#Wolfwood's hair took so long for me to figure out but I like how it turned out

[idsfantasy]

Teru Vash Week Day 6 prompt (that I hijacked for my Independent Chibis AU since it's inspired by Teru Vash): Hidden in Plain Sight

I like to imagine with this drawing that the group got separated during a chase and is trying to meet back up, but Wolfwood didn't notice Vash hitching a ride on the Punisher in the confusion

[fruitsoxs]

I'll be waiting this can i request my woowoo with reader.

She have long hair and need help trim it ( cause no man land Its God damn hot). She ask vash first, but somehow he suggest to wolfwood ( he's really good on that). At first wolfwood says " why you trim it, it looks good on you". In agreement he will cut her hair as the reward is A kiss 😳 PS ( wolfwood kinda like touch her hair it so soft and caught him Its really embrassing him)

Thank you for reading this !

I love you writer ITS MAKE ME MELT OMG

😳😳😳🥺🥺🥺

i love just small fluffy things like this

pairing(s); wolfwood x reader warnings; some swearing notes; some fluff for my favorite day of the week! ty for this cute request!

“Why don’t you ask Needle Noggin?” Wolfwood huffs, crossing his arms over his chest. He’s trying his best to look indifferent about the entire situation. When, in reality, his chest is fluttering at the thought of helping you cut your hair. There’s a small blush on his cheeks that he’s hoping you can’t see. He’s outside of the inn you’re staying at, smoking under the light of the moon.

You sigh and run a hand through your hair. “I already asked him- he told me to come to you.” You explain. Of course he did. He tries his best to hide his embarrassment by groaning in annoyance. He stands up straight, throwing his cigarette on the ground and crushing it with his shoe. He leans towards you, looking over your features. 

“What about the shorty?” “Meryl? She’s already asleep. Please help me out? Just this once?”

His curious eyes trail over your figure, up to your head. He cocks his head to the side “Why do ya want to cut it anyway? It looks good.” he points out, causing your cheeks to light up. “I just…It’s getting too long. I’m ready for a change, y’know?” You find yourself avoiding eye contact with the man. He’s always making you feel so flustered.

He can’t help but admire your cute little flustered expression. It helps him build the confidence he needs to actually do this. You see, he’s got a little thing for you. He thought you were pretty cute from the moment he laid eyes on you. After getting to know you though, well, his feelings just took off. Doing something like this almost feels a little too real for him, too intimate. Usually he would say no right away, but seeing you under the moonlight… 

After a while he lets out a sigh and nods his head. “Alright fine.” he finally agrees, but there’s a hint of mischief in his dark eyes as he leans closer again. “I’ll trim it up, if I can get a little reward afterwards.” a smirk rests across his features. “Oh? And what kind of reward is that?” You ask, rolling your eyes at his little cocky gesture.

His heart stops for a second. Should he say it? 

Fuck it.

“I’ll trim your hair if you give me a kiss.” he finally says, hoping that the nervousness in his eyes isn’t so easily seen. Your own eyes seem to widen at the comment, red covering your cheeks and ears as you stutter out a little response. It’s adorable, and Wolfwood can’t help but smile.”Okay…” you whisper. Wolfwood turns his head so his ear is facing towards you, cupping his hand around it.  “What was that?” He asks, pretending as though he couldn’t hear you..

You pout a bit and repeat your words., this time a little louder. “I said okay!” He grins and wraps an arm around you, leading you back into the inn. “Well then, let’s go sweetheart.” 

You make your way inside, and to his room where he has you sit down on an old wooden chair in front of him. He grabs some dull scissors, and looks over at you. “How short am I going?” He asks, hovering his hand above your head. Your shrug, keeping your eyes forward and away from him. “Just take a few inches off.” He nods, and gets to work. He starts by combing through your locks gently. It’s so relaxing, he finds himself almost unable to stop. Your hair is so soft- so beautiful. His fingers drag through your hair, separating any knots as gently as he can. You sigh a bit, and lean back, enjoying the attention you’re getting.

He finds himself blushing again. He likes the intimacy of the moment. He finds himself petting through your hair, even after all the knots are gone. “You’ve got soft hair.” he comments out loud suddenly. Even he is surprised by the sudden admission. You let out a soft chuckle. “Thanks.” And the room falls silent again.

Wolfwood shakes his head and grabs the scissors, holding them with a nervous smile. “Well, here goes nothing.” he mumbles before he starts to trim your hair. He works quietly, and cautiously. Careful not to make a mess of your hair. He can’t imagine he would get his kiss if he made you look stupid. He’s done this before plenty of times though. He cuts his own hair whenever it gets too long, and he’s cut Vash’s hair before.

When he’s done, he steps back and admires his work. It’s a little messy, but it doesn’t look back.

“And done.” me murmurs softly. You run your hands through your own hair, and smile. “Thanks a bunch Wolfwood!” you jump up and disappear off into the bathroom for a second, probably checking the damage. When you come back you’ve got a cute little smile on your face. 

“It looks great.” you comment stepping closer towards him. You lean forward, and press your lips against his cheek gently. You pop back and smile cheekily. “And that’s your reward!” You exclaim, cheeks burning pink. You then turn around, and quickly leave the room.

Wolfwood puts a hand against his cheek, his own face bright red. 

“Wow.”

[adelha-mathilde]

A Fateful Dance (Prince!Vash AU) drabble

content: Vash is given the chance to dance with the one lady he is falling in love with. Which leads into a deepening relationship.

This formal ball would be the death of him. That is what Vash thought as he sat next to his twin. Both of them seated on thrones as the nobles waltzed in time. While Duke Legato stood at attention beside King Nai to look as stoic as ever. Vash could feel his eyes drift closed for the upteenth time to fight to open them again. His boredom apparent as Wolfwood nudged his seat with a foot. The knight soon placing a hand on the shoulder of the crown prince. "Oi. Stay awake and try not to fall over. Perhaps you should ask one of the many ladies present for a dance, hmm?Like say a certain Countess Mathilde?"

Vash felt his whole body heat for him to sit up straight at the implication. His face burning as he grumbled under his breath. "Low blow, Nick. She isn't even in the room right now. Probably still in the kitchen or already retired for the night." But Wolfwood just snickered to lean in and whisper to his best friend. "She's actually out on the balcony. Her guardians already told me to get your rump in gear and ask her for a dance out there. Away from the mob so you can be alone together."

The crown prince was on his feet before his brain registered that last sentence. His gaze going to the balcony automatically as Duke Legato scowled at Vash. But then a servant came forwards to slip a letter to King Nai. Which he read promptly to then grin. His words warm and full of amusement as he spoke. "It would seem that the Countess Mathilde is asking for my brother to help her with a personal matter. So I have been asked to excuse you for however long such takes for your assistance. With the added incentive of an entire bottle of vintage absinthe to sweeten the barter. So get gone already."

Vash nodded to all but skip down the steps and rush to the balcony. Where there awaited a lady currently gazing at the stars overhead. Vash stopped at the sight of her to take in her visage. Cascading waves of silver white hair. A slender figure that spoke of grace and poise as well as toned strength. Her gown was a deep blue adorned with silver and crystals. The faint scent of lavender for her perfume. Yet what took Vash in were her eyes. The most striking azure blue he had ever seen. Like the sea during a winter thunderstorm. Yet in those depths there was warmth and delight when she spotted him. Her smile sweet for her to reach a gloved hand out to him in offering. So he took her hand to kneel before her and place a kiss to her hand. "Sorry to make you wait. By the heavens do you look gorgeous, Adelha."

Adelha chuckled to tug on his hand so he would stand up. A lilt in her words as she spoke with sweet warmth. "I don't mind waiting for a good soul. Especially a soul of sunlit hues like you, Vash. I take it your twin was more than willing to accept my barter of vintage absinthe for your company?" Vash smiled to give a huff of amusement. "Yep. But I think he would have let me go even without that added incentive. He really likes you a lot and knows that... Well..." Vash felt his whole face and neck burn as he said with a bit of shy sweetness, "He knows how much I favor you..." Adelha beamed with sheer delight to take both of his hands in her own. "A blessing in it of itself. But come. This song is a favorite of mine. So let's not waste the given opportunity."

Vash nodded to sweep Adelha into a waltz right away. Their steps in tune to sway and shuffle about the balcony as the music played. With Vash finding himself smiling with genuine delight as Adelha followed his lead. The scent of lavender touching his every breath with the faintest trace of ocean salt. But he found himself captivated to continue the dance as the next song began. Sweeping Adelha off her feet at one point for her to laugh in enjoyment. The sound akin the bells chiming as Vash laughed right along with her. His tension and fatigue completely banished as he savored his time with a beautiful lady.

Four whole songs came and went before Vash paused to give them time to rest. Which had Adelha hum before she stepped closer. Her words heated yet sweet as she spoke. "Might I be selfish and ask the gentleman for a kiss?" Vash felt his heart skip as the request registered. Yet he found that it was one that he deeply desired himself. So he took a breath before he made his move. Leaning down to gently place his lips to hers as his hands rested at her waist. She tasted of honeyed mead and citrus. Which had his body burn even as he snuck a second kiss from the lady. Her own sigh washing against his mouth for her to nip at his lower lip in a third kiss. But the two were then interrupted from a loud cough coming from the entranceway back into the throne room. Making both Vash and Adelha turn to see King Nai standing there. The elder twin not looking the least bit surprised for him to all but glare at his twin. "Vash. Do I have to swoop in and protect the lady from the wiles of an eager angel?"

Vash squacked to look to the sky even as Adelha chuckled openly. But she soon made her move to just outright lift Vash up and right off the floor. His yelp a loud one as she tossed him into the air before catching him. Making King Nai blink in stunned shock as Adelha set Vash back onto his feet. Her words laced with both amusement and mischief. "Fret not, Nai. If Vash was really stepping out of bounds with me, I would readily toss him across the balcony and back into the throne room. But I appreciate the thought of you keeping me safe." Vash felt his whole body heat with a blush for him to gulp and ask, "May I request you never toss me over the railing then? I don't do well with heights..." This had both Nai and Adelha burst out laughing for Nai to motion that the three of them return to the throne room. His words filled with amusement. "Enough of that. I want my turn to dance with Adelha before the meal is served proper."

[klcthebookworm]

WIP Wednesday

So Chuck volunteered to go get Milly so he could crawl through the ventilation shafts.

One of the pairs of legs jerked under the blanket and then moved to the side as it sounded like someone sitting up on the mattress. “What’s wrong?” Milly-ma’am’s sleepy voice asked.

“Heard something,” a male answered her with a rough voice. “What the hell are those freaks up to?”

“At this time of night?” Milly-ma’am sounded a little more awake.

“They’re getting antsy and Knives hasn’t done anything to you yet.” A human man wearing just a pair of pajama pants left the bed and stalked to the room’s door. “I’ll just remind them to save it for daylight.”

Chuck held his breath. Had Hannah figured out this chance and that’s why she was so grouchy about the priest?

The black-haired man pressed buttons next to the door. The door didn’t open. He tried again. It didn’t open. “What the hell? It’s locked?”

Fish sticks. Now he had to deal with a guard. Hopefully Hannah wasn’t having problems.

“Let’s rock,” flashed up on his faceshield.

“And ride,” he whispered. He shoved forward. The grill gave way and he curled up in the air so he landed on his feet. He bounced on the mattress. Milly-ma’am squealed and scrambled back toward the wall. Chuck pressed his tail against the mattress to steady himself and pulled the blaster out. He had it out and leveled with both hands like he saw Dad and Vash do by the time the priest whirled around.

