Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dragonfly ❯ Chapter 02 ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: siberianknight 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance / Sci-fi | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 10.10.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 313 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Romance / Sci-fi | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 10.10.2007 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 313 | Status: Completed
Author's Notes: I hope that everyone is liking this new version. It's easier for me to write -- even though I didn't have much time this past month to work on it, but it's done now. Hopefully the next chapter will be out in a week or so. :)
Also, Quatre might be a wee bit OoC because I wanted to express the fact that Duo had raised him since he was about 13.
Warnings: Mild Violence
Chapter Status: Complete
Duo lowered himself down into one of the less crowded compartments upon the shuttle which ran between the sister moons of Spring Valley and Silver Valley. He glanced around at the handful of other people occupying the nearby seats; they all seemed more interested in their newspapers or school books to pay him any mind. Duo counted his blessings for this. It wasn’t as if last year at this same time he had truly done anything wrong, but running the docking stations without proper clearance was not something which the Alliance would soon forget. Thankfully it was only at this station that they knew what the Dragonfly looked like, otherwise they would be unable to enter into any of the planets’ or moons’ atmosphere.
The shuttle jerked and its lights flickered a bit as it launched from its space port on the mining moon of Silver Valley. This particular moon was not owned by the Alliance, and therefore was still a safe place for the crew of Dragonfly to roam freely. Duo had insisted that he go alone to pick up Quatre, despite Trowa’s continuing protests against that idea. He settled comfortably back into the soft cushioned seat and turned his head to gaze out at the stars. The shuttle was not a large one, and it only took about three hours for it to reach Spring Valley. Due to the length of the trip, Duo often found his mind slipping to memories that he wanted to keep buried deep inside. This time was no different.
Slowly, his mind began to flow back to when he had picked up young Quatre. It had been before Honor had died and when journeying through space as a group of almost pirates seemed safe and normal.
2253
The warm smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the corridors of Dragonfly causing the mouths of all who were onboard to salivate, especially Duo’s. Try as he might, he couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten fresh bread. Most likely it had been the short span of time that he and Honor had lived with Trowa and his grandmother. Sniffing the air like a puppy, Duo walked into the kitchen with his eyes closed and a rapturous look upon his round face. “It’ll be done in a few minutes,” Honor cast a smile over her shoulder at her twin brother.
“Didn’t you say that thirty minutes ago?” Duo’s complaint was met with a rolling of deep blue eyes and a dish rag tossed at his face.
“If you have time to stand around and whine, then wash the dishes.” Duo stared grumpily at his sister. Her auburn hair was piled on top of her head and she had a large dish rag tied about her full hips as a makeshift apron. Even at her young age, it was obvious that she had not only taken her temperament after their mother, but her looks were similar as well.
“You sound just like Mom.” Honor socked Duo in the arm and turned back to cutting the re-hydrated chicken pieces. “Ow.” Duo grabbed his arm where she had hit him and proceeded to make faces and whimper, but to no avail. His sister kept her back ram-rod straight and to him. With a sigh and slumping shoulders, he turned to wash the dishes in the large sink at the far corner of the small kitchen. “You’re always so violent.”
“Am not,” Honor answered quietly, her back still to Duo.
“Fighting again are we?” Cloud strolled around the island counter and leaned casually against the pantry locker next to Honor. His green eyes danced with ill-suppressed humor, despite the serious look upon his boyish face.
“We’re not fighting, just – discussing. Like normal.” Honor smiled up at Cloud who gazed back at her with an alarming amount of intensity. Deciding that he needed to dispel the sudden sexual tension, Duo coughed loudly causing Cloud to reluctantly change his attention to his young captain.
“What?”
“Did you just come down here to ogle my sister, or was there something else you needed?” Honor turned back to her chopping, a ripe blush forming on her round cheeks. Duo ignored the fact that he had embarrassed her and glared up at the resident doctor of Dragonfly as he impatiently awaited his answer.
“Maybe …” Cloud grinned at the rising annoyance of the young captain. He may have bought the ship and pulled together the crew, but Duo was still only sixteen. Not that Cloud was much older, only five years separated them; however, the captain’s temper was quite easily lost unlike the doctor who had the patience of a saint.
“Cloud –” Honor’s gentle voice forced him to sober himself. He pushed himself away from the pantry and looked evenly at Duo.
“We picked up a message to you. It’s from someone who knew your dad – according to Howard. His name is Winner.”
Duo’s face scrunched up slightly as he thought back to the names he had heard over the years associated with his father’s. If it was the same Winner he was thinking of, then he owned a whole asteroid and a rather lucrative non-Alliance affiliated mining company. “I’ll go check on it.” As he walked away from the kitchen area he glanced back and stated in a dangerously calm voice, “If you know what’s good for you – you’ll keep your hands and everything else attached to your body away from my sister while I’m gone. I still don’t trust you.”
Duo walked onto the bridge to find Howard and Trowa waiting for him. “We’ve got the message set up for you,” Trowa explained softly. Duo sat down in the pilot’s chair and pressed a button which caused the video message to begin to play. A man in his mid to late forties appeared on the screen, his rich green eyes hollow and his appearance was that of a man who had been through a great deal.
“Duo, I’m sure you don’t remember me, but you father was my supervisor during the skirmish of ’26. I was only sixteen myself, as I know you are now, but I must beg a favor of you. The Alliance has discovered my past and is threatening me with violence unless I give into their demands. As a Freedomist I will never bow to them, but my son – my only son, Quatre, if they get ahold of him … I lost my wife long ago when he was born and I can’t bare to think of him de—.” He paused briefly to recover from the strong emotions which that thought placed in him. He then continued quietly, “Please, protect my son. I have strong faith that you will be able to protect him better than I.
“I have sent a map with the location in which you are to meet my assistant, Rashid, on Silver Valley. Again, please … your father would want you –” There was a loud explosion and the message crackled before ending in static.
“He’s putting quite a bit of faith in the hope that this reached us and not an Alliance ship. What are your thoughts?” Duo dragged his eyes from the softly hissing screen over to Trowa. He agreed that his father would have helped and that he would want him to aid Quatre Winner as well, but he thought it was a strange request. Why would a father ask someone who was flying about space to take care of his only son? Unless, he knew that he was going to be killed. Duo clamped his eyes shut, no kid should have to see what he had. Hopefully, Quatre had not been witness to his father’s death.
