Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Milly the Observant ( Chapter 12 )

 

Disclaimer: Hmmm... I own my kids (Because I made them) I own my husband, (Because the Marriage License says so) and I own a REALLY big mortgage. (Because I'm stupid and signed on the dotted line.) However I don't own Trigun. (Because if I did, I wouldn't have said mortgage.)

“blah blah” : talking

`blah blah' : thinking

“blah blah” : telepathic talking

blah blah : other misc. stuff.

 

*~*~*

 

Forever Mine

 

Chapter 12: Milly the Observant

 

 

 

Vash bolted out of the truck before it came to a complete stop and rushed around to the back in order to get to his insurance girl as quickly as possible. He unclasped the latch and swung the doors open. There before him was Meryl. Her cheeks were still damp from the tears and a small smile graced her face while she sat up against wall of the truck. While his brother, who was still lying on the donated mattress, looked rather smug. Without hesitation, he hopped up into the truck's bed and sat next to her.

 

“Hey guys watcha doing?” the golden blonde asked, using his goofy smile and chipper voice to feign ignorance. Meryl just looked down and mumbled nothing much, while Knives rolled his eyes before closing them.

 

“Stop being such a damned idiot and act like the intelligent Plant that you are, Vash,” the fairer twin telepathically scolded as he opened his eyes and met his brother's annoyed ones.

 

“That's enough, Knives,” Vash bit back while glaring hostilely.

 

“Well, if you really must know,” Knives then sighed, ignoring his brother's veiled threat before continuing, “I just advised your… woman that I wanted to sit up and she just basically told me that it wasn't a good idea because of my injuries.”

 

“Meryl, is that all?” Vash asked, seeking verification as brought right hand up to caress her cheek.

 

“Yeah, that's pretty much it,” she verified, looking up me meet his searching gaze.

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah...”

 

“Very well,” the outlaw softly relented as he lowered his hand and turned his gaze back to his brother, while mentally telling him that they would talk about it later. “You do know that she is right, brother. Even though your shoulders are almost completely healed, the wounds in your thighs and the one on your side aren't. You don't want to risk having them open back up do you?”

 

“Oh please, you know as well as I that they will be perfectly fine in just a few more days. Besides, if you wouldn't have shot me five times, then I would be completely healed by now. Just like you.” the reclining twin replied before he arrogantly pointed out, “Which affirms that we are a superior breed, Vash.”

 

“Can we please talk about this later, Knives? I'll even help you sit up if it makes you happy.”

 

“Vash you can't do that!” Meryl exclaimed. “What if his side starts to bleed again?”

 

“Well, well, Miss Stryfe, are you actually showing concern for me?” Knives sarcastically asked.

 

“Yeah, you wish!”

 

“Yeah, you wish what, Sempai?” Milly asked as she made her presence known. “I thought that we were going to have some lunch now?”

 

Two of the three who looked over to the tall woman, standing just out side of the truck, were grateful (that time) for her impeccable timing, while the third was a bit annoyed with the scatterbrain's interruption. Knives was, to a certain extent, looking forward to a little verbal sparring with his brother's pet.

 

“Lunch, what a good idea Milly,” the smaller woman hastily remarked as she moved to pick up the basket holding their food supply. “Vash, you might as well let your brother sit up. That way he can feed himself this time,” Meryl resigned as she pulled out a loaf of bread and apples for lunch.

 

Vash simply shrugged and crawled over to his brother's side to help him up into a sitting position. “Knives, if I sense any pain from you then… down you go,” the aqua-eyed twin warned.

 

“Of course dear brother,” he answered, wincing a little from the twinge of pain on his left side as his brother tenderly pushed him up.

 

Once Knives nodded that he was okay, Milly climbed up into the bed and proceeded to help Meryl set out some lunch for the twins and themselves. Once everything was in order, the four ate in companionable silence. Well, for the most part. Knives would occasionally grumble about how the bread was a bit stale and Meryl would snidely bite back that he didn't have to eat at all, while Milly and Vash just sat back and listened with amused looks crossing their faces.

 

“Gee…Sempai, you and Mr. Knives bicker just like you and Mr. Vash do,” the big-girl observed as she popped open the lid to her second pudding. The remark immediately caused the both the short-girl and Knives to yell `what' while Vash fell over from laughing so hard.

