Chapter Text
Y/N sighed, listening to the thrum of her bike as she rode through the desert, the vibrations of the engine underneath her fingertips soothing her anxiety. Her new life she had been thrust into was utterly insane…
“You are approximately five miles from Inepril City.”
She glanced down at her phone, the cracks on its screen glinting in the sun. ‘I should see if I can get that fixed with the repair app… I have enough MP to do it.’ Her eyes wandered across the horizon, seeing nothing but the endless sandy landscape. ‘At least I stocked up on fuel canisters before I left Janus. I don’t think Inepril City has been doing well- didn’t their plant shut down?’ The dry desert air gripped at her as she sped through the dunes, trying to rip her lab coat as it fluttered behind her. It was one of the few items she had left of her old life, aside from her canvas bag and water bottle. She exhaled through her nose, glancing up at the sky to check the suns’ positions. ‘I’ve made good time.’
Her eyes caught sight of the gray sun-bleached buildings of Inepril City, making a small smile crack onto her chapped lips. ‘Still the same… I wonder how my patients are doing…’ Thoughts swirled in her head as she caught her reflection on her phone, frowning to herself as she stared at her unaged face. ‘How the hell do I explain this to them, though? I haven’t aged a day since I left Dankin four years ago…’ She thought, taking a hand off the handles of her bike as she rubbed at her cheek. ‘Guess that makes me twenty six… Time flies when your life’s at stake, I suppose.’
She took her phone from its stand and stuck it into the breast pocket of her lab coat, not wanting to be questioned about her “lost technology,” as some had called it. Her thoughts drifted to her time in college and medical school, the distant city steadily creeping closer. ‘I didn’t skip all those grades and take all of those dual enrollment classes for this…’ A sigh escaped her as she slowed down her bike, seeing as people began to poke their heads out of their homes and workplaces. They recognized her immediately, smiles donning their faces as they waved to her.
“Hey there, Doc!” A woman hanging up her family’s laundry said with a wide smile. “Welcome back to town!”
Y/N gave the woman a smile as she slowed her bike to a halt, throwing her leg over the seat and sliding onto the ground. God, they were sore. “Hey there, ma’am. It’s nice to see everyone again,” she said with a small smile. “Has the family been well?”
The woman nodded, her bright green eyes sparkling. “Sure have. Actually had another kid last July,” she said with a laugh. “Damn husband won’t keep off of me.”
Y/N cringed, gritting her teeth at the notion. ‘I’m so glad I’m single,’ she thought as she waved to the woman, walking her bike through town. ‘I don’t think married life’d suit me.’
“Hey! Doc!”
Her gaze turned to the hoard of children that ran to her, a small smile curling onto her lips as she kicked out the stand on her bike. She knelt down, opening her arms as the kids all but tackled her. “Ooghf- h-hey kids,” she said, her voice strained as she struggled to stay upright. “Good to see you again.”
They laughed, tugging on her and speaking out of time with each other as she nodded and smiled, listening to their ramblings. She didn’t really like kids, but she didn’t mind these few.
“-and then Heinley threw up EVERYWHERE! We thought he was gonna die, but he was fine after that!” A kid with a gap in his front teeth said with a wide grin.
“I watched it happen!” A kid with cracked glasses said with a smug grin.
Y/N smiled, patting them on the heads as she stood up. “I’m glad everyone’s doing well. How’s the clinic holding up?”
The silence that followed her words spoke volumes, causing her to sigh as she rubbed the back of her neck. “What happened?”
“The plant stopped working.”
She turned to the voice, seeing an older man walking up to her, leaning against his wooden cane.
He let out a long sigh as he stroked his white beard, his eyes staring up at the sky. “We haven’t been able to make money. No doctors, aside from you, have been wanting to come to our little backwater town,” he said with a sad sigh. “Hurts me to see my home like this.”
Y/N offered the older man a small smile. “Well, I’d be happy to see anyone free of charge while I’m here.” She kicked up the kickstand on her bike as she spoke. “I’ll be staying for about half a month until the Sand-Steamer arrives, and then I’ll be gone.”
He nodded, giving her a grateful smile in turn. “That’d be wonderful. Thank you.” His eyes fell on the kids surrounding her, letting out an amused huff as he eyed them. “Get on home, you five. Your mothers are probably worried.”
There was a chorus of “Aww” as the kids disbanded, waving to Y/N and promising to visit the clinic while she was there.
She waved back to them before focusing on the old man, her eyebrows raised. “So. What can I do for you?” There was no reason he would’ve told the kids to leave unless he had something to say, right?
He chuckled, smiling as he stroked his beard. “I’m sure you’re hungry. How about I take you to one of my favorite diners. I’ll treat you.”
Y/N opened her mouth to refuse, but he had already started walking. She sighed, shaking her head with a smile as she walked behind him, her hands clutching the handles of her bike. A few younger kids trailed after her, too young to recognize her but old enough to understand that she was important. It hurt her heart that they couldn’t be carefree like the children in her world. The circumstances on Gunsmoke required everyone to have a good head on their shoulders.
Y/N looked at the old man, examining his attire with a small frown. He looked important and the kids respected him enough to listen to him. “Hey- so, what’s your name? I don’t think I ever caught it.”
He glanced back at her, a smile in his eyes. “Oh, I don’t need to bother a youngster like yourself with an old man’s name,” he said with a hoarse laugh. “You can call me Pops. Everyone does.”
“Right, then. I’ll do that,” she said with a nod, her eyes falling away from the old man as she looked around at the state of the town she walked through. Buildings were littered in cracks and windows were boarded up, living up to the rumor that the city’s plant had truly shut down. ‘It must be hard… I’ll help with anything I can- medically, of course- while I’m here,’ Y/N thought to herself as she thought through a few plans. ‘I’ll buy all the supplies I need for myself and repair some things before I get into buying supplies for the town…’
“So, what brings you to Inepril?” Pops asked as he slowed down to walk beside her. “Surely not just for the Sand-Steamer, right?”
Y/N looked at him, taking a hand off her bike to adjust her flat-topped hat. “Well, you know me. Just wandering around, seeing the world,” she said, letting out a small sigh as she tilted her head back to stare at the sky. “Trying to find out what I’m here for, you know?”