With a heavy sigh, Duo looked up at his small crew. “Well we can’t leave him on Silver Valley, can we?” The other men shook their heads and Howard plopped down into the navigator’s seat with a weary sigh of his own.
“Silver Valley, huh?”
“Yeah. I’ll bring you some of Honor’s bread while you take us there.” Duo rose slowly from his seat and rested his hand briefly on the older man’s boney shoulder. “Thanks, Howard.”
“For what? Doin’ my job?”
“No, not thinking I’m crazy for bringing an eleven-year-old onboard a pirate vessel.”
“We’re not pirates. We’re more like Robin Hood – stealing from the Alliance and giving to those who are gettin’ shafted by them.” Duo’s soft chuckle followed him through the portal as he exited the bridge.
The meeting was taking place in the small run-down town of Perkins. Most of the buildings were of the industrial type and had definitely seen better days. Rashid and Quatre were waiting for the small group from the Dragonfly in an abandoned warehouse which was missing a large portion of its roof. Sunlight spilled in from this hole and filled the dusty expanse with a contrasting warmth for the whole place was a depressing gray. Boxes, mostly broken, were either stacked haphazardly or strewn about the dirt covered floor. All in all this was not someplace in which Duo would consider a good place to hide out. Cautiously, he walked into the center of the warehouse and glanced around. He had been asked to introduce himself and despite Trowa’s warning, he was going to do so. “Rashid? It’s Duo Maxwell, Ian’s son.”
“Are you alone?” The man’s deep voice echoed thinly off the aluminum walls.
“Um … no. My first mate is with me. His name is Trowa Barton.” A tall man, definitely much taller than Duo, walked out from behind a particularly tall stack of crates. His eyes were shadowed by a thin streak of sunlight which illuminated just under his nose down to his chest. Duo took a hesitant step forward and Rashid did the same. His deep brown eyes were lit up instantly by the beam of light. They were hollow and so very weary looking.
“You’re the very image of your father … I knew him as well as did Doctor Winner. He was a good man.” Duo shifted, slightly uncomfortable with the subject matter. He wasn’t overly fond of discussing how much like his father he was because he didn’t feel as if he lived up to his glowing reputation. Ian had fought in a grand war; however, as for himself, he had simply been annoying the Alliance since he was twelve. No, he definitely didn’t see that as the same thing. “Doctor Winner would only entrust his son’s safety to someone like you – Master Quatre, come out please.”
Duo took one look at the young blonde boy and knew that the he was very much aware of his father’s dire situation. His blue-green eyes were lifeless and he had dark circles under them. He was rather small for his age, and he looked as if his situation was wearing him down. Duo couldn’t help but wonder just how much this young kid knew about his father and the danger he was facing standing up to the Alliance. He walked slowly to Duo and bowed deeply. “Thank you for caring for me,” he stated softly in a deadened voice. A lump caught in the captain’s throat and he merely nodded as he patted Quatre awkwardly on his shoulder.
“We should be leaving.” Trowa rested his hand on Duo’s extended arm and by the intense look in his eyes it was obvious he had sensed danger.
“Right.” Duo glanced up at Rashid and smiled. “We’ll take care of Quatre – tell Doctor Winner that.” The other man nodded deeply and then turned on his heel to leave. Quatre didn’t once look back at his father’s assistant, nor did he meet the other two’s eyes. Duo had a sick feeling that he had seen his father’s death for it was the only explanation as to his behavior.
2258
The shuttle jerked causing Duo’s eyes to fly open and his every sense to go on alert. He looked around a little wild-eyed; he was still in the semi-empty compartment and everything was peaceful. With a sigh of relief, he leaned his head back and turned his eyes upward to the ceiling. The outside view was projected holographically onto its flat surface to give the passengers a calming sight as they commuted. Duo rubbed his eyes with his fingertips and then ran his lean hands through his long hair. His stomach was starting to knot up for some reason, and he was growing steadily more aware of a set of eyes on him; however, he was uncertain as to where the person they belonged to was sitting. It didn’t matter much, if it had been Zechs or someone else connected to the government, they would have let themselves be known already.
Moments later, the shuttle gracefully landed on the patch of concrete marked with a large square ‘S.’ A loud buzzing tone sounded throughout the small complex letting everyone know that the shuttle had arrived. After a brief announcement by the driver, the passengers were let off and Duo was stretching and walking through the exit doors onto a busy sidewalk. The particular shuttle which he had chosen placed him in the downtown area of Daleview, the capital of Spring Valley. It also happened to be only a few blocks from the edge of Hawkins and Clark University, the school which Quatre was currently attending.
Duo pulled on his thick black leather gloves and tightened his scarf around his neck. During the spring the town was filled with greenery and colorful flowers. The buildings were designed in the Art Deco style of the early twentieth century upon Earth, and the streets were paved with red bricks giving the town a unique and warm feeling; however, it was winter and everything was covered with at least two inches of either snow or ice. What few people actually dared to venture out, hurried from destination to destination due to the biting cold. It was strange for Duo to think about the fact that the people who rushed past him were around his age, since he was out in space scraping to just get by. Quatre had offered money to him, but he had refused on principle. He wouldn’t touch the boy’s money. It was Quatre’s and he needed it to afford to go to this school.
HCU was the top science and technology university in all three systems. Sprawled across nearly five city blocks, it gave birth to many brilliant scientists and doctors. By Duo’s standards, Quatre had a scary brain. He was constantly creating various machinery which helped onboard the Dragonfly; however, no matter how helpful it was, the fact that Quatre could potentially invent something horrifying always floated near the surface of the captain’s mind.
The dorm which Quatre had stayed in for the past four months loomed ahead as Duo made his way up a small incline. That same feeling that someone was watching him prickled at the base of his neck, but as he surveyed the surrounding area, the only thing he could see was empty sidewalks.
Heero sat quietly in one of the empty compartments on the transport shuttle bound for Spring Valley. He had opted for this method of entry due to the high number of people who had boarded the shuttle. Arriving on his own vessel would have simply made him easier to find. As he sat there, his mind ran over the mission he was to accomplish. A young boy by the name of Quatre Winner had in his possession an ornamental key. It was very small, but apparently highly important to Heero’s boss. The odds of him meeting up with the blonde were slim, but he still needed to prepare for that possibility.
