Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Reluctant Alliances ( Chapter 48 )

 

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 48: Reluctant Alliances

 

 

 

“If you wouldn't have fucked up with Meryl, then she wouldn't be my insurance girl…”

 

That sentence replayed in the Humanoid Typhoon's mind over and over again for what seemed like a lifetime as he glared that the outlaw before him. The bastard just had the audacity to lay a claim on his Meryl and with the already festering rage and pent up frustration making him edgy, the declaration just pushed him over that proverbial edge, way over it. He was beyond furious, to the point that his normally passive nature completely dissolved, giving way for his darker, more aggressive side to take over.

 

“You fucking son of a bitch,” Vash finally seethed. His eyes were glowing an eerie shade of blue as the fists at his sides tightened until the knuckles on his real hand cracked. Then with out warning, the Stampede swung his balled up prosthetic hand to deliver a punishing upper cut, hitting Chaos under the chin. Immediately sending the man to the floor as his Stetson flew off from the sudden jolt.

 

Shaking his head to clear the fuzziness, Caden rolled over from kissing the ground only to meet a vicious right hook that sent him to the floor again. It was a cheap shot and he knew that he probably deserved it for egging Vash the Stampede on. But, at the same time, he also knew that he could justify his actions because of how the former sixty billion double-dollar man treated Meryl. Besides, he was in the mood for a good fight and knew that the man in red would be a worthy adversary.

 

“Okay asshole, if you wanna fight dirty…” Chaos bit out, quickly turning to rest on his hip as he snapped his long left leg up, kicking Vash in the stomach. Getting pushed back from the blow, Vash doubled over while trying to catch his lost breath. The kick rendered him defenseless just long enough for Caden to kip up from the floor before he charged and tackled him, the momentum sending both men flying toward and through the swinging doors.

 

“Well that was mighty peculiar,” Milly muttered as Knives instantly rushed out after the two. McKenna quickly pulled her out of the saloon as well. All so they could watch the two gunmen duke it out in the middle of the street, along with the other patrons of the bar, not to mention a few others that stopped to view the display. Looking over at Knives, the big-girl desperately asked, “Aren't you going to stop them, Mr. Knives?”

 

“No. Vash needs to do this on his own,” he replied, watching his brother deliver a punch to Caden's solar plexus, while the longer haired man thrust his forearm up into Vash's throat at the same time. He simply stood there as both men fell to the ground from the strikes, before instantaneously regaining their wits to attack again.

 

“But…” Milly started to protest until Mac cut her off.

 

“Go and get Meryl, Milly,” McKenna ordered, pushing the taller woman in the direction of the hotel. “Other than Knives, she's the only one that can put an end to this!”

 

With an okay, Milly sprinted to the hotel only a few yarz away. Rushing through the lobby, she made to and up the three flights of stairs in no time before reaching and opening the door to where Meryl was. “Sempai come quick,” Milly breathlessly sputtered. Until she realized that Meryl was sitting stock still in the chair before her typewriter, while staring blankly through the wall across from her. Something was wrong. “Meryl, you okay?”

 

“He's here… isn't he,” she quietly murmured, instead of answering her partner. “I know this may sound strange, but I can feel him,” she then added as she turned in her seat to look at Milly as a tear slipped down her cheek.

 

“If he means Mr. Vash, then yeah he's here. So is Mr. Knives and Miss. Mac, but you gotta stop them!”

 

“Stop them… stop who, Milly?” Meryl asked as she wiped her eyes and rose from her seat, heading over to grab her cloak from the coat tree in the corner of the room.

 

“Mr. Vash and Mr. Caden, that's who! They're fist fighting out in the middle of the street!”

 

“Whaa…” she screeched in disbelief, instantly turning on her heel to gape at her partner. She knew by the way that Milly was looking at her that she was absolutely serious and that they had better get down there right away. “Let's go,” Meryl bit out, while fastening her cape as anger replaced her disbelief. Two grown men, who didn't even know each other, were fighting out in the middle of the street for only God knows why and it really pissed her off. And she knew exactly who to blame. How dare he come around just when she was starting to breathe on her own and pull a stunt like this!

