Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Air of Superiority ( Chapter 22 )

 

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 22: Air of Superiority

 

 

 

McKenna looked down at the blonde and instantly blushed. She couldn't believe how incredibly stupid she was to actually let herself get caught musing over such an egotistical man. Especially since he had stated that he knew she thought he was beautiful…

 

`Oh shit…' she groaned internally, realizing that he must have read her thoughts. It was bad enough knowing that she was caught touching him the way she was, but now she knew that he knew that she had been admiring his stunning form. `Just great… how am I going to put up with him now…' the redhead added forlornly as she looked down to her hand and realized that he was still holding it. As her blush intensified, she tried to pull her tiny hand away from his much larger one. Unfortunately, the sudden attempt to withdraw her traitorous limb only made the stubborn Plant tighten his hold. In shock, for the second time within a minute, she immediately darted her gaze back up to his and saw the devious glint in his eyes and the smug look adorning his face.

 

`So woman… what makes you think that I am going to let you do anything with out my permission first?”

 

Once McKenna heard the audacious statement inside of her mind, the initial shock of having the human hater's physical refusal to let her hand go evaporated and was replaced with agitation. She could not believe that he had actually refused to let go without her asking for his permission first. `Who in the hell does he think he is,' she though to herself right before she heard Knives in her mind say that he was her superior and that she had better get used to the idea of obeying his every command.

 

“What?!” she yelled as her brow furrowed in anger and her eyes flared. “Let go of my hand you son of a bitch and stay out of my head… damn it!” the redhead seethed as she again attempted to pull her hand away.

 

With a throaty chuckle, the platinum blonde let go of her hand, which caused the petite woman to stumble from the amount of force she was using while trying to free herself. “You know… I couldn't really be considered a son of a bitch, considering my mother was an Angel and why would I want to stay out of your insignificant brain, when it is so entertaining to venture there.”

 

“Then… how about a cold hearted bastard?!” she smugly replied as she righted herself and adjusted her glasses.

 

“Now, now woman is that any way to talk to such an exceptional male,” he stated high-handedly, while easily lifted his upper body so he could sit up in the bed. He then looked at the fiery woman and smirked before closing his eyes while leisurely raising his hands up and over his head, stretching the unused muscles. Wanting to add to the brazen display, he moved his head in a slow circular motion in order to loosen his shoulders and distinctly heard the redhead's nearly inaudible gulp.

 

Upon hearing the swallow, he entered her mind again as he lowered his arms until they were parallel with his fully healed shoulders and felt her wanton reaction. He noticed that she appreciated how graceful his finely sculpted body was, how his muscles rippled with ease to the unhurried motions. As Knives lowered his arms back down to his sides, he slowly opened his eyes and instantly caught the heat burning in her gaze and the pinkish hue gracing her creamy cheeks. Then she smothered them by rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. McKenna's reaction, alone, proved his point. He truly was a superior being, especially since she was trying to hide the fact that she enjoyed the `show.'

 

“Are you quite finished?” she asked in annoyance. She knew that he was only trying to egg her on by showing off just how beautiful of a physique he had; trying to get her to want him, to obey him, to prove that he was above all others. Sure, she would admit that he was absolutely gorgeous and her reaction to the scene proved that. However, in McKenna's opinion, it took more than just physical allure to prove ones superiority. It also took what was inside and the arrogant man was severely lacking in that area. Inside he was cold, uncaring, and malicious and in order to truly be considered a member of the `higher class' he would need to severely change his attitude.

 

“Finished with what, woman?”

 

“Your blatant display of virility, of course!”

 

“You thought I did that for your pleasure?” he arrogantly inquired as he brought his right index figure up to his eyebrow and rubbed slightly. When he lowered his hand, he locked his icy orbs with hers as a spiteful smile adorned his face. As he continued to stare, he brought his own arms up and crossed them over his chest right before adding, “What in that infinitesimal brain of yours ever gave any inclination that I would want to show my body off to a creature that could be considered below the rest of your unworthy species!”

 

“And just what is that supposed to mean!?” she seethed through gritted teeth and she lowered her hands to her sides and balled her hands into fists.

 

“It means, that with all of your inadequacies, you should be considered in an even lower class than the species Homo sapiens stems from,” he replied snidely before hitting the controls to raise head of the bed almost straight up so he could lean back and still keep eye contact with the very agitated woman.

 

“III…In… inadequacies!”

 

“Yes, inadequacies,” Knives repeated before elaborating, “Your height for one, you're not much taller than my brother's pet! Then there's that awful hair color, it's this dark orangey-red color that reminds me of a shoddy mineral that was found on Earth and it's such a mess. Of course… let's not forget those glasses that you require. Your inferior eyesight, alone, proves my point. Shall I go on?”

