MOVED TO mhilliun

After some debate of whether I should make Knives his own blog (and to give him better tags) I’ve decided to do exactly that. He’s now a MAIN BLOG, and with a new URL to boot!

Handofgenocide --> @mhilliun

If you see this guy following you, it’s me! Don’t be afraid to follow back! And don’t worry about threads here, I’ll reply over on that blog!

Yes, just rest. You deserve it.

Leon finally allowed himself to fall to his knees once he was standing before the emperor and his throne, a pained grunt being made in his throat as he did so. He promised Knives they’d make it, and make it they did. They were home, they could rest now – well, the blonde could anyway, Leon still had to get his earful from Mateus about how he moved about with such a horrible injury and whatnot.

And get yelled at he did.

“How many times do I need to tell you, Leonhart, that this isn’t healthy! You’re going to break your body this way with all this pushing you do to yourself.”

[ ⸸ ] –  “I either had to push myself or let us slowly die — make up your damn mind about what you want me to do!”

The golden-clad emperor lets out a heavy sigh of frustration, gloved hands resting atop Knvies’ stomach as white healing magic begun to spread to different parts of his body. Of course leave it to the emperor’s dark knight and idiotic pawn to get themselves hurt and have him heal them — Leonhart should’ve been glad he was on Mateus’ good side, otherwise things would have turned out very much ugly for him and Knives.

It did not take long for Mateus to apply his magic to each of them. It would rid their wounds and fix their bones, but they would still be ailed with the pain that came with their injuries, something which he could not help out with. Coolly lavenders looked at the knight when all was done, brows furrowed. “Now, take yourself and Millions up to your chambers to rest. I fixed your injuries the best my magic could allow, now all you need to do is let your bodies finish the healing process.” Mateus said with a grunt, moving himself back upon his throne, crossing a leg over the other.

“Yes, your majesty.” Right, resting. Leon almost wanted to say he was surprised to hear the emperor even say that, as normally he found a way to continually come off as a condescending asshole even when kind. One could theorize that he was just in too much of a good mood to even act like that – or one would dream, probably.

With a groan ( and some help with a guard who was in the room ), Leon got back onto his feet with the unconscious Knives in his arms, turning away to begin going down the small set of steps when Mateus’ voice stopped him for a moment.

“Leonhart.”

“What?”

A pleasant hum vibrated in the emperor’s throat. “You both did well today, I commend you.”

Oh how nice it felt to be sitting down, body being free of the heavy armor it had been burdened with all day, to be dressed in more comfortable clothing. It all was pleasant, and Leon let out a sigh of relief as he sunk into the chair, feet propped up on another. It wasn’t too uncomfortable, but Knives had been laid in his bed, and Leon didn’t find it in his best interest to take his chances and sit by him – so he opted for the chairs instead.

Speaking of Knives….would he be alright? His wounds were pretty bad, and he took quite the beating compared to the knight – but Leon was just glad he wasn’t killed, much less eaten alive by that behemoth, otherwise the Longinus was going to have to be used to fish a person out of a beast’s stomach ( how gross that would be, ew ). It couldn’t be helped, Leon was all too worried about the other’s well-being, there was no denying it at this point.

Now to wait…

After a while of sitting in the dark, Knives mind finally allowed him to dream. What did he dream of? Leon. Being saved. Their interactions. He was studying them so he could find out where they had begun becoming so protective of each other and when that started to turn into something more on his end. He couldn’t find specifics... just a gradual transition from hatred to... to caring. Having each other’s backs, supporting one another... Teasing each other with little to no bite... Perhaps, in some way, Knives always cared about Leon? Bah, whatever. It doesn’t matter, he can feel himself waking up.

And the first thing he questions when he does?  Where am I?

This was not his room. These were not his blankets. Those were not his chairs and that was not his brother in them. It was Leon. Knives, to let the other know he had awoken, grunts and tries his best to sit up. How’d he get here, and what is this? His clothes... these weren’t his clothes. And his wounds... they were gone! The plant inspects his body closer, nothing. No wounds or marks, but the pain was still there.

