Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Guided Steps ❯ Devastating Confrontation ( Chapter 3 )

*I eat too many doughnuts!* Vash's telepathy

//I torture puppies!// Knives' telepathy

 

Anime to Manga notes: best I can tell, manga Vash and Knives both have blue eyes; please forgive me if I'm just colorblind. Knives quite literally crushed Legato's body as punishment for trying to kill Vash, leaving him confined to this coffin-like… well, coffin. Also, I don't remember manga Knives ever breaking into anyone's head besides other plants, but it's a safe assumption that he could lower himself to screw with a human's brain if he were reeeeally motivated. So… Away we go!

 

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“Stop!” Vash ran as fast as he could, but the man walking away from him remained perpetually out of reach. “Come back!”

 

“Goodbye, Tongari. I'm glad I met you.”

 

Vash watched in horror as a gaping darkness reached out and swallowed his friend.

 

“Wolfwood!!”

 

 

Vash rocketed out of his chair before he even understood why he was moving, spurred on by the nightmare images of his dream. When he got out the door, he knew. Wolfwood was on his knees, clutching his head and screaming into the night sky like a dying animal. He ran to his friend, almost tackling him as he dropped to his knees and slid to a stop. Vash shook him by the shoulders trying to get his attention, but nothing came of his efforts. The maddened, anguished screams continued to tear themselves loose from his throat, and tears streamed down his face from tightly closed lids.

 

Vash could actually see the tendril of power that Knives was using to attack Wolfwood's mind. In a careless moment, he had told his friend he could undo Knives' power with his own. Now that the moment had come, he was at a loss.

 

Instinct had him grabbing at it with his hands before he could think of another option. His intenion was to rip it free from Wolfwood, but he found himself sucked into the contact as well. Overwhelming chaos battered him, tore at him. He tried to separate himself from it, shut it out and get his bearings, but it wasn't working. He flailed in the madness, and the power resting within him began to react to his panic. After only a moment's hesitation he directed it with the only command he could form. `Make it stop!' Energy flared, and the terrible images Knives was forcing on Wolfwood came to a grinding halt. Distantly Vash became aware that Wolfwood's screaming had finally ceased.

 

*Knives!* Vash called out into the abrupt stillness.

 

//Ah, Vash! You're finally exploring what we can do! I'm glad. You're finally realizing just how far above humans we really are. But why are you interrupting me?//

 

*Why am I…? You're killing him!*

 

//You're still spouting that same old nonsense? Do you know how many hundreds of thousands of these things we've both killed over the years, how many more I'm about to put down? What difference will one more make? Why are you bothering me over this one, who deserves to die more than any other? I gave it the honor of guiding and protecting you, and look! Just look at what it dares to think of you!//

 

Whispers of thought began to swirl around Vash, all torn from his friend's mind, and all centered on him. Envy and respect that he could stick to his principles, no matter what shit-storm people were kicking up around him. Shame and frustration at having to lie to him about what, if not who, he really was. Contentment in their fast and deep friendship. Longing, desire, and love ruthlessly shoved away and suppressed every time they tried to surface to keep Knives from finding out and killing him before he had a chance to finish his work.

 

`Oh, Nick… I'm so sorry. I didn't know…'

 

Knives felt the wave of sorrow from Vash, but misunderstood its meaning. //Yes, you see now how they forget their place when you let them get close to you. But don't be sad. I love you, and I'll always protect you from those things. When I saw you getting attached to this one, I had Legato make sure it would keep a proper distance. You were never in any real danger of it contaminating you.//

 

“…I know they hate each other for some reason, but it's more than that. It's like Legato's obsessed with him or something.”

 

A chill shot down Vash's spine. `He couldn't have… No. Impossible with Legato locked away inside that coffin.' *Stop playing games with me. I watched you crush his body.*

 

A laugh answered his desperate assertion. //You really think I would permanently cripple my most loyal weapon? He can move quite well when I allow it, I guarantee you that. You think I'm lying to you? Let me show you how wrong you are!//

 

Unwanted images started to bombard Vash, and he couldn't keep them out. They began slowly, then built in speed, flashing before him one after another. At first he thought they were more nightmare visions created to torment Wolfwood. Then he realized the feel was different, more substantial. They were memories; Knives' memories of something that had actually happened.

