04-Sep-2000
Title: Bedtime Prayer
Author: Enigma
Category: A Gundam Wing Prayer-ficlette
Warnings: Angst, ref. m/m relationships, severe bodily damage, death(1)
Rated: R
Note: To the best of my knowledge, this is the first EVER Gundam Wing "Prayerfic"! Please let me know what you think of this piece; e-mail me at EclecticAnimeFan@aol.com
Disclaimers: I don't own the rights to Gundam Wing or its characters; I only
claim my own original ideas, for what they're worth.
{A small child recites his nightly prayers}(2)
Now I lay me...
[The war against OZ is at its highest level, all involved know the conflict will be determined and ended soon. There is a massive battle taking place near a large OZ complex. The Wing Zero, Deathscythe Hell, Sandrock, and Heavyarms Gundams are taking on numerous enemy mobile suits. The battle has been raging for some time and all of the Gundams show damage. Deathscythe Hell is in especially poor condition and its pilot appears to be losing control and is slowly being beaten down.]
Down to sleep...
[Suddenly, in a burst of flames, Deathscythe Hell is deprived of its left "arm" including the shield and falls hard. Landing on the battlefield, it lies unceremoniously upon a barren stretch of earth now littered with broken bodies and shards of metal in all sizes. Heero calls Duo's name, but there is no response. Wing Zero renews its attacks with amazing fury, taking out large numbers of the enemy causing some of them to flee the battle entirely.]
I pray the Lord...
[Unable to re-establish communications with the Deathscythe Hell pilot, Heero boosts reception on all of his monitors searching for signs of life in Deathscythe Hell. When he finds none, he alerts the other pilots to the situation. None of the others had heard from Duo recently and had assumed his comm unit had apparently malfunctioned. They are concerned, but the battle remains too intense for any of the suits to set down and possibly rescue the pilot.]
My soul to keep.
[Deathscythe Hell is now easy prey for the enemy and they mercilessly barrage it with all of the fire power they have available. Suddenly, Quatre's face appears on Heero's screen, he seems to be in severe pain. He is urgently warning the Wing Zero pilot that his uchuu no kokoro tells him that Duo is seriously injured and possibly dying. Glancing hopelessly about him, Heero stoically decides that he must continue the mission, regardless of Duo's condition. This is a serious mistake for the pilot of Wing Zero, one he will regret forever.]
If I should die...
[With a shared glance, the other two pilots silently question Heero's decision. A new explosion on the ground shows Deathcythe Hell being further demolished as the entire helmet area, once proud and shining, now demolished, crumples inwards. Molten gundanium is clearly visible as it slides over what was left of the top of the machine. The Sandrock pilot screams and nearly passes out, but the Heavyarms Gundam quickly shifts locations to protect Sandrock until it is steady again.]
Before I wake...
[Heero can no longer restrain his urgent need to ascertain the status of his partner, best friend, and lover; the beautiful, irrepressible, violet-eyed Deathscythe Hell pilot. Wing Zero suddenly releases a burst of pure energy as its pilot belatedly brings its energy cannon into use. A weapon designed for space warfare, it effectively decimates dozens of enemy mobile suits easily clearing the battlefield of the enemy allowing him to land beside Deathscythe Hell. The other two Gundam pilots had been warned of this seemingly excessive use of force and had scattered protecting their lives and their Gundams.]
I pray the Lord...
[The Wing Zero pilot quickly jumps to open Deathscythe Hell's cockpit. His first blow on the emergency release button gives no results as the molten metal has jammed it. In fury, he braces himself, draws his pistol, and shoots at the mechanism. This maneuver succeeds and he crawls into the open hatch, straight into a scene from the bowels of Hell itself. There is blood everywhere, his foot slips on a piece of human flesh as he steps in and he falls to his knees, drenching himself in his lover's lifeblood. There are no signs of life except for a strange rattling sound that reminds him of the wind howling through trees on a winter night.]
My soul to take.
[Unable to save his soul-mate, the Wing Zero pilot cuts as many of the various cords and restraints that remain holding his lover in place. Heero gently cradles the precious body which is clearly dying; half of Duo's chest is an open wound, his face almost unrecognizable, and his legs are demolished beneath the compacted remains of a computer console. Heero notices tears on his face but pays them no heed, repeating his beloved's name over and over while pledging his eternal love. As Duo takes a shallow rasping breath, he rouses enough to open the only amethyst eye remaining to him. He attempts to reply in kind, but only blood escapes his lips as his vocal cords have been severed. Finally, Duo gazes lovingly upon Heero's face as his final breath rattles from his chest. The only sound that escapes the remains of the once-proud Shinigami Gundam is a primal scream as loud and as pained as that of a wounded animal.]
Amen.
[Two days later, funeral services for the Deathscythe Hell pilot are held in silence and secrecy. Four young men stand together, each lost in their own thoughts. The grave, so to speak, is quite small for it will contain the only part of the pilot which his lover could save prior to the self-detonation of Deathscythe Hell. A long chestnut braid, reverently cleaned prior to burial, lays within the confines of a simple wooden box. As the raven-haired Chinese man sadly prepares to place the box into the ground, the Japanese man swiftly takes it from him, a feral look of desperation in his cobalt blue eyes. The young Arab reaches instinctively for his tall lover as tears flow freely. An almost insane anguish fills the eyes of the man now holding the box, as though begging them to leave things as they stand. The other three solemnly nod agreement, understanding that this is all Heero will ever have of Duo except memories. At the beckoning of the young Arab, a gardener comes forward and plants a sturdy American Oak tree in place of the box. Yes, this change of plans had been anticipated and taken care of earlier. As Heero sinks to his knees in grief, the other three pilots silently leave him knowing he will return to them when he is ready---if ever.]
~OWARI~
Author's Notes:
1. Sigh, sleep is a dangerous thing. The Greek Muse of tragedy,
Melpomene, and the Greek Muse of lyric poetry, Erato, conspired together and
sent me a dream last night which demanded that this piece be written.
2. A traditional Christian prayer for small children at bedtime.
3.This disturbing piece is dedicated to all those who have lost loved
ones fighting for freedom throughout history and around the globe. May you be
assured that your sorrow is shared by others because human life is precious.
Perhaps this world will one day no longer require such supreme sacrifices.
Enigma