The old man chuckled, patting her shoulder. “Well, you know how it goes. We’re here for a good time, not a long time… Try not to worry about it. When you get to be my age you learn that everything happens for a reason.”
She let a small laugh leave her lips, lapsing into comfortable silence until Pops stopped in front of a rotting wooden building. Y/N stopped next to him, eyeing the building up and down as she felt a sense of dread build up in her chest. There was a sign propped up on the outside of the building, its painted lettering faded but still legible. “Ineprid City Clinic.” She turned to the old man, watching as he stroked his beard with a sad look on his face. “This is what’s left of the clinic… it used to be nice back in the day,” he said with a nostalgic sigh. “It started fallin’ apart when I was a teenager.”
And I’m expected to work here… great,’ she thought as she rubbed at her shoulder with a frown. “Are there any scraps laying around that I can use to patch it up?” Her mind drifted to the skill she had recently unlocked: Basic Handyman. This skill allowed her to do simplistic repairs on a miscellaneous range of items. It had come in handy when her bike broke down in the middle of the desert while she was traveling.
The old man sighed, continuing to stroke his beard in a pondering manner as he turned to look at her. “Well… I’m afraid the few unoccupied buildings we have here are beginning to fall apart. You can use what’s left of them to make repairs.” He motioned to her to follow him as he began to walk. “Let’s get some food in your system. You’ve had a long trip coming from Janus City, haven’t you?”
Y/N nodded as she pushed her bike ahead of her, the machine’s white paint glittering and reflecting the sun into the eyes of whoever was unfortunate enough to be looking at it at the wrong time. “Yes, I was lucky I got here ahead of schedule,” she said with a small sigh. “My bike broke down about a third of the way into the trip. I was lucky I knew how to repair it, otherwise I’d have to walk back to Janus.”
The man hummed, giving her a thoughtful look as he walked. “How about taking a quick look at our Plant?”
Y/N blinked. “Pardon?” Thoughts raced in her head. While she had been wanting to see a plant in person, she knew she wasn’t qualified to even begin thinking about repairs. “I don’t think I’d be able to do anything.”
He waved her off, an archaic smile hidden under his snowy white beard. “Ah- who gives a damn. At least give it a once over, eh? Who knows. Maybe you’ll learn something.”
She sighed, reaching for her hat and tilting it upwards as she glanced up at the sky. “I’ll take a look if it’ll make you feel better.”
***
The diner that Pops brought her to was homely and humble. Not that Y/N minded. It gave her a small sense of normalcy. The smell of fresh-brewed coffee made her weary senses perk up as she stepped inside, the old man holding the door open for her. Soft, scratchy music played in the background. There wasn’t a doubt in Y/N’s head that the vinyl record was warped from the heat.
The brown-haired barista perked up, her smile widening and her brown eyes glittering when she saw Y/N and the old man. “Well, if it isn’t the Saint, Doctor Marten. How’d you manage to wrangle her over here, Grandpa?” She asked as she set down what she was messing with and came to greet them. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! I’ve heard so much about you, Doctor Marten!”
Y/N smiled anxiously, accepting the hand that was enthusiastically hovering in front of her. “You flatter me, ma’am. I’m just doing my job,” she said with a nervous laugh. “I’m sure there are other doctors just as or more skilled than I am.”
The barista shook her head as she clasped the young woman’s hand in her own, holding them close to her chest. “Not at all! You’ve done so much for us Backwater towns! You’re the Backwater Country Saint, for sure! There’s no denying it!”
“Alright, Molly. Let the poor woman go. She just arrived from Janus City not too long ago,” Pops said as he put his hand on the barista’s shoulder.
Molly sighed, patting the back of Y/N’s hand before releasing her. “Alright, alright. Now, what can I do for you? I’ll get you anything you want, free of charge,” she said as she planted her hands on her hips. “Don’t argue with me on this, Doc. I heard you’ve been going around vaccinating children for smallpox. Free of charge, at that. This is the least I can do for the sacrifice you’ve been making for us.”
Y/N felt her face burn in embarrassment as she let out a long, defeated sigh. “Alright, alright… You win.”
“Wonderful!” Pops said as he patted Y/N’s shoulder. “Now, I’ll be going. I’ll come check up on you at the clinic later.”
She blinked, watching as the old man turned to leave. “You’re not staying?”
“Oh, no,” he said with a small wave. “An old man like me’s got his daily list of things to do to keep the rigor mortis from kicking in.”
Y/N had to hold back a laugh at his statement in fear of insulting someone in the diner.
The barista, Molly, shook her head as the old man left the diner. “Go ahead and sit wherever you like, Doc. I’ll have something cooked up for you in just a moment. What can I get you to drink while you wait?”
“Coffee, please,” Y/N said as she sat down at the nearest two-person table. She looked up at the woman and smiled. “Thank you.” The woman nodded enthusiastically, hurrying behind the counter to complete her order. Y/N let her eyes wander around the diner, taking note of the three other patrons. There was a mother and her son, who kept whining about wanting a gun to his mother, and a red-coated man a few feet to her right who was happily enjoying his plate of pizza toast. He had blonde hair that was slicked back out of his face, and a mole underneath his right eye.
‘That does look good…’ she thought as her mouth watered. Peeling her eyes away from the plate of food, she turned her attention to her canvas bag. She flipped over the canvas flap before pulling the bag open, digging her hand around until she grabbed onto what she was looking for. The medical book she pulled out of her bag caught the attention of the red-coated man, his vibrant cerulean eyes glittering with curiosity as he watched her set her hat on the table.
Y/N settled into her seat as she pulled her red bandanna off of her head, letting it rest around her neck with her goggles before she leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. She got to work on her book, scanning over the pages with a satisfied smile on her lips, looking up and saying her thanks when a cup of coffee was set in front of her. Molly gave her a bright smile before returning to her post at the griddle, happily humming to herself as she worked. It was around that time the young boy tried his luck begging for a gun again.
“Mom, buy me a gun.”
Y/N glanced up from her book, raising an eyebrow in the boy’s direction. He was holding a toy gun that reminded her of the nerf-guns back she played with as a kid. She looked back down at her book, busying herself with myology.