After ensuring that he was mentally prepared, Heero’s eyes drifted to the large open doorway of his compartment. Diagonally across from him was another compartment, and inside sat a young man with chestnut colored hair. Heero’s brows drew together as he peered at this man. There was something disturbingly familiar about him, but he wasn’t quite sure what it was. Heero had only been exposed to five different people in the past ten years of his life, and he couldn’t remember much prior to his arrival on Mars. So he knew for a fact that he had never met the man, at least not that he could remember. As he tried to think of why he was familiar, a sharp blinding pain shot through his head just behind his eyes. He clamped his eyelids tightly against the throbbing until it passed. It was odd that he would experience something like that, since he never had headaches. Heero pressed the heels of his palms against his closed eyes and hung his head low near his knees. What was wrong with him? Was it nerves? Surely not, he couldn’t be nervous or scared about finally going out in the field. He would get to the bottom of this. Perhaps he could afford a brief detour and follow the young man, just to see if it might jog his memory a bit.
Heero stayed a good distance away from the chestnut haired man. As they grew nearer to the college, a sense of tidiness grew within him over the prospect of being able to accomplish his mission as well as keep an eye on him. The man turned suddenly and Heero ducked into an alleyway. This man was sharp, he would give him that, but Heero was able to anticipate better than any man alive. Still, it had been a close call.
After waiting a few moments, Heero peered around the corner of the building which he had flattened himself against. The man had started walking once more. Feeling that it was safe to resume his surveillance mission, Heero stepped back out into the open sidewalk. He continued to follow him until they reached the outside of the largest dorm hall on the expansive college campus. There he watched as a young blonde man who was smiling warmly ran up to the chestnut-haired man. Heero’s heart made a funny little skip as he looked upon the young man whom he was to steal from. He inched closer as the chestnut-haired man ruffled the blonde’s short crop of hair. Hopefully, he would be able to get close enough to eavesdrop.
“… Trowa come?” The blonde asked with a slight pout dancing on his lips.
“Because I felt that it would be best for me to come alone. Besides, I didn’t want to have to wait several hours for the two of you to get your ‘hellos’ out of the way.” The blonde’s laugh sounded less angelic and more devilish than one would imagine coming from one with as innocent a face as his. Heero moved around silently so that he could see the older man’s face. He studied that face closely in the hopes that he might figure out why he was familiar. As he did so, he listened on.
“We’re not that bad, Duo. Geez. Look, my stuff’s still in my room. I thought that you were going to bring more than just yourself, so I don’t know how we’re going to get –”
“Quatre, you’re coming back in a month and a half. I don’t think you need to take your whole room.” The man named Duo rolled his large blue eyes, obviously annoyed with the young Quatre.
“It’s not that, I bought some stuff for Trowa that I want to take back. Then there’s my clo—”
“What’d you buy him? Kinky toys?” Duo received an elbow to his midsection causing a small ‘oof’ to escape his mouth.
“Just follow me.” The two began to walk up the stone steps and disappeared through the entrance. Heero followed close behind.
“So, how was school Quatre?”
“I got to build a bomb,” Quatre glanced behind him as he spoke, there was a steady and honest look upon his face which caused Duo to pause briefly on the stairs before resuming at a slower pace.
“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just say that calmly.”
“I was joking. I’m getting good at sounding sincere, am I not?” Quatre smiled over his shoulder at Duo, a twinkle lighting his blue-green eyes showing Heero that he thoroughly enjoyed aggravating Duo.
“Unfortunately. C’mon, let’s get moving – we don’t have all day.” The two picked up their pace and once they reached the third floor, they exited through a heavy wooden door. Heero waited by that door and watched to see whether they entered Quatre’s room or not. They did. Now he had to determine how to get the key, and with as little fuss as possible. After thinking it through, there was only one option open to him. He was going to have to enter the room as well.
Slowly, he pushed open the door which led to Quatre’s room. Perhaps the key would just be laying in plain sight and he could simply grab it and run; however, it of course was not that easy. The moment Heero entered the room, he came face to face with the barrel of Duo’s gun. He glared over the black metal of the pistol and into eyes which he knew for certain he had looked into before; although, the last time he had done so, they had been filled with fear. Now they were filled with anger and caution; however, after a brief moment, the anger slowly began to fade and was replaced with curiosity.
“Where have I seen you before?” Heero’s brow rose in surprise as Duo spoke. So he found him equally familiar, very odd.
“Duo?” Quatre spoke softly, a slight quiver of uncertainty in his voice.
“It’s okay, Quatre. Just stay behind me.” Duo lowered the gun slowly and, as Heero noted, very cautiously. “We’ve met before. Who are you?” Knowing the consequences of speaking, Heero remained silent which caused the other man’s brow to scrunch together with obvious puzzlement. “Can you talk?”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s your name?” Heero took note of the hint of irritability which had entered Duo’s voice. Deciding that it wouldn’t hurt to give his first name, he quietly responded.
“Heero,” he made certain to lace his voice with irritation as well, but Duo simply smiled at him victoriously.
“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” The irritation gone from his voice, Duo stood grinning down at Heero. As he stared his face began to scrunch up once more as he was apparently starting to ponder again why Heero was so familiar to him.
While Duo stood busy thinking, Heero’s sharp eyes slid about the room looking for that which he had come for, the key. Finally spotting a glint of sliver hanging near the window, he began to step forward, only to have the gun barrel shoved back in his face.
“Where’re you goin’?” Heero’s dark eyes slowly turned to glare into Duo’s sharp gaze.
“I came for something. I’m not leaving until I get it.”
Quatre’s eyes widened as he looked upon Heero. “But I’ve never met you before … what could I have that you –” The blonde quickly turned his head toward the key which hung from a piece of twine near the window frame. It had been entrusted to him by his father shortly before he had passed away. Quatre had been told to never let anyone except for Duo have the key, and that Duo was only to have it when the time came; however, he was never able to find out what that ‘right time’ was because his father had breathed his last breath before fully explaining. “I’m sorry. You can’t have that,” Quatre’s response was quiet yet firm, which slightly agitated Heero.
