Title: A Wish Before Dying
Author: Jemisard
Fandom: Shadow Hearts: Covenant
Rating: G
Series/Sequel: Followed by "Hero"
Disclaimers: I have borrowed them without permission for my own nefarious plans. I promise to return them, in more or less the same condition.
Summary: Set after the final boss battle, Joachim makes his wish.
Warnings: SPOILERS for the end of the game.
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Standing in that place, Joachim believed that this was the other side of time. He'd seen a lot of time pass, knew the feelings of centuries creaking by, but this place...
This place was outside of those mundane and trivial things like mere centuries.
He looked about the group. Gepetto, head bent and eyes closed behind his glasses, Cornelia snuggled into his arms, her head tucked under his chin. Lucia, hands clasped and face turned up to the sky. Anastasia beside him, but clinging to Kurando, who stared with blank eyes out across the storm. Blanca sitting to Karin's side, while Karin's face turned to Yuri. Yuri, who looked to where the dissipated light that had been Kato had fled from.
Pray for a better world. He didn't know what world would be better. He wasn't clever like Keith, Keith would have known all the answers. And he didn't have the same strength as Hilda... Hilda would have been strong for everyone.
He closed his eyes and thought of his beloved brother and sister, back in La Havre. The soft shine of silver fur and the sweet scent of a little too much perfume. A brother who got all the looks and brains and a sister who got all the energy and determination. He loved them both so much.
He just wanted to be the big brother they deserved.
A surge of light headedness rushed through him. He opened his eyes, looked through his own feet as he rose upwards. Next to him, Gepetto grinned wide, Cornelia holding on to his neck.
Yuri looked up, eyes soft and happy. For a moment, Joachim fancied he was gifted like his brother and he heard Yuri think, "You're just the brother anyone would want, you dumb blonde," but he knew it couldn't have been.
He looked up to the light and hoped he'd be everything Keith and Hilda deserved on the other side.