“And what are you holding in your hand right now?” The woman asked. The clattering of silverware against platters filled the diner as the mother-son duo continued to argue.
“No,” the boy said, “a real airgun would be cooler!”
Y/N shook her head, a small smile on her face. She looked up when she saw some movement out of the corner of her eye, seeing Molly handing the red-coated man another helping of pizza toast. He looked delighted, giving her a wide smile as he said, “Thanks a bunch!” before going to town on his plate of food. She admired his simplicity. A small frown appeared on her lips when the boy started whining again.
“I’ll clean the chicken coop every day…” The boy let out an annoyed huff when his mother didn’t reply. “C’mon, can I have one?”
“No, and stop asking.” The woman fussed over her son, furiously wiping at his food-covered mouth as he continued to whine.
Y/N shook her head again, her attention turning to the door when she heard the ringing of the bell. She didn’t even have time to process what was going on when chaos ensued.
“Welco–” Molly turned from her place in the kitchen, her happy face falling into a blank stare.
Their guns fired, blowing holes into the diner as Y/N snagged her bag from the back of her chair and kicked her table over for cover, spilling her coffee on the ground and shattering the porcelain cup it was in. She covered her ears, her throat closing up as her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. The gunfire continued, aimed solely at the red-coated man she had been sitting a mere eight feet away from. Glass shattered, littering the diner floor in glittering sharp shards moments before the men ceased fire. Her breath shook, staring at the cloud that shrouded the red-coated man and where he had been sitting. Against her better judgment, she peeked around the downed table, swallowing as she saw a group of men in the doorway, blocking her exit. They held their guns, staring at the dust cloud that slowly started to dissipate. All of them wore orange and green striped bandannas.
Y/N felt her stomach drop when she sat the red-coated man face-down on the floor, blood pooling on the floor where laid. The boy from earlier sobbed, holding onto his mother as she tried to pacify him. She paused, looking at the red liquid on the floor. ‘It’s not dark enough to be blood…’ Her eyes widened by a fraction when she noticed the empty ketchup bottle a few feet to the man’s right.
“... We did it!” A bald man exclaimed after a moment of silence, lowering his gun with a wide smile.
The men started laughing among themselves, overjoyed with their accomplishment.
“Sixty billion bucks!” The bald man exclaimed as he hugged one of his buddies, suffocating the poor man as he struggled against his brute strength. “Our names will be known throughout this whole planet!”
Y/N paused, thoughts racing her in head as she stared at the man. ‘No… then…’ She stuffed her book in her canvas bag, the worry eating her as she took a small step back. ‘There’s only one man with a bounty like that.’
The black-haired man he hugged finally broke free, laughing ecstatically. “Definitely! The Humanoid Typhoon falls in the backwater county of Valdour!”
Y/N clenched her jaw. ‘Vash the Stampede.’
“It’ll be all over this week’s satellite!” They paused, looking at their long-haired companion as he approached the man’s body. “What is it, Magnus?”
The long-haired man, Magnus, held his gun out towards the man’s body.
“Ain’tcha bein’ overly cautious?” The bald man asked his friend, but there was a hint of worry on his face.
The black-haired man shook his head, a smile on his face. “With all this blood?” He laughed. “Even if he was alive, he wouldn’t be able to move.”
Y/N shifted to get a better look at the situation, slowly standing up to see Magnus moving his gun closer to the man’s body. His frown deepened, panic twisted his face as the red-coated man plugged the muzzle of Magnus’ gun with his pointer finger.
‘I need to leave… this is going to get nasty…’ Y/N thought as she pulled her red bandanna back over her head, keeping her hair out of her face. She crept out from behind the table she had flipped over, scanning over the other people in the diner. No one was hurt. ‘They’re fine, that’s good.’ Her eyes rested on Molly, her horrified face speaking volumes. Y/N felt a twang of pity for the woman. Her entire diner had been flipped upside down in a matter of seconds.
“Hey, girl, don't make that face!” The bald man said with a haughty laugh.
The black haired man nodded enthusiastically. “If it;s about the damage, we can rebuild the whole shop!”
“Really?”
Y/N’s eyes widened at the voice, whipping her head around to stare at the blonde-haired man that was standing on his feet, his arm draped around Magnus’ shoulders.
The bald headed man laughed, a proud look on his face. “You bet! With all this money, we’re billionaires now!” He paused, his face falling as he turned to look at the man looming behind him.
“Oh, that’s good!” Vash said with a nervous laugh. “I was awfully worried.” He had ketchup dripping from his forehead, glooping down and covering his right eye.
Y/N blinked as she snatched her hat from off of the ground, hurrying to her feet as she moved back from the confrontation. Was that really Vash the Stampede? Had those men made a mistake? She watched them warily as she set her hat on top of her head.
“... You reek of tomato.” The bald man seemed to be at a loss for words, not that Y/N could really blame him.
The red-coated man huffed, holding out a half-empty bottle of ketchup. “The moment I fell, I was wearing this on my head.” He frowned, an upset look on his face. “Could you pay my cleaning bill as well?”
“Naw,” the bald man said, feigning nonchalance as he dripped with nervous sweat. “I got another idea.” He whipped out his gun, pointing it at the ketchup-covered man. “YOU’LL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A ONE-WAY TICKET TO HELL!”
‘Well shit–’ Y/N dove back under the cover of the table, pausing when she heard the firing of a toy gun. She peeked over the table, surprised to see suction darts stuck to the men’s faces. Amazed, she looked over at the red-coated man, blinking when she saw his exasperated expression.
“Hasty,” he said with a long sigh, his arm still draped over Magnus' shoulders. “Too hasty! C’mon, now. Let’s not jump to conclusions. Why don’t we discuss this?”
The black haired man with scars on his face shook, sweat dripping from his face. “Wha… what the hell… who… are you…?” He asked, doing his best to swallow down his anxiety.
The red-coated man let out a nervous laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. “Oh no. Do I hafta? I always get nervous when I have to introduce myself.” His sheepish expression turned smug as he held his chin, his eyes looking far into the distance of the enclosed space. “However, if I must… Don’t you feel I’m like a peaceful hunter, continuing to chase the dragonfly of love?”
