Fandom: Gundam Wing
Title: The Agent 10/10 +Epilogue
Pairings: 2x1, and other pairings inbetween
Warnings: AU, lemon, angst, post-apocalyptic, violence, allusion to
incest and death of another somewhat major character
Genre: Drama, Romance, Angst
Rating: M (for language and graphic descriptions)
Disclaimers: Main characters are properties of Bandai and Studio
Sunrise. I make no money off them.
Much thanks to Asy and Liz for their patience and awesome beta work. I really
appreciate it. ^_^
Chapter 10:
“What the fuck is going on?!”
Trowa yelled over the sound of yet another thunderous explosion. The ground
trembled at their feet, and any attempt at getting some form of footing proved
futile and ineffective. Debris fell around them like confetti, and they winced
as chunks of stone and steel peppered their bodies mercilessly.
“Looks like we’re under
attack,” Quatre stated the obvious as the trio ducked beneath a swinging beam.
Through the chaos, they could make out several units being dispatched towards
the area of their unseen attackers.
“Let’s follow them,” Heero
ordered, his gaze dark and nearly frantic as they reached the end of the
corridor. A troop of about thirty units rushed past, hardly looking in their
direction as they were focused on the task ahead. Trowa took a step and froze
as he found himself staring at the bemused visage of one of his subordinates.
“Lieutenant Barton…Winner?”
the younger officer asked. “What…?”
“It’s okay,
Another officer approached
rapidly, only to come to a screeching halt at the sight of them. “Lieutenant
Barton! We were looking for you, sir. Thank goodness! We’re surrounded, sir.
The
Quatre gave the officer a
swift, hard punch to the stomach that sent him to the ground in a boneless
slump.
Heero staggered a little,
Quatre and Trowa reaching out to steady him. Rivulets of blood trickled down
his forehead, forming a grotesque and almost menacing artwork on his strained
features. He smiled wanly at the exasperated looks he received.
“And you’re supposed to be a
kind and gentle doctor,” Quatre teased, but the small smile on his face was
wiped away quickly as another explosion sent a sizeable portion of the East
wall caving in a most spectacular fashion.
“Jesus,” Trowa muttered as
they began to run towards the exit. “Who the hell are these guys?!”
“Whoever they are,” Quatre
replied as he noticed the cloud of billowing gray smoke advancing rapidly
towards them. “They’ve definitely got us right where they want. Any ideas,
Trowa?” He would have continued, but his words were cut off as the smoke
overwhelmed them.
Heero slapped a hand over his
mouth and nose, eyes watering at the intense air now filled with deadly carbon
monoxide. He fell to his knees, hardly able to hear his companions anymore even
though he was sure they were nearby. The world was now a dull shade of gray,
sounds muffled and vision nearly impossible. He squinted in the gloom and
realized that someone or something was approaching them. He had no weapon and
now wished he had taken the soldier’s gun to protect himself. He considered
calling out to Trowa or Quatre, but decided against it. If that was the enemy
approaching, he didn’t want to give his or their location away. He blinked away
the trickle of blood that fell into his eyes, a cold sweat breaking out on his
brow as the muffled footsteps came closer. His entire being was taut as a bow,
ready to spring into action at the slightest chance of being attacked. He
remained low on the ground, figuring that going for the feet would be the best
thing for now. His own leg was beginning to throb from the pressure he was
inflicting on it. His limp would be more pronounced and he would be lucky if he
could walk when this ordeal was finally over.
Shit, shit, shit! Come out already you son-of-a-bitch!
“…too smoky…”
Heero stiffened. He had
finally heard a voice…no make that two voices.
“…damn it…Velasquez….screen!”
“…ut…fuck up! I’m….my best!”
There was the sound of a
whoosh – that of a light flare being turned on, and soon Heero found himself
surrounded by brilliant light. There were people standing over him for sure and
without rethinking his decision, he dove for the booted feet before him. The
person’s low cry of surprise was like music to his ears. He had just lifted a
fist to drive it into his prey’s stomach or chest, when something hard struck
the back of his head. He grunted and fell forward, growling even though the
pain was blinding. He tried to make a move for his second attacker, but a swift
kick to his side had him releasing his first victim and clutching his side for
protection.
“Don’t hurt him,” the
feminine voice said as she struggled to her feet.
“Just let me kick his ass one
more time,” the male voice said with a snarl. The light beamed over Heero’s
prone form, and although he couldn’t see who they were, Heero was sure they
were watching him carefully. He winced and tried to shield himself from the
glare. His head was throbbing, his mouth felt as if it was stuffed with cotton
balls and his leg was killing him.
Why don’t I just die already?
“It’s him all right,” the
woman said flatly. “At least I think it’s him.”
“How can you be so sure?” the
man asked. Heero could hear them both moving closer. He wondered where Trowa
and Quatre were.
“It’s him alright. Duo said
he has brown hair…and blue eyes…and looks Japanese.”
Duo! He
opened his mouth to let out a sound, a desperate cry for them to take him to
the man he had longed to see all this time. But to his chagrin, Heero could
only feel his eyes well up with tears – tears of relief, or joy, or just plain
happiness at knowing Duo was alive and well. Even if he died now, it would be
okay. But to see Duo one more time would be more than enough for him.
“Is he dead?” the man asked.
“How should I know?” came the
impatient reply. “Just take him out like you did the others. Goddamn you,
Antonio. I don’t know why I pair up with you.”
“Don’t look at me. Sheldon
thought it would be a good idea to--”
“We need to find Hilde!” the
woman snapped, and Heero had the idea that she was either the older of the two
or his superior in rank. “Now hurry the hell up! Duo’s waiting.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Antonio
grumbled as he placed a hand beneath Heero’s shoulder to hoist him up. Heero
went willingly enough, listening to the small grunt the man gave as he adjusted
his burden’s weight. “Don’t try anything funny, buddy,” came the low warning as
they began to walk out of the building. “I have a gun and I’m not afraid to use
it.”
