Author's note: Standard disclaimer applied.
This is an alternating universe GW fan fiction and my first attempt on GW fan fiction. Some characters rolled in different attitude.
Heero Yuy woke up fast today. He climbed down from his bed, walking toward the bathroom. He took a toothbrush and the paste.
Today was their first day at the third year.
He brushed his teeth gingerly. It has been three years…. Suddenly a feeling of emptiness crept into his bones. Three years… and this is the last one. A few more months and we'll say goodbye….
Heero gargled and expelled the foamed water out to the washbasin. He looked at the mirror, staring at his own reflection. I hate this…. For the first time of my life I actually have friends … and now I'll have to say goodbye?
Then why do I have to have a friend?
He walked to the small kitchen and started to fix himself breakfast. He paused for a second and looked over the window into the sky. What are friends for if they were meant to be separated at the end and bring sadness?
Can you tell me that, Duo Maxwell?
Heero finished his breakfast fast and prepared to go to school. He locked the door and lazily walked to the stairs. Strangely he felt uneasy today.
He met Trowa Barton. "Ohayou, Trowa."
"Ohayou, Heero." Trowa gave him his usual shy smile. "How are you today?"
"Fine, I guess. You?"
"I'm fine."
They walked out the apartment. "How's Katherine?"
Trowa chuckled. "She's fine. She's in Paris now, performing the circus there."
"That's great." Heero smiled. "But don't forget…." He showed a hand and opened it, grinning.
Trowa laughed.
"Trowa, look!" Quatre exclaimed happily. "We're in the same class!"
"And so are we!" Duo Maxwell exclaimed.
Heero smirked. He noticed something. "Duo, look. Chang Wufei is also in the same class."
"WHAAAATT?!!" Duo shrieked. "Damn! Quatre, you still have some ear covers with you, right?"
The others laughed. Suddenly the exasperated Duo noticed another thing. His pout turned into a maniacal grin. "Oh, Heero." He tugged on the boy. "Guess what. Relena-sama is in our class too."
There was a silence before Heero finally said. "Duo, give me my self-destruct button."
"Damn, why does Doctor S has to be our class teacher?" Duo cursed.
Sitting next to him, Heero casually opened his notebook. "Serves you well."
"Now, now. Duo, don't be so grim." Behind Duo, Quatre had started to rummage through his pretty pencil box for some color ballpoints.
"Here." Trowa, sitting next to him behind Heero, helped him.
"Ssst! Shut up, you disgraceful troublemakers!" Behind Quatre, Chang Wufei it was.
Duo moaned. "Why does he have to sit behind you, Quatre?"
"What do you want me to do with him, Duo? Forbid him to?"
"Quatre, I could swear he always follows you to every class you attend ever since in St. Gabriel. Maybe he falls for you!"
Wufei snapped. "Duo Maxwell! What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing." Duo waved his hand nervously. Unfortunately Wufei's feet had already landed on his face flatly. "Wu-man, how cruel!"
"Do not call me Wu-man! It's Wufei! Chang Wufei!" Wufei yelled at him, starting his usual babble.
"Alright, alright! I get it!" Duo stuck his index fingers to his ears. How pathetic!
"I don't know about you guys, but…," Heero said coolly. "I sure don't want to be the main gig in the class."
Duo and Wufei looked at Heero then looked around. Everyone was starring at them. They blushed and sat back to their seats embarrassed.
"Finished? Maxwell? Chang?" Doctor S asked mockingly. Wufei felt his pride cracked. "Then we shall start with our lesson. Open your book on chapter one, Electromagnetic Wave."
Duo whispered to Heero. "You've learned about this, haven't you?" Heero grunted. Duo took it as 'yes'. "Then can you teach me later, Heero?"
Heero frowned. "Why?"
"I wanna get some sleep." Duo yawned. "Last night's basket ball game was a thrilling one. I slept at three."
Heero was about to say something, but Duo had already dozed off. He stared at his friend, sweat dropped. He sighed rolling his eyes up.
"Aw, Heero, come on!"
"No."
Duo sped up his pace trying to catch on Heero. "Teach me the lesson! You promised."
"I didn't say anything, Duo." Heero continued walking half ignoring the American. "Beside, it's your own fault dozing off all three lessons in a round."
Duo sighed heavily. "I know, I know. Darned…. Doctor S was so pissed off, wasn't he?"
His friend nodded.
His face became gloomier. "Lady Une?"
Heero nodded again.
"Mr. Bingo?" He whimpered.
