Chapter Text
The scent of smoke and metal stung acrid in the senses, making Vash’s already labored breathing painful. His body felt like it was flaking apart, like the whipping desert wind might blow him to pieces and away without a care. Despair mingled in him with determination, with single minded hope that he was so known for.
His head spun, but he fought the darkness seeping into his vision and making his ears ring. In the smoking rubble, his fingers grasped feathers that turned to dust as soon as they touched his hand, too fragile to maintain their form.
There was an earth shattering creak and crunch that made everything shake as the twisted metal around them continued to fall apart. Vash tried not to think about his friends or the humans nearby, about any of it– instead he felt something cinch and tug on him, like a wire tightening around his heart.
He could feel him fading.
“Nai?!” God help him, he should have left. Left him. Run.
Instead, Vash was desperately groping through the dark with his good hand, his burning little gasps for breath turning into watery hiccups and sobs. Even after everything, he couldn’t bear to let him go.
“Nai, answer me!” That tug on his heart wavered, grew weaker, and finally, he gripped something solid. Something alive, though the smell of blood and viscera was overwhelming. He was glad he couldn’t see very well in the dark
“Oh no–” He breathed and faltered, falling onto his side and curling in on himself, around the mangled form of his twin.
“Nai, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean–” He closed his eyes and he prayed, even as the illuminated pattern washing over his skin revealed the horrific state of Knives’ body– he couldn’t look. He trusted everything to that hope, and poured every ounce of what was left of his strength into the one thing he was good at: Healing.
It would have been glorious. Was glorious, for a moment. Everything had started to fall into place- even Vash stumbled into his hands, the final piece he had needed to put the rest in motion.
He hadn't anticipated Vash’s persistence and desperation to be able to override him.
The destruction was inevitable either way. It wasn't quite to the scale he had planned for, but even as he was torn apart in the blast, he couldn't help but marvel at his brother's sheer power. What they could do together if he'd just let him.
At some point, he blacked out, pinned underneath rubble and unable to drag himself out. His body was in twisted pieces, blood and gore surrounding him. Anyone would have assumed him dead beyond repair.
His brow twitched as he heard something above the sound of creaking metal and falling rocks. It was distant and he couldn't quite make it out. But it came again, closer this time.
He had felt cold, but now he was suddenly warm. His plant marks flickered, faded, but slowly grew more steady. He wheezed painfully, one eye barely cracking open to find Vash before him, eyes screwed shut and crying. If he had any strength, he might have laughed. Instead, all he could do was spit blood.
"Why.. are you... crying..?"
Even like this, Vash was beautiful. Markings pulsing in the darkness, small wings sprouting from flesh. Truly, an angel.
Nai’s voice called him out of the half comatose state he was drifting in and out of. In a panic, he returned to the desperate duty he’d assigned himself, his good hand gripping what he could find of the other man’s shoulder. Either it was intact or had managed to reconstruct itself with Vash’s attention. It was over exertion. He knew that even he could be driven to the point of overload like any of their Plant siblings, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Nai like this. Not like this. Though in the back of his mind it made him question his resolve anyway. If Knives gave him no other choice but to kill him; to choose between him and the humans could he do it? Now, he wasn’t sure. He was less sure than ever.
No– he didn’t have enough strength to think about anything but pouring out that power he was born for: the power of rejuvenation into Nai’s twisted body.
“I’m sorry,” He sobbed
“I’m so sorry Nai,” And he was. He wept from the depths of the heart of a man wrecked by regret. Whether he’d meant to or not, he’d never forget that it was his fault that his twin was torn apart like this now.
“This is all my fault. D-Don’t try to talk. Just rest.”
Vash’s own wing shuddered and instinctively pulled in close, covering them both from the drifting dust and smoke where they were undamaged. His mind sank into that numb, buzzing place of blessed emptiness it went any time he performed this task for a Plant– and prayed it would be as effective on his brother.
“I’m gonna make it… make it better…” He promised weakly, eyes cracking slightly to see their markings thrumming in sync across their connection. “You’re gonna be okay and. And then we can talk about everything. Okay?”
Nai wheezed again, a shuddering cough wracking the remnants of his lungs. Somehow the rebuilding of his body was just as painful and it was when it was torn apart. He could feel Vash's strength and energy straining. Damned.. crybaby…
"Always... want to... talk." Vash was always a chatterbox. Capable of making friends with just about anyone and thought he could solve all the universe's problems by just talking.