__
Zechs knew it would be
pointless to seek communication with the ground levels now. He had tried to
pull up his holographic screen and nothing had happened. Whoever was in charge
of this raid had definitely done a good job in cutting off all lines to the
outside world. However, his most important priority was to get Relena out of
here. He crawled on his hands and knees toward his sister, cringing at the
falling debris around them.
“Relena?” he called out, reaching
to hold her cold hands between his. He squeezed them gently, a tremulous smile
on his visage as she looked at him in recognition. “Can you walk? We’ve got to
get out of here.”
“I…” She licked her lips, her
glance going towards the prone and immobile figure of Treize beside her. “I
killed him,” she finished, her body trembling violently. In a sudden move, she
gripped Zechs’ hands, digging fingernails into the flesh as her eyes took on a
fevered look. “I killed him! I killed him!”
“Yes, you did,” Zechs
reassured her gently, doing his best to ignore the wounds she was inflicting on
him. “It’s all over now, Relena. But we’ve got to get out of here, okay?
There’s a secret route we can use and--”
The doors to the room were
flung open with a bang and three men in militant uniform came storming in, guns
pointed at the ready to fire at any time. Zechs growled and cradled Relena to
his body, hiding her face against his chest as he braced himself for an attack.
His eyes narrowed as he watched them, knowing he was at a disadvantage. The
sword was still stuck in Treize’s back and there was no way he could reach for
it now. His gun was back in the bedroom and he cursed his ill luck. Besides,
his wounded shoulder and broken ribs would make movement nearly impossible. He
was trapped and there was no way out.
“Where is he?” came the
familiar voice that had Zechs’ eyes widening in surprise and dawning
comprehension. He watched as Duo approached in measured strides. He was now
dressed in the uniform of the Opposition, although it seemed to be streaked
with what looked like maroon paint. However, Zechs knew it was blood. He
prepared himself for the joining of his blood with the macabre design on Duo’s
body in the near future. Duo’s face was streaked with it too, violet eyes dark
with a hatred that sent chills down Zechs’ spine. He felt Relena tremble within
his arms and he held her tighter still, watching Duo’s gaze travel the length
of the room before settling on the dead body. For a moment, the leader’s eyes
widened in surprise, his lips parting in shock.
“What the…?!”
He ran towards the body and
fell to his haunches, turning it around to be sure of what he was seeing. A
loud expletive escaped his lips as he stared into the almost peaceful visage of
his enemy, and for a moment the world swam before his eyes. He had come here
with the sole purpose of killing Treize, to torture the bastard until he
screamed for mercy and yet it looked like someone had already done the deed. But
who? And why?!
He glared at Zechs and the girl,
took in the sight of blood on both of their bodies and put two and two
together.
“You killed him,” Duo finally
stated in a deceptively calm voice, reaching for the already blood soaked
dagger attached to his waist as he rose to his feet. “I thought he was your
boss, Merquise.”
“Sometimes alliances change,”
Zechs replied, faintly surprised at how calm he sounded. He knew he was going
to die, but he would have to plead for Relena’s life. He didn’t want her to see
this. “Even you must know this, Duo Maxwell.”
Duo grinned and it was a
frightful thing to see. “What alliances? I’d always been with the Opposition
before you bastards decided to use me for one of your goddamn experiments!”
Zechs gave a small tired
smile. “We are all sinners in our own way, Maxwell. You are no different
either. Before you came here, you were a dictator in your own right--”
“Shut up.”
“…you led thousands…no
millions to your selfish cause…”
“Shut the hell up!” Duo’s
eyes flashed with danger, but Zechs was beyond caring. He met the crazed eyes
before him, continuing quietly,
“How many deaths have you
been responsible for, Duo? How many have died for you, for your cause, hmm? I
must admit that seeing you in here was a shock to me…”
“You knew who I was?”
“I’d heard rumors. Of the man
with the hood – a man like a god who roamed the earth and colonies without
being seen. His eyes would flash like purple lightning, his voice boomed like
thunder when he spoke. He could move nations and bring them to their feet, or
send them to their knees. You became so powerful, you threatened the very
foundation of Treize’s organization. It was either you or him. One of you had
to go.”
Duo sneered. “Looks like you
did the job for me anyway. And as much as I wish I could thank you for it, I’m
afraid this little reunion is over.”
He made a move for Zechs,
dagger held out to stab him in the throat. However, the next sequence of events
left him gawking in surprise and shock. The girl, who had been quiet all this
time, suddenly spun around with arms spread out wide. Duo watched his dagger
pierce through the white cloth and into the soft flesh above her left breast,
watched in horror at the crimson pool that began to form around the steel blade
like a blossoming rose. He stared into the pale blue eyes that shimmered with
tears, recognition hitting him like a ton of bricks at the wan, but beautiful
visage before him.
“My…My Queen,” he gasped,
trying to pull away the blade, but Relena’s hands wrapped around his gently,
silent tears falling down her cheeks to wet their trembling hands. Neither
seemed to hear Zechs strangled cry, his eyes taking on a crazed look or the way
he sank his hands into his hair as if hoping he could rip out each strand.
“Your…anger…” Relena
whispered. “Should not be wasted…here…”
Duo felt something hard in
his throat and he struggled to remove the damning weapon. His impatience…oh,
damn his impatience! However, Relena wouldn’t let him go. The wound was
becoming deeper, and her eyes were beginning to lose some of their luster.
“Go…build a better world for
everyone…” she continued quietly, a small smile coming to her features as she
coughed and let out a small spray of blood. “With…my brother…”
“No! No….!” It was a painful
moan from Zechs as he finally reached out to pull the blade from his sister’s
chest. He shoved Duo aside with a strength he didn’t think he still possessed
and held Relena’s body against his tightly. His muffled cries against her neck
filled the tense silence in the room. Even the other soldiers couldn’t bear to
watch the intimate moment between the siblings. Duo lowered his gaze, trembling
hands forming fists on the floor. What had he done? What in God’s name had he
done? Just what had possessed him to act so rashly?
“She killed him,” Zechs
finally muttered thickly. “She was the one who killed him when I should have
died.”