 

By the time the insurance girls pushed through the crowd watching the exchange, both men were bloody and gasping for breath as the confrontation waged on. Neither man backing down, as the punches and kicks flew viciously, meeting with a forearm or a thigh from their foe. The blocks, for the most part, stifling the other man's offensive, where only on occasion would a strike connect successfully with its target, causing blood, sweat, and sand to fly off the recipient of the blow.

 

Seeing enough of the childish antics from Vash and Caden, Meryl felt it was past time to stop the fight. She looked across the mass encircling the two and saw Knives standing there with a frown on his face, while Mac stood right next to him muttering something to the fairer twin, while glaring up at him. `Mac must think it's time for this testosterone induced battle to end as well,” the raven-haired woman thought, realizing that Knives wasn't about to interfere. With a muttered curse escaping her lips, she pulled out a derringer with her right hand and immediately raised it over her head.

 

The very next instant, she pulled the trigger…

 

The sound of a gun discharging startled not only the throng of people swarming about the combatants, but also the two throwing punches in the middle of it all. Both frozen in place and mid swing as they instantly brought their attention to the little spitfire in white, who was glaring daggers at them. They could tell that she was really pissed and all hell was about to break loose.

 

Vash just stared, mouth open, as he looked at her for the first time in over three months. Meryl had changed a few things about herself he noticed as he drank in her lithe form. Her raven hair now brushed the nape of her collar as her bangs and wispy pieces framed her face. Then there were the form fitting white pants. `Oh God… where did she get those,' he groaned internally, fully appreciating how they hugged her curves like a second skin. She was absolutely stunning and he momentarily forgot what just transpired as he felt his desire for the petite woman spike. Then he realized that she wasn't looking back at him. She had her sparkling silver eyes pinned on the man standing next to him. Narrowing his eyes again, he was about to say something until she began her tirade.

 

“What in the hell do you two think you were doing? This is absolutely unacceptable behavior coming from grown men. I want both of you upstairs in my room now damn it! And I want an explanation!”

 

“But Meryl?” both men groused together before turning to glare at one another because they spoke at the same time.

 

“Move or I will shoot at both of you next time,” she yelled, fully prepared to pull out two more derringers.

 

“I'm glad to see you still care, Meryl,” Vash muttered sarcastically as he wiped the blood away from the corner of his mouth.

 

“And you Mr. Stampede,” she seethed, finally looking at him. “I don't know why you are here, but I'm absolutely positive that you started this whole thing. Can't you go anywhere and not cause trouble? You are nothing, but a skirt chasing, doughnut scarfing, spiky headed pea-brained idiot that I'm sure is still freeloading off of as many people as you possibly can! You are exasperating!”

 

“Actually, I'm not freeloading off of anyone,” the ex-outlaw replied as he reached into one of his pockets and pulled out handcuffs before deftly slipping behind the unsuspecting taller man and pulling his arms around his back to cuff him.

 

“What in the hell,” Caden bit out just as he heard the sound of a gun cocking. Turning his head to the left, he saw the platinum blonde man in a neutral colored trench coat pointing a black long colt at him, while Vash finished with the cuffing.

 

“What do you think you are doing, Mr. Stampede?” the short-girl asked disbelievingly.

 

“I'm doing my job,” he replied with a smirk as he let go of the Bringer of Chaos's hands and reached into a pocket once again. This time pulling out something that flashed silver right before he pinned it over his heart. Bringing his penetrating aqua eyes up to Meryl's now confused silver ones, he advised, “Oh and it isn't Mr. Stampede. It's Federal Marshal Vash Saverem.”

 

 

 

*~*~*

 

 

 

“So let me get this straight,” Meryl started as she looked over to Knives, who was leaning against the desk, while McKenna sat in the chair she previously occupied not forty minutes ago. “You three basically created all of that mayhem at New Fort Bragg, just to clear his name and then ended up becoming Federal Marshals?” she continued, pointing her thumb to the right and toward the man silently leaning against the wall next to the room's exit.

