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Taking inspiration from the organisms they were named after, plants, when given the right conditions, were designed to photosynthesize. However, concerns on how delicate, and prone to drying out they are, made it seem more liable than plausible. And while research on how to engineer plants that didn’t require the liquid containers they survived in were extensive so far nothing came of it.
Until the independent plants were born.
Vash came to learn he could take energy from the sun, and in fact it felt more fulfilling than food ever did for him. Like a part of him he never knew he had needed to replenish. However he rarely did it. What was required for him to actually be able to convert the sun's rays into energy, was for his body to slow down. For him to sit lazy and unaware for hours of his time sunning himself like a cat, slow and hardly lucid. For an outlaw like him it wasn’t possible.
He’d just be leaving himself open.
Besides, It was similar to sleeping in a way- he found. Much harder to do unless he felt safe, comfortable. Something he rarely felt anymore, even when he wasn’t open wide in the desert. The last time it was ever possible for him to feel comfortable enough to do it was sometime during the time Brad and Luida took him outside for the first time in years. When they’d sometimes stop to rest after long travels. Of course back then he didn’t need to worry about a bounty anyways.
So why, he wonders, has he suddenly been feeling the urge to slow his body down and recharge.
It’s a nagging feeling he hasn’t felt in years. Similar to hunger, or the dizzying feeling of exhaustion when he hasn’t slept in days. But slightly different. Something he knows that’s inhuman. He hates feeling inhuman, even if he knows it’s his truth. Anyways, It’s becoming a bit of a problem when he’s still travelling the desert, dodging bullets by the hairs as he always has. Well with one alteration.
Ultimately he realises his mind has decided himself safe enough that he doesn’t have to shut off his natural way of energy absorption anymore. Now with the small but lively group of companions he’s gained, he’s felt safe long enough that his body’s trying to remind him to heal. That it can.
He wishes, remorsefully, that it wouldn’t.
Vash knows if he told them he was tired, that he needed to slow down they would. But he doesn’t even know how long he’ll be out, and he’s survived so long without it that he knows bitterly that he can go without it. That if only his body can hold on a little longer he won’t slow them all down.
Their rations are running low, but luckily before they start picking apart bread slices to share the muted orange and red colours of a small town is seen just above the horizon. Shimmering in the dust and steadily rising sun. Small is an understatement, it’s one of those towns that never grew above 12 dozen or so houses. While big cities have more eyes to notice their presence, at least with enough people you can fade into a crowd. Here word of Vash would travel fast. He’s seen it too many times. The way smiles swap into guns in what seems like effortless practice. Though Vash knows instead it’s rather desperate than effortless.
So Vash is to stay behind for a few hours while Meryl and Roberto stock up. He suspects Meryl’s noticed something off with him, because she almost seems reluctant to leave him. She appoints Wolfwood to stay behind and babysit him. Promising to be back soon.
“Just you and me today, huh Blondie.”
A canteen comes his way. He catches it. Squinting at the way the sun glared off its metal coat. He can already feel the way the sun's warmth beacons him.
It’s warm and it’s sleepy, and it’s awful.
He’d like to just stand there. Soaking up the sun, but he shakes himself off like a dog. Tipping the canteen back to drink, so he can toss it back to where Wolfwood’s still waiting. Chewing on the remains of his cigarette.
He’s only drunk about a sip when the metal starts to feel oddly heavy in his arms. He caps it and practically drops to the ground, Vash along with it would have hit the sand. If wolfwood hadn’t caught him.
“Spiky?” It feels like the world has suddenly had a grainy noise effect placed over it. Fuzzy like he used to see in those old DVDs Rem would sometimes play on a small screen in the old SEED ship. Except it’s getting more and more aggressive, until it’s hard for him to see.
“Sorry, dizzy.” He manages to reply, after realising it was Wolfwood’s voice he’d heard.
He’s set down, and practically slumps against the man beside him. It doesn’t feel the same as the time he used to sun as before, now it feels exhausting. His body finally putting its foot down, trusting that if he wasn’t going to stop to rest it would do it itself. He whines rubbing his face into what feels like Wolfwood’s shoulder. He can’t see. It’s too grainy. At least he can still hear, still feel.
“Damnit blondie, why didn't you warn us before Meryl left?” Vash can feel how Wolfwood starts to retreat, and he realises in a panic he might leave him. Off to retrieve Meryl, probably, but he’d be left alone. He grabs at the man’s sleeves dragging him a little too forcefully to his side.
Wolfwood lets out an ‘uff’ noise as they collide into each other. “Don’t leave!”
Vash lets go of him, “I’m… Please. It’s just the sun affecting me. I’ll be fine once I sit here for a while.”
“I wasn’t going to leave you. At least let us move into the shade, you’ve probably got heatstroke.”
“It’s not. It’s a plant thing.”
He can’t see it, but he can imagine the incredulous look Wolfwood must be giving. Wolfwood’s voice is joking when he responds, “What are you photosynthesizing?”
“Kind of?”
“You’re not. Of course you are.” Wolfwood groans.
“Sorry.”
“Shut up. don't do that.” Wolfwood mutters annoyances under his breath, Vash can feel one hand move up in exasperation, then drop around Vash’s shoulder. “Of course you are. I hardly even know what that word means, it’s an Earth thing, it’s something with the sun huh? What do you need?”
“It’s a plant's way of recharging, kind of. I don’t need anything, just this actually, the sun's enough.”
“So s’like food huh? How long since you done it, you’ve never done this with us before.”
“It’s not really necessary to do.”
“Dammnit Blondie, it’s like when you don’t eat huh?” Leave it to Wolfwood to read around him avoiding the question. Wolfwood’s voice is low, but harsh, like an angry secret. Or something he feels he’s tired of repeating, doesn’t deserve its full volume.
“I can’t really go around sitting in the open whenever I want.” Vash mutters in defence.
Wolfwood’s quiet for a while after that. If it wasn’t for his touch and the scent of smoke Vash would think he’d left. He figures the man’s just done with arguing with him for the day. He continues to squint at the things in front of him. Still popped with dots and fuzzy grey colour. He wonders if his body really can just go this long without properly sunning, he must get something out of all the time he spends under the blaze. Maybe it’s an account of travelling in that van more often. At least he’s starting to feel the shakiness go away.
He startles as a hand touches his head. “Jeez, just me.” He settles again, letting Wolfwood continue to comb through his hair. “You’re like a lizard.”
“A lizard?!”
“Havin’ to set yourself in the sun! That and you’re stubborn, could cut your tail off and you’d still be skittering around. Don’t frown at me. Next time instead of running yourself ragged, just do this damn- photobullshit.”
“Photosynthesize.”
“Real fancy.”
They sit like that for a while longer. Eventually Vash can feel his vision return. He can see the town in the distance without the sharp white dots. Wolfwood’s head perches above his, tilted like he’s slowly falling asleep. Vash could probably get up by now.
He nuzzled up closer, he’ll just stay a little longer.