... Inevitably.

Vash's return. They always have had a closer relationship with him, haven't they? He talks so gently to them, when all Nai can offer is analytical protection, scientific observation, nothing with as much heart as Vash could. Which is another reason why they need him.

" I'll bring him home. "

link, recognizing the desire for companionship. Nai waves his little siblings off gently, knowing they care too much. They want their older brother just as well.

" Relax. " he tells them with certainty, hardly bothered by Vash's childish refusal. " Our time will come. "

The girls will sing for

collar, kicking and screaming if he needs to.

There's only so many places, after all, Vash can run from the one person who knows him like the back of his hand. Nai is his twin, adam to his eve. And this planet is finite.

The plants around him seem to bend in towards Nai, recognizing the missing

join his cause. Nai doesn't find it fun to hurt and torment Vash... but at times, he also understands Vash may be fluent in violence and death than in words, these days. The exposure to the desert and humans has warped his heart.

Oh, well.

Nai will chase him down if he must. Drag him home by the

going to suffer needlessly? I have the perfect place for you prepared beside me.

If you don't understand that, then you'll never understand anything else about me, Nai.

Nai seems struck by the words, leaning into his hand with a sigh. He hopes to one day convince his twin without violence to

You can't escape me, Vash.

I can try.

What are you hoping to accomplish by being so childish?

...

Vash pulls his blanket over his head, hoping to drown Nai's voice out, like the blanket can protect him from the sound reverberating in his head. But the warmth is undeniable.

How long are you

No matter how far Vash tries to run, no matter where he goes, Nai knows where he is. Especially when Nai steps into power in July; his network of agents triangulate on Vash, giving Nai a vague sense of where he is at any time.

They even speak sometimes. When Vash is trying to sleep.

When Vash tries to curl up and die in the desert, Nai knows what he feels, the soreness in his chest, the agony of the burning behind his eyes. Yet, even when he can communicate, he's silent. Vash needs to learn everything up until that point has been a crime of necessity.

Vash is just too gentle.

their abnormal physiology as independents. Even after the fall, even after Vash tries to abandon Nai, angry and frustrated with him, Nai can always feel him like a distant, second heartbeat in his chest.

When Vash runs, Nai doesn't know where he goes. But he knows Vash is alive. He can feel it.

When Vash panics, Nai reassures on instinct. Because one was born with too good of a heart, and the other was born with a need to protect. They fit together like puzzle pieces.

Even Rem notices how they close her out at times, communicating in a way unique to them, one she presumes is related to

One between them more capable of love… while Knives is just that: a weapon against humanity, those who might seek to make a hellscape of their home. And he won’t admit it but… there’s a sick, twisted part of him that finds it satisfying to have his twin, a generous heart, in his cage of claws…

😏

Imposing figure beautiful… his red eyes so enrapturing, so hypnotic. He traces his cheek on paper… he can hardly wait to be a real devotee. A blood devotee. The deity wants blood? He wants reverence and respect? Megumi can’t wait to fulfill.