 

“Of all of the overbearing, egotistical, self-absor…” she started angrily before the Plant cut her off the by blocking her ability to speak with just a thought. She immediately brought her left hand up to her throat in disbelief as she tried to continue her tirade. As soon as she realized what happened, she brought her hand back down to her side and glared at the platinum blonde.

 

“Hmmm… much better don't you think,” Knives declared as he moved his hands behind his head and leaned back on them. “Yes… peaceful,” he sighed before closing his eyes and exhaling slowly, proving that he found the `serenity' quite relaxing,

 

McKenna was absolutely livid. If she hadn't made the promise to help Vash with his brother, she would have been seriously tempted to cause him some major bodily harm or at very least give him something to make him violently ill. However, she needed to worry about the immediate issues; her voice and the only way to get it back would be to get the bastard's attention.

 

So, in a huff, she strode up to the arrogant Plant's side and flicked him in the rib cage. Upon feeling the little tap, the platinum blonde sighed in annoyance as he brought attention back to her. As soon as their eyes met, she instantly opened her mouth and flung her opened hand before it in an attempt to advise the Plant that she wanted the ability to speak back.

 

With a bored expression, he just looked at her for a moment before saying, “Oh… so you do want me to continue? Very well…” Then bringing his right hand to his chin, he rubbed it in thought while pondering over her `faults' before finally supplying, “Hmmm… lets see…What's with the baggy clothing? I'm sure you are covering an obese and unshapely body…”

 

However, just as he was about to comment on something else, he felt his brother walk through the infirmary doors. With a sigh, he advised the redhead that they could continue their intriguing discussion on her shortcomings later, right before he gave her voice back.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

Vash woke with a bright smile on his face. Life was finally going the way it was supposed too. After all, his brother hadn't killed anyone, he hadn't been shot at in awhile (for the bounty that is) and the Doc and he were able to remove the device that activated the angle arms from the colts. And, most importantly, he was in love and the object of his affections loved him back.

 

“Life is good,” he exclaimed to himself as he stretched rolled out of bed. “Hmmm… not quite seven, I wonder if my short-girl is awake,” the golden blonde added before opening his senses to verify if Meryl was awake or not. When entering her mind, he noticed that she was still soundly sleeping and figured that she probably needed the extra rest. So, instead of making his mental presence known, he quietly exited her mind and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

 

Thirty minutes later, the blonde outlaw, clad in a white button down with an open black vest overlapping the soft cotton shirt and a pair of loose fitting blue jeans, left his quarters and walked across hall to the girls' door. As his door slid shut, Vash decided to open his senses again to see if Meryl was awake. She wasn't, but he did notice that Milly was and was getting ready to prepare breakfast. `Might as well wake up my short-girl and have some grub,' he thought as he knocked on the door. A moment later, he heard Milly call out that the door was unlocked and that he could come in.

 

“Good morning, big-girl!” he happily greeted as he walked into the kitchen.

 

“And good morning to you too, Mr. Vash!” she chirped, just as happily. “Would you like some breakfast? Sempai is still in bed, why don't you wake her while I'll do this. Here's a cup of coffee for her, could you take it to her? Oh and here's one for you too!” she rattled of as she poured two cups of coffee and handed them the awed blonde.

 

“Wow, you're in good spirits this morning, Milly!” Vash declared as he accepted the cups from the statuesque brunette. “Did you have a pleasant dream last night?”

 

“Yeah, I sure did! Nicholas visited me last night!”

 

“Then you had a very pleasant dream, huh, big-girl!”

 

“Yup!” she added happily before she shooed Vash away so he could wake Meryl.

 

He replied with a `yes ma'am' and a wink before he turned to head back to the bedrooms. Upon reaching the shorter insurance girl's open door, he stopped a moment and just stared at the sleeping beauty before him. `Beautiful,' he thought as he took in her sleeping form. There she was, sleeping on her back with only her head and shoulders peaking out of a sea of soft beige and sage from the bed's sheets and comforter. Her glossy onyx hair was nestled in perfect contrast amid pale color of the fluffy pillow, while the upturn of her inviting lips and the fall of her sooty lashes did absolute wonders to her already angelic features.

 

With a winsome smile on his face, the gunman approached the bed and set the mugs down on the nightstand before lying down next to her. He immediately snuggled up to her petite form and kissed her softly on the left cheek right before he draped his real arm over her and the covers.

 

“Mmm… Vash…” she breathed slightly right before she lifted the covers a little, motioning that she wanted him to climb under the covers with her.

 

“Are you sure Meryl? I still have my shoes on…”

 

“Take them off then.”

 

“Okie dokie,” he said as he sat up and quickly removed the black loafers. Vash climbed under the mass and wrapped his arms around his insurance girl. Then as a contented sigh escaped, he muttered, “You sure are comfy. Can I start sleeping here with you?”

