Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Key ❯ The Key ( Chapter 1 )

Yet another safe house, at least here, they spoke the same language.
This time it was R&R, with just a little observational activity. Duo smirked to himself. This was going to be fun. This time they could be themselves and not worry about deadlines, this time he intended for them all to get to know each other better, be more like a family.
Trowa was busy in the kitchen going through the cupboards with Quatre, checking on supplies; Duo only hoped that they found something to eat real soon, he was getting hungry.

The door opened and one of his favourite pawns came in. Now this is what he liked about them all being together,
the possibilities that could arise from this arrangement were staggering; he chuckled at the thought of all the pranks he could play on all of them. Scrap that, maybe not all, Trowa's gotten very possessive of Quatre lately, so that meant a no-go on Q-man. Duo still had the bruises from his last encounter with an enraged Trowa.
Still it doesn't deter him from his planning; he still had two comrades to play with. Any way, where was this food? And where did Wufei go?
Heero watched Duo bound into the kitchen, no doubt to find out when food was ready. Heero cringed as he knew that unless he was able to find some outlet for the braided pilot, no where would be safe. Making his way into the room he shared with Duo, he sat on his bed and pulled his laptop out from underneath, maybe he could ask J. to get in contact with G. to get some help on distracting Duo, he was willing to try anything at the moment. A small flashing icon attracted his attention, opening it he saw there was a slight change in plans, reading through he found a small footnote that was from 'G'. It said that under No circumstances where they to allow Duo Maxwell to partake of….. and it gave a complete inventory of most of the foodstuffs that Duo had come to love, including coffee, chocolate, and sugar based cereal…. Heero needed to print it off, besides Trowa would need a copy to be made just in case one of them was called away, with this thought Heero proceeded to print off a few copies before he deleted the message and went to inform the others of the change in plans. They where all in the kitchen, Quatre was trying to get Duo to not eat peanut butter with his fingers, while informing him that others may want some. Duo then smeared peanut butter down Quatre's cheek, Trowa was glaring daggers at Duo, and Wufei was sat watching the whole thing with his usual air of disdain.
"Change of plans." Heero said, walking over to Trowa and giving him the list. After reading through it Trowa smirked at Heero and walked over to Duo, retrieving the jar of peanut butter from the surprised pilot's hands and holding it out of reach, he waved the list in front of Duo's face. Eliciting a groan from the braided pilot. Wufei wandered over to see what had Maxwell upset and had to leave the room quickly but his laughter could be heard from the corridor. Quatre also tried to hide a smile at the dispirited expression on Duo's face, but failed and had to walk away.
"Where'd you get that list from?" Duo enquired his expression sullen as he tried unsuccessfully to snatch the list from Trowa's hand. Trowa had gotten use to such faces, as he had to contend with Quatre, who could out run Duo's gambit of emotions any day. Heero stepped over to Duo and pushed him into the nearest chair.
"'G' wanted us to make sure you do not endanger the mission by being on a sugar high. Said something about wanting you to be able to pilot Deathscythe for a little longer before you got too heavy for it." Heero told him, Duo fought against Heero's restraint by knocking his arm out of his way and pushing the chair back before standing up and tipping it over in his haste to get away.

"Some friends you turned out to be." Duo shouted as he turned and ran out of the kitchen, slamming the back door behind him, so hard that it rattled the glass. Quatre and Wufei both came back in to find out what the commotion was about. Quatre was shocked to hear that Duo had run off, and was about to set off after him, when Trowa took him to one side and told him that maybe it would be best if they left it for Heero to sort out. Besides Heero had said something about a change in plans, so maybe their mentors has sent them mail, maybe it would be best if they went to check their computers… Heero on the other hand, just stood there with his mouth open. He blinked once, twice, and then turned to look to where Duo had disappeared through the door. Picking up the overturned chair, he glanced over to Trowa and Quatre then made his way out the door and away down the lane, after Duo. Wufei just shrugged his shoulders and went to put the kettle on for a cup of green tea.

Duo stormed off down the lane, no particular place in mind he just had to get away from their condescending, pathetic, egocentric patronising bull shit, Christ was he having a bad day or what, could anything else go wrong? He muttered to himself as he stomped past the barn that held the Gundams, reciting all the things that he would do to 'G' when he next saw him. What right did he have to go spouting off about not letting him, Duo, eat certain things? Duo thought that he needed to put weight on, especially since he'd lost so much whilst being held by OZ last month. Whose idea was it anyway? Bet 'J' had something to do with it. Him being a real food freak, just because Heero no longer listened to "J" anymore, didn't mean that he could get the mad 5 to get their protégés to go follow his every whim. Shit, Duo really was spitting bricks and getting into a full justice rant that even Wufei would be proud of, and then he stopped and looked at where he was. Duo stood stunned at the sight before him. It was a small clearing just west of the safe-house. With-in the clearing where standing stones. Walking to stand inside the ring of stones, Duo gasped at the tranquillity that flooded his senses. The air seemed to vibrate, all was hushed, quiet, and peaceful. Turning, Duo saw a huge block of stone that lay on its side in the centre of the stone circle. Walking over to this he sat down, dangling his legs over the edge. It really was like the whole world had stopped, nothing stirred. Duo lay down on the flat stone and looked up at the sky, his hands behind his head, cap lying on his chest. Small puffs of clouds drifted slowly across the sky, Duo found that his breathing began to slow. The intense feeling of well being, of protective wings being wrapped round him, invaded all his senses. Finally his eyelids fluttered shut and he drifted off to sleep.