“Chuck!” Milly-ma’am exclaimed behind him.

Chuck didn’t twitch. Dad never did and neither did Vash. Wolfwood lifted his hands open wide up by his head. “You are a wrenchhead. I have been kidnapped or captured once a week starting when I was a few hours old and I know only wrenchheads have the keys after you’re locked up.” Chuck smirked. “Only you don’t because we changed the key, we changed the key.” He sang the last bit. Greasepit always hated when he and Hannah sang songs.

“Chuck, how did you get here?” Milly-ma’am asked.

“Rode the bike. Hannah had her look for plant power not on the map so we could get all of you out.”

“Does Hannah know where you are? Does she know you have that gun?”

Chuck jerked and looked over his shoulder at Milly-ma’am. She was frowning. “She gave the blaster to me; I didn’t steal it!”

“And where is Hannah?”

“She went after Vash and Meryl-ma’am.” Chuck turned back to watching Wolfwood. He hadn’t moved.

“So we’re all supposed to meet up and?” Milly-ma’am asked.

Chuck sighed. “Mom’s way. Mom’s way is sneaky. There’s too many of Vash’s sisters here to go boom.”

“Okay, no going boom,” Milly-ma’am said. “And no shooting Mr. Wolfwood.”

“What?”

“If you shoot him, it will make me sad. And it will make Vash sad.”

“He’s a wrenchhead!” Chuck looked over his shoulder at Milly-ma’am. “He had the key; he’s working for Knives!”

Milly-ma’am took a deep breath. “Knives threatened his children. So he has worked for Knives and trying to help Vash. Have your parents or uncles ever pretended to help Limburger to actually stop him?”

Chuck looked back at Wolfwood but he was thinking hard. “I think Uncle Modo had to be a duplicate agent but that was before Hannah so a really long time ago. Limburger doesn’t fall for that now.”

“Wolfwood has been doing the same thing,” Milly-ma’am said. “He has kept me safe from the other Gung-Ho Guns, and he got my stun gun back.”

“Vash needs help to defeat Knives and keep everyone alive,” Wolfwood said.

Chuck snorted. “Good luck getting him to listen to a teamwork lecture. Bro has ignored Hannah about it and you all got kidnapped.” He put the blaster into its holster.

Milly-ma’am sighed and climbed out of the bed. “Okay, I’m not escaping in my pajamas. Nicholas, go change in the bathroom.”

He lowered his hands. “Are you sure about that?”

Chuck rolled his eyes. “I have an older sister. I give her clothes privacy or she’s gonna tie my tail into a knot.” He climbed off the bed and went to the table.

“Fair enough,” Wolfwood said. He gathered his clothes and went through another door next to the bed.

“Knives let you have your stuff?” Chuck asked.

Milly-ma’am dug into her suitcase. “I don’t think Mr. Knives cares since he has Vash. At least, the weird box monster brought back my clothes that it stole.”

“Wow, he really is bad at kidnapping. Limburger’s goons know to shake us for stuff Hannah can use to blow up everything.”

“They’ve had practice. Now face the wall.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He stared at the wall behind the table and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets so he didn’t press the buttons over there.

[screechthemighty]

Me: oh this chapter is gonna be just a short little romp before we get to the emotionally heavy stuff, I'm sure it will be fine

The chapter: is not that. But it is here now! I don't think there's any big CWs this time, but let me know if you think I should tag for something!

the unknowable tomorrow | a tristamp fanfic part eight: meryl

Disclaimer: this chapter was probably/definitely subliminally inspired by "if only there was some way to ease the pain" by AO3 author SpiritusRex, since I read it before I wrote this. You should read it also if you want some Vash hurt/comfort (mostly hurt though).

.

She had one thing to be grateful for: the portals had been consistent about not spitting her out in front of strangers. This time, she emerged in the space between two large tents. The sun was starting to set. There were definitely people here; she could hear a lot of raised voices. It sounded like two different debates were happening in each tent to either side of her. Meryl carefully backed away. I need to find Vash. That seemed to be the one constant here, and she was sticking to it.

It didn’t take long. Almost immediately after she backed to the outskirts of the encampment, she saw something moving out of the corner of her eye. A figure stumbled away from the tents, stopping to drop to their knees once they were a good distance away. The puff of blond hair told her who it was. Meryl jogged over. Remember, you’re Claudia, you’re not Meryl, he knows who you are and you’ll just have to live with that. “Vash!” she called.

To her surprise, he flinched at the sound of his name. Dread was written across his face as he lifted his head, but it quickly turned to surprise. “Claudia?!”

His voice was hoarse. His face looked ashen green. Meryl ran faster, nearly falling over herself to reach him. “Are you okay? Are you sick?” She reached out to rest her hand against his forehead. He didn’t feel feverish. He actually felt cool, though there was still some sweat sticking to his face .

“N-no, I’m not…I don’t think so?” Vash grinned anxiously. “I just needed some air. When did you get here?”

“Not too long ago. Are you sure you’re not sick? You look awful.”

Vash’s smile slipped. “...that obvious?”

“Yeah, kinda.”

His smile faded away to nothing as his eyes dropped down to his hands (the left hand still not amputated, she noticed). “...I’ve had a headache all day,” Vash admitted quietly. “And every time I eat, I feel sick. Everyone was starting to get really annoyed and it made me feel worse, so I thought I should go..”

“Annoyed at you?”

“No. I think they forgot I was there, actually.” He glanced back up at her. “Are you okay? It seems like it’s been a rough year for everyone.”

Last time wasn’t rough? It must’ve been pretty bad to be noteworthy. “I’m hanging in there.” Meryl carefully took his hands. They were cool, too, though that alarmed her less. He had cold hands as an adult, too. He’d tormented Wolfwood with them more than once during the long car drives. “You should get some rest. Which tent is yours?”

“I don’t have one.” He pointed behind her. “Ship Three’s not that far off. We were just going to head back when the negotiations were done for the night.”

Meryl looked over her shoulder and did a double-take. She’d seen Ship Three before, but only once, and she’d been too busy worrying about Vash to really register it. Seeing it again was almost as disorienting as the time travel had been. How could something that big stay in the sky? It didn’t make any sense. “Negotiations…?”

“Supply distribution and stuff.” Vash kept holding her hand as he pulled his legs up to his chest. “They’ve been arguing a lot about the Plants lately.”

Nothing’s changed there. “They’re not dragging you into that, are they?”

“...sometimes.”

No wonder he has a headache. He’d been so skittish about being the center of attention before. That was probably worse when the stakes were higher. Meryl gave Vash a quick once-over, checking for signs as to what might be wrong. “Did you do something different with your hair?” she asked.

“...No?”

“It looks darker on the sides.”

Vash shrugged. “It’s been like that for a while. Hair gets darker when you get older sometimes.”

He wasn’t wrong, but something about it… bothered her. He didn’t seem worried, though, not even in a trying to deflect way. Maybe Independent hair worked differently. Before Meryl could ask, some shouting behind them got louder.

“... you’ve held on to two, we’re down to just the one, so don’t fucking tell me not to …!”

Meryl immediately stood up. “Come on,” she said.

Vash stood as well. He’d definitely gotten taller. “Where?”

“Somewhere that isn’t here. We won’t go far, promise.”

Vash didn’t argue. She only let go of his hand long enough to double-check that the Derringer was still loaded. Hopefully she wouldn’t need to use it; Roberto had tried to give her lessons when they were on the road, but it had gone about as well as driving lessons had gone with her dad (which was to say, frustrating and stressful for everyone involved). Vash had to step in at one point. He was a much more patient teacher. She’d actually managed to hit something once he explained it to her.

Funny; Meryl couldn’t picture this Vash holding a gun. Even as he grew taller and closer to the Vash she remembered, she just couldn’t. He was too sweet, too young. No child should be in that situation.

To be fair, neither should an adult.

Eventually, the sounds of shouting grew inaudible. They reached a large rock that was mostly flat on top and climbed it. Meryl had to help Vash up. He seemed sluggish, even beyond what you’d expect from a normal headache. “How long have you been feeling sick?” Meryl asked.

“...it’s not that bad…”

Meryl sighed. “You’re really bad at lying, you know.”

Vash pouted, but after a pause, he relented. “A little while. We’ve been on the road for a couple of weeks. A lot of Plants started going red all at once. It’s only really been bad for a few days, though.”

“When did you sleep in a real bed last?”

“Last night. I thought it would help, but…” He shrugged. “Maybe I just need another night.”

“After all that work? You’re probably going to need more time than that.”

Vash shook his head immediately. “They want me at another settlement. Actually…two different settlements. That’s what they’re fighting about. We’re probably leaving tomorrow once they decide who gets me first.”

Meryl stared at Vash in disbelief. He looked even worse in the rising moonlight. Seriously, has no one noticed? Or was he just comfortable letting his guard down around her? She sure hoped it was the latter. “Do you have to? I mean…is it an emergency?”

Vash looked confused. “They need my help. Of course I have to.”

“Yeah, but…if you’re not feeling well, you should try to get better first.” Meryl rested a hand on his shoulder. He still felt a little too cold. “What’s wrong with their Plants? Can someone else help?”

Vash’s jaw tightened stubbornly. “I’m the Independent. It has to be me.”

“They have Plant engineers, don’t they? Or…maybe you can tell them what to do without having to go there…”

“ Don’t! Don’t…” Meryl flinched away. Was he crying? She hadn’t meant to do that. “Please, don’t, I…” Vash covered his ears and curled up so tightly, she half-expected him to turn into a bulb, like the other Plants. “I don’t…”

His shoulders trembled. Meryl couldn’t take it anymore; she peeled her coat off and draped it over his shoulders. “You don’t what?” she asked gently.

Vash peered out from the tangle of his limbs. She thought his gaze landed on her arm…her still-bandaged arm. Damn it, she’d forgotten about that. His eyes met hers before she could panic too much. They were still full of tears, hesitant, afraid.

But, underneath all that, she could’ve sworn they looked trusting.

“...I don’t want to go back out there,” he whispered. “I want to go back to the ship. I’m…I’m really tired.” He retreated back into himself, his voice muffled but still audible. “But I don’t want to be selfish. They need my help.”

Selfish. He thought he was being selfish . No wonder he’d started crying. “Oh, Vash,” Meryl said. “You’re not being selfish. You didn’t want to feel like this. It’s not your fault.” She moved closer and tried resting a hand on his shoulder again. When he didn’t flinch away, she kept talking. “Think about it this way. You won’t be much good to anyone if you pass out and fall off your thomas on the way there. No one will blame you if you want to take a break. Did they say how bad it was? Are they going red?”

“...no.”

“Did any of it sound like they might be going red soon?”

“I don’t think so.”

“So…maybe we can work something else out? Something that still helps and lets you get some rest?” Meryl glanced over her shoulder. “Is Brad back with you? Maybe you can talk to him about it.”

“You don’t think he’ll be mad?”

“No. Absolutely not.” And on the off chance he was, Meryl wasn’t afraid to chew him out for it. Vash clearly needed to rest. Unless the rest of the world was going to explode without him, they couldn’t deny him that. “I’ll talk to him with you. Okay?”

Vash was quiet, aside from a slight sniffling. Meryl had to lean forward to even try and see his face, but even then it was obscured. She let him take his time. Kept rubbing his shoulder and hoping her coat was enough to get him warm again. Eventually, Vash lifted his head. The tear tracks on his face only made him look more fragile, more sick. “Okay,” he whispered. “Okay.”

