Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ War Inevitable ❯ Evasions and regrets ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

CHAPTER SIX



" Heero? " Duo said in sleepy confusion as the other pilot moved to stand at the edge of Quatre's bed. Heero, in his typical manner, didn't bother to answer him. Instead he gazed at Quatre with an unreadable expression. Duo had managed to struggle into a sitting position and was blinking slowly, trying to decided if this was the real Heero, or if he was dreaming. Finally Heero raised his eyes to Duo's.


" What happened to you? "


The blunt monotone proved to Duo that he wasn't dreaming. He shook his head in another effort to clear the fuzziness still clouding his mind from the painkillers. " I was shot. "


" You were protected? "


" Yeah, I was wearing armor. "


" Hn. " Heero walked around Quatre's bed and tooke the seat that Noin had recently occupied. " Quatre recieved enough blood? "


" Yeah, from like, three of his sisters a few hours ago. He'll be - " He stopped midsentence, frowning. " How did you know he needed blood? How did you know he was hurt? We tried to find you to tell you, but it's like you don't exist or something. "


" I heard from Zechs. "


" Zechs? " Duo opened his mouth to ask Heero why he would communicate with Zechs and no one else, but abruptly shut it again. The two of them were more alike than most people knew. The war had created between them some sort of bond, and while they weren't close as friends, they understood each other as other people couldn't. Even their behaviour after the war was similar; both had withdrawn further and further from everyone. Zechs had gone to space, at first with Noin, but then on his own as a Goodwill Ambassador on behalf of his sister, Relena Peacecraft. No one was quite sure what had happened between Zechs and Noin, but it was apparent that her feelings for him had been put on hold. She had stoically accepted his long absences from Earth, instead focusing on her career as a part of the Preventors as well as an advisor of the ESUN. Heero had done much the same as Zechs, except nobody was sure if he was on Earth or in space. What had happened between Relena and Heero was also very much a mystery, for she never mentioned him, never talked about his absence. Duo wondered now, as he studied Heero's profile from under his lashes, what had driven Heero into isolation. It had been roughly three years since anyone had seen Heero; he hadn't even come to Hilde's funeral as the other pilots had. After a brief silence, Duo ventured a question, " Heero? "


The other pilot raised an eyebrow, " Yes? "


" Where have you been? "


Heero was silent for so long that Duo wondered if he'd heard the question. When he answered, his voice was soft, his eyes downcast.
" I've been on Earth. "


" But where? And what have you been doing? "


" I've been.....working. "


Duo scowled. " Working? That's it? That's all you have to say after having been missing for three years? Can't you open up a little more than that? ":


Heero shifted in his seat. " I don't see how what I've been doing is of any interest to you. "


Duo sighed. Typical, evasive Heero. He hadn't changed a bit. " Fine. It's just that some of us are still concerned about you, is all. Oh well. "


" Who shot you? " Heero asked, changing the subject.


Duo decided not to press the issue. " Same person that shot Quatre. "


" Were you able to identify him? "


" No. Too dark, they were covered up pretty good, and they ran too fast. "


" Hn. "


" Someone wants the Gundam pilots dead....."


" Where is Trowa? "


" In Europe, with the circus. Noin was going to inform him after she left tonight about the situation. "


" And Wufei? "


" In space, with Sally Po. They're staying up there for a while, until things calm down. "


Heero went quiet for several minutes, thinking. Duo settled back against the pillow and gazed at the ceiling.


" We all need to be in one place at once. " Heero said suddenly.


" What? Heero, we'd be sitting ducks - "


" Yes, " Heero interrupted. " But it would also give us a chance to catch the assassin. "


Duo's expression indicated he wasn't following Heero's train of thought. Heero sighed. " Obviously this person knows who we are, what we are. It's logical to assume that they were hired because of their capability to deal with us. If we remain seperated, it will only be a matter of time before we're all picked off individually. We need to work together on this. "


" Yeah, " Duo said, warming to the ideas, " kinda like the old times. "


It could have been an illusion created by his hazy mind, but Duo could have sworn he saw a trace of a nostalgic smile cross Heero's face.
" Like old times, " he quietly agreed.


" So......don't you have a hotel room or something? "


" I'm staying here for the night, " Heero leaned back in the chair, and crossed his arms over his chest. " I don't entirely trust the hospital security. "


" Suit yourself, " Duo said, inwardly pleased that Heero was staying. He closed his eyes, feeling secure, and muttered, " Just don't be too
noisy. Some of us need our beauty sleep. "


His only reply was Heero's quiet snort. He was drifting peacefully into sleep when Heero's next comment brought him back to awareness.


" Duo.....I'm sorry about Hilde. "


" Yeah, " Duo said heavily, not bothering to open his eyes, " So am I. "