Tempest Wind (Vash x F!Reader)

On to the Next Crisis

Living life alongside Vash means there is never a dull moment. Misfortune follows him like a shadow, and you should have known that things in December played out way too well. The nagging feeling turns out to be right as reports of stolen Plants start to appear more and more often on the radio. It has always been a common crime for those ballsy enough, but the frequency is concerning, to say the least. Vash, too, has become a lot more concerned, and not only because some of the robberies have been blamed on him now. He suspects that his brother is behind this.

Most of the robberies have been taking place in the far north of the settled area, beyond November and September, with others happening further south too. You see how uneasy it makes Vash; he is being torn apart, unsure where to go or how to stop this. As you still find yourself relatively near December, you decide that it would be smartest to head north and try to cut off the bandits who are behind these robberies. Your gut feels hollow as you think about the possible outlook of things. These don't sound like your regular, everyday thugs; they seem to be a lot more methodical in their actions. The reports coming back are devastating too; many villages are leveled in these robberies, and others are doomed to die a quick death without their Plants sustaining them. Many people die due to these Plant abductions, and neither of you can stand idly by.

It takes you a week to travel north to November. It seems like so far nobody has tried their hand at stealing the Plants from any of the villages surrounding the academic city. You don't stay for long, choosing to move further and investigate the smaller settlements. Not all Plants have been stolen; those capable of picking up arms against the robbers have been left alone. Some report regular criminals coming for their Plant; others say people with strange powers, the Gung-Ho-Guns, came for theirs. Most think Vash is behind the disappearances, and you try to keep an extra low profile when it comes to him. You aren't looking to get an angry mob after him.

Every night you spend listening to the radio, trying to figure out what places could be hit next, but it is hard considering how densely the area is packed with villages and towns, many taking comfort in the proximity of November, the very first city.

"It sounds like they are focusing further west," Vash says, marking something down on a piece of paper. " They started almost northeast, away from November, basically circling it. I think they're heading east, towards September, which has a weaker military force."

"You think we should cut them off before they get there?" you ask quietly as you look at his notes on the barely lit paper by the gas burner.

"It's a lot of open sand, and we can't be sure where they are headed. There aren't that many bigger settlements between November and September; most of those are east of the land neck connecting the two areas, meaning they are under November's jurisdiction."

"So they likely will avoid them and go for towns that are supposed to be protected by September," you nod, understanding his train of thought. "They would probably head back north from the neck."

"Yeah, Edwards and Blow Up Hill are there; they aren't that strong, and they both have two Plants. They are probably the more tempting options to pick off before ransacking the villages near September."

"These bandits are fast, and we don't know where they would start..." You stare at the paper, your mind running rampant. "If we wait for them in the wrong town..."

"Then us cutting them off won't be as effective. Yes." Vash nods, his voice sad.

"So we split up; it's going to be either of these towns or the surrounding villages, and we can adjust as needed," you say, not directly looking at him.

"No!" He sits up a bit more and turns to face you. "No..."

"I know. Trust me, I don't want to let you out of my sight either, but if we want to stop this, then we have to do something. We are both capable, and if we have the support of the town... we can put a stop to this." You look at his concerned face with a soft expression.