Title: "Breath of Madness"
Author: Hinokumo
Archive: yes, please
Category: Shounen ai, mild angst, OOC?
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4--getting there
Rating: PG-13? I don't know, I'm not good at ratings
Warnings: No sex--yet--just kissing.
Notes: When Heero and Duo return from a mission, they find their friends behaving strangely. Look out, Duo--Quatre has knives!
Spoilers: None that I'm aware of. This is pre-EW.
Disclaimer: You know the drill. None of these characters belong to me (-_-). They belong to the respective geniuses that created them.
I'm not making any dinero from this, so if you sue me, you won't get much more than some manga and the few measly doujinshi that I own...yaddah, yaddah, yaddah.
Feedback: This is my first GW fic, so I don't know how I'm doing.
Would you please tell me? Email me at hinokumo@yahoo.com
WARNINGS: Shounen ai (no graphic stuff...yet...*nosebleed* *Duo grinning evilly in the background*), OOC?...hope not. Well, at least not Heero & Duo. The others are SUPPOSED to be OOC.
Duo: Sssh! Don't give the story away.
Hinokumo: I'm not!
Heero and Duo were off on a mission, getting to actually do something besides sit and stare at the walls of the safehouse that Heero had termed "adequate." Quatre should have known to take the Wing pilot's description at face value. "Adequate" indeed... for a Spartan. Nothing but three rooms with 2 cots and maybe a table in each, a box of a room that shouldn't be called a kitchen, and one other room that served as their dining /den/meeting room; it held nothing but a rotting table with four equally rotting chairs--Duo often ended up on the floor. The "house" was really a "shack" out in the middle of nowhere, but Quatre couldn't really complain. Especially since there was a secret passage that lead to a hidden underground bunker not a quarter-of-a-mile away--how THAT got there was a mystery--where his Sandrock and the other Gundams could rest within easy access. Still...
Quatre looked up at the ceiling, wet spots and flaking stucco making it look like some alien, upside down landscape.
Ch. Next time, I'm picking our hideout, Quatre thought.
He glanced wistfully at Heero's laptop, then quickly quelled that urge. Heero would not accept boredom as a valid excuse to touch his personal property-besides, knowing Heero, it was probably booby- trapped. So he was back to staring at the ceiling and walls again for entertainment. It was either that, or watch his two companions in their own activities. He'd already decided against that. Seeing Wufei polish his sword with fanatical efficiency was very, very scary. And Trowa--well, it wasn't that he didn't like staring at the green-eyed wonder with a unibang, it was just that Trowa cleaned his guns almost the same way Heero did, and that always made Quatre's skin crawl. That, and if he stared at Trowa too long, he'd start blushing.
*Sigh* Hope Heero and Duo are having fun, Quatre thought with a little jealousy.
Unnoticed by the three Gundam pilots, a very faint green mist began to descend from the ventilation, drifting ominously toward them.
"Whoo-hoo! Shine, OZ scum--Shinigami's come for your souls!" Duo's maniacal laughter echoed over Heero's comm.
"Hn. Duo, they're dolls," the Wing pilot stated with what Duo could have sworn was annoyance.
"I know that, Heero--don't spoil the mood--I'm on a rooollll!" the Deathscythe pilot sang as he commanded his Gundam to do just that. Duo spun like a top, his scythe becoming a green blur, and threw himself into the midst of the enemy, destroying half a dozen at once and damaging more as he continued his onslaught. Duo took a second to check on Heero's condition before grinning. Heero had copied his maneuver, only using his saber instead.
"Hey! Get your own moves, Heero," Duo teased.
"Duo." Heero all but growled.
Duo's grin vanished when Wing suddenly aimed its cannon right at him. "Nani--?"
"Move."
Duo dove to the left just as the beam left the cannon, boiling the air itself, en route to--what? The braided pilot saw the mobile doll carrier explode in the distance, taking out more enemies that were in close proximity.
"Careful with that thing! You almost singed Deathscythe's paint," Duo mock-wailed.
"Hn...baka. Just finish the mission."
"Don't you mean retreat? We already destroyed the target." Silence was his answer. "All-righty then! Prepare to die, mobile dolls!"
It went on like that for what seemed like forever. Heero and Duo would destroy dozens, only to find more waiting to take their place. Both pilots were becoming fatigued, but it was Duo who said something first.
"Heero." Duo panted with exertion, sweat soaking his black clothes and dripping off his face. Heero blasted his cannon again before tearing off to destroy more with his saber. He did not answer, though.
"Heero!" he tried again.
"Ah?"
Same calm, flat tone as usual. *Humph* He doesn't even sound tired, Duo thought. But he knew that wasn't true. On the vid screen he could see the Wing pilot's chest rise and fall in rapid concession, sweat also glistening on his skin. "We've gotta get out of here now. There's no point in staying--they just keep coming." Duo knew he was stating the obvious, but sometimes Heero needed to be broken from his "Perfect Soldier" routine.
A pause while Heero decapitated a doll, then, "Ninmu kanryou."
