function vcs_info_wrapper() {
  vcs_info
  ... # parse $vcs_info_msg_0_ and return info on checkout
}

timeout 0.5s vcs_info
if [ $? -eq 124 ]; then
  echo "timed out"
else
  ...  # parse $vcs_info_msg_0_ and return info on checkout
fi

autoload -Uz vcs_info
vcs_info

timeout 0.5s source $HOME/scripts/vcs_info.sh

timeout 0.5s zsh -c 'source $HOME/scripts/vcs_info.sh'