AN:

Thank you to Donovan Master 55 for your reviews on earlier chapters! I'm so glad you are enjoying the story so far. I hope we get to see some cute and fun interactions with Milly and Meryl! Ahh I can't wait! I pulled a lot of inspiration from Trigun 98 and TriMax as you can see. And I'm sorry (not sorry) it's taken so long to get Vash and Clark kicking butt together. But I hope it'll be worth the wait. :D

And thank you to PositiveMaya and Mando Whisky for favoriting! And to all my more quiet readers, I appreciate you too!

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Chapter 27 - Cracked Toma Eggs

Chapter Summary

Previously, Vash found himself relocated and recuperating on Ship 3, aka Home. But he wasn't alone when he woke. Meryl's presence began to lift the fog on the painful, buried memories from JuLai.

Now, Wolfwood doesn't believe he's wanted at his friends' sides. What or whom will it take for Wolfwood to realize that getting close to people he cares about isn't always a bad thing?

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"You should go be with them," Shutterbug said. The boy raised a forkful of food to his mouth from his almost empty dinner plate.

"Nah, let Shorty have her moment." Wolfwood waved a hand dismissively. He rocked back in his chair at the round table across from Jimmy, feet propped up on another.

"I think they'd want you to be there, too," the gorgeous big girl added—Milly was her name he'd learned. She leaned forward on the edge of a still-made bed on the other side of the room. Her pretty brown hair was wrapped up in a towel to dry after taking a shower.

It was just Wolfwood, Jimmy, and Milly at the moment. 'The three stooges,' Shutterbug had called them (whatever that meant). They'd hunkered down in a fancy schmancy suite on Ship Three to wash up and get some rest, courtesy of Miss Luida.

Apparently, Shortstuff—Lois that is—had some 'catching up' to do with her superhero boyfriend. And Shorty—Meryl, obviously—wouldn't leave Blondie's side since they'd boarded and got him tucked in nice and cozy in his own bed.

It'd already been half a day since Grandpa—er, Brad—escorted the motley crew onto Ship Three. Even with the sandstorm cloaking the spaceship, the dark void outside the windows indicated it was well into the night.

Wolfwood couldn't believe his eyes earlier that day when he noticed the vessel hovering in the midst of the sandstorm raging over Ripmela. He knew it'd only be a matter of time before the crew dropped down on a mission to find Needle Noggin. Again. Just like two years ago on the friggin' Humpback.

There'd been such an uproar when they boarded. All the crew out of cryosleep were outta their minds to hear Vash was alive and back Home. Brad and security helped shoo the vulture worms, but it took a while for folks to settle down.

And now Wolfwood, Big Girl, and Shutterbug (who knows what Shortstuff and Superboy were up to…) were all just biding their time waiting for sleeping beauty to awaken. Wolfwood seriously hoped it wasn't gonna take Blondie three days again.

It'd been a good while since Milly came barreling back into their suite after going to check in on the Little Lady and drop off dinner. To Wolfwood's relief, she brought news that Vash finally returned from dreamland.

And it'd been long enough for Shorty to have some alone time with Blondie. Wolfwood could relax more if one or both of them were around. (Not that he'd admit that to anyone.)

Wolfwood tolerated waiting half a day, he could wait another ten minutes. Twenty tops.

However, being onboard Ship Three made his skin crawl, and his flight or fight response was stuck in overdrive. As homey as the ship might be to its crew, it reminded Wolfwood of places he'd rather not think about.

"Don't you think so too, Mr. Priest?" Milly asked again.

"Hmph. What makes ya think that?" Wolfwood asked, getting annoyed with the attempts to get him to check on Vash and Meryl.

His knee bounced from a lack of smoking for hours on end. And he'd run out of lollipops. He was going stir-crazy. Maybe getting up would help.

Jimmy and Milly shared a scheming look, grins plastered on their faces and an unnerving twinkle in their eyes. The twerps clearly knew something Wolfwood didn't.

"Trust us," Jimmy said with a smirk.

"You care about them, don't you? I'm sure it would make them happy to have you all together again. Wouldn't you like that?" Milly gave him such a genuine, beautiful smile that it was hard to say no to the woman. He didn't want to see her sad for refusing.

