Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ Guided Steps ❯ The Calling ( Chapter 16 )

Wolfwood made his way to the bedroom and managed to rifle through the topmost dresser drawers long enough to find his clothes. Looking at the small pile of them on the bed, however, he had no idea how he would get into them without being able to bend at the waist or sit without passing out.

 

The sound of the door swishing open interrupted his thoughts. Livio came pounding in looking like a frightened rabbit. “Nicholas?! What are you doing out of bed?! Luida said you'd be out for several days, are you-” He stopped short at Wolfwood's level gaze. “You're leaving?”

 

“That's the idea. The sooner we know what happened to Tongari the better. For everyone.”

 

“You can't be serious! I mean, you're still…” he gestured helplessly at the way Wolfwood was leaning on the dresser for support. “Do the words `one foot in the grave' mean anything to you?” It was then that he took in the stubborn set to Wolfwood's jaw and realized he'd get precisely nowhere trying to talk him into waiting. “Never mind,” he sighed. “You can at least let me help, right? Need me to pack anything or… or… um…” he finally trailed off, afraid that if he kept talking the flood of tears he'd been holding back would all spill over. “I feel so useless,” he finally whispered. “What can I do for you?”

 

“Shit,” Wolfwood sighed heavily. “You saw, didn't you?”

 

Livio started and stopped a couple of times before he got out, “…not much. Too much.”

 

“I was hoping… you hadn't. Damn,” he hissed, closing eyes that swam dizzily. He'd completely overestimated how much he could do and was close to collapsing. He would have to get Livio out of the room and fast. Either that or…

 

“…trust me.” Livio's hesitant voice finally reached him. He hadn't even noticed the kid was talking. “You said you trusted me. So let me help? Please?”

 

“It's… cold in here,” he finally said in a soft voice. It took Livio's conflicted brain a few seconds to extract enough meaning from the words to realize this was the closest Wolfwood could get to asking him for help right now. After that he grabbed the clothes off the bed and crossed the room to Wolfwood's side, only to stop short.

 

He took a deep breath to calm himself down, thinking about the best way to do this. “We'll go from the bottom up. I'll hold your clothes for you, so just step in, okay?” Wolfwood was vaguely alarmed at how easy it was to grunt out his assent and let his guard down, but he chalked it up to exhaustion and let Livio do the work for him. For his part Livio did his best to keep eyes and mind focused on the task at hand. Remaining blind to the damaged body before him made it a little easier to keep it together.

 

By the time Livio had managed to get both his arms into the shirt Wolfwood's breathing was fast and shallow. He was sweating, his skin cool and Livio knew that wasn't good. “Nicholas, you need to lie down. I'm gonna help you to the bed now. It's, ah… it's just me, okay?” he added shakily when Wolfwood jolted a little at his touch.

 

They crossed the two steps to the bed and as Wolfwood collapsed Livio controlled his fall to the bed so he landed gently on his side. Even so he gasped for breath at the impact and seeing Wolfwood in so much pain became the straw that broke Livio's back. He knew he had to be strong, had to keep from being a burden at this time when Wolfwood needed him, but a few tears fell anyway, sliding down his cheeks and he slumped to his knees at the bedside. He had no idea how to ease this suffering and helplessness gnawed at him. At a loss he remembered a comforting gesture, made in the dead of night when they were children to banish bad dreams.

 

He returned that gesture now, gently stroking the side of the priest's face while he waited anxiously for the waves of pain to lessen. It was all he could do. Eventually Wolfwood's breathing evened out into a more stable rhythm, the clenched muscles in his jaw easing as well even though his eyes remained firmly shut.

 

“Nicholas?” he called quietly. “Hey, um… I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry I couldn't help you. I'm sorry I cry too much. I'm just…”

 

“Never apologize for shit that isn't your fault. Legato is dead and I'm still alive, kid. I never could have killed him on my own, so get that through your thick skull. I should be thanking you.” Livio was surprised into silence, but his eyes were still bright with unshed tears and Wolfwood chuckled. “You already told me you were gonna `cry about it later.' You might as well let it out.” The tears all fell then, all he'd saved up since he'd had to leave Milly behind with no guarantee he'd ever see her again. He cried for the terrible things he'd learned and seen and he cried for his stolen youth. Finally since Wolfwood didn't seem inclined to cry for all the horrors he'd survived, he did it for him.

 

When he'd exhausted his supply he blinked eyes that felt swollen and gritty. Shame began to rear its ugly head but Wolfwood's voice stopped it in its tracks. “Hey. After you left the orphanage, when you were out on the street… that never happened to you, did it?”

