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The first time Livio had come around the house, he felt like death was staring right at him.
‘D-Dad! There’s a stranger outside.’, he caught a quiet voice whispering from inside the building, his senses sharper than ever.
‘Huh? Come again?’
A few scuffles later, Livio saw a middle aged afro man walk out the door, a small figure lugging behind his back. He met the child’s eyes and tried to smile amiably.
‘Sir, I don’t know who you are, but we have no business with any bounty hunters.’, the man claimed, eyes strong but wavering.
‘Oh no, I’m no bounty hunter! I’m searching for someone.’, Livio shook his hands in front of him, ‘Um, I’m looking for Vash? Vash the Stampede?’
Immediately, the older man straightened up, his hand cupping his son’s side closer, ‘And how on earth would you know if he’s here?’
Oh man can we just get this over with, Livio?
Livio breathed in. He reigned his anxiety, ignoring Razlo’s inside comments. Sometimes Razlo’s emotions could affect his and he didn’t want that to happen here, not when he was so close to finding him.
‘Let’s say I had a feeling.’
They held eye contact, until the small boy pointed at something in Livio’s hand. His father looked down and saw the pair of sunglasses, round, orange and very recognizable.
‘You… Where did you get that?’
‘I picked it up. In the battlefield. I am being honest when I say I’m looking for Vash.’
The man looked him up and down, watching his silver hair, his hat, his weapons and of course the mark around his eye. He could never escape the curious glances towards that tattoo, which Razlo loved, but then again Razlo loved any kind of attention.
Hey, I’m just saying, other people should be fighting me, instead of a power-hungry bitch like Knives.
Livio felt a shiver run down his spine at the name, the strange murderous intent around him growing in intensity.
‘Ok, what may we call you, then? I can’t exactly tell him that a random telepath has come to visit him.’
‘Livio de Pupe. I’m… a friend of Vash’s.’
The man finally smiled. Livio noticed that the stranger had been trying really hard to appear intimidating. His features fit better around a smile and his eyes sparkled as he welcomed him inside.
There was a stove cooking and a very rare cool breeze coming in from the open patio. The humble pair explained their situation whilst they ate lunch. The child, Carlito, shyly added in small comments on Livio’s outfit, appearing to really like his hat. Livio took it off and placed it on the boy’s head, causing Carlito to blush in excitement. His father smiled at the exchange. He, on the other hand, appeared to want to learn about Livio’s identity, which, while flattering, Livio thought it wasn’t nearly as exciting as he expected.
After…his death, he had begun to take care of the orphanage, helping out the elders and especially Grandma with all the logistics on how to reopen it once again. New kids were swarming in constantly, with the onslaught of lost families and death permeating the land after the entire conflict with the plants and Knives. The children needed a home, and he was completely willing to take care of them and protect them, like Nicholas had done so before.
His eyes began to water a bit while thinking of his surrogate older brother, but the clanking of cutlery brought him back to the present.
It wasn’t until he finished eating and helped to pick up that he noticed the eerie feeling was gone.
Carlito showed him around the house, the small backyard, the living room and finally the bedrooms.
‘There’s one for my dad and one for me. There’s also a guest room but it’s occupied right now.’
Carlito looked up at him, eyes hidden beneath Livio’s hat. Livio smiled and patted his head.
‘You guys are really kind. It’s not easy to take in a stranger into your home. And I know firsthand that trouble likes to follow him around.’, he tilted his head, ‘I hope he hasn’t caused any, has he?’
‘No! Vash is very calm. He wakes up once a day to drink water and eat a bit, but he sleeps most of the time. He’s… he’s very weak right now.’, Carlito’s eyes closed in worry and Livio nodded.
‘He must be, he took quite a beating the last time I saw him. I just wanted to make sure that he’s ok.’
‘Yeah… all of us are worried, especially Mr. Knives. He never leaves Mr. Vash’s side.’
Oh shit.
Razlo had the thought before Livio could formulate it. His skin prickled and he could now very clearly feel a pair of eyes watching him. He glanced behind him and saw nothing, just the empty hallway.
He swallowed. That’s what it was, then. The glare of a hawk about to feast on its prey.
‘W-Where did you say Mr. Knives is staying?’
Carlito raised the hat from his eyes, pursing his lips, ‘I didn’t say it, but he sleeps in the guest room as well.’
Well, wouldn’t you know. We were just talking shit about the guy and turns out he’s here. Watch your ass, Livio.
You don’t need to tell me.
