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[arkfall]

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[arkfall]

[Somehow, those words make Knives deflate. Instead of trying to poke and prod at his brother's pain, he frowns and all of the tension and frustration in his face melts.]

Vash... I... [But he's no good at comforting someone over loss.]

I swear, the only people I want to hurt are the ones who forced us into this experiment, and the ones who forced themselves onto you, and I won't do anything more to any of them so long as we have our agreement. I would not go after your friends.

[goldenglasses]

[Seeing that tension leave his brother's body language both helps Vash to relax a little and feel even more guilty. Maybe he really didn't have anything to do with his friend's murder. Just as Vash is starting to feel a bit better that his brother hadn't gone back to his old ways his mind picks up on a word and it won't leave him alone.]

What do you mean... anything more?

[arkfall]

[Fuck.

In that rush of sympathy and concern, he'd let himself slip up, and of course, Vash had caught onto it. He wasn't as stupid as he made people think, after all.

His jaw tightens and he considers which lie he can tell. Maybe he can claim that all of the glaring he did that day on the stage was what he meant. But that seems hollow even as he thinks it.

He's taking too long to answer.]

That's what Legato and I talk about. [He finally says, with the tone of someone who feels chastised.] Killing the ones who raped you.

I thought you knew? You said you heard us.

[goldenglasses]

[He was told about it, but not exactly what was said.] And did you, Knives? Did you kill them!? Is that why you didn't want to contract with me again?

[arkfall]

[He stares at Vash then, blinks a couple of times. Debates lying again.

Then, finally, he laughs. A single, mocking, barking sound. So much like the monster he used to be that it even startles himself.]

Wow. You're paranoid now, aren't you?

[goldenglasses]

[Yes. That laugh helps alleviate some of his guilt. Years of bad memories coming forward at the sound of it.]

You didn't answer my question, Knives!

[arkfall]

You're right.

I didn't.

[goldenglasses]

[He can feel his stomach knotting and his heart clenching.] Knives, you--- you didn't, please tell me you didn't go killing them!

[arkfall]

[Knives narrows his eyes. He's back to glaring.]

Look at you. So upset at the mere thought that rapists might be hurt. What is wrong with you?

[goldenglasses]

Me?! Have you learned nothing, Knives?! Hurting and killing isn't the right answer! What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?

[arkfall]

What's wrong with me is that I had to sit there and watch while they violated you over and over. [Knives spits back, voice venomous.]

They had to be taught a lesson, Vash. No one should ever touch you like that.

[goldenglasses]

You can't take justice like that in your own hands! Why-- you can't just kill people who do things you don't like! Don't you understand that!?

[arkfall]

"Things I don't like?"

How dare you belittle what happened by acting as if it were merely a difference of opinion.

[goldenglasses]

How many, Knives? How many of them did you kill!?

[arkfall]

It doesn't matter.

[goldenglasses]

What do you mean it doesn't matter? You told me you changed, Knives! That you were a different person! Was it really all just a lie!?

[arkfall]

[Knives breathes in to stop himself from yelling.]

No. It's not a lie. I have changed.

And I hate it. This would be so much easier if I could kill everyone.

[goldenglasses]

Knives... you-- you... [He's angry. Angry and upset. He feels played. Lied to. The voices of everyone telling him not to trust Knives ecchoing in his head. He should have listened to them.] You bastard. How could you? How could you!?

[arkfall]

[Knives doesn't like how he feels watching Vash so upset. It used to be annoying and frustrating, but now it makes his chest ache uncomfortably.

He almost thinks he should apologize, but that wouldn't do anything to change what happened. He also hates that Vash would make him feel that way over taking out rapists. He crosses his arms over his chest and grips onto them tightly.]

How could they? [He counters instead of admitting the mixed feelings in his chest.]

[goldenglasses]

Because this is the system that they live and grew up in! We need to fix that first! It's a terrible system that needs to be changed. Killing people isn't how we're going to get that done!

[arkfall]

Sometimes, when the roots of a tree are so rotted it cannot be healed the only thing to do is destroy it and plant a new tree.

[goldenglasses]

Even if that tree was one of our sisters? Or me? Is that really how you feel? You should never give up on someone. They can always change. [Otherwise he would have given up on his brother long ago.]

[arkfall]

[Knives's brow narrows as Vash calls him out on that hypocrisy. He doesn't have an answer.

He remembers thinking that Vash was too far gone to heal and attempting to absorb him instead, but that logic seems so faulty and broken now.]

[goldenglasses]

I don't know what I'm angrier about. The fact that you killed those people or that you lied to me about it. You said that you weren't contracting with me to make sure you were doing it for the right reasons and to focus on helping Legato become a better person. Was any of that real? [Not that Vash is sure he will believe it even if Knives says some of it was true.]

[arkfall]

Some of it, yes.