Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Not So Little Changes ( Chapter 35 )

 

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 35: Not So Little Changes

 

Uncertainty had been nagging the golden blonde all morning. It was tickling the back of his brain as if he had forgotten something important, or almost as if he had been caught off guard and that something was going to slip by him. However, instead of following his instincts, which were telling him to stay close to the ship, he just chucked it up to the anxiety involving his short-girl.

The very idea of Meryl being pregnant with his child excited him more than he thought possible. And not just because it would give him a very valid excuse to tell Jessica that he couldn't marry her. It would also get him his insurance girl back, at least more than likely. Besides, he loved children and had always dreamed of having a Vash junior running around wreaking havoc. Just the thought of a mischievous little boy with spiky black hair and brilliant aqua eyes brought a smile to his face, a true smile. Something he hadn't done in two weeks.

But still, he wasn't just feeling pure elation. There was another sense lacing through his soul. It was more ominous. Vash couldn't wait to get back to the ship and was even thinking about taking off early. All so he could get Meryl alone and talk to her, particularly with the feelings of doubt becoming increasingly harder to ignore.

Not being able to take much more, the gunman looked up to the sky and figured it was about one o'clock. Finally, he decided that he would work until two before heading back to take a quick shower. Then he'd go down to the infirmary, grab Meryl, throw her over his shoulder, and take her to their spot so he could talk to her without any interruptions.

`I think it's about time I try another tactic,' he thought, while straightening his athletic form and stretching. With a faint smile on his lips stemming from the idea of ruffling the petite beauty's feathers, he dug the shovel deep in the sand to keep it from falling over and strode toward the finished homes with the intent to advise the foreman that he was leaving at two. Then a cold shiver stopped him in his tracks.

“Good bye… Vash.”

A feeling of dread swept through Vash's system as he heard Meryl inside his head whispering good bye. Sheer panic took over as he bolted to the nearest building and started to climb. He needed to find and speak with her before it was too late.

“Meryl?” he called out mentally, while hoping that she wasn't really leaving. Opening his senses, Vash quickly found her aura and locked in, instantly feeling the pain and deep sadness flowing throughout her. He realized right then and there that she was leaving him without giving him a chance, without telling him if she was going to have his child. His own desperation took over as he reached the roof of building and starting looking for her. An instant later, he noticed a vehicle as it drove by. However, he faintly recognized the yellow bus, for all he saw was the petite hand resting up against the glass, Meryl's hand.

“No Meryl! Please… Don't go…” the golden blonde pleaded as a deep sense of loss shot through him. He heard her cry out right before he felt her receiving comfort from someone else. The pain she was emitting was unbearable and knowing that he was the cause, sent him to his breaking point.

 

“MEEERRRYL!” Vash screamed in agony as he dropped to his knees. He was too late. He lost her all because of his stupid sense of justice.

 

*~*~*

 

Driving back from the bus stop had been quite tense. Knives felt McKenna's sadness over insurance girls' departure and he wasn't certain what he should do. After all, feeling compassion was a new experience for him, particularly when it was directed toward a human, even if it was her. Fortunately, they were able to take the direct route back through the construction site, making the return trip much shorter. So, he decided to simply keep quiet as he concentrated on driving back to the ship while trying to ignore the woman in the passenger seat.

He was failing miserably.

Often, Knives would take his eyes off of the road to glance at her. Watching as she simply looked out the open window and would, on occasion, wipe the tears from her face while trying to keep her crying a secret. He had the strangest desire to stop the truck and pull her into his arms. All so, he could run a comforting hand through her russet-colored curls, while telling her that everything would be alright. Then offer to take her to December, whenever she wanted to visit her friends.

`Damn it Vash,' Knives said to himself, berating his brother's idiocy and all of the pain it caused. Well and, yet again, because Vash shared his feelings, making him care. However, before he could add a few choice words to his mental flaying of his twin, he was brought out of his rant by the woman next to him.

“So… Knives, how is your research coming along?” Mac asked as she turned to look at the Plant.

“Why do you ask, woman?”

“Just curious, I suppose. I don't even know what you and the Doc are working on, after all,” she said before sighing, “I guess a little conversation would be nice.”

“Well, I highly doubt you would be able to comprehend the technical aspects,” the platinum blonde highhandedly stated, which made McKenna roll her eyes and cross her arms over her chest. Then with a smirk, he added, “Well, I suppose I could simplify it for you.”

