A/N I couldn't help it - I just watched Paradise, and burst into tears the moment Wolfwood closed his eyes. Sorry if he's OOC.
Disclaimer I don't own Trigun - if I did, Wolfwood wouldn't have been killed, and Vash and Meryl would be together already.
I'll Live
It was over now. He accepted that, couldn't deny it. He was afraid to open his eyes now, afraid to see the results of his last-moment confession. Because when he opened his eyes, he wouldn't be seeing the alter in the church, he'd be seeing his eternity.
Which was it? Heaven or Hell?
Gathering his courage, Wolfwood opened his eyes. For a moment, all he could see was a pure, white light. As it cleared, it slowly dawned on the man that he really was still in the church. So, he wasn't dead?
"No, not really. Almost, but not quite. You were always stubborn, weren't you, Nicholas?"
Wolfwood spun around; he hadn't spoken aloud, and he knew it! A young girl stood behind him, beautiful, delicate and petite.
"Well, you don't need to speak with me. I know you too well," she told him. Wolfwood narrowed his eyes and responded, "I've never even met you."
"You have," she countered, "You've known me your whole life."
He paused and took in her appearance. Actually, now that he thought about it, everything about her did seem strangely familiar. Her hair was a wispy, delicately spun pastel gold, and pulled into a pretty braided chignon. Her eyes were of the lightest sky blue, with a pale cream complexion that very nearly blended into the silken white of the girlish, elegant summer dress. What really clued the man in, however, were the large, graceful white wings that were shot through with gossamer gold.
"My god," Wolfwood realized, "you're an angel."
"Very good, Captain Obvious," the girl told him. "That's right."
"Sarcasm? In an angel? That's a new one," Nicholas commented.
"Hm... Perhaps," the girl tilted her graceful head. "Oh... that's right... I never introduced myself properly."
Wolfwood watched, dumbfounded,as the petite angel swept into an elegant curtsy, "My name is Seria - your guardian angel."
"Hold on, my guardian angel? I actually had one of those?"
"Of course. Come, we've gotta get out of the way," Seria took his arm gently, and flapped her wings twice, bringing herself and her charge up to a seat on the upper rafters by the church roof.
Nicholas gave a small shudder as he realized that he was actually two people- one of which was a lifeless body. Silently, guardian and charge watched as Wolfwood's body was discovered and taken care of. Seria rested her head on Nicholas' strong shoulder as Vash collected the Cross Punisher.
"You aren't really dead yet," she murmured after the church was empty once more. Hours had passed since the first discovery.
"I'm not?"
Seria shook her head, "You were right. There's more yet for you to do."
"So why am I here?"
"To decide. If you want to live or not."
Nicholas cast a look at the angel, "I can decide?"
"Yes. Either choice will be painful."
Nicholas tilted his head upwards and closed his eyes, "I'll live."
"Everyone says that," Seria mused closing her eyes.
"I'd think they would. So what happens now?"
"You get your second chance. I have to warn you, if your will isn't strong enough, you'll die - no questions asked. Most don't pass."
"Sorry, Seria, but I don't give up when I don't have to."
"No. You don't," Seria's melodic voice began to fade, and her comfortable weight lifted from Nicholas' shoulder. "I know you better than that."