Author's note:

This is an alternating universe GW fan fiction and my first attempt on GW fan fiction. Some characters rolled in different attitude.

Life's Sonatine

Overture

Heero Yuy stuffed his books carefully inside his bag. It was his first day of senior high school. Locking his apartment door, he walked to the stairs. His face remained impassive, the blue eyes gazing coolly.

He remembered the conversation he had with his father on the shuttling area in L1 colony.

He shook his head, erasing the memory from his mind. No, there’s no turning back, he thought.

He strode his way to his new school.

The school was crowded with freshmen wearing black suit, white shirt, and a black tie. They were strolling around making new acquaintances although obviously half of the juniors came from the same school like a mass evacuation. Among the crowds, Heero stood on one corner, uncaring to his surrounding.

"Hi, there!" A cheerful voice made him looked up. He observed his intruder. An Arabian boy with platinum gold hair and blue eyes, extending a hand to shake. He took it coolly.

"My name is Quatre Raberba Winner." The boy shook his hand warmly. "What’s your name?"

"Heero Yuy." He replied shortly, taking his hand.

"Yuy-sama, it’s nice to meet you. You look unfamiliar, where do you come from?"

"L1 colony."

"Wow, that’s far. I used to live in L4 colony but we moved here when I was in elementary school. I came from St. Gabriel School like most of the others."

"Hmm."

The boy facefaulted. He didn’t seem used to deal with a silent guy.

Suddenly an announcement broke out. "Students are expected to stand in lines according to the classes." They called the juniors one by one according to their class numbers. Now they were calling class 1-5.

"No. 27, Heero Yuy."

The boy strode to his line and stood quietly. He saw the Arabian in the same line waving his hand at him. He nodded as a reply. He noticed the boy was chatting with a boy with long braid cheerfully. The American boy seemed to be an acquaintance from his old school.

"Please go straight to your classes." They announced.

Heero moved hid feet.

"My name is Eva Luna from class 2-3. I’m going to be your assistant for the first three weeks." The sophomore spoke in front of the class.

The boys had been told to enter the class first and sit with one seat vacant beside them. Later the girls were sent in and taken the vacant seats. An obviously rich girl with the name of Relena Peacecraft had taken the seat beside him. He didn’t think he’s going to be very happy about it.

The next two hours had been a living hell for his ass. The girl kept babbling about her father’s pride of her for getting into the best school in Earth, her family’s wealth, how important his father is, etc, and so on. She hadn’t even stopped when the new head of the class, who was seated behind him, Chang Wufei hissed her to shut up.

First problem to deal with, Heero thought agitatedly. Great.

Suddenly a pair of hands landed flatly on his table. Heero looked up. The American boy who was talking to Quatre Winner looked back to him grinning whimsically. He could see the other boy behind him smiling.

"Relena-sama, it has been a long time, na? How are you doing?"

The girl cleared the frown off her face and replied, "I’m fine, Duo."

"Say, is it just me or there is a little wrinkle on your beautiful eyes?"

"There is?!" The girl screamed horribly. She took a mirror out. "Oh Heavens!" She ran off, scrambling to the restroom.

Heero sighed in a relief. He looked up to his savior.

"Don’t bother about her." The American said cheekily. "She’s like that ever since she’s born. You’ll just have to deal with it."

"Duo," the Arabian poked him on the ribs. "You haven’t introduce yourself."

"Where are my manners?" The boy exclaimed. He offered a hand. "I’m Duo Maxwell. Nice to mee’cha."

"Heero Yuy." He introduced himself shortly.

The boy, Duo Maxwell, was proofed to be no better than Relena Peacecraft was. He speaks a lot, for God’s sake. Doesn’t he ever stop? He thought desperately every time he started babbling around.

One day the American decided to drag him to the cafeteria instead of eating his lunch alone in the class.

"You shouldn’t be that thick. There’s plenty of girls to watch rather than seeing those letters from history book or Mr. Bingo’s math formulas!"

"…." The dragged boy rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Quatre is waiting for us. There he is!" He spotted the Arabian in one of the tables waving his hand to them. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Quatre. But our friend Heero here insisted to wash his brain with Bingo’s formulas so I had to push him out the class with a 25 feet bulldozer."

Quatre laughed. "There’s no such thing as that!"

"Well, Heero is too strong for an ordinary bulldozer. " Duo grinned.

