DISCLAIMER: I don't own Trigun, I do own Renee.
Author: Okay, I think we can hit a turning point in the story. You ready for this?
There was something wrong with Renee. Millie was sure of it. Mr. Vash seemed to sense it too, but he was soothing it over with his usual goofy act. Waiting for his opportunity to either avoid it for a day or confront it head on. Meryl was too busy thinking about her problems to notice Renee's distress.
Millie could not believe how stubborn Meryl and Vash were being. They obviously had feelings for each other, but neither wanted to be the first to admit it. Millie couldn't remember a moment while Vash was gone that Meryl hadn't talked about telling him how she felt about him. Since Vash had gotten back Meryl hardly spoke at all. Vash kept sneaking peeks at Meryl when she wasn't looking. Unlike a capable man of over a hundred years old, his behavior was more like a school aged boy with a crush.
Renee hadn't spoken all evening. Her dinner was no less delicious and her attention to details around the house had not slackened, but she felt different. There was a stern determination in her eyes. It was the look Vash got when he faced an impossible situation. It was the look he got when he had six bullets and six hundred targets.
As Renee collected the dishes she glanced across the table at Millie. Mille locked gazes with her. The questions began to form on Millie's lips. Renee's eyes shifted and flashed. An angry, forceful look filled her eyes. She shook her head and Millie took the hint. Renee did not want to talk about it.
Renee disappeared into the kitchen, and Millie sighed with relief. That took the tension down at least a little. Now, if she couldn't bridge the gap with Renee, maybe there was something she could do with Meryl and Vash. Millie smiled and reached for a bottle from the liquor cabinet.
She had noticed since she started drinking that drinking could loosen tight lips. She was sure she could get Meryl to have a few if she pressed hard enough. Vash and Meryl shot her a questioning glance as she poured three shots.
Renee washed the dishes and started fixing a plate for Knives. A fresh plate, and not as heavily cooked. The dinner would be fresh and warm, the way she was sure he liked it. Not that he would admit it, or even eat it. When he said he'd rather starve, she believed him. There was so much disgust and hate in him. There was so much to cut through before she could even begin to reform him. It seemed like such an impossibly long road. There was only one thing that gave her hope; His pain.
She didn't have any ability to read minds, but she could sense strong emotions. Beneath his hate and revulsion, he was in tremendous pain. A person of that level of personal torment cared. That was a start. He cared about something.
She set up his tray. She needed more control over this. It was moving too fast for comfort. She did not believe in shock therapy. People were change with time, patience, and caring. With a deep breath she walked through the living room, up the stairs, and into his room. She did so without looking at the others as she passed, without looking at anything, and without looking at him when she entered the room.
She set down the tray and locked the door behind herself. She looked up at Knives and he was smiling at her. It was a smug smile. She had not been the only one planning the next move. With great dread she began to undo his restraints.
"What are you doing?" Knives squeaked with surprise, "You said-"
"I know what I said," She said in a cheery voice, "Can't I be generous? I suppose I could tighten the restraint back down?"
"No," He chirped, "No... Keep going."
There was an edge on his voice there for just a moment. It was a hint of insecurity, a lack of guard, she hadn't heard before. She looked up at him momentarily, into his deep blue eyes. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. It was hard to see him in the light of a mass murderer, but she had to remember that. She must never loose sight of that, or any hope to redeem him would be lost.
She slowed a moment and looked up at him. Right into his eyes. Her eyes analyzed him, as if parsing out a puzzle. Her scent was invading again. Why did such a horrid creature have such a mind-numbing smell? Her hair was slightly mussed, and she shone lightly of sweat. She had been working hard today. Part of her board here must have been paid in chores. His eyes kept coming back to her eyes. Those bewitching silver eyes that threaten to swallow him, her lips were parted ever so slightly. He noticed he was leaning closer to her. Damn! She was doing it again! Was this another of her powers? Did she posses some power of attraction? Wait... Attraction? He was attracted to a human? He felt ill.
It had to be another power his sisters had endowed her with to protect herself. Certainly he could not really be attracted to a human. It just wasn't possible.
