Discover Top Posts Tagged with #trigun original

Jun 29, 2023

So This Is Love? (Eriks/Vash x fem!Reader)

Word Count: 5,044 (Idk how to write anything less than 2k)

Warnings/Etc: slow burn(?), fem!reader, Eriks-era Vash x Reader, mixture of '98 anime and Stampede

Summary: You slowly start to fall for the new stranger in town, all while sharing a love for playing the piano.

A/N: It's 1 am and I had this idea pop into my head. Just finished Stampede recently and I obviously didn't get enough angst after that ending. I loved that Nai and Vash played piano in Stampede and it sparked this idea. :) I myself am a musician so I knew I had to write something knowing this information. I actually have a series idea for a musician oc i have that i might end up writing eventually. Anyway, enjoy!!!❤️

Read on AO3

Edit: There’s a Part 2!!! Go check it out!

No matter how many times you'd played the piano at the bar, you always got a little nervous. Whether it be just for fun, or if Gerald, the owner and bartender, asked you to play for the regulars that night, you always felt your fingers get clammy before you got into your groove. Playing the piano was like breathing air for you; it came so easy and felt so natural that you could just hammer away for hours at a time. It was a small spark of joy in your rather dull life, which consisted of acting as a bar maid in your small run-down town.

One day, while practicing during a slow day at the bar, you met someone that would become very dear to you. You were so engrossed in your playing as your fingers furiously ran up and down the keys that you didn't notice the stranger who had wandered into the saloon. He was tall, had long blond hair that usually obscured his spectacled face. You had seen him in passing a few times before, usually with Lina in tow, but today he was alone. He stood silently at the entrance for a few moments before you noticed him in the corner of your eye.

The song you were playing ends abruptly as you turn to face him from the piano bench, greeting him with a gentle smile. "Hello, sir. No Lina today?" You inquire with a chuckle and his body stiffens up. The man simply shakes his head and stays glued in his spot by the front doors. "Such an odd sight, you two are attached at the hip. I hope she isn't getting into trouble right now." You hope the lighthearted ring in your voice is apparent; Lina did seem to get herself into trouble, but she was a good kid with a big heart. Seeing as the man wasn't much for conversation, you let him know to ask you if he needs anything and return to playing the piano.

That was the first time you had ever really talked to Eriks. He was a strange man and quite awkward when he first came to town. You had heard of a stranger that Lina had found in an alley all battered up and she took him with her to her grandmother to nurse him back to health. It was the gossip of the week when he had first appeared. However, it was probably a month or more before you ever saw him in town. Lina liked to hang out in the bar when she was either skipping school during the day or just hanging around town, and slowly started to bring her new friend with her more often. He would always talk through her if he wanted a drink or food, never speaking louder than a whisper in her ear. When he was out of earshot the young girl would explain that he had been through a lot and was rather awkward around others.

You were pulled from your thoughts when you heard a chair scraping against the wood floor, and your eyes dart up. The man had gotten up from his seat at one of the tables on the other side of the room and was taking his leave. "Have a good day, sir!" You wave and receive a small nod in acknowledgement.

The next few weeks consisted of the same routine with him; he'd come in every couple days, sit in his usual spot, and just listen to you play. It was very strange as the two of you never exchanged words except a "hello" and "goodbye" and he never ordered a drink. It was difficult to see his face behind his hair sometimes, but his eyes looked so empty. Like he was just a walking husk of a person. It left you with an awful feeling in your gut.

"Hey," you called out before he exited the bar one afternoon, "I don't think we've ever been properly introduced. I'd like to know the name of my biggest fan, after all." You tilt your head, close your eyes, and smile.

He freezes on front of the doors, shoulders tense and posture rigid at the sound of your voice. Slowly turning back around to face you, slightly hunched and very sheepish, he answers. "Eriks."

"I'm Y/N. I'll see you next time then, Eriks." You wave and continue to plunk the keys a little more before retiring to the bar to finish up some cleaning that didn't get done the night before.

A few days later Lina comes in by herself. She strolls in and greets the regulars that are chatting at the bar. "Y/N!" She hops on one of the stools at the bar and is practically leaning over to your side with her hands supporting her on the countertop.

"Where's your friend; Eriks was it?"

"You know Eriks?" The young girl plops down in the seat, brow raised in curiosity.

"Of course, he comes in from time to time to listen to me play."

