High Speed Romance: Part Three- Other People's Houses

[bekka_mouri_hibiki]

This part had originally been a stand alone fic called 'Deep Space Stoner Action' but I retooled it to fit into HSR. There's cussing, drinking and accidental drug use. I severely over-hauled it for HSR:DP and it's nowhere near as funny as this. Enjoy!

































High Speed Romance
By Bekka Mouri-Hibiki

(Trigun isn?t mine and I am not making any money from this so please don?t sue me. Wolfwood and Milly?s romance continues. Anyone that read ?Deep Space Atomic Stoner Action? might recognize this part? I just polished it up a bit.)

Part Three: Other Peoples? Houses

The foursome of travelers had found a tiny city about three hundred iles from the Southern Cornelia border and decided to stock up on anything they would need for the northern half of the region had been mysteriously deserted. They stopped in a saloon for a bit of breakfast before gathering the supplies they needed. Milly moved her food around on her plate as she tried not to stare at Wolfwood too much. She couldn?t even think for a minute before she?d recall the feel of his lips on hers and her body.

She shivered recalling his touches and Meryl looked at her, ? Are you okay, Milly? ?

Milly nodded, ? I?m fine. I absolutely fine. ?

Meryl scanned the room and looked over at the bar, ? I wish those two would come over here and sit with us. I don?t like the looks of the people in here. ?

? But they have to find out where to get the stuff we need for as little money as possible, Meryl. We haven?t got much so we can?t afford to waste it, ? Milly said.

Meryl rolled her eyes, ? I KNOW that! ?

Milly blinked, ? Who?s that talking to Mr. Vash and Mr. Priest? ?

Meryl looked back at the bar and narrowed her eyes. A rather rough looking fellow with long blonde hair wearing a cowboy hat was talking to Vash and Wolfwood. He was making motions with his hands like he was explaining something to them and made the very easily recognizable gesture for money. Vash jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the girls? table and the blonde glanced at them before nodding his head.

The three men shook hands on the deal they had obviously made and walked towards the table. Vash was smiling as he said, ? Hey! I got us a little job for a couple of days. ?

Meryl?s eye twitched as she tried to stay calm, ? What kind of job? ?

Vash put his hands up, ? It?s a real easy one? we just have to house sit for two days. ?

The blonde in the cowboy hat stepped forward, smiling at Meryl and tipping his hat. ? It?ll be okay, little lady. I have some rather rare land and I don?t want to leave it alone. I have to make a delivery to a town that is a day away and I don?t want to leave my land alone for the time it will take to get there and back. ?

? What?s so important about it? ? Meryl asked, trying to hide her annoyance at being called ?little lady?.

The man looked at Vash and Vash leaned down to Meryl. He put his lips close to her ear and whispered, ? It?s a geo-plant like the one you help protect before. ?

Meryl blinked and looked at the blonde man, ? I see. I guess he told you that we aren?t new to this. ?

? Yes, ? The man nodded. He put his hand out to Meryl, ? My name is Jack Clark and I am willing to pay the four of you quite handsomely for your services. ?

Meryl looked at Milly warily and shook Jack?s hand. ? I?m Meryl Stryfe of The Bernardelli Insurance Society and this is my associate, Milly Thompson. ?

Jack shook Milly?s hand, smiling at her and winking. Wolfwood noticed this and frowned. ? Nice to meet you, Mr. Clark, ? Milly chirped.

? Now, if you all don?t mind I need to get going but allow me to buy the supplies you need and I will pay you the fee I promised when I come back, ? Jack let go of Milly?s hand slowly. Wolfwood ground his lips around the end of his cigarette but kept quiet.

Meryl and Milly stood up, ? Are you really going to do that, sir? ? Meryl asked.

? Yes. I overheard your companions talking about their situation at the bar. I hate to tell you this but there is no such thing as cheap supplies in this town, ? He leaned in between Meryl and Milly. ? They?ll rob you blind if you give them half a chance to do so. ?

