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Master Knives has a variety of strange habits. Legato is privy to many of them simply out of necessity; if not for him, Knives would be forced to handle a good deal of them alone and while Legato is aware that he certainly could and did before they met—before Knives saved him, he finds the experience of providing aid to be more than fulfilling.
Tonight, Knives has requested a bath.
Legato isn't confused by this, so much. Knives likes to stay clean and seems rather fond of water as a whole, choosing to soak on a regular basis. But the additional request is… odd. Knives has asked for a good deal of water—more than enough to fill a pond or some similar man-made structure rich people like to have around—and for the water to be… salted? Salty? Legato lingers over the wording for a moment, confused, before opting to simply go and ask Knives. Better safe than to disappoint.
"It needs to have salt dissolved into it," Knives tells him. "Not table salt. Use… use the bags I had brought out."
Bags of… salt. Strange. But Legato wouldn't dream of arguing. What Master Knives wants, he will get.
Legato sees to the strange bath as he would any other task Knives has given him. He is thorough and careful, sure to check the water temperature multiple times and ensure the salt has dissolved properly, just as requested. There were important guidelines given and he will follow each and every one as best he can to ensure everything is just as it is needed when Knives finally arrives to the room that evening.
Legato waits at the door as Master Knives walks over to the small pool and kneels down to inspect it. Watches as he touches and then tastes the water, no doubt insuring it is both the correct level of warm and salted for his liking. Seemingly approving of this, he hums and stands to his full height again.
"This will do nicely," he murmurs, not even glancing over his shoulder. "Close the door, Legato."
Legato pauses, glancing at the door and then back to Knives. His hesitation must be too clear, even as momentary as it is, because Knives clears his throat.
"I would like you to remain here," he says, then repeats, "close the door."
Legato does as he's told. He clicks the lock closed on the door and turns back to Knives only to immediately spin back around, face burning, as he's met with the sight of Knives beginning to undress for his bath. He coughs, nervous, and says, "My apologies."
He hears Knives snort at this. It's an odd sound but not angry, nor cruel. He seems entertained.
"You may look," he says simply, followed by the sound of his body sliding into the pool of water. "I've nothing to hide."
Legato hesitates a moment, uncertain, then slowly turns. The sight he's met with is beautiful, because of course Master Knives is beautiful. Taught muscle and unblemished skin drifting lazily in the water, eyes closed as he leans back into the warmth and floats, drifts. Respectfully, Legato keeps his eyes from exploring the view too thoroughly. He is uncertain what reason Knives has allowed him the privilege of being present for this moment but Legato has full intention to be as respectful as ever for it. His Master is trusting him in a moment of vulnerability, in a display of his own glorious, alien self, and that is a gift he had never truly expected to receive.
And better yet, Knives cracks open one of his icy blue eyes and raises a hand from the water to beckon him closer.
Legato moves forward till he's at the edge of the pool. Here he kneels, watching curiously as Knives glides through the water over to him. It's strange to be looking down upon Knives like this; even with their subtle difference in height Legato is rarely in a position to properly look down at the other man. Knives, however, seems unfazed as he props his arms on the edge of the pool.
"Do you know how to swim, Legato?" he asks.
It's an odd question. There are few places one could learn on this planet. Fewer still that Legato has ever seen in his travels with Knives. And before that? Well, he'd never seen much of anything worth noting before that. Certainly nothing worth remembering.
"No," he answers sheepishly, as if he's done something wrong.
Knives, however, smiles easily at him. It's a rare expression; when Knives smiles it's usually more of a smirk, a sneer. Something with sharpness and bared fangs. This is relaxed and calm and brings Legato peace as well in its wake.
"Would you like to know?" Knives asks.
Legato isn't certain where he'd use such a skill. But he is willing to learn anything and everything his master might offer to him. So he nods.
"Take of your clothes," Knives tells him bluntly. "And get into the water here, where it's shallow."
Legato does as he's asked. He doesn't feel shy baring himself like this to Master Knives; he has seen it before, after all. And considering Knives is also nude it feels more appropriate this way, in fact. Like they are now on more equal footing—though Legato would never fool himself into thinking he is properly the equal to an angel.