“Oh you would do that… for me?” she mockingly asked, turning to sit sideways in the seat of the ship's utility vehicle, so, she could look directly at him. “Really? Wow… I should feel honored…”

“Yes, you should,” he snorted before looking over to her and flashing a smile, a teasing smile.

McKenna just looked at him with shock apparent, he was teasing her. The brooding, egotistical man was making light of the situation and joking with her. `Wow… miracles never cease,' she thought.

“You know I can hear you,” he sent to her after hearing her private thoughts.

“Would you stop doing that!” she complained as she lightly hit him on the shoulder. “Can't a girl have her privacy. God… I'm surprised I don't enter my mind more than you already do,” she bit out while narrowing her eyes waiting for the man's retort on her smacking him. He didn't say a thing about that…

Instead, he glanced over to her with a twinkle apparent in his ice-blue eyes and said, “What makes you think I don't?”

“What?!”

“Hmmm… you have some very vivid dreams. I'm especially intrigued by the one where you are showering and then a man wraps his arms around you from behind before he…”

“That's enough…” the young doctor squeaked, successfully cutting him off as her cheeks became a brilliant shade of red.

Knives just chuckled over her embarrassment before looking at her again. He watched as she adjusted her glasses in an attempt to hide her flushed face and internally groaned. She was doing it again. She was making him want to pull the truck over, only this time for an entirely different reason. So, he could pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

“Do you really want to know what we are working on?” he asked, deciding that it was time to change the subject. Or else, he would do something worse and ask her if it was him in the dream, which he had a feeling it was. And if that was the case, then there would be no stopping him from asking if they could go back to her place. Just so they could turn that erotic fantasy into reality.

“Yes,” she quickly answered, happy that they were going to talk about something less embarrassing.

“Well then… tell me, what does this god forsaken planet have an endless supply of?”

“Uhhh… sand?”

“And?”

“Well… and sunlight,” she added, giving the Plant a funny look. “So, what about them?”

“Okay now,” Knives started, while realizing that they were almost to the ship. “What can you make out of sand when you heat it to 926.7 degrees Celsius and liquefy it?”

“Knives, what's with the twenty questions? Geez… why can't anything be simple with you?” McKenna complained as she started to become irritated with the handsome man. “It's glass.”

“Good… perhaps you are smarter than the average human,” he stated with a smirk before adding, “So, if you take your glass and build panels out of it…”

“Wait… solar panels,” she interrupted getting tired of his little game.

“Very good woman, I'm impressed. However, there's more to it than that,” he said smartly, while pulling into the makeshift garage under the ship and parking the vehicle. Once he turned the engine off, he turned to look at her and continued, “Basically, Doc came up with an idea to create a glass dome that would collect solar energy on the outside, while on the inside it would harbor plant-life.”

“Like a self sufficient green house,” McKenna commented in understanding.

“Exactly! Only part missing was the initial water supply. However, that was just remedied and the rest should be flawless. Of course, because I am the one who perfected it,” he egotistically pointed out.

“Ugh… whatever,” she mumbled with a roll of her eyes, before opening the door to hop out of the vehicle. “So when are you going to start building it?” she then asked after watching him get out as well and walk around to stand in front of her.

“The Doc has a meeting with the mayor in two weeks and…” Knives began before trailing off as he heard his brother's grief-filled voice in his head. He immediately raised his index finger, telling Mac to wait a minute before closing his eyes and returning a message to his brother. A moment later, he opened his eyes and set his gaze on the woman before him while advising, “Vash knows and he's coming back here right now.”

“How did he find out?”

“All he said was that she left him and that he wanted some answers,” Knives evenly replied before adding that he was going to wait for Vash in the `garage.' McKenna immediately informed him that she was going to wait, as well, because she had a feeling that he wanted to know about Meryl's pregnancy test. So, Knives just informed her that it probably wouldn't be pretty before he started to walk toward the ship's entrance to wait.

Sure enough, Vash appeared less than five minutes later. He looked absolutely furious as he strode up to his brother. Then without hesitation, he let his right fist fly, punching his twin with a right hook, effectively knocking him on his ass.

“You fucking knew,” Vash yelled as he watched his brother calmly wipe the blood away from his mouth.

“Of course I knew,” Knives retorted as he stood before looking at his brother. “You should have known, too. It was quite obvious really,” he then added before quickly pulling his left arm back and returning the punch. “All you had to do was read her mind once and you would have known exactly what was going on, you imbecile!” he bit out, staring down at his brother who was pushing himself up and rolling into a sitting position on the ground.