He turned a little to pin a
cold and hateful stare at Duo’s stricken visage. “There will be no Queen, and I
have no plans to take over the throne. Neither will I help you in your need to
become the leader of Earth’s
Duo’s small cry of dismay was
met with a cruel smirk. “Yes, without Yuy. You came a little too late. Treize
took care of him just before he returned to us. Forgive me if I cannot share my
condolences with you.”
He rose to his feet,
staggering a little as he held on to Relena’s limp body. The soldiers made a
move for him, but stopped at the look Zechs threw at them. Duo couldn’t even
move from his position on the floor, and he didn’t make any attempt to stop the
siblings from leaving the room through a passageway that was unknown to anyone.
The world was beginning to lose all meaning to him now. His reason for
surviving – to kill Treize – was gone. His plans to rescue Heero had proven
futile. The man he had hoped to save had died in the hands of a tyrant and
there was nothing he could do. And as if the fates still wished to punish him,
he had killed the Queen in his fit of rage.
“Aaargh!” The strangled cry
that seemed ripped from his throat was primal and sent shivers of fear down his
subordinates’ spines. Something hot and wet fell to his trembling hands and as
Duo Maxwell curled into a fetal heap on the floor, he wept openly for his
countless sins.
__
Dawn came like a lover’s kiss
over the horizon as Paul Sheldon walked over the row of dead Organization
soldiers. He lit up a pipe and inhaled in appreciation and satisfaction,
knowing they had done a great job all around. It looked like the battle had
been won, but at a price that left a bitter taste in their mouths.
Several Earth Alliance troops
had arrived on the scene and were taking the few surviving Organization
personnel into custody. Smoking and charred remains of the once towering
buildings cast a gray shadow around the vicinity while some TV and internet
crews were already setting up shop, ready to broadcast their stories all over
the world and in space.
The loud whirring sound of
yet another helicopter landing had Sheldon eyeing the emblem upon it with an
inward sigh. It was Major General Adley McKeen of the Earth’s
“I believe you are the leader
here?” McKeen asked curtly, as he surveyed the damage done.
“Not me,” Paul replied with a
shake of his head. Come to think of it, no one had seen Duo since he went on
his personal mission to seek Treize. Although the Opposition troops had brought
down the tyrant’s dead body – which Sheldon had verified, there had been no
word on Duo, Zechs or even the Queen.
“Then who?” Allison asked
impatiently. “Who is your godforsaken leader? At least he should allow us to
thank him for getting rid of such a menace.”
Sheldon puffed out another
cloud of smoke and scratched his bald head. “Menace, eh?” He eyed the bustling
scene around him, wondering what chaos the world had been thrown into now. “Ah,
“Hello, Major.” She saluted
smartly and looked to Sheldon with a quick questioning glance. No sign of Duo
yet. She sighed inwardly. Where could he have gone?
“We have yet to find the
Queen,” Sally said quietly. “We do not think the bombs killed her as no body
has been identified as hers.”
“So you think Treize really
killed her?” McKeen asked in a small voice, his features showing his age with
each passing second.
“We…think so,” Sally replied
softly.
“And there’s no way we’re
going to nominate her brother to become the next King,” Allison whispered
vehemently. “I still say that we should have a conference with your leader,
Officers Sheldon and
Sally blinked in surprise.
“You wish to make Du…our leader the next ruler of Earth’s Forces?”
“It’s only fitting,” McKeen
replied with a small nod. “I’m getting too old, while Allison is too busy with
the army and his job in rebuilding the lost colonies. Milliardo Peacecraft is
an outlaw and cannot be trusted to take over the throne. However, your leader
has shown resourcefulness that many identify with. With him in power, we can be
assured of a world where we can all live together in peace.”
“And what makes you think
he’ll agree to do something like that?” Sheldon asked slowly. “If he’s been
working in the shadows all this time, do you honestly think he’ll jump at the
opportunity to become a ‘King’?”
He said the word ‘King’ as if
in disgust, making the military officials flinch in response. Allison would
have made a sharp retort, but McKeen held him back with a wan smile. “It is
okay, Officer Sheldon. We understand your leader’s reluctance. However, we will
still want a palaver with him, if that is okay. Please send him my regards and
let him know that our doors at Earth’s
Sheldon and Sally watched
them leave, and once out of earshot, Sally sighed and sat on the remains
of what was once a fountain. “What a
mess,” she muttered.
“You said it,” came the dry
reply. “Good thing we didn’t destroy the underground labs. They’re going to be
useful in the long run.”
“For good this time,” Sally
agreed with a small smile. She was in need of a shower and made a face at how
sticky and hot she felt. “Duo says we can convince some of the doctors to end
up working for us now. With the gundanium and first class medical facilities
and equipment here, everyone can afford to get treatment.”
Sheldon nodded. “That kid’s
got a good head on his shoulders…and to think they want to make him King.”
Both of them shared a look,
and before they could stop themselves, they giggled at the ridiculous image of
Duo with a crown on his head and a mortified expression on his visage. When the
tears eventually came, Sally was hardly aware of it, but as she felt Sheldon’s
arms around her, she gave in to the feeling of exhaustion, relief and sadness
at what was now left for them to salvage.
__
An hour later, they peered at
the captured figures of Trowa and Quatre, who had been tied up and kept in one
of the trucks that would take them back to base camp.
“Congratulations on a raid
well done,” Trowa drawled lazily, ignoring the small smile Quatre gave at the
comment. “Do you plan to kill us now?”
“Not yet,” Sheldon replied
amiably enough. “Looks like the other guy asked us to spare your lives.”
“Heero’s alive?” Quatre asked,
sighing in relief. “Thank goodness. I thought we had lost him in the smoke.”
“Where’s Duo?” Trowa asked,
and the silence that greeted his question was more than enough of an answer.
Sheldon and Sally looked away.
“We still can’t find him,”
she finally replied in a voice that was barely audible. “He…”
He’s vanished again, or maybe he’s been killed and we
don’t know where his body is. She
could feel the tears threatening to fall again, and she slapped herself
inwardly for showing such weakness.
