Tempest Wind (Vash x F!Reader)

Unfamiliar Experiences

As the adrenaline fades, you start realizing what you've done. You let loose your inhuman side, and it doesn't matter that you did it to protect the people here. They will call you a demon and chase you out; all the guns in the saloon will turn towards you, probably even Vash's. Should you run immediately? Should you try to grab your clothes from upstairs? No, there's no time for that, and you had told Jenny to lock the door. You'll just have to run to the hotel and grab your bag. You look into the scared face of the man underneath you, your knife still pressed to his neck as if he holds the answers to your questions.

The whole saloon has fallen silent, and it is only broken after some of the girls come up from behind the bar and start clapping their hands together. You look up at them with astonishment. More clapping can be heard from upstairs, and that is followed by some heavy cups and fists being drummed against tables. The whole building erupts into cheers and applause, and you just look around stunned.

"A big applause to our wonderful staff! You won't find anyone better anywhere else!" The bartender comes out from behind the bar, a machine gun hanging over his shoulder. He slaps Vash on his back, who is still standing by the kitchen door with his apron and hairnet, but he has put away his gun. Vash's eyes are nailed to you.

A hand pats on your shoulder that's holding the knife. "Good job, missy! What a woman! We've got it from here. We'll tie this scum up." An unfamiliar voice speaks behind you.

You take an outstretched hand that helps you stand up, and two men pick up the bandit. At that moment, the saloon doors open, and a new man with a big hat and a sheriff's badge runs in with his gun out. The voices of the saloon get drowned out by the voices in your head. The screaming and buzzing—everything else seems to be like inside a bubble. You don't hear anything that is said by the sheriff or what the voices next to you tell you as you step away towards Vash. You barely notice that the bartender seems to push Vash with him towards you. You feel light touches on your shoulders, and the knife in your hand seems heavy. The owner turns you around with his free arm and guides both you and Vash to the stairs. He is talking, but you can't make out a single word.

Vash steers you away from the broken glass so you don't cut your bare feet, and takes the knife from your hand all the while you are walking through the saloon. Upstairs, a girl is patching up Mike, and the rest are still applauding you and seem to say something, but all you hear are screams. Jenny peeks out from the staff room door and opens it wide when you get closer to let you in. Vash takes over from the barman when it comes to guiding you and sits you down on the couch. Nothing else registers anymore.

***

"I... r... i... s..." a faint voice from far away says, "S... t... o... p..."

Suddenly, you snap back to reality as your eyes focus on your apron, which is covered in blood stains. Are they yours? Did they belong to the men you had kicked the shit out of? You realize your arms are restrained by a tight grip around your wrists. As your gaze slides up, you notice Vash kneeling in front of you. You look at where his hands are and see they are gripping your arms.

"Are you back?" he asks with so much tenderness and worry in his voice. As you look back at his face, you see his frown and feel his fingers loosen. "Please don't hurt yourself."

You slip your arms from his hands and see the long, bloody gouges in your skin. As you gently touch your forearms, the marks match perfectly with your own fingers.

"Water." slips over your lips before you realize you're speaking. "Flowing water, I remembered. And something green? It was so cold."

"You remembered something new." A tone of wonder laces Vash's words.