Meryl’s shoulders slumped with relief. “Good.”

They sat on the rock until the night chill started really kicking in. Meryl probably would’ve kept them out there longer, just to be sure everyone had stopped fighting, but Vash noticed when she started shivering. Heading back into camp so he could trade her coat for his cloak was the only compromise they could come to. “I guess it’s a bit too small for you,” Meryl relented as she put it back on. “Seriously, when did all of this happen?”

“Past couple years.” Vash adjusted his hood, covering up more of his face. He’d managed to wipe most of the tears away, but he still looked drained. “I wish it would stop. I keep growing out of everything.”

“You can reach more shelves than I can, though.”

Vash smiled. Meryl would’ve counted that as a victory, but it fell off his face the second he saw Brad. Vash clutched her hand so tightly her fingers ached. She squeezed back anyway. I’m here. I won’t let them send you anywhere.

“Okay, we’re done here,” Brad sighed as he approached. “We can figure the travel plans out in the morning.” He did a double-take when he saw her. “Claudia, right?”

“I don’t want to go,” Vash blurted. His hand was shaking. “I’ll go if they’re dying, but if they’re not…I want to stay on the ship. Please?” Vash’s voice broke, the fear and desperation bleeding through. “Please, I’m really tired, I don’t feel good…”

“What do you mean?” Brad’s entire demeanor changed, going from fed up and exhausted to, for lack of a better way to put it, crisis management . He stepped forward and dropped to one knee to try and look at Vash. “How bad?”

Vash sank deeper into his cloak. “My head hurts. And my stomach. I…I just want to sleep.”

“Vash, let me look at you.” Vash pushed the hood off, letting Brad carefully examine his face and check his temperature. Meryl didn’t think he liked what he saw. His eyes darted to her; she nodded in response.

It’s bad. You have to take him back.

“...okay. All right.” Brad’s voice stayed calm as he stood back up. “You got a place to stay yet, Claudia?”

“No. I just got here.”

“Well, you’re welcome to come with us. We’ve got room on the ship.”

It felt more like a request than an offer, and Vash wouldn’t let go of her hand. That made the decision for her. “Sure,” Meryl said. “Thank you.”

I’m in too deep already. Might as well.

They rode back to the ship in silence. Vash still trembled. Meryl had to share a thomas with him, so she could feel it. She couldn’t tell if it was from fear or exhaustion. We just need to get him to bed. Then I can talk to Brad. He’d seemed worried, not disappointed. That had to be a good sign, right?

She could only hope.

They had to take a makeshift lift to get inside the ship. The whole situation gave her a sense of deja vu. It was just like when they’d gotten off the sand steamer; both then and now, she was entering a relic of the past, the ultimate piece of Lost Technology, and she was too worried about Vash to appreciate it.

A woman with short dark hair was waiting for them in the loading area. “Welcome back!” she called as she jogged over. “Wow, they really kept you two out there…” Her face grew concerned as she got closer. “What’s wrong?”

Vash shrank down into his cloak. Brad quickly took over the conversation: “We’re pretty wiped. Gotta get this one to bed.” He gestured back towards Meryl. “Luida, this is Claudia. The one Vash told you about.”

Oh . Now she could see it. Luida, Vash’s friend, the geoplant specialist who’d shown her the garden. She was a lot peppier here in the past. More like a cool upperclassman, not the somber and thoughtful scientist Meryl remembered. “Oh! Yes, Vash told me all about you!” She shook Meryl’s hand once she got down from the thomas. “Nice to finally meet you in person.”

“Likewise.” Meryl glanced Vash’s way. It was hard to see his face with his hood back up, but she could just make out the worried frown tugging at his lips. “Glad to see you’ve kept this place in one piece.”

“It hasn’t been easy.” Luida’s smile softened as she wrapped an arm around Vash’s shoulders. “Come on. Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

Vash didn’t say anything as the three of them escorted him through the halls of the ship. It was pretty quiet, and a lot of the lights were dim. Trying to simulate a day/night cycle when they don’t have any windows, maybe? At least no one bothered them as they walked through vaguely familiar hallways and to a specific door that she half-recognized from last time. “You rest ,” Brad said when they stopped at one door. “We’ll figure everything out tomorrow.” The door swished open; Meryl caught a glimpse of a bed, pictures on the wall, and what looked like a string of paper cranes hanging in one corner. “Got it?”

“Yes, sir.” Vash shuffled into his room, catching Meryl’s eye as he went. She smiled at him reassuringly. 

I’ll talk to them. We’ll work this out. I promise.

“See you tomorrow,” she said aloud, and desperately hoped that wouldn’t end up being a lie.

Vash hesitated. She didn’t see him smile, but his voice was more steady when he replied: “See you.”

The door closed behind him. Luida opened her mouth to say something, but Brad shook his head and gestured down the hall. It wasn’t until they were a good distance away that he stopped and turned to Meryl. “What happened? Tell me exactly .”

Meryl hesitated, scrambling to gather her thoughts. She wanted to tell him the truth, of course, but she also wanted to preserve Vash’s privacy. He’d been so scared to admit anything to her . He probably never would’ve told Brad or Luida if she hadn’t encouraged him to. “I got in late,” she said, “and while I was trying to find my way around, I saw him leaving. I was hoping to find you guys anyway, so I went to say hello. He didn’t look good, and when I asked him he said he had a headache and that eating made him feel sick. He mentioned a lot of Plants have been sick lately, so I thought maybe it was all the traveling and work. I told him he should talk to you about it.”

Brad kept his hands on his hips and his gaze on the floor, his jaw tense. Luida looked back the way they’d come, visibly worried. “Did this just happen?” she asked. “He seemed fine yesterday.”

“He said it’s been bad for a few days. I don’t know how bad, though.”

“Bad enough,” Brad said. “Vash never complains about anything. It’d have to be bad for him to say something.” He sighed. “I knew I should’ve put my foot down.”

Luida rested a hand on his shoulder. “Brad, it’s not your fault. He never said.”

“Well, common sense says we shouldn’t be crossing the Sand Sea every five days because these idiots can’t wipe their own asses - “ He took a deep breath. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Meryl said. “I’ve heard worse.” Driving for hours on end with Roberto and Wolfwood had introduced her to some very interesting sentences. “ Are those Plants in serious danger?”

“Didn’t sound like it to me, but I’m not an expert. I only agreed to take a look because they wouldn’t shut up about it, and Vash usually wants to take a look. You don’t think he should go?”

“Absolutely not. Not unless he has to. He might’ve acted like everything was fine before, but I don’t think it is.”

“Hmm. Just don’t know why he didn’t say anything sooner…”

Because he’s scared to say no. Because he thinks all of this is his responsibility. But that fell into the category of things Vash had said in confidence, and the partial theory she had for why was definitely not something Meryl wanted to share. She couldn’t say anything directly about it, but… she couldn’t not bring it up at all. Not if she wanted to keep this from happening again. “You should probably talk to him about that,” Meryl said carefully. Hopefully, they’d get the hint.

From the look on Brad and Luida’s faces, they did. “We’ll do it tomorrow,” Luida said, “when we sort everything else out. For now, I think we all could use some sleep. There’s some empty rooms this way, Claudia.”

But I just woke up, Meryl thought. It had been early in the morning when she’d gone through the last portal, and now it was late at night. She wasn’t tired at all . But she had to act normal, so Meryl just smiled and thanked them for the space. She could use the alone time to plan her next move.

The room was small, furnished only with a bed, a small table, and two stools. It did have a private bathroom with a shower, though apparently they were timed. Meryl settled for wiping the worst of the sand off and checking that her burn hadn’t gotten infected before sitting at the table to start sorting through her notes. There was a lot to consider. She’d probably need another one eventually, but she could make it work for now.

Meryl started by re-reading everything and looking for patterns. The incident with Vash as a baby aside, she was showing up whenever he needed help. Pulling him out of Ship Five’s wreckage. Staying with him when he needed company and saving him during the sand storm. Helping him advocate for himself when he couldn’t, or wouldn’t. But why?

He might not know what he’s doing , Meryl thought. He’d clearly been in distress when the portals had opened in July. Maybe it had been…instinct? A moment of pain and fear driving him to seek help, any help, and then accidentally sending her to other times and places he’d needed it? Did he mean to bring me? The portals had been calling to her. And…one other name. Her memories of the incident were still scrambled by panic, but she was pretty sure it had started with an N.

…it couldn’t be the Undertaker, right?

Meryl flipped back to the one page of information she had on him. Nicholas D. Wolfwood. Said he was a professional undertaker, but he was a little too good at killing things with that way-too-big gun of his. Roberto had remained convinced he was an assassin of some kind the entire trip, regardless of what Wolfwood or Vash said. It had struck Meryl as funny at the time that Roberto could worry about Wolfwood being a hired killer, yet still chew him out for stealing cigarettes and bar him from passenger seat privileges when Wolfwood wouldn’t keep his feet off the dashboard.

It was a lot less funny in light of what they’d learned in July.

Nicholas the Punisher. He, too, is one of my creations.

Meryl’s jaw tensed as she wrote a new sentence on the page: He works for Millions Knives. Theory: they wanted trust? Not that it mattered; he’d put sureir lives at risk either way it to July. It would explain a lot about Wolfwood’s behavior: his insistence on going with, his refusal to give real answers about his past or his profession, the whole incident with the worm…shit, had he been trying to kill her and Roberto? Two less people to worry about? Or had it just been a ploy to gain their group in the first place.

That asshole. She wished she’d kicked him harder. Or that she hadn’t let him weasel his way into their group in the first place.

Meryl flipped away from the page with a sigh. No, she must have misheard. Vash didn’t have any reason to ask for Wolfwood’s help. He could be a little too forgiving, a little too open-minded, but this was a different level entirely. On the very low chance Wolfwood had fallen through, she could always punch him if she saw him again. Right now, she had to worry about Vash.

What does he need? Rest, mostly. Someone to encourage him it was okay to rest. He seemed to trust her; he seemed to trust Brad, too, but had a harder time telling the man how he felt. Brad was more like his boss; she was the more experienced but also more approachable colleague you went to when you didn’t want to bother the boss.

So, I need to help him along. Make sure he says how he’s really feeling. And if she could figure out why he was so painfully eager to please, all the better. She couldn’t be sure, not without more evidence, but her gut said it had something to do with Millions Knives.

A lot of Vash’s troubles seemed to go back to him.

.

She spent most of the night organizing her notes. When she did sleep, it wasn’t for long. Meryl was woken up by the lights slowly turning back on, a simulated sunrise accompanied by the real thing outside. When she looked out the window, could see the tent camp off in the distance from there.

They stopped getting in contact with people at some point. She wondered why. Best guess, those negotiations over resources were only going to get worse. Luida had talked about how important her flora research was, and with the number of Plants they had, Ship Three was a walking target for bandits.

How can you make a decision like that? To turn your back on everyone, even if it’s for the greater good? She shivered slightly and turned away from the window. At least I don’t have to make a decision that big. For all the confusing ups and downs of this situation, she only had to worry about herself and Vash.

Someone knocked on the door not long after she’d gotten redressed. It was Luida with a tray of food and a friendly smile. “Good morning,” she said. “I got you breakfast. Do you have a minute to talk?”

“I do if there’s food.” Waking up had only made her empty stomach re-assert itself. “Is Vash up?”