Knives watches him, patient and oddly content, as Legato slowly eases his way into the water. It's warm, which is nice. Legato had understood swimming before now to be something one did solely in cold water, something to cool off in the heat of the suns, but this is much more like a very large bath, making the experience of being naked just a little more pleasant.
Once he's in the water, Knives holds a hand out to him and Legato blinks, surprised, before taking it and allowing himself to be gently pulled further out into the water. The deepest part of the makeshift pond is only just above his head so they get a good distance before it's nearing Knives' shoulders—mid chest for Legato—and his master stops.
"The water will hold you, if you allow it," Knives tells him, letting go of Legato's hand and drifting backwards. As he does, he stretches his arms out and kicks off the bottom, causing his body to lift up and float lazily out into the deeper area of the pool. "The more you relax, the easier it is."
The concept makes sense in theory, of course, but Legato feels distracted by something else as he watches Knives drift through the water. He's so pale in this light that his skin looks almost translucent, almost blue in the water, and Legato briefly feels mesmerized by it before he starts to see that it's not… simply that it seems this way.
Master Knives' skin is pale and slowly growing paler, more translucent by the moment as he watches. His arms, stretched out as he floats, start to show hints of the structure of the bones visible beyond them. Legato stares, fascinated, as a light filters from Knives' chest and he begins to realize he can see the fluttering beat of his heart—red and glowing—shining from his chest.
"What is… happening to you?" Legato asks, unsure. He's uncertain he's allowed to even question such a thing. But Knives raises to an upright position in the water and blinks at him, head cocked, before looking at himself and then back to Legato and answering him.
"Ah, this," Knives says, as if it's the most normal thing in the world. "This is why I wanted you to remain here. I am… vulnerable in this state. I trust you will keep me safe?"
An honor above any other Legato has known. He nods, throat tight, and Knives smiles at him. It's that same strangely serene smile from before. It barely seems to have left his face much at all since he entered the water. Legato feels blessed to see it at all, let alone this much…
Tentatively, Legato tries to relax his body as he eases himself into the deeper water after Knives. He feels the water slowly lift him, his body light and calm, and then he feels Knives move closer. Eyes closed, Legato stays as still as he can as Master Knives' hand gently presses at the small of his back until his lower half lifts and his body floats at the top of the water. When he opens his eyes, Knives and that angelic smile await him.
"A natural," Knives tells him fondly. Legato's face feels warm, a feeling that only increases when he realizes how much more of Knives is exposed, vulnerable. He is translucent and luminous, a delicate being as if he is made of glass. Legato can see the blood flowing through his veins, tiny spiderwebs of them across his cheeks as Knives leans closer. "Wait here," he says. And then he's gone.
Legato waits. He floats across the water, body slack, and stares at the ceiling above him. His body feels warm and pliant from the water and all around calm of the experience and he briefly considers closing his eyes. But he wouldn't want to miss when Master Knives returns, wouldn't want to risk being unable to witness some new beauty of him…
Suddenly, Legato feels his body jerked downward under the water. He gasps only a second before he's engulfed, though the sting of salt doesn't hit his eyes. Instead, the world around him feels thick and gooey for a moment. He blinks, vision blurring, and tries to make out what's around him only to feel himself suddenly pushed up to the surface again. He pants for air, looking around, and sees Knives surface next to him.
Or, rather, sort of surface. Really, only his head pops up—eye level so he can look at Legato. Under the water, Legato can see something shimmering around him. He reaches out before he can stop himself and touches Knives' cheek under the water. And before he can correct himself, apology on the tip of his tongue, Master Knives leans into his hand. So he cups his palm, thumb petting the other man's cheekbone.
"You're beautiful," he murmurs, awestruck.
Knives laughs. It's a pleasant, almost silly chuckle. Not one Legato can recall ever hearing. And stranger still, it's muffled by the fact Knives' mouth and nose are still below the water. It's… cute, dare Legato think such things of an angel.
The shimmering in the water shifts, almost ripples like the water itself, and Legato realizes they are some strange sort of tendrils stretching from Knives' body. They look delicate, fragile. Unlike the knives he usually produces to defend himself. They, too, are strange and alien and absolutely beautiful beyond words.