“Why Knives? Why didn't you tell me? You know I couldn't have done that, especially when she told me not to,” Vash cried as he broke down, not bothering to get up.

“Because…” the platinum blonde said with a sigh before adding, “She asked me not to tell you.”

“But why?”

“I can only surmise that she didn't want you to know because it would have made her departure harder,” he said, while reaching into his pocket and pulling out the white envelope. Handing the letter over to his twin, Knives said, “Here… she asked me to give this to you.”

“But what if she's pregnant?” Vash whispered, head bent as he stared at the envelope in his real hand.

“The test was negative, Mr. Vash,” McKenna softly supplied as she stepped up and stood next to Knives. “I examined her this morning.”

“Figures…” he muttered as his tears started to stain and pucker the paper. “Why do I keep screwing things up? I don't understand… I thought things had finally worked out. I…I mean I got you back, Knives. We were living peacefully and I… had her. That's all I ever wanted, you know. I wasn't asking for much…”

“You know… if you want your ex-pet back so badly, then why don't you go and get her,” Knives simply suggested as he offered a hand to his brother, which he accepted after a moment. Then with a tug he helped his brother up before continuing, “I just don't understand why you're…

“No,” Vash yelled, interrupting his twin, while realizing something. Meryl was really gone and he would never see her again, because of his own stupidity and for the fact that she didn't bother to tell him. Once again, the gunman's rage started to spike and his eyes flashed before he blindly lashed out again, “She left me, damn it! She didn't even have enough decency to tell me. Was I really that easy for her to get over?!”

“Oh Mr. Vash, Meryl isn't over…” McKenna started until Vash cut her off.

“I don't believe you…” the golden blonde hissed as he fisted his hands in anger, crumpling the missive. Then reaching his limit, Vash roared, “If she really loved me she would have stayed! She would have listened!”

“But… Mr. Vash…”

“Don't you see? I lost her damn it! She left me…” Vash cried out as he cut off the redhead again. Then the tears started to fall unchecked from his aqua orbs as despair set in, while he muttered, “It's over, it's over…”

“Don't you think you're overreacting, brother?” Knives chimed in as he felt the misery flowing throughout his twin. “After all, she's only human and replaceable,” he added telepathically, not wanting McKenna to hear the last part.

“You're right. I would have only had her for, maybe, sixty years, anyway. So, what's the point, right?” Vash sent back dejectedly before continuing out loud, “Fuck this… I don't need her…” Then throwing the envelope to the sandy ground, he quickly turned and proceeded to leave the space.

“Where are you going Vash?” Knives called out, while watching his brother's retreating form.

“To get stinking drunk!”

 

*~*~*

 

Knives lay in bed and simply stared at the shadowed ceiling. Saying that he couldn't sleep would have been a severe understatement. He was absolutely wired and his brain was working overtime as he thought about the events that happened earlier in the day. His brother's favorite pet had gone back to December and it left him completely devastated.

Who would have thought an insignificant human could have meant so much to him, but Meryl did and more. Vash's entire being was filled with remorse and guilt over her abrupt departure, even though he exclaimed that he didn't need her. Apparently he did, at least on a molecular level. It was as if a part of him had been stolen away and his system was literally crying out over the loss.

Knives hated the feelings flowing through his brother now. It brought back of even more emotions that he thought were long since buried. The intense sadness and the biting pain where unbearable and he didn't know how Vash could possibly put up with it all, especially since there really wasn't any reason too. All he had to do was simply call off his engagement to Jessica and go after Meryl. In spite of everything that happened, was his sense of righteousness really worth all of the pain and suffering?

“No, it isn't,” Knives mumbled to himself before looking over to the digital clock noticing that it was after 1am. He knew Vash hadn't made it back to the ship and was most likely still at the saloon drowning his sorrows in alcohol. “That idiot…”

Sometimes he just couldn't understand his twin. He was a Plant, a superior being with intelligence that far surpassed even the smartest of humans. And yet, an overemotional little simpleton was able outwit him by getting him to agree to marry her, while forgoing his own chance at happiness. The entirety of it all was completely beyond Knives. Vash should have known better than to fall into the trap Jessica set (he was now certain that was the case) but he didn't. He trusted her not to mislead him, and she betrayed that trust. And look where his faith in the species led him… to a broken heart.

