"What the hell Lizzie? You lost her?"
"I'm sorry Gil! She was right beside me, I swear! But there were just all these people, and we got split up and… oh God what if something happens to her?"
"Come on, it's gonna be okay, just pull yourself together, and let's go look for her. The dance floor can't be that big."
Just as the pair moved towards the crowd of writing bodies, a lone figure approached them, carrying Lily, who was sobbing into his shoulder. "H-hey Gilbert."
"Matt? What the hell are you doing here?"
The Canadian ducked his head in embarrassment. "I was just looking for someone, and I ran into this young lady in a moment of crisis. She's Zwingli's sister, isn't she?"
"Yes, this is Lily. Thank you so much for finding her." Elizaveta murmured in relief. She reached for the girl's shoulder, and shook it gently. "Hey Lil, you gonna be okay?"
She nodded, and slowly pried herself out of Matthew's grasp. "I'm so sorry to have caused you so much trouble sir."
"It's alright. So long as you're fine."
Elizaveta threw her arms around Lily's shoulders, and started wailing about how sorry she was for leaving her, but the blonde didn't really seem to notice. She just continued looking up at Matthew. "Um… sir, do you work with my brother?"
"Yes. Sorry, I should've introduced myself. I'm Matthew Williams. I don't know your brother very well, but we've spoken from time to time."
"Then… do you know where he is right now?"
He looked uncertainly to the two behind Lily, both of whom were shaking their heads fiercely. "I'm sorry. I haven't been given any of that information."
"But he's looking for your brother." It wasn't a question.
"Lily. How the hell do you know that?" Gilbert asked in horror. "It's not on the news, no one even knows Jones is gone."
"Because I know what Vash does. He chases criminals, and then comes back. That's what he's done for years. He's never gone longer than what he promises, so that has never been a problem." No one needed to ask what that was. They'd all just witnessed it. "But for him to be gone this long, it'd have to be someone really smart.
"Alfred Jones was the only person recently convicted in the area, who'd been outsmarting cops for years. And he kind of looks like you Mr. Williams, so I assumed you two must be related. Besides, you have the same look of a younger sibling who's without their big brother."
Matthew rubbed the back of his head, as if embarrassed. "Well then, figured out by a kid not even old enough to drink. That's a tough blow to my pride."
"How do you know she's underage?" Elizaveta shot out suddenly, still refusing to relinquish her death-hug on Lily.
"So I checked her ID, I'm a cop! Sue me!"
"Please! Mr. Williams! You know where your brother is, so you know where mine is!"
The Canadian sighed, and looked thoughtful for a moment. "I talked to Vash the same night he left to find Al, and tried to convince him that he was innocent, and obviously he believed me, or else he'd be back by now. Trust me, he'll wait until Al disappears, and then come back, claiming he couldn't find him."
"Vash would've called. Please! Something must be wrong!"
"I don't know what you want me to do!"
"Take me to him."
"What?" All three of the others yelped in unison.
"Take me to your brother. Where he is, that's where Vash will be!"
"Look, Lily, he's got a job. He can't just run off and-"
"I'll do it."
"You will?" Gilbert asked, one pale eyebrow raised in question, almost disappearing into his bags.
"Yes." He turned back to Lily, and started to explain. "I'll pick you up in a couple of days. I just have to jump through some hoops for a bit at the office to get a few days' vacation time. But knowing Al, he won't leave until absolutely necessary. So he'll still be there, don't worry."
"Okay. Thank you!"
"Oi! Williams!"
The blond froze as a loud voice called for him over the heavy bass, and the chattering people. "Go. All of you, get out. I'll see you tomorrow Gil, make sure these two get home safely."
If the request confused Gilbert, he didn't show it. He just nodded, and turned the girls towards the door. "Come on. We'll have to say hi to Kiku on the way out."