“We’ve found her!” came a cry
that had everyone lifting their head and turning towards the voice. Lucrezia
Noin, a young woman in her early twenties, came running towards them with a
wide smile on her visage.
“The Queen?” Trowa asked.
Noin blinked in surprise for
a moment, before shaking her head. “No, we still have no word on the Queen, but
we have found Hilde.”
“Fantastic!” Sheldon cried
out in delight as Sally clapped her hands. “Where is she?”
“With Krakowski,” Noin
explained wiping the tears from her eyes. “She couldn’t recognize us at first
and it’s going to take some time to get her up to speed, but besides a few
bruises she’s just fine.”
“Good. I’m going to pay her a
visit,” Sheldon replied, motioning towards Trowa and Quatre. “You can untie these
two. I doubt they’ll be causing us much trouble anyway.”
“Can we see Heero?” Trowa
asked as Sally and Noin moved to untie the bonds. “Just for a little while, if
that’s okay with you.”
The women shared a quick
look, and Sally shrugged, too tired to argue anyway. It felt like she had been awake
for days. “That’s fine. Noin, you know where the new doctor is, right?”
“Gotcha. Follow me, boys.”
__
Antonio lit another cigarette
and swatted at a passing fly, grumbling beneath his breath at having to do watch
duty for the new prisoner. He eyed the other man in the room who sat on the
floor with his arms wrapped around his raised legs, and whose piercing blue
eyes seemed to drill right through him. He shivered at the intense stare and
turned away again, wondering why the doc should affect him like this. Despite
all his wounds and smoke inhalation, the doctor was as stubborn as a mule,
refusing to lie down to rest. He insisted on waiting for Duo’s arrival…whenever
that would be.
For all they knew, Duo could
be dead in some part of the main building.
“What kind of leader was
Duo?”
Antonio nearly burned his
tongue at the sudden question, angry eyes glaring at Heero who didn’t flinch a
bit.
Seeing that he wasn’t going
to make a dent in Heero’s tough façade, he rolled his eyes and let out a cloud
of smoke. “He was okay.”
“Just okay?” Heero asked with
faint amusement in his tone. He had a feeling Antonio didn’t quite like all the
attention being given to Duo.
The older man laughed and
shook his head. “All right, Doc Nosey. He was a great leader, okay? A fucking
genius if I ever saw any. Damn it all.” He crushed out his cigarette with a
vehement twist and rose to his feet, striding over to Heero to glare angrily at
him.
“And thanks to your fucking
program, you made him WEAKER!” He yanked Heero by the scruff of his neck,
tugging him to his feet until mere inches separated them. “You took him away
from us, Yuy. The Duo we knew was no longer there. The Duo we worshipped had
been reduced to some sniveling machine because of your fucking medical mumbo
jumbo shit!”
“Did you love him?”
Antonio’s eyes widened at the
calm question, a flood of color filling his cheeks. Heero’s small smile was the
last straw and with a loud grunt, he sent a fist flying into the other man’s
face, panting harshly as he watched Heero fall to the ground in a heap. The
doctor coughed and laughed softly at the same time, wiping his bleeding lips.
“I’m right, aren’t I? Maybe
you even wished he’d be your lover, hmm?”
“You son-of-a-bitch…! I’ll
fucking kill you!!” He dove for Heero again, when the sudden command of ‘Knock
it off, Velasquez!’ had him turning around quickly. Noin, with Trowa and Quatre
flanking her, stepped into the office. The woman nodded curtly and knowing it
was his cue, Antonio spit in disgust and stormed out without a look back.
“Sorry about that,” Noin said
apologetically. She reached out to help Heero sit up. “He’s got a hot temper.”
“No kidding,” Heero replied
with a shrug. He eyed the former officers who looked back with sheepish smiles.
“What’s the good news?”
“Nothing really,” Quatre
replied. “The Organization’s been defeated and we’re free to start a new life.”
“Will you two be joining the
military again?” Heero asked quietly.
Trowa nodded slowly, noticing
that Quatre had lowered his gaze. “I’ll try to join the Earth’s Forces if
they’ll have me. Quatre wants to go back to rebuild his colony as you can very
well understand.”
“That’s great,” Heero said
with a genuine smile, although it hurt his jaw to make that small motion. “So…”
He held his breath, his heartbeat quickening at the question he was about to
ask. However, as if Quatre could read his mind, the blond said quietly.
“He’s not been found, Heero.”
The doctor’s heart slammed
hard within his chest, swallowing tightly as if to gather moisture in his now
dry mouth. “What…what do you mean?”
Noin replied this time, her
own gaze filled with sorrow. “They’ve searched everywhere for him. The Queen
and Zechs Merquise are also missing. We’re not sure if Treize got to them or
not. Although Treize was killed…”
“He was?!” Heero asked
incredulously. Damn Velasquez for not letting him know anything all this time!
The three people before him
nodded, but Heero’s mind was already racing. Where could Duo be? And why hadn’t
the Queen or Zechs been found? Not even their bodies? It seemed too impossible.
“Where are you going?” Trowa
asked as Heero staggered to his feet, having to hold the wall to control
himself. He waited for the wave of vertigo to pass before taking another step.
“I have to find him,” he
replied flatly. “I have to…argh!”
He fell to the ground with a
soft thud with Noin sighing softly as she tucked her small baton into her
waist. The men watched her with questioning looks, and she shrugged. “We can’t
have him wandering around the premises. Besides, he needs a doctor. I doubt he
would have made it past the door anyway.”
__
Laughter. Happy laughter
filled his thoughts as he walked. In this vision, he was in a small stuffy
restaurant, drinking and having fun with Sheldon, Sally, Hilde, Antonio, Noin,
Howard, Don and some other face he couldn’t quite recognize. They were so young
back then – fresh eyed, innocent, free and devoid of the horrors that would
soon plague them. They ate fried meat over a sizzling hot pot, noodles and
okonomiyaki making up part of their dinner. Good wine and beer flowed between
them and he remembered stealing kisses from Hilde’s lips every now and then.