"H-Hey. Vash.."
Nai tried to move. Everything hurt. Burned and strained and pulled. Blood leaked and oozed when he shifted, dragging out an arm from the debris. It trembled as he reached out to trail fingers through the feathers of Vashs wing. "Stop.. youre draining yourself."
He had already tapped into so much of his energy with the blast that destroyed July. Sure, Vash had an immense store of it, but it was not bottomless.
"Look.. at me.."
A part of Vash hated that Nai could be so gentle, so… so loving. The other part of him, far more dominant now than the other, desperately wanted the comfort offered.
Vash’s lips trembled, teeth grinding from the effort of his labors, but he pressed his sweat slicked cheek into the bloodied palm. He winced at the sound of something wet crunching, realizing that it was the sound of a limb or extremity– something– snapping back into place as flesh re-knit itself.
It made him let out a little keening cry of sympathy, of guilt, and he forced his eyes open at his brother’s command, dazedly meeting his gaze.
“No, not un-until you. Until you’re better.” Vash took another deep breath and pushed outward mentally.
His markings lit with a brighter intensity, the transfer of power disturbing the dust they laid in with vibrations. As he let that healing energy wash over Nai again, desperate to at least get his body put right– a violet tinge worked into his edges, threatening to beat red through the lines that adorned his body. Vash let out a soft grunt, his wings trembling again, threatening to dissolve all together now.
“I need you to be okay,” He said miserably, but– the darkness of unconsciousness was threatening to swallow him up again, and really it might be the only thing that would save him from reaching the Terminus of his power.
"Y-You'll see. We'll figure it out, Nai," Vash breathed, though he wasn't sure he believed it himself. Somewhere in the distance, there was the sound of something like shouting and movement-- survivors possibly. Though he couldn't imagine either of them being able to move, he knew they couldn't stay there.
"Vash."
With the strength he had, Knives tried to squeeze Vash’s hand, get his attention back, for just a goddamn minute. He couldn't do this without his attention, needed him to focus or he was going to destroy himself for nothing.
He watched those markings grow brighter and Nai gasped at the surge, choking on it as blood seemed to pool in his throat before he could hack it out. This process was always so violent, it was no wonder Vash never wanted to watch.
"You… idiot." Even like this, Vash forgot what he was. What they were. "Open up... for me. Goddamnit..."
If Vash just let him into his gate, they could share the burden. Nai could regenerate on his own, but his energy vault was more limited than Vash’s. But if they could share with each other, neither of them would have to bleed their power dry.
"Your gate... let me.. in....."
Vash tried to catch his breath, now coming in little hiccups of sobs. His gate? He barely knew how to access it, had suppressed it where he did know– terrified that if he let Knives too close that the connection would be his downfall. If he linked with him now, it would be something he likely would never be able to fully reverse.
But he knew that Nai was right. His mind flashed back to the friends he’d left behind, how he prayed they were safe even though from the state of their surroundings it was unlikely. Even if they were… he didn’t deserve their company after what he had let himself be used to do. No. After what he had done. Passing the blame wasn’t something Vash was capable of.
He whimpered and grit his teeth again, reaching out to intertwine his fingers with Knives’. He allowed himself a few more miserable gulps of air, tears cutting lines through the soot and dirt on his face– and then he let go.
The world around him felt as though it bent and twisted, the very space around them curving and threatening to tear. He knew it was inside of him, but the loss of gravity almost turned his stomach. He gulped air again and chanced to open his eyes, let them adjust to the strange, otherworldly space that connected him to his twin. The rush of his thoughts, his fears, passed through him and into Knives in a burst. He could sense Nai’s pain, his rage, his determination– but feared those thoughts seeping into him.
“Nai,” His voice sounded small and foreign to him. “Nai, where are you? I’m here,” He called softly.
There was little more he could do now, the simple act of allowing their gates to connect was already asking a lot of him– or more accurately, Vash had no idea how to do anything now that he was there.
The gentle opening of Vash's gate was like a breath of fresh air amidst the fire and salt in the air around them. His own eyes fluttered shut as he connected. His own signal was weak, threatening to break at any moment but he managed. It was empty, save for the two of them: it felt safe.
Eyes opened slowly as he both felt and saw Vash. Could feel his heart, his mind as if it were cradling his own. Here, his body was not visibly mangled, but not entirely there, smoke pouring out of spaces he had yet to mend.
"Vash. I'm here. Have always been here."