“No, we decided to let him sleep in.” Luida set the tray down on the table and sat down in the stool opposite Meryl’s. “Brad and Vash told me about how you looked after him a few years back. Thank you so much for that. I know it meant a lot to him.”

A few years. Meryl wondered if there was a pattern there, too, but held off on writing it down for now. People might start asking questions if she wrote down every little detail she thought was important. “It was no trouble. He’s a good kid, really.”

“Even when he’s running out into sandstorms?” Luida said with a slight laugh. The smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, though, and Meryl understood why. That incident was looking a lot more worrying in light of what Vash had told her last night.

“No one’s perfect,” Meryl replied. “He did mean well, though.”

“That’s our Vash.” Luida rested her chin on her hand and sighed. “We’re going to tell him he doesn’t have to go. I’m just worried he might need to be convinced. Brad thinks if one or both of us volunteer to go instead of him, that might help, but we’ll need someone to make sure he doesn’t try to leave or keep working while he’s here. Can you do that?”

Meryl nodded immediately. “Yes. Absolutely.” That’s got to be why I’m here. “I think that will help convince him, too. He really trusts you two. If you say it’s okay, that will mean a lot to him.”

Luida hummed quietly. Her eyes had grown distant, regretful. “He does so much for us,” she said quietly. “Maybe we’re asking too much of him. It’s easy to forget, he’s just a kid.”

It was strange; that was all Meryl could see when she looked at him. Maybe it was because she’d known him more as an adult. The differences were so stark to her eyes–the half-formed mannerisms, the change in voice and face, all of it. She could see how he’d seem mature in the right situations, like when he was talking to the Plant engineers, but at the end of the day…

He’s just a kid with too much responsibility. But aren’t all of the kids of No Man’s Land like that? She knew the horror stories of humanity’s near collapse. Everyone did. She’d been lucky to be born into a generation that had structure, government, towns; every generation before her had faced worse and worse.

No one stays a kid for long in this place.

“I’m more worried that he tried to hide it from me,” Luida continued. “I really thought he was fine, but if he wasn’t…” She glanced Meryl’s way. “Yes or no, is that…something else I should talk to him about?”

Meryl nodded. It was the closest to an answer that she was willing to give. Luida only looked more mournful. “All right.”

Hopefully this wouldn’t all be too overwhelming for poor Vash. Meryl also hoped he wouldn’t be angry with her for saying something to them. He played his cards close to the chest in the future, too; she just hadn’t expected him to have developed that habit so early.

Maybe helping him break out of that is why I’m here, too.

Meryl tried to fill in the morose silence by asking Luida what she did on the ship. Luida immediately launched into an explanation of how geoplants worked. Meryl had never seen one in person before she’d come to Ship Three the first time; she only knew they existed, that they were mostly owned by city governments or food production companies, and that they were kept on a tight leash. Geoplants were incredibly valuable, even more so than water Plants. The only people who could hold onto them long-term were the people who could afford to protect them.

Or a flying ship in the middle of a sandstorm.

“So, trying to use them on the planet's surface is the long-term goal?” Meryl asked as she finished off her tea.

“That’s the idea. It’s…been on the back burner a bit. There’s a lot of fires to put out. I really wish I had more time to dedicate to it, but it is what it is, you know? Especially since we lost so many Plant engineers. I’m having to learn a lot more than I bargained for.”

Meryl’s next round of questions was cut off by someone knocking on the door. Brad had arrived. “Sorry to interrupt, but I’m not sure how long I can hold off those engineers,” he said. “We should talk to Vash before they start beating down the door.”

Is it really that bad?! He couldn’ve been joking, but Meryl decided it wasn’t worth taking the risk.

Vash didn’t answer the door when they knocked. Brad ended up having to unlock it and enter. The door shut, muffling any conversation between them to the point that she couldn’t hear it. Brad’s jaw was tense again when he rejoined them. Meryl caught a glimpse of Vash before the doors closed again. She thought she saw glowing around his eyes and cheeks, but couldn’t get a good enough look to confirm it. If Brad had seen anything, he didn’t say.

Maybe I was just imagining it.

“He said he’ll be right out,” Brad said.

“Is he okay?” Meryl asked.

“Still sounds pretty wiped. He’ll probably want to sleep again once we’re done. Might be a boring day for you. Or you’ll spend all day chasing him down and throwing him back in there.”

“I hope not. He’s too tall for that.”

“With the shape he’s in, you could probably knock him over with a paper fan.”

That was fair. And more than a little worrying.

Vash emerged wearing a sweater that was definitely too big for him, with the sleeves pulled down over his hands. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all. That didn't stop him from trying to smile. “What are we talking about?” he said.

“Food first.”

“It’s okay. I’m not hungry.”

Luida looked immediately, visibly worried. Meryl remembered the days after Rollo’s death and tried really hard to control her own spike of fear. Remember to make sure he eats, too. Even if it wasn’t much. “All right,” Brad said.”Mind if we all come in?”

It felt so awkward , crowding into Vash’s room like they were holding an intervention. Meryl tried to stay close to him without being too close. He sat cross-legged on the foot of his unmade bed and clasped his hands in his lap. “Look, it doesn’t sound to me like either of those Plants are going anywhere,” Brad said bluntly. “I can tell you what’s wrong, but from where I’m standing, they’re just not producing fast enough for them. Seeing as you look like you’re about to fall over…”

“I’m fine, really. I slept pretty good. I think I’ll be okay.”

Brad stared at Vash blankly. Luida jumped in: “I know you want to help, but I don’t know if I want you going out there. How do you really feel? Please be honest.”

Vash hesitated. He looked between them, then back to Meryl. She nodded encouragingly. “...I’m still tired,” he said quietly. “My head hurts. I…I don’t know…”

“If no one was asking you to leave, what would you want to do right now?”

“...sleep more…”

Luida nodded. “Then you should sleep. If you tell us what to try, we can go and fix it for you. How does that sound?”

Vash kept his gaze fixed on his hands. “It’s my job,” he said quietly. “You shouldn’t have to do it for me.”

“That’s how it works on a team. Remember when I got that lung infection and everyone else took over helping the geoplant? Including you? Or when Brad twisted his ankle and had to use crutches?”

“Brad kept trying to work when he twisted his ankle.”

Brad scowled. “Yeah, and you people kept stopping me,” he said. “I’m returning the favor. How long have you felt like this? Don’t lie to me.” Vash drew his knees up to his chest and didn’t say anything. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Nothing.

Meryl sat next to him and held out her hand. Vash took it without hesitation, his hand still wrapped in the sleeve. “It’s okay,” she whispered.

Vash let his face drop, his forehead resting against his knees. His hand squeezed hers tightly. “I didn’t…want you to be disappointed,” he said. “I didn’t want you to think I was being selfish.”

To their credit, Brad and Luida looked horrified in their own ways–Brad flinching, Luida being more visibly upset. “Oh, no, no, we wouldn’t do that. Hey…”

“I want to help, I do, I promise.”

“We know that, Vash. We’re not angry, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Not angry at you ,” Brad amended.

“Are you sure?” Vash asked.

“Completely positive.” Luida paused, only speaking again when Vash stayed silent. “So, here’s what we’ll do. We’ll tell you what they told us, then you can tell us what to try and we’ll go fix things. And we’ll only send someone back for you if it’s really bad. Sound good?”

“...okay,” Vash whispered. Meryl thought she heard him sniff before he lifted his head, but his face and eyes were dry when he looked up. “Sounds good.” He still didn’t sound thrilled, but at least he wasn’t insisting on going. “Are you staying?” he asked her suddenly.

Meryl nodded. “I can stay on the ship with you until they get back,” she said. “And you can show me those fossils you were talking about. After you get some sleep.” However much he’d slept the night before, clearly it hadn’t been enough.

And he can’t try to run off if he’s asleep.

Vash stayed lethargic as he looked over the symptoms Brad had been given and started writing down solutions. The lethargy didn’t stop him from fretting, though. Meryl got a little worried when he got up to follow them to the door. “...and double-check the lines, I know the sand can clog them up really badly…”

“You said that already,” Luida said gently.

“It’s important. They don’t like that.”

“We’ll double-check, I promise .” She tousled his hair. “This is a big help. I think we’ll be able to get this fixed in no time. We’ll contact you once we know they’re safe, okay?”

“Promise?”

“We promise. Right, Brad?”

Brad grunted, but it seemed like an affirmative grunt. “ Bed ,” he added sternly. “And if you try to sneak after us, Claudia’s gonna tell us.”

Meryl crossed her arms. You don’t have to make me sound like such a tattletale , she thought, but kept it to herself for now. No sense in starting a stupid fight when Vash still looked so guilt stricken. “We’ll see you when we get back,” Luida said.

“Please be careful.”

“We will.”

He still stared after them as they walked down the hall. Meryl kept one hand on his shoulder. “Are you sure you’re not hungry?” she asked. “If you show me where the cafeteria is, I can get you something to eat.”

“No,” Vash said. He drooped the longer he stood there, shoulders hunching, head lowering. “I should…probably sleep.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“...will you stay with me?”

“Of course.”

Once back in his room, Meryl pulled a chair up next to Vash’s bed as he crawled back under the covers. More things popped out to her as she looked around: the small shelf with a few books, his traveling bag tossed into a corner, the fact that the bathroom door seemed to be manual and had been left propped open a bit. “Do you want me to read to you or something?” No response. “Vash?”

When Meryl looked down at him, Vash was fully enveloped in the blankets, with only a tuft of hair visible. She had to lean close to hear how slow his breathing had become. Already asleep , she thought. Good.

Though that did leave her with nothing to do until he woke up. Nothing to do except be mildly nosy.

It was the pictures that drew her attention the most. They were all carefully arranged on the wall above Vash’s bed. Him with Luida, one with Brad (who did not look thrilled to be photographed), lots of him with other members of the crew. One picture was carefully taped in the center: a child Meryl recognized as Vash, another near-identical child but with paler hair angled the opposite way, and a woman standing between them. Dark hair, light eyes, a kind face.

Millions Knives , she guessed, looking at the other child. And…Rem? That has to be Rem. The woman Vash had cried for in the wake of the crash. She must not have survived. She would have been there if she had.

It’s not fair that you’ve been through this much.

Meryl’s gaze fixed on Millions Knives. He looked so normal. He would’ve been the same age as Vash when the Fall happened, the same age when he caused it, but she didn’t see a killer in that picture. There was no sign of the cold-eyed, knife-yielding monster from July; he was just a child, like his brother. Maybe a little more reserved, but that didn’t mean anything negative.

What changed?

She opened her notebook and flipped back to another section. The information she had about Millions Knives was even more sparse than what she had about Wolfwood. There was plenty about what he’d been doing, but his motivations were still a mystery. He hated humans and wanted to turn No Man’s Land into a paradise for Plants, but…from the look of it, he’d been raised by a human, at least for a little while. Vash didn’t hate humans. So…what happened? Had it only happened to one of them, or had they reacted to the same event differently?

How much does it matter? It doesn’t excuse what he was doing to Vash. Meryl shuddered at the memory. Who does that to their own family?

She moved her chair a little closer to Vash’s bed. He slept on, oblivious.

Meryl just hoped the sleep was actually restful.

.

She was just starting to get hungry when Vash suddenly sat up in bed, eyes wide. “Wh…” He looked around. His hair was a mess , practically sticking straight up, and he looked confused. “Claudia?”

“Hey, Vash. Are you okay?”