“Leon...” He whispers, voice unable to get any louder than that. “Where are we, Leon? Did we die...? Am I dead..?” He waits a moment, locking eyes with the knight in the chairs. 

Another man who has confidence in their own power, not like he hasn’t heard that one dozens of times before. However, it seems that this one has evidence to justify it; something Souther can relate with. Fingers subtly arch, talons always curious to pierce new flesh of other beings, but he bides his time. 

“As a martial artist I can feel the life energies of living beings, faint or as strong as they may be.” His tone matches the stranger, detached albeit with a slight curiosity as a fighter. “And yours is nothing like I have ever sensed from a human.”

“Really?” Knives falls silent for a moment before a smile appears on his lips. The poor man, thinking he was one of those lowly disgusting things? A human? Surely they weren’t that stupid.

[ ⸸ ] – “Oh shut up.” Leon replies, mustering a small grin. “I’m not the one bleedin’ all over the damn place, I’ll be fine.” No, he knew he wasn’t fine, but unlike Knives, Leon could hold his own and ignore the fact that his body was basically screaming from all the pain. If he was seen as ignorant and bullheaded by Knives, then so be it. The knight could care less.

Climbing up the stone steps that lead into the castle, a new challenge presented itself as the pain in his leg became unbearable: How many steps could Leon climb without making a single sound in reaction to the torture he was putting himself through? He had carried many men upon his back and within his arms before, especially if Leon was sustaining a serious injury, and while it had been at first horribly excruciating – it was eventually treated as nothing more than a sport, a game.

And this being Knives he was holding, Leon took extra care in making sure he focused more on his goal rather than his own well-being; which he knew he’d not only regret later, but would be the subject of yet another scolding from the pompous asshole inside.

Whatever.

Breathing became heavy as Leon walked Knives to the throne room with a rather quick pace, ignoring the fact that he started to limp in the process. The guards and servants stared at the knight and his companion in what was either awe or horror, as no mortal was insane enough to push their body’s limits in such a way that Leon was doing. Some had offered to help but were only met with rejection from the knight, soon commanding the guards standing at the entrance of the throne room to throw open the doors. They didn’t need to waste time by informing Mateus of their return — as for soon the doors were opened, there he sat in his throne with his legs crossed, a smug smile present upon painted lips.

“Welcome back.”

“Maybe not,” The paling plant wheezes. “But you’re still in pain. I can hear it.” But whether anyone could hear it or not clearly didn’t matter Leon who continued to push himself up the stairs with he bleeding creature held tightly in his hands. It angered Knives that Leon wasn’t trying to help himself which was itself a sign that he cared for Leon far deeper than he cared to admit. Had Leon been anyone else, aside from Vash, Knives wouldn’t have cared. Hell, anyone else and he might kill them after they succeeded in getting him to safety. But not Leon. Never Leon.

Knives hadn’t been paying attention to how far they’d gotten, he was too busy trying to stay awake... and he was failing. His head rolls and hits against Leon’s shoulder and his eyes rolled up into the back of his head. His breathing was becoming quieter and his arm had fallen over his side and now hung limply beneath him. “Leon,” He grumbles, looking up at the damaged face. “I hope you won’t mind if I lose consciousness for a bit... I’m feeling really...” And he was out. Cold. Gone. Still breathing but not there.

Nowhere but darkness where the only sound he could hear was the ba-thump of the knight’s heart against his ear. Such a relaxing sound, really.

The moment the doors swing open, the emperor is welcomed to the sight of the two. Damaged, badly wounded, Knives out cold in the warrior’s arms and unmoving in those blood-soaked clothes of his, and Knives would be greeted with nothing

“Apologies, I did not know it was illegal to simply glance at another person.” He rolls his eyes and crosses his legs. “The energy that radiates from you caught my attention is all. I figured it be rude to mention such a thing out loud, but here we are.”

The attitude was unappreciated and this worm was lucky Knives didn’t decide to cut their tongue from their mouth.  Instead, Knives takes a drink from his coffee and hums, his face a chilling calm... The kind someone got when they were pushed beyond their breaking point... or when they believed they were strong enough to crush everyone within a 7-mile radius.

