T R I G U N
"What is love?"
The husband of Dr. Lucia Bennton looked up at Knives curiously. "Excuse me?"
"Love." Knives repeated as he sat in the living room on a chair, bent over and staring at the ground. It had been three days and the medic had not allowed him to see her during that time. He was worried sick, and he felt like a part of him was somehow dying. "What is it?"
"Love is . . ." Mr. Bennton paused. "Love is an emotion, a feeling of attraction and affection. I suppose that could be one definition."
"No, that isn't it." Knives shook his head. "There has to be more to it."
"Well, my personal definition of love," Mr. Bennton took in a deep breath. "Is not actually a feeling at all. It's an action."
Knives looked up at him curiously. "An action?"
"Yes. You see, my friend," Mr. Bennton stood up and got him a glass of water. "Love is not only about the desires and the feelings. Love is many other, stronger things."
Knives felt like a young child. "Like what?"
"Well, love is sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" Knives asked.
"When you truly love someone, my friend," Mr. Bennton smiled, "you're willing to give up everything for them, even your own life. Putting yourself into danger for the sake of another and sacrificing yourself is the greatest form of love."
"Can love be anything else?"
Mr. Bennton nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Yes . . . love can be shown by patience, kindness, and trust. Love can be shown by forgiveness as well . . . allowing people to have second chances."
Knives thought of Vash in that moment. "Do you think I love Eve?" He asked quietly.
Mr. Bennton smiled. "I'm not going to lie. I think you do."
"Why?"
"Because you carried her all the way here on your own--you brought her to strangers in order to save her. You took a risk in order to save her life." Mr. Bennton winked. "You love her, it's as simple as that."
"I don't understand." Knives said.
"You don't now, but you will, eventually."
Knives drifted off to sleep after that, exhaustion overtaking him.
---
When Knives woke up, he was sleeping beside Eve in a darkened room, where the window draps and shutters had been closed in order to keep the sunlight out. Candles were lit on a nearby table, soothing the smell of the air. He felt completely relaxed, almost content.
He sat up slowly and brought away the covers from Eve. She had been bandaged and her wound had stopped bleeding; she was sleeping soundly, looking brighter and more alive than she had the night before.
He kissed her gently, and she stirred, slowly opening her eyes. "Knives?" She said weakly, trying to smile.
In his joy he kissed her several times. "I thought I had lost you," he whispered. "Never, never again . . ." He wrapped his arms around her. "I love you, Eve. I love you so much."
"I love you too," she answered quietly, attempting to hug him back.
"How are you feeling?"
"All right, I guess." Eve answered, glancing at him. "Where do we go now?"
"The Parker Estate." Knives said. "Apparently, we'll be safe there. It's a private home and the government won't come after us."
Eve slowly sat up with his help; they kissed again and she snuggled against his chest. "You've changed."
"How so?"
"You hated humans, but you sought them for help." Eve replied softly. "And then instead of killing them you're running away from them."
"In some ways I still hate humans." Knives said after a moment, thoughtfully staring into space. "I hate them for what they did to you, and yet I'm in their debt because they saved your life . . . I can't harm them. Not without putting you in danger." He sighed. "I used to believe that in order to save the butterflies, you would have to kill the spiders."
Eve was not sure what he meant, but he continued. "The two species cannot exist together because they keep trying to kill each other. So in order to save the butterflies . . ."
"One has to die in order to save the other." Eve finished.
"Exactly." Knives wrapped his arms around her.
Eve stoked his hair gently. "But aren't they dependant on one another? If there are too many spiders, the butterflies will die and the spiders will, too. If all of the spiders die, so will all of the butterflies." She cuddled against him. "We need to co-exist in order to survive."
"That'll be hard to do with this new law." Knives said darkly.
"We'll manage." Eve kissed him. "I love you."
Knives shut his eyes, feeling more at home than he ever had before. "I love you too." He whispered, squeezing her tightly against him.
And for once in his life, he knew that the words he spoke were true.
-----------------
"Frey . . ." Vash whispered softly, his tone loving as he held his baby son. "Frey, wake up, little guy . . ."
His son's eyes opened slightly at the sound of his name and he twitched, yawning. Vash smiled as he changed and dressed him; his outfit was a little too big for him, he was such a tiny thing.
