Tempest Wind (Vash x F!Reader)

Last Calm Breaths

The giant metropolis has been looming on the horizon for hours, getting closer and closer the lower the suns gets. At dusk, you find yourself at the doorstep of December. The skyscrapers built onto the remains of the ship are partially lit up and covered in neon advertisements and logos. You enter from the side, right of the giant ion cannon towering where the bow of the ship used to be. You make it up into the bustling city, with many people filling the streets despite the late hour. You look up to see the uncountable wires and pipes running between the buildings made out of scrap. Walkways go up along the sides of the structures and run over the streets connecting the higher levels.

You are surrounded by chatter and sounds. You hear robotic voices of announcements from the distance, too distorted to make out what the speakers convey. You hear engines and wheels on hollow metal a few streets over, cablecars emitting a buzzing sound, taking citizens to the tops of skyscrapers, appearing from somewhere further away. Beats of music reach your ears from different locations. This place is like a living organism; it breathes. Everything about this fills you with unease; it covers you with goosebumps. This place is giant, filled to the brim with people, and not everyone's intentions are good. One mishap, and you find yourself in deep trouble. This city might call itself the rule of the law with its extensive weaponry and large military force, but the existence of December's dark underbelly is proof enough that this place is dangerous and corrupt, not to mention the information the Snatchers gave you. If true, it means the December government knows about the underworld organization.

"Come, let's find a place to stay." Vash gives you a reassuring smile as he reaches out his hand to you, which you gladly take. You're glad you don't have to worry about your toma here. You left them in the closest village you had left from this morning. You have a room there where you left most of your gear too, only taking the necessities.

He leads you to a smaller offshoot of the main street. It is slightly less crowded, but the inhabitants there seem to shoot you mistrustful glances. In the distance, you see a man in a uniform with his back turned towards you, and you recognize them as military police. You see them raising a rod like object above his head and bark commands at someone. You freeze, expecting the bat to beat down, but instead it lowers calmly as the man shouts in a booming voice, the words getting drowned out by the much closer, nervous chatter. You see the officer stand there for a moment longer before disappearing between two buildings. You breathe a sigh of relief, and Vash's hand squeezes yours for a second.

It doesn't take long to find a street with a hotel; it is cheap and dirty, but you know that it's safer than finding one closer to the center of the city. You considered moving down, but you don't want to already draw attention to yourself considering Vash is a wanted man too. Your room isn't as small as you expected, but there are no windows either, just a bed and a chair. There isn't even a spot to leave things—no commode, no wardrobe, not even hooks—so lucky you didn't bring much of anything. You also share the washing facilities and toilets with other rooms in your hall. It feels like a prison to you. You never could have imagined that you would miss the empty desert so much.

"How are you feeling?" Vash asks as he closes the door behind him.

"On edge. I don't like any of this," you're honest with him, "and that's not my regular antisocial persona speaking. This is more like I'm on the tongue of a worm, waiting to be swallowed."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" His hand traces down your arm, his eyes on your face.

"I'm sure as Hell not going to let you do this alone." As you look back, Vash sees the familiar stubbornness in you.

"We'll be okay. We can do this together." He pulls you into a hug, placing a kiss on your hair.

"You should have a rest before we head out; we don't know what awaits us, and we have walked for most of the day." You give him a light squeeze.