During the lunch, Quatre and Duo chatted around silly while Heero silently ate his lunch.

"Duo, that’s my curry meatball!"

"Aaww, give me a little bite."

"Ah! You're eating it all!"

"Nyah nyah nyah!"

What have I done to deserve this? Heero thought peevishly.

"Hey, look, Duo!" The boy pointed to a corner of the cafeteria. Duo looked toward the given direction. Quatre happened to refer to a tall boy with brown hair sitting alone eating lunch.

"Ooooh, a loner again." Duo whistled. "Looks like an interesting one too. How does the guy let his hair go like that?"

Heero looked at the boy. Hey, isn’t that the boy who lives on the third floor, the one I saw from the stairs? He thought.

Quatre stood up and approached the boy. The boy looked amazed for a second before he welcomed the Arabian and gestured to sit in front of him. Heero saw Quatre introduced himself and the boy did so too. Later, the smaller boy pulled him to their table.

"Guys, this is Trowa Barton. He came from L3 colony." He introduced his new friend.

"Hi!" Duo put his silliest grin. "I’m Duo Maxwell, nice to mee’cha!" He gestured to Heero. "And this is my ever-talking buddy, Heero Yuy."

Who’s your buddy, Heero thought irritatedly trying to keep his face straight.

"You’re the new neighbor on the fourth floor." Trowa marked. Heero nodded.

"You two know each other?" Quatre surprised.

"He happens to be at the same apartment. I’ve just moved there with my sister a month ago. The woman next door told us that some boy named Yuy had just moved in too." He explained. "Besides, I saw him this morning at the stairs."

"Oooh, I thought you’re his some kind of a lover." Duo broke out a maniacal laughter.

Trowa asked Quatre in a low voice. "Is he always like that?"

The later laughed nervously.

Soon, Heero, Duo, Trowa and Quatre became good friends. At least, in the later three's term. Trowa didn't speak a lot. He told the three that her sister Katherine was an owner of a circus and he sometimes performed in some show as a clown. He gave them some tickets for the show which Quatre and Duo accepted happily while Heero refused. Nevertheless, they dragged him to see it.

Within a month, the quartet had become famous, especially among the girls. Although Trowa wasn't in the same class, during the break they always gathered in front of class 1-5. Sometimes Chang Wufei would show up and yell to them.

"Duo Maxwell, Heero Yuy, Quatre Winner!! Could you and your friend from class 1-4 here just shut up?!! You all are sounded like zoo! Mr. Bingo's test is right after this and we're trying to study!!"

"But Wufei," Quatre wailed, "We didn't say anything. Duo did all the talking."

"……"

"Hey, Wu-man! Why don't you join us here?" Duo pulled the Chinese's hand. The later protested uselessly. But then, who could refuse Duo Maxwell?

Not even me…. Heero had to admit. Why do I have to live this Hell?

"Ma~~~~n!" Duo stretched his muscles. "This is boring."

There was a meeting to be held. Duo and Heero were supposed to be present. However, when they arrived on the meeting room, they found out that nobody had actually come. Therefore, they decided to wait.

Duo yawned and scratched his head. "Say, Heero. What's you're reading?"

"Quantum Theory." He replied nonchalantly.

"Lemme see that." Duo took the book from his hand. "Geeeee, this is arduous. How could you handle this?"

"Simple." Heero snapped the book back. "I'm smarter than you."

Duo sighed. "Heero. You know, you really sucks sometimes."

Heero grunted.

"Why, Heero?"

Heero finally looked back at him. Wow, he’s actually being serious? He surprised. He frowned then asked, "Why do you want to know? That's not your problem."

 Dou sat on the chair opposite him putting his chin against his palm. He stared straight into Heero's eyes. "You know, Heero? I spotted you in the teacher's room being called by Lady Une. I know she called you up because of your lack of socialization. She had complained to me about how you hardly talk and often ignore the others. Your social skills are nil."

"So?" Heero glared. "What's your problem with that?"

"It's painful to see you like that, Heero."

Heero flabbergasted. "What?"

"Do you think I could stand watching you in the corner while the others were talking about the school's anniversary? Seeing everyone who had tried to approach you walk away one by one?"

"That's non of your business." Heero's voice was hard.

"Why, Heero? Why do you refuse the offer?"

"I don't need friends."

"Why?"