To Vash, he was nothing short of a miracle.
Frey started whimpering, and then began crying. Vash shushed him and patted his little back gently. "Shh . . . you're going to wake up your mother . . ." He cooed.
At the sound of his voice and the gentle patting on his back, Frey calmed down a little, blinking. "You're tired, huh, little guy?" Vash smiled again. He had woken up three times during the night.
"Vash?"
Vash greeted his wife with a tender kiss and handed her the baby, stretching. "Good morning, dear."
Ellie was a wreck. "Good morning." She answered, her hair everywhere and her eyes half-closed. She nursed Frey, and once he had finished he had fallen asleep again. Vash took him from her arms, infatuated with the life he had helped create. "He's so beautiful."
Ellie rested her head on his lap; they were in the gardens, under a tree. It reminded Vash of a time when they were both still children and had met for the first time. He glanced down at his wife, watching her with gentle eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
Ellie sighed. "I'm just worried about this new law, that's all."
Vash stroked her hair, holding their sleeping child in one arm. "We're safe here, Ellie. No one will ever find us here--"
"They're here somewhere."
Vash stopped short in mid-sentence. It was a new voice to him, and there was something wrong with it. He could sense a presence, a dangerous one. Something was quite wrong.
He pushed Ellie into a nearby bush with the child and brought out his gun, a weapon he had hoped he wouldn't need anymore. Concealed by the shadows of the trees, he peered around to see where the translator was going.
Jess Parker was with him, leading in two strangers. One was a woman, who was having some trouble walking. The other was a tall man--he could not see his face. "I don't get it." The translator scratched his head. "They were right here just a few moments ago . . ."
Vash emerged from the foliage, gun cocked. "I'm right here."
The four turned, and Vash almost lowered his pistol in his surprise. Standing there was his brother Knives, wearing human clothes. Knives was taken aback for a moment, and then his gaze grew cold. "Vash."
"Knives." Vash greeted in the same cold fashion. "What's going on here?"
The translator spoke Jess Parker's signals. "These two are both like you. Is it all right if they stay here?"
Vash stared at Jess for a long time, his eyebrows furrowed. He put his gun away. "Sure thing." He said darkly. The voice he had heard before was feminine, but deep and rough. He looked at the young woman, a pale but beautiful creature. "Who are you?"
"My name is Eve." She said quietly, bowing. "You must be Knives' brother. He's told me much about you."
Vash glanced at his brother. "Has he now?" He asked skeptically.
"Where is Ellie?" The translator asked.
"She's fine." Was Vash's short answer. Jess Parker frowned and stalked away, her translator soon following.
As soon as they had gone, Knives took a step forward. "It's been a long time."
"30 years since I last saw you." Vash nodded. Their meeting had not been a cheerful one.
"I didn't know I'd find you here." Knives said. "Are you alone?"
"Hardly."
Ellie emerged from her hiding place, cradling their child lovingly. She glanced at Knives and Eve. "What's going on?" She asked Vash.
Eve's eyes fell to the baby and tears welled up in her eyes. "Is he yours?"
Ellie smiled. "Yes, he is."
"Ellie." Knives' eyes were wide. "You're . . . you're--"
"Alive, no thanks to you." Vash cut in. Knives accepted his brother's scolding silently.
Ellie and Eve exchanged knowing glances and walked off, leaving the both of them alone.
--------------
Vash and Knives lay on the grass, staring up at the trees. It was evening now; Ellie and Eve had bonded and were now friends, while the two brothers had barely said a word to each other.
"They're so different, aren't they?"
Vash glanced at his brother, who had started the conversation. "Ellie and Eve." Knives continued. "They're different."
"I guess so." Vash said.
An long silence ensued. "You're still angry at me, aren't you?" Knives asked. He was almost afraid to look his brother in the face.
"A little." Vash answered quietly. "Are you mad at me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you left me." Knives said, reaching up towards an apple. "When I needed you the most."
"You nearly killed the woman I love." Vash retorted, keeping his calm.
Knives sighed, sitting up. There was so much bitterness on Vash's side that he wanted to vanquish. "What do you wish for the most?" Knives asked.
