Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Forged Together ❯ Chapter 19 ( Chapter 19 )

A/N- Duo is the most abused character in the fandom, right next to Trowa who got raped by all the mercenaries and Quatre who went zero and raped camels. (I kid you not, some one offered me a link which I turned down.)

Ok, on to a more serious topic…the story is nearing an end and most of you seem to have guessed the final paring. Most authors have a Mary -Sue or a character they bond with. I was wondering if I can write myself into Dorothy. (Gets bonked on head by beta.)

Chapter is betaed by Stray…as usual.

 

Chapter 19

 

Wufei stood in the middle of the hangar's cleared area, arms parallel to the floor. He tipped his head back, closed his eyes and breathed deeply, falling into the rhythm. Empting his mind, listening to his heartbeat…counting one, two, three… He could feel the trance-like calm descending on him - he hadn't practiced in a while and he needed the help to override his pain…

 

“Wufei,” said a calm voice close to him and he snapped his eyes open to find Trowa standing in front of him, bare to the waist, hands crossed. “We need to talk.”

 

“Later, Barton,” Wufei snapped angrily. “I'm a little busy, now.”

 

“Practicing,” said Trowa, stepping back and slipping off his shoes. “Maybe I can help you out.”

 

“I don't need…”

 

“We can talk while we spar,” Trowa said with a gleam in his eye, which did not bode well.

 

“Fine,” said Wufei, falling into relaxed fighting-stance. “Start.”

 

Trowa leapt up in a blur of feet and it took all of Wufei's concentration to avoid getting hit. Damn, he hadn't even warmed up and now he was being subjected to a killer work out. Finally, seeing a break in the pattern, Wufei blocked a kick with his left leg, spinning around for another move. Trowa backed up in a double summersault, landing neatly on his feet without a hitch. Wufei could see he had a worthy opponent on his hand and mentally prepared himself for a serious battle.

 

“First question,” said Trowa jumping forward, twisting in mid leap and aiming for Wufei's head. “Are you having sex with Heero?”

 

Wufei ducked, arms crossed in a blocking move, pushing Trowa back and kicking him in the middle at the same time. Trowa was quick and agile - the kick simply brushed him in the middle but there was enough power to wind him slightly. “Once, after you left,” Wufei said shortly. “He was under the impression his usefulness had expired.”

 

Trowa winced, probably from what Wufei said rather than the blow. “What about Duo, Wufei? Don't tell me you don't care for him.” He sidestepped sharply, sweeping Wufei's feet from under him in a sudden move.

 

Wufei put a palm on either side of his head and sprang to his feet, ignoring his aching back and in a totally non-martial arts move, backhanded Trowa. “Of course, I care for him,” he snarled. “Duo is important to me.”

 

“Then what about Heero?” Trowa shouted, lip split, blood oozing down his chin. He came at Wufei in a low sweeping move, followed by a punch to his chin.

 

“What was I supposed to do?” Wufei bit out when his jaw stopped throbbing. “Let him walk out? You messed up, Barton. Don't come blaming me for this.” He attacked Trowa with a couple of chops, leaping up to bounce off the wall to avoid the oncoming feet. Trowa had long legs, which he used to his advantage, and he was agile.

 

“You think I messed up,” Trowa shouted back. “Heero is…very fragile in certain things.” He bent backwards to avoid a kick, flipped over catching Wufei on the left shoulder.

 

“I've found that out,” Wufei said. “And I will rectify my mistake as soon as possible.”

 

“Is that what it is?” Trowa asked as he rolled to avoid a kick and came to his feet next to the wall. “A mistake?”

 

“What do you mean?” Wufei asked, standing still as Trowa picked up two metal rods that were leaning against the wall. He passed one to Wufei, which the Chinese boy took with a small bow and stepped back to the middle.

 

“Heero did his equivalent of boasting to me about finding a lover after I broke up with him,” Trowa said clearly, weighing the metal bar. Then he suddenly ducked as Wufei's bar whistled down to collide with the wall inches above his head. He was showered with pieces of cement as he moved away.