 

“Did I say something wrong again?” Milly innocently asked, blinking repeatedly.

 

“No big-girl that was just perfect!” the golden blonde exclaimed as he sat back up, still chuckling. After all, he knew that it would really rile his brother up, knowing that in just a few days he was already starting act more and more like his twin.

 

“Shut up, Vash!” both Meryl and Knives yelled in unison while Meryl smacked him up side the head for good measure, causing the other twin to chuckle.

 

“Nice shot,” Knives then thought to the smaller woman, making her smirk in agreement.

 

“Ooooouch… short-girl that hurt!” Vash whined as he rubbed the back of his head.

 

“Yeah, well… stop acting like an idiot!”

 

“I'm not acting like an idiot!”

 

“Your not?” the petite beauty questioned as she gave him `the look' again.

 

`Scary…' Vash thought as he mumbled something about not understanding how someone so darn cute could be so blasted intimidating at the same time.

 

“You are such a coward. I can't believe that I lost to you! Do you really let her get the best of you like that all of the time?” Knives telepathically groused to his brother.

 

“Yeah, I just can't help it. It must be the way her eyes flicker whenever she's pissed at me! God, she's sexy!”

 

“That's disgusting!”

 

“Just you wait dearest brother, someday it's gonna happen to you and I can't wait until that day comes!” Vash mentally declared as he gave his brother a great big smile. “I'm gonna sit there and say, `see I told ya' so'!”

 

Meryl looked between the two brothers and knew they were `talking' about her. So, she anxiously cleared her throat and said something about getting a move on, because she didn't want sit in the same spot for the rest of the day. Both Plants looked at her momentarily before Vash agreed that it was time to get a move on. With a smile, he asked Meryl if she wouldn't mind driving for the next few hours and then he would finish the last leg of their journey.

 

“Sure Vash,” she replied before she and Milly climbed out of the truck, both heading in opposite directions to the cab.

 

“Wait Meryl, I'll walk you up,” Vash called as he started to scramble out of the truck.

 

“Oh okay…” Meryl said, taking a few steps back and waiting for Vash to hop down. He then took her hand in his and led her the short way to the driver's side of the cab. Once there, he took her other hand in his and held both of them tenderly.

 

“Ummm… Meryl?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Knives didn't try to hurt you, did he?” he asked looking into her heather orbs.

 

“Oh no, not at all,” started the petite insurance girl. “I think that he was just trying to get under my skin a bit… that's all.”

 

“If he does… you will tell me, won't you?”

 

“I promise I will, Vash,” Meryl replied with a shy smile. It was still rather strange having him pay so much attention to her. “About when will we arrive in New Oregon?”

 

“Well, it's about one o'clock, I'd imagine. So, I would say somewhere between nine and ten tonight.”

 

“Alright… ummm… for about how long do you want me to drive?”

 

“I… aaah… I could just… ummm… well… aaah… you know…” the blonde man stuttered, his cheeks turning pink.

 

“Let me know?” Meryl finished for him.

 

“Aaah… yeah… If that's okay?”

 

“Sure, I don't mind… at all really…” the tiny woman muttered, blushing as well.

 

“Okay… I'll let you know then,” he smiled as he raised her hands so he could place a feather light kiss on the both of them. “I had better let you get in the cab,” he added and let go of her hands, so, he could open the door for her. He then gingerly lifted her up, making Meryl gasp, and set her in the driver's seat. Closing the door, he smiled again and walked back to `talk' to his twin.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

“It's a lovely day isn't it, Sempai?”

 

“Yeah,” Meryl absently murmured. It had been a little over three hours since she started driving and her overactive mind kept replaying what the devious twin had said earlier. She couldn't help, but wonder if his demeaning words had any semblance of truth behind them. After all, Vash never really showed that he harbored any feelings for her until after he returned with his brother.

 

“Do you wanna talk about it, Meryl?” Milly asked softly as she turned her blue topaz gaze from the sandy terrain outside the passenger side window to her best friend and partner.

 

“Well…” the raven-haired woman started as she glanced over to companion. “It's just something that Knives said to me earlier and it got me thinking a little.”

 

“What did he say?”

