13-Jul-2001
R. AU. OOC. Continuation. 4x1/2x1. (And a very *special* guest star - well, technically, you already met him but this time, you get a proper introduction, a little more on this at the end of the fic)
Duo stumbled forward as the floor shook under his feet and felt a burst of intense heat hitting his back as he fell headfirst into the dark shaft.
He put out his arms relaxively, his eyes widening with alarm, and saw Heero, falling in front of him, reach out one hand and catch hold of the thick cable, his other hand reaching out towards him...
'Heero...'
He reached for the pale white hand, knowing that this was his one chance...
Duo's fingers trembled as he stretched them as far as he could, desperately trying to catch hold of the slender splayed fingers reaching out for him.
Just for a second, they touched...
And blue fire crackled around him...
Duo felt his body slam to a halt mid-air as he heard Heero scream out his name...
He closed his eyes and felt the burning energy tighten around his body and slowly lift him, taking him back to the level where 'he' was...
'Almost...'
He whispered to himself with a faint smile as he opened his eyes and squinted through the crackling blue light, trying to catch one last glimpse of the pale face staring up at him...
'Almost got you that time...'
Duo sighed in disappointment as he was pulled out of the dark shaft and into the blinding light of the corridor.
'Hello.'
Duo grimaced at the sound of the familiar voice and grunted painfully as he was slammed harshly into a wall, smelling the faint smoke from his clothes where the energy bolts had charred the fabric. He coughed painfully and rubbed his sore side as he slowly staggered back on his feet.
'I thought you wanted Heero.'
Duo pushed his braid behind him as he straightened his posture, his eyes narrowing coldly as he stared at the tall redhaired man.
'I do.'
Duo rolled his eyes impatiently. Talking to this guy was even more irritating than trying to engage Heero in small talk. He held his breath as the slender redhead started to float closer to him, golden light suffusing the cold green eyes as once again, blue energy started to crackle around the raised hand.
'So... does this mean that you don't want to be friends?'
He offered with a flippant grin, while busily scanning the burnt and devastated corridor, trying to figure out a way to get away from the dangerous and apparently unstable man.
'Heero's very fond of me you know. He won't like you, if you hurt me. Besides which, we haven't even been introduced. Didn't anyone ever tell you that its bad manners to kill someone without first exchanging your names?'
Duo's eyes danced in amusement as he saw the golden light die away, replaced by a look of confusion as the redhead hesitated visibly and lowered his arm a fraction.
'Shuldig.'
Duo blinked in confusion as he automatically translated the name from German.
'Excuse me?' He asked politely, wondering if he had heard him correctly.
'I'm Shuldig.' The redhead smiled at him sweetly and Duo felt uneasy. 'And you're Duo.'
Duo nodded and smiled sourly, 'guilt', he muttered to himself under his breath, 'I wonder if someone was trying to be funny'.
'I believe we've been properly introduced now?' Shuldig asked, suppressed laughter lacing his words, and with an innocent smile, raised his hand up again, the stretched fingers pointing directing in Duo's direction.
Duo flinched, a tight knot forming in his stomach. He had a bad feeling about this...
Heero felt his heart hammering rapidly as he ran heedlessly through the corridor, cursing the amount of time wasting in just making his way back to the level where Duo had been trapped.
He tried to fight the rising panic in his heart as he thought of having to face 'him' again. Heero silently reminded himself that he was no longer a child, that he didn't have to be afraid... And resolutely pushed away the bad memories, refusing to allow them to overwhelm him again.
He wiped his sweaty palms unconsciously against the side of his thigh and impatiently brushed the thick hair away from his face, wondering why 'he' was here.
'This is my fault.'
Heero didn't realise that he had spoken out loud until he saw Quatre staring at him from the corner of his eyes as they continued to run. He flushed darkly and ducked his head, hiding his eyes behind the heavy bangs. But not before he had seen the look of deep concern in the green eyes turned in his direction.
'Duo's going to be all right, Heero. He's a survivor. We'll get there in time.'
Heero felt warmed by the familiar voice and wished that he could accept the soothing lies. He shook his head mutely in silent despair and put up his head to signal for a halt as they saw the brief flash of blue light appear around the next corner.
'You shouldn't be here.'
He said at last, as they stood together, shoulder to shoulder, readying the guns in their hands, poised just behind the corner.
Quatre shot him a grim, half amused grin and leaned his head closer and whispered.
