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.
Heero Yuy came out from his apartment room. He closed the door and locked it. He walked to the stairs and proceeded to dash down.
While he dashed, unexpectedly he bumped into someone. Both of them collided rolling on the stairs and landed flatly on the ground floor face first.
"…Heero, no more running on the stairs, please." Trowa Barton gingerly rubbed his sore nose.
"Sorry." Heero mumbled sheepishly. He helped Trowa to get up and together they walked to school.
It had been months after the incident. After Duo Maxwell succeeded to convince him to be friends with him, Heero had changed a lot. He was not the old cold Heero Yuy anymore. He had started to act more human.
At the first time Duo had asked him to start greeting everyone 'good morning' like everyone did. Heero had done it the morning after it, opening the class' door saying out loud, "Ohayou!" He remembered everyone staring at him as if he had been an alien, making him sheepish. After Duo had returned the greet with "Ohayou, Heero! Nice weather, huh?" and a wide grin, everyone had started to return his greet as well. He also had started hanging around with the other kids, although he ignored Relena Peacecraft completely, thanked to her flirting and her obvious adoration on him. Still he mainly spent his time at school with Duo, Trowa, and Quatre Winner.
The four of them were now in the second year. Heero and Trowa were in class 2-5 while Quatre was in class 2-4 and Duo was expelled to class 2-2 much to his whining. The Mr. Justice Chang Wufei was in the same class with Quatre. Duo had commented, "I suppose Quatre will have to earn a lot of ear covers in case Wu-man starts to babble again." Thankfully Relena was placed in class 2-1 albeit she frequently managed to find some excuses to go to class 2-5 and hover around Heero giving him an urge to punch her on the face.
"Heero."
Heero wake up from his musings. "What is it, Trowa?"
"You’re daydreaming."
"I was just thinking."
"Oh."
Now here’s another person like him. Cool, impassive. At least he’s softhearted. Unlike what I used to be.
Trowa didn’t talk a lot. He only smiled when the other laughed. He was very close to Quatre although their personalities were like the Heaven and the Hell. Very a contrary. Like me and Duo….
He frowned. Since when did he start to think more about the long braided American? He could swear that every trailing of his thought always ended on him. The annoying violet eyed American with wide grin plastered on his face 24 hours long, Duo Maxwell. As annoying as he could get, I still can’t get him out of my mind!
Gaaah! Stop it!
BONK!
"Heero?" Trowa asked worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. Don’t worry." Said Heero whose face hurt from the electricity pole he bumped onto. He rubbed it warily.
"Maybe you shouldn’t go to school today."
"I’m fine, I’m fine." He assured him with a forced grin that brought his friend a tremulous shiver.
"…" Heero’s grinning? Hell breaks lose!
They continued walking. Thankfully they arrived at the school in time without Heero bumping into something again.
In the first break, Heero and Duo met in the ceiling.
"Heero the Superman! What are you doing here alone? Looking for someone to save?"
Heero sighed exasperatedly. "Can't you and your motor mouth just shut up?"
Duo grinned inanely, gesturing an apology. He came to his side and stood with his arms folded in front of his chest, laying back on the fence. "So, what makes the Lone Ranger isolate himself from the others this time?"
Heero didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stared away to the horizon against him.
Duo frowned. There must be something serious in his mind. He practically erased the inane grin and replaced it with a tender smile. "Want to talk?"
Heero stared at those violet eyes. I wonder if he would be mad at me…. "Duo… I need your help."
The boy grinned again. "You name it."
How should I say this…? "Would you mind…"
"I won't."
Heero glared. "Let me finish!" He inhaled sharply and blurted out. "Would you like to learn how to pilot my MS?"
There was a silence. Enfin, Duo asked, "Why?"
"…In case if I die, I need to be sure that the MS would not fall to the Federation's hand…."
"And you want me to take it somewhere and destroy it?"
Heero nodded silently. His eyes were down, fear to meet his friend's.
There was another silence before the American said sharply, "Idiot!"
Heero shut his eyes close.
"You know what kind of idiot you are, Heero Yuy? A crazy stupid self-destructive minded idiot." Duo said deliberately. He spun the Japanese boy and abruptly pinned him on the fence. The human height fence shook as a result of the sudden crush.
