Hello everybody! The name is Blaze808 (or Spiders-Vs-Butterflies if you are one of my Tumblr fans...if I have any). I posted the plot on the SVB blog and I had some interest. So here is my first Trigun multi-chaptered fic: A Pound of Flesh.
This story takes place in the animeverse with Tessla in it-and I recommend you read Spiderling and Alive before this. You don't have to, but they explain certain bits about the world.
Warning: It contains mild child abuse and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.
I don't own Trigun. I do not fret however as I will have my own series to own one day. The little girl and Nicholas James Wolfwood are mine.
Chapter 1
When he had looked into those chocolate brown orbs, he knew he could never let her go. He had come for her, but he didn't think for a second that she would be coming with him-though really, what choice did he have? It should have occurred to him that this would happen.
It appeared that yet again, a well thought out plan would be irrevocably changed once again-and this one had been much more impulsive than usual, but that couldn't be helped.
It had been one year and three months since the battle with Vash and his captivity with the two female companions. They had all seemed to get it in their heads that talking to him about the goodness of humanity would change him in some way. It really was ridiculous, and the only reason those two female spiders had lived is he had realized that this was the only way to get some sort of relationship with his brother. Not that it was as it should be, but Vash didn't try to kill him.
It was sad that their relationship was measured this way, but c'est la vie.
Then the big spider suffered the consequences of copulating with the bodyguard he had given his brother. Or rather, she had enjoyed them and he had suffered. Another spider was in the household-a male one named James.
The presence of the spiders had been suffocating and he had needed to get out of there as fast as he could. Knives had tried, he really did-but it was just too much.
Thus at the year mark, Vash agreed to let him go on one condition: he didn't kill anyone for a year. Knives had agreed at the time. After all, a year was nothing in their life. It was like a week.
That was until today. There was no way that he could let these parasites live.
He looked around, seeing the sliced bodies and on a second thought, covered the eyes of the person in his arms. His eyes caught the sight of a medical tube, with a gurney in front. There was a scalpel, an IV and other maniacal equipment.
It had been horrible.
Knives had decided that the best job for him was to be a traveling plant engineer. He felt disgusting beyond belief, but if he could prove to his brother the depravity of the human parasite, it was here. Plus he could keep an eye on his sisters' well-being. Something Vash needed to do more often as far as he was concerned.
He had entered the city of December, going to check on the plant. Knives had been particularly disturbed and eager by this visit. There had been rumours of a little girl that had been born at this facility in the same way he and Vash had entered the world. He just had to see for himself.
What he saw made him sick.
There was a little girl-an infant-who had been hollering at the top of her lungs as various scientists around her prodded her with needles and other sharp instruments. They were going on wondering how her body could handle various toxins.
His mind went back to a time on a space ship when he first got to see his sister. An image of a precious, yet decaying child came to his mind and nausea overcame him. They should be grateful. That fact extended their lives five minutes too long.
He didn't really remember what happen next, but he had heard an audible snap. All his worries about preserving this fragile relationship with his brother had shattered to a thousand pieces. His thoughts about some semi-decent humans went with them. All that mattered was this little girl.
First went the person who had chuckled to him about not being able to handle the sight-stating the child was no more than an object. The second was the guide who had sympathized with him. Then the scientists came after, ending with the security guards and their torture devices. His blades satisfyingly cut through all of them like butter. However, the satisfaction didn't hit him until after. Rage had taken over his senses.
How could his brother defend such monsters? HOW COULD HE?
A little cooing sound awoke him from his thoughts. She looked frail, but in surprisingly good condition for who knew how long she had been tortured.
She started coughing, and he felt more than a touch of worry. Unsure of what to do, he lay her on the table-the only object not destroyed in his rampage. She must have gotten the idea that he was going to continue the experiment and started to cry. Back again in his arms she went. She didn't seem to look very comfortable there, and neither did he feel comfortable with her there, but she wasn't crying anymore. Still, he fretted. Where could he take her?
First things first. Out of there.
It must have been a curious sight for those passing by to see the blonde man carrying an infant. Especially when he had been infant-less earlier that afternoon. However, when word came of the destruction in the December plant, there wasn't many people to stare. It relieved him. He hated crowds-especially one of spiders. It was like they were closing in on him. It had been why he let Legato be the public leader of the Gung-Ho Guns. He really hated being around started making fussy noises and he realized he had been holding on to her a little too tight.
"Sorry." The only person he had apologized to in a long time. She was seeming to have an effect on him. He didn't even know her name. However, her health came first and he quickened his pace to the hotel, just resisting the urge to fly over to the hotel.
It was a disgusting looking place, with faded green paint with faded yellow letters that read "Eden Inn". He still had it in mind that he would punch his brother for booking him in this place. Anyone who said Vash couldn't be spiteful clearly didn't have him for a brother. At least there was no bar in it. The last thing he wanted was to be sidestepping around piles of spider vomit and their passed out owners.
