Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Götterdämmerung ❯ Gut und Böse ( Chapter 3 )

Gut und Böse

 

Rating: R for Duo and Quatre torture

 

AU: Duo Maxwell may be the final Key to breaking the curse cast over the werewolves and the vampires. Living with three werewolves, two vampires and one mostly immortal empath, he is trying to understand what they have been going through for all these millenia. Then, he is captured...

 

~*~

 

Excitate vow e somno, liberi mei.

Cunae non sunt.

Excitate vow e somno, liberi fatali.

Somnus non eat.

 

Surgite.

Invenite hortum veritatis.

 

Ardente veritate

Urite mala mundi.

Ardente veritate

Incendite tenebras mundi.

 

Valete, liberi,

Diebus fatalibus.

 

 

(Wake up from your dream, my children.

There is no cradle.

Wake up from your dreams, fated children.

The dream is not going.

 

Arise.

Discover the truth of the Garden.

 

Burn with truth

Scorch the world of evil.

Burn with truth

Set fire to the world of darkness.

 

Goodbye, children,

From the days of destiny.)

 

Libri Fatali (Fateful Children)

Final Fantasy VIII

 

~*~

 

Gut und Böse

(Good and Evil)

 

PART THREE

 

Sekra frowned as she looked into the room she shared, seeing Duo sprawled on his bed with a pad of paper and pencil, drawing, she knew. It had been almost a week since they had rescued the teen, and even though he seemed happy he was not at top shape. He missed the light. Sekra had talked with Quatre, and they might alter their schedule to take him somewhere soon. He deserved it, trying so hard to help them.

 

There had been many attacks on mortals by Zechs and the werewolves. Vampires were getting into the fray, too, when they were usually neutral. Duo had been helping them defend them; even when there were so many in a night they were practically dead on their feet.

 

She had to admit, though, he was a good fighter. Whet he lacked in experience, he made up in an uncanny knack to get out of any situation. He was often the most uninjured, helping whoever had stayed home patch up the wounded. He only had one scar on him, on his ankle.

 

And…he was uniting the group like never before. She didn't tell him before he had come along, it had been chaos. No one really knew were the other was unless it was their partner. Sally would be the only one who knew when Wufei took off to fight, the same with Trowa and Quatre, etc… Hilde and Heero hadn't been romantic interests, though through an unspoken agreement always knew where the other had gone.

 

There had been many quarrels. She, Heero and Wufei had fought and damaged each other on more than one occasion. Trowa, Cloud and Hilde were always arguing. Even Sally and Quatre would side with one or the other and come to blows. (That was sometimes funny.)

 

Then Hilde had told them about Duo. Quatre, Heero and Sekra had volunteered to rescue him. And though Hilde had died, Duo had taken her place and emotionally taken charge. Though maybe the strain would start to show soon…

 

“Duo, whatcha drawing?” Sekra announced her presence loudly. Duo looked up, giving his eye twin a smile. “Nothing… just something that I thought up…”

 

Sekra looked over his shoulder, and then gasped. It was a well-done collage of the group. At the tope there was Sekra and Cloud, hugging, and a sketch of her werewolf form. Next to it was Trowa and Quatre kissing (when had he seen them do that?) and lower was a picture of a laughing Sally teasing an angry looking Wufei, and above them a sketch of Wufei's were form. In the middle though, was a profile of Heero, looking for all the world peaceful (she had never seen that expression on his face before) and a sketch of him in werewolf form attacking another were.

 

“Oh my god…Duo that's beautiful!” Sekra said. Duo smiled sheepishly. “Its not that good…”

 

“Yes it is!” Sekra gushed, then laughed. “Listen to me, I sound like a fangirl,” she said. “Come on, Quatre cooked, so the food's safe,” she said, pulling the braided boy up. He laughed, about to retort but suddenly there were the sounds of someone banging on the downstairs door. Frowning, the two purple-eyed teens ran downstairs.

 

~*~

 

They reached downstairs to see Quatre and Trowa supporting Sally, who was slashed deeply from her shoulder to upper chest, missing the `vital parts'. Duo knew by now while most of the others had been turned when they were in their teens, Sally was about 24 and still human.

 

“What happened?” Duo asked as Sekra raced back upstairs to get the first aid kit. The others had gathered behind the couch.

 

“Ze…Zechs attacked the Specials…” Sally began, gasping slightly and clutching at her wound, which resembled a heavy claw wound. It'd need stitches, Duo could already tell. “We're set up…Treize arranged it…” she reported. Treize was the commander of the Specials.

 

“He arranged it?” Wufei spoke this time, concern obvious for his friend.