He met the young man’s eyes with a glare which should have terrified Quatre to the core, but his reaction was much different than what Heero had expected. The blonde rushed over to the key and pulled it from the wall, he then sprinted back over to Duo and stood slightly behind him. “I’ll take it from you if I have to.”
Duo cleared his throat and waggled the gun before Heero’s eyes. “I’ve got a gun on you. Just how do you think you’re gonna get past me?” A small smirk appeared briefly on Heero’s face before he disarmed Duo in one smooth movement and shoved him violently against the wall which knocked Quatre down in the process. Heero’s thick hand fisted in the crisp white shirt of Duo and pressed firmly against his throat. The gun was pushing into the hollow just under his chin causing Duo to be unable to talk let alone to be able breathe.
Heero felt a rush of annoyance such as he’d never experienced. He hadn’t thought that he could feel anything anymore. They had told him as much after running countless experiments on him and injecting him with various things; however, at that moment he felt that he wanted to throttle Duo, the very same man who was now gazing at him with suddenly warm and pitying eyes. A sharp pain similar to that which he had experienced onboard the shuttle blinded him momentarily and caused him to loosen his grip on Duo’s shirt.
“I – I know why you’re so familiar,” Duo stated hoarsely. “You … saved … me and Honor – before. But – you … you … were little. Around ten or so.”
“I’ve never met you.” Heero’s voice was soft as he spoke because he didn’t really believe in his own words. Duo was familiar to him, but he could recall every person he had ever met since he was eight-years-old; so why couldn’t he remember him?
Frustration filled Heero and he hit Duo with the hand which still gripped the gun. Unconscious and bleeding from a small cut on his forehead, the chestnut-haired man slumped softly onto the carpeted floor. Heero then turned on Quatre, whose innocent face had turned slightly red with anger. “I’m not giving this to you!” His bellow echoed through the empty room and caused a very short bought of panic in Heero. This boy would have to be dealt with quickly and quietly.
Slowly, he aimed the gun between the blonde’s blue-green eyes. He stepped cautiously forward and watched with vague amusement as Quatre pressed himself more tightly against the wall. Heero slowly cocked the gun. “I’ll count to five.” He paused to gauge the blonde’s reaction. Quatre nervously looked at Duo and then back at Heero.
“Why do you want this?”
“It’s my mission.” The fear suddenly drained from Quatre’s face and he pushed himself into a straighter position against the wall with renewed vigor.
“Mission? Who sent you?”
“That’s not important. What’s important is that I get that item. Even if I have to kill you.”
Quatre’s eyes narrowed slightly. He was obviously plotting something Heero decided. “Is the one behind this a man named Mallory?” Heero’s face remained still as he stared down at the young man. “I guess you won’t budge. My father gave this to me right before he died. It’s very important to me – so I’m sure you can understand why I don’t want to give it to you.”
“I’ll get it either way. But if you give it to me now, you’ll still be alive.”
“But I’d have broken my promise to him!” Heero was so taken aback by the intense look in the blue-green eyes that he actually took a small step backwards away from Quatre.
“Hand it over. Now.” Heero’s voice remained soft, but held a firmness that conveyed the fact that he was not bluffing. He had had enough of this young man’s pleading, he would shoot next time.
Quatre stared down at the key as if he was deciding whether it was worth his life or not. His delicate hand quickly clasped shut once more and he turned a fierce look upon Heero. “No.” The hammer slowly began to fall, and the blonde shut his eyes tightly awaiting the stillness of death.
Heero gazed down at the young man. Why couldn’t he bring himself to kill him? In the end he had knocked him out just like the other. With a heavy sigh, he bent over and plucked the key from Quatre’s limp hand. He only paused briefly to look at Duo once more. He really was oddly familiar. Perhaps, Heero thought, he should ask Doctor W when he returned to the base.
Duo groaned as he moved himself into a sitting position. He looked around at the dorm room through bleary eyes, but Heero had gone. As for Quatre, he was laying in a heap beside him, a small trickle of fresh blood streaked across his cheek. Somehow they had escaped with their lives, but his gut told him that next time Heero wouldn’t be so kind. Hopefully there wouldn’t be that second chance, even if the guy had been attractive. The fact that he had tried to kill both himself and Quatre chilled any lustful thoughts.
A quiet rustle marked Quatre’s return to consciousness and Duo smiled as he watched him roll onto his back and begin to tenderly check his head for lumps. “Ow. I didn’t know being killed hurt so much.”
“I’d like to hope that he hasn’t changed since the last time he saved me … if this was any indication I’d say he hasn’t.”
“Huh?” Quatre gazed over at Duo a confused look upon his young face.
“Never mind. Let’s get your stuff and go.”
Three days later, Heero stepped foot into the Gamma Training Facility which was located on Sommer. The large building was not very different from the Mars base. Every hallway was an immaculate white and every room was plainly furnished with only one window.
As soon as Heero settled in his room, he contacted Doctor W via the Communications Link, or CL. The doctor’s face slowly focused on the small screen which sat atop a plain steel desk in Heero’s room. “Ah, Heero-kun. Did the mission go well?”
“Yes. I got the key.”
“Excellent!” A bright smile momentarily lit up the doctor’s face, but as it faded he returned to his usual nervous looking self. “Anything more to report?”
“No, but I have a question about a person.”
“A person … really? And who might this person be?”
“I only have his first name, but he told me that we’ve met before. However I can’t remember. Is there a reason for this? My memory loss that is.”
Heero noted that the doctor’s eyes shifted slightly to his left and then back before he answered. “Um, no – no memory loss, Heero-kun. You must just resemble someone he’s seen before. What was his name again?”
“Duo. He’s about six-three with long light brown hair that he keeps braided in a single braid. His eyes are a medium shade of blue, and he’s most likely from Sonas -- due to his slight brogue.”
“Ye—yes. Thank you. I’ll get right on that. Keep up with your training Heero-kun, and I will contact you within the next few days with your mission.” The screen blinked once and then returned to black. Heero stared at it for a few moments before walking over to his bed where he laid down and began to stare at the ceiling. Just before he fell asleep, his last thought was of Duo and the way he had looked at him just prior to telling him how they had met. Why had his gaze been so warm and why did it make Heero feel so odd?
