Author's prattles: This chapter is for my ever faithful Ryu. And Ten. And Wolferz. And Izzy. And perhaps Razzi. XD I love you all! And, of course, you lovely reviewers. :3
;Standard disclaimer applies.
Chapter ten: First and Last Words
The first of the twin suns swam above the scope of the desert and cast an ambry glow through the winter morning mist into Knives' bedroom. The moment the rays hit his eyelids, they shot open with silent malice. He shook the remains of sleep away and sat upright on his bed, gazing out of the window. 'Today,' he thought, recalling that after many long months, he had finally completed his masterpiece the previous night. An icy smile crept up his face. 'Today!' he thought again with glee.
He glanced at the analog clock on his bedside table and knew that the other occupants of the house would still be asleep. He agilely threw off the bedcovers and donned his slippers. Creeping mutely out onto the landing, he threw his gaze across both ways of the hall and listened intently to make doubly sure he would not be heard. He snuck across the hall in the likeness of a cat and proceeded carefully down the stairs. Chary that the last step creaked, he jumped quietly over it and turned left into the second staircase that led down to the cellar. He flicked a small switch at the foot of the steps and fluorescent light poured into the dank basement. He smiled and slunk across the room to a grimy bench bearing unused screws and bolts, rusted pieces of metal from whence the origin was now unfathomable and a few oily rags concealing something beneath them. Knives pinched up the rags and primly threw them away, revealing his shiny new creation. He snatched it up with theatrical flourish and grasped it tightly, savoring the coolness of the black metal. Taking it in his other hand, he ran one finger across the horizontal wire and smiled, feeling a small trickle of blood run down his index.
"Perfect," he whispered. It was ready and today Knives would dispense something great upon his brother. His minute smile broadened into a leer and he could almost see the emotion pouring over Vash's face. Knives folded back the collapsible modules of his creation and concealed it behind the front of his dressing gown. Quietly as possible, he crept back up the cellar stairs and ensured no one was yet up. He heard footsteps and quickly ducked into the shadows. Vash plodded sleepily past the cellar doorway and yawned. Knives prayed that Vash would be too languid to notice him. Vash stretched sleep out of his arms and back but traipsed away into the kitchen. Knives stepped out into the hall and smirked at his brother's back. In that moment, it would have been so easy to give Vash what he truly deserved. But for Knives it would have been neither discreet nor satisfying. No, Vash would receive what he, in Knives' eyes, justly deserved.
Knives gave his brother another happily cruel look then skulked noiselessly back up the stairs and into his bedroom. He shut the door quietly behind him and hastily hid his masterpiece in the confines of his pillowcase. Being one for cleanliness, Knives made his bed before emerging again from his room. He yawned as if he had just woken and made again down the stairs with a fake trudge, stretching his arms as he entered the kitchen.
"Good morning, Knives," said Vash. He was standing at the kitchen bench pouring tea.
"Indeed," replied Knives, taking a seat at the table.
"Huh?" Vash mumbled.
'Idiot,' Knives thought.
"Good morning, Vash," he verified edgily.
"Uh-huuuh…" Vash registered.
"Sorry," said Knives pithily.
"No prob.' Earl Grey?" Vash offered, tempting Knives with a tea bag.
"No, thank you."
Vash sat down at the table opposite Knives, clasping his favourite mug. It was big and cute with a black and white cow capering on its hind legs in a field of daisies. Knives hated it. It was too cutesy. It made him want to vomit in disgust then shoot something and then vomit in disgust again.
"How can you like that thing?" he asked tersely.
"What thing?" yawned Vash.
"That…thing…on the cup." He pointed at the mug. "It looks like a Thomas reject."
"For your big fat information, is it called a cow," Vash said blatantly.
"I know what it is," Knives retorted with a hiss.
"And I like it because Milly bought it for me." Vash sipped sanctimoniously at his tea.
"It's sickening," said Knives.
"Well, then you won't mind if I have yours," Vash replied curtly, pointing to a coffee mug of the same design but bearing a black cat and a ball of yarn instead of a cow.
"No!" Knives snapped.
"Oh, thank you."
"No, I mean, no you can't have it!"
"What? But you said you didn't like it!" Vash bleated.
"I said I didn't like that thing!" hollered Knives, jabbing his finger at the cow.
"But you never use yours, anyway," Vash countered.
"Keep it down!" Meryl growled from the doorway. Vash and Knives looked up diffidently. Meryl gave them a small glare.
"Shush," she cooed, patting the small girl in her arms.
"Sorry," Vash and Knives whispered.
"It's fine," said Meryl. "Good morning, anyway." Vash beamed up at her.
"Would you like some tea?" he asked with uncharacteristic cuteness and emphasis, giving his mug a playful shake. Meryl chuckled a little.
"No, I'll get myself some breakfast. Here, hold Airies, will you?" Meryl carefully lifted Airies into Vash's arms and strode over to the refrigerator.
"Whoa, she's heavy now!" said Vash, cuddling his eldest daughter. Knives surveyed, thinking animatedly to himself.