Y/N let out a breathy laugh as she pushed herself to her feet. ‘This guy…’
“DON’T YOU DARE… MOCK US!” The bald man shouted as he pointed his gun at the red-coated man with a renewed gusto.
One of the black haired men gritted his teeth, grabbing the bald-headed man by the arm. “IDIOT! QUIT IT!”
“I’ll kill him…”
“Don’t you value your life? He just killed us a m-o-m-e-n-t ago!”
“Yeah, dumbass! This time he might actually do it!”
The bald headed man swallowed nervously, his temperament boiling over. “Okay, FINE! If you’re gonna shoot me, then SHOOT ME!” The man shouted.
The black-haired man holding onto his arm let out a small scream. “Don’t provoke him!”
The bald man lurched forward, the muzzle of his gun pressing against Vash’s forehead as he pulled the trigger. Y/N ducked down, pausing and righting herself when no gunshot rang out.
“Useless! All of you are useless!” Vash declared as he grabbed Magnus, who looked worse for wear.
‘Sorry bastard looks sick.’ Y/N thought with a frown, straightening her tilted hat.
Vash poked Magnus repeatedly in the cheek, accentuating his words. “With the exception of this guy, everyone spent all of their ammunition already!” He declared, pointing at the other three men. They all looked bewildered by his accusation.
“H-how do you know that?” Magnus asked, horrified as he stared at the man practically draped over his shoulders.
Vash gave him a wide smile, holding up his unoccupied hand in a peace sign. “I counted.”
A bewildered laugh escaped Y/N’s mouth, her face turning red when the group’s attention shifted to her. She blinked, pressing her lips in a thin line as she took an exaggerated step back. “I mean- it’s impressive, right?” She said with a nervous laugh, pulling on the most charming smile she could manage.
The group of bandits blinked, turning to each other with blank expressions. Their eyes were dull and their emotions were overtaken with defeat. Simultaneously they began to strip, making poor Molly and the mother shield her son’s eyes.
“Oh- good grief-” Y/N grumbled under her breath as she tipped her hat down to cover her eyes. ‘At least give us a heads up….’ She glanced at the tall blonde-haired man who was also shielding himself from the embarrassing sight, accidentally locking eyes with him. Her eyebrows raised, feigning nonchalance as he gave her a goofy grin and a small wave. Y/N felt her left eye twitch. ‘This guy…’
The four men shuffled out of the diner, causing a sigh of relief to sweep through the room as everyone lowered their hands. Y/N raised her hat, tipping it back with her thumb as a grimace curled onto her lips. They had stripped themselves of all of their clothing, save for their boxers.
She glanced at the red-coated man, relieved to see that he was just as disturbed as she was. ‘At least I’m not the only one…’
“Jeez…” He rubbed the back of his neck, planting a hand on his hip as he leaned back. “They didn’t have to strip off everything.” His eyes turned to the young boy in the room, a small smile appearing on his face. “Here.” He placed the toy gun back in the child’s hands. “Thanks, that saved me.”
The boy looked down at his toy revolver, a look of bewilderment and awe showing on his face like a bleeding hand in a game of poker.
‘Obvious… he can’t survive like that,’ Y/N thought as she shifted her gaze to Molly. She had an odd look on her face as she stared at the red-coated man, so she moved her attention back to the man of the afternoon. “Hey, did you get hurt at all?”
He blinked, a surprised look on his face as he turned to look at her. “Who- you mean me?” He asked as he pointed at himself. “Naw. I’m fine.” He gave her a cheesy smile and a thumbs up, a hint of red on his cheeks.
One of her eyebrows quirked up. “You sure, tough guy?” She asked as she took a step towards him, crossing her arms over her chest while giving him a stern gaze. “Sit down and let me get a look at you. It’s the least I can do since you de-escalated that tricky situation.”
He waved his hands in front of him, a nervous expression on his face as he eyed her warily. “You don’t hafta, you know.”
“Sit.” Y/N kept a firm gaze on him, giving him a small frown as he wilted under her gaze.
“... Yes ma’am…” He said with a whiny sigh.
‘God… he’s just some kind of overgrown kid…’ She thought, watching him carefully as he took a seat at the bartop. “It’ll be quick and free of charge, don’t worry yourself too much.”
***
Y/N watched the man as he scarfed down his third helping of pizza toast of the day, her head propped up on her hand. ‘Jeez… does he have a hollow leg or somethin’?’ Her attention switched to the man that had walked in a while ago, his gray, slicked-back hair catching the sunlight that filtered through the broken windows. ‘Should I donate an anonymous fund?’
The old man took a handkerchief out of his overalls, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled brow as he watched the red-coated man Y/N sat next to warily. “That’s quite an impressive arm you’ve got there,” he commented, quickly catching the blonde-haired man’s attention. “Have you lived this long without shooting?”
‘That’s not exactly the best question to ask after a shoot-out,’ Y/N thought as she let out a long sigh through her nose. ‘None of my business, though… Well, I made it my business as soon as I helped this man.’ A small frown appeared on her lips as she thought, staring off into the distance as she watched the crowded streets outside.
“Yep! Yup! Because, for the price of just one bullet, I can eat four pieces of pizza toast!” Vash exclaimed after he enthusiastically swallowed a piece of pizza toast. He hesitated, an apprehensive look on his face. “Well, that may be a joke… but no matter who you are, pain isn’t something anyone likes, right?” His expression melted into a sad smile. “SO I decided it would be better not to have any casualties.”
‘Oh~ so he’s not just an idiot,’ Y/N thought as her attention swiveled back to him, not noticing the shadow that crept closer to them.
The old man laughed, sticking his handkerchief into the waistband of his overalls. “You’re an odd one. Can you really be called a gunman, I wonder?”
The old man started laughing again, this time with the blonde-haired man joining him.
‘Regardless, he seems like a decent guy… we could use more of them on this God-forsaken plane-’ Her eyes widened when she noticed Molly creeping up behind the man, a loaded pistol pointed towards the back of his head.
“Sorry about that.”
The man froze. “Aha–?” He jumped out of his seat, raising his hands in surrender. “Uh… ummmm.”