---------------------------
TBC :)
geovisit();
Also, Quatre might be a wee bit OoC because I wanted to express the fact that Duo had raised him since he was about 13.
Warnings: Mild Violence
Chapter Status: Complete
Duo lowered himself down into one of the less crowded compartments upon the shuttle which ran between the sister moons of Spring Valley and Silver Valley. He glanced around at the handful of other people occupying the nearby seats; they all seemed more interested in their newspapers or school books to pay him any mind. Duo counted his blessings for this. It wasn’t as if last year at this same time he had truly done anything wrong, but running the docking stations without proper clearance was not something which the Alliance would soon forget. Thankfully it was only at this station that they knew what the Dragonfly looked like, otherwise they would be unable to enter into any of the planets’ or moons’ atmosphere.
The shuttle jerked and its lights flickered a bit as it launched from its space port on the mining moon of Silver Valley. This particular moon was not owned by the Alliance, and therefore was still a safe place for the crew of Dragonfly to roam freely. Duo had insisted that he go alone to pick up Quatre, despite Trowa’s continuing protests against that idea. He settled comfortably back into the soft cushioned seat and turned his head to gaze out at the stars. The shuttle was not a large one, and it only took about three hours for it to reach Spring Valley. Due to the length of the trip, Duo often found his mind slipping to memories that he wanted to keep buried deep inside. This time was no different.
Slowly, his mind began to flow back to when he had picked up young Quatre. It had been before Honor had died and when journeying through space as a group of almost pirates seemed safe and normal.
2253
The warm smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the corridors of Dragonfly causing the mouths of all who were onboard to salivate, especially Duo’s. Try as he might, he couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten fresh bread. Most likely it had been the short span of time that he and Honor had lived with Trowa and his grandmother. Sniffing the air like a puppy, Duo walked into the kitchen with his eyes closed and a rapturous look upon his round face. “It’ll be done in a few minutes,” Honor cast a smile over her shoulder at her twin brother.
“Didn’t you say that thirty minutes ago?” Duo’s complaint was met with a rolling of deep blue eyes and a dish rag tossed at his face.
“If you have time to stand around and whine, then wash the dishes.” Duo stared grumpily at his sister. Her auburn hair was piled on top of her head and she had a large dish rag tied about her full hips as a makeshift apron. Even at her young age, it was obvious that she had not only taken her temperament after their mother, but her looks were similar as well.
“You sound just like Mom.” Honor socked Duo in the arm and turned back to cutting the re-hydrated chicken pieces. “Ow.” Duo grabbed his arm where she had hit him and proceeded to make faces and whimper, but to no avail. His sister kept her back ram-rod straight and to him. With a sigh and slumping shoulders, he turned to wash the dishes in the large sink at the far corner of the small kitchen. “You’re always so violent.”
“Am not,” Honor answered quietly, her back still to Duo.
“Fighting again are we?” Cloud strolled around the island counter and leaned casually against the pantry locker next to Honor. His green eyes danced with ill-suppressed humor, despite the serious look upon his boyish face.
“We’re not fighting, just – discussing. Like normal.” Honor smiled up at Cloud who gazed back at her with an alarming amount of intensity. Deciding that he needed to dispel the sudden sexual tension, Duo coughed loudly causing Cloud to reluctantly change his attention to his young captain.
“What?”
“Did you just come down here to ogle my sister, or was there something else you needed?” Honor turned back to her chopping, a ripe blush forming on her round cheeks. Duo ignored the fact that he had embarrassed her and glared up at the resident doctor of Dragonfly as he impatiently awaited his answer.
“Maybe …” Cloud grinned at the rising annoyance of the young captain. He may have bought the ship and pulled together the crew, but Duo was still only sixteen. Not that Cloud was much older, only five years separated them; however, the captain’s temper was quite easily lost unlike the doctor who had the patience of a saint.
“Cloud –” Honor’s gentle voice forced him to sober himself. He pushed himself away from the pantry and looked evenly at Duo.
“We picked up a message to you. It’s from someone who knew your dad – according to Howard. His name is Winner.”
Duo’s face scrunched up slightly as he thought back to the names he had heard over the years associated with his father’s. If it was the same Winner he was thinking of, then he owned a whole asteroid and a rather lucrative non-Alliance affiliated mining company. “I’ll go check on it.” As he walked away from the kitchen area he glanced back and stated in a dangerously calm voice, “If you know what’s good for you – you’ll keep your hands and everything else attached to your body away from my sister while I’m gone. I still don’t trust you.”
Duo walked onto the bridge to find Howard and Trowa waiting for him. “We’ve got the message set up for you,” Trowa explained softly. Duo sat down in the pilot’s chair and pressed a button which caused the video message to begin to play. A man in his mid to late forties appeared on the screen, his rich green eyes hollow and his appearance was that of a man who had been through a great deal.
“Duo, I’m sure you don’t remember me, but you father was my supervisor during the skirmish of ’26. I was only sixteen myself, as I know you are now, but I must beg a favor of you. The Alliance has discovered my past and is threatening me with violence unless I give into their demands. As a Freedomist I will never bow to them, but my son – my only son, Quatre, if they get ahold of him … I lost my wife long ago when he was born and I can’t bare to think of him de—.” He paused briefly to recover from the strong emotions which that thought placed in him. He then continued quietly, “Please, protect my son. I have strong faith that you will be able to protect him better than I.
“I have sent a map with the location in which you are to meet my assistant, Rashid, on Silver Valley. Again, please … your father would want you –” There was a loud explosion and the message crackled before ending in static.
“He’s putting quite a bit of faith in the hope that this reached us and not an Alliance ship. What are your thoughts?” Duo dragged his eyes from the softly hissing screen over to Trowa. He agreed that his father would have helped and that he would want him to aid Quatre Winner as well, but he thought it was a strange request. Why would a father ask someone who was flying about space to take care of his only son? Unless, he knew that he was going to be killed. Duo clamped his eyes shut, no kid should have to see what he had. Hopefully, Quatre had not been witness to his father’s death.