 

Livio sniffled, wiping at his nose. It was a possibility he'd considered before, and so he gave his best answer hoping it could bring at least a small measure of peace. “I don't think so, but I can't be sure… It would have happened to Razlo, back when we - when I - was still a kid and I still don't have all his memories. The blackouts lasted so long sometimes I'd say it was possible, but I guess I'll never really know.”

 

Wolfwood chuckled briefly and Livio could feel his relief. “So Razlo was good for something after all. Never thought I'd be grateful to the guy. Still glad he's gone, though.”

 

It took him a few seconds to process Wolfwood's words, and his head flew up as soon as he had. “How did you-” he stopped with a rueful smile when Wolfwood briefly cracked an eye open to glare at him. “Never mind. The Great Nicholas D. Wolfwood knows all and sees all, right?”

 

“Right.”

 

“Well All-Powerful Flattened Pancake, you just lay there for a while and try not to die. What do you want packed up?”

 

“Clothes, food, the usual. Punisher make it back?”

 

Livio cocked an eyebrow at him. “Damaged pretty bad. But some guy - Marvin…? No, Marlon! That was his name - took it, said it would be a crime for a gun that cool to die looking that bad. He knew his stuff so I let him take it. Good thing too. No telling what would happen if you tried to lift it right now. You expecting trouble?”

 

“Since when is Tongari ever far from trouble? Check the bottom drawer, right side.”

 

Livio checked the drawer and found two pistols and several clips of differing ammo. “Don't you go anywhere without an arsenal? Geez, Nicholas…” He picked one of them up and examined the build and bullets. “Are these desert eagles with, what… .50 caliber - hollow point and explosive head?! - rounds? Talk about overkill! You know, if anybody normal ever tried to fire these the recoil alone would blow their arm off!”

 

Wolfwood chuckled. “You're just jealous `cause you're too over muscled to hold a regular pistol anymore. Pack `em both and don't forget the holsters.”

 

“These aren't `regular' and I am not either over muscled,” Livio growled back. “I just look like it next to you `cause you're so scrawny. Now will you stop and think about this for a second? This is too dangerous, Nicholas! Just stay here another day or two to heal up a bit more!”

 

Wolfwood cracked an eye open again and stared into him, all humor gone. “If it was Milly, what would you do?”

 

Livio was silent for a moment. If Milly was lost, possibly badly injured could he really just rest for a day or two? “I'd do… whatever I had to to get to her,” he was finally forced to admit.

 

“So you do get it. Relax,” he added in sleepy, lilting tones. “I made it this far. Just have to go… a little bit farther.”

 

“Yeah, but I'd prefer it if you were around to go a lot farther-” Livio stopped when he realized Wolfwood had fallen asleep. “Oh fine,” he sighed wearily. “Just avoid the subject.”

 

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Wolfwood surfaced slowly at first, then more quickly once he heard whispering in the room.

 

`Luida. And Livio.'

 

“Hey,” he said, prying his eyes open. “Can I go yet?”

 

“I think I've got everything you're gonna need for a few days. Any last minute additions?”

 

“Yeah. Just one.” Wolfwood pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the bed and though it was only slightly less painful than when he first awoke in the med bay, this time he managed to look like it didn't bother him. “There's a jar in that cabinet. Get it for me.”

 

Livio looked and found the small jar, puzzled at the single feather it held. “I don't get it.”

 

Luida recognized it instantly. “Isn't that… how could you have that? You were iles away from here when those fell!”

 

Wolfwood shook his head and took the jar from Livio. “This is how Vash knew he could pull off that little stunt that saved all our asses. A few months ago I woke up from a dream about somebody he knew when he was a kid to find this thing sitting on my head. I told him about it not long before you showed up at the orphanage.”

 

He stopped when he noticed Livio grinning at him. “What?” he demanded.

 

“It happened months ago but you still have the feather. You kept it. That's so… sweet!” Wolfwood's eyes widened and his mouth opened and closed mutely a couple of times, and Livio saw a chance for a little payback. “Big badass with a lover's keepsake! I never would've guessed, Nicholas!”

 

A spluttered “I- I just thought it might be useful, that's all!” was all the answer Livio needed. He called “Bullshit!” and cackled madly while Luida politely hid her giggles behind her hand.

 

It really was very sweet, after all.

 

Finally she managed to wipe away her smile and cleared her throat to get their attention. “So how can that help you now?”