 

Too devastated to scream, too shocked to cry, Vash bore the onslaught in stunned silence.

 

It was one of the most brutal, vicious things he had ever seen. The sadistic glee that danced in Legato's expression changed his eerily handsome features into something utterly demonic. Yes, Knives had told the truth; the beast could move incredibly well in spite of what should have been a fatal injury. Had it gone on for hours? Days? Vash couldn't tell, and he wasn't sure he could handle knowing.

 

And Knives looked on through the whole thing, as if he were watching a particularly fascinating lab experiment. But Vash's heart didn't shatter until in a pain-soaked delirium, Wolfwood cried out for him, called his name. Knives' laughter had risen above the horrible sounds and screams at that, lancing through Vash's mind with all the destructive power of a well-aimed bullet.

 

//You see? I did it to protect you from it, and I was just in time!//

 

Grief and fury combined to rouse Vash from his stupor. The only thing that kept him under control was the knowledge that too much of his unchecked emotions would damage Wolfwood further.

 

//Why are you so angry, brother? It was nothing worse than what the humans did to Tessla, and what they do to our sisters every single day.//

 

`Unfair!' Vash's heart cried. Not all the humans were evil! If Wolfwood had been there, he would have done everything in his power to save any abused child without a thought to whether they were plant or human. But fairness wasn't a part of life here; Knives had seen to that personally when he stranded the humans on this desert planet and landed them in a horrendous catch-22: use the surviving plants and prove themselves worthy of extermination in Knives' eyes, don't use them and die. It was no choice at all. Vash's mind flashed through these thoughts, even as Knives continued to try and entice him.

 

//None of it matters. Your pet human will be dead soon anyway, and so will the rest. Your body will never be damaged by those parasites ever again, and you'll never again be hurt because of their betrayals! I'm the only one you have left brother, can't you see that? Come! We'll rescue all of our kind and create paradise with our own hands!//

 

Gritting his teeth, Vash summoned all of the fierce tenacity that had kept him going as tragedy after tragedy befell him. He let his anger buoy it, lending him as much determined strength as the body clutched tightly in his arms. *You're wrong, Knives. You aren't the only one I have left. For him, for Rem, and all those she gave her life to save, I will fight you.* He shoved at Knives with everything he had and sent him reeling. Knives lost his grip on Wolfwood's mind and the force of the blow knocked him unconscious.

 

When he awoke a short time later crumpled on the metal floor of his ship, Knives finally understood. Vash would never come to see the truth about these humans. He had chosen one of them over his own kind, and his own brother. Vash seriously meant to oppose him, and there would be no changing his mind.

 

It was all over.

 

He rose and summoned Legato from his task. Vash could keep his pet human for all the good it would do him. Let him watch it die with all the others. The time had come for the Ark to rise and begin its cleansing.

 

~*~

Vash gasped, blasted back to himself. Confusion ruled his thoughts. For over a century he'd denied his power, tried to live his life as if he were human. `Have I been wrong this whole time?' July City, Jeneora Rock… Time and time again Knives used his ignorance of his own abilities against him. The past weeks had shown him that he could use it when he needed to, and keep it under control. In fact, it seemed that it wouldn't lash out blindly if only he worked with it instead of trying to keep it locked away in a dark corner of himself. And he just used it to save Wolfwood for the second time, proof above all else that it wasn't something to be shunned.

 

`Wolfwood…' Vash thought, finally remembering that the ordeal wasn't over yet.

 

The priest just stared blankly up at the sky with no trace of intelligence left in the dark eyes. “Hey, Wolfwood? Wolfwood!” Vash shouted, but the blank look refused to fade. It wasn't working. “Nicholas,” he called more softly. “Knives is gone. It's safe.”

 

“Knives,” Wolfwood moaned. “Safe… No one is safe…” Madness began to flicker back into his eyes as the remembered intensity of Knives' hatred and disgust pressed down on him. His voice rose in pitch with each maddened outburst. “He'll kill us all… Mankind will be annihilated… Dirty! We're all-”

 

Vash couldn't listen to it anymore. He grabbed Wolfwood's head and forced him to look at him. “Worth saving. Mankind is worth saving. And so are you.”

