Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Sympathy for the Devil ❯ Chapter 5

Warnings: Character death, spoilers. Large portions of direct quotes from the Anime.

 

“When the stars threw down their spears

And watered heaven with their tears:

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?”

 

------ Blake

 

 

Legato had heard the sound of Midvalley's horn. Sylvia was in tune today. But he knew, even as he maneuvered the people of the village in the way of the sounds, that it was the last time he would ever hear the saxophone man play. And even as he was listening to that last funeral dirge of the man called the Horn Freak, he wondered what Vash was doing. What he was thinking. Was he hurting? Legato was sure of that. But did Vash the Stampede suffer? He blocked out the sounds of an explosion. It was Midvalley. Poor misguided Midvalley. Sacrificing himself like that.

 

He shook his head ruefully and wondered. Could he do the same? But then Knives' words came back to him. He had heard them in between the man's passion. ~In Eden, we will be together.~ But Legato didn't belong in Eden. Not with Knives. Eden was a place for Gods. The golden man didn't belong there. He belonged to in Hell. In eternal torment forever having the nerve to touch Million Knives.

 

He was a sinner. He would die for his sins. For his master. Legato was nothing like God. This was all he could do to give Knives his Eden. “It's been a long time, Vash the Stampede.” Legato didn't even look up. He had felt Vash's mind. The gunman had come to confront him. “We should have died a long time ago, you and I. When we fell upon this world without pain and without sorrow.”

 

Legato could feel the tendrils of hurt in the mind of the other Plant. The tall psychic finally turned to look at the blond being. ~Nothing like his brother.~ Vash might look relatively the same; same build and height, but Vash was different from his Knives-sama. He didn't even know where to begin comparing the two. But again, he felt something deep within Vash's fragile psyche. “Do you hate me? I wouldn't blame you if you did.” There was a look of annoyance that crossed over the red clad Plant. That was rally all Legato needed. “Kill me.” The command was simple.

 

“I…I can't.” Vash has actually lowered his gun. Legato felt outraged. What was it going to take to get his release from this world? How low was he going to have to stoop to give Knives his Paradise. He had already told the Villagers to bring the Insurance girls. The ones that seemed to follow around Vash. It was all too convenient really. All he had to do was force one of the girls to cry and the anger mounted deeper in Vash. “Stop it! No more. I said stop it now.”

 

“Then shoot me.” The command was harsher now. The gun came up. “It's all right. Kill me. It's simple. All you need do is pull the trigger.”

 

Indecision and pain, but nothing else. Vash wouldn't shoot him. And it made Legato worry. Did Vash know? Was he purposely trying to keep Legato from pleasing his Master. Again he was forced to coax. “Once you have killed me, this will all be over. Come one. Time to Choose. You have free will.”

 

“Stop it. Don't make me shoot.” Almost there. Just a little more prodding and Legato would have Vash's defenses down. He could feel it. Then he would be able to welcome the nothingness of death gladly.

 

“You're faith is hopelessly obstinate. To actually believe in the prattling of a woman who speaks in idealistic terms that are worthless.” Legato flet a smile pull at his lips. He finally felt outrage from the Humanoid Typhoon. The Blue haired man had finally found a weak spot. “I guess that kind of thinking is reasonable for someone who's lived more than a century. But that way if life is pathetic, even comical. Rem Saverem…” Legato almost spat the name. Knives had told him all about that woman. He held less love for her than he did for the other humans. “A wasted existence who only spoke in aggravating logic. A worthless human being, just like me. But unlike you.”

 

Vash stood, his gun still at Legato's head. “That's enough!”

 

The blue haired man dropped to his knees. He would make this as easy as possible. It was already too much for him to bear. Legato wanted this Superior Being to kill him. He was sick of playing this temptation game. He had already failed his God so many times. Now, he could only shut his eyes and ignore the feeling of a cold barrel against his temple. But doing so made him picture Knives, hovering over him, sweating in his passion. An angel that a devil like himself didn't deserve. Ever

 

He opened his eye once more to look at the other angel. The one with a silver gun and the vow not to kill. He looked and allowed another slow smile to cross his face. ~I give you your Eden, Knives-sama.~ Then he forced his will on an already unstable Vash. A will loud and full of elemental heat. It was a fire that blazed in the gunman's head. Far away, joined by the bond of twins, the older twin felt it as well. ~Shoot me!~ The order sounded like it had come from the devil himself. Knives could only wince in pain as Vash did as he was commanded. Hands shaking, he pulled the trigger.

 

All of the sudden, the fire was gone from inside Knives' head. He felt the gentle, fading caress of Legato's power. There was still remnants of passion there. But it was fading as well. His beloved telepath was dying, or already dead. Knives really couldn't tell. He could tell when the touch departed. As it had left, he had heard Legato's passionless voice. ~I understand, Master. Vash the Stampede will experience eternal pain and suffering~ Then there was a last fading whisper, carried on a wave of utter willpower and devotion. ~I did love you, Knives~

 

Knives wanted to cry. In the end, legato had finally owned up to the fact that he wasn't human. The golden-eyed psychic had admitted his love. But Knives made the tears go inside. Instead, he forced himself to smile.

 

Legato. Dutiful, perfect legato had forced Vash to take a life. That meant his wayward bother would be returning to his side. Once there, Vash would remain with Knives forever. It was a wonderful gift for an angel from the devil. Which had been what Legato had been. A devil. While all the Gung-ho Guns had been demons in a matter of speaking, their golden-eyed leader had been a fallen angel.

 

The irony struck Knives. Chapel would have just loved it. But it was true. The Plant had always known deep down that his Legato hadn't been human in the least. But knowing that now didn't ease the pain. It still hurt to know that a devil had given him a better chance at Eden. An Eden where everything would be perfect and wonderful again. A place where he and his brother could live in beauty and peace. Where there was no ugliness or evil/

 

It would be a beautiful place, his Paradise. Only now he knew it would be less wonderful. Less complete. Because he knew the waves of passion and devotion wouldn't be there. There would only be an empty place. A space he had set aside specifically for the man Knives had grown to love. A man intoxicated with death. The devil who had smiled with those wild golden eyes.

 

 

 

“Tyger, Tryer burning bright,

In the forests of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?”

 

 

------ Blake