Duo was already gearing up to make a fast getaway when everything suddenly went straight to hell. The wind was forced from his lungs as he was slammed against the restraints. Alarms were blaring at him all over the cockpit and just before he was struck again, his violet eyes widened as he glanced at the radar. He was already going into evasive maneuvers before the stars in front of his eyes had stopped dancing.
"Duo." Heero's disembodied voice shouted over the damaged comm. In the midst of his problem, Duo took a second to ponder. Hmm, if I didn't know better, I'd swear he sounds concerned--Time's up.
"Where the hell did they all come from!?" Duo shouted while trying to avoid more of the dolls that seemed to have come from nowhere--by the hundreds. Sparks and cockpit components flew, singing and cutting Duo as Deathscythe was pummeled again and again. He was fatigued, probably had a head injury, and was hopelessly outnumbered.
"Hahahaha! You wanna fight Shinigami that bad?" Duo screamed as he demolished three with his scythe. Six took its place. Duo pressed his lips together in determination. "Heero, get outta here--I'll handle them." He switched off his comm link to Wing. "I am Shinigami and I will take all of you to hell!!!"
Duo was just about to strike the self-destruct when he was suddenly slammed against his harness again. "Kuso!" Something had tackled his Gundam! Duo prepared to try Heero's favorite button again when his vid screen flickered briefly, showing...Wing?! Heero had saved him, diving through the dolls to Duo on his exit vector.
Hmmm--he's never done anything like this before. Duo's first hopeful thought was soon crushed by his second. He probably just wanted to save my Gundam for its parts. Oh well, Duo sighed to himself as he watched the earth whiz by beneath them. Might as well take advantage of the break. He closed his weary eyes to take a nap, but found only the familiar void that accompanied unconsciousness.
"Duo."
"Hmm? Whazit?" Duo came back to consciousness groggy and confused.
"We're here--can you land your Gundam?" Heero's flat, nasal voice came calmly over the speaker. When did I turn that on again? Duo thought.
"Huh? Yeah, of course I can!" Duo tried to make himself sound more indignant than he felt. And more confident, as well. He ached all over and lights exploded behind his eyes when he took a deep breath.
"Hn," was Heero's reply.
His Gundam wasn't in much better condition than himself, but Duo was able to get it under control for a fairly decent landing in their newest hidden hangar. It was afternoon, he noted before he flew through the entrance. How long had Heero carried him and his Gundam? I need a nap, Duo thought again as he crawled out of the cockpit and lowered himself to the ground. His lips pursed and his eyes narrowed in critical distaste as he surveyed the damage.
"Man, I wish Howard was here with us--it'll take me forever to get this mess cleaned up!" Hands on his hips, he forced himself to grin. "I'll get right on it...tomorrow morning." He spun on his heel, intending to go check on Heero, and almost collided with said pilot. Duo jumped back, startled. "Oi! Give me a heart attack, why don'cha! You gotta stop sneaking up on people like that--you're liable to get hit." Heero's eyebrow rose. "Eh-heh--not by me, of course," he laughed nervously. Heero's cobalt blue eyes bored into him to the point where Duo could imagine the hole forming on his skin.
"Nani, Heero? Daijoubu ka."
"Aa." His gaze flickered up and down Duo critically.
Duo fought a blush. "Oi, what? Have I got somethin' on my face or what?" He resisted the urge to fidget nervously when Heero's hard gaze met his violet eyes. Neither moved for a moment, simply staring.
Then, "Daijoubu ka."
"Huh? Hai--daijoubu desu."
"Hn," Heero said before turning to enter the compound.
Duo blinked. Well, that was weird, he thought before following the other pilot.
It was unusually quiet, Heero observed while walking down the hall to his and Duo's room. The braided maniac was also quiet...but the only reason for that was the donuts he had stuffed in his mouth. Quatre-- their self-appointed provider of nourishment--must have gotten tired of cooking; a large box of assorted donuts had been irresponsibly left open in the room Quatre call the "den." He'd have to talk to Quatre about that. Duo + Sugar + small, confined spaces did not mix. Maybe he'd let the Arabian room with Duo for the night. Heero looked at his roommate busy licking his fingers clean...Nah--he was the "Perfect Soldier." Rooming with the pilot of Deathscythe was a self-inflicted test of one's strength.
"I got dibs on the shower!" Duo announced, raising a still sticky finger in the air to emphasize his point.
"Hn. Whatever. Just don't use all the hot water."
Duo put a hand to his chest, leaving a white powder handprint on his shirt, "Me?" he asked with mock innocence. "What makes you think I'd do such a thing, Heero? I'm wounded, truly." Of course, we could always share... Duo's almost spoken sentence rang in his mind, the images causing his eyes to take on a wicked gleam.
If Heero could have shown an expression, it would have been wary.