He blinked and looked around the room before rubbing his eyes. “What time is it?”

“Eleven-ish?” Meryl smiled sympathetically. “Same year, if that helps.”

Vash actually laughed slightly. “Oh. Good.” He stared down at his hands, glanced her way, and relaxed. “Sorry. I didn’t think I’d sleep that long.”

“Clearly you needed it. Do you feel better?” Vash leaned over to let her touch his forehead. He felt normal again; a bit warm, actually, but probably from the layers of clothes and blankets.

“A little.” He rubbed his eyes slowly. “I think I need something to drink. Maybe eat? I can’t tell.”

“What if we split something? Would that work?”

“I think so.” He stood up carefully. His first few steps were hesitant, then a bit more confident when he didn’t fall over. Meryl left her hat in Vash’s room as she followed him out; she had no way of knowing who on Ship Three might recognize her in the future, and she wanted to change her outfit up at least a little.

Like that will help much. Maybe she should’ve held onto the clothes from last time after all.

People weren’t quite so fixated on Vash here, Meryl noticed. The few groups they did walk past gave him a friendly wave, but there was none of the same intensely curious looks that he was getting the last time she saw him. It meant they were able to get to the cafeteria and grab something without much fuss. “Food’s not much different on here than it is out there,” Meryl noticed.

“Yeah, they’ve been trying to keep the food-generating Plants to a minimum,” Vash said. “A lot of them have been reprogrammed to help with the Geoplant.” Vash stopped so suddenly that Meryl almost ran into him. “Do you want to see it?”

“What?”

“Our geoplant.”

She already had, of course, but she wouldn’t say no to seeing it again. “Sure!”

The good news was, she didn’t have to fake being amazed. The sight of all the flora in the area was just as beautiful as it was the first time she’d seen it. “This is what Luida is working on, right?” she said.

“Uh-huh. She loves it in here.” Vash boldly stepped into a stretch of green, low-growing flora. Meryl followed carefully. It didn’t seem to hurt the flora, whatever it was. “I used to spend a lot of time in the one on Ship Five.” Vash walked forward, stopped, moved forward a little time. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground as he moved. “Our tree was in a different place. It made it easier to find…”

He trailed off. “Find…what?” Meryl asked.

Vash moved to the right, then up, before setting his food tray down and fully lying down on his side, cheek pressed to the green flora, like he was listening for something. When he didn’t get up, Meryl joined him, lying down in the same way. She thought she could feel vibrating, but that could’ve been the ship moving. She thought she could feel it sometimes in her room, too, whenever she held still.

“What are we listening for?” Meryl asked finally.

Vash’s eyes stayed defocused, before suddenly fixing on hers. They looked so vividly blue, it caught Meryl off guard. “The Plant. There’s always one at the center. They make the ground fertile. Help the flora grow. They sound different from other Plants.” His hand gently gripped the flora underneath him. “It’s nice.”

Meryl closed her eyes. “I don’t think I can feel it this time,” she admitted.

“They’re down pretty deep.” Vash was sitting up when she opened her eyes. “I could always hear our little more clearly through the tree.” He stared down at the tray of food, then started carefully diving it in half with a spork. They’d ended up getting two full portions, but at this rate, Meryl was pretty sure she could eat what Vash didn’t. Time travel did a lot for your appetite, and after weeks on the road, she was grateful for any meal she didn’t have to eat in the car. “Thank you. For staying and helping.”

“Yeah, of course.” Meryl dusted some of the flora off her face as she sat up and started on her full portion. “I’m glad I could help.”

“...I’m sorry about your arm.”

He didn’t look at her as he said it. Meryl wasn’t sure how to respond at first. Play dumb? Ignore the comment entirely? “It’s…” She cleared her throat. “It’s not your fault. It’s already healed. I don’t even notice it.”

That wasn’t entirely true. It had done a lot of healing during her last stretch of days with Vash, but it was still bright red underneath the bandage, and still got irritated if she moved her arm the wrong way. She was pretty sure it was going to leave a scar, and she knew that if he could see it, he’d be able to tell.

He knows already, though. Your arm is still bandaged. He’s not dumb enough to think it’s a new wound. He just hasn’t asked directly. Maybe because it was too unbelievable for him to ask directly about it. Trust me, Vash, this is weird for me, too.

“I’m still sorry. I wish I could fix people, too.” He started eating, careful and slow bites, like he was testing his stomach. “I could’ve helped.”

Meryl was suddenly very grateful Vash’s abilities didn’t work on people. He’d probably have worn himself out a lot sooner if they did. “It could’ve been a lot worse,” she said reassuringly. “I still have all my fingers and everything. Some people aren’t that lucky.” You won’t be. Or maybe you will. She still wasn’t sure about the timeline of his limb loss. As much as she wanted to think that she’d prevented it, she knew she couldn’t be sure. “You shouldn’t worry too much if it can heal on its own.”

“...are you talking about your arm or about the Plants?”

“Both, I guess. And I do mean it.” Her own first bites of food were a lot less cautious. While the actual substance of the meals wasn’t too dissimilar from what they’d eaten outside, everything did seem a lot fresher. “You should be worried about…I dunno. Do you have school here?”

“They’re going to have to eventually, for the other kids. I just read on my own.” Vash poked at the last full portion left before pushing it in her direction. “I’m good.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” He lay back down, curling up on his side and closing his eyes. “I’m sure.”

He was out cold by the time Meryl finished her full portion and started on what was left of the shared tray.

Do I wake him up? She looked around. There were still people moving around the space, but no one had told them to get off the flora. It was probably fine. She hoped so, at least. She finished eating, set the trays down, and lay down on her back to look up at the ceiling.

I don’t think that’s our sky , she realized. The clouds above her were pure white, not the pale tan of a distant sandstorm or the faint green of floating worms. She’d seen clouds in picture books; they were apparently only on planets where it rained. If it did rain in No Man’s Land, she’d never seen it.

This is someone else’s sky. A sky that, if the Beast was to be believed, belonged to a long-dead planet.

Meryl wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

Staring up at the fake sky became a bit too existential for her pretty quickly. Meryl sat up and tried entertaining herself by surveying all the flora she could see without moving too far away from Vash. She was pretty sure she saw lettuce coming up out of the dirt in bunches. There were potatoes nearby, too; she knew them by the flowers, purple with five petals and a yellow center. They were pretty much the only vegetable she knew of that could grow outside of a geoplant, if you knew what you were doing.

I wonder if the geoplants look this nice on the surface.

Meryl wasn’t sure how much time passed with her counting the flora she recognized, giving her own names to the ones she didn’t, and actively fighting the urge to grab some tomatoes (they grew on tendrils as it turned out, a lot like the ones Vash started in July but green) before Vash moved. She saw him roll over out of the corner of her eye; when she glanced his way, his eyes were open, staring up at the false sky. “Looks like rain,” he said when he noticed her staring.

“What?”

Vash sat up suddenly. “Oh, shoot, the - !”

Water started shooting out of the ground before he could finish the thought. Meryl shrieked and scrambled back towards the path. Vash followed, but he was laughing. “What’s that?! ” Meryl said.

“Sprinklers!” Vash tripped over his own feet as they got back onto the path, barely catching himself on Meryl’s shoulder. “For all the flora!”

“You didn’t tell me it was going to do that! ”

“I didn’t know they were going to go off today!” He was still smiling when they finally got to dry ground. “They won’t go for long. I’m really sorry.”

“It’s…” Meryl glanced down at herself. “I mean, I guess I don’t have to shower now…”

Vash started laughing harder, too hard to even apologize. Meryl probably should’ve been more miffed that the laughter was at her expense, but honestly?

She was just glad to see him smiling.

.

“They think these things used to be bigger?! ”

“That’s the theory.” Vash carefully turned the fossil over. The imprint of the long-dead worm had the build of a juvenile, but was about as big as a fully-grown one. “You really don’t like them, huh?”

“ No .” Meryl shuddered. “They make my skin feel all crawly. One laid eggs in my bed and they hatched while I was sleeping.”

Vash shuddered, but laughed. “Yeah, that’s pretty gross.”

“It was so gross! We had to throw the whole bed out! Ugh .” She still had nightmares about that sometimes. All the little legs were the worst part. “The fossil is cool, don’t get me wrong. I’m just glad they’re not that size anymore.”

“Except the grand worms.”

“Except them. But they’re not as bad.” Not as bad on the outside, anyway. Meryl suppressed a gag. “Whose idea was it to try eating them?”

“The thomases ate the corpses without dying, so someone figured it was probably safe. Worked out, though. The more worms we eat, the less we have to rely on Plants to make food.” Some more worry bled into Vash’s face. He’d gone back to being quiet and worried in the time it took them to find Meryl a change of clothes after the sprinkler incident. He’d managed to eat half his dinner, which was good, but it was obvious the worry was starting to sink back in. “One of them should’ve gotten to camp by now.”

“That’s good. That means they’ll be able to work on the Plant.”

“...I guess.”

Meryl wasn’t sure what to do. She was sure she could only reassure Vash so many times before the words lost all meaning. Her gaze wandered to the paper cranes hanging in the corner. “You’ve gotten good at those,” she said. “Are you trying for a wish?”

“A little.” Vash glanced at her and smiled slightly. “I did get one wish, so I didn’t have to wait long.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“I wanted to see you again.”

…oh.

“I’m glad I got to see you again, too,” Meryl said. “I know you’ve got people looking after you, but I worried.” Not for long , but worry was worry. “And you’re the only one who doesn't complain when I ask a lot of questions.”

“You ask good questions, though.” Vash stood carefully to put the fossils back. He seemed a lot more steady on his feet now, but the way he’d traded the oversized sweater for one of his makeshift sleeveless tops emphasized how gangly he was. “Do you want me to finish Alice in Wonderland? I didn’t get the chance last time.”

“I’d love that.” It would definitely be better than Vash fretting, and she was curious about how it ended. She sat down at the foot of the bed while Vash sat with his back to the wall and opened the book.

He didn’t get far. Meryl had been waiting for him to crash again, and it wasn’t long before he was trailing off mid-sentence. He didn’t seem aware of how far gone he was until Meryl took the book from him. “Get some sleep,” she said gently. “I’ll be right here.”

Vash didn’t curl up so tightly this time, and he didn’t hide his face. Meryl waited until she was sure he was asleep before she slipped out of the room. She came back later with a blanket and pillow. Sleeping propped up against the foot of Vash’s bed probably wouldn’t be the most comfortable position in the world. All it took was the memory of that tank in July to make the potential back pain feel tolerable.

You have to comfort him while you can. You don’t know what’s going to happen when you get back.

The thought kept her up a little longer, watching Vash sleep. Some of the color had come back to his cheeks. If she tilted her head just right, she thought she could see a faint glow underneath.

Hopefully, that was just her imagination. Or it was a good sign.

.

The next day was mostly uneventful.

Vash slept in again. He ate a little more at breakfast than he had at dinner, then a little bit more at lunch. He was more energetic, but a lot of that energy was funneled into being worried. He wore it all over his face. Fortunately, Meryl had a few options to distract him. There was a lot on Ship Three that she hadn’t gotten to see the first time…including a piano.

“Do you play?” Vash asked as he sat down, just slightly off-center.

Meryl shook her head. “I did percussion for a school band,” she admitted, “but mostly it was because we were all required to do an instrument and percussion was out of the way. Do you?”