Nai wrapped himself around his brother, body and mind, his own broken wing curling around them to draw them closer still.
"You still can't do anything without me, huh?"
Their markings flickered together before matching up again as Nai allowed his energy to seep into Vash through his fingertips. "Focus. Feel. Two parts of one whole."
His response to Nai’s touch was a shuddered breath that rippled through the space, incomprehensible. He felt their wings brush against each other, wrapping tighter as though to weave an unbreakable cocoon in which they could coalesce. For years this had been his worst fear– to slip into this space that he did not understand, where Knives would undoubtedly have the upper hand. Where he would easily be able to break and influence him: maybe even strip away his entire Ego.
But now– he welcomed the feeling of their minds touching, their souls dancing in perfect sync as they brushed against each other. Through the pain that now seemed dull and far away, he felt a heady rush of euphoria that made him shudder again. He was going to cry again– always crying– but he did his best to follow Nai’s guidance.
It was no longer difficult to activate his restorative power. It flowed like his breath, ebbing and flowing like the sand dunes pushed by the wind.
When he tried to speak, he was surprised to find his chapped lips brushing Nai’s cheek. “I don’t know how– M’trying,”
Vash sighed and for a moment, as he let his mind clear, he felt as though he nearly collapsed into Knives– as though he might drift away. His heart raced, his head spun, and he clung to his twin as though that could save him.
“Will this… Will you heal?” He asked desperately.
Slowly but surely, Nai felt Vash relax further and further against him, sinking further into the depths of his own gate. Letting go and just existing with him in this space. A space just for them that no one could breach.
Knives did his best to soothe Vash, hushing him quietly as he ran tender fingertips along his cheek to wipe away delicate tears. He helped hold him steady with the strength he had, acting as an anchor he could cling to.
He wasn't sure how to answer Vash's question. He had never been this injured before, but this was the only thing he could think of to help without Vash draining himself dry in the process. To think that, even after everything, Vash still wanted to save him. He almost laughed at the thought, but he clung to it all the same. How naïve his dear brother could be.
Nai wasn't sure how long they had stayed suspended like this. He had felt his body stitch together, slowly but surely. Most of it had seemed to repair in over time, though it wasn't quite perfect yet. His energy levels had depleted noticeably, but at least Vash seemed mostly unphased by it all. It wasn't until he felt something touch his wing that wasn't Vash that he even remembered that there was an outside world. A place beyond this space.
It touched him again, more persistent, almost digging into the flesh of it. His jaw clenched at the sensation, being practically ripped from the gate as his wing was pulled back by force. The light that shone through the crack that had been created was too bright. He winced as his eyes opened, blinking against it as he came to slowly. Shadows passed behind the growing gap but Nai couldn't make out who or what it even was.
His wing lifted, still tattered and weak as the cocoon that had formed around them back in reality cracked away, though Vash remained hidden by the rest of it, and the intruder jumped back with a shrill squeal, hiding behind another.
"M-Maybe this was a bad idea!"
"It was your idea-" A large weapon was poised at the cocoon- at Nai's still crouched form. "He's weak. Let's just end this here and now!"
Nai's wing flaped and flared to form a shield before them, separating them and blocking the incoming barrage of bullets. He favored the side that Vash was still wrapped up in as a bullet nicked him in the shoulder.
"Fools..." Nai's voice was low, broken and weak. It seemed like he hadn't had time to gain enough strength to do much more than protect them. But at least it seemed his body was intact now.
Meryl Stryfe, from her position ducking around Wolfwood’s hip, deftly aimed Roberto’s Derringer at the horrifying twist of feathers and flesh, but her hand shook. She moved back just enough to give her glorified meatshield the room to swing his weapon around. If the bullets wouldn’t do the trick, he’d just have to pull out the Big Guns.
If it could smoke a great worm, then Knives couldn’t be that much of a problem, right?
There was a deft click as he turned the mechanism, the whine of it powering up loud in the otherwise nearly silent ruins.
He took aim, a volley of curses that would’ve made anyone blush spat in Knives’ direction, a declaration of Vengeance– for Roberto, for Vash.
As Vash’s name left his lips, he saw it.
The familiar coppery green of a prosthetic hand, some of its fingers mangled and in need of repair came up and gripped Knives’ visible arm from within the cocoon of feathers.
“Shit–!”
At the last moment, he swung the weapon away, the energy beam sawing off the top of the crumbled wall in the distance. It tumbled back, blessedly away from the gathering– with a crash that shook the earth.