Just as they'd disappeared, a heavy hand clapped Matthew on the shoulder. "Didn't expect to see you here tonight." A gruff voice muttered as quietly as one could in a noisy club. "You've just been so full of surprises lately, haven't you?"
"I do my best, Mathias."
The Dane laughed suddenly, and walked around to face the young cop. "Good to know you're not in a rut like most people these days. Y'know. We don't talk often enough…"
"O-oh really?"
"No." He turned Matthew towards the back of the club, and started steering him there. "Let's have a nice long chat. Maybe we could even talk about your brother."
{}}{{}
It only took Vash another day with Jones to realize that staying had been a bad idea. He'd always assumed he had it bad with Gilbert, seeing him every day for hours on end… he was still annoying, but the point is, he didn't have to live with the guy.
Alfred had all the energy of a six-year old on a sugar high, and the attention span of a gnat. It was next to impossible to shut him up once he got going, and seeing as there were only the two of them for conversation, he got going a lot. If he wasn't going on about movies, it was comparing the quality of fast-food restaurants, (even though it was clear that he practically worshipped McDonald's) or his cousin's 'massive' eyebrows, or robots, or superheroes.
It was enough to make Vash desperately want to know where his guns were.
About five days after he'd first arrived, Alfred announced that they would leave the next morning. "I'll drop you off somewhere, as promised, and then we'll both be on our merry little ways."
"Sounds wonderful."
"Almost as wonderful as the idea of pants that fit?"
Vash had to bite his lip, and turn away to keep Alfred from seeing the smile that he was desperately fighting back. "Almost." He agreed.
{}}{{}
The next morning, just as they coasted into a small town, the optimistic grin that had been glued to Alfred's face all morning, suddenly vanished. "Oh shit…"
"What is… oh." He glanced out the window, and saw an unmarked police car sitting in the parking lot of a motel. There probably wasn't anyone in it, but they couldn't tell with the tinted windows. "Just drive past it. As long as you don't look suspicious, you're fine."
"But they know this is my car!"
"You couldn't have stolen one after breaking out?"
"I couldn't steal a car! That'd be the most unheroic thing to do in that kind of situation!"
"Of course it is. Just… keep going, and maybe they won't notice us."
But of course, just as they were coasting out of sight of the motel, the black car roared to life, and pulled out after them. "Goddammit! Sorry Vash, but I can't drop you off until we lose this guy."
"Just try not to kill us." He muttered, watching in the rear-view mirror as the roof lights lit up, and the familiar siren started echoing in his ears. He turned back to Alfred, whose mouth was set in a grim line as he pressed further on the gas. "It's not possible to lose him on a highway."
"I know."
"These windows are tinted, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Pull over."
"What?"
"Pull over!"
Confused, he complied, driving the car over to the thick shoulder.
"Now get into the back, and get down."
Comprehension dawned in t American's eyes, and he practically tore off his seatbelt, diving for the back, where he had several blankets for just in case.
Just as the officer made it to the car, Alfred was completely hidden, and Vash was in the driver's seat, seatbelt on, and window rolled down. Maybe they could get by this. Maybe, just maybe…
"Sir! I'm going to ask you to step out of the vehicle immediately. You are under arrest for the aiding in the escape of a fugitive!" He couldn't tell how on Earth the officer had figured out that they'd switched, but it didn't really matter. They were caught.
Vash's heart plummeted as he undid the seatbelt that he'd just put on seconds before to avoid a fine. It was the end of the line, and they'd barely just begun.
{}}+{{}
Thanks for reading~!
I was just going through some old random stories my friends and I used to write together, and I've discovered that I used to write really funny dialogue! I don't know what happened, but some of my older stuff is hilarious! I'm hoping that I can find a place for some of it in future stories.
Speaking of which, I've got a poll on my profile to help decide what new stories I should work on next. Of course, I'll finish the three I've got on the go first; I just want your opinions on what should be next. If none of the pairings appeal to you, just pick the one with the coolest title.
And, like always, review for the sake of…everyone.