“It’s been a little while.” Vash’s hands hovered over the keyboard. They seemed to instinctively go to one place on the keys; she saw his eyes dart to the right, his shoulders slumping slightly as he moved to the center of the bench. “I’ve been trying to get back into it, but we’ve been busy lately, so…” His fingers traced off a few strings of notes, like he was warming up. “What kind of music do you like?”

“I’m not picky. What do you like?”

Vash thought about it, hesitating for a second before suddenly switching to an actual song. The notes were bouncy, cheerful. For some reason, the tune brought to mind speed-walking across campus, back when studying still felt exciting. Vash fumbled the notes a few times, but he always seemed to fold his mistakes back into the song, as if he’d meant to do that the whole time. “This is just one of the piano solos,” he explained suddenly. “It’s supposed to be for a whole orchestra. It doesn’t really sound the same with just one person.”

As if he were trying to erase what he’d just said, he started playing even louder. The mental image of hustle and bustle grew stronger. Just as it seemed like he was getting in the flow of it, Vash fumbled a few notes in a row. The mistake turned into a string of frustrated-sounding notes before he suddenly stopped playing, hands resting on the keys, shoulders shaking as he hunched over. “Vash?” Meryl asked, alarmed. Who do I get if he’s getting worse? A doctor? One of the Plant engineers? She hadn’t even thought to ask. Fortunately, when she sat next to him at the piano, he didn’t look worse. He looked…

Meryl froze at the look on his face. She’d only seen it once, when E.G. the Mine was terrorizing Jeneora Rock. Jaw set, eyes sharp and fixed, body tense and ready for a fight. It sent a shiver down her spine even now. “We thought I couldn’t do anything at first,” Vash said quietly. “We thought that I was…” He trailed off, but Meryl could fill in that blank. Useless. “And now I can finally do something and I’m just sitting here. ” The piano keys yelped in protest as Vash rested his elbows on them and buried his face in his hands. “I hate this.”

“I’m sorry.” Meryl carefully squeezed his shoulder. When Vash didn’t look up, she turned her attention to the keys. She really had no idea how to play. She’d barely paid attention when she’d been forced into percussion. All she could do was carefully pick at the notes, one after the other, until she found something that… seemed like the first note of Vash’s tune. Her hunt for the next note was an immediate failure. Attempt two was a little better. She hummed it to herself, trying to remember how it went so she could guess at what came next. It didn’t work; the next attempt sounded terrible.

Great job. That’s really going to comfort him, I’m sure.

“Here,” Vash said suddenly. He moved her hand over carefully before mirroring the position a little further down the piano. “Like this.”

His hand moved slowly over the keys. Meryl did her best to imitate the movement. The result sounded a lot more like actual music, even if the tempo was slower. After a first pass, they started over, playing a bit faster this time, something more recognizable as Vash’s song. By the third loop, Meryl really felt like she was starting to get the hang of it.

Vash must have thought so too, because on a fourth loop, he started using both hands, adding onto the tune with his left hand. Meryl did her best to keep her part going. When they played it like this, it felt like a conversation. 

Meryl risked glancing at Vash. His shoulders had relaxed; he wasn’t smiling, but he did look much calmer. He played with his eyes closed, his hands seeming to move based on muscle memory and sound alone. The song came so naturally to him, even more so than the one before had.

Maybe this is like a conversation. Maybe it always had been…or an attempt at one, perhaps?

Of course, that was when Meryl’s hand slipped. She fumbled to recover the notes, but she’d lost her place. Meryl felt her face go red as she snatched her hand away from the keys.  “Sorry,” she said.

“Don’t apologize.” Vash wound down his part. When he looked at her, he was finally smiling. “That was really good.”

Was it really? Meryl bit the question back. Vash looked relaxed, a bit happier. It may not have been perfect, but it was something. Besides, I don’t think I can really talk like that when I’m trying to get him to go easier on himself. I’m pretty sure that’d be hypocritical.

Vash started playing the first song again, humming an accompanying tune as he did. It wasn’t an orchestra, but there was still something captivating about it. “What’s this one called?” Meryl asked.

“ Rhapsody in Blue ,” Vash said. “It’s Old Earth. Really old, but…someone decided to remember it.” His hands skipped across the keys. “I just think that’s kind of beautiful.”

Meryl thought about how long really old might be, how far away Earth was from the ball of dust they called home. How one song managed to make it all that distance, despite everything. “You’re right,” she said. “That is beautiful.”

Even if she never got to hear it with a full orchestra, it was still beautiful.

.

Vash insisted that he’d be fine sleeping alone that night. Meryl might’ve been more suspicious, but he did look genuinely worn out, maybe too worn out to try for an escape. She still planned on waking up as early as possible, just to be sure. She fumbled with the clock in her room until she figured out how to set an alarm before passing out herself.

Her dreams were strange and vague. She was standing out in the desert. She was lying in the sand, staring up at the sky–except no, that was Vash, and Brad was shaking his shoulder, trying to wake him up. The sky overhead was full of stars. Sometimes, when she blinked, there was someone else there, gently touching Vash’s face. The dark-haired woman from the photo. Rem.

You take yourself too lightly, Rem said.

Meryl woke up to the sound of the alarm going off. She smacked it into silence and rolled over to stare up at the ceiling.

That was weird , she thought. There wasn’t time to think about it–she had to get up and make sure Vash hadn’t wandered off–but she made a mental note to write it all down later. Two dreams in a row has to mean something, right?

Meryl made her way down the hall to Vash’s room. Her first set of knocks didn’t get a reply. She waited, then knocked again. Then a third time. It was only then that she took Vash up on his permission to open the door if he wasn’t answering. “Vash?” she said, peering into the room. “Everything okay?”

The bed was empty.

The image of the rumpled covers and completely Vash-less space took a second to sink in. The panic once it did was instantaneous.

Calm down! Calm down. Meryl darted into the room and started looking for any signs he might have left. He didn’t leave a note and didn’t even bother trying to hide that he’d left, both of which seemed odd to her. His cloak was still hanging up in his small closet, and his bag was still slumped into a corner. The bathroom door was still cracked open, and there was no one inside when she looked.

Okay. Look at the evidence. He didn’t take anything he’d need and he didn’t try to cover his tracks, so he probably hasn’t left the ship. He was pretty tired last night, but if he’s feeling better, maybe he…got hungry? Wanted to work out? Does he do that now? Or maybe he couldn’t sleep so he went someplace he’d be more comfortable. That meant…the Geoplant, maybe. He’d seemed so calm there. Or maybe the Plant room in general? 

Start there. Maybe someone’s seen him.

Meryl didn’t have to go far to find someone, which was good because she was already lost. “Excuse me?” she said weakly. The person, a man only a little older than her, did a double-take when he saw her. “Hi, I’m Clauida. I’m supposed to be looking after Vash while Luida and Brad are gone, but he’s not in his room. I was thinking he might be in the Geoplant…?”

The man frowned slightly. “Geoplant’s usually locked up for another half-hour. Essential personnel only. I know he gets more access to the Plant room, but…” He thought for a moment. “...I think I know where else he might be.”

The man, who introduced himself as Ben, led her through the halls to a more isolated part of the ship. He opened the door to one room in particular and peered inside. “Yep,” he said, backing away, “found him.”

Meryl stepped inside. Sure enough, there was Vash, curled up on the floor against one of the walls, wrapped in his blanket. She crouched next to him and gently rested a hand on his shoulder. He stirred slightly, but didn’t wake up. “ Thank you ,” she sighed with relief. “What’s he doing in here?”

“Dunno. He just comes in here sometimes. He doing okay?”

“Bit under the weather, but I think he’s getting better.”

“...huh. Didn’t know he could get sick.” Ben shrugged. “Well, if you’ve got this…”

“I do. Thanks again.”

Meryl looked around the room as Ben walked away. The space was entirely unfurnished aside from a sort of window seat, with a cracked door that looked like it led to another bathroom. There was a cluster of tally  marks near the door…no, there were tally marks on almost every wall. Lots of them. Someone had carved a grid into the wall, too, but that was the only outlier. Meryl suddenly felt very nervous. It looked like a jail cell.

Was this a jail cell?

She shook Vash’s shoulder more vigorously. He finally made a noise, grumbling slightly as he pulled the blanket over his head. “ Vash ,” she said, “c’mon, you can’t sleep on the floor.”

“Mmwh…?” One blue eye peeked out from the blanket and focused on her.  There was a pause before Vash sat up, his face tomato red. “ I am so sorry .”

Meryl couldn’t hold back a startled laugh at the sight. “You’d better be! You scared the shit out of me for a second!” Aside from the deepness of his blush, Vash looked pretty normal that day. Normal skin tone, not clammy or pale. “What are you doing in here?”

“It’s…” Vash looked around. She thought his gaze lingered on the bathroom door for a few heartbeats, but it was just short enough that she couldn’t be sure. “...quiet. Back here. I needed the quiet.”

That sounded evasive. “You needed quiet so you went into…what, the ship prison? ”

“...yes.”

They stared at each other for a second. Meryl decided to put that one on the back burner for now and stood up. “How’s your back?”

Vash got up more carefully. “I’ll let you know after I’ve walked around a bit. I really am sorry. I thought…” He paused, then his blush deepend. “No, I didn’t. Think. I really didn’t think.”

It took a lot of effort not to laugh at the sentence. “Happens to the best of us,” she said. “You still tired?”

“Actually, I’m kind of hungry?” He seemed surprised. “What time is it? Are they serving breakfast?”

They were, and he ate almost everything on his own. He slowed down as the meal went on, but it was a big improvement. “Do you think one of them will be back today?” Vash asked.

“How far did you say it was?”

“One day for the first camp, about a day and a half for the other one. Assuming they make good time and there’s not a storm or anything. If it’s really not that serious, then it may not have taken long to fix the Plant, so maybe…” Vash’s knee bobbed up and down in an anxious rhythm the more he thought about it. “...maybe one of them will be back today?”

“Hopefully!” That sounded like a grueling travel schedule, though. Meryl was relieved all over again that they’d been able to convince Vash to stay. “Too bad there’s no way to check.” She was pretty sure July wouldn’t get the satellite back up for a few more years. Of course, now that I’m actually in history, I forget everything I learned about it.

“They’re trying to work on that. There’s just been other stuff going on.” Vash pushed what was left her way; it wasn’t much, but she took it anyway. It was bad enough that she was taking from them; she didn’t want to waste anything. Vash seemed deep in thought as she ate, his fingers drumming anxiously against the table.

“C-cent for your thoughts?” Meryl said. Vash stared at her as if he didn’t understand a word she’d said. Did they have c-cents yet? Did they have… any money? Everything she’d seen had seemed communal so far. “Er…I mean…everything okay?”

Vash stared at her a bit longer before shaking his head slightly. “I just kind of wish I could…go back to sleep and wake up when this is over,” he admitted. “I know that’s not how it works, but I wish it was.”

“Yeah,” Meryl sighed. “I know what you mean.”

It was a little worrying to hear from someone so young, but Meryl really did know what he meant. She couldn’t help him sleep until his problems went away, but maybe there was something else they could try. “Do you think there’s anything we can do around the ship?” she suggested. “Something easy? It might help the time go faster.”

There was a job board, as it turned out. They needed an extra set of hands in the Geoplant helping to harvest some of the flora. Meryl kept an eye on the artificial sky as they moved around the space, watching for the dark clouds that seemed to warn of the sprinklers turning on. A few times, she saw Vash simply sitting in place, carefully holding a flower in one hand, or staring off towards the center of the Geoplant. Every time she got closer to see if he was okay, he’d smile at her a bit too wide and keep working.