"I just want to live a peaceful life with my family."
Knives smiled ironically. "You're family. That's right, you have a son, now."
"Yep." Vash yawned. "What do you wish for?"
Knives paused thoughtfully. "I wish," he drew in a deep breath, "I could go back in time and correct all of the mistakes that I made."
Vash looked at him in amazement; there were traces of tears in Knives' eyes. "Maybe then," he said steadily, "Rem would be alive . . . and you wouldn't have the scars you do now."
"Yeah." Was all Vash could think to say, unsure if Knives meant all that he was saying. "I guess that is a good wish."
"You were right about the humans, Vash. Eve is so much like you. She taught me that." Knives smiled a little. "And on Ellie's behalf . . . I don't need to apologize."
"Why not?"
"Because you've already forgiven me." Knives said, that mischievous glimmer in his eyes.
Vash gave him a look and sighed. "An apology still wouldn't hurt."
"All right, I'm sorry for what I've done--to you and to Ellie." Knives paused. "Do you believe me?"
"What's crazy is," Vash said quietly, "I actually do."
"But you're not angry with me anymore."
"No. Are you with me?"
"No."
"Okay."
They stared up through the trees in silence. After a while they both stood up and stretched. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah, me too."
"Let's go get something to eat."
Vash shrugged. "Okay."
He would've started walking, but something made him stop. He looked down to see Knives arms, one around his stomach and the other around his shoulder. His eyes were closed and he was squeezing him; yes, there was no doubt about it, Vash remembered it perfectly.
It was a hug.
"I missed you." Knives said quietly in his deep voice.
Vash felt tears form in his eyes. After being seperated and angry for each other for 160 years, they were finally reunited, putting their pasts behind them. And for the first time in 160 years, Knives had hugged him. He hid his face and nodded vigorously, trying to stop crying. "Yeah." His voice cracked. "I missed you too."
After looking around to make sure no one was watching them during such an emberrassing moment, Vash the Stampede and Millions Knives walked together through the gardens of Eden, able at last for once in a long while to simply forget the pains they had endured and enjoy each other's company.
"What is love?"
The husband of Dr. Lucia Bennton looked up at Knives curiously. "Excuse me?"
"Love." Knives repeated as he sat in the living room on a chair, bent over and staring at the ground. It had been three days and the medic had not allowed him to see her during that time. He was worried sick, and he felt like a part of him was somehow dying. "What is it?"
"Love is . . ." Mr. Bennton paused. "Love is an emotion, a feeling of attraction and affection. I suppose that could be one definition."
"No, that isn't it." Knives shook his head. "There has to be more to it."
"Well, my personal definition of love," Mr. Bennton took in a deep breath. "Is not actually a feeling at all. It's an action."
Knives looked up at him curiously. "An action?"
"Yes. You see, my friend," Mr. Bennton stood up and got him a glass of water. "Love is not only about the desires and the feelings. Love is many other, stronger things."
Knives felt like a young child. "Like what?"
"Well, love is sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" Knives asked.
"When you truly love someone, my friend," Mr. Bennton smiled, "you're willing to give up everything for them, even your own life. Putting yourself into danger for the sake of another and sacrificing yourself is the greatest form of love."
"Can love be anything else?"
Mr. Bennton nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Yes . . . love can be shown by patience, kindness, and trust. Love can be shown by forgiveness as well . . . allowing people to have second chances."
Knives thought of Vash in that moment. "Do you think I love Eve?" He asked quietly.
Mr. Bennton smiled. "I'm not going to lie. I think you do."
"Why?"
"Because you carried her all the way here on your own--you brought her to strangers in order to save her. You took a risk in order to save her life." Mr. Bennton winked. "You love her, it's as simple as that."
"I don't understand." Knives said.
"You don't now, but you will, eventually."
Knives drifted off to sleep after that, exhaustion overtaking him.
---
When Knives woke up, he was sleeping beside Eve in a darkened room, where the window draps and shutters had been closed in order to keep the sunlight out. Candles were lit on a nearby table, soothing the smell of the air. He felt completely relaxed, almost content.
He sat up slowly and brought away the covers from Eve. She had been bandaged and her wound had stopped bleeding; she was sleeping soundly, looking brighter and more alive than she had the night before.
