Work Text:
Knives glares down at the pancakes with a look one would typically associate with hatred. His nose wrinkles back and he lifts his left hand only to nudge the plate away. Then he folds his arms and looks away.
“ I am NOT eating that. “
“ Awe, Nai, c’moooonnn-”
“ I’m not planning to eat at all really. “
“ Nai-”
“ I have never really needed to eat before. You should remember that about me at least. “ Knives states with an air of indifference.
“ Oh just eat the damn cakes already. “ Wolfwood snaps, slamming his hot chocolate down on the table.
Knives looks at him and scoffs. Although his moment of defiance just to piss the dark haired man off lasts for only a second. As Vash throws an arm around him and laughs.
“ He’s just kidding, Nai! “
“ No I wasn’t-”
“ I guess you don’t have to eat them. But you are so missing out! I promise ya! “ Vash beams despite sounding kind of disappointed.
“ I agree with Mr Vash! “ Milly joins in from her seat near Wolfwood. “ You should enjoy it only if you really want to. “
“ I mean it wouldn’t kill him to at least try it. “ Meryl grumbles, cutting pieces of her blueberry pancakes off to eat.
“ Oh Meryl. “ her friend sighs playfully.
Knives can not roll his eyes back any further. He really should have ran for the hills as soon as it was even somewhat possible. That way he would not be in this predicament. Sitting here, in some shabby establishment, with loud annoying hu-people around him. His foot taps aggressively against the floor beneath them all as the others jump into some random conversation. His eyes scan the table to avoid being dragged into that very conversation.
He notices Meryl’s blueberry pancakes again, this time noticing she is drinking coffee with it. The remnants of a blob of butter and perhaps even a slight drizzle of whatever sugar killing syrup she may have used. Although he can still tell that the jam that was once on top was probably just as bad. Honestly he is surprised that she has a mix of maturity and a lack thereof on the same plate.
Then he turns his gaze back to the Punisher. Or well, Wolfwood, as they all insist. His hot chocolate sitting to the side all silly like, his waffle combo gardening a supposedly not silly notion. His lip twitches to try and scowl but he doesn’t get far with it. Knives honestly has no idea why anybody would even like eggs. Of all things. He rolls his eyes and moves onto the tall girl’s order.
A look of horror reflects in his expression for a brief moment. Is that-steak? He was under the impression that this is a breakfast establishment! Not some..other shabby diner that you go for lunch or dinner. Yet he is not even fully sure if it even is steak! Stress runs through every fiber of his being as he stares at the plate. It looks like fried chicken, so is it? Why does it have white sauce, no, gravy, on it? The damned sunny side up eggs and hashbrowns are back for this plate too. Now why would you have all that and a side of pancakes as well? It's a sin! He breathes out shakingly before looking over at Vash’s plate. Instantly his blood runs cold.
A chocolate dense pancake lays sacrificially on the plate. Whipped cream makes a mockery of a face, chocolate chips decorate the smile but he, much to his horror, sees that there may be more yet in the pancake itself. Strawberries give the eyes a bloodshot look. There were scrambled eggs with bacon and sausage nearby. Knives raises his hands to his mouth to cover it and try to hide his growing fear. His eyes grow misty.
With a sound of disgust and choking, Knives sets his head against the table in front of him. Oh how much he wishes to disappear from this place and set it ablaze.
The others at the same table all sort of look at him with their own levels of surprise and exasperation. Vash reaches over and gently pats his brother’s back. Although as he does so, he uses his other hand to simply keep eating his pancakes. Wolfwood mutters something about how Knives is an utter baby or something to that effect as he too, refocuses on his meal. Milly and Meryl share a look, Milly’s more finding this all funny while Meryl’s is more along the same lines as Wolfwood’s.
“ So not even a nibble? “ Vash teases when he finally turns his eyes back to his brother.
Knives only grumbles in response. He wraps his arms around his head to hide further.
“ It is really good though. “
“ Why do you insist on trying this mess? “ Knives mutters from his terrible spot of whining.
Vash simply smiles as he takes another bite of strawberry and pancake. “ I want you to feel included. “
Knives stays quiet for a long moment. Long enough for a small bit of conversation to start between Wolfwood and the girls. Vash making a joke here and there that Meryl makes an exasperated noise at. Knives lifts his head back up finally and stares with a sort of unsure sadness at his food that has most likely grown cold. He glances at everyone and Vash briefly before sighing.
“ I don’t eat. “ he mutters.
His voice is too quiet for the girls and Wolfwood to notice. Nor were they really trying to. As now Meryl is in a sort of argument with the dark haired man anyways. His brother does notice. As Vash sort of pauses, then picks at the leftover scrambled eggs on his plate. A sad smile suddenly on his face.
“ I know. “
“ Rem always did say to eat around people. Didn’t she? “
Vash remembers that birthday. He gives a small nod. “ She did. “
Knives grimaces but takes hold of his set of cutlery and unwraps them from their napkin. He sets them down and then grabs the knife and fork and starts to cut the cold, maybe even soggy pancakes that sat in front of him.
Vash turns and stares in both surprise and alarm. “ Nai you really don’t have to. I was just messing with you. “
Knives seems to take a bite regardless of his brother’s words. His expression hardly changing or giving any indication how he truly felt about it. Once done he sets his utensils on the side of the plate and sets his elbows down on the table. His hands crossed over themselves. He leans a bit to sort of have his crossed hands hiding his nose and mouth.“ They taste just as I imagined they would. “
Vash just blinks for a moment. Then a little more before he playfully snorts. “ Okay? And what do they taste like then? “
“ Like an abomination of sugar and flour. “
Vash gawks in offense and humor. A hand pressed to his chest as if grasping for imaginary pearls. Then he starts to laugh and grabs hold of Knives in a sudden hug as he tries to ruffle his hair. “ You are impossible, I swear! “
“ Get off of me you oaf! “ Knives snarls as he struggles against his brother. Still if one were to look closely they could see the faint smile at the edge of his obvious scowl. As well as the lack of true anger in his voice.