Heero shot him a look. However, the American boy didn’t seem to have any interest of stopping the conversation, much to his sudden pain in the heart.

"Damn it, Maxwell. Mind your own business." His voice was hoarse. Please…. Don’t do this to me….

But Duo Maxwell was Duo Maxwell. He stared right to his eyes, sinking him into the long-braided boy’s ones. He felt his defense starting to shatter. No! No! Don’t look! Heero tried to persist, painfully aware that he started to lose his control.

Duo’s another "Why?" toppled him off the border.

"STOP IT!!" You make me want to self-destruct…. Heero shut his eyes closed and ran out the room. His hands covered his ears. Sweats rolling down his skin.

Duo tried to pursue him. He followed him running.

Trying to escape from him, Heero ran to the nearest exit by the swimming pool. Unfortunately, the pool edge was very slippery. He lost his balance.

Duo gaped as his friend fell into the pool. He waited, but his friend didn't show up again. Shit! He threw his jacket away and jumped into the pool. Inside, he saw his friend on the depths of the 5 meters deep pool, unconscious. Oh, shit! Heero! He submerged deeper, trying to reach the boy. When he managed to grab him, he swam up to the surface.

"Heero! Are you alright?" He asked as they managed to reach the edge of the pool. He cursed as he noticed his friend was not breathing. He undid the boy’s tie and belt. "Heero! Breathe, Heero!" He tried to make him breathe. "Come on, damn it!" His friend’s body refused to breathe. Three minutes had passed. The face was turning blue. There was only one thing left on Duo’s head to do to save his friend’s life.

Duo Maxwell locked his opened lips on Heero’s, slowly transferring the breath to the limp body. Come on, boy. Breathe along!

When miracle came, Heero choke out water from his lungs and finally started to breathe again as a result of Duo’s refusal to give up. Wonderful! Duo withdrew from the boy. The face was starting to lose its blue; nevertheless, it was still as pale as a dead man.

Carefully, he lifted up the wet body of his friend and ran to the school clinic as faster as he could manage.

"Sounds like he meant to drown himself." The school’s doctor concluded after listening to Duo’s explanation. She had given Heero a proper treatment and now the boy was sleeping on one of the beds.

"But I don’t get it!" Duo cried out. "Why would he?"

Doctor chuckled softly. "Probably you’ve just hit a fragile spot in there, Maxwell."

Duo bemused. Heero? Fragile? Hmmm… doesn’t sound like him. But why would the word ‘friend’ border the boy to suicidal? He fumed. There must be something inside that pea brain of him. Must be a good reason.

"Maxwell." The doctor called.

"Yes, Doc?"

"I’ll let him go now, but next time he tries to kill himself, call a psychologist. Don’t take further risk. By the way, I have a meeting to do, could you take care of him for one hour or so?"

"No problem." He gave her his famous wide grin.

After the doctor’s departure, Duo sat himself on the chair next to the bed where Heero slept. Tell me what your problem is, Heero. Let me help you.

Heero Yuy slowly regained his conscious. Once he got a good grip on it, he opened his eyes. White curtains. Must be the school's clinic…. He spun his head to his left to find a dozing long-braided boy. His head was lolling out the back of the chair with his mouth opened wide. One of his hands hung while the other simply wrapped Heero's.

Heero dazed on the hands. Suddenly he felt a little over-beating of his heart. He felt heat crept to his cheeks. Kussou!! Mentally, he shook his head abruptly. What’s happening to me?

Abruptly, he snapped his hand off Duo’s grip, sending the boy awoke involuntarily. He jerked up still half-asleep, glancing around until he remembered where he was. "Heero!" He exclaimed happily. "Finally you woke up! I’ve been so worried."

Heero turned his face away, ignoring the facefaulted boy.

"Oi, Heero? Heero?" Duo mourned at him. "You’re still angry at me? Aw, come on, Heero."

"Leave me alone."

"Heero…."

Heero kept his face away from Duo. "My life has already been Hell. Don't make it worst."

First time after months, Duo couldn't find anything to say. He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for his friend's face. The Japanese boy flinched to his touch. Duo didn't stop. He cupped his fingers on the boy's chin and gently yet firmly spun his face around to face his.

He had never expected to a tear fallen down from the savage Prussian blue eyes.