 

“Betrayed us… cut a deal,” Sally said as Sekra came back down. Quatre frowned. “For modesty purposes, I'm going to ask the rest of you to leave except for Sekra,” he said, in a tone they had come to realize as the `I'll kick your ass if you don't move NOW' tone. The others left, Wufei a bit reluctantly, and Sekra shut the door.

 

“Why would Treize make a deal? Doesn't he want the werewolves dead?” Duo asked.

 

“If Zechs could get his hands on you and create eternal darkness, he might be offering Treize a position by removing the resistance,” Cloud said. “Some Specials might cut a deal too, to save their lives.”

 

“Those bastards! That's horrible!” Duo yelled. “That isn't even fair!”

 

“Nothing in life is fair,” Heero stated darkly. Duo glared at the werewolf, before sighing. “I'm going upstairs,” he said dully, climbing up the steps. He stopped when he was out of sight, hearing the others talk.

 

“I'm worried about Sally. A wound like that… she might get the disease…” Trowa said.

 

“Or she might die, Barton,” he heard Wufei growl. “Sally is a strong fighter, despite what Wufei says. She will survive. Whether or not she becomes a werewolf, fate will determine that,” Cloud said.

 

Someone was walking up the steps now. “Yuy! Where are you going?!” Duo heard Wufei yell. Duo ran to his and Sekra's room and flopped on the bed. He heard Heero yell something (it sounded like `you don't need to know that' to Duo) and went into his room.

 

After about ten minutes, Duo, who was drawing some more on the collage picture, looked up to see Heero in the doorway. Duo felt a little lightheaded looking at Heero, who wore a tight dark green t-shirt, tight black jeans and a jacket that looked like it was made of leather. He also had a small black duffel at his side.

 

He looked damn fine to Duo.

 

“What?” Duo finally managed to ask, unnerved under that unwavering blue eyed gaze. “I'm going to find Zechs,” he said, turning and walking towards the other end of the hallway. Duo leapt up and ran to his doorway, seeing Heero lifting up the window.

 

“Why are you telling me? Don't you need backup? Then you should get Sekra or Wufei, I wouldn't be much help,” Duo finally stopped to breathe. He forgot how to in the next moment as Heero's face changed to that likened to something of peace.

 

“I'm going alone,” he said, on the other side of the window. He looked at Duo.

 

“But someone has to know where I'm going.” In the next moment, he was gone.

 

~*~

 

“Sally should be fine. Sekra's bandaging her now,” Quatre said, wiping what looked to be blood on his black jeans. “Where's Heero?” he asked, searching the faces seated around the table. They shrugged. “He went upstairs,” Cloud said.

 

Quatre frowned, walking up the steps. He searched the upstairs for Heero's presence but found only Duo's, at the end of the hall next to the window, which was open.

 

“Duo, you shouldn't leave that open, you'll catch a cold,” Quatre chided, shutting the window the braided teen was looking out of. Duo blinked, looking at the blonde like he just realized he was there. “Oh, hey Quat.”

 

Quatre frowned, blue eyes worried. “Duo, have you seen Heero?” he asked. Duo nodded, looking out the window. “He left, like, fifteen minutes ago,” he said softly.

 

“Where?”

 

“To Zechs,” Duo spoke as if in a trance. Quatre froze.

 

“To...Zechs? Oh no, not again!” Quatre turned and ran downstairs, barreling into Trowa.

“Little one?” Trowa used his nickname. “What's wrong?”

 

“Its Heero! He's gone after Zechs again!” Quatre exclaimed, fisting his hands in his lovers almost black turtleneck and then letting go. He raised his hands on either side of his frustrated face. “Last time he did this…Trowa, he disappeared for twenty years!”

 

“Calm down,” Trowa soothed. “First, lets get the others-“ he was cut short as there was a crash, and Duo cried out.

 

“Duo!” Both of them yelled, Sekra running out of the living room where Wufei was tending to Sally and all three sprinting up the stairs. Several werewolves blocked their path, and they had to halt.

 

At the end, they saw Duo's eyes roll up into his head and slump into the arms of a blonde haired man wearing a metal mask over the top half of his face; it was shaped like a wolf. He also wore a tattered black trench coat, black jeans and a red t-shirt.

 

“Zechs!” Sekra growled, curling up her lips in a snarl.

 

“Kill them. But save the blonde,” Zechs said with a smirk, Duo slung over one shoulder as he leapt out the window.

 

“Duo!” Quatre yelled. One of the wolves began to run for them.

 

Sekra let loose a strangled roar, bending over herself as her shoulders broadened, face elongating into a snarling muzzle as silk-fine red fur spread over her, nails lengthening, ripping out of her clothes and in moments a large, purple eyed werewolf was heading straight for the crowd.