This elicits a mischievous grin on the girl's face, and she leans forward. "Oh really? This is where he disappears to?" You tilt your head, hoping she'll elaborate. "Sometimes he will take off, not telling us where he's going, and return later with a big giddy smile on his face." You nod, placing the cup you were cleaning in its spot on the shelf, and go to grab another to dry. Lina starts to swing her legs and sway side to side with heightened energy. Your eyes squint at her; she looks like she's plotting something. You've seen that look in her eyes way too often, and most of the time nothing good ever came from it.

"What are you scheming, girl?"

"Nothing!" She smirks and asks for some water. She's definitely hatching some sort of plan, but all you could do was wait and see what would come of it. The young girl hangs out at the bar for an hour or so, bothering the other adults, before leaving with a skip in her step. You shake your head with a long sigh and finish drying the dishes.

Several days pass before you see Eriks again.

You were constantly looking at the door whenever you'd play on the piano, hoping he'd walk through with that sheepish ghost of a smile he always bore. Though the two of you had barely shared a conversation, you always looked forward to seeing him and playing for him. Out of all the townspeople, he definitely seemed to admire your playing the most. Even Gerald, who deeply respected your craft, couldn't compare to the time and energy Eriks had put into listening to you as often as he did.

The next time you met him was actually when you were running errands and purchasing some goods from the bakery. You were on your way out the door when you bumped into someone who was entering. The bag with your loaves of bread for the week fall out of your arms, but the person you bumped into catches them with almost inhuman reflexes. "I'm so sorry!" You look up and see the familiar face of your timid fan. As soon as you recognize him, you feel a smile spread across your face. "Eriks! I've missed having my number one fan at the saloon." He gives a gentle "hello" and your attention moves back to a smaller figure behind him. "Hi, Lina." The young girl beams her mischievous smile at you and turns on her heel.

"Eriks, I think I dropped something on the way over here. I'll see if I can find it. Bye!" She doesn't even give him a chance to respond before sprinting in the opposite direction, as far away from the two of you as possible.

You let out a sigh while shaking your head. "That girl..." You return your gaze to the man in front of you. Eriks holds up the loaves of bread you nearly dropped, and you thank him profusely. "I wouldn't have wanted to explain to my parents why I had to pay double for two loaves of bread." After gently tucking the bread in the crook of your elbow, you look up to Eriks who sharply averts his gaze.

"Sorry I haven't seen you in a while..." He rubs his arm nervously. This is the first time he's actually said more than "hello" or "goodbye" to you, and hearing his voice causes butterflies to form in your stomach. Clutching the bread a little tighter, you let a little exhale out of your nose and wave him off.

"It's fine! I was just a little worried about you."

His face goes red, and you can't help but smile at his bashfulness. It looks like he's about to go to say something but then stops for a moment. "I'll come by tomorrow, usual time."

"You better, mister." You wag your finger with a playful smirk and move to the side to let him through. "I need to show you the piece I've been working on." You see the corners of his mouth rise slightly into a very subtle smile, and he nods. "See you tomorrow, then. Have a good day Eriks." With that you take your leave and turn down the street to make your way back home.

And he keeps his word. The next day you find yourself constantly checking the clock for the time, eager for your new friend to appear at the doors of the saloon. Just as promised, you see Eriks enter with a smile. "Good afternoon, Y/N. I-I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

You shake your head. "Not at all. I hope your day is going well so far." After turning your back on him to continue your playing, you are shocked to hear his footsteps coming towards you. Your eyes look up to see the blonde standing awkwardly next to the piano bench, eyeing it like he wants to take a seat next to you. "Oh! Do you play, Eriks?" You scoot over and make room for him.

He takes a seat and shakes his head, waving his hands in denial. "Not nearly as well as you play." He lowers his hands to hover over the ivory keys and takes a deep breath before his hands start to move almost on their own. The melody he plays takes your breath away, and the intensity he plays it with burns like a raging fire. However, when you look at his face, it tells a different story. It's hard to catch sometimes due to his hair obscuring his face, but what you see in his eyes is melancholic. Not empty and hollow like he normally displayed on his face. It was like he was playing a painful memory throughout the entire performance.

When the final cadence strikes, he sits back and takes several slow deep breaths. You can't help but stare into his beautiful blue eyes. You wanted to know what they looked like when they weren't replaying whatever awful memories over and over. "That was beautiful, Eriks. You don't give yourself enough credit." He stares on ahead, as if he barely heard you. You almost go on to ask if everything is okay, but he finally breaks the silence with a soft smile.