With a heavy sigh, Duo looked up at his small crew. “Well we can’t leave him on Silver Valley, can we?” The other men shook their heads and Howard plopped down into the navigator’s seat with a weary sigh of his own.
“Silver Valley, huh?”
“Yeah. I’ll bring you some of Honor’s bread while you take us there.” Duo rose slowly from his seat and rested his hand briefly on the older man’s boney shoulder. “Thanks, Howard.”
“For what? Doin’ my job?”
“No, not thinking I’m crazy for bringing an eleven-year-old onboard a pirate vessel.”
“We’re not pirates. We’re more like Robin Hood – stealing from the Alliance and giving to those who are gettin’ shafted by them.” Duo’s soft chuckle followed him through the portal as he exited the bridge.
The meeting was taking place in the small run-down town of Perkins. Most of the buildings were of the industrial type and had definitely seen better days. Rashid and Quatre were waiting for the small group from the Dragonfly in an abandoned warehouse which was missing a large portion of its roof. Sunlight spilled in from this hole and filled the dusty expanse with a contrasting warmth for the whole place was a depressing gray. Boxes, mostly broken, were either stacked haphazardly or strewn about the dirt covered floor. All in all this was not someplace in which Duo would consider a good place to hide out. Cautiously, he walked into the center of the warehouse and glanced around. He had been asked to introduce himself and despite Trowa’s warning, he was going to do so. “Rashid? It’s Duo Maxwell, Ian’s son.”
“Are you alone?” The man’s deep voice echoed thinly off the aluminum walls.
“Um … no. My first mate is with me. His name is Trowa Barton.” A tall man, definitely much taller than Duo, walked out from behind a particularly tall stack of crates. His eyes were shadowed by a thin streak of sunlight which illuminated just under his nose down to his chest. Duo took a hesitant step forward and Rashid did the same. His deep brown eyes were lit up instantly by the beam of light. They were hollow and so very weary looking.
“You’re the very image of your father … I knew him as well as did Doctor Winner. He was a good man.” Duo shifted, slightly uncomfortable with the subject matter. He wasn’t overly fond of discussing how much like his father he was because he didn’t feel as if he lived up to his glowing reputation. Ian had fought in a grand war; however, as for himself, he had simply been annoying the Alliance since he was twelve. No, he definitely didn’t see that as the same thing. “Doctor Winner would only entrust his son’s safety to someone like you – Master Quatre, come out please.”
Duo took one look at the young blonde boy and knew that the he was very much aware of his father’s dire situation. His blue-green eyes were lifeless and he had dark circles under them. He was rather small for his age, and he looked as if his situation was wearing him down. Duo couldn’t help but wonder just how much this young kid knew about his father and the danger he was facing standing up to the Alliance. He walked slowly to Duo and bowed deeply. “Thank you for caring for me,” he stated softly in a deadened voice. A lump caught in the captain’s throat and he merely nodded as he patted Quatre awkwardly on his shoulder.
“We should be leaving.” Trowa rested his hand on Duo’s extended arm and by the intense look in his eyes it was obvious he had sensed danger.
“Right.” Duo glanced up at Rashid and smiled. “We’ll take care of Quatre – tell Doctor Winner that.” The other man nodded deeply and then turned on his heel to leave. Quatre didn’t once look back at his father’s assistant, nor did he meet the other two’s eyes. Duo had a sick feeling that he had seen his father’s death for it was the only explanation as to his behavior.
2258
The shuttle jerked causing Duo’s eyes to fly open and his every sense to go on alert. He looked around a little wild-eyed; he was still in the semi-empty compartment and everything was peaceful. With a sigh of relief, he leaned his head back and turned his eyes upward to the ceiling. The outside view was projected holographically onto its flat surface to give the passengers a calming sight as they commuted. Duo rubbed his eyes with his fingertips and then ran his lean hands through his long hair. His stomach was starting to knot up for some reason, and he was growing steadily more aware of a set of eyes on him; however, he was uncertain as to where the person they belonged to was sitting. It didn’t matter much, if it had been Zechs or someone else connected to the government, they would have let themselves be known already.
Moments later, the shuttle gracefully landed on the patch of concrete marked with a large square ‘S.’ A loud buzzing tone sounded throughout the small complex letting everyone know that the shuttle had arrived. After a brief announcement by the driver, the passengers were let off and Duo was stretching and walking through the exit doors onto a busy sidewalk. The particular shuttle which he had chosen placed him in the downtown area of Daleview, the capital of Spring Valley. It also happened to be only a few blocks from the edge of Hawkins and Clark University, the school which Quatre was currently attending.
Duo pulled on his thick black leather gloves and tightened his scarf around his neck. During the spring the town was filled with greenery and colorful flowers. The buildings were designed in the Art Deco style of the early twentieth century upon Earth, and the streets were paved with red bricks giving the town a unique and warm feeling; however, it was winter and everything was covered with at least two inches of either snow or ice. What few people actually dared to venture out, hurried from destination to destination due to the biting cold. It was strange for Duo to think about the fact that the people who rushed past him were around his age, since he was out in space scraping to just get by. Quatre had offered money to him, but he had refused on principle. He wouldn’t touch the boy’s money. It was Quatre’s and he needed it to afford to go to this school.
HCU was the top science and technology university in all three systems. Sprawled across nearly five city blocks, it gave birth to many brilliant scientists and doctors. By Duo’s standards, Quatre had a scary brain. He was constantly creating various machinery which helped onboard the Dragonfly; however, no matter how helpful it was, the fact that Quatre could potentially invent something horrifying always floated near the surface of the captain’s mind.
The dorm which Quatre had stayed in for the past four months loomed ahead as Duo made his way up a small incline. That same feeling that someone was watching him prickled at the base of his neck, but as he surveyed the surrounding area, the only thing he could see was empty sidewalks.
Heero sat quietly in one of the empty compartments on the transport shuttle bound for Spring Valley. He had opted for this method of entry due to the high number of people who had boarded the shuttle. Arriving on his own vessel would have simply made him easier to find. As he sat there, his mind ran over the mission he was to accomplish. A young boy by the name of Quatre Winner had in his possession an ornamental key. It was very small, but apparently highly important to Heero’s boss. The odds of him meeting up with the blonde were slim, but he still needed to prepare for that possibility.
