exhaustedpillow

Vash, with his childlike, innocent smile. Vash who looks utterly happy and excited just by seeing him. Vash who is so angelic and dazzling in this attire, as if he’s truly an angel born in a supreme plant body.

That he’s not the Vash who has a ferocious and twisted sense of love. Not Vash the Stampede or even Vash the Angel of the End.

Just Vash, his perfect counterpart, the other half of Knives.

“I know I’ll find you here.” Vash rather breathlessly says with a huge smile before he pulls him into a tight hug and puts his head on his shoulder. “I miss you so much, Nai.” He sincerely says with a light giggle.

The familiar weight, scent, and warmth hit Knives all at once and Million Knives might be a powerful and mighty being but he’s also weak, so utterly powerless in front of the love of his life. He takes a deep whiff of the comforting scent, before he also puts his head on the younger’s shoulder as Vash’s soft feather tickles the side of his face a little.

It’s a while before Vash lifts his head up and lets go of their hug, putting some distance between them. The other’s beautiful blue eyes move up and down before another giddy smile hits his twin’s face.

“The clothes, they look good on you.” Vash says appreciatively. “You look nicer than I even was! Especially those glasses, they’re better than what I had before.” He hums.

Before he can respond, the sudden sound of gunshots breaks through the light atmosphere between them. It's as if the illusion is being dropped as Knives remembers the reality outside this space of comfort Vash has made. “Vash, what are you doing here?” He asks quietly, even though he already has an inkling.

“You must’ve heard our sister’s pain, Nai.” Vash answers with a knowing look. “I'm glad that you were able to save our healthier sister while I saved the other one and serenaded these humans to their path of salvation.”

“What—”

It seems that he’s not the only one who’s woken up from the beauty of their reunion, because in the next second, loud yells, and the sound of things crumbling down and colliding against each other echo through the open area. Vash’s wings also noticeably get tighter and tenser, shielding them from whatever is happening on the outside.

“Vash—”

“Shhh…” Vash shushes him gently. “Everything is going to be alright, Nai.” He says as another huge smile graces his pretty face.

But instead of pure serenity, it’s now tinted with something dark and twisted.

Crazed.

“Vash.” Knives warns lowly as another slew of screams of horror can be heard outside their intimate sphere. Occasional bright lights shine through the gap between the wings and there’s no further doubt about what his twin is doing now. “Let go of me and stop all of these.”

“But Nai… I’m saving them all.” Vash says with mania gleaming in his beautiful blue eyes as his left hand cups and caresses his cheek gently. “Humans, plants,” He hums. “Isn’t it better for these humans to die without pain under my mercy, rather than let them die miserably without our sisters’ help?”

“That’s not how it works Vash—”

“But it is, brother.” Vash whispers. “Don’t you see? I’m merely freeing them from all of these unnecessary hardships and pains. Humans, our sisters, everyone will be free from these wretched lives!” He declares gleefully.

“Then what are those, Vash, if not screams of pain from the humans you love?” He argues.

“Fear, Nai.” Vash replies composedly with confidence exuding from his expression. “Simply fear of the unknown. But it’ll be fine, they’ll go quickly.”

Knowing that Vash is already beyond reasoning, Knives forms some of his sharps tendrils to break free from these soft wings, but even then—

He can’t.

He can’t hurt Vash.

Not again.

As if reading the storm inside his mind, Vash tilts his head to the side questioningly.

“Are you going to cut me, Nai?” Vash coos sadly, a little bit resigned but accepting. “Are you going to hurt me again, your precious baby brother?”

“Vash…”

“It still hurts, you know. The last time these blades of yours grazed upon my skin, cutting my feathers and wings.” Vash murmurs as he wraps his palm against one of the tendrils. Blood seeps out from his palm and drips onto the silvery blades and instead of Vash, it’s Knives who hisses as he immediately retracts them all.

“I don’t want to, I never want to hurt you, Vash.” Knives murmurs, almost pleading. “So stop all of this insanity.”

“It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay, Nai.” Vash assures as another high-note screams echo in the air. “This is our sacred duty, our destiny, to save them, liberating them all from their tragic lives that are barely hanging by a thread.” He claims as he waves his hands a little, to emphasize his points.

“Even without our interference, these humans, they’ll go extinct as the nature, our nature dictates.” Knives declares.

“That’s not how it’s supposed to go.” Vash shakes his head, as if what his twin has just said is a mere wishful dream. “We are their salvation, why can’t you see, Nai?”

“You…” Knives whispers resignedly as he closes his eyes briefly. If Vash is the Angel of the End, then these noises and screams of pain, death and misery, are his hymn of salvation and there's no way to stop him. “Your effort will be for naught, Vash.”

“No, it won’t.” Vash giggles as he senses his twin’s defeat. “I spared your little friends for now, don’t worry.” He adds.

“They’re not my friends.” Knives can’t stop the scowl at the remark, earning a light snicker from the younger male as he lets himself be pulled into his twin’s embrace.

“If you say so, brother.” Vash hums as he puts his forehead against Knives. “I love you, Nai.” He confesses affectionately.

Knives takes a deep breath and closes his eyes as he responds to Vash’s gentle adoration. Their plant marks resonate against each other, as he whispers, “As I do, Vash. You know I’ll always love you no matter what.”

“Then wait for me, Nai. I’ll give you the paradise we all yearn for.”