'I'm with you. Nothing else matters.'
Heero hesitated... in a sudden move, he lifted one hand and pulled Quatre's head to him for a quick, hungry kiss. The blond man wound his arms around the slim body and pressed it hard against his own, and focused on returning the kiss, with enthusiasm.
After a moment, Heero lifted his head away from the kiss and smiled into the loving green eyes, 'I'll go first.' He said firmly. 'I want you to wait here, no matter what happens. Until I call for you. Do that for me? Please?'
Quatre opened his mouth to argue then, seeing the fierce determination in Heero's eyes, sighed and nodded in resignation.
'Be careful.' He whispered softly into Heero's ear and then released him.
'How are you feeling?'
Trowa knelt beside a queasy looking Wufei, who held his head gingerly in his hands as he leant heavily against the wall.
'I'll live.' Wufei answered shortly as he forced himself to his feet again, ignoring the clammy sweat slicking his pale skin.
'This way.' Amuro called out cheerfully and dashed around the corner.
Wufei shot a pained look at Trowa who had nodded silently and motioned to follow after the disappearing boy. 'Are you sure he knows what he'd doing?'
Trowa flashed a small smile at him, his green eyes glinting with humour as he slipped his arm around Wufei's waist and helped him down the corridor.
'He says that he can feel where his Gundam is.' Trowa offered solemnly.
Wufei sighed heavily. 'Great. Can he also feel, where we might get our hands on some painkillers?'
Trowa swallowed a bubbling laugh, turning into a tiny snort. 'I don't think you're taking this seriously. According to Camille, Amuro managed to defeat you in a one on one combat.'
'In a simulator.' Wufei couldn't resist retorting, even though he knew that Trowa was deliberately baiting him.
'Which he blew up. With you inside.' Trowa added tonelessly. 'I should say that unless you were even more out of shape than you are now, Amuro must either be extraordinarily gifted as a pilot or that he had some special ability. Which one do you think is more likely?'
Wufei gave a mock scowl, '...special ability.' He replied promptly.
'And that's why we're following him.' Trowa answered smugly.
'We have to go down now.'
Amuro called out cheerfully as he waved to them from the entrance of the emergency stairwell and disappeared.
'How much longer are you going to give him?'
Wufei muttered sourly as he fought back a wave of nausea, and concentrated on holding on to the rails, his palms slippery with sweat. Trowa looked up from below him and braced his weight on his feet and knees, folding his arms on his chest as he prepared to give this some thought.
'Show off.' Wufei mouthed soundlessly as Trowa shrugged, held up three fingers and returned to his climbing.
'And you better mean three minutes, not three more levels.' He added fervently as he returned to his own climbing.
'Oh my god!'
The young technician looked over the smoking body in horror and backed away, stumbling as he was pushed out of the way by Doctor Sakurazuka.
'She looks like she's been through a war...
'...I don't believe this.'
'Her arm... her goddamned arm's been ripped off!'
'Someone's torn apart armour that's supposed to withstand the impact from a Mobilesuit. What the hell has she been fighting?'
Sakurazuka ignored the frightened whispers raging around him and gently touched the green armoured faceplate. He smiled faintly as he saw the reviving glow in the deep, empty eyes.
'So you are in there after all.' He whispered gently to the green creature and stepped back, and motioned all the technicians away from the prone body. 'Leave her alone.' He commanded forcefully.
'But... doctor... what about her injuries?'
Sakurazuka ignored the distressed woman's protest and folded his arms and leaned against an empty gurney, his eyes never leaving the damaged green body lying on the bed.
'She'll be fine.' He answered carelessly. 'Just keep watch.'
Heero slowly made his way over the charred remains of the crumbling and cracked corridor and carefully picked his path through the smoking rubble. He held the gun close to the side of his head and then carefully took aim of the tall redhaired figure, who hadn't yet noticed his arrival.
Oblivious to his new audience, Shuldig held out a closed fist, around which a network of blue energy crackled and sparked. Heero licked his dry lips and tried to block out the faint choking sounds Duo was making as he clawed his hands against an invisible enemy that seemed intent on crushing him into the wall.
'Shuldig.'
Shuldig turned around and smiled beatifically when he saw Heero standing at the mouth of the T-intersection ending the corridor. He stared in amusement at the gun in Heero's hands and then widened his eyes and looked down at his chest where a small hole appeared, leaking red fluid down his black-clad body.
'You... shot me?'