 

“That's correct,” Knives simply replied.

 

“But why?” Meryl then asked Knives, refusing to acknowledge that his twin was in the room.

 

“Why not,” he answered with a shrug before bringing his attention to Caden, who was sitting next to Meryl on her bed. “Besides, we can now go after the planet's garbage and dispose of it properly, without having to worry about the vermin coming after us because of Vash's bounty.”

 

“But what about the wedding?” Milly curiously wondered, looking about the room from her bed that was across from Meryl's before pinning her sky blue eyes on Vash. “I mean… when are you gonna get married if you're out catching bad guys all of the time, Mr. Vash?”

 

Vash didn't know how to answer her question. After all, he couldn't just say that Jessica beat him to the punch and broke of the engagement because she knew that he loved Meryl. Nor could he outright say that he needed the raven-haired beauty and they were meant to be together, forever. No he couldn't say any of that now, even though that was his very intent before finding out that Meryl and her new assignment had something going on. He had to save face and try to play it cool, showing Meryl that he didn't need her, while at the same time making her realize that she wanted him instead of Caden.

 

Noticing that all eyes were on him, but Meryl's, Vash finally looked over to Milly through his golden tinted sunglasses and egotistically replied, “I'm not. I decided that a handsome man like me shouldn't be tied down to one woman. You know, why be stuck with one flavor of doughnut when there are so many others to sample out there.”

 

“Well gee Mr. Vash, why are you here then?” the big-girl then asked, cocking her head to side feigning ignorance. She wasn't buying what he said for a minute. “I mean… I thought you were here to get Sempai back?”

 

“Hardly…” he snorted, trying to cover up the fact that she hit the nail on the head. He really wished that she would have, just for once, forgotten how to be so damn perceptive, especially with the way that his cover up made Meryl stiffen. “We're here after him,” he said, uncrossing his real arm from over his chest to point at Caden. Returning his arm back to its original resting place, he added, “He's now the second highest bounty, next to the Nebraska family, and with all of the superior skills Knives and I possess, how could we not come after him?”

 

“What are you doing, Vash?” Knives telepathically scolded, while glaring at his brother. He didn't like the game Vash was playing.

 

“Just play along. I'll explain later,” Vash pleaded back, looking up to meet Knives gaze.

 

“I will, but I don't approve,” he sent back huffily before mentally advising McKenna the same. Bringing his attention to Meryl and Caden, Knives interjected, “We are here to arrest the Bringer of Chaos and now that he is in our custody we will turn him in.”

 

“You can't do that!” Meryl yelled, snapping her head up to glare at Knives.

 

“He's a wanted criminal that needs to be put in jail,” Knives calmly replied as he pulled an imaginary speck of dirt from his over coat. “Of course, I could take care of him my way,” he then said, bringing his ice-blue eyes back to Meryl's and smirking.

 

“Meryl, you don't have to defend me,” Caden said, placing a hand one her shoulder to calm her down and to irritate the ex-outlaw in red. “Technically, he is correct. I am a wanted outlaw.”

 

“But you didn't do anything!” she implored, while Milly immediately agreed. “You were framed!”

 

“What do you mean by that, Meryl?” McKenna asked, speaking for the first time since treating the abrasions on both Vash and Caden from their earlier fight.

 

“Well…” the petite beauty slowly started, looking over to Caden for approval to tell them his story. He simply nodded that it was okay as he finally lowered his hand to cross both of his arms over his chest and looking down at his outstretched legs. After receiving his approval, Meryl brought her attention back to McKenna and retold the story that Milly and she heard a few days earlier. Then she mentioned Bardeaux Keele and their previous involvement with the former elite soldier.

 

Vash intently listened to not only what Meryl said, but how she said it. The entire account retold with such conviction, such emotion that he felt another crack form in his already broken heart, leaving it so fragile that it could shatter into a billion pieces with one false move. He had no doubt that she cared for the brunette and he wasn't certain his heart could take another hit. Then he heard her mention a name that he hadn't thought of since his stay at the Hotel Ann in the City of Meldrick.