 

“Don't really know. I just have a hunch.” He unscrewed the lid, took a slow breath and reached a couple of fingers in to remove the feather.

 

As soon as his fingers touched it, all hell broke loose.

 

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Jenk sat as still as he could in his cozy rocker, keeping his quiet vigil over the two other sleeping occupants of his guest room. Oh, it hadn't always been a guest room in this isolated homestead. Once upon a time it had been his oldest son's private sanctuary.

 

When Knives' tyranny stole his wife and son away from him, this room became a comfortable, empty reminder of happier times. But when the two half-dead brothers had appeared on his doorstep seemingly out of nowhere he hadn't been able to turn them away. If he had they would have surely died; he was the only help around. Everyone else within three hundred iles had either fled in fear of Knives or been killed in the frenzy that followed his first attacks.

 

And so, he'd opened the room to them.

 

It was a sad state of affairs. One of the brothers had been in a coma since they arrived and the other… well, even stalwart little Calito was worried enough about him to fuss over him at every given opportunity. Jenk feared for his sanity should his brother's condition deteriorate further.

 

The somber man came out of his thoughts at the sound of Jacob stirring. He refused to find rest outside his brother's room and usually ended up falling asleep sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall. There were more comfortable places to sit, of course, but it almost seemed as if he were refusing himself even that small luxury for some reason.

 

“Jenk? Has there been any change?”

 

Dark, shaggy hair brushed against his face when he shook his head. “I'm sorry Jacob-san, but your brother hasn't moved since you fell asleep. You know, I hate to say this, but… it's been three days. I've treated his wounds, so physically I can say he's out of danger. So whatever's causing his state has to be something I can't treat. Maybe a better doc could, but… hell, I'm all there is out here. Might be time to consider that he… that he may not wake up from this.”

 

Jacob stared at him mutely for a moment, every emotion he was feeling clear to see on his face. Finally a tear ran down the man's pale face and he touched his fingers to it, bringing them up to stare at the wetness as if he had no idea what it meant. “I… ah… he can't die. He has to live. There's no other way-”

 

The comatose man on the bed chose that moment to come to life in dramatic fashion. He arched violently off the bed and Jenk had only enough time to sit up in his rocker before Jacob was at his side. “Can you hear me brother?” he called, but wide blue eyes stared out sightlessly and refused to focus on him. “Answer me!” he yelled in frustration while his brother drew in a long, ragged breath.

 

He screamed long and loud, a name that froze the blood in Jacob's veins. He could feel the power in the calling and its ramifications terrified him. “No, stop! Don't bring him here,” he yelled frantically. “I'm not ready to-”

 

As suddenly as it had began, the scream stopped and the rigid body dropped slack and unresponsive to the bed once again.

 

Jenk watched the proceedings, utterly mystified. His confusion increased tenfold when Jacob dropped to the floor and quietly began to sob. “It's too late. God brother, what have you done?”

 

“Jacob?” Jenk asked shakily, fingering his thick glasses. “I don't understand. Is there someone dangerous coming? Do I need to get Calito out of here?”

 

Jacob covered his face with his hand and began to chuckle with a mirthless laughter. “Dangerous? Him? No. Not to you. He's only dangerous… to me.”

 

Determination filled the man's eyes and Jacob was startled. “I have a shotgun and I'm still pretty handy with it. Take your brother and Calito and run for it. I'll-”

 

“No,” Jacob sniffed, ashamed that this man - this complete stranger who'd lost half his family to Knives' insanity - was trying to protect him. “You don't understand. Even if he wants to kill me… I have no right to defend myself.”

 

Jenk, unable to respond, lapsed into stunned silence.

 

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For a moment Wolfwood was certain someone had set a bomb off in his head. All he could hear was the deafening scream of his name.

 

He was no longer aware of Luida or Livio. Hell, he didn't know where he was. It felt as if someone were dragging his mind and soul off to some unknown destination by a lasso made from steel cable.

 

He couldn't get loose. And that was fine because he had no wish to be freed. Yes, he was being dragged inexorably toward a destination, but… it was someone who needed him.

 

`I'm coming,' he thought, moving himself toward the source. `I'm coming. I'm-'

 

The contact ended so abruptly it left him gasping. He looked up to view his surroundings in utter confusion. Luida stood before him having apparently snatched the jar out of his hand. Behind him Livio was pulling him backward by one hell of a grip on his arms, and he sported a bloody nose. They were no longer in the bedroom. Instead he found himself three feet away from the door.

 

Once Livio was sure Wolfwood had stopped his headlong charge toward the door he came around to look at him with a terrified expression on his face. “Nicholas? Are you all right?”

