.
Vash curled himself into his sheet and buried his head in his pillow. It was hard to breath and his lungs hurt, but it was better than crying. He hadn't meant to hurt Meryl, it was actually supposed to be the opposite.
Why couldn't she have waited for him to finish? She would've heard him out and realized that he wanted her to come with him. He wanted her by his side. He was tired of seeing her cry.
That smile.
He groaned and buried himself deeper into his pillow. He never, ever wanted to see that smile again. It hurt too much to think about, none the less to actually look at.
Was that the face he'd been wearing his entire life?
When he was tired of the throbbing pain in his chest that signaled the need for oxygen, Vash turned on his side. As he gasped for air, the sweet sent of syrup engulfed his senses making his stomach remember how hungry it was. He sat up and stared at the plate not really sure if he wanted to eat it or not. His stomach won with an angry grumble and he grabbed the plate.
A voice in the back of his head told him that the pancakes were very thin and a bit burnt, but it didn't give it any acknowledgment. He kept eating, hoping the pancakes would fill the empty feeling in his gut.
They say despair was the best spice…or was it hunger? Whatever, he felt both so it didn't matter.
When he was finished, he placed the plate back on the table and stared at the ceiling until he realized how dirty the ceiling actually was. He also noticed that if someone were to squint their eyes the dirt looked like a butterfly.
He took that as a sign to go visit Knives.
Vash walked across the hall and into his brother's room, not bothering to knock. Meryl was right, Knives was still bedridden.
The platinum blonde opened his eyes and looked at his brother, "It's about time you came, I thought that infuriating spider was going to choke me to death with that garbage she called 'pancakes'."
"I can see that," Vash pointed to his chin. "You got a little dab of syrup on your face." He went to whip off the goop when Knives bit him.
"Ow!" he cried. "Knives, you bit me!"
"You're damn right I bit you, you imbecile!"
Vash pouted, "Why you'd do that for?"
"Because I can't move my arms! If I could I would've ringed your neck for leaving me alone for an entire day with them!"
With a sigh Vash sat on the chair across from Knives' bed. "You only say that because you don't want to admit you like them."
If looks could kill Vash would've died ten times over, until Knives' glaze lowered to his brother's now bandaged chest. "What happened to you?"
He noticed how Vash instantly covered himself and mumbled something incoherent. If there was anything Knives hated more than the human race, it was not being told something. "Vash…"
"I was shot."
"Those filthy spiders," he hissed. "They did that, didn't they?"
"It's not what you think." He met Knives' glare. "And it was a human who stayed by my side and made sure I was alright."
"Let me guess, it was the small one who was howling before."
Vash sighed and rubbed his temples, "I didn't come in here to talk about that. I came to talk to you about something more important."
The older Plant raised an eyebrow and Vash continued. "Knives, you said you've been having trouble moving your arms. And I've noticed you haven't been prying yourself in my mind like you used to. Have you been having trouble controlling them?"
Knives was never one to accept defeat, but his lack of control had been worrying him. He scoffed, "I'm sure once my body is fully healed I-"
"That's just it!" His brother chirped. "We've been here for a month and your body still hasn't fully recuperated. I think…I think I may have damaged the seeds in your arms."
Knives felt a sense of confusion overwhelm him. "My seeds…damaged?"
"Yes…but don't worry," Vash instantly raised his hand in a defensive manner. "I know a place where they can help you! It's an old Project SEEDs ship and they know a lot about Plants. I have friends there who can help you."
"Are they…humans?"
"Yes."
"Oh Vash, don't tell me you don't see the irony in all this?" Knives chuckled and Vash raised an eyebrow. "I spent my life trying to destroy all humans, only to be brought down by my own brother…"
"Knives…" Vash warned and Knives couldn't help but smirk at the way his brother's face was twisted in anger. Oh, he had struck a nerve!
"Now I must throw myself at the mercy of these spiders, because you love them so much especially-" He stopped, noticing the rage in his brother's eyes. Knives wasn't stupid, he knew his brother could kill him whenever he wanted to, especially in his current condition.
"I won, Knives," Vash said breaking the silence. "And you know if it were the other way around you'd-"
"I'd help you see the error of your ways!"
"And I would have to!" Vash screamed. "Damn it Knives, stop fighting me! I'm not asking you to worship humans I just need you to tolerate them!"
Knives was taken aback, never had his brother yelled at him like that. Vash had certainly changed, he had more confidence now. He wasn't that wimpy little brother who followed him everywhere anymore. Now it seemed if Knives wanted to recover, or even survive, he would have to follow his lead.