"Definitely."
Duo wailed. "Aaaaargh!! My life in the third year is going to be Hell!"
"That's your own fault. Face it." Heero said flatly. Suddenly he became tense.
Duo noticed it. He asked, "What is it, Heero?"
"Don't look back." He whispered. "Somebody is following us."
Duo frowned. He took out a small mirror from his pocket and looked into it, saying out lout, "See, Heero! The Hell has already appeared on my beautiful eyes!" He peered back through the mirror. Three… no, four men in black. Duo put the mirror back. He whispered, "Four stupid Feds."
"On three." Heero commanded. "One…."
"Two…."
"THREE!!"
The boys suddenly dashed. The four men were startled. They started to run after them. Duo and Heero ran as fast as they could hoping that the men wouldn't be able to catch them. They ran into a harbor nearby and ran through the containers. Soon, their chaser lost them.
"Sir, we lost them!"
"How could it be?! Go over there!"
The men walked away. Duo sighed in relief. "Thank you, Jesus. That was close, huh? Heero?"
The boy was silent.
"Heero?"
Heero looked up to him. Duo was taken aback by the way those eyes met his. "Oh, no, Heero Yuy. I know that look in your eyes."
"Duo, I think it's time for me to go." Heero said. There was a tinge of sadness in the voice.
"Hell, no!"
"But the Federation has found me! If I don't go, they'll do anything to get the MS. If I go, they won't be able to do anything. So I have to go."
Duo stared at his friend. Suddenly he felt very lost. Heero Yuy had been his best friend for two years and he didn't want to lose him. Not like this. Not when he….
Duo titled his friend's chin. The Prussian blue eyes looked back at him. He swept a glimpse of tear on the edge of his right eyes and kissed it softly. He saw the boy blushed slightly.
Duo…. Heero stared at the violet eyes. He scanned every inch of his face, registered it into his mind memorizing it. Oh, how tall he was now. They had been at the same height when they had first met, and now the American had seemed to grow a head taller than him while he had only grown four centimeters taller. Duo….
The boy suddenly hugged him deeply. He startled, involuntary tears fell uncontrollably.
"Heero…." Duo whispered softly in his ears. "Please take care of yourself…."
"Duo…." I don't want to go….
"Don't try to kill yourself again…."
Don't let me go….
"Don't die…."
I'll die without you….
"Don't let the Feds catch you…."
Don't you understand?
"Promise me, will you?"
"Duo…." I love you…. Heero stared at his eyes as he broke away. Duo wiped the tears, smiling bitterly. Control yourself, Heero Yuy. You are doing this for him, because you don't want him to get hurt. Him, Trowa, Quatre, and the others you know. He smiled back at him sadly. I don't know how you feel about me, Duo Maxwell. But I love you and I want you to stay alive….
"Goodbye, Duo." Heero whispered.
Duo smiled. "See you again, Heero." He held his hands tightly and said, "Just remember that what ever will happen, I'll never regret our encounter because it's better than not knowing you at all."
"Duo…."
Their eyes still fixed at each other as their hands separated and Duo walked away. Seeking a last glance on his friend, Duo turned away and left.
Heero crumpled down crying. Yet the tears weren't for sadness. So that's your answer, Duo Maxwell…. I understand now….
Thank you…. Thank you for everything….
Seven years later….
Heero Yuy cursed silently. Damn it! His fuel had reached the limit. His Wing Zero only had enough fuel to reach the nearest colony before it'd completely run off energy. However, the Leos were attacking him over and over again. He couldn't escape without any hard encounter with them and the encounter would drain the fuel faster.
A slash cut one of his MS's arm. Heero gritted his teeth. "If I have to die here, I'm going to take all of you with me!!"
"Not a chance, Heero Yuy." A voice came out from the intercom. Heero froze.
From the corner of his monitor, another MS appeared. Heero recognized the black mobile suit in a shock. Deathscythe?!!
Eleven years old Heero Yuy scanned the MS in front of him.
"This," Doctor J explained, "Is Mobile Suit Gundam Deathscythe, a variation of MS Wing Gundam."
Heero touched the black body of the MS.
"I'm trying to make an experiment on it but I still can't find a suitable pilot for it."
"I can pilot it." Heero offered.
"Heero," the scientist said. "I would ask you to if you were the suitable one."
Heero frowned.
"Every MS your father made are meant for somebody. As I've told you, Heero, Wing Zero is your MS. Just yours."
"So, this MS is whose?" The Japanese boy asked.
