Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Run ❯ Epitaph ( Chapter 8 )

 

One man stood directly in front of a white marble headstone while the other leaned against a tree several feet away. Far enough to give him some space yet near enough to be beside him in an instant should he be needed. He was content to watch as the wind blew strands of flame colored hair across the other man's face. The bruises had faded along with most of the external damage. But there were still shadows within. Still ghosts of pain that lingered even though wounds had healed.

 

“Come on, Schu,” Nagi said walking over to him. “Let's go. It's cold out here.”

 

“I'm not that fragile.” Schuldig smiled a little, looking at the snow falling around his friend, settling in his dark hair like a halo. “Fallen angel,” he murmured to himself.

 

“What makes you say that?” Nagi asked, taking his hand and pulling him gently away from the grave.

 

“The truth just is.”

 

They both fell quiet as they walked to the car. When they were inside with the heater going full blast Schuldig turned to Nagi.

 

“It's kind of hard to believe it's been a year,” he said thoughtfully.

 

“Schu . . .” Nagi began.

 

“Let me get this out, Nagi. I need to.”

 

Nagi closed his mouth and gave him his full attention.

 

“I know you killed him. Oh, Brad and Farf had a hand in his demise as well. But it was you who took his last breath.”

 

Nagi nodded slowly and waited for him to go on.

 

“I was . . . angry with you at first. I guess I thought it was more my right than it was yours to take his life. But then I realized that I couldn't have done it. He had me too wrapped for me to be able to function like an assassin should. I thought I loved him. I really did. But it was more like . . . more like he owned me. That my feelings or thoughts or anything about me didn't matter unless he thought it did. That isn't what love should be at all. And when I became really cognizant of that, it's when I understood that you didn't kill him out of any sense of honor or feeling like you had to because he'd harmed a teammate. It was because, in a skewed kind of way, you love me. All three of you do. And you were protecting me the only way you knew how since I wouldn't protect myself.”

 

Nagi nodded, wondering where this conversation was going.

 

“No matter how much I wish it had ended differently. I really am grateful. I just wanted to say thank you. And if you ever need me, for anything, I'll be there for you.”

 

“I have no doubt that you will be, Schu. Home?”

 

Schuldig nodded and then leaned his head against the cool leather of the seat. “Yeah, home sounds good.”

 

**************************Author's Notes**********************************************

 

This was written in memory of my friend L.A. Clarke who crossed over last year due to domestic violence.