"I know. Lavender, too," Meryl replied as she poured milk on a bowl of cornflakes. "She almost spoke last night." Vash's eyes flashed to Meryl.
"But they're only eight months old!" he exclaimed. Airies gave a giggle.
"I'm sure it's totally natural that they're developing a little fast," Knives interjected. Both he and Meryl were giving Vash an 'it-should-be-obvious' kind of expression.
"You were speaking when you were three months old, if I remember correctly," said Knives. Vash turned his eyes to the ceiling and scratched the back of his neck, flushing.
"Anyway, when is your mum getting here, Meryl?" Vash asked. Knives rolled his eyes.
"About eleven. When are you going to work?" Meryl sat down next to Vash, setting her bowl of cereal on the table and grabbing the sugar pot.
"About then," said Vash. Meryl shook her head slightly.
"It's a shame," she said dejectedly.
"I know."
"That I can't come with you, I mean," Meryl specified. Vash snorted slightly and Airies copied him. Knives smirked.
"Your mother is quite the interesting one, I must say," he said.
"Oh yes, very interesting," Meryl replied, not being able to help laugh through her cornflakes. Though she would not admit it if confronted, Meryl had come to trust Knives a little more than she did several months ago. She felt easier around him than she ever thought she would and didn't hesitate to speak freely in front of him. "If you find gossip interesting," she said. Vash and Knives chuckled.
"Good morning, everyone!" chimed Milly as she entered the kitchen in her yellow pajamas.
"Morning, Milly," Vash, Meryl and Knives replied in unison.
"Did you sleep well?" asked Meryl.
"Pretty well," said Milly. "Huwwo, Aiwies!" she coddled to Airies, tickling her chin. Airies gave a noise that was a cross between a hiccup and a laugh. Vash and Meryl exchanged smiles.
"Oh, she's so cute!" Milly exclaimed. "Can I hold her?"
"Sure," said Vash. Milly cautiously took Airies from him and sat down beside Knives, putting Airies on her lap.
"She's grown!" Milly said.
"As we were just saying," Knives pointed out. Milly 'koochy-koo-ed' to Airies and attempted to compel her to speak. Meryl and Vash watched intently.
"Can you say 'Daddy,' Airies?" Milly coaxed, gently waving Airies' hand to Vash. "Can you say 'Vashie'?" Airies looked Vash up and down with her aqua eyes, a befuddled look on her tiny face.
"Da…" she began. Everyone's ears pricked up and they all stared at her, waiting with baited breath for the next syllable. Vash leant forward.
"…shie." Airies giggled and crawled off Milly's lap onto the table. She crept on all fours across the wooden surface until she came to Vash. "Da-shie," she repeated and grabbed a hold of her father's angular nose, pinching it lightly and chuckling.
"She's smart!" said Vash in the tone that someone uses when their nose is being restrained. "Her first word!"
"Wow," said Meryl quietly, staring fixedly at her daughter. Her cornflakes were going soggy. "I can't believe it," she said. Knives was gawking just as absorbedly as Meryl. Suddenly there was a rap at the door.
"Hello!" called the whiny voice of Meryl's mother. "I'm early, darlings!" Milly went out into the hall and welcomed her in.
"Hello, Mrs. Stryfe. How are you?" she asked cheerily.
"Fine, darling. Just fine! Hello, Meryl dear," Meryl's mother said as she entered the kitchen, her heels clacking on the tiles. She gasped at Airies. "Oh goodness, isn't she adorable!"
"Hi, mum," said Meryl, giving her mother a small wave. "This is Airies. She's just spoken her first word."
"Oh, Meryl, sweetie, she's a darling!" her mother exclaimed. Airies released Vash's nose and clapped, giggling sweetly and repeating her non-word.
"Oh, can I hold her, darling?" simpered Meryl's mother. Meryl nodded and gently passed Airies to her. Meryl's mother beamed and cuddled her new granddaughter.
"She really is just gorgeous!"
Vash muted a chuckle and rubbed his nose.
"Oh, hello, Vash, darling! Sorry. I didn't notice you there, hiding behind Knives."
"No worries, ma'," Vash said with a smile.
"So mum, how long are you staying?" Meryl asked, offering a chair to her mother. She sat down and put Airies on her lap.
"Oh not very long at all, sweetie. Actually I can't stay for more than a few minutes," she replied.
"Really? Why not?"
"Must get back to Gabby and Boy, darling. They were in a right state this morning!"
"Oh, I see," said Meryl, her heart dancing.
"But I brought something for you," announced her mother, reaching one-handed into her bag and pulling out Meryl's polar teddy.
"Mister Archibald!" Meryl exclaimed, snatching her plush and cuddling it tightly. Vash and Knives stared at Meryl and then exchanged funny glances.
"Thank you, mum," Meryl sniffed.
"No problem, sweetie," beamed her mother. "Now, I must be off. I'm so sorry I couldn't stay long." She gave Airies back to Meryl and stood up, clasping her satchel. "It was lovely to see you all, even if for just a short time. I must say I'm so proud to have such a beautiful granddaughter! Well, cheerio." She made for the door with a wave.