 

Get out of here! I'll stall them…

 

Trowa pulled Quatre down the steps as Sekra plowed into the first unfortunately werewolf. “We have to get the others out first,” he pleaded. Quatre nodded helplessly as Cloud and Wufei helped Sally out of the living room. Trowa opened the front door-

 

Only to face the muzzle of a gun.

 

“Treize!” Sally growled. About twenty uniformed policemen- Specials survivors- had pointed guns at the escapee's.

“What do you want?!” Quatre growled. Treize, a man with light brown hair and wearing a uniform that was black and blue, smirked. “It would seem that is obvious, empath,” he said. Trowa began to move forward.

 

“Don't try it,” Treize calmly pointed his gun back at Trowa. “All our ammo has been blessed by a priest. We may not trust in God, but that many would kill you before you could take two steps.”

 

Wufei bristled. “Stop!” Quatre cried, wincing at the broiling emotions. “Stop. If you promise not to harm my friends in this battle, I will come with you willingly,” Quatre said, trying to send out calm waves despite his high-strung nervousness.

 

“I am nothing if a man of my word. Besides, to kill this young man would result in your untimely death,” Treize said. “Stand down!” he commanded, and the Specials lowered their guns.

 

“Quatre…” Trowa began, but the blonde silenced him. “I'll be fine. I will,” Quatre said, a smile that seemed it would break at a moment on his face.

 

Promise you'll save Duo.

 

Quatre let himself be pulled away from Trowa by Treize's gloved hand.

 

~*~

 

Duo groaned as he woke up. He was uncomfortable, and felt as if Wufei had used his head as a soapbox during a 3 hour rant. Slowly, as he came to full awareness, he realized his hands were chained above his head. Panicking, he began to pull on them.

 

“Don't try it. They wont give; you'll hurt yourself.”

 

“Heero!” Duo whipped his head to his left, eyes adjusting and seeing the faint form of the werewolf chained against what he assumed was the wall. He didn't look too perky.

 

“Glad to see you awake.” Duo tried to look behind himself, catching a sight of blonde hair. “Quat? That you?”

 

Quatre chuckled, though the act lacked any humor. “Yeah, its me.”

 

They were in a 15x15 cell made of either rough metal or rock, Duo in the middle with hands chained above his head, Heero to Duo's left and Quatre behind Duo. The others had their arms spread and chained almost as far as they would stretch.

 

“How did we get here? All I remember is a” Duo shuddered “Werewolf, and some guy wearing a mask…”

 

“Zechs.” Heero said. “He subdued me with that fool sister of his. She cast a sleeping spell on me.”

 

“That vampire wench is a sorceress too? Great.” Quatre sounded morose. “They held the others hostage and I gave myself in to Treize.”

 

“The others…I hope their okay…” Duo said to himself mostly. “Last I saw of them, Trowa, Cloud, Sally and Wufei were fine…Sekra, I'm not so sure. She was fighting werewolves,” Quatre spoke quietly, but sad waves, along with nervous ones, rolled off him. It made Duo nervous, and fidgety.

 

After about twenty eternal minutes, Heero spoke. “Someone's coming.” Duo and Quatre heard the sounds of metal footsteps moments later, and then the door opened.

 

The lighting outside wasn't bright, but it made them squint. Two figures were in the light; one was the one who had captured Duo, Zechs, but his mask was off. He had blue eyes and a face that Duo would've found attractive, but he couldn't care less right now.

 

The other was a dirty blonde, crystalline-eyed girl with a fierce expression, wearing a pink blouse and pink skirt. Her eyes lit up as she saw Heero.

 

“Heeeeerooo!!”

 

Duo winced at her high voice and Heero's stoic mask faltered for a moment as the pink menace latched around his waist. “Heero! Oh, I was so worried I hurt you!!!”

 

“Get off me or I'll kill you.”

 

“That's enough, Relena. Come tell me what you think of our Key,” Zechs said, his voice like silk. Duo hated it almost as much has he'd decided he hated Relena.

 

The pink-clad girl obscured his vision and leaned up, inspecting him, and then walking around him once. “Well, he's not like the others. He's a male too, but I guess he's okay,” Relena said, stopping in front of him once again.

 

“What might your name be?” she asked, fluttering her eyelashes. Duo blanched, then realizing he wasn't getting out anytime soon, smirked. “Duo. Are you the vampire wench?”

 

Relena actually shrieked in his ear. Fuck the whips, chains and poison; this was torture! “You indignant, little-!” She reached up to slap him, but Zechs caught her hand.

