Both Vash and Rogue looked up from their meals into the eyes of a redheaded young man dressed in a trench coat. The scars on his face and the intense look in his eyes made it clear he was a fighter with at least some experience
“Wha-iz-it?” Vash mumbled through a full mouth.
Rogue looked over to her teacher and elbowed him. “Swallow then speak.”
Vash nodded and did as he was told. Looking back to the outlaw in front of them he asked, “What can I do for you?”
The outlaw looked him in the eyes. “Are you really Vash the Stampede?”
Vash blinked. “Yep.”
“The Vash the Stampede?”
“Yep”
The outlaw nodded and drew a double barreled Sawed off shotgun from his coat. “My name is Gene Starwind. I’m going to be collecting that bounty on your head.”
Rogue’s hand moved down to her gun-belt and she gripped her revolver, her arm tensing as she became ready to draw on Gene. Slowly, Vash’s went under the table and settled on hers. She looked him in the eyes and he shook his head.
Vash pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. The serious air that sorounded him vanished in a flash, replaced by his usual happy go-lucky-attitude.
“Oh, come on!” Vash asked, “Do you really want to do this? It’ll make a big mess and people might get hurt...”
Gene shook his head. “I’d be stupid if I said I wanted to, but I have to.”
“And why’s that?” Vash asked in a calm, clear voice.
“Why do you want to know?” growled Gene.
Vash smiled widely, and in a jovial voice he replied. “Well, in all honesty I’m asking because I want to know wither I should let you loose with some grace or just make you look like a fool!”
“Why you!” exclaimed Gene as he pulled the trigger on his shotgun, only to have it wrenched out of his hand by Vash.
“You could hurt someone with this thing!” exclaimed the blond gunman.
Gene blinked in surprise. “What the hell?”
Vash smiled and drew his gun on Gene. “So, why do you want to bring me in? I can tell by the look in your eyes you really don’t want to... You don’t seem like the kind that wants to go for the 60 billion. If your so anxious something has to be up. Come on, tell me, I might be able to help. ”
Gene sighed, knowing that there was no way in hell he could draw on Vash before he got plugged. “I’m in debt to a merchant, and he took my partner hostage as collateral. The sheriff promised me the bounty on the raider chief as part of my pay if I helped out, but now that you and your girlfriend...”
“Hey!” exclaimed Rogue. “Ah am not his girlfriend! Student! Ah’m his student! How hard is that for you people to understand!?”
Gene blinked, ignored Rogue’s outburst, and continued, “Well, now that you two are here the bounty is going to be split two or three ways. It would have been just enough to pay that bastard, but now I can’t cover my debt. Jim’s only 12, and Fred Lowe has a thing for young boys.” Gene went silent for a moment then continued. “I don’t even want to think about what that freak will to do to him if I can’t pay. Taking you in is probably the only way to save my partner.”
Vash remained silent for a long moment, then he coolly said, “If you want, you can have the full cut of the bounty, in fact, just ask and I’ll help you save him.”
“You’re serious?” Gene asked, still not completely convinced.
“If there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s people taking advantage of children.”
“Thanks a lot man!” Gene exclaimed. “I owe you one.”
Vash smiled and patted Gene on the back while returning his shotgun. “Here you go.”
Gene snatched if from Vash and laughed. “It’s not every day you have to go head to head with a living legend and don’t get you head blown off. You’re one hell of a guy, a lot nicer the rumors.”
Vash chucked. “Well, don’t always believe everything you hear from barroom drunks.”
Gene nodded. “Good point... So, where did the 60 billion cap bounty come from? From the sound of it, those stories about you destroying entire towns are bullshit.”
"Heh... Ah, yeah! That, ah, right!" Vash sighed, looked Gene in the eyes, and said, “Oh, and one important tip about pissing off the rich and evil. Don’t, unless you make sure they’re not rich when you’re done with them.”
“Makes sense,” Gene replied thoughtfully. “I’ll remember that...”
Vash smiled. “Well, back to my dinner...”
Vast turned around and looked back at his table. He face fell as he saw Rogue leaning back in her chair patting her belly and picking her teeth with both plates completely stripped clean.
Vash looked at his empty plate and in a truly pitiful voice he whimpered, “My food...”
Rogue stretched out her arms and smiled smugly “Well darlin’, you didn’t seem interested in it, and my mama said that you should nevah waste food.”
“But, but, but, I’m hungry!”
“And this was the first decent meal ah’ve had in a long time.” Rogue replied, in a none to sympathetic tone. “Hell, it’s the first food ah’ve had in almost week.”
Vash sighed. “Still hungry?”
Rogue nodded with gusto. “Yep.”
“Man,” muttered Vash, “Unless we get those dinners for free, this’ll break the bank…”
Rogue pointed to Gene. “Then have him pay!”
Gene scowled and glared at Rogue. “Hey! Why should I pay for you to stuff your face?”
Rogue scoffed. “Don’t think ah didn’t hear you two. Vash is letting’ you take the whole bounty on that boss. Least you can do is buy us dinner.”
Behind the two men, the waitress interjected saying, “Ya know, the beanpole has a point.”
Gene sighed, and sat at Vash’s table. “Fine haven’t eaten anyway. Three specials, three beers… on me.”
“Well ain’t that gentlemanly of you. You know what, I just might got a special treat for ya later to night,” said the waitress with a wink and a nod.
“Hussy,” grumbled Rogue.
“Excuse me little girl?” exclaimed the waitress.
Rogue rolled her eyes. “Hurry on up! We’re hungry!”
The waitress scowled and stormed back into the kitchen.
“What was that about?” asked Gene.
Rogue shrugged. “She hit on Vash too. Ah bet she hits on almost every guy who walks in.”
Gene looked at the kitchen door, then shrugged. “Damned it I care...”
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(Posted Fri, 06 Jun 2003 05:10)
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