There was definitely something new in his eyes. Though if he felt something, it was too slight for her to feel. Then he started to lean towards her. His mouth parted slightly. Oh god! Is he going to KISS me???
"You are staring at me, human," He growled.
Renee jumped with surprise. She had been staring. She mentally chastised herself and finished undoing his bonds. She reached for his helmet and he grasped her wrists to stop her. Her heart skipped a beat. She flushed with heat. Don't loose your cool! Get a hold of yourself!
With quiet control she pushed all feelings to the back of her mind. A tough outer being took hold of her. She looked again into his eyes. This time she would not be affected.
Knives felt her pulse quicken beneath his grip, but more than that he felt the soft supple texture of her skin. She looked unsure for just a moment. Then all expression drained from her face and she locked eyes with him. She, Renee, was not present in that look. That was the look of an empty shell. She watched him, waiting, for what? Oh yeah, he had grabbed her.
"You can't take that off with my brother this close," Knives whispered, "He will sense it."
Renee nodded and handed him his tray. She said nothing as she sat herself down in front of the easel. Knives slowly ate as he watched her. He doubted either of their plans had panned out. They were at a stalemate again, but the night was young.
"What are you painting?" Knives asked.
"You," She said absently.
That took him by surprise, but only a little. He was the only thing of model quality in the room. He doubted it was of any significance other than he was a reference object to her. She had relaxed a bit though. Did that mean her guard had dropped?
"I saw a picture, in my mind," He said slowly, testing her reaction.
She had none. She didn't even flinch. He needed to press a bit harder. He enjoyed a few more bites of food. She was a good cook, for a human.
"Of you," He continued, "But you were younger. You were only a girl."
He paint brush showed slightly. Knives smiled. King's pawn forward, human. Nothing, no move from her. He needed to push harder yet.
"You were being beaten," He said with a smile, "I enjoyed watching it."
Move your piece, woman.
"That happened more times than I can count," She said stiffly, "They didn't understand me, or they wouldn't have done it."
A neutral move, Queen's pawn forward.
"What a weak excuse," He laughed, "They did it because they could. They wanted to. They enjoyed your pain."
King's bishop forward.
Her brush stopped. The expression returned to her face, and she turned to him. She was going to move her pieces more aggressively. He hated to admit it, but he was beginning get a thrill from their little chess game. She was fascinating.
"That's what you believe?" She asked, "Do you believe they enjoyed hurting you?"
Queen forward, there would be no four move checkmate. Knives reeled back with shock. Then smiled. She was good, but he wasn't about to let her reverse this on him. He stood and set his tray aside as he said, "I know they did. That is what your miserable race is best at. Inflicting pain and consuming resources. Your case is special. You were one of them and they still hurt you. It just shows how low your species can stoop."
She stood toe to toe with him and braked back, "They do it because of fear, jealousy, and yes, even hate. If you think that is a NEW idea, you are mistaken!"
"You aren't even going to try to feed me with some garbage about their potential for good?" He laughed, "You admit it, you are worthless."
"I didn't say that," She said with a calculated smile, "But I'll leave it there for now and give you something to swallow. You have shown every quality you say you despise in us. Hate, envy, and fear."
His hand instinctively went to her throat and he slammed her down on the bed. Baring his weight down on her neck. He scowled down at her. How dare she! How dare she compare him to her kind? HOW DARE-... Wait, she's not even trying to fight back. He looked down into her eyes. No fear, absolutely none. She was turning purple, and yet she was not even trying to gasp for air. Did she want to die?
His hand jumped back from her throat and she inhaled deeply. She looked at him plainly and said, "Would you mind picking on some other part of my body for a while. That's getting uncomfortable.
Knives blinked with disbelief. Uncomfortable??? He was sure he had nearly crushed her airways. He had almost killed her. That would have made Vash pretty mad, Knives thought with a smile. Then he frowned. How could she be so casual with her life, and so fearless in facing her end? He backed up and extended his hand to help her up. As they stood toe to toe he appraised her again. She was special to his sisters. Whatever the hell that meant.
What disturbed him was that she was beginning to become special to him. Check, but not mate, human.
Author; I like this chapter. I play chess a bit, but I don't know how to list the squares that they move to. I guess I should do some reading. When in doubt, read a book.