Stepping into the door, his eyes were assaulted by the garish green floral wallpaper, which had been stained by nicotine. At least the chain-smoking monster of a woman wasn't there. There seemed to be oxygen in the room for once. Ah well, he couldn't complain too much-anything that killed spiders was beneficial to him.
The little girl started coughing again, and he quickly walked up the stairs. Vash had booked him the room and he suspected that the "666" room number was no coincidence. Hmm...maybe he should punch him twice. He at least deserved that after being woken up by a cockroach his third night there.
He rested a hand on her forehead. She was burning up rather badly. Quickly, he turned on the sink and filled it up with cold water. He avoided using as much energy as possible but surely her mother wouldn't mind it in this case. Soon, he stripped her of her hospital-esque garments and put her gently as he could in the water.
After the sound she made, he was impressed he didn't go deaf. If he didn't know it was good for fever from experience with Vash, he would have pulled her out instantaneously. However, he sat on the ledge of the bathtub and kept an eye on her. Soon, she settled down, but looked no more pleased than when she was hollering.
When she seemed to be at a better level and he seemed to have lost about 10% of his hearing capacity from all the times he changed the water and she reacted, he pulled her out the water for good. She still didn't seem to be feeling better, but her temperature had dropped. Still, he put her in minimal clothes, wrapping a makeshift diaper out of some shirt he had laying around. It would do for now.
It was at this point that he decided he had to figure out this little girl's future. Who would take care of her? Could he really afford to? Could he not?
An orphanage was out of the question. He didn't really care about how good they were with human children-this little girl was not going to grow up surrounded by spiders! That basically left two options. More specifically, Vash and himself.
There were both pros and cons to this. Vash knew a lot about kids and seemed to be good with them. Plus with all the cooing he had done around the large spider's brat, and offers to help, Vash seemed to enjoy taking care of them. The problem was is that Vash was far too naive-if not stupid and blind-to the nature of humanity. She could grow up trusting them and...he shuddered. Vash's scars had been a best case scenario. He couldn't imagine a child with the human race. They had already done damage to her.
Then there was him. He could teach her all he knew-she would get to know about being a plant and be with her own kind. It may not be the most stable life, but he wasn't exactly hunted by bounty hunters-he didn't feel the need to stick his nose in the business of humans. Or at least, when they weren't leeching off his people. However...
What did he know about raising a baby? It wasn't exactly rocket science-that on the other hand was easy enough.
He sat there for a while, deep in thought. What was the best course of action?
Standing up, he decided there was only one place to go: the only thing humans had done right.
He made it about halfway out of the door before a little whimpering sound reminded him of his new guest. Right...she should probably come too.
Half an hour later and basket in hand, Knives stepped into the only place in the world where spiders could tread and he wouldn't be bothered.
The December Memorial Library.
There were books as far as the eye could see. Knives remembered the shock of seeing so much knowledge in one place. It had been very refreshing and he blushed slightly, comparing his personal reaction to the library as Vash's first discovery of a doughnut shop, except he kept it internal.
His eyes went to the science section almost immediately, but with a deep breath, he went to an area he never thought he tread. The place where all the pregnant spiders stood.
One of the librarians recognized him instantly. After all, he'd spend hours in this building a day...not to mention that he had to be escorted out on the first day for trying to stay past closing hours, but no need to talk about that.
"Mr. Smith!" She waved at him. He had chosen the name Arthur Smith as the name to live among them. He much preferred being known as Millions Knives...but it was far better than Vash's suggestion of using his real name.
"Hello." She was far friendlier with him than he wanted her to be. However, her help may be acceptable in this case. She looked down and the sound that came out her was unnatural. It was too Vash-esque for his liking.
"She's adorable!" She made a motion for her, but he pulled the basket away from her reach. She stopped in mid...whatever awful thing she had planned...and blushed.
"Whoops. Sorry. I get carried away. What's her name?"
No kidding. Still, she brought up a good point. What was her name?
But even if he knew it, he wouldn't give it away to some human. "Just direct me to the child-rearing books."
She blinked once or twice. It was an odd human habit-and he did not do it, despite what Vash claimed. "Oh...um...absolutely..."
In a rather targeted fashion, the woman walked over to a bookshelf and he followed.
"These would be what you are looking for." With that, as per usual, she walked away as if she had something better to do.
Grabbing about twenty books off the shelf-it was a start-he sat down to read, pulling his notebook from pants pocket and started doing his research.
After a few hours, he came to the conclusion that this was going to be simple. Change diapers, feed liquid formula, supply with toys and put chemicals out of reach. What couldn't be easier? Sure he wouldn't be able to do much for the year as far as traveling went, but when she hit the seven year old mark, he could get back to his regular style of life. And that would only take a year.
He would raise the child. It was practical that way.
Review and I'll get Vash to hug you. Please add your pronouns you use. I'm not kidding. You will get a Vash hug.