Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ Explanations ( Chapter 3 )

SECRETS 01: explanations

"Well, I’d like to say I’m not surprised by Duo’s injuries but. . ." Sally stood before the four remaining Gundam pilots. She was used to Duo being the one brought in for some injury or other when they all went out. If he was alone, he was fine, but he seemed more focused on keeping the others safer than himself. "He should recover in a matter of days, however, he needs his rest and . . ."

"We will be seeing him, Sally." Heero’s words brooked no argument as one they went toward their friend’s room.

Sally shuddered and was silently thankful that she was not the one who garnered their attention.

A soft moan escaped him before he could stop it. There was pain but not as much as he would have expected. Perhaps he’d learned how to take precautions after the last few times. Allowed them to wrap more tightly around him.

"We know you’re awake."

Heero’s voice shook him from his comfort zone quickly, like cold water being poured over him. Slowly he opened his eyes, flinched from the light, before focusing on his friends’ faces. There was concern, confusion, and a few emotions that he couldn’t and wouldn’t name. Most of those were coming from Heero and Trowa.

"Hi, guys." He spoke softly hoping they’d take the hint that his head hurt like hell, but that was not to be.

"Maxwell, what the hell was that?" Wufei’s words vibrated with anger across his skull like hammer on tin.

"Damn, Wuffers, could you just knock me in the head next time."

"Duo, are you all right?" Leave it to Quatre to be the concerned one. He moved over the Duo’s bedside and placed a soft hand on his forehead before leaning down to look hard into his eyes. "You scared the shit out of us."

Duo gulped, Quatre had to be really worried to talk like that. Looking at all their faces he knew that the time had come to confess some things to his friends and family.

"Sorry." He knew it was a lame thing to say but he wasn’t up to much else.

"We want answers, Maxwell." Wufei stood with his arms folded across his chest, a determined look in his eye.

"How did you do . . .?" Quatre seemed at a loss as he stepped back to give the braided boy room to sit up. "Did G. . .?"

Duo looked at each face and could tell they were ready to go hunting for the mad scientist if he said he had anything to do with this. Taking a deep breath, he brought his mind into focus. "G had nothing to do with this. Mostly."

"Mostly?" Heero was never one to beat around the bush and Duo new what that hard look in his eyes meant. "Duo."

"Heero, chill man, it’s not like you think." Duo rolled his head to loosen up the muscles tightening in his neck. He’d known that he’d have to speak about his eventually but he’d always hoped that was far coming. "G only tweaked what was all ready there."

"Is this about those shadows?" Quatre asked quietly, taking Duo’s hand in his. "I felt emotions and when that one touched me. . ."

Duo’s head whipped around to look at his friend. Squeezing his hand, he meet Quatre’s eyes. "I didn’t mean for that to happen. They are never suppose to touch. That base was crawling with old soldiers and I guess one slipped by me and got to you. That will never happen again, I promise."

Quatre smiled at the fierce fire that came into Duo’s eyes as he spoke. "I know that you did not mean to cause me any harm, Duo. You’re my brother, you could never do such a thing." Stroking his wrist, Quatre radiated comfort.

"Damn straight." Duo nodded and seemed to be stronger. "We’re family no matter what anyone says and no one messes with family."

"Duo." Trowa’s soft voice let him know that while they all agreed with his words they needed to know more.

Taking a deep calming breath, he let go of Quatre’s hand. Unable to stop it, his eyes lowered as he spoke, his voice getting quiet. "I call them shadows, but I suppose what they really are is echoes or phantoms of those who have passed on. Sometimes the dead travel to where they belong, sometimes they linger behind to watch over loved ones. Others, I think, stay because they know what awaits them." Duo shrugged and looked out the window. "I’ve always been able to see them. I thought that everyone could. It made it easy, on the streets, to figure out who to take from or who to run from. They’re not dangerous, well not always. Usually they just hover around and keep an eye out or they wonder aimlessly around looking for something. I can even hear them sometimes. And when things carry strong emotions I can tell you who last touched it or what it was last used for. Sometimes that scares me, especially when we have to go into those old bases. Their just too strong to filter."

