Tempest Wind (Vash x F!Reader)

A Gut Feeling

You notice the sound of engines first, and as soon as they reach your ears, you jump up from Vash's lap. For a brief moment, he is confused, but then picks up the noise too and looks off to see three pairs of headlights. They aren't coming directly in your direction, but they will pass by you. They seem to be in a hurry as they fly across the dunes, even in this darkness, wheels skipping from hill to hill.

"Something's wrong," you say as you grab the blankets and throw them over the sleeping birds to help them blend in better with the sand. You are lucky that your gas burner has been off for a while and you've been sitting in the darkness.

"They are heading for the town we came from. Looks like they could be from the next town over." Vash has also stumbled up to look at the cars.

"Come on, Red, don't be dense. Come here, get down!" you say as you squat by some bigger rocks. "You think something has happened in the next town? Bandits? Maybe a disease?"

Vash comes to sit down next to you. "I don't know. Could be. Their course might also be from a different place; it's hard to say where they're coming from."

"They do seem to be in a hurry, driving like this." You follow the lights moving away from you now, having passed by you far enough that you don't get too nervous about them seeing you. Your shoulders relax once the lights disappear completely, and you too sit down on the ground. "I'll keep watch. I have a bad feeling."

Vash reaches out his arm, barely able to touch yours. "I can also keep watch; I don't mind. It's going to be alright."

"No, you actually need the sleep, and we should get going early. Call it a hunch." You take his outreached hand and give it a squeeze. "I'll wake you if something happens."

His brows are in a frown as he gets up, and you don't move. He drags both mattresses to you and motions for you to sit on the one he puts near a rock. The other one he puts next to it before picking up both blankets again from the toma. You sit down where he motioned for you to go, and Vash drapes one of the blankets around you. You remember arguing with him about you not needing a blanket, and he finally got you to agree to get one because he pointed out they make for good cover. You realize he was pushing your buttons, but still, you are glad to have the blanket, both for camouflage and because it feels comforting. You lean your back against the stone, and Vash sits down next to you.

"Promise you'll wake me if something happens or if you need a break... from the voices." You simply nod in response, and he places a soft kiss on your forehead before laying down and using your leg as a pillow.

"Goodnight," you say quietly and stroke over his cheek. You fix the blanket on him, making sure he is covered, and rest your hand on his side.

It doesn't take long for him to fall asleep; his breathing is slow and deep. Occasionally, light snoring escapes him, but you keep watch for more lights, your eyes trained on the horizon. While the sounds echoing in your skull are loud and Vash's breathing is slightly distracting, you still try to listen for anything strange. Your body is tense while you worry about what could be going on.

***

Nothing else happened during the night; the toma and Vash slept till dawn, but you were still frozen, trying to pay attention to everything and anything while ignoring the voices in the back of your head. As Vash wakes, he turns onto his back and looks up at you.

"Morning, Sweet Pea." a light and sleepy smile dancing on his lips, and you feel your muscles relaxing. "I take nothing of note happened?"

"Morning, Red. I hope you slept well; nothing more came up; no more headlights; I didn't hear or see anything to report."