~It was night, he was still inside the stone circle lying on the flat stone. Pushing himself up onto his elbows, Duo watched as a fog drifted around. The stones seemed to give off an eerie glow. It wasn't the stones or the glow that held Duo's attention though, it was the figure, or rather the shadow of a figure, that drifted just outside the stone circle. He couldn't define what it was about this that caught his attention, but there was something. Swinging his legs off the stone, Duo moved towards the ring, he could feel a slight breeze pick up, ruffling his hair. It must have come loose from its normal braid while he slept. As he neared the stones the breeze got stronger as if trying to stop him from passing through, whipping round him. Duo's hair covered his face, blinding him, so he pulled it tight and tied it into a knot at the base of his neck, as his band had gone. The figure was still stood outside the stone ring, waiting, its face shrouded by the hood, its cape flying out around it.

Just as suddenly the wind stopped and a deathly hush fell. Duo took another tentative step towards the edge of the stone rings that seemed to want to hold him with-in. He held out his hand to the figure before him, uncertain of its response.

"I cannot enter the ring unless you invite me to." Spoke the figure "only you hold the key, Duo. Will you forsake all and invite me in?" its voice was warm, mellow, and familiar, he stepped closer, the breeze picked up again, this time outside the ring of stones. The figures hood fluttered and slipped from its head.
"Heero?" Duo gasped
"Its time Duo will you share the future with me, or will you wander alone. Give me your hand, let me be your key, for you to open those doors you locked all those years ago." Duo reached past the stones and grasped Heero's hand, pulling him into the circle.

"Fool" boomed a voice that seemed to come for all around them.

Suddenly the stones were no-longer stones, but centaurs, elves, fairies, all manor of mythical creatures that had long ago been forgotten. Heero pushed Duo behind him, as if to protect him, but they were all around them.
"How could you betray us, Duo, we gave you sanctuary with in our fold. You could've stayed with us for all of your lifetime"

Duo felt himself being pulled away from Heero. He lashed out, shouting for them to leave him alone, trying to stop them from splitting them apart. He could hear Heero calling his name, over and over, as he struggled to free himself from the hands that pulled him further away.~

"Duo" someone was shaking him
"Duo" he felt himself being pulled.
"Duo" suddenly someone slapped him round the face. He's eyes flew open, his hand striking out at the figure in front of him, hitting it dead centre in the chest. It flew backwards and landed heavily on its butt. Duo stormed toward the figure, drawing back his foot to deliver a vicious kick.
"DUO" Heero shouted, what the hell had gotten into the stupid Baka? Heero rolled away from the kick, getting to his feet just before Duo delivered a sweeper, knocking Heero's legs out from beneath him. Heero lunged for Duo's legs, felling the braided pilot. He crawled up Duo's body, trying to keep away from the fists that swung at him. Flipping Duo over, Heero twisted his arm behind his back and forced Duo into the ground.
"What the hell kind of game do you think you're playing?" He felt Heero on top on him, his breath against his ear, as his words sank in.
"Heero?" all the fight went out of Duo. Heero felt him collapse beneath him. Both their breaths coming in gasps.
"What the hell is it with you, Duo, I can't say or do anything without you going off half cock." Heero stood, pulling Duo up with him. But Duo wasn't paying him any attention, he was looking around the clearing, at the stone circle, the big flat stone in the centre that he'd been lying on. What the hell was going on? Turning to look at Heero, Duo's mouth worked but no words came out, again he looked round the circle, it must've been a dream. Heero turned to go, but Duo's hand on his arm stopped him. Turning his head to glance at Duo over his shoulder, Heero raised an eyebrow in question.

Duo pulled Heero over to the flat stone and sat down, indicating that Heero follow suit. Heero just stood there and glared at him. Shrugging his shoulders Duo looked at his hands and picked at the nails, trying to find the words that he needed to say.
"Have you ever felt that you had a bigger purpose in life, other that what we're doing now?" He looked up. "I've had that sort of feeling for as long as I can remember, I keep waiting for the space ship to come and pick me up and take me back to my proper home. The one where all is well, nothing mars the day, and I know what it really feels like to be loved, have a true family, friends, the whole kit and caboodle. There's no more pain, fear. Then again even that sounds like shit." Duo brought his knees up to his chest and sat rocking himself slowly. "I always wanted a normal childhood, Heero. Be a normal kid. Is it really too much to ask for? Why do things happen to me, am I that much of a jinx? Did I do something wrong in another lifetime that I am now being punished for?"