Leon held onto those reins tightly, occasionally using a hand to make sure Knives’ grip around his waist never dared to loosen. As much as the idea sounded funny in his head, the last thing the knight needed was for that idiot to fall off the horse and into the sand, his wounds making him immediate bait for all the creatures that lurked in the desert — wait, was that idea even the slightest bit humorous…?

No, no of course it wasn’t. He couldn’t do that, why would he even allow himself to think that?

God, why was he caring so damn much about Knives anyway? He was a pest, nothing more than another one of Mateus’ pawns! Leon practically wanted to choke him out half the time, he just hated him, despised him, wanted him gone! There was only one person suited to serve the golden despot, and that was Leon, he wouldn’t let nobody else take that from him, he couldn’t – !! He’d kill Knives before he had that chance!

Or….was that what he just wanted to keep telling himself? Leon didn’t want him gone, certainly not. He hadn’t despised the blonde for anything at all, and that hatred…that hatred was nothing more than just annoyance. He couldn’t hate Knives, he just couldn’t.

He allows his hand to brush over the ones around his waist.

…Just, what was Knives to him now? Sure, the two of them got into a lot of spats that often needed the intervention of Mateus, but lately things felt different. They had each other’s backs a lot more than they’d admit, making sure the other was okay and not in critical condition, they’d even be nice for only a moment before turning around and continuing to bark at one another like rabid dogs as they had been seconds before. It was baffling, and Leon was now surely convinced that he might like Knives.

Maybe “like” was an understatement. It felt more than just “like”.

Leon dwindled within his thoughts for awhile, the sound of howling wind in the distance being the only thing that broke the silence between them aside from the galloping stallion’s grunts and snorting. His hand touching with Knives’ became more frequent, and either Leon was too lost in his pondering to notice or he likely just didn’t care.

Eventually, they made it back to the mountainous empire, getting through the warp point with a quickness before making way to the castle gates, where Leon and Knives would have to leave the horse and continue on foot. Again, Leon bit down on his lip as he pulled his leg over the saddle and carefully touched his foot to the ground below. Fucking christ, the pain was just getting worse! Ow!

The knight sharply inhales before looking up at Knives, his arms stretched outward.

[ ⸸ ] – “Hurry up and fall in my arms. If you hesitate, you’re just going to make that damn pain so much worse. We’re almost there, you can bear it for just a little longer.”

The first touch to his hands made Knives flinch. He half expected Leon to hurt him or something, but a part of him knew better. He wouldn’t hurt Knives anymore than he was already because Mateus would have his head!

….Right?

The horse decided to do a little kick and the movement made Knives jump forward with a sharp inhale. He presses his forehead to the armor of Leon’s shoulder and focuses on his breathing. In and out… in and out… keep your mind off the pain… In and out…

Leon… How..? Over 100 years of boiling and bubbling hatred for the human race and somehow this arrogant fuck had managed to break down those solid barriers and infiltrate the tower of his heart and left him vulnerable. Leon… Leon was so much more than just a loud-mouthed brat at this point… He was a creature of importance to Knives- and more than the Guns… He was something Knives genuinely cared for, perhaps on the same level as he might with Vash… or even more.

Knives frowns and dispells the thoughts from his head. There’s no way he could care about Leon that way! And yet, here he was, caring about him in that exact way. Fantastic.

Before Knives knows it, he and Leon had returned to the castle. His blue eyes travel up the walls to study the guards and detail set in the stone until Leon’s voice grabs his attention. He wants the plant to fall into his arms. Fall… Into his arms… Maybe Knives had lost a little too much blood? He was rather pale… No. Leon was saying to do so, so Knives will do so.

What a fucking idiot.

A grunt leaves him once more as a hand is used to push Knives up onto the saddle, being rather surprisingly careful about it. Even if he didn’t like him ( or did he? ), Leon knew that Knives was in horrible condition, and this damn horse would listen to every command given except kneel — so as much as it hurt the other, this was the best Leon could do.

Getting Knives settled on the stallion, Leon climbs up upon the saddle next, biting his lip down to suppress any and all sounds of pain. God, he hurt like hell, a pain that started down from his ankle to up to his shoulder blade. Leon would persevere however, a little body pain wasn’t going to stop him; not now anyway.

