Day 225
It is good to ware proper clothes again, not that he really classifies these as real clothing, not like his uniform from the SEEDS ship, but it is better than the pyjamas he's donned these past months.
They are more similar to the clothing worn by Spiders. A pair of faded jeans, a cream shirt and a blue waistcoat, edged with white.
They are gifts from Vash, along with a pair of hardly, brown boots. He can tell what these signify that, after many, many days of captivity, Vash is finally allowing him to go out. Accompanied, of course.
Vash has been nervous about it all day; it is readable in his jumpy actions, the way his eyes constantly shift to Knives, studying him when he thinks he isn't watching.
It is just before lunch when Vash says what Knives has long expected, 'how would you like to take a walk outside today, Knives?'
Knives shrugs, trying to remain nonchalant. He has mixed feelings in the matter; he desperately wants to leave the confines of this house, to taste something like fresh air upon his tongue, to feel the wind against his skin.
Yet going outside means being around the humans, around the spiders, facing the filth he has long come to detest.
Vash seems to take the shrug as an agreement, he takes the new boots and helps Knives put them on, then leads his semi-healed brother to the front door.
'Aren't you going to give me my cane?' asks Knives.
'You can lean on me,' is the reply Vash gives.
He represses a bitter smile, of course, without his cane he cannot walk or run on his wounded legs steadily or without fear of tripping over. What slender hopes of escape he might have tended are gone instantly.
He totters out with his brother, leaning on Vash's arm. As they step onto the porch, he blinks in the sunlight, his eyes quickly adjusting.
The town looms around him, its daubed walls gleaming in the sunlight. It's not a particularly large or new town; it's probably little more than a village. There are a few people bustling around, though not as many as he'd expected. This is something he is supremely glad of.
Vash leads him down the steps of the wooden porch and down the street. He nods and waves to the people he passes, smiling and exchanging casual greetings.
Knives remains silent, he keeps his ice blue eyes ahead, trying to ignore the spiders and their inane mutterings.
They make an odd couple, he thinks, one sublimely miserable, the other ridiculously merry.
At last they come of a destination of sorts, the general store. Vash mutters something about procuring some more supplies and enters, Knives still on his arm.
Together they look around, or rather Vash does, Knives simply tries to ignore the surroundings, tries to pretend he isn't even there. The proximity of so much trash is disgusting and being forced to lean on his brother for support is simply degrading. He can feel his temper fraying, his limbs becoming weary.
After wanting to be out of the house for so long, he cannot help but wish he were back in it. Anything to get away from the curious, prying eyes of the humans as they stare at him and his brother.
On the way back from the store Vash keeps commenting on stupid, inane matters, pointing out general members of the populace as he does so. The fact that Mrs McCarthy is looking after Mrs Tailor while she recovers from her illness, that it's only two days before little Timmy's birthday, that Mr Drake is selling very cheep cloth, that Sara and Karl are bound to be married soon (with or without their parents permission.)
Each time he tells the story, each time he gestures to a face, Knives looks deeper, makes his own meanings.
Mrs Tailor is probably stealing from Mrs McCarthy's home, or hoping for a larger cut of the will when she dies. Timmy has been screaming for a toy for ages, he now sulks behind his angry father; whose fists clench and unclench spasmodically. Mr Drake is undercutting the competition, his business will probably thrive whilst the tailors next to him will dwindle and die, leaving its owner destitute. Sara thinks she has found love with Karl, but most likely he will abandon her as soon as he's enjoyed her, if she doesn't leave him for some wealthier, more handsome man.
The real, solid truths hidden behind the bubble of sentimentality.
They are walking back towards home when Knives sees it, the huge bulb of the plant, looming in the distance.
Of course, he should have expected that a town like this, a prosperous, well made settlement, would have a plant of some sort.
Vash catches his glare, 'don't worry, it's well looked after.'
'So you say,' sneers Knives, and he has to hold off the anger that boils within him, the sight of such insects, such filthy pestilence swarming, living off such a beautiful creature is repellent in the extreme.
It's a symbol of all he's come to hate.
When at last they reach their home and Knives is back, sitting at the kitchen table sipping coffee, Vash finally seems to understand his feelings.
'I know today was hard for you,' he says, he does not look Knives in the face.
'It was appalling,' snaps back Knives, trying to keep the pain out of his voice. He feels loathed to grant his brother any emotion, any reaction right now.
'Please Knives; you've got to give them a chance. I know it's hard for you but-'
'You know nothing!' hisses Knives, 'you're blind, my brother, completely blind!'
'Funny,' mutters Vash, 'I was just gonna say the same thing about you. I know you hate to go out, but you do need some fresh air, Knives, it'll help your recovery.'
'Then you can take me out onto the porch each evening, I don't ever want to go into that town with you again!'
'Alright… I won't take you out there again, not until you're ready. But you can't hide from humanity forever.'
'I've no intention of that; I intend to squash them, someday. I'm certainly not afraid of them.'
'Really? You could have fooled me.'
'I hate them!'
'Hate often comes from fear.'
'Oh shut up you idiot,' Knives sighs at last, 'and make me another cup of coffee.'
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Reader Replies…
Ron The Future Weasel: You have no idea how much your comments reassure me, and that goes for everyone. I was really worried I'd done badly with the girls. Will we find out where Vash went? Well… kinda. It will be explained but don't expect a huge deal to be made of it… darn, if I'd known that was such a good plot hook I would have used it better… Oh, I now have images of Knives walking round like a dog, on all fours, with Vash leading him around on a leash. It's a fun image, thanks! I hope this chapter lives up to it.
ATO: Interesting pairing there… I'm not a big pairing person to be honest, I've hardly ever written any romance. I've just written a short Vash/Meryl fic, but that's it as far as Trigun goes. I kind of like the 'cannon' pairings, as well as Knives/Legato and :coughKnives/Vashcough: but that won't be seen here! :sweat drop: And damn, no Milly Sue? Awww… that's the rest of the entire story, don't you know? JUST KIDDING!!! Nope, that won't be happening here, thank god. It's a sweet pair, but not for me. I agree, Knives is a loner more or less, but then in my mind, so is Vash… but let's not give too much away.
Angelstryke: Thanks for the glomp! I'm happy that the Meryl's 'shoot' speech worked, I thought it was kind of funny and it was the sort of thing she'd say probably. Though she's a bit hostile, she was in a… unique situations. Yay! New chapters of your fic! I love it! Go check it out people! It's rather good…
Aoi: Once again, thanks for the support! I'm glad I got those two right. Enjoy your cookie, BTW, and you'll find out more about what Vash was doing later, but please don't expect it to be all that dramatic, sadly it isn't. I feel so guilty…
Communist Penguin: Nice name! I'm so happy you could join us! Please keep reviewing, I treasure every single review, you know! All of them! :grin:
Once again thanks for all the reviews! Ulp… sorry if I've missed anyone… I'll check and if I have I'll answer your review at the end of the next chapter… BTW… here's some incentive to review.
I've finished a lode of short stories, if I get to over the 100 mark on my reviews this chapter, I promise to post a short story as well as the next chapter! It'll either be a short Wolfwood angst story or a semi-funny Vash and Knives story. Feel free to state any preference in your review. So get reviewing people!!!
Next time… Knives makes dinner, plays solitaire and meets another human…