He kissed her gently, and she stirred, slowly opening her eyes. "Knives?" She said weakly, trying to smile.
In his joy he kissed her several times. "I thought I had lost you," he whispered. "Never, never again . . ." He wrapped his arms around her. "I love you, Eve. I love you so much."
"I love you too," she answered quietly, attempting to hug him back.
"How are you feeling?"
"All right, I guess." Eve answered, glancing at him. "Where do we go now?"
"The Parker Estate." Knives said. "Apparently, we'll be safe there. It's a private home and the government won't come after us."
Eve slowly sat up with his help; they kissed again and she snuggled against his chest. "You've changed."
"How so?"
"You hated humans, but you sought them for help." Eve replied softly. "And then instead of killing them you're running away from them."
"In some ways I still hate humans." Knives said after a moment, thoughtfully staring into space. "I hate them for what they did to you, and yet I'm in their debt because they saved your life . . . I can't harm them. Not without putting you in danger." He sighed. "I used to believe that in order to save the butterflies, you would have to kill the spiders."
Eve was not sure what he meant, but he continued. "The two species cannot exist together because they keep trying to kill each other. So in order to save the butterflies . . ."
"One has to die in order to save the other." Eve finished.
"Exactly." Knives wrapped his arms around her.
Eve stoked his hair gently. "But aren't they dependant on one another? If there are too many spiders, the butterflies will die and the spiders will, too. If all of the spiders die, so will all of the butterflies." She cuddled against him. "We need to co-exist in order to survive."
"That'll be hard to do with this new law." Knives said darkly.
"We'll manage." Eve kissed him. "I love you."
Knives shut his eyes, feeling more at home than he ever had before. "I love you too." He whispered, squeezing her tightly against him.
And for once in his life, he knew that the words he spoke were true.
-----------------
"Frey . . ." Vash whispered softly, his tone loving as he held his baby son. "Frey, wake up, little guy . . ."
His son's eyes opened slightly at the sound of his name and he twitched, yawning. Vash smiled as he changed and dressed him; his outfit was a little too big for him, he was such a tiny thing.
To Vash, he was nothing short of a miracle.
Frey started whimpering, and then began crying. Vash shushed him and patted his little back gently. "Shh . . . you're going to wake up your mother . . ." He cooed.
At the sound of his voice and the gentle patting on his back, Frey calmed down a little, blinking. "You're tired, huh, little guy?" Vash smiled again. He had woken up three times during the night.
"Vash?"
Vash greeted his wife with a tender kiss and handed her the baby, stretching. "Good morning, dear."
Ellie was a wreck. "Good morning." She answered, her hair everywhere and her eyes half-closed. She nursed Frey, and once he had finished he had fallen asleep again. Vash took him from her arms, infatuated with the life he had helped create. "He's so beautiful."
Ellie rested her head on his lap; they were in the gardens, under a tree. It reminded Vash of a time when they were both still children and had met for the first time. He glanced down at his wife, watching her with gentle eyes. "What are you thinking about?"
Ellie sighed. "I'm just worried about this new law, that's all."
Vash stroked her hair, holding their sleeping child in one arm. "We're safe here, Ellie. No one will ever find us here--"
"They're here somewhere."
Vash stopped short in mid-sentence. It was a new voice to him, and there was something wrong with it. He could sense a presence, a dangerous one. Something was quite wrong.
He pushed Ellie into a nearby bush with the child and brought out his gun, a weapon he had hoped he wouldn't need anymore. Concealed by the shadows of the trees, he peered around to see where the translator was going.
Jess Parker was with him, leading in two strangers. One was a woman, who was having some trouble walking. The other was a tall man--he could not see his face. "I don't get it." The translator scratched his head. "They were right here just a few moments ago . . ."
Vash emerged from the foliage, gun cocked. "I'm right here."
The four turned, and Vash almost lowered his pistol in his surprise. Standing there was his brother Knives, wearing human clothes. Knives was taken aback for a moment, and then his gaze grew cold. "Vash."
"Knives." Vash greeted in the same cold fashion. "What's going on here?"
The translator spoke Jess Parker's signals. "These two are both like you. Is it all right if they stay here?"