“What the fuck–”
“Is that Vash?!” Meryl’s cry echoed off of the rusting walls, reverberating back to them.
The standoff continued, the pair of vengeance seekers stricken silent as they both huddled behind the massive cross. Was Vash alive? He was moving, he had to be, right?
Meryl met Wolfwood’s gaze from the corner of her eye, a quiet but determined question on her lips. “What do we do?”
Nai knew the sound of that weapon well. Had heard it a thousand times over the years. He prepared for the attack as best as he could, ready to block what he could with his wing, no matter what further damage it would cause as long as Vash remained safe. At the last second, it seemed like the parasites saw reason, and turned their weapons away, barely missing what would have been their greatest mistake yet.
Cold eyes glared at them from behind the wing, holding his ground, simply watching. Waiting for their next move. His heart was pounding in his chest- had barely noticed Vash's hand touching his arm. He had been so wrapped up in protecting him, he didn't even realize he had woken up too. He dared a glance sideways, seeing Vash still curled up beside him. His eyes were barely open, still not fully coherent as he came to.
Nai's body shifted, which made the pair before them jump and stand more defensively, though Nai only moved to wrap arms around his waking brother. A hand slipped behind Vash's neck to help ease him to a sitting position, petting wings that scattered his form to soothe him to the waking world. "Vash- its time to wake up now..."
Wolfwood grit his teeth at the scene. He couldn't simply let Knives do whatever the fuck he was going to do to Vash, but he had no other course of action. He couldn't risk a shot hitting Vash to try to get Knives away. He couldn't even be sure of the state Vash was in.
Tongue clicked against teeth as he tried to figure something out. Maybe... "Oi! Blondie!"
For Vash, all was darkness, and for a time, he felt as though he were drifting still in that solution, senses dampened and heightened all at once. The sound came first, in pulsing waves. A snippet of voices. Shouting. Something familiar. Gunfire was what made him fight against the weight of his eyelids.
He desperately willed his limbs to move, anything, anything at all– and that feeble grasp was nearly all he could manage. Then, he felt someone touching his wings. Gentle. Soft. A shuddered breath left him as he consciously made himself blink. Once. Twice. Everything focused a little more. And then–
Oi, Blondie!
Vash gasped, jolting forward just slightly. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as he tried to survey the situation even with his spinning head. Then, he was aware of the faint smell of blood– the graze on Nai’s shoulder trailing a crimson streak down his arm.
They were alive. His friends were there. Oh god, they were there, and Nai had murder in his eyes.
“I’m okay!” His voice barely reached the other two it was so broken from disuse. “I’m okay. I. Haha, I probably look like hell but I’m okay.”
He was almost embarrassed. His wings shuffled and curled inward as though he were trying to hide them.
“Nai’s just protecting me.” He wasn’t sure he said it with enough conviction to convince anyone.
“Protecting you?!”
“Have you gone nuts, Vash?! They. They killed Roberto.” Meryl shouted, rage welling up in her that turned her face beat red.
So… the old timer hadn’t made it. Vash’s head drooped, a labored breath passing his lips. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I. This is. I have to take responsibility for this. So…”
He should have told them to go, but he didn’t have the heart. Even Nai had to admit– they were in no shape to try to get out of their current predicament without help.
When Vash gasped, suddenly shooting forward, Nai was there to catch him, steady him. To be the first thing he saw when his eyes focused. The stinging pain in his shoulder was nothing compared to ensuring Vash was alright. He wasn't used to his gate, and thus wasn't accustomed to the aftereffects. A hand moved to brush through Vash's hair, matted and a bit damp, but still as chaotic as ever.
Nai growled lowly as the three of them conversed as if he wasn't there. As if he hadn't been the one to protect Vash when they had been so ready to fire right at him. He moved again, though his body was still quite weak, and tried to collect Vash into his arms. It was slow for both of them, neither of their bodies used to moving after having been suspended for... how long had it been? Did it even matter? Not to Nai- not after over a century.
Nai made to stand, legs shaking under the weight as he hoisted Vash into his arms. His wing expanded fully, feathers flying off from its tattered edged as it shook before folding against his back and wrapping slightly in front of him to further shield Vash from his "friends."
"You would be wise to back off." Nai knew he was in no condition to fight. But they could run until they were both healed enough and restored enough of their energy reserves. Surely he could carry them both on his wing...
"Like hell we're going to just let you take him!"