Heero looked back at the raged pair of Duo's eyes, shocked for his friend's reaction. His heart was beating fast. The closeness gave him an uncomfortable feeling, as he felt heat started to creep up to his cheeks. With his position, both hands cuffed on his sides, the face only one inch away from his, Duo's eyes staring at him with an intense anger, he found himself weak and unable to resist whatever his friend had in mind.
"Listen to me, Heero Yuy." He said sternly. "You're not going to die. Not when I'm around."
"Duo…." Heero was stunned.
"Repeat after me. I'm not going to die before Duo Maxwell." Duo shook the stunned boy. "Repeat after me!"
"I… I'm not going to die before you…."
Duo finally smiled. "That's better." He let him go. Duo's grip made his hands felt numb, but Heero didn't care. He was still dazed by Duo's already gone fury. Duo saw the bruises he made. "Jeez, I hurt you! Sorry!" He rubbed the bruises letting the circulation run again.
Heero was amazed by his friend's deep concern. Feeling the contact between their skins, he blushed from the mixing of emotions. Feelings of embarrassment, confusion, and… delight? He shook his head abruptly.
Duo looked up to him. "Heero, I can still learn how to use your MS?"
Heero blinked. "What?"
Duo grinned widely. "Your Wing Zero can turn into a plane, right? Maybe we can fly together somewhere one day. Sides, I do like machines, you know."
Heero smiled openly. "Ninmu ryoukai…."
"Wow, this is incredible! Great! Marvelous! Outstanding! Outrageous! Your father's really a damn awesome scientist!" Duo babbled in excitement. "I've seen an MS before but this is MAGNIFICENT!"
Heero smiled pleasantly. "I'm glad you like it."
The Wing Gundam Zero was hidden inside a big truck container behind the bushes of a forest few miles away from the school.
"By the way, how did you get the container?"
Heero shrugged casually. "By stealing it?"
Duo laughed heartily. "Heero Yuy, you're such a brat!"
Heero smiled at the remark. He opened the container wider. "Help me get it out, okay?"
"Ryoukai!"
They brought the MS out to a more open space. After cleaning it together, Heero proceeded to warm up the engine. "This button," he said to his friend standing on the entrance poking his head into the opened cockpit, "Is used to start the engine on."
"Hmmm." Duo nodded.
Heero pushed the button. The engine started. "The engine will only start if the computer recognized the pilot's ID. Give me your hand." He said.
"What for?"
Heero rolled his eyes. "Registering your finger prints, baka. Unless you wanted the MS to self-destruct when you turned it on?"
"Oh!" Duo quickly gave him his right hand inviting a low chuckle from him. Heero took it and placed it carefully on a scanning device.
Confirmation accepted
"Congratulation, Duo Maxwell. You are now the second pilot of Mobile Suit Wing Gundam Zero." Heero said.
"Well, thank you, first pilot Heero Yuy." Duo grinned back.
They both laughed. After the laughter ceased, Heero continued his lesson to Duo. "This is the changing button, With this, you can change the MS into robot mode or bird mode."
"Say," Duo pointed at a button. "What this button does?"
Heero was silent for a while before he answered. "That's the self-destruct button." He chuckled. Duo rose an eyebrow. "You know, on my way to Earth, I nearly pushed it twice on purpose."
"Heero…." Duo stared to the Prussian blue eyes. The eyes stared back at him. There was a self-recrimination in them. Self-recrimination of all he had done in the past, of all the people he had killed, the people who had lost their family because of him. "Heero…." He reached for the boy, wounding his arms around the boy's head.
Heero closed his eyes. Although the guilt he felt hadn't disappeared, he felt more contented. The boy next to him, being close to him made him able to forget the pain inside his heart for a while. If only I could be with Duo forever…. He startled. Heero Yuy! What are you thinking of? He shrugged his friend's arms lose.
"Heero?" Duo was confused.
Heero smiled. "I'm okay. Shall we continue?"
"Awright."
Within three months, Duo had become an excellent pilot. He had easily eaten everything Heero taught. To do simulation practice for Duo, Heero had found an MS simulation game in a Video Game Arcade near the school. It wasn't perfect but good enough to train Duo's reaction. Of course, with Heero as the sparring partner, Duo had never won.
