Title: Significant Other
Author: Digimon Empress Yaten (de yaten)
Notes: Knives/Legato. Mangaverse with Legato's past.
Disclaimer: I don't own Trigun or its characters.
Legato kneeled in front of Knives, his head and eyes lowered in reverence. Knives was casually sitting on the windowsill, leaning against the glass with his legs propped on a desk.
Legato spoke without looking up.
"I believe it's called Valentine's Day, Master."
"Valentine's Day," Knives said, his face passive.
"Yes, Master. It was an old Earth holiday, although its origin is no longer known. It is supposed to be a day for couples to celebrate their... love."
Knives snorted at the word. "Ridiculous."
Legato nodded, and said nothing.
"And what," Knives continued, "do couples do to celebrate their love?" He both sneered and smiled at the last word, unable to decide whether to be repulsed or amused by the human notion.
"Gifts, Master. They give gifts. Jewelry, new clothing, candy, or chocolates..." His eyes focused more at the last word, no doubt recalling that it had been several hours since his last meal. "Sometimes friends buy each other gifts as well. Or family members. Anyone who can be considered a... significant other."
"I see." Knives clasped his hands together and gazed directly at Legato, deep in thought.
There were several minutes of silence, and Legato neither moved nor looked up as Knives continued to stare at him.
"And you have gotten me nothing for this Valentine's Day?"
Legato made a noise between a gasp and a stutter, and for the first time, looked up.
"Aren't I considered a significant other?"
"... Master?" The kneeling man said, unsure at this strange development.
Knives stood, and continued. "I rescued you from the life that those disgusting spiders imposed upon you. I took you in, healed you, trained you. I gave you knowledge of mankind's many sins, the sins used against you and the countless others. Because of me, you are a fraction higher than the rest of the garbage on this planet. You are tolerable to me. That would make me a significant other, would it not?"
Legato smiled, and chided himself for the swell of pride he felt at Knives' words.
"...t-thank you, Master. You have done so much for me, and I have done so little for you. I am unworthy. I am imperfect."
"Yes, I know." Knives walked around the desk and opened the large bottom drawer. "But..." he drew the word out, watching Legato's subtle reaction."I suppose there is no harm in giving you my gift." He carried a simple brown bag over to Legato, and kneeled next to him. Legato took the gift with shaking hands, and only unwrapped it when Knives gave the silent okay.
Inside the bag was a irregularly wrapped object, covered in leftover newspapers with bits of tape here and there. He undid the bindings carefully, and tried not to wonder if it was the first time his Master had wrapped a gift, in case Master was listening to his thoughts.
Golden eyes widened a bit as the paper fell away to reveal a human skull - odd, misshapen, with a small pig like nose and something wrong about the sides, where ears would have been if it wasn't stripped to the bone already. It was familiar, very familiar, and it alternatively sent chills of fear and a sick sense of pleasure up his spine.
"Do you recognize him?"
Legato shook his head, blue hair shifting with the motion. "No, Master."
Knives gave Legato a patronizing smile. "It's the leader of the slave ring that held you. The one who was sliced in half as he violated you, probably intending to kill you after he was finished."
Tears, unbidden, stuck to Legato's cheeks. He lowered his head to hide the all-too-human response.
"... I do not deserve such a gift, Master."
"Yes, I know. But I've decided that your current uniform is a bit boring to me. It needed some... how do the humans put it? Ah, yes. It needed a bit of flair."
With that, Knives began to walk out of the room, and Legato savored each echoing footstep.
It was the first and last Valentine's Day gift he ever received.