"It's actually meant for four hands, so there were some parts missing. Or I tried to play them by myself." He rubs the back of his neck. "Would... you like to learn it?"

"Of course. I'd love that."

Eriks starts to frequent the bar nearly daily to come and play the piano with you. And during those next couple weeks he starts to come out of his shell more. The quiet timid Eriks you initially met slowly transformed into a goofy and outgoing man. The two of you would tease each other and joke around constantly while trying to play the piano together. He even started to come in during the evenings to drink with the other regulars. They all loved him. He was always offering to help them with errands and even making repairs in their homes. Many tried to insist on paying him for his services, but he would always refuse. He really became a part of the community.

"Have you ever thought about studying music at the university?" Eriks asked out of nowhere one day while you were tuning the piano. The old woman who taught you how to play knew how to tune it and would teach you how to. "God knows who else will do it," she'd constantly complain.

"Uh, Eriks, if you haven't noticed, most of us here are dirt poor. I'd be in debt for the rest of my life with how much they charge." You wrap up the final steps of your tuning process and go to plunk some notes. "Ah, that's much better." You assemble the rest of the piano back together and add, "Plus, I'm not nearly good enough for that."

You plop down on the bench next to your friend and find him staring deeply into your eyes as you look up. It'd been nearly a year and a half since he'd come to town. He still looked the same, though his hair was much longer, but you knew he had changed. The reserved man who used to never utter a word to you now would never shut up around you. He seemed to have more energy--more life--in those blue eyes of his.

"I'm serious, Y/N. You could definitely do it." The shift in his tone makes you sit up a little straighter.

"University is for people with money, Eriks. Something I'll probably never have. Also, there are probably tons of pianists out there who are leagues better than me." You shrug and go to put your fingers on the keys to start playing but you're swiftly intercepted.

Eriks has his hands in yours. "Don't say that, Y/N." You're left speechless at the sudden move and look away as he keeps his attention on you. "Your music brings joy to the people in this town. Including me... Especially me..." He mutters the last statement under his breath, but you catch it. You realize he's still holding your hands firmly as he draws small circles with his thumbs. "You need to give yourself more credit. You've worked so hard, and you play beautifully. Right?" You glance back at him, and he has his usual smile splayed across his face. "Right?" He squeezes your hands, and you nod.

"Right."

"Good," he lets go and rests his hands in his lap, "I'm sure you can play just as good or even better than all those uppity university folks." He nudges your arm and you roll your eyes.

That night, after you closed up the saloon with Gerald, you find Eriks leaning against the wall. At the sound of the doors shutting, he jumps and turns to face you. "Y/N!"

"Eriks, what are you still doing here? Had too much to drink?" You tease and he joins you as you walk towards the street.

"Well, I did drink a little tonight... but no. I wanted to walk you home." This wasn't an uncommon occurrence, though, sometimes it was you lugging a drunk Eriks home instead. There was a comfortable silence as you made your way back to your home. You could sense him drifting closer to you but made no comment in fear he'd create distance again if you called him out on it. "Y/N..." He stops and you take a few steps before realizing. You turn back to see what he has to say. "I actually wanted to show you something really quick." He takes the lead, and you keep up with his fast pace.

You walk past the turn you would take to go home and end up taking the road to the edge of town. "Eriks, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." He answers shortly, but with a playful smile.

It takes about 20 minutes of walking and small talk about your day before you make it to the top of a cliff. Below you can see the town in the near distance, most of the lights in all the buildings shut off for the night. Eriks takes a seat near the edge of the cliff and pats the dirt next to him as an invitation to join him. You oblige and cross your legs.

"So, why'd you drag me all the way up to this cliff?" Eriks doesn't even look at you and his attention is set on the sky. You follow his gaze, and nothing happens at first, but suddenly you see a wave of green luminescence in the distance. The stars were out, and you could see those easily, but this sudden addition made the sky look even more illuminated and just plain-- "Beautiful..." Your eyes were wide as you saw the swarm of worms in the distance rising into the night sky.

"They're usually here most nights, but it's hard to see from the town since there's a large dune in the way." Eriks looks at you from the side of his eyes and can't help but smile at the look of wonder in your face. The swarm of worms stay together for several minutes before dispersing and their luminescence dwindles back into nothingness.

"That was amazing, Eriks. Thank you for sharing this with me." You turn to face him and are met with a face that you know is complete adoration. Your heart skips a beat, and you can feel heat rising to your cheeks. "I-Is there something on my face?"