The other three can only stare in confusion and shock. Although Milly seems to recover the fastest and laugh, knowing full well that she has seen such a scene like this in her own family before. And for one is quite glad to see it coming from the two most noncommutative dramatic brothers to ever exist.
When the two eventually calm down, Vash shows Knives how to blow bubbles in his drink. Earning a look of annoyance and disgust from Meryl. Which is encouragement enough for Knives to give the childish act a try after he had planned to shoot Vash down in regards to it. Wolfwood then joins in, even Milly, much to Meryl’s distress. Glances are sent their way with mixes of humor, confusion, and disgust.
“ God, you are all such children! “ Meryl mutters in exasperation as she tries to hide behind her hands.
When time came to pay the bill, some talk came around on who should pay the bill. The agreement is to split it. Vash states he’s fine with paying more as he’ll be paying for Knives’ side of the meal. His brother scowls at this statement.
“ Oh I don’t think so. “
“ Knives just let me-”
“ No! I can pay for myself! I am a very capable person, I’ll have you know. “
“ Oh trust me, we know. “ Wolfwood groans sarcastically.
Knives snarls in his direction. The former assassin merely smirks back at him. Knives is practically ready to throw himself across the table to straggle Wolfwood into an early grave. Vash is barely able to stop it by shaking his head with a loud sigh.
“ Alright let me see your money, Knives. “
Knives is snapped from his barely contained bloodlust. He takes his hands off the table and starts to pat himself for his wallet. His brow furrowing the longer it takes him to find it. He smiles with a look of triumph when he finally does, Wolfwood had doubted he even had pockets and is disturbed by this, and opens it up. A moth flies out and Knives crushes it with a shaking iron grip.
“ I’ll handle it. “ Milly says and quickly hands over the cash before any objections can be raised.
Knives really wishes he could object. He certainly tries when the waitress comes back around to handle their payment as well as clear away some of their dirty plates. At first he was still unnerved by the sight of her and her presence around him. He recovers almost too late and tries once to mutter to Vash that he shouldn’t be paid for, it's practically humiliating.
“ Well one of us has a job to pay for things. “ Vash simply states with a smirk following.
Condescending. Hm. Not a good look for Vash.
“ Oh yes, how could I have forgotten. “ Knives pulls a bashful look towards the former insurance girls. “ Milly, please do forgive us for freeloading on your hard earned dime. “
Vash has a look of pure rage on his face. Knives must do all that he can to not laugh when he glances back at him.
“ I do believe you said, ‘one of us has a job’ right? “ Knives questions, using air quotes to back up his point.
“ I’m going to kill you. “ Vash whispers. Cain instinct clear his voice.
Knives smiles maliciously. “ I’d like to see you try. “ he says, propping up his elbow on the table so he can lean onto the back of his hand.
“ Okay, Cain, Abel, can you two shut the fuck up? “
Vash and Knives look over at Wolfwood. Vash seemingly calms down and gains his smile back. While Knives just frowns and raises a brow at the man.
“ I refuse to get thrown out from another restaurant because of you two. So if you have to beat each other up into nothing then please wait until we are at least outside. Then you can be homicidal. “ Wolfwood growls, utterly fed up.
“ They shouldn’t at all actually! “ Meryl snaps.
Vash rubs the back of neck and laughs. Knives can hear both the nervousness and amusement within the laughter. He rolls eyes and resumes a more proper sitting position, as if it that would erase his actions moments ago.
“ Don’t worry you two, we won’t be acting up anymore. “ Vash laughs still, trying to be reassuring.
Knives raises a brow at him now. Wanting to question aloud just how he plans to keep him under control exactly. He withholds it as the waitress returns to clear away the last of the dishware that remained on the table. He bounces his foot as he waits, then when she leaves, he stands up.
Eyes hurriedly look at Knives. Vash clumsily tries to get to his feet. Knives rolls his eyes at the lack of grace, although he thoroughly understands the whys of the situation. He merely holds a hand up. Causing Vash to slightly pause.
“ I will be waiting outside. I need air that is not somehow sugary. “ he doesn’t react to Vash’s doubtful gaze, he just departs.
Knives weaves his way through the tight walkways. Ignoring booths and tables full of people. Then he also ignores the glances of people after him, due to both his looks and the fact that he drifts past them quickly. He mutters an awkward ‘thanks’ to a tired looking brunette haired man that holds the door open to him. He almost misses the ‘no problem’ he receives in return.
Now free of the terrible place, Knives leans against the walkway bars. Or perhaps it is a ramp, he doesn’t care enough to puzzle it out. He’s just not in the way at the moment and that will just have to do. He breathes out deeply and tries to enjoy the quiet.
It lasts for a good few minutes before he hears the door open, and the sound of a paticular set of boots that he knows well. He tries to make a point of ignoring this particular person. He doesn’t react in anyway and hopes he’ll be forgotten and left behind.
The person leans near him on the same bars. He can feel the evil smile directed at him. A soft snicker barely being held back. Dread starts to fill him now as he stares at the edge of the red coat.
“ So. What do you want to do for lunch? “
Knives collapses to the ground. Hands holding his face in utter despair. Frustrated noises leave him as the others finally come out to join them. Vash is barely holding his laughter back. If they wanted to know what he did, or if they did know, nothing is said about it. They just head for the car and wait for Vash to drag Knives after them, ignoring his fresh threats for humanity.