 

“He told you about that?” Wufei asked with his teeth ground together.

 

“He said…” The bar blurred in the air as Trowa came at Wufei with unnerving accuracy. “…you treated him better than I did.”

 

“Jealous?” Wufei asked, blocking and retreating step by step. His hands were aching, his back burned and he was panting.

 

"No,” Trowa ground out as Wufei started a series of counterattacks. “But because I care for him. I don't want you hurting him.” His fringe had been brushed aside and lay like a limp rag, saturated with sweat.

 

“Face it, Barton,” Wufei snapped back as he crossed bars with Trowa in a loud clang. They were panting in each others faces, breathing heavily, trying to use physical strength to push the other off. “Someone's going to wind up getting hurt here…there's only five of us and…” Straight, black hair escaped from its hair band and spilled down one side of his face, sweat sticking it to his neck.

 

A steady stream of gun fire drew a steady line across the hangar floor, causing the two boys to split and roll for cover. They both emerged tentatively, looking to see where it had come from. The chest hatch of Sandrock popped open and Quatre stepped out, eyes blazing.

 

“I have no idea what your problem is, but can you stop trying to kill each other,” he shouted across. “Get ready, you have half an hour. Heero called - something has gone wrong during their mission and he said we are needed.”

 

“Is anyone hurt?” Wufei asked as his heart pumped with fear rather than exhaustion. He didn't know whom he was worried about more, Heero or Duo.

 

“Heero didn't say anything,” Quatre said, still sounding angry. He winched down and landed on the floor, scowling. “Take a shower before you leave. You both look like hell.”

 

Wufei rubbed a hand across his bruised jaw as he looked across at Trowa, who was staring at Quatre with a stunned expression. Then he snickered.

 

“What?” said Trowa, turning around quickly.

 

“I hope that isn't for me,” he said, pointing towards towards the prominent bulge in Trowa's workout pants. Trowa flushed at the comment, watching Quatre walk away, everything in his posture radiating displeasure. “If that turns you on, then you'll make an adequate bottom.”

 

“What would you know about that?” said Trowa looking straight at Wufei who was blushing but not looking away as he usually would have. Trowa was surprised Wufei could even say those words without getting a nose bleed.

 

“Nothing I'm sure you don't know about it,” Wufei said softly.

 

“Hn,” said Trowa with a small smile. Then the two looked at each other and grinned. “Come on, the showers are waiting.”

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Heero sat on the edge of the door, staring at the slender form that seemed to have folded into himself, his back to the door. “Duo,” he said, closing the door behind him and locking it. The room had not been visited in quite some time and he did not think it would be anytime soon, but he was not taking chances. “I called Quatre. He said he'll be here with the others as soon as possible.”

 

“What did you do that for?” Duo said in a small voice. When he turned over, to his shock, Heero saw tear tracks on his face. “Now they'll come running and it'll be all for nothing. I'm fine…just a little shook up.”

 

“Something was wrong with you,” Heero said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I had no idea how to deal with it.”

 

“There was nothing wrong,” said Duo, holding the piece of his braid close to him. “I…I…” there were suddenly tears in his eyes and Heero reached out automatically. There was a pause and then Heero had lap full of L2 Gundam pilot, sobbing against his chest mumbling something about sisters, fathers and pain. He didn't know what to do, so he held Duo close to him, feeling the tears soak into his tank top.

 

Heero patted Duo awkwardly, while the other pilot continued to have a mental breakdown. He concluded that the other boy had to be in a lot of pain if he was crying. Duo hadn't cried when the OZ soldiers had been beating him but he didn't think there were any nerve endings in his hair. Still…“I can make you unconscious,” Heero offered.

 

Duo stiffened then practically leaped off Heero's lap, scrubbing away at his face. “Shit,” Duo almost shouted. “Did you just offer to knock me out? I'm sorry if I'm being a total wet rag…”

 

“You are in pain,” Heero offered. “Sometimes blacking out helps.”