 

“Did you just say Bardeaux Keele?” Vash asked with anger evident as he opened his shaded eyes and pierced Meryl with his gaze. When she nervously nodded her head in confirmation, he about lost it. He could not believe that she actually risked her life to stop that mercenary from trying to kill him, especially since it now left her in such a perilous situation. “So…” he started only to stop momentarily in order to try and calm down enough to speak rationally. “You mean to tell me that you and Milly were in Meldrick when he attacked me and you confronted him about his dealings?” he seethed after his attempt to calm down failed. Just the thought of someone trying to exact their revenge on her made his blood boil.

 

“Yes,” Meryl whispered right before Milly put her two cents in.

 

“Oh, but don't worry, Mr. Vash,” she quickly added, trying to diffuse the situation. “I had my sights trained on him the whole time and once he put the gun to Sempai's head, she signaled for me to shoot and I did. He went flying across of the roof of that building and didn't harm a hair on her head.”

 

It didn't work.

 

“What?!” he bellowed as he stood straight up and clenched his fists. “Are you insane? Meryl, that… that mercenary could have killed you because of that stunt you pulled! And now look where it got you! He's coming after you for revenge! That has to be the dumbest thing you have ever done!”

 

“No… I've done something dumber,” she muttered, finally looking up at him, showing the pain in her eyes.

 

His anger instantly dissolved as he stared at her, knowing that she meant that falling for him was the dumbest thing she had ever done, which probably was true. And for the second time, he didn't know how to respond. Taking a deep breath, he held it for a moment before breathing out slowly to think about what he should say in response to her obvious admission that she regretting being with him.

 

“You know,” he started slowly as his own pain filled eyes started to glisten. He was glad he had his sunglasses on. “We all have done some dumb things that we wish we could take back or make right. I know that I have and I would do anything to ease the pain that I caused, but when it comes to dealing with a man like that… you should have known better. God, Meryl… you could be dead right now!”

 

“But I'm not, now am I,” she retorted back, crossing her arms over her chest and taking her eyes off of him. She could not believe that he was actually lecturing her on doing something so reckless. “As a matter of fact, Milly and I took care of him just fine and without causing any damage. I'm sure you couldn't say the same thing! And if I recall several rooms in that hotel were destroyed because of the crap you pulled!”

 

“Hey, that wasn't me,” Vash defended. “It was that psycho that your company sent out after me. I had to jump out the window to get away from him blowing me up along with that place! Besides, you didn't exactly take care of him, now did you?!”

 

“Shut up!” she hissed as she brought her now burning eyes up to him and glared, telling him that he was about too go to far.

 

“You two should have stayed away and left him to Wolfwood and me,” he muttered almost sadly as he looked away from her for the first time since their argument started. He realized that he was pushing her away with his chastising and that was something he didn't want to do, especially now that her life was in danger. He needed to be close to keep her safe. Closing his eyes again, he brought his real hand up and under his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Why didn't you come and tell us? We would have helped you with him,” he then added with desperation apparent in his voice as he slumped against the wall again.

 

“How could we, Mr. Vash? You got injured, remember?” Milly replied after Meryl turned away, refusing to answer the former outlaw.

 

“You know that wouldn't have stopped me,” Vash answered back in a whisper before bringing his attention over to the big-girl who was looking at him sympathetically. She knew exactly how he felt.

 

“Are you quite finished?” Knives complained before anyone else could comment on the meaningless argument, while effectively keeping his brother from breaking down. “No matter how you look at it, it already happened and there isn't anything you can do to change it. We need to concentrate on what we are going to do now!”

 

“Oh and just what do you suggest we do?” Caden asked looking up to the platinum blonde. “Even if you put me in jail, Keele will still be after Meryl and it won't stop Cruz from coming after me for the map. Actually, it would probably make it easier for him.”

 

“He's right, Knives,” Mac agreed, placing her hand on her mate's thigh to get his complete attention.

 

“Where is the map?” Knives asked, tearing his gaze away from Mac's to look at the outlaw.