Heero sat himself next to Duo, working himself up to putting his arm round Duo's shoulders. Instead slipping his arm round Duo's waist.
"We all want what we cannot have, Duo. We also have the power to change our own destiny. All it takes is a simple key to unlock the doors. Once you find the key, you find what you truly desire." Duo stared at him, chewing on his bottom lip before shaking his head to some decision that he came to.
"I don't think that I'm ready for that just yet, Heero. What happens when I find that key? What if it all goes wrong again?" Duo nestled his head on his knees, his head turned towards Heero.
"You can run your life on 'what ifs' or you can take a chance of things, which would you choose Duo?"

Quatre was sat by the window, looking outside for a sign that his friends where coming back. It was pitch black outside, no moonlight to guide them home. Wufei glanced up from his book; his glasses perched on the end of his nose. He looked over to Trowa and indicated with his head that maybe Trowa should find out what had Quatre worried. The silent pilot unfurled himself from his place by the fire, like a huge cat, and made his way over to the blonde. Quatre watched Trowa's approach reflected in the glass pane. It always amazed him how smooth and graceful Trowa's movements where. Trowa placed his hand on his friends shoulder.

"What has you so maudlin this night?" he enquired moving to sit next to the blonde pilot. Quatre smiled but didn't look at Trowa, except in the reflection of the glass.

"I can feel a tension in the air Trowa" he paused and touched his hand to his heart "One that has been dormant for a long time but is now reaching out...for what...I don't know, but it is as if its been waiting for us to come here and is only now being able to awaken and rise up." He turned his gaze to outside the window, watching as the wind blew up some leaves and gently swung branches. All looked calm... as it should... nothing out of place. Trowa couldn't understand why Quatre was so prone to such feelings, he didn't even know if he believed in this *Space heart* that his friend spoke of. Surly it was just instinct, a human's natural life saver? He'd had a few experiences himself, warnings of impending danger, a sort of sixth sense that kicked in when ever his life or that of his friends was threatened.

He couldn't grasp how someone like Quatre could pick up on emotions... feelings...what made him so special anyway, if it could be called special. Then the boys where shaken out of their drifting by something hitting the window pane. Immediately the boys went on alert. Wufei dropped his book, doused the lights and slipped into the shadows. Quatre slipped off the window sill and backed into the room away from view of what ever was outside. Trowa flattened himself against the wall next to the window, a gun he'd produced from no-where in his hand. Trowa indicated that Wufei should venture out the back way and circle round, while Quatre and he tried to pin-point where the danger was. With the lights out Quatre moved over to the front door, standing on the opposite side to the way the door opened, he turned the handle and swung the door open. Leaves and dust blew in, scurrying across the polished floorboards. Trowa crouched down and looked out of the window, scanning the area as best as he could. Still nothing out of the ordinary moved. Quatre chewed his bottom lip and turned his head to see what Trowa was doing, when something scuttled into the room and hid under the table.

Trowa still crouched, frowned and moved slowly towards the table, gun poised. Wufei passed the window and moved to the front door, calling before coming through it, so as not to alarm anyone. Quatre stood stock still… mouth opened… eyes wide…. He'd seen what had run past him and under the table, but his mind kept telling him that such things didn't exists.
Both Trowa and Wufei moved cautiously across the room but stopped when Quatre began to laugh, then fell to his knees and crawled across the floor to the table, holding his hand out and *cooing* Looking towards Wufei, Trowa shrugged and lowered his gun, bending to one side to see if he could catch a glimpse of what ever was under the table. Wufei just stood, arms crossed, head to one side, watching Quatre.
"I hope you have some idea of what you are doing Winner? As I surely would not be on the same level as what ever is under the table is. It could be dangerous even" Quatre looked up at Wufei and smiled, before moving closer to the table, hand still outstretched.

"Come, little one," he cooed. "You are safe here, we mean you no harm"

Wufei huffed and made his way over to the candles that he'd extinguished and relit them. There was a flurry of movement and Wufei was turned to see a small bundle charging towards him… he back stepped and fell onto the settee, which in turn fell backwards, tipping him off.

"Wufei" Quatre chastised "You scared it"
"I scared it? I scared it?" Wufei questioned, "I was not the one hiding, nor was I the one running full tilt with malicious intent"

Trowa was now on his knees in front of the Quatre, smiling.

"By all that's holy," he gasped, moving forward hesitantly "I never thought to see the likes of you again.