Nai stepped forward, out of the shell of the cocoon they had created, and his eyes widened slightly. What he felt was not rock nor metal nor sand. But something softer, almost cool to the touch on his bare feet. He glanced down to find green had sprouted around them, crawling up the edges of broken buildings and what looked to be the beginnings of flowers. Suddenly, he winced, the wound in his arm pulsating and bringing him down to his knee, nearly dropping Vash in the process, though his wing was able to curl around fast enough to keep him close.
More than anything, Vash wanted to avoid any further confrontation. His mind was still somehow both blank and jumbled. It was hard for him to think through anything. It was moment to moment. Instinctively, he clung to Knives as he moved, wincing slightly as he tried to carry him, jolting and stumbling.
Vash’s heart twisted as he saw the pain in the grimace on his twin’s face– and yet he put every ounce of his strength into keeping Vash from falling. He held him so tight that he didn’t even collide with the raised knee that he caught himself on.
“Nai…” Vash cooed softly.
Vash reached up with his good hand, touching Knives’ face, returning all of the gentle little touches he’d given him so far.
“H-hey, Wolfwood. I think we could use a little help.” Vash said, his tone as bashful as ever.
“We?!” The man in question slammed his weapon down into the ground where it listed awkwardly to one side. He crossed his arms viciously over his chest, lip curled in distaste.
“After all the shit he did? After what he keeps doing to you? Did he fuck you brain or something? Are you losing it, spikey?” A pause and he jabbed his finger in Knives’ general direction (from a safe distance) “And you! Why should we help you?”
Meryl was silent, but her jaw trembled with unspoken anger. Her stance would’ve been threatening if she wasn’t so tiny.
“Please… please… if you do anything for me, do this… just this.” It wasn’t clear if Vash was talking to Nai or to his friends.
“Nai, I’ll stay with you. I’ll walk with you. But you can’t keep doing this. Come with me. Come with me and I can heal them. All of our siblings are calling out…”
Nai grit his teeth at the bashful cry for help, at the accusations thrown his way. How dare they... His whole body trembled with rage, wing fluttering threateningly, as he did not have the energy to summon his blades. He growled as he stared Wolfwood's pointed finger down.
It was Vash's soft voice that managed to break through, however slight it was. A plea, and an offering. The anger seemed to fade from Nai's face for a moment before snapping back into place, though anyone who could see any emotion other than rage might be able to pinpoint the grief on his features.
"Are you kidding?!" Wolfwood looked like he was about to take a step forward, but seemed to think better of it. "You're going to side with this asshole?!"
"Vash, what are you doing!" Poor Meryl looked like she was about to cry, face hot as anger boiled over at what she was hearing. They'd been through so much and he was just going to give up like this?
"Silence!" Both Meryl and Wolfwood were stunned in place at Nai's sudden outburst, though it seemed to have drained even more of his strength. One of Nai's hands lifted to cover the one Vash had on his cheek, gripping it gently.
"We can save them all.. together. Like I've always wanted. I promise, I can make this world our Eden. If you just give me some time, I will build you a paradise free from burden and pain. A blank slate..." Free from humanity and everything they had cultivated. Had Vash finally understood that these humans only sought to use him for their selfish needs?
Vash chanced the smallest of glances at his friends– a silent plea for Wolfwood and Meryl to understand, to hold their anger. As if he could pulse the same kind of thought-speak across the connection of their friendship that he could to Nai. If they would just give him time, If they would just help him show Nai that this world wasn’t all cruel.
He took another gentle inhale, unable to be anything but moved by the soft way that Nai touched him– even after his outburst. Vash couldn’t help but believe in him, couldn’t help but be led on by foolish hope.
“The reason all of this failed… Nai. You have to compromise. You did all of this and you never once thought about how I felt. You get that, right?” His gaze was as stern as it could be, looking up at his brother. He heard Wolfwood let out a scoff, but he hoped it was more of a bit of steam let off.
“I will stay by your side. I will. I won’t leave you alone. But you have to promise to work with me, not against me. I will go with you. I will heal every single one of our siblings that we can find. But only if we help the humans too. And if the Plants want to stay, they can stay. Did you even try asking any of them?”
He could feel the other two watching them, knew that they were probably confused though– they could probably put two and two together now. They knew that Vash was just as inhuman as Knives, now. His wings fluttered slightly, a hushed noise as they began to lose some of their shape and substantiality. He was slowly coming around, collecting himself in the literal sense.