 

“Well, he just basically said that I'm a temporary thing for Vash and that he will probably tire of me soon and move on,” Meryl sullenly answered.

 

“You don't really believe that do you?”

 

“No…”

 

“Meryl…”

 

The shorter woman just sighed and looked over at her partner again. The big-girl was always a good listener when it came to personal issues. And Meryl knew that she would be able too sort things out. After a slight pause, she finally admitted her doubts, “Oh… I don't know, Milly. I mean, just think about it. Vash is a big womanizer and an even bigger skirt chaser. Why would he change the habits that he has had for who knows how long, now? Besides, before he came back with his brother, he never even looked my way unless we were arguing. What else should I think?”

 

“Did you ever think that maybe he didn't want to show you any affection, because he was afraid his brother would find out and he didn't want you to get hurt?” Milly asked back.

 

“Uhhh… no…”

 

“Besides, Meryl… I have been watching Mr. Vash for a quite awhile now and I think that he has liked you for a very long time. I just think he was in denial… well up until we met up with him again. After that, he just had to concentrate on what to do about his brother and that Legato guy.” Milly gave her partner a big smile and giggled slightly before adding, “Now all of that's over and he can concentrate on you!”

 

“Do you really think so, Milly?”

 

“Yep, sure do, Sempai! Besides, have you ever seen Mr. Vash ever seriously chase after another girl?”

 

“Well… umm… what about that Plant engineer? What's her name…?”

 

“Do you mean Miss Elizabeth?”

 

“Yeah her…”

 

“That was three years ago and you barely knew that Mr. Vash was Mr. Vash and he didn't know you that well, either,” Milly tried to explain. She really didn't know how to answer because that was quite a while ago and Mr. Vash did seem pretty interested in the voluptuous woman, but…

 

“Though after the Plant nearly blew up, she didn't come to the party for Mr. Vash and he didn't seem to care… as a matter of fact, I remember him dancing with you!”

 

“How could you remember that, Milly?” Meryl asked incredulously. If her memory served her correctly, the big-girl had past out about forty minutes before that even happened. “Weren't you out for the count?”

  

“Nah… only my right side was! I could still see what was going on with my left!” Milly stated as the short-girl gave her a funny look. “Anyway, I remember Mr. Vash and you dancing all around and then you hit him with something…”

 

“A beer mug.”

 

“Yeah, that's it! Then you stormed off and then… oh what did he do? I thought it was pretty peculiar at the time, but…” Milly paused for a moment as she brought her right hand up to her chin and absently scratched. Then it hit her. Instantly slipping her hand from her face, she snapped her fingers together as she happily exclaimed, “Wait I remember! He came over to the table and picked that guy up by the shirt collar who was talking to you. Do you remember that guy, Sempai? Anyway, he told him not to hit on you any more because he didn't like it… errr… well, something like that!”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah! Isn't that funny, Mr. Vash was jealous even back then,” the big-girl declared with a laugh before adding, “You could always ask him you know.”

 

“Ask him about what he said to that guy?”

 

“No… ask him how he feels. Gee… I swear if I didn't know what you're normally like, I would say that you were nothing but a fraidy-cat,” Milly lightly berated as a more serious look enveloped her lovely features. “You know Meryl; life is too short to beat around the bush, even in Mr. Vash's case. He may live for who knows how long, but you… well… and besides, I would hate to see something happen and you two not tell each other before it's too late. I'm glad that I was able to tell… him…” she trailed off as tears started to pour out of her eyes.

 

“Oh Milly… I'm so sorry,” Meryl sincerely whispered as she grabbed her partner's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. “I'm being so selfish… we shouldn't even talk about this.”

 

“Nonsense! We are best friends and this is what best friends do, right?”

 

“Yeah, you're right. I think will ask him… and tell him tonight while we are driving the last leg of this trip,” Meryl decided, smiling. As she glanced back over to her partner, she saw Milly smiling back with her stunning eyes still glistening with tears. She could not believe how strong her partner was and how unbelievably blessed she was to have her. She was about to thank Milly for everything until someone interrupted her… mentally.

 

“Miss me yet, my Angel?”

 

It was Vash.

 

So, Meryl told Milly that Vash was speaking to her, which in turn, made the big-girl look at her funny. Meryl said that would explain in a minute and brought her attention back to the handsome blonde who was literally in her head. “That would depend on who's asking?” she replied internally and heard Vash chuckle.