Meryl had a feeling talking wasn’t going to happen, so instead, she stayed close. She asked him about the Flora. When he started humming, she hummed with him.

It seemed to help, or at least she hoped it did.

They stopped for lunch. They played piano for a little while. Vash took another nap while Meryl tended to her burn and tried to organize her notes. He really sprawled out this time, sleeping on his stomach, arms wrapped around his pillow, one foot poking out from the covers.

Meryl thought about the dream she’d had the other night, and the dream she had when she’d visited Vash the first time. She thought about attempting a nap herself, but she was too awake. Her mind kept spinning over everything she’d been seeing. The routines of Ship Three, the slowly developing culture within it, all the answers she’d been craving when she was there in the future but never received. She had no time to nap, especially when she didn’t know when she’d see Vash next. It seemed to be a pattern of every few years, but if that held, with how old he was…

How old am I going to be when I get back?

Meryl stopped writing.

I’ve already aged a week, right? Longer?

She considered the thought, shuddered, and went back to writing. Let’s not think about that now. Or ever. Never thinking about it also works. As long as she wasn’t so much older that someone would notice.

I really have no idea how I’m going to explain this one.

She was more or less finished with her notes when Vash woke up suddenly. He looked around the room, his hair falling into his face. He looked disoriented until he saw her. “...same year?” he asked.

Meryl smiled. “Yeah. Same year.” For you, anyway.

Vash breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed his eyes. “I was dreaming that I was outside,” he said. “It felt…really real. Like when you dream that it’s morning but then you wake up again?”

“I know what you mean.” It happened to her all the time in college. “You’re here now. It’s close to dinner, actually. Do you think you’re up for it?”

Vash nodded. “That’s good, right? That I’m hungry?”

“Definitely!” Meryl’s smile widened as she watched Vash get out of bed. He was steady on his feet. She couldn’t feel what he was feeling, of course, but he seemed so much better. If she had to guess, he’d be completely back to normal by the time both Brad and Luida returned. “Come on. Let’s see what shape the meat patties are tonight.”

Vash laughed. “Like cloud watching. But you get to eat them.”

“I guess so.” Meryl didn’t really know what that was, but she had a feeling saying so would look weird. “Come on.”

They were making their way to the cafeteria when Meryl heard someone calling Vash’s name. Not just someone– Luida. Turning around only confirmed it. Vash’s face lit up when he saw her. “Hey, you look better!” Luida said.

Vash ran right to her and almost tackled her in a hug. “Was she okay?” he asked.

“She was,” Luida said as she hugged him back. “Just a little sluggish. Once we got the temperature regulator fixed and reset, she was back to normal.” She pulled away from the hug to look at Vash. “You really do look better. Have you been eating?”

“We were just going to get dinner, actually. Do you want to come?”

“Dinner sounds amazing.” Luida looked past Vash to Meryl and mouthed thank you at her. Meryl nodded in response.

Least I could do.

Vash ate all of his dinner and was visibly more relaxed. He still asked about Brad–Luida was confident hend people from the ship if I could, but…’d be back tomorrow, assuming everything went well–but it looked like he was fretting a lot less. Meryl’s feeling that the situation had turned around was confirmed when Luida mentioned the encampment was breaking down the next day. “If you have anywhere you need to be,” she said, “you should probably head out with them. Not that we’re trying to get rid of you, but I don’t want you traveling alone. I’d se”

“No, no, I know you guys have a lot going on.” Besides, I think this is my out. “I think that will work. I’m just glad I got to see everyone.”

“It was really nice to meet you,” Luida agreed. “And of course, there’s always a place for you on the ship if you need one.”

“That’s a really kind offer, but…I have some things to take care of.” Namely, the other person sitting across from her. Maybe only a little further down the line; maybe a lot further. She didn’t know, but she was going to find out soon. “But I’ll make my way back if I can.”

That was almost guaranteed at this point.

Vash didn’t want to say much about that, but stuck a little closer to her the rest of the evening, just like he had the last time. Meryl ended up staying with him until he fell asleep, not by request, but just to be sure he was all right. She was hesitant to leave once he had fallen asleep. She knew she should rest herself–she didn’t know what she’d be facing when she stepped on the other side of the portal–but she didn’t leave him without saying goodbye.

I can’t leave him without saying goodbye.

“Just let me have tomorrow morning if you can?” she whispered.

Meryl didn’t hear a reply. But there wasn’t a portal waiting for her when she finally went to her bedroom, and she woke up the next morning to the same room she’d fallen asleep in. Being relieved that she was still in the past was definitely odd, but she was.

Vash and Luida both saw her off the next morning. Vash kept his face half-buried in his blanket, but that couldn’t hide the slight sad look in his eyes. He hugged her tightly; he had to lean over a bit to do it now. “Stay safe,” he said quietly.

“You, too. Promise me you’ll rest if you need it again.”

“I promise.”

“And I’ll see you later, okay?” Vash nodded into her shoulder. “I will.”

He’d be a little bit taller, a little bit older. She’d be exactly the same. They’d have to talk about that one day, but not today. Today, Meryl got onto the lift back down to the ground and watched as Vash and Luida vanished above her.

She didn’t even make it back to the encampment before she heard her name being whispered. The tear in reality cut through a space behind some rocks, sheltered from view. Meryl took one last glance at Ship Three before stepping through.

I hope I’ve done enough here.

[noa748]

Do you have the Trigun Si posted anywhere?

nah.  but for your amusement, here’s what I have so far…

The sky is an unbelievable shade of blue.

The observation sparked a sense of déjà vu in him.  The temperature was unusually mild today and the sunshine more cheery than severe.  It almost felt like he was being mocked.

That’s right.  I remember thinking the same thing the day I met…

…The day he met that terrifying man in the white jacket.  The last person he had met that made him feel such an utter lack of control.  He felt like he was unraveling today, just like he had back then…

Another step.  His feet felt like they were weighted with lead.  History repeated itself, didn’t it?  Here he was, alone all over again.

His brother was gone.  Vanished.

Well, that wasn’t right.  He was certainly somewhere, but there was no trail to follow.  He hadn’t even taken his gun, which was unthinkable.  Had he been in his right mind?  Still injured, he posed a threat mostly to himself—but fully healed, he was a threat to humanity.

Vash the Stampede wasn’t sure what to make of it.  He just knew that the moment he lost track of Knives, he had to leave everything he had built for himself behind.  No one he loved was safe with his brother on the loose.

Rem… how could I have been such a fool?

His pack felt heavier than normal; his shoulder was already getting sore.  He wasn’t used to traveling like this anymore.  He had practiced shooting and worked out every morning for the past six months, but he had still softened up.  He hadn’t realized how much he had been hoping for it all to finally end… until it hadn’t.

He was thinking a lot about the past today, as he trudged step by step through the desert to the city of Octovern.

The girls, at least, were safe.  They were going to be angry with him for leaving, for doing this again, but they were safe.

One night, back then, they almost hadn’t been.  The night he’d taken a life to save them.  How much more would it take to protect the ones he loved?

God helps those who help themselves, friend.

He could hear Wolfwood chastising him even now.  It was the truth; he would just have to keep moving and hope for the best.  He was just so damn tired… couldn’t he be shown some kind of sign, some kind of pat on the back telling him it’d be okay in the end?

Just as he had this thought, he crested a hill and caught a glimpse of a crumpled figure on the other side.  For a moment his breath caught in his throat and he forgot his weary musings; then the figure shifted weakly, and he unthinkingly broke out into a run.

—-

Hey.  Hey… miss—are you okay?  

It was hard to differentiate the voice from the hazy dream I’d been having.  Was this another hallucination?  Blond spiky hair, red coat, bright blue eyes… I knew him.

“Vasss th’ zampeede,” I managed to mumble, squeezing my eyes shut and then opening them again.  My tongue felt swollen.  There was sand in my mouth, in my eyes, jammed into every crevice in my body.

He froze for the briefest of moments, but then I saw him shuffle around for something in his coat.  Something touched my lips and then water, glorious water was flowing into my mouth.

I grabbed at the waterskin and managed to take a solid swig before he tore it out of my hands.  The water stayed down for about two seconds before my stomach revolted and I threw it back up.

“Easy now,” he said quietly, lightly rubbing my back.

When I shakily reached for the waterskin a second time, he kept a firm hold on it and let me have a little at a time.

—-

Who is this girl?

She knew his name.  That alone was coming as less and less of a surprise nowadays, as people started to learn the full story and hear his name associated with more positive deeds.  Without Knives actively working against him, the tides had begun to slowly turn.

But something about her was so strange.  First of all she was carrying no pack, just a small purse slung over her shoulder.  She wore jeans and a t-shirt—nothing to shield her from the desert sun, which was made even more evident by the sunburn she was sporting.

Nothing to shield her save for the cap she wore, a style he hadn’t seen in a long time.  The logo on the front of it read “Patagonia”.

Her shirt had a logo on it, too.  It said “Anchorage, Alaska” and had picture of what looked like… were those mountains?  He had only seen mountains in the books he’d read as a kid.  Alaska…

“The last frontier,” he muttered to himself.  A memory was stirring, though it was hard for him to sort out his thoughts with his mind muddled from exhaustion.

She was still severely dehydrated.  Her short hair was mussed and full of sand from the desert wind; she was sunburnt and her lips were cracked.  He could think about these abnormalities later.  First order of business was to get her out of the sun.

Octovern was still a few iles away…

Oddly enough, he found a little more pep in his step now that he had someone to support.  She would die if she was left out here; he couldn’t afford to drag his feet.

So Vash set off at a much faster pace for the city, the strange girl slung over one shoulder.  For the time being his problems were on the back burner.

—-

For a while the stranger-but-not-a-stranger carried me, and for a while everything was dark.  Time seemed to blur together and my perception of events was hazy.

Then, finally, everything became still and I felt almost centered again.  I was made aware suddenly that I was lying in a bed, eyes closed.  Sunlight was filtering in through my eyelids.

I awoke to see a fairly plain, generic looking room with white walls and wood flooring.  There was a glass of water and a tray with a few medical instruments on the nightstand next to me, so I guessed that maybe I was in some sort of clinic.  A tall window to my left was open, and the sheer white drapes hung over it blew in the warm breeze that was coming in.

There was a man sitting in an armchair against the wall.  He wore brown pants and a white button up shirt, his blond hair slightly messy but still standing in near vertical spikes.  His eyes were closed and he was propping his cheek against one fist.  I noticed a small beauty mark under his left eye.  Such a small detail, but so telling—suddenly I was absolutely certain that I knew this man.

Of course I knew him.  I had spent half of my awkward early teens idolizing him.  

There were a few vague memories coming back of an endless desert and the unforgiving sun… and a man in a red coat, leaning over me.  It was definitely him… but how was it him?

Water.

Suddenly I remembered and the need hit me like a freight train, but my limbs wouldn’t cooperate the way they were supposed to and I flailed so hard trying to reach the glass by my bedside that I fell clean out of the bed.

The man in the chair woke up with a yelp and was fussing at my side in an instant, though all I could muster with my dry vocal cords was a disgruntled groan.  After lying there grimacing for a second, I made grabby hands at the glass of water that was still out of reach.

The blond sat me up and placed the glass in my hands.  I gingerly took a few sips, suddenly remembering throwing up back in the desert.