He asked blankly, before staggering back a couple of steps as two more shots slammed into his body.
Heero stared grimly at the tall redhead and continued to fire his gun, again and again. He wasn't aware of anything except the tingling pain in his chest as he felt the dim echo of each of the shots piercing his enemy's flesh. He continued shooting until the gun was emptied and all he could hear were the futile clicks of the now useless gun and felt a scream push itself past his chest.
'That... wasn't very nice... Heero.'
Shudig rubbed his chest and then looked down at his red smeared hand in childish fascination.
'I think... that hurt...'
Heero stood still, his whole body shaking from the strain as he stared in horror at the smiling man who started to walk towards him.
'I'd been looking forward to our reunion, Heero.'
Heero stood frozen, his mind numbing slowly as he felt the weight of Shuldig's mind slowly crushing down on his mind, seeking to find a way past the shield that had slammed up against the familiar intruder.
'I've missed you...'
Faint laughter lurked underneath Shuldig's husky voice and Heero shivered, at the emptiness of the sound and felt chilled to his bones.
'I... didn't miss you...'
He managed to grit out at last, his eyes flaring defiantly as Shuldig moved in closer, feeling moist warmth of Shuldig's breath on his cheek.
Shuldig threw back his head and laughed, and Heero shivered, at the obscene familiarity of the sound.
'No? Are you sure?' Shuldig murmured lightly, his eyes sliding from Duo, who glared at him from his prone position against the cracked wall, to the corner wall, where Quatre stood.
'You have been lonely without me, haven't you? You didn't seriously think that you could replace your other self with these two... inadequate substitutes? They are nothing. Nothing but broken and used up toys you should have discarded years ago.'
'Shut up. Just shut the hell up. Damn you.'
Heero snarled furiously and clenched his fists, grasping the slippery tight fabric and pushed the taller man away from him.
Shuldig narrowed his eyes to small slits and Heero stiffened as the air around them shimmered and blue sparks started to flash randomly, forcing him to flinch at intervals when he felt the searing heat of the crackling energy pass uncomfortably close to his bared flesh.
'Why don't you give me a minute and let me... take care... of these distraction first, and then,' Shuldig broadened his grin, 'we can talk, in private.'
'No.'
Heero gasped out involuntarily and blanched, knowing that he had reacted exactly as Shuldig wanted.
'No...' Shuldig savored the word with a feral grin, and a bolt of blue lightning zigzagged through the air and smashed into the wall, narrowly missing Duo, who just barely managed to throw himself out of its path.
'Quatre, don't!' Heero screamed out and Quatre froze, a look of fury distorting the usual calm features. He fought rising panic as the blond man slowly and reluctantly lowered his gun and turned his attention back to Shuldig who was still staring at Duo with a speculative smile.
'Don't,' Heero pleaded. He stepped between Shuldig and Duo, shielding the helpless brunette with his body. 'Please...'
Shuldig laughed gently, his eyes glittering with amusement and then held up a finger.
'One.'
He whispered sweetly, his lips curved into a smile.
'You can keep one of them.'
Heero looked blank and Shuldig's grin widened.
'The other one's mine.'
'No.'
Heero responded automatically.
'You're so greedy Heero. It's not fair for you to keep both of them. It's time to make a choice. Choose. Heero. Which one gets to live and which one gets to die?'
Heero stared emptily as his mind refused to accept the reality of what Shuldig was offering him.
'If you can't make the choice, I will...'
'There it is.'
Amuro beamed triumphantly as they stepped into the empty hanger and found the battle scarred NuGundam.
Wufei looked at the tall machine in speechless wonder and shook his head. What the hell had Duo been playing with in the Epsilon Project? This Rey child and his so called feelings had led them straight to the hanger bay where the NuGundam had been taken, and he knew that Amuro had never been to Sigma before in his life, and yet, he seemed to be able to navigate his way, without a single hesitation.
'And now,' Trowa sighed softly, folding his arms across his chest as he and Wufei stood at the foot of the NuGundam and saw Amuro climb into the empty cockpit. 'All we have to do is to find a way to rescue the other three, and then return to our original objective and find a way to destroy this station.'
Wufei smiled faintly and pointed out the motionless mobile suits standing around the large hanger.
'You forgot to mention, while battling against impossible odds...'
Trowa gave a half-smile and shrugged.
'Isn't that par the course for Gundam pilots?'