Eriks lets out a laugh. "No, I... I just can't help looking at you." Oh. You want to avert your eyes, embarrassed and overwhelmed at the sudden statement, but they're glued to the man in front of you. He sits up a little straighter and takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Y/N, we've known each other for a little over a year now. I've struggled a lot with dark thoughts and feelings that I'm not sure I'll ever get past," he shifts a little closer to you, "but you've always been there. You and your piano. Lina, Granny, and you have really helped me out of dark places I was stuck in when I first got here. I'm very grateful."

"Of course, Eriks. We love and care about you dearly." You interject and hold out your hand for him to take. He accepts and continues with a shaky breath.

"What I'm trying to get at is, I appreciate everything you do for me and... and I want to be there for you too."

"I know that whenever I need you, you'll be there." You nod.

"No--well yes, but that's not what I--ugh!" He groans with frustration, letting go of your hand to run his through his long blonde hair. "I'm in love with you Y/N!" The sudden outburst startles you, causing you to jump slightly. "I have been in love with you for a while. It's fine if you don't feel the same, I'm just tired of hiding it. I always hide my true feelings and you make me want to change that." He sighs and covers his face with his hands.

All the small mannerisms you started to notice made more sense now. Everyone in town knew Eriks was as kind as they come; always willing to help those in need at his own expense. However, he was always different with you. You noticed the polite smile he'd use on just about everyone, but it was always softer, more sincere, when it was meant for you. The "accidental" touches when the two of you would play piano together, especially when he'd teach you a new piece. How you always caught him staring at you when he thought you weren't paying attention.

You had your suspicions but didn't want to get your hopes up. It would be foolish to think that he didn't catch the eye of many others, whether it was travelers passing through or residents in town; everyone could agree that he was very easy on the eyes. You found yourself giving glares as sharp as daggers to women who would fawn over him whenever he would come into the saloon. Especially when the two of you would play the piano together. In the end, though, he'd always come crying to you in his drunken stupor.

You gently peel his hands from his face and tilt your head to get a good look at his lovely light blue eyes. "Well, you're in luck, because I feel the same way."

"Thank God..." He chuckles, opening his eyes to see yours very close to his face. When you realize how close the two of you are you inhale sharply and feel your shoulders tense up. "Can I...?" Eriks leans closer, but pauses, waiting for your permission to follow through. Only after you nod does he place a rough and calloused hand on your cheek and close the distance, pressing his lips against yours. The two of you hold the kiss for what feels like ages, both of you not eager to end the tender moment, but eventually you do. You tackle him with a tight embrace and dig your face into the crook of his neck. No more words are exchanged, but none need to be; you both know exactly how the other feels without needing to say it to each other.

"Let's head back." He whispers and the two of you walk back to your doorstep hand in hand.

Life started to feel brighter after that day. Nothing much changed; you and Eriks had already been spending so much time together before that night. You continued to play the piano together at the saloon almost every day, but you looked more forward to that time now. Eventually you started to spend more time at his home with Lina and Granny. You knew that Granny was a sweet lady, but she welcomed you into her home like you were her own. You could see very plainly how much the three of them loved one another, and you felt honored to be welcomed into their circle.

When he wasn't helping townspeople and when you weren't working at the saloon, you played with Lina and the other children in town. Well, it was more like you sat to the side and watched Eriks play with them; and God, was he good with kids. They all adored him, and he was so gentle and loving with them. They would play tag or hide and seek in the alleyways or, more often than not, play various games with a ball. There were several times Eriks was too busy beaming at you, and he would consequently get hit square in the face with the ball, knocking his glasses off his face. You had fixed his glasses on several occasions because of it.

"Eriks, stop staring at your girlfriend!" The kids would laugh and tackle him.

"I can't help it, she's my favorite person to look at!" He'd easily overpower them and carry a couple of them with ease while they tried to pin him back into the dirt. You can't help but laugh along with the children as they try to best him.

At least once a week the two of you would go up to the cliff to watch the worms light up the sky. Sometimes you would lay down and watch the stars instead, if the worms weren't there. He would point out various constellations and stars, quizzing you every now and then. On this night in particular, with his hand in yours, he squeezed it and whispered, "I love you." You felt your heartbeat grow faster at his words. No matter how many times he'd said it, you still weren't used to those three words. It had taken him so long to be comfortable saying them, and even now you could sense his slight hesitation.