This whole sight, the whole experience, is an utter blessing to Legato. More and more he is left in awe he's been allowed to peer into this side of Millions Knives at all. Master Knives must truly trust him. Especially since he's yet to remove his face from where he's nestled it against Legato's palm.
"Strange man," Knives says, finally raising his head above the water enough that Legato can properly hear him. His teeth are sharp, lips a pale blue frame around them. "Another in your place would be afraid."
"You trust me to see this, to see you vulnerable," Legato replies. "What would I ever have to fear?"
This seems to briefly give Knives pause. He laughs faintly and reaches up to touch Legato's face. His hands are cold and wet—wetter than even being in water should supply. They seem to form themselves to Legato's skin, sticky. Legato leans into the touch all the same.
"I'll show you," Knives tells him. "I'll show you what others fear that you never have to."
Strange, almost romantic. Legato's heart flutters like the vision he sees in Knives' chest as he leans closer and their lips meet. Knives pushes his breath into Legato's lungs, mouth tasting of salt and sweet at the same time somehow. Legato goes limp like he did in the water, eyes closed, and feels himself float in the feeling. Blessing upon blessing…
He doesn't even realize he's been slowly drug below the water until he feels Knives' touch leave him. Legato blinks, confused, and looks around. There's nothing but the slightly murky water to greet him until he picks out some of the shimmering tendrils. They're all floating around him, moving delicately in the subtle currents of the water, and he watches in awe until something else clicks in his mind; the salt water doesn't sting his eyes. More than that, Legato realizes his lungs haven't started to burn from the desire to refill them. He cocks his head then turns to look behind him in the water. Only more tendrils greet him, waving like they mean to greet him. He can't find even the red-orange glow of Master Knives' heart down here…
So Legato waits. To see if his eyes or lungs will burn, and to see if Knives will return to him. The second thing happens before the first can even consider.
Master Knives is all around him, that slimey-cold touch wrapping around his body like an embrace. Legato fights the urge to gasp—in awe, in delight, not in fear. He feels the everything that is Knives cradle him tenderly, wholly, as he finally sees the beautiful fluttering animal of Knives' heart come into view near his face. He's being held, Knives' body somehow more liquid than solid as it curls around him protectively. Possessively.
Knives pushes off the bottom and they breach the surface of the water. Legato sucks in a breath and looks at the shimmering being that is Knives, whole of him still wrapped lovingly around his body.
"Beautiful," he gasps.
Knives is everywhere, all over him. Legato feels his touch on his spine, his chest, his thighs, his toes… Even the coolness of it feels welcoming somehow, wanting and gentle. The pleasant smile that greets him makes his chest ache.
"I could devour you whole," Knives tells him.
Legato knows this to be a saying of endearment, which Knives seems to mean it by. Legato also knows, somehow, that Knives means this literally as well. It's strange to have something mean such vastly different things.
"But I won't," Knives goes on. His hand comes up to cup Legato's chin. "It's much nicer to keep you this way."
"What way?" Legato asks.
Keep him trapped? Keep him useful? Keep him close? Keep him visible? Keep him strong?
Knives smiles and his fangs glitter a little in the light reflecting off the water. "Keep you warm."
Legato swears on all he knows that he would give anything to keep Knives warm. What a beautiful thing to be, to provide…
Being kissed shocks him from whatever further thoughts he may have on the matter. Legato blinks and then lets his eyes flutter closed when he notices Master Knives, lips pressed to his, is watching him as he kisses him. It's a bit strange, a bit impolite to stare, but Legato feels flushed and flattered by it anyway. To be watched, to be seen, to have his face desired in such a way… It makes him press hungrily into the kiss, tongue pressing into Knives' mouth to taste the salt and sugar again.
Knives can watch him. Knives can see anything of Legato he pleases. Knives could rip his body open to see his still twitching insides if he desired to. But, perhaps most amazing of all the divine things to happen today, Legato knows Knives wants him warm, wants him alive, so he would never. Even if he could. Even if Legato would let him.