Wufei made a face and started towards a mobile suit, calling back over his shoulder, 'you know, I think we should seriously reconsider our image. I think I might prefer to accept the taint of cowardice if it means that we get to keep breathing for a little longer.'
Trowa stopped in mid track and doubled forward, clutching his stomach as he burst into surprised laughter.
'You have changed, old friend.'
Wufei smiled sadly to the picture of the tall man climbing into the mobile suit next to him and mouthed silently.
'It's called growing up Trowa. Old friend...'
Heero stared at Shuldig and staggered back... his mouth falling open into a silent scream...
Choose...
I... can't...
I can't choose...
Heero shivered and wrapped his arms around himself, slowly sinking to the ground as he tried to escape the mocking madness surrounding his mind.
I have to...
If I don't, Shuldig will...
I can't let...
Who...
Who do I choose...
He closed his eyes and sank his head against his knees and sought refugee in the darkness in his mind...
Go away...
I don't want to hurt you...
I can't bear to lose you...
Stay away from me...
Heero felt his mind spinning as he sought to find a safe place...
He closed his eyes and slipped in deeper and deeper into the comforting emptiness...
A place where no one else could come...
A place where he could be alone...
Be safe...
Heero started to rock himself slowly, his eyes emptying slowly as he closed his mind.
A place where he didn't exist...
Where nothing existed...
Shuldig stared down at his old playmate, his flawless features marred by a frown as he tried to crack open the black darkness encapsulating Heero's mind.
'Oh no you don't,' he hissed in irritation as he knelt down and roughly grabbed hold of Heero's limp shoulders. 'Not this time... Don't you dare leave me... You can't get away from me. I won't let you. Heero!'
Shuldig began shaking the unresponsive man in ernest and dug his nails in harder into Heero's arms.
'Do you have any idea how long I waited for you in that damned capsule?' Shuldig cried out in fury, throwing the full force of his mind against the black shield in Heero's mind.
'And what it was like for me in there? To not be able to move? To have to breath that filthy crap instead this sweet air? To open your eyes and see... nothing... And to feel the emptiness... knowing that you should have been with me... To suffer the constant invasion of the metal against my flesh, while they probed and tested and experimented... And the pain...'
Shuldig snarled fiercely, not noticing the hot tears dropping from his eyes as he continued to scream at the silent man in his arms.
'To be forced to hear all those petty little minds as they walked by... listening to their jumbled chaotic thoughts, day in and day out... hearing them enjoy the freedom that could never be... I hated them... I hate them still... And I thought only of you...'
Shuldig stopped shaking Heero and gathered him into his arms. 'My Other.'
'You are the only one that I need. And now, we're together. I won't let you leave me... not again.'
Shuldig hugged Heero tightly against him and stroked the pale cheek tenderly with a long thin finger. 'You left me once. When Odin came.' Shuldig dug his nail into Heero's soft flesh suddenly, raking the nail across the cheek and leaving a vivid red trail. 'I was the special one. He came for me. But you tricked him...'
Shuldig laughed, but his laughter was hollow and devoid of any amusement. 'I would have made Odin take us both... I would have never left you behind.'
Shuldig drew a deep breath and dropped Heero to the ground.
'Why did you leave me...'
Shuldig's voice rose higher.
'You left me to rot in hell, Heero. But,' he turned his attention to where Duo sat tensely and smiled charmingly. 'I forgive you.'
Duo swallowed dryly as Shudig stood up and walked towards him.
'I'm even going to let you keep one of your toys.' Shuldig purred happily as he crooked a finger at Quatre and motioned for him to join them. 'As long as I get to play with the other one...'
Sakurazuka watched in fascination as the injured cartilages and the torn muscles repaired themselves, the ripped skin smoothing out and somehow... merging... until the arm reattached itself to the body and one by one, the vicious wounds disappeared from the battered body.
He ignored the sounds of retching as one particularly sensitive technician lost his lunch during the grisly process and continued writing down notes in his pad enthusiatically, occasionally glancing at his chronometer to keep check on the amount of time being required to repair a specific organ.
He wondered whether Elaine would be willing to have another go at fighting the mysterious intruder and whether, this time, she would be amenable transporting him as well to the location, so that he could witness the extent of their abilities at first hand.
Sakurazuka looked up at the control booth where he could see Nagisa working busily away at the console, small glass container sitting by his side, and felt an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He had a feeling that Nagisa was not satisfied with the performance of his pet subject in the field, and wondered whether he had any contingent plans for dealing with a threat capable to taking out a vajiranoid.