[ ⸸ ] – “Lean against me and hold on.” The Knight’s tone was serious as he pulled Knives close to his back, directing arms to wrap around his waist before Leon grabs the reins of the horse. They had awhile before they’d be back within the walls of the mountainous empire, but Leon would try to usher the horse as fast as it could go to shorten time.

Which then left him alone with his own thoughts for a moment as the stallion began to move.

Knives lets out a startled and pained gasp, finally sliding into the saddle with ease and being able to relax a bit… at least his legs for now. Knives tries to make room for Leon and visibly winces when he can sense the clear pain Leon was fighting against crying out for.

Lean… lean against him? Knives wanted to refuse to do that and insist that he was fine the way he was, but Leon- once more- was making him do it. He had pulled the blond close to him and guided his scratched up arms around his waist… oh god.

Knives can feel the heat get worse in his face as he sits there with his arms around the waist of the soldier… He… no! No, no, no! Knives wanted to shake his head but dammit… This was nice..? Despite all the injuries and blood Knives… Leon actually smelled pretty nice this close? Fuck.

The moment the horse begins to gallop away, Knives had to bite back any sound. Leon was facing this like a damn trooper and here this 153-year-old plant was… whimpering at the pain he was experiencing… This was nothing compared to the pain he had experienced with Vash… and when he blew off his entire lower half… nothing like that… But this was making him break, It hurt. It stung… Probably because he had come unprepared and paid for it..?

[ ⸸ ] – “Hey, easy now! Let me pick you up, there’s no need to fuckin’ stand!”

Arms are quick to scoop Knives up, a grunt escaping the knight’s throat as he slowly got onto his feet once more. No man could walk like this, and Leon wasn’t about to allow the other to try it either; it’d only cause more pain and discomfort, and the last thing he wanted was to hear Knives screaming all the way back to the mountainous empire.

“Just…Just let me carry you back to the horse. You’re in no shape to do shit.” He breathes, turning his head to look back at the Behemoth one last time before using a foot to grab the Longinus with a hand. They were both bloody, beaten, exhausted; but Leon had enough energy for the both of them, to carry Knives to the horse, hold him while riding said horse, and bringing him to the Emperor to have him healed ultimately.

Legs trembled a bit as Leon began to walk, his breathing harsh as he made way with Knives in tow to the large, black stallion that they rode to the area on. It had remained where they last left it, thank god ( with all the behemoth’s thrashing, it was surprising that it didn’t even make an attempt to run ). The stallion comes to Leon’s whistle, trotting slowly up to him and Knives before letting out a loud snort.

“Alright, climb on up there the best you can. We gotta get out of here.”

“N-No, I can stand on my own, I’m-!” It was no use, Leon was set on trying to make sure Knives moved as little as possible. He can see, feel, and hear the struggle the other was obviously having; trying to pick the plant up and suffering from those wounds of his. But, Knives keeps quiet. Not a word from him. Why? Leon was stubborn. No amount of arguing was going to get him to change. It was both a positive and negative quality of the boy.

“Neither are you.” Knives grumbles, huffing in frustration.  He can already feel the heat rising into his cheeks. While there wasn’t anyone here to see this… it was still kind of embarrassing.

How did this all even start? Knives knows that, deep down, he actually has feelings for the brat… So how did it get here? From finding the Irish knight annoying and insufferable to actively seeking out his company just because he wanted to? To being in the same room and finding peace and comfort within it? How did Knives end up from hating this asshole to loving him? The plant noticed it early- when his demeanor began to change. He took note that, every time Leon was around, he was happier. He was far more compliant and a pleasure to be around… and this change honestly scared Knives… but he welcomed it.

But right now that doesn’t matter. The concern is Leon who was clearly in pain with his heavy breathing and wobbly walking. The blue eyes of the plant expressed a blank stare of concern that was quickly swept away when the horse trotted over. Knives, realizing that this may hurt him quite a bit, braces himself as he attempts to pull his weight onto the horse.

And by God was he right.