 

“Now now, Relena. Don't damage the goods,” Zechs chided. Relena burned in fury, but Duo paled three shades when he heard the words. He heard Heero growl, irate and sad waved flowing off of Quatre.

 

“So, Your name is Duo,” Zechs said, looking at Duo appreciatively. “Such a pretty name for a pretty Key. My name is Milliardo.”

 

“I'll keep with the Zechs title, thank you,” Duo said nervously, trying to dissuade conversation. Zechs smile, -or was it a smirk? - widened, then brushed past Duo to go to Quatre.

 

“Ahh, Quatre Raberba Winner. The empath of the group. You've been causing me quite some trouble for a long time with that boyfriend of yours,” Zechs laughed, a cruel sound devoid of emotion. “But now I have your pretty little self in my clutches.” There was a sudden smack of knuckles against flesh, and the way Heero struggled in his bonds, Duo assumed Zechs had hit Quatre. He tired to twist and find his friend.

 

“Don't go retreating into your mind, little one,” Zechs said, walking back in front of Duo. Relena had edged closer to Heero during this exchange. Zechs leaned closer to Duo, capturing his chin wit his lithe fingers.

 

Look at me, Duo.

 

Duo's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to retort, but then a mouth was on his and his senses shut down. And he began to think… why was he so angry with Zechs anyway? It wasn't like he had actually DONE anything to Duo now, was it? In fact, ever since he had met the others it had caused nothing but pain. If they had just let Milliardo rescue him, Hilde would still be alive…

 

The happy warmth had left him and he whimpered, not opening his eyes.

 

I love you Duo…

 

It wouldn't be so bad to say it back… would it?

 

“I…”

 

Someone was growling. Someone was calling his name. And thoughts suddenly rushed back to him, guilt washing over him in waves as he realized what had happened, what he'd been thinking.

 

Be strong…Duo…you're the key…to Light and Darkness…

 

“I fucking hate you!” Duo screamed at the blonde in front of him, smashing his forehead into the face. He got a sick sort of pleasure in seeing Zechs clutch at his nose like that.

 

“Milliardo!!” Relena cried, rushing to her brother.

 

Heero was growling. Quatre was calling his name.

 

No, wait. Someone else was growling too. Gunshots echoed off the hallway outside as suddenly, a familiar red head barreled past untransformed werewolves.

 

“ZECHS FUCKING PEACECRAFT!!!”

 

A red werewolf tackled the now white werewolf, Sekra snapping at Zechs' throat. He growled and pushed her out and down the hallway. Trowa, Cloud, and Wufei barreled into the room.

 

“About freaking time,” Duo muttered as the silver haired vampire unchained him. Quatre threw his arms around Trowa, slightly sobbing and Heero thanked Wufei sourly.

 

“We have to get out of here!” Duo demanded, Quatre stifled his sobbing and gave a tear stained smile to Duo. He smiled back shakily, still feeling as if he'd somehow…betrayed them.

 

“Wait!” Relena threw herself in the doorway. She fluttered her eyelashes, and Duo felt something heavy settle over his mind. “Won't you please stay with me for a little while…?”

 

Pink Vampire Wench was not pulling that trick. Duo thought about punching her. Quatre beat him to it, the little blonde uncoiling like a cobra kept in its cage too long and introducing her face to his knuckles.

 

Relena fell back, knocked out cold, blood running from a split lip. “Nice, Winner,” Wufei said, raising an eyebrow. Quatre rubbed his hand, fuming. Cloud urged them forward, and the happy mood was broken the two werewolves barreling past them.

 

“Sekra!” Cloud cried as the red she-wolf was slammed into a wall. Zechs had some decent claw marks on his back, but Sekra was heavy damage- one eye was slashed, front arm bitten to the bone, and, Duo bet, a lot of bruises.

 

Sekra slumped bonelessly to the floor, but didn't transform back. Zechs, all power and sinew, fixed his eyes on them.

 

I'm going to kill you. You're worthless to me now…

 

“Oh god,” Duo choked, not sure if it was just him or the others got the message too. The white wolf stalked towards him, and Duo backed up, terrified, into Heero, who placed hands on his arms to keep him from falling.

 

“Run. Guys, we have to run!”

 

“There's no way we can outrun him…not even as wolves,” Heero said. Trowa and Quatre looked at Zechs apprehensively but calm. Wufei looked remorseful. Heero was just silent.