Y/N jumped out of her seat. ‘This man just saved her sorry ass-’ Anger bubbled up inside of her as she found her resolve. “Molly-” Y/N started, her retort falling apart when she saw at least a third of the townspeople in the window behind the barista. They had all taken up arms, no doubt with the intent to kill the man she was standing next to. ‘Jesus Christ- when did they all get here?’ The horrified expression on her face spoke volumes to Molly when she looked at her.
“Sorry, Doc. We talked it over at the town meeting while you were examining him, and came to a decision,” she said with an apologetic smile on her freckled face. “Half of the $$60 billion bounty will go to the city’s finances, and the other half will be split up amongst everyone. I’m very sorry about this… Mr. Vash.”
Not even a second after she had finished talking, the man bolted and gunfire ensued. Y/N dropped to the ground, covering the back of her head as lead flew through the air where she had been standing.
“Idiots! Don’t hit the Doctor!”
‘I think my life just flashed before my eyes…’ Y/N thought as her stomach twisted. She covered her mouth with her hand as she felt cold sweat form on her body. ‘I think I’m going to be sick…’
“Go after him!”
She looked up, letting out a sigh as she slumped onto the worn hardwood floors. ‘Jesus… this world’s too harsh on my poor heart…’
***
The chase that ensued was like watching an episode of Tom and Jerry. An explosion here, gunfire here, a comical fall from a three story building there. Y/N was busting her ass trying to keep up with the center of the chase, doing everything within her ability to steer people out of immediate danger and imposing threats to the structural integrity of nearby buildings. Not that they always listened to her advice.
‘These bumbasses!’ Y/N let out a groan as the mob gave chase again, her legs aching as she struggled to keep up with them. ‘God- I knew I should’ve started working out!’ She kept a firm hand on her hat as she kept her eyes on the mob’s target. ‘That poor bastard…’
“MY NAME— — — AND I — — INSURANCE SOCIETY.”
Y/N blinked, looking in the direction of the voice from her place in the mob. “Huh?” It was hard to hear what the voice was saying over the roar of the mob. ‘What would any kind of insurance society have to gain from this…? Unless this man is really Vash The Stampede…’
“WE — — CEASE ALL PUR– — — IMMEDIAT– –”
She couldn’t hear what the sorry soul was saying as she was shoved around by the mob, swept away in the current of angry people. The target was moving again, it seemed.
“Everyone, move!”
“$$60 billion double dollars is waiting!”
Y/N gritted her teeth, her patience finally worn thin as she shoved her way through the crowd. A relieved sigh deflated her lungs as she finally escaped the tsunami of people, feeling less suffocated already as she stepped back to get a look at the bigger picture. A large crash behind Y/N caught her attention. She turned her head, her eyes bugging out of her head at the genetically-modified monstrosity a few meters away from her. ‘Wait a minute…’ She squinted her eyes. ‘Is it… crying? And is there a man in its pocket?’ Rubbing her eyes she took another look, a baffled expression on her face. ‘That guy… he looks like a beluga whale…’ A sense of unease settled in her chest, and a sense of nostalgia settled in the back of her head.
“The Nebraska family…!” A man with glasses exclaimed with horror as he took a step back.
Y/N froze, turning to look at the man with a surprised expression on her face. “Hang on- you mean the outlaws that are supposed to be in jail?”
The man either ignored her or couldn’t hear her. “Just a second, aren’t you and that son of yours supposed to be in jail for the next 700 years?”
“Well, that answers my question, doesn’t it,” Y/N mutters sarcastically.
Old-man Nebraska cackled as he leaned over in the pocket of his son. “Well, Judge’s Jury, for your information, we released ourselves yesterday,” he said with a twisted smile on his face.
‘Jeez, what a nutcase.’ Y/N thought as she took a step back from the escalating situation.
The man gripped at his hair, his glasses knocked askew. “Isn’t that called a jailbreak?”
The monstrosity of a man reached for him, his fist extending and knocking the glasses man a clear ten feet away from him.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s get going, Gofsef,” the old man shouted as he threw his fists into the air. “Let’s get our $$60 billion double bucks!”
Y/N watched them leave, her stomach flipping as she saw the mechanical parts on the Nebraska son, Gofsef. ‘Jeez, he does seem like the mad-scientist type, but doing that to your own kid?’ Y/N rubbed the side of her neck, her mind catching up with what happened as she spun around. “Shit- Sir! Are you ok?” She asked as she ran to the man that had been hit by Gofsef. He wasn’t too badly injured at first glance, but Y/N knew by the force that had been used that he at least had a broken rib or two.
He groaned as he pushed himself to sit upright, a dazed look in his eyes as a few of the townsfolk flocked over to him. “I’m alright…” He said as he reached up to adjust his cracked glasses. “Say… you’re Doctor Marten… aren’t you?” His eyes squinted up at her as she knelt down to get a better look at him.
“I am,” she said with a nod as she began to examine him. “Does it hurt to breathe?”
“A little bit,” he said, wincing when he tried to move. “Urg–”
“Nope.” Her firm hand on his shoulder kept him from moving. “Stop it. Stay down for now.” She turned to the person closest to her, a young woman with blonde hair, brown eyes, and freckles. “Go get him some clean water to drink. I expect that he has some head trauma and a handful of broken ribs.” Her attention switched to the man as he looked at her with a shocked expression. “Carefully get him into some shade and keep an eye on him there,” she said as she stood up and brushed her knees off, looking in the direction the Nebraska family had run off in. “I need to make sure I’m near that freakshow in case anyone else gets hurt.”
“D-Doctor-” The man started, grimacing when he tweaked his broken ribs. “Please stay out of that mess- we don’t have a doctor that could help you–”
“Save it. I can handle myself,” Y/N snapped as she adjusted her lab coat, giving the man a stern glare. “Stay here. I’m going to make sure I can help anyone who gets hurt.” Spinning on her heel she took off, sprinting to the best of her ability in the direction the Nebraska family had gone. ‘If I can help at least one person, I’ll consider it a job well-done,’ she thought as she caught sight of the mob once again. She felt her heart skip when the mechanical fist of Gofsef extended into a building whilst Old Man Nebraska cackled in his armored pocket.
“Hohohohoho—! Bingo!” He shouted as the building collapsed.
