Ch.2-DejahVu with Trouble
The next morning Loki awoke and saw Vash getting ready to leave. Loki sat up and Vash smiled at her.
"Are you leaving?" She asked and Vash nodded.
He started to leave but Loki got up and stood in front of him.
"Wait… Please take me with you. I don't take up much space and I promise to try not to steal anymore." She said eagerly to him.
He looked at her sadly, he still didn't know if she should come with him. Trouble still followed him but he knew trouble followed her too.
"I know how you feel but…"
"No don't say it. I know you know what I am. You're the same right? You don't have to tell me anything… I just don't want to be alone anymore." She said softly.
For a moment Vash was silent.
"I'm not sure what you are exactly, but yes you are like me. I don't have the answers, but I'll try to help you if you'd like." Vash said and Loki's face lit up.
"Does this mean I can come with you?" She asked in excitement and he grinned.
"Yes you can."
He said and she grabbed her bag quickly and jumped on him happily wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!"
She said in excitement and he laughed as he walked out the door holding her up with one arm around her waist.
Loki and Vash took the bus to a nearby town where they ended up staying for a few days until a sand steamer arrived. Once on the sand steamer they thought they could have a quiet trip but trouble really did follow them everywhere. A gang high jacked the steamer and Vash ended up having to stop them. Loki had even been caught trying to help Vash and was used as motivation for the captain to do what the leader said. But this tactic never worked and Vash ended up saving the day yet again. After that mess Vash and Loki decided to spend a few days in the town they had arrived in. But their peaceful stay didn't last long, and they had to leave town in the middle of the night; where they sought shelter under some rocks in the desert. Vash started a small fire and they rested against some rocks. Loki certainly wasn't dressed for the cold desert nights. She sat close to the fire, holding her knees to her chest, shivering. Vash dug through his bag and found an old cloak for her. He placed it over her shoulders and smiled.
"Come sit close to me. I'll keep you warm." He said and she followed him.
She sat close to him and he put his arm around her.
"I'm sorry we have to stay out here." He said.
"It's okay. I just didn't know it got so cold. But I'm glad you're with me."
Despite Vash giving Loki a blanket and offering her to sit close to him she was still shivering. It was getting colder, which meant so was Loki. Vash's coat was made to deal with the harsh hot and cold climate of the planet.
"Vash… I'm so cold." Loki said softly as she shivered.
Vash then got an idea. He knew if he didn't do something Loki could die. He opened the front of his coat.
"Come here. Get close to me." He said and Loki got up.
She could barely walk she was shivering so badly. Vash helped her to sit in his lap. She leaned close to his warm body, greedy for the warmth. He cradled her close to him and wrapped his coat around her. She was so tiny he could button his coat back up. His coat gave her the same protection he received from it and soon she stopped shivering, but was still chilled to the bone. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed his hands on her back and arm, hoping the friction would help.
"Getting warm?" He asked as he looked down the opening in his collar at her.
She looked up at him and smiled.
"Yes very. Thank you." She said and he smiled.
"Of course. I'm just glad you're so small. It's like you're not even there." He said and Loki laughed softly.
Vash could tell she was tired.
"You should stay warm all night. Get some rest. I'll watch over you."
He said as he leaned back against the rocks, giving Loki the perfect angle to fall asleep at. Loki was fast asleep in minutes. Vash stayed awake for some time thinking about Loki. He found himself attracted to her he couldn't deny that, but she was a plant. His sister, not by blood but he didn't know how to feel about this. Loki was the second female plant with freewill to be born. The first's life did not go well and ended before she even got to live. Observed and experimented on the first year of her life until she died. Vash was determined to never let that happen again. He vowed to protect Loki as best he could. Vash soon grew tired and rested his chin on Loki's head as he drifted into sleep.
The next town they arrived in was going through some hard times. It was prosperous but being overrun by serious bad guys that would kill anyone in their way. Vash knew he shouldn't get involved but he couldn't stand to see people hurt and especially killed. Vash ended up getting into a vicious gun battle with the gang and after the cronies were taken care of it was just Vash and the gang leader. The town was in a panic and Loki was caught in the middle of fleeing people as Vash and the gang leader fought in the center of the town. The gang leader was a monstrous man at least three times the size of Vash. Loki knew Vash was out of bullets and in serious trouble. She watched hopelessly as Vash was shot in the side as the man stood on Vash's right arm and kneeled on his chest as he took Vash's left arm trying to rip it off. Vash knew Loki was watching but there was nothing he could do. Loki watched in horror as the man ripped Vash's arm off. She couldn't move, terrified in fear. She couldn't stand to see what was happening. She fell to her knees, as she screamed. She attracted everyone's attention and in a split second giant wings exploded from her back and she moved faster than anyone but Vash could see. He was shocked as he watched her run to them, grab the leaders arm and break it with one swift twist. The leader backed off yelling in pain as he fell to the ground. Some men ran over with guns, finally detaining the gang leader. Loki was standing ridged but before Vash could get up the wings disappeared. She fell to her knees, and then fell to her side completely passed out. Vash didn't know what to think as he checked to see if she were all right. He now knew she was different from him because she could use angel wings at will that resembled his angel arm but they came from her without any help from another plant, like his gun. The town sheriff came over to him to thank him and to see if either of them needed a doctor though Vash could tell the man was fearful of them both now, but Vash told him they were fine showing him his fake arm.
"Oh my, I was sure he'd ripped off your arm."
"Sorry to worry you. We're fine though, but we could use a place to stay." Vash said.
"Sure thing, this way. Need any help?" The sheriff offered as he saw Vash trying to pick up Loki and his arm, but Vash got her arm over his shoulder and he was able to lift her up.
"Nah I've got her, but could you carry our bags?" Vash asked and the man nodded and then led the way to an inn.