Doctor J replied shortly. "Somebody else's."
Heero typed the orders in the computer. However, the monitor refused to show the pilot of MS Deathscythe. That sound! I know that sound!
The Deathscythe stormed at the Leos, swinging its thermal scythe. It blasted on them, destroying half of the Leos. Then it grabbed the remain arm of the Wing Zero. "Come on, little brat. Let's get you to a safe place." The sound on the intercom came again. And Wing Zero ran out of fuel.
Landing on a secluded forest on the nearest colony, Heero could feel Deathscythe's pilot opened his cockpit and came out. He felt him coming to his MS and pulled the emergency cockpit lock. The cockpit opened in the bath of sunray. Heero squinted his eyes, avoiding the hurting ray trying to see the shadowed man.
The first thing he saw was long braid, a wide grin, and a halo around his head.
Duo Maxwell was grinning at him, offering a hand. "Come outta there, Heero. You're not going to spend the night there, right?"
Heero was flabbergasted. Nevertheless, his hand moved out to reach the offered hand instinctively. Duo grabbed the hand and pulled the Japanese pilot out. As they were in the same eye level, Heero couldn't help to reach out a trembling hand for his face. "…Du…o…?"
"Score one for Heero Yuy!" The American laughed heartily.
"Duo!" Heero leaped to him hugging his torso fiercely.
The pilot yelped, losing his balance. He waved his arms trying to regain it back but failed. They landed on the ground with a loud thud. Duo moaned. "Heero, that hurts!"
He blinked.
The Japanese face was on his chest; his arms were tightly wounded around his waist. He smiled at the trembling body. "You know, Heero." He said. "I may be the only person ever seeing you cry, but I think you cry too much."
"Shut up." The grip around him was tightened.
"Okay." Duo breathed hardly.
After a moment, Heero finally drew back. He looked slightly embarrassed his face blushing. "How did you get here?" He asked. "And how the Hell did you get Deathscythe?"
"Well…." Duo shrugged. "One day this guy came and give it to me?"
Heero rose an eyebrow. "Doctor J?"
"A'a'!" Duo shook his head. "Your dad, Odin Lowe."
"Otousan…?" Now Heero was surprised. "But that means… wait a sec! That means you've met my father before?"
"Such a coincidence, huh?" Duo laughed. "It happens that a guy named Zack Hellan were your old man's partner before Doctor J. The Hellan man died before the experiment succeeded so Lowe man promised him to build an MS for his son Solo in honor of him."
"And Zack Hellan's son… Solo… is… you?"
"Bingo! Score two for Heero Yuy!"
"Duo…." Heero blinked several times. "…Wow… it's… hard to believe…. Is there really such kind of coincidence?"
"I don't care." Duo shrugged, beaming happily. "I've found you again. That's all I need."
Heero blushed. He was going to say something when suddenly clicking sounds was heard. They both turned their heads.
A battalion of Federation soldiers was aiming their weapons on them.
Duo mumbled. "Holy shit."
"Care to self-destruct?" Heero offered.
"My Deathscythe is brand new!" He protested.
"Well, at least I'm not going to surrender my Wing Zero to them."
"How 'bout lending them to them for a while?" He offered.
"…." He scowled.
It was obvious that the Federation captain was annoyed by their casual conversation. He rose his hand and yelled, "SHOOT THEM!!"
Duo grabbed a handful of dirt and before they managed to shoot, he threw it to them. They got their eyes hurt and shot randomly. Duo grabbed Heero's hand and ran.
Duo looked around. "I think we lost them."
"And our MSs as well."
"Heero, don't be so grim. We'll get them back." He assured him. "But before that, you'll have to take a rest. You're all filthy." He pulled him along the road.
"But we have to get it soon!" Heero protested.
"Later, later." Duo saw a taxi cab. He called it. "Hi, man. This is L4 colony, right? Can you get us to the Winner house?"
Heero frowned. "I thought you guys moved to Earth."
"Just me, Quatre, five sisters and another 50 servants." Duo replied in the cab casually.
Heero sweatdropped.
"Duo!" A damsel cried out.
"Hi, Layla." Duo grinned widely.
"Duo honey, it has been three years! Where have you been? We've been looking for you!" She ran to him and gave him the hug of his life.
Heero scowled at them.
"Somewhere bad, Layla." He laughed. "By the way, where's Quatre?"
"He's in his office. He hasn't known you came yet."
Duo grabbed Heero. "Come on, Heero. Let's approach him." They walked through the corridor.