"Are you…" Legato attempts the question when Knives parts their kiss. He's distracted; first by the uncertainty of his own question and then by the gentle touch of Knives' hand cradling the back of his neck. He tries again. "What has happened to you, Master Knives?"
"Relaxation," Knives tells him, thumb rubbing at the clipped hair on the back of Legato's neck. "I told you; if you let it, the water will hold you."
"It seems to hold you much differently than it holds me," Legato offers.
This gets a laugh. Knives leans in and butts his temple against Legato's shoulder like a cat showing affection. "Perhaps," he admits, "but the concept remains the same."
"It holds you," Legato hums, understanding. "Like you hold me?"
Knives nods. Legato feels the cool goop around him press just a bit closer, just a bit firmer to his body. Squeezing ever so slightly before relaxing again, like someone briefly tightening a hug. He misses the feeling the second it ends.
"Can I hold you?" Legato asks, without thinking.
Knives, however, thinks a long moment about this. Then he smiles and shifts a little. The move together back toward the shallow water where Legato climbed in and Legato feels the warm water come to surround him again instead of the cool slime. As it does, the coldness gathers itself near the front of him, where Knives' face is. Legato holds his arms out, slowly understanding what this means, until he feels he can wrap Knives' form up in an embrace.
He's so much more delicate than Legato would expect. Like a bird—light bones even in a strong frame. And Legato can feel his heart now, pressed close like they are. It flutters at the same rate he saw it flickering, steady and firm.
Knives rests his head on Legato's shoulder. Eyes closed, he hums contentedly and lets himself relax into the other man's arms. He is vulnerable like this, more-so than Legato had expected even when he'd said as much. Oh what a gift, oh what a miracle this is…
"This is nice," Knives says softly. "You're warmer than the water."
Legato's heart feels full to bursting. "Thank you," he whispers back.
They remain in the water a while longer, until Legato's hands go wrinkly, and then Knives finally pulls away and moves to get out of the water. He sits down at the edge of the pool and holds a hand out to Legato, helps him up out too. He's solid again, barely noticeable he'd been entirely see through only moments before the second he leaves the water. Legato sits next to him and looks down at the pool, finding himself mourning the fact he has to leave it behind. He won't miss the water, not really, but his heart already longs for the feeling of being held by Knives and holding him in return.
Master Knives gets to his feet and reaches a hand down so Legato takes it and allows himself to be pulled to his feet. They stand there a moment in silence, facing each other, before Master Knives clears his throat.
"Thank you," he says. As if he needs to. As if this wasn't the most beautiful gift Legato has ever been given.
"Thank you," Legato replies.
Another strange bout of silence passes between them. Knives' hand, still on Legato's, squeezes a little tighter than normal.
"I haven't been held by anything but the water in a very long time," he says finally, voice just slightly strained. He squeezes at Legato's hand again and Legato squeezes back. "It was… nice. Warm."
Legato says his next words before he can reconsider them. Before he can risk abandoning them completely in his own fear and flustered feelings.
"I could hold you again," he says, "whenever you like. Where ever you please."
Knives' eyes go hazy a moment and he seems to actually think about it. Legato wonders, briefly, if he's considering a punishment or proper scolding for Legato even suggesting the idea. Instead, he slowly brings Legato's hand up to press the back of it to his cheek. It's still slightly cool but growing warmer by the moment he's out of the water. That serene, angelic smile graces Legato's vision again.
"Could you?" he asks, voice lilting with fondness. "Would you?"
"You would honor me with the privilege," Legato tells him earnestly.
Knives laughs and again it's that chuckle Legato's never heard until today. So fond, so utterly dripping with what he can only consider adoration now. Especially with Knives gently pressing his cheek against the back of his hand.
"I can honor you now, if you like," he says.
Almost frantically, Legato reaches out his free hand and goes to wrap it around Knives before stopping himself. He hovers, uncertain, before Knives steps into his space and leans against his chest, welcoming the embrace. He releases Legato's other hand so he can wrap both of them around him drawing him in so they're pressing as much skin to each other as they can. Oh to be one, oh to press together until they have no idea where one ends and the other begins…
"Warmer than the water," Knives muses, cheek pressed against Legato's chest as he relaxes into his arms. "So much warmer."