"Have you always been. . ?" Quatre seemed unable to go on and Duo nodded.

"Especially the psychometry. I had to look that one up when G told me that it looked like I had it." Duo shrugged, still uncertain of how the others were taking his confession.

Heero was quiet, his eyes looking hard at the floor. Trowa froze in the act of getting Quatre a chair and was looking hard at him. Quatre seemed confused as he pulled the chair to him and sat. Wufei, however, just stood meeting Duo ‘s eyes with a calm acceptance that he’d never given before.

"Psychometry? What is that?" Quatre’s question seemed to spur the other two into motion. Trowa moved nearer the window, his mind racing with the unspoken implications of Duo’s confession while Heero just continued to stare a hole in the floor.

"Psychometry, the ability to touch an object and feel the vibrations of emotions and memories left behind by those who last touched it." Wufei’s clinical definition made the two more quiet boys stiffen. "It’s never been a proven ability but many claim to have it."

"Oh." Quatre paused before the words actually registered and his eyes widened. "OH!"

Duo shrugged, his cheeks pinking slightly. "It’s ok guys, I never read anything of yours."

None of them fully relaxed until Quatre smiled and said, "Well at least Une doesn’t know about this ability. That could’ve gotten sticky."

Duo smiled and Trowa and Heero relaxed a bit.

"I used to only use it when I was working alone or knew that eventually the information would have been found by other means. That way I wouldn’t have to explain how I knew what I knew."

"Is that how you knew about the targeting system?" Heero finally spoke.

Duo met his eyes shaking his head. "No, a shadow raced through the wall. It would have passed through but the barrier around the system must have interfered and instead it flattened, letting me know that there was a panel there. When I opened it, that’s when I found the system. It kinda surprised me, being there. I’m not sure even the faction knew it was active."

Heero frowned as did Wufei. "What makes you think that, Duo?" Quatre asked, not seeing the other boy’s expressions.

Duo shrugged and began to knead the edge of the sheet that covered him. "I’m not sure. I’d say a feeling but that sounds kinda lame. It’s just that if they knew it was there then why didn’t they activate it or have it more protected. I mean it was just sitting in the commander’s office, hidden yes, but not well."

The implication of his words slowly penetrated into each of the remaining ex-pilots turned agents and they all stiffened.

"Duo, did you touch anything in the office while you were there?" Trowa asked, his voice intense.

Duo frowned. "Are you nuts?! That was an old Oz office. The evil vibes were radiating off every fucking piece of furniture there was. NO way in hell, I was touching anything."

"We have to go back." Heero stated and Wufei nodded in agreement.

"But it was destroyed." Quatre looked at them from his seat, unsure what was going on. "There shouldn’t be anything left to find."

Closing his eyes, Duo sighed. "Any piece will do. Just bring me rubble from the main building and I’ll see what I can find."

Trowa clasped his shoulder before joining Heero and Wufei at the door. "We’ll see what we can find for you."

After the others had left, Quatre took Duo’s hand. "Are you sure that you want to do that?"

Duo smiled. His little brother, ever the worry-wart. "It’s all right. I can control it. It’s no different than your Space heart."

Quatre lay a hand over his heart and sighed. It may not be different but he knew that it would still be difficult for the braided boy.

Straightening the sheets around his friend, he smiled. "So what can I get for you? Ice cream, crossword, gun?"

Duo laughed and hugged him. "A magazine might not be such bad idea. I need something to keep me occupied for the hours Sally will try to keep me cooped up in here."

Quatre laughed, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Duo decided he’d had enough and made break for it. Sally knew that as well and had all ready told him that when Duo was ready to let her know so she could sign the paper work. Past experience said that their Shinigami would only sit still for a limited amount of time before he needed to wreak havoc again.