 

“Oh…for crying out loud…”

 

“Which you are…”

 

“Go away, Heero,” said Duo, turning his back to Heero and lying on the bed. “Leave me alone.”

 

Heero stretched out on the bed on his back next to Duo and started to stroke his back slowly in languid circles. “Duo,” he said. “It's just hair. It'll grow back.” He toes off his damp sneakers and settled back a bit.

 

Silence.

 

“Duo.” He turned towards Duo so they were almost spooning. “I don't understand.”

 

“Nothing,” said Duo in a small voice. “I just need to forget for a while.”

 

“Try to sleep,” Heero offered. “It'll help you relax.”

 

“I…” Duo turned over so he was looking directly into his eyes. “Heero…just hold me for a bit. So…I mean…don't knock me out…just…”

 

Heero opened his arms and the other boy rolled into his grasp. They lay like that for a while until Heero lowered his head and smelled Duo's hair.

 

“Hey,” said Duo remembering something. “You said you liked the scent, right?”

 

“I like your hair,” Heero said a little reluctantly. “Even if it is totally …” he drifted off, realizing that maybe it was not the best thing to say.

 

“It's ok,” said Duo, words muffled as he buried his face in Heero's chest. “I'm…” He inched closer until they were almost stuck to each other. Then he slowly looked up. “Uh, Heero…I seriously hope you have a gun in your pocket.”

 

“No,” Heero said, obviously never having heard that old joke. “I'm sorry.” Then he leaned forward and claimed Duo's lips.

 

Five seconds later Duo broke free, spluttering. “You seriously need some lessons in that department, man,” he said with a frown. “First of all…don't choke me. And I like my lips the way they are. Here…” He leaned forward. The move caused their crotches to be pressed hard against each other. Heero groaned, letting his head fall back, and Duo couldn't help pushing forward. “God,” he murmured.

 

“Duo,” gasped Heero then firmly pushed away from the boy, rolling off the bed completely. “We can't do this.”

 

“I…know,” said Duo realizing what they had almost done. “I got carried away. Sorry. It wasn't fair to you.”

 

“It's not fair to Quatre or Wufei either,” Heero said.

 

“Sure…Wufei,” said Duo his eyes half closed. “Eh…Quatre…you're with Quatre?”

 

“No,” said Heero with equal seriousness. “You are with Quatre.”

 

“I'm not with Quatre,” said Duo sitting up in bed, feeling perked. “What way do you mean?”

 

“Relationship,” Heero said softly. “You two are together in a one-to-one intimate relationship.”

 

“No, we are not,” Duo said trying to scramble off the bed.

 

“No need to deny it,” Heero said. “You share a sleeping bag with him, you sleep with him and you were kissing in the kitchen just after you have arrived from your trip. You are also the chosen companion when Quatre travels…”

 

“He takes me along `cause no one else wants to come,” Duo said trying to find his boots.

 

“He's never asked anyone else,” Heero reasoned, sitting on the other side of the bed to pull on his sneakers.

 

“You wanted to go?” Duo asked in surprise.

 

“I've never…” he shrugged as if to say it was inconsequential. “Then this brings up the point I wanted to discuss with you on the plane,” he said changing topics. “Are you trying to cheat on Quatre with Wufei?”

 

“I'm not with Quatre for the fiftieth time!” Duo ground out as he clutched the cut off piece of his braid. “And no, I'm not cheating on him. I don't lie, damn you, so get that out of your head. He's a good friend of mine who's moping over Trowa.”

 

“Fine,” said Heero, unaffected by the shouting. “You seem to have recovered from your mental breakdown.”

 

“Wait a minute,” Duo said angrily. “I did not have mental breakdown. I was…”

 

“Sobbing over a piece of hair,” Heero said bluntly. “Now that you've recovered, we have to move. We have been here far too long.”