 

“…Vash?” He frowned. He'd seen Vash die, hadn't he? “N-no, you're not real, you died because of me, and… the kids, the girls! I wasn't there when I should have been! I let them die! All of them, even you! I couldn't save you! You should have let him kill me!”

 

Confusion crept into Wolfwood's expression, Vash noted with relief. Confusion meant he was thinking; sanity was returning, Vash just had to keep him focused a little longer.

 

“No. Look in my eyes.” He waited until Wolfwood's wide eyes finally focused on his. “I'm really here. The girls are fine. They helped me track you down, and they're pretty pissed at you for leaving. The children are fine too; I saw them before I came to find you. Melanie and Livio decided to tell them about you, where you've been and why.”

 

Wolfwood's eyes widened as his brain locked onto what Vash had just said. Vash saw the alarm, the creeping horror in the dark eyes and properly guessed the reason. `Protect the children from your own painful truths even now, isn't that so, Wolfwood?'

 

He rushed to reassure even as his heart wept at the need to do so. “They all know you brought Livio back to protect them, and they're all waiting to welcome you home. In fact, if I don't bring you home soon, Melanie might track me down and beat me to death with that ladle of hers.”

 

The horrified alarm gave way to disbelief, then relieved tears. To be known to, yet still accepted by the only real family he'd ever known was not something he'd ever dared hope would happen, not even in his rare pleasant dreams. The smile that graced the priest's face transformed it into something softer, more open than Vash had ever seen. “You are completely hopeless,” he chided with a small smile. “Stop underestimating how much people care about you, will ya? None of what Knives showed you was real.”

 

“Not… real?” Against the backdrop of luminous blue eyes, Wolfwood's mind began to quiet enough for the false memories to separate from the true, and the ferocity of Knives' hatred receded. He groaned and collapsed forward. Vash had to catch him before his face hit the dirt. After a few moments, he chuckled, drawing a concerned look from Vash. “Your brother's a real jerk, ain't he?”

 

Vash stared at him incredulously for a moment before starting to laugh as well, more from utter relief than real humor. “Yeah. Major jerk.”

 

Wolfwood's laughter cut off with a gasp when he felt a hated, familiar sensation starting to crawl through his body. `I'm finally outta time. Damn it all… Why now?' “Tongari, listen to me. This is a dead end for me, but don't you dare get all wishy-washy after I'm gone. Remember. You have to save the kids. Let Livio help you. I'm sorry it's gotta be this way, but this ain't your fault, you got it?”

 

Vash frowned down at him, beginning to panic when Wolfwood's body jerked. “Stop being stupid! I don't need Livio, I need you. What's happening? You're not making any sense!”

 

The pain was lancing through his body with reckless abandon now, and it was getting hard to speak. “Likes to overload my nerves… on occasion. He took it… kinda personal when I got past him an' tried to take out Knives… Us'ally stops b'fore the… pain kills me, though. Don't think… that'll happen now, fuckin' bastard-” he broke off, unable to continue.

 

Vash's heart sank and he licked suddenly dry lips. “Who? Who does this?” He asked the question, though he already knew and dreaded the answer.

 

“L-le… ga…”

 

Vash clutched him tighter when Wolfwood's body twisted unnaturally, trying in vain to find some relief from the agony. He looked around wildly, but he knew Legato didn't need to be close to manipulate someone's body; he could be anywhere.

 

There had to be a medium, something connecting Wolfwood to Legato… Vash took a hard look at Wolfwood's body and found what he was looking for. `There!' Thin metal strands, so thin a normal person would have been completely unaware of them. There were at least fifty of them connected to Wolfwood's body, controlling his body and systematically forcing every nerve in his body to rupture.

 

And the bastard was taking his time doing it, drawing out the torture to make it last as long as possible before his victim died from it.

 

“A human body, even one as unique as Wolfwood's, can only take so much pain before it succumbs to shock and dies,” Legato taunted. His voice was thin, carrying over a great distance. “Have you ever seen a man die from too much pain, Vash the Stampede?”

 

“Legato!” Vash roared. “Let him go, now!”