"Wait, mum!" Meryl called as her mother set a foot on the porch. "Would you like to see Lavender?" she asked.
"Lavender?"
"Airies' sister," said Meryl. "They're twins."
"Goodness, darling!" cried her mother. "You should have said!" Meryl got up and ushered her mother into the twins' bedroom, Milly following. Knives turned to Vash, having ignored Meryl's mother completely since she arrived.
"So when is it you're going to work?" he asked a little nervously. Vash pivoted in his seat and glimpsed at the clock on the wall behind him.
"In about ten minutes," Vash replied. He took another sip of his tea. "Why?" The side of Knives' mouth twitched involuntarily.
"Just wondering," he said with unwanted stiffness. 'Not long now,' he thought, a mixture of slight anxiety and glee cavorting about him. When Vash left the house, he would have his chance. 'All I need is to get her alone!' Knives deliberated over his plan and how he would go about it. The possibilities were limitless and each just as beautifully sadistic as the next.
"Bye now, darlings! Love you, Meryl, sweetie!" bid Meryl's mother as she set out of the door. Knives jerked out of his trance and waved along with Vash and Milly.
"It was nice to see you, mum!" Meryl called from the porch. "Bye." Her mother waved as she strode up the street and out of sight. Meryl went back into the kitchen and retook her place next to Vash; Airies and Mister Archibald still at home in her arms. Vash quaffed the rest of his tea and stood up.
"I must be going now, too," he said as he put his mug in the sink. He whipped upstairs and slipped on his uniform.
"I'll see you all later," he said, entering the kitchen again and placing a quick peck on Meryl's cheek. "See ya!" Meryl blushed slightly and waved him out the door. Airies suddenly gave an attention-demanding noise. Meryl looked at her and tickled her chin. Airies giggled and clapped, a grin on her face. 'That reminds me,' Meryl thought. She looked up at Milly.
"Milly, I just remembered I have to go out for a little while, too," she said. "To get a few things from the corner store for Airies and Lavender." Knives froze. 'This is it!'
"Okay, Meryl," Milly replied with her standard happy tone. "Would you like me to come with you?" she asked.
"I'll go!" said Knives hastily. Meryl looked at him with some wariness.
"I need to get out of the house for a little while," Knives verified. "Stretch my legs, you know?" he probed lamely.
"I see," said Meryl. The doubt left her. "Well, I'll get dressed and then we'll go."
Knives nodded and swiftly exited the kitchen, proceeding up the stairs and into his room. He dressed promptly and rooted through his wardrobe for a large overcoat. He found and put on his least suspicious trench coat then made to the side of his bed. He knelt down beside it and slid his hand into the pillowcase. The coldness of metal tickled Knives' fingertips and he admired the smoothness of his creation as he retrieved it from the fabric. He gazed at it for a time, studying its every line and element. Smirking and feeling a wave of wicked euphoria engulf him, he slipped the invention into the inner pocket of his coat.
"Take care of the house, Milly," Meryl instructed as she and Knives set out the front door.
"I will," Milly called from within. Meryl sighed contentedly and cuddled Airies to her as they paced gradually up the street. Meryl found it strange that Knives had insisted she bring Airies with them. But then again, small outing would be good for Airies in one way or another, Meryl conceded. The sunshine beat pleasantly down on the three of them and they walked a little more briskly. Knives hung a little behind Meryl, enjoying the feel of power that emitted from his coat pocket. Now was the time, he supposed and quickly caught up to Meryl. He peeked left and right to make sure there were few people around to witness what he was about to do.
"Miss Meryl," Knives began politely, barely concealing a malicious smile.
"Mm?" Meryl mumbled inattentively. She was staring off into the cloudless sky.
"May I hold Airies for you?" Knives requested. Meryl looked at him and gave him a small smile; the first real smile she had ever given Vash's brother. It would be the last.
"Sure," said Meryl. Knives took Airies from Meryl and grinned back. Meryl continued for a few paces then turned round. Knives had stopped in his tracks.
"What's wrong?" Meryl asked solicitously. Knives finally showed his ill smile to Meryl. He slowly shook his head and reached into coat pocket. Meryl sensed danger and took a timid step backwards. Panic began to chill her blood. All of a sudden, a great pang of fear for her daughter struck Meryl hard in the chest and she dashed forward. Knives produced the object in his pocket with inhuman speed and pointed it directly at Meryl, giving her a fierce, callous look. Meryl halted in shock, finding her forehead to be scarcely touching the end of a long, black handgun with elements of it shaped in the fashion of a crossbow. Light began to emanate from within the gun itself and Meryl watched hopelessly as Knives' arm began to alter and grow.
"Any last words, human?" Knives said sadistically. Meryl vaguely heard Airies begin to cry in fright and felt her own eyes brimming.
"Airies," she whispered inaudibly as though her vocal cords were freezing over. "Vash! Help!"
-gaspinations- :0