After ensuring that he was mentally prepared, Heero’s eyes drifted to the large open doorway of his compartment. Diagonally across from him was another compartment, and inside sat a young man with chestnut colored hair. Heero’s brows drew together as he peered at this man. There was something disturbingly familiar about him, but he wasn’t quite sure what it was. Heero had only been exposed to five different people in the past ten years of his life, and he couldn’t remember much prior to his arrival on Mars. So he knew for a fact that he had never met the man, at least not that he could remember. As he tried to think of why he was familiar, a sharp blinding pain shot through his head just behind his eyes. He clamped his eyelids tightly against the throbbing until it passed. It was odd that he would experience something like that, since he never had headaches. Heero pressed the heels of his palms against his closed eyes and hung his head low near his knees. What was wrong with him? Was it nerves? Surely not, he couldn’t be nervous or scared about finally going out in the field. He would get to the bottom of this. Perhaps he could afford a brief detour and follow the young man, just to see if it might jog his memory a bit.
Heero stayed a good distance away from the chestnut haired man. As they grew nearer to the college, a sense of tidiness grew within him over the prospect of being able to accomplish his mission as well as keep an eye on him. The man turned suddenly and Heero ducked into an alleyway. This man was sharp, he would give him that, but Heero was able to anticipate better than any man alive. Still, it had been a close call.
After waiting a few moments, Heero peered around the corner of the building which he had flattened himself against. The man had started walking once more. Feeling that it was safe to resume his surveillance mission, Heero stepped back out into the open sidewalk. He continued to follow him until they reached the outside of the largest dorm hall on the expansive college campus. There he watched as a young blonde man who was smiling warmly ran up to the chestnut-haired man. Heero’s heart made a funny little skip as he looked upon the young man whom he was to steal from. He inched closer as the chestnut-haired man ruffled the blonde’s short crop of hair. Hopefully, he would be able to get close enough to eavesdrop.
“… Trowa come?” The blonde asked with a slight pout dancing on his lips.
“Because I felt that it would be best for me to come alone. Besides, I didn’t want to have to wait several hours for the two of you to get your ‘hellos’ out of the way.” The blonde’s laugh sounded less angelic and more devilish than one would imagine coming from one with as innocent a face as his. Heero moved around silently so that he could see the older man’s face. He studied that face closely in the hopes that he might figure out why he was familiar. As he did so, he listened on.
“We’re not that bad, Duo. Geez. Look, my stuff’s still in my room. I thought that you were going to bring more than just yourself, so I don’t know how we’re going to get –”
“Quatre, you’re coming back in a month and a half. I don’t think you need to take your whole room.” The man named Duo rolled his large blue eyes, obviously annoyed with the young Quatre.
“It’s not that, I bought some stuff for Trowa that I want to take back. Then there’s my clo—”
“What’d you buy him? Kinky toys?” Duo received an elbow to his midsection causing a small ‘oof’ to escape his mouth.
“Just follow me.” The two began to walk up the stone steps and disappeared through the entrance. Heero followed close behind.
“So, how was school Quatre?”
“I got to build a bomb,” Quatre glanced behind him as he spoke, there was a steady and honest look upon his face which caused Duo to pause briefly on the stairs before resuming at a slower pace.
“I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just say that calmly.”
“I was joking. I’m getting good at sounding sincere, am I not?” Quatre smiled over his shoulder at Duo, a twinkle lighting his blue-green eyes showing Heero that he thoroughly enjoyed aggravating Duo.
“Unfortunately. C’mon, let’s get moving – we don’t have all day.” The two picked up their pace and once they reached the third floor, they exited through a heavy wooden door. Heero waited by that door and watched to see whether they entered Quatre’s room or not. They did. Now he had to determine how to get the key, and with as little fuss as possible. After thinking it through, there was only one option open to him. He was going to have to enter the room as well.
Slowly, he pushed open the door which led to Quatre’s room. Perhaps the key would just be laying in plain sight and he could simply grab it and run; however, it of course was not that easy. The moment Heero entered the room, he came face to face with the barrel of Duo’s gun. He glared over the black metal of the pistol and into eyes which he knew for certain he had looked into before; although, the last time he had done so, they had been filled with fear. Now they were filled with anger and caution; however, after a brief moment, the anger slowly began to fade and was replaced with curiosity.
“Where have I seen you before?” Heero’s brow rose in surprise as Duo spoke. So he found him equally familiar, very odd.
“Duo?” Quatre spoke softly, a slight quiver of uncertainty in his voice.
“It’s okay, Quatre. Just stay behind me.” Duo lowered the gun slowly and, as Heero noted, very cautiously. “We’ve met before. Who are you?” Knowing the consequences of speaking, Heero remained silent which caused the other man’s brow to scrunch together with obvious puzzlement. “Can you talk?”
“Yes.”
“Then what’s your name?” Heero took note of the hint of irritability which had entered Duo’s voice. Deciding that it wouldn’t hurt to give his first name, he quietly responded.
“Heero,” he made certain to lace his voice with irritation as well, but Duo simply smiled at him victoriously.
“That wasn’t so hard, now was it?” The irritation gone from his voice, Duo stood grinning down at Heero. As he stared his face began to scrunch up once more as he was apparently starting to ponder again why Heero was so familiar to him.
While Duo stood busy thinking, Heero’s sharp eyes slid about the room looking for that which he had come for, the key. Finally spotting a glint of sliver hanging near the window, he began to step forward, only to have the gun barrel shoved back in his face.
“Where’re you goin’?” Heero’s dark eyes slowly turned to glare into Duo’s sharp gaze.
“I came for something. I’m not leaving until I get it.”
Quatre’s eyes widened as he looked upon Heero. “But I’ve never met you before … what could I have that you –” The blonde quickly turned his head toward the key which hung from a piece of twine near the window frame. It had been entrusted to him by his father shortly before he had passed away. Quatre had been told to never let anyone except for Duo have the key, and that Duo was only to have it when the time came; however, he was never able to find out what that ‘right time’ was because his father had breathed his last breath before fully explaining. “I’m sorry. You can’t have that,” Quatre’s response was quiet yet firm, which slightly agitated Heero.