“Shit!” Y/N forced her aching body to move faster, praying that no one had been in the building they had just destroyed.
“Too easy! Could it be that one shot was all it took to strike him dead?” Old Man Nebraska exclaimed with glee, spit flying out from the generous space between his teeth. “That’s funny! That’s funny, heh, Gofsef!” His face fell when his son’s hand retracted, the black ink on the back of his hand unintelligible from where Y/N was, but judging from the Nebraska family’s faces it was probably some nasty jab.
She let out an exhausted huff as she arrived at the scene, shielding her eyes as the dust began to clear. ‘No way-!’ Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the familiar red jacket and an even more familiar barista unconscious in his arms. “M-Molly?!”
The red-coated man- no, Vash- looked up, an unhappy expression on his face as he motioned towards himself, a black marker in his gloved hand. “C’mere!”
The silence that followed could have been cut with a knife, but it was abruptly ended by the shrill laugh of Old Man Nebraska.
“Heh! Heh heh heh! That’s right!” He exclaimed as he threw his arms to the sides in an open gesture. “This is how it’s supposed to go down!” He smiled widely, exposing his few and far between teeth. “What…? Did you think you could dodge Nebraska’s Bullet Punch sneaking around inside buildings?” He taunted, jeering at the blonde-haired man amidst the rubble. “Felt the Fingers of Death snatch at you, eh? Vash The Stampede!”
Y/N turned her attention to the man, her heart threatening to jump out of her mouth as she watched Vash shift Molly to gently lie her on the ground. ‘No… is he…?’ She swallowed, her eyes shifting through the rubble. ‘How many other people were caught up in the rubble?’
“Sheesh! That Nebraska bastard sure is full of himself,” a man grumbled in the crowd.
A shout rang out from the crowd. “Yeah! He’s the one who should go down!”
Y/N hesitated, watching in bewilderment as Vash picked up a concrete bar and wedged it under a piece of fallen concrete. ‘Oh my God-!’ Her body moved for her, rushing into the scene when she saw a woman buried under the rubble.
“D-Doctor Marten?!”
She fell onto her knees, wrapping her arms around her chest and pulling her out of the rubble. She knew Vash was surprised by her sudden interference, but she didn’t care. “C’mon– help me out here,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’m a doctor- ugh- not a bodybuilder for- Jesus!- fucks sake!”
His arms dove down, helping her drag the woman out from the rubble. She looked up, the sun glaring in her eyes as she watched him focus on the woman. “How many are trapped?”
“There’s three more trapped,” he responded, picking the woman up in his arms. “You’re a doctor, right?”
“That’s right,” Y/N said, her chest heaving for air. “I’ve got obligations to help these folks out. You don’t have to worry about that.” She looked over at Molly’s unconscious body. “I’ll start applying first aid if I’m getting in the way.”
He nodded, a grateful look in his eyes. “Thanks.” Vash set the woman next to Molly, leaving to find the next person trapped in the rubble as Y/N knelt beside Molly and threw her bag off her shoulders.
She pressed her fingers against the barista’s neck, letting out a relieved sigh. “She’s breathing!”
Sighs of relief swept through the crowd as Y/N strained her eyes, feeling her energy being sapped as an x-ray view popped up in front of her. ‘Broken rib… stress fractures…’ She rifled through her bag, pulling out her first aid kit and preparing for basic first-aid procedures. ‘Multiple abrasions and a handful of shallow lacerations. Dammit. Those Nebraskas are lucky these ladies weren’t killed.” Her hands worked quickly to apply bandages and sanitize any topical wounds she could access without stripping the victims.
“I can’t believe it… the legendary Backwater-County-Saint is working with that wanted criminal…”
“She ain’t called a Saint for nothing…”
Y/N ignored the crowd, and Vash continued to lie the victims next to each other as she worked. As soon as a new victim was set down she checked their pulse and breath, announcing that they were breathing to the crowd before she went back to work. The scent of tobacco smoke wafted its way over to her, making her grimace as she applied another bandage to the third woman’s face. She glanced at the Nebraska family, locking eyes with Old Man Nebraska. He grinned, blowing out a plume of smoke from his mouth.
“What? Got a problem, girly? I’m giving you work to do. You should be grateful!” He said with a laugh, his glasses gleaming in the smoldering Gunsmoke sun.
She gritted her teeth, returning to her work as she bit her tongue. ‘Biting back won’t do any good.’ Her gaze drifted to Vash as he laid the last victim down, locking eyes with him. “I leave this to you,” she whispered, her hardened expression softening when he gave her a small nod. “I’ll patch you up, free of charge if you get your ass busted.”
Vash looked like he was going to reply, but was cut off when Old Man Nebraska spoke up.
“You done?!”
Y/N watched as Vash rose to his feet, turning his head to look at the Nebraska family. Her attention was caught by a man who shoved through the crowd, his disheveled appearance enough for her to know that he was related to the victims.
“M-Mary! Rosa!”
The crowd muttered amongst themselves, looking at each other uneasily.
“Why…?!”
“He’s trying to keep the women from getting caught up in it!” A man shouted.
Y/N flinched when she heard the tell-tale boom of Gofsef’s retractable arm extending again. She turned her head, her eyes widening when she saw shrapnel flying her way. “Shit-! No-!” Throwing herself in the way of the shrapnel she squeezed her eyes shut, crossing her arms in front of her face as she braced herself for impact. There was a crash, and the impact never came. Y/N opened her eyes, sucking in a gasp when she saw Vash knocked down on the ground in front of her. “Vash…” Then it clicked. The red coat, the Humanoid Typhoon, the Nebraska Family. Even Gunsmoke. ‘No way…’ She shook her head, swallowing as she steeled herself to interfere in the fight. ‘I need to focus on the present.’
Old Man Nebraska had a disgusted look on his face. “Even to the very end, you really won’t let anyone die. You sicken me!” He declared as he scowled at Vash. “Your philosophy is nothing but hypocrisy. The time will come when someone causes you nothing but trouble, and you’ll take him out!” Old Man Nebraska threw his hand in the air, a toothless grin on his face. “How do I know?” Gofsef’s arm made the sound it did the last time it extended, making Y/N tense up as she readied herself for impact. “Because your turn to be erased has yet to come!”