“Jeez, you scared me,” the man said, sinking to the floor to sit beside me.  He ran a hand through his hair.  “You okay, miss?  Oh, man, I told the doc I’d watch you, he’s gonna kill me…”

I coughed, swallowed another gulp of water, and then chanced a smile.  My cracked lips hurt.

“I’ve been better,” I admitted.  “Where…?”

“The city of Octovern,” he replied.  Then he let out a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.  “Sorry.  I’d introduce myself, but it seemed like you already knew me back there.”

I blinked.  Had I said his name back there?  I must’ve.  Octovern?  And the desert… what the hell was going on, anyway?  Was this some kind of elaborate dream?

“Guess so,” I mumbled, brow furrowing.  I pressed a hand to my forehead.  “Sorry.  Um.  Vash.  My name’s… my name’s Brittany.”

“Brittany…” he tested it out, and then looked over to smile at me.  His eyes practically sparkled as his voice dropped a note.  “That’s a very pretty name.”

“Thanks…” I blinked.  It was literally the most common name ever.  Was he trying to flirt?  I didn’t have the energy to figure it out.  “Uh, do you have any food?”

His face fell but he was quick to recover, jumping to his feet.  “Right!  You must be starving!”  He bent down to scoop me up, catching me completely off guard, and placed me back on the bed before dashing out of the room with a quick “Be right back!”

I was left with a brief moment of peace, sitting there on the bed in the quiet room.  My brain was still fighting to catch up.  Octovern… Octovern…

Wasn’t that a city in the manga?  It had been so long.  And that was Vash, so the desert setting made sense, but…

I pinched myself.  Pain.  I glanced around the room, focusing on my senses—the sterile smell of a clinic, the warmth of the breeze coming in through the window, the sound of kids playing outside…

Leaning forward, I peered out the window for a better view.  My room overlooked a busy street.  There were in fact a group of kids kicking a ball around out there.  Across the way was a bakery, and I caught a whiff of what smelled like fresh baked bread.  My stomach growled.

…How could this be a dream?

Staring at my hands in my lap, I fought to remember just what I had been doing before waking up here.  Wandering in the desert…

Suddenly I stopped.  I frowned and felt a cold feeling in my stomach as unwanted memories came back.  Why…?  Couldn’t I just not dwell on shit for one second?

I had just been so depressed, so bitter, so done with the charade of my life… nothing I did ever seemed right or good enough, and I was sick and tired of everything.  The last week of my lease I finally snapped, sold almost everything I owned, and packed the rest in my car.  I quit my shitty job, and that shitty man, with zero notice and got in my car and drove.

That was right… the last thing I remembered was crossing the state border, sobbing, wishing things could’ve been different.  Wishing I could’ve been stronger instead of running away.  Wishing for a sign, any sign, that things were going to be okay.

And then, somehow, I was wandering through the desert, sunburnt and dehydrated.  If he—Vash, if he was Vash—hadn’t found me, I would’ve died.

Footsteps coming back up the hallway.  I looked over just in time to see the blond come back through the doorway, wearing a bright smile.

“Here.”

I reached out to take a steaming bowl of soup from him.  It looked disappointingly brothy, but I understood that that was probably the best I could manage for now.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said quickly, pulling the chair up closer to the bed and sitting down once more.  He examined me for a moment before continuing.  “What were you doing wandering the desert with no food or water, anyway?”

I shook my head, idly stirring the soup.  “I don’t really remember.  Last I checked, I had a vehicle and I knew exactly there I was.”

“Where was that, exactly?”

“Um…” I stared at him dubiously.  “White River Junction, Vermont.”

“…Vermont?” A blank stare was all I received in return.

“Yeah, you know, east coast?”

I knew I was still weirdly in denial… but seeing the look on the man’s face gave me a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Despite all the evidence to the contrary, couldn’t this just be a dream?  The implications of it being real were too terrifying.  I had wanted to escape, to run away, but this…

“The shirt you were wearing when I found you…” The blond was frowning, brow furrowed.  “It said ‘Alaska.’”

“Yeah, I have a friend who lives in Anchorage,” I replied, attempting to seem nonchalant.  

Where were my clothes, anyway?  After glancing around the room for a moment, I saw them washed and folded on the shelf below my nightstand.  My Patagonia hat sat atop the pile, mocking me.  I would’ve much rather ended up in Patagonia than stranded in a godforsaken desert.

He was staring at me hard, his blue eyes piercing.  With his cheery façade dropped, I found it difficult to meet his gaze.  The silence felt like it lasted forever.

Then he suddenly reached into his pocket, pulling out a small card with a sheepish grin.

“So where’s New Hampshire?”

“Hey!” I nearly spilled the soup, lunging to snatch the card back.  “Where’d you get my license?!”

He both hands up in a gesture of surrender, leaning back a bit.  “Hey, hey!  Careful!  I just found your wallet and was trying to figure out who you were, that’s all!”

“Coulda said that from the start,” I huffed, clutching the license protectively.  A tiny bit of hot soup had sloshed out and scalded my thigh, and I was trying to hide my pain.

I looked down at the license, and my picture stared back at me.  It was a small bit of familiarity, reassurance that I wasn’t actually going insane.

After some hesitation I opened my mouth to reply, but the sound of footsteps caused us both to look up.  A stocky middle aged man with salt-and-pepper hair had stopped in the doorway.  He was wearing a white lab coat, so I assumed he had to be the doctor.

“Ah!  So she’s awake at last.  Thanks for the help, Vash.”

The blond rubbed the back of his neck.  “Heh, it’s no trouble.”

“How are you feeling, miss?” the doctor asked, turning his gaze on me.

“Um, I’ve seen better days… but I’m holding up okay.”

“Well, I’ll mark that as an improvement,” he replied, smiling.  “Vash, may we have a moment?  I’m sure Felicia would be happy for a hand in the kitchen.”

“Oh—of course!  Right away, Doc!”

I watched as the blond straightened up and was out the door in record time, a dopey grin on his face.  It didn’t take a genius to notice that he had been a little too excited there.  Felicia was probably pretty, whoever she was.

The doctor chuckled, shaking his head.  “For someone who bears the namesake of such a dangerous outlaw, he sure is predictable.”

“You don’t believe he’s really Vash?”

He snorted.  “Do you?”

“Well…”

“Don’t fret over it, in any case.  He was kind enough to bring you here from the desert, after all.”  He paused a moment, frowning.  “I’m sorry, I’m forgetting my manners.  My name is Stanley Ross; I run the clinic here on the east end of Octovern.”

“My name is Brittany Furness,” I said, subtly tucking my driver’s license under the sheets of my bed.  “I’m sorry for the trouble.  My memory’s still a little messed up…”

“That’s to be expected.  You were showing early signs of heat stroke when that young man brought you in.”

He reached over to press the back of his hand to my forehead.  “Your temperature has stabilized since, but I’d still advise you to take it easy for a few days.  I’d like to monitor you for another twenty-four hours just to be safe.”

I stared at the soup in my lap.  That was probably good, considering I literally had nowhere else to go…

A hand on my shoulder.  I looked over to see the doctor giving me a sympathetic smile.

“Don’t worry too much.  You’re still recovering; I’m sure things will seem much clearer by tomorrow morning.”

Feeling dread settle in the pit of my stomach, I forced myself to smile back.  “Thanks… you’re probably right.”

We chatted for another minute while he checked my vitals and made sure I really was okay, and then he left me to finish my bowl of soup, which was now growing lukewarm.

My hands were shaking enough that it took some concentration to spoon the broth into my mouth.  I felt a strange mixture of emotions, though most of all I figured I was disoriented and in some degree of shock.

I thought about the life I had abandoned.  Wasn’t this what I had wanted—a complete change, a new start?

But I hadn’t asked to leave my entire world…

Even though I had shut down and left New Hampshire, all of my friends and family had been a phone call away.  I hadn’t wanted to turn back, but I could have if I needed to.  But now all of those options had been snatched from me and I felt like I was stranded…  

This couldn’t be real… this couldn’t really be happening.  How could this be happening?!

I put my head in my hands, but I had spent so much of the past month crying that I had no energy left to do even that.  When could I just catch a break…

—-

How can this be real?

Vash stood at the counter of the kitchen downstairs, methodically cutting vegetables for the doctor’s daughter.  Felicia was indeed cute—there was no doubt about that—but he really had just jumped at the opportunity to sort out his thoughts.

Well, there was also the fact that she was an absolute pro at acting oblivious to his flirting.  He’d mostly given up, but it was still entertaining to try every now and then.  For now he was happy to have a task to keep his hands busy while he tried to figure out just what mess he’d gotten himself into this time.

“Mr. Vash, are you feeling all right?” Felicia had stopped her task, seeming to take note of his silence.

He forced a cheery smile.  “Hmm?  Oh, yeah!  Heh, I guess it’s just been a long couple of days.”

“That’s for sure.  You’re the most interesting newcomers we’ve seen in a while.”  She returned the smile.  “Well, hopefully we can all sit down for dinner together tonight.  Could you dice these too?”

He took the carrots he was handed with a nod.  He knew his smile looked fake and she probably saw through it, but he was too tired to put up a good front.

Brittany Furness… who are you?

Vash trained his eyes on the cutting board once more, brow furrowing.  The young woman’s meagre belongings were safely stored in a cabinet in the room he was renting.  He had gone through them in an effort to find some sort of information about who she was and where she had come from.  The more he had looked, the more confused he had become.

That ID card in her wallet had her name, photo and what looked like an address… but the address named a town he had never heard of.  The corner of the card read “NH – USA” in bold letters.

There was currency in the wallet that read “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” as well as other plastic cards bearing her name.

There was a red pen in the purse with the name of an inn written on the side and the words “Jackson, New Hampshire”.

And there was a strange rectangular device with a screen in the purse as well—he had been shocked to see the screen come to life when he pressed the button on the front.  It had displayed a time and date, and when he pressed the button again, it prompted him to input a passcode.

That in particular was advanced technology he hadn’t seen in a very, very long time… not since he was a child.  Which begged the question… who was that woman?

He remembered some of the books Rem had shown him a long time ago, books about her home, where all of the humans of this planet came from—a place called Earth.  Rem had been from a country called the United States.

And—he remembered.  Her hometown was a place called Juneau, in the state of Alaska.  That was why the girl’s shirt had stirred something in him.  He had been so fascinated with the book about Alaska and its dramatic, dreamlike landscapes and cool nicknames, like “the last frontier” and “land of the midnight sun”.  Back on the SEEDs ship, it had seemed impossible that such a land could exist… and it was infinitely amazing that Rem had grown up there.

But Project SEEDS had been formed because Earth’s resources had been depleted… and its creation had occurred nearly two centuries ago.  Was Earth even habitable anymore?

No—unless… unless one of the cold sleep pods had survived the crash, and she had only just now woken up?

He shook his head.  That didn’t explain that handheld device she had.  There was no way it could’ve survived this long and powered up so easily.  And why would someone have boarded a SEEDS ship dressed and equipped like they were just going for a quick outing?  None of it made sense.  She was a mystery.  

What a nightmare… with Knives on the loose, he didn’t want to get involved with anyone.  But there was no way he could just ignore this.  It was too dangerous for her to be around him, but he might be the only one that could help her.

Damn.  He shouldn’t even be here right now.  But he needed to get information, and the city was the place to do it.

He paused in his task for a moment as another thought came to him.  Whatever the explanation… if Earth was all she remembered, how the hell did she know who he was, especially on sight alone?  

This just got more confusing by the second…