Ah, how her eyes had shone with life back then.
A sharp hiss from a steel pipe
had him shrinking back in fear and he stumbled to the ground, trembling and
clutching a fistful of his shirt as if hoping to rip out his heart at the same
time. His eyes were wide and panicked, his breathing harsh and shallow as he
glanced at his surroundings. He had no idea where he was, but he knew he was in
the bowels of the earth now. He could vaguely remember getting off the floor in
Treize’s quarters, brushing aside the concerned calls from his soldiers as he
left after the disappearing shadows of Zechs and Relena. He had lost them some
time back, but he didn’t care anymore. He was going to walk through this
endless maze of wires and steel pipes, the very core of energy and production
for the Organization. He still had a grenade in his pocket and wouldn’t
hesitate to use it when the time was right. He would destroy this place from
the ground up. It seemed only fitting since he had made such a botch of things.
What was there to live for anyway?
Heero’s gone,
he thought as he rose to his feet to lean against the moldy wall. He moaned in
suffering and took another staggering step, feeling incredibly weak and
exhausted. Tired. Just so fucking tired
of being everyone’s goddamn savior. Who’s here to rescue me, huh? Fuck.
He held a hand to his aching
head and hardly flinched as a pipe suddenly exploded to rain down a shower of
warm water on him. The building was eventually going to crumble around him
whether he wanted it to or not. The damage to the surface must have been
extensive enough to reach down here.
Got me in the end, didn’t you, Treize? He thought with a bitter smile as he forced himself
to walk away from his position. The water was beginning to rise steadily and
all too soon, Duo found himself wading knee deep in the accumulation. You fucked me right to the end, didn’t you?
He stopped as he got to a
dead end, blinking almost stupidly at the sight of the steel wall with the
sign: ‘WARNING: Persons touching walls are subject to electrocution’ in red.
With a loud roar, Duo flung
himself at the wall, clawing at the smooth surface as if hoping to find an
exit. Another pipe exploded so loudly, he had to cover his ears and duck as
sparks flew from it. He felt a dull current race up his leg and he knew he was
about to get fried if he didn’t move his ass in a second. Growling in
frustration, he began the treacherous walk back, not sure if he’d be able to
make it in time.
Funny how the concept of
dying no longer looked so appealing when actually faced with it.
“Shit! It’s rising even
faster!” By the time he reached the first level, he was chest deep and had a
hard time finding his footing. “Goddamn it.” With a light grunt, he wrapped his
arms around a steel pole above him and began to move, but could only do so for
a few minutes before tearing his scorched hands away from it. It was steaming
hot!
Taking a deep breath, he dove
beneath the water, eyes darting around him quickly to find a possible quick
exit. He blinked as he saw what seemed like a light ahead of him and with quick
strokes he began to swim towards it. His chest began to burn after a few more
minutes. Precious air was needed and with near desperation, he swam to the top,
only to cry out in pain as his head slammed into a steel pipe. There was barely
any room for him to breathe now. Only his nose and mouth were able to get a
little fresh air before diving back beneath the surface to find that blasted
exit.
God help me,
he prayed fervently. Get me out of this
fucking hell hole. Amen.
__
Above ground, it was a young
soldier who heard the first rumble beneath his feet.
“Hey….”
“What?” asked his impatient
comrade.
“Hear something? Sounds like
it’s coming from below the…AARGH!!”
They dove, but not in time.
The force of the water from below shot through the layers of concrete like an
angry geyser. Several screams from around the building proved that similar
occurrences were happening elsewhere. Sheldon, who was with Krakowski in the
truck, leapt out of it and could only stare in amazement at the jets of water
that shot out of the remnants of the building.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
“EVERYONE
__
“We’re moving out,” Noin
explained quickly to Trowa and Quatre’s bemused expressions after receiving the
hasty communication from the walkie-talkie. “We haven’t got much time! Get in
the truck! I’ll take care of Heero!”
__
The pandemonium reached fever
pitch as officials and news crew alike struggled to get away from the disaster
area. The earth seemed to tremble beneath their feet and the mixture of water
and gases created a hot springs-like environment. The water was hot to the
touch and an unlucky few were scalded in the process.
“What a goddamn mess!”
Sheldon cried out as he slammed his fist on the steering wheel of the car. If
there had been any hope of finding Duo, it was definitely gone with the final
collapse of the Organization.
__
“…is calling it a disaster area and is considered the
worst flooding in history. Many homes around the vicinity were destroyed as a
result of this and the death toll at this point is estimated to be in the
hundreds. Experts say that the rise of water from the underground pumps has
finally stopped, but it will take weeks or even months for it to be completely
drained. However, government officials are working hard to build pipes that
will lead the water directly to the ocean…”
Sally turned off the TV. No
one in the tent stopped her from doing it. The fire crackled in the middle of
the small space, casting long shadows on the thick tent cloth as they all
remained lost in thought. Sheldon sat in his chair with his pipe, staring at
nothing in particular, while Noin, Trowa, Quatre, Sally and Antonio sat around
the fire.
“He’s dead,” Antonio finally
stated. There wasn’t even a tone of anger in his voice. He sounded tired and
resigned. “He’s…he’s fucking dead.” He stuffed a hand over his mouth and turned
his face away, hitching in a harsh breath.
“We don’t know that for
sure,” Sheldon began, but it was Sally who cut in with tears in her voice.
“It’s been almost a day and
nothing! What are we going to do, Sheldon?! We’ve got to tell everyone out
there about it. We can’t keep pretending he’s still alive! No one could have
survived that! You saw the news! You…saw…it too.” She broke into harsh sobs,
barely feeling Noin’s arms around her in comfort.
Sheldon gripped his pipe
tightly, knowing that they were right. The tears stung his eyes and he wiped
them away furiously. Wasn’t this scene something they had experienced almost a
year ago? Would God be willing enough to grant them a second miracle? Just how
many times could Duo tempt Death and not get caught in his web, this time with
no escape in sight. It was like losing his son, a part of him, and Sheldon
wondered if his heart could deal with the loss this time.