"Heero!" Duo panicked. "Heero! Jeez, don't cry! Man, Heero!" He scooped the boy entirely into his soothing embrace. "It's alright, Heero. Sssh… it's okay…."

"No, it's not okay!" Heero abruptly pushed the boy away.

Duo tightened his grip, not letting the struggling boy go.

"It's not okay! Nothing's okay, so get the Hell out of my life, Maxwell!" Heero struggled fiercely. "Don't you get it, Maxwell? Leave me alone! Let me self-destruct! Leave me-"

Duo slapped him across his face. He shook the boy hard. "Heero! Control yourself!"

Heero stared at him blankly before he finally broke down crying.

Duo stared at the crumpled sobbing boy in front of him. Now look what you've done, Duo Maxwell. He felt like a scum for making his friend, the emotionless Heero Yuy literally crying out every tear he had. You and your big mouth. You and your persistent pea brain. You and your great idea of having Heero open his heart to you. In the name of Jesus and Mother Mary. He mentally kicked his ass and cursed every single curse he had ever heard in his entire life until finally Heero's sobs idly disappeared.

Duo gently used his finger to wipe the trace of tears on Heero's face. "Feeling better?" He asked softly.

"…No…." Heero murmured incoherently.

Duo sighed and rolled his eyes. "Heero Yuy, such a persistent brat." He derided.

The boy stayed silent, breath gradually returned to the usual pace.

Duo eyed him in concern. He shifted closer to the boy and asked silently. "Want to talk?"

Five minutes passed before finally he spoke, empty eyes gazed to nowhere, voice monotonous.

*******

Odin Lowe Jr. was only five when his mother died in an accident.

His father was a scientist who created a new mobile suit he called MS Wing Gundam Zero. He was having an experiment of a new deadly weapon when suddenly the weapon exploded. The explosion burned the laboratory along with the house next to it. His wife managed to throw their son outside the window to him right before the house exploded. It had taken nine years for Odin Lowe to deal with the trauma before he was finally able to come back to his old life. However, it would never be the same again.

The nine years had been a Hell for Odin Lowe Jr. Because of his father's insanity, he was forced to life in a orphanage. Later, a friend of his father, Doctor J took him out and gave him his a new name. Heero Yuy.

Living with Doctor J was a worse Hell. The scientist was continuing his father's experiment on Wing Zero. He forced him to pilot it.

He had refused to do it. Nevertheless, after a long time of hard persuading, and several attacks by the Federation who wanted the MS badly, he gave up.

His first killing was not something he could forget easily. Bodies of the Federal armies spread on the blood flooded white floor. He emptily poked on one of the dead bodies. A piece of paper fell from its grasp. He took it absent-mindedly. It was a picture of a little girl and her puppy. A kid's writing was scribbled behind it.

He dropped the picture to the floor as his heart slowly turned into ice.

Years went by. After seven years under a mad house's care, Odin Lowe finally returned to see his son. But he found out that Odin Lowe Jr. had already dead inside and he knew that he'd never be able to fix his heart.

He gave MS Wing Gundam Zero to Heero Yuy and sent him to Earth.

*******

Duo was dazed. Once again, he couldn't find anything to say. He himself had once lived in an orphanage for some years. It hadn't been a very pleasant place omitting Father Maxwell and Sister Helen's love for him. But living a life as a… what? Killer? Heero's not a killer. He took someone else's life for his. Nevertheless, he had killed.

Heero sat silently on the bed. Somehow his eyes were blank as empty as his heart. In his mind, the memory played over and over as an endless waltz, sinking him deeper and deeper.

Duo saw it and it gave him the creeps. He shook him hard to bring him back to reality. "Heero!"

Those blue eyes looked back at him, almost eliciting a yelp from him. It was pure agony. Duo grimaced, feeling as if he had been the one to suffer.

"Heero." He said gently. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't mean it to happen."

"But it happened…." The boy answered making Duo flinched at the cold robotic voice.

"And it don't have to happen again." Duo finished his friend's sentence.

The boy looked bewildered.

"Your father gives you a second chance, Heero." Duo poked on Heero's nose playfully. "And you, my friend, will not let it go." He bounced up to the floor with a wide smile and pointed on his own chest. "Because I, Duo Maxwell, am going to help you whether you like it or not. Okay?"

Heero Yuy stared at his friend. However, this time, the stare had a glimpse of life in it. "Duo…."

The American beamed widely.