 

“I'm… I'm fine.” And he was. Everything was back to normal except for…

 

That urgent pull. It was still there. And now he knew exactly what had just happened, and who was on the other end of it. A chuckle escaped him.

 

“Well,” Luida said dryly, “I have the coordinates where we picked you up, but if that was what I think it was…”

 

“Yeah. Not gonna be needing `em.”

 

***************************************************************** *********************

“I'm going to see you again… right?”

 

Wolfwood sighed at the great metal behemoth of a door before him, wishing he could have found something that would have dislodged Livio from his side.

 

Nothing had changed. He still hated goodbyes. At least he had only Livio and Luida to deal with.

 

“Sure you will. But it might be a while,” he said with an easy smile. Livio's hand on his shoulder startled him but he covered it well. “Promise me.”

 

“Yeah, yeah. I promise.” It was a promise filled with uncertainty, but Livio knew it would have to do.

 

Luida cleared her throat a little to get their attention. “I've got someone waiting to get you settled once you get planetside; you'll be on your way before anyone has a chance to question you. Just remember: the Earthers still think Vash had something to do with this unholy mess. If they find out he's alive they interrogate him for sure, and all bets are off once they're done. So when you find him you sit on him and do not let him out of your sight. I've thought of a way for us all to get in touch with each other when we need to. I found an old wireless, a relic from the days after the great crash. Can you work one if needed?”

 

“Uh…”

 

Luida couldn't help a chuckle at his blank expression. “A plain old two-way radio with boosted signal strength, Wolfwood.”

 

“Well why didn't you just say that the first time,” he mumbled. “Of course I can. Pretty low tech fer you guys.”

 

“That's the point. The Earthers abandoned it at least a century ago. They don't even have anything to pick up signals that outdated. Pretty ingenious, eh?”

 

Luida looked so impressed with herself neither Wolfwood or Livio could do anything but compliment her genius. “Very sneaky. I'm impressed. I'll use it to get in touch after I find him and check things out. `Til then. And… thanks.” Wolfwood turned, waving over his shoulder and Luida input the code to open the hatch door for him. It slid open smoothly and a blast of cold air hit him. He started for the lift but a voice froze him before he made it more than a few steps. “Nicholas? Weren't you even going to say goodbye this time?”

 

Wolfwood closed his eyes for a moment, steeling himself to face the only mother he'd ever known without giving too much away. He straightened as much as he could and turned to face her. “No need for goodbyes. I'll be on your doorstep again before you know it.”

 

She looked him over and grimaced. “No, you just didn't want me to know how badly you got yourself hurt this time.”

 

He looked like he wanted to say something else, but at the last minute couldn't do it. “Yeah, well… that too,” he admitted sheepishly. “Look, Vash is out there somewhere and he…”

 

“He needs you,” Melanie finished for him. “All right. Well, there are a lot more kids without families now, so we're going to have to run a bigger operation this time around. Luida says that when resettlement starts up we've got first pick of location and priority when it comes to provisioning and supplies. Livio and Milly have decided to come live with us. I don't expect you and Vash to move in with us too, but… you need to come visit as soon as you can. We miss you. All of us miss you.”

 

Wolfwood smiled with a bitter twist to his lips that set off Melanie's maternal alarm bells. “It's a promise.”

 

He turned to go but Melanie grabbed his arm and turned him right back around. “If you ever get hurt, I want you to come straight home.”

 

“You worry too much. I'll be fine.”

 

Melanie just shook her head and nailed him with the look. “Don't give me that. Just remember. If you ever get hurt and you don't know what to do, come home Nicholas. Do you hear me?”

 

“Yeah. I… I hear ya.”

 

Melanie searched his eyes. It was clear he didn't understand why she was telling him that, but she was certain that he would remember her words if the need ever arose. “All right then. Go do what you have to do, and come to see us soon.”

 

She hoped and prayed that whatever disaster he was expecting would never come. Then he'd never understand her words as anything but an odd thing to say, they'd never have any real meaning. But she well knew that every relationship got rocky. One between two such Titans of Stubbornness had the potential to be devastating, especially with Wolfwood hauling around his own reservoir of self-doubt and Vash… well, Vash had his own issues to overcome.

 

She watched him step into the lift and wave to her once more before it departed. She took a few steps back, stopping when Livio put his arm around her shoulders. She patted his hand and together they watched in silence until the lift disappeared into the swirling sand.

 

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Behold, as I attempt a believable transformation/portrayal of Knives from here on out…