Heero nudged him. "Who was that?"
"Oh, that? That's Layla, the sixth daughter of Winner family."
Heero dazed. "Just exactly how many sister does Quatre have?"
"Lemme see…. Twenty nine, I guess."
Heero grimaced. "T… twenty nine girls?"
"Yeah, and Quatre is the thirtieth child in the family."
And I thought my life was a Hell…. Heero sighed. He felt very tired.
Duo slammed the door open. "Hi, Quatre!"
Quatre Winner gaped, staring at him blinking. Duo noticed the crowd of his friend's advisors. "Oh, you're having a meeting? I guess I'll just have to wait."
"Duo!!" Quatre exclaimed. "Where have you been these three years?" Then he saw Heero behind the American. He cried out. "Heero! Heero, is that you?"
Heero shrugged.
Quatre turned to his advisors. "The meeting is postponed. Come back later, please."
After all the advisors got out, Quatre closed the door and sat on the coach with his friends. "Heero, it's been so long. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Thanks to him." Heero pointed to a grinning Duo.
Quatre pouted. "Don't be so happy, Duo. We're going to have a talk after this."
Duo gave him his best puppy dog look.
"You know, we were so surprised when you suddenly moved out." Quatre poured them some tea. "Everyone was worried, even Wufei."
"Wufei? Worried?" Heero surprised.
"Well," The Arabian giggled. "Not too obviously, but yes he did. Especially Relena-sama." The mention of Relena Peacecraft's name gave Heero a shudder. Quatre saw that. "Don't worry about her anymore, she's already married, she won't bother you anymore."
Heero sighed in a relief. "Now that's a good news."
Quatre beamed. Then he asked worriedly, "Where have you been this seven years, Heero? And how did you get here together with Duo? Not to mention his three years absence."
Heero bit his lips.
"His Wing Zero is down, Quatre." Duo suddenly blurted out. "Fortunately I was there when he almost self-destruct his MS." Heero snapped his eyes at him, looking betrayed.
Unexpectedly Quatre smiled. "Is that so?"
Heero blinked. Duo patted his back cheerfully. "Aw, don't be so tense, Heero! Quatre knows about the Gundam. He even has one!"
Heero gaped. "But… but…."
Quatre giggled. Duo laughed loudly. "Heero, Heero! Who do you think funding the Gundam project? Martian?"
Heero blinked again. "It can't be… Winner Corporation?"
"Score three for Heero Yuy!" Duo applauded, laughing.
"It's impolite to laugh at somebody who got confused, Duo Maxwell." A voice came from the slowly opening door.
Heero turned his head toward the door. He blinked again. "Trowa…?"
Trowa Barton showed his usual shy smile. "Hallo, Heero. It has been a long time, hasn't it?"
Heero rose his eyebrow at Duo, his finger pointed at the tall young man, unable to say anything.
Duo grinned. "He's your dad's new technician and MS pilot."
"Not very new, Duo, since I started to join the project six years ago." Trowa complied as he advanced and sat on the couch as well.
Heero was flabbergasted. He dazedly said, "Would somebody tell me what's going on?"
"You see, Heero." Quatre explained. "When you left the school seven years ago, we were all felt very worried albeit Duo had been the soberest one. We had thought that he must have known something about your leaving so we asked him but he just said plain nothing."
"One day, Odin Lowe came to us." Trowa said. "He said that he would like to use our help."
"I've already knew about the Gundam project," Quatre continued, "My father had told me about it and literally trained me how to pilot an MS for the project. Yet I was surprised when Duo recognized Mr. Lowe as your father, Heero. Then I understood your absence."
"I didn't know a damn about Uncle Winner's alliance with the project, so I too was damn surprised when I knew that Quatre is also a Gundam pilot." Duo uttered in his usual bright voice. "Other than that, the project also needed a new technician since one of Doctor G's technician were captured by the Feds and chose to self-destruct than giving them the information. Trowa, being surprisingly damn genius in machines, were chosen to be the substitute. It's kinda a nepotism to think about it, since Trowa's father happened to be a member of the project too. Right, Trowa?"
Trowa pouted at him. Duo sniggered.
Heero blinked several times. "…Wow…. It's… hard to believe…."
"Who would believe in such coincidence?" Trowa commented.
Duo laughed. "That's why I reconsidered my ideas about miracles!"
"It seems that fate always reunites us where ever we go." Quatre beamed.
Heero smiled. Maybe my luck isn't that bad after all….
~tbc~
Hime D.