Heartattack

Dealing With Death

And when he awoke, he found himself in an astral plain of stars and cosmos.

"Huh...? Where am I...?"

"Welcome to the plain of life and death, young Blaze!"

Blaze turned to see a knight of white and flowers standing in front of him.

"W-Who are you?"

"I am Sir Life, protector of life!" the knight laughed. "And what might you be here for, young Blaze?"

"I traded my life for my lover's. It was my fault that he almost died anyway, so... I'm ready to go now."

"Oh, if that is how it is then you must be looking for Father Death!" Sir Life laughed and held out a hand. "I can lead you to him, if you want,"

"Y-Yes..."

He took his hand, and they set off through the plain. As they did, Life turned back to the red truck with a smile.

"I am just loving how you called him your lover," he spoke with a giggle. "Especially when you two haven't confessed!"

"I... I've always like him, but... I never knew if he liked me. I guess I'll never find out. I... I have another question. W-What's heaven like?"

"Not as peaceful as it seems, full of clouds and pesky angels," Life chuckled. "That's why I stay here, in the astral plain, with Death. Other than to keep him company, of course,"

"I... I think I'll like it."

"Of course," Life giggled.

They soon made it to where a skeleton with a cloak stood. Below him was a familiar dark blue truck…

"C-Crusher...?"

"B-Blaze…?" Crusher stared at the red truck in shock. "Wh-What are you doing here?"

"I... I asked Roarian to exchange my life for yours... as penance for how bad I hurt you. The thing is, Crusher... I... I really liked you, but I never knew if you liked me. I had no idea how I hurt you, and I'm sorry. So... if you'll excuse me... I need to speak with Father Death now."

"Well, that explains why Roarian's spell kept trying to take Crusher from my grasp," Father Death chuckled before frowning. "but I am not sure of this exchange. Still doesn't seem fair,"

"I... I'm the reason Crusher was here to begin with. I... I have to go." Blaze spoke.

"It's not that, it's just…" Death sighed. "This isn't the first time Crusher died and escaped me before,"

"W-What do you mean?" Blaze asked, confused.

"As you see, his parents are monsters," Death replied. "They tortured him and made sure he suffered with everything they did. They starved him, locked him up and made sure he'd die. He was once here when he was only 3. I spared him because he was a child back them,"

"He doesn't have to stay now. What happened now was my fault. I should stay... not him." Blaze still insisted.

"No!" Crusher opposed, driving to him with teary eyes. "This… This isn't your fault. It's mine. I… I got so mad that I pushed you all away, and my parents took it as their advantage to kill me. I… I'm sorry for saying that you were a killer…"

"It's okay. I knew you were upset. But... that didn't give me any right to leave you when you needed me most."

"So... what should we do...?" Crusher asked. "I don't wanna leave you... but you don't wanna leave me."

"You… don't want me to leave?" Blaze's eyes widened.

"Of course I don't. I… I love you," Crusher confessed. "I love you, and I already lost Grammy. I… I don't want to lose you too…"

"I... I love you too. I always had this... admiration for you since we first became friends. Sure, you cheated in almost every race we've been in, but... your moves are really good."

"Thanks…" Crusher smiled.

"You two are so adorable!" Life giggled. "Come now, Death, do you really think we can take their lives away?"

"Don't soften me, Life." Death glared at the other.

"If... you don't wanna give us our lives back," Blaze sighed, "we understand. We can... always stay in heaven together. You'd get to see Grammy, Crusher, and I'd get to see my grandmother."

"Hmm…" Death seemed to think about it. "That feels too chummy,"

"Death, don't be so cruel," Life nudged him. "A happy ending in heaven is so sweet and happy! Why wouldn't you let them?"

"How sure do you want this, young Blaze?" Death questioned. "You would leave your friends for someone who's hurt you?"

"Crusher may have hurt me, but he was hurting at the time too, because Grammy had just passed on. I'm sure my friends and family would understand my choice. They... they knew that I had feelings for Crusher, but they chose not to say anything cause I wasn't sure of Crusher's feelings toward me. If there was anything I wanted for Crusher, it would be for him to be happy."

"But, then again, leaving our friends and your family just like that would hurt them a lot," Crusher pointed out. "So... what if they all came to heaven with us? Roarian too! Then we'd never have to be apart!"

"That could work too," Blaze agreed, "but let's let Father Death decide. He is the master of who gets to go to heaven or not."

"Well, what DO you say, Death?" Life teased.

"First of, I hate you for teasing me like that." Death growled at Life. "Second, what difference between letting you live and killing you both with everyone else?! Ugh," He took a deep breath before raising his scythe. "But I made my choice, nonetheless,"

Blaze gulped nervously, wondering what he'd choose. Crusher, seeing his nervousness, placed his tire next to the red truck's smiling gently.

Death tear a rip on the plain and motioned them inside. "My choice lies inside,"

"You ready...?" Crusher asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be..."

With that, they stepped inside and disappeared. Life, recognizing the portal, snickered.

"Really? To send them out for work?" he chuckled. "Not to point out, but you sort of forgot their own scythes,"

"I am making my choice, up to you if you want to help them make theirs," Death pointed out.

"Of course," Life pecked his cheek the  he dashed after the duo, through the portal.