 

“I have it safely hidden in Inepril City,” Chaos sighed as he took his hat off and scratched his head. “That's why we were heading there in two days.”

 

“Fine, we will keep you in our custody until we take care of this Cruz guy and Keele,” Vash coldly advised before adding, “Then once they are permanently taken care of, you will go to jail.”

 

“Are you sure about this, Vash?” Knives asked telepathically.

 

“Yes, it's the only way to keep her safe,” he replied mentally before glowering at the outlaw sitting next to his Meryl. “If you even think about trying to ditch us, I will hunt you down and make you wish you were never born,” he spat out, threatening the outlaw prior to straightening himself and turning to reach for the door. Then without looking back, he added, “We leave first thing in the morning.” And with that he opened the door before striding out of the room.

 

“I had better go with him,” Knives muttered as he stood erect and turned to look back at McKenna. “You may stay here if you would want, woman.”

 

“Thank you for your permission,” she replied sarcastically, while rolling her eyes.

 

“Of course,” he said with a smirk before advising her that he would contact her later. Then without another word to the remaining three, he left the room.

 

“Oh god…” Meryl breathed after the door closed behind the fairer twin. Standing up, she started to pace between the two beds, while trying to figure out what just happened. When she woke up this morning, it was the same routine. Get out of bed and try to erase her dream filled head of Vash. Shower and get ready for the day, while trying not to think of Vash. Make coffee and start working on a report, while absolutely refusing to think of Vash. And, of course, she remembered to breathe.

 

But, now what was she going to do? He wasn't suppose to show up, especially now of all times. Not when she finally got to the point where she almost had herself convinced that she didn't need him anymore. And he just had to be wearing his signature `Vash the Stampede' gear and spiky hair, thoroughly reminding her just how good he looked in the red duster and the way it perfectly fit his long athletic frame. Then there was how she felt his presence and knew he was nearby even before Milly came rushing through the door…

 

No, she didn't want to think about that at all.

 

“Meryl…” Milly started with concern, while watching her partner pace back and forth, who was obviously trying to analyze their newest predicament.

 

“Why?” Meryl whispered mostly to herself, completely ignoring the big-girl. “Why did he show up here of all places?”

 

“Well gee… isn't it obvious?” the big-girl answered. “He came all this way to find you, Sempai.”

 

“Yeah right,” she snorted as she stopped pacing long enough to look over at her partner. “He said that that he was here for Caden and that was all. You heard what he said,” she added sadly as she started to pace again.

 

“No, Meryl. Milly's right,” McKenna interjected, which made Meryl stop once again, instantly bringing her attention to the redhead. With a big smile, she advised, “Knives, told me not to tell you the truth, but you know how I just love to defy him. Vash isn't here for Caden. He went through the trouble of getting the bounty removed off of his head and traveling all over Gunsmoke to find you, Meryl.”

 

“But why would he have said he was after Caden and why is he acting like… like a complete jackass? And… what about the unprovoked brawl earlier?”

 

“Ummm… it wasn't exactly unprovoked,” Caden mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He knew he hadn't seen the worst of Meryl's temper and had a feeling that he was going to soon.

 

“And just what do you mean by that?” the short-girl ground out, turning to glare at the outlaw.

 

“I… ahhh… kinda said something that really pissed him off,” he replied with a small chuckle as he looked around the room at the three beauties. If the expressions on both Milly's and McKenna's faces where any indication, he knew he had to tell Meryl or else they would. Then with a shrug of his shoulders he told her. “I basically thanked him for screwing up with you because you wouldn't be my insurance girl if he hadn't and I guess he took it the wrong way.”

 

“Wait… so he thinks that you and I are… oh god,” she groaned as she cupped her face in her hands and rubbed. Of all things to happen, Vash thought that she was in a relationship with her newest assignment and all because he took a sentence out of context, and even started a fight over it. He really was a needle noggin!

 

“See Sempai… now that you know what's wrong with Mr. Vash, you can go and tell him that you and Mr. Caden aren't together and then you two can get married and make me an aunt!” the big-girl chirped as she clasped her hands together and beamed at her partner.

