Work Text:
Kendal liked cities.
The crowds full of people he’s yet to meet reminded him of Vash’s memories of his own city. The local businesses, while in variety, all spawned from the same innately alive desire to turn passions into lifestyles. The inherent god-to-city connection wasn’t applicable in their current place of stay, of course, but it was never Vash’s godhood that made him appreciate his city. It was simply the mortal-ness of it all. And Kendal shared the same sentiment.
There were also many assholes in the world, and they seemed to be at their worst in concentrated areas like these. Kendal knew this intuitively, and often witnessed his friends have poor experiences with unpleasant mortals in the city, Falst especially, but he had yet to experience the brunt of it himself, for a reason everyone knew, but hesitated to bring up.
This unmentioned quality of his turned out to be a double-edged sword, and would lead to his first direct encounter with mortal asshole-ishness.
He was out running an errand with Tess, who invited him personally (Which confused him, but it was a kind gesture regardless), when he heard someone on the street whistle very loudly before yelling “You’re smokin’, dude!!”
He realized they were yelling in his direction, which meant he was the target of this statement. It was an unsolicited remark, though he found it flattering, and smiled a bit to himself.
Tess, however, reacted much more negatively. She cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled back “Go fuck yourself!”
She turned to Kendal. “Ugh, I’m sorry, that was-” Noticing his smile, her expression shifted to confusion. “-Why are you smiling?”
“Oh,” Kendal laughed a bit, “I’m not offended by it. I took it as a compliment on Vash’s behalf. He did do a pretty good job, after all.” He gestured vaguely to his body, then looked at Tess. “Don’t you think?”
Tess squinted. “Um,” She reflexively gave Kendal a once-over. “No comment.”
Kendal shrugged, unfazed.
“Still,” She continued, “What you just experienced back there is called sexual harassment, and it’s, like, not good.”
Kendal considered this. “Hm. I guess you’re right. I don’t think it matters all that much, though. Vash built his vessel to be strong and approachable, so that’s what I am. I can’t exactly blame anyone for being attracted to something designed to be attractive.”
Tess squinted again. “Dude, I think you just called yourself a sex object.”
Kendal blinked, widening his eyes when they opened. “I did not!”
“You described yourself as-”
“I meant that my body is-”
“So your body is a sex object.”
Kendal opened his mouth to retort, then shut it again to think. The following thought came: “Well... In a way... Isn’t... everyone’s...?”
Tess’s face contorted.
“Nevermind I take that back.”
“Yeah, thought so.” Tess looked ahead, awkwardly breaking eye contact.
“Look, all I meant was that- I mean-” He had never stumbled over his own words this much before in his life. This was such a strangely uncomfortable topic for him, despite him already having decided that he doesn’t mind it. “-If someone tells me that they find my appearance attractive, that’s not something I’m in any position to be offended over- That’s how Vash wanted people to see him! So-”
Tess suddenly turned to face him. “And how do you want people to see you?”
Kendal stopped in place, staring at her. “I-... I don’t see why that matters.”
“If someone came up to you, looked you in the eye and said ‘You’re the hottest piece of meat I’ve ever laid eyes on, take me now,’ would you do it?”
“No!”
Tess leaned closer. “Why not?”
“Because it would be dishonest if I did.”
A bit closer. “Why would it be dishonest?”
“Because I wouldn’t want to!”
Closer still. “And why’s that?”
“Because I don’t like being called a piece of meat!” Kendal exclaimed. His words were dragged out before his thoughts could review them. He was surprised at himself.
Tess backed away and raised her eyebrows while cocking her head to the side. “And there you have it.”
Kendal’s gaze drifted to the ground in thought. “...Oh.”
Tess slapped his back and continued walking with him, like a friend does. “Looks like someone really does care how people see him.”
Kendal didn’t respond. He merely walked by Tess’s side, staring at the road, utterly baffled at himself.
Tess glanced at him, then looked a bit concerned. “Oh shit, did I break you?”
“I...” He trailed off. “...I... Don’t know...”
Tess paused. She took her hand off Kendal’s back and stuck her hands in her pockets. “I’ll give you some time to think, then.”
“Yeah.”
“You good, bud?”
“Yeah.”
Kendal, apparently, did not like getting sexually harassed.
So that’s something.