But then again... Sakurazuka narrowed his eyes speculatively as he scanned his notes on the types of injuries that Elaine had returned with... He had a feeling that Nagisa knew more about this particular enemy that he was admitting... and wondered what he was hiding...
Of course... Sakurazuka laughed to himself, he had his own secrets... he checked the chronometer again and wondered how much longer it'd take the three hunters to locate and kill the Gundam pilots. He hoped fondly that his little pets would prove more effective now that they were no longer restricted by any limitations on their activities.
'Over here.'
Quatre hesitated for a moment, staring down at the gun in his hand, then back at the tall red haired man who was smiling innocently at him.
'Come on, I won't bite.' Shuldig thought over what he had said and laughed out loud, 'well, maybe...'
Quatre tightened his lips but nodded curtly and quietly walked over to where Duo was leaning against the wall.
'I don't suppose you've got any ideas on how we could kill him.'
Quatre asked casually as he reached out a helping hand and helped Duo to steady his position, noticing the way his friend was favouring his left side and arm, and the way he tried to avoid resting any weight on one of his legs.
'Not... yet...'
Duo snarled past bared teeth, his eyes never leaving the tall figure, who had now dropped into a sitting position, against the opposite wall.
Quatre cast a regretful eye on Heero who lay crumpled between them and wished that he could rush to his side and take him away from this maniac.
'Aww... that's sweet... Quatre. That's your name isn't it? Quatre... Raberba... Winner... It's a cool name.'
Shuldig chuckled at Quatre's look of discomfiture and twirled a finger around a thick red lock of hair and absently nibbled at the ends as he spoke.
'Tsk, tsk. What language.' He admonished mockingly, 'that's not very nice Quatre. I don't think you realise the nature of the special bond between Heero and me.'
Duo suddenly grinned past the pain and asked with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
'A special bond... as in back in the old days when he dumped you the first chance he got? Or right now? Is it me, or has it just escaped your notice, that Heero would rather be catatonic than have anything to do with you?'
Shuldig shrugged carelessly and drew up one leg and wrapped his arms around the raised knee.
'A normal like you could never understand...'
He gave a short jerk of his head to where Heero was lying and smiled crookedly.
'But Heero... he understands me...'
Duo and Quatre exchanged looks of disgust as Shuldig continued speaking.
'He's just upset... I remember that he used to get these attacks when we were children. It's not his fault... He's sensitive... After a while, he comes back. It's just a matter of waiting him out... And while we are waiting,' Shuldig beamed sunnily and cocked his head to the side, eyeing the two nervous men speculatively. 'We can get to know each other better. And one of you might even like to start playing...'
'Go to hell, you bastard.'
Duo and Shuldig turned their attentions to Quatre in mild bemusement as the blond man raised his gun with a snarl.
Duo grabbed Quatre's arm and winced as pain shot through his battered frame.
'Don't.'
He warned, violet eyes glaring into green eyes.
'Heero would never forgive me if I let you get killed by that idiot.'
Duo couldn't resist a short laugh.
'And I won't forgive you either, if you throw your life away. If you want to die, fine. Die on your own time. And make sure you take that lunatic with you...'
He stopped and gasped as a small blue bolt sizzled past him and slashed the wall.
'I don't... like... that word.'
Shuldig said bluntly, holding up a hand burning with blue energy as an emphasis.
'Some people have no sense of humour.'
Duo retorted quickly, then screamed, as another small blue energy bolt seared the air, this time, striking the hand he raised instinctively to shield his face. He cursed loudly and nursed the charred hand under his arm, momentarily speechless from the pain.
'Some people... talk too much.'
Shuldig smiled lazily.
Quatre swallowed his fury and fought the temptation to bring up his gun and fire. Much as it galled him to admit, Duo was right. He was just wasting his time and ammo by trying to shoot Shuldig when they had all seen the futility of such an attack. But... Quatre swore silently to himself... there had to be a way... somehow he'd find a way...
End Part 12
Kat: In the initial draft, I cast Kenshin (as in the Rurouni) in the role of Shuldig (for the violet eyes, I was going to make a big thing out of how both him and Duo have the same eyes etc.). But... you know, I think I really wrote it for Schu-chan. This is the first time I've ever used Schu in a fic, and it was a lot of fun. He sort of brings out a... um... different side to my writing... Hope you liked this. Ja neh.
Katana
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