"One year," he heard him say. "Spend one year with them, and if you really cannot find a way to peacefully coexist with them, we'll leave."
The platinum blonde grumbled.
"What was that?"
"I said it's not as if I really have a choice in the matter…"
"Good. I'm sorry I yelled at you. But," Vash grinned and stood up, "If you do anything to hurt my friends, I won't hesitate to pull the trigger." He made gun-shaped gesture with his hand and Knives rolled his eyes.
"Whatever, just leave so I can go back to my resting."
"You mean sulking?"
Knives sent him a death glare and Vash instantly backed out of the room, "See ya later, Knivesy-kins." He blew his brother a kiss and closed the door behind him.
Vash had to admit, he felt better after telling Knives. He was also glad that Knives was very, very medicated by the time he actually got around to it.
He still felt like crap though.
He swaggered into his bedroom to be greeted by Millie hurrying around his room with a laundry basket. He was standing in the doorway a good ten minutes before she noticed him.
"Oh! Good afternoon Mr. Vash," She greeted and pointed to the laundry basket in her arms. "Don't worry; I'm just doing a batch of laundry for you."
Vash nodded and made his way to his bed and watched the tall woman clean.
"Honestly Mr. Vash," she sighed as she picked up another sock from the floor. "Where would you be without Sempai and me looking after you all the time?"
He smiled, "Probably dead in a ditch somewhere."
"With dirty laun-" Millie swung around to face him. That had been the first thing he had said to her all day. "Oh! I'm glad you're finally talking. Y'know, my big-big-brother always told me it's better to talk about what bothering you than bottling it all up inside." She made her way to his bed and placed the basket on the floor. She was going to get to the bottom of this mess even if it took the rest of her day off.
Vash sighed and buried his head in his hands. "You're talking about the whole Meryl thing, aren't you?"
She nodded, "She was very upset, you know."
"I know."
"You made her cry."
He sighed, "I didn't mean too, honest. I was actually…" He stopped and raised his head from his hands.
"Yes?" Millie asked urging him on.
"Forget it…It was a stupid idea." He shook his head. "I'll be out of your hair in the morning. I'll take Knives and lea-" He was instantly stopped by a sock being shoved into his mouth.
"No way, Mr. Vash, I can't let you do that."
"Mhy mot?" His question was muffled within the sock.
"Sempai cares too much about you for you to just walk out! Not to mention it's our job to follow you."
"Mhy mow mat," He sighed and spat the sock out. "It's just I feel as if I'm bringing Knives in as a burden on you two. I thought if I left and we went our separate ways you two would have gone back to Bernardelli and…you know…have your old lives back…I didn't mean to…" His voice began to trail and that's when Millie noticed that he was on the verge of tears.
With a heavy heart, she gathered him into a hug and he freely cried onto her shoulder. "I didn't mean to make her...cry…I swear…I…just wanted...to make sure…"
It was then that it dawned on her, Vash really was a child. A very broken, scared and confused child.
"Oh Mr. Vash," she sighed. "What were you thinking trying to take this all on by yourself?" His answer was subdued in her shirt. "Don't you know that Sempai and I are always here for you? You're more than just our assignment, silly, you're our friend."
He lifted his head away with a sniffled and looked up at her with a grin. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, I have something else to talk to you about." Millie wagged her fingered in front of the outlaw as attempted to back away on the bed. He gulped when he hit the wall and ran out of bed. "What is all this going between you and Sempai, hmmm? You leave her waiting after you go to get Mr. Knives, then you finally come back and you make her cry! Can't you see I want to be an aunt? How can you two do that if you're in a fight, hmmm?"
"Oh yeah…." He began to nub the back of his neck. "I…like her."
"How much do you like her?" Millie couldn't help but giggle when she saw him blush.
"A…a lot."
"Then why'd you make her cry?!"
"I didn't mean to!" He said, trying to defend himself. "I was trying to ask her if you two would come with me, but she took it the wrong way when I simply mentioned leaving."
"Well, you can't really blame her; you did used to leave us behind all the time." Millie sighed. "You need to tell her the truth."
"I know, I'll tell her to come with m-"
"I mean about how you feel."
If it were even possible, Vash's face grew redder. "T-t-tell her?" Millie nodded. "But…she'll kill me!"
"She may, but I doubt it." Millie said innocently as she stood from the bed. "She cares about you."
"Do you know…how much?" He asked timidly.
"Oh Mr. Vash," She sighed while taking the basket into her hands and making her way out. "You're such a boy, sometimes."