Heero who had excused himself
earlier had been ready to enter when he stiffened at the words from Antonio and
Sally. He gripped the edge of the tent tightly, feeling his chest constrict
painfully – so much so that breathing became a bit difficult. It couldn’t be.
It just couldn’t be. He had held on to the little hope that Duo might be out
there somewhere, still struggling to find his way back home, but to hear this
tone of finality in their voices made him more afraid than ever before.
He slapped his hands over his
face and fought back a harsh sob. What was he to do now? A small part of him
had wished to start a new life with Duo…as perhaps a friend (if not more, a
part of him screamed) and now…and now…
“He’s back!” came the faint
but undeniable scream from someone at the watch tower. Heero lowered his hands
slowly, heartbeat quickening in the hope that it wasn’t all a dream or a
figment of his imagination.
But the scream came again,
louder and much stronger. “HE’S BACK!! DUO’S BACK!!”
The flap to the tent opened
behind him and Sally all but barreled Heero to the ground. She was quickly followed
by Noin, Antonio, Sheldon and finally Trowa and Quatre. Everyone seemed to be
coming out of their tents or stopped what they were doing to make their way
towards the entrance to the base camp. But they needn’t have bothered, for
coming down the uneven stretch of road was the undeniable figure of their
leader. He was being led by two soldiers, his jacket long gone to reveal the now
wet white t-shirt he had worn underneath. His long braid lay thick and damp in
front of him, and as they stopped before Sally and the others, Duo lifted his
head slowly.
He gave a wan smile and tried
to salute. “Sorry for the delay, guys,” he said in barely a whisper. “Got lost
on my way back home.”
Sally covered her mouth to
stop the scream of happiness, her eyes welling with tears that matched those in
her comrades’ eyes.
“You son-of-a-bitch!” Sheldon
said gruffly as he reached out to pull the younger man into his arms in a tight
hug. “You bastard! You ever do that again to us and we’ll kill you.”
Duo laughed weakly, although
Paul really was killing him with the bear hug. He smiled at Noin and had to do
a double take as he noticed the former officers standing behind her. “Well,
whaddaya know?” he began slowly as Paul finally released him. “If it isn’t
Lieutenant Tight Ass and Jerk Wad.”
“Nice to see you too, Duo,”
Trowa replied amiably. He held out a hand. “Perhaps it’s time we patched things
up and let bygones be bygones, hmm? Truce?”
Duo eyed the offered
appendage and contemplated swiping it off, but as Sheldon whispered something
in his ear he frowned, then nodded and accepted the handshake with a firm pump.
“Welcome to the family. Knock yourself out with our five star accommodations.”
He was doing the same for
Quatre when his gaze finally fell on the silent figure nearly hidden behind the
tent. He wasn’t sure if someone was playing a cruel joke on him, or if his
insanity had finally reached fever pitch that he was actually imagining the
young doctor everywhere he went. He pushed away Quatre a little, taking a weak
step towards the apparition as if hoping it wouldn’t vanish.
“Do…Doc?” he whispered
thickly, heart slamming harder and faster within his chest. “Is that…is that
really you?”
“The name is Heero Yuy,” came
the quiet but shaky reply, although one could make out the dark hue on the
man’s cheeks. He cleared his throat and walked closer, trying hard to hide his
limp from Duo’s undoubtedly sharp gaze. “I told you to call me that any…ooofff!”
“Oh God,” Duo groaned against
Heero’s neck, his arms all but crushing the other man’s body against his in a
tight hug. The tears came before he could control them, the knowledge that
Heero was still alive after all this time was the only blessing that God had
decided to grant him for his terrible sins. His sobs grew louder and he
clutched fistfuls of Heero’s shirt, hardly aware of the reciprocating hug that
nearly crushed his already bruised ribs.
Sally watched the intimate
embrace with a small smile, realizing now that this was whom Duo had really
given his heart to. Her glance darted towards Krakowski’s tent and saw Hilde
standing beside the older doctor. There was a faint look of sadness in her
eyes, but Sally couldn’t be sure. Her memories might not have returned
completely, but Sally was sure that Hilde could remember a time when the man
with the braid had once hugged her in such a manner.
“All right, show’s over!”
Sheldon announced with a laugh to break the tension that had risen. “Let’s all
have us a beer and celebrate, eh?”
This was met with a
resounding ‘YAY!’ but for Heero and Duo. As they finally pulled apart to stare
into each other’s eyes, they knew their celebration would be away from everyone
else’s. Besides, it was a long time coming for both of them.
__
The fire flickered and danced
in the middle of Duo’s tent as they walked in. It was definitely bigger than
the others and had a much more comfortable looking bed with soft blankets and—
“I’ll be right back,” Duo
said quietly as he began to peel out of his shirt. He smiled at Heero’s blush
and had to wonder if the doctor had ever done anything like this before. “I
need to wash up a bit,” he explained and winced as he tried to bend to untie
his shoes. Heero was quick to notice, brows furrowing as he moved closer to
Duo.
“Stand upright,” he commanded
firmly.
“Geez. I’m no longer a unit,”
Duo grumbled but did as he was told. He watched as Heero poked and prodded with
his fingers, biting back a small cry as a particular section was pressed a bit
too hard. “What’s the verdict?”
“You have several broken
ribs,” Heero stated, hardly aware of the mischievous glint in Duo’s eyes now,
“And of course bruises that have to be taken care of and…mmmpffhh…mmm…”
His eyes widened at the feel
of the warm lips against his, the shock of such an intimate caress so great
that Heero’s knees buckled at the incredibly sweet sensation. He would have
fallen to the floor if it wasn’t for Duo reaching out to hold him steady, his
lips and tongue devouring as much of the naïve doctor as he could. Heero did
his best to respond, sighing in pleasure as he felt Duo’s tongue caress his
before his lower lip was caught and sucked on gently.