He met the young man’s eyes with a glare which should have terrified Quatre to the core, but his reaction was much different than what Heero had expected. The blonde rushed over to the key and pulled it from the wall, he then sprinted back over to Duo and stood slightly behind him. “I’ll take it from you if I have to.”
Duo cleared his throat and waggled the gun before Heero’s eyes. “I’ve got a gun on you. Just how do you think you’re gonna get past me?” A small smirk appeared briefly on Heero’s face before he disarmed Duo in one smooth movement and shoved him violently against the wall which knocked Quatre down in the process. Heero’s thick hand fisted in the crisp white shirt of Duo and pressed firmly against his throat. The gun was pushing into the hollow just under his chin causing Duo to be unable to talk let alone to be able breathe.
Heero felt a rush of annoyance such as he’d never experienced. He hadn’t thought that he could feel anything anymore. They had told him as much after running countless experiments on him and injecting him with various things; however, at that moment he felt that he wanted to throttle Duo, the very same man who was now gazing at him with suddenly warm and pitying eyes. A sharp pain similar to that which he had experienced onboard the shuttle blinded him momentarily and caused him to loosen his grip on Duo’s shirt.
“I – I know why you’re so familiar,” Duo stated hoarsely. “You … saved … me and Honor – before. But – you … you … were little. Around ten or so.”
“I’ve never met you.” Heero’s voice was soft as he spoke because he didn’t really believe in his own words. Duo was familiar to him, but he could recall every person he had ever met since he was eight-years-old; so why couldn’t he remember him?
Frustration filled Heero and he hit Duo with the hand which still gripped the gun. Unconscious and bleeding from a small cut on his forehead, the chestnut-haired man slumped softly onto the carpeted floor. Heero then turned on Quatre, whose innocent face had turned slightly red with anger. “I’m not giving this to you!” His bellow echoed through the empty room and caused a very short bought of panic in Heero. This boy would have to be dealt with quickly and quietly.
Slowly, he aimed the gun between the blonde’s blue-green eyes. He stepped cautiously forward and watched with vague amusement as Quatre pressed himself more tightly against the wall. Heero slowly cocked the gun. “I’ll count to five.” He paused to gauge the blonde’s reaction. Quatre nervously looked at Duo and then back at Heero.
“Why do you want this?”
“It’s my mission.” The fear suddenly drained from Quatre’s face and he pushed himself into a straighter position against the wall with renewed vigor.
“Mission? Who sent you?”
“That’s not important. What’s important is that I get that item. Even if I have to kill you.”
Quatre’s eyes narrowed slightly. He was obviously plotting something Heero decided. “Is the one behind this a man named Mallory?” Heero’s face remained still as he stared down at the young man. “I guess you won’t budge. My father gave this to me right before he died. It’s very important to me – so I’m sure you can understand why I don’t want to give it to you.”
“I’ll get it either way. But if you give it to me now, you’ll still be alive.”
“But I’d have broken my promise to him!” Heero was so taken aback by the intense look in the blue-green eyes that he actually took a small step backwards away from Quatre.
“Hand it over. Now.” Heero’s voice remained soft, but held a firmness that conveyed the fact that he was not bluffing. He had had enough of this young man’s pleading, he would shoot next time.
Quatre stared down at the key as if he was deciding whether it was worth his life or not. His delicate hand quickly clasped shut once more and he turned a fierce look upon Heero. “No.” The hammer slowly began to fall, and the blonde shut his eyes tightly awaiting the stillness of death.
Heero gazed down at the young man. Why couldn’t he bring himself to kill him? In the end he had knocked him out just like the other. With a heavy sigh, he bent over and plucked the key from Quatre’s limp hand. He only paused briefly to look at Duo once more. He really was oddly familiar. Perhaps, Heero thought, he should ask Doctor W when he returned to the base.
Duo groaned as he moved himself into a sitting position. He looked around at the dorm room through bleary eyes, but Heero had gone. As for Quatre, he was laying in a heap beside him, a small trickle of fresh blood streaked across his cheek. Somehow they had escaped with their lives, but his gut told him that next time Heero wouldn’t be so kind. Hopefully there wouldn’t be that second chance, even if the guy had been attractive. The fact that he had tried to kill both himself and Quatre chilled any lustful thoughts.
A quiet rustle marked Quatre’s return to consciousness and Duo smiled as he watched him roll onto his back and begin to tenderly check his head for lumps. “Ow. I didn’t know being killed hurt so much.”
“I’d like to hope that he hasn’t changed since the last time he saved me … if this was any indication I’d say he hasn’t.”
“Huh?” Quatre gazed over at Duo a confused look upon his young face.
“Never mind. Let’s get your stuff and go.”
Three days later, Heero stepped foot into the Gamma Training Facility which was located on Sommer. The large building was not very different from the Mars base. Every hallway was an immaculate white and every room was plainly furnished with only one window.
As soon as Heero settled in his room, he contacted Doctor W via the Communications Link, or CL. The doctor’s face slowly focused on the small screen which sat atop a plain steel desk in Heero’s room. “Ah, Heero-kun. Did the mission go well?”
“Yes. I got the key.”
“Excellent!” A bright smile momentarily lit up the doctor’s face, but as it faded he returned to his usual nervous looking self. “Anything more to report?”
“No, but I have a question about a person.”
“A person … really? And who might this person be?”
“I only have his first name, but he told me that we’ve met before. However I can’t remember. Is there a reason for this? My memory loss that is.”
Heero noted that the doctor’s eyes shifted slightly to his left and then back before he answered. “Um, no – no memory loss, Heero-kun. You must just resemble someone he’s seen before. What was his name again?”
“Duo. He’s about six-three with long light brown hair that he keeps braided in a single braid. His eyes are a medium shade of blue, and he’s most likely from Sonas -- due to his slight brogue.”
“Ye—yes. Thank you. I’ll get right on that. Keep up with your training Heero-kun, and I will contact you within the next few days with your mission.” The screen blinked once and then returned to black. Heero stared at it for a few moments before walking over to his bed where he laid down and began to stare at the ceiling. Just before he fell asleep, his last thought was of Duo and the way he had looked at him just prior to telling him how they had met. Why had his gaze been so warm and why did it make Heero feel so odd?
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TBC :)
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