Title: Written in Blood
Author: AstroKender
Pairings: 5x2
Rating: action/mystery
Warnings: Slight Duo torture
Spoilers: None.
Notes: Takes place after the Eve Wars of Endless Waltz. Everyone works for the Preventers.
Disclaimers: GW isn't mine, go figure. So don't sue, k?
Duo zoomed down the highway in his black Jeep, enhanced by Howard using parts from DeathScythe. The normally cheerful heart-shaped face was now etched in stone. The only sign of life was his eyes. The amethyst orbs swirled with some unnamed emotion as they were illuminated by the passing lamplights. Securely fastened in the passenger seat, Sally Po regarded him gravely out of the corner of her eye.
If Duo noticed her look, he gave no sign of it. They continued to drive in silence, still miles away from their destination. Suddenly, Duo's eyes narrowed. Looking in the rear view mirror, he cursed.
"What is it?" Sally asked.
"We're being followed."
Sally turned around in her seat to peer behind them. Sure enough, twin headlights glared back at her. She looked back at the braided boy.
"Do you think it's him? The killer?"
Duo nodded. "I'm sure of it."
"Are we going to try to catch him?"
The braided boy shook his head. "No. We have other priorities." He looked at Sally out of the corner of his eye. She glared.
"It's because of me, isn't it?"
Duo had the grace to blush. "I don't want you to get involved in this, yes. But that's not the only reason. WuFei's needs help. We don't have time to chase this guy around." Unless the killer is WuFei...stop it! Stop thinking like that Maxwell!
"Then what are we going to do?"
"This." Duo slammed his foot down on the clutch and shifted gears. Jerking the steering wheel to the side, he cut down a refuse-covered alley.
The Jeep crashed through a number of crates and entered a heavily populated street. Merging in and out of traffic, the American swiftly lost sight of their pursuer. They drove in silence for a moment, keeping an eye out for their pursuers. Sally glanced at a passing street sign. "We're almost to where WuFei said he'd meet us."
Duo shook his head. "How did he end up near 'The Cliff'? You'd think he would've at least took me with him."
Sally laughed at Duo's sudden return to his sarcastic self. The Cliff was a hot spot for young lovers, offering a romantic view of Tokyo at night. Who knows why WuFei chose there, Sally just hoped he was okay.
A sudden crash jerked her from her musings, and almost her seat. Duo growled as the black sedan rammed them again. "Can this guy possibly get and cheesier?" He complained. "What? Did he grow up on gangster movies?"
"I don't know about him, but I did!" Sally yelled as she unbuckled herself from her seat. Rolling down her window, she leaned out, gun in hand.
"What are you doing?" Duo shouted. But Sally ignored him as she took careful aim at the sedan's right tire. Squinting around her flying hair, she fired a shot, then a second, then a third, until she finally hit her target. The sedan spun around behind them in a squeal of burning rubber.
Duo jerked Sally back into the Jeep. "What are you, crazy?" Sally smiled at him.
"It worked didn't it?" Duo groaned and shook his head.
Concentrating both in front of them and the road behind them, Duo watched the miles blur away. The lights of the city died as they drove up the steep incline. Trees loomed over them on either side of the road, lending a sinister appearance to their surroundings.
Finally reaching the top, Duo slowed their advance to a crawl, keeping a careful eye out for his partner. Gravel crunched under the Jeep's tires as he slammed on the brakes.
"There he is!" He pointed to the spot where the woods gave way to the gravel lot looking over the sheer drop of the cliff. Sloe eyes met violet as WuFei stood and struggled to close the some fifty-yard distance between them.
Sally Po quickly grabbed her medical bag and ran towards the stumbling figure. Duo sat there for a moment, hesitating. He bit his lip in nervousness, still not able to disperse that strange dream. He shook his head.
"Get a grip, Maxwell." He muttered to himself. "WuFei would never do anything to hurt you." He watched as Sally reached the Chinese boy. Blue eyes glanced back at him, and noticing he had made no move to help, glared disapprovingly. But suddenly her eyes widened.
"Duo! Watch out!"
The braided boy whipped his head around just in time to see the black sedan hurtling towards him. With the squeal of metal on metal, the two vehicles collided.
Since Duo's jeep was enforced with Gundanium, it didn't really take any damage. Unfortunately though, the force of the blow sent the Jeep skidding towards the edge of the cliff. It broke through the flimsy guardrail that blocked it like crape paper.
Sally and WuFei watched helplessly as the Jeep's front tires went over the edge. Thankfully the bottom of the Jeep drug against the ground and halted the vehicle's deadly plummet. Pressing his hand against his shoulder, WuFei started forward.
"He's going too far." He growled.
Sally stopped him. "Don't! You don't know if he's armed or not." She reached for her pistol. "We'll get him from here."
She raised her arm to fire but was knocked aside as WuFei suddenly collapsed against her. Cursing she fell towards the ground, hampered by the Chinese boy's dead weight.
Duo shook his head to clear it but stopped as an agonizing pain ripped through his skull. "Whoa. Bad idea." He stared at the web of cracked glass that was the front windshield uncomprehendingly. Until he realized that was probably what caused his head to hurt so much.
Eventually his eyes focused on what lay beyond the windshield...way beyond. Violet eyes widen as he found himself staring at the ground, five hundred feet below him. "Shit." He voice had a noticeable crack in it.
He looked out the driver's side door to see it to hung over the edge. Carefully putting the Jeep in reverse, he pushed the gas gently. The tires spun freely in the air, none making contact with the ground. The vehicle groaned as it slipped another inch over the edge.
Sally looked up from tending WuFei to see their assailant back his car up about twenty yards away from where Duo's Jeep hung precariously. The man stepped out, his face hidden behind a black ski mask. Sally felt his dark eyes upon her for a moment, before he turned and stuck his head back in the vehicle.
Sally shuddered and struggled to drag WuFei to safety. She didn't know what this guy planned, but it couldn't be good. "Duo! Get out of there!" She shouted.
A dark laugh echoed in her ears. "No. We wouldn't want that would we?" The dark-clad man finished tying a rope to the steering wheel and grabbed a large rock from the ground. Sally could feel him grinning at he as he placed it down on what she knew was the gas pedal.
Dropping WuFei, she ran for the killer. "No!" But it was too late. She watched helplessly as the black sedan lurched forward, driverless, heading straight for Duo's vehicle. "Duo!"
Meanwhile, the braided pilot had climbed carefully into the back of his Jeep. Taking out his knife, he slashed at the plastic window that covered the back of the vehicle.
"I'm sorry DeathScythe." Duo launched himself out of the tear and onto the unforgiving gravel below. Groaning, he started to rise.
"Duo!"
The braided pilot looked up to see a pair of headlights heading right towards him. Having no time to dodge, Duo flattened himself upon the ground and braced himself.
"DUO!"
End Part Fourteen
(:./astrokender/written14)