“Dear god,” he finally
whispered as he was released. Parts of his anatomy burned for Duo’s touch and
he trembled into the embrace, not sure of what he was supposed to do or how he
was supposed to act. “I…”
“Just a prelude, doc,” Duo
whispered into Heero’s ear, nipping the lobe gently before pulling away with a
slow wink. “I’ll see you in a bit. Get yourself ready…as best you can.”
Before Heero could say a
word, Duo left the tent, leaving the doctor stumped and slightly confused. Prepare
himself? What was he supposed to do? Strip and lie in bed for Duo? Good grief!
Perhaps he really should have accepted those porno tapes from Patini back in medical
school. It would really be of some help to him right now. Speaking of Patini,
he wondered what had happened to him as well as Doctors J and G. Perhaps they
had escaped? Heero certainly hoped so. They might have been bitter old men, but
they were great doctors and would be an invaluable asset to any medical
facility they donated their time and efforts to. He wondered if he could ask
Duo about that. Maybe they could do a search and if they were found, they’d be
convinced to join the Opposition. Of course they couldn’t be called the
Opposition anymore, could they? There was no Opposition to go against The
Organization. Did that mean that this brotherhood would be disbanded? Heero
thought it sad that it would have to come to that, but still—
“What’s taking him so long?”
He rose to his feet and
opened the flap to the tent slowly. The party was in full swing several feet
away. Duo had warned Sheldon not to let anyone bother them and Heero had flushed
at the insinuation. This side of the camp was relatively quiet and no one was
on patrol, too busy partying to care about intruders. Heero stepped out into
the cool night air and decided to surprise Duo with a visit. He knew where the
shower stalls were and as he rounded the corner, hoping to be more daring and
spontaneous, he froze at the sight before him.
Hilde and Duo sharing a kiss
beneath the moonlight. How perfect it seemed.
Heero staggered backwards,
cursing as he stumbled over his feet and fell to the ground in a clumsy heap.
“Heero?” came the call, and
the doctor froze before rising to his feet quickly. His cheeks burned with
humiliation and a low coil of anger began to build in the pit of his stomach.
The bastard. And to think he had been so quick to believe that Duo might have
wanted him sexually, if nothing else, tonight. But wait a minute, when had Duo
ever said he wanted to be anything more than friends?
But what about the kiss? How could he have forgotten
that already? Fuck it. Fuck him too! I don’t need…
“Heero!” A firm hand caught
his wrist and he was forced to turn around. However, he had already formed a
fist with his free hand and drove it towards Duo’s face. But to his surprise, a
smaller hand got in the way to block it. Heero stared into the calm dark eyes
of Hilde, her features still wearing that almost expressionless look most units
had.
“What’s wrong?” Duo asked
with a frown on his visage. “If you’re pissed off about Hilde and me kissing,
I’ll have you know that—
“He belonged to me first,”
Hilde replied quietly, stumping both men into silence. She smiled now,
releasing Heero’s hand gently. “I do not have all of my memories, but I do know
that I once loved this man.” She turned to look at Duo, a sad look of regret in
her eyes. “I came to tell him goodbye, because I see that his heart has already
been taken by someone else.” She looked at Heero’s flushed features. “You. He
told me that himself.”
“Hey, now, Hil,” Duo began,
blushing furiously as he shuffled his feet. “There’s no need to--”
“It’s okay…really. I just
want you to be happy, Duo. I…I should attend the party,” she interrupted, still
smiling although there were tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to miss all the
fun.”
And before either man could
say another word, she seemed to vanish from sight – her teleportation abilities
still remaining with her apparently.
“I swear to God, she came to
me like that after I was done with my shower,” Duo said into the silence. “It
scared the crap out of me, but I guess I’ll have to get used to
that…eventually…”
His voice trailed off as
Heero began to laugh softly – a low, sexy sound that had Duo biting his lower
lip hard to prevent himself from tackling Heero to the ground and taking him
right here and now. The rocks around were too uneven anyway. It wasn’t going to
be that much fun—
“She must have really cared
for you,” Heero finally said softly. “If I wasn’t here…you two would have been
together again.”
Duo could only nod in
agreement. There would be no use denying it. If the war hadn’t begun, who knew
what would have happened to Hilde and him? Perhaps they would have been a
family by now, with tons of little brats running all over the place.
“I’m sorry,” Heero said as he
walked forward. Duo noticed the limp but said nothing. There’d be plenty of
time to ask questions later.
“Sor…sorry for what?” Duo
whispered thickly, lashes fluttering as Heero reached out to sink his fingers
into his loose hair. He had washed it – hard enough to get out the stink of
death that he knew would follow him until his dying day.
“I was…uum…” Heero struggled
to find the word.
“Jealous?” Duo offered with a
chuckle.
“Perhaps. Can you still read
my mind?” Heero asked quietly, staring into the beautiful purple eyes that
seemed to gleam with knowledge.
Duo smirked and rested his
forehead gently against Heero’s. He closed his eyes, hands reached for his
partner’s to clasp them tightly. Heero suddenly felt light-headed, his lashes
fluttering closed as something sweet, yet hot and poignant passed between them.
He stiffened as Duo’s grip on his hand became tighter, and moaned as images
began to filter through his mind like looking through a photo album rapidly. In
that instant, he could see Duo approaching the Organization building with his
army, he saw him search for Treize, and the events that took place in the
former tyrant’s quarters. He gasped in shock, tears springing to his eyes as he
watched Relena’s death. He relived the pain and agony Duo went through, the
shock that he – Heero - might be dead and not knowing which way to turn. He
relived the treacherous moments beneath the ground, the need for survival, to
know that he could make it out of that building alive. He watched as Duo
finally decided to stay with the current and escaped through a particular hole
left by a geyser. Heero swam the same long and cold waterlogged surface for
endless hours until he reached solid ground, and felt the elation at finally
coming home all encompassed in one fell swoop.
Duo finally released him by
pulling away gently, and Heero slumped in exhaustion against his naked torso,
trying hard to catch his breath at the sudden rollercoaster ride of emotions he
had been taken.