"Fine! But I'm blamin' ya both when they kick me right back out!" Wolfwood lowered his feet and pushed off his knees, rising from the cushy seat.

Leaving the room, he walked the short distance down Ship Three's dormitory hall. Only a few rooms down he found the door everyone had been eagerly, impatiently waiting for a certain blond dolt to skip out of.

Wolfwood stood in front of the closed door, considering turning back. This was a crap idea. He didn't need to intrude on Shorty and Needle Noggin's reunion. He wasn't wanted.

Wolfwood turned on his heel, planning to sulk off to somewhere else on the ship.

He was only a few feelz down the hall when the door to Vash's room slid open with a soft hiss.

Trepidation pooled in Wolfwood's guts. He paused to glance over his shoulder.

"Nicholas?"

There stood Shorty, her eyes puffy and red. She wiped at her face although her rosy cheeks were already dry.

Wolfwood's heart clenched. Damn that Blondie making her cry. Wolfwood frowned but didn't turn fully.

"Yeah, Little Lady?"

"Where are you off to?" Of course, the way she asked sounded more like a scolding, ensuring he wasn't up to mischief.

"Just takin' a walk ta burn off some energy."

"Oh, okay…" Meryl sounded so defeated.

Wolfwood grunted and took a few more steps away from the room.

"Wait!"

For some reason he did. He stopped and turned to face her fully.

"What's 'a matter? Need me to pummel Needle Noggin for ya?"

She sputtered. "No! Of course not."

"Well? Whatcha want?"

"I—," she paused. "I'm glad to see you're doing well," she mumbled.

Wolfwood's shoulders dropped. He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Back at'cha," he said, not quite catching her eye.

They stood in awkward silence for a moment. Meryl wrung her hands on the jacket sleeves tied around her waist.

"How's Blondie?"

A whole spectrum of emotions passed over Shorty's face. She tilted her head toward the ceiling and the lights reflected off her glossy eyes. Her lips flickered from a wistful smile to a pout and back.

"He's…" Meryl's voice scratched. "He's hurting."

Wolfwood frowned.

He was used to Vash healing so quickly. Maybe something was more the matter with Blondie than he realized. He knew Vash took a hit from that Lobo freak, and then probably did some weird Plant things after the fight. Then with leaping into the Fris and Polo fiasco, and getting the snot beat outta him for nothing…

"I'll grab the doc," Wolfwood said. At least he could do this for the idiot.

"Nicholas."

Twice now she called him by his first name. She'd never done that before. Why did it make him feel so light and heavy at the same time?

Because it was coming from her? Because Nicholas was the Punisher?

Meryl startled him by grabbing his sleeve. He dug his hand out of his pocket as she pulled it closer. Wolfwood froze when she slid her hand down to hold his. Hers was so small and pale unlike his.

She grabbed her tank top in front of her heart with her other hand, tugging it into a tight bunch. "He's hurting."

Oh. Right. That kinda hurtin'.

And Wolfwood could tell that seeing Vash hurting, hurt her too. He wouldn't dare call Meryl weak if he didn't want to feel her wrath, but fuck, did she look as fragile as glass right now.

Wolfwood gulped. Shorty still grasped his hand like it was a lifeline.

Hell, his hand felt so cold and clammy compared to her soft and warm one.

"Oh."

Meryl sniffed, her pout returned full force. "'Oh?' Is that all you have to say?" Her voice rose into a shrill cry.

"I—," Wolfwood floundered, trying to calm the flames before they turned into a wildfire. Stupid! Stupid! Say somethin' better than that, moron!

Vash's room door slid open—a saving grace.

"Meryl? Is everything o—," Vash's aqua blue eyes, unobscured without his glasses, caught Wolfwood's. "—kay?"

Of course, the dolt had to smile so brightly like he was happy as could be. Vash's eyes darted between the two of them and dropped to Wolfwood and Shorty's held hands.

A surprised, almost confused look flitted across his face, but it quickly vanished.

Wolfwood yanked his hand out of Shorty's grasp and shoved it back into his pocket. His face grew warm. Fuck, was he blushing?

"Vash! Yes, sorry, I got held up talking to Wolfwood. You know it's been so long since I've seen either of you." Meryl's voice raised up a pitch. "Haha! Silly me! Let me run and get those towels for you! I'll be right back!"