Early on in your nearly six-month relationship you had figured out that Eriks had emotional walls put up that caused him to be distant on occasion. After the first kiss you shared on the clifftop It was nearly two weeks before he showed any physical affection again. You were patient, though. Whatever he had going on you were willing to let him work through it with time. It was surprising he had grasped onto your hand just a moment ago as well. Every time you'd reach out to him, it seemed like he was afraid of hurting you with just his touch alone. Like you were made of delicate porcelain, and just one wrong move would cause you to crumble into several pieces.

"I love you too, dear." You whispered back just as gently and cuddled closer to him. With the same hesitancy he wraps an arm around your shoulder, his gaze returning to the stars. Laying wrapped in his warmth always felt like home, no matter where you were.

And then one day, he was gone.

"Y/N, some strange priest fella came by and said that was for you." Gerald nods towards the wall with the piano. You were met with a note on the piano, folded nice and neat, and written in Erik's handwriting was your name. You unfold it with a small smile, unknowingly about to be met with some of the worst news to date.

Y/N, I'm sorry I couldn't say this to your face; I don't know what I'd do with myself if I had to see your heartbroken face knowing I was the cause of it.

Your grip tightens on the sides of the paper, almost risking tearing it in half.

There's a lot to be said, with all the memories we shared along with my past I never told you about. You were always patient with me, despite me wanting to fiercely guard my emotions. You broke down almost every wall I put up trying to keep you away, but I couldn't help getting close to you. My only regret is that you're going to be hurt because of me. By the time you've found this, I'll probably be long gone and out of town.--

You didn't finish reading the note and started to sprint to Granny's house on the outskirts of town. You didn't even hear Gerald call after you, you didn't hear the townsfolk yelling at you as you nearly run them over, and you didn't care that you almost got ran over while running across the street. Maybe you'd catch him before he left. Maybe he could explain to you in person what this letter meant. Maybe you could stop him.

Memories of the last six months started to flood your mind: Playing with the children; indulging in donuts that he loved oh so much; Eriks attempting to cook and bake but failing miserably every time; keeping Lina out of trouble (way too many times to count); the nights you spent gazing at the worms or the night sky; and the piano. That damned piano will haunt you now.

As you come barreling onto the property, your eyes zero in on the front door of the house, and you see a chair was set up on the porch, with locks of blonde hair scattered on the floor. Normally you are very polite and knock, but rationale and manners mean nothing to you at the moment. When the door bursts open you can hear her before you can see her, but Lina is sobbing into Granny's shoulder as they sit on a nearby chair. Startled by the sudden outburst, Lina trembles at the noise of the door slamming open, eyes hopeful for a brief second. When she recognizes you, she continues to sob and runs up and hugs you at the waist.

"He's gone, Y/N! He's gone!" You toss the crumpled note in your hand to the ground and kneel down to the girl's level to fully embrace her. You're still not sure what to say, but you know that you need her comfort just as much as she needs yours in this moment. You keep your grip tight on her until she pulls away, wiping one last tear from her face. Noticing the paper you discarded to the floor, she picks it up and hands it back to you.

I should probably finish reading this...

There's something I must do, Y/N. Something I've been running from my whole life, and it's something I need to do to protect the town, Lina, Granny, and especially you. I don't have time to explain. There's so much that I want to say, but I'm running out of room on this paper.

You let out a weak and broken chuckle at this.

I've been running from my past all my life. I had been avoiding getting close to anyone, fearing they would get wrapped up in my problems and get hurt because of my reputation. I've been hiding for two years, but I learned how to love again. I cherish and love Lina and Granny for all their kindness over these two years. I wish I could say it to you in person, but I want to say it one last time: I love you, Y/N. I will come back for you, but you will have to wait a little longer for me. I also want to tell you my real name for the next time we meet. It's Vash.

Life went on after Eriks'--no, Vash's--departure. You went day by day in a haze. You woke up, went to work, and went back home. You stopped playing the piano. Just looking at it brought back so many memories that hurt your heart, so you asked Gerald to get rid of it. You knew he wouldn't straight up trash the thing, but he obliged and let it gather dust in the storage room.

Before he did put it away for good, you played one final tune but parts were missing, as it was meant for four hands.

Part 2

#fanfiction #fan fic #fan fiction #trigun original #trigun fanfiction #vash x reader #eriks x reader #vash x you #vash x y/n #no beta we die like rem #idk how to write angst so

cozywritingcorner