 

“Forget him and join your brother, Vash the Stampede. Knives-sama is the only companion you should ever want. You must know by now that I ruined Wolfwood for you anyway. So kindly leave the traitor to me. Unless of course you'd like to say goodbye to him properly? Here, I'll even get you started, just to show you I can be kind.”

 

Vash's widened in horror when Legato snapped Wolfwood's spine into a painful arch and wrenched his legs open. He howled in pain and rage, but Legato wasn't finished yet. His moved the priest's hands down to grasp his own shirt. He ripped it open down the middle and buttons went flying everywhere before his arms were yanked behind his back, out of the way.

 

Vash's stomach lurched and roiled at what Legato was proposing he do, and he had his first taste of raw hatred. It was a violent, unfamiliar urge to hurt a man for the simple reason that he absolutely deserved to suffer. He wanted Legato's blood and the normally pleading whisper of the power within him became a deafening roar, demanding the chance to deliver it.

 

The feeling brought him closer to Knives' way of thinking than he'd ever been before, and that scared him enough to make him step back, if only a little. He forcibly turned his attention away from charging off into the night after Legato in favor of saving his guide.

 

No knife could cut through all those metal strands. Cursing, Vash brought Wolfwood's convulsing body closer to his own, and he spoke to the restless power within him once more. This time, it was easier. `Do not let him die!' Eagerly, it swirled around him with a life of its own, analyzing the threat and reacting to his wishes. A sharp-feathered wing and shot out around them both, slicing cleanly through the metal strands.

 

Wolfwood's body dropped limply into Vash's lap like a puppet with its strings cut, and Vash prepared himself for the next attack. He waited, but for some reason, Legato didn't seem to be making any other move to attack them. His wing withdrew as he began to relax. The urge to rend, to hurt, to kill the threat was still strong. But Wolfwood needed him, and it would have to be controlled.

 

Or simply delayed…

 

Vash closed his eyes and extended his other senses, searching. His revolver flashed out, and his eyes opened again only when its chambers were empty. Vash was certain at least two rounds had hit flesh. Only the light of the moons bore witness to the unholy satisfaction that lit Vash's face at Legato's cry of pain. His revolver was too imprecise to kill in these conditions, but more than enough to hurt.

 

It was only a start to what Vash owed the man.

 

Vash spoke lowly, dangerously, and pitched his voice to carry through the suddenly quiet night. “I know you can hear me Legato. Touch him again, and I will tear. You. Apart.”

 

There was no answer but a faint, strained chuckle and the shifting sand in the light breeze. Vash had to leave it alone. For now, at least. The revolver slid quietly back into its holster.

 

“Nick,” he called urgently. “Hey, come on. Naptime's over.”

 

Something like comprehension flickered in Wolfwood's eyes. He swallowed a couple of times as he tried to find his voice. He found only a hoarse whisper to speak with. “Why the hell am I… still alive?”

 

Vash released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. “Try not to sound so disappointed. Didn't I tell you I wouldn't let you die? It's over for now. You're free.”

 

Wolfwood chuckled weakly. “Freedom's overrated.”

 

“Is not!”

 

“Is too! Jeez, why'd I have to fall for a complete moron?” It slipped out before he had a chance to think about what he was saying. But he didn't have the energy to think up a good excuse or pretend it was anything but the truth. He didn't have the energy to think about why he just now figured this out either, so he just accepted it. All he could do was pray he hadn't lost his best friend.

 

He looked so utterly confused by the course of his own thoughts that Vash took pity on him. “Oh, big surprise there. You did hit on me the day we met, you know. Talk about obvious,” he teased.

 

Wolfwood blinked widely up at him, gaping like a fish. “I did not!”

 

“Sure you did.” Vash clutched his hands together under his chin, batting his eyelashes. “`Oh Vash-sama! I'm so glad I could see your beautiful smile! It's brighter than a thousand suns! Now take me out on a date and make wild, passionate love to me!'” he simpered.

 

Wolfwood could only snort at Vash's clear attempt to make him feel better, too tired to muster up the full measure of indignation the situation required. “If I were really hitting on you, I'd have told you about the story Melanie told me once, about how if you get enough water together it looks blue, and I woulda told you that's what I see in your eyes every time I look into `em. So there.”

