December 9, 2000
Sequel to 'Have You Ever...'
Standard Warnings and Disclaimers apply.
"DIE!! If you can not defeat me than you will DIE!"
Atlong's arm came up and lunged, delivering its justice, leaving scrapes of metal in its wake.
"Come on! Defeat me! If you are right, DEFEAT ME!!"
But no one responded. His was the only suit left mobile. He was the only living thing for miles around. His scream tore through the cockpit, deafening, resounding off the walls, and engulfing him in the screams of the tormented. He pounded on his console in frustration.
Outside, the twisted and charred remains of over two-dozen mobile dolls floating in space.
He'd secured a shuttle to get him into space. Really, he didn't need one. Zero could probably escape the atmosphere with little trouble, but 1.) he didn't want to risk it, and 2.) he really didn't feel like advertising to OZ and White Fang that he was returning to space.
The irony of coming across the badly damaged gundam did not escape him. Of course, things were a bit different now than what they had been weeks previous, but that did not stop him from pulling up along side and pulling it aboard next to his own.
The cockpit door slid open and the Chinese boy floated in, buckling down into the co-pilot's seat. An unsettling silence enveloped them, the tension radiating between them.
"I didn't expect you to stop," Wufei said then, finally, softly.
"Your gundam is damaged," Heero replied, as if that was all the explanation needed.
Apparently it was, because Wufei didn't say anything.
"Have you talked to Duo? Or the others?" he added as an afterthought. The quiet Japanese man remained silent. Wufei turned to look out the window. "I talked to Quatre four days ago. He said Duo was in the colonies and that it's been busy."
"Don't you know?" Heero questioned, his brow wrinkling just slightly with a frown.
"Now I do," Wufei replied. "I decided to come up two days ago. Everywhere I turn, it appears there are more squadrons."
"No, don't you know where Duo is?" Heero clarified.
Wufei paused, frowning. "No," he admitted finally. "He... left. Two weeks ago. I haven't heard from him since."
Heero was silent. Wufei was silent. And then, "I see," Heero whispered.
"No, you don't," Wufei retorted. "You're too thick-headed to see anything other than your mission, which is the problem in the first place!"
Heero didn't say anything, just continued to feed coordinates into the nav-guide.
"Dammit, Yuy! You're being damn selfish!"
"I don't think you're in a position to offer advice," Heero returned quietly.
Wufei fell silent, glaring at the Japanese boy.
"I told you before that it's you he wants, not me," he said after another moment.
"It looks to me like he already made his choice," Heero returned, his voice low. He didn't dare take his eyes off the display screen.
"Yes, he did, dammit! He chose you!" Wufei shouted. "Don't you get it? He chose you, Yuy. Not me, you. All he and I had was one night of sex. Nothing else."
"I think that's enough."
Wufei was seething. He'd thought he'd come to terms with this, but obviously he was mistaken. He fought vainly to reel in his composure. He should have known it was a losing battle.
"Fine! If that's the way you see it, then fine! I guess I'll just have to be the one he turns to when he realizes you don't give a rat's ass about him! He's a good fuck. I won't mind."
Even with all his training, he was unprepared for the fist that came slamming into his face. Heero was up out of his seat and out of the cockpit before Wufei could recover. Fingering his cheek, Wufei watched the closed door, swallowing back his hot tears. 'Dammit! What the hell was he doing? Was Duo's happiness really worth all this pain?'
Gasping, realizing hot tears were rolling down his face despite his efforts, Wufei curled over onto the console. 'Yes. Yes it was...'
"Duo..."
End of Part 12: Heart of a Dragon
Andrea Readwolf
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