 

“You have a split personality that is not dependant on whether you're wearing glasses or not,” Duo grumbled as he stood up. For a moment he looked as if he was going to fall back to the bed, but then he looked up and grimaced. “Let's go.”

 

“You should stop trying to seduce Wufei,” Heero said softly. “He…”

 

There was a tentative knock on the door. “Duo…uh…Heero.”

 

“Quatre,” said Duo jumping to the door, wrenching it open and throwing himself at his friend like a long lost lover. “Oh…man…”

 

Quatre wrapped his hands around Duo, holding him close. “Your hair,” said someone behind Quatre and Duo looked up to see Wufei standing next to Trowa, sword strapped to his back. Wufei sported a colorful bruise on his left cheek and another on his shoulder visible under his tank top, while Trowa had a purple bruise on his jaw and was limping slightly.

 

“Oh,” said Duo, catapulting off Quatre into Wufei's arms. “Oh, shit…”

 

Wufei hugged Duo awkwardly like someone unused to physical displays of affection but did not push him away.

 

“We're wasting time,” Heero snapped as he stepped out side.

 

“Are you alright?” Quatre asked softly. “Heero…?”

 

“I'm not the one who is hurt,” Heero said as he stepped up to Wufei. Their eyes met over Duo's shoulder. “We need to speak to Relena about the ball. Let's move.” Heero snarled in a low voice before stalking off.

 

--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111--

 

“Does carrying a big sword compensate for the lack of…something else?” Dorothy asked Wufei with a serious face as the others sat around the table.

 

Wufei's cheeks turned an interesting color and Quatre held his breath, afraid the stupid woman was about lose her head. Instead Wufei calmed himself and stepped back, smiling. “I hear you are well versed in sword fighting techniques,” he said instead.

 

“I've been know to take a stab at it,” she said with a wink at Quatre causing the blond to smile. He hastily clamped down on it as Trowa snarled.

 

“Perhaps we should have match?” Wufei said suddenly, his eyes narrowing.

 

“I thought you didn't fight women,” Dorothy said with a laugh.

 

“I don't fight weak people,” Wufei corrected, seeming to enjoy himself.

 

“We have more important things to discuss than that,” Relena said, looking up from a report she was reading.

 

“So those people admitted their aim was to assassinate Relena,” Heero spoke as if in agreement, though his question was directed at Lady Une.

 

“Yes,” she said looking troubled. “And this may not be their only attempt. They hinted at already having people in the castle so the trouble isn't over yet.”

 

“Let me have an hour with one of them,” Trowa said in a low voice. “I'll have them speaking…”

 

“Absolutely not,” Relena said firmly. “WE are not barbarians stooping to torture prisoners…”

 

“Tell that to her,” snarled Duo jerking his head towards Lady Une. “I thought OZ specialized in torturing prisoners of war.”

 

“We did no such thing,” Lady Une snapped back.

 

“This attempt will most likely take place during the ball then,” Noin said sensibly.

 

“What is the ball about?” Quatre asked before someone started a sword fight or a fist fight in the middle of the conference room. “Is there any way of postponing it until this blows over?”

 

“I'm afraid there isn't,” Noin answered. “It would look bad if we cancel it now.”

 

“I was thinking we need to concentrate more on technical improvements than on war,” Relena said, looking up straight, her voice ringing with conviction. “The Earth Sphere Alliance and the Oz have held back technological advancements so we are all stuck in the 20th century. Our transport is archaic, our technology is outdated and the only difference seems to be that we have a couple of space colonies and few space shuttles to prove we have done something. If we channel some of our resources form mobile doll production to more beneficial…”

 

“I get it,” Duo interrupted. “You are calling some people with big companies that are working on mobile doll production and hoping that they won't mind shutting down their production lines and concentrate on something like canned food or automatic vacuum cleaners.”

 

Quatre had given Duo a couple of tranquilizers but all it seemed to have done was lower his inhibition and loosen his tongue. He was tapping his fingers in a song only he could hear while his shoulder shook with silent rhythm. He understood that Duo's hair had not been a fashion accessory but he needed everyone on their feet and ready to move.