Soon Vash had a room and was able to be alone with some quiet for a few minutes. He had just managed to lay Loki on the bed and change her torn shirt as a knock came at the door. Vash opened the door. It was the sheriff with the reward for the gang leader. Vash took it not really paying attention. As he shut the door he knew he had to deal with the wound to his side.
Loki awakened not long after and she sat up, trying to get her bearings but she couldn't remember what had happened. She figured she must have passed out so she got up to look around. She saw her and Vash's bags by the bed and then noticed some movement coming from the bathroom. The door was open and when she walked over she saw Vash dressed in fabric pants trying to wrap bandages around his wounds. The scars on his body surprised her but she was more concerned for his wound.
"Oh Vash let me help you!"
She said as she ran into the room, placing her hands gently on the cloth patch over his wound. He was surprised to see her awake so soon.
"You're awake. I'm glad, you gave me a scare." He said.
"I did? But why?" She asked.
"You don't remember?"
He asked as she continued to wrap bandages around his midsection but she stopped at his question.
"What happened?"
She asked fearfully, but Vash smiled and told her that he had stopped the gang leader.
"I'm sorry I scared you." Vash told her as she continued dressing his wound.
"It's alright. I was just startled. I thought he really ripped your arm off." She said.
"Yeah it's been fake for a long time… I'm also sorry you have to see me like this. All my scars. They're not something I like ladies to see." Vash said and Loki smiled.
"They're not that bad. They're just scars. Besides, you're not the only one with scars." She told him as she finished dressing his wound.
"Your scars are on your back?" He asked and Loki was shocked.
"How did you know?" She asked softly.
"Just a guess." He replied, "Did someone give them to you?" He asked and she shrugged.
"I don't know. I have no memory. I woke up and saw that they were there." She told him.
"Can I see them?" He asked and she nodded.
She turned around and Vash lifted the back of her shirt up. She held up her shirt so that Vash could touch them. His touch made her blush as he ran his fingers down the two scars along the length of her back. Vash knew exactly what they were, but he didn't have the heart to tell her. Vash could easily see someone had experimented on her to try and find the wings.
"Do you think someone gave you these scars?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No, I don't think anyone gave me these scars. Something happened that I can't remember…" She told him and she turned around to look at him.
"Did something happen to me today?" She asked, he smiled and lied to her.
"No, you just fainted from shock." He told her, but she knew his eyes were lying to her.
She chose to keep her mouth shut and changed the subject.
"Does your arm hurt like that?" She asked.
"No, it only hurt for a second." He replied.
"Can it be fixed?" She asked.
"Yes, we'll have to make a detour though." He said and she smiled.
"That's alright as long as you can fix it." She said.
"Does it bother you? I could cover it up." He said and she looked startled, shaking her head.
"No! I just saw how hard it was for you with one arm. And I'm still shocked. I've never seen a fake arm."
"It's not that hard. I've done it before… You can touch my arm if you'd like. It won't bite."
He said and she blushed but she slowly moved her right arm to touch his arm. Her fingers gently touched the metal ring at the end of his stubbed arm and some of his warm skin before it. After a moment she moved her hand away and looked at him. For a split second she thought she'd seen him blushing but he smiled and got up, grabbing his clothes that hung over the shower rod.
"How about we get something to eat?"
He suggested and she nodded, leaving the bathroom so that he could change.
That night the men of the town wanted to celebrate Vash's victory and gave Vash and Loki drinks on the house. Vash and Loki got a little tipsy that night and ended up staggering back to their room in fits of laughter. Loki had her arm around Vash's neck as Vash was bent over stumbling along with her. They managed to make it to their room in no time. They stumbled in and fell onto the bed when Vash tripped.
"Whoa! Found the bed!" Vash said with a laugh, which made Loki laugh.
She was lying on top of him; her right arm was stuck under his neck due to their sudden fall.
"Did we drink too much?" Vash asked sleepily and Loki shook her head.
"Nah we're just buzzed! Heh!" Loki said.
"A really big buzz!" Vash said.
"Yeah." Loki said dreamily as she looked into Vash's sea foam green eyes.
"Sleepy time soon…" Vash said, his eyes getting droopy.
"Yeah…"
Loki said softly not really paying attention and before she could realize she wasn't dreaming she kissed Vash full on the lips, which made him fully alert, but before he could stop her she stopped, her head falling to his chest. She had passed out. That unexpected kiss sobered him up pretty quick. He pulled her arm from behind his head so that she could sleep better and scooted himself on to bed more. He lay awake in the fuzzy haze of alcohol as he thought about Loki's kiss. He wanted to have feelings for her and didn't blame her for having them for him. They had been traveling for some time, but Vash was reluctant to encourage her behavior because he didn't know if she was his sister. He decided then to not mention her kiss in the morning and to not tell her that she could be his sister, because despite this possible knowledge he was developing feelings for her. Which lead him to believe that she wasn't his sister.
The next morning Vash and Loki seemed to wake up at the same time. Loki sat up a little, rubbing her eyes. Her head a bit groggy from all her drinking. Though despite her slightly aching head she had slept perfectly on her very comfortable pillow, but when she opened her eyes and realized what she had been sleeping on she blushed deeply as Vash opened his eyes to look at her.
"Morning, sleep well?" He asked with a grin.
"Um… did anything-?" She asked and Vash sat up.
"No, I'm pretty sure we stumbled in, fell on the bed and passed out." He told her and she sighed in relief.
"Guess we over did it a little." Vash said.
"A little. But who would pass up free drinks?" She said and Vash chuckled as he got off the bed.
"So where's this detour we're taking? Is it far away?" Loki asked.
"It's a little far. We're going to my home. I haven't been there in a few years. It's about time I visit. I think you're going to love it there." He said and she smiled.