"Heero Yuy, promise me something." Duo said after one of their training.
"What?"
"If I win the game, I can get everything I want, okay?"
Heero smirked. "It's a deal."
"Let's play again."
The last game of the day was a toilsome. Duo fought harder this time.
I lost my riffle and one of the cannons. Fuel 45%, damage 40%. Duo is doing a pretty good fight. Heero smirked. But you're not going to knock me out, Duo.
Damn! Duo maneuvered his MS to dodge a missile. Fuel 40%, damage 70%! Another 10% and I'm doom. Kussou Heero! He glanced at his monitor. Okay, I have one last chance….
He's going to attack! With his condition, he's not going to survive another slice. Heero on guarded his saber and attacked.
Duo drew his saber and attacked too. Now, it's only a matter of luck! On guard!
They stormed at each other.
Another meters….
Heero lifted the saber. My victory!
"HEEEEEEEROOOOOOO!!!!!!"
What the!! HOLY SHIT!!! Heero maneuvered but it was too late.
Duo cut Heero's MS in two pieces. Heero's monitor blurred. A word popped out on the screen.
GAME OVER
"I won! Yeah!!!" Duo bounced in excitement. "I won! I won! I wooooon!!!"
I can't believe it! Heero gaped.
"Heeeerooooooo!!!" The thrilling voice came again.
My God, this ain't happening! Heero turned to his back.
Relena Peacecraft it was.
This woman!!! I lost to Duo because of her shriek?!!!
Duo sensed his friend's distress. Hooboy, the time bomb is going to explode. "Na na na, Relena-sama!" Duo gave her a big grin, pulling his friend off the way. "What are you doing in such a humble place like this?"
Relena put an annoyed pout on her face. "Looking for Heero. Now would you mind, Duo?"
"I'm sorry, my lady. But Heero and I had something urgent to do now, so we have to run off. Bye bye!" Duo dashed out the Arcade, dragging Heero with him.
"Wait!" Relena's shriek was heard, but they managed to run off without making any further incident.
The table was quaked by his slam. "That… that… that crazy girl!!" Heero trembled from his fury.
"Now, now, calm down, Heero!" Duo shook his hand. "People are staring at us."
"I'm gonna kill that girl one day, I swear!"
"Yeah, yeah. Now, just eat the ice cream. It'll cool you down."
After a half an hour of playing cat and mouse with Relena Peacecraft, finally Heero and Duo managed to escape from her. There were now in the Baskins & Robbins ice cream parlor.
Heero scooped a big spoon of his chocolate chip mint ice cream and stuck it into his mouth letting the sweet thing melted in his mouth cooling off his brain. "Damn Relena." He muttered incoherently.
"Hey, it's not your fault to have a spoiled damsel to chase after you." Duo licked his cherry bubble gum ice cream. "Actually, almost every single girl in our school is chasing after you, even the third years. You're the one who didn't notice."
"Yeah, right." Heero pouted. "And why would they chase after me?"
Duo laughed. "Because you're too damn cute for your own good, Heero."
"Ee?" Heero blushed slightly.
"Don't you know, Heero? You are the most beautiful thing I've ever saw, in spite of those model girls and movie stars, they're different. Mysterious blue eyes, lovely face, and slim body." Duo gave him one of his famous charming beam. "Heck, if you were a girl, I would date you."
Now Heero was blushing furiously.
Duo blinked. Wow, that's what I call an over reaction! Duo Maxwell wasn't Duo Maxwell if he didn't run the opportunity. "I say, you did say that I could get everything if I won, ne?"
"Du… Duo…." Heero shifted uncomfortably.
Duo took Heero's free hand and rubbed it gently. "So," he winked, "How about Sunday?"
"Duo!" Heero took his hand off him.
Duo laughed. "Okay, okay! It's just a joke, don't take it hard."
"…Duo," Heero's face was darkened by his fallen bangs. "Don't play game on me."
Duo was taken aback by the timid voice. He slumped his body forward and looked up to see his face. Heero was looking back at him; his eyes were unreadable. He sighed and brought his back straight again. "Sorry, Heero."
The boy shook his head. "Just promise you'll never do that again."
Duo shrugged. "I'll walk you home." He said.