 

“Why are we all just giving up?” Cloud echoed Duo's thought unconsciously. Zechs looked ready to pounce. Or each dinner…

 

He's not going to kill us first, Duo thought, recognizing the look in those eyes. He's going to…

 

Zechs howled when suddenly, as if hearing Duo, Sekra latched teeth onto the back of the white wolf's neck. Zechs roared, and ripping her off his back, dug razor sharp claws into her shoulders. Sekra growled, slashing wildly with claws and hitting his jungular. Zechs hissed, spitting blood, and claws slashed down, catching right through her chest.

 

Suddenly, there was no more werewolf. Red-haired Sekra lay hanging limp from his claws, until she was thrown in the direction of the others.

 

“Sekra!” Cloud cried, catching her and wrapping his trench coat around her. Sekra coughed, a wet sound as already red lips were coated brightly.

 

“Cloud…ich traurig…” Sekra rasped. Cloud's eyes turned sad. “ Sein ruhig…ich heir…” he whispered.

 

“Cloud…ich Liebe Sie…” Sekra suddenly gasped, her eyes glazing over. “…ich…fühlen kälte…” she mumbled, then closed her eyes.

 

Cloud choked. “Sekra!!” he said, as the body suddenly fell to dust within his hands. He got up quickly, where the white werewolf Zechs was licking its wounds.

 

“Ich wille töten sie, sei bastard!”[1] Cloud yelled at Zechs, pulling out two handguns and shooting at him. Zechs dodged, but was unable to get any closer and growled.

 

“Duo! We have to go!” Quatre said, pulling on his arm. “But-! Quatre! He's gonna get killed!” Duo said, looking back at Cloud.

 

“Duo, he wants to die. He's giving us time to escape,” Quatre said, eyes sad. Duo cast one last glance at his best friends lover before nodding, and all five began running.

 

~*~

 

Heero led the group out of the complex, which, to Duo's surprise, was actually a mansion. “It has extensive catacombs underground,” Heero explained as he helped the others out through a ground window, “That's where most of the other werewolves stay.”

 

“You sure did your research,” Duo said. Heero was silent before saying, “I've been here before.” Duo didn't press the matter.

 

When they were a good length away from the manor, Duo stopped them. “Ok, I'm grateful and all, but I wanna know what the hell is going on!” he said. Heero was looking back at the manor, wary. Quatre was leaning against Trowa, eyes downcast. Wufei was looking at Duo.

 

“Back in the cell…he was trying to ensnare your mind,” Quatre said. Wufei and Trowa had surprised looks on their faces.

 

“Yeah. I was kind of thinking some weird things in there…” Duo said, looking at his feet.

 

“You're very strong to resist his coercion, Duo,” Quatre smiled. Duo looked back at the manor. “When we were in the hallway… he was going to kill us.” He said.

 

“I know,” Quatre said. Duo looked at him, perplexed. “No, I mean he told me he was going to kill us. Is Zechs an empath?”

 

“What?” Quatre looked startled. “N-no, he isn't! I didn't hear him say anything…” Quatre got a sad look on his face. “Whoa. What is it?!” Duo asked.

 

“That means he got through to you a little bit. He's made a connection to your mind- he'll be able to talk to you…” Quatre said. “I'm sorry, Duo…”

 

“W-what?!” Duo's eyes widened, and he took a step back. “N-no way!” he said, but the look on Quatre's face told him it was true. “No…no, no…” Duo bent down on the grassy ground, arms wrapped around himself. He wished Sekra were here.

 

“Quatre.” Heero's voice interrupted Duo's self pity. “We need a new hide out. The safe house is no longer secure,” he said.

 

“Huh? Oh, right…” Quatre said. “But how are we going to decide where to go?”

“We should get as far away as possible,” Heero said.

 

“We need to get Sally first. It is not safe for her to remain here,” Trowa reminded them. Wufei got a look on his face like he was just remembering the ex-Specials soldier. Duo frowned, thinking. “What about this town Hilde was always talking about… Sonne. She liked it there.”

 

“That's a German stopoff. Its friendly,” Trowa said. Quatre sighed. “All right. Lets get Sally and we'll find a place,” he said. Wufei nodded affirmatively and turned.

Heero looked at the dazed braided teen. `He's in shock again,' Heero thought, and seeing the boy not moving for moments, finally grabbed his arm and began pulling him in the direction Wufei had gone.

 

~*~

 

[1]

“Ich traurig”- I sorry

“Sein ruhig”- be quiet

“Ich heir”- I here

“Ich Liebe Sie”- I love you

“Ich fühlen kälte”- I feel cold

“Ich wille töten sie, sei bastard!”- I will kill you, you bastard!

-Sekra and Cloud's conversation. This is German, but I might have the arrangement and translations wrong. If anyone knows the correct format and how to say “I'm” or “I am” in German, please email or say it in a review.