 

Noin winced at the crudeness of the description but Relena nodded. “Exactly,” she said. “I was thinking a dance, food and then a small discussion over coffee. Nothing formal… just to get the idea across. I'll introduce the proposition more formally at the next summit meeting but it's better to give it to them in small doses before coming onto them hard.”

 

“Might work,” Quatre nodded. “But you need a reason for the ball…and something to keep the center of attention away from you for as long as possible …”

 

“No, if you had told me earlier… maybe I could have come up with an excuse,” she said sadly. “I'm planning on having it in another four days time and the invitations are sent but I've kept the reason to myself. My brother's birthday is coming up the week after but…”

 

Noin looked up sharply but kept quiet. Une simply looked amused.

 

“No… maybe something more shocking, uh, like …”

 

“Announcing the Gundam pilots to the public,” Dorothy said.

 

“No,” said a chorus of five voices.

 

“Why not one pilot instead?” Quatre said thoughtfully as the rest glared at him.

 

“You,” said Duo pointing at Quatre with a pen that he had bitten the end off. “The Winner heir.”

 

“No,” said Quatre sharply. “Let Relena deal with one problem at a time. She doesn't need to be seeing with us…”

 

“Why not?” Duo demanded sharply. His hand continued to tap until Quatre reached out and slapped it, hard. Duo scowled at leaned back, his foot shaking silently.

 

“Winner enterprises supplies most of our resources,” Noin said slowly. “We don't want whoever is coming to think we are stopping their production so we can fall into the lap of Winner industries.”

 

“Not Heero…” Dorothy said thoughtfully. “Too grumpy and no background. Why not Wufei…you can say he's from the destroyed L5 and talk about the consequences of war and …”

 

“No,” shouted Wufei.

 

“Yes,” said Relena. “Good idea… especially since you are the supposed leader of L5. That should do. We could even start our War Crimes Tribunal… ”

 

“I don't…” started Wufei.

 

“You can,” said Quatre firmly and Wufei backed down, grumbling but giving way. “But not quite,” said Quatre thinking furiously. “You need a bodyguard who doesn't stand out. “Dorothy, Miss. Noin and Lady Une are far too well known… so… you need a date.”

 

“Heero,” Relena said looking up expectantly.

 

“No,” said Quatre, regretfully. “You have grown taller since we've met last time and if you intend to wear high heels you'll tower over Heero.”

 

“She's going to be almost as tall as Zechs,” Noin said fondly. “Must be a family trait.”

 

Duo snickered and even Wufei looked amused while Heero looked distracted, as he had been the entire meeting. “So it'll be Trowa,” said Lady Une with a smile. “He'll do his job well and I can personally vouch for his acting ability.”

 

“What about us?” Duo asked.

 

“You can go in a dress and have Heero escort you,” Dorothy said with a wicked smile and even Trowa had to crack a smile at that.

 

“Duo can scout the roofs and Heero can mingle with the ground staff,” Quatre said decisively. “We'll have to go over it in detail.”

 

“What about you?” Noin asked.

 

“Why, me?” said Quatre, smiling angelically. “You still have that grand piano don't you? I'll be providing music for the crowd. Have a small platform built so I can overlook the crowd. Why, I'll even bring my violin with me if it will help.”

 

“Yes, sir,” said Dorothy mock saluting. She looked at Quatre and winked. “Has anyone told you that you're pretty hot when you take charge?”

 

“Now you know why I don't invite her to formal meetings,” Relena muttered to Noin in a loud whisper.

 

--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--

 

Duo was feeling disconnected, almost as if he was floating. He could barely keep his eyes open but he did not want to close them. His hair had been his Dream Catcher- the thing that kept his memories at bay, filtered his pain and made him whole. He was miserable; he had lost more that three forth of his hair. He had also lost his shield against the world.