 

“That would be nice…” she whispered sleepily as she turned into his embrace and wrapped her own arms around his waist and kissed him softly on the neck.

 

Unfortunately, after a few blessed moments had passed, Meryl reluctantly broke the tranquility with a sigh and said that they had better get up. Vash sighed as well before adding that she was right and that they had better get a move on, so, they could get to the infirmary before Knives could complain… too much. They both disentangled themselves from each other and climbed out of the bed.

 

“Are one of those cups for me?” Meryl asked as she walked around the bed and stopped in front of the outlaw while he sat hunched over on the firm mattress, while slipping is shoes back on.

 

“Yeah and Milly is fixing breakfast as we speak,” Vash supplied as he glanced up and saw her shapely and very bare legs before him. With a groan he slowly moved his brilliant aqua-blues up her form and took in her very short night shirt and breathed, “God Meryl.” Then without another thought, the enraptured man pulled her close and ran his hands up the backs of her thighs to cup her bottom.

 

“Vash…” she purred as he started to kiss her exposed neck while caressing her exquisite rear end. “Please… we ahhh… Oh that feels nice…”

 

“What is it?” he whispered into her throat as he fingered the sides of her string bikinis and prepared to slip them down her hips.

 

“We can't… No time.”

 

“Damn…” he groaned, realizing what he was doing before pulling his hands out from under her shirt and wrapping them around her tiny waist. “I'm sorry short-girl… I just can't seem to help myself.”

 

“I know what you mean,” she whispered as she brought her right hand up to his head and gently caressed the silken locks that were lying haphazardly around his head. “Wow, your hair is getting long.”

 

“Yeah, it always grows quickly,” he replied as he let go of her so they could head out to the kitchen with Milly.

 

“Would you like for me to cut it for you?”

 

“Nah, I think I'll let it grow for a while,” the gunman answered before he rose from the bed and stepped over to the nightstand in order to pick up the two cups. Handing the petite beauty one of the cups, he saw her curious expression and immediately asked what she was thinking about.

 

“Oh, I was just trying to picture you with longer hair, is all,” she answered after taking a sip of the lukewarm brew.

 

“Well… believe it or not, while we were separated I kept my hair past my shoulders,” he stated as they walked out of the bedroom toward the kitchen and heard the big-girl humming while flipping pancakes.

 

“Was that when you were in hiding with the young girl and her grandma?” Meryl asked before she said good morning Milly. Then without pause, she walked over to the carafe filled with coffee and heated up her cup.

 

“Yup,” he replied as he sat down at the table. Giving Meryl a broad smile, he held out his own cup and asked if she could pour him a refill. She immediately returned the smile and filled his cup before sitting as well.

 

“Gee… Mr. Vash isn't that about the same time you ended up stripping butt naked and barking like a dog in the middle of that town?” the big-girl interjected with a giggle as she set a huge stack of flapjacks down on the table and sat across from him, while Meryl laughed out loud.

 

“Oh man… How did you guys find out about that?” he whined as he lowered his head to the table and placed his hands over his golden hair.

 

“Why… Nicholas/ Mr. Wolfwood of course,” they both chirped at the same time.

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

After breakfast, Vash found himself leaving the company of his insurance girls, so, he could make it down to be with his brother before eight o'clock. Of course, the girls said that they would join him just as soon as they were ready and, knowing how efficient they were, they would probably be in the medical ward before eight-thirty. As the elevator doors opened, he walked out into the corridor and thought, `What would I do without them?'

 

A moment later, the golden blonde strode through the infirmary's double doors and immediately felt the hostility permeating throughout the space. He quickly moved toward brother's room and upon reaching entrance, he paused for a moment to take in the scene before him. There was red, standing rigid with her hands clenched into tight fists, looking like she was ready to kill, while his brother was leaning back against the upright bed and looking rather smug. `Great… now what did he do,' Vash thought as he stepped through the entrance.

 

“Hey guys, what's up?”

 

“Good morning, brother. I hope you slept well.”

 

“Knives… what did you do?”

 

“Me… brother?” he answered feigning ignorance. “What makes you think that I had done anything?”

 

“Well, for starters the hostility in the room is so thick that I could probably cut it with a knife. Not to mention, for the simple fact that red looks like she wants to inflict some bodily harm to you,” Vash responded in an `as a matter of fact' tone. Then turning his attention to the redhead, he asked, “McKenna, are you okay? What happened?”

 

“Nothing really, Mr. Vash.” she sighed before adding sarcastically, “Your brother just decided to remind me of all of my finer qualities.”

 

“I was only stating the facts, Vash.”

 

“Oh really?” the redhead groused as she crossed her arms and glared at the platinum blonde.

 

“Yes really, woman!” Knives snidely replied as he returned her glare.

 

“Okay, okay… can't we all just get along,” Vash pleaded as he walked to stand in between the two. “Knives please, that's enough and red why don't you go into the lab. I'll be there momentarily.”

