Blind, Broke and Bedlam
Vash ran off again, into the human settlement, early in the morning before I awoke. He probably meant to get back before I got up. As much as he likes those human pets he lets walk all over him, he'll return to me. Vash knows what happens when he abandons me. July, Augusta and everything in between and after taught him that. Vash knows that the humans who try to take him from me will be removed. So, Brother will return to me, and he won't have much choice but to stay with only me. I'll convince him then. He's stubborn, as you can see from the nonsense he clings to. And he has a very selective memory, to the point he sees this as a victory because of how badly Legato fumbled his end of the plan. But Vash is no moron, being my twin after all; so he'll see reason once I've removed him from the humans long enough. I think that was my first mistake. I was young and my actions were too sudden, my justification too blunt and factual, for someone as emotional as Vash.I can work around Vash, now that I've seen more of what makes him tick. For all his flaws, the telepath was an of which, Legato is still in bed, and probably always will be. I don't know how he is now, I haven't bothered to even enter that room since last night. And I probably never will, until Vash finally gives up and throws out my now vegetable servant. I don't hate him; he was cathartic. For how thoughtlessly his species uses mine, I had him. Humanity's stronest was more than eager to admit his inferiority and prostrate himself for whatever punishment the superior being saw fit. There were times I needed you, Bluesummers. Not that I'll ever admit it. If I cared more for Legato, or the man he once was, I'd kill him rather than leave him like this. He just isn't worth upsetting Vash over, however. He used to be decisive, useful for a human. Now he just lies there, somewhere between living for Vash and dying for me. Pathetic. Is that some sort of joke, Bluesummers ? I'm not laughing.
I hear rustling, vermin probably.
"Knives! I'm home! A little help with the groceries!"
Knives just leisurely strolls over , you know because I'm totally not breaking my spine carrying all this stuff!
"What's that Vash?" "A grocery bag. Now take it! This stuff's way too heavy." All Knives does is open it up to look at the contents: "Why do you have grape soda, donuts and pudding with rainbow sprinkles? WHAT are you doing with this junk! Vash, is that how you normally eat? No wonder you think so little!" "It's happy food, Knives. Maybe if you ate something cheerful more often you wouldn't be such a sour puss. Besides, I eat healthy food, too! See, veggies and salmon sandwiches!" I hold the health food bag to him, hoping hell friggin carry it. Knives just stands there.
Thunk
"Knives, did you hear that?"
"It's most likely just a rat; you may want to get your gun."
Thunk, crash
"Legato! It has to be him!" I drop the groceries and run. I hear the eggs break in the background while I rush down the hall, oops. I steal myself with a single breath before going in, too rushed to wonder what I'll find. Legato's heaving on the floor. He ripped the IV out, and is trying -and failing- to pick himself up. He just trembles violently whenever he trys to make a goal oriented movement. He realizes this and just goes still, gasping. I walk over. Legato doesn't notice me until I've scooped him up, back into bed. He's a lot lighter without that creepy coat, and after having been on an IV diet for the last months. Legato looks at me with his mouth agape, but doesn't say a thing. Yeah, I guess I'd be speechless too if it turned out the afterlife consisted of being nursed by my rival. I try to catch him up to speed. I'm tempted to hold his hand while I say this, but that would probably just make Legato Bluesummers mad.
"So... hi, Legato. I don't know if you've totally noticed yet, but your alive. Isn't that great! No- that was the wrong thing to say. Look... I know you were in a difficult place before, and still are. But, you have a chance to start over here, you and Knives both. He's here you know, and he's willing to try over. Can you do that too, can you try?"
Legato doesn't answer me; he just looks bewildered for a moment while opening and closing his mouth before just shutting it and clenching his shaking fists. I think I need Knives here. "Wait here, Legato. I'll be back in a minute. Why don't I get you some food and water?" I run off to the kitchen, mostly just to get Knives. When I get there, my brother's huddled over the fallen groceries, picking and choosing. I snatch the apple and cheese from him. "Thanks, Knives. Legato will be needing this. Could you- could you go talk to him, I think something's wrong." Knives glares as I put Legato's food on a plate and fetch a glass of water. "He awoke? You think something's wrong?" "He won't speak and... I doubt he can understand me. Maybe seeing you would calm him?" "Are you telling me you made Legato deaf and dumb, Vash? What use is there in keeping him? You're not going to keep him, right? You'll give him to some humans." It's probably best not to mention the paralyzis, but Knives'll figure out anyways. "Knives, lets not discuss that now. Just, please visit him. He'd be happy." "How is that my concern if he's a moron now? he can't even speak! Of all useless- if he wants to talk to me, he'll have to come out here and ask for himself. I am not going to him."
There are so many questions chasing one another through my mind, all leading to the wrong conclusion: not dead. For every other answer I'll never receive, that is the one bit of knowledge I wish hadn't found. I could have been near happy if this was hell. I feel the coming footsteps more than hear. Stampede. He sets a tray with an apple, cheese and water before me. Merciful fool, he has forgotten whom I am; he has forgotten that there is nothing he is willing to give that I want. I see his lips move and expression soften, but can't understand a bloody thing he says. I focus, concentrate. With all the will and coherence I can summon, I send the tray to the ground. Vash quickly kneels, only being able to recover an apple, the cheese dirtied and precious water lost to the floorboards. When he reappears to me there is nothing but that melancholy smile and a reassuring grip on my hand. So he thought that was accidental? All of this is a mistake. I try to lose myself in my ability while Stampede softly strokes my Shoulder. Nothing. There is nothing beyond the confines of my mind. Vash took that from me, too?
I am left with no recourse but to give in, to hide within myself, while I try to think.
Legato... I hurt him so badly. A part of me finds him so pitiful and meek that I forget. I don't care anymore about what Legato was to me in Augusta and in LR, when he tries to hide his face in his palms and only succeeds in shaking violently from the effort. That's enough. I sit on his bed and bring his head to rest on my shoulder, rocking him like you would a child. Which, alarmingly, Legato very much now is, come to think of it. "So... On the first evening a pebble from somewhere out of nowhere drops upon the dreaming world." By now I'm sure he can't hear me, but it still's a nice song. "So... On the second celestial evening all the children of the pebble joined hands and composed a waltz." And he hasn't tried to use his powers, so its safe to say those are gone. I feel guilty, sick that a part of me is happy to see Legato become this harmless and safe. "So... On the third celestial evening all the children of their waltz rippled across the world's face." Even if it is just because that will make it easier for him to live normally, like a human. "Sound Life."
Vash is singing that damn song. I hate that song, and therefore so does Legato. But I hear Brother keep singing, confirming that Legato really is that far gone.
AN: Yes, the chapter title is that uncreative. (ie, Kasumi's mission in Mass Effect)