‘Um, may I go see Vash now?’, he hated how shaky his voice sounded. Razlo’s laugh was starting to give him a headache.
‘Sure! I’ll go knock on the door.’
Carlito disappeared at the end of the corridor and Livio heard a door opening on his hinges and whispers being exchanged. Finally, the boy returned, a small grin on his cheeks.
‘Mr. Knives says you can come in.’
As Livio walked ahead, he heard Razlo murmur a very confused what the fuck is happening.
He opened the door and was met with a small room with one window and a bed. The window had a very long set of curtains that fluttered in the awfully chill breeze, so unlike this parts of the desert. On the bed, Vash’s asleep form lay comfortably, wrapped in sheets and snuggling to his pillow. Livio was about to walk further in when he noticed the person, or rather, the man sitting at the feet of the bunk.
Millions Knives sat there, wind coursing through his black hair and legs crossed as he calmly read a book. He wasn’t wearing the tight alien-like piece Livio had come to see him in while fighting, but rather a lose shirt and pants. It was a strange casual look on him, like something out of a fever dream. He was barefoot, and Livio noticed how dirty the soles of his feet were.
For him to be the superior being he claimed to be, he appeared to walk in the dirt as any human would. The thought caught Livio off guard.
The book snapped closed, and the man stood up. Knives turned to face Livio, eyes frigid and terrifying if not for the harsh eyebags beneath them. His skin was stark white and Livio wondered who of the two twins needed the sleep more.
‘How did you find us.’
It wasn’t a question.
‘I… heard rumors of the police looking around these parts. I… I figured I could check it out myself. Many people are worried about Vash at the moment—’
‘That was not what I asked.’, Knives glowered quietly. He looked at Carlito and the boy understood what he meant and promptly left the room. Livio noticed the child hugging the hat close to his chest as he left.
‘Then what was it that you wanted to ask?’
Knives raised his chin, examining Livio very pointedly, eyes raking through his features as if he meant to read his mind, ‘I just think it’s quite… interesting that even after I managed to divert all of those rumors, you still ended up here. Why.’
Goddamn, he’s sharp.
“I followed it. The scent.’, He paused, ‘The decay.’, Livio’s eyes crept to the pair’s blackened hair, the feverish color of their skin.
Knives narrowed his eyes. He squared up his shoulders as if preparing to guard himself and Vash from Livio’s intentions. Livio stepped back. Even if he was on the verge of death, it was still unwise to provoke the other. Who knew what would happen if he used his powers? To Carlito and his father?
‘That’s why I came. I was worried about him; I saw him as you two flew away. He looked like he had no more time left to live. I am surprised, though…’, Livio caught himself from finishing his train of thought, but Knives was having none of the uncertainty.
‘About what? That he managed to survive? He almost didn’t.’, Knives snarled.
‘No, that… you’re still with him.’
Knives widened his eyes. The room became quiet, solemnly so. The only sounds were the winds howling outside and Vash’s almost imperceptible breathing.
Livio looked at Knives' face for what felt like the first time. It was hard to forget this man was a horrible creature, capable of pain, of genocide and divine pride. But in that moment, something appeared behind his façade, something unsure and fearful. He appeared much younger than what he acted like, and for a moment Livio thought that without the frown and the crazy look in his eyes, he looked identical to Vash. As soft and as otherworldly.
And his eyes were glassy, confused. As if… he also couldn’t believe he had stayed.
Livio coughed into his hand, ‘Well, I’m pretty sure he’s glad you’re with him. He seemed pretty desperate to get you out of harm’s way.’
Knives stood in silence; eyes downcast. Livio took that opportunity to lean closer to the bed to leave the pair of sunglasses next to Vash’s feet.
‘I think I’ll be leaving then. It was nice to see him again,’ Livio’s manners took over him and he shakily added, ‘Goodbye.’
Knives frowned up at him, but Livio had already left the room.
‘Are you leaving now, sir?’, Carlito asked as he handed Livio his hat back. His father leaned on the doorway, watching them both say their farewells.
‘Yeah, I have very important people to go back to, I can’t leave them for long.’
‘You can still visit anytime, Livio. Maybe Vash will be awake next time you drop by!’, said the older man, smiling once again.
‘I sure hope so!’, Livio grinned. He patted Carlito’s hair and begun to walk away. The desert welcomed him back into its strange dimension of sand and sweat, and while he trekked the long way back to the orphanage, he kept picturing Knives sitting quietly next to his brother. Waiting for the first miracle he was not capable of granting.
For someone so high and mighty, he’s terribly human.
You can say that again, Razlo.