Chapter Text
Millions Knives was already aware that Zazie was eccentric but useful. However, their latest report made no sense even by their usual standards.
His blades twitched in agitation, aching to attack for lack of a better way to react.
Instead he hissed a low “What?”
Zazie laughed, paying no heed to the danger bleeding into the air.
“Yeah! Your baby bro’s a celebrity. He’s doing a better job than you at protecting plants. Seriously, go see how he does it for yourself! Humans are lapping it up.”
As per usual, Zazie’s words never clarified anything by themselves. The last Millions Knives had heard, his beloved and beautiful Vash was considered a wanted outlaw by those human parasites. Why Vash continued to defend them as they attacked him, he will never understand.
Knives’s thoughts spiraled. What had changed in the past month? His plan to send Conrad’s favored pet project to bring his brother to him may have to be reconsidered. If Vash had finally found a way to tap into his own Gate powers, he wanted to verify it personally.
Sighing, Millions Knives dismissed Zazie. Only after the sound of their insect wings had faded completely, did he eventually move.
First, he informed Conrad to notify his pet that his services were not needed but to be on stand by for further orders.
He departed shortly thereafter, following the directions Zazie had given him as to Vash’s current location. Before his departure, he had switched out his usual lovely cloak for a more inconspicuous one to blend in. His lip curled in distaste. The sooner this was over with, the better.
He would also need to verify Zazie’s report on the improved state of his sisters in this wretched town.
Knives had thought it would be easy to find Vash, considering their connection as Plants but he didn’t anticipate it being this easy.
A crowd of disgusting humans were congregating at a large building. Knives read the sign hanging above the door: Jeonora Rock Entertainment Hall.
His puzzlement and unease grew. Were the humans keeping Vash captive for their own sick amusement? His puzzlement and unease made way for a far more familiar emotion: Rage.
If Millions Knives had simply looked to the right, he would have seen a poster that would have answered at least one of his questions. It was decidedly not Vash’s wanted poster.
But he didn’t.
He shoved humans from his path, violently throwing them aside. Before he could begin skewering them as well, he heard something amid the screams of pain and outrage that stopped him cold.
It resonated in his heart and body and miraculously erased his rage. The most enchanting melody. It felt heartbreakingly familiar.
Was that Vash? Singing?
Not able to wait any longer to see his brother, he stormed into the building.
Or he tried to.
The large hall was packed wall to wall with humans, all staring enraptured at the front of the room. They were swaying to the sound of Vash’s singing. Getting through them was difficult. Now that he knew Vash was not being actively tortured or worse, he was reluctant to cause a scene without first talking to his brother.
He didn’t want Vash to stop singing either.
Knives has not heard Vash sing since they were but small children aboard the SEEDS ship. It was divinely beautiful. A heavenly sound.
These humans did not deserve to hear his brother.
“Only fools rush in…”
No one but himself deserved that honor. He gritted his teeth hard enough for them to creak in warning.
“Would it be a sin if I couldn’t help falling in love with you?”
Barely holding back from changing his mind and slaughtering them all like the vermin they were, he continued to make his way slowly towards Vash.
“Some things are meant to be, take my hand, take my whole life, too but I can’t help falling in love with you.”
Vash’s eyes were closed, veiling the luminous blue hiding beneath. How Knives ached to see them again. Vash’s lovely mouth belted out a higher note, causing his heart to quiver.
He felt his body respond to the music. The music began mending the wear and tear he placed on it every day trying to save his sisters and build his paradise, until it felt good as new.
So that was how Vash was healing their sisters.
An ugly emotion crept through his veins.
“Darling, so it goes…”
He wanted. No. He needed Vash.
“But I can’t help falling in love with you…”
Vash belonged with him just as every one of their sisters did.
When the last lovely note faded away on the air, Knives made his move.
Vash’s eyes finally opened, only to widen in shock when he saw his brother barreling towards him at frightening speed.
He scrambled backwards off the piano bench, his legs pinwheeling every which way when he fell off with a yelp. Using both hands and feet to move his suddenly shellshocked body away, his back hit the wall. He squeaked when he realized he was trapped between the wall and his brother.
The humans noticed that their performer had stopped singing. Next, they saw the cloaked figure trying to get to Vash.
Angered yells erupted, deafeningly loud in the cavernous room.
Without regard for their safety, the crowd tried to surround Knives and pull him away from Vash who watched their actions in horror. He cried for them to run, that it was dangerous.
They didn’t listen.
Gunshots rang out. Knives swept aside the bullets with his blades. Pained cries sounded when the bullets changed trajectory towards the crowd.
“Nai, please stop!”
Hearing his brother’s voice call out his name, Knives’s attention zeroed in with feverish intensity. Vash’s breath caught in his throat. He froze as prey did before a predator. He’s never seen Nai look at him with that level of focus.
The humans were all held back by Knives’s blades, thankfully with the blunt edges instead of the serrated ones. Vash was confused but thankful for Nai’s unexpected thoughtfulness.
“I will let them all live. In exchange, you will willingly surrender yourself and your voice to me.”