Knives was now certain that he wasn't going to let a certain woman become an all consuming addiction like what Meryl had become to Vash. He knew that he was more than capable enough to ignore the need to bond with her. He would simply keep his new found pet for around to sate his lust and nothing more. Then once he was tired of her, he would dispose of her. There was absolutely no way the platinum blonde was going to let McKenna Madsen become anything more, even though he knew that deep down his psyche wanted that connection.

`Hmmm… I wonder if she's dreaming?' he thought wickedly, deciding that he needed a little distraction from his morose thoughts. Opening his mind, Knives reached out to her and instead of finding her asleep, he found her awake and working on something. “Just what are you doing little pet?” he said to himself, rolling out of bed and lifting his arms over his head to stretch the naked muscles of his upper body. With flicker of a smile spreading across his face, the Plant stepped over to his dresser and fished out a cotton sweatshirt in a soft cream and a pair of light blue Levis. An instant later, he pulled off his blue plaid pajama bottoms and quickly dressed before heading to the bathroom to do a little grooming.

Fifteen minutes later, Knives stood outside of the infirmary's entrance and stared intently at the auburn-haired woman through one of the square windows of the sliding doors. She was sitting in front of the monitor on the center island, diligently working on something that had her so completely engrossed in the task that she didn't even realize that she was being watched. He noted how she would industriously type into the keypad while stopping on occasion to absently scratch the top of her head, deep in thought, before starting up again. And then she would chew on her bottom lip as her fingers flew across the keyboard. It was quite a lovely sight, even with the pencils in her hair that was now half pulled out its restraint at the nape of her neck.

Something else besides the enchanting view caught he attention. McKenna was completely exhausted. He could feel the fatigue rolling throughout her voluptuous form and wondered what it was that kept her up so late. Deciding that it was time for him to step in and find out, he prepared to enter her mind, until he saw her stretch and yawn. Changing his mind, the concerned man (though he would never admit it) sent her a message while strolling through the doors, “Woman, why are you awake?”

“Ugh… What are you doing here?” McKenna asked with a groan, showing obvious irritation as she stopped her typing and glared at the platinum blonde.

“Well if you must know, I felt that you were awake and decided to grace you with my presence,” he arrogantly replied, now standing before the redhead and crossing his arms.

“Then consider me graced…” she muttered before turning her attention back to the monitor and started to read over her data. Then without bothering to glance at him, Mac told him to go away by saying, “Good night, Knives.”

Knives just smirked at her audacity before stepping behind her and peering over her shoulder. “What is so important that requires you to work on it at one in the morning?”

“Nothing yet.”

“What do you mean by nothing yet?”

“I mean…” she started before yawning again. “That I'm not sure if it's really anything yet, is all.”

“Woman, just answer the question,” he bit out before adding, “Besides, you know I could just find out myself.”

“Then why don't you just do it,” she replied in exasperation as she turned on the stool and looked up to cerulean blue orbs that were much closer than she initially anticipated. “Knives please…” she whispered, lost in the intensity of his eyes. “I…I just want to finish going over these latest results before going to bed,” she added just as quietly as her cheeks became rosy from his close proximity.

“Show me… McKenna,” he demanded and half pleaded at the same time.

“Alright…” she sighed, turning back around and entering a few commands on the keyboard. “Look at the two monitors on the far wall and tell me what you see,” she advised after displaying two pictures on the larger pieces of smoky glass.

“I see two different blood samples.”

“Okay… I'm sure you know that a human's genetic makeup and yours is essentially the same, except yours is more advanced, if you will. Now… according to the archives, the reason being is because of a deliberate mutation involving a human's cells. During the beginning stages of Project SEEDS, scientists were looking for a clean and efficient energy source that would be able sustain the ships and act as their main power supply, while searching for a new planet. Thusly, they created the Photo-Nuclear cell (PNc), which came about when…”

“They successfully spliced the atoms of a plant and a human together before they introduced gamma rays and then transformed the isotopes, creating a nuclear reaction,” he chimed in, cutting her off. “And that my physical makeup is derived from that mutated cell. However unlike my sisters, my cells have mutated enough that it is not required for me to be contained in a hydrogen sphere. Yes… I know…”

“Well good, at least I won't have to simplify it for you then,” Mac sarcastically retorted as she typed in a few more commands, while Knives smirked at her reminder of what he said to her earlier in the day. “Now, look at the readings of the two samples and tell me what you see.”

“Curious… The one on the left's PNc count is much higher than the other,” he said, stepping around the center island to get a better look.