 

“Wolfwood…” When he looked back at Vash, those eyes were soft, touched by Vash's tender smile.

 

Wolfwood's face flamed at the carelessly blabbed admission, but he hoped it wasn't visible in the reflected light of the moons. “I think I've put my foot in my mouth enough for today. I have got to shut the hell up now,” he muttered. “Well, for my first act as a free man, I think I'm gonna pass out.”

 

As he took a headlong tumble into unconsciousness, Wolfwood could've sworn he felt a splash on his face, heard Vash promise to protect him from now on. He even imagined a kiss to his forehead.

 

He laughed at his own foolishness. Stupidity. Wishful thinking.

 

Guys like him didn't deserve happy endings.

 

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Vash sat there for a moment, trying to pull himself together. In just a few minutes, Knives had managed to turn his life completely upside down yet again.

 

Wolfwood had gone through so much for the sake of others, risked everything for others. When he suffered, he suffered alone for fear of visiting his pain on those he had to protect. In some ways, he was more alone than Vash had ever been. At least Vash had had Rem, and he had hope.

 

“You're the only coward here, Wolfwood. Whatever it is, you can readily just give up on it.”

 

Vash grimaced at his earlier words. `I am such an asshole. The only thing you ever gave up on was saving yourself. How could I have misunderstood so badly?'

 

But somehow, Wolfwood had found it in himself to love him, even though he couldn't be allowed even the dubious comfort of admitting it to himself until now.

 

But loving him was one thing. Letting Vash anywhere near him after what Legato had done to him was another thing entirely.

 

Had it happened when he was off feeling sorry for himself for two years? He thought about it for a moment and realized he knew exactly when it had happened. Months ago, Wolfwood had turned up after another absence, walking a dusty street toward him and the insurance girls with a wave and a lopsided grin as always. Being his public, goofy self, Vash had run to him with arms outstretched, whining about his disappearance. It was nothing new. Before he got close enough for a hug, Wolfwood would bash him with the Punisher and yell at him like usual. But as he ran, Wolfwood's smile cracked. Underneath the mask lay utter terror. It was just a flash, and then it was forced away, replaced by a slightly shakier version of that smile.

 

Suddenly serious, Vash had stopped short and asked him what had happened, but his concern was waved off. “Just ran into some trouble in the open desert,” he'd replied hoarsely. “C'mon, let's get something to eat. I'm starving.” He walked past Vash, and that's when he noticed something off about the way Wolfwood was moving. Awkwardly, as if his usual loping stride was just too difficult to keep up. And he smelled of blood, but oddly absent was the scent of gunpowder. `What kind of fight could it have been…?' Wolfwood turned back when he realized Vash wasn't following. “You're hurt.”

 

“Everybody gets hurt sometime, Tongari. Now hurry up or I won't buy you any doughnuts.” He had followed, hoping Wolfwood would tell him what happened when he was ready. Instead, Wolfwood hid his eyes behind his shades and didn't take them off again for nearly a month.

 

He never said a word.

 

“Melanie was wrong wasn't she, Wolfwood? I did fail you. The one time you really needed me, actually asked for my help, I wasn't there.” Vash sighed and lifted his friend's unconscious body, carrying him back into the house. Even knocked out, Wolfwood adjusted for balance in his arms, making it easier to carry him. And as if that weren't amazing enough, Vash could feel his muscles as they shifted. They were hard as steel. It was no wonder he didn't have any trouble wielding the heavy Punisher so effortlessly with such a lean frame.

 

He started toward the couch, but changed his mind and took him to the larger bedroom instead. He didn't have the feeling Knives or Legato would make another move, but he wasn't certain. And since sleeping beside Wolfwood hadn't worked earlier, he was going to have to get a little closer just in case. They might as well be comfortable.

 

He laid the other man down on the bed in the dark room and flicked on the lamp on the nightstand intending to make sure Legato hadn't set Wolfwood's recovery back. He pushed the soft fabric aside, baring Wolfwood's front to the light. “I'm just checking for injuries,” he reminded himself quietly.

 

He tried not to linger longer than was necessary, but it was a lost cause. With the exception of one old scar from a bullet on his abdomen, Wolfwood's skin was unmarked.