 

“No…” Meryl whispered into her hands that were still covering her face. Now that she was able to think about the whole thing, it really started to piss her off. She couldn't believe that he actually had the nerve to think that he could just come waltzing back into her life and she would accept him with open arms. Well, it wasn't going to happen. There was absolutely no way she was going to let him in again. It simply hurt too much. Besides, who knew how long it would last until he was gone again and she knew she wouldn't be able to handle the rejection. “I can't.”

 

“What was that, Meryl?” the redhead asked.

 

“I said I can't,” she replied as she lowered her hands and looked at Mac. “I am not some naïve little girl that will take him back just because he got a job and decided that he wants me around after all. It's not going to happen. I'm better of without that needle noggined idiot, especially when I know that it will only be a matter of time before he changes his mind again.”

 

“Change his mind about what?” asked Milly.

 

“About his feelings for me,” she sighed, looking over to her partner. “I know he only sees me as a temporary distraction and I…”

 

“Now Meryl, you know that isn't true,” the statuesque beauty interrupted. “Mr. Vash needs you just as much as you need him.”

“I don't need him, Milly!” Meryl yelled as she fisted her hands in frustration. She was getting tired of them telling her to just give in and take him back. It was her life and if she wanted to live it without Vash the Stampede then, damn it, she was going to, even if it seemed like an impossible task. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes to cool her temper. Finally, after few deep breaths, she settled down enough to speak reasonably and without opening her eyes, she added, “This is my decision, please let me make it. I just…” she said before sighing deeply and opening her eyes. Looking back to her partner she gave her a sad smile and continued, “I just need to work this out on my own, please understand.”

 

“Of course, we understand and whatever you decide to do, we will be here to help you through it,” Mac said as she rose from her seat and stepped up to the slightly smaller woman, placing a hand on her shoulder. “That's what friends are for, right?”

 

“That's right, Miss Mac,” Milly agreed happily as she hopped up from her seat and enveloped both women in big hug.

 

“Well… I feel really out of place now,” Caden said with a small laugh as he watched the three. “I feel like peeping tom spying through a window, watching a girly moment.”

 

“Gosh Mr. Caden, would you like to be one of the girls and join us in the hug?” the big-girl innocently asked.

 

“As much as I would love being hugged by three gorgeous women, I don't know if I could be considered one of the girls,” he replied with a big smile before adding, “Besides, I have a feeling if come within two feel of you, Miss Madsen, Knives will have my balls for breakfast. Oh… ahhh… pardon the phrase.”

 

“Hey, I grew up on a military base. So, I'm used to much worse, don't worry about it, Mr. Walker,” Mac said with a laugh as the three disentangled themselves. “Oh and please call me McKenna or Mac.”

 

“Then it's just Caden. Mr. Walker was my father.”

 

“Okay… Caden,” she said, smiling warmly at the outlaw. He wasn't anything like how the descriptions had portrayed him. He was very a charismatic man that seemed to hold both insurance girls in the highest regard and they returned the sentiments. Not to mention, he was very tall and very handsome. She could definitely see why Vash felt threatened by him.

 

“So, now what do we do?” Meryl asked as all eyes returned to her. “Caden, it's up to you, since you are the one who's the prisoner,” she added as she brought both hands up to signal quotations when she said the word `prisoner.'

 

“I suppose we should do as they say,” he sighed as he brushed the bangs out of his face. “Cruz is a very dangerous man and even though I think Vash is a complete asshole, he would make an indispensable ally. And lord only knows that we could use all of the help we can get.”

 

“That's true,” the short-girl muttered almost sadly. She knew she was stuck and that she would need to be strong while the ex-outlaw was around.

 

“But what about you going to jail, Mr. Caden?” Milly asked with concern evident in her tone.

 

“Well… I guess we will worry about that when the time comes,” he answered the brunette as he rose from the bed to stand. Then with a big smile, he completely changed the subject. “I'm starved. How about we go and get some lunch.”