“Exactly! Now as you know, it's a proven fact that Plant Engineers live longer because of working so closely to the Plants. Then when I saw Milly and Meryl's counts in June, I really didn't think anything of it, after the Doc told me about you two. However, when I saw this… I knew something significant happened,” McKenna stated, watching as Knives turned to look at her.

“Wait… whose samples are these?”

“They're both Meryl's,” the redhead replied after taking a deep breath and exhaling. “The one on the right is from June, while the left… well… I took earlier today.”

“But what could have caused this?” Knives asked, even though he already had a good idea as to what did. “Meryl's PNc count has almost tripled in seven weeks and even the engineers who have spent their entire lives around my brethren have never reached a count like this.”

“I can only think of one thing,” McKenna replied tiredly as she took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“I concur. This has to be the result of him fornicating with her. However, I would like to know if her increased cell mutation is permanent and why exactly is this phenomenon happening,” Knives stated, while heading back around to stand next to McKenna and watching her slip her glasses back on her face.

“Well, I would love to tell you, but as of this point, I am not certain. I would need to run…” McKenna started before yawning. “…some more tests.”

“What you need woman… is sleep.”

“I'm fine. Just need coffee, is all.”

“No… I command you to sleep,” Knives replied authoritatively, while knowing a retort was coming.

“Like you can command me to do anything,” she bit out, glowering at the arrogant Plant. He simply gave her a devilish grin before closing the distance in between them and scooping her up in his arms. “Knives… put me down!” she screeched as he proceeded to carry her out of the infirmary. “Damn you!”

“Now why would you damn me when I am actually thinking about your well being,” Knives said with a chuckle. “After all, you should feel honored to have such a blessing bestowed upon you.”

“Of all of the egotistical, overbearing, things to say… God… you are such a pompous ass!” she snapped, while watching him punch in the pass code to her quarters with his left hand that was outstretched from under her knees. “Wait… How did you know my pass code?” she then asked, looking up to him and showing the apparent shock on her lovely features.

“Don't you think it's quite obvious?” he replied looking down at her and raising an eyebrow. The door immediately opened, letting the Plant step in before heading straight back to her bedroom. “I know just like I know which room is yours, by entering your insufficient brain and finding the answers.”

“Geez… is nothing sacred to you?”

“No,” Knives simply replied as he plopped her down on the full bed.

“You know you can't keep me in here,” she said, trying to state what she thought was the obvious.

“Yes… I can,” the platinum blonde declared, firm in his resolve, watching her sit up. “Now get dressed for bed.”

“What?! You can't be serious?” Mac incredulously asked before adamantly declaring, “I will not change my clothes in front of you!”

“Woman… stop arguing! I'm tired of listening to your utter nonsense,” he bit out as he strode to her dresser, pulled out a nightgown and threw it at her. “Get dressed!!”

“Fine! Just get out!” she seethed, while pointing to the door. Knives smiled at her and stated that he didn't understand what the big deal was, especially since he was going to see her naked form soon enough. Then before she could find something to throw at him he was out the door, standing just on the other side for a few minutes listening to the ruffling of her clothing (and a few muttered curses). Once the noises ceased, he deemed it safe enough to go back in.

“Good, now get into bed,” he commanded, after opening the door and stepping back in. Upon setting his ice-blue eyes on his little pet, the blonde man involuntarily licked his suddenly dry lips. There she was, standing before him in a simple loose fitting covering in white that fell to her ankles. But, what made the sheath so alluring were the thin straps of cloth that fell over her shoulders, showing a very temping amount of creamy flesh. Knives knew that all he needed to do was simply slide the material over her bare shoulders and she would be standing naked before him.

“No,” she defiantly replied, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I guess you leave me no choice then,” he sighed before reaching for the hem of his sweatshirt, pulling it over his head, and letting it drop to the floor.

“WWW…What are you doing?”

“Well, if you won't go to bed on your own, then I guess I'll have just to sleep with you,” Knives advised her. His were eyes flashing mischievously, while his deft fingers reached for the snap of his jeans.

“No! YYY…You win… I…I will go to sleep,” she stuttered before scrambling to her bed and getting under the covers.

“I knew you would see things my way,” Knives said with a chuckle before picking up his sweatshirt and slipping it back on. Heading for the doorway, he turned the light out before looking back to the woman lying under the covers. “Good night my pet and I'll see you in the morning,” he whispered with a soft smile before turning to head back to the infirmary. The Platinum blonde truly wished he could stay, but alas, he had research to conduct.