Vash stared at Jess for a long time, his eyebrows furrowed. He put his gun away. "Sure thing." He said darkly. The voice he had heard before was feminine, but deep and rough. He looked at the young woman, a pale but beautiful creature. "Who are you?"
"My name is Eve." She said quietly, bowing. "You must be Knives' brother. He's told me much about you."
Vash glanced at his brother. "Has he now?" He asked skeptically.
"Where is Ellie?" The translator asked.
"She's fine." Was Vash's short answer. Jess Parker frowned and stalked away, her translator soon following.
As soon as they had gone, Knives took a step forward. "It's been a long time."
"30 years since I last saw you." Vash nodded. Their meeting had not been a cheerful one.
"I didn't know I'd find you here." Knives said. "Are you alone?"
"Hardly."
Ellie emerged from her hiding place, cradling their child lovingly. She glanced at Knives and Eve. "What's going on?" She asked Vash.
Eve's eyes fell to the baby and tears welled up in her eyes. "Is he yours?"
Ellie smiled. "Yes, he is."
"Ellie." Knives' eyes were wide. "You're . . . you're--"
"Alive, no thanks to you." Vash cut in. Knives accepted his brother's scolding silently.
Ellie and Eve exchanged knowing glances and walked off, leaving the both of them alone.
--------------
Vash and Knives lay on the grass, staring up at the trees. It was evening now; Ellie and Eve had bonded and were now friends, while the two brothers had barely said a word to each other.
"They're so different, aren't they?"
Vash glanced at his brother, who had started the conversation. "Ellie and Eve." Knives continued. "They're different."
"I guess so." Vash said.
An long silence ensued. "You're still angry at me, aren't you?" Knives asked. He was almost afraid to look his brother in the face.
"A little." Vash answered quietly. "Are you mad at me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you left me." Knives said, reaching up towards an apple. "When I needed you the most."
"You nearly killed the woman I love." Vash retorted, keeping his calm.
Knives sighed, sitting up. There was so much bitterness on Vash's side that he wanted to vanquish. "What do you wish for the most?" Knives asked.
"I just want to live a peaceful life with my family."
Knives smiled ironically. "You're family. That's right, you have a son, now."
"Yep." Vash yawned. "What do you wish for?"
Knives paused thoughtfully. "I wish," he drew in a deep breath, "I could go back in time and correct all of the mistakes that I made."
Vash looked at him in amazement; there were traces of tears in Knives' eyes. "Maybe then," he said steadily, "Rem would be alive . . . and you wouldn't have the scars you do now."
"Yeah." Was all Vash could think to say, unsure if Knives meant all that he was saying. "I guess that is a good wish."
"You were right about the humans, Vash. Eve is so much like you. She taught me that." Knives smiled a little. "And on Ellie's behalf . . . I don't need to apologize."
"Why not?"
"Because you've already forgiven me." Knives said, that mischievous glimmer in his eyes.
Vash gave him a look and sighed. "An apology still wouldn't hurt."
"All right, I'm sorry for what I've done--to you and to Ellie." Knives paused. "Do you believe me?"
"What's crazy is," Vash said quietly, "I actually do."
"But you're not angry with me anymore."
"No. Are you with me?"
"No."
"Okay."
They stared up through the trees in silence. After a while they both stood up and stretched. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah, me too."
"Let's go get something to eat."
Vash shrugged. "Okay."
He would've started walking, but something made him stop. He looked down to see Knives arms, one around his stomach and the other around his shoulder. His eyes were closed and he was squeezing him; yes, there was no doubt about it, Vash remembered it perfectly.
It was a hug.
"I missed you." Knives said quietly in his deep voice.
Vash felt tears form in his eyes. After being seperated and angry for each other for 160 years, they were finally reunited, putting their pasts behind them. And for the first time in 160 years, Knives had hugged him. He hid his face and nodded vigorously, trying to stop crying. "Yeah." His voice cracked. "I missed you too."
After looking around to make sure no one was watching them during such an emberrassing moment, Vash the Stampede and Millions Knives walked together through the gardens of Eden, able at last for once in a long while to simply forget the pains they had endured and enjoy each other's company.