? Oh. You must have some kind of influence then? ? Meryl said.

Jack smiled, ? You could say that. Now, come along. I haven?t got all day. ?

**

He dug through his bag, searching feverishly for his tobacco so he could roll some cigarettes. He had to go the cheaper route when they were running low on money. That?s why they were in the middle of bum fuck nowhere babysitting a geo-plant? for money. He had heard the insurance girls had done the same for an old couple before Vash blasted the hole in the fifth moon but they hadn?t got paid for it.

This seemed to be a much better deal though. They would have a roof over their heads for two days and they now had all the supplies they needed for when they got into Southern Cornelia. All that didn?t matter to Wolfwood now? he just wanted a damn cigarette and he wanted it bad.

Everything in his bag sat in a pile on the floor but the tobacco he bought in town was still M.I.A. Had it fallen out in Jack?s truck on the way to the geo-plant? He couldn?t worry about that because there was really no telling and he didn?t feel like trudging around in the dark to go back to town?it was too fucking cold outside for that shit. Not only that, there was no telling when the next set of Gung-Ho Guns would strike.

Jack said he didn?t expect too much trouble but he didn?t want to leave the place alone either. He seemed to be pretty rich and had some influence in the town. That much was obvious when he got to supplies, Vash and Wolfwood going with him to carry the stuff. Everyone wanted to give him the best deal possible on things that other customers paid at least twice as much for.

Wolfwood rose to his feet and went to the door. He had already checked out the guy?s stash of alcohol (which they could help themselves to if they wanted, so said Jack) and he figured that if the guy drank there was a good chance the guy smoked too. He hadn?t seen the guy light up once the whole time they were out but then again, he had been pretty busy trying to charm Milly. Under normal circumstances, Wolfwood would have beaten the guy up but he wasn?t about to look a gift Thomas in the mouth.

? Total smokeage? Total smokeage? I will make you bleed? ? Wolfwood sang under his breath as he opened the door. ? La dee da dee de, if you get between a cigarette and me? ?

~That was brilliant, ~ He thought to himself as he neared the living room.

**

Milly pouted as she looked in the refrigerator; she knew she should have asked for pudding before leaving town but Mr. Jack had seemed to be in a hurry and she didn?t want to bother him. She shut the door and turned just in time to catch Wolfwood walking into the kitchen. He cocked his head to one side, ? What?s with the long face, big girl? ?

? There?s no pudding here, Mr. Priest, ? Milly whimpered. She felt her pulse get a little quicker even though he was still across the room from her. She couldn?t look at him without recalling the way he had looked the night before.

Wolfwood smirked as a plan came together in his mind. Vash and Meryl were sitting in the living room but were otherwise occupied. Vash listened to his portable music player as he read a book and Meryl was furiously typing out a report for work, obviously annoyed at Vash for something. Neither one of them would notice if he slipped back to his room with a few bottles of alcohol and Milly.

Milly would have to be exceptionally quiet but he wasn?t too sure if she could be a quiet drunk. ~Oh well, what the hell. Maybe we won?t get interrupted tonight, ~ He thought to himself as he looked Milly over.

? Mr. Priest? Why are you looking at me like that? ? Milly had seen the glint he had in his eyes before? the night before when he pulled away from the second kiss.

? There may not be any pudding, ? Wolfwood said, walking to the cabinet with the liquor. He put a finger to his lips to tell Milly to be quiet and opened the doors. He was pleased with her muffled cry of excitement as he revealed about two dozen bottles of fine alcohol, not the cheap crap everyone was use to drinking. He smiled over his shoulder, ? Care to join me for a drink? ?

Milly nodded vigorously. ? I?ll help you carry it, ? She whispered. ? Where are we going to drink though? ?