“Give me a chance, Nai.” Vash said firmly. “And they’ll give you a chance too,” With that, he did turn to look at Wolfwood and Meryl, a pained kind of hope glinting in his eyes.
Nai's jaw set tightly as Vash continued. Compromise. For them? Help them? After everything they had done to their kind and continued to do without any signs of stopping?!
And to think Vash thought so lowly of him to force their sisters to do anything against their will...
"Of course I asked them! Those that could still communicate begged to be free of their pain, and those that had the ability to speak stripped away from them, well, I just couldn't stand by and watch those parasites suck the rest of their lives dry."
Nai's expression was pained, angry. How had Vash become so blinded to the suffering of their brethren? "Did your precious humans ever ask them? Did they ask Tessla?! Before they ripped her apart and left her there as some sick trophy?!"
Even Rem had betrayed them. Why couldn't Vash see that? "Humanity has had too many chances to change. I won't let them bleed another planet dry, won't let them erase our kind from existence. All they are capable of is stealing, using and killing, even their own kind.." Nai's strength was waning, the weight of his brother in his arms becoming heavier, though he weighed next to nothing at all. His wing fluttered, more and more feathers falling off of it as his body swayed.
Wolfwood was the first to catch what was happening. Against his better judgment- or perhaps just acting on instinct- he lunged forward to catch the twins before Nai collapsed to the ground.
"Easy..." Wolfwood's gaze, while still stern and cautious, had seemed to waver and soften. As if the exchange had struck a chord with him, helped him understand what this war was really about, if only by a fraction.
"Don't.. touch me.."
Wolfwood gave a weak laugh as he settled the pair down, though he made no move to separate them, knowing full well that was just asking for it. "Don't think you're really in the position to make demands, buddy."
Nai gave him a scowl, though his vision was growing blurry, and suddenly, all at once, the world tilted and went dark.
Vash knew how Knives felt. He didn’t think it was wrong of him to be angry like he was, but he could never stand to let him keep hurting people who had nothing to do with what had happened. He thought of how he’d lunged at Luida all those years ago, how he seemed to confuse her for someone else. Thought of how the rage consumed him so fully that he couldn’t think clearly.
Vash didn’t notice at first as his brother’s strength began to flag. He thought that he was trembling with rage, more than anything else– and he had so much to say, still. It was too late to interject when he felt Knives’ grip slip.
Suddenly, Wolfwood was there, stopping them both from taking too nasty of a tumble at the very least. Familiar scent, familiar sound of his gruff sarcasm. Vash let himself close his eyes for a moment and then struggled up onto his knees, shuffling forward through the new grass that had spread around their resting place, staining the fabric of his tattered pants a deep green.
“Nai? Nai?!” No, no, no, not after everything he’d poured into trying to heal him–
“Relax, I think he’s just passed out.” Wolfwood sounded almost as tired as Vash felt. He wilted a bit, shoulders slumping as he confirmed that Nai was breathing– a bit shallow, but steady.
Vash should have spoken, should have taken command of the situation, but he couldn’t find it in him. He’d always been indecisive in that way, a trait that had cost far too many people’s lives.
“What the hell is going on here? Vash, I don’t understand.” It was Meryl’s voice that shook him.
“Meryl… I’m so sorry. About your partner.” He said weakly. “I know… I can’t make up for it but. But… Killing Nai won’t bring him back. Won’t bring back any of the lives he or I have stolen.” He said quietly.
“But if… if I can just make him see. Just. Make him see things the way I do… we have a chance to save a lot. More than you can even imagine.
Meryl wandered closer as Wolfwood shuffled to get a better grip on Knives, letting out a little disturbed noise of surprise as it seemed that his preternatural wings had all but dissolved into dust. Vash’s were now not far behind.
“It’s… this stuff. Like Miss Luida said.” Meryl was closer now, the toes of her shoes right at the border between dead sand and debris and the new life growing, clinging to life in its ugly surroundings.
“Yeah– yeah, kinda. If I can… If I can just convince him… He’s my brother. My only family. My only…”
“Yeesh alright, alright we get it already! Keep talkin’ like that and I’m gonna get a toothache.” Wolfwood cut him off, rolling his eyes.
“I ain’t carryin’ ya both back to camp though. Meryl, go get the damned car as close as you can.” He said, exasperated.
“Thanks, guys. I owe you. … For real. Forever in your debt.”
“Yeah you sure are.” Meryl squawked as she turned and stomped off into the distance.