Doing the laundry gave Millie time to think about how silly Vash and Meryl were behaving. All they had to do was say how they really felt about each other, and they could be happy. Why were they so afraid of the outcome when it was so obvious they both felt the same way about each other?
She was finishing up a pinning a white bed sheet to the clothesline when she saw Meryl walking down the road and towards the house.
"Good afternoon, Sempai!" Millie greeted. "Why are you home so early?"
Meryl sighed and jogged over to help Millie. "Mr. Brown gave me the rest of the day off." she said while pinching the opposite end of the sheet and pinning it to the line. "Apparently I broke too many trays today."
It was clear to Millie that her partner was done being sad about the situation with Vash and was now angry about the whole ordeal. It's a shame that those poor, innocent trays had to suffer for it though.
"Well now that you're home you can help me, Sempai." The tall girl said handing a basket of clean cloths to the smaller one. "Could you bring these to Vash's room for me? I'm sure he's still in there resting."
Meryl looked at the basket as if it were an explosive, "Millie…I don't know…"
"Oh please, Sempai?" Millie begged giving what she hope were her best puppy-dog eyes. "I have to finish the other sheets and then I'll start dinner. You're going up there anyway to get changed, right?"
Millie mentally cheered when Meryl nodded and took the basket from her. The small woman was just making a way to the house when she yelled, "Oh Sempai!"
She instantly turned around. "Yes?"
The younger woman smiled, "Just remember…baby steps."
Meryl nodded absentmindedly and began to make her way back to the house, completely oblivious to the knowing smile on her best friend's face.
During work she had tried to make a list in her head of all the things she wouldn't miss about him.
There was the way he always tracked dirt into the house because he refused to take off his boots.
He was always finding new ways to get hurt.
He nearly burnt down the house trying to make toast. Twice.
All he ever did was bum around while she and Millie worked all day.
He left the toilet seat up.
Then there was Knives...she couldn't even begin to describe the relief she'd feel as soon as that egocentric bastard was out of her hair.
Yes, she'd be fine. She'd return to December and go back to work. Maybe she'd even change careers. She was still young after all; her entire life was stretched out before her. She was going to be okay. She was going to be alright.
She was such a horrible liar.
Meryl's heart was so close to shattering and there was nothing she could do to stop it. This was why she never allowed herself to fall in love. It was too much of a risk for her. She needed stability. She needed facts. How could she have fallen for such an unorganized person like Vash the Stampede?
She blankly stared at his door. All she had to do was tap on the door, hand him the basket and leave. That was all. Then she could go into her room, cry for about an hour, and then try to get her life back in shape.
The way the faux wood of his door mocked her was irritating, and she was able to muster up enough courage to knock. Her stomach dropped when he didn't answer. She knocked again with more force. Again, she was ignored. Meryl felt her temper flare and the anger replace her uncertainty.
"Vash?" She was surprised with how composed her voice was compared to how she was feeling. "Vash, open this door! I have your stupid laundry!" When he still didn't answer, she just pushed the door opened.
His room was completely empty. The only evidence of him not actually leaving the house was the fact that his muddy boots were at the foot of his bed. How many times had she told him to leave them by the front door?
The emptiness of the room made her feel uneasy and she wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She made her way to his bed, but was stopped when two arms slipped around her waist.
She instantly dropped the basket on the floor out of fright. "Please don't let it be Knives," she silently prayed. "I don't want to die because Vash was too lazy to do his own laundry."
"You're home early," the voice whispered into her ear. It was Vash, and suddenly Meryl wished it really was Knives trying to kill her. She didn't want to face Vash so soon.
She remained motionless and Vash continued. "We need to talk."
"We did already, remember? You're leaving with Knives, I get it." She tried to pull away from him, but his grip on her was too tight. "Let me go, Vash."
"No."
She wasn't facing him, and she silently wondered what he face was like. Nervous? Sad? Indifferent? She refused to check though; it was easier to talk to him without actually looking at him.
His body felt damp and hot against her. "You're wet."
"I took a shower."
"Don't tell me I walked in on you getting dressed."
"I'm fully clothed," He rested his face next to hers. His whiskers were scratchy. Was he too lazy to shave too? "And you're changing the subject."
"There's no subject to change."
He moved his face and it was now in her head. "Yes there is, and you're not moving until we talk about this. I'm not having you run out on me again."
She flexed her hands anxiously. "Why are you rubbing in it?"
"I'm just trying to explain myself."
