Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Return to Me Salvation ❯ Reconciliation ( Chapter 3 )

Return to Me Salvation

By FantasiCat

Disclaimer: *thinks carefully* Nope, still don't own 'em.

Author's Notes: This is it, the last chapter of my first foray into the world of Gundam Wing angst. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Reviews, as always, are more than welcome. Ciao4now! ^_^

Italics are thoughts

Underlined is emphasis

Chapter 3: Reconciliation

Duo's rise to consciousness was a slow, gradual thing. When he finally opened his eyes, it was to a world that was much too bright, and totally unfamiliar. He almost gave into the urge to flee, but soon realized he was too tired, and in too much pain to do anything except lie still. He closed his eyes again to block out the intrusive light. Let's look at this logically, he thought. I'm in a bright white room, with an uncomfortable bed, and everything's excessively clean. It would seem that I'm in a hospital. But how'd I get here… Suddenly, the memories flooded back to him. Heero, Relena, the knife, Heero cradling him against his chest, and finally the peaceful darkness. Duo sobbed harshly as he came to grips with the fact that his suicide attempt was not successful.

The sound woke up the youth slumped in the corner, who had gone unnoticed in Duo's examination of the room. Heero, seeing that Duo was finally awake, hurried to his side. "Are you alright?" he asked softly, reaching out to touch Duo's face. He quickly pulled his hand back when he saw Duo flinch away. A pair of angry, hurt violet eyes pinned him in place, making it impossible for Heero to escape.

"Why?" Duo demanded. "Why did you save me?"

Heero did not look away from Duo as he answered softly, "I saved because I love you."

Duo laughed bitterly. "Don't you dare give me anymore of that bullshit! If you love me, then why did you betray my trust and fuck that whore Relena? What, were you bored of me or something?"

Heero did look away then, but only for a second, before his pleading cobalt blue eyes found Duo's once more. "Please, Duo, let me explain… Please just grant me that. Then I promise I'll leave if you want me to"

There was a long pause as Duo considered the request. "Fine," he said shortly, and settled back against the pillows on his bed.

Heero took a deep breath, and started to tell Duo the story. "When we got to the party, Relena dragged me off, saying she had something to discuss with me in private, something important. I couldn't say no on the off chance that she really significant to say. She took me to the library, sat me in front of the fireplace, and left, returning quickly with drinks. She gave one to me and I took it out of habit. For a while she chattered on randomly about various inconsequential things as I sipped whatever it was she had given me, waiting for her to get to the point." He paused for breath, and then continued.

"After a time, I found that I could still feel, see, smell, and hear everything around me, but I could not get my body to do anything. It would not respond to any of the commands I gave it. Relena soon noticed my struggles, and began to chuckle. She told me that she had slipped a drug into my drink, an experimental drug, that would allow someone other then myself to control my body's actions."

Duo gasped, outraged that Relena would stoop so low. Was she really that desperate? He wondered absently as Heero continued his narrative. "To prove what she said was true, she command me to come and kneel at her feet As you can probably imagine, I was not pleased with this turn of events and struggled violently, but soon found myself doing exactly what Relena had told me to do. She had me do a few other simple things to show the measure of power she had over me. Then…"

He paused again, coming to the part of the story he was most ashamed of. "Then, she told me to kiss her. I couldn't stop it, no matter how hard I tried. Soon after that, you came in. When I saw your shocked expression, I wanted to say something, explain what was happening, but I still had no control over my actions. My anger at the whole situation, my rage at Relena for doing this to me, all of it seemed to multiply itself 100 times when I saw the pain in your face. Almost as soon as you fled, I could feel the power of the drug over me weakening as my fury burned it out my system at an extremely accelerated rate. About five minutes later, the drug had worn off enough that I could move, awkwardly, of my own volition. I knocked Relena unconscious and ran as fast as I could after you. By the time I was halfway home, the drug was gone entirely."

Heero looked deeply into Duo's eyes, willing him to see the truth of his words. "I got home and called your name, over and over. When you didn't answer, I raced upstairs, and found you lying on the floor of our room, surrounded by blood and white as a sheet. I panicked, completely lost it then. I knew that if you died, I wouldn't have been able to survive it."

For the first time in his life, Duo Maxwell was speechless. When he finally found his voice again, he said quietly, "I thought you were tired of me. That I was too stupid and worthless for someone like you to care about me." He looked away, unable to meet Heero's eyes.

Heero pulled Duo tightly into his arms, careful of his wounds, and growled fiercely. "You are not worthless or stupid. You are beautiful, captivating, capable, intelligent…" He sighed, loosening his possessive hold slightly. "I keep waiting for the day when you're going to become tired of me," he whispered softly.

"Never," Duo whispered back. He smiled. "You're gonna be stuck with me for the rest of your life."

"Good," Heero smiled back at him, and then became serious again. "I love you."

"I love you too," Duo replied, snuggling into Heero's embrace. "And don't you ever forget it."

"Of course not. Now, do feel up to a visit? There are several people who are dying to see how you're doing."

"Hmm… I don't know," said Duo playfully. "Will they have presents?" Just then the door burst open, and a veritably swarm of people came in, headed up by Quatre, Trowa, and Wufei, as well as many other good friends, all of whom were talking at the same time. Duo laughed at the chaotic sight, and Heero smiled at seeing the mischievous sparkle back in Duo's eyes. Everything's going to be alright from now on, he thought, watching Duo effortlessly holding three different conversations at once, while attacking the pile of gifts that seemed to have appeared out of thin air. I won't let anything come between us like that again. Heero smiled as Duo pulled him over to help unwrap gifts and, laughing, joined in the impromptu party.

~Owari~

A/N: That's it! It's over! No more fic! Sorry about the ending, but I couldn't seem to find a good stopping place. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this. Please, I'm begging you, review and tell me what you thought. Whether you liked it or hated it, I don't care. Tell me how you think I can improve my writing. Everyone who leaves any kind of review gets a virtual glomp and cookie. Remember, flames only make the flamer in question look stupid, and gives me the excuse to make s'mores. I think I'll end my senseless rambling at this time. Ciao4now! ^_^

Muse credit goes to: Tarrell, the big fluffy kitty

Tarrell: I am not a big fluffy kitty! I'm a fierce hunter and warrior leopard!

FantasiCat: Riiiiight, you keep telling yourself that. ^_~