“Jesus! Just shut up already!” Y/N snapped as she pushed herself to her feet, her hand automatically going to her hat to keep it from flying off of her head from the sudden wind that filled the area. “You talk like you have all the time in the world, old man. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought that your name was in last year’s eulogies!”
Old Man Nebraska’s face turned red and scrunched up in anger. “Shut up, lil’ girl!” He screeched, pointing at her. “Wait your turn! I’ll deal with you next!” He switched his attention to Vash. “Nevermind. It’s almost over. I’m sending you to the most shameful death possible. Good. Lil’. Boy!”
“This bastard…” Y/N hissed through gritted teeth, knowing fully well that she didn’t have the arsenal to deal with him or his son.
“Why doesn’t he say anything after being insulted like that?”
She watched with bated breath, her hand on the handle of her gun on her hip. Vash moved, pulling a pair of yellow-tinted glasses out from his jacket, flicking them open before he put them on. He brushed his jacket open, reaching for the gun on his hip.
“Isn’t he gonna draw?!”
“It’s pointless, any gun’s gonna be like a BB gun compared to that giant fist.”
“However much gunpowder is backed into each shell—”
Y/N drowned out the shouting, keeping her eyes on Vash’s back. Without her interference, he would’ve won. ‘Now that I’ve practically inserted myself into the plot, I don’t know how things’ll turn out…’ She thought as she sucked on her tongue, her eyes darting between Vash and the Nebraska Family. ‘I have to place my trust in him.’
“—All he’ll see is that fist coming at him, and in the next second, he’ll be nothing but a smear!”
“Idiot! Won’t that turn him to splattered meat?! We won’t get the bounty!”
“Yeah, yeah. I hear you clearly. So why don’t you go out there and stop him?
“What’s that supposed to mean? You want me killed?”
Y/N watched on, watching as Gofsef’s fist was launched directly at her. She braced herself, keeping her eyes on the fist flying towards her until a red jacket fluttered in front of her. “Vash–!” He fired, five gunshots ringing out in a matter of seconds as the inhuman fist veered to their left, crashing into the ground. She stared, breathless as her legs shook underneath her.
“He did it! E brought it down!”
“W-what!?” Old Man Nebraska screeched as he leaned out of the metal pocket. “Reel it back, Gofsef! Ready the second shot, quick!”
The townsfolk stirred around them, Y/N letting out a relieved sigh as sweat dripped from her forehead.
“Jackpot!” Vash exclaimed, a relieved look on his determined face.
There was a large boom as Gofsef’s arm malfunctioned, a spark and a small explosion making the beastly man cry out in pain and curl in on himself. Old Man Nebraska screamed as he was crushed by his son’s arm, the brute falling onto his back as he screamed in pain.
‘Holy shit…’ Y/N watched as Vash rose to his feet, one hand in his jacket’s pocket and the other hand holding a firm grip on his gun. ‘He’s… incredible…’
The cheers from the crowd were cut short by a sudden shout. “Hold it right there! Stop the fight!”
Everyone turned to the voice, looking up at the bell tower to see two young women clinging to the structure. One woman had black hair cut in a bob who wore white clothes, the other had long dusty brown hair and a yellow and blue coat. Silence ensued, waiting for them to speak again.
“It seems things have already settled down there, sempai!” The brown-haired woman exclaimed.
The black-haired woman’s mouth fell open in surprise. “No way! After all that trouble we went through climbing up here?”
***
It took a few minutes for the young women to climb back down, quickly becoming the center of attention as they spread their news. Y/N wasn’t paying attention, instead she was caring for the victims of the Nebraska family alongside a few willing volunteers, instructing them on basic medical care as she distributed supplies and refilled canteens with her massive jug of water. Her ears perked up when she heard the click of a megaphone, turning her attention to the two young women not too far from her.
“I said, as of yesterday, the Federal Government has declared Vash The Stampede an officially designated Localized Disaster. To summarize, the $$60 billion double dollar bounty, which started today’s whole ruckus, was, at that point in time, rendered invalid,” The black-haired woman explained with a hand on her hip. “Like an earthquake or typhoon, you can’t put a bounty on him.”
‘How do typhoons even happen here?’ Y/N thought to herself as she watched Vash dance around like a maniac at the news. ‘Well, at least he’s happy-’
“Doc? Can you show me how to do this?” A young boy asked as he tugged on her jacket.
She turned her attention to the young boy, his bright blue eyes glittering up at her as she gave him a small smile and patted his head. “Oh, sure thing. Tell me what you need.”
“I’m free! I’m free again!”
Y/N smiled, shaking her head to herself as she showed the boy how to dress a wound. ‘I’m glad no one died here today.’ She glanced up, watching as Vash was swarmed by the two women.
“Bernardelli Insurance Society, Meryl Strife,” the black-haired woman introduced as she shook Vash’s hand.
“I’m Millie Thompson!”
“We are most grateful to be able to make your acquaintance,” the woman, Meryl, said with a hint of disappointment. “Since we will be with you from now on, in accordance with our mission to keep you under round-the-clock surveillance for risk avoidance.”
“It’s our pleasure!”
“Pfff-” Y/n snickered as she patted the boy’s head. “Good job, kid. Keep this up and you’ll be a professional in no time.”
“Wait- really?!” He asked, stars shining in his bright blue eyes.
She gave him a closed-eyed smile. “Sure thing.”
“Wait a second! Just what are you talking abou–” Vash’s shoulders jumped at the startling cackle that rang out in the air.
Y/N turned to the source, furrowing her brows and gritting her teeth when she saw Old Man Nebraska still standing. This time, he had a large gun in his mechanical hands.
“It ain’t over yet! Look!” He exclaimed. “I won’t forgive you after what you did to my adorable son! You’ll pay for– –” Old Man Nebraska was cut off when a large cross-shaped piece of metal flew at him.
Y/N’s eyebrows shot up as she looked at the source, surprised to see it was that Millie Thompson girl. She had a large stun-gun and Meryl had a smaller pistol. Both of them were smoking. Vash looked close to having an aneurysm, not that she could blame him.