 

“Okay, Mr. Vash,” she sighed, while wishing that she could somehow get back at the pompous ass. Then as she was about to turn and leave, it came to her. “Oh… could you get your brother some proper attire, his lack of clothing is becoming quite distasteful,” she declared before walking toward the doorway. Then once she reached the exit, the young doctor turned, looking directly at Knives and smugly added, “One more thing, your brother could use a shower. He's starting to reek!”

 

Then without another word, she confidently walked out the door.

 

Knives couldn't help but smirk over the redhead's audacity. Who would have thought that some inferior woman would actually have the impudence to defy him without any fear of recourse! `Well, other than Vash's pet,' he thought with a sideways smile on his face, while his gaze lingered on the doorway.

 

After Vash watched McKenna walk out the doors, he turned his attention to his brother and saw the slight grin and the far way look in his eyes. With a warm smile, he looked back to the doors and quietly said, “Women really are a marvel… aren't they.”

 

“Hmmm…” Knives murmured, starting agree, before realizing what he was agreeing too. He instantly snapped out of it, by biting out, “What did you say?”

 

“I said…” he began again, bringing his attention back to his twin. “…that women are marvels. Someone told me that a little while ago and I would have to agree with him.”

 

“Humph… what ever you say, Vash.”

 

“Knives, can you please try to get along with red?”

 

“Why should I? Her lack of respect for me is quite disconcerting,” Knives huffily answered as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms.

 

“Well… did you ever think that if you show her a little respect then she would probably respond in kind?”

 

“Doubtful… she is nothing but bitchy and ill-mannered. I can not believe that someone as lacking as her knows how to show proper respect, especially to someone of my stature!”

 

“That's funny… she's respectful to me and aren't we twins?” Vash pointed out as he scratched his head. “So, I don't think it's her at all…”

 

“That's quite enough,” the reclining twin interrupted before adding, “I don't feel like talking about that woman any longer.”

 

“Okay Knives…” Vash sighed. “Have you eaten yet?”

 

“No! She was to busy being bit…”

 

“I though you said that you didn't want to talk about her anymore?” the golden blonde interrupted.

 

“Shut up Vash!” Knives growled, narrowing his artic gaze.

 

“Oooooh testy!” Vash teased, before decided that he had better try to smooth things over. “Tell you what, let me go and talk to her and I'll see if she will be willing to fix you some breakfast, okay?”

 

“Humph… whatever.”

 

With an alrighty then, Vash left his brother's temporary room and went to talk to the young doctor. When he walked out into the lab, he saw her sitting at the center island while typing vigorously on the keyboard in front of her. “Hey red…” Vash quietly started as he leaned on the center island. “I'm sorry.”

 

“Its okay, Mr. Vash,” Mac sighed as she slipped her index finger and thumb under the bridge of her glasses to rub the bridge of her nose. After lowering her hand and returning her gaze to the attractive blonde leaning next to her, she confessed, “It's partially my fault for letting him rile me up like that.”

 

“Ummm… I don't know about that,” Vash mumbled before quickly asking, “So, how's he doing physically?”

 

“Well…” she started prior to telling him about her findings from just a little while ago. And that she felt that he only needed to stay in the infirmary for few more days. She also advised Vash that he could probably start walking on his own. Although, for not any length of time, perhaps longer, in about two more days. She then finished by saying that Knives should be fully recovered by early next week.

 

“Wow, that's really fast!”

 

“I'll say! I believe that is why he sleeps so much,” she replied.

 

“And I thought it was the meds,” Vash laughed.

 

“Well… they do help. But, I think that we should either lower the dosage or completely take him off of them.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Well… they are highly addictive and he really doesn't need them any longer.”

 

“What ever you say goes, red!” the gunman stated before he chuckled and added, “He's your patient after all!”

 

“Don't remind me!” she groaned, while moving her hands up to her forehead, so, she could rub her temples with her fingers. She could definitely feel a headache coming on.

 

Vash just had to laugh harder at the redhead, until he heard Knives in his mind say that he can hear everything they were saying. Also, that the younger sibling should inform the `insignificant creature' that he was ready for breakfast. The outlaw responded to his twin with `patience dear brother' before he asked McKenna if she wouldn't mind fixing his obnoxious brother some breakfast.

 

“Sure… could you ask his royal highness what he wants?” she replied, knowing that they were talking telepathically.

 

Vash asked his brother and once he received the order, he advised her that his majesty would like eggs scrambled with whole-wheat toast, orange juice, and a cup of earl gray. With a smile, she said that she would be back in a few minutes before she rose from the stool and exited the infirmary. After McKenna left, Vash returned to his brother's room so he could see about getting his brother a shower and, once the insurance girls showed up, a change of clothes.