She took off down the hall in a power walk.

Wolfwood chuckled seeing the lady flustered and rambling. Oh, so she was embarrassed too, eh? He watched her fondly until she turned a corner.

His smirk dipped a little when he realized she'd reverted to calling him Wolfwood though. Like two years hadn't passed.

"It must be like old times for you two, hm?" Vash said, pulling him back to the present.

Wolfwood rolled his eyes. He swung an arm over Blondie's shoulder. "Whatchu mean 'you two'? Remember, it was the three of us, my friend. Four, if ya count Grandpa Rob, god rest his soul." He made a crude attempt at a holy prayer gesture thing but it probably wasn't quite right. But he had to practice the priest act.

"Ah. Right," Vash said, his face drooping. Even his spiky hair looked wilted. Vash glanced at him. Wolfwood could see the blankness, the light missing in his eyes.

Crap, the damn amnesia. He forgot to tell Shorty that Needle Noggin was partially an empty noggin.

No wonder they both looked like cracked toma eggs.

"Ah, hell. I shoulda told the Little Lady ya got scrambled brains," Wolfwood mumbled, giving Vash a noogie. "How bad she take the news?"

"Ow! Ow! Not the head! Why do you both have to pick on me? I'm injured enough!" He tried faintly to wiggle out of his friend's hold.

"Eh? Shorty give ya a good thumping already? Ya most definitely deserved it fer makin' her worry this whole time!" Wolfwood snickered and pulled him in tighter. "Well? What's the damage? How she copin'?"

Vash's lips twitched from a smile to a small frown and back, just like Meryl's had moments ago.

"Oh, ah, alright, I guess?" Blondie shrugged, the gesture hindered by Wolfwood draped over his shoulder.

With the motion, Wolfwood took his arm back, stepping to lean against the corridor wall.

"Hell of a day, huh? You doing alright, Needle Noggin?" Wolfwood asked casually. "Hadta cart yer scrawny ass here, and can't even find a place to smoke. Yeesh," he grumbled as an aside.

"Oh, me? Sure, just dandy!" Vash said with that fake-ass smile. "All rested up and back to tip-top shape." He flexed a bicep, although the flex wasn't nearly as impressive with just one arm.

Wolfwood rolled his eyes again. Although it infuriated him that Vash brushed off his worries and woes, Wolfwood wasn't going to press the issue. Blondie had Shorty now. They were good for each other.

"Sure, sure. When's Grandpa gonna make ya a new leftie anyway?"

"Hm? Oh, right! I mean left! Yes, that's a good idea. Uh, have you seen Brad and Luida around?" Vash asked.

Wolfwood scoffed. "Only every hour or so. It's either one of them or the Doc."

Vash grinned so wide that Wolfwood couldn't help but smile too. For once it was so genuine it hurt to know how fake and shallow all his other smiles were.

"Ya want me ta run and get 'em for ya?" Wolfwood asked, pushing off the wall.

Vash's smile vanished, and Wolfwood wished he hadn't offered. The smile returned but it was only half-hearted. "In a bit. I'm still nervous to see them again." Vash rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yer such a kid," Wolfwood said. "Thought you were like a hundred an' fifty-somethin'."

Vash pouted, exactly like a petulant child. "What's wrong with being a kid at heart?"

"'Cause yer naive, and reckless, and ridiculous, and infuriating'!" Wolfwood spat with no malice.

"And always getting into trouble and getting boo-boos. You never brush your hair, and you eat too many sweets!"

Meryl's voice sneaking up on the boys had them whipping around as if caught red-handed.

A stack of towels in Shorty's arms rose up just under her eyes. Wolfwood could feel the hidden smirk burning into him from behind the pile.

She laughed, her eyes crinkling with mirth. The two men couldn't help but laugh with her.

It really did feel like old times.

—L&P—

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AN:

Thanks as always for following along! Please review to let me know how you're enjoying the fic, what you liked, or what you'd like to see in future chapters! I appreciate every favorite and follow too!

Next Chapter 28: The Important Things

Just a reminder, I will be posting every two weeks. Chapter 28 will be posted around 8/30/24.

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