*Ouch* summarized it all. Duo assessed that his injuries included at least two cracked ribs, multiple cuts and bruises, a gash on his temple, and a possible concussion. He had lost some blood, which he hadn't really noticed how much till after he took off his modified priest uniform. Black hid blood nicely. He winced for the umpteenth time since he had started braiding his still damp hair; his ribs did not like him moving his arms much--it had been difficult to bandage himself, but there was no way he was going to ask Heero for help. Finally, the task was done and Duo stepped out wearing black flannel pajama bottoms and a red t-shirt that said "BITE ME" in big letters on the front. Duo grinned. He wore that shirt especially for his roommate--not that he would *ever* tell Heero that, though.
Heero wasn't at his laptop. This day is getting really weird, Duo thought to himself as he walked over to the bed where Heero was dozing. Duo's trademark maniacal grin plastered itself on his face. Sleeping Beau--
"Iie."
Duo blinked, whatever devious thought that had been forming in his mind vanished. "What?" What did Heero think he was going to do? Did he know...naaaahhhh.
Heero's now open eyes glared at him.
"Nani? Oi, I was just gonna tell you I was out."
Heero's expression did not change (did it ever?).
Duo plopped on his bed and immediately regretted it. "Itai..." Heero snorted on his way to the bathroom. More carefully, Duo laid back to get some sleep, while Heero took a nice, long shower--warm water soaking that beautiful dark hair, running down sleek muscles...
Duo blinked. Not a good train of thought for sleep--must be the sugar, he thought with a yawn.
*Sigh* "Man, this sucks," Duo grumbled as he crawled out of bed, wincing slightly at his wounds. He felt dizzy for a moment and had to close his eyes. Then, he left the room and Heero still in the shower. It had only been thirty minutes, but Duo had known the moment he'd shut his eyes that he would not be able to sleep. Damned donuts--I shoulda known better that that, he berated himself as he trudged down the hall. Maybe Quatre had some herbal tea to help him sleep. Bleh. But it was either that or sleeping pills. Man, it's quiet.
Duo was wondering where the others were--their Gundams were still in the hangar when he and Heero had returned--as he opened a cabinet in the kitchen, when a knife suddenly imbedded itself in the wood, sending old paint flying in a spray. Duo cursed and reached for his gun--and cursed again when he realized he didn't have it. He was already in defensive mode before he recognized the soft chuckle that came from the doorway.
"Quatre?!"
Quatre leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, an amused look on his face. Trowa stood behind the blond, one arm thrown over the shorter boy's shoulder. Dou blinked. He'd never seen them so openly relaxed with each other. He'd suspected for some time that they were---
"Oops. Sorry about that." Quatre's apology sounded very insincere. And Trowa...
Actually, both of them had a very predatory look in their eyes, and it made Duo's skin crawl. For some reason, it was not quite as disturbing on Trowa as it was on Quatre--it was like giving a fuzzy little bunny fangs and a Wing Zero cannon.
Duo managed a nervous grin. "Uh...no prob, Quatre. You just startled me, that's all." Quatre was not longer looking at Duo, but at the knife he casually flipped in his hand. Also disturbing. "Um, what're you guys doing?"
Quatre grinned at him. Actually, it was more of a leer. "Trowa was teaching me how to throw knives. Wanna play?"
"No thanks--I'm gonna find Wu-man. See ya!" The tea was suddenly no longer important. Duo did his best not to run out of the kitchen. What the hell was that, Duo thought to himself as he headed for Wufei's room. After a few knocks with no answer, he peeked into the Chinese pilot's room. Duo was about to leave when he noticed something. Wufei's bed was destroyed--literally. Slashes criss- crossed the small bed, leaving the mattress in at least eight different pieces.
Oooo-kaaaay...something definitely not right here.
Duo practically flew to the hangar.
He found Wufei on Nataku--of course--staring intently at the Gundam's surface.
Well, he *looks* normal, Duo thought. "Oi, Wu-man! Watcha doing?"
"Maxwell." It was a growl.
"Yeah?"
"Go away." Yep. No problems here.
"Aww, come on man--don't be so grumpy. You know you love my company."
A *humph* was his answer.
"Oi, you thinking about changing Nataku's color?"
"Nani?!" Wufei's indignant voice echoed in the hangar.
Duo grinned. He couldn't help it--he loved bugging Wufei almost as much as he did Heero. "Well, you're staring at it like you don't like the way it looks, so I thought you might be thinking about painting it. You know, I found some barrels of pink paint over in storage--I'd be glad to help--"
"Kisama! Maxwell, you have gone to far! What have you done to my Nataku?!" Wufei stood, drawing his sword, fury and justice shining in his eyes. He was serious.
Duo took a step back. "Whoa, Wufei! I didn't do anything to you Gundam--I was just kidding!" Duo stumbled backwards as Wufei leaped to the ground and began advancing.
"Justice! For my Nataku's honor, you will pay with your life!"
As Wufei attacked, Duo decided he was in deep dooky.
tbc
Well, how bad was it? I've got more on the way; I'm just tired of typing tonight. Gomen. Ja ne! ^__^
(:./hinokumo/madness1)
