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The time had finally come, and Vash couldn’t be more excited—or nervous. He was leaving the safety of the SEEDS ship, and the people who had rescued him from near-death, to venture into the outside world.
When they had first brought him on board nearly two years ago, Vash had been dehydrated, starving, and terrified. It had taken him a while to be coherent enough to explain who Rem and Knives were to the crew. Once they’d learned that Knives had caused the fall of the SEEDS ships to the desert planet, and that Rem had tried to avert the catastrophe, they had vowed to support Vash in whatever he decided to do.
After no small amount of hesitation, Vash had accepted that he was the only one who could stop Knives from doing to the rest of the human race what he had done to their ship’s crew. No one had the right to take the life of another, and Vash couldn’t stand the idea of Knives wandering from settlement to settlement trying to wipe out everyone Rem had saved. The humans she had saved would stay alive. They would all get the chance to choose the destination on their blank ticket. Vash would use the gun Knives had gifted him, and its twin, to ensure it.
The crew members worked together to assemble clothes and gear that would suit Vash’s wandering lifestyle. A moisture-wicking black undershirt and pair of black pants, sleek and form-fitting for ease of movement, and chaps to protect the pants, with a durable belt and holster for each revolver. Steel-toed boots ready to conquer all types of wasteland terrain, secured to his calves with several belts. A large duffel bag with a hard metal bottom, reinforced by belts, to match his boots. A silver hoop earring in his left ear and an accompanying golden pen that would allow him to communicate using radio frequencies over distances short and long. Completing the ensemble was a button-down trenchcoat, bright red like Rem’s geranium.
After getting dressed, Vash admired the beautiful hand-sewn coat in the mirror. Twin tears welled in his eyes and trickled down his cheeks when he thought about how much the people he had come to consider his folks had done for him, and how difficult it would be to leave them. He wiped them away with his thumb and slicked up his hair the way Rem had taught him. When he met his own eyes in the mirror, he tried to imagine Rem calling him her handsome boy, but he wasn’t sure that moniker fit him anymore now that he had finished growing up. He frowned at the curve still visible beneath the front panel of the coat. His undershirt flattened his chest a little, but he wished it did just a little more.
Ignoring the persistent twinge of discomfort, Vash left his room. He smiled from ear to ear at what he saw. Everyone stood outside the doors to their quarters, some with tears in their eyes. He bid them goodbye with handshakes and hugs, reciting their names so he wouldn’t forget them. Mira, Ana, Toby, Viola, Reiko. Cora, Aracelis, Ian, Gilles, Lida. Ellie, Ari, Jana, Constantin, Rin, Elwin, Brigitte, Amir.
When he reached the end of the hallway, Doc was waiting for him.
“Well, I suppose this is it, Vash,” he said. “Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.” Vash took a deep breath in, then out. He tugged on the front panel of his coat, pulling it outward. It really fit him like a glove, which was the problem.
Doc’s brow knit in concern. “This is quite the undertaking for someone of your age. Are you really sure about this, young man?”
A thrill ran through Vash’s entire frame at being addressed as a man, and his heart sped up. “I’m sure,” he said, trying to stay serious despite the goofy grin he couldn’t fight. “This is important, Doc. This is my job. Besides, I’m not a young man anymore. I’ve been an adult for almost a year!”
Doc chuckled. “Yes, that’s true. You’ll be nineteen soon enough. Ah, but before you go, we have one more gift for you. It might delay your departure, but I think you’ll find the extra time spent getting ready worth it.”
Vash raised his eyebrows. “Another gift? I don’t know if I—”
“Oh, yes, you can.” Doc held out his hands and offered Vash a sleeveless black undershirt. “I think you’ll really like it.”
Vash cocked his head, baffled. “I’m already wearing an undershirt, Doc.”
“This is a special undershirt.” Doc winked. “You’ll wear it underneath your other one. Go on, sonny, try it on.”
Vash took his present back to his room and closed the door. He carefully undid the buttons on the front panel of his coat and placed it on the bed. He unzipped his black top, and, putting it aside, reached for the one Doc had given him.
Pulling it over his head without messing up his hairstyle was a bit of a struggle, but, eventually, he got both arms into it. It was pretty tight and snug around his ribs. He tugged it down to where it stopped above his hips. Glancing down, he realized that his chest suddenly looked much flatter. The fluttery thrill rushed through him again, and he ran over to the mirror.
He turned to the side and stared open-mouthed at himself. His head spun. His heart threatened to beat out of his ribcage. He cracked a smile, and his eyes watered.
Quickly, he got dressed, then inspected himself in the mirror again. This time, the coat showed nothing. He really was handsome now. A handsome man.
Someone knocked on his door, startling him out of his amazement. He rushed over to the door and practically flung it open.
“Well? What do you thi—” Doc didn’t get to finish his question before Vash was on his knees, hugging him and crying into his shoulder.
“Thank you so much, Doc!” he wailed. “It’s perfect. I love it!”
“You’re welcome.” Doc patted his shoulder. “Now, listen closely. I’m sure you’ve noticed your binder is rather snug. That means you won’t be able to wear it every day. You’ll have to take breaks during the day, too, and take it off when you turn in for the night. A man with a job as important as yours needs to stay in top physical shape, and we don’t want you bruising your ribs or worse. Do you understand?”
“I understand!”
“Smart man. Courageous man! Now, go out there and prove yourself!”
Sniffling, Vash got to his feet and stood tall. “I will!” Emboldened by the confidence thrumming in his veins, he vowed silently to himself that he would become a man worthy of carrying on Rem’s legacy.