 

With a muted sob Duo headed for the room he had been allocated. He sat on the bed, pulled off his boots and reached back to undo his hair. And froze. Suddenly he wanted someone to keep him company…Quatre, Heero or even Trowa. He was wishing for Wufei but the other boy hadn't said anything to him, being deep in discussion with Une and Relena over what to say at his upcoming unveiling as a fucking prince. Duo threw a boot at the wall in anger. Figures. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Soon Wufei would be a prince and he'd be discarded like everyone else had. Heck, Wufei had loved his hair…he remembered the time they'd made love - and how Duo had had his hair down…then sighed. He didn't even have that now.

 

All right, so he needed a little reassurance. Without bothering to put on his boots, Duo stood up - he was going to see if he could find Wufei…and then he paused.

 

The stupid sword fight with that blond female. He was sure everyone would be there; after all, he seemed to be the only person who hadn't been taught the fine art of fencing since birth.

 

Well, he was going there and he was going to talk to Wufei. Maybe he could convince his boyfriend to come back with him for a little victory celebration…

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

“She's going to have an advantage in speed,” Heero said, coming up behind Wufei, making him turn around fast. “Her sword is lighter so there is less air resistance.”

 

“Trust me, I know,” Wufei said with a frown. “Where is she anyway?”

 

“She's with Relena at the moment but she'll be here soon,” Heero said in his dull voice, stepping closer. Wufei did not step back as Heero reached for his shoulder. “Why were you and Trowa fighting?”

 

“We were sparing,” Wufei said with a smile. “It was not a fight, right…Trowa?”

 

“We came to an understanding,” Trowa said softly from beside a display case where rapiers, swords, katanas and cutlasses were framed.

 

“You should go,” Heero said softly. “Quatre has been looking for you.”

 

“It's nothing important,” Trowa said, looking away.

 

“He said it was something about your sister,” Wufei offered.

 

“I… have no sister,” Trowa said, looking at his feet.

 

“Huh,” said Heero in surprise. “Has something happened to Catherine?”

 

“Is she dead?” Wufei asked at the same time.

 

“I forgot,” Trowa said with a bitter laugh. “Both of you have sampled her cooking. No, nothing wrong with her…only when I went to visit her this time she wanted me to do a DNA test to see if I was her brother.”

 

“Did the results turn out negative?” Wufei asked curiously.

 

“I don't know,” Trowa admitted. “The results must be out since she's been trying to contact me the whole day.”

 

“You should just look at it instead of avoiding the problem,” Heero said with a frown. “It's better than not knowing.”

 

“Exactly,” said a bright voice startling them all, making them straighten instantly. Quatre stood at the door looking slightly fizzled but still smiling. “I've been running around the place looking for you,” he grumbled to Trowa. “And here you were all along, hiding.” He walked decisively towards Trowa and Heero stepped closer to Wufei, still holing on to his shoulder to make room for Quatre.

 

“What did she say?” Trowa asked.

 

“It's not my place to tell you anything,” Quatre said with a huff. “But she's waiting for you to call her back. I don't think Inter-vid comm is cheap on L2.”

 

Wufei broke free of Heero's grasp and stepped aside, smirking. “Scared, Barton?”

 

“You wish,” said Trowa, giving Wufei a semi-playful push, which took him by surprise. He staggered slightly and came to a halt against Heero who had put out an arm out to stop him. Instead of letting go, he held onto Wufei pulling him closer.

 

“Oops,” said Quatre in a slightly breathless voice.

 

“I thought you were only playing along until Trowa broke up with him,” said a slightly slurred voice from the doorway. Then as they all watched with the fascination of a space shuttle crash, Duo staggered in scowling. “Trowa's not fucking Heero anymore so you can stop stringing him along,” Duo said clearly, stopping in the midst of the small group and looking straight at Heero. “You stay away from my boyfriend. He's mine. Wufei just pretended to like you because I asked him to.”

 

“Oh, shit,” said Quatre in a low voice as Heero stepped forward and punched Duo squarely in the middle while Trowa did the same for Wufei on the jaw.