"Shut up, no you're not! You just want to run away again like you always do!" She screamed finally losing it. "Who the hell do you think you are? Coming back here and getting my hopes up that you had finally chosen to live a peaceful life and that maybe I meant more to you than just some insurance agent! But no, this was just a pit stop!" She began to thrash in his arms, wanting to get out of there. "Let me go Vash, you stupid broomhead! Let me go!"
"No." Why was his voice so damn calm?
"Vash!" she screamed and continued until she tired herself out. She panted and found herself leaning him for support. "I hate you…" she hissed. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you!" Her eyes began to throb with the sign of tears again. "Why are you doing this? Just stop. Just stop it already. I want to go…let me go." She wanted freedom and she wasn't talking about his tight grasp around her anymore.
"Not until we work this out." he whispered. "Now if you're done fighting me, I would like to finish what I couldn't this morning."
She calmed down, "You have five seconds broomhead."
"Look, I know I said I wanted to live a peaceful life - and I do - but I can't with Knives in this condition. No matter what, Knives' health has got to come first. I'm trying to prove to him that humanity still has a lot to offer and I don't think him sitting in bed for the rest of his life will accomplish that. I have to take him to the SEEDs ship, there's no way around that. But," He sighed and his hold on her tightened. Was he hugging her? "I want you to...to come with me."
If it weren't for him hugging her, she was sure she would have collapsed. "...what?" she managed.
"Come with me." He said with more confidence. "I think you'll like it there, the people are really nice and you may learn a lot. Oh and you'll love my friend Jessica-"
He was beginning to jabber, meaning he wasn't telling her something. "What's the real reason, Vash?"
"Because I think you and Millie were a really good influence on Knives and...and...I really want you to come."
"Why?" He was keeping something from her, and she didn't like it. He usually told her and Millie to stay put, now he's asking them to come along? Something must be wrong.
Even though she couldn't see him, she knew he was struggling for words. He eventually sighed and swung her around so she was facing him. This was the first time she saw him since that morning. His hair was shaggy and wet, eyes were fierce with...she wasn't sure what the emotion it was, he needed to shave.
"Meryl, I've never allowed myself to be close to anyone before. Then you came...and now I don't know if I can keep doing that. I want to be close to you. You make me feel...weird...but it's not a bad weird...it's a nice weird. I guess it's not a weird feeling then, is it? It's more of a warm, fluffy, nervous feeling. You make me feel...happy." He began to blush the most adorable shade of red. "I hate seeing you cry, and I never want you to get hurt. I want to protect you no matter what the cost." Pausing, he looked into her eyes. "I don't know how to explain it any better than that."
Meryl felt as if her heart was going to burst from happiness. Suddenly Millie's advice seemed to make sense to her.
Baby steps.
Vash was never one to express his emotions and just now he had basically spilled his heart out to her. He was taking small steps to letting people into his heart for the first time. Meryl bit her bottom lip as she attempted to hold back tears. He really did care about her. It was almost too good to be true.
"No Meryl," he stammered nervously. "Don't cry please! I didn't mean to make you upset! Whatever thing I said wrong I take it back!"
She laughed softly and raised herself up onto her tiptoes. Her arms slowly snaked around his neck, and she seized his mouth in a soft kiss. "No Vash, don't take it back. Don't take any of it back." she whispered against his lips.
"Wow…I'm guessing you're coming with me then?"
She nodded and his arms wrapped around her more generously and possessively. "Meryl, could you promise me something?"
"What's that?"
He kissed the top of her head. "Let's see all sorts of things together. Let's walk together. Forever."
"Of course we will, Vash," She smiled into his chest. "Do you even have to ask?"
The End.
Well it looks like I've defeated the twin demons known as procrastination and distraction and finally finished the final chapter. Sorry it took so long, but it's finally over. Thanks for sticking with me, though! 570 hits! I'm not complaining!
Thank you Alaena Night, igbogal, Pyro-chan623, Jaya Mitai, Ajd262, inkydoo, La Flor del Fuego, September's Nobara, Aine of Knockaine, and anyone else I forgot for the amazing reviews! I hope I got to all of you! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
And also to Kate RD, and Alana who are far too awesome for usernames! I love you guys!
A special thank you to Ajd262, Alaena Night, and igbogal for the adding this to their story alerts!
And super special thanks you to Pyro-chan623 for helping me get over that obnoxious snag of writer's block that hit me in the middle of the chapter.
Well it's been fun, guys, but it seems this fic is finally at a close! Thanks again to everyone! I hope you had as much fun reading it as I did writing it.
I also hope you all have a nice, safe, spooky Halloween!
Until next time, folks!
x3 Chibi Monkey13