 

Unable to help himself, Vash smoothed his fingers over the old wound. Ragged; it hadn't been a through-and-through and someone had had to dig the bullet out of him, purposely with something wrong for the job from the looks of it. It hadn't been done very cleanly; it must've been agonizing. After a couple of seconds, Wolfwood swatted at his hand and grumped, “Tickles.”

 

`Well, as long as you're kind of awake…' “How did you get this?”

 

“Punishment,” he replied sleepily. “Tried to escape, warn Melanie about the Eye of Michael. Didn't work. Master shot me for it an' made me dig the bullet out myself on th' floor a' the church with a pocketknife. Asshole.”

 

Vash flinched at the matter-of-fact tone that spoke of routine cruelty. “How old were you?”

 

“A kid. Now quit poking me. `M tired.”

 

Vash's lips thinned out into a tight line. `These are the people you have working for you, Knives? Are you truly beyond my ability to save you?'

 

He brooded for a few minutes before Wolfwood drew his attention again. His breathing had evened out into a pattern of deep sleep again, and Vash was once again captured by having him so close.

 

Only a few angry pink lines remained from his fights with Livio and Elendira, and Vash now knew those would fade quickly. He traced one of those lines across his chest lightly; just to make sure they were healing correctly, of course. `Smooth…' A little shiver ran through Wolfwood's body, and Vash couldn't have torn his attention away if Knives had barged through the door and issued a slap-fight challenge.

 

He did his best to remember to be on good behavior, but his body was beginning to insist on more than he could morally get away with right now. He shifted a bit to try and ease the ache of a neglected erection. He hissed softly as the movement itself tortured him further; his tight bodysuit rubbed him in a really good way, but it wasn't nearly enough.

 

Wolfwood stirred a little at his touch but didn't wake up. So Vash pushed his luck and did it again, this time letting his hand linger a bit longer. Wolfwood sighed and moved into the touch, and Vash's quick eyes caught the slight movement of Wolfwood's cock stirring to life. The normally comforting snugness of his bodysuit suddenly became stifling.

 

Vash ripped his hand away and his brain rebelled, screaming at him exactly how many years, days, hours, and minutes it had been since the last time he'd slept with anyone, let alone someone that incredibly responsive. He would just have to take his chances for a moment; the only options were retreat or do something irrevocable and damaging.

 

He fled to the bathroom and shut the door as quietly - and quickly - as he could. He only took enough time to loose the few catches on his bodysuit to let his cock spring free. He shuddered at the feel of his cool fingers on overheated flesh.

 

For once Vash blessed his perfect memory. Wolfwood's naked body appeared before him in perfect detail when he closed his eyes. He jerked himself off as hard and fast as he could handle, remembering and imagining that amazing body under him, moving with him. Those thoughts brought him to the brink quickly, but what pushed him over was the reality of how good it had felt to touch, to hold Wolfwood in his arms.

 

He bit his lip and came with a strangled whimper after just a few strokes.

 

Vash slid down the closed door onto the floor when his knees gave out on him. `Great,' he thought ruefully. `Now I need a shower and a change of clothes.' He cracked the door to make sure Wolfwood was still all right, and shrugged out of his coat. It hit the floor with a thump, and his boots and bodysuit followed not long after.

 

The spray of water over his head melted the stiff spikes of his blond and black hair, and Vash smiled to himself. It occurred to him that Wolfwood called him `Tongari' regardless of what his hair looked like. He'd had the nickname for quite some time before it occurred to him that he should probably be offended. But it was just another example of the ease with which Wolfwood had just slid into his life and fit seamlessly there as if he'd never belonged anywhere else.

 

The brief, cold shower did him a world of good. He toweled off and went back into the bedroom to find Wolfwood still asleep. He rummaged around in the closet until he found a comfortable pair of pants that would fit him, and slid into bed next to Wolfwood.

 

To better protect him, of course.

 

He shut his eyes and started counting thomases to distract him from the warm body right next to him. He finally gave up that idea when the fifth, sixth, and seventh thomas turned into prancing, naked Wolfwoods.

 

Vash sighed heavily when his cock started to twitch. It was going to be a very, very long night.