? In my room. We?ll have to be really quiet though, ? Wolfwood started to grab bottles and set them on the counter. He furrowed his brow as a metal box became visible after he moved a few of the bottles. Milly was standing next to him and stared at the box too.

? What?s that? ? Milly asked.

Wolfwood grabbed the box, ? I don?t know. Let?s look. ?

Milly held her breath as Wolfwood opened the box and smiled like a madman. She took a peek and realized he had found a boxful of cigarettes. ? Cigarettes? ?

Wolfwood nodded, ? I lost my tobacco somewhere between town and here. Now I don?t have to waste my papers. ?

? What luck! ? Milly chirped as she picked up four of the six bottles Wolfwood had taken from the cabinet. ? Hopefully we can get by Meryl and Mr. Vash! I can?t wait to drink! ?

Wolfwood smiled again, ? Neither can I. ?

Both of them tippy-toed past the living room and succeeded in not attracting Vash and Meryl?s attention. When they got to Wolfwood?s room, he shut the door and let out the breath he had been holding. He felt like he had the first time he had ever stolen a bottle of liquor when he was ten and Milly acted like she had stolen some great treasure. ? This is going to be so much fun! ? She exclaimed quietly.

? Oh yeah, ? Wolfwood nodded as he set his bottles down on the bedside table. Milly sat her down too and watched as Wolfwood opened the box. He pulled out a cigarette and looked for his matches. He found them and prepared to strike it when he looked over at Milly, ? Mind if I smoke? ?

? No I don?t really, ? Milly picked up a bottle and opened it. ? Mind if I drink? ?

? Nope. Let me get a few good drags in and I?ll join you, ? Wolfwood muttered as he struck the match and lit the cigarette. He took a puff off of it and noticed it tasted a little odd but he reasoned that it was because the cigarette was probably old. He took another puff and started to feel a little strange, like his body was becoming lighter.

Milly watched as Wolfwood took a few more puffs from the cigarette and started to smile like an idiot. She was starting to feel a little light-headed; she figured it was because she was standing so close to him and getting the majority of his second hand smoke. She felt her mouth curve into a stupid grin and started to giggle. ? Mr. Priest! ?

Wolfwood looked at Milly, ? What?s so funny, big girl? ?

? I don?t know! ? Milly snorted and Wolfwood cracked up, laughing as he took another puff from the cigarette.

He caught his breath and shook his head, ? I don?t think this tobacco? but I don?t care! ?

? Me neither! ? Milly giggled and held the bottle out to Wolfwood. ? Drink some of this! ?

Wolfwood grabbed the bottle, ? I think I will! ?

**

Meryl didn?t know how long she had been typing but she was sure it had been a while. She looked over at Vash and rolled her eyes. The fool had fell asleep but at least his headset had stopped blaring. The book he had been reading rested on his chest and a little stream of drool trickled out of the corner of his mouth. He wore his pajamas and didn?t quite look like the man with 60 billion double dollars on his head.

She shook her head and looked down at her typewriter as she prepared to finish her report but stopped when she heard the sound of giggling drifting through the hall that led to the bedrooms. ? Milly? ? She called. The last she had seen of the young woman was when she had gone to the kitchen to get some pudding.

There was no answer and Meryl mentally kicked herself for not noticing Milly was missing. More giggling reached her ears but this time it was definitely male and she could feel her blood pressure rise. Milly and Wolfwood were together and they sounded like they were up to mischief. He had enjoyed himself just a little too much in May City when Milly stripped.

Wolfwood may have been a man of the cloth but he wasn?t like any priest Meryl had ever seen. How many priests carried around a cross that was actually a gun and a rocket launcher? She was certain the number was very low. She got to her feet and walked towards the bedrooms.

? What?s going on? ? Vash muttered, his aqua eyes still blurry from sleeping. ? What?s so funny? Who?s laughing? ?

? Milly is with Wolfwood, ? Meryl said over her shoulder. ? I think they found some alcohol. ?

