Gunshots didn't so much make a bang as they made a snap-- a snarl, maybe, of a short-lived dragon, but definitely not a bang. Some weapons did, of course, but his didn't--- or maybe it did. Vash wasn't very good at putting sounds to pain. It changed every time.
This time, it was silent.
The bullet was a streak, the old gunpowder he'd always used from Gunsmoke (ironic) puffing out a stream of smoke, miraculously straight and rigid in its target: absolutely nothing. Simply a warning, as the metal thunk'd right into the wall, coming from a stiff arm and cold steel, a machine so different from the others' in that it made sound, rather than being forced into it. Fact was, he was jumping in as Luki jumped out, trench coat tails following him like a wake of red, armor plating and defensive clothes coming into use at last. The glasses were on, but he wasn't facing either of them, dining to stick in between them--
and extend his arm, gun and all, to bat Luki away like a kid who'd skipped in line at a candy store, nothing so hard as to hurt (he was just looking for the attention to go over to him) but not so soft to be clung and whined at. Sort of an 'oops, didn't see you there' ... smack. And now he was looking at someone, tilting his head to look at Cloud from the corner of his glasses, a mirthless frown on his face and questions all around. Sure, he had questions - where is Noki, why are we fighting, who started the fight - but they could wait. He could recognize the look in Luki's eyes, and the actions she took (heard her scream, which was why he'd found them in the first place), knew that parrying blows wasn't going to do much. So what did they have to do?
Get her attention and run. Perfect!
Always worked before. Half of the reason he wore so flashy clothes was for that. Cloud wouldn't have been able to block forever, the Stampede knew; and he wasn't quite sure the other blond would've countered with anything above yelling.