“As we were saying, it’s very nice to meet you.”
Y/N could see the nervous sweat dripping from Vash’s forehead as he held his hands together nervously. “... Likewise, I think…”
***
Y/N was at the ramshackle clinic attending to the long line of patients when she saw Vash again. This time he had actively sought her out instead of being chased after on her part. Of course, due to Bernardelli Insurance’s agreement, Millie and Meryle were escorting him, announcing who he was and advising people to keep their distance.
Y/N sighed as she examined the young boy’s hand, her hat hung up on the wall as she sat on a rickety chair. “There’s a small splinter,” she diagnosed as she looked up at the boy, satisfied to see the screen popping up to award her Medical Points. “Is it causing you discomfort?”
He nodded shyly, the hand she wasn’t holding gripping his shirt tightly. “Yeah…”
She gave the boy a soft smile as she turned to her open medical kit, taking out a pair of tweezers and surgical magnifying glasses. “Will you let me remove it? It’ll hurt for a little bit, but I promise it’ll feel better real quick.” Her eyes tracked the boy’s nervous shuffling as she put on the magnifying glasses.
He nodded again, squeezing his eyes shut as he trembled.
Y/N gave his hand a comforting squeeze before she quickly dug out the splinter, holding it up for the boy to see. “Here, take a look at this,” she offered as she rubbed around the area of injury to soothe the afflicted muscle. “This big ol’ thing was in your hand. Crazy, huh?”
The boy opened his eyes, blinking at the decently sized splinter gripped in her tweezers. “Wh-woah,” he said, his green eyes glittering in awe. “That was in my hand?”
“Sure thing,” Y/N said with a smile as she set the tweezers down and picked up a sanitation packet. “Now we just have to get your hand all clean, and then you’ll be all set, ok?” She said as she let go of his hand to rip open the packet.
“O-okay!” The boy said, enthusiasm filling his tone as he began to cheer up.
“Good job. You’re so brave.” She cleaned the small wound before sticking a small band aid laced with neosporin on it. “All done. Here’s a treat for being such a good patient,” Y/N said with a smile as she took out a small lollipop.
The boy’s eyes sparkled as he gingerly took the lollipop from her, holding it in his hands like it was some long sought-after treasure. He looked back up at her, a wide grin on his face. “Thanks! Doctor Marten!”
Y/N waved to him as he left, the small smile on her face fading as she sighed and slumped over in her chair. A knock on the door of her make-shift office snapped her back to attention as she looked up. “Come in!” She blinked when she saw a familiar head of blonde hair and bright cerulean eyes. “Oh, hey.”
He gave her a sheepish smile. “You still offering that free healthcare?”
‘Wonder if he threw off the insurance girls.’ She let out a puff of air as she waved him inside. “Get in here.”
Vash smiled nervously as he closed the door behind him, flinching when a hand shot out to keep it from closing all the way. Millie and Meryl were behind him, staring at him through the small crack of the door. “Aha- sorry, ladies.”
Millie gave him a wide smile as she threw the door open. “Oh, it’s fine, Mr. Vash!” She said cheerfully as she walked into the room. His big blue eyes blinked at Y/N examining her from head to toe.
“Millie- it’s rude to stare.” Meryl whacked the younger woman on the shoulder.
Millie whined, giving Meryl a sad look before turning her attention back to Y/N. “By the way, aren’t you Doctor Marten?” She asked as she pointed at her. “The doctor that’s been going around helping backwater towns for free?”
Y/N gave her a tired smile and a nod. “Sure am,” she said as she ran a hand through her sweat-soaked hair. “What can I do for you ladies? I said I’d help Vash out first, but I wouldn’t mind taking a look at either of you while you’re here.”
“Oh my God, you really are a Saint,” Meryl said, clearly bewildered. “Why would you help all of those people for free?”
Y/N gave her a tired smile before turning to look at Vash. “Alright, show me where you got hurt, you reckless bohemian.”
“Wh-” he looked surprised. “Reckless bohemian?”
“Well, yeah.” She pointed at him accusingly, her eyebrows angled downwards in mock anger. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed. Even though everything turned out fine, you should be more careful with yourself. I won’t always be around to provide free medical care,” she scolded, watching as he withered under her scrutinizing glare. “I’ll ask again. Show me where you got hurt.”
He sighed, leaning down and parting his hair to show her the gash on his scalp. Y/N clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth as she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him back.
“Trade places with me. You’re as tall as a damn tr- Plant.” Y/N’s eye twitched as she corrected herself, not noticing the light of disbelief behind Vash’s eye. She stood up, guiding him to sit in the chair as she leaned over him. “What’d you get hit in the head with? You got some nasty bruising around this cut you have.” She looked over at her medical kit, taking out the container of cotton swabs, her sterilizing solution, and a packet of sterile suture supplies.
Vash frowned as he looked up at her, watching as she put on sterile rubber gloves and prepared to clean his wound. “It was just some concrete- and I don’t think it needs to be sewn shut,” he said, a hint of complaint in his tone.
“It’s just in case it needs to be,” she reasoned as she uncapped the cleaning solution and soaked the cotton swab with it. “This is going to sting. Grab onto something- can one of you part his hair for me?”
“Oh! Sure thing!” Millie said cheerfully as she moved to stand behind Vash, enthusiastically parting his hair for her to reveal the gash. “Oh, geez. That does look bad.”
Y/N began to clean the wound, surprised when Vash had little to no reaction to the solution mixing with the sensitive flesh. The most she got out of him was a twitch. ‘Geez, with what I remember from watching Trigun as a kid, I know he’s been through Hell.’ Once she was satisfied with the cleanliness of the wound she took a good look at it. “I’ll just put in one suture. How’s that, Vash?”
“Ahaha– I guess that’s fine,” he said with a nervous laugh as he side-eyed the suture packet.
Y/N raised an eyebrow at his behavior, setting the cotton ball to the side as she prepared the suture. ‘Afraid of needles, huh?’ She made eye contact with him, and she knew he knew based on the look he gave her. An innocent smile curled onto her lips as she ripped open the packet, getting her tools ready. “Don’t bite your tongue. I ran out of local anesthesia a few days ago.”
“Oh, sunnuva-”