 

“Well then, I suppose that I should tell you that I am a peaceful hunter looking for the elusive Mayfly known as love… though… I think it kinda came up and bit me right on the ass.” Vash thought back to her, internally mumbling the last part.

 

“What?”

 

“Oh… erm… ummm… well… nothing… nothing, I mean that we'll talk about that later,” he hastily mumbled before changing the subject, “Anyway, in about ten iles you'll see a little saloon with a plant with a recharging station. Go ahead and stop there. We can recharge the truck's energy cells and then switch, okie dokie?”

 

“Alright, Vash,” Meryl answered right before she felt him drift away from her thoughts. She smiled to herself, savoring the feeling of being so connected with him for the moment. She then brought her attention back to Milly and relayed the message that they would be stopping shortly prior to telling her about how both twins were telepathic.

 

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Knives sat in silence while he `listened' to his brother communicate with his pet. That was, until Vash mumbled something about being bitten by an insect. He just rolled his cerulean blue orbs and muttered what a besotted fool as he exited his brother's mind. He could never comprehend why his brother had always wanted to associate with such garbage. Especially with the way he had been treated in the past by them, both on Gunsmoke and on the ship… the SEEDS ship. The beatings they endured both physically and mentally from Steve, alone, could have made anyone hate the breed.

 

Even more so, after that one time when he was caught alone in the cold sleep chamber by that abomination. Of course, Vash was never made aware of that horrible moment from his past and never would be. That was the turning point. The very next day he made sure that the bastard was placed in cold sleep, never to wake again. `I wonder what Saint Rem would think if she knew I did that,' Knives mused as he watched Vash smile slightly with a far away look in his eyes.

 

At his brother's reaction, he looked down to his lap and turned his thoughts to the object that held his brother's affections. `How could one vertically challenged woman with a chip on her shoulder mean so much to him? It is very peculiar, especially when she is near him. I can feel his entire body react. Today it was even more potent when he thought that I had threatened her…'

 

However, Knives' ponderings were halted when his brother entered his mind and asked him why he was thinking about Meryl again. He looked over and saw Vash looking at him curiously. With a sigh, the platinum blonde answered, “I was theorizing as to why you react the way you do when ever your pet is around.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I am not certain yet. I will need to analyze the situation further.”

 

“Well there's no need for that,” replied the golden blonde before adding dreamily, “I can tell you what it is… its love brother, simply love.”

 

Knives just shook his head and mumbled to himself. He could not believe that he was actually related to such a sap let alone be his twin. “I just don't know about you, Vash. How could you harbor these feelings for such a lowly creature?”

 

“Hey, watch it Knives! You're talking about my Meryl here,” the very irritated outlaw growled. “She isn't a lowly creature, she's amazing! She is strong, caring, and doesn't take crap from anybody, even when she should just let things go, she doesn't. Without her being there for me, I…I don't know if I could have… made it…” Vash trailed off as his anger ebbed. He stared through his brother, but not seeing, as he thought of how he couldn't find a non-life ending solution just a few short weeks ago in LR Town, thus ending the life of one Legato Bluesummers. While in the dark days that followed, Meryl had been there for him, just as she always had been. A moment later, a small smile returned to his handsome face as he refocused on his twin. “Ya' know, Knives… I would say that Meryl is far superior to the both of us! I know that I don't deserve her, that's for sure.”

 

“I disagree, brother.”

 

“I know you do, but someday I hope that you will at least understand.”

 

“We shall see,” Knives sighed noncommittally, while closing his eyes for a moment to contemplate if he should really give these Homo sapiens a chance, at least, for his brother's sake. Opening his eyes, the platinum blonde gazed at his brother and asked, “When are we stopping?”

 

“Anytime now.”

 

“I suppose the ditzy one will be coming back here, next.”

 

“You mean Milly, yeah…”

 

“Very well, I would like to have some of my medication then. I'd prefer to sleep instead of listening to her idle prattle.”

 

Vash just nodded his head and quietly gave his brother two tablets and a canteen to wash them down. He then asked if he would like to lie back down, where Knives advised that he would. No sooner than Vash had helped his twin back into a reclining position, the truck began to slow.