The journey back to Heero's apartment was three blocks away. During it, Heero had returned to the usual Heero Yuy. Duo was glad to know that. A joke won't hurt too much, right?
"Want something to drink?" Heero said before his door.
"Cold ice will do." Duo grinned.
"Well, come in already."
Inside Heero's apartment, there was only one green sofa and a glass table in the small living room. Duo noticed one door was slightly opened, revealing a small bedroom inside. There was another door that he assumed as the bathroom.
"Here." The Japanese boy handed him a glass of cold water.
"Thanks." He gulped in the water in five seconds.
Heero looked at him astonished. "Don't you get choked, drinking like that?"
"Nah." The American laughed. "By the way, Heero. You seemed to like green so much. I see almost everything in here in green."
Heero smiled. He sat on the sofa beside his friend. "Yes, I like green so much."
"And may I know why?" Duo shifted closer to him.
Heero put his head back, laying it on the sofa's back. His eyes gazed to the ceiling. "Because… it's not red. It's the contrary of red. I've seen red too much…." He suddenly pulled his head back and turned to his friend. "What's your favorite color, Duo?"
Duo looked bewildered before he finally answered. "Black. I like black."
"Why?"
"…For the same reason with you."
Heero stared at him confusedly.
Duo rested his chin on Heero's shoulder. "Do you know, Heero? I was orphaned by the war when I was four. I lived on the streets for two years among the street boys before one day the patrols caught me stealing bread from a bakery. They sent me to an orphanage. The Maxwell Church."
Heero hadn't expected it. "Duo…." He was stunned. So Duo is also…. I didn't know….
"They called me Little Duo of Maxwell Church. I was so naughty and often been disciplined. Even when Sister Helen got so annoyed, I always refused to cut my hair. Finally she gave up and let me have my braid. But Father Maxwell always told me, it's okay to protect something you wanted to protect. Just believe what's in your heart."
"But one day when I was nine, the Feds came to the church and killed them all. All of them, 245 souls." Duo clenched his fist. "I was the only survivor. But it hurt to know that everybody you know are dead and you are still alive, in flesh."
"Duo…." Heero could feel his raging breath. He brought his arms around him, hugging him close. He was surprised to feel a hot liquid on his shoulder. Duo… Duo is crying! My God….
The boy mumbled. "It was all red… just red…. Blood everywhere…. Sister Helen's… Father Maxwell's… Ed's… Annie's… Jamie's… Erin's… Judy's…."
Heero startled. "Duo!" He shook the boy. "Duo! Snap out of it!"
Yet the boy's eyes were dark. "… Jean's… Marie's… Leon's… Peter's… Louis's…."
"Duo!" Heero slapped him across the face.
The slap brought Duo back to reality. "…Heero?"
"Duo…."
The tears had gone, but Duo's eyes were full of depression. "Heero, I was like you too, you know. The day after the massacre, I went to the nearest city. I walked and walked, carelessly, hoping that a car would hit me to dead or so. They just horned me or cursed on me, but they didn't kill me. So I walked to a tall building and went up to the ceiling. I walked to the edge and proceeded to jump off…."
"But you didn't…." Heero's voice was dry.
"Somebody saved me. A rich man who was incidentally there and stupid enough to grab my hand as I slit off the edge." Duo smiled wryly. "A.B. Winner."
Heero rose his eyebrow. "Winner? …Quatre's father?"
"Yeah." He nodded. "Quatre's father. He brought me to L4 colony. I met Quatre there. Later, Uncle Winner become my guardian. I went to the same school with Quatre and also moved here three years ago. And now here I am." His voice had returned to his usual humorous. "Sitting inside your room, just the two of us, nine o'clock in the night." He smiled in mischief.
Heero shifted away uneasily.
"You know, Heero. For a beautiful thing like you, inviting a wolf to come into your room is a dangerous thing." Duo crawled over him.
"Du… Duo…?" Heero inched back nervously.
Duo leaped.
"Duo!"
"Gotcha!!" Duo apparently threw himself behind Heero. He showed up holding a little creature between his fingers. "Looks like your room ain't sanitary enough."
Heero made a face. "Just throw it out the window." Gah, you almost gave me a heart attack! "And don't forget to throw yourself as well."
"How cruel."
~tbc~
Hime D.