Vash yawned, ? Yeah. Jack said we could help ourselves. He has dallons of the good stuff in the kitchen? ? Vash suddenly smiled, ? Oh boy! Strip show!!! ?

? What? ? Meryl screeched. She started down the hall at top speed. She was having unhappy visions of Milly doing her drunken strip tease and going much further than Meryl had let her go in May City.

Vash scrambled over the back of the couch fearing Meryl might do something rash, even more afraid that he would miss something he could make fun of Wolfwood for later and really scared he?d miss the best part of the show. ? Wait! I want to see! I want to see! ? He called as he ran after Meryl.

**

? Whoo-hoo! You GO, big girl! ? Wolfwood hooted as Milly fumbled with the hooks on her bra. He was sitting on the bed with his back propped against the wall as he smoked yet another cigarette.

? I?m trying, Mr. Priest! ? Milly said between giggles. Her fingers weren?t cooperating though but then again, nobody?s fingers would be after what she had drank? and she was lucky to still be vertical. ? I should have put on the one that hooked in the front! ?

? Keep trying! You can do it! ? Wolfwood shouted.

The door slammed open and the laughing stopped cold. Wolfwood and Milly looked to see who was interrupting their little party, dissolving into laughter when they saw Meryl and Vash?s horrified faces. Meryl growled and doubled up her fist as she strode into the room, ? What the hell is going on in here? ?

? We were just having a little fun, ? Wolfwood said, exhaling some smoke. ? Lighten up, Meryl! ?

Vash stepped into the room, waving his arm, ? Damn! Can?t you crack a window? You?d think there was a fire in here? I?m surprised you haven?t suffocated? ?

Meryl looked at Vash. He had stopped in his tracks and mid-sentence as the stupidest grin she had ever seen started to curve the corners of his lips. He took a deep breath and the grin became totally idiotic. Strangely, she had felt her anger start to curb and was fighting the urge to grin in the same manner.

Vash started to laugh and looked at Meryl. ? What?s so funny? ? She asked, trying to be stern although the laughter seemed infectious.

? I don?t know! ? Vash gasped.

Meryl could no longer fight the euphoria that was taking over and started to giggle even though she tried to stop?

**

? This sucks, ? Vash whined Wolfwood drove away from the geo-plant. He was nursing a black eye he had gotten from Meryl. They had woken up together in the floor of Wolfwood?s room with Wolfwood and Milly staring at them, deciding who was going to wake them up. Vash had a rather large drool puddle on the arm of his pajamas and what had gotten him the black eye was the drool stain on Meryl?s shirt? right on top of her left breast.

It was obvious nothing had happened between any of them because they were all still dressed to some degree but Meryl still got pissed and delivered a left hook into Vash?s eye. They kept clear of one another the entire next day with Milly going between the two of them to deliver apologies to Meryl from Vash and barbed comments from Meryl to Vash. Wolfwood stayed out of it, opting to stay in his room and smoke what was left of the cigarettes. When he wasn?t smoking, he was sleeping and when he wasn?t sleeping, he was in the kitchen digging in the refrigerator.

? At least it isn?t your fault this time, ? Meryl sighed. She noticed Wolfwood was gripping the steering wheel just a little too tight because his knuckles were white.

? But you have to admit, ? Milly piped up from her seat next to Wolfwood, ? It was fun and at least Jack let us have this car as well as a third of the money! ?

? We could have used all of the money though, ? Meryl shook her head. Somehow, the two days they were at the geo-plant slipped by rather quickly and Jack came back to find almost all of his liquor gone. That hadn?t been the worst of the problem though. It turned out the cigarettes Wolfwood was smoking were rather expensive and Jack decided not to pay them the whole amount he had originally promised, claiming the money he kept would replace both the alcohol and the cigarettes.

? He could have been really pissed and not let us have the car, ? Vash smiled.

Meryl shook her head, ? At least he did? is anyone else hungry? ?