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“Knives, what’re you doing in here? Rem said she needs help setting up the table- ooh what’s that?”
Knives looked up from his seat in the Earth archives room as Vash bounded over to his side. In front of them, a screen was lit up with a cheerful display. Colorful balloons and streamers covered the walls, and a table piled high with all sorts of Earth dishes that he and Vash had never seen before. Uplifting music played from the speakers, barely audible over the chatter of people surrounding a pair of siblings sitting in front of a large and decadent cake lit with candles.
“It’s what the humans call a birthday celebration.”
“A birthday? That’s what Rem said we were celebrating soon.”
Knives nodded, his eyes shining with wonder. “There’s so many people there, all gathering together to celebrate those two for living through another planetary motion.”
His brother cocked his head to the side, watching the scene unfold. “They must care a lot, with all that food and presents on the table. Might even be better than Rem’s cooking.”
“Vash,” Knives asked suddenly, turning towards him. “Do you think we’ll have a birthday celebration like that one day? With lots of friends and all the cake and presents we want?”
Vash shrugged, leaning against Knives’ chair and almost falling over as his brother swiveled around to look at him excitedly. “Maybe once we get to the new world, though I dunno how long that'll take. But you still have me and Rem.” He took Knives’ hand and pulled him out of his seat to leave. And they ran through the halls towards the cafeteria, laughing and chatting about all the gifts and food they’d want, their voices ringing out.
“We’ll celebrate our birthday, and everyone else’s, together!”
A lone plant tank stood in the middle of the darkened room, a faint glow emitting from the figure within. He drifted aimlessly, submerged in fluid, his new body developing and melding together in a painstakingly slow manner. Through the half-conscious haze of meandering thoughts and resurfaced memories, he vaguely heard footsteps approaching, and a voice.
“Master Knives, today is the 21st of July. There is no information on the whereabouts of Vash the Stampede, the last report mentioned that he was fleeing from May City but there have not been any updates since then.”
There was a pause of hesitation, as if the familiar yet utterly insignificant voice of the human wanted to say something else, but nothing came of it except for a curt, “I will take my leave now, Master Knives,” and quickly fading footsteps.
If Knives could laugh, he would. A cold, cruel laugh at the coincidence of that particular memory appearing before him today, of all days. He was wrong to have believed that naive declaration of his brother’s. To have had any semblance of hope that plants would ever befriend humans. And after the extinction of July, he’d spent year after year mending the damage his own brother wrought before abandoning him.
They were supposed to wipe out the pestilence of humanity together after bearing witness to their sins against their sisters. They were supposed to purge together.
Letting his mind drift off to rest his recovering body, Knives thought bitterly amidst the vacant room.
“Happy birthday, Vash.”
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Pop!
“Happy Birthday!” Rem cheered, streamers flying out of the party popper in her hand.
Vash looked stunned, midway through pouring some juice while Knives cocked his head to the side in confusion at the oversized glasses and fake mustache Rem wore.
Sipping on his drink, Vash listened as Rem went on about how a year had already gone by and how fast the boys were growing. He caught Knives’ eye, who gave him a content smile that Vash couldn’t help but match. Against all odds and despite being plants, they were accepted and looked after by a human who loved them as though they were her own sons.
He knew that not all humans were like Rem though, Knives told him so. But his brother still believed that they’ll be accepted by humans still. That they could be friends, albeit agreeing with Vash’s response that it would take a considerable amount of effort. Nevertheless, they’ll have lots of time to make new friends once they land on the new world, and plenty more birthdays to celebrate together.
“Oh!” Rem clapped her hands together. “We need to sing happy birthday so we can cut the cake.”
Vash and Knives perked up. They weren’t entirely sure why humans needed a birthday song in order to eat cake, but they liked listening to Rem sing. She cleared her throat.
“Happy birthday to you…”
“Happy birthday to you…” A quiet voice murmured, trailing off.
A solitary cupcake sat on the windowsill of the dimly lit motel room, the light of the moons streaming down on the figure staring out the window. Visions of a large crater where a city once resided swam through his head, and memories of a sin he swore he had committed but couldn’t remember taunted the edges of his mind.
Taking out two candles from his coat, he stuck them one by one into the cake and flicked open a lighter. An electric jolt suddenly ran through his left arm, causing him to knock over one of the candles. It had been awhile since he got the prosthetic checked out at Ship 3, his hubris becoming apparent as he frantically pat out his smoldering coat sleeve with a yelp.
“Shit!”
There was a light knock on the door. Meryl’s voice called out. “Vash? Is everything alright?”
Vash held his breath, pretending to be asleep until he heard the footsteps leave and let out a silent sigh. Turning back to the cupcake, he relit the remaining candle, watching the flame dance and glow.
It was nothing new. Countless birthdays spent alone in a dark room, or forgotten completely. It was better this way, he’d rather avoid his birthday completely rather than face the guilt of an entire city's population bearing down on someone who couldn't even remember what he did. Vash stared at the flickering flame of the single candle. It shouldn't be this way.
They were supposed to preserve the innocence of humanity together after thousands of their kind crashed to their deaths in falling ships. They were supposed to protect together.
Blowing out the candle, Vash muttered to the empty silence before him.
“Happy birthday, Knives.”