“Duo…I didn’t…”
“Of course you didn’t,” came
the low reply. “I haven’t told anyone yet, and besides, this is much better
than talking about it. Best you see for yourself…my sins…”
“It’s not your fault, Duo.
You wanted to stop it and she…she wanted to die, I think.”
“But by my hands,” Duo said
in a strangled voice. “I’ve killed so many people, Heero. So many. I have
dreams of them now, all those voices filling my head as they blame me for
taking their lives.” He laughed softly, but it was filled with pain and
suffering. “Still think you can be with a guy like me, doc? Perhaps you should
go find some other normal person to--”
“Take me, Duo,” came the
quiet but firm response that had Duo’s cheeks flushing with heat. There was an
intense look in Heero’s eyes now, one that he had never seen before.
“I’m not going to be gentle,”
Duo said thickly as he licked his lips. “I don’t do gentle…and if we do
this…there’s no turning back, Heero. You understand that, don’t you?”
“Then don’t be,” Heero
challenged as he began to walk backwards slowly to the tent, his heart pounding
so hard in his chest he was sure that Duo could hear it. “Use me if you must.
Let me help in the best way I can.”
Duo didn’t need to be told
twice.
__
Their bodies made dancing
shadows on the walls of the tent, and as Duo thrust his third oil-slicked
finger into Heero’s rectum, the doctor’s body arched in a sensuous curve. His
saliva-coated and hardened nipples stood out in relief, all thoughts of crying
out his pleasure lost as his mouth settled for a soundless O. His fingers dug
into the sheets and his toes curled in delight as Duo continued to torment not
just with his fingers, but with his mouth as well as he continued to suck hard
and fast on Heero’s cock. Hot sweat bounced off their flesh like dew drops, the
wet sounds of their coupling becoming louder as pleasure began to reach fever
pitch. Just as Duo felt Heero’s cock about to swell and explode he released it
with a soft kiss and withdrew his fingers at the same time.
Heero’s wail of disbelief and
need was like music to his ears.
“Ready, doc?” he panted as he
lifted Heero’s legs to place them on his shoulders. He smiled at the lustful
picture the once prim and proper medical person made on his bed. Never would he
have thought in a million years he’d get the chance to do this.
“Fuck me,” Heero moaned, thrusting
his hips wantonly as he prepared for the thick invasion. “I can’t take it
anymore, goddamn it.”
“Such a dirty mouth, but as
you wish,” Duo grunted, slowly pushing his swollen organ into the prepared and
twitching entrance. He closed his eyes and groaned at the tightness and warmth
that enveloped his cock, hardly hearing Heero’s small cry of pain and pleasure
rolled into one. Duo thrust all the way in until his balls caressed Heero’s ass
cheeks. He stilled to get used to the sensation while Heero almost passed out
at how full he felt. He bucked and that was Duo’s cue to move.
Hands clasped tightly, Duo
withdrew and then thrust in with a swiftness that had Heero blacking out for a
second. In and out, in and out, faster and harder until nothing but pure,
unadulterated pleasure had them both panting and moaning in unison. Duo sought
Heero’s lips in a bruising kiss, hard enough to draw blood as he drove even
deeper into his lover’s body. He wanted to get rid of the events of the day, to
fuck away the pain one might say. He would cleanse himself with Heero and start
a new life with the doctor if Heero would have him. Perhaps their relationship
would develop into real love someday, perhaps they’d even settle down far away
from governmental duties and try to raise a family. A surrogate mother would be
nice, or perhaps (and not surprising with the advancement of medical technology
these days) either he or Heero would be willing to carry a child…their own
child.
That last thought sent him
over the edge and he all but screamed as his cock swelled within Heero before
exploding in a blinding white heat. He trembled and shook above his partner,
tears of satiation and relief springing to his eyes as Heero came not long
after. His semen coated their wet torsos, and as Duo moved, Heero could feel
the wet stickiness of his come filling his insides and trickling down his legs.
He blushed furiously at the thought of bearing Duo’s child someday. With
medical advancement these days it was possible and the thought of having Duo’s
offspring…
With a weak cry, he came
again to his embarrassment, unable to look into Duo’s eyes as if afraid the
other man would realize what he was thinking. He blushed even harder when Duo
buried his face against his neck to place tender kisses upon it, their bodies
still heaving and trying to come back to earth from their mind numbing orgasms.
Their hands were still
clasped together and Heero lifted one to his lips, placing tender kisses upon
their joined fingers. He wondered if Duo would want to live with him. He could still
find a place on L1 or help in the rebuilding of L2 as he was sure Duo would
want to do now that the war was over. Or maybe they could even build a house on
earth and try to raise their kids…
Good grief, Heero! Stop thinking about that! Are you
really that desperate to begin a family?
But it wasn’t so wrong, was
it? Was it terrible of him to dream of settling down and not having to worry
about being overworked to death? Was it pathetic of him to want a simple and
undisturbed life, something he would have had anyway, if it wasn’t for the
Organization.
Just peace…and quiet…spending time with the one I
love…is that too much to ask?
It does sound nice, came the response that had Heero gasping in shock and almost sending
Duo off him. He had forgotten that Duo could sometimes read his mind.
Blushing to the roots of his
hair, the doctor tried to make amends quickly. “It’s not…I mean…It’s just a
theory,” Heero stammered, as Duo sat up to smile widely at him. “I’m not saying
that you have to do…or rather have a famil…what…what’s so funny?”
Duo chuckled. “Hehe, I was
just thinking of what a fine mommy you’d make.”
“Shu…shut up!” Heero growled
and tried to push off Duo. He was so red-faced he wished he could die. “I’ll
kill you, Duo. I swear it!”
“Not until you take me,” Duo
murmured, still chuckling as he began to trail kisses down Heero’s neck. He
caught Heero’s hands and trapped them against the bed, violet eyes now so dark
they were almost black with the depth of his emotions. “No time to kill me yet,
doc. I’ve still got so much to teach you. So much more.”
Epilogue…